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Bismillah.
أَلَم يَجِدكَ يَتيمًا فَـٔاوىٰ* وَوَجَدَكَ ضالًّا فَهَدىٰ * وَوَجَدَكَ عائِلًا فَأَغنىٰ
Did He not find you an orphan, and shelter you, Did He not find you astray, and guide you? Did He not find you needy, and enrich you?
(Surat al-Duhā, No. 93, Āyat 6-8)
In the life of the Holy Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam, there was a period where divine revelations temporarily paused. This was unusual for the Holy Prophet, as he was receiving revelations regularly. The idolaters of Makkah used this opportunity to torment the Prophet by saying that his Lord had abandoned him and was displeased with him. This caused the Prophet anxiety and distress. It was then that a verse from Sūrat Al-Duha was revealed, silencing their false claims and bringing comfort to the Prophet’s heart: مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ
Your Lord has neither forsaken you, nor is He displeased with you (Q 93:3).
It is narrated that when the Prophet (s) received revelation again after this temporary pause, he told Angel Jibra‘īl: You delayed, while I was eagerly awaiting your return. The angel responded: I was more eager than you, but I am only a servant and cannot descend except by the command of my Lord. He conveyed to the Holy Prophet the good news that Allah, the Highest, would never abandon or leave him alone.
In these three verses, Allah ‘azza wajall, reassures Prophet Muhammad (s) of His continuous mercy and care. He reminds the Prophet of three significant periods in his life, where He protected and supported him through hardships. The Quran employs a unique rhetorical style in mentioning these blessings; rather than merely listing them, it poses them as questions to remind the Prophet of Allah’s mercy.
These three verses talk about the blessings which were showered upon the Holy Prophet, during the most challenging times of his life.
1) Orphaned during childhood.
The Holy Prophet (s) lost his parents at a very young age. Almighty Allah supported him through the loving care of his grandfather, ‘Abdul Muttalib. Upon his grandfather’s demise, the Prophet was under the care of his uncle, Abū Tālib. Allah (swt) increased the love for the Prophet in the heart of Abu Talib who brought him up like his own child.
2) Lack of guidance
Dāllan could mean “devoid of guidance”. Guidance is received only from Allah (swt). In this context, it can have two interpretations:
1) Although the Holy Prophet possessed the signs of prophethood from a young age, he was not declared as a Prophet until the age of forty. Until then, Allah nurtured him, providing guidance so he would be prepared for his prophetic mission. As stated in the Quran: You did not know what the Book is, nor what is faith; but We made it a light that We may guide by its means whomever We wish of Our servants. (Q 42:52). Although the Prophet (s) was not misguided in the sense of disbelief or polytheism before receiving the Quranic revelation, he was not yet guided by divine revelation in the way he was afterward.
2) The Prophet was always surrounded with polytheism and oppression. As a youth, Allah (swt) found him unsure which way to proceed. Therefore, He directed him at every stage towards his objective.
3) Limited means
‘Ā’ilan refers to a poor person, one without any wealth. The Prophet was not an affluent man. Initially, he earned a living as a shepherd. Later, he assisted merchants who participated in the trade caravans with the Quraysh. It was through Lady Khadījah that he was financially sustained as she generously dedicated her wealth for the cause of Islam.
Let us remember and find comfort in Allah’s mercy during difficult times. It is essential to count our blessings and be grateful for what we have been bestowed with. Allah never leaves His believing servants without support. We pray for the Muslim ummah globally, especially those in Palestine and Lebanon. May the Almighty give them strength and alleviate their suffering, Ameen.
Resources: ‘Allāmah Muhammad Husayn Tabātabā’ī, Tafsīr al-Mīzān, Āyatullāh Nāsir Makārim Shirāzī (Ed.), Tafsīr-e Namūneh; Sh Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour/Dr. Tahir Ridha Jaffer (Eds), Tafsīr Tadabbur Al Qur’an.