Qaf

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said in the interpretation of Allah's saying (Qaf.): '(Qaf.) He says: it is an azure mountain overlooking this world, and the colour of the sky takes from it; Allah swore by it, (By the glorious Qur'an) and He swore by the glorious, noble Qur'an,

(Nay, but they marvel) i.e. the Quraysh; and it is because they marvelled that Allah made this oath: they marvelled when they were told they will be resurrected after death; He said: in fact the Quraysh, among whom Ubayy and Umayyah the sons of Khalaf, Munbih and Nabih the son of Hajjaj, marvelled (that a warner) a warning messenger (of their own) from their own lineage (hath come unto them; and the disbelievers) the disbelievers of Mecca: Ubayy, Umayyah, Munbih and Nabih (say: This) which Muhammad (pbuh) says, i.e. that they will be resurrected after death, (is a strange thing) for he says:

(When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be brought back again)? That) which Muhammad claims (would be a far return!) will never happen; thus denying resurrection after death.

Allah, Exalted is He, said: (We know that which the earth taketh of them) We know that which the earth devours of their flesh after they die and that which it leaves, (and with Us is a recording Book) and with Us is a Book preserved from Satan. This is the Guarded Tablet wherein is recorded their death, stay in the grave and resurrection on the Day of Judgement.

(Nay, but they) the Quraysh (have denied the Truth) Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (when it came unto them) this is the second clause of the oath, i.e. by the noble and glorious Qur'an, Muhammad (pbuh) has brought them the Qur'an, (therefore they are now in troubled case) they are in error; it is also said that this means: they are confused; and it is also said this means: they are in disagreement, some of them believe while others do not.

(Have they) i.e. the disbelievers of Mecca (not then observed the sky above them) above their heads, (how We have constructed it) without pillars (and beautified it) and beautified it with stars, (and how there are no rifts therein) and how there are no rifts, cracks or defects therein?

(And the earth have We spread out) over water, (and have flung firm hills) firm mountains so that it does not sway (therein) on the earth, (and have caused of every lovely kind to grow thereon) and have caused of every kind of seemly appearance to grow thereon,

(A vision) so that you may see (and a reminder) a lesson so that you may learn from it; it is also said �a vision� means an admonition and �reminder� means reflection (for every penitent slave) who turns to Allah and His obedience.

(And We send down from the sky blessed water) rain blessed with vegetation and benefit from which all things derive life (whereby We give growth unto gardens and the grain of crops) all kinds of grain that are harvested,

(And lofty date-palms with ranged clusters,

Provision (made) for men) food for people, i.e. the grains; (and therewith) i.e. through water (We quicken a dead land) a land with no vegetation. (Even so will be the resurrection of the dead) this is how they will be brought back to life and raised forth from the graves through water on the Day of Judgement.

(The folk of Noah denied) denied Noah (before them) before your folk, O Muhammad, (and (so did) the dwellers at al-Rass) al-Rass is a well close to al-Yamamah; the dwellers of al-Rass are the people of Shu'ayb who denied Shu'ayb (and (the tribe of) Thamud) the people of Salih,

(And (the tribe of) 'Aad) the people of Hud denied Hud, (and Pharaoh) and his folk denied Moses, (and the brethren of Lot) and the folk of Lot denied Lot,

(And the dwellers in the wood) the people of Shu'ayb denied Shu'ayb, (and the folk of Tubba') Tubba' was the king of Himyar. His name was As'ad Ibn Malkikarb, and his agnomen was Abu Karb and he was called Tubba' because of the huge number of his followers (atba'); he was also a person who surrendered to Allah: (every one) of these folk (denied their messengers) just as your folk, the Quraysh, denied you, (therefore My threat took effect) and therefore My punishment and torment were enjoined upon them when they denied the messengers.

(Were We then worn out by the first creation) such that We will be worn out by their second creation when We create them for resurrection after death? (Yet they) i.e. the Quraysh (are in doubt about a new creation) after death.

(We verily created a man) the child of Adam; and it is said this means: Abu Jahl (and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him) We are more aware of him and have more power over him (than his jugular vein) and there is nothing closer to man than this jugular vein.

(When the two Receivers receive (him)) when the two angels write, (seated on) one sitting on one side and the other on another side (the right hand) the right hand of the child of Adam (and on the left) the left hand of the child of Adam,

(He uttereth no word) the slave utters no good or evil word (but there is with him an observer ready) to record either that which is in his advantage or disadvantage.

(And the agony of death) the pangs of death (cometh in truth) heralding either damnation or felicity. (This) child of Adam (is that which thou wast wont to shun) and dislike.

(And the trumpet is blown) this is the blowing of the resurrection. (This is the threatened Day) the threatened Day of the first and latter nations.

(And every soul cometh, along with it a driver) leading it to its Lord; this driver is the angel who recorded the evil deeds it had committed (and a witness) before its Lord; this is the angels who recorded its good deeds; and it is also said that this witness is man's works.

(Thou wast) O child of Adam (in heedlessness) in ignorance and oblivion (of this) Day. (Now We have removed from thee your covering) your works, that which was concealed from you in the life of the world, (and piercing is your sight this day) and it is also said that this means: your knowledge is thorough this day.

(And (unto the evil-doer) his comrade) the angel who recorded his good deeds; and it is said: the angel who recorded his evil works (saith: This is that which I have) this is that which with you have entrusted me (ready (as testimony)).

And Allah would say to him: (Do ye twain hurl to hell each rebel) who turns away from faith (ingrate) and who disbelieves in Allah, i.e. al-Walid Ibn al-Mughirah al-Makhzumi,

(Hinderer of good) i.e. Islam, he hindered his sons and his grandchildren and brother's children and family, relatives and kinsfolk, (transgressor) oppressor, (doubter) whose doubt is quite manifest and who further lies against Allah,

(Who setteth up another god along with Allah) who claims that Allah has a son and a partner. (Do ye twain hurl him to the dreadful doom) Allah would say to the angels who recorded his deeds: cast him in the severe torment.

(His comrade) the angel who recorded his evil deeds (saith: Our Lord! I did not cause him to rebel) �I did not hasten to record his evil deeds nor did I record that which he has never said or done�; this will be said when the disbeliever will claim that the angel hastened to write his evil deeds and recorded that which he never said or did. it is also said that his comrade is his devil who will plead with Allah that he did not cause him to rebel or err (but be was (himself) far gone in error) far from the Truth and guidance.

(He saith) Allah says to them: (Contend not in My presence, when I had already proffered unto you the warning) I have informed you in the Scripture with which the Messenger was sent about this Day.

(The sentence that cometh from Me cannot be changed) My words cannot be changed through lying; and it is also said that this means: My decree concerning My salves will not be changed this Day; and it is also said that this means: words cannot be twisted in My presence, (and I am in nowise a tyrant unto the slaves) such that I would punish them without them having committed a crime.

(On the day) this is the Day of Judgement (when We say unto hell: Art thou filled) as I have promised? (and it saith: Can there be more to come?) and it will have more; and it is also said that hell will say: I am quite full, I do not have room even for one extra man.

(And the Garden is brought nigh for those who kept from evil) those who warded off disbelief, idolatry and indecencies, (no longer distant) from them.

((And it is said): That) reward and honour (is that which ye were promised) in the life of the world. ((It is) for every penitent) who turns to Allah and His obedience (and heedful one) observant of Allah's command in his private moment; and it is also said: in his prayers,

(Who feareth the Beneficent in secret) who strives for the Beneficent even he has not seen Him (and cometh with a contrite heart) sincere in his worship and profession of Allah's divine Oneness.

Allah will say to them: (Enter it) i.e. Paradise (in peace) in safety from Allah's chastisement. (This is the day of immortality) the day when the dwellers of Paradise will enter Paradise to abide therein for eternity.

(There) in Paradise (they have all that they desire, and there is more with Us) i.e. beholding Allah's Countenance; and it is said that this means: in every hour and in every day, they have with Us an increase in honour and reward.

(And how many a generation) past generation (We destroyed before them) before your folk, (who were mightier than these) than your folk (in prowess) in physical strength (so that they overran the lands!) they moved about and travelled for their trade (Had they any place of refuge) or escape from Our chastisement? And it is also said this means: is there anyone of them left?

(Lo! Therein) in that which was done with them (verily is a reminder) for your folk (for him who hath a heart) a living heart, (or giveth ear) or listens to the Qur'an (with full intelligence) with focus and not absentmindedly.

(And verily We created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them) of created beings and marvels, (in six Days) of the days of the beginning of the life of the world, each day the equivalent of 1,000 years of present days, the first day being Sunday and the last Friday, (and naught of weariness touched Us) We were not tired as claimed by the Jews who said: when Allah finished the creation of the heavens and earth, he put one leg on the other and rested on Saturday. The enemies of Allah have lied against Allah.

(Therefore) O Muhammad (bear with what they say) bear with the lies of the Jews; it is also said this means: bear with what the deriders say; these are five people whom we have already mentioned somewhere else: (and hymn the praise of thy Lord) pray by the command of your Lord (before the rising) this is the morning prayer (and before the setting of the sun) these are the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers;

(And in the night time hymn His praise) pray for Him the prayers of Maghrib and 'Isha' or the prayer of tahajjud: (And after the (prescribed) prostrations) two units of prayer after the Maghrib.

(And listen on) O Muhammad, so that you can hear the description of it; it is also said that this means: strive, O Muhammad, for the day when the angel blows the Trumpet (the day when the crier crieth from a near place) close to heaven, from the dome of Jerusalem, which is the closest spot on earth to heaven by about 12 miles; and it is also said this means: from a close distance from which they can hear from beneath their feet.

(The day when they will hear the (Awful) Cry in truth) coming forth from the graves. (That is the day of coming forth (from the graves)) which is the Day of Judgement.

(Lo! We it is Who quicken) for the resurrection (and give death) in the life of the world, (and unto Us is the journeying) after death.

(On the day when the earth spliteth asunder from them, hastening forth (they come)) out of the graves. (That is a gathering easy for Us (to make).

We are best aware of what they say) concerning the resurrection; and it is said: of what they say in the life of the world, (and thou) O Muhammad (art in nowise a compeller over them) such that you force them to accept faith; but later on Allah commanded him to fight them. (But warn) admonish (by the Qur'an him who feareth My threat) for only he who fears My chastisement in the Hereafter will accept your admonition'.