Sura An-Nasr : Ultimate attitude after victory
Although this sura has been revealed in Mecca it is considered as Madani, since it has been revealed after the conquest of Mecca. The word nasr is interpreted as “Allah’s(j.j) succour, assistance to Muslims”. According to many scholars, this is the last revealed sura in Holy Quran.
When comes the Help of Allah, and Victory,
And thou dost see the people enter Allah’s Religion in crowds,
Celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy). (An-Nasr 110-1/3)
According to a hadith in Tirmidhi, this sura is considered as “quarter of Holy Quran” in terms of meaning and depth.
And we believe so, despite the fact that it is very short and addresses directly to Prophet Muhammad(sav), it contains several layers of deep messages about leadership and possible attitudes that can stain the honor of victorious personality.
First of all, we witness the prime difference between Allah’s(j.j) messenger and worldly leader. Worldly leader would engage in mundane and usually in vain celebrations and other sort of ego-boosting events upon the achievement of any kind of victory or success. Here, however, the messenger is ordered to “ask forgiveness and remembrance of Allah(j.j)” even after such a victory.
Upon the conquest of Mecca, indeed people entered Allah’s(j.j) religion in crowds, this is an historical fact. Here, perhaps, Allah(j.j) wants to warn his messenger, therefore all mankind, what kind of attitude we should pertain after worldly successes.
We shouldn’t spoil ourselves and turn arrogant. We should never forget the fact that, without Allah’s(j.j) assistance, we can never achieve anything.
It is really a sign of an obnoxious personality to get spoiled until the level of total arrogance.
Here, Allah(j.j) grants his messenger full victory on earth, unlike many other prophets of past. It is Allah’s(j.j) divine law that some messengers were heard, some were killed by the crowds, some were neglected by the crowds.
Prophet Muhammad(saw) reached a full glory truly in the last phase of his life since the entire Arabian peninsula entered Islam.
Even upon the observation of such triumphant scenery, Allah(j.j) warns him “to keep asking forgiveness and keep on “dhikrs”, which is remembering him.
Some mufassirs also interpret this ayat as “a reminder for Prophet Muhammad(saw) that his days on earth are now numbered and soon he would meet his Maker.
The world has seen many glorious leaders, they celebrated their victories for days or months after. Sooner or later all these leaders crumbled into dust into the pages of history.
Allah’s(j.j) messenger message is still echoed and remembered and followed by millions today, perhaps it is because of the fact that he has never been a “worldly leader” but messenger of Allah(j.j)
Therefore, he acted according to this, he kept asking forgiveness and remembering Allah(j.j) instead of spoiling himself in mundane and banal celebrations.
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