The Sand-Hills
Al-Aḥqâf
الاحقاف
LEARNING POINTS
This surah responds to lies about the Quran and Judgment Day.
The Arab idol-worshippers are warned that other much stronger deniers were easily destroyed in the past.
Allah is the mighty Creator and Provider, whereas idols are useless.
The Prophet is advised to be patient and that he will be successful in the end.
Unlike many Makkans, a group of jinn accepted Islam after hearing the Prophet's recitation of the Quran.
BACKGROUND STORY
This surah came down during a very difficult time in the life of the Prophet. In the 3rd year before Hijrah to Madinah, his two biggest supporters--his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib-died only 3 days apart. He then became an easy target in Makkah, so the idol-worshippers increased their abuse. Eventually, he decided to walk to the city of Ta'if (over 100 km from Makkah), hoping that some would accept his message. For 10 days he called the people of Ta'if to Islam, but they turned out to be far worse than the Makkans. Not only did they make fun of him, they also sent their kids and servants to insult him and throw stones at him. The Prophet returned to Makkah with a broken heart and bleeding feet. Then Jibril and the angel in charge of the mountains came to him and said, "If you want, we can easily destroy them for you." But he replied, "No! I hope that their children will worship Allah alone!" And the Prophet's prayer was answered.
THE QURAN AS A MERCY
1Ha-Mim. 2The revelation of this Book is from Allah-the Almighty and Wise. 3We only created the heavens and the earth and everything in between for a purpose and a set time. Yet the disbelievers are turning away from what they have been warned about. 4Ask them, 'O Prophet,' "Did you ever consider those 'idols' you call upon besides Allah? Show me what they have created on earth! Or do they have a share in 'the creation of' the heavens? Bring me a book 'revealed' before this 'Quran' or a shred of knowledge, if what you say is true." 5And who could be more lost than those who ask not Allah, but others that cannot respond to them until Judgment Day, and are not even aware of their calls? 6And when 'such' people will be gathered together 'for judgment', those 'false gods' will be their enemies and will deny their worship.
حمٓ 1تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ 2مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗىۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعۡرِضُونَ 3قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شِرۡكٞ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِۖ ٱئۡتُونِي بِكِتَٰبٖ مِّن قَبۡلِ هَٰذَآ أَوۡ أَثَٰرَةٖ مِّنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ 4وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدۡعُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسۡتَجِيبُ لَهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَهُمۡ عَن دُعَآئِهِمۡ غَٰفِلُونَ 5وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُواْ لَهُمۡ أَعۡدَآءٗ وَكَانُواْ بِعِبَادَتِهِمۡ كَٰفِرِينَ6
THE QURAN REJECTED BY THE IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
7Whenever Our clear revelations are recited to them, the disbelievers say about the truth when it has come to them, "This is pure magic." 8Or do they say, "He' has made up this 'Quran'!"? Say, "O Prophet," "If I have done that, then there is nothing at all you can do to save me from Allah. He knows best whatever 'lies' you say about it. He is enough as a Witness between you and me. And He is the Forgiving and Merciful." 9Say, "I am not the first messenger ever sent, and I do not know what will happen to me or you. I only follow what is revealed to me. And I am only sent with a clear warning."
وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ هَٰذَا سِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٌ 7أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُۖ قُلۡ إِنِ ٱفۡتَرَيۡتُهُۥ فَلَا تَمۡلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيًۡٔاۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِۚ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَهِيدَۢا بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 8قُلۡ مَا كُنتُ بِدۡعٗا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدۡرِي مَا يُفۡعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمۡۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٞ مُّبِينٞ9
BACKGROUND STORY
'Abdullah ibn Salam was a Jewish scholar in Madinah. He was highly respected because of his knowledge and high status. He knew the signs of the prophet who would be raised in Arabia, so he was looking forward to meeting that prophet. When the Prophet left Makkah and moved to Madinah, the news spread quickly. When 'Abdullah got the news, he was on top of a date tree. He cried, "Allahu Akbar!" and jumped off the tree. His aunt was surprised. She said, "By Allah, if Musa came to the city, you wouldn't have been as excited!" He said, "Muhammad is like a brother to Musa. He's a prophet like him." 'Abdullah rushed to join the people who were coming to receive the Prophet. When he saw him, he said to himself, "This cannot be the face of a liar:" 'Abdullah said that the first thing that he heard from the Prophet was: "O people! Spread the greetings of peace! Feed the hungry! Keep your family ties! Pray at night when others are asleep! And you will enter Jannah in peace." 'Abdullah then accepted Islam, and the Prophet promised him Jannah. Many scholars say that the "witness from the children of Isra'il" mentioned in verse 10 below refers to 'Abdullah ibn Salam.
ARROGANT IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
10Ask 'them, O Prophet', "What if this 'Quran' is actually from Allah and you reject it, and a witness from the Children of Isra'il confirms it and then believes, whereas you act arrogantly? Surely Allah does not guide the people doing wrong." 11The disbelievers say about the believers, "If this was 'something' good, those 'poor believers' would not have beaten us to it." Since they reject its guidance, they will say, "This is 'just' an old lie!" 12Long before this 'Quran', the Book of Musa was 'revealed as' a guide and mercy. And this Book is a confirmation, in the Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong, and as good news to those who do good.
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَفَرۡتُم بِهِۦ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٞ مِّنۢ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثۡلِهِۦ فََٔامَنَ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ 10وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوۡ كَانَ خَيۡرٗا مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيۡهِۚ وَإِذۡ لَمۡ يَهۡتَدُواْ بِهِۦ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَٰذَآ إِفۡكٞ قَدِيمٞ 11وَمِن قَبۡلِهِۦ كِتَٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِمَامٗا وَرَحۡمَةٗۚ وَهَٰذَا كِتَٰبٞ مُّصَدِّقٞ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِيّٗا لِّيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَبُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ12
REWARD OF THE FAITHFUL
13Surely those who say, "Our Lord is Allah," and then stay true in faith-there will be no fear for them, and they will never be sad. 14They will be the people of Jannah, staying there forever, as a reward for what they used to do.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَٰمُواْ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ 13أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ14
ATTITUDE OF THE FAITHFUL
15And We have ordered people to take good care of their parents. Their mothers carried them with difficulty and gave birth to them with difficulty. Carrying and breastfeeding them takes 'at least' thirty months. Finally, when the child matures at the age of forty, they pray, "My Lord! Inspire me to 'always' be thankful for all Your favours to me and my parents, and to do good deeds that please You. And bless my children for me. I truly repent to You, and I sincerely submit to Your Will." 16These are the ones from whom We will accept the good they did and forgive their sins, along with the people of Jannah. 'This is' the true promise they have been given.
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهٗا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهٗاۖ وَحَمۡلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهۡرًاۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةٗ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيٓۖ إِنِّي تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ 15أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنۡهُمۡ أَحۡسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَئَِّاتِهِمۡ فِيٓ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِۖ وَعۡدَ ٱلصِّدۡقِ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ16
ATTITUDE OF THE WICKED
17But some scold their parents, "Enough already! Are you warning me that I will be brought out 'of the grave', even though so many generations have already died before me forever'?" The parents cry to Allah for help, "and warn their child,' "Shame on you! Have faith. Allah's promise is certainly true." But the wicked go on, saying, "These are just fairy tales." 18These are the ones who deserve to be doomed like other 'wicked' communities of jinn and humans before them-they were truly losers.
وَٱلَّذِي قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ أُفّٖ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِيٓ أَنۡ أُخۡرَجَ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلۡقُرُونُ مِن قَبۡلِي وَهُمَا يَسۡتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيۡلَكَ ءَامِنۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ 17أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فِيٓ أُمَمٖ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ خَٰسِرِينَ18
REWARD OF THE FAITHFUL AND THE WICKED
19Each 'of the two groups' will be in different levels according to what they did, so He may fully pay them back. And none will be treated unfairly. 20'Watch for' the Day 'when' the disbelievers will be exposed to the Fire. They will be told, "You 'already' wasted your 'share of pleasures during your life in the world, and 'fully' enjoyed them. So Today you will be paid back with a humiliating punishment for your arrogance throughout the land with no right, and for crossing all lines."
وَلِكُلّٖ دَرَجَٰتٞ مِّمَّا عَمِلُواْۖ وَلِيُوَفِّيَهُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ 19وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَذۡهَبۡتُمۡ طَيِّبَٰتِكُمۡ فِي حَيَاتِكُمُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱسۡتَمۡتَعۡتُم بِهَا فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ عَذَابَ ٱلۡهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَفۡسُقُونَ20
PROPHET HUD
21And remember the brother of 'Ad, when he warned his people, who lived on the sand-hills'-there were certainly warners before and after him-saying, "Do not worship anyone except Allah. I truly fear for you the punishment of a horrible day." 22They argued, "Have you come to turn us away from our gods? Then bring us whatever you threaten us with, if what you say is true." 23He replied, "Only Allah knows when it will happen. I only deliver to you what I have been sent with. But I can see that you are a people acting ignorantly." 24Then when they saw the punishment as a 'heavy' cloud coming towards their valleys, they said 'happily', "This is a cloud bringing us rain." But Hud replied, "No, it is what you wanted to speed up: a 'horrible' wind carrying a painful punishment!" 25It destroyed everything by the order of its Lord, leaving nothing to be seen except their ruins. This is how We pay back the wicked people.
وَٱذۡكُرۡ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذۡ أَنذَرَ قَوۡمَهُۥ بِٱلۡأَحۡقَافِ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٖ 21قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَأۡفِكَنَا عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ 22قَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُم مَّآ أُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهِۦ وَلَٰكِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰكُمۡ قَوۡمٗا تَجۡهَلُونَ 23فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ عَارِضٗا مُّسۡتَقۡبِلَ أَوۡدِيَتِهِمۡ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا عَارِضٞ مُّمۡطِرُنَاۚ بَلۡ هُوَ مَا ٱسۡتَعۡجَلۡتُم بِهِۦۖ رِيحٞ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ 24تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيۡءِۢ بِأَمۡرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصۡبَحُواْ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَٰكِنُهُمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ25
WARNING TO THE IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
26Surely We had established those 'destroyed people' in a way We have not established you 'Makkans'. And We gave them hearing, sight, and minds. But their hearing, sight, and minds did not benefit them at all, since they continued rejecting Allah's signs. And so they were shocked by what they used to mock. 27We certainly destroyed other societies around you after showing them all types of signs so maybe they would 'return to the Right Way'. 28Why then were they not helped by those 'idols' they took as gods besides Allah, hoping to get closer to Him"? Instead, they failed them. That is 'the result of' their lies and what they made up.
وَلَقَدۡ مَكَّنَّٰهُمۡ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰكُمۡ فِيهِ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ سَمۡعٗا وَأَبۡصَٰرٗا وَأَفِۡٔدَةٗ فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُمۡ سَمۡعُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَفِۡٔدَتُهُم مِّن شَيۡءٍ إِذۡ كَانُواْ يَجۡحَدُونَ بَِٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ 26وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مَا حَوۡلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفۡنَا ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ 27فَلَوۡلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرۡبَانًا ءَالِهَةَۢۖ بَلۡ ضَلُّواْ عَنۡهُمۡۚ وَذَٰلِكَ إِفۡكُهُمۡ وَمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ28
BACKGROUND STORY
After the Prophet was abused in the city of Ta'if, he decided to return to Makkah. On the way, he stood up in salat at night. When a group of jinn heard his recitation, they fell in love with the Quran and accepted Islam. Then this group returned to other jinn to teach them about Islam. More details are provided in verses 29-32 below as well as 72:1-15.
THE JINN LISTEN TO THE QURAN
29'Remember, O Prophet,' when We sent a group of jinn your way to listen to the Quran. When they heard it, they said 'to each other', "Listen quietly!" Then when it was over, they returned to their fellow jinn as warners. 30They declared, "O our fellow jinn! We have truly heard a 'brilliant' book revealed after Musa, confirming what came before it. It guides to the truth and the Straight Path. 31O our fellow jinn! Respond to the caller of Allah and believe in him. He will forgive your sins and protect you from a painful punishment. 32And whoever does not respond to the caller of Allah will have no escape on earth, and will have no protectors against Him. Those ones have completely lost their way."
وَإِذۡ صَرَفۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ نَفَرٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓاْ أَنصِتُواْۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوۡاْ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ 29قَالُواْ يَٰقَوۡمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعۡنَا كِتَٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ يَهۡدِيٓ إِلَى ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ 30يَٰقَوۡمَنَآ أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِيَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَامِنُواْ بِهِۦ يَغۡفِرۡ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَيُجِرۡكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٖ 31وَمَن لَّا يُجِبۡ دَاعِيَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَيۡسَ بِمُعۡجِزٖ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَيۡسَ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوۡلِيَآءُۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٍ32
LIFE AFTER DEATH
33Do they not realize that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth-and never got tired while creating them-is able to give life to the dead? Of course! He definitely has power over all things. 34And on the Day the disbelievers will be exposed to the Fire, 'they will be asked,' "Is this 'Second Life' not real?" They will cry, "Absolutely, by our Lord!" They will be told, "Then taste the punishment for your disbelief."
أَوَ لَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَمۡ يَعۡيَ بِخَلۡقِهِنَّ بِقَٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧيَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰۚ بَلَىٰٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ 33وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَلَيۡسَ هَٰذَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَاۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ34
ADVICE TO THE PROPHET
35So be patient, like other Messengers of strong will. And do not seek to' speed up the punishment' for those deniers'. On the Day they see what they have been threatened with, it will be as if they had only stayed 'in this world for an hour of a day. 'This is enough as' a warning! Will anyone be destroyed except the trouble-makers?
فَٱصۡبِرۡ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعَزۡمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِل لَّهُمۡۚ كَأَنَّهُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا سَاعَةٗ مِّن نَّهَارِۢۚ بَلَٰغٞۚ فَهَلۡ يُهۡلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ35