‭Tafseer‬‭Surah‬‭Al-Hadid‬

‭Introduction‬
‭I.‬ ‭ his‬‭is‬‭one‬‭of‬‭the‬‭chapters‬‭that‬‭begins‬‭with‬‭declaring‬‭Allah’s‬‭perfection‬‭as‬‭the‬‭first‬‭verse.‬‭There‬‭are‬
T
‭multiple‬‭chapters‬‭of‬‭this‬‭nature‬‭and‬‭this‬‭chapter‬‭is‬‭the‬‭longest‬‭of‬‭this‬‭kind‬
‭II.‬ ‭One‬‭of‬‭the‬‭main‬‭points‬‭of‬‭this‬‭chapter‬‭is‬‭to‬‭teach‬‭us‬‭about‬‭softening‬‭the‬‭hearts‬

‭Tafseer‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Verses‬
‭1.‬ ‭Whatever‬‭is‬‭in‬‭the‬‭heavens‬‭and‬‭the‬‭earth‬‭glorifies‬‭Allah,‬‭for‬‭He‬‭is‬‭the‬‭Almighty,‬‭All-Wise.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Glorification‬‭(‭t‬asbih‬‭)‬‭is‬‭declaration‬‭of‬‭freedom‬‭from‬‭any‬‭weakness‬‭which‬‭can‬‭be‬‭associated‬‭with‬
‭Allah‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Allah‬‭is‬‭doing‬‭a‬‭comparison‬‭of‬‭us‬‭here‬‭and‬‭asking,‬‭“The‬‭whole‬‭of‬‭creation‬‭declares‬‭Allah’s‬
‭perfection,‬‭so‬‭why‬‭not‬‭you‬‭O’‬‭mankind?!”‬
‭c.‬ ‭Everything‬‭in‬‭creation‬‭is‬‭glorifying‬‭Allah‬‭in‬‭a‬‭language‬‭and‬‭way‬‭that‬‭we‬‭do‬‭not‬‭understand‬
‭i.‬ ‭All‬‭that‬‭is‬‭in‬‭the‬‭heavens‬‭and‬‭on‬‭earth‬‭of‬‭living‬‭beings‬‭that‬‭speak‬‭and‬‭those‬‭that‬‭do‬‭not‬
‭speak,‬‭and‬‭inanimate‬‭objects,‬‭glorify‬‭and‬‭praise‬‭their‬‭Lord,‬‭and‬‭declare‬‭Him‬‭to‬‭be‬‭above‬
‭all‬‭that‬‭is‬‭not‬‭befitting‬‭to‬‭His‬‭majesty‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭d.‬ ‭One‬‭of‬‭the‬‭solutions‬‭to‬‭weak‬‭faith‬‭is‬‭realizing‬‭the‬‭perfection‬‭of‬‭Allah,‬‭hence,‬‭the‬‭believers‬‭here‬
‭are‬‭being‬‭reminded‬‭of‬‭it‬
‭2.‬ ‭To‬‭Him‬‭belongs‬‭the‬‭kingdom‬‭of‬‭the‬‭heavens‬‭and‬‭the‬‭earth.‬‭He‬‭gives‬‭life‬‭and‬‭causes‬‭death.‬‭And‬
‭He‬‭is‬‭Most‬‭Capable‬‭of‬‭everything.‬
‭a.‬ ‭We‬‭are‬‭being‬‭told‬‭that‬‭this‬‭whole‬‭creation‬‭is‬‭a‬‭property‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭that‬‭He‬‭is‬‭in‬‭complete‬
‭control‬‭of‬‭all‬‭aspects‬‭of‬‭its‬‭affairs‬
‭b.‬ ‭He‬‭gives‬‭life‬‭to‬‭whoever‬‭He‬‭wishes‬‭to‬‭give‬‭life‬‭to,‬‭and‬‭causes‬‭death‬‭to‬‭whoever‬‭He‬‭wishes‬‭to‬
‭cause‬‭death‬‭to.‬‭He‬‭is‬‭capable‬‭of‬‭everything;‬‭nothing‬‭is‬‭outside‬‭His‬‭ability‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬
‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭i.‬ ‭[An‬‭example‬‭is‬‭when]‬‭He‬‭gives‬‭life‬‭to‬‭a‬‭lifeless‬‭package‬‭of‬‭dead‬‭protein‬‭which‬‭comes‬
‭alive‬‭as‬‭soon‬‭as‬‭it‬‭enters‬‭into‬‭a‬‭cell,‬‭thereafter‬‭called‬‭a‬‭virus‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭c.‬ ‭Allah‬‭is‬‭All-Powerful‬‭over‬‭everything;‬‭nothing‬‭is‬‭beyond‬‭His‬‭capability.‬‭Whatever‬‭He‬‭wills,‬‭comes‬
‭to‬‭be,‬‭and‬‭whatever‬‭He‬‭does‬‭not‬‭will,‬‭does‬‭not‬‭happen‬‭[‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭3.‬ ‭He‬‭is‬‭the‬‭First‬‭and‬‭the‬‭Last,‬‭the‬‭Manifest‬‭and‬‭the‬‭Hidden,‬‭and‬‭He‬‭has‬‭˹perfect˺‬‭knowledge‬‭of‬‭all‬
‭things.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭of‬‭First‬
‭i.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭He‬‭is‬‭the‬‭First‬‭and‬‭there‬‭is‬‭nothing‬‭before‬‭Him‬
‭1.‬ ‭Allah‬‭precedes‬‭time‬‭which‬‭is‬‭one‬‭of‬‭His‬‭creations‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭2.‬ ‭There‬‭is‬‭no‬‭beginning‬‭for‬‭Allah’s‬‭existence.‬‭He‬‭has‬‭always‬‭been‬‭there‬‭[Sabuni]‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Could‬‭also‬‭derive‬‭from‬‭it‬‭that‬‭He‬‭should‬‭be‬‭the‬‭first‬‭in‬‭our‬‭mind‬‭every‬‭single‬‭day‬
‭b.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭of‬‭Last‬
‭i.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭He‬‭is‬‭the‬‭Last‬‭and‬‭there‬‭is‬‭nothing‬‭after‬‭Him‬
‭1.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭He‬‭will‬‭last‬‭forever‬‭and‬‭never‬‭perish‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Could‬‭also‬‭derive‬‭from‬‭it‬‭that‬‭He‬‭should‬‭be‬‭the‬‭last‬‭thing‬‭in‬‭our‬‭mind‬‭every‬‭single‬‭day‬
‭c.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭of‬‭Manifest‬
‭i.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭the‬‭existence‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭obvious‬‭by‬‭just‬‭looking‬‭and‬‭examining‬‭the‬‭creation.‬
‭The‬‭signs‬‭for‬‭His‬‭Oneness‬‭and‬‭power‬‭are‬‭all‬‭around‬‭us‬
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 i‭i.‬ ‭Some‬‭interpret‬‭it‬‭to‬‭mean‬‭that‬‭He‬‭is‬‭above‬‭all,‬‭one‬‭who‬‭overcomes‬‭all‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭d.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭of‬‭Hidden‬
‭i.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭He‬‭is‬‭hidden‬‭from‬‭His‬‭creation‬‭and‬‭beyond‬‭the‬‭perception‬‭of‬‭all‬‭human‬‭senses,‬
‭there‬‭is‬‭nothing‬‭beyond‬‭Him‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Allah‬‭is‬‭the‬‭Hidden‬‭behind‬‭everything‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭e.‬ ‭Allah’s‬‭knowledge‬‭encompasses‬‭all‬‭that‬‭is‬‭apparent‬‭and‬‭all‬‭that‬‭is‬‭hidden,‬‭all‬‭that‬‭is‬‭secret‬‭and‬
‭concealed,‬‭and‬‭all‬‭matters,‬‭both‬‭earlier‬‭and‬‭later‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭4.‬ ‭He‬‭is‬‭the‬‭One‬‭Who‬‭created‬‭the‬‭heavens‬‭and‬‭the‬‭earth‬‭in‬‭six‬‭Days,‬‭then‬‭established‬‭Himself‬‭on‬
‭the‬‭Throne.‬‭He‬‭knows‬‭whatever‬‭goes‬‭into‬‭the‬‭earth‬‭and‬‭whatever‬‭comes‬‭out‬‭of‬‭it,‬‭and‬‭whatever‬
‭descends‬‭from‬‭the‬‭sky‬‭and‬‭whatever‬‭ascends‬‭into‬‭it.‬‭And‬‭He‬‭is‬‭with‬‭you‬‭wherever‬‭you‬‭are.‬‭For‬
‭Allah‬‭is‬‭All-Seeing‬‭of‬‭what‬‭you‬‭do.‬
‭a.‬ ‭If‬‭Allah‬‭wanted,‬‭He‬‭could‬‭have‬‭created‬‭everything‬‭in‬‭the‬‭blink‬‭of‬‭an‬‭eye‬‭but‬‭chose‬‭not‬‭to‬‭do‬‭so‬
‭[Sabuni]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Some‬‭of‬‭the‬‭things‬‭that‬‭enter‬‭into‬‭the‬‭earth:‬‭rain,‬‭seeds,‬‭corpses,‬‭etc.‬
‭i.‬ ‭Every‬‭raindrop‬‭that‬‭comes‬‭down‬‭is‬‭accompanied‬‭by‬‭an‬‭angel‬‭who‬‭sees‬‭to‬‭it‬‭that‬‭it‬
‭reaches‬‭the‬‭place‬‭destined‬‭for‬‭it‬‭by‬‭Allah‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭c.‬ ‭Some‬‭of‬‭the‬‭things‬‭that‬‭come‬‭out‬‭of‬‭the‬‭earth:‬‭plants,‬‭treasures,‬‭resources,‬‭the‬‭dead‬‭on‬‭the‬‭Day‬
‭of‬‭Judgment,‬‭etc.‬
‭d.‬ ‭Angels,‬‭supplications,‬‭our‬‭deeds‬‭and‬‭souls‬‭are‬‭part‬‭of‬‭those‬‭things‬‭which‬‭ascend‬‭into‬‭the‬‭sky‬
‭e.‬ ‭The‬‭phrase‬‭‘‬‭He‬‭is‬‭with‬‭you‬‭wherever‬‭you‬‭are‬‭’‬‭is‬‭trying‬‭to‬‭emphasize‬‭the‬‭fact‬‭that‬‭we‬‭are‬‭never‬
‭alone‬‭and‬‭that‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭always‬‭closely‬‭watching‬‭us‬‭in‬‭every‬‭moment‬‭of‬‭our‬‭existence‬
‭i.‬ ‭This‬‭should‬‭shake‬‭the‬‭believer‬‭and‬‭change‬‭his/her‬‭behavior‬‭to‬‭that‬‭which‬‭pleases‬‭Him‬
‭and‬‭keep‬‭away‬‭from‬‭deeds‬‭that‬‭displease‬‭Him‬
‭f.‬ ‭Allah‬‭has‬‭the‬‭knowledge‬‭of‬‭the‬‭whole‬‭as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭its‬‭parts,‬‭the‬‭largest‬‭and‬‭the‬‭littlest,‬‭the‬‭visible‬
‭and‬‭the‬‭invisible,‬‭the‬‭real‬‭of‬‭the‬‭physical‬‭world,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭virtual‬‭which‬‭reside‬‭in‬‭human‬‭hearts‬
‭[Zaheer]‬
‭ .‬ ‭To‬‭Him‬‭belongs‬‭the‬‭kingdom‬‭of‬‭the‬‭heavens‬‭and‬‭the‬‭earth.‬‭And‬‭to‬‭Allah‬‭all‬‭matters‬‭are‬‭returned.‬
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‭a.‬ ‭It‬‭is‬‭repeated‬‭here‬‭again‬‭for‬‭emphasis‬
‭b.‬ ‭The‬‭word‬‭matter‬‭here‬‭combines‬‭both‬‭the‬‭decision‬‭and‬‭action‬
‭i.‬ ‭This‬‭means‬‭that‬‭all‬‭our‬‭matters,‬‭whether‬‭they‬‭be‬‭intentions‬‭or‬‭actual‬‭actions,‬‭are‬
‭returned‬‭to‬‭Allah‬‭for‬‭judgment.‬‭For‬‭example,‬‭a‬‭person‬‭may‬‭do‬‭an‬‭action‬‭but‬‭with‬‭a‬‭bad‬
‭intention‬‭or‬‭a‬‭person‬‭may‬‭have‬‭a‬‭good‬‭intention‬‭but‬‭was‬‭unable‬‭to‬‭do‬‭the‬‭action.‬‭At‬‭the‬
‭end‬‭of‬‭the‬‭day,‬‭all‬‭our‬‭deeds‬‭go‬‭back‬‭to‬‭Allah‬‭for‬‭judgment‬‭and‬‭we‬‭will‬‭be‬‭compensated‬
‭accordingly‬‭on‬‭the‬‭Day‬‭of‬‭Judgment‬
‭1.‬ ‭All‬‭people‬‭will‬‭be‬‭presented‬‭before‬‭Him,‬‭and‬‭He‬‭will‬‭separate‬‭the‬‭evil‬‭from‬‭the‬
‭good;‬‭He‬‭will‬‭reward‬‭the‬‭doer‬‭of‬‭good‬‭for‬‭his‬‭good‬‭deeds,‬‭and‬‭He‬‭will‬‭punish‬‭the‬
‭doer‬‭of‬‭evil‬‭for‬‭his‬‭evil‬‭deeds‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭6.‬ ‭He‬‭merges‬‭the‬‭night‬‭into‬‭day‬‭and‬‭the‬‭day‬‭into‬‭night.‬‭And‬‭He‬‭knows‬‭best‬‭what‬‭is‬‭˹hidden˺‬‭in‬‭the‬
‭heart.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭merging‬‭of‬‭the‬‭day‬‭and‬‭night‬‭is‬‭to‬‭show‬‭that‬‭it‬‭is‬‭Allah‬‭who‬‭is‬‭in‬‭control‬‭of‬‭time‬‭and‬‭to‬‭make‬
‭us‬‭think‬‭whether‬‭we’re‬‭changing‬‭our‬‭deeds‬‭for‬‭the‬‭better‬‭or‬‭not‬‭with‬‭time‬
‭i.‬ ‭We‬‭also‬‭know‬‭from‬‭our‬‭tradition‬‭that‬‭deeds‬‭are‬‭taken‬‭up‬‭in‬‭the‬‭morning‬‭and‬‭evening‬‭on‬
‭a‬‭daily‬‭basis,‬‭thus,‬‭this‬‭verse‬‭should‬‭make‬‭us‬‭question‬‭what‬‭type‬‭of‬‭deeds‬‭have‬‭I‬‭sent‬
‭up‬‭this‬‭morning/evening?‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Another‬‭interpretation‬‭is‬‭that‬‭He‬‭enters‬‭the‬‭night‬‭into‬‭the‬‭day‬‭and‬‭so‬‭the‬‭darkness‬
‭arrives‬‭and‬‭people‬‭sleep;‬‭He‬‭enters‬‭the‬‭day‬‭into‬‭the‬‭night‬‭and‬‭so‬‭the‬‭light‬‭arrives‬‭and‬
‭people‬‭go‬‭about‬‭their‬‭business‬‭[‬‭al-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭14‬
 ‭1.‬ A‭ llah‬‭continues‬‭to‬‭wrap‬‭the‬‭night‬‭over‬‭the‬‭day‬‭and‬‭wrap‬‭the‬‭day‬‭over‬‭the‬‭night,‬
‭alternating‬‭between‬‭them,‬‭making‬‭one‬‭longer‬‭and‬‭the‬‭other‬‭shorter,‬‭and‬‭then‬‭vice‬
‭versa,‬‭so‬‭that‬‭there‬‭will‬‭be‬‭seasons‬‭and‬‭time‬‭will‬‭be‬‭regulated,‬‭and‬‭many‬
‭interests‬‭will‬‭be‬‭served‬‭thereby‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭b.‬ ‭The‬‭last‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭verse‬‭is‬‭trying‬‭to‬‭tell‬‭us‬‭that‬‭Allah‬‭knows‬‭us‬‭better‬‭than‬‭we‬‭know‬‭ourselves.‬
‭Allah‬‭is‬‭not‬‭only‬‭fully‬‭aware‬‭of‬‭our‬‭conscious‬‭mind‬‭but‬‭also‬‭our‬‭subconscious‬
‭7.‬ ‭Believe‬‭in‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭His‬‭Messenger,‬‭and‬‭donate‬‭from‬‭what‬‭He‬‭has‬‭entrusted‬‭you‬‭with.‬‭So‬‭those‬
‭of‬‭you‬‭who‬‭believe‬‭and‬‭donate‬‭will‬‭have‬‭a‬‭mighty‬‭reward.‬
‭a.‬ ‭First‬‭part‬‭of‬‭verse‬‭means‬‭to‬‭believe‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Oneness‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭His‬‭Messenger‬‭[Sabuni]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Allah‬‭called‬‭the‬‭the‬‭wealth‬‭we‬‭own‬‭as‬‭a‬‭trust‬‭because‬‭we‬‭succeeded‬‭generations‬‭before‬‭us‬‭in‬
‭owning‬‭the‬‭wealth‬‭that‬‭is‬‭now‬‭in‬‭our‬‭hands‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭i.‬ ‭In‬‭the‬‭same‬‭way,‬‭generations‬‭after‬‭us‬‭will‬‭inherit‬‭what‬‭we‬‭own‬‭today‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Allah‬‭entrusted‬‭us‬‭with‬‭the‬‭wealth‬‭to‬‭see‬‭what‬‭we‬‭will‬‭do‬‭with‬‭it‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭c.‬ ‭This‬‭is‬‭the‬‭second‬‭remedy‬‭being‬‭offered‬‭to‬‭cure‬‭weak‬‭faith,‬‭spending‬‭in‬‭the‬‭cause‬‭of‬‭Allah.‬‭We‬
‭are‬‭being‬‭asked‬‭to‬‭not‬‭just‬‭donate‬‭our‬‭wealth‬‭for‬‭Him‬‭but‬‭also‬‭other‬‭assets‬‭in‬‭our‬‭lives,‬‭such‬‭as‬
‭time,‬‭goals,‬‭talents,‬‭youth,‬‭etc.‬
‭d.‬ ‭The‬‭‘mighty‬‭reward’‬‭is‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬‭paradise‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭and‬‭Sabuni]‬
‭8.‬ ‭Why‬‭do‬‭you‬‭not‬‭believe‬‭in‬‭Allah‬‭while‬‭the‬‭Messenger‬‭is‬‭inviting‬‭you‬‭to‬‭have‬‭faith‬‭in‬‭your‬‭Lord,‬
‭although‬‭He‬‭has‬‭already‬‭taken‬‭your‬‭covenant,‬‭if‬‭you‬‭were‬‭believers.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭what‬‭excuse‬‭do‬‭you‬‭have‬‭for‬‭not‬‭believing‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Oneness‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭not‬‭acting‬‭in‬
‭accordance‬‭with‬‭His‬‭law,‬‭while‬‭the‬‭Messenger‬‭invites‬‭you‬‭to‬‭that?‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Tafseer‬‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭b.‬ ‭The‬‭‘covenant’‬‭here‬‭is‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬‭when‬‭we‬‭all‬‭bore‬‭witness‬‭in‬‭our‬‭spiritual‬‭state‬‭before‬
‭being‬‭brought‬‭into‬‭this‬‭world‬‭that‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭indeed‬‭our‬‭Lord.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭referred‬‭to‬‭in‬‭Qur’an‬‭7:172,‬‭“‬‭And‬
‭˹remember˺‬‭when‬‭your‬‭Lord‬‭brought‬‭forth‬‭from‬‭the‬‭loins‬‭of‬‭the‬‭children‬‭of‬‭Adam‬‭their‬
‭descendants‬‭and‬‭had‬‭them‬‭testify‬‭regarding‬‭themselves.‬‭˹Allah‬‭asked,˺‬‭“Am‬‭I‬‭not‬‭your‬‭Lord?”‬
‭They‬‭replied,‬‭“Yes,‬‭You‬‭are!‬‭We‬‭testify.”‬‭˹He‬‭cautioned,˺‬‭“Now‬‭you‬‭have‬‭no‬‭right‬‭to‬‭say‬‭on‬
‭Judgment‬‭Day,‬‭‘We‬‭were‬‭not‬‭aware‬‭of‬‭this.’‬‭”‬
‭9.‬ ‭He‬‭is‬‭the‬‭One‬‭Who‬‭sends‬‭down‬‭clear‬‭revelations‬‭to‬‭His‬‭servant‬‭to‬‭bring‬‭you‬‭out‬‭of‬‭darkness‬‭and‬
‭into‬‭light.‬‭For‬‭indeed‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭Most‬‭Kind‬‭and‬‭Most‬‭Merciful‬‭to‬‭you.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭phrase‬‭‘clear‬‭revelations’‬‭here‬‭is‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬‭miraculous,‬‭clear,‬‭self-evident‬‭signs,‬‭which‬
‭are‬‭the‬‭verses‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Qur’an‬
‭b.‬ ‭The‬‭‘darkness’‬‭is‬‭disbelief‬‭and‬‭ignorance‬‭and‬‭the‬‭‘light’‬‭is‬‭faith‬‭and‬‭knowledge‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬
‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭i.‬ ‭The‬‭Qur’an‬‭saves‬‭us‬‭from‬‭the‬‭darkness‬‭and‬‭brings‬‭us‬‭into‬‭the‬‭light‬‭[Sabuni]‬
‭c.‬ ‭Allah‬‭is‬‭kind‬‭and‬‭merciful‬‭to‬‭you‬‭that‬‭He‬‭sent‬‭His‬‭Prophet‬‫‬‮ﷺ‬‭to‬‭you‬‭as‬‭a‬‭guide‬‭and‬‭a‬‭bearer‬‭of‬
‭glad‬‭tidings‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭i.‬ ‭He‬‭did‬‭so‬‭so‬‭that‬‭He‬‭may‬‭shower‬‭you‬‭with‬‭abundant‬‭mercy‬‭in‬‭both‬‭your‬‭immediate‬‭and‬
‭future‬‭affairs.‬‭Then‬‭He‬‭will‬‭reward‬‭you‬‭with‬‭the‬‭best‬‭recompense‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Tafseer‬
‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭10.‬‭And‬‭why‬‭should‬‭you‬‭not‬‭spend‬‭in‬‭the‬‭cause‬‭of‬‭Allah,‬‭while‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭the‬‭˹sole˺‬‭inheritor‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭heavens‬‭and‬‭the‬‭earth?‬‭Those‬‭of‬‭you‬‭who‬‭donated‬‭and‬‭fought‬‭before‬‭the‬‭victory‬‭˹over‬‭Mecca˺‬
‭are‬‭unparalleled.‬‭They‬‭are‬‭far‬‭greater‬‭in‬‭rank‬‭than‬‭those‬‭who‬‭donated‬‭and‬‭fought‬‭afterwards.‬‭Yet‬
‭Allah‬‭has‬‭promised‬‭each‬‭a‬‭fine‬‭reward.‬‭And‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭All-Aware‬‭of‬‭what‬‭you‬‭do.‬
‭a.‬ ‭We‬‭must‬‭realize‬‭that‬‭we‬‭will‬‭leave‬‭everything‬‭we‬‭have‬‭in‬‭this‬‭world‬‭behind‬‭when‬‭we‬‭die.‬‭Allah‬‭is‬
‭the‬‭true‬‭inheritor‬‭of‬‭everything‬‭because‬‭He‬‭never‬‭dies‬‭and‬‭everything‬‭is‬‭given‬‭and‬‭belongs‬‭to‬

‭15‬
 ‭ im.‬‭Everything‬‭in‬‭the‬‭universe‬‭will‬‭perish‬‭except‬‭Allah.‬‭Therefore,‬‭we‬‭should‬‭never‬‭get‬‭too‬
H
‭attached‬‭to‬‭this‬‭life‬‭and‬‭its‬‭material‬‭possessions‬
‭i.‬ ‭So‬‭make‬‭the‬‭most‬‭of‬‭the‬‭opportunity‬‭to‬‭spend‬‭so‬‭long‬‭as‬‭wealth‬‭is‬‭in‬‭your‬‭hands‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭b.‬ ‭We‬‭are‬‭also‬‭being‬‭told‬‭that‬‭those‬‭believers‬‭who‬‭spend‬‭in‬‭charity‬‭and‬‭do‬‭things‬‭for‬‭the‬‭sake‬‭of‬
‭Allah‬‭when‬‭Muslims‬‭are‬‭in‬‭a‬‭weak‬‭state‬‭are‬‭of‬‭higher‬‭status‬‭and‬‭rank‬‭than‬‭those‬‭who‬‭do‬‭so‬
‭when‬‭Muslims‬‭are‬‭stronger‬‭because‬‭it‬‭is‬‭more‬‭difficult‬‭and‬‭challenging‬‭to‬‭do‬‭things‬‭in‬‭the‬‭former‬
‭state‬‭than‬‭in‬‭the‬‭latter‬‭state‬
‭i.‬ ‭This‬‭is‬‭why‬‭the‬‭status‬‭of‬‭the‬‭earliest‬‭companions‬‭of‬‭Muhammad‬‫‬‮ﷺ‬‭occupies‬‭the‬‭highest‬
‭ever‬‭and‬‭no‬‭generation‬‭after‬‭them‬‭will‬‭be‬‭able‬‭to‬‭beat‬‭them‬‭in‬‭it‬‭because‬‭they‬‭endured‬‭a‬
‭lot‬‭for‬‭the‬‭sake‬‭of‬‭Islam‬‭in‬‭its‬‭early‬‭days‬‭when‬‭it‬‭was‬‭constantly‬‭under‬‭threat‬‭of‬‭being‬
‭completely‬‭wiped‬‭out‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭ii.‬ ‭However,‬‭Allah‬‭has‬‭promised‬‭both‬‭groups‬‭Paradise,‬‭and‬‭He‬‭is‬‭aware‬‭of‬‭our‬‭actions;‬
‭none‬‭of‬‭them‬‭are‬‭hidden‬‭from‬‭Him‬‭and‬‭He‬‭will‬‭soon‬‭requite‬‭us‬‭for‬‭them‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Mukhtasar‬
‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭11.‬‭Who‬‭is‬‭it‬‭that‬‭will‬‭lend‬‭to‬‭Allah‬‭a‬‭good‬‭loan‬‭which‬‭Allah‬‭will‬‭multiply‬‭˹many‬‭times‬‭over˺‬‭for‬‭them,‬
‭and‬‭they‬‭will‬‭have‬‭an‬‭honourable‬‭reward?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭who‬‭is‬‭there‬‭that‬‭will‬‭spend‬‭his‬‭wealth‬‭for‬‭the‬‭pleasure‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭happy‬‭at‬‭heart,‬‭so‬‭that‬
‭Allah‬‭may‬‭grant‬‭him‬‭a‬‭multitude‬‭of‬‭rewards‬‭for‬‭the‬‭wealth‬‭he‬‭has‬‭spent,‬‭on‬‭top‬‭of‬‭the‬‭noble‬
‭reward‬‭of‬‭Paradise‬‭he‬‭will‬‭receive‬‭on‬‭the‬‭Day‬‭of‬‭Judgement?‬‭[‬‭al-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭i.‬ ‭This‬‭multiplication‬‭of‬‭the‬‭reward‬‭will‬‭come‬‭on‬‭the‬‭Day‬‭of‬‭Resurrection,‬‭the‬‭day‬‭when‬‭the‬
‭extreme‬‭need‬‭of‬‭all‬‭people‬‭will‬‭become‬‭obvious‬‭and‬‭everyone‬‭will‬‭need‬‭even‬‭the‬
‭smallest‬‭amount‬‭of‬‭reward‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭b.‬ ‭This‬‭verse‬‭should‬‭put‬‭us‬‭to‬‭shame‬‭because‬‭Allah‬‭should‬‭not‬‭have‬‭to‬‭use‬‭such‬‭language‬‭in‬
‭order‬‭to‬‭convince‬‭us‬‭to‬‭donate‬‭in‬‭His‬‭cause.‬‭We‬‭should‬‭be‬‭willing‬‭to‬‭give‬‭regardless‬‭because‬
‭everything‬‭belongs‬‭to‬‭Him‬‭anyway‬‭and‬‭it‬‭is‬‭He‬‭who‬‭gives‬‭and‬‭takes‬‭from‬‭His‬‭creation‬
‭c.‬ ‭The‬‭charity‬‭that‬‭we‬‭give‬‭for‬‭Allah’s‬‭sake‬‭should‬‭not‬‭be‬‭accompanied‬‭by‬‭taunting‬‭nor‬‭should‬‭it‬‭be‬
‭from‬‭the‬‭worst‬‭part‬‭of‬‭our‬‭wealth,‬‭rather,‬‭it‬‭should‬‭be‬‭from‬‭the‬‭best‬‭and‬‭most‬‭valuable‬‭part‬‭of‬‭it.‬
‭The‬‭reward‬‭we‬‭receive‬‭in‬‭return‬‭will‬‭not‬‭only‬‭be‬‭quantitatively‬‭different‬‭but‬‭also‬‭qualitatively‬
‭different‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭12.‬‭On‬‭that‬‭Day‬‭you‬‭will‬‭see‬‭believing‬‭men‬‭and‬‭women‬‭with‬‭their‬‭light‬‭shining‬‭ahead‬‭of‬‭them‬‭and‬‭on‬
‭their‬‭right.‬‭˹They‬‭will‬‭be‬‭told,˺‬‭“Today‬‭you‬‭have‬‭good‬‭news‬‭of‬‭Gardens,‬‭under‬‭which‬‭rivers‬‭flow,‬
‭˹for‬‭you˺‬‭to‬‭stay‬‭in‬‭forever.‬‭This‬‭is‬‭˹truly˺‬‭the‬‭ultimate‬‭triumph.”‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭light‬‭will‬‭be‬‭due‬‭to‬‭their‬‭sincere‬‭faith‬‭in‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭His‬‭Messenger‬‫‬‮ﷺ‬‭in‬‭this‬‭life.‬‭These‬
‭believers‬‭will‬‭use‬‭this‬‭light‬‭in‬‭the‬‭darkness‬‭of‬‭Judgment‬‭Day‬‭while‬‭crossing‬‭the‬‭bridge‬‭over‬‭Hell‬
‭to‬‭navigate‬‭themselves‬‭to‬‭paradise‬
‭i.‬ ‭On‬‭the‬‭Day‬‭of‬‭Resurrection,‬‭when‬‭the‬‭sun‬‭is‬‭rolled‬‭up‬‭and‬‭the‬‭moon‬‭is‬‭eclipsed,‬‭and‬‭the‬
‭people‬‭find‬‭themselves‬‭in‬‭darkness,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭bridge‬‭is‬‭set‬‭up‬‭over‬‭Hell,‬‭at‬‭that‬‭time‬‭you‬
‭will‬‭see‬‭the‬‭believing‬‭men‬‭and‬‭believing‬‭women‬‭with‬‭their‬‭light‬‭streaming‬‭ahead‬‭of‬‭them‬
‭and‬‭on‬‭their‬‭right.‬‭They‬‭will‬‭walk‬‭by‬‭virtue‬‭of‬‭their‬‭faith‬‭and‬‭light‬‭in‬‭that‬‭difficult‬‭and‬
‭frightening‬‭situation,‬‭each‬‭according‬‭to‬‭the‬‭level‬‭of‬‭his‬‭faith,‬‭and‬‭at‬‭that‬‭time‬‭they‬‭will‬
‭receive‬‭the‬‭greatest‬‭glad‬‭tidings‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭1.‬ ‭For‬‭some‬‭believers,‬‭their‬‭light‬‭will‬‭only‬‭allow‬‭them‬‭to‬‭see‬‭just‬‭a‬‭few‬‭steps‬‭ahead‬
‭while‬‭for‬‭others‬‭it‬‭will‬‭alight‬‭miles‬‭ahead‬‭of‬‭them‬‭and‬‭so‬‭on.‬‭It‬‭will‬‭be‬‭based‬‭on‬
‭their‬‭level‬‭of‬‭faith‬‭and‬‭amount‬‭of‬‭good‬‭actions‬‭in‬‭this‬‭world‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭b.‬ ‭How‬‭sweet‬‭and‬‭delightful‬‭these‬‭glad‬‭tidings‬‭will‬‭be,‬‭when‬‭they‬‭attain‬‭everything‬‭they‬‭longed‬‭for‬
‭and‬‭are‬‭saved‬‭from‬‭everything‬‭they‬‭feared‬‭[Sa’di]‬

‭16‬
‭13.‬‭On‬‭that‬‭Day‬‭hypocrite‬‭men‬‭and‬‭women‬‭will‬‭beg‬‭the‬‭believers,‬‭“Wait‬‭for‬‭us‬‭so‬‭that‬‭we‬‭may‬‭have‬
‭ ome‬‭of‬‭your‬‭light.”‬‭It‬‭will‬‭be‬‭said‬‭˹mockingly˺,‬‭“Go‬‭back‬‭˹to‬‭the‬‭world˺‬‭and‬‭seek‬‭a‬‭light‬‭˹there˺!”‬
s
‭Then‬‭a‬‭˹separating˺‬‭wall‬‭with‬‭a‬‭door‬‭will‬‭be‬‭erected‬‭between‬‭them.‬‭On‬‭the‬‭near‬‭side‬‭will‬‭be‬‭grace‬
‭and‬‭on‬‭the‬‭far‬‭side‬‭will‬‭be‬‭torment.‬
‭a.‬ ‭This‬‭scene‬‭occurs‬‭after‬‭the‬‭disbelievers‬‭have‬‭already‬‭entered‬‭the‬‭hellfire.‬‭The‬‭only‬‭people‬
‭remaining‬‭are‬‭the‬‭believers‬‭and‬‭hypocrites.‬‭Then‬‭once‬‭the‬‭believers‬‭begin‬‭heading‬‭towards‬
‭paradise‬‭on‬‭the‬‭bridge‬‭with‬‭their‬‭light‬‭in‬‭pitch‬‭darkness,‬‭as‬‭was‬‭discussed‬‭in‬‭the‬‭previous‬‭verse,‬
‭the‬‭hypocrites‬‭will‬‭call‬‭out‬‭to‬‭them‬‭to‬‭request‬‭some‬‭of‬‭their‬‭light‬‭but‬‭a‬‭voice‬‭will‬‭refuse‬‭them‬‭and‬
‭will‬‭say‬‭to‬‭them‬‭to‬‭go‬‭back‬‭and‬‭find‬‭it.‬‭These‬‭hypocrites‬‭will‬‭still‬‭try‬‭to‬‭catch‬‭up‬‭so‬‭then‬‭a‬‭large‬
‭wall‬‭will‬‭be‬‭erected‬‭between‬‭them‬‭in‬‭order‬‭to‬‭block‬‭them‬
‭i.‬ ‭Some‬‭said‬‭it‬‭is‬‭the‬‭believers‬‭who‬‭will‬‭respond‬‭to‬‭them‬‭in‬‭this‬‭way‬‭to‬‭reject‬‭their‬‭request‬
‭[Sabuni]‬
‭ii.‬ ‭A‬‭door‬‭is‬‭mentioned‬‭in‬‭order‬‭to‬‭disgrace‬‭these‬‭hypocrites‬‭further‬‭because‬‭they‬‭will‬‭try‬‭to‬
‭open‬‭it‬‭but‬‭will‬‭not‬‭be‬‭able‬‭to‬‭do‬‭so‬
‭1.‬ ‭On‬‭the‬‭inner‬‭side‬‭of‬‭the‬‭door,‬‭there‬‭will‬‭be‬‭mercy‬‭for‬‭the‬‭believers‬‭[i.e.‬‭paradise],‬
‭and‬‭on‬‭the‬‭outer‬‭side,‬‭there‬‭will‬‭be‬‭punishment‬‭[i.e.‬‭hellfire]‬‭for‬‭the‬‭hypocrites‬
‭[‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭2.‬ ‭Some‬‭said‬‭when‬‭the‬‭wall‬‭is‬‭erected‬‭to‬‭separate‬‭between‬‭the‬‭believers‬‭and‬‭the‬
‭hypocrites,‬‭the‬‭believers‬‭will‬‭be‬‭able‬‭to‬‭get‬‭through‬‭the‬‭door‬‭to‬‭the‬‭other‬‭side‬‭but‬
‭it‬‭will‬‭lock‬‭for‬‭the‬‭hypocrites‬‭leaving‬‭them‬‭behind‬‭in‬‭confusion,‬‭darkness,‬‭and‬
‭punishment‬‭[Sabuni]‬
‭14.‬‭The‬‭tormented‬‭will‬‭cry‬‭out‬‭to‬‭those‬‭graced,‬‭“Were‬‭we‬‭not‬‭with‬‭you?”‬‭They‬‭will‬‭reply,‬‭“Yes‬‭˹you‬
‭were˺.‬‭But‬‭you‬‭chose‬‭to‬‭be‬‭tempted‬‭˹by‬‭hypocrisy˺,‬‭˹eagerly˺‬‭awaited‬‭˹our‬‭demise˺,‬‭doubted‬‭˹the‬
‭truth˺,‬‭and‬‭were‬‭deluded‬‭by‬‭false‬‭hopes‬‭until‬‭Allah’s‬‭decree‬‭˹of‬‭your‬‭death˺‬‭came‬‭to‬‭pass.‬‭And‬
‭˹so˺‬‭the‬‭Chief‬‭Deceiver‬‭deceived‬‭you‬‭about‬‭Allah.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭hypocrites‬‭will‬‭call‬‭out‬‭to‬‭the‬‭believers,‬‭saying:‬‭"Were‬‭we‬‭not‬‭with‬‭you‬‭in‬‭the‬‭worldly‬‭life,‬
‭performing‬‭religious‬‭rituals‬‭just‬‭like‬‭you?"‬‭The‬‭believers‬‭will‬‭respond‬‭to‬‭them:‬‭"Yes,‬‭indeed‬‭you‬
‭were‬‭with‬‭us‬‭outwardly,‬‭but‬‭you‬‭destroyed‬‭yourselves‬‭with‬‭hypocrisy‬‭and‬‭disobedience”‬
‭[‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Out‬‭of‬‭desperation‬‭behind‬‭the‬‭wall,‬‭the‬‭hypocrites‬‭will‬‭have‬‭this‬‭conversation‬‭with‬‭the‬‭believers‬
‭c.‬ ‭They‬‭tempted‬‭themselves‬‭with‬‭worldly‬‭pleasures,‬‭sins‬‭and‬‭lust,‬‭which‬‭led‬‭them‬‭to‬‭adopt‬
‭hypocrisy‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭d.‬ ‭They‬‭‘awaited’‬‭by‬‭delaying‬‭repentance‬‭in‬‭the‬‭hope‬‭that‬‭the‬‭rise‬‭of‬‭islam‬‭will‬‭soon‬‭come‬‭to‬‭an‬
‭end‬‭so‬‭that‬‭they‬‭could‬‭go‬‭back‬‭to‬‭their‬‭old‬‭lifestyle‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭e.‬ ‭False‬‭hopes‬‭could‬‭be‬‭related‬‭to:‬
‭i.‬ ‭Afterlife:‬‭Such‬‭as‬‭someone‬‭assuming‬‭that‬‭Allah‬‭will‬‭not‬‭punish‬‭him‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Worldly‬‭life:‬‭Such‬‭as‬‭someone‬‭just‬‭chasing‬‭worldly‬‭successes‬‭like‬‭high‬‭salaries‬‭or‬
‭promotions‬‭until‬‭death‬
‭f.‬ ‭The‬‭‘Chief‬‭Deceiver’‬‭is‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬‭Satan,‬‭who‬‭deceived‬‭them‬‭by‬‭adorning‬‭misguidance‬‭and‬
‭falsehood‬‭for‬‭them.‬‭He‬‭continued‬‭to‬‭deceive‬‭them‬‭until‬‭they‬‭were‬‭cast‬‭into‬‭the‬‭hellfire‬‭by‬‭Allah‬
‭[Sabuni]‬
‭15.‬‭So‬‭Today‬‭no‬‭ransom‬‭will‬‭be‬‭accepted‬‭from‬‭you‬‭˹hypocrites˺,‬‭nor‬‭from‬‭the‬‭disbelievers.‬‭Your‬
‭home‬‭is‬‭the‬‭Fire—it‬‭is‬‭the‬‭˹only˺‬‭fitting‬‭place‬‭for‬‭you.‬‭What‬‭an‬‭evil‬‭destination!”‬
‭a.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭no‬‭ransom‬‭will‬‭be‬‭accepted‬‭from‬‭you‬‭from‬‭the‬‭punishment‬‭of‬‭Allah,‬‭nor‬‭from‬‭those‬‭who‬
‭disbelieved‬‭in‬‭Allah‬‭openly,‬‭and‬‭your‬‭outcome‬‭and‬‭the‬‭outcome‬‭of‬‭the‬‭disbelievers‬‭is‬‭the‬‭hellfire.‬
‭It‬‭is‬‭most‬‭deserving‬‭of‬‭you,‬‭and‬‭you‬‭are‬‭most‬‭deserving‬‭of‬‭it‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬

‭17‬
‭16.‬‭Has‬‭the‬‭time‬‭not‬‭yet‬‭come‬‭for‬‭believers’‬‭hearts‬‭to‬‭be‬‭humbled‬‭at‬‭the‬‭remembrance‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭and‬
‭ hat‬‭has‬‭been‬‭revealed‬‭of‬‭the‬‭truth,‬‭and‬‭not‬‭be‬‭like‬‭those‬‭given‬‭the‬‭Scripture‬‭before—˹those˺‬
w
‭who‬‭were‬‭spoiled‬‭for‬‭so‬‭long‬‭that‬‭their‬‭hearts‬‭became‬‭hardened.‬‭And‬‭many‬‭of‬‭them‬‭are‬‭˹still˺‬
‭rebellious.‬
‭a.‬ ‭We‬‭must‬‭take‬‭heed‬‭that‬‭Allah‬‭here‬‭is‬‭reproaching‬‭the‬‭believers‬
‭b.‬ ‭We‬‭are‬‭being‬‭told‬‭that‬‭there‬‭were‬‭nations‬‭before‬‭who‬‭were‬‭given‬‭Divine‬‭revelation‬‭but‬‭they‬‭used‬
‭to‬‭not‬‭read‬‭it‬‭with‬‭their‬‭hearts‬‭but‬‭only‬‭their‬‭tongues‬‭so‬‭their‬‭hearts‬‭became‬‭hard‬‭because‬‭of‬‭it.‬‭If‬
‭we‬‭do‬‭not‬‭take‬‭care‬‭of‬‭our‬‭spiritual‬‭hearts,‬‭then‬‭they‬‭become‬‭ruined‬‭over‬‭time.‬‭Some‬‭people‬
‭today‬‭do‬‭not‬‭practice‬‭Islam‬‭except‬‭for‬‭a‬‭few‬‭rituals,‬‭this‬‭is‬‭deeply‬‭problematic‬
‭i.‬ ‭Lack‬‭of‬‭humbleness‬‭is‬‭obtained‬‭because‬‭of‬‭long‬‭periods‬‭of‬‭heedlessness‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Hearts‬‭need‬‭at‬‭all‬‭times‬‭to‬‭be‬‭reminded‬‭of‬‭what‬‭Allah‬‭has‬‭revealed‬‭to‬‭them‬‭and‬‭to‬‭speak‬
‭with‬‭wisdom.‬‭Neglecting‬‭this‬‭is‬‭not‬‭appropriate,‬‭as‬‭it‬‭leads‬‭to‬‭hardness‬‭of‬‭the‬‭heart‬‭and‬
‭dullness‬‭of‬‭insight‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭c.‬ ‭Anyone‬‭who‬‭feels‬‭hardness‬‭in‬‭his‬‭heart‬‭should‬‭hasten‬‭to‬‭Allah’s‬‭remembrance‬‭and‬‭recitation‬‭of‬
‭the‬‭Qur’an,‬‭so‬‭that‬‭he‬‭may‬‭return‬‭to‬‭his‬‭original‬‭state‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭d.‬ ‭In‬‭the‬‭verse,‬‭there‬‭is‬‭an‬‭encouragement‬‭to‬‭soften‬‭the‬‭hearts‬‭and‬‭be‬‭humble‬‭before‬‭Allah‬‭when‬
‭hearing‬‭what‬‭He‬‭has‬‭revealed‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Book‬‭and‬‭in‬‭wisdom.‬‭It‬‭also‬‭warns‬‭against‬‭resembling‬‭the‬
‭Jews‬‭and‬‭Christians‬‭in‬‭the‬‭hardness‬‭of‬‭their‬‭hearts‬‭and‬‭their‬‭deviation‬‭from‬‭the‬‭obedience‬‭of‬
‭Allah‬‭[‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭i.‬ ‭Believers‬‭are‬‭urged‬‭to‬‭remember‬‭divine‬‭admonitions‬‭and‬‭legal‬‭rulings‬‭at‬‭all‬‭times‬‭and‬‭to‬
‭hold‬‭themselves‬‭accountable‬‭for‬‭their‬‭actions.‬‭In‬‭addition,‬‭we‬‭should‬‭not‬‭be‬‭like‬‭those‬
‭upon‬‭whom‬‭Allah‬‭bestowed‬‭the‬‭Book,‬‭which‬‭requires‬‭humility‬‭of‬‭the‬‭heart‬‭and‬‭complete‬
‭submission,‬‭yet‬‭they‬‭did‬‭not‬‭adhere‬‭to‬‭it.‬‭Rather,‬‭time‬‭passed‬‭by‬‭them,‬‭and‬
‭heedlessness‬‭persisted‬‭in‬‭them.‬‭Consequently,‬‭their‬‭faith‬‭weakened‬‭and‬‭their‬‭conviction‬
‭vanished‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭17.‬‭Know‬‭that‬‭Allah‬‭revives‬‭the‬‭earth‬‭after‬‭its‬‭death.‬‭We‬‭have‬‭certainly‬‭made‬‭the‬‭signs‬‭clear‬‭for‬‭you‬
‭so‬‭perhaps‬‭you‬‭will‬‭understand.‬
‭a.‬ ‭This‬‭is‬‭a‬‭motivation‬‭from‬‭Allah‬‭by‬‭comparing‬‭our‬‭hearts‬‭to‬‭a‬‭dead‬‭earth.‬‭Allah‬‭sends‬‭rain‬‭from‬
‭the‬‭sky‬‭to‬‭revive‬‭a‬‭dead‬‭earth,‬‭similarly,‬‭Allah‬‭has‬‭sent‬‭down‬‭Qur’an‬‭from‬‭above‬‭to‬‭revive‬‭dead‬
‭hearts.‬‭If‬‭we‬‭recite‬‭the‬‭Qur’an,‬‭ponder‬‭over‬‭it,‬‭and‬‭live‬‭by‬‭it,‬‭it‬‭will‬‭give‬‭life‬‭to‬‭our‬‭hearts‬
‭i.‬ ‭There‬‭is‬‭hope‬‭for‬‭every‬‭dead‬‭soul‬‭to‬‭come‬‭alive‬‭if‬‭it‬‭will‬‭turn‬‭to‬‭Allah‬‭with‬‭goodly‬
‭repentance‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Just‬‭as‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭able‬‭to‬‭revive‬‭the‬‭earth,‬‭He‬‭is‬‭capable‬‭of‬‭resurrecting‬‭the‬‭dead‬‭on‬‭the‬‭Day‬‭of‬
‭Judgment,‬‭and‬‭He‬‭is‬‭capable‬‭of‬‭softening‬‭hearts‬‭after‬‭their‬‭hardness.‬‭Allah‬‭has‬‭explained‬‭to‬‭us‬
‭the‬‭evidence‬‭of‬‭His‬‭ability;‬‭perhaps‬‭we‬‭will‬‭comprehend‬‭them‬‭and‬‭take‬‭heed‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Tafseer‬
‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭c.‬ ‭This‬‭verse‬‭indicates‬‭that‬‭someone‬‭who‬‭is‬‭not‬‭guided‬‭by‬‭the‬‭verses‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭lacks‬‭reason‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭18.‬‭Indeed,‬‭those‬‭men‬‭and‬‭women‬‭who‬‭give‬‭in‬‭charity‬‭and‬‭lend‬‭to‬‭Allah‬‭a‬‭good‬‭loan‬‭will‬‭have‬‭it‬
‭multiplied‬‭for‬‭them,‬‭and‬‭they‬‭will‬‭have‬‭an‬‭honourable‬‭reward.‬
‭a.‬ ‭They‬‭proved‬‭their‬‭faith‬‭by‬‭constantly‬‭giving‬‭in‬‭charity‬‭for‬‭the‬‭sake‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭throughout‬‭their‬‭lives‬
‭b.‬ ‭The‬‭men‬‭and‬‭women‬‭who‬‭use‬‭some‬‭of‬‭their‬‭wealth‬‭in‬‭charity‬‭with‬‭happiness‬‭of‬‭heart‬‭and‬
‭without‬‭recounting‬‭favours‬‭or‬‭causing‬‭harm,‬‭their‬‭reward‬‭will‬‭be‬‭multiplied‬‭for‬‭them.‬‭Each‬‭good‬
‭deed‬‭will‬‭be‬‭multiplied‬‭by‬‭ten‬‭of‬‭its‬‭like,‬‭up‬‭until‬‭seven‬‭hundred‬‭times‬‭or‬‭more.‬‭Together‬‭with‬
‭that,‬‭they‬‭will‬‭receive‬‭a‬‭generous‬‭reward‬‭from‬‭Allah:‬‭Paradise‬‭[‬‭al-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬

‭18‬
‭19.‬‭˹As‬‭for˺‬‭those‬‭who‬‭believe‬‭in‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭His‬‭messengers,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭they‬‭who‬‭are‬‭˹truly˺‬‭the‬‭people‬‭of‬
t‭ ruth.‬‭And‬‭the‬‭martyrs,‬‭with‬‭their‬‭Lord,‬‭will‬‭have‬‭their‬‭reward‬‭and‬‭their‬‭light.‬‭But‬‭˹as‬‭for˺‬‭those‬
‭who‬‭disbelieve‬‭and‬‭reject‬‭Our‬‭signs,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭they‬‭who‬‭will‬‭be‬‭the‬‭residents‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Hellfire.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Belief‬‭here‬‭includes‬‭all‬‭the‬‭outer‬‭and‬‭inner‬‭laws‬‭of‬‭religion.‬‭Those‬‭who‬‭combine‬‭these‬‭matters‬
‭are‬‭the‬‭truthful‬‭ones,‬‭meaning‬‭those‬‭whose‬‭rank‬‭is‬‭above‬‭the‬‭general‬‭believers‬‭but‬‭below‬‭the‬
‭rank‬‭of‬‭the‬‭prophets‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭those‬‭who‬‭have‬‭faith‬‭in‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭in‬‭His‬‭messengers‬‭without‬‭differentiating‬‭between‬
‭them‬‭are‬‭the‬‭ones‬‭who‬‭are‬‭the‬‭truthful‬‭ones.‬‭The‬‭martyrs‬‭have‬‭their‬‭generous‬‭reward‬‭prepared‬
‭for‬‭them‬‭with‬‭Allah,‬‭and‬‭they‬‭will‬‭also‬‭have‬‭a‬‭light‬‭which‬‭shines‬‭in‬‭front‬‭of‬‭them‬‭and‬‭on‬‭their‬‭right‬
‭sides‬‭on‬‭the‬‭Day‬‭of‬‭Judgement.‬‭As‬‭for‬‭those‬‭who‬‭disbelieved‬‭in‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭His‬‭messengers‬‭and‬
‭rejected‬‭My‬‭verses‬‭that‬‭were‬‭revealed‬‭to‬‭My‬‭Messenger,‬‭they‬‭are‬‭the‬‭people‬‭of‬‭hell‬‭which‬‭they‬
‭will‬‭enter‬‭on‬‭the‬‭Day‬‭of‬‭Judgement‬‭and‬‭live‬‭within‬‭forever,‬‭never‬‭to‬‭come‬‭out‬‭of‬‭it‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Mukhtasar‬
‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭20.‬‭Know‬‭that‬‭this‬‭worldly‬‭life‬‭is‬‭no‬‭more‬‭than‬‭play,‬‭amusement,‬‭adornment,‬‭mutual‬‭boasting,‬‭and‬
‭competition‬‭in‬‭wealth‬‭and‬‭children.‬‭This‬‭is‬‭like‬‭rain‬‭that‬‭causes‬‭plants‬‭to‬‭grow,‬‭to‬‭the‬‭delight‬‭of‬
‭the‬‭planters.‬‭But‬‭later‬‭the‬‭plants‬‭dry‬‭up‬‭and‬‭you‬‭see‬‭them‬‭wither,‬‭then‬‭they‬‭are‬‭reduced‬‭to‬‭chaff.‬
‭And‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Hereafter‬‭there‬‭will‬‭be‬‭either‬‭severe‬‭punishment‬‭or‬‭forgiveness‬‭and‬‭pleasure‬‭of‬‭Allah,‬
‭whereas‬‭the‬‭life‬‭of‬‭this‬‭world‬‭is‬‭no‬‭more‬‭than‬‭the‬‭delusion‬‭of‬‭enjoyment.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭first‬‭sentence‬‭of‬‭this‬‭verse‬‭is‬‭giving‬‭us‬‭a‬‭quick‬‭summary‬‭of‬‭the‬‭reality‬‭of‬‭this‬‭life.‬‭Throughout‬
‭our‬‭lives,‬‭we‬‭go‬‭through‬‭these‬‭different‬‭phases:‬
‭i.‬ ‭Life‬‭is‬‭play‬‭(in‬‭childhood),‬‭amusement‬‭(in‬‭early‬‭youth),‬‭adornment‬‭(women’s‬‭main‬
‭concern),‬‭mutual‬‭boasting‬‭(in‬‭mature‬‭years),‬‭and‬‭competition‬‭in‬‭wealth‬‭and‬‭children‬
‭(middle-age‬‭onward)‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Allah‬‭compares‬‭these‬‭phases‬‭to‬‭that‬‭of‬‭a‬‭plant‬‭that‬‭grows‬‭but‬‭eventually‬‭withers‬‭away,‬‭which‬‭is‬
‭exactly‬‭what‬‭our‬‭lives‬‭are‬‭like‬‭passing‬‭through‬‭these‬‭phases.‬‭We‬‭want‬‭something‬‭new‬‭and‬‭are‬
‭very‬‭excited‬‭about‬‭it‬‭but‬‭then‬‭we‬‭get‬‭tired‬‭of‬‭it‬‭and‬‭move‬‭on‬‭to‬‭the‬‭next‬‭new‬‭thing‬
‭i.‬ ‭What‬‭a‬‭man‬‭possesses‬‭in‬‭each‬‭stage‬‭of‬‭his‬‭life‬‭is‬‭extremely‬‭dear‬‭to‬‭him.‬‭But‬‭once‬‭that‬
‭stage‬‭is‬‭crossed,‬‭those‬‭very‬‭things‬‭become‬‭laughingly‬‭unimportant‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭ii.‬ ‭The‬‭comparison‬‭could‬‭also‬‭mean‬‭that‬‭the‬‭world,‬‭although‬‭flourishing‬‭and‬‭delightful‬‭for‬‭its‬
‭possessor,‬‭whatever‬‭he‬‭desires‬‭from‬‭it,‬‭he‬‭attains.‬‭Whatever‬‭he‬‭turns‬‭towards‬‭in‬‭its‬
‭affairs,‬‭he‬‭finds‬‭its‬‭doors‬‭open.‬‭However,‬‭when‬‭destiny‬‭strikes‬‭it‬‭with‬‭what‬‭erases‬‭it‬‭from‬
‭his‬‭control‬‭or‬‭removes‬‭his‬‭dominance‬‭over‬‭it,‬‭he‬‭departs‬‭from‬‭it‬‭empty-handed,‬‭leaving‬
‭with‬‭nothing‬‭but‬‭a‬‭shroud.‬‭Woe‬‭to‬‭the‬‭one‬‭for‬‭whom‬‭it‬‭became‬‭the‬‭ultimate‬‭goal‬‭of‬‭his‬
‭wishes,‬‭actions,‬‭and‬‭endeavors‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭iii.‬ ‭The‬‭comparison‬‭could‬‭also‬‭be‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬‭the‬‭fleeting‬‭and‬‭temporal‬‭nature‬‭of‬‭this‬
‭world‬‭because‬‭nothing‬‭in‬‭it‬‭lasts‬‭forever‬‭unlike‬‭the‬‭hereafter‬‭which‬‭is‬‭permanent‬‭and‬
‭everlasting.‬‭According‬‭to‬‭Ibn‬‭Kathir,‬‭the‬‭comparison‬‭is‬‭referencing‬‭the‬‭life‬‭cycle‬‭of‬
‭humans:‬‭we‬‭start‬‭off‬‭young‬‭and‬‭healthy‬‭but‬‭eventually‬‭grow‬‭old‬‭and‬‭weak‬‭with‬‭time‬‭just‬
‭like‬‭plants‬‭[Sabuni]‬
‭c.‬ ‭The‬‭world‬‭is‬‭a‬‭deceptive‬‭possession‬‭if‬‭it‬‭diverts‬‭away‬‭from‬‭the‬‭afterlife.‬‭But,‬‭if‬‭it‬‭is‬‭employed‬‭to‬
‭obtain‬‭the‬‭afterlife,‬‭then‬‭it‬‭is‬‭a‬‭wonderful‬‭means‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭d.‬ ‭The‬‭state‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Hereafter‬‭is‬‭not‬‭devoid‬‭of‬‭one‬‭of‬‭two‬‭things‬‭[Sa’di]:‬
‭i.‬ ‭Severe‬‭punishment‬‭in‬‭the‬‭intense‬‭fire‬‭of‬‭Hell,‬‭with‬‭its‬‭chains,‬‭shackles,‬‭and‬‭horrors‬‭for‬
‭those‬‭whose‬‭worldly‬‭life‬‭was‬‭their‬‭ultimate‬‭goal‬‭and‬‭sought-after‬‭end.‬‭They‬‭dared‬‭to‬
‭commit‬‭sins‬‭against‬‭Allah,‬‭denied‬‭the‬‭signs‬‭of‬‭Allah,‬‭and‬‭disbelieved‬‭in‬‭Allah's‬‭bounties‬

‭19‬
 ‭ii.‬ ‭ orgiveness‬‭from‬‭Allah‬‭for‬‭sins,‬‭removal‬‭of‬‭punishments,‬‭and‬‭Allah's‬‭satisfaction.‬‭This‬‭is‬
F
‭granted‬‭to‬‭those‬‭who‬‭knew‬‭the‬‭world,‬‭worked‬‭for‬‭the‬‭Hereafter,‬‭and‬‭sought‬‭the‬‭pleasure‬
‭of‬‭Allah.‬‭All‬‭of‬‭this‬‭emphasizes‬‭the‬‭need‬‭for‬‭asceticism‬‭in‬‭worldly‬‭matters‬‭and‬‭the‬‭desire‬
‭for‬‭the‬‭Hereafter.‬‭That‬‭is‬‭why‬‭the‬‭verse‬‭said,‬‭"‬‭whereas‬‭the‬‭life‬‭of‬‭this‬‭world‬‭is‬‭no‬‭more‬
‭than‬‭the‬‭delusion‬‭of‬‭enjoyment‬‭."‬‭Meaning,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭only‬‭a‬‭benefit‬‭to‬‭be‬‭enjoyed,‬‭utilized‬‭for‬
‭necessities,‬‭and‬‭not‬‭to‬‭be‬‭relied‬‭upon‬‭or‬‭trusted‬‭except‬‭by‬‭those‬‭with‬‭weak‬‭intellects‬‭who‬
‭are‬‭deluded‬‭about‬‭Allah‬
‭21.‬ ˹‭ So˺‬‭compete‬‭with‬‭one‬‭another‬‭for‬‭forgiveness‬‭from‬‭your‬‭Lord‬‭and‬‭a‬‭Paradise‬‭as‬‭vast‬‭as‬‭the‬
‭heavens‬‭and‬‭the‬‭earth,‬‭prepared‬‭for‬‭those‬‭who‬‭believe‬‭in‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭His‬‭messengers.‬‭This‬‭is‬‭the‬
‭favour‬‭of‬‭Allah.‬‭He‬‭grants‬‭it‬‭to‬‭whoever‬‭He‬‭wills.‬‭And‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭the‬‭Lord‬‭of‬‭infinite‬‭bounty.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭hasten‬‭towards‬‭good‬‭deeds‬‭i.e.‬‭repentance‬‭and‬‭other‬‭actions,‬‭through‬‭which‬‭you‬‭will‬
‭achieve‬‭forgiveness‬‭for‬‭your‬‭sins‬‭[‬‭al-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭i.‬ ‭This‬‭is‬‭achieved‬‭by‬‭striving‬‭through‬‭the‬‭means‬‭of‬‭forgiveness,‬‭such‬‭as‬‭sincere‬
‭repentance,‬‭avoiding‬‭sins‬‭and‬‭their‬‭means,‬‭and‬‭competing‬‭for‬‭the‬‭pleasure‬‭of‬‭Allah‬
‭through‬‭righteous‬‭deeds.‬‭It‬‭involves‬‭being‬‭eager‬‭for‬‭what‬‭pleases‬‭Allah‬‭continuously,‬‭by‬
‭excelling‬‭in‬‭the‬‭worship‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Creator‬‭and‬‭showing‬‭kindness‬‭to‬‭the‬‭creation‬‭in‬‭all‬
‭beneficial‬‭ways‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭b.‬ ‭We‬‭are‬‭being‬‭told‬‭here‬‭about‬‭things‬‭we‬‭should‬‭actually‬‭be‬‭concerned‬‭about‬‭and‬‭not‬‭the‬‭worldly‬
‭delusions‬‭that‬‭were‬‭discussed‬‭above‬
‭c.‬ ‭This‬‭competition‬‭for‬‭Allah's‬‭forgiveness‬‭could‬‭be‬‭through‬‭one‬‭of‬‭many‬‭avenues‬‭available‬‭to‬
‭serve‬‭His‬‭religion,‬‭for‬‭example,‬‭going‬‭to‬‭the‬‭mosque‬‭for‬‭Fajr,‬‭inviting‬‭others‬‭to‬‭Islam,‬‭doing‬
‭dhikr‬‭,‬‭humanitarian‬‭aid,‬‭removing‬‭harmful‬‭aspects‬‭from‬‭society,‬‭etc.‬‭We‬‭are‬‭all‬‭built‬‭different‬‭and‬
‭should‬‭try‬‭to‬‭do‬‭whatever‬‭good‬‭deeds‬‭in‬‭our‬‭capacity‬
‭i.‬ ‭This‬‭is‬‭provided‬‭we‬‭are‬‭doing‬‭the‬‭bare‬‭minimum:‬‭acting‬‭on‬‭the‬‭five‬‭pillars‬‭and‬‭keeping‬
‭away‬‭from‬‭major‬‭sins‬
‭d.‬ ‭The‬‭reward‬‭of‬‭paradise‬‭is‬‭a‬‭favour‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭that‬‭He‬‭grants‬‭whichever‬‭of‬‭His‬‭servants‬‭He‬‭wishes‬
‭[‬‭al-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭i.‬ ‭It‬‭is‬‭not‬‭due‬‭to‬‭some‬‭obligation‬‭on‬‭the‬‭servant,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭gift‬‭from‬‭Allah‬‭to‬‭the‬‭servant‬‭[Sabuni]‬
‭22.‬ ‭ o‬‭calamity‬‭˹or‬‭blessing˺‬‭occurs‬‭on‬‭earth‬‭or‬‭in‬‭yourselves‬‭without‬‭being‬‭˹written˺‬‭in‬‭a‬
N
‭Record‬‭before‬‭We‬‭bring‬‭it‬‭into‬‭being.‬‭This‬‭is‬‭certainly‬‭easy‬‭for‬‭Allah.‬
‭a.‬ ‭When‬‭we‬‭try‬‭to‬‭compete‬‭for‬‭Allah’s‬‭forgiveness‬‭by‬‭trying‬‭to‬‭do‬‭and‬‭spread‬‭goodness,‬‭we‬‭may‬
‭run‬‭into‬‭problems‬‭and‬‭be‬‭hit‬‭with‬‭calamities‬
‭b.‬ ‭Whatever‬‭calamity‬‭comes‬‭our‬‭way,‬‭it‬‭was‬‭specifically‬‭designed‬‭for‬‭us‬‭by‬‭Allah‬‭to‬‭afflict‬‭us.‬‭There‬
‭is‬‭no‬‭way‬‭to‬‭escape‬‭it‬
‭i.‬ ‭Afflictions‬‭can‬‭come‬‭our‬‭way‬‭for‬‭various‬‭reasons:‬
‭1.‬ ‭To‬‭wipe‬‭away‬‭our‬‭sins‬
‭2.‬ ‭To‬‭punish‬‭us‬
‭3.‬ ‭To‬‭raise‬‭our‬‭ranks‬‭in‬‭the‬‭afterlife‬
‭4.‬ ‭To‬‭teach‬‭us‬‭a‬‭lesson‬
‭c.‬ ‭Every‬‭type‬‭of‬‭calamity,‬‭whether‬‭it‬‭hits‬‭the‬‭earth‬‭or‬‭people‬‭like‬‭drought,‬‭earthquake,‬‭disease,‬
‭hardship,‬‭distress,‬‭etc.,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭already‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Knowledge‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭was‬‭written‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Preserved‬
‭Tablet‬‭even‬‭before‬‭the‬‭creation‬‭existed.‬‭This‬‭is‬‭something‬‭very‬‭easy‬‭for‬‭Allah‬‭to‬‭do‬‭[Sabuni]‬
‭23.‬ ˹‭ We‬‭let‬‭you‬‭know‬‭this˺‬‭so‬‭that‬‭you‬‭neither‬‭grieve‬‭over‬‭what‬‭you‬‭have‬‭missed‬‭nor‬‭boast‬‭over‬
‭what‬‭He‬‭has‬‭granted‬‭you.‬‭For‬‭Allah‬‭does‬‭not‬‭like‬‭whoever‬‭is‬‭arrogant,‬‭boastful—‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭grief‬‭mentioned‬‭in‬‭this‬‭verse‬‭is‬‭the‬‭type‬‭which‬‭necessitates‬‭despair‬‭[Sabuni]‬

‭20‬
 ‭b.‬ I‭n‬‭other‬‭words,‬‭Allah‬‭does‬‭not‬‭want‬‭us‬‭to‬‭get‬‭hung‬‭up‬‭on‬‭failures‬‭and‬‭successes‬‭but‬‭wants‬‭us‬‭to‬
‭focus‬‭on‬‭continuing‬‭to‬‭serve‬‭Him‬‭no‬‭matter‬‭what‬‭happens.‬‭Whatever‬‭bad‬‭or‬‭good‬‭that‬‭comes‬
‭our‬‭way,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭all‬‭from‬‭Allah.‬‭Throughout‬‭our‬‭life,‬‭some‬‭things‬‭will‬‭go‬‭our‬‭way‬‭and‬‭other‬‭things‬‭will‬
‭not‬‭even‬‭if‬‭we‬‭do‬‭our‬‭best.‬‭The‬‭believer‬‭keeps‬‭moving‬‭forward‬‭racing‬‭towards‬‭Allah’s‬
‭forgiveness‬‭by‬‭trying‬‭to‬‭do‬‭whatever‬‭he/she‬‭can‬‭to‬‭continue‬‭to‬‭serve‬‭and‬‭obey‬‭Him‬‭in‬‭his/her‬
‭capacity‬‭no‬‭matter‬‭what‬‭the‬‭circumstances‬‭because‬‭the‬‭believer‬‭realizes‬‭that‬‭everything‬‭that‬‭is‬
‭happening‬‭in‬‭his/her‬‭life‬‭is‬‭from‬‭Allah.‬‭If‬‭something‬‭good‬‭happens,‬‭he/she‬‭is‬‭grateful‬‭to‬‭Him‬‭and‬
‭if‬‭something‬‭bad‬‭happens,‬‭he/she‬‭is‬‭patient‬
‭c.‬ ‭A‬‭person‬‭can‬‭become‬‭arrogant‬‭and‬‭boastful‬‭even‬‭over‬‭good‬‭deeds,‬‭which‬‭can‬‭lead‬‭such‬‭a‬
‭person‬‭to‬‭his/her‬‭demise,‬‭thus,‬‭we‬‭must‬‭be‬‭careful‬
‭i.‬ ‭Only‬‭a‬‭self-conceited‬‭person‬‭or‬‭nation‬‭can‬‭boast‬‭over‬‭Allah’s‬‭blessings‬‭sent‬‭their‬‭way.‬
‭Do‬‭they‬‭create‬‭the‬‭fortuitous‬‭conditions‬‭that‬‭help‬‭them‬‭achieve‬‭what‬‭others,‬‭better‬
‭qualified,‬‭and‬‭more‬‭hard-working‬‭than‬‭them,‬‭fail‬‭to‬‭achieve?‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭24.‬‭those‬‭who‬‭are‬‭stingy‬‭and‬‭promote‬‭stinginess‬‭among‬‭people.‬‭And‬‭whoever‬‭turns‬‭away‬‭˹should‬
‭know‬‭that˺‬‭Allah‬‭˹alone˺‬‭is‬‭truly‬‭the‬‭Self-Sufficient,‬‭Praiseworthy.‬
‭a.‬ ‭This‬‭is‬‭describing‬‭some‬‭of‬‭the‬‭qualities‬‭of‬‭the‬‭arrogant‬‭and‬‭boastful‬‭mentioned‬‭in‬‭the‬‭previous‬
‭verse.‬‭Arrogance‬‭and‬‭boastfulness‬‭is‬‭often‬‭associated‬‭with‬‭those‬‭with‬‭wealth,‬‭thus,‬‭Allah‬
‭focuses‬‭here‬‭on‬‭that‬‭particular‬‭quality‬
‭b.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭these‬‭arrogant‬‭individuals‬‭are‬‭unwilling‬‭to‬‭spend‬‭it‬‭in‬‭the‬‭path‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭[i.e.‬‭charity]‬‭and‬
‭they‬‭command‬‭people‬‭to‬‭be‬‭miserly‬‭as‬‭well‬‭by‬‭beautifying‬‭it‬‭for‬‭them‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Tafseer‬‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭i.‬ ‭A‬‭miser‬‭draws‬‭pleasure‬‭from‬‭withholding‬‭money‬‭while‬‭a‬‭generous‬‭person‬‭draws‬
‭pleasure‬‭from‬‭giving‬‭it‬‭away.‬‭A‬‭miser‬‭gives‬‭only‬‭when‬‭asked,‬‭whereas‬‭a‬‭generous‬
‭person‬‭gives‬‭without‬‭asking‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Those‬‭who‬‭are‬‭miserly‬‭often‬‭tell‬‭others‬‭to‬‭be‬‭miserly‬‭as‬‭well‬‭because‬‭it‬‭helps‬‭them‬‭hide‬
‭their‬‭miserliness,‬‭so‬‭for‬‭example,‬‭they‬‭will‬‭tell‬‭others‬‭to‬‭not‬‭spend‬‭in‬‭charity‬‭because‬
‭they‬‭need‬‭to‬‭think‬‭about‬‭their‬‭own‬‭state‬‭and‬‭their‬‭family‬‭situation‬‭in‬‭order‬‭to‬‭scare‬‭the‬
‭person‬‭from‬‭giving‬‭in‬‭charity‬
‭iii.‬ ‭So‬‭they‬‭combine‬‭two‬‭reprehensible‬‭qualities,‬‭each‬‭of‬‭which‬‭is‬‭a‬‭sufficient‬‭evil‬‭by‬‭itself:‬
‭miserliness‬‭and‬‭commanding‬‭people‬‭to‬‭do‬‭the‬‭same.‬‭Their‬‭miserliness‬‭is‬‭not‬‭enough‬‭for‬
‭them;‬‭they‬‭go‬‭on‬‭to‬‭command‬‭people‬‭to‬‭do‬‭the‬‭same‬‭and‬‭encourage‬‭them‬‭toward‬‭this‬
‭despicable‬‭behavior‬‭through‬‭their‬‭words‬‭and‬‭actions‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭c.‬ ‭Those‬‭who‬‭refuse‬‭to‬‭give‬‭in‬‭charity‬‭for‬‭the‬‭sake‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭should‬‭know‬‭that‬‭Allah‬‭does‬‭not‬‭need‬
‭their‬‭charity‬‭because‬‭He‬‭is‬‭Self-Sufficient.‬‭Rather,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭they‬‭who‬‭need‬‭to‬‭give‬‭because‬‭it‬‭is‬‭good‬
‭for‬‭their‬‭worldly‬‭and‬‭afterlife‬
‭25.‬‭Indeed,‬‭We‬‭sent‬‭Our‬‭messengers‬‭with‬‭clear‬‭proofs,‬‭and‬‭with‬‭them‬‭We‬‭sent‬‭down‬‭the‬‭Scripture‬
‭and‬‭the‬‭balance‬‭˹of‬‭justice˺‬‭so‬‭that‬‭people‬‭may‬‭administer‬‭justice.‬‭And‬‭We‬‭sent‬‭down‬‭iron‬‭with‬
‭its‬‭great‬‭might,‬‭benefits‬‭for‬‭humanity,‬‭and‬‭means‬‭for‬‭Allah‬‭to‬‭prove‬‭who‬‭˹is‬‭willing‬‭to˺‬‭stand‬‭up‬
‭for‬‭Him‬‭and‬‭His‬‭messengers‬‭without‬‭seeing‬‭Him.‬‭Surely‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭All-Powerful,‬‭Almighty.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭‘Scripture’‬‭here‬‭is‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬‭religious‬‭teachings.‬‭We‬‭learn‬‭from‬‭this‬‭verse‬‭that‬‭in‬‭order‬
‭to‬‭have‬‭justice‬‭in‬‭society,‬‭we‬‭need‬‭religious‬‭teachings‬‭from‬‭Allah.‬‭If‬‭the‬‭people‬‭in‬‭a‬‭society‬‭hold‬
‭on‬‭to‬‭true‬‭religious‬‭teachings,‬‭there‬‭will‬‭automatically‬‭be‬‭justice‬‭in‬‭that‬‭society‬
‭i.‬ ‭The‬‭‘balance’‬‭mentioned‬‭in‬‭the‬‭verse‬‭is‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬‭justice‬‭in‬‭words‬‭and‬‭actions,‬‭and‬
‭the‬‭religion‬‭brought‬‭by‬‭the‬‭messengers‬‭is‬‭entirely‬‭characterized‬‭by‬‭justice‬‭and‬‭fairness‬‭in‬
‭commands,‬‭prohibitions,‬‭interactions‬‭among‬‭people,‬‭criminal‬‭justice,‬‭retribution,‬
‭prescribed‬‭punishments,‬‭inheritances,‬‭etc.‬‭This‬‭is‬‭done‬‭by‬‭establishing‬‭the‬‭religion‬‭of‬
‭Allah‬‭[Sa’di]‬

‭21‬
 ‭ii.‬ ‭ his‬‭is‬‭evidence‬‭that‬‭the‬‭messengers‬‭are‬‭united‬‭in‬‭the‬‭foundational‬‭principle‬‭of‬‭the‬‭law,‬
T
‭which‬‭is‬‭the‬‭establishment‬‭of‬‭justice,‬‭even‬‭though‬‭the‬‭types‬‭of‬‭justice‬‭may‬‭vary‬
‭according‬‭to‬‭times‬‭and‬‭circumstances‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Iron‬‭is‬‭mentioned‬‭here‬‭because‬‭sometimes‬‭you‬‭need‬‭to‬‭go‬‭to‬‭war‬‭in‬‭order‬‭to‬‭establish‬‭justice‬
‭against‬‭an‬‭oppressor‬‭and‬‭tools‬‭of‬‭war‬‭like‬‭swords‬‭and‬‭shields‬‭are‬‭made‬‭with‬‭iron,‬‭even‬‭modern‬
‭firearms‬‭today‬‭are‬‭mainly‬‭made‬‭of‬‭steel,‬‭which‬‭is‬‭an‬‭alloy‬‭of‬‭iron‬‭and‬‭carbon‬
‭i.‬ ‭Iron‬‭is‬‭used‬‭as‬‭a‬‭last‬‭resort‬‭only‬‭when‬‭admonitions,‬‭instructions,‬‭and‬‭injunctions‬‭fail.‬
‭Although‬‭it‬‭must‬‭be‬‭hastily‬‭added‬‭that‬‭iron‬‭by‬‭itself‬‭(power)‬‭is‬‭not‬‭enough‬‭to‬‭enforce‬‭a‬
‭system.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭education‬‭and‬‭training‬‭which‬‭must‬‭be‬‭resorted‬‭to‬‭in‬‭the‬‭first‬‭place‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Iron‬‭has‬‭other‬‭benefits‬‭as‬‭well‬‭outside‬‭of‬‭tools‬‭of‬‭war.‬‭Today,‬‭many‬‭of‬‭our‬‭technological‬
‭advances‬‭for‬‭everyday‬‭use,‬‭like‬‭cars,‬‭buildings,‬‭medical‬‭equipment,‬‭farming‬‭tools,‬
‭electronics,‬‭kitchen‬‭appliances,‬‭and‬‭airplanes,‬‭contain‬‭iron.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭also‬‭one‬‭of‬‭the‬‭most‬
‭abundant‬‭elements‬‭on‬‭Earth‬‭and‬‭widely‬‭available.‬‭The‬‭point‬‭here‬‭is‬‭that‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭telling‬
‭us‬‭that‬‭iron‬‭is‬‭a‬‭blessing‬‭from‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭is‬‭an‬‭element‬‭from‬‭which‬‭we‬‭take‬‭many‬‭benefits‬
‭[My‬‭comment]‬
‭c.‬ ‭The‬‭phrase‬‭‘‬‭without‬‭seeing‬‭Him‬‭’‬‭in‬‭the‬‭verse‬‭means‬‭that‬‭they‬‭help‬‭in‬‭Allah’s‬‭causes‬‭without‬
‭having‬‭seen‬‭Him;‬‭which‬‭tells‬‭us‬‭something‬‭about‬‭their‬‭sincerity‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭d.‬ ‭Allah‬‭can‬‭execute‬‭His‬‭plan‬‭without‬‭human‬‭help.‬‭He‬‭only‬‭invites‬‭them‬‭to‬‭enlist‬‭themselves‬‭for‬‭His‬
‭causes‬‭in‬‭order‬‭to‬‭reward‬‭them‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭i.‬ ‭From‬‭His‬‭strength‬‭and‬‭might‬‭is‬‭that‬‭He‬‭is‬‭capable‬‭of‬‭prevailing‬‭over‬‭His‬‭enemies,‬‭but‬‭He‬
‭tests‬‭His‬‭allies‬‭with‬‭His‬‭enemies‬‭to‬‭know‬‭who‬‭supports‬‭Him‬‭without‬‭having‬‭seen‬‭Him.‬
‭The‬‭Almighty‬‭has‬‭linked‬‭in‬‭this‬‭context‬‭between‬‭the‬‭Scripture‬‭and‬‭iron‬‭[i.e.‬‭weapons‬‭of‬
‭war]‬‭because‬‭through‬‭these‬‭two‬‭matters,‬‭Allah‬‭supports‬‭His‬‭religion‬‭and‬‭elevates‬‭His‬
‭Word‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭26.‬‭And‬‭indeed,‬‭We‬‭sent‬‭Nuh‬‭and‬‭Ibrahim‬‭and‬‭reserved‬‭prophethood‬‭and‬‭revelation‬‭for‬‭their‬
‭descendants.‬‭Some‬‭of‬‭them‬‭are‬‭˹rightly˺‬‭guided,‬‭while‬‭most‬‭are‬‭rebellious.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Prophets‬‭Nuh‬‭and‬‭Ibrahim‬‭are‬‭mentioned‬‭because‬‭after‬‭the‬‭flood,‬‭there‬‭was‬‭no‬‭human‬‭left‬
‭except‬‭Nuh‬‭and‬‭a‬‭few‬‭of‬‭his‬‭followers.‬‭Ibrahim‬‭was‬‭a‬‭descendent‬‭from‬‭one‬‭of‬‭Nuh’s‬‭sons‬‭and‬‭all‬
‭prophets‬‭after‬‭Ibrahim‬‭were‬‭from‬‭the‬‭latter’s‬‭progeny‬
‭b.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭I‬‭did‬‭not‬‭send‬‭any‬‭Prophet‬‭except‬‭from‬‭their‬‭progeny,‬‭giving‬‭them‬‭the‬‭revealed‬‭books;‬‭I‬
‭only‬‭revealed‬‭books‬‭to‬‭a‬‭messenger‬‭from‬‭their‬‭progeny.‬‭So‬‭from‬‭their‬‭progenies‬‭are‬‭those‬‭who‬
‭were‬‭rightly‬‭guided‬‭to‬‭the‬‭straight‬‭path‬‭and‬‭are‬‭successful,‬‭but‬‭the‬‭majority‬‭of‬‭them‬‭left‬‭the‬
‭obedience‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭27.‬‭Then‬‭in‬‭the‬‭footsteps‬‭of‬‭these‬‭˹prophets˺,‬‭We‬‭sent‬‭Our‬‭messengers,‬‭and‬‭˹after‬‭them˺‬‭We‬‭sent‬
‭Jesus,‬‭son‬‭of‬‭Mary,‬‭and‬‭granted‬‭him‬‭the‬‭Gospel,‬‭and‬‭instilled‬‭compassion‬‭and‬‭mercy‬‭into‬‭the‬
‭hearts‬‭of‬‭his‬‭followers.‬‭As‬‭for‬‭monasticism,‬‭they‬‭made‬‭it‬‭up—We‬‭never‬‭ordained‬‭it‬‭for‬
‭them—only‬‭seeking‬‭to‬‭please‬‭Allah,‬‭yet‬‭they‬‭did‬‭not‬‭˹even˺‬‭observe‬‭it‬‭strictly.‬‭So‬‭We‬‭rewarded‬
‭those‬‭of‬‭them‬‭who‬‭were‬‭faithful.‬‭But‬‭most‬‭of‬‭them‬‭are‬‭rebellious.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Children‬‭of‬‭Israel‬‭were‬‭sent‬‭one‬‭prophet‬‭after‬‭another,‬‭when‬‭one‬‭would‬‭die‬‭another‬‭would‬
‭appear‬‭until‬‭Prophet‬‭Eesa.‬‭He‬‭was‬‭given‬‭the‬‭Gospel‬‭to‬‭turn‬‭people‬‭towards‬‭it‬‭for‬‭judgment‬
‭[Sabuni]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Those‬‭that‬‭were‬‭instilled‬‭with‬‭compassion‬‭and‬‭mercy‬‭from‬‭his‬‭followers‬‭is‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬
‭Prophet‬‭Eesa’s‬‭disciples,‬‭they‬‭were‬‭like‬‭the‬‭companions‬‭were‬‭to‬‭Muhammad‬‫‬‮ﷺ‬‭[Sabuni]‬
‭c.‬ ‭Our‬‭religion‬‭is‬‭not‬‭about‬‭just‬‭self-spirituality‬‭where‬‭the‬‭focus‬‭is‬‭only‬‭on‬‭the‬‭self‬‭and‬‭not‬‭on‬‭the‬
‭society‬‭at‬‭large,‬‭which‬‭is‬‭what‬‭monasticism‬‭is‬‭in‬‭actuality.‬‭We‬‭need‬‭to‬‭have‬‭religious‬‭concern‬‭for‬
‭ourselves‬‭and‬‭the‬‭society‬‭around‬‭us.‬‭Our‬‭religion‬‭teaches‬‭us‬‭to‬‭command‬‭good‬‭and‬‭forbid‬‭evil‬

‭22‬
 ‭d.‬ T ‭ he‬‭Christians‬‭innovated‬‭extremism‬‭into‬‭their‬‭religion‬‭through‬‭monasticism‬‭and‬‭left‬‭aside‬
‭marriage‬‭and‬‭comforts‬‭which‬‭Allah‬‭had‬‭made‬‭permissible‬‭for‬‭them.‬‭He‬‭did‬‭not‬‭seek‬‭that‬‭from‬
‭them;‬‭they‬‭made‬‭it‬‭necessary‬‭upon‬‭themselves‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Mukhtasar‬‭fee‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭]‬
‭i.‬ ‭They‬‭intended‬‭Allah’s‬‭pleasure‬‭through‬‭this‬‭innovation‬‭[‭a ‬ l-Tafseer‬‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭ii.‬ ‭The‬‭strict‬‭rules‬‭they‬‭placed‬‭on‬‭themselves‬‭could‬‭not‬‭be‬‭fulfilled‬‭by‬‭most‬‭of‬‭them‬‭because‬
‭it‬‭was‬‭not‬‭the‬‭way‬‭Allah‬‭created‬‭us.‬‭We‬‭have‬‭certain‬‭desires‬‭put‬‭inside‬‭of‬‭us‬‭and‬‭Islam‬
‭provides‬‭a‬‭way‬‭to‬‭channel‬‭them‬‭in‬‭a‬‭permissible‬‭manner‬‭but‬‭these‬‭Christians‬‭completely‬
‭blocked‬‭them‬‭so‬‭they‬‭were‬‭not‬‭able‬‭to‬‭fully‬‭live‬‭by‬‭those‬‭rules.‬‭This‬‭is‬‭why‬‭it‬‭is‬‭not‬
‭surprising‬‭to‬‭see‬‭so‬‭many‬‭scandals‬‭coming‬‭out‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Catholic‬‭Church‬‭from‬‭their‬‭priests‬
‭and‬‭nuns‬
‭e.‬ ‭We‬‭also‬‭learn‬‭from‬‭this‬‭that‬‭we‬‭should‬‭not‬‭set‬‭upon‬‭ourselves‬‭overly‬‭strict‬‭standards‬‭of‬‭religious‬
‭practice‬‭that‬‭we‬‭cannot‬‭fulfill‬‭and‬‭which‬‭Allah‬‭has‬‭not‬‭mandated‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭28.‬‭O‬‭people‬‭of‬‭faith!‬‭Fear‬‭Allah‬‭and‬‭believe‬‭in‬‭His‬‭Messenger.‬‭˹And˺‬‭He‬‭will‬‭grant‬‭you‬‭a‬‭double‬
‭share‬‭of‬‭His‬‭mercy,‬‭provide‬‭you‬‭with‬‭a‬‭light‬‭to‬‭walk‬‭in,‬‭and‬‭forgive‬‭you.‬‭For‬‭Allah‬‭is‬
‭All-Forgiving,‬‭Most‬‭Merciful.‬
‭a.‬ ‭This‬‭is‬‭a‬‭warning‬‭to‬‭the‬‭believers‬‭lest‬‭they‬‭follow‬‭the‬‭ways‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Jews‬‭and‬‭Christians‬‭before‬
‭them‬‭by‬‭playing‬‭with‬‭their‬‭religion‬‭and‬‭innovating‬‭things‬‭into‬‭it‬‭which‬‭Allah‬‭did‬‭not‬‭legislate‬
‭[Sabuni]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Some‬‭opine‬‭that‬‭this‬‭verse‬‭is‬‭speaking‬‭to‬‭those‬‭from‬‭the‬‭People‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Book‬‭who‬‭accepted‬
‭Islam‬‭because‬‭there‬‭are‬‭some‬‭hadiths‬‭which‬‭suggest‬‭that‬‭when‬‭People‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Book‬‭embrace‬
‭Islam,‬‭they‬‭get‬‭double‬‭the‬‭reward‬‭because‬‭they‬‭believed‬‭in‬‭Muhammad‬‫‬‮ﷺ‬‭and‬‭their‬‭own‬
‭respective‬‭prophets‬‭before‬‭him‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭i.‬ ‭Others‬‭opine‬‭that‬‭the‬‭verse‬‭is‬‭generic‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬‭all‬‭believers‬‭[Sa’di]‬
‭c.‬ ‭The‬‭‘light’‬‭in‬‭this‬‭verse‬‭is‬‭in‬‭reference‬‭to‬‭two‬‭things‬‭[Sabuni]:‬
‭i.‬ ‭A‬‭light‬‭in‬‭this‬‭world‬‭that‬‭will‬‭guide‬‭you‬‭to‬‭the‬‭straight‬‭path‬
‭ii.‬ ‭A‬‭light‬‭on‬‭the‬‭Day‬‭of‬‭Judgment‬‭that‬‭will‬‭take‬‭you‬‭to‬‭paradise‬
‭29.‬‭˹This‬‭is‬‭so˺‬‭that‬‭the‬‭People‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Book‬‭˹who‬‭deny‬‭the‬‭Prophet˺‬‭may‬‭know‬‭that‬‭they‬‭do‬‭not‬‭have‬
‭any‬‭control‬‭over‬‭Allah’s‬‭grace,‬‭and‬‭that‬‭all‬‭grace‬‭is‬‭in‬‭Allah’s‬‭Hands.‬‭He‬‭grants‬‭it‬‭to‬‭whoever‬‭He‬
‭wills.‬‭For‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭the‬‭Lord‬‭of‬‭infinite‬‭bounty.‬
‭a.‬ ‭This‬‭verse‬‭is‬‭a‬‭refutation‬‭against‬‭the‬‭Jews‬‭and‬‭Christisans‬‭who‬‭used‬‭to‬‭say‬‭that‬‭revelation‬‭and‬
‭prophethood‬‭is‬‭restricted‬‭to‬‭only‬‭the‬‭Children‬‭of‬‭Israel‬‭[Sabuni]‬
‭i.‬ ‭Allah’s‬‭grace‬‭is‬‭not‬‭bound‬‭with‬‭the‬‭Jews‬‭and‬‭Christians,‬‭but‬‭is‬‭vast‬‭and‬‭available‬‭to‬‭any‬
‭qualifying‬‭individual‬‭or‬‭nation.‬‭Therefore,‬‭there‬‭should‬‭be‬‭no‬‭objection‬‭to‬‭Him‬‭raising‬‭the‬
‭final‬‭Prophet‬‫‬‮ﷺ‬‭among‬‭the‬‭Arabs‬‭and‬‭revealing‬‭to‬‭him‬‭[Zaheer]‬
‭b.‬ ‭Meaning‬‭so‬‭that‬‭the‬‭People‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Book‬‭who‬‭did‬‭not‬‭believe‬‭in‬‭Muhammad‬‫‬‮ﷺ‬‭may‬‭know‬‭that‬
‭they‬‭are‬‭not‬‭capable‬‭of‬‭earning‬‭any‬‭of‬‭the‬‭favors‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭for‬‭themselves‬‭or‬‭bestowing‬‭them‬
‭upon‬‭others.‬‭All‬‭favor‬‭is‬‭entirely‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Hands‬‭of‬‭Allah‬‭alone,‬‭and‬‭He‬‭grants‬‭it‬‭to‬‭whomever‬‭He‬
‭wills‬‭among‬‭His‬‭servants.‬‭Allah‬‭is‬‭the‬‭One‬‭who‬‭possesses‬‭abundant‬‭kindness‬‭and‬‭generosity,‬
‭extending‬‭widely‬‭to‬‭His‬‭creation‬‭[‬‭al-Tafseer‬‭al-Muyassar‬‭]‬
‭c.‬ ‭Allah’s‬‭favor‬‭has‬‭encompassed‬‭the‬‭inhabitants‬‭of‬‭the‬‭heavens‬‭and‬‭the‬‭earth.‬‭No‬‭creature‬‭is‬
‭devoid‬‭of‬‭His‬‭favor,‬‭even‬‭for‬‭the‬‭blink‬‭of‬‭an‬‭eye‬‭or‬‭less‬‭than‬‭that‬‭[Sa’di]‬

‭23‬