Tanwir al-Miqbas · Tafsir · in English
Al-Hajj 22:64–78
22:64Page 339
لَّهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ ٦٤
To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth. And indeed, Allāh is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
(Unto Him belongeth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth) of created beings. (Lo! Allah, He verily is the Absolute) He is free of need for His created beings, (the Owner of Praise) the One Who is praised in His actions; it is also said that this means: the Owner of Praise with regard to he who declares His divine Oneness.
22:65Page 340
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱلۡفُلۡكَ تَجۡرِي فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِأَمۡرِهِۦ وَيُمۡسِكُ ٱلسَّمَآءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٞ ٦٥
Do you not see that Allāh has subjected to you whatever is on the earth and the ships which run through the sea by His command? And He restrains the sky from falling upon the earth, unless by His permission. Indeed Allāh, to the people, is Kind and Merciful.
(Hast thou not seen) have you not, O Muhammad, been informed in the Qur'an (how Allah hath made all that is in the earth) of trees and beasts (subservient unto you? And the ships runneth upon the sea by His command) by His leave, (and He holdeth back) and He prevents (the heaven from falling on the earth unless by His leave) that is until the Day of Judgement. (Lo! Allah is, for mankind) for the believers, (Full of Pity, Merciful).
22:66Page 340
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَحۡيَاكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيكُمۡۗ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَكَفُورٞ ٦٦
And He is the one who gave you life; then He causes you to die and then will [again] give you life. Indeed, mankind is ungrateful.
(And He it is Who gave you life) when you were very little in the wombs of your mothers, (then He will cause you to die) in young or old age, (and then will give you life (again)) at resurrection after death. (Lo! Man) i.e. the disbeliever Budayl Ibn Warqa' al-Khuza'i (is verily an ingrate) he disbelieves in Allah, resurrection after death as well as in the immolated animals of the Muslims.
22:67Page 340
لِّكُلِّ أُمَّةٖ جَعَلۡنَا مَنسَكًا هُمۡ نَاسِكُوهُۖ فَلَا يُنَٰزِعُنَّكَ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِۚ وَٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَۖ إِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ هُدٗى مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٦٧
For every [religious] community We have appointed rites which they perform. So, [O Muḥammad], let them [i.e., the disbelievers] not contend with you over the matter but invite [them] to your Lord. Indeed, you are upon straight guidance.
(Unto each nation) unto the adherents of each religion (have We given sacred rites) places where to immolate sacrifices; it is also said that this means: places of worship (which they are to perform) according to their religion; (so let them not dispute with thee) let them not go against you nor prevent you (of the matter) regarding the matter of immolated sacrifices and the divine Oneness of Allah, (but summon thou unto thy Lord) call for the profession of Allah's divine Oneness. (Lo! thou indeed follow right guidance) you indeed follow an established religion with which Allah is pleased: the religion of Islam.
22:68Page 340
وَإِن جَٰدَلُوكَ فَقُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ ٦٨
And if they dispute with you, then say, "Allāh is most knowing of what you do.
(And if they wrangle with thee) concerning sacrifices and Allah's divine Oneness, because of their saying: " that which Allah immolates is more lawful than what you immolate with your own knives " , (say: Allah is best aware of what ye do) in the practice of your religion, whether it is a question of sacrifices or other things.
22:69Page 340
ٱللَّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كُنتُمۡ فِيهِ تَخۡتَلِفُونَ ٦٩
Allāh will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which you used to differ."
(Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein ye used to differ) regarding sacrifices and Allah's divine Oneness.
22:70Page 340
أَلَمۡ تَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِي كِتَٰبٍۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٞ ٧٠
Do you not know that Allāh knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record.1 Indeed that, for Allāh, is easy.
(Hast thou not known) O Muhammad (that Allah knoweth all that is in the heaven) all the good things performed by the dwellers of the heavens (and the earth) and He knows all the good and evil things committed by the dwellers of the earth? (Lo! it is in a Record) it is recorded in the Guarded Tablet. (Lo! That) preserving that without a record (is easy for Allah).
22:71Page 340
وَيَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يُنَزِّلۡ بِهِۦ سُلۡطَٰنٗا وَمَا لَيۡسَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عِلۡمٞۗ وَمَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٖ ٧١
And they worship besides Allāh that for which He has not sent down authority and that of which they have no knowledge. And there will not be for the wrongdoers any helper.
(And they) the disbelievers of Mecca (worship instead of Allah that for which no warrant has been revealed unto them) without any Scripture or pretext, (and that whereof they have no knowledge) proof or clarification. (For evil-doers) for idolaters (there is no helper) to save them from Allah's chastisement.
22:72Page 340
وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ تَعۡرِفُ فِي وُجُوهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱلۡمُنكَرَۖ يَكَادُونَ يَسۡطُونَ بِٱلَّذِينَ يَتۡلُونَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَاۗ قُلۡ أَفَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرّٖ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمُۚ ٱلنَّارُ وَعَدَهَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ٧٢
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, you recognize in the faces of those who disbelieve disapproval. They are almost on the verge of assaulting those who recite to them Our verses. Say, "Then shall I inform you of [what is] worse than that?1 [It is] the Fire which Allāh has promised those who disbelieve, and wretched is the destination."
(And when Our revelations) i.e. the Qur'an (are recited unto them) expositing to them the commands and prohibitions, (thou knowest) O Muhammad (the denial) their hatred of the Qur'an (in the faces of those who disbelieve) in the Qur'an; (they all but attack) they are about to beat up and fall on (those who recite Our revelations) the Qur'an (unto them. Say) O Muhammad, to the people of Mecca: (Shall I proclaim unto you worse than that) worse than what you told the Muslims in the life of this world? They said to them: " We have seen no adherents of any religion who are less fortunate than you ". And so Allah said: Say, O Muhammad� Allah said: what is worse is (The Fire! Allah hath promised it for the ones who disbelieve) in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an; and you are indeed disbelievers in Muhammad and the Qur'an. (A hapless journey's end) to which they will come!
22:73Page 341
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٞ فَٱسۡتَمِعُواْ لَهُۥٓۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَن يَخۡلُقُواْ ذُبَابٗا وَلَوِ ٱجۡتَمَعُواْ لَهُۥۖ وَإِن يَسۡلُبۡهُمُ ٱلذُّبَابُ شَيۡـٔٗا لَّا يَسۡتَنقِذُوهُ مِنۡهُۚ ضَعُفَ ٱلطَّالِبُ وَٱلۡمَطۡلُوبُ ٧٣
O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides Allāh will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for it [i.e., that purpose]. And if the fly should steal from them a [tiny] thing, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued.1
(O mankind!) He means the people of Mecca. (A similitude is coined) He has explained the likeness of your deities, (so pay ye heed to it) and respond: (Lo! those on whom ye call beside Allah) of idols (will never create a fly) they will never be able to create a fly (though they) the worshipped and the worshippers (combine together for the purpose) they will not be able to create a fly. (And if the fly took something) like honey with which are sullied for example (from them) from the deities, (they could not rescue it from it) the deities would not be able to take it back from the fly. (So weak are (both) the seeker) i.e. the deity (and the sought) and the fly! It is also said that this means: so weak are both that which is worshipped and the worshipper.
22:74Page 341
مَا قَدَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدۡرِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ ٧٤
They have not appraised Allāh with true appraisal.1 Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
(They measure not Allah His rightful measure) they do not magnify Allah as He deserves to be magnified. This was revealed about the Jews when they claimed that 'Uzayr was the son of God, and due to their sayings: �Allah is poor while we are rich,�, �Allah's hands are tight because of miserliness� and that Allah rested after He finished creating the heavens and the earth. (Lo! Allah is Strong) against His enemies, (Almighty) He is Mighty in His vengeance against the Jews.
22:75Page 341
ٱللَّهُ يَصۡطَفِي مِنَ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلٗا وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعُۢ بَصِيرٞ ٧٥
Allāh chooses from the angels messengers and from the people. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
(Allah chooseth from the angels messengers) who are sent with messages, i.e. Gabriel, Michael, Seraphiel and the angel of death, (and (also) from mankind) Muhammad and all the prophets (pbut). (Lo! Allah is Hearer) of their saying: how come this messenger eats food and walks about in the marketplace, (Seer) of their chastisement.
22:76Page 341
يَعۡلَمُ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُمۡۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرۡجَعُ ٱلۡأُمُورُ ٧٦
He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them.1 And to Allāh will be returned [all] matters.
(He knoweth all that is before them) of the matter of the Hereafter (and all that is behind them) of the matter of the life of this world, (and unto Allah all things) the consequence of all things (are returned) in the Hereafter.
22:77Page 341
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱرۡكَعُواْ وَٱسۡجُدُواْۤ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ وَٱفۡعَلُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ۩ ٧٧
O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good - that you may succeed.
(O ye who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves) in the prayer, (and worship) obey (your Lord, and do good) righteous works, (that haply ye may prosper) that you may be safe from Allah's wrath and punishment.
22:78Page 341
وَجَٰهِدُواْ فِي ٱللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِۦۚ هُوَ ٱجۡتَبَىٰكُمۡ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِ مِنۡ حَرَجٖۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمۡ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَۚ هُوَ سَمَّىٰكُمُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِۚ فَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ هُوَ مَوۡلَىٰكُمۡۖ فَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمَوۡلَىٰ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ ٧٨
And strive for Allāh with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. He [i.e., Allāh] named you "Muslims" before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakāh and hold fast to Allāh. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper.
(And strive for Allah with the endeavour which is His right) and fulfil for Allah that which is His right. (He hath chosen you) for His religion (and hath not laid upon you in religion) in the matter of religion (any hardship) He says: whoever cannot pray standing, let him pray sitting; and whoever cannot pray sitting, let him pray lying down, just by making gestures; (the faith of your father Abraham) follow the religion of your father Abraham. (He hath named you) Allah named you (Muslims of old time) before this Qur'an, in the Scriptures of past prophets (and in this (Scripture)) i.e. the Qur'an, (that the messenger) Muhammad (pbuh) (may be a witness against you) against the disbelievers and in favour of the believers, (and that ye may be witnesses against mankind) in favour of the prophets. (So establish worship) perform the five daily prayers, by perfecting their ablutions, bowing, prostration and that which is prescribed in their appointed times, (pay the poor-due) from your wealth, (and hold fast to Allah) and hold fast to Allah's religion and Scripture. (He is your Protecting Friend. A blessed Patron) Protector (and a blessed Helper) Who will defend you!'
Text: Quranic Universal Library (Tarteel), via spa5k/tafsir_api (MIT), at a fixed version. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences