Shaykh Abdul-Nasir Jangda

Tafsir Surah Ya-Sin

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 Verse4 Verse5 Verse6 Verse7 Verse8 Verse9 Verse10 Verse11 Verse12 Verse13 Verse14 Verse15 Verse16 Verse17 Verse18 Verse19 Verse20 Verse21 Verse22 Verse23 5 7 9 10 11 12 15 17 20 22 23 25 27 30 32 33 34 35 37 40 43 45 46 47

Verse24 Verse25 Verse26 Verse27 Verse28 Verse29 Verse30 Verse31 Verse32 Verse33 Verse34 Verse35 Verse36 Verse37 Verse38 Verse39 Verse40 Verse41 Verse42 Verse43 Verse44 Verse45 Verse46 Verse47 Verse48

49 50 52 53 54 56 58 60 61 64 69 70 72 73 74 75 76 79 81 82 83 85 88 90 92

Verse49 Verse50 Verse51 Verse52 Verse53 Verse54 Verse55 Verse56 Verse57 Verse58 Verse59 Verse60 Verse61 Verse62 Verse63 Verse64 Verse65

93 94 95 97 99 100 102 104 105 106 107 109 111 112 114 115 116

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!