Maryam 19:84
Mary · Juz 16 · Page 311
فَلَا تَعۡجَلۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡۖ إِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَهُمۡ عَدّٗا ٨٤
So be not impatient over them. We only count out [i.e., allow] to them a [limited] number.1
1 translator’s note
- Of breaths, of days, or of evil deeds. ↩
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 19:84
إِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَهُمْ عَدًّا
"We are but counting for them a count down." - 19:84
This verse means: "Do not be impatient about their punishment because it is going to befall upon them in any case - and very soon. We have allowed them a fixed term in this world and that term is about to end. Then will come their retribution." نَعُدُّ لَهُمْ means: "We are counting for them, i.e. they do not have control on anything. Their days are numbered and We keep a count of every moment of their life and everything they do."
Once Ma'mun Rashid read Surah Maryam. Upon reading this particular verse, he desired that Ibn Simak, one of the Islamic scholars sitting in that meeting with him, to say something on it. Thereupon Ibn Simak submitted that when our breaths are numbered and their number cannot be enhanced, they will soon come to an end. The same notion is reflected in the following poetic verse:
حیاتک انفاس تعد فکلّمَا مضی نفس منک انتقصت بہ جزء اً
That is, the breaths of your lifer are counted. With every passing breath, your life gets reduced to that extent.
It is said that during one span of twenty-four hours, one breathes twenty-four thousand times. (Qurtubi)
The following stanza explores the same context:
و کیف یفرح بالدّنیاو لذّتھا فتی یُعَدّ علیہ اللفظ و النّفس
That is, how can one be so engrossed and relaxed with the worldly pleasures, while his words and breaths are being counted. (Ruh)
Page 311
19:77
أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي كَفَرَ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَقَالَ لَأُوتَيَنَّ مَالٗا وَوَلَدًا ٧٧
Then, have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, "I will surely be given wealth and children [in the next life]"?
19:78
أَطَّلَعَ ٱلۡغَيۡبَ أَمِ ٱتَّخَذَ عِندَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَهۡدٗا ٧٨
Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a promise?
19:79
كـَلَّاۚ سَنَكۡتُبُ مَا يَقُولُ وَنَمُدُّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ مَدّٗا ٧٩
No! We will record what he says and extend [i.e., increase] for him from the punishment extensively.
19:80
وَنَرِثُهُۥ مَا يَقُولُ وَيَأۡتِينَا فَرۡدٗا ٨٠
And We will inherit him [in] what he mentions,1 and he will come to Us alone.
1 translator’s note
- Instead of giving him wealth and children in the Hereafter, Allāh will take from him those he had in worldly life at the time of his death. ↩
19:81
وَٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةٗ لِّيَكُونُواْ لَهُمۡ عِزّٗا ٨١
And they have taken besides Allāh [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honor.
19:82
كـَلَّاۚ سَيَكۡفُرُونَ بِعِبَادَتِهِمۡ وَيَكُونُونَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ضِدًّا ٨٢
No! They [i.e., those "gods"] will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents [on the Day of Judgement].
19:83
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ تَؤُزُّهُمۡ أَزّٗا ٨٣
Do you not see that We have sent the devils upon the disbelievers, inciting them [to evil] with [constant] incitement?
19:84
فَلَا تَعۡجَلۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡۖ إِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَهُمۡ عَدّٗا ٨٤
So be not impatient over them. We only count out [i.e., allow] to them a [limited] number.1
1 translator’s note
- Of breaths, of days, or of evil deeds. ↩
19:85
يَوۡمَ نَحۡشُرُ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ وَفۡدٗا ٨٥
On the Day We will gather the righteous to the Most Merciful as a delegation
19:86
وَنَسُوقُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ وِرۡدٗا ٨٦
And will drive the criminals to Hell in thirst
19:87
لَّا يَمۡلِكُونَ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ عِندَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَهۡدٗا ٨٧
None will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant.1
1 translator’s note
- Not to worship other than Him. ↩
19:88
وَقَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وَلَدٗا ٨٨
And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son."
19:89
لَّقَدۡ جِئۡتُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِدّٗا ٨٩
You have done an atrocious thing.
19:90
تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرۡنَ مِنۡهُ وَتَنشَقُّ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَتَخِرُّ ٱلۡجِبَالُ هَدًّا ٩٠
The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation
19:91
أَن دَعَوۡاْ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ وَلَدٗا ٩١
That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son.
19:92
وَمَا يَنۢبَغِي لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا ٩٢
And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.
19:93
إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّآ ءَاتِي ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَبۡدٗا ٩٣
There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant.
19:94
لَّقَدۡ أَحۡصَىٰهُمۡ وَعَدَّهُمۡ عَدّٗا ٩٤
He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting.
19:95
وَكُلُّهُمۡ ءَاتِيهِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فَرۡدًا ٩٥
And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone.