أعوذ باللّٰه من الشيطان الرجيم
بِسْمِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
(Book#1063)
[ And the Kafirs say-2/Kafirs speech and their arrogance:-]
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Sura:34:Saba
Para:22
Ayat: – 22-54
34:22
قُلِ ادۡعُوا الَّذِیۡنَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ۚ لَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّۃٍ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ لَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا لَہُمۡ فِیۡہِمَا مِنۡ شِرۡکٍ وَّ مَا لَہٗ مِنۡہُمۡ مِّنۡ ظَہِیۡرٍ ﴿۲۲﴾
Say, [O Muhammad], “Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allah .” They do not possess an atom’s weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant.
The Helplessness of the gods of the Idolators Here
Allah states clearly that He is the One and Only God, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who has no peer or partner; He is independent in His command and there is no one who can share or dispute with Him in that, or overturn His command.
So, He says:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ
Say:”Call upon those whom you assert besides Allah…”
meaning, the gods who are worshipped besides Allah.
لَاا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَاا فِي الاْاَرْضِ
they possess not even the weight of a speck of dust, either in the heavens or on the earth,
This is like the Ayah:
وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ
And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmir. (35:13)
وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ
nor have they any share in either,
means, they do not possess anything, either independently or as partners.
وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ
nor there is for Him any supporter from among them.
means, nor does Allah have among these rivals any whose support He seeks in any matter; on the contrary, all of creation is in need of Him and is enslaved by Him.
Then Allah says
34:23
وَ لَا تَنۡفَعُ الشَّفَاعَۃُ عِنۡدَہٗۤ اِلَّا لِمَنۡ اَذِنَ لَہٗ ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا فُزِّعَ عَنۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ قَالُوۡا مَاذَا ۙ قَالَ رَبُّکُمۡ ؕ قَالُوا الۡحَقَّ ۚ وَ ہُوَ الۡعَلِیُّ الۡکَبِیۡرُ ﴿۲۳﴾
And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to one another], “What has your Lord said?” They will say, “The truth.” And He is the Most High, the Grand.
وَلَا تَنفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِندَهُ إِلاَّ لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ
Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits.
meaning, because of His might, majesty and pride, no one would dare to intercede with Him in any matter, except after being granted His permission to intercede.
As Allah says:
مَن ذَا الَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ
Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission. (2:255)
وَكَمْ مِّن مَّلَكٍ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ لَا تُغْنِى شَفَـعَتُهُمْ شَيْياً إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ أَن يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَأءُ وَيَرْضَى
And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with. (53:26)
وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلاَّ لِمَنِ ارْتَضَى وَهُمْ مِّنْ خَشْيَتِهِ مُشْفِقُونَ
and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him. (21:28)
It was reported in the Two Sahihs through more than one chain of narration that the Messenger of Allah, who is the leader of the sons of Adam and the greatest intercessor before Allah, will go to stand in Al-Maqam Al-Mahmud(the praised position) to intercede for all of mankind when their Lord comes to pass judgement upon them.
He said:
فَأَسْجُدُ للهِ تَعَالَى فَيَدَعُنِي مَااَشاءَ اللهُ أَنْ يَدَعَنِي وَيَفْتَحُ عَلَيَّ بِمَحَامِدَ لَاأ أُحْصِيهَا الاْأنَ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ يَامُحَمَّدُ ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ وَقُلْ تُسْمَعْ وَسَلْ تُعْطَهُ وَاشْفَعْ تُشَفَّع
Then I will prostrate to Allah, may He be exalted, and He will leave me (in that position), as long as Allah wills, and He will inspire me to speak words of praise which I cannot mention now. Then it will be said, “O Muhammad, raise your head.
– Speak, you will be heard;
– ask, you will be given;
– intercede, your intercession will be accepted…”
حَتَّى إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا الْحَقَّ
So much so that when fear is banished from their hearts, they say:
“What is it that your Lord has said!”
They say the truth.
This also refers to the great degree of His might and power. When He speaks words of revelation, the inhabitants of the heavens hear what He says, and they tremble with fear (of Allah) so much that they swoon.
This was the view of Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, Masruq and others.
حَتَّى إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ
(So much so that when fear is banished from their hearts) means,
when the fear leaves their hearts.
Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Abu Abdur-Rahman As-Sulami, Ash-Sha`bi, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Ad-Dhahhak, Al-Hasan and Qatadah said concerning the Ayah,
حَتَّى إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا الْحَقَّ
(So much so that when fear is banished from their hearts, they say:”What is it that your Lord has said!” They say the truth),
“When the fear is lifted from their hearts.”
When this happens, some of them say to others, “What did your Lord say!”
Those (angels) who are carrying the Throne tell those who are next to them, then they in turn pass it on to those who are next to them, and so on, until the news reaches the inhabitants of the lowest heaven. Allah says,
قَالُوا الْحَقَّ
(They say the truth) meaning,
they report what He said, without adding or taking away anything.
وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ
And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
In his Tafsir of this Ayah in his Sahih, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him said,
“The Prophet of Allah said:
إِذَا قَضَى اللهُ تَعَالَى الاَْمْرَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ضَرَبَتِ الْمَلَيِكَةُ بِأَجْنِحَتِهَا خُضْعَانًا لِقَوْلِهِ كَأَنَّهُ سِلْسِلَةٌ عَلَى صَفْوَانٍ فَإِذَا فُزِّعَ عَنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا لِلَّذِي قَالَ الْحَقَّ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ فَيَسْمَعُهَا مُسْتَرِقُ السَّمْعِ وَمُسْتَرِقُ السَّمْعِ هَكَذَا بَعْضُهُ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ وَوَصَفَ سُفْيَانُ بِيَدِهِ فَحَرَّفَهَا وَنَشَرَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ فَيَسْمَعُ الْكَلِمَةَ فَيُلْقِيهَا إِلَى مَنْ تَحْتَهُ ثُمَّ يُلْقِيهَا الاْخَرُ إِلَى مَنْ تَحْتَهُ حَتْى يُلْقِيَهَا عَلَى لِسَانِ السَّاحِرِ أَوِ الْكَاهِنِ فَرُبَّمَا أَدْرَكَهُ الشِّهَابُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُلْقِيَهَا وَرُبَّمَا أَلْقَاهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَهُ فَيَكْذِبُ مَعَهَا مِايَةَ كَذْبَةٍ فَيُقَالُ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ قَالَ لَنَا يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا كَذَا وَكَذَا فَيُصَدَّقُ بِتِلْكَ الْكَلِمَةِ الَّتِي سُمِعَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاء
When Allah decrees a matter in heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to His Words, making a sound like a chain striking a smooth rock. When the fear is banished from their hearts, they say, “What is it that your Lord has said!”
They say the truth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Then the one who is listening out hears that, and those who are listening out are standing one above the other. —
Sufyan (one of the narrators) demonstrated with his hand, holding it vertically with the fingers outspread.
So he hears what is said and passes it on to the one below him, and that one passes it to the one who is below him, and so on until it reaches the lips of the soothsayer or fortune-teller.
Maybe a meteor will hit him before he can pass anything on, or maybe he will pass it on before he is hit. He tells a hundred lies alongside it, but it will be said, “Did he not tell us that on such and such a day, such and such would happen?”
So they believe him because of the one thing which was heard from heaven.”
This was recorded by Al-Bukhari, not by Muslim. Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah also recorded it.
And Allah knows best
34:24
قُلۡ مَنۡ یَّرۡزُقُکُمۡ مِّنَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ قُلِ اللّٰہُ ۙ وَ اِنَّاۤ اَوۡ اِیَّاکُمۡ لَعَلٰی ہُدًی اَوۡ فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۲۴﴾
Say, “Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth?” Say, ” Allah . And indeed, we or you are either upon guidance or in clear error.”
Allah has no partner in anything whatsoever
Allah says:
قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاَْرْضِ قُلِ اللَّهُ
Say:”Who gives you provision from the heavens and the earth!”
Say:”Allah.
Allah tells us that He is unique in His power of creation and His giving of provision, and that He is unique in His divinity also. As they used to admit that no one in heaven or on earth except Allah gave them provision, i.e., by sending down water and causing crops to grow, so they should also realize that there is no god worthy of worship besides Him.
وَإِنَّا أَوْ إِيَّاكُمْ لَعَلَى هُدًى أَوْ فِي ضَلَإلٍ مُّبِينٍ
And verily, (either) we or you are rightly guided or in plain error.
`One of the two sides must be speaking falsehood, and one must be telling the truth. There is no way that you and we could both be following true guidance, or could both be misguided. Only one of us can be correct, and we have produced the proof of Tawhid which indicates that your Shirk must be false.’
Allah says:
وَإِنَّا أَوْ إِيَّاكُمْ لَعَلَى هُدًى أَوْ فِي ضَلَإلٍ مُّبِينٍ
And verily, (either) we or you are rightly guided or in plain error.
Qatadah said,
“The Companions of Muhammad said this to the idolators:`By Allah, we and you cannot be following the same thing, only one of us can be truly guided.”‘
Ikrimah and Ziyad bin Abi Maryam said,
“It means:we are rightly guided and you are in plain error.”
قُل لاَّ تُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا أَجْرَمْنَا وَلَا نُسْأَلُ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
34:25
قُلۡ لَّا تُسۡـَٔلُوۡنَ عَمَّاۤ اَجۡرَمۡنَا وَ لَا نُسۡـَٔلُ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۵﴾
Say, “You will not be asked about what we committed, and we will not be asked about what you do.”
Say:
“You will not be asked about our sins, nor shall we be asked of what you do.”
This indicates disowning them, saying, `you do not belong to us and we do not belong to you, because we call people to Allah, to believe that He is the Only God and to worship Him alone. If you respond, then you will belong to us and we to you, but if you reject our call, then we have nothing to do with you and you have nothing to do with us.’
This is like the Ayat:
وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ أَنتُمْ بَرِييُونَ مِمَّأ أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَاْ بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And if they deny you, say:”For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!” (10:41)
قُلْ يأَيُّهَا الْكَـفِرُونَ
لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ
وَلَا أَنتُمْ عَـبِدُونَ مَأ أَعْبُدُ
وَلَا أَنَأ عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ
وَلَا أَنتُمْ عَـبِدُونَ مَأ أَعْبُدُ
لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ
Say:
“O disbelievers! I worship not that which you worship, Nor will you worship that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. Nor will you worship that which I worship. To you be your religion, and to me my religion.” (104:1-6)
34:26
قُلۡ یَجۡمَعُ بَیۡنَنَا رَبُّنَا ثُمَّ یَفۡتَحُ بَیۡنَنَا بِالۡحَقِّ ؕ وَ ہُوَ الۡفَتَّاحُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۲۶﴾
Say, “Our Lord will bring us together; then He will judge between us in truth. And He is the Knowing Judge.”
قُلْ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا رَبُّنَا
Say:”Our Lord will assemble us all together…”
means, `on the Day of Resurrection, He will bring all of creation together in one arena, then He will judge between us with truth, i.e., with justice.’
ثُمَّ يَفْتَحُ بَيْنَنَا بِالْحَقِّ
then He will judge between us with truth.
Each person will be rewarded or punished according to his deeds; if they are good, then his end will be good, and if they are bad, then his end will be bad. On that Day they will know who has attained victory, glory and eternal happiness, as Allah says:
وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يَوْمَيِذٍ يَتَفَرَّقُونَ
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ فَهُمْ فِى رَوْضَةٍ يُحْبَرُونَ
وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا وَلِقَأءِ الاَّخِرَةِ فَأُوْلَـيِكَ فِى الْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ
And on the Day when the Hour will be established — that Day shall (all men) be separated. Then as for those who believed and did righteous good deeds, such shall be honored and made to enjoy luxurious life (forever) in a Garden of Delight. And as for those who disbelieved and denied Our Ayat, and the meeting of the Hereafter, such shall be brought forth to the torment. (30:14-16)
Allah says:
وَهُوَ الْفَتَّاحُ الْعَلِيمُ
And He is the Just Judge, the All-Knower of the true state of affairs.
34:27
قُلۡ اَرُوۡنِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَلۡحَقۡتُمۡ بِہٖ شُرَکَآءَ کَلَّا ؕ بَلۡ ہُوَ اللّٰہُ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ ﴿۲۷﴾
Say, “Show me those whom you have attached to Him as partners. No! Rather, He [alone] is Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
قُلْ أَرُونِي الَّذِينَ أَلْحَقْتُم بِهِ شُرَكَاء
Say:”Show me those whom you have joined with Him as partners…”
means, `show me those gods whom you made as rivals and equals to Allah.’
كَلَّ
Nay,
means, He has no peer, rival, partner or equal.
Allah says:
بَلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ
But He is Allah,
meaning, the One and Only God Who has no partner.
الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
the Almighty, the All-Wise.
means, the Owner of might with which He subjugates and controls all things, the One Who is Wise in all His Words and deeds, Laws and decrees. Blessed and exalted and sanctified be He far above all that they say.
And Allah knows best
34:28
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ اِلَّا کَآفَّۃً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِیۡرًا وَّ نَذِیۡرًا وَّ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.
The Prophet was sent to all of Mankind
Allah says to His servant and Messenger Muhammad:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلاَّ كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا
And We have not sent you except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind,
i.e., to all of creation among those who are accountable for their deeds.
This is like the Ayah:
قُلْ يَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا
Say:”O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.” (7:158)
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَـلَمِينَ نَذِيراً
Blessed be He Who sent down the Criterion to His servant that he may be a warner to the all creatures. (25:1)
بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا
a giver of glad tidings and a warner means,
to bring the glad tidings of Paradise to those who obey you and to warn of the fire of Hell to those who disobey you.
This is like the Ayat:
وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
and most of men know not.
وَمَأ أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُوْمِنِينَ
And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly. (12:103)
وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s path. (6:116)
Muhammad bin Ka`b said concerning the Ayah:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلاَّ كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ
(And We have not sent you except to all mankind) meaning,
to all the people.
Qatadah said concerning this Ayah,
“Allah, may He be exalted, sent Muhammad to both the Arabs and the non-Arabs, so the most honored of them with Allah is the one who is most obedient to Allah.”
In the Two Sahihs it was reported that Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him said,
“The Messenger of Allah said:
أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الاَْنْبِيَاءِ قَبْلِي نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ مَسِيرَةَ شَهْرٍ وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الاَْرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلَةُ فَلْيُصَلِّ وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَايِمُ وَلَمْ تَحِلَّ لاَِحَدٍ قَبْلِي وَأُعْطِيتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّة
I have been given five things which were not given to any of the Prophets before me.
I have been aided by fear (the distance of) a month’s journey.
The entire earth has been made a Masjid and a means of purification for me, so that when the time for prayer comes, any man of my Ummah should pray.
The spoils of war have been made permissible for me, whereas they were not permitted for any before me.
I have been given the power of intercession; and
the Prophets before me were sent to their own people, but I have been sent to all of mankind.”
It was also recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah said:
بُعِثْتُ إِلَى الاَْسْوَدِ وَالاَْحْمَر
I have been sent to the black and the red.
Mujahid said,
“This means to the Jinn and to mankind.”
Others said that it meant the Arabs and the non-Arabs.
Both meanings are correct.
How the Disbelievers asked about when the Resurrection would happen, and the Response to Them
Allah tells us how the disbelievers believed it unlikely that the Hour would ever come to pass:
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
34:29
وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ مَتٰی ہٰذَا الۡوَعۡدُ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
And they say, “When is this promise, if you should be truthful?”
And they say:”When is this promise if you are truthful!”
This is like the Ayah:
يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لَا يُوْمِنُونَ بِهَا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْحَقُّ
Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those who believe are fearful of it, and know that it is the very truth… (42:18)
Then Allah says:
قُل لَّكُم مِّيعَادُ يَوْمٍ لاَّ تَسْتَأْخِرُونَ عَنْهُ سَاعَةً وَلَا تَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
34:30
قُلۡ لَّکُمۡ مِّیۡعَادُ یَوۡمٍ لَّا تَسۡتَاۡخِرُوۡنَ عَنۡہُ سَاعَۃً وَّ لَا تَسۡتَقۡدِمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۳۰﴾
Say, “For you is the appointment of a Day [when] you will not remain thereafter an hour, nor will you precede [it].”
Say:”The appointment to you is for a Day, which you cannot for an hour move back nor forward.”
meaning, `you have an appointed time which is fixed and cannot be changed or altered. When it comes, you will not be able to put it back or bring it forward,’ as Allah says:
إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ إِذَا جَأءَ لَا يُوَخَّرُ
Verily, the term of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed. (71:4)
وَمَا نُوَخِّرُهُ إِلاَّ لاًّجَلٍ مَّعْدُودٍ
يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لَا تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ شَقِىٌّ وَسَعِيدٌ
And We delay it only for a term (already) fixed. On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His leave. Some among them will be wretched and (others) blessed. (11:104-105)
34:31
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَنۡ نُّؤۡمِنَ بِہٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنِ وَ لَا بِالَّذِیۡ بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡہِ ؕ وَ لَوۡ تَرٰۤی اِذِ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ مَوۡقُوۡفُوۡنَ عِنۡدَ رَبِّہِمۡ ۚۖ یَرۡجِعُ بَعۡضُہُمۡ اِلٰی بَعۡضِۣ الۡقَوۡلَ ۚ یَقُوۡلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ لَکُنَّا مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
And those who disbelieve say, “We will never believe in this Qur’an nor in that before it.” But if you could see when the wrongdoers are made to stand before their Lord, refuting each other’s words… Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, “If not for you, we would have been believers.”
How the Disbelievers have agreed in this World to deny the Truth, and how They will dispute with One Another on the Day of Resurrection
Allah tells us about the excessive wrongdoing and stubbornness of the disbelievers, and their insistence on not believing in the Holy Qur’an and what it tells them about the Resurrection.
Allah says:
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَن نُّوْمِنَ بِهَذَا الْقُرْانِ وَلَا بِالَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ
And those who disbelieve say:”We believe not in this Qur’an nor in that which was before it.”
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ مَوْقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ
But if you could see when the wrongdoers are made to stand before their Lord,
Allah threatens them and warns them of the humiliating position they will be in before Him, arguing and disputing with one another:
يَرْجِعُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ الْقَوْلَ يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا
how they will cast the (blaming) word one to another! Those who were deemed weak (this refers to the followers) —
لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا
to those who were arrogant — (this refers to the leaders and masters) —
لَوْلَا أَنتُمْ لَكُنَّا مُوْمِنِينَ
Had it not been for you, we should certainly have been believers!
meaning, `if you had not stopped us, we would have followed the Messengers and believed in what they brought.
34:32
قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُوۡۤا اَنَحۡنُ صَدَدۡنٰکُمۡ عَنِ الۡہُدٰی بَعۡدَ اِذۡ جَآءَکُمۡ بَلۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مُّجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
Those who were arrogant will say to those who were oppressed, “Did we avert you from guidance after it had come to you? Rather, you were criminals.”
قَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا
And those who were arrogant will say to those who were deemed weak:
i.e. their leaders and masters, those who were arrogant, will say to them:
أَنَحْنُ صَدَدْنَاكُمْ عَنِ الْهُدَى بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءكُم
Did we keep you back from guidance after it had come to you?
meaning, `we did nothing more to you than to call you, and you followed us without any evidence or proof, and you went against the evidence and proof which the Messengers brought because of your own desires; it was your own choice.’
They will say:
بَلْ كُنتُم مُّجْرِمِينَ
34:33
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا بَلۡ مَکۡرُ الَّیۡلِ وَ النَّہَارِ اِذۡ تَاۡمُرُوۡنَنَاۤ اَنۡ نَّکۡفُرَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ نَجۡعَلَ لَہٗۤ اَنۡدَادًا ؕ وَ اَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَۃَ لَمَّا رَاَوُا الۡعَذَابَ ؕ وَ جَعَلۡنَا الۡاَغۡلٰلَ فِیۡۤ اَعۡنَاقِ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ؕ ہَلۡ یُجۡزَوۡنَ اِلَّا مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, “Rather, [it was your] conspiracy of night and day when you were ordering us to disbelieve in Allah and attribute to Him equals.” But they will [all] confide regret when they see the punishment; and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved. Will they be recompensed except for what they used to do?
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا بَلْ مَكْرُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ
“…Nay, but you were criminals.”
Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant:
“Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day…”
meaning, `you used to plot against us night and day, tempting us with promises and false hopes, and telling us that we were truly guided and that we were following something, but all of that was falsehood and manifest lies.’
Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said:
بَلْ مَكْرُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ
(Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day), means,
“You plotted by night and day.”
Malik narrated something similar from Zayd bin Aslam.
إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَا أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُ أَندَادًا
when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals to Him!
means, `to set up gods as equal to Him, and you created doubts and confusion in our minds, and you fabricated far-fetched ideas with which to lead us astray.’
وَأَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ
And each of them (parties) will conceal their own regrets, when they behold the torment.
means, both the leaders and the followers will feel regret for what they did previously.
وَجَعَلْنَا الاَْغْلَلَ فِي أَعْنَاقِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا
And We shall put iron collars round the necks of those who disbelieved.
This is a chain which will tie their hands to their necks.
هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Are they requited aught except what they used to do.
means, they will be punished according to their deeds:the leaders will be punished according to what they did, and the followers will be punished according to what they did.
قَالَ لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَـكِن لاَّ تَعْلَمُونَ
He will say:”For each one there is double (torment), but you know not.” (7:38)
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
“The Messenger of Allah said:
إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَّا سِيقَ إِلَيْهَا أَهْلُهَا تَلَقَّاهُمْ لَهَبُهَا ثُمَّ لَفَحَتْهُمْ لَفْحَةً فَلَمْ يَبْقَ لَحْمٌ إِلاَّ سَقَطَ عَلَى الْعُرْقُوب
When the people of Hell are driven towards it, it will meet them with its flames, then the Fire will burn their faces and the flesh will all fall to their hamstrings.
34:34
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا فِیۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ مِّنۡ نَّذِیۡرٍ اِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوۡہَاۤ ۙ اِنَّا بِمَاۤ اُرۡسِلۡتُمۡ بِہٖ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
And We did not send into a city any warner except that its affluent said, “Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers.”
How Those Who lived a Life of Luxury disbelieved in the Messengers and were misled by Their pursuit of Wealth and Children
Allah is consoling His Prophet and commanding him to follow the example of the Messengers that came before him. He tells him that no Prophet was ever sent to a township but those among its people who lived a life of luxury disbelieved in him, and the weaker people of the town followed him.
The people of Nuh, peace be upon him, said to him:
أَنُوْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الاٌّرْذَلُونَ
Shall we believe in you, when the weakest (of the people) follow you. (26:110)
وَمَا نَرَاكَ اتَّبَعَكَ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ هُمْ أَرَاذِلُنَا بَادِىَ الرَّأْى
nor do we see any follow you but the meanest among us and they (too) followed you without thinking. (11:27)
The leaders among the people of Salih said:
قَالَ الْمَل الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ مِن قَوْمِهِ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُواْ لِمَنْ ءَامَنَ مِنْهُمْ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ صَـلِحاً مُّرْسَلٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ قَالُواْ إِنَّا بِمَأ أُرْسِلَ بِهِ مُوْمِنُونَ
قَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ إِنَّا بِالَّذِى ءَامَنتُمْ بِهِ كَـفِرُونَ
The leaders of those who were arrogant among his people said to those who were counted weak — to such of them as believed:”Know you that Salih is one sent from his Lord.”
They said:”We indeed believe in that with which he has been sent.”
Those who were arrogant said:”Verily, we disbelieve in that which you believe in.” (7:75-76).
And Allah said:
وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولواْ أَهَـوُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَأ أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِالشَّـكِرِينَ
Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say:”Is it these (poor believers) that Allah has favored from among us!”
Does not Allah know best those who are grateful! (6:53)
وَكَذلِكَ جَعَلْنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ أَكَـبِرَ مُجْرِمِيهَا لِيَمْكُرُواْ فِيهَا
And thus We have set up in every town great ones of its wicked people to plot therein. (6:123)
and,
وَإِذَا أَرَدْنَأ أَن نُّهْلِكَ قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُواْ فِيهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَيْهَا الْقَوْلُ فَدَمَّرْنَاهَا تَدْمِيرًا
And when We decide to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a definite order to those among them who lead a life of luxury. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the Word (of torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with complete destruction. (17:16)
And Allah says here:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ
And We did not send a warner to a township,
meaning a Prophet or a Messenger,
إِلاَّ قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا
but those who were given the worldly wealth and luxuries among them,
means, those who enjoyed a life of riches and luxury, and positions of leadership.
Qatadah said,
“They are their tyrants, chiefs and leaders in evil.”
إِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِ كَافِرُونَ
We believe not in the (Message) with which you have been sent.
means, `we do not believe in it and we will not follow it.’
Allah tells us that those who enjoyed a life of luxury and who disbelieved the Messengers said:
وَقَالُوا نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ أَمْوَالاً وَأَوْلَادًا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ
34:35
وَ قَالُوۡا نَحۡنُ اَکۡثَرُ اَمۡوَالًا وَّ اَوۡلَادًا ۙ وَّ مَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِیۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
And they said, “We are more [than the believers] in wealth and children, and we are not to be punished.”
And they say:”We are more in wealth and in children, and we are not going to be punished.”
meaning, they were proud of their great wealth and great numbers of children, and they believed that this was a sign that Allah loved them and cared for them, and that if He gave them this in this world, He would not punish them in the Hereafter. This was too far-fetched.
Allah says:
أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ
نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ
Do they think that in wealth and children with which We enlarge them We hasten unto them with good things.
Nay, but they perceive not. (23:55-56)
فَلَ تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَلُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَـدُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِي الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـفِرُونَ
So, let not their wealth nor their children amaze you; in reality Allah’s plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world, and that their souls shall depart while they are disbelievers. (9:55)
and,
ذَرْنِى وَمَنْ خَلَقْتُ وَحِيداً
وَجَعَلْتُ لَهُ مَالاً مَّمْدُوداً
وَبَنِينَ شُهُوداً
وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُ تَمْهِيداً
ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ أَزِيدَ
كَلَّ إِنَّهُ كان لاٌّيَـتِنَا عَنِيداً
سَأُرْهِقُهُ صَعُوداً
Leave Me Alone (to deal) with whom I created lonely. And then granted him resources in abundance. And children to be by his side. And made life smooth and comfortable for him. After all that he desires that I should give more.
Nay! Verily, he has been opposing Our Ayat. I shall oblige him to face a severe torment! (74:11-17)
And Allah has told us about the story of the owner of those two gardens, that he had wealth and crops and children, but that could not help him at all when all of that was taken from him in this world, before he reached the Hereafter.
Allah says here
34:36
قُلۡ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ یَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَقۡدِرُ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۳۶﴾
Say, “Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it], but most of the people do not know.”
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاء وَيَقْدِرُ
Say:”Verily, my Lord expands the provision to whom He wills and restricts…”
meaning, He gives wealth to those whom He loves and those whom He does not love, and He makes poor whom He wills and makes rich whom He wills. He has complete wisdom and clear proof,
وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
but most men know not.
Then Allah says
34:37
وَ مَاۤ اَمۡوَالُکُمۡ وَ لَاۤ اَوۡلَادُکُمۡ بِالَّتِیۡ تُقَرِّبُکُمۡ عِنۡدَنَا زُلۡفٰۤی اِلَّا مَنۡ اٰمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا ۫ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمۡ جَزَآءُ الضِّعۡفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوۡا وَ ہُمۡ فِی الۡغُرُفٰتِ اٰمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you nearer to Us in position, but it is [by being] one who has believed and done righteousness. For them there will be the double reward for what they did, and they will be in the upper chambers [of Paradise], safe [and secure].
وَمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُم بِالَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَى
And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us,
meaning, `these things are not a sign that We love you or care for you.’
Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said:
إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ إِنَّمَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُم
Allah does not look at your outward appearance or your wealth, rather He looks at your hearts and your deeds.
Muslim and Ibn Majah also recorded this.
Allah says:
إِلاَّ مَنْ امَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا
but only he who believes, and does righteous deeds;
meaning, `only faith and righteous deeds will bring you closer to Us.’
فَأُوْلَيِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَاء الضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوا
as for such, there will be multiple rewards for what they did,
means, the reward will be multiplied for them between ten and seven hundred times.
وَهُمْ فِي الْغُرُفَاتِ امِنُونَ
and they will reside in the high dwellings in peace and security.
means, in the lofty dwellings of Paradise, safe from all misery, fear and harm, and from any evil they could fear.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said:
إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَغُرَفًا تُرَى ظُهُورُهَا مِنْ بُطُونِهَا وَبُطُونُهَا مِنْ ظُهُورِهَا
In Paradise there are lofty rooms whose outside can be seen from the inside and whose inside can be seen from the outside.
A Bedouin asked, “Who are they for?”
He said:
لِمَنْ طَيَّبَ الْكَلَمَ وَأَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَأَدَامَ الصِّيَامَ وَصَلَّى بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَام
For those who speak well, feed the hungry, persist in fasting and pray at night while people are asleep
34:38
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَسۡعَوۡنَ فِیۡۤ اٰیٰتِنَا مُعٰجِزِیۡنَ اُولٰٓئِکَ فِی الۡعَذَابِ مُحۡضَرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
And the ones who strive against Our verses to cause [them] failure – those will be brought into the punishment [to remain].
وَالَّذِينَ يَسْعَوْنَ فِي ايَاتِنَا مُعَاجِزِينَ
And those who strive against Our Ayat, to frustrate them,
means, those who try to block people from the path of Allah and from following His Messengers and believing in His signs,
أُوْلَيِكَ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ
they will be brought to the torment.
means, they will all be punished for their deeds, each one accordingly
34:39
قُلۡ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ یَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ وَ یَقۡدِرُ لَہٗ ؕ وَ مَاۤ اَنۡفَقۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ فَہُوَ یُخۡلِفُہٗ ۚ وَ ہُوَ خَیۡرُ الرّٰزِقِیۡنَ ﴿۳۹﴾
Say, “Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] – He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers.”
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ
Say:”Truly, my Lord expands the provision for whom He wills of His servants, and (also) restricts (it) for him…”
means, according to His wisdom, He gives a lot of provision to one, and gives very little to another. He has great wisdom in doing so, which cannot be comprehended by anyone but Him.
This is like the Ayah:
انظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَلَلٌّخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَـتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلً
See how We favor one above another, and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in favor. (17:21)
This means that just as there are differences between them in this world — where one may be poor and in straitened circumstances while another is rich and enjoys a life of plenty — so they will be in the Hereafter. There one will reside in apartments in the highest levels of Paradise, whilst another will be in the lowest levels of Hell.
As the Prophet said, describing the best of people in this world:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَرُزِقَ كَفَافًا وَقَنَّعَهُ اللهُ بِمَا اتَاه
He truly succeeds who becomes Muslim and is given just enough provision and Allah makes him content with what He has given.”
It was recorded by Muslim.
وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ
.
and whatsoever you spend of anything, He will replace it.
means, `whatever you spend in the ways that He has commanded you and permitted you, He will compensate you for it in this world by giving you something else instead, and in the Hereafter by giving you reward.’
It was reported that the Prophet said:
يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى أَنْفِقْ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْك
Allah says:”Spend, I will spend on you.”
In another Hadith it is reported that;
every morning, two angels come, and one says, “O Allah, bring destruction upon the one who withholds (does not spend).” The other one says, “O Allah, give compensation to the one who spends.”
And the Messenger of Allah said:
أَنْفِقْ بِلَلُ وَلَا تَخْشَ مِنْ ذِي الْعَرْشِ إِقْلَلاً
Spend, O Bilal, and do not fear that the One Who is on the Throne will withhold from you.
..
وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
for He is the Best of those Who grant Sustenance.
34:40
وَ یَوۡمَ یَحۡشُرُہُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ثُمَّ یَقُوۡلُ لِلۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ اَہٰۤؤُلَآءِ اِیَّاکُمۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
And [mention] the Day when He will gather them all and then say to the angels, “Did these [people] used to worship you?”
The Angels will disown Their Worshippers on the Day of Resurrection
Allah tells,
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلَيِكَةِ
And (remember) the Day when He will gather them all together, then He will say to the angels:
Allah tells us that on the Day of Resurrection, He will rebuke the idolators before all of creation. He will ask the angels whom the idolators used to worship, claiming that their idols were in the form of these angels and that they could bring them nearer to Allah.
He will ask the angels:
أَهَوُلَاء إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ
Was it you that these people used to worship?
meaning, `did you command them to worship you!’
Allah says in Surah Al-Furqan:
أَءَنتُمْ أَضْلَلْتُمْ عِبَادِى هَـوُلَاءِ أَمْ هُمْ ضَلُّوا السَّبِيلَ
Was it you who misled these My servants or did they (themselves) stray from the (right) path? (25:17)
And He will say to `Isa, peace be upon him:
أَءَنتَ قُلتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِى وَأُمِّىَ إِلَـهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سُبْحَـنَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِى أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِحَقٍّ
Did you say unto men:”Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah,’
He will say:”Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say).” (5:116)
34:41
قَالُوۡا سُبۡحٰنَکَ اَنۡتَ وَلِیُّنَا مِنۡ دُوۡنِہِمۡ ۚ بَلۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ الۡجِنَّ ۚ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ بِہِمۡ مُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
They will say, “Exalted are You! You, [O Allah ], are our benefactor not them. Rather, they used to worship the jinn; most of them were believers in them.”
قَالُوا
They (the angels) will say:
سُبْحَانَكَ
Glorified be You!
meaning, exalted and sanctified be You above the notion that there could be any god besides You.
أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم
You are our Protector instead of them.
means, we are Your servants and we disown these people before You.
بَلْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ
Nay, but they used to worship the Jinn;
meaning, the Shayatin, because they are the ones who made idol worship attractive to them and who misguided them.
أَكْثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّوْمِنُونَ
most of them were believers in them.
This is like the Ayah:
إِن يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلاَّ إِنَـثاً وَإِن يَدْعُونَ إِلاَّ شَيْطَـناً مَّرِيداً
لَّعَنَهُ اللَّهُ
They invoke nothing but females besides Him, and they invoke nothing but Shaytan, a persistent rebel! Allah cursed him. (4:117-118)
Allah says
34:42
فَالۡیَوۡمَ لَا یَمۡلِکُ بَعۡضُکُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ نَّفۡعًا وَّ لَا ضَرًّا ؕ وَ نَقُوۡلُ لِلَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ذُوۡقُوۡا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّتِیۡ کُنۡتُمۡ بِہَا تُکَذِّبُوۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
But today you do not hold for one another [the power of] benefit or harm, and We will say to those who wronged, “Taste the punishment of the Fire, which you used to deny.”
فَالْيَوْمَ لَاا يَمْلِكُ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ نَّفْعًا وَلَاا ضَرًّا
So Today, none of you can profit or harm one another.
means, `none of those idols and rivals whom you hoped would benefit you, will be of any avail to you, those whom you worshipped in the hope that they would help you at times of stress and calamity. Today they will have no power either to benefit you or to harm you.’
وَنَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا
And We shall say to those who did wrong:– meaning the idolators —
ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّتِي كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ
“Taste the torment of the Fire which you used to deny.”
meaning, this will be said to them by way of rebuke
34:43
وَ اِذَا تُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتُنَا بَیِّنٰتٍ قَالُوۡا مَا ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا رَجُلٌ یُّرِیۡدُ اَنۡ یَّصُدَّکُمۡ عَمَّا کَانَ یَعۡبُدُ اٰبَآؤُکُمۡ ۚ وَ قَالُوۡا مَا ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اِفۡکٌ مُّفۡتَرًی ؕ وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَہُمۡ ۙ اِنۡ ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا سِحۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۴۳﴾
And when our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, they say, “This is not but a man who wishes to avert you from that which your fathers were worshipping.” And they say, “This is not except a lie invented.” And those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, “This is not but obvious magic.”
The Saying of the Disbelievers about the Prophets, and its refutation
Allah tells;
وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ ايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ
And when Our Clear Verses are recited to them,
Allah tells us that the disbeliever deserve to be severely punished by Him, because when His clear Verses were recited to them, and they heard them fresh from the lips of His Messenger, they said:
قَالُوا مَا هَذَا إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَن يَصُدَّكُمْ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ابَاوُكُمْ
They say:”This is naught but a man who wishes to hinder you from that which your fathers used to worship.”
meaning, that the religion of their fathers was the truth and that what the Messenger brought to them was false — may the curse of Allah be upon them and their fathers!
وَقَالُوا مَا هَذَا إِلاَّ إِفْكٌ مُّفْتَرًى
And they say:”This is nothing but an invented lie.”
referring to the Qur’an.
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءهُمْ إِنْ هَذَا إِلاَّ سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them:”This is nothing but evident magic!”
Allah says:
وَمَا اتَيْنَاهُم مِّن كُتُبٍ يَدْرُسُونَهَا وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ قَبْلَكَ مِن نَّذِيرٍ
34:44
وَ مَاۤ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ مِّنۡ کُتُبٍ یَّدۡرُسُوۡنَہَا وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِمۡ قَبۡلَکَ مِنۡ نَّذِیۡرٍ ﴿ؕ۴۴﴾
And We had not given them any scriptures which they could study, and We had not sent to them before you, [O Muhammad], any warner.
And We had not given them Scriptures that they could study, nor sent to them before you any warner.
meaning, Allah did not reveal any Book to the Arabs before the Qur’an, and He did not send any Prophet to them before Muhammad. They used to wish for that and say, `if only a warner comes to us or a Book is revealed to us, we would be more guided than others,’ but when Allah blessed them with that, they disbelieved him and stubbornly rejected him.
Then Allah says
34:45
وَ کَذَّبَ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ۙ وَ مَا بَلَغُوۡا مِعۡشَارَ مَاۤ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ فَکَذَّبُوۡا رُسُلِیۡ ۟ فَکَیۡفَ کَانَ نَکِیۡرِ ﴿٪۴۵﴾
And those before them denied, and the people of Makkah have not attained a tenth of what We had given them. But the former peoples denied My messengers, so how [terrible] was My reproach.
وَكَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ
And those before them denied;
meaning, other nations.
وَمَا بَلَغُوا مِعْشَارَ مَا اتَيْنَاهُمْ
these have not received even a tenth of what We had granted to those (of old);
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
“Of the power of this world.”
This was also the view of Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd.
This is like the Ayat:
وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَـهُمْ فِيمَأ إِن مَّكَّنَّـكُمْ فِيهِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ سَمْعاً وَأَبْصَـراً وَأَفْيِدَةً فَمَأ أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَلَا أَبْصَـرُهُمْ وَلَا أَفْيِدَتُهُمْ مِّن شَىْءٍ إِذْ كَانُواْ يَجْحَدُونَ بِـَايَـتِ اللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And indeed We had firmly established them with that wherewith We have not established you! And We had assigned them the hearing, seeing, and hearts; but their hearing, seeing, and their hearts availed them nothing since they used to deny the Ayat of Allah, and they were completely encircled by that which they used to mock at! (46:26)
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُواْ أَكْـثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً
Have they not traveled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them They were more in number than them and mightier in strength. (40:82)
but that did not protect them from the punishment of Allah, and Allah destroyed them because they denied His Messengers.
Allah says:
فَكَذَّبُوا رُسُلِي فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
yet they denied My Messengers. Then how (terrible) was My denial!
meaning, `how severe was My wrath and how great was My avenging of My Messengers.
34:46
قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَعِظُکُمۡ بِوَاحِدَۃٍ ۚ اَنۡ تَقُوۡمُوۡا لِلّٰہِ مَثۡنٰی وَ فُرَادٰی ثُمَّ تَتَفَکَّرُوۡا ۟ مَا بِصَاحِبِکُمۡ مِّنۡ جِنَّۃٍ ؕ اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا نَذِیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡ عَذَابٍ شَدِیۡدٍ ﴿۴۶﴾
Say, “I only advise you of one [thing] – that you stand for Allah, [seeking truth] in pairs and individually, and then give thought.” There is not in your companion any madness. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment.
Refutation of Their Accusation that the Prophet was Insane
Allah says:
قُلْ
Say:
Allah says:`Say, O Muhammad, to these disbelievers who claim that you are crazy,’
إِنَّمَا أَعِظُكُم بِوَاحِدَةٍ
I exhort you to one (thing) only,
meaning, I am only telling you to one thing, and that is:
أَن تَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ مَثْنَى وَفُرَادَى ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا مَا بِصَاحِبِكُم مِّن جِنَّةٍ
that you stand up for Allah’s sake in pairs and singly, and reflect, there is no madness in your companion.
meaning, `stand sincerely before Allah, without being influenced by your own desires or tribal feelings, and ask one another, is Muhammad crazy Advise one another,’
ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا
and reflect means,
let each person look within himself concerning the matter of Muhammad, and ask other people about him if he is still confused, then let him think about the matter.
Allah says:
أَن تَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ مَثْنَى وَفُرَادَى ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا مَا بِصَاحِبِكُم مِّن جِنَّةٍ
(that you stand up for Allah’s sake in pairs and singly, and reflect, there is no madness in your companion).
This meaning was stated by Mujahid, Muhammad bin Ka`b, As-Suddi, Qatadah and others.
This is what is meant by the Ayah.
إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ نَذِيرٌ لَّكُم بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ
He is only a warner to you in face of a severe torment.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, commented on this Ayah:
“One day, the Prophet climbed up As-Safa’ and shouted,
يَا صَبَاحَاه
O people!
The Quraysh gathered around him, and said, `What is the matter with you?’
He said,
أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أَنَّ الْعَدُوَّ يُصَبِّحُكُمْ أَوْ يُمَسِّيكُمْ أَمَا كُنْتُمْ تُصَدِّقُونِّي
What do you think If I told you that the enemy were approaching and will reach us in the morning or in the evening, would you believe me?
They said, `Of course.’
He said:
فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيد
I am a warner to you in the face of a severe punishment.
Abu Lahab said, `May you perish! You have called us together only to tell us this.’
Then Allah revealed:
تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِى لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ
Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he! (111:1)
We have already discussed this in our Tafsir of the Ayah:
وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الاٌّقْرَبِينَ
And warn your tribe of near kindred. (26:214)
34:47
قُلۡ مَا سَاَلۡتُکُمۡ مِّنۡ اَجۡرٍ فَہُوَ لَکُمۡ ؕ اِنۡ اَجۡرِیَ اِلَّا عَلَی اللّٰہِ ۚ وَ ہُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ شَہِیۡدٌ ﴿۴۷﴾
Say, “Whatever payment I might have asked of you – it is yours. My payment is only from Allah, and He is, over all things, Witness.”
I do not ask for any Reward for conveying the Message
Allah commands His Messenger to:
قُلْ
Say,
Allah commands His Messenger to say to the idolators:
مَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ
Whatever wage I might have asked of you is yours.
meaning, `I do not want anything for conveying the Message of Allah to you, advising you and telling you to worship Allah.’
إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ
My wage is from Allah only,
means, rather I will seek the reward for that with Allah.
وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
and He is a Witness over all things.
means, He knows all things, and He knows everything about me and the manner in which I am conveying the Message to you, and He knows all about you.
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ
34:48
قُلۡ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ یَقۡذِفُ بِالۡحَقِّ ۚ عَلَّامُ الۡغُیُوۡبِ ﴿۴۸﴾
Say, “Indeed, my Lord projects the truth. Knower of the unseen.”
Say:”Verily, my Lord sends down the truth, the All-Knower of the Unseen.”
This is like the Ayah:
يُلْقِى الرُّوحَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ عَلَى مَن يَشَأءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ
He sends the Revelation by His command to any of His servants He wills. (40:15)
meaning, He sends the angel to whomsoever He wills of His servants among the people on earth, and He is the All-Knower of the Unseen; nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him in the heavens or on earth.
قُلْ جَاء الْحَقُّ وَمَا يُبْدِيُ الْبَاطِلُ وَمَا يُعِيدُ
34:49
قُلۡ جَآءَ الۡحَقُّ وَ مَا یُبۡدِئُ الۡبَاطِلُ وَ مَا یُعِیۡدُ ﴿۴۹﴾
Say, “The truth has come, and falsehood can neither begin [anything] nor repeat [it].”
Say:”The truth has come, and the falsehood can neither create anything nor resurrect.”
means, truth and the great Law have come from Allah, and falsehood has gone and has perished and vanished.
This is like the Ayah:
بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَـطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ
Nay, We fling the truth against the falsehood, so it destroys it, and behold, it is vanished. (21:18)
When the Messenger of Allah entered Al-Masjid Al-Haram on the day of the conquest of Makkah, and found those idols standing around the Ka`bah, he started to hit the idols with his bow, reciting,
وَقُلْ جَأءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَـطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَـطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
And say:”The truth has come and the falsehood has vanished. Surely, the falsehood is ever bound to vanish.” (17:81)
and:
قُلْ جَأءَ الْحَقُّ وَمَا يُبْدِىءُ الْبَـطِلُ وَمَا يُعِيدُ
Say:”The truth has come, and the falsehood can neither create anything nor resurrect.”
This was recorded by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i
34:50
قُلۡ اِنۡ ضَلَلۡتُ فَاِنَّمَاۤ اَضِلُّ عَلٰی نَفۡسِیۡ ۚ وَ اِنِ اہۡتَدَیۡتُ فَبِمَا یُوۡحِیۡۤ اِلَیَّ رَبِّیۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ سَمِیۡعٌ قَرِیۡبٌ ﴿۵۰﴾
Say, “If I should err, I would only err against myself. But if I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me. Indeed, He is Hearing and near.”
قُلْ إِن ضَلَلْتُ فَإِنَّمَا أَضِلُّ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَإِنِ اهْتَدَيْتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِي إِلَيَّ رَبِّي
Say:”If (even) I go astray, I shall stray only to my own loss. But if I remain guided, it is because of the Revelation of my Lord to me…”
means, all good comes from Allah, and in what Allah sends down of revelation and clear truth there is guidance and wisdom. So whoever goes astray, does so by himself, as Abdullah bin Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said when he was asked about some issue. He said,
“I will say what I think, and if it is correct, then it is from Allah, and if it is wrong, then it is from me and from the Shaytan, and Allah and His Messenger have nothing to do with it.”
إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ قَرِيبٌ
Truly, He is All-Hearer, Ever Near.
means, He hears all the words of His servants, and He is always near to respond to them when they call on Him.
An-Nasa’i recorded the Hadith of Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari, which also appears in the Two Sahihs:
إِنَّكُمْ لَاتَدْعُونَ أَصَمَّ وَلَا غَايِبًا إِنَّمَا تَدْعُونَ سَمِيعًا قَرِيبًا مُجِيبًا
You are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent; you are calling upon One Who is All-Hearer, Ever Near and Responsive.
34:51
وَ لَوۡ تَرٰۤی اِذۡ فَزِعُوۡا فَلَا فَوۡتَ وَ اُخِذُوۡا مِنۡ مَّکَانٍ قَرِیۡبٍ ﴿ۙ۵۱﴾
And if you could see when they are terrified but there is no escape, and they will be seized from a place nearby.
Allah says;
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلَ فَوْتَ
And if you could but see, when they will be terrified with no escape,
Here Allah says:`if only you could see, O Muhammad, when these deniers are terrified on the Day of Resurrection, and they have no way of escape and nowhere to run to and no refuge.’
وَأُخِذُوا مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ
and they will be seized from a near place.
means, they will not even be given the slightest chance of escape, but they will be seized from the first instant.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said:
“When they come forth from their graves.
34:52
وَّ قَالُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا بِہٖ ۚ وَ اَنّٰی لَہُمُ التَّنَاوُشُ مِنۡ مَّکَانٍۭ بَعِیۡدٍ ﴿ۚۖ۵۲﴾
English – Sahih International
And they will [then] say, “We believe in it!” But how for them will be the taking [of faith] from a place far away?
وَقَالُوا امَنَّا بِهِ
And they will say:”We do believe (now);”
means, on the Day of Resurrection, they will say, `we believe in Allah and His angels, Books and Messengers.’
This is like the Ayah:
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُواْ رُءُوسِهِمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَأ أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَـلِحاً إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ
And if you only could see when the criminals shall hang their heads before their Lord (saying):”Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back that we will do righteous good deeds. Verily, we now believe with certainty.” (32:12)
Allah says:
وَأَنَّى لَهُمُ التَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ
but how could they receive from a place so far off!
meaning, how could they attain faith now that they are so far removed from the place where it could be accepted from them, and they have entered the realm of the Hereafter which is the realm of reward and punishment, not the realm of trial and testing. If they had believed in this world, that would have been good for them, but now they have entered the Hereafter, there is no way that their faith can be accepted, just as there is no way a person can get a thing if he is far away from it.
Mujahid said:
وَأَنَّى لَهُمُ التَّنَاوُشُ
but how could they At-Tana’wush means,
How could they attain that?
Az-Zuhri said,
They will wish to attain faith when they have reached the Hereafter and are cut off from this world.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said,
They will seek something when they have no way of attaining it, they will seek faith from a distant place
34:53
وَّ قَدۡ کَفَرُوۡا بِہٖ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ۚ وَ یَقۡذِفُوۡنَ بِالۡغَیۡبِ مِنۡ مَّکَانٍۭ بَعِیۡدٍ ﴿۵۳﴾
And they had already disbelieved in it before and would assault the unseen from a place far away.
وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا بِهِ مِن قَبْلُ
Indeed they did disbelieve before,
means, how can they attain faith in the Hereafter when in this world they disbelieved in the truth and denied the Messengers?
وَيَقْذِفُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ مِن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ
and they (used to) conjecture about the Unseen from a far place.
Malik narrated from Zayd bin Aslam that he said:
وَيَقْذِفُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ
(and they (used to) conjecture about the Unseen),
means, “By guessing.” as Allah says,
رَجْماً بِالْغَيْبِ
guessing at the Unseen. (18:22)
Sometimes they said he was a poet, sometimes they said he was a soothsayer, or a sorcerer, or a mad man, or other baseless comments. They denied the idea of resurrection and said:
إِن نَّظُنُّ إِلاَّ ظَنّاً وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُسْتَيْقِنِينَ
we do not think it but as a conjecture, and we have no firm convincing belief. (45:32)
Qatadah and Mujahid said,
“Their belief that there would be no resurrection, no Paradise and no Hell was based on mere conjecture.
34:54
وَ حِیۡلَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ وَ بَیۡنَ مَا یَشۡتَہُوۡنَ کَمَا فُعِلَ بِاَشۡیَاعِہِمۡ مِّنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا فِیۡ شَکٍّ مُّرِیۡبٍ ﴿٪۵۴﴾
And prevention will be placed between them and what they desire, as was done with their kind before. Indeed, they were in disquieting denial.
وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ
And a barrier will be set between them and that which they desire,
Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ad-Dahhak and others said,
“This means faith.”
As-Suddi said:
“It means “Repentance.”
This was also the view of Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy on him.
Mujahid said:
وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ
(And a barrier will be set between them and that which they desire) means,
“This world and its wealth, luxuries and people.”
Something similar was narrated from Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, may Allah be pleased with him.
It is also the opinion of Al-Bukhari and the Group.
The correct view is that there is no contradiction between the two views, for a barrier will be set between them and what they desire in this world, and what they seek in the Hereafter will be denied from them.
كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشْيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبْلُ
as was done in the past with the people of their kind.
means, as happened to the nations of the past who disbelieved in the Messengers; when the punishment of Allah came upon them, they wished that they had believed, but this was not accepted from them.
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَـفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ
فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَـفِرُونَ
So, when they saw Our punishment, they said:”We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners.”
Then their faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants. And there the disbelievers lost utterly. (40:84-85)
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا فِي شَكٍّ مُّرِيبٍ
Verily, they have been in grave doubt.
means, in this world they had doubts, so their faith will not be accepted from them when they behold the punishment with their own eyes.
Qatadah said,
Beware of doubt. For whoever dies doubting, will be raised doubting and whoever dies believing, with certainty will be raised believing with certainty.
This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Saba’. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is the Guide to the right way
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