030-Surah-Room.pdf

Surat ar-Rum (Arabic: "The Romans") is the 30th surah of the Quran. It consists of 60 ayat. The term Rûm originated in the word "Romans" and in the time of Muhammad referred to the Byzantine Greeks (Eastern Roman Empire), hence the title is sometimes also translated as "The Greeks" or "The Byzantines". According to Theodor Nöldeke, ar-Rum 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. 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". "The Romans were vanquished in the closer region, and they, after being vanquished, will prevail within a certain number of years. To God belongs the command before and after. And that Day ones who believe will be glad with the help of God. He helps whom He wills. And He is The Almighty, The Compassionate." --- Updated: 2018-08-18