thumb|upright=1.25|Double-page with illuminated frames marking the start of Chapter Ya-Sin in a [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay Qur'an manuscript from Patani. Despite the special significance of in lives of all Muslims, "this is the only Southeast Asian Qur'an manuscript known in which the beginning of Surat Yasin is marked with illuminated frames". 2nd half of the 19th century. British Library]]

Yā Sīn (also pronounced as Yaseen; , ; the letters 'Yā and 'Sīn') is the 36th chapter of the Quran. It has 83 verses (). It is regarded an earlier "Meccan surah". Some scholars maintain that verse 12 is from the Medinan period. While the surah begins in Juz' 22, most of it is in Juz' 23.

The surah begins with the eponymous (muqatta'at) Arabic letters: (). The meaning of the letters , while being primarily unknown, is debated amongst Muslim religious academics. One of the interpretations is "O human being!" referring to Prophet Muhammad since the verses that follow are translated as "By the Qur'an, full of Wisdom, Thou art indeed one of the messengers". Tafsir al-Jalalayn, a Sunni beginners exegesis (), concludes, "Allah knows best what He means by these [letters]."

The focuses on establishing the Qur'an as a divine source, and it warns of the fate of those who mock Allah's revelations and are stubborn. The tells of the punishments that plagued past generations of nonbelievers as a warning to present and future generations. Additionally, the surah reiterates Allah's sovereignty as exemplified by his creations through signs from nature.

The surah ends with arguments in favor of the existence of resurrection and Allah's sovereign power.

Summary

  • 1–3 Allah swears that Muhammad is a prophet
  • 4–5 The Quran is given to warn the Meccans
  • 6–9 The greater part of the people of Makkah reprobate
  • 10–11 Muhammad's preaching only profitable to secret believers
  • 12 The dead shall be raised; all their deeds are registered
  • 13–14 Two, then three, apostles were sent to a village, though their names are not mentioned
  • 15–18 They are rejected as impostors and threatened with stoning
  • 19 The apostles warn the people impending divine judgments
  • 20–26 A certain believer is put to death by the infidels
  • 27–28 The persecutors are suddenly destroyed
  • 29 Men generally reject God's messengers
  • 30 The lessons of the past are forgotten
  • 31–33 The doctrine of the resurrection asserted and illustrated
  • 34–44 God's power and goodness manifested by his works
  • 45–46 Unbelievers unmoved by either fear or the signs of the Quran
  • 47–48 They scoff at almsgiving and the resurrection
  • 49–53 The resurrection trumpet and the judgment-day shall surprise the unbelievers
  • 54 God's judgment shall be according to works
  • 55–65 The rewards of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked
  • 66–68 God deals with the wicked as he pleases
  • 69–70 Muhammad not a poet; the Quran is the word of God
  • 71–73 God manifest in his works of benevolence
  • 74–75 Idolaters will find their trust in idols vain
  • 76 The Prophet is not to grieve at the hard speeches of the idolaters; God knows all
  • 77–81 The Creator of all things able to raise the dead to life
  • 82 God says Be, and it is
  • 83 Praise be to the Sovereign Creator and raiser of the dead

Heart of the Quran

thumb|17th century Indian talisman with the text of the sura in micro-calligraphed, [[Khalili Collection of Islamic Art]]

It has been proposed that is the "heart of the Quran". The meaning of "the heart" has been the basis of much scholarly discussion. The quality of this is traditionally regarded as representative of the miraculous nature of the Quran. It's the essential themes of the Quran, such as the sovereignty of Allah, the unlimited power of Allah as exemplified by his creations, Paradise, the punishment of nonbelievers, resurrection, the struggle of believers against polytheists and nonbelievers, and the reassurance that the believers are on the right path, among others. presents the message of the Quran in comprehensive manner in quick and rhythmic verses. This says that Muhammad was not a poet, rather that he was the greatest and the Last Messenger of Allah (the "Seal of the Prophets").

Virtues

It is reported in Sunan al-Darimi that Prophet Muhammad said, "Whoever recites in the early morning, his needs for that day will be fulfilled." Although it is graded as weak (), a similar suspended () narration from Ibn Abbas states, "Whoever recites in the morning, there will be ease for him until the evening, and whoever recites at night, there will be ease for him until the morning." It has been graded as either authentic () or good ().

Sections and themes

There are three main themes of : the oneness of God (); , that Muhammad is a messenger sent by God to guide his creations through divine revelation; and the reality of , the Last Judgment. 36:70 "This is a revelation, an illuminating Qur'an to warn anyone who is truly alive, so that God's verdict may be passed against the disbelievers." The repeatedly warns of the consequences of not believing in the legitimacy or the revelation of Muhammad, and encourages believers to remain steadfast and resist the mockery, oppression, and ridicule they receive from polytheists and nonbelievers. The arguments arise in three forms: a historical parable, a reflection on the order in the universe, and lastly a discussion of resurrection and human accountability. The first passage, verses 1–12, focuses primarily with promoting the Qur'an as guidance and establishing that it is God's sovereign choice who will believe and who will not. It is stated that regardless of a warning, the nonbelievers cannot be swayed to believe. 36:10 "It is all the same to them whether you warn them or not: they will not believe." However, a man from amongst these people beseeched them to believe in the messengers. Upon his death, the man entered Paradise, and lamented the fate of the nonbelievers. 36:26 "He was told, 'Enter the Garden,' so he said, 'If only my people knew how my Lord has forgiven me and set me among the highly honored." This is meant to warn the nonbelievers of the consequences of their denial. Verse 36:30 goes on to state: "Alas for human beings! Whenever a messenger comes to them they ridicule him." Ultimately, it is God's will who will be blind and who will see. Although God warned them against following Satan, the nonbelievers were deaf, and so now they will suffer the consequences of their ill judgements. 36:63 "So this is the Fire that you were warned against. Enter it today, because you went on ignoring [my commands]."