(Revealed before Hijrah)
Date of Revelation and Context
All scholarly opinion is agreed on this point that the Surah was revealed at Mecca. Its style and contents support this view. On account of the importance of its subject matter, the Holy Prophet called it the heart of the Qur'an. In the preceding Surah it was stated that God, being the Maker of the heavens and the earth, has made full provision not only for the physical needs of man but also for his moral and spiritual requirements. This He did by revealing Himself to His chosen servants whom He raised among every people. To the Holy Prophet whom the present Surah designates as "The Perfect Leader" or "The Leader par excellence," God revealed Himself in His most complete manifestation and gave him the most perfect and infallible Book in the form of the Qur'an.
Subject-Matter
The Surah opens with addressing the Holy Prophet as "The Perfect Leader," meaning that the system of Divine Messengers which began with Adam found its most perfect example in him. The Holy Prophet's path is now the only right and straight path that leads to God. All other paths that formerly led to the Supreme Being have now been closed and shall remain closed till the end of time. God will now reveal Himself to the world through the Holy Prophet's followers. In His infallible wisdom He has chosen the Arabs, among whom no Messenger had come for centuries, to preach to humanity the last Divine Message. The land of Arabia was dreary and dry. The water of Divine revelation descended upon it and it has now begun to blossom into a new and vigorous spiritual life.
The Surah then proceeds to tell in metaphorical language how God had been revealing Himself to mankind through His Messengers. It tells of Moses and Jesus and of the Holy Prophet, who were raised in the fullness of time to call men to God. Then it tells of a "certain man" whom God will raise from among the followers of the Holy Prophet in a land far away from the centre of Islam (36:21) in the Latter Days, when religion would be at its lowest ebb and the very idea of Divine revelation would be doubted and denied. This Divine Reformer will call mankind to Islam. But like the Prophets of yore, his will be a voice in the wilderness. The forces of evil will hold the whole world in their firm grip. Man will worship false gods and Divine punishment will descend upon the world.
Next, the Surah invites attention to a well-known law of nature, viz., that when all the earth becomes dry and parched, God sends down rain and the dead soil begins to vibrate with a new life; and herbage, vegetables and flowers and fruits of various kinds and colors grow up. Similarly, when man's soul becomes corroded and contaminated God causes spiritual water to descend from heaven in the form of Divine revelation.
The Surah then gives another simile to explain the same subject. It points to the law of the alternation of day and night. It further points to a revealed truth that God has created all things in pairs; there are pairs even in vegetables and in inorganic matter. This simile points out that all true knowledge is the result of the combination of Divine revelation and human reason.
Towards its close the Surah draws attention to a great and bright future for Islam. It says that the Divine decree that a people, like the Arabs, who had remained very low in the scale of humanity for long centuries, would now rise to the height of material power and spiritual glory, is not an idle dream or poetic fancy. A Prophet of God, a Divine Messenger, has appeared among them and he will lead them to the highest pinnacle of spiritual and material grandeur and glory.
 بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
[36:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
 يس
[36:2] Ya Sin[2426].
 وَالْقُرْآنِ الْحَكِيمِ
[36:3] By the Qur’an[2427], full of wisdom,
 إِنَّكَ لَمِنْ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
[36:4] Thou art indeed one of the Messengers,
 عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
[36:5] On a right path[2427A].
 تَنزِيلَ الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ
[36:6] This is a revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful,
 لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَا أُنذِرَ آبَاؤُهُمْ فَهُمْ غَافِلُونَ
[36:7] That thou mayest warn a people whose fathers were not warned, and so they are heedless.
 لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى أَكْثَرِهِمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ
[36:8] Surely the word has proved true against most of them, for they believe not
 . إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ أَغْلاَلاً فَهِيَ إِلَى الأَذْقَانِ فَهُمْ مُقْمَحُونَ
[36:9] We have put round their necks, chains[2428] reaching unto the chins, so that their heads are forced up[2428A].
 وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَاهُمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يُبْصِرُونَ
[36:10] And We have set a barrier before them and a barrier behind them, and have covered them over, so that they cannot see[2429].
 وَسَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ
[36:11] And it is equal to them whether thou warn them or warn them not: they will not believe[2430].
 إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ مَنْ اتَّبَعَ الذِّكْرَ وَخَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَأَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ
[36:12] Thou canst warn only him who would follow the Reminder and fear the Gracious God in secret. So give him the glad tidings of forgiveness and a noble reward.
 إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِ الْمَوْتَى وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُبِينٍ
[36:13] Surely, We alone give life to the dead, and We record that which they send forward and that which they leave behind; and all things have We recorded in a clear Book[2431].
 وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَثَلاً أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَاءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ
[36:14] And set forth to them the parable of a people of the town[2432], when the Messengers came to it.
 إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ مُرْسَلُونَ
[36:15] When We sent to them two Messengers[2433], and they rejected them both; so We strengthened them by a third[2434], and they said, ‘Verily we have been sent to you as Messengers.’
 قَالُوا مَا أَنْتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِثْلُنَا وَمَا أَنزَلَ الرَّحْمَنُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلاَّ تَكْذِبُونَ
[36:16] They replied, ‘You are but men like us and the Gracious God has not revealed anything. You only lie.’
 قَالُوا رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ
[36:17] They said, ‘Our Lord knows that we are indeed His Messengers to you;
 وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلاَّ الْبَلاَغُ الْمُبِينُ
[36:18] ‘And on us lies only the plain delivery of the Message.’
 قَالُوا إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَنتَهُوا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُمْ مِنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
[36:19] They said, ‘Surely we augur evil fortune from you; if you desist not, we will certainly stone[2435] you, and a painful punishment will surely befall you at our hands.’
 قَالُوا طَائِرُكُمْ مَعَكُمْ أَئِنْ ذُكِّرْتُمْ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ
[36:20] They replied, ‘Your evil fortune is with your own selves. Is it because you have been admonished? Nay, you are a people transgressing all bounds.’
 وَجَاءَ مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَى قَالَ يَاقَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ
[36:21] And from the farthest part of the town[2436] there came a man[2437] running[2438]. He said, ‘O my people, follow the Messengers,
 اتَّبِعُوا مَنْ لاَ يَسْأَلُكُمْ أَجْرًا وَهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ
[36:22] ‘Follow those who ask of you no reward, and who are rightly guided.
 وَمَا لِيَ لاَ أَعْبُدُ الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
[36:23] ‘And what reason have I that I should not worship Him Who has created me, and unto Whom you will be brought back?
 أَأَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِهِ آلِهَةً إِنْ يُرِدْنِ الرَّحْمَنُ بِضُرٍّ لاَ تُغْنِ عَنِّي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يُنقِذُونِ
[36:24] ‘Shall I take others beside Him as gods[2439]? If the Gracious God should intend me any harm, their intercession will avail me naught, nor can they rescue me.
 إِنِّي إِذًا لَفِي ضَلاَلٍ مُبِينٍ
[36:25] ‘In that case I should indeed be in manifest error.
 إِنِّي آمَنْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَاسْمَعُونِ
[36:26] ‘I believe in your Lord; so listen to me.’
 قِيلَ ادْخُلْ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ يَالَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ
[36:27] It was said to him, ‘Enter Paradise.[2440]’ He said, ‘O, would that my people knew,
 بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنْ الْمُكْرَمِينَ
[36:28] ‘How graciously my Lord has granted me forgiveness and has made me of the honoured ones!’
 وَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ جُندٍ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا كُنَّا مُنزِلِينَ
[36:29] And We sent not down against his people, after him, any host from heaven, nor did We need to send down any.
 إِنْ كَانَتْ إِلاَّ صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَامِدُونَ
[36:30] It was but a single blast and lo! they were extinct[2441].
 يَاحَسْرَةً عَلَى الْعِبَادِ مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلاَّ كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُون
[36:31] Alas for My servants! there comes not a Messenger to them but they mock at him[2442].
 أَلَمْ يَرَوْا كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُمْ مِنْ الْقُرُونِ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لاَ يَرْجِعُونَ
[36:32] Have they not seen how many generations We have destroyed before them, and that they never return to them[2443]?
 وَإِنْ كُلٌّ لَمَّا جَمِيعٌ لَدَيْنَا مُحْضَرُونَ
[36:33] And all of them, gathered together, will certainly be brought before Us.
 وَآيَةٌ لَهُمْ الأَرْضُ الْمَيْتَةُ أَحْيَيْنَاهَا وَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهَا حَبًّا فَمِنْهُ يَأْكُلُونَ
[36:34] And the dead earth is a Sign for them: We quicken it and bring forth therefrom grain, of which they eat.
 وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا جَنَّاتٍ مِنْ نَخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ وَفَجَّرْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ الْعُيُونِ
[36:35] And We have placed in it gardens of date-palms and grapes, and We have caused springs to gush forth therein[2444]
 لِيَأْكُلُوا مِنْ ثَمَرِهِ وَمَا عَمِلَتْهُ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَفَلاَ يَشْكُرُونَ
[36:36] That they may eat of the fruit thereof, and it was not their hands that made them. Will they not then be grateful?
 سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنْبِتُ الأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
[36:37] Holy is He Who created all things in pairs[2445], of what the earth grows, and of themselves, and of what they know not.
 وَآيَةٌ لَهُمُ اللَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُمْ مُظْلِمُونَ
[36:38] And a Sign for them is the night from which We strip off the day, and lo! they are in darkness.
 وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَهَا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ
[36:39] And the sun is moving on the course prescribed for it. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All- Knowing God.
 وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ
[36:40] And for the moon We have appointed stages, till it becomes again like an old dry branch of a palm-tree.
 لاَ الشَّمْسُ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلاَ اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ
[36:41] It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day. All of them float in an orbit[2446].
 وَآيَةٌ لَهُمْ أَنَّا حَمَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ
[36:42] And a Sign for them is that We carry their offspring in the laden ship,
 وَخَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِنْ مِثْلِهِ مَا يَرْكَبُونَ
[36:43] And We have created for them the like thereof whereon they ride[2447].
 وَإِنْ نَشَأْ نُغْرِقْهُمْ فَلاَ صَرِيخَ لَهُمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يُنقَذُونَ
[36:44] And if We so willed, We could drown them; then they would have no one to succour them, nor would they be rescued,
 إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً مِنَّا وَمَتَاعًا إِلَى حِينٍ
[36:45] Except through mercy from Us and as a provision for a time.
 وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ اتَّقُوا مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَمَا خَلْفَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
[36:46] And when it is said to them, ‘Guard yourselves against that which is before[2448] you and that which is behind[2449] you, in order that you may receive mercy,’ they turn away.
 وَمَا تَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ آيَةٍ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلاَّ كَانُوا عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ
[36:47] And there comes not to them any Sign out of the Signs of their Lord, but they turn away from it.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَنفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنُطْعِمُ مَنْ لَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ أَطْعَمَهُ إِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلاَّ فِي ضَلاَلٍ مُبِينٍ
[36:48] And when it is said to them, ‘Spend out of that with which Allah has provided you,’ those who disbelieve say to those who believe, ‘Shall we feed him whom Allah would have fed, if He had so willed? You are but in manifest error.’
 وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَذَا الْوَعْدُ إِنْ كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
[36:49] And they say, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled, if indeed you are truthful?’
 مَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلاَّ صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً تَأْخُذُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَخِصِّمُونَ
[36:50] They are waiting only for a single blast[2450] which will seize them while they are disputing.
 فَلاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ تَوْصِيَةً وَلاَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
[36:51] And they will not be able to make a will, nor will they return to their families.
 وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَإِذَا هُمْ مِنْ الأَجْدَاثِ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَنسِلُونَ
[36:52] And the trumpet shall be blown[2451], and lo! from the graves they will hasten on to their Lord.
 قَالُوا يَاوَيْلَنَا مَنْ بَعَثَنَا مِنْ مَرْقَدِنَا هَذَا مَا وَعَدَ الرَّحْمَنُ وَصَدَقَ الْمُرْسَلُونَ
[36:53] They will say, ‘O! woe to us! who has raised us up from our place of sleep[2452]? This is what the Gracious God had promised, and the Messengers spoke the truth.’
 إِنْ كَانَتْ إِلاَّ صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ جَمِيعٌ لَدَيْنَا مُحْضَرُونَ
[36:54] It will be but one blast[2453] and lo! they will all be brought before Us.
 فَالْيَوْمَ لاَ تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا وَلاَ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
[36:55] And on that day, no soul will be wronged in aught; nor will you be rewarded but for what you used to do.
 إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ الْيَوْمَ فِي شُغُلٍ فَاكِهُونَ
[36:56] Verily the inmates of Heaven will, on that day, be happy in their occupation[2454].
 هُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُهُمْ فِي ظِلاَلٍ عَلَى الأَرَائِكِ مُتَّكِئُونَ
[36:57] They and their wives will be in pleasant shades, reclining on raised couches[2455].
 لَهُمْ فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَلَهُمْ مَا يَدَّعُونَ
[36:58] They will have fruits therein, and they will have whatever they call for.
 سَلاَمٌ قَوْلاً مِنْ رَبٍّ رَحِيمٍ
[36:59] ‘Peace on you’ [2456] — a word of greeting from the Merciful Lord.
 وَامْتَازُوا الْيَوْمَ أَيُّهَا الْمُجْرِمُونَ
[36:60] And God will say, ‘Separate yourselves from the righteous this day, O ye guilty ones!
 أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَابَنِي آدَمَ أَنْ لاَ تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ
[36:61] ‘Did I not enjoin on you, O ye sons of Adam, that you worship not Satan — for he is to you an open enemy —
 وَأَنْ اعْبُدُونِي هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ
[36:62] ‘And that you worship Me? This is the right path.
 وَلَقَدْ أَضَلَّ مِنْكُمْ جِبِلاً كَثِيرًا أَفَلَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْقِلُونَ
[36:63] ‘And he did lead astray a great multitude of you. Why did you not then understand?
 هَذِهِ جَهَنَّمُ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
[36:64] ‘This is the Hell which you were promised.
 اصْلَوْهَا الْيَوْمَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
[36:65] ‘Enter it this day, because you disbelieved.’
 الْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَى أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَا أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
[36:66] This day We shall put a seal on their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will bear witness to what they had earned[2457].
 وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَطَمَسْنَا عَلَى أَعْيُنِهِمْ فَاسْتَبَقُوا الصِّرَاطَ فَأَنَّى يُبْصِرُونَ
[36:67] And if We had so willed, We could have put out their eyes[2458], then they would have rushed to find the way. But how could they see?
 وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَمَسَخْنَاهُمْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِهِمْ فَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا مُضِيًّا وَلاَ يَرْجِعُونَ
[36:68] And if We had so willed, We could have transformed[2458A] them so as to transfix them in their places, then they would not be able to move forward or turn back.
 وَمَنْ نُعَمِّرْهُ نُنَكِّسْهُ فِي الْخَلْقِ أَفَلاَ يَعْقِلُونَ
[36:69] And him whom We grant long life — We revert him to a weak condition of creation[2459]. Will they not then understand?
 وَمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ الشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْآنٌ مُبِينٌ
[36:70] And We have not taught him poetry[2460], nor does that suit it (the Qur’an). It is but a Reminder and a Qur’an that makes things plain,
 لِيُنْذِرَ مَنْ كَانَ حَيًّا وَيَحِقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ
[36:71] So that it may warn all who live[2461], and that the word of punishment be justified against the disbelievers.
 أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا أَنْعَامًا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَالِكُونَ
[36:72] Do they not see that, among the things which Our hands have fashioned, We have created for them cattle of which they are masters[2462]?
 وَذَلَّلْنَاهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ
[36:73] And We have subjected the same to them, so that some of them they use for riding and some others they eat.
 وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ أَفَلاَ يَشْكُرُونَ
[36:74] And in them they have other benefits and also drinks. Will they not then be grateful?
 وَاتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ آلِهَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
[36:75] And they have taken other gods beside Allah, that they might be helped.
 لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُمْ جُندٌ مُحْضَرُونَ
[36:76] They are not able to help them, but they will be brought before God as their allied host.
 فَلاَ يَحْزُنْكَ قَوْلُهُمْ إِنَّا نَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ
[36:77] So let not their speech grieve thee. Verily We know what they conceal and what they proclaim.
 أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الإِنسَانُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُبِينٌ
[36:78] Does not man see that We have created him from a mere spermdrop? Yet lo! he is an open quarreller!
 وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً وَنَسِيَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَنْ يُحْيِ الْعِظَامَ وَهِيَ رَمِيمٌ
[36:79] And he coins similitudes for Us and forgets his own creation. He says, ‘Who can quicken the bones when they are decayed?’
 قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِي أَنشَأَهَا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ
[36:80] Say, ‘He, Who created them the first time, will quicken them; and He knows every kind of creation full well,
 الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ الشَّجَرِ الأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَا أَنْتُمْ مِنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ
[36:81] ‘He Who produces for you fire out of the green[2463] tree, and behold, you kindle from it.
 أَوَ لَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَى أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ بَلَى وَهُوَ الْخَلاَّقُ الْعَلِيمُ
[36:82] ‘Has not He Who created the heavens and the earth the power to create the like of them?’ Yea, and He is indeed the Supreme Creator, the All-Knowing.
 إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ
[36:83] Verily His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be!,’ and it is[2464].
 فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
[36:84] So Holy is He, in Whose hand is the kingdom of all things. And to Him will you all be brought back.
2426. In the combined abbreviated letters Ya Sin ; the letter Sin according to Ibn 'Abbas stands for al-lnsan meaning, man or perfect man; or for Sayyid (chief or leader). Thus the expression Ya Sin would mean, '0 Perfect Man!' or '0 Perfect Leader!' According to consensus of scholarly opinion, the reference is to the Holy Prophet. He was 'the perfect man' because humanity found its best and most perfect specimen in him and he was 'the perfect leader,' because after his advent great religious Reformers and Divine Teachers were to rise only from among his followers, the door of revelation having been closed to the followers of all other Prophets.
2427. The most effective and convincing argument to prove the truth of the Holy Prophet's mission is the Qur'an itself. There could be no greater testimony to his truth than the fact that being himself unlettered he gave to the world a Book which is full of wisdom and which far excels all other revealed Scriptures in its multifarious and multitudinous beauties and excellences and is a complete code of laws, meant for the moral uplift and spiritual regeneration of humanity for all time.
2427A. The Holy Prophet's path now is the only right and straight path that leads to God. The verse makes a fine distinction between a Prophet and a philosopher. A philosopher takes long time to find out truth and often gets lost in the quest, but a Prophet of God discovers it by the shortest route and in the shortest time. Unlike philosophers he is guided to it direct by Divine revelation without wandering in the labyrinth of abstract and abstruse ideas.
2428. Shackles of customs, usages and prejudices, by which disbelievers are fettered and which prevent them from accepting the truth and smother all efforts at reform.
2428A. Even when a person tries to use his intelligence and to get away from the stranglehold of customs, etc., he is under pressure from various quarters, and he can scarcely see aright.
2429. On account of the barriers of usages, prejudices and pride the disbelievers could not have looked forward to the great and bright future which lay before them if they accepted Islam, and they did not look back to the histories of past peoples who rejected the truth and were seized with Divine punishment.
2430. See 26.
2431. Imam means, a leader of a people or army; a model or an example; the religious Scripture of any people; a road or way, etc. (Lane).
2432. Qaryah may mean any town or place, or metaphorically speaking it may stand for the whole world. Thus Ashab al-Qaryah may signify humanity at large. Or, the word signifying a particular town may refer to Mecca, the Centre and Citadel of Islam. In this case the word 'the Messengers' will apply to the Holy Prophet who represented in his person all the Messengers and Prophets of God.
2433. Moses and Jesus or Abraham and Ishmael.
2434. The Holy Prophet 'strengthened' Moses and Jesus by fulfilling in his person the prophecies they had made about his advent (Deut.18:18 & Matt.21:33-46). And he 'strengthened' Abraham and Ishmael because in his person was fulfilled their prayer referred to in 2:129; 130.
2435. Rajama-hu means, he stoned him; he smote and killed him; he cursed him; he excommunicated him (Lane).
2436. The words 'farthest part of the town' may signify a place far away from the Centre of Islam.
2437. The implied reference in the word Rajulun may be to the Promised Messiah who has been referred to as such in a well-known saying of the Holy Prophet (Bukhari, Kitab al-Tafsir).
2438. Words analogous in meaning and significance to the word Yas'a (running) have also been used about the Promised Messiah by the Holy Prophet in some of his sayings which point to his tireless, quick and indefatigable work for the cause of Islam.
2439. People will worship various gods in the time of the Promised Messiah-Mammon, material power, false political philosophies and impracticable economic theories, etc.
2440. Special mention of Paradise in this verse in connection with Rajulun Yas'a is very significant. When all true believers have been promised Paradise in the Qur’an, this special mention seems to be superfluous and out of place. The establishment by the Promised Messiah, under a special Divine command, of a special graveyard at Qadian known as the Bahishti Maqbarah (Paradise Graveyard) may be the physical fulfillment of the commandment embodied in the words 'Do thou enter Paradise.' There is a revelation of the Promised Messiah to the effect: Inni Anzaltu Ma'aka al-Jannah. i.e.. Ihave caused the Paradise to descend with thee ("Tadhkirah"). The revelation also seems to support this interpretation of the words 'enter Paradise.'
2441. The description seems to apply to the falling of shells, incendiary and atom bombs, which come down with a crashing sound. The fire caused by the bombs destroys everything on which they fall and reduces it to rubble, and all life for miles around becomes extinct. Elsewhere. the Qur’an describes this punishment in the words, We shall make all that is thereon a barren soil (18:9).
2442. The words of this verse are full of pathos. The Almighty Himself seems, as it were; to be full of grief over the rejection and mocking of His Prophets by men. While the Prophets grieved and pined for their peoples, the latter requited their grief with contempt and mockery.
2443. The reference seems to be to Divine punishment which will be universal in character.
2444. The metaphor used in the preceding verse is continued here. The verse means to say that from the dry land of Arabia will gush forth springs and fountains of spiritual knowledge, and trees laden with different kinds of spiritual fruit will grow up all over the land.
2445. Science has discovered the fact that pairs exist in all things-in vegetable kingdom, and even in inorganic matter. Even the so-called elements do not exist by themselves. They also depend upon other things for their sustenance. This scientific truth applies to human intellect also. Until heavenly light descends man cannot have true knowledge which is born of a combination of Divine revelation and human intelligence.
2446. The reference in this verse is to the floating of the heavenly bodies through space or ether. The Qur'an contradicted the view held for a long time that the heavens were solid in their formation. It is characteristic of the Qur'an that it uses expressions which not only contradict erroneous views and ideas but also anticipate new discoveries in the domain of science and philosophy. The verse also points to the excellent design and order that pervade the entire universe; all the celestial and terrestrial bodies performing their allotted tasks regularly, punctually and unerringly, without trespassing on one another's sphere of action. The solar system is but one of hundreds of millions of systems, some of which are incalculably larger than it. Yet the countless millions of suns and stars profusely scattered over the immense void are so arranged and distributed in relation to one another as to secure the safety of one and all and to produce everywhere harmony and beauty. Each orb is reflecting the orbit of every other, yet each proceeds safely on its destined way, and all united form a glorious harmony of structure and motion.
2447. The Qur'an foretold long ago that God would bring into existence new means of conveyance. Steamers and big liners, airships and aero planes, etc., which are so much in use in these days; are a clear fulfillment of this Quranic prophecy.
2448. The evil consequences of your future evil deeds.
2449. The results of the wicked deeds you might have done in the past.
2450. The punishment mentioned here will be like a bolt from the blue. It will be so swift and sudden that, as mentioned in the next verse, the guilty people will not be able even to make a will.
2451. The words, 'the trumpet shall be blown,' may signify; besides the blowing of the trumpet on the Judgment Day, the appearance of a great Divine Reformer at whose clarion call those who are spiritually dead rise from their graves (their state of spiritual death) and hasten to listen to and accept the Divine Summons.
2452. When on the Judgment Day men will be raised and disbelievers confronted with their evil deeds, and punishment will stare them in the face, they will be seized with despair and will cry in consternation, 'Woe to us! who has raised us from our place of sleep?' To continue the metaphor of the preceding verse, however, this verse applies to those people who at the time of the appearance of a Prophet of God do not listen to the Divine Call and prefer to remain in their existing state of spiritual death. At hearing the Divine Call they exclaim, 'Why should anyone disturb the even tenor of our lives and cause commotion and excitement amongst us by inviting us to follow him and adopt a new way of life?'
2453. The repeated mention of the word 'blast,' within the space of a few verses signifies that the Surah speaks of a time when Divine punishment will take the form of a blast. The reference may be to the attack of atom bombs which will destroy whole towns and cities within a few minutes.
2454. Life in the next world, as generally misunderstood, will not be a life of inaction and inertness but a life of constant work and progressive spiritual advance.
2455. All joy and happiness increases manifold if one shares it with another whom he loves.
2456. In a single word Salam meaning 'peace,' the verse sums up all the various blessings of Paradise-peace with God and peace with oneself, i.e., peace of mind and soul. This is the highest stage of heavenly bliss.
2457. When the guilt of disbelievers will be established and proved to the hilt they will be dumbfounded, their mouths will; as it were; become sealed and they will not be able to say anything in their defense and in extenuation of their guilt, and their hands and feet will also bear witness against them-these being the principal instruments of man's actions, good or bad. The speech and movements of a person can now be exactly reproduced by the tape recorder and on the screen by television miles away. This is how the tongue and limbs of man even in this world have begun to bear witness for or against him.
2458. As man has been endowed with discretion and free will, he must bear the responsibility of his actions. The disbelievers persistently refuse to see the truth with the result that they become totally deprived of the power to see it. This is also the significance of the words, 'We shall put a seal on their mouths;' in the immediately preceding verse.
2458A. According to Ibn 'Abbas the expression means; 'We would have destroyed them in their houses;' and according to Hasan, it signifies that all their physical and mental faculties would become paralyzed (Jarir). Or, the expression may mean, 'We would have humiliated them.'
2459. Everything that has life is subject to decay and deterioration. This law applies to nations as to individuals. Like individuals, nations also develop, grow and find their full stature, and then fall a victim to decay, decrepitude and death.
2460. It is inconsistent with the dignity of a Divine Prophet that he should be a poet, because poets are generally given to idle dreaming and making castles in the air. Prophets of God have before them very high and noble ideals and programs. The verse, however, does not mean that all poetry is bad and that all poets are dreamers, but it does mean that a Divine Prophet is far too dignified and spiritually exalted to be a mere poet.
2461. The words, 'who are alive,' mean, who are not spiritually dead, i.e., who are capable of receiving and accepting the Divine Message and have the aptitude to respond to the call of truth.
2462. When God has provided all the necessary things which man needs to meet his physical wants and requirements, it does not stand to reason that He should have neglected to make similar provision for his moral and spiritual needs. This and the next few verses refer to some of the things which man needs and uses most in daily life.
2463. 'Green tree' seems to be the resinous tree whose branches get easily ignited and catch fire when friction is caused by the blowing of the wind, the implication being that just as fire is caused by friction between the branches of a tree, even so does new spiritual life result when spiritually weak people come in contact with a Prophet of God, or a Divine Reformer.
2464. Wherever in the Qur'an the expression, when He intends a thing, He says concerning it; 'Be,' and it comes into being, is used, the reference invariably seems to be to the occurrence of an event of exceptional importance, particularly to the coming into being of a great moral and spiritual revolution through a Divine Reformer. In the verse under comment also the reference is to the great change which was wrought by the Holy Prophet.
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