Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AllaahtaaalasaysintheQuraan,
table of contents
Introduc)on Verse1 Verse2 Verse3 Verse4 Verse5 Verse6 Verse7 Verse8 Verse9 Verse10 Verse11 Verse12 Verse13 Verse14 Verse15 Verse16 Verse17 Verse18 Verse19 Verse20 Verse21 Verse22 Verse23 5 7 9 10 11 12 15 17 20 22 23 25 27 30 32 33 34 35 37 40 43 45 46 47
Verse24 Verse25 Verse26 Verse27 Verse28 Verse29 Verse30 Verse31 Verse32 Verse33 Verse34 Verse35 Verse36 Verse37 Verse38 Verse39 Verse40 Verse41 Verse42 Verse43 Verse44 Verse45 Verse46 Verse47 Verse48
49 50 52 53 54 56 58 60 61 64 69 70 72 73 74 75 76 79 81 82 83 85 88 90 92
Verse49 Verse50 Verse51 Verse52 Verse53 Verse54 Verse55 Verse56 Verse57 Verse58 Verse59 Verse60 Verse61 Verse62 Verse63 Verse64 Verse65
93 94 95 97 99 100 102 104 105 106 107 109 111 112 114 115 116
Introduction
ThisisaMakkansurah,revealedduringtheAmetheMessengerofAllaahs livedinMakkah. TheMakkansuwarfocusuponthreemainaspectsinimaan: tawhid(theOnenessofAllaah) risalah(MessengershipofMuhammads,thatheisamessengersentbyAllaahtoguideallof creaAonandhereceivesdivinerevelaAon) andtherealityofthealaakhirahandwhatwillbeencounteredtherein. SurahYaSins(36)placementwithinthemushaf:itfollowsSaba(34)andFaaHr(35)whichare alsoMakkansuwar.SabaandFaaHrarealsoMakkansuwarsotherefocusistodiscusstawhid, risalah,andalaakhirah.YaSinconAnueswiththesethemes,butittakesadierenttone.It startsbyfocusingmoreheavilyontheprophethoodofMuhammads.FaaHrdiddiscussthe prophethoodandtheimportanceofbelievingintheMessengerofAllaahs,butitmore heavilyfocusesontawhid.YaSinplacesaheavyemphasisontheprophethoodofMuhammad s. TherearefewahadithwhichdiscussthevirtueofYaSinasmenAonedbytheMessengerof Allaah.ThereisdiscussionregardingtheauthenAcityofthesenarraAons,butthetwothatexist are (1) EverythinghasaheartandYaSinistheheartoftheQuraan. Whatthisexactlymeansisheavilydiscussedbythescholars.Themostapparentunderstanding, however,isthebeautywithwhichYaSinconstructsthisargumentandthebeautywithwhichit owsdiscussingthemesandconcepts.Itissocomprehensiveandcoherentthatitisaperfect exampleofthemiracleoftheQuraan.Second,itissouniversallyloved,admired,revered,and respectedbyMuslims.ThemostrenownedscholarandtheaverageMuslimwhomaynotbe abletorecitewithpropertajwidwillholdincommontheirreveranceandloveforthissurah. TheysAllknowitissomethingamazingandmindblowing.Itisitsacceptabilityintheheartsof peoplethatalludestoitbeingtheheartoftheQuraan. AnothernarraAonwiththisideaisIwishforSurahYaSintobeintheheartofeverysingle believingperson.Thisisthefocusbehindthisstudy:tomemorizethesurahasinthewishof theMessengerofAllaahs. (2) ReciteSurahYaSinuponyourdead. Meaningwhensomebodyisatthedoorofdeath,experiencingthepangsofdeath,the MessengerofAllaahs isadvisingustoreciteittoeasetheirtransiAontotheaWerlifeand makeiteasierforthatpersontoleavethisworld. ThisisaprevalentpracAceintheMuslimcommunity,butithasbeenmoreintoaritual.They arethewordsofAllaahsotheydohavesoothing,calmingaectonpeople,butsodoother suwar.Whythissurah?Ittalksaboutimaan,itrearmstawhid,risalah,alaakhirah.Ittalks abouteverythingofgreatimportance. WhattheMessengerofAllaahsisactuallyalludingtoisthatwhenthereismasseducaAonin ourcommuniAesofQuraanandthemeaningandunderstanding,therecitaAonwillrearm
thefaithofthatperson.ItwillreconnecthimtoAllaah.Itwillremindhimofthefundamental principlesofimaanleadinghimtoabe<erdeathandplaceintheHereaWer.
Verse 1
YaSin HurufalmuqaMaat(thedisjointedle<ers) ThesearerepeatedthroughouttheQuraan.Whatdotheymean? ThemostauthenAcandmajorityposiAonoftheulemaisthatonlyAllaahknowsthe truemeaning. Inthiscase,however,thereismorediscussionregardingwhattheymean.Someclaimit meansOhumanbeingothersthatitisanameoftheMessengerofAllaahs.The realityofthema<er,however,isthatwehavenoconrmaAonofthesefacts.Nothing toestablishthesehypothesesexist.ThemostauthenAcandsafestunderstandingissAll thatAllaahknowsbestwhattheymean. TheycanalsobeseenfromthemiracleoftheQuraan.Thesearethele<ersoftheArabic language.TheArabsofthatAmeweresomeofthemostpoeAcandeloquentpeoplethisearth hasseen,themastersofthislanguage.Theyhadneverbeforeseen,however,thele<ersbeing usedinthismanner. WhentheArabsputtogetherthele<ersaliflaammimtheyalwaysassumeditmeant alam;Hamimwasham;yasinwasyas.Itshockedandamazedthem. Thatisthepurposeofthesesuwarbeginnings.Itcatchesthea<enAonimmediately.It capAvatesthelistenerasifitisanannouncement.Thefactthatwedontknowwhatit meanshumblestheperson.Ithumbleseventhescholarofthelanguage. AninteresAngpointregardingthesuwarthatbeginwiththesele<ersisthattheverynext aayahisabouttheQuraan.OWenAmes,thereisanoathinvolvedaswell.Thewordkitaabor Quraanoccursinthisnextverse.Thepointofthesele<ersistocallyoura<enAontothe Quraan. TheFramework|WhatcanweexpectfromSurahYaSin? Thethreemainthemesofimaan:tawhid,risalah,alaakhirah. Thissurahisveryphilosophicalandwillfocusuponthefundamentalideasofourlifeandits purpose. Itwillfocusheavilyupongratefulnessandwhatitrequiresofaperson. a. Whyshouldwebegrateful? b. HowshouldweexpressourgraAtude? c. Nowthatwearegrateful,whatisexpectedofusifwearegrateful?
1. TherstpartofthesurahisaconsolaAontotheMessengerofAllaahsthatwhatheis doingiscorrect.Hesshouldnotpayheedtothesepeoplewhoslanderhim,cursehim, abusehim,lieagainsthim. 2. ThesecondpartofthesurahisgivingalessontotheQurayshbyreferringtopeopleof previousnaAonswhoweresentmessengersbuttheyrejectedthemjustliketheQuraysh. Whathappenedtothosepeopleinreturn? 3. ThethirdpartofthesurahwilltalktousaboutthebeautyofAllaahscreaAon.Howwecan lookallaroundusandappreciatethatAllaahisourCreator,Sustainer,andhowMagnicent HemustbeifHiscreaAonisthismagnicent. 4. Thefourthpartofthesurahwilldiscussthatwhenthemessageisdelivered,whenthe disbelieversareshownthesemagnicencesandtoldtobelieveinAllaah,buttheyrefuseand rejectitstruth,whathappenstothem. 5. TheWhpartofthesurahwilldiscusstheHereaWer.WhatwillhappenontheDayof Judgmentwiththesetwogroupsofpeople?Thegroupthatbelievedandthegroupthat disbelieved. 6. Finally,Allaahwillissueawarningtopeoplewhohaveintelligence,faculAes,money,assets, resourcesandtalent.TheyarefullyfuncAoninghumanbeings,buttheyrefusetobelievein Allaah.TousetheirabiliAestounderstandtheOnenessinAllaah.Thisisanalwarningto thosepeople. 7. ThesurahconcludesbyagainprovidingconsolaAontotheMessengerofAllaahs:by remindinghimthathewasgivenatask.Hisresponsibilityistodeliverthemessage.Some peoplewillbelieveandheistoteachthem,otherswilldisbelieveandheisnottoworry aboutthem.
Verse 2
BythewiseQuraan. Thisisanoath.Thewaawheremeansanoath(asopposedtoitsusualand).BytheQuraan thatisfullofwisdom. TheWordQuraanItself ThisisthegivennamebyAllaahtoHisBook.WecallittheQuraan. Itcomesfromtherootofthewordmeaningtoreadsomething. Theendingontheword(aan)itmeansabundance.Thatpa<ernalludestoabundance. SoQuraanisthatwhichisreadinabundance. ItisnotacoincidencethatAllaahbeginsthissurahwiththetermQuraanforYaSinisoneof themostfrequentlyrecitedpartsofit. AlHakim Itcanhavetwopossiblemeanings. 1. WeknowthatitmeansWise.ItcomesfromHikmah(wisdom)andHakimissomeonewhois fullofwisdom. ThereisaprofoundmessageincallingtheQuraanwise.Itismiraculousformany reasons.Thescience,theprophecies,theunmatchedlanguage.Itsmostprominent miracle,however,isitswisdom,profundity,depth.Ittellsushowtoleadourlife,exactly whattodotoleadasuccessful,meaninglife.Itisthecureforwhateverproblem creaAonhas.Itisthatdeepinitswisdom. 2. ItcanalsocomesfromthewordHukm(authority)andHakimwouldbesomeonewhoisfull ofauthority(authoritaAve).Ittellsyouwhattodo.Itisdecisiveindeliveringamessageto you. Whichonedoesitmean?Therealityofthema<eristhatitmeansboth.Thisispartofthe beautyoftheQuraanthatonewordcanhavemulAplemeanings.Thisiscalledaltawasul manalQuraanalKarim.ThiscreatesdepthinthemeaningoftheQuraan. Thus,theQuraanisbothfullofwisdomanditisauthoritaAve(e.g.ittellsuswhattodo).
Verse 3
Indeedyou,[OMuhammad],arefromamongthemessengers, AllaahhasswornbytheQuraanthatthisistrue. IntheQuraan,thesingular,secondperson(you=kaaf)referstotheMessengerofAllaahs. Innaistoprovideemphasis,toremovedoubt.Allaahissayingthereshouldremainnodoubt aboutthefactthatYouaremostdenitely(laamisforemphasis)from(min)almursalin. AlMursalinisfromtherootofirsal(someonewhohasbeensentbyahigherauthority).Mursal issomeonewhohasbeensentbyahigherauthority.Rasulissomeonewhohasbeensentto conveybyahigherauthority.Thus,ifsomoneisarasuloramursalitdoesntjustmeanheisa messenger.ItsconnecAngthewordbacktoAllaah.TheulAmateauthorityisAllaah.Theword isconnecAngthepeoplebacktoAllaah. Thus,theversemeans:thereshouldremainnodoubtthatyouarefromthegroupofpeople whohavebeensentbyAllaahtoconveythemessagetothepeople. Afewma<ersthatneedtobeunderstoodhere: 1. AllaahsworebytheQuraanthatMuhammadsisamessengerofAllaah.Thisisanother partofthewisdomoftheQuraan.AllaahiscreaAngthatconnecAonhere.Allaahknewthe situaAonwouldarisewherepeoplewouldbecomfortableaccepAngtheQuraan,buthaving dicultyaccepAngtheMessengerofAllaahs.MeaningifyouareaccepAngtheQuraan youmustaccepttheMessengerofit.Oneisthekasam(oath)andtheotheristhejawabal kasam(reasonfortheoath). 2. Allaahdoesnotsayinnakamursalorinnakarasul.Allaahsaysthatyouarefromthose people.Onceagain,itisaconsolaAon.Hes isnottherstpersontobecommunicatedto byAllaah,toconveyamessagefromAllaah,toberejectedbyhispeoplefordeliveringthe message.Thereweremanybeforeyousandyoubelongtothisfraternityofpeople.This makesdealingwiththedicultyeasier.Toknowthatsomeonehasexperienceditbefore. Makkahistoughandyouareexperiencingalot,butyouareconnectedtoAllaahandthere havebeenotherswhohavebeenthroughthisbefore.
Verse 4
uponastraightpath. Alaameansupon,ontopof. Siraatmeanspath. Anotherwordmeaningpathissabil.Siraathasnoplural,butsabilhasaplural(subul). WhenAllaahtalksaboutguidance,imaan,din,hidayah,Hetaaalausessiraatbecomes thereisasinglepathtoguidance.WhenHetaaaladiscussescharity,however,Heuses sabil(e.g.sabillillah)becausetherearemulAplewaysforgivinginthesakeofAllaah. Youhavebeensenttopeopletosetthemuponthispath. Mustaqimmeanstostandupright.Itcomesfromtheroottomakestand.Whensomethingis siing,thebodyiscrookedatanangle.Whenitisstanding,however,itisstraightandupright. Itisthequickest(direct)shortestpathtothepleasureofAllaah. Itisnoblebecauseitisupright.ThereisnothinghumiliaAng,disgusAngwithinthedin. AlaaisabeauAfulharfaljarr(preposiAon).Itprovidesimageryofbeingatop.Itslikeoneis inclininguponthestraightpath.Theulemadescribeitlikegeingonatrain.Onceyouareon thetrack,youdonthaveanythingtodoaWerwardsexceptreclinetohaveittakeyoutoyour desAnaAon.Itisasmooth,easyride.Thereiseortina<ainingtheAcketandcatchingthe train,butonceyoureonit,lifebecomeseasy,smoothsailing.Theremustbesomeeortputin togetthere,butfromthereAllaahwilltakeustherestoftheway. NoAcethetanwin(siraaHnmustaqimin).Itisinitscommonform.Otherplacesitisinitsproper form(1,5).
Verse 5
ThemonthofRamadhaan[isthat]inwhichwasrevealedtheQuraan... TheQuraanwasrevealedinitsenAretyinthismonth.Yet,weknowAllaahsentitdownli<le byli<le.Again,hereAllaahismenAoningtherevelaAonfromlawhalmahfuztobaytalizza. ThisisdemonstraAngfromtheaboveverseinSuratlQadrthattheNightofPowerisin Ramadhaan. EverywhereelsewhendiscussingtherevelaAonoftheQuraan,Allaahusestanzilbecauseit wasgradualandHeisreferringtotherevelaAontotheMessengerofAllaahs. WhatsthesignicanceofsendingtheQuraanli<lebyli<le? AllaahisgivingtheQuraanimportance.HetaaalaisteachingusthattheQuraanismeantto bedigested,approached,understood,absorbed,internalizedLITTLEBYLITTLE.Justlikeitwas sentdown.WemayhavetheenArety,butweshouldsAlllearnitinaporAonofaAme. Now,fromwhomwasitthattheQuraanwascomingdown? Remember,thepurposesofYaSinaretoestablishthetruthoftheQuraanandthevalidityof theprophethoodofMuhammads.EstablishingthathesistheMessengerofAllaah. Thisisntcomingdownfromanyrandomplace.ItiscomingdownfromalAzizarRahim referringtoAllaah. AlAziz|WordAnalysis ItmeanstheOneWhodominates,butcannotbedominated.Powerful,rm,strong, dominaAng. ArRahim|WordAnalysis Itcomesfromtherootwordmeaningmercy(raHmah).ItmeanstheOneWhoisconstantly merciful. ThesetwoNamesbeingmenAonedisofimportancebecauseinthenextfewaayaatAllaahwill discussthepeopelwhorejecttheQuraan.Theywhodontlistentoit,theywhochoosenotto believeinit.Forthem,AllaahisAzizrm,strong,powerfulanddominaAng.Hiswarningis beinggiventhatHispunishmentwilldominatethesepeople. Theninaayah11,
Verse 6
Thatyoumaywarnapeoplewhoseforefatherswerenotwarned,sotheyareunaware. {Sothatyoumaywarnapeoplethatthereforefatherswerenotwarned,thereforetheyare completelyin(inastateof)heedlessness.} HistoricalExplanaAon Ibrahimalayhiassalaam,consideredtheforefatheroftheprophetsandmessengers.Itisfrom himthatthetwomajorchainsofprophetscameBaniIsrailandtheArabs.Weknowthere wastheconictthere.Hehadtwosonsandtheirtribes:BanuIshaqandBanuIsmail. TheprogenyofIshaqalayhiassalaamwerepeopleamongstwhommanyoftheprophets menAonedintheQuraancame:Zakariyyah,Yahya,Sulayman,Dawud,Isa,Musa,etc. alayhumassalaam. TheprogenyofIsmailalayhiassalaamdidnotgetanymessengersunAlMuhammads.So fortheseArabs,thedivinerevelaAondidnotcometothemforatleast100sand100sifnot 1000sofyears.AllaahsaysthisbookhasbeenrevealedtothemfromAzizandRahimwhose forefatherswerenotwarned.Asaresultoftheirforefathersnotbeingwarnedghalun.Allaah didnotsayghafalu,yaghlu.Allaahusesthenominalform.Thesepeopleweredrowningin heedlessness.Heedlessnessissimplypeoplewhoareunaware,oblivioustoreality,completely lost.Theyhavecompletelackofawarenessofwhatisgoingon.SomeofthescholarsmenAon therearemulApleformsofghaasomeareaccidental,othersareintenAonal.Thesepeople hadanintenAonalbranding.Theychosetobeheedless.Theylikedthewaythingswerefor them. GuidancehasnotcometothesepeopleforaverylongAmesoitwilltakelongerforthe messagetobeabsorbed,forthemtotakefromit.AtthesameAme,AllaahishinAngthat amongstthem,therearesomewhohavetheelementofchoosingtobeheedless.Theyknow abouttheirsituaAonandtheylikethewaythingsare,theyarecontentwiththesituaAon. Fahumghalun. Allaahisremindingthemofthis.HeistellingtheMessengerofAllaahs thatthisisthe purposeoftherevelaAonoftheQuraan.In(28,46),HetaaalamakesmenAonofthisin(28, 46)
Verse 7
Alreadythewordhascomeintoeectuponmostofthem,sotheydonotbelieve. {Mostdenitely,thewordhasbeenconrmeduponthemajorityofthem.Thereforetheywill notbelieve.} WeknowtheMessengerofAllaahs wassentforallofhumanity,buttherstrecipientsofhis messageweretheQuraysh,theArabs.SoAllaahistalkingaboutthemspecically.Inthe previousaayah,AllaahhasmenAonedthathes hasthejobtowarnthem,toawakethem fromthisdeepsleep.Nowinthisaayah,Allaahissayingmostdenitely(laamisemphasisand qadisfurtheremphasis=likepoundingstontable). Haqq|WordAnalysis Haqqisfromtherootmeaningthatwhichisstable/constant/solidbutitalsocarriesthe meaningofthatwhichisreality/conrmed/happens/nodoubtaboutit.Thewordorsayingor decisionhasbeenconrmeduponyou.Whatisthisqawl? Qawl|WordAnalysis IntheQuraan,AllaahtellsusthestoryaboutAdamalayhiassalaamandIblis.WhenAllaah createdAdamalayhiassalaamHecommandedtheangelstomakesujudtohim,butIblis refused.Hewasarrogant,arguingwithAllaah,denying,refusing,anddisobeying.SoAllaah castedhimo,senthimawayfromHismercy. IblisrequestsAmeunAltheDayofJudgmenttoleadallofthesehumanbeingsastray.These humanbeingstowhomhehadbeencommandedtoprostrate,hecommitshislifetotaking themastray.Comingatthemfrominfront,behind,leW,right,doingwhateverittakestolead themastrayandYouwillsaythemajorityofthewillnotbegrateful.HesworebyAllaahs power(wabiizzaHhim)thathewouldleadthemastray.Lookatthearrogance(38,82)!
[Iblis]said,ByYourmight,Iwillsurelymisleadthemall, AllaahendedupcursingIblisandsayingthereality(38,8485)
[Allaah]said,Thetruth[isMyoath],andthetruthIsay [that]IwillsurelylltheHellrewithyouandthoseofthemthatfollowyoualltogether.
TowarnwhoeverisaliveandjusHfythewordagainstthedisbelievers. AlQawlisthusAllaahsdecisiontopunishthesepeople,Hisdecisiontocastthemintothe Hellre.Thatdecisionhasbeenconrmeduponthemajorityofthesepeopletowhomthe MessengerofAllaahs isgivingdawahthereforethesepeoplewillnotbelieve(itincludesthe futuretenseasindontexpectthemtobelieve). InConclusion WhenAllaahalAzizarRahimistellingHisMessengers thatHehassentdowntheQuraan forhimtowarnthesepeople,thenwhywouldAllaahmenAonthatthepunishmentforthe majoritythesepeoplehasbeenconrmedandheshouldntexpectthemtobelieve? TheseaayaatareaconsolaAontotheMessengerofAllaahs.InMakkah,alotofdicultywas experienced.Thesecondtheydtakeafewstepsahead,thepeoplewouldbecomemore stubborn,arrogant,aggressive,andviolent.Itwasdiculttokeepupthemoraleofthe Muslims.ThiswastolethimknowthatAllaahiswatchingthesepeopleandhasmadethe decisionforthem. ThereasonfortellingtheMessengerofAllaahs nottoexpectthesepeopletobelievewas becausetheMessengerofAllaahembodiedandamazingquality.Toblamehimselfforwhat goeswrong.SomepeopleautomaAcallylooktootherswhenma<ersgowrong.Aspecial person,however,blameshimselfinthisselessway.ItisempatheAc,sympatheAc,and compassionatetoblameonesownself.Hes embodiedthisqualitylikenootherperson. Allaahhadtotellhim(18,6)totakeiteasy!
unconscious,hewasgivenamomentofrestandmadeduaatoAllaah.HisssupplicaAonis unbelievable! OAllaahIcomplaintoyouofmyownweakness,andmylackofeort,andIcomplaintoyouof mylackofrespectintheeyesofpeople. AsifsayingthatthesepeopledidntrejectthemessagebecauseofAllaahorofwhatitcontains orevenbecauseofthemselves.TheirrejecAonwasassociatedwithmyownweaknessesand faults.Pleaseforgiveme. AllaahwouldhavetoconsoletheMessengerofAllaahs becauseofthisquality.Toprevent hims fromdestroyinghimselfforthesakeofpeople.
Aayaat 8-10 elaborate upon aayah 7
Verse 8
Indeed,Wehaveputshacklesontheirnecks,andtheyaretotheirchins,sotheyarewithheads [kept]aloe. {Mostdenitelywehaveplacedintheirneckscollars(orshackles)anditisallthewayupto theirchinssotheirheadsareslightlyraised(stuckinthatoneposiHon)} WordAnalysis HereAllaahisa<ribuAngtheacAontoHimselfinnajaalnaa.ThereisrepeAAonoftherst personpluralsubjecttosaythatitisdenitelyAllaah,andonlyAllaah.Thereisexclusivity. Aanaaqisthepluralofunuq(neck).Intheirnecks. Aghlaalisthepluralofghul(shacklee.g.likeshacklineaprisoner).Itisaverygeneraltermsoit couldbeshacklesputonanyarea(handcus,ankles,neck),buthereitisspeciedtoaround theirnecks. IlaaaladhqaanuptotheirchinssothatitiselongaAngtheirnecks.InthisposiAon,oneno longerhasanyroomtomove.Theyhavenoabilitytomove,theyarefrozeninthisposiAon. TheresultisfahummuqmaHun.MuqmaHuncomesfromtherootqamaHareferstowhena camelcomestodrinkwater.Thecamelthenraisesitshead,juststandingbeforethewater, gazingatit.ThiswouldbecalledaqmaHalbaithatthecameldrankthewaterandhasitshead raisedtostandoverthewater,perhapsgazingdownatit.AnotherexplanaAoninthelexiconis thattheneckofthecamelwassomeAmesAedtoitsbackinsuchawaythatitsneckwouldstay erecttokeepitalert.Theywoulddothiswhentheydidnotwantthecameltowalkorstandin aparAcularposiAonandnothaveexibilitytomovefromtheposiAon. SomuqmaHunmeansthepeoplehavebeenAedintosuchaposiAonthattheirheadcan neitherbefurtherupnorfurtherdownespeciallyloweringthehead. Whywouldtheirheadsberaised? 1.Itisinreferencetotheirarrogance.Theywereprovidedthemessage,amessenger,the Quraanwasrecitedtothem.Theywererude,theywereextremelyarrogant.ItisasifAllaah setthiscurseofarroganceuponthem:theywantedtobearrogant,sotheynotmustdealwith it.Theywereallowedtofurtherindulgeintheirarrogance. TheQuraandenestousveryclearly(especiallyinSuratlBaqarah)thatarroganceisthe numberoneobstacletoguidance.TheleadersofQurayshcouldnotspeakilloftheMessenger ofAllaah s,theQuraanwassoa<racAvetothemthattheywouldgotohearit.Yet,theysAll didnotaccept. AbuJahlwasaskedwhyhedidntbelieve.
WewillshowthemOursignsinthehorizonsandwithinthemselvesunHlitbecomesclearto themthatitisthetruth.ButisitnotsucientconcerningyourLordthatHeis,overallthings,a Witness? andinNabaaandinMulkwhichspeakofthemiraclesofAllaahinoursurroundings,inthese miraculousthingsaresignsforpeopleofintelligence,peoplewhothink.Ifthesepeoplelooked aroundthem,itwouldhumblethem.IftheirnecksareinsuchaposiAon,theycantgaze aroundatthewonders.TheycanneverseethebeautyofthemagnicenceofAllaahssigns.It isfurtherdrowningthemselvesintheirownarrogance.Theyvemadeachoiceandmustnot livewithit. Tense Allofthishasbeensaidinthepasttense.Innajaalnaa=Wehavealreadyput. 1. SomescholarsareoftheopinionthatthisisgivingametaphorfortheirspiritualcondiAonin thedunya. 2. OtherscholarssayitwilltranspirewiththesepeopleontheDayofJudgment.Theywillno longerbeabletoprostratethemselves,humblethemselves.Itisinthepasttensebecauseit isconrmed.Thereissuchassurityinitsoccurrencethatitsasifithasalreadyhappened, thusthepasttenseisbeingused. Thecomingverses,however,supporttherstopinionandmakeitclearthatthisiswith referencetotheirarroganceinthisworld.ItisametaphorfortheirspiritualsituaAon.
Verse 9
AndWehaveputbeforethemabarrierandbehindthemabarrierandcoveredthem,sotheydo notsee. {AndWehavemadeallthewayfrominfrontofthemabarrierandallthewayfrombehind themabarrierandwehavecoveredthemandtheycannolongersee.} AllaahisfurtherconAnuingthatanalogyofhowpiAfultheirsituaAonisandhowcursedthese peopleare.ThereisrepeAAonofthewordjaalnaainverses8and9.Thescholarssaythatthis isbecauseitisnowdiscussingadierentbarrier.Therstwastheirinternalobstacletoseeing thetruththeirarrogancewhichtrappedtheminaposiAon.Now,itsdiscussingtheinternal barrier.Soeveniftheywereabletoovercometheinternalbarrier,theywouldnotbeableto believebecausethereisanexternalbarrier. Sadisabarrierbetweentwothings.SomethingprevenAngtwothingsfromcomingtogether betweenthemandguidance,themandimaan.Allaahfurthersaysminbaynimeaningthatitis allthewayfromthem,itistouchingthem.TheyaresqueezedbetweentwowallssoAghtlythat theycannotmove.Thereissuchpowerfulimageryhere.ImaginethesuocaAon.Thisisnota comfortablelifestyletheylead.Behindthemthereisanotherwallthatislockingthemin, trappingthem. Faaghshaynaahumthereisevensomethingontopcoveringthemcompletelysothatthey cannotevenseedaylight.Theyarecompletelytrappedthattheycannotevensee.
Verse 10
Andwhenacommunityamongthemsaid,Whydoyouadvise[orwarn]apeoplewhomAllaah is[about]todestroyortopunishwithaseverepunishment?they[theadvisors]said,Tobe absolvedbeforeyourLordandperhapstheymayfearHim. SothatwhentheystandbeforeAllaahontheDayofJudgment,theyhavenoexcuses.The messengerwillbeabletostandbeforethemandsaythattheydidpreachtothemasbestas possible.Itcompletestheargument.Yet,atthesameAmetonevergiveupbecausetheymay possiblybecomesconsciousofAllaah.Weneverknow.AbuSufyanacceptedIslaam20years aWeritwasrevealed,aWerengagingincampaignsandba<lesagainstthemessage. WhyisAllaaha<ribuAngthistoHimself? ThishorriblesituaAonthattheyarein,trappedandsuocaAng,AllaahissayingthatWehave puttheminit.WhyisAllaahdoingittothem?DoesntAllaahwantthemtobelieve? WhenyoustudytheQuraananditsthemesoverall,anditsdiscussiononguidanceyou understandthis. 1. Allaahhassentguidanceclearasday,mercy,messengers,prophets,signsaroundus.Hehas putindicatorstoleadusbacktoHimallaroundusandevenwithinourselves.Itisveryclear andaccessible. 2. Ifthesesignswereallaroundus,butwedidnthavethefaculAestoaccessthemitwouldbe pointless.SoAllaahhasgivenusthefaculAes(76,2)
Verse 11
YoucanonlywarnonewhofollowsthemessageandfearstheMostMercifulunseen.Sogive himgoodHdingsofforgivenessandnoblereward. OneveryprofoundmessagehereisthatdawahisaresponsibilityfromAllaahanditmustbe discharged.Itisnotjusttobenetthepersonbeinginvited(madu),butalsofortheinviter (dai)regardlessifsomeoneislisteningornot.Wedonotslackeninoureortsandaccept failure.WestrivebecausewearebeneAngfromthisstruggle.Attheendoftheday,the MessengerofAllaahswantedtoseesomeresults,toseesomevalidaAon,somevindicaAon, toseethatwhathesdoingmeanssomethinganditbringssomechange. InnamaainthisformservesthepurposeofrestricAonandspecicaAon,inactuality,youare only. AMabaaadhdhikr|WordAnalysis AdhdhikrpointstotheQuraanasAmeandAmeagainithasbeendescribedasthat(54,40)
Wholistentospeech(veryaMenHvely,carefully)andfollowit(initsmostexcellentfashion). ThosearetheonesAllaahhasguidedandthosearepeopleofunderstanding.
Thus,followingtheQuraanmeanstolisten,understandit,internalizeit,actuponit,andeven spendthemselvesinfurtherspreadingit.ThisistherealfollowingoftheQuraan.Thatisthe onewhomtheMessengerofAllaahs iswarning. KhashiyaarRahman|WordAnalysis Butthatsnotall.Thispersonhasasecondqualityaswell.Khashiyahefears,isoverwhelmed byarRahman.ThisisaninteresAngcombinaAon,tofeartheMostMerciful. WhynotsayAllaah?BysayingArRahmanthereaderorlistenerthinksofalltheblessingsinhis lifeandfeelsasenseofobligaAontoturntoandworshipAllaah.TheAtle,relaAonship,statusis menAonedtomakeonefeelasenseofobligaAon.Hetaaalahasblessedyouwitheverything youhave. Also,bymenAoningArRahmanitsHisrightuponustobeworshippedandforustofear disappoinAngHim.ThereisnocontradicAon. Ghaybmeaninginabsence.Whentheyareawayfromeveryone,intheprivacyoftheirhomes. ThispersonwouldhavetrulyinternalizedthemeaningoftheQuraan.Heisneverheedlessof Allaah,theOneWhohasgivenhimeverything,iswatchinghim. TheResult Givethesepeoplethegoodnewsofmaghrah.Maghrahisthelargerformoftheword, meaningcompleteforgiveness. Andgivethemnewsofaajrinkarimamostgenerous,nobleword. SothesepeoplehadtwoqualiAesandwereguaranteedtwopromises. 1. ForlivingalifefollowingtheQuraantheyreceivemaghrah.Whenweleadsuchalifewe arecleansingandwashingawayallthesinswehavecommi<edinthislife. 2. ForbeingfearfulofArRahmaneveninprivatetheyreceiveanoble,generousreward(the lifeofParadise).
Verse 12
AndisonewhowasdeadandWegavehimlifeandmadeforhimlightwithwhichtowalk amongthepeoplelikeonewhoisindarkness,nevertoemergetherefrom?... {TheonewhoremembersAllaahandtheonewhodoesnot,theirexampleislikethelivingand thedead.[Tirmidhi]} Allaahbringspeopletolifebyblessingthemwithimaan.Previously,therewasreferenceto peoplewhowouldnotbelieve.NowHetaaalaisspeakingofthosewhowillacceptit.Again, weconAnuetoputforthourdawahbecausewedonotknowwhomAllaahwillblesstocome forwardfromdeathintolife.LooktotheexamplesofAbuSufyan,Khaalidb.Walid,Ikrimahb. AbiJahl. Naktubu|TheRecording Thisfocusesuponaccountability.ThiswasanotherobjecAonofthedisbelievers.Theycouldnot fathomhowanyonecouldtakeeveryonetoaccountforwhattheyhavedone.WearewriAng thatwhichtheyhavesentforwardorinvestedforthemselves. Aathaarahum|WordAnalysis AndtheirlasAngeectsortheirremainingeects.Butwhatdoesthatmean?
1. maaqaddamu(=thatwhichtheyhavesentforward)isreferringtothegoodinten)onthat onesendsforward. WhenabelievermakestheintenAontodoagooddeed.AllaahtellstheAngeltowrite. TheAngelrespondsthatthepersonhasnotdoneanythingyet. Allaahsaysthatthepersonhasmadetheintenttodosomegoodsoitshouldbewri<en forhimasareward. Then,whenthepersonactsuponthegooddeed,AllaahagaincommandstheAngelto writeit. Incomparison:whenthepersonintendsforsin,theAngelasksAllaahifitshouldbe wri<en.Allaahsaysnodonotwriteit.Thenwhenthepersoncommitsthesin,Allaah tellstheAngeltowriteitonce.Ifthepersondoesnotcommitit,though,Allaahtellsthe AngeltowritedownagooddeedforthepersonbecausehefoughthisintenAonand resisted.
WhoeverdesirestheharvestoftheHereaeerWeincreaseforhiminhisharvest.Andwhoever desirestheharvestofthisworldWegivehimthereof,butthereisnotforhimintheHereaeer anyshare.(42,20) Allaahdidnotsaymankaanaamila,butHesaidmankaanayuridu.Theonewhowould intend,notactuallydid.Iradah.JustagoodintenAonisaprofoundgooddeeduponthe believer. TheintenHonofthebelieverisbeMerthanhisacHon. ThentheaathaararetheactualgooddeedsuponthoseintenAons. 2. maaqaddamuaretheactualgooddeedsthepersondoesandaathaararewhatit encouragedotherstodo WhosoeverstartsagoodpracHce,hewillgettherewardofitandtherewardofanyone whoconHnuestoactuponit. Whenthehumanbeingdies,hisacAonsarecutoexceptforthreethings(1)perpetualcharity (2)knowledgethepeopleconAnuetobenetfrom(3)arighteouschildwhoconAnuestomake duaaforthedeceasedparent. Sotheynotonlygetcreditofthatwhichtheythemselveshavedone,buttheaWereectsof whattheyhavedone. 3. maaqaddamuarethegooddeedsbeingwriLenandaathaarareeverythingthatgoesinto makingthedeedsrealityandcomesaboutbecauseofit ThescholarsquoteanincidentfromthelifeoftheMessengerofAllaahs.Therewerea peoplelivingontheoutskirtsofMadinah,BanuSalimah,whoacceptedIslaamwhenteh messagerstarrivedandsupportedIslaam.
TheirneighbourhoodwassomedistancefromthemasjidsotheymadeintenAonsto moveintotheplotnearit(todayitisjannatlbaqi).Hes heardthisandwentto them.Hes said,YaBaniSalimah,diyaarakum(staywhereyouarenow).Tubtabu aathaarakum(everyli<lefootstepyoutaketothemasjidarewri<enasrewardforyou). Whenapersonwalkstothemasjid,foreverystephetakeshegetsarewardandonesin iswipedawayfromhisslate. ThisislikeguardingtheboundariesofthelandofIslaam.Meaningthefartheryoulive fromthemasjidandyetyousAllgo,itislikepreservingtheIslaamicstate. Givegoodnewstothepeoplewhowalk,butwalkfrequentlytothemasjidinthe darknessofnight.TheywillhavethemostcompletelightontheDayofJudgment. Theprincipleisthatwhenyoudoagooddeed,theeort,Ame,investment,andintenAon, everythingthatgoesintomakingthedeedarealityarewri<enforyou. FinalConrmaAon Eachandeverysinglething(abnormalsentencestructure)(iHsaan)isalreadytakeninto accountandhasbeenpreserved.Therearebookswiththeproof,withconrmaAon. Imaamheremeans(accordingtoIbnAbbaas)thebookofdeeds,yourrecord.Thisisbecauseit willbepresentedbeforepeopleandpeoplewillfollowit(e.g.righthandtoParadise,leWhand toHellre).Thisagaincreatesthatsenseofaccountability.Whatwedointhislifewill determinewhathappenstousintheHereaWer. Thislifeisanallusion,butitissignicantbecauseourresultintheHereaferdependsuponwhat wevedonehere.WhatwedointhislifewillbeourimaamintheHereaWer. ThisendspassageoneofYaSin. WevenowdiscussedthevalidityoftheQuraan,oftheMessengerofAllaahs,andofthe conceptoftheirbeingmessengerssentbyAllaahtodeliverHismessagetothepeople. Thentherearetwogroupspeopledivideintowhentheyaredeliveredthismessage.One choosetodenounceitandAllaahdiscussestheirsituaAonandcondiAon.Theotherchooseto acceptsitandAllaahdiscussestherewardsetasideforthem.
Verse 13
ThisbeginsthesecondpassageofYaSin.Weneedtounderstandthehistoricalcontextforits revelaAonbeforeproceedingfurther. ThiswasrevealedtotheMessengerofAllaahsduringtheMakkanperiodandattheheightof theopposiAonfromtheMakkans.AlotofAmeinthecityhadpassed,sothiswasnearinghis naldaysinMakkah.HeshasdeliverdthemessagetothepeopleinseveralwayslikeNuh alayhiassalaamtohispeople(71,515)publicly,privately,individually,givingthem incenAves.Yet,evenwithalloftheseeorts(71,6)
evenwhenAllaahspeakofdisbelieversintheQuraan,eventheMuslimsshouldtakeheed.Ibn Abbaassaidthatintheaayaatdirectedtothedisbelieversthereisrelevanceforthebelievers. Theyoughttorecognizethesetraitsandtendenciesandsearchforthemwithinthemselves.If theyndthem,itisasignofdisbeliefandasigntocorrecttheirways. Ofthepeopleofatownwhenmessengershavecometothem.Theresmuchdiscussionin tafasiraboutthistown.ManymenAonthetownofIntaqiyyah.Itwasanancientcity.These messengers,intheiropinion,werenotprophetsbutthedisciplesofIsaalayhiassalaam.Ibn KathirhasadetaileddiscussionabouttheauthenAcityofthesenarraAons.Wedontreallyneed togetintothisdiscussion.Itismoreimportanttoseewhatmessagewecandrawfromthese aayaat.
Verse 14
Verse 15
Verse 16
Theysaid,OurLordknowsthatwearemessengerstoyou, Themessengersnowspeakinresponsetothepeopleofthetown:OurLord,Heknowsthat mostdenitelywehavebeensentspecicallyforyoupeople. Theirstatementhereisveryprofound.Whatdidtheyuseasevidence? Weknowthatmessengerswouldreceivemiraclesasevidenceaswell.They,however,didnot respondwithmiracles.JustlikehowtheMessengerofAllaahs didnotrespondtopeople withmiracles.RememberwhenUtbahbinWalidcametotheMessengerofAllaahandasked himwhathewanted(wealth?fame?women?).InresponsetheMessengerofAllaahs recited theversesofSuratlFussilat.UnAlhereachedthepointofsajdahperformeditandthenwalked awayfromUtbahwhowasleWgobsmacked.Thepeoplesawhimwhenhereturnedandsaid thatheisnotcomingbackwiththefaceheleWwith.Headvisedthemtoleavethewaybecause thiswouldbeapowerfulstorm. Weshouldntrelyuponsupernaturalthingstoproveourpoint.Ourmessageisenough evidenceforus.
Verse 17
OMessenger,ballighthatwhichhasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord,andifyoudonot, thenyouhavenotconveyedHismessage.AndAllaahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.Indeed, Allaahdoesnotguidethedisbelievingpeople. TheQuraanisthatwhichneedstoreachpeople.Nothingaectspeopleindawahlikethe Quraan.Itneedstobethemainvehicleofourdawah. Mubinmeanssoclearthatitisselfclarifying.Sodeliveraveryclear,precise,prisAne, understandablemessagetopeople.Thatisourtask.Itisnotjusttodeliverthemessage,butto makesurethewayofdeliveryisclearandprisAne.Forthispurpose,wedonotneedtocreate anymeanswehaveitintheQuraanitself. Insummaryofverses1317,weseetwothings.
First,thebeautyinthelanguage 1. Attheendofaayah14therstAmethesemessengersintroducethemselvestothese peopleasinnailaykummursalunmostdenitelywehavebeensenttoyoupeopleas messengers. 2. Attheendofaayah16theyrespondtothepeoplesaccusaAonsasrabbunainnailaykum lamursalun.Thereisanextralaam.Why?Whentheyrstintroducedthemselves,therewas noexchange,argument,orrefutaAon.ItwasjustanintroducAon.Whentheyrejectedand placedaccusaAons,theresponseiswithemphasis. Second,thebiggestpurposeoftheseaayaatwastobeconsolaAontotheMessengerofAllaah sandthebelieversaswell.TheQurayshmaybebecomingmoreaggressiveandoensive,but youarenottherst(peopleormessenger)toexperiencethis.Notone,butthreemessengers standingsidebysidewererefusedinthiswaybypeople.ItisalsoconsolaAonofthe accountability(thetask)oftheMessengerofAllaahs.Itisonlyuponhimtodeliveritclearly. Hes deliveredthemessagerigh{ully,aboveandbeyondwhatwasrequiredforhim.
Verse 18
ThisconAnuesthediscussionaboutthetownspeopleandtheirrejecAonofthemessengers whocametothem.
Theysaid,Indeed,weconsideryouabadomen.Ifyoudonotdesist,wewillsurelystoneyou, andtherewillsurelytouchyou,fromus,apainfulpunishment. Now,AllaahisdiscussingwhattheresponseofthesepeopleisaWertheprimaryresponseof themessengers.Thisisshowingtheprogressionoftherefusalanddenialofthemessage.This passage,remember,isnotjustaboutthisspecictown,butaboutsucheventstranspiringfor everymessengersentbyAllaah. Theysaynow,Wemostdenitelyfeelevilormisfortunefromyou... TaTayyar|WordAnalysis ItcomesfromTayrmeaningbird.Italsoreferstomakingbirdsy(e.g.throwingpigeonsin theairtomakethemy).Inhistory,totestwhethersituaAonsweregoodorbad,thepeople wouldthrowbirdsintheairandbaseduponthedirecAonandlengthofight,theywouldmake theirdecisions.ItwassupersAAon.Sothiswordinthiscontextmeansabadomen,some misfortunecomingonesway.Theysensedsomethingbadwouldhappentothembecauseof thesemessengers. IsthisstatementsubstanAatedornot?WelookthroughtheQuraanandnd(6,42)
Andwesenttonocityaprophet[whowasdenied]exceptthatWeseizeditspeoplewithba`sa andDarraasothattheymayhumblethemselves. Theywouldcomedownfromtheirdelusions,fromtheirhighpedestaljustali<le.Sowhena messengerissentandpeoplerefuseanddenythemessage,somedicultycomestheirway. Thisistoreinforcethemessageofthemessengerandserveasawakeupcall.ThisisaWerthe messengershavegiventherstwarning,beendenied,presentedamiracle,beendenied,and nowareontothenextstep.Thisistheloud,blaringalarmclocktoawakethemfromtheir apathy,insistenceuponignorance,stubbornness. WeknowaboutthestoryofMusaalayhiassalaamwhocalledthepeopleofFirawn,then showedthemmiracles,andtheysAlldenied.ThenAllaahsentuponthem(7,134)
SoWesentuponthemtheoodandlocustsandliceandfrogsandbloodasdisHnctsigns,but theywereignorantandwereacriminalpeople. OneaWeranotherinwaves,theseadversiAescametowakethemup,snapthemoutoftheir deepsleep.ThisisasunnahofAllaah,ifyouwill,tobringhardshipsuponpeoplewhodenythe messengerssenttothemsothattheymayhumblethemselves. Therefore,thisstatementofthetownspeopledoeshavesomesignicanceinthatdiculty cameuponfornotbelieving.Theirmistake,however,isa<ribuAngthemisfortuneand misfortunetocome(taTayyarholdsthatfutureconnotaAonofanomen)tothemessengersas opposedtotheirownarrogance. TheNextStepoftheirkufrAggression,Violence,Threats Ifyoudontstop,wemostdenitelywillstoneyouandmostdenitelyyouwillfeelfromus (experiencefromus)amostpainful,tormenHngpunishment. Rajamliterallyreferstothrowingrocksatsomethinganditcanalsomeantocastsomething away,likegarbage.Theysayitwithemphasis(laam)tosaytheywillmostdenitelydoit.
Theyhaveescalatedtoahighlevel. SwitchoververyquicklytothelifeoftheMessengerofAllaahs.Didnotthebelievers experiencesimilartorments?ThemushrikincametothemAbuTaalibsayingthathes had tornaparttheirhomesandtheywerewillingtogivehimwhateverittooktomakehimstop. TheyevengottothepointwherethenegoAaAonwasforhims toconAnuepracAcinghis religion,butstoppreachingit.AbuTaalibcalledhisnephew,toldhimwhatthepeoplehadsaid andaskedifitmadeanysensetohim.Hes respondedtearfully(evenhisownuncledidnot supporthim?),iftheyputthesuninmyleWhandandmooninmyleW(eveniftheycoulddothe impossible),IwouldnotstoptodowhatIvebeensenttodo.AbuTaalib,inordertoreassure theMessengerofAllaahs ofhissupport,toldhimtoproceedandhewouldconAnuetodo whathehadtodo. SotheQurayshhadexperiencedsimilarhardshipsandtheya<ributedthemtotheirmessenger s.Justlikethesepeoplewhoa<ributedittotheirmessengers. Thenitprogressedtoviolence.TheykilledSumayyahandYaasirfandseveralotherswere torturedmercilessly.Evenwomenwerenotspared.Allofthiswastheescalatedaggression.
Verse 19
Sowhatistheresponseofthemessengerstothesepeople?
They[themessengers]said,Youromeniswithyourselves.Isitbecauseyouwerereminded? Rather,youareatransgressingpeople. Theseevilswhichtheysense,feel,arealludingtothesearetheirownproblem.The messengersarenotsubstanAaAngthefactthattheirareevilomens.Ifthereisanythingbad happeningtothem,itisfromthemselves.Theyoughttolookatthemselvesinlongandhardin themirror.Taairukumitistheirownproblem. Wheredidallofthesecomplaintscomefrom?Fromthesimplefactthattheywerereminded andgivenamessagetellingthemwhatisrightandwhatiswrong.Dhukirtum.Ratherthan internalizingthemessageandseeinghowitcouldbenetthemtheywouldturnitinto somethingsonegaAveanda<ributeanyhardshipstotheirwarners. Musrifun|WordAnalysis Ratheryouareapeoplemusrifun.Musrifuncomesfromisraafmeaningcrossingtheline.So theyarepeoplewhocrosstheline.Allaahhasnotspeciedwhatlinetheyarecrossingbecause theyarecrossingseverallines. TheycrossedthelineofnotbelievinginAllaah. TheycrossedthelineofthemessengersbyrejecAngthem,slanderingthem,refusingthem, accusingthemofthings. TheycrossedthelineagainstthemselvesthatwhentheyareaictedwithdiculAesthey turntheblameuponothers.Theydontseewithinthemselves. Someonehadcometothem,sweaAng,bleeding,sacricing,puingthemselvesonthelineto benetthem.Ratherthanunderstandandappreciatethemessageandeorts,theyturnthe blameuponthem.Themessengersareactuallythebestthingtohavehappenedtothem! Thishadoccurredwithallthemessengersprevious.Forexample,Musaalayhiassalaam(7, 130131)
AndWecertaintlyseizedthepeopleofFirawnwithyearsofdroughtandadeciencyinfruits thatperhapstheywouldbereminded.
(...waintuSibhumindik...)Andifevilbefallsthem,theysay,Thisisfromyou. Whentheybegantoactinthisway,blamingthemessengersfortheirownproblemsand eventuallyescalaAngtoaggression,howarethemessengerstorespond?AllaahisteachingHis Messengers thatthepreviousmessengerstoldthemrigh{ullywhatneededtobesaidthat itwasthepeoplesownfaultsforcrossinglinesthatshouldnotbecrossed.Itwastarbiyahfor theMessengerofAllaahs tonotfalltotheirlevel,buttoberm. TheConcernoftheMessengers Finally,byspeakingaboutwhattheMessengerofAllaahs isexperiencingandthe experiencesofmessengerspast,Allaahprovideshims withconsolaAon.Hes isdeserving ofthisconsolaAonbecausehespenthimselfforthebe<ermentofcreaAon. AllaahmenAonsthatthegreatestmercyandblessingsenttocreaAonandtotheMuslim ummahinparAcularwasthatthismessengerwassenttous(9,128)
TherehascertaintlycometoyouaMessengerfromamongyourselves.Grievoustohimiswhat yousuer;[heis]concernedoveryouandtothebelieversiskindandmerciful.
ThisisabeauAfulaayahintheQuraan.Hes camefromamongstyousohecouldunderstand you,hecouldrelatetoyou.HewasempatheActoyou.Itwasroughonhim,whatyouwere goingthrough.Whenhes sawotherssueringorinpain,itwouldhurthim.Hewouldcryfor people,prayforthem,stayawakeatnightinworryforthem. HariScomesfromHirSwhichweusuallyassociatewithwealth,greed.Wearegreedyfor money,cars,houses,fame,luxury,reputaAon,power,inuence.Hes desiredsomethingas well.Itwasnt,however,anyofthesethings.ItwasthewellbeingofcreaAon.Thiswasthe dedicaAonofhisenArelife. Myexampleandthenyourexampleislikeamanwholitabigre. Allthesebugsandrecomestoit.Imtryingtoshoothemawayfromthere. Youarelikethosebugs,notrealizingwhatyouaredoing. Itrytosaveyou,pushingyouaway,butyoukeepslippingby. Itryharder,butyoupassrightbeforemyeyes. Hes israufverysoWandgentleandraHimmostmercifultothepeoplewhodobelieve.Look athowhes actedwiththebedouinwhourinatedinthemasjidandwiththeyoungman seekingpermissiontoengageinzina.Heintelligentlyspokewiththemandtreatedthem respec{ully.Hes reasonedwiththemattheirleveltomakethemunderstand,toshowlove andcompassion,buildabond,toshowthathelovedthem.Heplacedhishandontheyoung manschestandmadeduaathatAllaahguideandpurifyhim.Allthisshowedtothemhow muchhescared.Eventheyoungboywhosebirddied(yaabbaumayr,maafa`alan nughayr?).Hes sAlltookouttheAmetogositwiththisboyandaskabouthisbird. Thisishowmuchhes woulddoforus.Thegreatestthingwecandoistrytoliveuptothat standard,empathizingwithpeople,sharingthemessageofIslaamwithourcompassion,care, andcharacter.
Verse 20
ThispassageisessenAallythecoreofthissurah,thecentraltheme.Itisoneofthemost powerfulmessagesofthissurahinaayaat2025.
Andtherecamefromthefarthestendofthecityaman,running.Hesaid,Omypeople,follow themessengers. NowtheconfrontaAonorsituaAonhasreachedaverycriAcalpoint(thetownspeopleare accusing,slandering,andbecomingviolentandthemessengerswillnotstoopdown,butwill holdrmtotheirresponsibility). Yasaa|WordAnalysis Themessengersaredeliveringthemessagetoadisbelievingpeople,butthereisaman.Heis notevenfromthesamevicinity.Infact,heisfromthefarthestendoftownandheiscoming fromthereifthatswhatittakestogettothemessage.Notonlythat,buthesrushing. Yasaaisfromsaimeaningtorushtowardssomethingwhenyouhaveatargetoragoal.Hesa manonamission. Itabiu|WordAnalysis Thesaid,Omypeople,followthosewhohavebeensent. Itabameanstolistena<enAvelywithanopenmindandheart,tointernalizethemessage,and thentospreadittoothers.Thisisthewordusedwheneverwearetoldtofollowthe messengerslikewhenAllaahcommandsHisMessengerstosay(3,31)
Verse 21
Followthosewhodonotaskofyou[any]payment,andtheyare[rightly]guided. Thismanhasnotjustsaidtofollowthem,buthehaspresentedevidence.Themufassirunsay heisprovidingthreepiecesofevidencetofollowthem. 1. (FromVerse20)Theyarealmursalin.MeaningtheyvebeensenttousbyAllaah.Theyare notordinarypeople,theyvecomefromahigherauthority,theulAmateauthority.Referto Verse3formoreinformaAonregardingthisterm. 2. Theydonotwantanyretribu)onfromyou. Ajrmeansrewardforsomeworkhavingbeendonebyyou.ThisissomeonesenAtlement, someonesright.Itisnotafavourtosomeone.Itisanexchange.Thesemessengersare providingtheirservices,sacricingAme,energy,money,resources,invesAngtheirown talentsandintellectsintobe<eringyouandyoursituaAon.Evenifyouweretopaythemfor it,itwouldbecompletelyjusAedanddeserved.Sothesemessengersarenotaskingfora jusAedreturnandthisisfromtheirownnobilityandthenobilityofthemessagetheyare delivering. ThisislikewhenHudalayhiassalaamsaidtothepeopleofAad(11,51):
Omypeople,Idonotaskyouforitanyreward.MyrewardisonlyfromtheOneWhocreated me.Thenwillyounotunderstand? TheirrewardisdueontheOneWhocreatedthem.Thisistheirnobility.Theywilldoeverything forthepeople,sacriceforthemandexpectnothinginreturnfromthem. TheMessengerofAllaahs askedpeoplefornothing.Thepeoplewantedtogivehim somethingandtheyfelttheirownhonouringivinghimagiW.Hes woulduseali<lefromitto saAsfythepeopleandpleasethemandthenhewoulddistributetheresttoothers.Thisisthe nobilityofthemessengers. 3.Andtheymostdenitelyareguided.Theylivealifeofguidance.Theirmanneroflivinglife showsthattheyareguided.Whenyoulookatthem,watchthem,observethemyouwillsee theyareguided.Theirpersonallives,familylives,andpubliclivesalwaysshowguidance. Everythingaboutthemisamazing,itisexemplary.Itisthemostamazingwaytodoeverything. TheMessengerofAllaahs wasthebestateverythingandineveryrelaAonship.
Verse 22
Thismanhasprovidedthepeoplewithevidencesforwhytheyshouldfollowthemessengers. Now,hewilltrytoraAonalizewiththemregardingthemessageitself.NoAceapointindawah: menAonstherighteousnessofthemessengersandthenfollowupwiththemessage.Make themunderstandwhatisatstakeandthatitisfortheirowngood.
AndwhyshouldInotworshipHewhocreatedmeandtowhomyouwillbereturned? HetakesaveryinteresAngpointingivingthemdawah.Hespeaksabouthimself,butnotinan arrogantway.Inawaytomakeitseemreal,butnonaccusatory. FaTara|WordAnalysis Whatswrongwithme?WhywouldntIworshiptheOneWhohasoriginatedme?TheOne Whohasgivenmeexistenceintherstplace? IbnAbbaasf oncesaidthathewastryingtounderstandthedierencebetweenthewords faTaraandkhalaqa.Hewastravellingandcameacrossbedouinswhohadadisputeovera wellspossession.Heaskedthemfortheirevidence. Onemansaid,meaningIamtheonewhooriginatedthiswell.Sohewas theonewhohaddugitupintherstplace. WhatwouldbewrongwithmeifIdidnotworshiptheOneWhogavemeexistenceintherst place? Thenhekindlyhasthemreectbychangingthesubjectfromrstpersontosecondperson.He istheOnetoWhomyouallhavetoreturn.HehasengagedthemintotheconversaAon,hehas providedfoodforthought.
Verse 23
ShouldItakeotherthanHim[false]deiHes[while],iftheMostMercifulintendsformesome adversity,theirintercessionwillnotavailmeatall,norcantheysaveme? Now,hegoesbacktothemessage.HesaskingarhetoricalquesAonforhowfoolishitwouldbe forhimtotakeotherobjectsofveneraAon.Howungrateful,foolishwouldthatbe?Isthatwhat theyaresuggesAng? Now,heusesaveryinteresAngexample.IfmyLord,theOneWhoisAbundantlyMerciful intendedformesomediculty,itwouldnothelpmeinanyway,theintercession,the intervenAonofthoseothersgodswhomIvenerated. IftheOneWhohasblessedmewitheverythingIhave,ifHehasaictedmewithsome diculty,theintercessionofotherthingsIworshippedwouldnothelpmeintheleastbit! Inqaadhislikesomeoneisfallingintosomethingandyougrabthemandpullthemoutfrom there.Itislikesomeonefallingotheedgeintosomethingandyousavingthem.ThesedeiAes wouldnotbeabletosavehimintheleastbit. WhydoeshemenAonadversity? Whydoeshegivetheexample?ItisdiscussedintheQuraanalotasin(10,21)
Verse 24
Indeed,Iwouldthenbeinmanifesterror. Ifheweretodothis(Verse23),thenmostdenitelyhewouldbeinthatsituaAonwouldbein veryserious,open,clearmisguidance. Fi|WordAnalysis Fimeanstobeinsidesomething.WhenAllaahspeaksaboutmisguidance,Heusesthis preposiAon.Itconnotatesbeinginsidesomething,asinabubblethatdoesnotpermitthem toseeoutsideofit.Everywherehelooks,hewillonlyseemoremisguidance.Thus,itisasifhe isdrowninginmisguidance. Mubin|WordAnalysis MubinwaspreviouslyusedinVerse17tomeantheselfclarifyingmessage.Thismanistelling themthatifhehimselfrefused,resisted,andwasarrogantandstubbornagainstthemessage thenhewouldbeinaveryclearmisguidance.Thereissharpcontrastbetweentherebeingself clarifyingmessageandclear,disAnctmisguidance.
Verse 25
Indeed,IhavebelievedinyourLord,solistentome. Inthisnalverse,themansayssomethingverypowerful.HemakesaproclamaAontothe peoplewithcondenceandrmstance.Heopenlydeclareshissupportforthesemessengers andtheirmessage. Aamantu|WordAnalysis Ihavealreadybelieved.Itisinthepasttense.Meaningitissocertainandtruethathashe broughtbeliefbeforenow. Birabbikum|WordAnalysis InyourLord.Thisisdirectedatthetownspeople.Whywouldheusethesecondperson possessivepronoun?Youarenotwillingtobelieveinhim,youarebeingarrogantand ungrateful,butregardlessHeisyourLord.IhavebelievedinhimsolistentowhatIamtelling you.Thisisforyourowngood.Heisnotspeakingtothemforanypersonalbenet,butonlyfor theirowngood. InstrumentalLesson Themessengerswerepreachingthemessage.Thetownspeopleweredisregardingand desisAngthemessageandbehavingviolentlywiththemessengers.Amanfrom,nottherenora witnessfeelingempathyforthemessengers,butfromthefarthestregionsoftowncomes forth.Hehearsaboutthemessage,understandsit,believesinit,andunderstandshisown responsibility.Hemobilizeshimselfandtakesituponhimselftorushtovoicehissupportand providehisbackingtothemessengers. Thisisspeakingtousaboutourroles.ThisisMakkanQuraan.Thisisespeciallyforuswhoare livinginaMuslimminorityareawhereweseemoreandmorescruAnizaAonandcriAcism. Islaamisnotjustthereforamusementandpleasantries.PartofourobligaAon,theblessingof Islaam,andbeinggratefulfortheblessingofIslaamistobecomesupportersoftheMessenger ofAllaahs andthemessageofIslaam. Wehavenothingtobeashamedabout.Wearetellingpeopletofollowthemostamazing persontostepfootonthisearth.Muhammads. Laayasalukumajran TheMessengerofAllaahsdidnothaveanyulteriormoAvesoragenda.Forexample,hes wouldgiveawaypersonalgiWs.Weshouldhelppeopleforthesakeofhelpingthem.Forthe sakeofpleasingAllaah.
Muhtadun Next,weshouldbeproper,good,eecAvepresentersofIslaam.Ourlivesshouldshowthatwe haveguidance.WecantjustkeepspeakingorwriAng,wehavetoliveiteventually.The primarymeansofdawahwillalwaysbeourbehaviourandinteracAonswithpeople.Oneofthe biggestproblemstodayforthosecomingintoreligionisseeingreligiouslyacAveindividuals sayingonething,claimingtorepresentonething,buttheirpersonallife,businesslife,andself conductancearenotlivedinaccordance. Speakaboutonesownself Comedowntospeaktopeopleattheirlevel.Dontspeakdownwardstopeople.Empathize withpeople.Thebestoneinspeechistheonewhorelateshimselftopeople(41,33)
AndwhoisbeMerinspeechthanonewhoinvitestoAllaahanddoesrighteousnessandsays, Indeed,IamonlyoneamongtheMuslims. ThekhaHb,imaam,andscholararejustmuslimsattheendoftheday. ReecAon Givepeoplesomethingrealtothinkabout.WherewillwereturnaWerthislife? Relevancetotherecipients Talktopeopleaboutsomethingtheyunderstandandcanrelateto. Firminfaith Attheendoftheday,ourdawahrequiresustobeveryclearandcondentinwhatwebelieve in. Thesearethemajorguidancesfromthissurah.Themessengershavecomeanddonetheirjob. Thismancouldhavethoughtwhatmorehecouldhavedoneifthetownspeoplewerenot listeningtomessengers?Didhe,though?Ofcoursenot!WhatabouttheCompanionsf?They werecarriersofthemessageandspreadittopeoplewiththeeAque<esandguidancetaught tothembytheMessengerofAllaahs andpresentedtousinthispassage.
Verse 26
Itwassaid,EnterParadise.hesaid,Iwishmypeoplecouldknow Thereisaconsensusamongthemufassirun.WhentheQuraandescribestousasituaAon,tells usanarraAve,itdoesnttellusstepbystepeverythingthathasoccurred.Whenthismanspoke upandstatedhisfaithtohisownpeople,itseemdtothemasifoneoftheirownhad confrontedthem.ThesetownspeoplerespondedaspeopleinsuchasituaAonusuallydo.The scholarsagreethatthetransiAonisthattheykilledthisman.Now,wewilllearnwhathappened tothismanaWerhisdeath. Qilmeaningitwasannounced,proclaimedtohimudkhulialjannahenterintothegardensof Paradise.Hesbeingcommanded!Thereisnoreckoning,noquesAoning,nohisaab,nokitaab. ThisisthatulAmatestatusofspecicgroupsofpeoplewhowillbeenteredintoParadise withoutanyreckoning. AtthatAme,thatmansaysthathewisheshispeoplecouldhaveknownthis.Thisshowshis sincerityofthisindividual.HistrueconcernforhispeopleisapparenteveninhisaWerlife. Whenwegivedawahwetakealessonfromthisman.Itsnotdonetoestablishhujjaagainst people.Itsdonewithsincerecareforthepeople,toimprovetheircondiAon.
Verse 27
OfhowmyLordhasforgivenmeandplacedmeamongthehonoured. Whatdoeshewishhispeoplewouldknow?HowhisLordhas(pasttense)forgivenhim.His slatewaswipedclean!Whateverhemighthavedone,wedontknow.Thatsthewholepoint, hecouldhavebeenanything(athief,liar,crook,mutaqiI),butitdoesntma<erbecauseof whathehasengagedin. Ghafaraliterallymeanstocoversomethingup.Sothismeansnotjusttoforgive,buttohaveit hiddensuchthatnobodyeverknowsaboutit.Wedontknowanythingaboutthismanbefore thissituaAon.AllaahhashiddenthatfromusinthisnarraAve! Wajaalniandhemadememinfromamongalmukramin. Mukramincomesfromikrammeaningtohonoursomeone.Mukraminarethosewhoare honoured. ThisisaninteresAngsentencestructure.Hedoesntsay,mukramani(=Hehonouredme)where ikramisintheverbalform.Insteadheusedthenominalform(mukramin=thehonoured people).Thesignicanceofthenounovertheverbisthattheverbisboundby)me,butnouns areeternal.SoitisasifAllaahhasgrantedhimthishonourforallofeternity. InthelifeofthehereaWer,honouriseternal.Inthisworld,honourtodaycouldbedisgrace tomorrow. Whatsevenmoreinthesentencestructureisthatheisminalmukramin.Heshonoured,but hesnotalone.Hesamongagroupofpeople.Hesamongotherswhoarealsoequally honoured.Thecompanywekeepreectsuponwhoweare.WefeeldisAncAonandhonour baseduponwithwhomweassociate.Thispersonisamongthemostamazing,awesome people.
Verse 28
AndWedidnotsenddownuponhispeoplerightaeerhimanysoldiersfromtheheaven,nor wouldWehaveeverdoneso. Now,AllaahtheExaltedandMostHighspeaks.ThemanwasspeakingbeforebecauseAllaah hadgivenhimthathonourtospeakfromtheHereaWer.Allaahallowedhimtospeakofhis situaAon,butnowHewillspeakofthetownspeoplewhorejectedandharmedHismessengers andkilledeventheonemanwhocameforthtosupportthem. BadihiwouldmeanaWerhim,buttheaddiAonalmimaddsimmediateacAon.Meaningthe punishmentofAllaahandhisdecisionuponthispeoplewasnotformuchlaterevenaWerthis egregiousacttheyhavedonepersecuAngandkillingamanwhospokeonbehalfoftruth. Allaahusesminagainforjundin(=army).Hecouldhavesimplysaidjundan,butbyaddingthe minitmeansAllaahdidnotsenduponthemanytypeofarmy.Notypeofarmy(people,Angels, etc.)wassenttothesepeople. Allaahusesthewordjundin(=army)becausewhentheAngelswouldbesentdowntopeople theywouldresemblearmiesintheirorganizaAon,likeaba<alion.ThinkoftheBa<leofBadr(3, 125)and(8,9)
[Remember]whenyouaskedhelpofyourLord,andHeansweredyou,Indeed,Iwillreinforce youwithathousandfromtheangelsmurdin(followingoneanother).
Theycamedownintheformofanarmy,organizedlikeaba<alion.WhenAllaahsomeAmes givesthemapunishmentatthehandsofothers(e.g.defeat),wecansAllsaythatitarisesmina assama(fromthesky)becausethecommandoriginatedintheskies. Norwouldweeversaiddown Whatdoesthismean?ItisaphraseinArabicandcanbeunderstoodinafewways: 1. Wedidnotsendanarmyuponthemnorareweevergoingto 2. Wedidnotsendanarmyuponthemanditwasntevenappropriatetodosobecausethese peoplearentevendeservingofsucha<enAon. WhenAllaahdecidesjustpunishmentforagroupofpeople,Heisnotrequiredtodosoby sendinganarmyuponthem.Allaahswillisnotrestrictedinanyway(16,40)
Verse 29
ItwasnothingexceptforoneshoutandimmediatelytheywereexHnguished. SiHah|WordAnalysis Itmeansavery,veryloudsoundlikeascream(e.g.heslyinghisheado).Suchaloudscream thatitisdisturbingtopeople.WhenitisusedtodescribeapunishmentofAllaahitrefersto suchahugepiercingsoundthatitwouldliterallymakepeoplesheadsexplode. Justasinglesound!Onescreaming,piercingsoundwasenoughtomaketheirheadsexplode. Thenimmediately(withoutwarning)theybecamekhaamidun. Khamad|WordAnalysis Itreferstopuingoutare,exAnguishingare.Asiftheyhadbeenputoutlikeare completelyandsuddenlyexAnguished. Thiscouldrefertotheirarrogance,pride,boas{ulness. Itcouldalsorefertohowtheydied;walkingaroundoneminuteandsuddenlyfallendead. ProfoundLesson ThislessonisbeinggiventotheMuslimsbeingpersecutedinMakkahandtheQuraysh persecuAngthem.Whensomebodystandsforwhatisright,hemaynotseethefruitsofhis labourinthisworld.Thesetownspeoplebecamemorearrogantandendedupkillinghim.Yet, thereisreturnontheinvestmentitmaybethebestlongtermprot.Jannah,honour,being givendisAncAon.Thetownspeoplemayhavescoedattheendofthisperson,butAllaahis tellingthemthatthereismorethantheycansee!Muchmore(4,69)!
haveusedthisasalessonagainstotherfollowersandpeople.Theywereincreasingtheir arroganceuponarrogance(24,40).
Verse 30
Thenreturn[your]visiontwiceagain.[Your]visionwillreturntoyouhumbledwhileitisHasir (faAgued). TheresnolightleWattheendofthetunnel.ThesepeoplehaveexperiencedthatSihahandare khamad,nowlyingonthegrounddeadinstantly. Theseslaves interesAngtonotethatibaadisspecictoslavesofAllaah.Whenonereferstoagroup ofslaves,thewordusedis. areinahopelesssituaAon.Whyisithopeless?NotbecauseAllaahcursedthemordidnotwant anygoodforthem,butbecausenomessengercametothemexceptthattheywouldmockhim, makefunofhim,treathiminappropriately. IsHhza|WordAnalysis Itmeanstomakefunofsomeone,butevenmoreitmeanstomakefunofsomeoneinavery foolishmanner.Makingfunofanyoneisinappropriate.ThisishumiliaAon.Itisasifoneis makingthingsupjusttogetafewlaughsandkicksoutofit.Theywoudlcomeupwithsenseless things.Howuncomfortablewoulditbetosaysomethinglikethataboutamessenger?! Thisisatemplateofwhathappenedrepeatedlyinhistory.EverysingleAmethesepeoplewere sentamessenger,theywouldmockthem.Noma<erhowbleakthesituaAonbecomes, however,italwaysworksoutintheend.ThisisthemessagetotheMessengerofAllaahs and theMuslimsinMakkah.
Aswell,thispassageisshownelsewhere(43,67),buttheQuraanisneversupuous
AndhowmanyaprophetWesentamongtheformerpeoples,
Verse 31
Verse 32
Andindeed,allofthemwillyetbebroughtpresentbeforeUs. HistoryisrepeaAngitself.IthashappenedAmeandAmeagain,previously,andnowagainto thesepeople.Eventhoughtheywereeradicated,allofthemwillmostdenitelybegathered togethernearAllaah. IntheHereaWer,theywilleventuallyallbepresentedandplacedbeforeAllaah.Itisareminder foaccountabilityfortheiracAons.ItisnotsoeasythatitisoveroncetheyhavediedaWertheir egregiousacAons. MuHDarun|WordAnalysis Allaahdoesnotsay(theywillpresentthemselves).HetheExaltedusesthepassiveform, meaningtheywillbepresented. Theywillbeforced.Allaahspeaksaboutthiselsewhere(41,19)and(39,71)
And[menHon,OMuhammad],theDaywhentheenemiesofAllaahwillbegatheredtotheFire whiletheyare[driven]assembledinrows
[Itwillbesaid],Readyourownrecord.SucientisyourselfagainstyouthisDayasan accountant. ItisasifAllaahissayingtoyou,YoutellmewhatIshoulddowithyou?.Thisistherealityof thereckoningbeforeAllaahontheDayofJudgment. UnderlyingLessons Weveseenthisissueandlessonsofdawah.Theprogressionofdawahhasbeenclear.There wasaggressionrequiringpeopletospeakupandsupportthemessage.Theresultsmaynotbe immediatelyseen,buttherewardiswithAllaah. AsaconsolaAonandtobuildconvicAonforlivingbythetruth,thetruthisnevereradicatedand diminished.Itneverhappens. InMadinah,thingsbecameverydicult,butAllaahbroughtFathlMakkah. Allaahsays(37,171173)
AndOurwordhasalreadyprecededforOurservants,themessengers,
Indeed,theywouldbethosegivenvictory
And[that]indeed,Oursoldierswillbethosewhoovercome. Aswell,Nuhalayhiassalaamwaspresentedwithdistressfromhispeopleso(54,10)
Andsay,Truthhascome,andfalsehoodhasdeparted.Indeedisfalsehood[bynature],ever boundtodepart.
InjusAce,falsehood,evilismeanttogoaway.Itspurposeinlifeistobetemporary!AbeauAful parableisgivenbyAllaah(13,17)
Hesendsdownfromtheskyrainandvalleysowaccordingtotheircapacityandthetorrent carriesarisingfoam.Andfromthat[ore]whichtheyheatinthere,desiringadornmentsand utensils,isafoamlikeit.Thus,Allaahpresents[theexampleof]truthandfalsehood.Asforthe foam,itvanishes,[being]casto;butasforthatwhichbenetsthepeople,itremainsonthe earth.Thus,doesAllaahpresentexamples. Thatfoamwilleventuallydryupandthedebrisinitwillfalltothebo<om.Andthatwhich benetspeoplestaysthereintheearth.Thisistheexampleoftruthandfalsehood.Truth comes,falsehoodrisestothetop,butitistemporaryunAlitfallsaway. Ourintentandpurposeistrulytohelphumanity.TheMessengerofAllaahs justwantedto be<erpeoplessituaAon.IfthatisourheartweneedtoconAnuetodogoodforpeopleto be<ertheirqualityoflife.Bringthempeace,tranquilityandfulllmentinlifebyndingAllaah. ThatwillovercomeineveryandallobstaclesanddiculAes.Allaahhaspresentedthistousin theexampleofthemessengersandpreviouspeople. Attheendoftheday,whoserightandwrongisnotourdecision.Allofus,everybody,willstand beforeAllaahontheDayofJudgmentwhetherhewantstoornotandAllaahwillmakethe decision.
Verse 33
Anewpassagebegins.Thisisthemiddlepartofthesurahanditservesapivotalroleinthe themeandconceptofthesurah.IntheintroducAonwediscussedthethreemaintopicsof Makkansuwar(tawhid,risalah,aakhirah).YaSinverypowerfullyandemphaAcallyspeaksofall thesethreetopics. Therstpartofthesurahfocusedheavilyuponprophethoodandmessengership. TheendpartofthesurahwillfocusheavilyuponthelifeofthehereaWerandthereckoning. Themiddlepart,starAngnow,willdiscusstawhid.ThisisaveryingmannerofpresentaAon becausemessengersbringthemessageandthehereaWeristheresultofhowthatmessageis taken.What,however,isthecruxofthemessage?Whatdeterminesthefaithofpeople?Itis howwelltheyacceptedandfoundedtawhid.TheircommitmenttoAllaah.Howtheywereable tolivebythiscreed. Beforebeginningthetafsir,wemustdiscusssomebasicconceptsbywhichtheQuraan discussestheOnenessofAllaah. Normally,especiallytoday,intheMuslimcommunity,thediscussionoftawhidisvery philosophicalandlogicaltoprovethepresenceofaHigherBeing.Thathasbecomethetoneof thisconversaAon.EvenMuslimsareinfatuatedandenamouredbyusingthisphilosophicaland scienAcperspecAve. TheQuraan,however,teachestheexistenceofaDivineBeingdierently.Itdoesnotuse philosophicalterms.Itusesdeduc)vereasoninganddeducAvelogic.Therearecertain observaAonstobemadewhichleadustoaparAcularconclusion.Looktotheseverses(88, 1720)and(67,15)
Thendotheynotlookatthecamelshowtheyarecreated?
Andattheskyhowitisraised?
Andatthemountainshowtheyareerected? Andattheearthhowitisspreadout?
ThusdoesAllaahmakecleartoyouHisversesthatyoumightusereason. Itmeanssign;averyobvious,apparent,unavoidable,immutablesign.Youhavetobetryingto missitinordertomissit.Itisalsosuchasignthatitdoesnotengageorabsorbyouintolooking atthesignitself.Ratheritimmediatelypointsyoutosomethingelse.Youarenotrequiredto makeaconsciouseort.WhensomeonegivesyouagiWaplaqueorcardyouwontthinkof itsmake.Youwillthinkimmediatelyofthememoriesassociatedwithit,thepersonwhogaveit toyou. ThesesignsshouldimmediatelymakeusthinkofAllaah.Ifwelookatthesethingsandwedont thinkofAllaahimmediatelythenthatmeansoneofthreethings. 1. Thereisalackofintellect,mentalawarenessorconsciousness 2. Deciencyinthetrahofthatperson,thecoreofthatperson.
Thus,allaayaatwillleadonetoimmediatelythinkofAllaahwhenthereisintellect(mindis awakeandopen)andthetrahisclean. AnArabpoethassaid: IneachandeverythingthereisamiraculoussignpoinAngyoutothefactthatHe(Allaah)is one. ThebedouinshavebeauAfulandeloquentstatementsinthisregard.Therewasonceabedouin manwhowaschallengedbysomebody.Foreveryclaimthereisevidence,whatisyouevidence andproofforbelievinginAllaah?Hesaid, Cameldroppingstellyouthatacamelwashere. Footprintsinthesandtellyousomeonewalkedbyhere. Theearthisfulloftrees,theskyfullofstars, andtheoceanfullofwaves,doesntthattellyouAllaahisthere? AllaahusesabeauAfulexampleintheQuraan(6,59)
AndwithHimarethekeysoftheunseen;noneknowsthemexceptHim.AndHeknowswhatit onthelandandinthesea.NotaleaffallsbutthatHeknowsit.AndnograinistherewriMen withinthedarknessesoftheearthandnomoistordry[thing]butthatitis[wriMen]inaclear record. ThisisabeauAfulexample.Whyaleaf?Itissomethingsosmallandinsignicantthatwedont evenconsiderit.Everysingleleaffallingfromatreeisbytheknowledgeandcommandof Allaah. ThereisanarraAoninTabaraani(gradedhasan)thatsaystheMessengerofAllaahs was passingbyabedouinmanwhowasmakingduaainhisprayer.TheMessengerofAllaahs stoppedtolistenforaminute.Themanwassaying OYouWhoeyescannotseeinthisworld,mindscannotcomprehendYou!People cannotpraiseYouasYoudeservetobepraised,andWhochangestheincidencesand occurrenceswhichoccur,butdoesnotchangeHimself,Hedoesnotfearthetrialsand tribulaAonsofAme.Heknowstheexactweightofmountainsontheearth,Heknows theexactvolumeofwaterontheearth,Heknowstheexactnumberofraindropsthat fallfromthesky.heknowstheexactnumberofleavesoneverytreeontheearth.He knowstheexactnumberanddetailsofeverythingthatthedarknessesofthenighthide
andthelightofthedayilluminateswithitslight.Oneskycannothideorshieldanother skyfromAllaah.OnegroundcannothideorshieldanothergroundfromAllaah.Anda mountaininitsdeepestdarkestcavescannothideanythingfromAllaahandtheocean initsdeepestdepthscannothideanythingfromAllaah. ThisishowthesepeoplewouldbelieveinAllaahandthisishowAllaahhastaughtustobelieve inHimintheQuraan. Second,theQuraanhasaprogressionforhowitbringschangeandenlightenmenttothe humanbeing. 1. Aayaattodirecta<enAon.Theyarenotjustheretoinspireaweinus.Theyaretoleadus somewhereelse(88,21).ItisforreecAon,itistoremind.Itisawakeupcall.
Verse 34
AndWeplacedthereingardensofpalmtreesandgrapevinesandcausedtoburstforth therefromsomesprings Theprogressionofthatseedfromwhichthepeopleeatisthatitevolvesintomany,many gardensinthisearth.Theyarefullofdatepalmsandgrapes.Theseareamazingformsof sustenanceprovidedonthisearth. FortheArabs,nakhilishowtheyprovidedforthemselvesandsustainedandgrapeswerea formofluxury.NotonlydoesAllaahcreatesgardensofsustenance,butevenluxuries! AndWehavemadegushforthinthisearthfromsprings. Sorstthisearthwasbarren,therewasnothingthere.NotonlydidAllaahreviveit,butheput forthfruitfromitandevenluxuriousfruits.Thenevenwaterisgushingforthfromit.Wateris comingdownfromtop(rain)andbo<om(springs).
Verse 35
Say,Haveyouconsidered:ifyourwaterwastobecomesunken[intotheearth],thenwhocould bringyouowingwater? IfAllaahmadethewaterrecedebackintotheearth,nobodycouldbringitbackupforus. Therearetwowaystounderstandthis 1. AsnegaAone.g.theirhandsdidnotproduceit 2. Maamansulae.g.andthatwhichtheirhandshavedone MeaningAllaahhasprovidedallofthissotheymayeatthefruitfromAllaahoreventhat whichtheydowiththeirownhandsitisalsoonlyduetowhatAllaahhasmadepossible. NothingwedoispossiblewithoutthefacilitaAonofAllaah.Afarmerrequiresthethe temperaturesandsoilandwaterandcondiAonsthatAllaahprovides.Withoutthem,his cropsarenonexistent. Sowilltheynotbegrateful?Thisisaconclusion.Dontthesepeoplerealize?Donttheyshow graAtude?Whydonttheylivealifeofgratefulnessiftheycantlivewithouttheseprovisions (theversemenAonsfoodandwater)providedtothembyAllaah? ThiswasthephysicalunderstandingofVerses3335.Thereisalsoaspiritualunderstanding,a spiritualreecAon.Verse32endeduponeachandeverysinglepersonbeingpresentedbefore AllaahatresurrecAon.WeknowthemushrikunofMakkahandalltheotherdisbelieversalways quesAonedbeingbroughtbacktolifeoncetheyhavediedandthebodieshavedecomposed. Theyhaddoubtsabouthumansbeingbroughtbacktolife,yet,theydidntevenlookatthe earth.Thisbarrenearthwasbroughtbacktolifeandthenitwassprawlingwithlushgardens andvegetaAons.Thesamegroundwhichwasbarrenisowingwithwaterandpeopleare beneAngfromit,eaAngfromit,makingmoreoutofit.Whydontyourealize?Whycantyou begrateful?IfAllaahcanbringitbacktolife,thenHecandothesametoyou. Evenfurther,thisshowshowapersoncanbespirituallyrevived.Apersonwithoutthe understandingoftawhidislikeadeadperson.
AHyaynahaWhenAllaahgrantshimtheunderstandingoftawhid,imaanheisbrought backtolife. waakhrajnaminhaHabbansomegoodcomesoutofhim faminhuyakulunhestartstobenetfromit,peoplestarttobenetfromhim wajaalnahajannaaHnminnakhilinwaanaabinifheconAnuestowalkonthispath, hecanconAnuetoclimbthestepsoftaqwa,shukr,birr,tawakkul.Hecanbecomelike thelushgardenwhichhasbenetsinsociety,family,business,etc.Everywherehegoes, peoplebenetfromhim. wafajjarnahaminaaluyuntheMessengerofAllaahs hasoWenusedtheexample ofwaterforknowledge. MyexampleandtheexamplewhichAllaahhassentmewithislikeabundantrain fallingfromthesky. Whatbringslifetothings?Water!Whatwillspirituallyrevivesocietyandpeople?Good people!Sothispersoncanthenbeasourceofknowledge,teachingothersaboutthat sourceofgood. liyakuluminthamarihieveryonewillbeabletoliveagoodlife wamaaamalathuaydihimandhewillberewardedforthisgoodheisdoing afalaayashkurunsowillhenotgiventhanks? ThisspiritualunderstandingisnotnewtotheQuraan?Lookattheseverses(14,2425)
HaveyounotconsideredhowAllaahpresentsanexample,[making]agoodwordlikeagood tree,whoserootisrmlyxedanditsbranches[high]inthesky?
Verse 36
ExaltedisHewhocreatedallpairsfromwhattheearthgrowsandfromthemselvesandfrom thatwhichtheydonotknow. SubHaan|WordAnalysis ThisisanexclamaAonoftheperfecAonofAllaah.ItcomesfromtasbiHmeaningtoglorify Allaah.Itmeanshowamazinglyglorious,howamazinglyperfectisAllaah. TherootofthiswordaswellseeinVerse40,comesfromtheroot(sabaHa)meaningto swim. Howdotherootandwordconnect? ThereisaprocessintheArabiclanguagethatawordwhichisconjugatedfromarootword takesonalifeandmeaningofitsown.TasbiHisonesuchwordwhichmeanstospeakof AllaahsperfecAon. Thereare,however,logicalandspiritualconnecAons.sabaHameanstoswimwithoneshead abovewater(e.g.notdiving).SubhaanaandtasbiHislikethathead,meaningthatAllaahis abovecreaAon. SwimmingisaveryinteresAngacAon.Whenapersonisswimming,inordertoremainaoathe requirescalculated,regularmovements.Similarly,tasbiHiswhatkeepsusspirituallyaoatin thisworldotherwisewearesurroundedbysomanyitemswhichpullusdown. AcompaniononceaskedtheMessengerofAllaahsThedierentahkamarevarious,butI askyouforsomethingthatwillconstantlykeepmelatchedtoAllaah.Hes toldhimtokeep histonguemoistwiththeremembranceofAllaah. Dhikrisnotformal.TheeAque<eoftheMuslimistorememberAllaahwheneversomething, anythingoccursinhislife.SomeAmesincommuniAespeoplenditawkwardtomakemenAon oftheseterms,butthisishowthebelieverspeaks. Allaahisa<ribuAnggloryandperfecAontotheOneWhocreatedpairsineverything.Slowly,we begintorealizehowmanypairsthereare.Thethingswedonotknow,Allaahknowsbest. CrosspollinaAonisamethodofagriculturetoincreasetheharvest.
Verse 37
Now,AllaahwillpointoutsomepairsHehascreatedinparAcular.
Verse 38
Andthesunruns[oncourse]towarditsstoppingpoint.ThatisthedeterminaHonoftheExalted inMight,theKnowing. Thesunismovingforasetcoursethathasbeenxedforit.Mustaqartypicallymeansfor somethingtobeplacedinaxedplace.Thepermanentxtureorseingofsomething.This, however,isobviouslydiscussingthecourseandlifecycleofthesun.Sowhyusethisterm?Even ifthesunmovesandithasgrowthandmovement,itisasifitisxedinaplacebecauseAllaah hassetitonitscourseanditcannotbemovedfromit. ThatisthedeterminaAon,thatiswhathasbeenxed,setandsentdown.DonebyAlAzizthe OneWhoisDominaAngandcannotbedominated.Hehasputeverythingintoitsplaceand nothingcanmovefromitscourseordivertawayfromitssetpath. AndHeisalAlim.Heisconstantlyawareofeverything.Heisinfullknowledgeofeverything.If thatthingweretomovefromitsplace,Hewouldknow.
Verse 39
Now,becausewearetalkingaboutpairs,itseemsappropriatetomenAonthemoonaWerthe sun.
AndthemoonWehavedeterminedforitphases,unHlitreturns[appearing]liketheolddate stalk. Themoonhasbeenxedwithmanazilstages,the28or29dayswehave. Urjun|WordAnalysis Itreferstoadatestalkordatepalmstrunk.Whenitwasaliveandabundantandfrui{ul,ithad dateshangingfromit.Thismakesthetrunkcurveandbendover. Whenithasbecomeqadim,however,itisold,dry,andfruitless.Itisstandingthere,fruitless, butfrozeninthatcurvedshape. LookatthepairAllaahhasmadeinthiscomparisonthemooninthesky,abovetheearthand thedatestalkseatedontheearth.Nobodyelsecancreatesuchauniversal,suchaawless, symmetricalcreaAonthathaseverythingAedtogether.Dayandnightalsohaveaneectupon everythingthatgrowsfromtheearth.
Verse 40
Itisnotappropriateforthesuntocatchuptothemoon,nordoesthenightovertaketheday, buteach,inanorbit,isswimming. ThesunhasitsAmeandthemoonhasitsAme.EverythinghasitssetAmeanditsnot appropriateforonetooverpowertheother. WhymenAonthesuncatchinguptothemoonandnotthemooncatchinguptothesun?The sunisthemoredominaAnggure.Weknowthatfromwhatwesee.Astronomicallyspeaking, themoonisthere,butthesunisthecentreofthissolarsystem.Yet,evenaspowerfulasthat sunmaybe,itcannotcatchuptothemoon.Everythingstaysinitsplaceandfollowstheorders ithasbeengiven. Saabiq|WordAnalysis Itmeansnotjusttoprecede,buttorunawayfromit.Asinthenightbecomingcrazyandrabid unAlitspeedsaheadunAlthenightisfortheenAreday.Remember,HehasjustmenAoned thatthedayispeeledback.ThisisfromtheblessingofAllaah(28,71)
Finally,AllaahconcludesallofthisbymenAoningthateachthingisinanorbit,swimming. Falaq|WordAnalysis Itislikeapa<ernorasystem,likeanorbitalpath.Itcomesfromthewordreferringtoships sailingintheoceantheyaresetonaroute,apath. EachoneofthesethingsareyasbaHun(presentandfutureform).Theyareconstantly swimming.Onceagain,theswimmingisthatregularandconstantacAon.Theyareontheirset path,swimminglikeashiponitssetroute. SpiritualReecAon Previously,thediscussionwasaboutthepersonwhohasdiedfromtheinsideandhowAllaah canrevivehishearttomakehimasourceofgoodforanenArecommunity! Now,AllaahhasmenAonedthatthingsareinpairs.Thereisthelifeofthedunya,butthereis alsothelifeofaakhirah.Allaahhastoldus(87,17)
Andwevealsobeentold(18,29)
Andhaveshownhimthetwoways?
Andsay,ThetruthisfromyourLord,sowhoeverwillslethimbelieve;andwhoeverwillslet himdisbelieve.Indeed,Wehavepreparedforthewrongdoersrewhosewallswillsurround them.Andiftheycallforrelief,theywillberelievedwithwaterlikemurkyoil,whichscalds [their]faces.Wretchedisthedrink,andevilistheresHngplace. AllaahhasgivenusthefaculAesandcapacityandlaidoutallthesigns,nowitishischoice. Therearephysicalandspiritualpairs.ParadiseandtheHellre. DarknessandLight ItiseasytotakeforgrantedbeingbornMuslim.Lookatthedarknessinpeopleslives.Thelack ofpeaceandtranquilitybroughtfromthelackofconnecAonwithAllaah.Thelightislike guidance.Justlikepeelingthedayaway,Allaahcanpeeltheguidanceaway. LookatsomethingasbeauAfulandgloriousasthesunitfollowsitspath,nondiverging.Why cannotthehumanbelikethis? Lookatthemoongoingthroughitscycles.Lookatthehumanbeinggoingthroughitscycles. Zygote,fetus,baby.Thenbecomingphysicallyable,intellectual,ages,marries,growsoldunAl thereisnobenetfromhimjustlikethedrydatestalk.Themoongoesthroughthiscycleevery month,weashumansaregoingthroughacycle. TheMessengerofAllaah ssaidtotakethevalueofvethingsbeforevecome.Youthbefore oldage,healthbeforesickness,wealthbeforepoverty,freeAmebeforepreoccupaAon,life beforedeath.(Haakim) Makethemostofwhatyouhave.NothingwillbreakthiscycleofAllaah(48,23)
Verse 41
AndasignforthemisthatWecarriedtheirprogenyinaladenship. WehadmenAonofthedeadearthandthenightanddaypair.Now,thisisthethirdmajorsign ofreecAonAllaahisindicaAngforthesepeople. MashHun|WordAnalysis ItcomesfromshaHanawhichmeanstollupsomething,specicallyaboat.Thisisaboat thathasbeencompletelylledtocapacity. SoamiraculoussignforthemisthatAllaahcarriedtheirprogenyinamaximumcapacityship. Allaahhasdirectedoura<enAonindierentdirecAonsforHissigns.First,welookeddownat theground,atthebarrenearthwhichbecomeslushandfrui{ul.Then,welookedupatthesky, tothenightlledwiththemoonandthedaywiththesun.Now,welooktothewater,atthe shipcoasAngonthewaterwithpeopleinside. TheseareallfaciliAesAllaahhasprovidedforustomovearoundonthisearth.Wehavebeen providedwithtransportaAonmeans.ThemostdiculttypeoftravelisoWenconsidered crossingwatersandAllaahisshowingusthatHehaspermi<edthatandthereisamarvelous signforusinit. Whoisthisprogeny?Thisistheprogenyofhumankind,ofhumanity.Humanbeingshavebeen carried,allowedtotravelintheshipthatwaslledtocapacity. ThisreferencemaybetooneoftwosituaAons 1. (MajorityofClassicaltafasir)TheArkofNuhalayhiassalaam OneveryimportantareaoftafsirthatisneglectedinrecentAmes(whichwastherstpoint fortheclassicalscholars)istafsiralQuraanbialQuraan.ManysecretsoftheQuraanare unlockedbylookingatotherpassagesinotherareasoftheQuraan.Itisacomprehensive discourseinitsenAretyanditisverycohesive. Asimilarverseisfoundin(26,119)
Verse 42
Verse 43
AndifWeshouldwill,Wecoulddrownthem;thennoonerespondingtoacrywouldtherebefor them,norwouldtheybesaved HowoWenhaveweseensuchanamazingmodeoftransport,butthepeopledrown?Wemay thinkofthemodeascolossal,buttheycansoeasilybedamaged.Ali<lebitoficeontheroad tomakeacarslip. Sarigh|WordAnalysis Itcomesfromtherootofthewordmeaningtoscreamforhelp.Itnotonlymeansthescream forhelp,buttheonewhohearsthescream,andtheonewhorushestotheaidoftheone screamingforhelp. TherewouldbenoaidandnoonecomingtoalleviatethesepeoplessituaAon.Nobodywould heartheirscreamsinthedarknessofnightinthedepthsoftheocean.LookatthatperspecAve! Wevetakenfromazoominattheshipstothebiggerpicture. Recallinqadhmeanstosavesomeonewhoisakintofallingoacli,someonewhoisinvery gravedanger.Sonoonewillcometothesepeoplesrescue. Allaahhasplacedemphasisbyaddingthepronoun(hum)andbyplacingtheverbinthe present/futuretenseinordertoshowthatnoonewillevercome,nobodycouldevercometo thesepeoplesrescue.
Verse 44
ExceptasamercyfromUsandprovisionforaHme. AllofthisthefacilitaAonoftransportwithoutpeopledyingwouldnotbepossibleexceptby themercyofAllaah. AllaahhassaidraHmatan,itisinitscommonform.Amercy,notthemercy.Thisisonedisplay ofAllaahsmercy.IfallthetransportaAonwehaveandoursurvivalinthistravelisonly a<ributedtoamercy,thenhowabundantisthatmercyandhowmuchdowehavetobe gratefulfor?HowvastlyistransportaAonusedanditisjustfromadropofthemercyofAllaah. ThingswedontevenknoworrealizearefromHismercy. ThisisafacilitaAontobeusedanditistobeusedforaHinin.Thisisagainthecommonform, meaningthatAmeisxedwhenwemustleavethisworld,butnobodyknowsthatAmeorhow itwillcome.Itisfacilitatedforustobenet,butthereisthereminderthatitisforashortAme. Primarily,thisdiscoursehasbeenareprehensionforthesepeoplewhodontbelieve.A referencetothesegreattravelsistotellthesepeopletonotbesoengagedorlostinthese temporarybenets.TorealizethattheyareonlyforalimitedAme.UsethesefaciliAestogain somebenetforwhatawaitsfromthegreatestmercyofAllaah. LinguisAcBeauty Here,AllaahhassaidraHmatanminnaa.Inotherplaces,AllaahsaysraHmatanminindinaa. Forexample,inreferringtoKhidralayhiassalaam(18,65)
SoWerespondedtohimandremovedwhataictedhimofadversity.AndWegavehim[back] hisfamilyandthelikethereofwiththemasmercyfromUsandareminderfortheworshippers [ofAllaah]. Whatisthedierence? Thela<erisalargerconstrucAonsoitsmeaningisgreateraswellasmercythatisaspecialgiW fromUs.WheneverAllaahdiscussesbelievers,prophets,messengers,piousindividuals,then HeusesthismorepowerfulconstrucAon.When,however,AllaahisdiscussingthemercyHehas bestowedupongeneralpeople(includingdisbelievers),thenHeusesthesimpleconstrucAon. Thisalsohappenswithnimatanminnaaandnimatanminindinaa. ThesimpleconstructisusedforordinaryorunexcepAonalpeople(39,49)
Verse 45
AsaconclusiontothemiddlepassageofYaSin(regardingtawhid),Verses4550proceed. Thesepeoplehavesignsallaroundthemandthesesignsarebeingpointedouttothem.They arebeingtoldtoreectuponthesesignsandtoseetheobediencethatallofcreaAonhasto Allaah.Then,tositandreectastowhytheyaresodisobedienttoAllaah.Everythingaround themisasignpoinAngtotheoneness,power,magnicenceandgreatnessofAllaah.
Butwhenitissaidtothem,Bewareofwhatisbeforeyouandwhatisbehindyou;perhapsyou willreceivemercy... ThisversebeginswithaninteresAngconstrucAon. Thesepeoplearenotbeingtold Butwhenamessenger/theQuraan/Allaahsaidtothem// ThosewouldhavebeenacAveconstructs.Instead,thepassiveconstruct(majbul)isused.One ofthebenetsofusingthepassiveinthismanneristhatitdoespinpointorelaboratewhois thedoerwhoistheonesayingthistothem.Thisservestwopurposes 1. Itmakesthefocalpointofthataddressandaayahtheonewhoisaddressedandnotthe onewhoisaddressing.Thesepeoplearebeingtoldtoconsiderthemselves,totakealong, hardlookinthemirror.LookattheirownsituaAonandcondiAon.Nothingelseneedstobe lookedathereexceptforthesepeople. 2. Itcreatesvariety,versa)lityinthemeaningandinterpreta)on.TheyweretoldAmeand Ameagainfromdierentangles,bydierentpeople.Allaahspoketothem,thedivine scriptureadvisedthem,themessengerwasArelesslypreachingtothem,theotherbelievers cametoadvisethem.Everyoneistellingthem.FrommulApleangles,frommulAplepeople. IMaqu|WordAnalysis Theyarebeingtoldtohavetaqwa.Taqwadoesnotjustmeantobeafraidortohavefear.It meanstobeaware,tobeconscious,protectyourself,guardyourself,takeprecauAons. TaketheseprecauAonsfromwhat?Fromthatwhichisinfrontofyouandfromthatwhichis behindyou.Whatdoesthisreferto? 1. InfrontofyouistheresultofyouracAons,theirconsequences.BehindyouaretheacAons youhavealreadyperformed. 2. Infrontofyouisalakhirahandbehindyouisaddunya.Thenextpassagewilldiscussthe HereaWerandtherstpassagediscussedthesepeoplesrejecAonofthemessengersinthe dunya. 3. Infrontofyouiswhatisabouttohappentoyou,yourownsituaAon.Whatisbehindyouis whathappenedtopreviouspeoples.ThismessagewasfortheQuraysh.Theyoughttolook
Then,dotheynotlookatwhatisbeforethemandwhatisbehindthemoftheheavenand earth?IfWeshouldwill,Wecouldcausetheearthtoswallowthemor[could]letfalluponthem fragmentsfromthesky.Indeedinthatisasignforeveryservantturningback[toAllaah]. ThisistalkingaboutthepunishmentofAllaah.SooneinterpretaAonisthatpunishmentof Allaahwhichcouldcomefromthesky,frombeneathyourfeet,fromtheleW,fromtheright.It couldcomeanywhereatanyAme.SocometotheobedienceofAllaah.Graspthe understandingofbeingaslaveofAllaah. TheQuraanisnotsimpleinhavingasinglemeaning.ItissophisAcated.Wearesimpleminded. ThereisaconceptcalledattawasulmanalQuraanalKarimthatthemeaningofthe Quraanisverybroadandtoallowthemeaningtobebroadandnotnarrowitdown. SomeAmesoneversewillhavemulAplemeaningsandunderstandings.Weconsidersomeone speakingwithdoublemeanings(doubleentendre)tobeclever,butthisisthekalaamofAllaah. Itisanendlessoceanthatwillneverbecompletelyunderstood. Laalla|WordAnalysis WhyshouldtheybecauAousofthese?Sothatyoumayreceivemercy.AcorrecAonisneeded here.LaallaistranslatedintheArabiclanguageassothat,butitdoesntactuallymeanthis. Itactuallymeansmaybe,hopefully,possibly.SoiftheyleadalifeofcauAousness,maybe theyllreceivethemercyofAllaah.Itisalsoplacedinthepresent/futuretensetodrivethe incenAvehome.Striveforthismercy,theonlythingthatwillprotectanyone. Nobodywillenterjannahbecauseofhisdeeds.Everyonewillonlyenterjannahbecause ofthemercyofAllaah. Allaahhasplacedittheretomakeusalert,tobecomeaware,tobeconsciousandawareandto leadalifeinthiswaysothatoneday,hopefullyinthefuture,wewillqualfyforthemercyof Allaah.AsAllaahsaysin(17,8)
Verse 46
AndnosigncomestothemfromthesignsoftheirLordexceptthattheyarefromitturning away. Theyendupwillingly,intenAonallyturningawayfromthesign.Thisisapathy,arrogance, stubbornness.Allaahhassaidwheneverfromthemany,manysignsofAllaah.Thistellsus thatAllaahconAnuestosendthesesigns.Thesetypeofpeople,however,haveiraaD.Theyare arrogant,choosingnottonoAce. ThisislikeinVerse30,whenthetownspeoplewouldridiculeandmockthemessengerswho wouldcometothem.Here,AllaahismenAoningthattheirstandardoperaAngprocedurewith theaayaatisjustlikeitiswiththemessengers. ImaanleadstoMorality Herewebegintoseesomethingaboutthecharacterofthesepeople.Theydisplayarrogance andstubbornness.Next,Allaahwillrefutetheirbehaviour.HewillmenAonhowarrogantand sarcasAcandstubborntheyhaveliterallybecome.Inreality,theyaremockingandjeeringat themessagewhichhascometothem. Thereissuchpoorconductfromthesepeople.Theythreatenedtheirmessengers,killedan innocentman.Theypossessednomorals.Imaan,however,bringsaboutmorality.Thisisa profoundconnecAon. Manywillarguetodaythatfaithhasnothingtodowithmorals,butmoralityisanindependent enAty.Peoplewhohavethefacadeofreligion,butnotruespirituality,theirhorrendousacAons aresensaAonalized.Allaah,however,makesaconstantconnecAonaboutamoralcompass arisingfromhavingimaan.Imaanisthebasisofmorality. Forexample,in(83,16)Allaahisaddressingthepeoplewhodonotmeasureouttherightdue amountswhengivingtopeople.Whenmeasuresareduetothemselves,however,theytake thefullmeasurefrompeople.Theydontrealizethattheywillberesurrectedandbroughtto standbeforeAllaah.ItisadirectconnecAonbeingmadebetweentheirmoralsandtheirlackof imaan. Also,(107,17)beginsbypinpoinAngtheonewhodeniestheRecompense(e.g.the accountabilityoftheResurrecAon).ThenitmenAonsthatisthepersonwhodrivesawaythe orphan,whodoesnotencouragefeedingthepoor,whoareheedlessofprayer,whoaunt theirdedds,butwithholdsimpleassistance.Woetothesepeople. ThispersondoesntjustavoidsupporAngithimself,buthedegradeswhatothersaredoing. Thiscomesaroundasalackofimaan.
ImaanbringsabouttheulAmateconductandgoodcharacter. TheresabeauAfulstorymenAonedbyIbnKathir.Trueorderinsocietycanonlycomeaboutas aresultofimaan.Evenifallthelawsandbestpoliceforcehasbeenestablished,therewillnot bemorality. TherewasonemanfromBanuIsrailwhoneededtoborrowmoney.Hewenttoanother manandaskedforaloan.Thispersonthenaskedwhocanvouchforhim.Hesaid, Allaahisenoughasawakil.Themandidnotargue. Hesaid,letusatleastgetawitness.Themansaid,Allaahisenoughasawitness.The mandidnotargue. Therewasariverthatseparatedtheirhomes.Theborrowerpromisedtomeettheman atacertaindayandAmeatthisplacetoreturnthemoneytothelender. TheAmepassed.Whenthemanarrivesattheriver,theriverisoverowing.The peoplewhonormallyruntheferriestocrosstheriverarenotthere.Theborroweris siingtherewiththemoney,frustratedthathehadgivenhiswordandnowwasinthis predicament.Hestandsandwaits,butgetsmorefrustrated.Hetakesalog,carvesa holeinitandputsthemoneyinit.Hewritesanotetothemanthatthisisthemoneyhe owedhimandifitreacheshim,thenitisdone. HethrowsthelogintotheriverandmakesduaatoAllaahthatitreachesthelender. ThiswasoutofhisfrustraAonfromtheideaofcheaAngtheman. Ontheothersideoftheriver,themanwaswaiAng.HeseesthecondiAonandrealizes themancannotcome.TheAmepassessohedecidestogohome.Beforegoinghome though,hewantstopickupsomewood.HeseesalogoaAngintothewater.Hetakes ithome.Whenhebeginstochopit,heseesthemoneyandthenote.Hisloanis completed. Theborrower,however,isnotcomfortableinhisposiAon.Hethinksheshouldhave returnedthemoneyasithadbeengiventohim.Sohewaitssomedays,thewater subsides.Hegetssomemoremoneyandcrossestherivertothelendershome.Hetells themanthathehasreturnedtopayhimbackandhowhecouldnotmakeitpreviously. Thelendercouldbethinkingthathehasalreadyreceivedthemoney,buthecouldbe geingmorefromhim.Hetoldhimthathereceivedthelog.Theirimaanwasrm.One mansimaanwouldntlethimrestandtheotherswouldntlethimcheat.
Verse 47
Andwhenitissaidtothem,SpendfromthatwhichAllaahhasprovidedforyou,Thosewho disbelievesaytothosewhobelieve,Shouldwefeedonewhom,ifAllaah,hadwilled,Hewould havefed?Youarenotbutinclearerror. ThisisthesamepassiveconstrucAon. SpendfromthatwhichAllaahhasprovidedforyou.Thisamountisnotevenyourstobegin with!Allaahhasprovidedyouwitheverything.Keepmostofitandspendfromitali<leinthis sake.JusttoshowyourdevoAonanddedicaAon.Itsjustagesture. Howdotheseungrateful,disbelievingpeoplerespondtothepeoplewhoarebelievingand advisingthem? TheyhavetoldthemtogiveincharitytothosewhoarepoorandneedyindicultsituaAons. Yet,theyoverraAonalizetomockthecommandofreligion.IfAllaahhadwantedthatpersonto havesomething,wouldntHehaveprovidedforhim? HowtoanswerthesequesAons? SomeAmes,somepeoplearejustsayingthingsforthesakeofsayingthem.Somepeopleare justtryingtomaketrouble.Theyhavenointerestintruth.Lookto(25,7)
2. ThisisananswertothekuarfromAllaah.Whentheysaysomethingasfoolish,stubborn, arrogant,anddisrespec{ulastosaythis,Allaahwilltellthemtheyarecompletelydrowning intheirdelusions. Thisisapowerfullessonindawah.Peoplewillmakeconfusingandsenselessarguments.We shouldnothavealapseinourimaanatthatmoment.PhilosophicalobjecAonshaveexisted fromthebeginningofAme.NotonlydidtheMessengerofAllaahs dealwiththis,but messengersbeforehimdealtwiththesame.Wearenodierent.Thisnonewphenomenon. Wecanonlybethatstrong,however,ifwehavereadtheQuraan. Thecounterisexactlywhatthissurahhasdone.RemindthemoftheOnenessofAllaah.Andif thatdoesntwork,thenremindthemoftheHereaWerwhentheywillbereturnedtotheirLord andthentheywillbewoefuloftheirownsituaAon(36,5152).Aretheywillingtosacrice everythingtheyhavewiththischoicetheyhavemade?Forallofeternity?Thinkaboutthat beforecarryingonthislightofdiscussion. IfthepersonconAnuestopersist,remembertherehasbeenaFirawn,aNimrod,aHaamaan,an AbuJahl.ThesepeoplehaveexistedandAllaahandHisMessengers haveinformedusabout themforareason.Somepeoplejustarentinterestedinthetruth.Allaahhasgivenusavery powerfulconclusiontothisissue(41,44)
Verse 48
Andtheysay,Whenisthispromise,ifyoushouldbetruthful? Forthesepeoplewhoaretoldtoleadalifeoftaqwa,butreactedwithiraaDandspokein inappropriatemannerswheretheywenttothedepthsofstupidity,Allaahdoesnotdiscussthe facultynatureoftheirlogic.Heletsisspeakforitself,itsstupidity,disobedience,anddisrespect speaksforitself. WhentheyvereachedthisarrogancewheretheyareremindedconAnuouslyindierentways, butreactwithignorance,eventuallyawarningisissuedtothem.Theyneedtorealizetheerrof theirwaysotherwisethepunishmentofAllaahcouldbefallthem,asaconsequenceoftheir acAons. Theirarroganceandkufrdoesnotallowthemtoheedthewarning.Theyrespondwitheven morearrogance,withevenmoremockery.Inthisverse,Allaahissayingthatthesepeople wouldconAnuetosay(presentandfutureverb),Whenwillthispromisecome?Thiswarning thattheyarebeinggivenisbeingmocked. TheyarequesAoningthismoralityandtruthfulnessofthesepeople.Recallthatmoralityarises fromimaan.Lookattheirconceit.
Verse 49
Instead,Hesays:
Verse 50
Andtheywillnotbeable[togive]anyinstrucHon,nortotheirpeoplecantheyreturn. TheywillnothavetheabilitytotawSiyatan. TawSiyah|WordAnalysis Itmeanstowillsomething,alastwill,alasttestament.Yourlastwords,yourlastwish,your dyingwish.Theywontevenhavetheabilitytomakeadyingwill.Nothing.Theywonthavethe chancetosayanything. ThishasseveralramicaAons. 1. Itshowshowunfullledtheirliveswere.Theyrefused,rejected,anddidntbelievebecause theywantedtolivethislife.Yet,inthislifetheywerentevenabletomakealastwish, somethingtheydesiredtodo. 2. Aknownconvictedcriminalondeathrowmaybeaserialrapistorkiller,butsAllreceivesa lastwish.Heispermi<edtosaysomething,togetalastmeal,tovisitaclergyman,tovisit familybutthesepeoplewillgetnothing. Theywontevenbeallowedtoreturntotheirfamilies.Thisistheoutcomeofthesepeopleand whatwilltranspireofthem.Itisverysimilartothepeoplewhorejectedthemessengers(36, 3031).ItwillsAllberegre{ulforthemtohavedonethemselvesin.Itwasaresultoftheirown acAons,theirownrejecAon.
Howregrequlfortheservants.Theredidnotcometothemanymessengerexceptthatthey usedtoridiculehim.
HavetheynotconsideredhowmanygeneraHonsWedestroyedbeforethemthattheytothem willnotreturn?
Verse 51
NowwebeginthethirdpassageofYaSinwhichwillfocusupontheHereaWer.Thisrstpart, likeintheprevioustwopassages,isanintroducAontothistheme.Then,wewillproceedinto thenuancesofthelifeoftheHereaWer.
AndtheHornwillbeblown;andatoncefromthegravestotheirLordtheywillhasten. Literally,theHornwasblownintomeaningthatsomeonewassoundingtheHorn.Itisinthe pasttense,althoughthisisyettooccur.Thisistoshowthatthisisaconrmedfactitssucha donedealtohappenthatitcanalreadybeconsideredtohavehappened.Nothingwillchange thisfact. Allofasuddenthey.Whoisthisthey?Thesearethesamepeoplewhomthesurahhas addressedunAlnow.Thesamepeoplewhodeniedthemessengers.Thesamepeoplewho rejectedtheconceptoftheOnenessofAllaah.Thesamepeoplewhomockedthisconcept. Ajadaath|WordAnalysis Allofasuddentheyfromajdaath.Thisisthepluralofjadath,meaninggrave.Thisisaspecic typeofgrave.(Graveisliterallykabarandthepluraliskubur).Here,jadathisusedbecauseit carriesthemeaningofgravesthathavedisappeared.Theyaresoold,thatitisforgo<enwhere theyexisted.Thesignsofthosegraveshavedisappeared.Theywereforgo<en. Thisisprofound.Theprevioustwopassages(regardingrisalahandtawhid)endedwithone warningtothesepeople.Thatitwouldonlytakeonepiercingsoundtogetridofthesepeople. Therstpassage(Verse29)endedwithfaidhahumkhaamidunthenallofasuddentheywill beputoutlikeare.Partoftheunderstandingofthisisthatallsignsofthesepeoplewould disappear.Itwouldbeasifthesepeopleneverevenexisted.Thisisawholenewlevelof humiliaAonforthesepeople.Peoplearenormallyburiedrespec{ullyandpeoplevisitthemand makeduaaforthem.Itisasignofdignity.Thesepeople,however,arecompletelyforgo<en and,assuch,arehumiliated. TheyweresoarrogantthattheywerentabletogivesadaqahoutofwhatAllaahhasgiven themandmockedsuchbehaviour.Inreturn,notonlyweretheywipedaway,butallsignsof themwerewipedaway. Sothesepeoplearecrawlingoutofgravesthatpeopledidntevenknowexistedandtheyare goingstraighttoAllaahontheDayofJudgment. Yansilun|WordAnalysis Thiscomesfromnasal.Atthecoreofit,itmeanstowalkquicklytowardssomething.More specically,itisusedforsomeonewhoiswalkingorrunningdownhill.Theyaremovingso
Verse 52
Theywillsay,Owoetous!Whohasraisedusupfromoursleepingplace?[Thereplywillbe], ThisiswhattheMostMercifulhadpromisedandthemessengerstoldthetruth. Wael|WordAnalysis Theywillcursethemselves.Thisisanexpressionofremorse,regret,likehavingpityupon someone. Baath|WordAnalysis Whohasbaathna?Itmeanstobringbacktolifeandtopushalong.Theyhavenotonlybeen broughtbacktolife,butarebeingpushedalongtobemadetostandbeforeAllaah.Itslike theywillbeherdedtogetherlikeca<le. Raqada|WordAnalysis Fromourraqada.Itmeanstotakeanap.Notlikedeepsleep,butjustlayingdownandresAng inlightsleep.Thisisaveryrelaxingrest.Whenyouvebeenawakened,youdontwanttoleave theposiAon.Thisissorelieving.Itisdisturbingwhensomeonebothersyou,evenifitisforyour owngood. Thesewereabadgroupofpeople.Itisaconrmedfactthatsuchpeoplewillbepunishedin theirgraves.Whythenwouldtheyrefertotheirgravesasthatcomfortableplace?Because whattheywillseeforthemselvesontheDayofJudgmenttobesohorricandterrifying,that whattheyexperiencedinthegravewillhavebeenliketakinganapincomparison.Theseare thesamepeoplewhowerescreamingwhenbeingputintothegravesthattheybegiven anotherchance(23,99)
UnHl,whendeathcomestooneofthem,hesays,MyLord,sendmeback! Theimagebeforetheireyeswillbeterrifying(89,23)
IfyoucouldbutseewhenthecriminalsarehangingtheirheadsbeforetheirLord,[saying],Our Lord,wehaveseenandheard,soreturnus[totheworld];wewillworka(any)righteousness. Indeed,weare[now]certain. TheyarenotsayingthisisthatwhichAllaahhadpromised,butrathertheyaresayingthisis thatwhichArRahmanhadpromised.WhywouldtheyusethisnameofAllaah? ThisnameisconstantlyusedinthesurahtoinspiretheemoAonsofobligaAontoAllaah.It remindsusofeverythingAllaahhasgiventous.Hehasgivenussomuchthatwetrulycannot comprehendit.ThisisthedepthoftheirrealizaAon,butitwillbetoolate. 2. AllaahortheAngelsarespeakingtothepeople.ThatthisiswhatAllaahwarnedyouofand toldyoutopreparefor.Themessengerswhocametoyouwerespeakingthetruth.This aayahshowshowtheakhirahistheculminaAonofbeliefinAllaahandbeliefinthemessage deliveredbymessengers.Ifonebelievesinboth,thenhewillhaveagoodoutcome;ifone disbelievesinthem,theoutcomeisbleak.
Verse 53
ItwillnotbebutoneblastandatoncetheyareallbroughtpresentbeforeUs. Thissamestatementwasmadeattheendsofpassage1(Verse29)andpassage2(Verse49). Thatoneloud,piercingsoundliterallyexAnguishedthepeopleandthenwouldbeusedto collectthepeopleontheDayofRecompense. AllaahdoesnotneedtomakeanyelaboratepreparaAonsorprocessestotaketheirlives,to bringthembacktolife. Now,allofasudden(idhaa)theywillbebroughtback.ThereisrepeAAonofhumandjamiun toshowthattheywillALLbebroughtbacknoma<eriftheywererichorpoor,piousorsinful, believingordisbelieving,oldoryoung,maleorfemale.TheywillALLbemadetostandbefore Allaahandbeheldaccountable. Accountabilityisaverypowerfulidea.Ithelpspeoplemanagethemselves,conductthemselves. Itishowweliveourlives,payourbills,getaneducaAon,makemoney,balancechequebooks. Everythinghasaccountabilitybuiltintoit.ThissAmulateproducAvity.Dinmakesusaccountable byspeakingoftheHereaWer.Imaaninspirespeopletoliveproperly. ThefamousstoryaboutUmard andthemotheranddaughterandthemixingofmilkwith waterthatwasaccountability.Allaahiswatchingsoitdoesntma<erifnooneelseisaware (36,11)
YoucanonlywarnonewhofollowsthemessageandfearstheMostMercifulunseen.[...]
Verse 54
Indeed,theyseeit[as]distant,
TheAmeissoveryclose(21,1)
ButWeseeit[as]near.
Verse 55
Thebeginningofthesurahdiscussedtwogroupsofpeople.Onegroupwillnotbenetfromthe message,whetheryouwarnthemornotandAllaahsdecisionhasbeenconrmedforthe majorityofthem(Verse10).Theothergroupwerethosethatbenetedfromthismessageand remembrance(Verse11).ThiswastheobjecAveofrisalah.Now,wemoveontodiscussing akhirahforthisbelievinggroupofpeople.
IndeedthecompanionsofParadise,thatDay,willbeamusedin[joyful]occupaHon ASHaab|WordAnalysis MostdenitelywithoutanydoubtthecompanionsofJannah.Allaahdoesnotsayahlof Jannah,butsaysaSHaabofJannah.ThisshowsthebelongingofthesepeopletoJannah.They aretheinhabitants,thedwellers.Also,theywillbeagroupofpeopletogether.Theyarenot isolated. AlyawmisprovidingtheimagerytomakepeopleawareofthedescripAons. Shughlin|WordAnalysis Thisissomethingthatoneengagesin,oneindulgesin.Somethingthatwhenoneisinvolvedin it,heforgetsabouteverythingelse.Thinkofwhenpeopleareplayingvideogamesandtheyare oblivioustoeverythingaroundthem.Theyaresoengagedorabsorbedinit.Thisisalsointhe commonformtogiveitversaAlity,diversityinthemeaning.Foreveryonetherewillbea dierentindulgencehenceithasnotbeenspecied. Inthelifeofthisworld,wearetoldtolimitourindulgencessothatwemaybemorespiritually dedicated.Injannah,however,wewillbetoldthatforwhatwasgivenupinthedunya(52,19)
Verse 56
IsthedescripHonofParadise,whichtherighteousarepromised,whereinareriversofwater unaltered(nevertostench),riversofmilkthetasteofwhichneverchanges,riversofwine delicioustothosewhodrink(fromthem),andriversofpuriedhoneyinwhichtheywillhave fromall[kindsof]fruitsandforgivenessfromtheirLord,like[thatof]thosewhoabideeternally intheFireandaregiventodrinkscaldingwaterthatwillsevertheirintesHnes? Thegardensinjannahwillhavebladesofgrassthatareliterallylikediamonds,pearls,rubies andgemsandstone.Andthetreesinjannah:ifapersonwastorideahorse,hewouldnotbe abletocrosstheshadowfor100years(Bukhari). Thisisthesceneryforthesepeople. Usuallywhenweareseatedoutdoorsundertheshadeofatree,weusesomethingtoreclinein butitsusuallynotcomfortable.Thesepeoplewillhavearaaaik(sing.arik)islikesomething betweenabedandcoucharecliner.Thisisunbelievableandsowonderful.
Verse 57
Its[fruit]tobepickedhangingnear. ThispersonissiingbackinthereclinerandwillseetheshadecasAngthetreeabovethemand seethisripe,juicyfruithangingoverthem.Theywillthinkthatitlooksdeliciousandthefruit itselfwillcomecloser.Thispersonwontevenhavetogetuptogetit!Thetreewillliterally bendtothepersonsmouthsohecaneatitandthenitwillgobackupandreturnwhenhe wantsmore. TheluxuryweveseeninthisworlddoesnotevencomparetowhatisawaiAngforthesepeople inParadise. Andthisisonlyapreview,therealityisthatitisexclusivelyforthemforthepeopleofjannah. Exclusivelyforthemiswhatevertheycouldaskfor. Yaddaun|WordAnalysis Duaaistocalloutforsomething.Thisisintheexaggeratedform.Itmeanswhateverthey couldeveraskfor. Aminorityopinionisthatitcomesfromtherootoftheverbmeaningtoclaimsomething.This wouldrefertothemnotevenhavingtoverbalizewhattheywant.Theywontevenhavetodo thatmuch.Theywillhavewhatevertheyhavemerelydesired(41,31)
Verse 58
[And]Peace,awordfromaMercifulLord. Salaamun|WordAnalysis Theywillbegivensalaampeaceandsafety.AproclamaAonisbeingmadelikea congratulaAons.Itisshowereddownuponthem.Itisinthecommonformsoitispeaceand safetyofeverytypeforallofeternity. Andthisisaword(salaamun)giventothemfromRabbiArRahmaan. Rabb|WordAnalysis Itistheonewhocreated,provides,sustains,maintains,guides,andprotects.Hehasdoneallof theseforyou.Hehasguidedyoutothispath,hadmercyuponyou,forgivenyou,andgivenyou thisluxuriousplaceofabidingforallofeternity.ItisselfdescripAve. Andtheywillsay(7,43)
Verse 59
[ThenHewillsay],Butstandaparttoday,youcriminals. Now,weswitchforthepeopleoftheleWhand,thepeopleofHellre.Weareintroducedto theminaverypowerfulway.Thereareremarkablestoriesregardingthisaayahthatthe scholarshavemenAoned.Intheirnightprayers,theywouldcometoitandreciteitallnight long,weepingastheyarereciAngunAlmorningAmehascome. ThetransiAonfromspeakingregardingthepeopleofjannahtothepeopleofnaaris remarkable. Wamtaazu|WordAnalysis ThisisintheimperaAve,thecommandform.ItcomesfromimHyazmeaningtoseparate somethingthatwasmixed.LikepickingoutaparAcularnutfromtrailmix. Peopleintheworldaremixedup.Everyoneiscrossingpaths,livinginthesame neighbourhoods,goingtothesameschools,anda<endingthesameparAes.Therewasno disAncAonbetweenrightandwrong,butthereweresomewhowerelivingaconsciouslifestyle. Theywerecrossingpaths,butatthesameAme,theyhadadierentlifestyle. SomeAmesthepunishmentofAllaahdoesntcomeimmediately.Peoplewhoareungrateful anddisobedientarelivinglifewithoutaharsh,openpunishment.Thisshouldnotdeceivethem. ItshouldnotserveasvalidaAonoftheirways. TheblessingofAllaahisoftwotypes:quanAtyandquality.Theyforget(6,44)
ThisisthethirdAmethatalyawm(today)hasbeenmenAonedinthispassage.thisisveryrare. ThereasonwhyitisusedistomakeuspicturethesituaAonasifitishappeningrighthere,right now.Imagineyourselfinagroupofpeople,seeingthegatesofParadiseandthegatesof Hellrebeforeyounow.Itallcomesdowntothismoment,thisday.Now,criminalsseparate yourselvesfromtheothers.Imaginethinkingthatyouareoneofthosepeople.Youlltrytohide yourselfandbeamongtheothers.ButitwillbetonoavailbecauseAllaahknowswhatseven intheheartsofman. Mujrim|WordAnalysis Notjustacriminal,butaconvicted,sentencedcriminal.Theonewhohasdonesomething wrongandnowmustservetheconsequences. AndnowAllaahwilltelluswhythisishappening.ThisistheblessingoftheQuraan.SomeAmes whensomeonedoessomethingwrongandistoldtopaythepenalty.ThatpersonoWenthinks, IfIknewitwasgoingtobethisbad,Iwouldnthavedoneit.SubhanaAllaah,Allaahistelling ushowbaditisgoingtobeoutofHismercy.Towarnus. Thereisnovengence.OurLordissomerciful,Hehasgivenuseveryopportunity.Attheendof thedaytheremustbesomeresponsibilityonourpart.Itcanbeanalogoustoapersonbeing toldhehasatestinsevendaysandgiventheanswerkeytomemorizeinsixdays.Noonecan callthatteachermercilessattheend.Itwouldberidiculoustosaysuchathing.Allaahhas givenusalltheanswersandtolduseverythinginadvancetoread,understandandimplement. Ifwedonttakethewisdom,thenthereisnoonetoblamebutourselves.
Verse 60
DidInotenjoinuponyou,OchildrenofAdam,thatyounotworshipSatan[for]indeed,heisto youaclearenemy Allaahaddressesthecriminalsnow.HadInotentrustedtoyou(giventoyouthe responsibility),OchildrenofAdam? Whatwasentrusted?Whatwastheresponsibility? TonotworshipShaytaan. Ibadaah|WordAnalysis Itistranslatedasworship,butitliterallymeanstowillinglybecomeaslaveofsomething.So dontbecomeaslaveordevoteeofShaytaanandhissystem.Thisisapathbasedupon arrogance,deance,disobedience.Shaytaanrefusedtobowdownbecause(7,12)
and(7,17)
[Iblis]said,ByYourmight,Iwillsurelymisleadthemall
ThenIwillcometothemfrombeforethemandfrombehindthemandontheirrightandon theirlee,andYouwillnotndmostofthemgrateful[toYou].
AndShaytaanwillsaywhenthemaMerhasbeenconcluded,Indeed,Allaahhadpromisedyou thepromiseoftruth.AndIpromisedyou,butIbetrayedyou.ButIhadnoauthorityoveryou exceptthatIinvitedyouandyourespondedtome.Sodonotblameme;butblameyourselves.I cannotbecalledtoyouraid,norcanyoubecalledtomyaid.Indeed,IdenyyourassociaHonof me[withAllaah]before.Indeed,forthewrongdoersisapainfulpunishment. HasanalBasridescribedthissceneasifShaytaanisthekhaHbintheHellreandthepeopleare allsurrondinghim.Wheneverythingissaidanddoneandtheyhaveallbeendoomedto Jahannam.HemerelymaderecommendaAons.YouboughtintohismarkeAng.Dontblame him,butblameyourselves. TheProphetstoldusthatShaytaanisourenemy.Lookaroundus,thepeoplewhoarefollowing thelifeShaytaanispedalingaremiserable.Theyhavesmall,temporarymomentsofpleasure. Overwheleming,however,theylackcontentment,peace,andtranquility. ThehappinessandpeacewefeelwhenfasAngandstandingintarawih,theydontfeelit. SowhathadAllaahwantedustodo?
Verse 61
Andthatyouworship[only]Me?Thisisastraightpath. AllaahwantedforustodevoteanddedicateourselvesinworshiptoHim.Tocompletelyliveto pleaseAllaah. Whatdoesthatentail? Humility.Realizingthatweknownothingandwehavenothing,butAllaahknowseverything andhasgivenuseverything. GraAtude.ToshowAllaahthatwearegratefulforeverythingHehasgivenus. Thisisastraightpath. Hadha|WordAnalysis ThisisismlisharaitisapoinAngword.Itisforthatwhichisnear(dhalikaisforthatwhichis far).TheimplicaAonofitbeingnearisthatitssonearanda<ainable.Itssoeasytoreach forwardandgrab. Itisastraightpath.Itissonatural.OurtrahtellsustobeobedienttoAllaah.Itiseasy. Toleavetheeasyandgoforthatwhichisdisobedientisdicultandlessaccessible.Itisrough andhasmoreconsequences.
Verse 62
AndhehadalreadyledastrayfromamongyoumuchofcreaHon,sodidyounotusereason? Despiteallofthis,howsadisthecondiAonofhumankind.Despiteeverythingbeingsoobvious andsimple,wearesopatheAc.TherealityofthesituaAonisthatmostdenitelyhehasled astraymuchofus. Jibillan|WordAnalysis Itcomesfromthesamerootasjabalmeaningamountaing.Itmeanssomethingthatishuge andreachinghighintothesky.Soitisahugegroupofpeoplethatissocrowdeditisasif peoplearesiingontopofeachother. Didntwethinkforamoment?Ifwehadthoughtforjustaminute,wewouldhaveconsidered whatweweredoingandtheconsequencesofthesechoices.AsaneandraAonalpersonwould nothavedonethisbecausethose(39,18)
Wholistentospeechandfollowthebestofit.ThosearetheonesAllaahhasguided,andthose arepeopleofunderstanding. Thatisthetragedy.Theyareintelligentpeople,verysuccessfulandeducatedintheirworkand careers.Theyareexemplaryininvestments,socialnavigaAon,socialstatus,etc.Theyare brilliantandexcepAonal,sogoodateverything.Theirbrains,however,shutdownwhenthey comehere. IfIslamissological,thenwhydidntthesebrilliantpeopletakeit?Weretheynotassmartas wethinktheyareoristheresomethingwrong? 1. GuidanceisinthehandsofAllaah.Allaahchooseswhomtoguideandwhomtomisguide. ThisisnotbasedonqualicaAon,butisagiWfromAllaah. 2. Thepeopledonotshowthesamededica)oninspiritualityasinotherareas.Theydonot bringthesamefervor,dedicaAon,andcommitmenttothisma<erwhiletheycarryitin others.WeneedtobringourAgametodin.Itisnotritual!Itrequiresintelligenceand understandingtobefullyimpac{ul.Bringihsaan,bringyourbestabiliAes.Allaahwillgive furtherguidancetothosepeople(39,18above). ThispassagehasservedtoseparatethepeopleofParadisefromthepeopleofHellre.To conclude,Allaahhassaid(40,10)
Verse 63
Verse 64
[Enterto]burnthereintodayforwhatyouusedtodeny. ISlaw|WordAnalysis Thisisthecommandformfromsadlaamyameaningtoenterintore.Itisspeciedto enteringintore.ItissomeAmesusedinitstransiAveform(tasliya)toentersomethinginto re.ItdependsuponthediscourseintheQuraan. 1. SomeAmes,criminalsaretoldtoenterthemselvesintotheFireeveniftheyknowwhat happensinit. 2. OtherAmes,AllaahentersthecriminalsintotheFireorcommandstheAngelstoenterthem intoit. Eitherway,itsveryscary. Alyawm|WordAnalysis ItismenAonedagain(now,thefourthAme)toshowtheimperaAvenatureofthese consequences.Thesepeoplewouldsaytothemessengerstobringthepunishment.Theywould bearrogantinthismanner.Now,theyaretoldtogoandwalkaheadintoitbecauseitishere. Bimaa|WordAnalysis BaaisthemostversaAlele<ersinthelanguage.Inclassicalworksofgrammarthereare1213 uses.OneisthecausaAvebaa:whatcomesbeforeitisaresultofwhatcomesaferit.{Result baacause}. Theyaretoldtoenterbecauseofthatwhichtheyusedtodenytheyweredisobedientand ungratefulwhichmadethemdisbelieve.TherstreacAonastheyarepushedintothis punishmentwillbe,Whyareyoudoingthistome?Theywillbedefensive,butnooneis pushingthemin.Theychosethisforthemselvesrepeatedly.Thatiswhythisishappeningto them. KuntumistheretoshowthepersistenceoftheiracAons.TheirungratefulnesswaspersisAng anddidnotend. Takfurun|WordAnalysis Thissurahhasrepeatedlyhighlightedtheroleofshukrinobedience.TheaayaatofAllaah remindus(dhikr)whichmakesusgrateful(shukr)whichmanifestsitselfinibadaah(worship, devoAon,dedicaAon. Theoppositeistrueaswell.Whenyoudontpaya<enAontotheaayaatyouarenotreminded. Whenyouarenotreminded,youareheedless,obliviousandunaware.Soyouarenotgrateful becauseyouhavenotgivenyourselftheopportunitytothinkThiswillthenmanifestitselfinthe formofdisobedienceandeventuallydisbelief.Andthisistheresultofittodayjahannam.
Verse 65
Hewillsay,RemaindespisedthereinanddonotspeaktoMe. Ikhsauhaislikeshooingadogaway.Theyhadtheirchanceandnowoughtnotspeakormake noise. Alaa|WordAnalysis Itisontopofsomething.Sohereitislikesealingovertopofsomethingsothatthesealis completeandcannotbebroken.Thispropogatesthegraphicandvividnatureoftheverse. Theirhandswillstarttospeakbecausetheywilltrytoliewiththeirmouths.Weknowfrom otherplacesthatevenwithIsaalayhiassalaamtheywilltrytolie. Theybeliedthemessengersrepeatedlyinthebeginningofthesurah.TheybeliedAllaahand mockedtheideaofgivingwhatAllaahhadgiventhem.Theysaidsomuchnonsenseand garbage.Allofthatwasinthedunya.Theyhadeveryopportunitytosaysomethinggood,just likethatmanfromtheedgeofthetownwhosaidsomething.Theymadetheirchoice,but todaynoonewantstoheartheirtrash. TheirlegswilltesAfy.Theywillliterallybewitnessestowhatthepersonhasdone,justlike otherpartsoftheirbodies(41,20)
UnHl,whentheyreachit,theirhearingandtheireyesandtheirskinswilltesHfyagainstthemof whattheyusedtodo.
Andtheywillsaytotheirskins,WhyhaveyoutesHedagainstus?Theywillsay,Wewere madetospeakbyAllaah,whohasmadeeverythingspeak;andHecreatedyoutherstHmeand toHimyouarereturned. WhataretheytesAfyingto?TheyaretesAfyingtothatwhichthesepeopleusedtodo.Theyare onlyansweringtowhattheydid.AllaahmakesthemtesAfybecauseitcannotbedeniedby anotherperson.Thisisthehelplessnatureofthesepeople.Thepeopleofjannahhadpure luxury,butthesepeoplehavepuredeserAonintheircondiAon. TheycausedemoAonaldistresstothemessengers.Theytauntedthemoverthedeathsoftheir wives,uncles,andsons.Theyhadnomercy,nohumanity.TheymadeopportuniAesoutof everything.Thatshowruthlesstheywere.Today,theyarebeingtormented.
Verse 66
Verse 67
AndifWewilled,Wecouldhavedeformedthem,[paralyzingthem]intheirplacessotheywould notbeabletoproceed,norcouldtheyreturn. Similarly,AllaahsaysthatHecouldhavedisguredthemthemselves.Theywouldhavebeen completelymuAliated,destroyedwheretheystood.Theywouldntbeabletogoforward.They wouldnthavetheabilitytomoveon,norcouldtheyevergoback. AlltheirfaculAeswerecompletelytakenawaytoleaverawpiecesofmeat.Thatisvery powerful.Itsagraphicanddisturbingimage.Thatsthepointattheendoftheday,itsnot funandgames.TheyplayedwiththeirownsituaAons.Theyputthemselvesinharmsway. Themercyinthis,however,isthatitisbeingtoldtousnow.Thisisnosurprise.Itsrighthere, rightnow.Readitandxit.Changethingsforyourselves. ThescholarspointoutthatAllaahsayslawnashaaifWewished.Thesepeopleactuallyget opportunityandchanceaWerchance.Theyhavetheopportunitytoturnbackandrealizetheir purposeinlife.Ifthey,however,conAnuetoignorethesignsaroundandevenwithinthemand themessagerelayedtothem,theyarediggingtheirownpitsintheHellre.Ifthiscametopass, thiswouldhappen.Yet,onthatDaytheywillbetakentorecompensefortheirchoices.
AndhetowhomWegrantlonglifeWereverseincreaHon;sowilltheynotunderstand? {AndwhomsoeverWegrantextendedlifeto,WecausehimtoregressinhisoverallcondiHon;so donttheyprocessthis?} TheseareverysophisAcatedwords. Waman|WordAnalysis ThispresentsahypotheAcalsituaAon. Nuammirhu|WordAnalysis Umarmeansageandtheverbcategorymeanstograntextendedage.Theverbpa<ernhere hastheimplicaAonofsomethinghappeningli<lebyli<le,stepbystep,stagebystage.Thisis likeanzal(allatonce)ortanzil(li<lebyli<le). Nunakkishu|WordAnalysis Thiscomesfromnaksliterallymeanstoipsomethingoverfromheadtotail.Itisused metaphoricallytospeakofsomethingregressingbackwards.Thispersonisturnedbackwards, hisfaculAesareipped,increaAon. Asthepeoplebegintoage,theirbodiesbegintoslowdown;theirmindsslowdown; emoAonally,theyslowdown.Thisisalsopointedoutin(30,54)
Opeople,ifyoushouldbeindoubtabouttheresurrecHon,then[considerthat]indeed,We createdyoufromdust,thenfromaspermdrop,themfromaclingingclot,andthenfromalump ofesh,formedandunformedthatWemayshowyou.AndWeseMleinthewombswhomWe willforaspeciedterm,thenWebringyououtasachild,andthen[Wedevelopyou]thatyou mayreachyour[Hmeof]maturity.Andamongyouishewhoistakenin[early]death,and amongyouishewhoisreturnedtothemostdecrepit[old]agesothatheknows,aeer[once having]knowledge,nothing.Andyouseetheearthbarren,butwhenWesenddownuponit rain,itquiversandswellsandgrows[something]ofeverybeauHfulkind. Heisreturnedtotheworstperiodoflifefromknowingsomethingtoknowingnothingatall. ThinkofAlzheimersDiseasetheywakeupanddontevenrecognizepeople. Inandofitself,thisverseispowerfullyremindingusoftheblessingswehave.Thepeople deniedandrejectedrisalah,thentawhid,thenakhirah.SowhatallowsapersontoconAnue beingarrogantinthismanner?Itisthecapabilitythispersonhas.TheirstrengthandfaculAes cancloudtheirjudgment.Sorealizeandunderstandthatthisdelusionistemporary.Timeis whatweallcrave.AsAmegoeson,however,lifeschallengescomewithit.Youmayhavemore Ame,buteverythingyouprideyourselfforiswitheringaway. Sowontyouwakeup?ThisisnthypotheAcalanymore.Thisisveryrealandaroundusall. Everyoneseesthatage. ThemufassirunhavemuchdiscussionoverhowthisAesinwiththepreviousdiscourse(Verses 6567).Thereareafewopinions. 1. Thetwohypothe)cals(lawnashaa...)weresupportedwithevidencewiththisexample. Thediminishingishappeningatalowerlevelaroundusall.Thesepeopledofalltothestage
ofbeingmereeshseatedbeforeus.Allaahcouldspeedtheprocessandmakeithappen faster. 2. Allaahcanipthesitua)onforpeople(nunakkis).Theymayhaveallthatpompandglory whichisprovidingthemwiththearrogancetodenyandbeliethemessageandwarnings,but theirsituaAoncansoeasilybeturnedaround.Anditwillbesoeasilyturnedaround. 3. Thisisanevidenceforbeingresurrected.Thepersoncangofrombeinghelplesstostrongto helplessagainjustlikeAllaahcanbringaboutthesituaAonoflifetodeathandtolifeagain. 4. Inthelasttwoverses,Allaahsaidlawnashaa(ifWehadwilled),butHedidntdoitto them.WhydidntHedothat?Rather,whatdidHedotothem?Thatwouldhavebroughta quickendtothingsandonlysueredinthehereaWer.Theywillalso,however,payfortheir crimeinthisworld.Fortheirarroganceandcrime.Theywillbehumiliatedinthislife.They willgrowold,theywontbeasloudorsmartastheyoncewere.Notonlyaretheynow lackingthatupperhand,buttheyareoldandfeeble. AbuLahabwasveryarrogant.ThereweresomewhometaquickendlikeAbuJahl,butAbu Lahabhadaveryillendwherehisbodywasalmostroing.Hisfamilyliterallylockedhimup andcasthimtotheside.Hislastdayswerespentfarfrombeingthathandsomeman,butbeing adeterioratedperson.TheydidntevenrealizehewasdeadunAldayshadpassed.Eventually, theyhadtopayslavestodisposeofhisbody.Hewasntevenburiedproperly,butwasleWfor somebirdsoranimalstoeat.Lookatthetorturetheyexperiencefortheboas{ulnessthey have. Sowonttheywakeupandusetheirmindsfortherealitythatispresentedbeforethem?
Verse 69
Webeginanewpassagehere.Thesurahconcludeswiththesameissueswithwhichitopened. ItbeganbyswearingbytheprofoundwisdomoftheQuraan;itwillendbyemphasizingthe power,validityandsubstanceoftheQuraan.Itisnotlikepoetrywhichlosessubstanceifit focusesuponstyleandlosesstyleifitfocusesuponsubstance. Thenitwillfocusuponthatsubstancebeingthegreatestproofforthevalidityofthe messengershipoftheMessengerofAllaahs.ItthenfocusesupontellingtheMessengerof Allaahs thatonlyapersonwhosedecencyissAllintactwillexpressanyinterestinthe messagebeingspread.Thosewhorejectitareonlydoingitbecauseofaproblemlyingwithin themselvesandnotaproblemwiththemessageitself.Thenitwillfocusonthesignsaroundus. Next,itwillconcludebyfocusinguponshukrasreecAonupontheaayaat. Finally,itwillgivenconsolaAontotheMessengerofAllaahsforhisfrustraAonwiththe peoplewhoconAnuetoreject,refuseanddenythemessageandcriAcizehim.Allaahtellshim thatthesepeoplehavetheaudacitytotalkillofAllaahHimself;theyaresoblatantly disobedient,arrogantandevenstupid,sowhywouldyoubesurprisedthattheyspeakillof you?TheyhavenodecencyleWinthem.SoleavethemtoAllaahforHecanhandlethemmost appropriately.
Buttheysay,[TherevelaHonisbut]amixtureoffalsedreams;rather,hehasinventedit;rather heisapoet.Solethimbringusasignjustastheprevious[messengers]weresent[with miracles]. Allaahrefutesthisinaveryintelligentandcomprehensivemanner.Allaahdidnotsaythathe doesnotspeakinpoetry,butratherheconnectsthesourceoftheknowledgetoHimself.Ifhe weretolearnpoetry,hewouldhavelearneditfromUs,butWedidnotteachhimpoetry.The onlysourceofknowledgeforhims wasAllaahHimself.Hedoesnotdeliverfromsomeoneor somethingelse.Theclaimsofacademicresearchpapersthathes learnedfromothersand
thencameupwiththeQuraanyet,ifonlytheyreadthesirah,theywouldseetheerrorsof theirclaims. Yanbaghi|WordAnalysis Anditwasnotbeingforhim.Itwasnottforhimtobeapoetortoengageinpoetry.Itis literallyjustnotright. InSuratlShuaraa(26),Allaahtellsusthreeproblemswithpoetryorpoets.Thisisnotto condemnpoetry,butwhencomparingittodivinerevelaAon. 1. Poetsaremoreconcernedwithstyleandadora)onofpeople.Itisimportanttothem,how theirentertainmentandartiscriAquedandreceived.DivinerevelaAon,however,ismore concernedwiththesubstanceandlivinguptowhattheyarepresenAng. 2. Poetrycancontradictitself;itcansayonethinganddefyitinthenextline.TheQuraan issuesthischallengeforitself. 3. Peoplewhousuallybecomeobsessedwithpoetsandtheirworkandpoetryarethosewho lackfocusinlife.Alotofpeoplewhofollowtheirpoetryverycloselydontreallyknowwhat theyredoing.Today,theyareusuallythemusiciansandmayevenbestoners.Divine revelaAon,prophetsandmessengersandtheirfollowers,however,arepeopleofgreat intelligenceandpurpose.Theyareintegralcontributorstohumanity.Youdbeembarassed tolookbackatityearsfromnow,butneverwillthathappenfordivinerevelaAon. TheMessengerofAllaahs forthisreasonhadadislikeforpushingpa<ernsunnaturally.His s statementswerenatural,theywereinspiraAon.Hes condemnedtositandmakeup supplicaAonswhichhadpa<erns(e.g.rhythm)withinthem.Besincere,substanceiswhat ma<ers.Whatwilladdacceptabilitytoyourprayers?Tohumbleyourself,asifgroveling,before Allaah.Ifyouaresohumbledthatyouarestumblingoveryourselfandcannotevenbe coherent,thatisheavierthanthemosteloquentandpracAcedsupplicaAon. Evenwhenspeakingtopeople,dontspeakoverateleprompter.Besincereinyour communicaAonbecauseitwillhithomeharder.ItwillbemoreeecAve. Soifitsnotpoetryanditsnotevenbeingforhimtobecarryingpoetrytopeople,then whatisit?Itisnothingbutdhikrun(areminder). Dhikrun|WordAnalysis Itisareminder,inthecommonformtoemphasizethatitisareminderofmany,manythings. 1. Therealityoflife 2. Fitrahtheirtrueinnatenature 3. Thehistoryofhumanity.Whatshappenedtothepeopleofbefore,themessengersand prophets,thosewhodeniedthem,thosewhofollowedthem. 4. Theoutcome,theconsequencesoftheirchoicesinthislifeandinthehereaWer. ItsremarkablethatwearetoldtolooktotheseaayaattondtheevidencesforAllaah,yet proclaimedacademicslikeHawkingsnewworksaythattheypointtoevidenceagainstGod. Thereare,however,otheracademicswhomakesuchprofoundstatementsagainstthis
argument.TheysayitisbecauseHawkingisobsessedwiththequesAonHow?,buthecannot askhimselfnoranswerthequesAonWhy?Ifheweretoask,Why?,thenhewouldnever ariseatthisconclusion.Sothatwemaycometoshukr. Mubin|WordAnalysis Thisisnothingbutareminderandmubin.Itisaclear,selfevidentQuraan.Thiswordhas repeateditselfthroughoutYaSinthemessageoftheprophets,theopenerrorofthe townspeople,theanimosityofShaytaan.Itprovesitself.Itdoesntrequireanyphilosopherto explainit. Itcanmeanthatthinginandofitselfisclear(intransiAve),butthatitveries,isaverifying force(transiAve).Likeglassesthatarefoggywhichyouclean.WehavealotofdistracAon aroundus,buttheQuraanbringsthatclarity.Justbuilditintoyourlifeandeverythingwill begintomakesense. ThisisnotnewinformaAon,itisremindingusofsomethingwemayhavemerelylostfocus about.Itisremindingusofthatrealityallaroundus. ButiftheMessengersisnotapoet,thenwhatishisjob?
Verse 70
TowarnwhoeverisaliveandjusHfythewordagainstthedisbelievers. Hiss jobistowarn. Indhar|WordAnalysis Itistowarnsomeoneoftheimminentdangertheyarein,andheisonlydoingitoutofconcern forthem.Hissjobistoremindsothathemaywarntheonewhoisalive. Itsoundsobvious.Wedontreminddeadpeople.Itsnotspeakingaboutphysicallyliving,but spirituallylivingpeople.ThosewhosAllhavesomehumanityinthem.Itwillmakeadierenceif youwarnthembecausetheywillfollowit,fearingAllaahinabsence.Thisisjustlikeinthe introducAonofYaSinand(35,22)
Verse 71
Now,AllaahisreiteraAngtheblessingsandsignsaroundpeopletoinsAllgratefulnessinthem. Yet,whatistheirreacAonandwhatwillbeitsconclusion.
DotheynotseethatWehavecreatedforthemfromwhatOurhandshavemade,grazing livestock,and[then]theyaretheirowners? Havethesepeoplenotseen,thenthoughtabout,thenreectedandrealizedsomething profoundfromit? ThereisaninteresAngsequenceherewhichwillberepeated.Allaahisa<ribuAngthese blessingstoHimselfandHecreateditexclusivelyforthem,asiffortheirbenet.Forthemto use,forthemtoenjoy.Itisafacilityhehasprovidedforthem.Thisisapowerfulmethodof remindingpeoplebymeansofremindingthemofwhatHehasdoneforthem.Thisisavery naturalwayofconvincingsomeone.Whensomeonewantsyoutoshowthemsomelevelof respectandyouarenotshowingit,theywillmenAonallthosethingstheyhavedoneforyou. Thatishowourmindswork.WeneedremindersofthesethingssomeAmesanditmakesa dierenceforus. AllaahisshowingusthelengthstowhichHewenttofacilitatethisforusHemadeitwithHis ownhands.HediditforusHimselfjallawaalaa.Theseversesareverysimilarto3335;Allaah menAonedthattheydidnotmakethesethingstheyenjoywiththeirownhands.Theipsideof thisargumentisthatAllaahhasmadeitallforthemfromHisownhands. FromamongstthethingsHehasmadeareanaamanlivestock(fourleggedthings).Somany ofourbasicneedsandnecessiAesarefullledthroughthesecreatures.Forexample,(88,17)
Verse 72
AndWehavetamedthemforthem,sosomeofthemtheyride,andsomeofthemtheyeat. Dhalalnaahaa|WordAnalysis Itcomesfromtheoppositeofizzastrengthortheabilitytodominatesomethingorsomeone. Dhulalistobehelplessandcompletelyatsomeonesmercy.Theseanimalsareatourmercy. WecanAethem,herdthem,milkthem,eatthem,ridethem,etc.Wecandowhateverweneed withthem. ThisrequiresreecAon.Whyisitablessing?TherearelotsofcreaturesofAllaah,butnotas muchatourmercyaslivestock.Otherscannotbedominatedandmayevenbesourcesof dangerforus.Theseanimals,however,meetourneeds. SomeofthemserveastransporaAon.SomeofthemareformsofnutriAon,plenAfuland endlesssuppliesoffood.
Verse 73
Andindeedforyouingrazinglivestockisalesson.Wegiveyoudrinkfromwhatisintheirbellies betweenexcreHonandbloodpuremilk,palatabletodrinkers. ThisanimalinandofitselfissofascinaAng.Itispuremilk,butalsoverysaAsfyingandnutriAous forthehuman.ThisisintheconclusionofYaSin.Allaahhasspokenaboutrisalah,tawhid, akhirah,andtoinvokeourgraAtudeforHisblessingsHepointstowhatwetakeforgranted. Yashkurun|WordAnalysis Itisinthepresent/futuretense.Whydonttheybecomegrateful?Willtheyneverbecome grateful?Wewillseetheseblessingsconstantlyandmakeuseofthemrepeatedly.Willwenot realizeatsomeAmeoranotherjustthisoneblessing? Whentheydontbecomegratefulorrealize,whatistheoutcome?Whatisthechoicethey havemade?Whensomebodyrejectssuchabasicargumentitisalmostasifstupiditymanifests itselfwithinhim.
Verse 74
Verse 75
Theyarenotabletohelpthem,andthey[themselves]areforthemsoldiersinaMendance. Thosethingstowhichtheydevotedanddedicatedthemselveswillnotbeabletohelpthemin theleastbit.Theywontevenhavetheabilitytohelpthem. Andthey(theseidols)forthem(thepeople)willbepresentforthemintheformanarmy. Jundun|WordAnalysis Itislikeanarmylinedup.Theimpressivenessisinthesheernumberofpeople.Itisanendless rowoffalsedeiAesandobjectsofdevoAon.Theywillbethere,rightthere,rightbythem watchingthem. ThisistalkingaboutwhenthesepeoplearepunishedintheHellre.Asanotherformof tormentandtortureforthemandtoshowthemtheirstupidityindecisionmakingandchoices, theirfalsedeiAeswillstandrightbythemwatchingtheirpunishmentswithoutany interference. Imaginetheanguish,pain,andremorsethatwillbring.Itllbeanarmywatchingoverthem.
Verse 76
Soletnottheirspeechgrieveyou.Indeed,Weknowwhattheyconcealandwhattheydeclare. Finally,AllaahconsolestheMessengerofAllaahs.Whattheysayshouldnotcausehimany grief.Allaahisawareofeverythingtheyconspireandcontractagainsthiminprivateandwhat theydoinpublicwhena<empAngtodisgracehims. Allaahiskeepingtabsonthesepeople.Heisleingthemdigtheirowngravesandwillthen takenthemtoaccountforit.Thefoolishchoicestheyaremakinggavebecomebeastlysoleave thembe.Everythingisbeingrecordedandtheywillbetakentorecompense. EmbeddedwithinthismessageisalsohonouranddisAncAonfortheMessengerofAllaahs. Hes oughtnotbotherhimselfwiththembecausethemostinuenAalofanyoneand everyonewilltakecareofhim.Youjustkeepdoingwhatyouredoingbecauseyouredoinga phenomenaljob. InVerses7173,Allaahspokeintherstperson.InVerses7475,Allaahspokeinthethird person.WhythedierenceintransiAon? Westernacademicspointtothisasinconsistency,buttheyfailtoseetheliterarymarvel. ThereasonforthistransiAonisthattherstthreeversesdiscusstheblessingsofAllaahupon thepeople.ItisHiswayofreachingouttothesepeopleinordertomakethemrealize.Then, thethirdpersoniswhentheyvedisappointedHimanddisobeyed.Asignforshowingthis displeasureisturningawayfromthepersonsoasnottospeaktohimdirectly.Thatiswhat Allaahhasdonehere. AllaahisconstantlyconsolingtheMessengerofAllaahs throughouttheQuraan.Someone couldaskwhythisisso?Washes suchasensiAvepersonrequiringthisconsolaAon repeatedly?
Verse 77
DoesmannotconsiderthatWecreatedhimfroma[mere]spermdropthenatonceheisa clearadversary? Hasthehumanbeingnotseen,comprehended,reected,andthenunderstood? Inthebeginningofthepassage,AllaahspoketothesepeopledirectlyinordertomenAonHis blessingsuponthem.Yet,theysAllrejectedeverythingandtookotherobjectsofdevoAon. Allaahthenspeakstotheminthethirdperson.Now,Allaahisnotevenaddressingthem.Itis thehumanbeing.Heisnotevenacknowledgingtheirexistence. Whoisthisinsaan?Therearevariouspersonsnarrated 1. Ubayyb.Khalaf 2. AbuJahl 3. alAasibna allofwhomwereleadersofthepolytheistswhowereveryarrogant,abusive,confrontaAonal, anddisrespec{ul. AtthesameAme,itcouldbegeneralandbroad.AsAllaahsaysin(64,2)
ItisHewhocreatedyou,andamongyouisthedisbeliever,andamongyouisthebeliever.And Allaah,ofwhatyoudo,isSeeing. AllaahmenAonsthekaarrstbecausedespiteeverythingbeingobvious,themajorityof peoplewillnotbelieve.Itsasadrealitythatthemajorityofpeoplewillnotcometoimaan. This,however,shouldmakeusthatmuchmoregratefultoAllaahthatwearepartofasmall groupofpeopleuponwhomAllaahhasbestowedthisguidance. Idhaa|WordAnalysis Itexpressessurprise,shock,amazementatsomethingsudden.Itcanimplythatsomething happenedsuddenlyoramazementandbaeness. SothissamehumanbeingtowhomAllaahgrantedexistenceisfromwhatweconsidernajasa. Everythingthispersonprideshimselfupon(hisappearanceandbody)isbaseduponlth.Itsa bi<erpilltoswallow.Whyishesoproudandboas{ulifthosearehisbeginnings? NotonlyishisbeginningsopatheAc,butheiskhaSim.
Verse 78
AndhepresentsforUsanexampleandforgetshis[own]creaHon.Hesays,Whowillgivelifeto boneswhiletheyaredisintegrated? Thishumanbeingsarrogancecloudshisjudgment.Hedoesntrealizewhathesdoing.Hegives Us,toAllaahandHisMessengers andtheQuraan,anexample.Itsridiculousand preposterous.AllaahhasgivenusexamplesthroughouttheQuraan.Toteachusandexplainto us.ForMr.Geniustocomearoundanda<emptthisissostupid. Hemusthaveforgo<enthathehimselfwascreatedandhowhewascreated.Now,Allaahis explainingtous.Thereaderisamazedthatapersonwilloertogiveanexample.Allaahis tellingusthatsuchapersonissoarrogantthathemusthaveforgo<enhisbeginnings. Andwhatisthisexamplehegives? Man|WordAnalysis HeispresenAngdismayanddoubtattheidea.Whocouldpossiblydoit? Ramim|WordAnalysis Whentheskeletonisliterallyfallingtopartsinyourhands.TheleadersfromtheQurayshwould actuallydigupoldremainsandshovethembeforethefaceoftheMessengerofAllaahs and mockinglyquesAontheveracityofresurrecAon.
Verse 79
Say,HewillgivethemlifeWhoproducedthemtherstHme;andHeis,ofallcreaHon, Knowing. Now,AllaahanswerstheirstupidityandteachestheMessengerofAllaah,andbyextensionus, howtoanswerthem.Notonlythat,butAllaahgoesfurthertocompletelyshuttheirmouths. Anshaa|WordAnalysis Nottocreate,buttoraisesomething.Asifaseedisplanted,watered,sunned,protected,unAl itisraised.ThisbonetheywereholdingintheirhandsisaWerithadgrownandreachedits adultstage.Ifthisisahumanboneorofanycreature,itwasntthatsizeatrstcreaAon.Itwas Any.Itwaspermi<edtogrowbyAllaah.Notonlythat,butlookatthemiraculousproporAon andcoordinaAonofgrowthanddevelopmentinthebody.Thewholebodygrowswiththebone sothatitcanallourish. SothisCreatorissomuchmoreamazingthanyoucanfathom.Youjustdontrealizethis. HeismostdenitelycompletelyinformedofeverythingHehasevercreatedatallAmesand situaAons. WhoknowswhatHehascreatedbe<erthantheCreatorHimself?Youcametoarguewith AllaahwithyourevidencesandproofstotellAllaahaboutthatwhichHehascreated?! TheyjustaskedonequesAon.Allaahansweredthemandspeciedwhothatsomeoneiswith proofandevidence. Now,AllaahwillprovidetwolinesofreasontosubstanAatethisanswer.
Verse 80
[Itis]HeWhomadeforyoufromthegreentree,re,andthenfromityouignite. ItshouldntbesohardforthemtounderstandthatAllaahwillreturnthemtolifebecauseHeis theOneWhomadeforthemfromthegreentree,re. ShajarialakhDar|WordAnalysis Thisisanidiom.ItreferstoatreethatissAllverymoist,fulloflife,andcapableofgrowing.Itis notlikethetreewhichiscutdownorwithered.LeavesaresAllbuddingoutofthattreesoitis fulloflife. Howdoesrecomefromthat?Thereareseveralunderstandingswhichmaycoexist 1. Accep)ngtheaayaatinopposites.Thereweretwotypesoftreesfamousinhejaz:markh andafaar.Therebrancheswouldberubbedtogetherand,evenwhenmoist,wouldsparkto createre.ThiswasconvenientfortheArabs.Butwhypointitout?Forthisperson,itis contradicAonforlifetocomeoutofdead.Allaahthentellshimthatwhenhelightsare usingthesemoistbranches,whatistypicallynotusedasfuelforre,heshouldrealizethatis twooppositeswhicharecoexisAng.Mostscholarspointtothisreading. 2. Thesesamebranchesandleaveswhicharemoistinthespring,drytobecomethebestfuelin thewinterwhentheyhavedried. 3. Theyalsochangefromthecolourgreentothecolourofre. Thenfromityoulightre.WhyhasAllaahrepeatedthere?HasntHealreadytoldusthat formitcomesare? Remember,theidhaashowsshockandsurprise.Itisamazingthatusashumanbeingsknewto gofromonetreetotheotheranduseittobuildare.Whotaughtustodothat?Allaah programmedustoknowhowtosurvive(20,50)
Andhaveyouseentherethatyouignite?
Verse 81
IsnotHeWhocreatedtheheavensandearthFullyAbletocreatethelikesofthem?Yes,[itis so];andHeistheKnowingCreator. Andthisisthesecondprooftothathumanbeing. Thishasalreadybeenspokenofinthesurahinthepassageabouttawhid.Allaahhasalready toldusinsomuchdetailaboutHiscreaAonswhichshouldserveasaayaattoHim. TheOneWhocreatedthisskyandearthandeverythinginandbetweenit,isntHeableto createthelikesofthesepeopleagain? ThesepeoplearefullyfuncAoningandable,butwhentheycometotheirspirituality,their brainsshutdown. Mithlahum|WordAnalysis ItslikethemirrorimageofsomeAng.Somethingofsimilitudeorresemblance.Itcanbe reectedupontoseesimilariAes.Inotherplaces(75,34)
DoesmanthinkthatWewillnotassemblehisbones?
Verse 82
HiscommandisonlywhenHeintendsathingthatHesaystoit,Be,anditis. AllaahtoldthemhoweasyitisforHimtorecreatethem.Hedoesntneedanythingtocreate anything.Norawmaterials,nofactoryline,nonothing. Hisway,Hisaair,thesystemofAllaahissuchthatwheneverHewantsanythingtohappen,He simplysaysKun!Fayakun. Shayan|WordAnalysis ItisinthecommonformtoshowthediversityofitbeingANYTHINGwhatsoever.Allaahhas wrappedtheenAreargumentinthissimplestatement.Everythinghasbeenexplainedindetails becausehumanbeingsarejustthatdenseandthickskulled.Yet,itissosimple.Hedoesnt needanyone,anything,anyfacilitaAon,anycircumstances,anythingatall. ThenAllaahsummarizeseverything.
Verse 83
SoexaltedisHeinWhosehandistherealmofallthings,andtoHimyouwillbereturned. FasubHaan|WordAnalysis Thefaistellingusthatthisistheconclusion,thetakehomemessagefromYaSin. SubHaanisaproclamaAonofhowabsolutelyperfectandmindblowing. Whoissoamazing?TheOneinwhosehand... ThebashowsconnecAonasifitisAghtlygrippedandrminHishand.Itshowsstrength, condence,totalcontrol,totalownership. WhatisinthehandofAllaahthatnoonecaneventhinkabouttaking? Malakutu|WordAnalysis Thisisanotherformofmubalagha(hyperbole,exaggeratedformofword).Thereisarulein Arabic:whenthele<erswithinawordareincreased,themeaningofthatwordincreasesas well. Thebaseismulkmeansdominionorkingdomorownership.Therealmofonespoweror control.Sothiswouldbetotalandabsolutecontrol.Notjusthavingownershipthatcanbe tamperedwith,butsuchthatnoonecanevenlookatitthewrongway.Itissacred,very exclusiveownership. Somebodycouldraiseacoupagainstakingorhatehim,butthekingdomofAllaahiswhereHe hastotalcontrolandnoonecanevensupposetosqueezepastHiscontrol.Youcandothatto thekingsofthisworld,butnoonecandothatwiththeKingshipofAllaah. Allaahhasalsousedthewordinthissensehere(6,75)
Whocreatedme,andHeguidesme.
AnditisHeWhofeedsmeandgivesmedrink.
AndwhenIamill,itisHeWhocuresme
AndWhowillcausemetodieandthenbringmetolife
AndWhoIaspirethatHewillforgivememysinontheDayofRecompense. Heownseverything,eventhecondiAonsandemoAonswhichseemtodelicate.Ourworldcan gocrashingwithasimplestatement.Yet,Hehascontrolovereverysinglething(kullishayinis inthecommonformtoshowdiversity). Everyonelikestobeonthesideofthepersonwhohasauthorityandinuence.Whohasmore powerandinuencethanAllaah?InHishandisthecontrolofeverything.Hehasknowledge aboutanythingforeverything.HowmuchtoouradvantagewoulditbetobeonHisgoodside, tohaveHispleasure.Thisfedtheimaanandtaqwaofthepredecessors.Nothingfazedthem. Theywouldimmediatelyturntosalaah.Allaahuakbar! Wewontneedanythingelse.AbdullahibnSalaamd wasreportedtohavesaid
ThesurahendswithaverypowerfulmessagethatisverypracAcal,tangibleandrelevantadvice inonlyafewwords.ItisanacAonitem,ifyouwill.Ifwedonttakeanythingelsefromthis surah,learnthisoneline. AndtoHimalongareallofusgoingtoreturn.TheOneWhoisabsolutelyperfectandholds controlofeverythinginHishand.ToHim,wewillalleventuallyreturn.ThereisnoopAonBor doortwo.ThereisonlyoneopAon. Ifitdoesnthappentodayitwillhappentomorrow.Thatswhyitisinthepresent/futuretense. Itisnotanunkeptpromise.Itwilleventuallyhappen.Itwillcometobe. Thisisallapersonneedstoknow.Themostbasicrealityeveryonemustcometotermswithit. Thereisnodenyingthisreality.Itremindsusofthetemporary,transientnatureofthislife.The accountabilitytoAllaahofeverythingwehavedone.ThisisthatreminderandrealizaAon. MayAllaahgiveusthetawqandrealizaAontopracAceeverythingthathasbeensaidand heardaamin!