SURAH 30 — Ar-Rūm — الروم — “The Romans”

• Revelation Order: 84
• Event Anchor: Late Meccan response to the Byzantine–Persian war (c. 619–622 CE)

Explanation:
Ar-Rūm opens by referencing a real historical event: the Byzantine Empire’s defeat by the Persians, and God’s promise that the Byzantines would later achieve victory. This prophecy aligned with geopolitical news circulating in Mecca and became a point of contention between Muslims and polytheists—Quraysh sided with Persia, whose religion resembled their own, while Muslims sympathized with the monotheist Byzantines. The surah’s confident prediction of Byzantine recovery boosted the credibility of revelation and strengthened believers facing ridicule. Its themes of divine control, reversals of fortune, and resurrection situate it firmly in the late Meccan period of intense ideological dispute.

Verse	Verse #	Meccan v Medinan	General Index
Alif, Lam, Meem.	1	Meccan	3410
The Byzantines have been defeated	2	Meccan	3411
In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome.	3	Meccan	3412
Within three to nine years. To Allah belongs the command before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice	4	Meccan	3413
In the victory of Allah. He gives victory to whom He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.	5	Meccan	3414
[It is] the promise of Allah. Allah does not fail in His promise, but most of the people do not know.	6	Meccan	3415
They know what is apparent of the worldly life, but they, of the Hereafter, are unaware.	7	Meccan	3416
Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allah has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth and for a specified term. And indeed, many of the people, in [the matter of] the meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers.	8	Meccan	3417
Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed the earth and built it up more than they have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allah would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.	9	Meccan	3418
Then the end of those who did evil was the worst [consequence] because they denied the signs of Allah and used to ridicule them.	10	Meccan	3419
Allah begins creation; then He will repeat it; then to Him you will be returned.	11	Meccan	3420
And the Day the Hour appears the criminals will be in despair.	12	Meccan	3421
And there will not be for them among their [alleged] partners any intercessors, and they will [then] be disbelievers in their partners.	13	Meccan	3422
And the Day the Hour appears – that Day they will become separated.	14	Meccan	3423
And as for those who had believed and done righteous deeds, they will be in a garden [of Paradise], delighted.	15	Meccan	3424
But as for those who disbelieved and denied Our verses and the meeting of the Hereafter, those will be brought into the punishment [to remain].	16	Meccan	3425
So exalted is Allah when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning.	17	Meccan	3426
And to Him is [due all] praise throughout the heavens and the earth. And [exalted is He] at night and when you are at noon.	18	Meccan	3427
He brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living and brings to life the earth after its lifelessness. And thus will you be brought out.	19	Meccan	3428
And of His signs is that He created you from dust; then, suddenly you were human beings dispersing [throughout the earth].	20	Meccan	3429
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.	21	Meccan	3430
And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.	22	Meccan	3431
And of His signs is your sleep by night and day and your seeking of His bounty. Indeed in that are signs for a people who listen.	23	Meccan	3432
And of His signs is [that] He shows you the lightning [causing] fear and aspiration, and He sends down rain from the sky by which He brings to life the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed in that are signs for a people who use reason.	24	Meccan	3433
And of His signs is that the heaven and earth remain by His command. Then when He calls you with a [single] call from the earth, immediately you will come forth.	25	Meccan	3434
And to Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and earth. All are to Him devoutly obedient.	26	Meccan	3435
And it is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is [even] easier for Him. To Him belongs the highest attribute in the heavens and earth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.	27	Meccan	3436
He presents to you an example from yourselves. Do you have among those whom your right hands possess any partners in what We have provided for you so that you are equal therein [and] would fear them as your fear of one another [within a partnership]? Thus do We detail the verses for a people who use reason.	28	Meccan	3437
But those who wrong follow their [own] desires without knowledge. Then who can guide one whom Allah has sent astray? And for them there are no helpers.	29	Meccan	3438
So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.	30	Meccan	3439
[Adhere to it], turning in repentance to Him, and fear Him and establish prayer and do not be of those who associate others with Allah	31	Meccan	3440
[Or] of those who have divided their religion and become sects, every faction rejoicing in what it has.	32	Meccan	3441
And when adversity touches the people, they call upon their Lord, turning in repentance to Him. Then when He lets them taste mercy from Him, at once a party of them associate others with their Lord,	33	Meccan	3442
So that they will deny what We have granted them. Then enjoy yourselves, for you are going to know.	34	Meccan	3443
Or have We sent down to them an authority, and it speaks of what they were associating with Him?	35	Meccan	3444
And when We let the people taste mercy, they rejoice therein, but if evil afflicts them for what their hands have put forth, immediately they despair.	36	Meccan	3445
Do they not see that Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]? Indeed, in that are signs for a people who believe.	37	Meccan	3446
So give the relative his right, as well as the needy and the traveler. That is best for those who desire the countenance of Allah, and it is they who will be the successful.	38	Meccan	3447
And whatever you give for interest to increase within the wealth of people will not increase with Allah. But what you give in zakah, desiring the countenance of Allah – those are the multipliers.	39	Meccan	3448
Allah is the one who created you, then provided for you, then will cause you to die, and then will give you life. Are there any of your “partners” who does anything of that? Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.	40	Meccan	3449
Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].	41	Meccan	3450
Say, [O Muhammad], “Travel through the land and observe how was the end of those before. Most of them were associators [of others with Allah].	42	Meccan	3451
So direct your face toward the correct religion before a Day comes from Allah of which there is no repelling. That Day, they will be divided.	43	Meccan	3452
Whoever disbelieves – upon him is [the consequence of] his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness – they are for themselves preparing,	44	Meccan	3453
That He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds out of His bounty. Indeed, He does not like the disbelievers.	45	Meccan	3454
And of His signs is that He sends the winds as bringers of good tidings and to let you taste His mercy and so the ships may sail at His command and so you may seek of His bounty, and perhaps you will be grateful.	46	Meccan	3455
And We have already sent messengers before you to their peoples, and they came to them with clear evidences; then We took retribution from those who committed crimes, and incumbent upon Us was support of the believers.	47	Meccan	3456
It is Allah who sends the winds, and they stir the clouds and spread them in the sky however He wills, and He makes them fragments so you see the rain emerge from within them. And when He causes it to fall upon whom He wills of His servants, immediately they rejoice	48	Meccan	3457
Although they were, before it was sent down upon them – before that, in despair.	49	Meccan	3458
So observe the effects of the mercy of Allah – how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed, that [same one] will give life to the dead, and He is over all things competent.	50	Meccan	3459
But if We should send a [bad] wind and they saw [their crops] turned yellow, they would remain thereafter disbelievers.	51	Meccan	3460
So indeed, you will not make the dead hear, nor will you make the deaf hear the call when they turn their backs, retreating.	52	Meccan	3461
And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You will only make hear those who believe in Our verses so they are Muslims [in submission to Allah].	53	Meccan	3462
Allah is the one who created you from weakness, then made after weakness strength, then made after strength weakness and white hair. He creates what He wills, and He is the Knowing, the Competent.	54	Meccan	3463
And the Day the Hour appears the criminals will swear they had remained but an hour. Thus they were deluded.	55	Meccan	3464
But those who were given knowledge and faith will say, “You remained the extent of Allah ‘s decree until the Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not used to know.”	56	Meccan	3465
So that Day, their excuse will not benefit those who wronged, nor will they be asked to appease [Allah].	57	Meccan	3466
And We have certainly presented to the people in this Qur’an from every [kind of] example. But, [O Muhammad], if you should bring them a sign, the disbelievers will surely say, “You [believers] are but falsifiers.”	58	Meccan	3467
Thus does Allah seal the hearts of those who do not know.	59	Meccan	3468
So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And let them not disquiet you who are not certain [in faith].	60	Meccan	3469