Surah 110: An-Nasr (The Divine Support)

Lore & Background

The surah opens with the line "WHEN the assistance of Allah shall come, and the victory." The second verse states "and thou shalt see the people enter into the religion of Allah by troops." The third commands "celebrate the praise of thy LORD, and ask pardon of him; for he is inclined to forgive." According to Tafsir ibn Kathir, this surah is equal to 1/4 of the Quran. This was the last surah to be revealed, only a few months before Muhammad's death. The first ayah means that with God's help, the Muslims prevailed. The second ayah means that after the battle crowds of people came to accept Islam. The third ayah means that God allowed people to join Islam and gave them a second chance no matter how harsh their crimes are, because God is the all-forgiving to humankind.

Reader's Guide

The surah's three verses form a compact narrative of triumph, demographic change, and spiritual duty. The first verse announces the arrival of divine help and victory. The second describes the sight of people entering God's religion in crowds or troops. The third instructs the reader to glorify the praises of the Lord and ask for His forgiveness, noting that He is ever Accepting of repentance. The surah thus frames worldly success as a moment for spiritual reflection and humility, not self-congratulation. The source does not describe the nature of the conquest, the identity of the people, or the timing of these events beyond noting that traditional interpretations often link it to the conquest of Mecca.

Did You Know?

• An-Nasr is the 110th chapter of the Qur'an with exactly 3 verses.
• It is the second-shortest surah after Al-Kawthar, though Surah 112 (al-Ikhlāṣ) has fewer words in Arabic.
• According to Tafsir ibn Kathir, this surah is equal to 1/4 of the Quran.
• This was the last surah to be revealed, only a few months before Muhammad's death.
• The surah's name translates to both 'the victory' and 'the help or assistance.'