Al-Anbya

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas who said regarding the meaning of Allah, Exalted is He, saying: (Their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind): He says: the chastisement that the people of Mecca were promised in the Book has drawn near, (while they turn away in heedlessness) while they are oblivious to it; they have disbelieved in and discarded it.

(Never cometh there unto them) whenever Gabriel comes to their Prophet with (a new reminder from their Lord) i.e. the Qur'an: verse after verse and surah after surah, as if the coming of Gabriel, time after time, and the recitation of Muhammad (pbuh) and their listening to it are new, not that the Qur'an is new, (but they listen to it while they play) while they mock Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an.

(With hearts preoccupied) with hearts heedless of the matter of the Hereafter. (And they confer in secret) they hide among themselves their disbelief in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an. (The wrong-doers) these are the idolaters: Abu Jahl and his host; they say to one another: (say: Is this) they mean Muhammad (pbuh) (other than a mortal like you) other than a human being like you? (Will ye then succumb to magic) will you then believe in magic and lies (when ye see (it)) while knowing that it is magic and lies?

(He saith) Muhammad (s)ays to them: (My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and the earth) Allah knows the secret words that the dwellers of the heaven and the earth say and the secret works they do. (He is the Hearer) of what Abu Jahl and his host say, (the Knower) of Abu Jahl and his host as well as of their punishment.

(Nay, say they) some of them say, ((these are but) muddled dreams) false dreams, that which Muhammad (pbuh) brought to us is but false dreams; (nay, he hath but invented it) some others say: Muhammad (pbuh) invented the Qur'an; (nay, he is but a poet) some of them said: no, he is a poet. (Let him bring us a portent) a sign (even as those of old (who were God's messengers) were sent (with portents)) just as the messengers of old were sent with signs to their people, as he claims.

Allah then says: (Not a township) not a single population of a township (believed of those which We destroyed) when they disbelieved in the signs (before them) before your people: (would they then believe) would your people then believe in the signs? Nay, they will not.

(And We sent not (as Our messengers) before you other than men) human beings like you (whom We inspired) to whom We sent angels just as We have sent to you. (Ask the followers of the Reminder) the people of the Torah and the Gospel (if you know not) that Allah sent only human messengers?

(We gave them not) i.e. the Prophet (bodies that would not eat food) or drink, (nor were they immortals) in this worldly life. Rather, they ate and drank and died. This verse was revealed about the people of Mecca when they said: how come this Messenger eats food and walks in the marketplace?

(Then We fulfilled the promise unto them) We fulfilled the promise given to the prophets that they will be saved. (So We delivered them) i.e. the prophets (and whom We would) and those who believed in the prophets, (and We destroyed the prodigals) and We destroyed the idolaters.

(Now We have revealed unto you) unto your Prophet (a Scripture) We sent Gabriel with a Scripture (wherein is your Reminder) wherein lies your eminence and dignity if you believe in it. (Have ye then no sense) do you not believe then in your eminence and dignity?

(How many a community that dealt unjustly) whose people were disbelievers and idolaters (have We shattered) have We destroyed, (and raised up) and created (after them) after their destruction (another folk) who lived in their habitations!

(And, when they felt Our might) when they saw Our chastisement which was to destroy them, (behold them fleeing from it) they run away from Our might!

The angels said to them: (Flee not) do not run away, (but return to that (existence) which emasculated you) return to the comfort which you enjoyed (and to your dwellings) and to your houses, (that ye may be questioned) about faith; it is also said that this means: that you may be asked about the killing of the Prophet (pbuh).

(They cried) when they were being killed and tormented: (Alas for us! Lo! we were wrong-doers) when we killed our Prophet.

(And this their crying) i.e. saying " Alas for us! " (ceased not till We made them as reaped corn, extinct) dead, motionless. This is the story of a township near Yemen called " Hudur ". Allah sent a prophet to them but they killed him. Allah set on them Nebuchadnezzar who exterminated them.

(We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them) of created beings (in play) without ordaining commands and prohibitions.

Then Allah revealed the following, when they said that the angels are Allah's daughters: (If We had wished to find a pastime) if We wished to have daughters; and it is said that this means: if We wished to have a wife; and it is also said that this means: if We wished to have children, (We could have found it in Our presence) from Us from among the maidens of Paradise (if We ever did) and We will never do this.

(Nay, but We hurl the true) We cast the Truth (against the false) upon falsehood; it is also said: We exposit the Truth and falsehood, (and it doth break its head) and it makes it perish (and lo! it vanisheth) i.e. falsehood. (And yours) O group of disbelievers (will be woe) severe punishment (for that which ye ascribe (unto Him)) for your claim that the angels are Allah's daughters.

(Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth) all created beings are His slaves. (And those who dwell in His presence) among the angels (are not too proud to worship Him) they are not too proud to obey Him and acknowledge His Lordship (nor do they weary) and they do not tire from worshipping Allah;

(They glorify (Him) night and day) they pray to Him at night and during the day; (they flag not) they do not get bored of worshipping Allah and of acknowledging His Lordship.

(Or have they chosen) or have they, i.e. the people of Mecca, worshipped (gods from the earth) on the earth (who raise the dead) or create human beings?

(If there were therein) in the heavens and earth (Gods beside Allah) other than Allah, (then verily both had been disordered) the dwellers of the heavens and the earth would have been destroyed. (Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from all that they ascribe (unto Him)) from the children and partners they ascribe to Allah.

(He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth) Allah will not be questioned about what He says, commands or does, (but they will be questioned) and the servants will be asked about what they say and do.

(Or have they chosen) or have they worshipped (other gods) idols (beside Him) beside Allah? (Say) to them, O Muhammad: (Bring your proof (of their godhead)) bring your proofs for the validity of their worship. (This) i.e. the Qur'an (is the Reminder of those with me) is the events of those with me (and those before me) and the events of those who were before among the believers and disbelievers, and it does not contain that Allah has children or partners, (but most of them) all of them (know not the Truth) nor believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (and so they are averse) they disbelieve in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an.

(And We sent no messenger before you) O Muhammad (but We inspired him) tell your people that they should say: (There is no God save Me (Allah), so worship Me) so declare My divine Oneness.

(And they say) i.e. the people of Mecca: (The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a child) angels as daughters. (Be He glorified!) Allah exonerated Himself from having children or partners (Nay, but are honoured slaves) rather they are, i.e. the angels, are servants whom Allah has honoured with obeying Him;

(They speak not until He hath spoken) Gabriel does not go ahead of Michael, whether by words or acts, until He commands him, (and they act by His command) and they, i.e. the angels, say and do in accordance with Allah's command.

(He knoweth what is before them) of the matter of the Hereafter (and what is behind them) of the matter of this worldly life, (and they) i.e. the angels (cannot intercede) on the Day of Judgement (except for him whom He accepteth) except for those who profess Allah's divine Oneness and with whose monotheism Allah is pleased, (and they quake for awe of Him) among those who fear Him.

(And one of them) of the angels; and it is said this means: of created beings (who should say: Lo! I am a God beside Him) beside Allah, (that one We should repay with hell) Hell will be his lot because of this. (Thus We repay wrong-doers) thus We repay disbelievers.

(Have not those who disbelieve) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece) We did not send down to it a drop of rain or grow vegetation on the earth which were aligned with each other (then We parted them) and then separated them and singled them out from each other through rain and plants, (and We made every living thing of water) We made of water from the male and female everything that requires water? (Will they) i.e. the people of Mecca (not then believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an?

(And We have placed in the earth firm hills) the mountains as pillars for it (lest it quake with them) lest the earth trembles with them on it, (and We have placed therein) in the earth (ravines) valleys (as roads) as spacious roads (that haply they may find their way) in their goings and comings.

(And We have made the sky a roof) for the earth (withheld (from them)) such that it does not fall; it is also said that this means: it is protected from the satans by the stars. (Yet they) i.e. the people of Mecca (turn away from) they do not believe nor reflect upon (its portents) its sun, moon and stars.

(And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon) He made the sun and the moon subservient. (They float, each in an orbit) each one of them rotate around its orbit.

(We appointed) We have created (immortality) in this worldly life (for no mortal) among the prophets (before thee. What! if thou diest) O Muhammad, (can they be immortal) in this worldly life? This verse was revealed when they said: we will wait until Muhammad dies and then we will find rest.

(Every soul) that is possessed of breath (must taste of death, and We try you) We test you (with evil and with good) with hardship and comfort, (for ordeal) both are a test from Allah. (And unto Us ye will be returned) after you die and then He will requite you for your works.

(And when those who disbelieve) Abu Jahl and his host (behold thee) O Muhammad, (they but choose thee) O Muhammad (out for mockery) in what they say to you, ((saying)) to one another: (Is this he who maketh mention of) is this he who ridicules (your gods? And they would deny all mention of the Beneficent) they deny the Beneficent, saying: we do not know anyone by the name of the Beneficent (al-Rahman) except Musaylimah, the liar.

(Man) i.e. Adam (is made of haste) he is hasty; it is also said that this means: man, al-Nadr Ibn al-Harth, was created hasty, for he wanted chastisement to be hastened for him. (I shall show you My portents) I shall show you the signs of My divine Oneness in the horizons; it is also said that this means: I will show the signs of My punishment of you through the sword on the Day of Badr, (but ask Me not to hasten) My chastisement before its appointed time.

(And they say) i.e. the disbelievers of Mecca: (When will this promise) that you have promised us, O Muhammad, ((be fulfilled), if ye are truthful?)

(If those who disbelieved) if those who disbelieved in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an knew the chastisement awaiting them, they would not ask for it to be hastened, (but knew the time when they will not be able to drive off) when the chastisement comes, they will not be able to push away (the Fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not be helped) to drive away the chastisement!

(Nay, but it) the Last Hour (will come upon them unawares) suddenly (so that it will stupefy them) so it will take them by surprise, (and they will be unable to repel it) from themselves, (neither will they be reprieved) nor will their chastisement be postponed.

(Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked) the messengers who came before you, O Muhammad, were mocked by their people just as your people are mocking you, (but that whereat they mocked) the chastisement they mocked; it is also said that this means: they were chastised because of their mockery, (surrounded) was decreed and came down upon (those who scoffed at them) those who mocked the prophets.

(Say) O Muhammad to the people of Mecca: (Who guardeth you) who protects you (in the night or in the day from the Beneficent) from the chastisement of the Beneficent? It is also said that this means: who protects you from the punishment of other than the Beneficent? (Nay, but they turn away from) but they disbelieve and discard the (the mention of their Lord) from the profession of Allah's divine Oneness and the Scripture of their Lord,

(Or have they gods) or do they have deities (who can shield them from Us) from Our chastisement? (They cannot help themselves) they, these gods, cannot drive away chastisement from themselves, so how can they drive it away from others? (nor can they be defended from Us) nor are they going to receive immunity from Our chastisement, so how can they give immunity to others?

(Nay, but We gave these) the people of Mecca (and their fathers) before them (ease) a reprieve (until life grew long for them) until their lifespan grew long for them. (See they) i.e. the people of Mecca (not how we visit the land) how We seize the land, (reducing it) conquering it, for Muhammad (of its outlying parts) from its sides? (Can they then be the victors) are they then going to be victorious over Muhammad (pbuh)?

(Say) to them, O Muhammad: (I warn you only by the Inspiration) by that which is revealed of the Qur'an. (But the deaf hear not the call when they are warned) but you cannot make hear he who pretends not to hear Allah's call.

(And if a breath of thy Lord's punishment were to touch them, they assuredly would say: Alas for us! Lo! we were wrong-doers) against ourselves, and we were disbelievers in Allah.

(And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection) on the Day of Judgement, there will be a balance which will weigh only good and bad works (so that no soul is wronged in aught) no one will have his good works diminished nor his evil works increased. (Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We bring it) We requite for it. (And We suffice for reckoners) We are enough as Preserver and Knower.

(And We verily gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion) the deliverer from dubious matters; it is also said that the Criterion means: victory and the upper hand over Pharaoh (and a light) which shows error (and a Reader) and an admonition (for those who keep from evil) for those who ward off idolatry, disbelief and indecencies.

(Those who fear their Lord) those who work for their Lord (in secret) even if He is invisible to them (and who dread the Hour) and who dread the chastisement of the Last Day.

(This) Qur'an (is a blessed Reminder) it contains mercy and forgiveness for he who believes in it (that We have revealed) We sent Gabriel with it: (Will ye) O people of Mecca (then reject it) disbelieve in it?

(And We verily gave Abraham of old) before he reached the age of puberty; it is also said that this means: We honoured him with prophethood before Moses and Aaron; and it said that this means: before Muhammad (pbuh) (his proper course) i.e. knowledge and understanding, (and We were Aware of him) i.e. that he deserved it,

(When he said unto his father) Azar (and his folk) Nimrod son of Canaan and his host: (What are these images unto which ye pay devotion) which you worship?

(They said: We found our fathers worshippers of them) and so we worship them.

(He said) Abraham said to them: (Verily ye and your fathers) before you (were in plain error) in disbelief and manifest error.

(They said) to Abraham: (Bringest thou unto us the Truth) is what you say serious, O Abraham, (or art thou some jester) or are you mocking us?

(He said) Abraham said: (Nay, but your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them; and I am of those who testify unto that) to what I have said.

(And, by Allah) he said this to himself, (I shall circumvent) I shall demolish (your idols after ye have gone away and turned your backs) to go to the festival.

When they went to their festival and they left Abraham behind in their township, he went to the house of their idols. (Then he reduced them to fragments) he destroyed them, (all save the chief of them) he left it intact, (that haply they might have recourse to it) after coming back from their festival and he could say that it was it that did it.

They entered the house of their idols. (They said: Who hath done this to our gods? Surely it must be some evil-doer) he committed an evil deed against our deities.

(They said) a man among them said: (We heard a youth make mention of them) speaking ill of them and mentioning that he will break them, (who is called Abraham).

(They said) Nimrod said to them: (Then bring him (hither) before the people's eyes) in the presence of people (that they may testify) that he did it; and it is said that this means: that they may testify that he said he will demolish them; and it is also said that this means: that they may witness his punishment.

(They said) Nimrod said to him: (Is it thou who hast done this) i.e. breaking them (to our gods, O Abraham?

He said) Abraham said: (But this, their chief) who has the axe on its shoulder (hath done it. So question them, if they can speak) so that they can inform you who broke them.

(Then gathered they apart) blaming themselves (and said) and their king Nimrod said: (Lo! ye yourselves are the wrong-doers) towards Abraham.

(And they were utterly confounded) and went back to their initial statement, (and they said) Nimrod said: (Well thou knowest) O Abraham (that these speak not) that the idols do not speak, and this is why you broke them.

(He said) Abraham said: (Worship ye then instead of Allah that which cannot profit you at all) if you worshipped it, (nor harm you) if you did not worship it?

(Fie on you and all that ye worship instead of Allah! Have ye then no sense) do you not then have the common sense that human beings have? It does not befit one to worship something that does not benefit or harm.

(They cried) their king Nimrod said to them: (Burn him) in the Fire (and stand by your gods) and avenge your deities, (if ye will be doing) something to him; and they threw him in the Fire.

(We said: O fire, be coolness) against your heat (and peace) and safety from your coolness (for Abraham) for if Allah did not say " peace " the coolness of the Fire would have harmed him.

(And they wished to set a snare for him) i.e. to burn him, (but We made them the greater losers) the ones who were humbled.

(And We rescued him) from the Fire (and Lot) We saved Lot from being swallowed by the earth and We brought them (to the land which We have blessed) through water and trees (for (all) peoples) this is the land of Jerusalem, Palestine and Jordan.

(And We bestowed upon him) i.e. upon Abraham (Isaac) as a son, (and Jacob) as a grandson. (Each of them) i.e. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their sons (We made righteous) in their religion, and messengers.

(And We made them chiefs) leaders of goodness (who guide by Our command) who call people by Our command, (and We inspired in them the doing of good deeds) and it is said that these good deeds relate to inviting people to profess Allah's divine Oneness (and the right establishment of worship) the fulfilment of the prayers (and the giving of alms and they were worshippers of Us (alone)) and they were obedient to Us.

(And unto Lot We gave judgement) understanding (and knowledge) prophethood, (and We delivered him from the community) We delivered them from the people of Sodom (that did abominations) whose people engaged in sodomy. (Lo! they were folk of evil) they were evil in their state of disbelief, (lewd) through their sodomy.

(And We brought him in) and We will enter him in the Hereafter (unto Our mercy) into Our Paradise; it is also said that this means: We honoured him in this worldly life with prophethood. (Lo! he was of the righteous) in his religion, and was one of the messengers.

(And Noah) We also honoured him with prophethood, (when he cried) when he prayed to his Lord to destroy his people (of old) before Lot, (We heard his prayer and saved him and his household) as well as those who believed in him (from the great affliction) i.e. from drowning.

(And delivered him from the people who denied Our revelations) who disbelieved in Our Scripture and Messenger Noah. (Lo! they were folk of evil) in their state of disbelief, (therefore did We drown them all) by the flood.

(And David and Solomon) We also honoured them with prophethood and wisdom, (when they gave judgement concerning the field) the vineyard of the people, (when people's sheep) other people's sheep (had strayed and browsed therein by night; and We were witnesses to) We had knowledge of (their judgement) the judgement of David and Solomon.

(And We made Solomon to understand) gentleness in judgement; (and unto each of them) David and Solomon (We gave judgement) understanding (and knowledge) prophethood. (And We subdued the hills and the birds to hymn (His) praise along with David) when he praised his Lord. (We were the doers (thereof)) We did that to them.

(And We taught him the art of making garments (of mail)) the art of making armours (to protect you in your daring) to protect you from the weapons of your enemy. (Are ye then thankful) of His blessings, which are these armours?

(And unto Solomon (We subdued) the wind in its raging. It set by His command) and it is also said that this means: by Solomon's command (towards the land which We had blessed) with water and trees; this is the Holy Land: Jordan and Palestine. (And of everything) We subdued for him (We are aware).

(And of the evil ones) We subdued for him the satans (some who dived for him) into the depth of the sea and brought up pearls for him (and did other work) other than diving in the sea, such as construction, (and We were warders unto them) We prevented that anyone transgresses against another in his time.