Al-Mu'minun 23:71
The Believers · Juz 18 · Page 346
وَلَوِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلۡحَقُّ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ لَفَسَدَتِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّۚ بَلۡ أَتَيۡنَٰهُم بِذِكۡرِهِمۡ فَهُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِهِم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٧١
But if the Truth [i.e., Allāh] had followed their inclinations, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined. Rather, We have brought them their message,1 but they, from their message, are turning away.
1 translator’s note
- Or "reminder." ↩
Tafsir · in English
Tazkirul Quran
Brief · Short modern reflections on each passage.
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Commentary on 23:68–71
Truth is that which is in consonance with reality. But, those given to self-indulgence want the Truth to be made subservient to their desires. Therefore, when a preacher speaks of the Truth, they are unhappy with him. They do not want to be subservient to the Truth. They want the Truth to be subservient to them. On account of this mentality they do not pay any attention to the call of Truth. The Truth appears strange to them, and they are, therefore, unable to recognise the real position of the preacher. Indeed, in order to show that they are on the right path, they try to prove him wrong. In the universe, there appears to be perfect harmony. On the contrary, in the world of human beings one sees disturbance and turbulence everywhere. The reason for this situation is that the system of the universe is running on the basis of Truth (law of nature), i.e. whatever should happen actually happens, and whatever should not happen does not happen. If the system of the universe also started running on the basis of the desires of human beings, it would also become fraught with the same disturbance and turbulence as is found in the world of mankind. Advice and criticism are to most people unpalatable. There are very few individuals who listen to advice and criticism with an open mind. Many people just go through life ignoring it, hence shutting the door of development upon themselves.
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23:60
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡتُونَ مَآ ءَاتَواْ وَّقُلُوبُهُمۡ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمۡ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ رَٰجِعُونَ ٦٠
And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful1 because they will be returning to their Lord -
1 translator’s note
- Lest their deeds not be acceptable. ↩
23:61
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِي ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِ وَهُمۡ لَهَا سَٰبِقُونَ ٦١
It is those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip [others] therein.
23:62
وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ وَلَدَيۡنَا كِتَٰبٞ يَنطِقُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ ٦٢
And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.
23:63
بَلۡ قُلُوبُهُمۡ فِي غَمۡرَةٖ مِّنۡ هَٰذَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلٞ مِّن دُونِ ذَٰلِكَ هُمۡ لَهَا عَٰمِلُونَ ٦٣
But their hearts are covered with confusion over this, and they have [evil] deeds besides that [i.e., disbelief] which they are doing,
23:64
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَخَذۡنَا مُتۡرَفِيهِم بِٱلۡعَذَابِ إِذَا هُمۡ يَجۡـَٔرُونَ ٦٤
Until when We seize their affluent ones with punishment,1 at once they are crying [to Allāh] for help.
1 translator’s note
- In worldly life, before the punishment of the Hereafter. Although general, the description includes specifically the punishment of the Quraysh by famine. ↩
23:65
لَا تَجۡـَٔرُواْ ٱلۡيَوۡمَۖ إِنَّكُم مِّنَّا لَا تُنصَرُونَ ٦٥
Do not cry out today. Indeed, by Us you will not be helped.
23:66
قَدۡ كَانَتۡ ءَايَٰتِي تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَعۡقَٰبِكُمۡ تَنكِصُونَ ٦٦
My verses had already been recited to you, but you were turning back on your heels
23:67
مُسۡتَكۡبِرِينَ بِهِۦ سَٰمِرٗا تَهۡجُرُونَ ٦٧
In arrogance regarding it,1 conversing by night, speaking evil.
1 translator’s note
- The revelation. Or "him," i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ). ↩
23:68
أَفَلَمۡ يَدَّبَّرُواْ ٱلۡقَوۡلَ أَمۡ جَآءَهُم مَّا لَمۡ يَأۡتِ ءَابَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ٦٨
Then have they not reflected over the word [i.e., the Qur’ān], or has there come to them that which had not come to their forefathers?
23:69
أَمۡ لَمۡ يَعۡرِفُواْ رَسُولَهُمۡ فَهُمۡ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ ٦٩
Or did they not know their Messenger, so they are toward him disacknowledging?
23:70
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ بِهِۦ جِنَّةُۢۚ بَلۡ جَآءَهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لِلۡحَقِّ كَٰرِهُونَ ٧٠
Or do they say, "In him is madness"? Rather, he brought them the truth, but most of them, to the truth, are averse.
23:71
وَلَوِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلۡحَقُّ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ لَفَسَدَتِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّۚ بَلۡ أَتَيۡنَٰهُم بِذِكۡرِهِمۡ فَهُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِهِم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٧١
But if the Truth [i.e., Allāh] had followed their inclinations, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined. Rather, We have brought them their message,1 but they, from their message, are turning away.
1 translator’s note
- Or "reminder." ↩
23:72
أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ خَرۡجٗا فَخَرَاجُ رَبِّكَ خَيۡرٞۖ وَهُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ ٧٢
Or do you, [O Muḥammad], ask them for payment? But the reward of your Lord is best, and He is the best of providers.
23:73
وَإِنَّكَ لَتَدۡعُوهُمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٧٣
And indeed, you invite them to a straight path.
23:74
وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ عَنِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ لَنَٰكِبُونَ ٧٤
But indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviating from the path.