Ma'arif al-Qur'an · Tafsir · in English
Maryam 19:85–93
19:85Page 311
يَوۡمَ نَحۡشُرُ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ وَفۡدٗا ٨٥
On the Day We will gather the righteous to the Most Merciful as a delegation
يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَٰنِ وَفْدًا
"The day We will assemble the God-fearing before the Rahman (All-Merciful) as guests." - 19:85.
The word وفد applies to those who are received by rulers and princes with respect and honour. According to some sayings of the Holy Prophet ﷺ he said, "These men will ride on their mounts which they used in their worldly life." Some say that their own virtuous deeds will take the shape of their mounts.
19:86Page 311
وَنَسُوقُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ وِرۡدٗا ٨٦
And will drive the criminals to Hell in thirst
إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ وِرْدًا
Towards the Jahannam as herds towards water" - 19:86.
وِرد means to go towards water and since only a thirsty man or animal goes towards water, this word has been translated to denote a thirsty person.
19:87–89Page 311
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
وَقَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وَلَدٗا ٨٨
And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son."
لَّقَدۡ جِئۡتُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِدّٗا ٨٩
You have done an atrocious thing.
مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ عَهْدًا
"Except the one who has taken a covenant with the Rahman (All-Merciful) " - 19:87.
Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has said that عَھد means a declaration of firm belief in the Unity of Allah Ta’ ala, while others say that عِھد means committing the Qur’ an to memory. In brief only those people will have the permission to intercede with Allah who stand firm by their covenant to adhere to the true faith. (Ruh)
19:90–93Page 311
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
أَن دَعَوۡاْ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ وَلَدٗا ٩١
That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son.
وَمَا يَنۢبَغِي لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا ٩٢
And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.
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.
Commentary
وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا
"And the mountains to fall down crumbling" - 19:90.
These verses suggest that the earth, the mountains and everything that grows thereon possess a certain degree of knowledge and intelligence though in their case these perceptions are not of the same extent as that bestowed on human beings. This explains the fact that everything in the world glorifies Allah Ta’ ala as will be evident from the verse.
وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ
"Arid there is not a single thing that does not extol His purity and praise." - 17:44.
These verses refer to this very perception of these things that to associate anything or being with Allah Ta` ala, specially to assert that He has children is a sin which makes the earth and the mountains quake with fear. Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has said that except humans every created thing is terrified of any suggestion of association with Allah (Ruh, -ul-Ma` ani).
Text: through the Quran Foundation. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences