The Greeks is the 30th chapter of the Quran. It consists of 60 verses. The term Rûm originated in the word "Romans" and in the time of Prophet Muhammad referred to the Byzantine Greeks, hence the title is sometimes also translated as "The Greeks" or "The Byzantines".
Chronology
Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation, it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, instead of later in Medina. Parts of Q30:38-50 are preserved in the Ṣan‘ā’1 lower text. According to Theodor Nöldeke, ar-Rūm was the second-to-last Meccan surah and the eighty-fourth surah chronologically; however, he argues its 17th ayah was revealed during the Medinan period. While the first ayah of the surah refers to the defeat of the Byzantine Empire at the hands of the Sasanian Empire near Damascus in the spring of 614, Nöldeke notes that this does not necessarily indicate 614 was the year in which the surah was revealed. According to al-Tabari, it refers to the Battle of Adhri'at in 614, but this battle is ignored in other sources.
Content
The surah begins by noting the recent defeat of the Byzantines by the Persians at the Battle of Antioch. This defeat posed a significant theological and sociological problem for the early Muslim community because the Byzantines were Christians and considered monotheists while the state that defeated them were considered dualists because the official religion was Zoroastrianism. This chapter is in part a response to the non-Muslim Meccans, who took this victory as a sign that the traditional polytheistic practices would win out over monotheism. In the third and fourth ayatayn, the Muslim community is promised that the Byzantines will reverse their defeat into a victory "in a few years' time". Muslims believe this prophecy was fulfilled with Heraclius' campaign of 622, the Roman victory over Persians and cite it as an example of the miraculous nature of the Quran.
Literary units
In his tafsir, entitled "In the Shade of the Qur'an", Sayyid Qutb divides the surah into two halves, verses 1-32 and verses 33-60. Each section begins with an assertion of God's grace and mercy and ends with encouragement for Muhammad and his community. First Section: "Signs to Reflect Upon"
"The Natural Bond of Faith" Notes the Byzantine defeat and prophesies a coming victory promised by God
"To Whom Power Belongs" Declares the truth of the universe
"Invitation to Reflect" Reminds the believers of the fates of other disobedient communities
"Scene of God's Glory," "The Cycle of Life and Death," and "Man and the Universe" Offers praise for God and all His powers and signs
"Analogy Drawn from Human Life" Uses a metaphor about slavery to condemn the sin of shirk
" Concluding Directive to Prophet" Urges the listeners to turn to the truth and resist dividing into sects
Second Section: "Bringing Life out of the Dead"
"Vacillating Conditions" Reassures the Muslim community of God's mercy and grace for true believers and offers suggestions for behavior like giving to the needy or avoiding usury
"Corruption and Pollution" Reminds people of the promise of resurrection at the Last Judgment and the fates of polytheist communities
"Aspects of God's Grace" Emphasizes resurrection as one of signs of God's mercy and grace when believers lose hope
"The Different Stages of Man's Life" Describes the weakness and folly of man and the fate of evildoers at the Last Judgment
"No Change of Position" Decries the nonbelievers who refuse to listen to Muhammad but asserts that God leads astray who he wills
Urges Muhammad and his community to persevere
Major themes
The main theme of this surah is the contrast between monotheism and polytheism. In addition to making logical arguments against ascribing partners to God, several verses outline the differing fate for idolaters and believers. The unity of God is also emphasized with descriptions of the glory of God through illustrations of His wondrous signs and His miraculous creation.
Sample verse
Surah 30 includes a verse comparing the association of partners with God, which is the sin of shirk, to the relationship between a master and his slaves.
