Surah Fussilat, Explained in Detail

Surah 41 · 54 verses · revealed at Mecca

Fussilat means set out in detail, and the surah takes its name from its own description of the Qur'an as a book whose verses have been made clear.

It opens with the Meccans saying that their hearts are covered against what he calls them to, that there is a barrier in their ears, and that between him and them there is a screen — so let him do as he likes, they will do as they like. The surah quotes them and then answers.

It contains the verse Muslims quote most often about how to deal with hostility: that good and evil are not equal, that one should repel what is bad with what is better, and that the person who was an enemy may then become a close friend. The surah adds that only those who are patient are given this, and only those of great fortune.

There is also the passage about a person's own hearing and sight and skin bearing witness against them, and the person asking their skin why it testified, and being answered that God made it speak, as He made everything speak.

An early report describes one of the leaders of Mecca being sent to negotiate with the Prophet and hearing the opening of this surah instead, then returning to his people with his face changed and telling them to leave the man alone. Whatever else it records, it is a surah people found hard to walk away from.

Surah Fussilat on this site

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