Tafsir Surah Ya-Sin

Shaykh Abdul-Nasir Jangda

AllaahtaaalasaysintheQuraan,

{AndWehavecertainlymadetheQuraaneasyforremembrance,soisthereanywhowill
remember?(54,17)}
TheQuraaniseasy,Allaahhasmadeiteasy.Thereisnodoubt.Theonlyrequirementplacedis
lidhikriwhoeverreads/listens/learnstheQuraantocomeclosertoAllaahforhimitismade
easier.Then,itisplacedonasilverpla<erwhowillcomeforwardtorememberit?

table of contents
Introduc)on

Verse1

Verse2

Verse3

10

Verse4

11

Verse5

12

Verse6

15

Verse7

17

Verse8

20

Verse9

22

Verse10

23

Verse11

25

Verse12

27

Verse13

30

Verse14

32

Verse15

33

Verse16

34

Verse17

35

Verse18

37

Verse19

40

Verse20

43

Verse21

45

Verse22

46

Verse23

47

Verse24

49

Verse25

50

Verse26

52

Verse27

53

Verse28

54

Verse29

56

Verse30

58

Verse31

60

Verse32

61

Verse33

64

Verse34

69

Verse35

70

Verse36

72

Verse37

73

Verse38

74

Verse39

75

Verse40

76

Verse41

79

Verse42

81

Verse43

82

Verse44

83

Verse45

85

Verse46

88

Verse47

90

Verse48

92

Verse49

93

Verse50

94

Verse51

95

Verse52

97

Verse53

99

Verse54

100

Verse55

102

Verse56

104

Verse57

105

Verse58

106

Verse59

107

Verse60

109

Verse61

111

Verse62

112

Verse63

114

Verse64

115

Verse65

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

FaaHrendedonapowerfulnote
(35,42)TheytakeoathsuponAllaahandtheywouldexhausttakingoathse.g.they
swearbyeachandeverythingtheycanimage.Theiroathsarethatifsomebodywasto
cometothemandwarnthem,theywouldbeoneofthemostguidedamongstthe
people.Yet,whenaprophetdidarrivetothem,itdidnotincreasetheminanyway
excepttheybegantorunawayfromhimevenmore.

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).

Whyisitinitscommonform?WhensomethingisinthisformthereisversaAlityanddiversityin
themeaning.ThereismulAlayeredmeaning.ItistellingtheMessengerofAllaahsthatheis
inviAngtoastraightpath,theQuraanislayingingoutastraightpath,Allaahiscallingpeopleto
astraightpath.BelievinginAllaahispartofthestraightpath,theQuraanisinviAngtothe
straightpath,theMessengerofAllaahsisonthestraightpath.Theyareallcallingus,bringing
ustothestraightpath.Thereisbroadmeaninginwhatthetermsarealludingto.

Verse 5

[Thisis]arevelaHonoftheExaltedinMight,theEspeciallyMerciful,
{Ithasbeensent(thatwhichhasbeensent)fromthatOnethatisAzizandRahim.}
Tanzil|WordAnalysis
Tanzilcomesfromtherootmeaningtosendsomethingdownorevenfurthertodescend.
IntheArabiclanguage,specicallywithintheQuraan,thereisanotherformofthiswordto
sendsomethingdown;itisanzalasin(3,3).

AbouttheQuraan,thewordnazalaisused(meaningHesentdown).Aboutthetawrahand
injilthewordanzalaisused(meaningHesentdown).TheQuraanisdivineandprecise;
thesewordsarenotinterchangeable.Whatthenisthedierence?
Anzalameanstosendsomethingdownallatonce.Thepreviousdivinescripturesweresent
downascompletebooksfromAllaahtaaala.TheQuraan,however,wasrevealedli<lebyli<le
byli<le(tadhreejan)whichiswhattanzilmeans.
EvenabouttheQuraanthough,insomeplacesAllaahsaysanzalaandothersHesaystanzala.
Forexample,(97,1)Allaahusesanzala

WemostdenitelysentitdownintheNightofPower.
Here,AllaahismenAoningthatHesentdowntheQuraanfromlawhalmahfuz(thePreserved
Tablet)wheretheQuraanwaspreserved,tobaytalizzainthelowestheavens,theskyclosest
totheearth.InthisrevelaAon,itwassentdowninitsenArety.
Thenin(2,185),Allaahusesanzala

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,

AllaahtalksaboutpeoplewhodotakethemessageoftheQuraan.Theyacceptit,theylisten
toit,theyreectuponit,theyliveit.Forthem,AllaahismenAoningthea<ributeofarRahim
tothem,Allaahwillbeconstantlymerciful.

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)

(...litundhiraqablika...)towarnapeopletowhomnowarnerhadcomebeforeyou
{SothatyoucanusethisQuraantowarnapeoplethatnowarnerhadcometothembeforeyou
nobodyhadcometowarnthembeforeyou}
AllaahissayingwhatthepurposeoftheQuraanis.WhenwecompletelytreattheQuraanas
funcAoningtodecoraAonandformalityoropeningofauspaciousoccassionswerunintoa
problemItsmainpurposeistowakepeopleup.WeneedtodevelopthisrelaAonshipwiththe
QuraanforourselvesandforourcommuniAes.Itwakesusfrombeinglost.

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.

AnyonethatchoosestofollowIblisandnotthepathoutlinedbyAllaahwillbecastintothe
Hellre.
ThestoryofAdamandIblisoccursinsevenplacesintheQuraan,Baqarah(2),Aaraaf(7),Hijr
(15),Israa(17),Kahf(18),TaHa(20),Sad(38).EvenattheendofYaSin(36,70)Allaahsays
thatthepunishedhasbeendecidedanddecreeduponthosepeoplewhoareungratefuland
disbelieveinAllaah.

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!

Thenperhapsyouwouldkillyourselfthroughgriefoverthem,[OMuhammad],iftheydonot
believeinthismessage,[and]outofsorrow.
AtthejarringandpowerfulmomentinthesituaAonofTaif,theMessengerofAllaahsaWer
beingridiculed,stoned,humiliated,madetobleedfromhisbodytothepointoffalling

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.

IsMuhammadaliar?No.
WhatabouttheQuraan.Itsamazing.
Thenwhywontyoubelieve?WeareBanuMakhzumandtheyareBanuHaashim.We
havearivalry,whentheydosomethingwedobe<erthanthem.Ifweacceptit,we
cannotduplicateit.Wecannotbeatthematthis,sowelljustrefuseandresist.
Arrogance.
Allaahhasxedthemintheirownarrogance.
2.Itisfortheirdenialofthesignsaroundthem.AswellseelaterinYaSinandhaveseenin
Fussilat(41,53),

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

Anditisallthesameforthemwhetheryouwarnthemordonotwarnthemwillnotbelieve.
{Anditisequal,absolutelythesame,whetheryouwarnthemoryoudonotwarnthemthey
willnotbelieve.}
Remember,andharistowarnsomeofimminentdangeroutofcareandconcernforthem.It
doesntma<erhowmuchconcernyouwarnthemwithornot.
Whatsthepointofgivingdawahthen?
AllaahaddressesthisquesAonin(7,164)

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)

Indeed,WecreatedhumanfromaspermdropmixturesothatWemaytesthimandWemade
himhearingandseeing.
Inordertotestthehumanbeing,Wegavehimtheabilitytohearandsee.Inotherplaceswe
aretoldweweregivenintelligence,abilitytocomprehend,ponder,think,walkaround,feel,
understand.WeweregivenallthefaculAeswewouldneed.
3. Allaahgavethehumanbeingaclearchoice(76,3)

Indeed,Weguidedhimtotheway,behegratefulorbeheungrateful.
Weweregivenaclearchoicewhetherwechoosetobelieveordisbelieve.Everythingwasmade
clear,weweregivenfaculAestocomprehendthesigns,andthenwehavethechoice.
Oncesomeonemakesthechoicetonotbegrateful,todisbelieve,aWerbeinggivenallofthese
signsandopportuniAes,nowAllaahsaysthatHehasputthemintothissituaAon.Theywalked
unAlhereandarenowaskingfortheresult.Itslikeapersonwalkingtotheedgeofacliand
askingtosuertheconsequences.
Then, who will the message benefit?

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)

AndWehaveindeedmadetheQuraaneasytounderstandandremember...
Thefactthatitsinitsproperformadhdhikrisevenmoreevidenceofthefactthatitpoints
specicallytotheQuraan.
SotheonewhowilliMaba(literallymeaningtofollow)theQuraan.Whatdoesitmeanto
followtheQuraan?
Inotherplaces,wearetold(39,18)

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

Indeed,itisWewhobringthedeadtolifeandrecordwhattheyhaveputforthandwhatthey
leebehind,andallthingsWehaveenumeratedinaclearregister.
Asinverses8and9,thereisexclusivityherebyrepeAAonoftherstpersonpluralsubject
(mostdenitelyWeandonlyWe).
NuHyialmawtaa|Revivingthedead
Thismaybereferringtoeither
1. RearmingthelifeofthehereaWer.OntheDayofJudgmentthesepeoplewillbe
resurrected.ThiswasthenumberoneobjecAonofthemushrikeenfromthebelievers.
2. Thelifeofimaan(6,122)

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)

ButmyinvitaHonincreasedthemnotexceptinight.
Theywouldputtheirngersintheirears,covertheirfaceswhenhewouldcometothem,they
wouldbeinsistentandarrogantandbrushoNuhalayhiassalaam.ThissituaAonwassimilar
tothatoftheMessengerofAllaahs whentheseverseswastoberevealed.TheMakkans
wantednothingtodowithhims andhismessage.Theyhadcompleteapathyandbecame
engagedinanAdawah;theywereviolentandaggressivetowardsthosewhoweregivingheed
tothemessage.ItwaslikeAllaahtellus(41,26)

Andthosewhodisbelievesay,DonotlistentothisQuraanandspeaknoisilyduring[the
recitaHonof]itthatperhapsyouwillovercome.
TheyvemadeitpersonaltodefeattheMessengerofAllaahs inhismessage.
Atthispoint,Allaahisgivingthemapowerfulreminder.Tomakesomeonerealizetheerrorsof
theirwayswhentheyhavebeennumbedbythewarningsandadvice,directthemtothe
situaAonsofrealexamples.Thehorricconsequencesthatothershavefacedwhentheydid
notpayheed.Givethesepeopletheexampleofapeopleofatownthatcamebefore.Thesame
thingmayhappentothesepeopleaswelliftheydonotcorrecttheircorruptways.

Andpresenttothemanexample:thepeopleofthecity,whenthemesengerscametoit
Strikeforthemanexamplegiveanexampleforthem(theQuraysh).Lahummeansmakethis
storyofapeopleofatownpreviouslyrelevanttothesepeople.Thisisanimplicitevidencethat

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

Whenwesenttothemtwobuttheydeniedthem,soWestrengthenedthemwithathird,and
theysaid,Indeed,wearemessengerstoyou.
Idhislikesayingrememberwaybackwhen.First,Allaahsenttwomessengerstothem.They
rejectedthem.Takdhibmeanstheycalledthemliars.Everythingtheyweregivenwascalled
bogus.
Tazizliterallymeanstostrengthen,torm.AllaahsaysHerearmedthemessengerswitha
thirdtorearmandstrenghtentheircondenceandthemessagebeingdelivered.
Theirprimarymessagewasthatmostdenitelywehavebeensentspecicallytoyou.Thereis
abnormalsentencestructurehereindicaAngthatthereisexclusivity.

Verse 15

Theysaid,Youarenotbuthumanbeingslikeus,andtheMostMercifulhasnotrevealeda
thing.Youareonlytellingslies.
Youpeoplearenothingbutpeoplejustlikeus.ThishasalwaysbeentheprimarycriAcismofall
messengersthroughoutAmewhentheyvecometodeliverthemessagetopeople.Likethe
Qurayshwhentheysaid(25,7)

Andtheysay,Whatisthismessengerthateatsfoodandwalksinthemarkets?Whywasthere
notsentdowntohimanangelsohewouldbewithhimawarner?
Thisisthenaturalpride,egoofthehumanbeing:theaversiontoauthority.EvenifAllaah
wouldhavesentanAngeldownwiththemessage,theywouldnothavebelieved.Accordingto
them,theAngelwouldbeasupernaturalbeingunabletounderstandthesituaAonofthe
humanbeing.ThatistheresituaAon.
ThereveryrstobjecAonwas:themessengersarepeoplejustlikeus.
AndthisArRahmanyouspeakof(rememberthenamewasmenAonedinverse11),Hehasnot
sentdownanything.You(allthreeofyou)arenothingbutlyingtous.

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

AndwearenotresponsibleexceptforclearnoHcaHon.
Now,thereisthesituaAonwiththepeople.Itisbecomingdicultbecausetheyarebeingrude,
abrasive,oensive.WhatsthepointtoconAnuespeakingwiththem?Theyknowtheyarenot
obligatedtodoanythingexceptbalagh.
Balaaghisliterallytoreachfromoneplacetoanother.TheQuraanhasbeendescribedas
balaagh(14,52)

This[Quraan]isbalaaghforthepeoplethattheymaybewarnedtherebyandthattheymay
knowthatHeisbutoneGodandthatthoseofunderstandingwillbereminded.
AtthesameAmetheMessengerofAllaahhasbeencommandedintheQuraanballigh=
convey,makeitreach(5,67)

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)

AndWehavealreadysent[messengers]tonaHonsbeforeyou,[OMuhammad];thenWe
instantlygrabbedthemwithpovertyandhardshipthatperhapstheymighthumblethemselves
[toUs].
Thesepeoplewerebefallenbysomething.Whatweretheystrickenwith?
Ba`sa=diculteconomicsituaAons(e.g.poverty,famine,drought,starvaAon,cropfailure)
Darraa=otherdicultsituaAons(e.g.ofsocialnature,conict,war,externalotherdiculAes
andproblems)

SotherewerenaAonstowhommessengersweresentandthentherewerediculAessent
uponthesepeoplebutitwasinorderforthemtohumblethemselves.Itwouldcrackthatshell
ofegotheyhadplacedaroundthemselves.
Thisisrepeated(7,94)andmademoreexplicit

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.

Butwhengoodcametothem,theysaid,Thisisexclusivelyforus[byright].Andifabad
[condiHon]struckthem,theysawanevilomen(Tayar)inMusaandthosewithhim.
UnquesHonably,theirfortuneiswithAllaah,butmostofthemdonotknow.
EvenaboutthepeopleofMakkah,Allaahtellsus(4,78)

(...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)

Say,[OMuhammad],IfyoushouldloveAllaah,theniMabiuni(=followme)sothatAllaahwill
loveyouandforgiveyouyoursins.AndAllaahisGhafurunRahimun.
Followingthemessengersiswhatiskey.Islaam,din,thecore,basictenetsofitcametousfrom
theQuraan.ButthepracAcalstructure,theframework,pracAceof,implementaAonofIslaam
comesfromtheMessengerofAllaahs.Otherwise,itallremainstheory.
Thismanhasnotjustsaidtofollowthem,buthehaspresentedevidence.Themufassirunsay
heisprovidingthreepiecesofinformaAon.

1. Theyarealmursalin.MeaningtheyvebeensenttousbyAllaah.Theyarenotordinary
people,theyvecomefromahigherauthority,theulAmateauthority.RefertoVerse3for
moreinformaAonregardingthisterm.
2. &3.maybefoundinVerse21

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)

AndwhenWegivethepeopleatasteofmercyaeeradversityhastouchedthem,atoncethey
conspireagainstOurverses.Say,Allaahisswieerinstrategy.Indeed,Ourmessengersrecord
thatwhichyouconspire.
WhenpeoplearetestedwithdicultsituaAons,theyimmediatelyturntoAllaah(10,22)

ItisHewhoenablesyoutotravelonlandandseaunHl,whenyouareinshipsandtheysailwith
thembyagoodwindandtheyrejoicetherein,therecomesastormwindandthewavescome
uponthemfromeverywhereandtheyassumethattheyaresurrounded,supplicaHngAllaah,
sinceretoHiminreligion,IfYoushouldsaveusfromthis,wewillsurelybeamongthe
thankful.
InsuchahorriblesituaAontheystartmakingsincereduaatoAllaahandpromisethatifthey
aresavedtheywillalwaysbegrateful.Yet,whentheyareremovedfromtheadversity,theygo
rightbacktotheirheedlessness.Thisisthenatureofpeople.AdversityremindsthemofAllaah,
butinkhayrtheythinkitisallfromthemselves.Theyforget(6,17)

AndifAllaahshouldtouchyouwithadversity,thereisnoremoverofitexceptHim.AndifHe
touchesyouwithgood,thenHeisoverallthingscompetent.
Hegivesthemtheexampleofdicultybecauseinthateventhesetownspeoplecan
comprehendturningtothetrueLord.Wemustgiverelatableexamplestopeople.

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)

Yes,ifyouremainpaHentandconsciousofAllaahandtheenemycomesuponyou[aMacking]in
rage,yourLordwillreinforceyouwithvethousandangelsmusawwimin(havingmarksof
disAncAon).

[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)

Indeed,OurwordtoathingwhenWeintenditisbutthatWesaytoitBeanditis.
3. Wedidnotsendanarmyuponthemandtherewasnobenetinsendingdownanarmy.
SendingdownanarmyorAngelsistosendamessage,teachalesson,makeapoint.There
wasnopointtodothatwiththesepeople.

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)!

AndwhoeverobeysAllaahandtheMessengerthosewillbetheonesuponwhomAllaahhas
bestowedfavouroftheprophets,thesteadfastarmersoftruth,themartyrsandthe
righteous.Andexcellentarethoseascompanions.
Tobeinthecompanyofthesepeople!Thatiswherethismanended.
Peoplewhoopposethetruthshouldnotbedeludedbywhattheyperceivetobeanimmediate,
shorttermvictory.SomeAmesitisjustanothertrap,anotherpartoftheirerrors.Theywould

haveusedthisasalessonagainstotherfollowersandpeople.Theywereincreasingtheir
arroganceuponarrogance(24,40).

Or[theyare]likedarknesseswithinanunfathomableseawhichiscoveredbywaves,upon
whicharewaves,overwhicharecloudsdarknesses,someofthemuponothers.Whenone
putsouthishand[therein],hecnahardlyseeit.AndhetowhomAllaahhasnotgrantedlight
forhimthereisnolight.
Lookatwhathappenedtothem.AllaahdidnoteventroubleHisarmiestobringthe
punishmentuponthem.Asingle,one,loudpiercingsoundwasenoughtobringtheminto
destrucAon.

Verse 30

Howregrequl(hopeless)fortheservants.Theredidnotcometothemanymessengerexcept
thattheyusedtoridiculehim.
Previously,AllaahspokedirectlyofHiswrathandangeruponthesepeopleandtheplightof
them.
Hasrah|WordAnalysis
Thisisavery,verystrongword.Itevensoundsstrongwhenonesaysit.Itsevenstrongerthan
(meaningremorseorregret).Hasrahliterallymeanswhenapersonbecomescompletely
hopeless(67,4)

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,

Buttherewouldnotcometothemaprophetexceptthattheyusedtoridiculehim.
HereAllaahusesthewordnabi,butinYaSinAllaahusesrasulbecauseHehasbeenusingit
fromthebeginningofthesurah!Itis,thus,moreappropriatetousethewordsurahandkeep
consistencyinthesurah.

Verse 31

Havetheynotconsidered(understood)howmanygeneraHonsWedestroyedbeforethemthat
they(whohavebeendestroyed)willnotreturntothem?
ThisisnowaddressingthepeopleofQuraysh.
Layarjiunitisinthepresentandfuturetensemeaningthatthesepeoplearenotandwillnot
evercomebacktothem.Dontwaituplateatnightforthem.Theyregone,wipedcleanfrom
thefaceoftheearth.Theywereeradicated,erased.
TothepointthatthereweresomeAmesnoremnantsofthesepeople.

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

AndthosewhodisbelievedwillbedriventoHellingroupsunHl,whentheyreachit,itsgatesare
openedanditskeeperswillsay,Didtherenotcometoyoumessengersfromyourselves,
reciHngtoyoutheversesofyourLordandwarningyouofthemeeHngofthisDayofyours?
Theywillsay,yes,butthewordofpunishmenthascomeintoeectuponthedisbelievers.
Theywillbeherdedlikewildbeastsandanimals,cuedandchainedandcollared,tostand
beforetheirLord.AndthiswillbeinthetruestformofjusAcebecausetheywillbeshownwhat
theyhavedonetoseeforthemselves(17,14)

[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)

SoheinvokedhisLord,Indeed,Iamoverpowered,sohelpme
Allaahwipedoutthepeopleagainsthimandkeptonlyhimandhisfollowers,thosewhowere
upontruth.Thus,thedawahwillnevergoaway(17,81)

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?

ItisHewhomadetheearthtameforyousowalkamongitsslopesandeatofHisprovision
andtoHimistheresurrecHon.
Thissopowerfullysummarizestheconcept.Theearthishereforustotramplealloverit!We
canwalkalloveritandeatfromeverythingitgrowsandwewillsAllbegatheredexclusively
beforeAllaah.
ItisalmostelementaryhowtheQuraanteachesimaan,butthatisthewayitstrikesusbest
thatAllaahisOneandHeAlonedeservestobeworshipped.
WewillseethissameintroducAontoAllaahinthisverse.

Andasignforthemisthedeadearth.Wehavebroughtittolifeandbroughtforthfromitgrain,
andfromittheyeat.
Aayah|WordAnalysis
Allaahpointstoaayattoexplaintous,toclarifytous(2,242):

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.

Soremind,[OMuhammad];youareonlyareminder.
Andwhatisareminder?AreminderdoesnotpresentnewinformaAon.Itisbringingto
a<enAoninformaAonthatwealreadyhaveandalreadyknowandrealize(30,30)

Sodirectyourfacetowardthereligion,incliningtotruth.[Adhereto]thetrahofAllaahupon
whichHehascreated[all]people.NochangeshouldtherebeinthecreaHonofAllaah.Thatis
thecorrectreligion,butmostofthepeopledonotknow.
WeareallcreateduponthisinnatenaturetoturntoAllaah.tobelieveinAllaah,todedicate
anddevoteinworshiptoAllaah.TheQuraaneventellsusthatwhenwewerecreatedweall
tesAedtoHisLordship(7,172)

And[menHon]whenyourLordtookfromthechildrenofAdamfromtheirloinstheir
descendantsandmadethemtesHfyofthemselves,[sayingtothem],AmInotyourLord?They
said,Yes,wehavetesHed.[This]lestyoushouldsayontheDayofResurrecHon,Indeed,
wewereofthisunaware.

ThatrealizaAonishiddenwithineachofus.Thesemiraculoussignsaretoremindus.Theylead
ustothereminder.
Whenapersonheedsthereminder,rememberinghispurposeinexistence,heisatavery
importantstage.Shukr,gratefulness,thankstoAllaahforeverythinghehasbeengiven.The
Quraanopenswiththeveryversetoproclaimthisgratefulness(1,1)

TheverybestpraiseistoAllaah,Lordoftheworlds
Theoppositeofshukriskufr.Itmeanstobeungratefulnessanddisbeliefbecauseweknow
shukristhebasisofimaan.Oncethatpersonbecomesgrateful,themanifestaAonofthat
graAtudeisnotjustlipservice.ItleadstoibaadahenslavingonesselftoAllaahvoluntarily.
Themostobviousformofthisslaveryisworship.
Apersonwhotakesheedoftheremindersandsignsdoesnotneedanythingmoretodirecthim
toAllaahinworship.Hefeelscompelled.
Now,letsgetbacktotheverseathand.

Andasignforthemisthedeadearth.Wehavebroughtittolifeandbroughtforthfromitgrain,
andfromittheyeat.
Aayatunthisisinitscommonform(nakira).Thisiseither
1. tomagnythatthisissomethingofimportancebeingdiscussed
2. todiversitythattherearemulAplewaysofreecAnguponwhatistobediscussed
AmiraculoussignforthesepeoplewhoarentrealizingthetruthisthedeadearthwhichWe
haverevived.ThisisnotdicultforAllaah,itsimplyrains.Webringoutfromithabbanagrain,
aseed.Thatiswhattheyarelivingoof.Notonlythat,butwhatistheprogressionofthat?See
Verse34.

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

ThattheymayeatofHisfruit.Andtheirhandshavenotproducedit,sowilltheynotbe
grateful?
Andwhywasallthisdone?SothatthepeoplemayeatfromHisfruit.Butifyouhaveforgo<en,
note,thattheirhandshaventdoneanyofthis.Allaahmakesthishappen,dontyouforget(67,
30)

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?

ItproducesitsfruitalltheHme,bypermissionofitsLord.AndAllaahpresentsexamplesforthe
peopleperhapsthattheywillbereminded.
Thatgoodwordisimaan.ThatsamedhikrismenAoned.Itistoremindpeopleoftheirpurpose,
goal,andobjecAveinlife.

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.

Andasignforthemisthenight.Weremovefromit[thelightof]day,sotheyare[lee]in
darkness.
Naslakhu|WordAnalysis
Itcomesfromtherootsalakhameaningtopeeltheskinoananimal.Sofromthenightwe
peelawayfromittheday.Thedaycomesintocoverthenight,butwhenthesunsetsthe
daylightrecedessothatitbecomesdarkeranddarker.UnAlallofasuddenweareincomplete
darkness.

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)

Say,Haveyouconsidered:ifAllaahshouldmakeforyouthenightconHnuousunHltheDayof
ResurrecHon,whatdeityotherthanAllaahcouldbringyoulight?Thenwillyounothear?
Likewise,whatifAllaahweretomakeitdayforever(28,72)

Say,Haveyouconsidered:ifAllaahshouldmakeforyouthedayconHnuousunHltheDayof
ResurrecHon,whatdeityotherthanAllaahcouldbringyouanightinwhichyoumayrest?Then
willyounotsee?

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)

WhiletheHereaeerisbeMerandmoreenduring.
TheMessengerofAllaahs tellsusthatthelifeofthisworldissweetandlushgreen(meaning
itisa<racAve).Sweetthings,however,spoilfasterthanbi<erthings.Soeventhoughitisvery
sweet,itspoilsveryquickly.Aplantwhichisgreenandlush,however,diessooner.
Soitisbe<ertosowtheseedsfortheHereaWernowbecauseitwillbebe<erandeternal.
Otheroppositesalsoexist:imaanandkufr,khayrandshar,haqqandbaaHl,shukrandkufr,
humilityandarrogance.Wemustconstantlymakethechoiceofwhichisbe<erbetweenthe
two.Allaahhasshownusthetwopathsandwemustchoose(90,10)

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)

[Thisis]theestablishedwayofAllaahwhichhasoccurredbefore.Andneverwillyoundinthe
wayofAllaahanychange.
ThisiswhatAllaahhasdecreedforHiscreaAon.Justlikethesunandmoon,wewillnotbeable
toescapethiscycle(7,34)

AndtoeverynaHonisa[specied]term.SowhentheirHmehascome,theywillnotremain
behindanhour,norwilltheyprecede[it].
Whenthexedappointmentcomesforustoleavetheearthitwillnotbealterable.Onecannot
takeastepawayfromthisworldunAlhehastakenallthebreathsdecreedforhimandnota
singlelessorasinglemore.Justlikeeverythingelseisswimminginorbit,soarewe.

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)

SoWesavedhimandthosewithhimintheladenship.
thissamewording(alfulkalmashHun)hasbeenusedtodescribetheArkofNuhalayhias
salaam.

2. (Minority)Allaahisjustdiscussingtravellinginshipsingeneral.
ThereisnoharminsuchanopinionbecausetheQuraanissodeep,ithasmanylayersof
understanding.
Thiscarryingonashippermi<edthesurvivalofthesehumans(orhumankindingeneralif
referringtothepeopleofNuhalayhiassalaam).

Verse 42

AndWecreatedforthemthelikesofthatthatwhichtheyarealsoabletouseforride.
TherehavebeenothermodesoftransportaAoncreatedbyAllaah.
Whatisthisreferringto?
1. Othermodesofwatertransport
IfVerse41wasreferringtotheArkofNuhalayhiassalaamthenthismaybereferringtoall
otherships,boats,andcanoeswhateverelseisusedtomovearoundinthewater.
2. Anyothermodesoftransport
IfVerse41wasreferringtoboatsingeneral,thenthismaybereferringtoothermodesof
transportontheearth.AsAllaahhassaid(43,12)

Andwhocreatedthespecies,allofthem,andhasmadeforyouofshipsandanimalsthose
whichyoumount.
AndfollowingitAllaaheducatesusabouttheduaafortransportaAon(43,1314).Whenever
weboardanythingasamodeoftransport,weoughttorecitethissupplicaAon.
Theseothermodesoftransportmaybeotherthanships;animals,carts,vehicles,planes,etc.
Allaahhascreatedit,facilitatedforus,andpermi<editforus.Thisisahugesignandmoment
ofreecAon.HoweasyandfaciltatedareourliveswiththesemodesoftransportaAon?

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)

AndtheybothfoundaservantamongOurservantstowhomwehadgivenmercyfromUsand
hadtaughthimfromUsa[certain]knowledge.
Thela<ermeansamercyespeciallyfromUs,asinamercyasagiWfromUs,asafavourfrom
Us.
AlsoindiscussingAyubalayhiassalaamandwhatwasbestoweduponhim(21,84)

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)

Andwhenadversitytouchesman,hecallsuponUs;thenwhenWebestowonhimafavourfrom
Us,hesays,Ihaveonlybeengivenitbecauseof[my]knowledge.Rather,itisatrial,butmost
ofthemdonotknow.
Thispersonhasarrogancewithinhim.Forthispersontheblessingisnotspecial.
Theelaborateconstructisusedforpraiseworthypeople,thefamilyofLutalayhiassalaam(54,
35)

Asfavourfromus.Thusdowerewardhewhoisgrateful.
ThepromiscuityandshamelessnessofsocieAesarestrugglesforthepeoplegraspingimaan.
SexualperversionisexcepAonallydicultbecauseitisbecominganacceptedpracAce.The
peopleofLutalayhiassalaamdidntjusthaveitaccepted,butitwasmajority.Thesepeople
dealtwiththreatsandviolencefrompeoplewholivedthislifestyle,yettheystoodrmwith
theirfaithandtheirmessenger.

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

toAadandThamudtheirlocaAonswereknowtothemwithinHejaz.TheArabsknew
wherethesenaAonshadexistedandwhathadtranspiredwiththem.Theyoughttolookat
themandthenseeiftheyareheadedalongthesamepathoriftheywilldier.
4. Thisisfoundin(34,9).ThisisacollecAonofsuwarthathavesimilarthemesandarelike
conAnuaAonsofeachother.FaHrandSababothstartwithalhamdulillahalladhi.Then
thereisYaSininthemiddleaWerwhichthereareSadandSaatwhicharealsosimilarand
haveaddresslikethemes.YaSinislikethecentrepieceofthesesuwar.Soin(34,9)Allaah
says

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)

[ThenAllaahsaid],Itisexpected,[ifyourepent],thatyourLordwillhavemercyuponyou.But
ifyoureturn[tosin],Wewillreturn[topunishment].AndWehavemadetheHellre,forthe
disbelievers,aprisonbed.
Itisverynear,itisastrongpossibilitythatyourLordwillhavemercyuponyou.Ifyoureturn
back,thenWewillalsoreturnback.Thinkofthisliketwopeoplehavingastrife.Ifonecomes
back,theothercomesback.Allaahhascreated,providedandprotectedus.Ifweturnbackand
maketawbah,justmakeeortbyturningaround,thenthemercyofAllaahwillrushtowardsus
(e.g.withevenmoremercythanwhatwehavereceived).

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)

Andtheysay,Whatisthismessengerthateatsfoodandwalksinthemarkets?Whywasthere
notsenddowntohimanangelsohewouldbewithhimawarner?
IfAllaahhadsentanangeltheywouldhavesAllarguedthatitdoesnotunderstandtheir
situaAon.Again,theyarecomplainingforthesakeofcomplaining
InantumDalaalinmubinin|Analysis
Youareinnothingbutinveryclear,openmisguidance.Fiisasiftheyaredrowningintheir
delusions.Theyarecompletelylostandastray.Therearetwowaysthiscanbeunderstood.
1. Thisisthesamekuarsayingittothebelievers.
TheyaremerelyconAnuingwiththeircomplainingandridiculing.

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)

AndifWehadmadeitanonArabicQuraan,theywouldhavesaid,Whyareitsversesnot
explainedindetail[inourlanguage]?Isitaforeign[recitaHon]andanArab[messenger]?Say,
Itisforthosewhobelieve,aguidanceandcure.Andthosewhodonotbelieveintheirearsis
deafness,anditisuponthemblindness.Thosearebeingcalledfromadistantplace.
ItisguidanceandasoluAontotheproblemsofthebelievers.Thosewhodonotwanttobelieve
areconfrontaAonal.TheyhaveanobstrucAonintheirears.Theysaytheyarelistening,they
haveearsphysically,butspirituallytheyareunawareofthetruthasifitisinvisibletothem.

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

TheydonotawaitexceptoneblastwhichwillseizethemwhiletheyaredispuHng.
ThenAllaahsaysaverysternwarning.SiHahisthatlarge,piercingsound.Asingleblastcould
takethemintheirrefusingandrejecAngstates.
Inthepreviouspassage,asimilarconclusionwasseen(36,29)

Itwasnotbutoneshout,andimmediatelytheywereexHnguished.
Theyhadconceitedlydisregardedthemessengersandmurderedthebelieverwhoadvised
them.Asaresult,Allaahpunishedthemwiththissingle,piercingsound.Hedidnotmakea
huge,elaboratearrangementfortheirdestrucAon.
Thissamenoteisusedhere.TheymayconAnuetorejecttheclear,evidentsignsofAllaah,but
theyarewaiAngfornothingbutthatonesoundtoexAnguishthem.
TheirmockerywillconAnueandatoncetheywillbetaken.
YanZuruna|WordAnalysis
InthisconstrucAon,Allaahdoesnotsay:

Instead,Hesays:

ThesebothcomefromthesamerootandinHZarmeanstowaitforsomething.
YanZurunacomesfornaZrwhichmeanstolook.Itcanalsobeusedtowaitforsomething,butit
ismoresowaiAngforsomethingaswatchingitapproach.ThisislikewaiAngforatrainwhich
youseecoming.Sothesepeoplewillbestandingthere,itwillbetherebeforetheirfaces.Itwill
bearesultoftheirownacAons.

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

quicklyasiftheyarerunningdownhill,theyarespeedingfasterandcannotbestopped.They
willnaturallybeforcedtogointhatdirecAonandcannotimpedethemselves.
ThesearethepeoplewhowouldhavebeenpleaingAllaahtoletthemreturnsothattheymay
makeamends.Theywillhaveexperiencedthetormentofthelifeofalbarzakh.Theyknow
exactlywhatisinstoreforthem.TheydontwanttogointhatdirecAon,buttheywillbe
compelledtogoforthandwillbemadetopresentthemselvesbeforeAllaah(Verse32).

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)

Andbrought[withinview],thatDayisHellthatDay,manwillremember,butwhatgoodto
himwillbetheremembrance?
TheHellrewillreactuponseeingthem(25,12)

WhentheHellreseesthemfromadistantplace,theywillhearitsfuryandroaring.
ItwillbeAedupin70000chainsheldby70000Angelsholdthechains.Yet,itwillsAllbe
growlinglikeawildbeastatitsprey.Seeingthis,theywilllookbackattheirgravesandaskto
returntothem.
Then,comestheresponse.Whoisspeakingthesewords?
1. Thepeoplearespeakingtothemselves,realizingthatwhattheydeniedwastrueandthe
messengerstheyrejectedwerespeakingonlythetruth.Thisisarmedin(32,12)

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

Sotodaynosoulwillbewrongedatallandyouwillnotberecompensedexceptforwhatyou
usedtodo.
Now,Allaahisusingimagerytosetthetoneforthenextaayaat.
ItisasifAllaahishavingusimagewearestandingintheeld,inthegatheringoftheDayof
Judgment.Thentoday!Dontconsideritafairytaleorfarawaygalaxy.Itishere,itisnow.This
isreiteratedthroughouttheQuraan(70,67)

Indeed,theyseeit[as]distant,

TheAmeissoveryclose(21,1)

ButWeseeit[as]near.

[TheHmeof]theiraccounthascomeverycloseforthepeople,whiletheyareinheedlessness
turningaway.
AllaahhassaidiqtarabathisisintheexaggeratedformmeaningthattheAmeisvery,very,
verynear.Itsrightthereundertheirnoses,yettheyarecompletelyoblivioustothisrealityand
truth.
Nafsunisinitscommonform,meaningnotasinglesoulwillbewrongedintheleastbit.Zulmis
tomisappropriate,towrongsomeoneandtoviolatehisrights.Notasinglepersonwillbe
wrongedintheleastbit(shayan).Theirbookofdeedswillbeplacedopenforthemtocheck
(18,49)

Andtherecord[ofdeeds]willbeplaced[open],andyouwillseethecriminalsfearfulofthat
withinit,andtheywillsay,Oh,woetous!Whatisthisbookthatleavesnothingsmallorgreat
exceptthatithasenumeratedit?Andtheywillndwhattheydidpresent[beforethem].And
yourLorddoesinjusHcetonoone.
Andyouwillnotberecompensed,rewarded,youwillnotndasareturnexceptwhatyoudid
toyourself.ThisistheepitomeofjusAce.Youwillreapwhatyouvesown.Therewillbeno
addiAons,nosubtracAons.Nobodycanargueagainstthattheycanbegandplead.Thisisthe
reasonforseekingisHghfar,forperformingtawbah.AsAllaahsays(19,60)

Exceptthosewhorepent,believeanddorighteousness,forthosewillenterParadiseandwillnot
bewrongedatall.
Forthen(25,70)

Exceptforthosewhorepent,believeanddorighteouswork.ForthemAllaahwillreplacetheir
evildeedswithgood.AndeverisAllaahForgivingandMerciful.
ThispassageisleingpeopleknowthattheymustdealwiththeconsequencesoftheiracAons.
TheymayhaverejectedandmockedthemessageanditsmessengersandevenAllaah,butthey
willhavetodealwithwhattheyhaveearned.

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)

[Theywillbetold],EatanddrinkinsaHsfacHonforwhatyouusedtodo.
Thebaaheremeansinexchangefortheyhaddoneinthedayshadpassed.Theywereso
focusedinthelifeoftheworld,sonowtheycandowhatevertheywant.Theywillindulgefor
howeverlonginwhateverintheywishtodo.
TherewasabedouinmanwhocametotheMessengerofAllaahsandaskediftheywouldbe
abletofarminjannah.Thatiswhatthesepeopledoandwhattheyenjoy.Ofcoursetheywill
beabletodowhatevertheywish.

Faakihun|WordAnalysis
Someoneisreallyhappy,joyful.Asifgiddyandjolly.Thereissomuchenergyintheirhappiness
thattheyalmostdontknowwhattodowithit.Theydontknowhowtocontainthemselves.So
engagingintheirindulgencestheywillbesocompletelyabsorbed()inhappinessbecause
therewillbenootherresponsibiliAesordistracAonsforthem.

Verse 56

Theyandtheirspousesinshade,recliningonadornedcouches.
Theirhappinessisevengreaterbecausetheyaredoingitwithotherswiththeirspouses!Their
isnolonelinessforthem.Theywillbesurroundedbyshadeasiftheyaresiingoutdoorsina
beauAfulscenery(thegardensofjannah).Theyaregardensbeneathwhichriversowand
theseriversare(47,15)

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

Forthemthereinisfruitandforthemiswhatevertheyrequest[orwish]
WhathappenswhenoneisindulginginanacAvity?Theywantsomesnacks.Theywillhave
fruitswaiAngforthem.Andhowwillthispersoneatthefruits?(69,23)

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)

We[angels]wereyouralliesinwordlylifeand[areso]intheHereaeer.Andyouwillhave
thereinwhateveryoursoulsdesireandyouwillhavethereinwhateveryourequest[orwish].
Hewillmerelythinkitanditwillbethereforhim.Anything,everything.Itwillbemade
availableexclusivelyforthem.

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)

AndWewillhaveremovedwhateveriswiHntheirbreastsofresentment,[while]owing
beneaththemarerivers.Andtheywillsay,PraisetoAllaah,Whohasguidedustothisandwe
wouldneverhavebeenguidedifAllaahhadnotguidedus.CertainlythemessengersofourLord
hadcomewiththetruth.Andtheywillbecalled,ThisisParadise,whichyouhavebeenmade
toinheritforwhatyouusedtodo.
Theyhaveproclaimedthattheycouldnothavego<enhereiftheyhadnotreceivedthis
guidancefromtheirLord.TheirLordwhoisArRahmaan.TheOneWhoismercifultoyoufrom
beforeyouarecreatedunAlnowwhenyouareinjannah.HehasbeenandisulAmatelyand
conAnuouslymercifultoyou.

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)

Sowhentheyforgetthatbywhichtheyhadbeenreminded,Weopenedtothemthedoorsof
every[good]thingunHl,whentheyrejoicedinthatwhichtheyweregiven,Weseizedthem
suddenlyandtheywere[then]indespair.
Themessagecameagainandagaintoremindthemthattheyshouldbegratefulandobedient
totheirLord,realizetheirrealpuposeinlife.Theirend,however,iscompletelybankruptand
hopeless.Theyareheldaccountableandshouldnotliveindelusions.
TheymayhavehadAmeandblessinginthedunya,butnowtheymustseparate.

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)

[Allaah]said,WhatpreventedyoufromprostraHngwhenIcommandedyou?[Shaytaan]said,
IambeMerthanhim.Youcreatedmefromreandcreatedhimfromclay.
HewasunapologeAc,notremorsefulforwhathehaddone.Then,evenfurther(38,82)

and(7,17)

[Iblis]said,ByYourmight,Iwillsurelymisleadthemall

ThenIwillcometothemfrombeforethemandfrombehindthemandontheirrightandon
theirlee,andYouwillnotndmostofthemgrateful[toYou].

TheQuraandevelopsobediencewithinus.Shukrisadirectresultofthereminderofthe
Quraanandbecominggratefulmakesusobedient.Itmakesiteasyforustodevoteourselves.
ShaytaansproblemwasthathewasnotgratefulandfallingintohisschemesanddecepAonis
tobecomeungrateful.
WhyshouldwebewaryofShaytaan?
Heisforus(especiallyforusbecauselakumisearlyinthephrase)aclear,known,openenemy.
Shaytaanisnothidinghisanimositytowardsus.Hewillhaveadiscussionwiththepeopleof
Hellre(14,22)

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)

Indeed,thosewhodisbelievewillbeaddressed,ThehatredofAllaahforyouwas[even]greater
thanyourhatredofyourselves[onthisDayinHell]whenyouwereinvitedtofaith,butyou
refused.
Youmaybefrustratedwithyourselvestoday,Allaahwasmorefrustratedwithyouwhenyou
werecalledtoimaanbutyoudisbelieved.
HowcanyoutreatShaytaanasyourfriendwhenheistakingadvantageofyouandisyourclear
enemy?Allaahisyourtruefriend,yourProtector,yourMawla.

Verse 63

ThisistheHellrewhichyouwerepromised.
Now,wegettothesentencingbeingissuedtothesecriminals.AtthispointandAme,Allaahis
directlyaddressingthesepeople.Thisisthemostappropriatema<erfortheoccasion.
Again,ismlisharaisusedanditemphasizesthattheHellreissocloseandnear.Itsclose
enoughtotouchandtakethem.Itwillberightthere.Justlikejannahwasrightthereforthe
obedienttosmell,nowjahannamisrightthereforthedisobedienttofeel.
Jahannam|WordAnalysis
Itistheactual,givennameofthereofHell.
Allaahhassaid(46,34)

AndtheDaythosewhodisbelievedwillbemadetostand,presentedbeforeuponthere...
ThisisthesceneoftheHellreandpunishment.Imaginesomebodytakenandhungoverthe
resothatonlythatwhichisholdingontohimiskeepinghimfromfallingintoit.Wewere
warnedaboutthisandpromisedthatifweconAnueddoingwhatweredoing,thiswouldbe
theoutcome.This,thisrebeforeoureyes,iswhatwewerewarnedabout.

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

ThatDay,Wewillsealovertheirmouths,andtheirhandswillspeaktoUs,andtheirfeetwill
tesHfyaboutwhattheyusedtoearn.
FromtheliterarymarveloftheQuraan,somethingchangeshere.Allaahwasspeakingtothem
(kuntum)inthesecondperson,tospeakingaboutthem(him)becausetheyhavebeen
sentencedandwereenteredintotheHellre.TheywillconAnuetocryoutfromthere,pleading
andbegging,butwillbetold(23,108)

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.

Theywillcomplaintotheirskin,WhyareyoutesAfyingagainstus?Theirsightandskinwill
complain,butwhentheyretortitwillonlybetotheskin.Thatisbecausetheskinwillfeelthe
punishment.Andtheyusethepluralbecauseallofthatpersonisinittogether(41,21)

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

AndifWewilled,Wecouldhaveobliteratedtheireyes,andtheywouldraceto[nd]thepath,
andhowcouldtheysee?
Tams|WordAnalysis
Itliterallymeanstorubsomethingout.ThinkofaneraseronveryhardwriAng.TherewillsAll
besomemarktoshowexistence.Sosomethingwouldhavebeenremainedoftheireyes,but
theywouldbedisgured.Thentheywouldberunningaroundlookingforthatpath.
Buthowcouldtheyeverseeagain?

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.

Verse 68
Thisissomewhataconclusionforthispassage.ItalsoservesasatransiAontothefollowing
passage.

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)

AllaahistheoneWhocreatedyoufromweakness,thenmadeaeerweaknessstrength,then
madeaeerstrengthweaknessandwhitehair.HecreateswhatHewills,andHeistheKnowing,
theCompetent.
Daaf(weakness)referstoinfancy.Thenfromitcomesstrengthyougetolderandbecome
competentunAlyouareindependent.Thenfromitcomesweaknessandeventuallyoldage.As
apersonages,heregresses.Tothepointwhereitbecomessodetrimental(22,5)

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.

AndWedidnotgivenhim[ProphetMuhammad]knowledgeofpoetry,norisitbexngforhim.
ItisnotbutamessageandaclearQuraan.
AllaahisrefuAngtheveryobviousgotocriAcismofanyonerefusingtheMessengerofAllaah
s.Theireasiestcopoutwas(21,5)

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)

Andnotequalarethelivingandthedead.Indeed,AllaahcausestohearwhomHewills,butyou
cannotmakehearthoseinthegraves.
Somebodywhohaslostalldecencyandiscoveredwithdarkness,hecannotbemadetohear.
Sohissjobisonlytowarnthosewhohasalivingheart.Theotherswillhavetheirorgans
speakfortheirchoices.Theyarebuildingthecaseagainstthemselves.
AndalqawlisthedecisionfromVerse7.ThisisforthosewhoareungratefultoAllaah,
enjoyingallthepleasuresAllaahhasgiventhem,butnotrealizingthegraAtudeorobedience
owedbythemtoAllaah.

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)

Thendotheynotlookatthecamelshowtheyarecreated?
Evenwhentryingtomakethehumanbeingrealizetoliveuptothestandardofbeingahuman
being,Allaahusesthiscomparison(7,179)

AndWehavecertainlycreatedforHellmanyofthejinnandmankind.Theyhaveheartswith
whichtheydonotunderstand,theyhaveeyeswithwhichtheydonotsee,andtheyhaveears
withwhichtheydonorhear.Thosearelikelivestock;rather,theyaremoreastray.Itistheywho
areheedless.
Theyareevenmorelostthanlivestockwhichbringsbenettoothers.
Andthenthosehumanbeingsareexclusivelyinownershipoftheseanimals.Allaahcreated
theseanimalsandthengavefullownershiptous.Butwhydiscussownership?

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

Andforthemthereinare[other]benetsanddrinks,sowilltheynotbegrateful?
Andexclusivelyforhumanbeings,intheseanimalsarebenets.
Manaau|WordAnalysis
Thisisaformofthepluralwhichisexaggerated.Therearelotsandlotsandlotsofbenets
fromtheseanimals.Weusetheirskinandhide,theirbones,theirbodiesthemselvesandwhat
comefromthem.
Evenourbasicneedofdrinkcanbeprovidedforbythem!
Nownally,theculminaAonofallthisshouldbethatwearegrateful.Yet,whyarentwe?
AnotherexamplewhereAllaahusesthecowtoinvokeourgraAtude(16,66)

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

ButtheyhavetakenbesidesAllaah[false]deiHesthatperhapstheywouldbehelped.
Theyhavetakenfalseobjectsofworship.Theywereobviouslynotgrateful.Theyvethen
commi<edthemselvestootherthingsandpaths.
Aalihah|WordAnalysis
Itisnotjustanidol.Itisanything,anypersonorobjectthatsomeonededicateshimselftoand
giveprioritytoitoverAllaah.Itcouldbemoney,pleasure.anidea/noAon/concept.
WhatistheirmoAve?Sothatmaybe,theyhope,thatthisnoAonwillhelpthem.Itwillcometo
theiraideandrescuewhentheyndthemselvesinadicltsituaAon.
Yet,thatisnotthereality.

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.

KhaSim|WordAnalysis
Itmeansaloud,shouAngargumentwhereapersonisadamant,arrogantandinsistant.Heis
confrontaAonalandstubborn.Hespeaksoveryouandyellsatyou.EveryAmeyoutrytocalm
him,heshoutsback.Thereishyperboleintheformofthisword.
Notonlythat,buthisargumentaAonismubin.Itissoclearthateveryonecanseeandhearit.It
isapublicaair.Heiscausingascene.SothishumanbeingbecomesargumentaAveand
confrontaAonal,publiclyagainstthetruthandrealiAesoflife.
Thus,theaayahmeans:doesntthehumanbeingrealizewherehecamefrombasicallylth
and,yet,hesAllmakesasceneandarguesagainsthisresponsibilitytobeinggrateful?

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)

Hesaid,OurLordisHeWhogaveeachthingitsformandthenguided[it].
Thisisnotspiritualguidance,butbasicprogrammingforexistenceandliving.Whoteachesthe
childtosuckleortocry?Nobodydoes.Itsasifitsinthetrah(30,30)

Sodirectyourfacetowardthereligion,incliningtotruth.[Adhereto]thetrahofAllaahupon
whichHehascreated[all]people.NochangeshouldtherebeinthecreaHonofAllaah.Thatis
thecorrectreligion,butmostofthepeopledonotknow.
ItispartofthegreatestblessingsofAllaahtonotleaveusaswildbeaststolearnthings
ourselves,buttogiveusguidance.
Thisisalsoalludedtoin(56,7172)

Andhaveyouseentherethatyouignite?

IsityouwhoproduceditstreeorareWetheproducer?
AtreeisarepresentaAonoflife.Itisgreen,itprovidesfood.Itisusedasametaphorforimaan,
butisalsousedforrewhichisasignofdeath.Dontletthisconfuseyou.Itshouldbesimple
andeasytounderstandthatAllaahcanbringpeopleback.

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?

Yes.[Weare]Able[even]toproporHonhisngerHps.
DoeshumanbeingreallythinkthatWecantcollecthisbonesbacktogether?Mostdenitely,
heiswrong!Wecangototheextentofpuingevenhisngerprintsbacktogether.
Now,Allaahwillrespond.Thisisadiscussionofrhetoric.Youdontanswerarhetorical
quesAon,butAllaahisansweringsothatthereisnteventheslightestroomforconfusion
remaining.
AlKhalaaqalAlim|WordAnalysis
Nodoubt,HeisfullycapableofrecreaAngthem.Infact,HeisalKhalaaq.Itismubalaghaofal
Khaliq.TheOneWhocreateseverythingandcreatesthingsbeyondyourimaginaAonandHe

hasbeencreaAngsincethebeginning,issAllcreaAngandwillconAnuecreaAngatsuchascope
thatyoucantimagine.
Notonlythat,butHeisalAlim.Hecreateseachandeverysinglethingandthenisfully
informedaboutit.EverythingHehascreatedisinneedofHimanditcannotdoanything
withoutHispermission.ThisisastrongertoneoftheargumentinVerse79.

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)

AndthusdidWeshowIbrahimtherealmoftheheavensandtheearththathewouldbeamong
thecertain[infaith].
Anotherunderstandingofusingthisformexists.Thereisanexternalandinternaltoeverything.
Thereisthetangibleandmeasurable,butthereisalsotheintangiblewhichdonthavephysicial
natures.Ifsomeoneownsaslave,heownsthebody.Hecanordertheslavetobehappy,but
cannotreallycontrolit.Hedoesntowntheintangibletomakehimthinkorfeel.
Allaahissuchanowner,however,thatHecontrolsthatwhichthepersonhimselfcannot
control.JustasIbrahimalayhiassalaamproclaimed(26,7882)

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

IampleasedwithAllaahasmyRabbandwithIslamasmydinandithMuhammads asmy
MessengerandProphet.
Outsideofthis,Idontneedanythingelse.ThisisaconsolaAontotheMessengerofAllaahs
thathehasAllaahonhisside.Eventothebelieversandthatmanwhocamefromthefarendof
thetowninYaSin.
HowpatheActhenisthesituaAonofthosewhodidnotrealizethisconnecAonwithAllaahand
benetfromit.

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!