Al-Ankabut

Holy Quran

The Spider (Arabic: العنكبوت‎, al-‘ankabūt) is the 29th chapter of the Quran with 69 verses

Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation (asbab al-nuzul), it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which indicates a revelation in Mecca as opposed to Medina. Early Muslims were persecuted in Mecca where Muhammed was not a leader, and not persecuted in Medina, where he was a protected leader

1-2 Religious faith is proved by trials

3 Evil deeds will surely be punished

4-7 The righterios shall be rewarded for their good deeds

8 Parents not to be obeyed when they oppose God’s law

9 Salvation by faith and good works

10-11 Hypocrites exposed and rebuked

12-13 Unbelievers shall be punished for deceiving others by false promises

14-15 The enemies of Noah drowned for their unbelief

16 Abraham preached against idolatry

17 Abraham accused of being an impostor

18-19 He shows the idolaters how God’s power is manifested in nature

20-22 He declares that none shall escape the judgment of God

23 His people attempt to burn him, but God saves him

24 He discourses against the idolatry of his people

25 Lot believes in Abraham, who determines to fly his country

26 God gives Abraham descendants who possess the gift of prophecy and the Scriptures

27-34 The story of Lot and his ministry in Sodom

35-36 Shuaib’s ministry to the unbelieving Madianites

37 Ád and Thamúd destroyed in unbelief

38 Qárún, Pharaoh, and Hámán destroyed in unbelief

39 Various means by which God destroyed infidels

40 Idolatry likened to a spider’s web

41 God knoweth the idols worshipped by men

42, 43 God’s works and signs only understood by true believers

44 Muhammad is commanded to recite the Quran and to give himself to prayer

45 Muslims not to fight against Jews and Christians except in self-defence

45, 46 The Quran and the former Scriptures one revelation

47 The miracle of Muhammad’s reading and writing a proof of the inspiration of the Quran

48 Unbelievers only reject the Quran

49 Muhammad challenged to work a miracle

50 The Quran itself a sufficient miracle

51, 52 God will judge between Muhammad and the infidels

53-55 The infidels call for judgment, and it will find them unprepared

56 Believers exhorted to fly from persecution

57-59 The reward of the righteous dead

60-63 God’s works in creation and providence witness his being

64 The present life a vain show

65, 66 Unbelievers are ungrateful

67, 68 The ingratitude of the Arab idolaters

69 God will reward the faithful