The Originator
Fâṭir
فاطِر
LEARNING POINTS
We can see the infinite power of Allah through the amazing things that He has created in the universe.
We all need Allah for everything, but He does not need anyone or anything.
Allah has blessed us with so many favours that we should be grateful for.
The idols cannot create anything or hear any prayer.
The Prophet is told that other prophets were rejected before him, but they always won in the end.
The believers are promised a great reward in Jannah, and the disbelievers are warned of a horrible punishment in Jahannam.
Allah is very patient and merciful-He gives second chances in this world.
On Judgment Day, the wicked will be crying for a second chance, but it will be too late.
ALLAH'S POWER 1) CREATION AND MERCY
1All praise is for Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who made angels 'as His' messengers with wings-two, three, or four. He increases in creation whatever He wants. Surely Allah has power over all things. 2Whatever mercy Allah releases for people, no one can stop it. And whatever He holds back, none but Him can release it. He is the Almighty and Wise.
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَاعِلِ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُوْلِيٓ أَجۡنِحَةٖ مَّثۡنَىٰ وَثُلَٰثَ وَرُبَٰعَۚ يَزِيدُ فِي ٱلۡخَلۡقِ مَا يَشَآءُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ 1مَّا يَفۡتَحِ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحۡمَةٖ فَلَا مُمۡسِكَ لَهَاۖ وَمَا يُمۡسِكۡ فَلَا مُرۡسِلَ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ2
ONE GOD ONLY
3O humanity! Remember Allah's favours upon you. Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the heavens and the earth? There is no god that deserves worship' except Him. How can you then be distracted 'from the truth'?
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡۚ هَلۡ مِنۡ خَٰلِقٍ غَيۡرُ ٱللَّهِ يَرۡزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤۡفَكُونَ3
COMFORTING THE PROPHET
4If you are rejected by them, so too were messengers before you. And all' matters will be returned to Allah 'for judgment'.
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدۡ كُذِّبَتۡ رُسُلٞ مِّن قَبۡلِكَۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرۡجَعُ ٱلۡأُمُورُ4
WARNING AGAINST SATAN
5O humanity! Surely Allah's promise is true. So do not let this life deceive you, and do not let the Biggest Deceiver fool you about Allah. 6Surely Satan is an enemy to you, so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his followers to be in the Flame.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡغَرُورُ 5إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّاۚ إِنَّمَا يَدۡعُواْ حِزۡبَهُۥ لِيَكُونُواْ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ6
THE WICKED AND THE GOOD
7Those who disbelieve will have a severe punishment. But those who believe and do good will have forgiveness and a great reward. 8Can those 'disbelievers'-whose evil deeds look so good to them that they see them as fine-be like the believers'? Surely Allah leaves whoever He wants to stray, and guides whoever He wants. So do not stress yourself to death over their disbelief 'O Prophet'. Surely Allah has perfect knowledge of what they do.
ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ شَدِيدٞۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٞ وَأَجۡرٞ كَبِيرٌ 7أَفَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُۥ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ فَرَءَاهُ حَسَنٗاۖ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِي مَن يَشَآءُۖ فَلَا تَذۡهَبۡ نَفۡسُكَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ حَسَرَٰتٍۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمُۢ بِمَا يَصۡنَعُونَ8
ALLAH'S POWER 2) THE WIND
9And Allah is the One Who sends the winds, causing clouds to form, and then We drive them to a dead land, giving life to the earth after its death. So will be life after death.
وَٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَرۡسَلَ ٱلرِّيَٰحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابٗا فَسُقۡنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٖ مَّيِّتٖ فَأَحۡيَيۡنَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلنُّشُورُ9
ALL HONOUR AND POWER BELONGS TO ALLAH
10Whoever wants honour and power, 'then let them know' all honour and power belongs to Allah. To Him 'alone' good words go up, and good deeds are raised up by Him. As for those who make evil plans, they will have a severe punishment. And the planning of such 'people' is doomed 'to fail'.
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًاۚ إِلَيۡهِ يَصۡعَدُ ٱلۡكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلۡعَمَلُ ٱلصَّٰلِحُ يَرۡفَعُهُۥۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡكُرُونَ ٱلسَّئَِّاتِ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ شَدِيدٞۖ وَمَكۡرُ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ10
ALLAH'S POWER 3) CREATION OF HUMANS
11And Allah 'is the One Who' created you from dust,¹ then 'developed you' from a human seed, then made you into pairs. No female ever becomes pregnant or gives birth without His knowledge. And no one's life is made long or cut short without being 'written' in a Book. That is certainly easy for Allah.
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٖ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٖ ثُمَّ جَعَلَكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗاۚ وَمَا تَحۡمِلُ مِنۡ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلۡمِهِۦۚ وَمَا يُعَمَّرُ مِن مُّعَمَّرٖ وَلَا يُنقَصُ مِنۡ عُمُرِهِۦٓ إِلَّا فِي كِتَٰبٍۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٞ11
ALLAH'S POWER 4) FRESH AND SALT WATER
12The two bodies of water are not the same: one is good, fresh, and suitable to drink, while the other is salty and bitter. Yet from them both you eat tender sea-food and extract pearls to wear. And you see the ships sailing through both, so you may seek His blessings and give thanks 'to Him.
وَمَا يَسۡتَوِي ٱلۡبَحۡرَانِ هَٰذَا عَذۡبٞ فُرَاتٞ سَآئِغٞ شَرَابُهُۥ وَهَٰذَا مِلۡحٌ أُجَاجٞۖ وَمِن كُلّٖ تَأۡكُلُونَ لَحۡمٗا طَرِيّٗا وَتَسۡتَخۡرِجُونَ حِلۡيَةٗ تَلۡبَسُونَهَاۖ وَتَرَى ٱلۡفُلۡكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ12
ALLAH'S POWER 5) THE DAY AND NIGHT
13He enters the night into the day and enters the day into the night, and He has put the sun and the moon at your service, each orbiting for a set time. That is Allah-your Lord! All authority belongs to Him. But those 'fake gods' you 'idol-worshippers' call besides Him do not own even the skin of a date stone. 14If you call upon them, they cannot hear your calls. And even if they were able to hear, they could not answer you. On Judgment Day they will say they had nothing to do with your worship. And no one can inform you 'O Prophet' like the One with perfect knowledge.
يُولِجُ ٱلَّيۡلَ فِي ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِي ٱلَّيۡلِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَۖ كُلّٞ يَجۡرِي لِأَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗىۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَا يَمۡلِكُونَ مِن قِطۡمِيرٍ 13إِن تَدۡعُوهُمۡ لَا يَسۡمَعُواْ دُعَآءَكُمۡ وَلَوۡ سَمِعُواْ مَا ٱسۡتَجَابُواْ لَكُمۡۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ يَكۡفُرُونَ بِشِرۡكِكُمۡۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثۡلُ خَبِيرٖ14
ALLAH'S POWER 6) MEANS OF SUPPORT
15O humanity! You are in need of Allah, but Allah is the One not in need and He deserves praise. 16If He wanted, He could remove you and produce a new creation. 17And that is not difficult for Allah 'at all'.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلۡفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ 15إِن يَشَأۡ يُذۡهِبۡكُمۡ وَيَأۡتِ بِخَلۡقٖ جَدِيدٖ 16وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٖ17
EVERYONE IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEMSELVES
18No sinner will carry the sin of another. And if a soul burdened with sin cries for help with its burden, none of it will be carried, even by a close relative. You 'O Prophet' can only warn those who honour their Lord without seeing Him and pray salah. And whoever purifies themselves, they only do so for their own good. And to Allah is the final return.
وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰۚ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَيۡءٞ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَۚ وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفۡسِهِۦۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ18
GUIDANCE VS. MISGUIDANCE
19Those 'blind to the truth' and those who can see are not equal, 20also the darkness and the light, 21and the 'terrible' heat and the cool shade. 22The dead and the living are not equal either. Surely Allah 'alone' makes whoever He wants hear, but you 'O Prophet' can never make those in the graves hear 'the truth'. 23¹ This probably means Jahannam and Jannah.
وَمَا يَسۡتَوِي ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ وَٱلۡبَصِيرُ 19وَلَا ٱلظُّلُمَٰتُ وَلَا ٱلنُّورُ 20وَلَا ٱلظِّلُّ وَلَا ٱلۡحَرُورُ 21وَمَا يَسۡتَوِي ٱلۡأَحۡيَآءُ وَلَا ٱلۡأَمۡوَٰتُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسۡمِعُ مَن يَشَآءُۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُسۡمِعٖ مَّن فِي ٱلۡقُبُورِ 22إِنۡ أَنتَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ23
SUPPORTING THE PROPHET
23You are only a warner. 24We have surely sent you with the truth as a giver of good news and a warner. There is no community that has not had a warner before.¹ 25If they reject you, so did those before them. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs, holy writings, and guiding books. 26Then I took those who continued disbelieving. And how severe was My response! 27¹ Meaning the Tawrah, the Injil, and Zabur
إِنۡ أَنتَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ 23إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ بَشِيرٗا وَنَذِيرٗاۚ وَإِن مِّنۡ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٞ 24وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ جَآءَتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ وَبِٱلزُّبُرِ وَبِٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡمُنِيرِ 25ثُمَّ أَخَذۡتُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۖ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ 26أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦ ثَمَرَٰتٖ مُّخۡتَلِفًا أَلۡوَٰنُهَاۚ وَمِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ جُدَدُۢ بِيضٞ وَحُمۡرٞ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٰنُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٞ27
ALLAH'S POWER 7) COLOURS
27Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky with which We bring out fruits of different colors? And in the mountains are different layers of white, red, and pitch black; 28just as people, other creatures, and animals are of different colours. Of all of Allah's servants, only those blessed with knowledge 'truly' honour Him. Surely Allah is Almighty and Forgiving.
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦ ثَمَرَٰتٖ مُّخۡتَلِفًا أَلۡوَٰنُهَاۚ وَمِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ جُدَدُۢ بِيضٞ وَحُمۡرٞ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٰنُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٞ 27وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ مُخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَۗ إِنَّمَا يَخۡشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِ ٱلۡعُلَمَٰٓؤُاْۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ28
THE ETERNAL REWARD
29Surely those who recite the Book of Allah, pray salah, and donate from what We have provided for them-privately and publicly-can hope for a trade 'with Allah' that will never fail, 30so that He will fully reward them and increase them as a favour from Him. He is truly Forgiving and Appreciating.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتۡلُونَ كِتَٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰهُمۡ سِرّٗا وَعَلَانِيَةٗ يَرۡجُونَ تِجَٰرَةٗ لَّن تَبُورَ 29لِيُوَفِّيَهُمۡ أُجُورَهُمۡ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ غَفُورٞ شَكُورٞ30
3 TYPES OF BELIEVERS
31The Book We have revealed to you 'O Prophet' is the truth, confirming what came before it. Surely Allah fully knows and sees His servants. 32Then We gave the Book to those We have chosen from Our servants. Some of them wrong themselves, some are in the middle, and some are best in doing good deeds by Allah's permission. That is 'trولی' the greatest Blessing.
وَٱلَّذِيٓ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ مُصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ لَخَبِيرُۢ بَصِيرٞ 31ثُمَّ أَوۡرَثۡنَا ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱصۡطَفَيۡنَا مِنۡ عِبَادِنَاۖ فَمِنۡهُمۡ ظَالِمٞ لِّنَفۡسِهِۦ وَمِنۡهُم مُّقۡتَصِدٞ وَمِنۡهُمۡ سَابِقُۢ بِٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِ بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَضۡلُ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ32
WORDS OF WISDOM
The Prophet said that the people of Jannah will be told: 'Here you will live forever and never die, you will be healthy and never get sick, you will be mature and never get old, and you will enjoy and never suffer' (Recorded by Imam Muslim & Imam Ahmad)
The people of Jannah don't need to sleep because they will never get tired. The Prophet said that there is no sleep in Jannah because sleep is the twin brother of death. In other words, when someone sleeps, their senses are shut off like a dead person. So there is no sleep or death there. They will enjoy every single moment, with all their senses. (Recorded by At-Tabarani & Imam Al-Baihaqi)
It's important to understand the reality of Jannah and Jahannam. When the two are compared, one would be desperate to go to Paradise and stay away from Hell. Think about this beautiful hadith: The Prophet said, 'Allah has groups of angels that go around looking for those who remember Him. So if they find some people remembering Allah, they say to each other, 'Come, this is what you were looking for.' Then they surround those people, with their wings filling up the space to the sky. Then (when they return,) their Lord will ask them, and He knows best, 'What were my servants saying?' They will reply, 'They were praising and glorifying You.' He will ask, 'Did they see Me?' They will reply, 'No! By Allah, they never saw You.' He will ask, 'What if they did?' They will reply, 'If they saw You, they would worship You more, and praise and glorify You more.' Then He will ask, 'What were they praying for?' They will reply, 'They were praying for Jannah.' He will ask, 'Did they see it?' They will reply, 'No! By Allah, they never saw it.' He will ask, 'What if they did?' They will reply, 'They would be more desperate to enter it.' Then He will ask, 'What are they asking protection from?' They will reply, 'They are asking for protection from the Fire.' He will ask, 'Did they see it?' They will reply, 'No! By Allah, they never saw it.' He will ask, 'What if they did?' They will reply, 'If they saw it, they would be more scared of it.' Then He will say, 'I want you to witness that I have forgiven these people.' One angel will say, 'But there is someone sitting with them who is not actually one of them. He just came for something else.' He will say, 'If he is sitting with them, then he is blessed too.' (Recorded by Imam Al-Bukhari & Imam Muslim)
REWARD OF THE BELIEVERS
33They will enter the Gardens of Eternity, where they will be decorated with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their clothes will be from silk. 34And they will say, 'All praise is for Allah, Who has kept us away from all worries. Our Lord is surely Forgiving and Appreciating. 35'He is the One' Who has settled us in the Home of Eternal Stay--as a favour from Him-where we will never suffer or get tired.'
جَنَّٰتُ عَدۡنٖ يَدۡخُلُونَهَا يُحَلَّوۡنَ فِيهَا مِنۡ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٖ وَلُؤۡلُؤٗاۖ وَلِبَاسُهُمۡ فِيهَا حَرِيرٞ 33وَقَالُواْ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَذۡهَبَ عَنَّا ٱلۡحَزَنَۖ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٞ شَكُورٌ 34ٱلَّذِيٓ أَحَلَّنَا دَارَ ٱلۡمُقَامَةِ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ لَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا نَصَبٞ وَلَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا لُغُوبٞ35
PUNISHMENT OF THE DISBELIEVERS
36As for the disbelievers, they will have the Fire of Jahannam, where they will not be allowed to die, and its punishment will never be lightened for them. This is how We pay back every 'stubborn' disbeliever. 37There they will be screaming their lungs out, 'Our Lord! Take us out 'and send us back. We will do good, not what we used to do.' They will be told, 'Did We not give you lives long enough so that whoever wanted could have made up their mind? And the warner came to you. So taste 'the punishment'those who did wrong have no helper 'Today'?'
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَهُمۡ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يُقۡضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ فَيَمُوتُواْ وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنۡهُم مِّنۡ عَذَابِهَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي كُلَّ كَفُورٖ 36وَهُمۡ يَصۡطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا رَبَّنَآ أَخۡرِجۡنَا نَعۡمَلۡ صَٰلِحًا غَيۡرَ ٱلَّذِي كُنَّا نَعۡمَلُۚ أَوَ لَمۡ نُعَمِّرۡكُم مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَن تَذَكَّرَ وَجَآءَكُمُ ٱلنَّذِيرُۖ فَذُوقُواْ فَمَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ37
REJECTING ALLAH
38Surely Allah is the Knower of the unseen in the heavens and the earth. He certainly knows best whatever 'secrets are hidden' in the hearts. 39He is the One Who has put you in charge of the earth. So whoever disbelieves will carry the guilt of their own denial. The disbelievers' denial only makes them more despicable in the sight of their Lord, and it will only contribute to their loss.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَٰلِمُ غَيۡبِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ 38هُوَ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَكُمۡ خَلَٰٓئِفَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ فَمَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيۡهِ كُفۡرُهُۥۖ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ كُفۡرُهُمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ إِلَّا مَقۡتٗاۖ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ كُفۡرُهُمۡ إِلَّا خَسَارٗا39
USELESS IDOLS
40Ask 'them, O Prophet', 'Did you ever think about your gods which you call besides Allah? Show me what they created on earth! Or did they help with 'the creation of' the heavens?' Or did We give those 'idol-worshippers' some holy book, which clearly supports their 'false' beliefs? In fact, those who do wrong promise each other nothing but illusion.
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ شُرَكَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شِرۡكٞ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ أَمۡ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡ كِتَٰبٗا فَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَتٖ مِّنۡهُۚ بَلۡ إِن يَعِدُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ بَعۡضُهُم بَعۡضًا إِلَّا غُرُورًا40
ALLAH'S POWER 8) TAKING CARE OF THE UNIVERSE
41Surely Allah 'alone' keeps the heavens and the earth from falling apart. If they fell apart, no one could hold them up except Him. He is truly Most Patient and Forgiving.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُمۡسِكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ أَن تَزُولَاۚ وَلَئِن زَالَتَآ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَهُمَا مِنۡ أَحَدٖ مِّنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورٗا41
WARNING TO THE DISBELIEVERS
42They swore by Allah their strongest oaths that if a warner came to them, they would certainly be better guided than any other community. Finally, when a warner 'actually' came to them, it only made them go farther away 'from the truth'- 43behaving arrogantly in the land and making evil plans. But evil plans only backfire on those who make them. Are they just waiting for the 'horrible' fate of those 'destroyed' before? You will find no change in Allah's way 'of punishment', and you will not find it switched 'to someone else'. 44Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the fate of those 'destroyed' before them? They were much stronger. But nothing can escape Allah in the heavens or the earth. He surely has perfect knowledge and power.
وَأَقۡسَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ جَهۡدَ أَيۡمَٰنِهِمۡ لَئِن جَآءَهُمۡ نَذِيرٞ لَّيَكُونُنَّ أَهۡدَىٰ مِنۡ إِحۡدَى ٱلۡأُمَمِۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ نَذِيرٞ مَّا زَادَهُمۡ إِلَّا نُفُورًا 42ٱسۡتِكۡبَارٗا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَكۡرَ ٱلسَّيِّيِٕۚ وَلَا يَحِيقُ ٱلۡمَكۡرُ ٱلسَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهۡلِهِۦۚ فَهَلۡ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَۚ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَبۡدِيلٗاۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَحۡوِيلًا 43أَوَ لَمۡ يَسِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ وَكَانُوٓاْ أَشَدَّ مِنۡهُمۡ قُوَّةٗۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعۡجِزَهُۥ مِن شَيۡءٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَلِيمٗا قَدِيرٗا44
WORDS OF WISDOM
Allah is very Kind. Imagine if He exposed people every time they sinned or made a mistake. Imagine if there was an app called Sin Dojo, where people get notifications of your sins. Imagine if people walked around with their sins written on their foreheads. Imagine we changed colours like a chameleon, depending on the sin we did. Imagine if there were 'sin detectors' (like the metal detectors they have at airports) that screamed every time a sinful person walked through. Imagine if people started to smell a certain way every time they did something wrong-so they would smell like a skunk if they cheated or stinky socks if they lied. It would have been a big disgrace because everybody would know what this person did, and no one would ever trust them again even if they repented. Since we all sin and make mistakes, we would never trust each other at all. Also, imagine if Allah punished each of us immediately every time we sinned. Allah is very Merciful and Forgiving. He always gives people second chances and covers their sins in this life, so hopefully they will repent and change their ways. However, if someone dies without repenting, no second chances will be given on Judgment Day.
SECOND CHANCES
45If Allah wanted to punish people 'immediately' for what they have done, He would not have left a single creature on earth. But He delays them for a set time. Once their time comes, then surely Allah has always seen His servants.¹ 46¹ Meaning Allah will be able to judge them because He has seen everything they did.
وَلَوۡ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُواْ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهۡرِهَا مِن دَآبَّةٖ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمۡ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗىۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمۡ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِيرَۢا 4546