Al-Waqi'ah 56:71
The Inevitable · Juz 27 · Page 536
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِي تُورُونَ ٧١
And have you seen the fire that you ignite?
Tafsir · in English
Ma'arif al-Qur'an
Detailed · A modern classic, with rulings and practical points.
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Commentary on 56:63–72
was lost in the secondary or extrinsic causes and lost sight of his Real Creator and Master, the Primary or Intrinsic Cause of his creation. This unawareness was unveiled in a particular way. In a similar style, the reality of his source of nourishment is explicated. Allah poses the question to man: 'Indeed you till the land and plant the seeds but who causes them to sprout and grow - you or Allah?' When considered carefully, we will come up with the answer that the farmer or tiller has a very limited role to play. He ploughs the land and fertilizes the soil with manure, and thus softens it so that if the seed germinates, it will not be hampered by the hard ground. All of man's efforts move around this point. Once the plant sprouts, he takes care of it in that direction. But man is not the primary cause of the shoots pushing forth from the seed nor can he claim that he made the plant or tree. Therefore, we go back to the fundamental question: Who caused the seed lying under heaps and heaps of sand to germinate and come out to the surface of the earth so beautifully, comprising untold benefits? There can be only one answer to this question: The All-Encompassing Power and the Most Wonderful creation of the Master Creator of the universe.
Next to food, water is the most important thing upon which human life depends for its sustenance. Here too the Qur'an, in its inimitable style, poses the question: 'Have you considered the water you drink? Did you send it down from the clouds, or did We send it?' The answer is obvious: 'Allah'. Fire plays a most important part in the life of man. Much of his physical comfort depends upon it. [ It is a thing of great utility. In this mechanistic age life is inconceivable without the use of fire. No industry, trade or travel is possible without it.] The Qur'an again, in its unique and unparalleled style, poses the question: 'Have you considered the fire you kindle? Did you make its timber to grow, or did We make it?' Here too the answer is obvious: 'Allah'. Of course, in both instances the Qur'anic answers are elaborate.
Page 536
56:51
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبُونَ ٥١
Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
56:52
لَأٓكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٖ مِّن زَقُّومٖ ٥٢
Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm
56:53
فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡبُطُونَ ٥٣
And filling with it your bellies
56:54
فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ ٥٤
And drinking on top of it from scalding water
56:55
فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرۡبَ ٱلۡهِيمِ ٥٥
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
56:56
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِ ٥٦
That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
56:57
نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ فَلَوۡلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ ٥٧
We have created you, so why do you not believe?
56:58
أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تُمۡنُونَ ٥٨
Have you seen that which you emit?1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., semen, which contains the potential for human life. ↩
56:59
ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ ٥٩
Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?
56:60
نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ ٦٠
We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
56:61
عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمۡثَٰلَكُمۡ وَنُنشِئَكُمۡ فِي مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ٦١
In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.1
1 translator’s note
- An alternative meaning has also been given: "...in that We will replace the likes of you [with others upon the earth] and create you [in the Hereafter] in that which you do not know." ↩
56:62
وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ فَلَوۡلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٦٢
And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
56:63
أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَحۡرُثُونَ ٦٣
And have you seen that [seed] which you sow?
56:64
ءَأَنتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ ٦٤
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
56:65
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ حُطَٰمٗا فَظَلۡتُمۡ تَفَكَّهُونَ ٦٥
If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,1
1 translator’s note
- At what had happened or remain in a state of shock. Another meaning is "in regret." ↩
56:66
إِنَّا لَمُغۡرَمُونَ ٦٦
[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;
56:67
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ٦٧
Rather, we have been deprived."
56:68
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱلَّذِي تَشۡرَبُونَ ٦٨
And have you seen the water that you drink?
56:69
ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنزَلۡتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُزۡنِ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنزِلُونَ ٦٩
Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?
56:70
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ أُجَاجٗا فَلَوۡلَا تَشۡكُرُونَ ٧٠
If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
56:71
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِي تُورُونَ ٧١
And have you seen the fire that you ignite?
56:72
ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنشَأۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنشِـُٔونَ ٧٢
Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?
56:73
نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنَٰهَا تَذۡكِرَةٗ وَمَتَٰعٗا لِّلۡمُقۡوِينَ ٧٣
We have made it a reminder1 and provision for the travelers,2
56:74
فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٧٤
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
56:75
۞ فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ ٧٥
Then I swear by the setting of the stars,1
1 translator’s note
- Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) confirms absolutely by oath. ↩
56:76
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٞ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ ٧٦
And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.