What is the reason for the revelation of Surah Al-Mu'awwidhatayn?
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you.
Regarding the revelation of the blessed surah, it is mentioned in most tafsir (exegesis) books that the Prophet was afflicted by the magic of some Jews, which caused him to fall ill. Gabriel came down and informed him that the source of the magic was in a well. The Prophet sent someone to retrieve it, and then he recited this surah, after which his health improved.
However, the late Tabarsi and other scholars have doubted this narration, which is traced back to Aisha and Ibn Abbas, for the following reasons:
First: The surah is well-known to be Meccan, and its style resembles that of other Meccan surahs. The Prophet confronted the Jews in Medina, which indicates that the narration lacks authenticity.
Second: If the Jews had the ability to harm the Prophet with their magic as the narration suggests, they could have easily thwarted his objectives through magic. Allah, the Exalted, has protected His Prophet to fulfill the duties of prophethood and messengership.
Third: If magic could affect the Prophet's body as described, it could also impact his spirit, making his thoughts susceptible to the sorcerers. This would undermine the principle of trust in the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the Holy Quran responds to those who accused the Prophet of being bewitched, stating: "And the wrongdoers said, 'You follow not but a man affected by magic.' Look how they strike for you comparisons; so they have gone astray and cannot find a way." (Quran 25:8)
The term "bewitched" in the verse includes those affected by magic in their minds or bodies, which supports our view.
In any case, we should not undermine the sanctity of the prophetic position with these questionable narrations, nor should we rely on them to understand the verses.
May you be successful in all good.