The ˹Successive˺ Groups
Az-Zumar
الزُّمَر
LEARNING POINTS
All humans came from the same father and mother.
Some people choose to be faithful and grateful to their Creator, while others choose not to.
After a fair judgment, the faithful will go to Jannah (Paradise) and the wicked will go to Hell, each in groups.
Allah is enough to take care of His Prophet (ﷺ).
Our sins can never be bigger than Allah's mercy.
We should always ask Allah for forgiveness before it is too late.
WORSHIP ALLAH ALONE
1The revelation of this Book is from Allah—the Almighty and Wise. 2Surely We have sent down the Book to you 'O Prophet' in truth, so worship Allah 'alone', being sincere in faith to Him. 3Most definitely, sincere faith should only be for Allah. As for those who take other lords besides Him, 'saying,' "We worship them just to bring us closer to Allah," surely Allah will judge between all in what they differed about. Allah certainly does not guide any disbelieving liar.
تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ 1إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَٱعۡبُدِ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصٗا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ 2أَلَا لِلَّهِ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡخَالِصُۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مَا نَعۡبُدُهُمۡ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ زُلۡفَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَهُمۡ فِي مَا هُمۡ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي مَنۡ هُوَ كَٰذِبٞ كَفَّارٞ3
Verse 3: Those who worship Allah alone and those who worship other gods.
WORDS OF WISDOM
Someone may ask, 'We know that the earth is round, not flat. How come Allah always says that He 'spread' the earth?' The answer is simple. Allah says that He 'smoothed out' the earth so that we can live on it, so it's not all mountains.
In several places in the Quran, Allah makes it clear that the earth is round. In verse 5, He says that 'He wraps the night around the day, and wraps the day around the night.' The verb `yukawwir` 'to wrap around' comes from the word 'ball.' This verb literally means to wrap a turban around one's head, which is round.
Based on the understanding of the Quran throughout Islamic history, many Muslim scholars have believed that the earth is round, not flat as was commonly believed in Europe for centuries.
ALLAH'S POWER TO CREATE
4If Allah wanted to have children, He could have easily chosen any of His creation. Glory be to Him! He is Allah—the One, the Supreme. 5He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. He wraps the night around the day, and wraps the day around the night. And He has put the sun and the moon 'at your service', each orbiting for a set time. He is truly the Almighty, Most Forgiving. 6He created you all from a single soul, then from it He made its mate. And He created for you four types of cattle. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers 'in stages', one development after another, in three layers of darkness. That is Allah—your Lord! All authority belongs to Him. There is no god 'that deserves worship' except Him. How can you then be turned away?
لَّوۡ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدٗا لَّٱصۡطَفَىٰ مِمَّا يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُۚ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥۖ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡوَٰحِدُ ٱلۡقَهَّارُ 4خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ يُكَوِّرُ ٱلَّيۡلَ عَلَى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ ٱلنَّهَارَ عَلَى ٱلَّيۡلِۖ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَۖ كُلّٞ يَجۡرِي لِأَجَلٖ مُّسَمًّىۗ أَلَا هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفَّٰرُ 5خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٖ وَٰحِدَةٖ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۡهَا زَوۡجَهَا وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ ثَمَٰنِيَةَ أَزۡوَٰجٖۚ يَخۡلُقُكُمۡ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡ خَلۡقٗا مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَلۡقٖ فِي ظُلُمَٰتٖ ثَلَٰثٖۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصۡرَفُونَ6
Verse 4: 1 Meaning Adam. 2 Meaning his wife Hawwa (Eve). 3 The four pairs (males and females)—listed in 6:143-144—are: a pair of sheep, a pair of goats, a pair of camels, and a pair of cows. 4 The three layers of darkness are: the belly, the womb, and the bag of waters.
BELIEF AND DISBELIEF
7If you disbelieve, then 'know that' Allah is not in need of you, and He does not approve the disbelief of His servants. But if you become grateful 'through faith', He will appreciate that from you. No sinner will carry the sin of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will make you realize what you did. He surely knows best whatever 'secrets are hidden' in the hearts.
إِن تَكۡفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنكُمۡۖ وَلَا يَرۡضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلۡكُفۡرَۖ وَإِن تَشۡكُرُواْ يَرۡضَهُ لَكُمۡۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ7
UNGRATEFUL DISBELIEVERS
8When something bad happens to someone, they cry out to their Lord, turning to Him 'alone'. But as soon as He showers them with blessings from Him, they 'totally' forget the One they had cried to earlier, and make others equal to Allah to mislead 'others' from His Way. Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Enjoy your disbelief for a little bit! You will certainly be with the people of the Fire.' 9'Are they better' or those who worship 'their Lord' in the hours of the night, bowing down and standing 'in salah', worrying about the Next Life, and hoping for the mercy of their Lord? Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Are those who know equal to those who do not know?' No one will keep this in mind except those who truly understand.
وَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ ضُرّٞ دَعَا رَبَّهُۥ مُنِيبًا إِلَيۡهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلَهُۥ نِعۡمَةٗ مِّنۡهُ نَسِيَ مَا كَانَ يَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ مِن قَبۡلُ وَجَعَلَ لِلَّهِ أَندَادٗا لِّيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦۚ قُلۡ تَمَتَّعۡ بِكُفۡرِكَ قَلِيلًا إِنَّكَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلنَّارِ 8أَمَّنۡ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيۡلِ سَاجِدٗا وَقَآئِمٗا يَحۡذَرُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ وَيَرۡجُواْ رَحۡمَةَ رَبِّهِۦۗ قُلۡ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِي ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ9
ORDERS TO THE PROPHET
10Say 'O Prophet, that Allah says', "O My servants who believe! Keep your Lord in mind. Those who do good in this world will have a good reward. And Allah's earth is huge. Only those who are patient will be given their reward without limit." 11Say, "I am ordered to worship Allah, being sincere in faith to Him. 12And I am ordered to be the first of those who submit 'to Him'." 13Say, "I truly fear, if I ever disobeyed my Lord, the punishment of a horrible Day." 14Say, "I only worship Allah, being sincere in my faith to Him. 15Worship then whatever 'fake gods' you want instead of Him." Say, "The 'true' losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on Judgment Day. That is really the biggest loss." 16They will have layers of fire above and below them. That is what Allah warns His servants of. So keep Me in mind, O My servants!
قُلۡ يَٰعِبَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمۡۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ فِي هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةٞۗ وَأَرۡضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةٌۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّٰبِرُونَ أَجۡرَهُم بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٖ 10قُلۡ إِنِّيٓ أُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أَعۡبُدَ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصٗا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ 11وَأُمِرۡتُ لِأَنۡ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ 12قُلۡ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ إِنۡ عَصَيۡتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٖ 13قُلِ ٱللَّهَ أَعۡبُدُ مُخۡلِصٗا لَّهُۥ دِينِي 14فَٱعۡبُدُواْ مَا شِئۡتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦۗ قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَأَهۡلِيهِمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۗ أَلَا ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡخُسۡرَانُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ 15لَهُم مِّن فَوۡقِهِمۡ ظُلَلٞ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمِن تَحۡتِهِمۡ ظُلَلٞۚ ذَٰلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ عِبَادَهُۥۚ يَٰعِبَادِ فَٱتَّقُونِ16
THE FAITHFUL AND THE UNFAITHFUL
17And those who avoid the worship of false gods, turning to Allah 'alone', will have good news. So give good news to My servants, 'O Prophet' 18those who listen to what is said and follow the best of it. They are the ones 'rightly' guided by Allah, and they are the ones who truly understand. 19What about those who deserve to be punished? Is it you 'O Prophet' who will then save those heading for the Fire? 20But those who keep their Lord in mind will have 'high' mansions, built one above the other, under which rivers flow. 'That is' the promise of Allah. 'And' Allah never fails in 'His' promise.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱجۡتَنَبُواْ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ أَن يَعۡبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ لَهُمُ ٱلۡبُشۡرَىٰۚ فَبَشِّرۡ عِبَادِ 17ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ ٱلۡقَوۡلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحۡسَنَهُۥٓۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُۖ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمۡ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ 18أَفَمَنۡ حَقَّ عَلَيۡهِ كَلِمَةُ ٱلۡعَذَابِ أَفَأَنتَ تُنقِذُ مَن فِي ٱلنَّارِ 19لَٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ رَبَّهُمۡ لَهُمۡ غُرَفٞ مِّن فَوۡقِهَا غُرَفٞ مَّبۡنِيَّةٞ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۖ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ لَا يُخۡلِفُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمِيعَادَ20
Verse 19: For example, when they listen to verses that talk about taking revenge and verses that talk about forgiving others, they choose forgiveness.
LIFE IS SHORT
21Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky—making it flow as springs within the earth—then produces with it crops of different colours, which then dry up and you see them turn yellow, and then He crumbles them to pieces? Surely in this is a reminder for those who truly understand.
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَٰبِيعَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ثُمَّ يُخۡرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرۡعٗا مُّخۡتَلِفًا أَلۡوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصۡفَرّٗا ثُمَّ يَجۡعَلُهُۥ حُطَٰمًاۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكۡرَىٰ لِأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ21
THE BELIEVERS AND THE DISBELIEVERS
22Can 'the wicked be like' those whose hearts Allah has opened to Islam, so they are guided by their Lord's light? It will be horrible for those whose hearts are hard against remembering Allah! They are the ones who have completely lost their way.
أَفَمَن شَرَحَ ٱللَّهُ صَدۡرَهُۥ لِلۡإِسۡلَٰمِ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ نُورٖ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦۚ فَوَيۡلٞ لِّلۡقَٰسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مِّن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٍ22
EXCELLENCE OF THE QURAN
23Allah 'is the One Who' has sent down the best message—a Book that is perfectly consistent, with repeated lessons—which causes the skin of those who keep Allah in mind to shiver, then their skin and hearts soften for remembering Allah. That is the guidance of Allah, through which He guides whoever He wants. But whoever Allah leaves to stray will be left with no guide. 24Are those who will only have their faces to shield themselves from the awful punishment on Judgment Day 'better than those safe in Jannah'? It will 'then' be said to those who did wrong: 'Get what you deserve!'
ٱللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡحَدِيثِ كِتَٰبٗا مُّتَشَٰبِهٗا مَّثَانِيَ تَقۡشَعِرُّ مِنۡهُ جُلُودُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُمۡ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمۡ وَقُلُوبُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ يَهۡدِي بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡ هَادٍ 23أَفَمَن يَتَّقِي بِوَجۡهِهِۦ سُوٓءَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۚ وَقِيلَ لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ ذُوقُواْ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡسِبُونَ24
REJECTION LEADS TO PUNISHMENT
25Those before them 'also' rejected 'the truth', then the punishment came upon them from where they never expected. 26So Allah made them taste humiliation in this life, but the punishment of the Next Life is far worse, if only they knew.
كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ 25فَأَذَاقَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخِزۡيَ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ26
PERFECTION OF THE QURAN
27We have certainly given every 'kind of' example for people in this Quran, so maybe they will learn the lesson. 28It 'is' a Quran 'revealed' in Arabic, perfectly flawless, so maybe they will keep Allah in mind.
وَلَقَدۡ ضَرَبۡنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٖ لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ 27قُرۡءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا غَيۡرَ ذِي عِوَجٖ لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ28
BELIEF IN ONE GOD VS. SEVERAL GODS
29Allah gives the example of a slave owned by several disagreeing masters, and a slave owned by only one master. Are they both 'equal in condition'?
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلٗا رَّجُلٗا فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشَٰكِسُونَ وَرَجُلٗا سَلَمٗا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًاۚ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِۚ بَلۡ أَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ29
Verse 29: In other words, if someone worships Allah, that person will be clear on what to do and what to avoid. But the person who worships several gods will never find peace because that person will receive different orders.
ALL WILL DIE
30You 'O Prophet' will certainly die, and they will die too. 31Then on Judgment Day you will all settle your 'disagreement' before your Lord.
إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٞ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ 30ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ عِندَ رَبِّكُمۡ تَخۡتَصِمُونَ31
WORDS OF WISDOM
The `sahabah` (companions) accepted Islam as the truth, Allah as their Lord, the Quran as His revelation, and Muhammad (ﷺ) as His prophet for different reasons. Some people, like Abu Bakr, Khadijah, and 'Ali (R.A.), didn't need proof because the Prophet's (ﷺ) life was the best proof that he was telling the truth. As soon as he told them that he was sent by Allah, they believed in him immediately.
Some accepted Islam when they heard the Quran, like At-Tufail ibn 'Amr (R.A.). The Makkan idol-worshippers had warned him so much against listening to the Prophet (ﷺ) that he stuffed his ears with cotton so he couldn't listen to the Quran. But eventually, he heard it and accepted Islam.
Some people (especially the poor and the abused) accepted Islam because it gave them hope, freedom, and support, like Bilal and Sumaiyah (R.A.), who were both slaves before Islam.
Others accepted Islam because of its common sense, clarity, and justice, like 'Amr ibn Al-Jamooh (R.A.).
Some became Muslim when they saw the Prophet's (ﷺ) face. 'Abdullah ibn Salam (R.A.) reported that when he saw the Prophet (ﷺ) in Madinah for the first time, he said, 'By Allah! This is not the face of a liar.'
Others became Muslim because of the Prophet's (ﷺ) mercy and forgiveness, like 'Ikrimah (R.A.), son of Abu Jahl.
Some accepted Islam because they saw a miracle. One of them is 'Omair ibn Wahb (R.A.). One day after the Battle of Badr, 'Omair (R.A.) told another enemy of Islam, Şafwan, that he would go to Madinah and kill the Prophet (ﷺ) if he didn't have to worry about his kids and debts. Şafwan took advantage of his anger and said, 'Just go and kill him and I'll take care of your kids and debts.' So 'Omair (R.A.) traveled to Madinah with a poisoned sword. When he came to the masjid, the Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, 'O 'Omair! Why are you here?' The Prophet (ﷺ) then revealed to him the exact conversation he had with Şafwan in Makkah. 'Omair was shocked and said, 'By Allah! Nobody knew about this except Şafwan, who is still in Makkah. I'm sure no one told you about this except Allah. Now, I believe you are His messenger.' So he accepted Islam on the spot. The Prophet (ﷺ) was very happy for him and said to the companions, 'Teach your brother about Islam and the Quran and free his son.'
Some people accepted Islam because the Prophet (ﷺ) was very generous with them, like Şafwan (R.A.) (who tried to get 'Omair to kill the Prophet (ﷺ) in the above story). The Prophet (ﷺ) was so generous with him that he said, 'Today, when I came to Muhammad, I hated no one more than him, but he kept on giving me until I loved him more than anyone else!'
REWARD OF THE BELIEVERS AND DISBELIEVERS
32Who then does more wrong than those who lie about Allah and reject the truth after it has come to them? Is Jahannam not a 'fitting' home for the disbelievers? 33As for the one who has brought the truth and those who accepted it, they are the faithful. 34They will have whatever they desire with their Lord. That is the reward of those doing good. 35In this way, Allah will clear them of 'even' the worst of what they did and reward them according to the best of their deeds.
فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن كَذَبَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلصِّدۡقِ إِذۡ جَآءَهُۥٓۚ أَلَيۡسَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ مَثۡوٗى لِّلۡكَٰفِرِينَ 32وَٱلَّذِي جَآءَ بِٱلصِّدۡقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦٓ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ 33لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡۚ ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ 34لِيُكَفِّرَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهُمۡ أَسۡوَأَ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُم بِأَحۡسَنِ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ35
ALLAH PROTECTS HIS MESSENGER
36Is Allah not enough for His servant? Yet they threaten you with other 'powerless' gods besides Him! Whoever Allah leaves to stray will be left with no guide. 37And whoever Allah guides, no one can misguide. Is Allah not Almighty, Capable of punishment?
أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبۡدَهُۥۖ وَيُخَوِّفُونَكَ بِٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡ هَادٖ 36وَمَن يَهۡدِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن مُّضِلٍّۗ أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِعَزِيزٖ ذِي ٱنتِقَامٖ37
ALMIGHTY ALLAH OR POWERLESS GODS
38If you ask them 'O Prophet' who created the heavens and the earth, they will certainly say, "Allah!" Ask 'them', "Think about those 'idols' you call upon instead of Allah: if Allah wanted to harm me, could they undo that harm? Or if He wanted some mercy for me, could they stop His mercy?" Say, "Allah is enough for me. And in Him the faithful put their trust." 39Say, "O my people! Continue what you are doing; I too will do the same. You will soon see 40who will receive a humiliating punishment 'in this life' and be overwhelmed by a never-ending punishment in the next."
وَلَئِن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُۚ قُلۡ أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِنۡ أَرَادَنِيَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلۡ هُنَّ كَٰشِفَٰتُ ضُرِّهِۦٓ أَوۡ أَرَادَنِي بِرَحۡمَةٍ هَلۡ هُنَّ مُمۡسِكَٰتُ رَحۡمَتِهِۦۚ قُلۡ حَسۡبِيَ ٱللَّهُۖ عَلَيۡهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلُونَ 38قُلۡ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمۡ إِنِّي عَٰمِلٞۖ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ 39مَن يَأۡتِيهِ عَذَابٞ يُخۡزِيهِ وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيۡهِ عَذَابٞ مُّقِيمٌ40
FREE CHOICE
41Surely We have revealed to you the Book 'O Prophet' with the truth for humanity. So whoever chooses to be guided, it is for their own good. And whoever chooses to stray, it is only their loss. You are not a keeper over them.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ لِلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ فَمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ فَلِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيۡهَاۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِوَكِيلٍ41
WORDS OF WISDOM
Sleep and death are like twins. Sleep is called the small death, and death is called the big sleep.
In verse 42, Allah says that He calls back the souls of people when they sleep, then He gives them back their souls when they wake up.
If He can do this every day when they sleep, He can definitely do it when they die. Eventually, He will give them back their souls after their long sleep in the grave, so they come back to life for judgment.
SLEEP-THE TWIN BROTHER OF DEATH
42Allah 'is the One Who' calls back the souls 'of people' when they die as well as 'the souls' of the living during their sleep. Then He keeps those He has decided to be dead, and returns the others until 'their' set time. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect.
ٱللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى ٱلۡأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوۡتِهَا وَٱلَّتِي لَمۡ تَمُتۡ فِي مَنَامِهَاۖ فَيُمۡسِكُ ٱلَّتِي قَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهَا ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَيُرۡسِلُ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمًّىۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ42
ALLAH OR THE IDOLS
43Or have they taken others besides Allah to speak in their defence 'on Judgment Day'? Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Would they still do that' even though those 'idols' have no authority or intelligence? 44Say, "Only Allah decides who speaks in others' defence. The kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. Then you will 'all' be returned to Him." 45Yet when Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Next Life are filled with disgust. But as soon as gods other than Him are mentioned, they are filled with joy.
أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ شُفَعَآءَۚ قُلۡ أَوَلَوۡ كَانُواْ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ شَيۡٔٗا وَلَا يَعۡقِلُونَ 43قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ جَمِيعٗاۖ لَّهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ 44وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَحۡدَهُ ٱشۡمَأَزَّتۡ قُلُوبُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۖ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمۡ يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ45
ALLAH IS THE JUDGE
46Say, 'O Prophet,' "O Allah—Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the seen and unseen! You will judge between Your servants about their differences." 47Even if those who do wrong had everything in the world twice over, they would certainly offer it to save themselves from the horrible punishment on Judgment Day, because they will see from Allah what they had never expected. 48And the 'evil consequences' of their deeds will unfold in front of them, and they will be shocked by what they used to mock.
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ عَٰلِمَ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ أَنتَ تَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَ عِبَادِكَ فِي مَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ 46وَلَوۡ أَنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعٗا وَمِثۡلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفۡتَدَوۡاْ بِهِۦ مِن سُوٓءِ ٱلۡعَذَابِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۚ وَبَدَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يَكُونُواْ يَحۡتَسِبُونَ 47وَبَدَا لَهُمۡ سَئَِّاتُ مَا كَسَبُواْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ48
UNGRATEFUL HUMANS
49When something bad happens to someone, they cry out to Us 'alone'. Then when We shower them with Our blessings, they brag, "I have been given all this only because of 'my' knowledge." Not at all! It is 'only' a test. But most of them do not know. 50The same had already been said by those 'destroyed' before them, but their 'useless' gains did not benefit them 'at all'. 51So they were overwhelmed by the evil 'consequences' of their deeds. And those who do wrong among these 'idol-worshippers' will be overwhelmed by the evil 'consequences' of their deeds. And they will have no escape. 52Do they not know that Allah gives generous or limited resources to whoever He wants? Surely in this are signs for people who believe.
فَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ ضُرّٞ دَعَانَا ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلۡنَٰهُ نِعۡمَةٗ مِّنَّا قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمِۢۚ بَلۡ هِيَ فِتۡنَةٞ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ 49قَدۡ قَالَهَا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ 50فَأَصَابَهُمۡ سَئَِّاتُ مَا كَسَبُواْۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنۡ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ سَيُصِيبُهُمۡ سَئَِّاتُ مَا كَسَبُواْ وَمَا هُم بِمُعۡجِزِينَ 51أَوَ لَمۡ يَعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ52
BACKGROUND STORY
Some idol-worshippers did horrible things before they accepted Islam. One of them was Wahshi, who killed Hamzah (R.A.), the Prophet's (ﷺ) uncle. Wahshi came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said that he liked the teachings of Islam, but he was afraid that Allah would never forgive him even if he became a Muslim. The Prophet (ﷺ) told him that no matter how big his sins were, they could never be bigger than Allah's mercy.
Some new Muslims were tortured and forced by their families to leave Islam. They were not sure if they became Muslim again that Allah would accept them. Then verse 59 was revealed, stating that the door of Allah's mercy is always open. The only sin that Allah will never forgive is when someone dies while believing in other gods or denying Allah's existence (4:48).
WORDS OF WISDOM
The Prophet (ﷺ) reported that Allah said, 'O children of Adam! As long as you call upon Me and hope for My mercy, I don't mind forgiving what you have done.'
'O children of Adam! If your sins reached the clouds of the sky, and you asked for My forgiveness, I still don't mind forgiving you.'
'O children of Adam! If you came to Me with sins filling up the whole world, but without making others equal to Me, I would certainly match your sins with forgiveness.'
SIDE STORY
This is a true story of a youth named Al-Qa'nabi, who lived in Iraq many centuries ago and used to drink alcohol with his friends. One day, he was waiting for his friends in front of his house with a bottle of wine in one hand and a knife in the other.
All of a sudden, a man on a donkey passed by followed by a big crowd. Al-Qa'nabi was curious, so he went up to the crowd and asked, 'Who is this man?' They replied, 'Who doesn't know Imam Shu'bah ibn Al-Hajjaj, the great scholar of hadith?' So, he looked at the Imam and said, 'Tell me one hadith or I'll stab you!'
There was no point in arguing, so the Imam told him one powerful hadith that changed his life. He said to him that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'If you have no shame, then do what you want.' Then the Imam left with the people.
When Al-Qa'nabi went home, he started to think, 'Why did he choose this particular hadith? Did he mean that I have no shame?' Those words hit Al-Qa'nabi so hard that he decided to break all the bottles of wine in his house and told his mother, 'When my friends come, tell them that I've quit drinking.'
Then he moved to Madinah to study hadith with Imam Malik. Eventually, Al-Qa'nabi became one of the greatest scholars of hadith. It's interesting to know that Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim were two of his students.
ALLAH FORGIVES ALL SINS
53Say, 'O Prophet, that Allah says,' 'O My servants who have extremely wronged their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah's mercy; surely Allah forgives all sins. He is truly the Forgiving and Merciful.' 54Turn to your Lord 'in repentance', and 'fully' submit to Him before the punishment reaches you, because then you will not be helped. 55And follow 'the Quran,' the best of what has been revealed to you from your Lord, before the punishment takes you by surprise without you expecting it, 56so that no 'sinful' soul will cry 'on Judgment Day', 'Shame on me for ignoring' my duties towards' Allah, while making fun of 'the truth.' 57Or 'a soul will' say, 'If only Allah had guided me, I would have surely been one of the faithful!' 58Or say, when facing the punishment, 'If only I had a second chance, I would have been one of those doing good.' 59'Not at all!' My revelations had already come to you, but you rejected them, acted arrogantly, and you were one of the disbelievers!'
قُلۡ يَٰعِبَادِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 53وَأَنِيبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَأَسۡلِمُواْ لَهُۥ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ 54وَٱتَّبِعُوٓاْ أَحۡسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ بَغۡتَةٗ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَشۡعُرُونَ 55أَن تَقُولَ نَفۡسٞ يَٰحَسۡرَتَىٰ عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِي جَنۢبِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ ٱلسَّٰخِرِينَ 56أَوۡ تَقُولَ لَوۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هَدَىٰنِي لَكُنتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ 57أَوۡ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى ٱلۡعَذَابَ لَوۡ أَنَّ لِي كَرَّةٗ فَأَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ 58بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكَ ءَايَٰتِي فَكَذَّبۡتَ بِهَا وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتَ وَكُنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ59
JUDGMENT DAY
60On Judgment Day, you will see those who lied about Allah with their faces covered with darkness. Is Jahannam not a 'fitting' home for the arrogant? 61And Allah will 'safely' bring those who kept Him in mind to their place of 'biggest' success. No evil will touch them, and they will never be sad. 62Allah is the Creator of all things, and He takes care of everything. 63The keys of the 'treasures' of the heavens and the earth belong to Him. As for those who reject the signs of Allah, they are the 'true' losers.
وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ تَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَبُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وُجُوهُهُم مُّسۡوَدَّةٌۚ أَلَيۡسَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ مَثۡوٗى لِّلۡمُتَكَبِّرِينَ 60وَيُنَجِّي ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ بِمَفَازَتِهِمۡ لَا يَمَسُّهُمُ ٱلسُّوٓءُ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ 61ٱللَّهُ خَٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ وَكِيلٞ 62لَّهُۥ مَقَالِيدُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بَِٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰسِرُونَ63
ONE GOD ALONE
64Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Are you asking me to worship 'anyone' other than Allah, O ignorant ones?' 65It has already been revealed to you—and to those 'prophets' before you—that if you make others equal 'to Allah', your deeds will certainly be worthless, and you will definitely be one of the losers. 66Instead, worship Allah 'alone' and be one of the grateful.
قُلۡ أَفَغَيۡرَ ٱللَّهِ تَأۡمُرُوٓنِّيٓ أَعۡبُدُ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡجَٰهِلُونَ 64وَلَقَدۡ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكَ لَئِنۡ أَشۡرَكۡتَ لَيَحۡبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ 65بَلِ ٱللَّهَ فَٱعۡبُدۡ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ66
BEGINNING OF THE END
67They have not shown Allah the respect He deserves—while on Judgment Day the 'whole' earth will be in His Grip, and the heavens will be folded in His Right Hand. All praise and honour be to Him high above whatever 'fake gods' they make equal to Him! 68The Trumpet will be blown and all those in the heavens and all those on the earth will fall dead, except those Allah wants 'to save'. Then it will be blown again and suddenly they will rise up, with eyes wide open.
وَمَا قَدَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدۡرِهِۦ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ جَمِيعٗا قَبۡضَتُهُۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ مَطۡوِيَّٰتُۢ بِيَمِينِهِۦۚ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ 67وَنُفِخَ فِي ٱلصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا مَن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُۖ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخۡرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمۡ قِيَامٞ يَنظُرُونَ68
PERFECT JUSTICE
69The 'earth' will shine with the light of its Lord, the books 'of deeds' will be laid 'open', the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward—and judgment will be passed on all with fairness. None will be treated unfairly. 70Every soul will be fully paid back for its deeds, and Allah knows best what they have done.
وَأَشۡرَقَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ وَجِاْيٓءَ بِٱلنَّبِيِّۧنَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَقُضِيَ بَيۡنَهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ 69وَوُفِّيَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسٖ مَّا عَمِلَتۡ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا يَفۡعَلُونَ70
Verse 70: This refers to the place where judgment will happen. The Prophet said, "Judgment will be passed on an earth where no blood has been shed or any sin has been done!" {Recorded by Imam At-Tabarani}
REWARD OF THE FAITHFUL
73And those who kept their Lord in mind will be led to Jannah in groups. When they arrive at its already open gates, its keepers will say, 'Peace be upon you! You have done well, so come in, to stay forever.' 74The faithful will say, 'Praise be to Allah Who has kept His promise to us, and gave us this land as our own, to stay wherever we want in Jannah.' How excellent is the reward of those who do good!
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ رَبَّهُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡجَنَّةِ زُمَرًاۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتۡ أَبۡوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ طِبۡتُمۡ فَٱدۡخُلُوهَا خَٰلِدِينَ 73وَقَالُواْ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي صَدَقَنَا وَعۡدَهُۥ وَأَوۡرَثَنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ حَيۡثُ نَشَآءُۖ فَنِعۡمَ أَجۡرُ ٱلۡعَٰمِلِينَ74
ALLAH IS PRAISED
75You will see the angels all around the Throne, praising the glory of their Lord. And judgment will have been passed on all with fairness. And it will be said, 'Praise be to Allah—Lord of the universe!'
وَتَرَى ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ حَآفِّينَ مِنۡ حَوۡلِ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّهِمۡۚ وَقُضِيَ بَيۡنَهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ وَقِيلَ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ75
Verse 75: The believers will praise Him for His generosity, and the disbelievers will praise Him for His justice.