Ibn Kathir — introduction to this surah
The Reason for the Revelation of Surah Ad-Duha
Imam Ahmad recorded from Jundub that he said,
"The Prophet became ill, so he did not stand for prayer for a night or two. Then a woman came and said,
`O Muhammad! I think that your devil has finally left you.'
So Allah revealed,
وَالضُّحَى
وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَى
By the forenoon.
By the night when it darkens.
Your Lord has neither forsaken you nor hates you.
Al-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir, all recorded this Hadith.
This Jundub (who narrated it) is Ibn `Abdullah Al-Bajali Al-`Alaqi. In a narration from Al-Aswad bin Qays, he said that he heard Jundub say that Jibril was slow in coming to the Messenger of Allah . So the idolators said,
"Muhammad's Lord has abandoned him.''
So Allah revealed,
93:1 وَالضُّحَى
By the Glorious Morning Light,
93:2 وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى
And by the Night when it is still,-
93:3 مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَى
Thy Guardian-Lord hath not forsaken thee, nor is He displeased.
93:4 وَلَلْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الْأُولَى
And verily the Hereafter will be better for thee than the present.
93:5 وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ
فَتَرْضَى
And soon will thy Guardian-Lord give thee (that wherewith) thou shalt be well-pleased.
93:6 أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيماً فَآوَى
Did He not find thee an orphan and give thee shelter (and care)?
93:7 وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالّاً
فَهَدَى
And He found thee wandering, and He gave thee guidance.
93:8 وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلاً فَأَغْنَى
And He found thee in need, and made thee independent.
93:9 فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ
Therefore, treat not the orphan with harshness,
93:10 وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ
Nor repulse the petitioner (unheard);
93:11 وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
But the bounty of the Lord - rehearse and proclaim!