Al-Qamar 54:49
The Moon · Juz 27 · Page 530
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٖ ٤٩
Indeed, all things We created with predestination.
Tafsir · in English
Ma'arif al-Qur'an
Detailed · A modern classic, with rulings and practical points.
Change
Commentary on 54:49–55
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ (Verily, We have created everything according to [ Our ] predestination...54:49). In the prepositional phrase bi-qadar, the word qadar literally denotes to 'measure' and to create something with a proper measure and proportion. It is possible for this literal sense of the word to apply in the current verse: Allah is the Supreme Sage Who created every species of the existent entity wisely with proper measurement - whether big or small, and in different shapes and sizes. Having created, He maintains the structure of every individual in a very wise measurement: The fingers and toes are not equal in size; the lengths are different; the length and breadth of hands and legs are wisely structured; and their bones, muscles and skins are created flexible to stretch and contract. When we analyze every single part of every single limb and organ of [ human ] body, we discern the wondrous vistas of Divine wisdom opening up.
As a theological term, qadar is used in the sense of taqdir [ Divine predetermination, predestination, preordainment, preordering or decree ]. Most authorities on Tafsir, on account of some versions of hadith, take the word qadar here in this sense. It is recorded in Musnad of Ahmad, Sahib Muslim and Tirmidhi on the authority of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ that once the pagans of Quraish came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ debating and arguing with him on the question of taqdir (Predestination). On that occasion this verse was revealed. In the light of this tradition, the verse purports to say that Allah has predetermined the total sum of everything. He created everything with predestined limits before they were created. He knew everything that will occur before it occurred, and recorded everything [ time and place, growth and decline ] that will occur, before they occurred. Everything that occurs in this world; occurs according to the Divine Plan worked out in Pre-Eternity or Eternity-without-Beginning.
The question of taqdir, according to Ahl-us-sunnah wal jama` ah, is one of the affirmed and standard articles of faith in Islam. Anyone who denies it outright is an atheist or goes out of the pale Islam, and the sects that deny it by convoluted or twisted interpretation are fasiq in [ sinners or transgressors ]. Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tabarani record a Tradition on the authority of Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Umar ؓ that the Holy Messenger ﷺ said: "Some members of every community are Magians, and the Magians of my Ummah are those who deny taqdir. If they fall ill, do not visit them; and if they die, do not attend their funerals." (Ruh al-Ma’ ani) Allah, the Pure and Exalted, knows best!
Al-hamdulillah
The Commentary on
Surah Al-Qamar
Ends here
Page 530
54:28
وَنَبِّئۡهُمۡ أَنَّ ٱلۡمَآءَ قِسۡمَةُۢ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ كُلُّ شِرۡبٖ مُّحۡتَضَرٞ ٢٨
And inform them that the water is shared between them,1 each [day of] drink attended [by turn].
1 translator’s note
- i.e., between the tribe of Thamūd and the she-camel - a day for each to drink. ↩
54:29
فَنَادَوۡاْ صَاحِبَهُمۡ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ ٢٩
But they called their companion,1 and he dared2 and hamstrung [her].
54:30
فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ ٣٠
And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
54:31
إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ صَيۡحَةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ فَكَانُواْ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلۡمُحۡتَظِرِ ٣١
Indeed, We sent upon them one shriek [i.e., blast from the sky], and they became like the dry twig fragments of an [animal] pen.
54:32
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ ٣٢
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
54:33
كَذَّبَتۡ قَوۡمُ لُوطِۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِ ٣٣
The people of Lot denied the warning.
54:34
إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ حَاصِبًا إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٖۖ نَّجَّيۡنَٰهُم بِسَحَرٖ ٣٤
Indeed, We sent upon them a storm of stones, except the family of Lot - We saved them before dawn.
54:35
نِّعۡمَةٗ مِّنۡ عِندِنَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي مَن شَكَرَ ٣٥
As favor from Us. Thus do We reward he who is grateful.
54:36
وَلَقَدۡ أَنذَرَهُم بَطۡشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوۡاْ بِٱلنُّذُرِ ٣٦
And he had already warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warning.
54:37
وَلَقَدۡ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيۡفِهِۦ فَطَمَسۡنَآ أَعۡيُنَهُمۡ فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ ٣٧
And they had demanded from him his guests, but We obliterated their eyes, [saying], "Taste My punishment and warning."
54:38
وَلَقَدۡ صَبَّحَهُم بُكۡرَةً عَذَابٞ مُّسۡتَقِرّٞ ٣٨
And there came upon them by morning an abiding punishment.
54:39
فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ ٣٩
So taste My punishment and warning.
54:40
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ ٤٠
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
54:41
وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ ٤١
And there certainly came to the people of Pharaoh warning.
54:42
كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُمۡ أَخۡذَ عَزِيزٖ مُّقۡتَدِرٍ ٤٢
They denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability.
54:43
أَكُفَّارُكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡ أُوْلَٰٓئِكُمۡ أَمۡ لَكُم بَرَآءَةٞ فِي ٱلزُّبُرِ ٤٣
Are your disbelievers better than those [former ones], or have you immunity in the scriptures?
54:44
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ نَحۡنُ جَمِيعٞ مُّنتَصِرٞ ٤٤
Or do they say, "We are an assembly supporting [each other]"?
54:45
سَيُهۡزَمُ ٱلۡجَمۡعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ ٤٥
[Their] assembly will be defeated, and they will turn their backs [in retreat].1
1 translator’s note
- This foretold event took place on the day of Badr. ↩
54:46
بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوۡعِدُهُمۡ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدۡهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ ٤٦
But the Hour is their appointment [for due punishment], and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter.
54:47
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ وَسُعُرٖ ٤٧
Indeed, the criminals are in error and madness.1.
1 translator’s note
- Or "in blazing fires." ↩
54:48
يَوۡمَ يُسۡحَبُونَ فِي ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ ذُوقُواْ مَسَّ سَقَرَ ٤٨
The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], "Taste the touch of Saqar."1
1 translator’s note
- One of the proper names of Hell. ↩
54:49
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٖ ٤٩
Indeed, all things We created with predestination.