Al-Mukhtasar · Tafsir · in English
الأحقاف
Al-Ahqaf
The Wind-Curved Sandhills · Meccan · 35 ayahs
Ḥā Mīm. The discussion on similar letters has already passed in Sūrah Al-Baqarah.
46:2Page 502
تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ ٢
The revelation of the Book is from Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
The revelation of the Qur’ān is from Allah, the Mighty whom nobody can overpower, Wise in His creating, decreeing and planning.
46:3Page 502
مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗىۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعۡرِضُونَ ٣
We did not create the heavens and earth and what is between them except in truth and [for] a specified term. But those who disbelieve, from that of which they are warned, are turning away.
I did not create the heavens and the earth and I did not create what is between them in vain, but rather I created all of it with truth and with complete wisdom. Amongst that is for His servants to recognise Him through them and so worship Him alone and not associate any partner with Him, and so that they fulfil the demands of their being made deputy on earth until a fixed time which Allah alone knows. And those who disbelieve in Allah are turning away from the Book of Allah they are being warned through, without paying attention to it.
46:4Page 502
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شِرۡكٞ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِۖ ٱئۡتُونِي بِكِتَٰبٖ مِّن قَبۡلِ هَٰذَآ أَوۡ أَثَٰرَةٖ مِّنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ ٤
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Have you considered that which you invoke besides Allāh? Show me what they have created of the earth; or did they have partnership in [creation of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful."
O Messenger! Say to these idolaters who turn away from the truth: “Tell me about your idols you worship besides Allah: what parts of the earth have they created? Have they created a mountain? Have they created a river? Or do they have partnership and a share with Allah in creating the heavens? Bring me a book revealed from Allah before the Qur’ān or some trace of knowledge which the previous people left, if you are true in your claim that your idols deserve to be worshipped”.
46:5Page 502
وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدۡعُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسۡتَجِيبُ لَهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَهُمۡ عَن دُعَآئِهِمۡ غَٰفِلُونَ ٥
And who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allāh those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection [i.e., never], and they, of their invocation, are unaware.
And there is nobody more misguided than the one who worships an idol besides Allah which cannot respond to his call until the day of judgment. And these idols which they worship besides Allah are unaware of their slaves calling upon them, because they are inanimate and cannot hear, see or understand.
46:6Page 503
وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُواْ لَهُمۡ أَعۡدَآءٗ وَكَانُواْ بِعِبَادَتِهِمۡ كَٰفِرِينَ ٦
And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship.
And alongside not benefiting them in the world, when they are raised on the Day of Judgment, they will be enemies to those who used to worship them and disassociate themselves from them, and they will deny having any knowledge of their worshipping them.
46:7Page 503
وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ هَٰذَا سِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٌ ٧
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, "This is obvious magic."
And when My verses which are revealed to My Messenger are read to them, the disbelievers say regarding the Qur’ān when it came to them at the hands of their Messenger: “This is clear magic. It is not revelation from Allah”.
46:8Page 503
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُۖ قُلۡ إِنِ ٱفۡتَرَيۡتُهُۥ فَلَا تَمۡلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔاۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِۚ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَهِيدَۢا بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٨
Or do they say, "He has invented it"? Say, "If I have invented it, you will not possess for me [the power of protection] from Allāh at all. He is most knowing of that in which you are involved.1 Sufficient is He as Witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
Do these idolaters say: “Muhammad has made up this Qur’ān and attributed it to Allah?” Say to them, O Messenger: “If I have made it up on my own part, you do not have power over any plan for me if Allah wants to punish me, so how can I put myself at risk of punishment by fabricating against Him? Allah knows better the criticism of His Qur’ān and slandering me you engage in. He, (may He be glorified), is sufficient as a witness between me and you. And He is Forgiving of the sins of His servants who repent to Him, Merciful to them”.
46:9Page 503
قُلۡ مَا كُنتُ بِدۡعٗا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدۡرِي مَا يُفۡعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمۡۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٞ مُّبِينٞ ٩
Say, "I am not something new among the messengers,1 nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner."
O Messenger! Say to these idolaters who reject your prophethood: “I am not the first Messenger Allah has sent, as many messengers came before me. I do not know what Allah will do with me nor what He will do with you in this life. I only follow what Allah reveals to me, so I do not say or do except according to what He reveals. And I am only a warner who clearly warns of His punishment”.
46:10Page 503
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَفَرۡتُم بِهِۦ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٞ مِّنۢ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثۡلِهِۦ فَـَٔامَنَ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ١٠
Say, "Have you considered: if it [i.e., the Qur’ān] was from Allāh, and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar1 and believed while you were arrogant...?"2 Indeed, Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
O Messenger, say to these deniers: “Tell me if this Qur’ān is from Allah and you deny it, and a witness from the Israelites testifies that it is from Allah, relying on what has come regarding it in the Torah and then he brings faith in it, whilst you scorn bringing faith in it, will you not then be oppressors? Allah does not enable the oppressors to the truth”.
46:11Page 503
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوۡ كَانَ خَيۡرٗا مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيۡهِۚ وَإِذۡ لَمۡ يَهۡتَدُواْ بِهِۦ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَٰذَآ إِفۡكٞ قَدِيمٞ ١١
And those who disbelieve say of those who believe, "If it had [truly] been good, they would not have preceded us to it." And when they are not guided by it, they will say, "This is an ancient falsehood."
And those who denied the Qur’ān and what their Messenger brought to them say: “If what Muhammad brought was true and guides towards good, these paupers, servants and weak people would not have preceded us towards it”. And because they are not guided to what their Messenger brought them, they will say: “This which he has brought us is an old lie, and we do not follow lies”.
46:12Page 503
وَمِن قَبۡلِهِۦ كِتَٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِمَامٗا وَرَحۡمَةٗۚ وَهَٰذَا كِتَٰبٞ مُّصَدِّقٞ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِيّٗا لِّيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَبُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ١٢
And before it was the scripture of Moses to lead and as a mercy. And this is a confirming Book in an Arabic tongue to warn those who have wronged and as good tidings to the doers of good.
And before this Qur’ān is the Torah, the book which Allah revealed on Moses (peace be upon him) as a leader to be followed in the truth and as a mercy for those who believe in it and follow it amongst the Israelites. And this Qur’ān which has been revealed upon Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a book which confirms the books before it, in the Arabic language, so that he can warn through it those who wronged themselves through associating partners with Allah and by committing sins, and it is a glad tiding to the good-doers who made their relationship with their Creator and their relationship with His creation good.
46:13Page 503
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَٰمُواْ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ ١٣
Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allāh," and then remained on a right course - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Indeed, those who say, “Our Lord is Allah; we have no Lord besides Him”, then they become firm on faith and good actions, there will be no fear on them in what they face in the Hereafter, nor will they grieve over the fortune of this worlds which escaped them or what they left behind them.
46:14Page 503
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٤
Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to do.
Those who are attributed with those qualities are the people of Paradise who will live in it forever, as a reward for them for their good deeds that they sent forward in the world.
46:15Page 504
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهٗا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهٗاۖ وَحَمۡلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهۡرًاۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةٗ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيٓۖ إِنِّي تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ١٥
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me1 to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."
And I commanded man with emphasis that he should be kind to his parents and that he should be righteous towards them in their lifetime and after their death with what does not oppose the sacred law. And in particular his mother who carried him with difficulty and gave birth to him with difficulty. And the length of his gestation period in which he remained and the beginning of his weaning is thirty months. Until when he reaches the completion of his mental and physical strength, he says: “My Lord, inspire me to thank You for Your favour you have done to me and my parents, and inspire me to do good actions which please you, and accept them from me. And correct my children for me. I have repented to You from my sins and I am amongst those who submit to Your obedience and surrender to Your commands”.
46:16Page 504
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنۡهُمۡ أَحۡسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ فِيٓ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِۖ وَعۡدَ ٱلصِّدۡقِ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ ١٦
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.
Those are the ones from whom I accept the good deeds they did and overlook their sins, so I do not seize them due to them. And they are amongst the people of Paradise. This promise they have been given is a true promise which will definitely occur.
46:17Page 504
وَٱلَّذِي قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ أُفّٖ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِيٓ أَنۡ أُخۡرَجَ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلۡقُرُونُ مِن قَبۡلِي وَهُمَا يَسۡتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيۡلَكَ ءَامِنۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ١٧
But one who says to his parents, "Uff1 to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allāh for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former peoples" -
And the one who said to his parents: “Woe unto you. Do you promise me that I will be taken out of my grave alive after I die, whereas many nations have passed in which people died, but none of them was raised alive?” And his parents are seeking help from Allah to guide their son towards faith, and they say to their son: “Woe unto you if you do not bring faith on the resurrection, so bring faith in it. Allah’s promise of resurrection is true without doubt”. But he says, renewing his denial of the resurrection: “This which is said regarding the resurrection is nothing but something related from the books of the previous people and what they wrote. It is not proven from Allah”.
46:18Page 504
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فِيٓ أُمَمٖ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ خَٰسِرِينَ ١٨
Those are the ones upon whom the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect, [who will be] among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers.
Those are the ones for whom punishment is established amongst the nations before them from the jinns and men. They were the losers, as they lost themselves and their children by entering the fire.
46:19Page 504
وَلِكُلّٖ دَرَجَٰتٞ مِّمَّا عَمِلُواْۖ وَلِيُوَفِّيَهُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ ١٩
And for all there are degrees [of reward and punishment] for what they have done, and [it is] so that He may fully compensate them for their deeds, and they will not be wronged.
And for each group - the group of Paradise and the group of the fire - are ranks according to their actions. The ranks of the people of Paradise are high ranks, whilst the ranks of the people of the fire are low ranks. And so that Allah gives them the full reward of their actions, and they will not be oppressed on the day of judgment by their good deeds being decreased or their bad deeds being increased.
46:20Page 504
وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَذۡهَبۡتُمۡ طَيِّبَٰتِكُمۡ فِي حَيَاتِكُمُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱسۡتَمۡتَعۡتُم بِهَا فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ عَذَابَ ٱلۡهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَفۡسُقُونَ ٢٠
And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], "You exhausted your pleasures during your worldly life and enjoyed them, so this Day you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation because you were arrogant upon the earth without right and because you were defiantly disobedient."
On the day when those who rejected Allah and His messengers will be exposed to the Fire to be punished in it, it will be said to them in rebuke: “You have finished your good things in your worldly life and you enjoyed the pleasures it contained. On this day, you will be rewarded with the punishment which will disgrace and shame you due to your arrogance on earth unjustly, and due to your leaving the obedience of Allah through disbelief and sins”.
46:21Page 505
۞ وَٱذۡكُرۡ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذۡ أَنذَرَ قَوۡمَهُۥ بِٱلۡأَحۡقَافِ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٖ ٢١
And mention, [O Muḥammad], the brother of ʿAad,1 when he warned his people in [the region of] al-Aḥqāf - and warners had already passed on before him and after him - [saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."2
O Messenger, remember Hud, the brother of Ad in lineage, when he warned his people of Allah’s punishment befalling them, when they were in their homes in Ahqaf in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, and messengers to warn their people had already passed before Hud and after him, saying to their people: “Do not worship anyone except Allah alone; do not worship anything besides Him. O people, I fear for you the punishment of a great day, which is the day of judgment”.
46:22Page 505
قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَأۡفِكَنَا عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ ٢٢
They said, "Have you come to delude us away from our gods? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful."
His people said to him: “Have you come to us to turn us away from worshipping our gods? That will never happen for you, so bring us the punishment you promise us if you are true in what you claim”.
46:23Page 505
قَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُم مَّآ أُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهِۦ وَلَٰكِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰكُمۡ قَوۡمٗا تَجۡهَلُونَ ٢٣
He said, "Knowledge [of its time] is only with Allāh, and I convey to you that with which I was sent; but I see you [to be] a people behaving ignorantly."
He said: “The knowledge of the time for punishment is only with Allah and I do not have any knowledge of it. I am only a messenger who conveys to you what I have been sent with towards you. However, I see you as a people who are unaware of what contains benefit for you, so you leave it, and of what contains harm for you, so you commit it”.
46:24Page 505
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ عَارِضٗا مُّسۡتَقۡبِلَ أَوۡدِيَتِهِمۡ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا عَارِضٞ مُّمۡطِرُنَاۚ بَلۡ هُوَ مَا ٱسۡتَعۡجَلۡتُم بِهِۦۖ رِيحٞ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ ٢٤
And when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Rather, it is that for which you were impatient:1 a wind, within it a painful punishment,
Then when the punishment they hastened for came to them, and they saw a cloud appearing in one direction of the sky, heading towards their valleys, they said: “This is a cloud which will bring us rain”. Hud said to them: “The matter is not as you think, i.e., that it is a cloud which will rain upon you, but rather it is the punishment you hastened for. It is a wind which contains a painful punishment”.
46:25Page 505
تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيۡءِۭ بِأَمۡرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصۡبَحُواْ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَٰكِنُهُمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ٢٥
Destroying everything by command of its Lord. And they became so that nothing was seen [of them] except their dwellings. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.
Destroying everything it passed by which Allah ordered to be destroyed, so they were destroyed, only their houses in which they lived being visible, bearing witness to their inhabiting them before. With this kind of painful punishment, I punish the transgressors who persist in their disbelief and sins.
46:26Page 505
وَلَقَدۡ مَكَّنَّٰهُمۡ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰكُمۡ فِيهِ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ سَمۡعٗا وَأَبۡصَٰرٗا وَأَفۡـِٔدَةٗ فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُمۡ سَمۡعُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَفۡـِٔدَتُهُم مِّن شَيۡءٍ إِذۡ كَانُواْ يَجۡحَدُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ ٢٦
And We had certainly established them in such as We have not established you, and We made for them hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]. But their hearing and vision and hearts availed them not from anything [of the punishment] when they were [continually] rejecting the signs of Allāh; and they were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
And I granted the people of Hud the means of establishment which I have not given you, and I gave them hearing to hear with, vision to see with and hearts to understand with. But their hearing did not benefit them at all, nor did their vision or intellects. They did not repel Allah’s punishment from them when it came to them, as they used to disbelieve in Allah’s signs, and the punishment which they used to mock and which their prophet Hud (peace be upon him) used to warn them of befell them.
46:27Page 505
وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مَا حَوۡلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفۡنَا ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ ٢٧
And We have already destroyed what surrounds you of [those] cities, and We have diversified the signs [or verses] that perhaps they might return [from disbelief].
And I destroyed the cities around you, O people of Makkah; I destroyed Ad, Thamud, the people of Lot and the people of Madyan, and I gave them different proof and evidence, in the hope they will return from their disbelief.
46:28Page 505
فَلَوۡلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرۡبَانًا ءَالِهَةَۢۖ بَلۡ ضَلُّواْ عَنۡهُمۡۚ وَذَٰلِكَ إِفۡكُهُمۡ وَمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ ٢٨
Then why did those they took besides Allāh as deities by which to approach [Him]1 not aid them? But they had strayed [i.e., departed] from them. And that was their falsehood and what they were inventing.
So why did their idols which they took as gods besides Allah and which they used to seek closeness to through worship and sacrifice not help them? They did not help them at all, but in fact they disappeared from them when they needed them the most. And that is the lie and fabrication they did to themselves, i.e., that these idols will benefit them and intercede for them with Allah.
46:29Page 506
وَإِذۡ صَرَفۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ نَفَرٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓاْ أَنصِتُواْۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوۡاْ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ ٢٩
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur’ān. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen attentively." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners.
Remember, O Messenger, when I sent to you a group of the jinn to listen to the Qur’ān that was revealed to you. When they came to hear it they said to one another: Be quiet, so that we are able to hear it. When the Messenger (peace be upon him) completed his recitation they went back to their people to warn them of Allah’s punishment if they do not have faith in this Qur’ān.
46:30Page 506
قَالُواْ يَٰقَوۡمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعۡنَا كِتَٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ يَهۡدِيٓ إِلَى ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٣٠
They said, "O our people, indeed we have heard a [recited] Book revealed after Moses confirming what was before it which guides to the truth and to a straight path.
They said to them: O our people, we have heard a book that Allah has revealed after Moses, confirming the previous scriptures revealed by Allah. This book that we heard guides to the truth and it guides to a straight path, which is the path of Islam.
46:31Page 506
يَٰقَوۡمَنَآ أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِيَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَامِنُواْ بِهِۦ يَغۡفِرۡ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَيُجِرۡكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٖ ٣١
O our people, respond to the Caller [i.e., Messenger] of Allāh1 and believe in him; He [i.e., Allāh] will forgive for you your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.
O our people, respond to the truth that Muhammad calls you towards and believe that he is a messenger from his Lord, and Allah will forgive your sins and save you from a painful punishment that awaits you if you do not respond to the truth that he calls you towards and do not believe that he is a messenger from his Lord.
46:32Page 506
وَمَن لَّا يُجِبۡ دَاعِيَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَيۡسَ بِمُعۡجِزٖ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَيۡسَ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوۡلِيَآءُۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٍ ٣٢
But he who does not respond to the Caller of Allāh will not cause failure [to Him] upon earth, and he will not have besides Him any protectors. Those are in manifest error."
Those who do not respond to the truth that Muhammad (peace be upon him) calls them towards will not be able to render Allah helpless and escape from Him by fleeing on earth and they will not have besides Allah any protectors to rescue them from the punishment. Such people have clearly deviated from the truth.
46:33Page 506
أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَمۡ يَعۡيَ بِخَلۡقِهِنَّ بِقَٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧيَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰۚ بَلَىٰٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ ٣٣
Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things competent.
Do these idolaters who deny the resurrection not understand that Allah Who created the heavens and created the earth, and did not tire in creating them despite their hugeness and vastness, is able to give life to the dead for reckoning and recompense? Indeed, He is able to bring them to life. He, (may He be glorified), is able to do all things and He is not incapable of bringing the dead to life.
46:34Page 506
وَيَوۡمَ يُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَلَيۡسَ هَٰذَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَاۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ ٣٤
And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will say, "Then taste the punishment for what you used to deny."1
On the day when those who rejected Allah and His messengers will be exposed to the Fire to be punished in it, it will be said to them in rebuke: Is this punishment that you are seeing not real? Or is it a lie like how you used to say in the world? They will say: Indeed, by Our Lord, it is real. It will then be said them: Taste the punishment on account of your denial of Allah.
46:35Page 506
فَٱصۡبِرۡ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعَزۡمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِل لَّهُمۡۚ كَأَنَّهُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا سَاعَةٗ مِّن نَّهَارِۭۚ بَلَٰغٞۚ فَهَلۡ يُهۡلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ ٣٥
So be patient, [O Muḥammad], as were those of determination among the messengers and do not be impatient for them.1 It will be - on the Day they see that which they are promised - as though they had not remained [in the world] except an hour of a day. [This is] notification. And will [any] be destroyed except the defiantly disobedient people?
So be patient - O Messenger - against your people’s denial of you just as the messengers of firm resolve were patient. These were the following messengers in addition to our Prophet (peace be upon him): Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them). Do not seek to hasten the punishment for them. The deniers from your people, on the day when they will see the punishment that they are warned about in the Hereafter, will be as if they did not remain in the world except for an hour of a day due to the length of their punishment. This Qur’ān that is revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a notice to all people as well to the jinn, and only those who go against Allah by disbelief and sins will be destroyed by the punishment.
Text: Quranic Universal Library (Tarteel), via spa5k/tafsir_api (MIT), at a fixed version. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences