The Kneeling
Al-Jâthiyah
الجاثِیہ
LEARNING POINTS
This surah criticizes those who turn away from Allah's revelations, reject life after death, and make fun of the truth.
The Quran is true guidance from Allah.
We should be grateful for Allah's many favours.
Allah's power to create is a proof of His ability to bring everyone back to life for judgment.
The wicked will be in total loss on Judgment Day.
Everyone will be paid back for their actions and choices.
WORDS OF WISDOM
In this Surah, Allah focuses on two ayat (signs) that are mentioned throughout the Quran: 1. The visual signs that we can see in the universe (such as the galaxies, the sun, the moon, the mountains, the oceans, and animals), which prove that Allah is the only Creator and that He is able to bring everyone back to life for judgment. 2. The written verses that we can read in the Quran, which prove that the Quran is the Word of Allah and that Muhammad is His Prophet.
ALLAH'S SIGNS
1Ha-Mim. 2The revelation of this Book is from Allah-the Almighty and Wise. 3Surely in the heavens and the earth are signs for the believers. 4And in your own creation, and whatever creatures He spread throughout, are signs for people of sure faith. 5And 'in' the rotation of the day and the night, and the resources Allah sent down from the sky'--giving life to the earth after its death-and the shifting of the winds: 'in all of this' are signs for people who understand. 6These are Allah's revelations which We recite to you 'O Prophet in truth. So what message will they believe in after 'rejecting' Allah and His revelations?
حمٓ 1تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ 2إِنَّ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ 3وَفِي خَلۡقِكُمۡ وَمَا يَبُثُّ مِن دَآبَّةٍ ءَايَٰتٞ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُوقِنُونَ 4وَٱخۡتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن رِّزۡقٖ فَأَحۡيَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا وَتَصۡرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَٰحِ ءَايَٰتٞ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَعۡقِلُونَ 5تِلۡكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱللَّهِ نَتۡلُوهَا عَلَيۡكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثِۢ بَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَايَٰتِهِۦ يُؤۡمِنُونَ6
WARNING TO THE DENIERS
7It will be horrible for every sinful liar. 8They hear Allah's revelations recited to them, then they keep rejecting arrogantly as if they did not hear them. So give them good news of a painful punishment. 9And whenever they learn anything of Our revelations, they make fun of it. They will suffer a humiliating punishment. 10Jahannam is waiting for them. They will not benefit at all from their useless' gains or those protectors they have taken besides Allah. And they will suffer a horrible punishment. 11This 'Quran' is 'true' guidance. And those who reject their Lord's revelations will suffer the 'worst punishment of horrible pain.
وَيۡلٞ لِّكُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٖ 7يَسۡمَعُ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ثُمَّ يُصِرُّ مُسۡتَكۡبِرٗا كَأَن لَّمۡ يَسۡمَعۡهَاۖ فَبَشِّرۡهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٖ 8وَإِذَا عَلِمَ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا شَيًۡٔا ٱتَّخَذَهَا هُزُوًاۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ 9مِّن وَرَآئِهِمۡ جَهَنَّمُۖ وَلَا يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُم مَّا كَسَبُواْ شَيۡٔٗا وَلَا مَا ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡلِيَآءَۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ 10هَٰذَا هُدٗىۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بَِٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ مِّن رِّجۡزٍ أَلِيمٌ11
ALLAH'S FAVOURS TO HUMANITY
12Allah is the One Who has put the sea at your service so that ships may sail upon it by His command, and that you may seek His blessings, and that maybe you will be grateful. 13He 'also' put everything in the heavens and everything on the earth at your service-all 'as a favour' from Him. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ لِتَجۡرِيَ ٱلۡفُلۡكُ فِيهِ بِأَمۡرِهِۦ وَلِتَبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ 12وَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعٗا مِّنۡهُۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ13
ADVICE TO THE BELIEVERS
14Tell the believers 'O Prophet!' to forgive those who do not fear Allah's days of punishment, so that 'in the end' He will pay back each group for what they did. 15Whoever does good, it is to their own benefit. And whoever does evil, it is to their own loss. Then to your Lord you will 'all' be returned.
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ يَغۡفِرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ أَيَّامَ ٱللَّهِ لِيَجۡزِيَ قَوۡمَۢا بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ 14مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَلِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَنۡ أَسَآءَ فَعَلَيۡهَاۖ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ تُرۡجَعُونَ15
DIFFERENCES AMONG THE PEOPLE OF MUSA
16Surely We gave the Children of Isra'il the Book, wisdom, and prophethood; blessed them with good, lawful resources; and favoured them above the others. 17We 'also' gave them clear teachings about 'their' faith. But they became divided 'into believers and disbelievers', because of jealousy, only when knowledge came to them.' Surely your Lord will judge between them on Judgment Day about their differences.
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحُكۡمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَرَزَقۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ 16وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم بَيِّنَٰتٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُوٓاْ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡعِلۡمُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقۡضِي بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ17
ADVICE TO THE PROPHET
18Now We have set you O Prophet' on the 'clear' Way of faith. So follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who do not know 'the truth. 19They certainly cannot benefit you against Allah at all. Surely those who do wrong are the guardians of each other, but Allah is the Guardian of the faithful. 20This 'Quran' is an eyeopener for humanitya guide and mercy for people of sure faith.
ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنَٰكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡرِ فَٱتَّبِعۡهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ أَهۡوَآءَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ 18إِنَّهُمۡ لَن يُغۡنُواْ عَنكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡٔٗاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ بَعۡضٖۖ وَٱللَّهُ وَلِيُّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ 19هَٰذَا بَصَٰٓئِرُ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٞ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُوقِنُونَ20
GOOD AND EVIL ARE NOT EQUAL
21Or do those who do evil deeds simply think that We will make them equalin their life and after their death-to those who believe and do good? How wrong is their judgment! 22In fact, Allah created the heavens and the earth for a purpose, so that every soul may be paid back for what it has done. And none will be treated unfairly.
أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱجۡتَرَحُواْ ٱلسَّئَِّاتِ أَن نَّجۡعَلَهُمۡ كَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ سَوَآءٗ مَّحۡيَاهُمۡ وَمَمَاتُهُمۡۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُونَ 21وَخَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلِتُجۡزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ22
BACKGROUND STORY
Many idol-worshippers knew that the Prophet was telling the truth, but they were too arrogant to follow him. For example, some of them used to sneak out one by one at night to listen to the Prophet's recitation of the Quran secretly. One night, they bumped into each other in the dark and criticized one another for listening to the Quran. But they went back the next night because they were impressed by what they had heard. One of them named A-Akhnas went to Abu Jahl and asked him, "What do you think of what we heard?" Abu Jahl replied, "By Allah! I really know that Muhammad is a prophet. He has never lied. But my tribe and his tribe have always competed for leadership. Every time they achieved something, we achieved the same thing. The race has always been a tie. But now they say they have a prophet-how can we beat that? By Allah! We will never believe or follow him."
THOSE LED BY DESIRE
23Have you seen those who have taken their own desires as their god? 'And so' Allah left them to stray intentionally, sealed their hearing and hearts, and put a cover on their sight. Who then can guide them after Allah? Will you not then learn the lesson?
أَفَرَءَيۡتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٖ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمۡعِهِۦ وَقَلۡبِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِۦ غِشَٰوَةٗ فَمَن يَهۡدِيهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱللَّهِۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ23
REJECTING LIFE AFTER DEATH
24And they argue, "There is nothing beyond our life in this world. We die, others are born, and only time causes our death." Yet they have no knowledge 'to support' this 'claim'. They are just guessing 'blindly'. 25And whenever Our clear revelations are recited to them, their only argument is to say: "Bring our fathers back, if what you say is true!" 26Say, "O Prophet," "Allah 'is the One Who' gives you life, then causes you to die, then will gather you 'all' on Judgment Day, about which there is no doubt. But most people do not know."
وَقَالُواْ مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنۡيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحۡيَا وَمَا يُهۡلِكُنَآ إِلَّا ٱلدَّهۡرُۚ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۖ إِنۡ هُمۡ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ 24وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ مَّا كَانَ حُجَّتَهُمۡ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُواْ ٱئۡتُواْ بَِٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ 25قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُحۡيِيكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يَجۡمَعُكُمۡ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ26
JUDGMENT DAY
27The kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah alone', On the Day the Hour 'of Judgment' will arrive, the people of falsehood will then be in total' loss. 28And you will see every faith-community on its knees. Every community will be called to 'read' its book 'of deeds'. They will be told,' "This Day you will be paid back for what you did. This book of Ours speaks the truth about you. Surely We always had your deeds recorded 'by angels'"
وَلِلَّهِ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَيَوۡمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يَوۡمَئِذٖ يَخۡسَرُ ٱلۡمُبۡطِلُونَ 27وَتَرَىٰ كُلَّ أُمَّةٖ جَاثِيَةٗۚ كُلُّ أُمَّةٖ تُدۡعَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ كِتَٰبِهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ28
REWARD OF THE BELIEVERS
30As for those who believed and did good, their Lord will enter them into His mercy. That is 'truly' the highest success.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَيُدۡخِلُهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ فِي رَحۡمَتِهِۦۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ30
PUNISHMENT OF THE DISBELIEVERS
31And as for those who disbelieved, "they will be told," "Were My revelations not recited to you, but then you acted arrogantly and were a wicked people? 32And whenever it was said "to you", 'Surely Allah's promise "of judgment" is true and there is no doubt about the Hour you said 'mockingly', We do not know what the Hour is! We think it is just a guess, and we are not convinced 'that It will ever come'!'" 33And the evil 'consequences' of their deeds will unfold in front of them, and they will be shocked by what they used to mock. 34They will be told, "Today We will ignore you just like you ignored the meeting of this Day of yours! Your home will be the Fire, and you will have no helpers. 35This is because you made fun of Allah's revelations and were distracted by this life." So 'from' that Day 'on' they will not be taken out of the Fire, and they will never be allowed to apologize 'to their Lord'.
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَفَلَمۡ تَكُنۡ ءَايَٰتِي تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتُمۡ وَكُنتُمۡ قَوۡمٗا مُّجۡرِمِينَ 31وَإِذَا قِيلَ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهَا قُلۡتُم مَّا نَدۡرِي مَا ٱلسَّاعَةُ إِن نَّظُنُّ إِلَّا ظَنّٗا وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُسۡتَيۡقِنِينَ 32وَبَدَا لَهُمۡ سَئَِّاتُ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ 33وَقِيلَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ نَنسَىٰكُمۡ كَمَا نَسِيتُمۡ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِكُمۡ هَٰذَا وَمَأۡوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّٰصِرِينَ 34ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّكُمُ ٱتَّخَذۡتُمۡ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ هُزُوٗا وَغَرَّتۡكُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۚ فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ لَا يُخۡرَجُونَ مِنۡهَا وَلَا هُمۡ يُسۡتَعۡتَبُونَ35
PRAISES TO THE ALMIGHTY
36So all praise is for Allah-Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, Lord of the universe. 37All Majesty in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. And He is the Almighty and Wise.
فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَرَبِّ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ 36وَلَهُ ٱلۡكِبۡرِيَآءُ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ37