Al-Bayyinah, "The Clear Evidence," is the ninety-eighth surah — 8 verses.1 It is classed as Medinan in the standard Mushaf, though some scholars hold it to be Meccan. The Prophet ﷺ once told his Companion Ubayy ibn Ka'b that God had commanded him to recite this surah to him; when Ubayy asked, "Did Allah mention me by name?" and was told yes, he wept.4
What it is about
The surah begins with the state of the world before the Prophet ﷺ: "Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists were not to be parted [from misbelief] until there came to them clear evidence": "a Messenger from Allah, reciting purified scriptures within which are correct writings [i.e., rulings and laws]." Division, it notes, came only "after there had come to them clear evidence." It then states what every community was asked to do: "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion."2
It closes with two outcomes. Those who reject the truth "will be in the fire of Hell... Those are the worst of creatures." But "they who have believed and done righteous deeds — those are the best of creatures," rewarded with gardens forever, "Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord."3
Why it matters
In eight verses Al-Bayyinah sets out the Quran's view of religious history: God's guidance has always been one — sincere worship, prayer and charity — and disagreement arose after the truth was made clear, not before. Its closing picture of the righteous — "Allah being pleased with them and they with Him" — describes salvation as mutual contentment. To read Al-Bayyinah in Arabic with translations and recitation, open it on Quran.com.