A New Consideration of the Comment of Nifaq and Hijrat in the Chapter of Ankabut with Regard to Continuous Revelation of the Chapter in Mecca

The chapter of Ankabut as understood by the context of its most verses is Meccan, though the space in which its primary verses revealed and some intertextual signs like reference to the problem of nifaq have led some commentators to view its 1-10 verses as revealed in Medina and its eighth in the first year of bi`that in Mecca. On this basis, one may not consider the chapter as revealed continuously and it has revealed gradually during a time extended from the beginning of bi`that to 13 years after the Prophet`s hijrah. While sha`ni nuzul of the verse eighth has been an extension and mentioned under the other three verses also. In addition, the disagreement of the causes of revelation under the first ten verses with an attitude of the current nifaq in Mecca during that time opposes the view of the verses` being revealed in Medina. As another reasoning, regarding the purpose of the chapter as exiting the Muslims to resist against the difficulties and paying attention to the time, when Muslims were to leave Mecca and go to Medina, in which the chapter revealed, the connection of the first ten verses of the chapter to the others becomes clear. Therefore, all the verses of the chapter have revealed in late in the age of Mecca and Muslim`s migration to Medina may be taken as an important extension of divine examination toward them. On the basis, by munafiqan is meant those Meccan Muslims who did not follow the Prophet and remained in Mecca.