(Revealed before Hijrah)

Date of Revelation and Context
This is the last Surah of the Ha Mim group. Like other Chapters of this group it was revealed at Mecca towards the middle of the Holy Prophet's ministry before Hijrah. Noldeke places its revelation immediately after Chapter 7. The Surah seems to resemble its sister Surahs of the Ha Mim group in tone and tenor. The preceding Surah had ended on the solemn declaration that “God is the Mighty, the Wise.” In the present Surah the claim made in these words is sought to be justified. The Surah claims that the Qur'an has been revealed by the Wise and Mighty God. God is Wise in the sense that the Quranic teaching is based on sound and solid foundations, and is supported by reason, common sense and accumulated human experience; and He is Mighty in the sense that by living up to its ideals and principles Muslims will gain ascendancy and predominance over their opponents.

Subject-Matter
Like the preceding six Chapters this Surah opens with the subject of the Quranic revelation and Divine Unity which constitutes its main theme, and gives the following arguments in refutation of idolatry: (a) Only that Being can command and demand of us that we should adore and worship Him Who, besides being our Creator and Sustainer, is Almighty and All-Powerful and can therefore compel obedience to His laws and commandments. (b) Idolatry finds no support in any revealed Scripture. (c) Human knowledge, reason and experience repel it and revolt against it. (d) A deity which cannot, and does not, answer our prayers is of no use and the so-called gods of idolaters are incapable of responding to the prayers of their votaries.

The Surah next says that the Holy Prophet's claim to Prophethood is no new phenomenon. Divine Messengers have been appearing at all times and among all peoples to teach them Unity of God and their duty to their fellow-beings. It then dismisses as foolish and unfounded the plea which the disbelievers generally put forward as an excuse for rejecting the Divine Revelation, viz., If there had been any good in the revelation presented to us, we, being better informed and better placed in life, would have been the first to accept it. The Surah further says that whereas disbelievers, being proud of their great material resources and social status, reject the Divine Message, others who are endowed with faith and spiritual wealth, accept it and stick to it under the severest trials and tribulations. It then refers to the fate of 'Ad, a people who had flourished in the neighbourhood of the Meccans, to show that disbelief never prospers. The Adites were so completely destroyed that not a vestige of their great and glorious civilization remained.

Towards its end the Surah sounds a note of warning to the people of the Holy Prophet that they should not be misled by their wealth and prosperity and by the present poverty and weakness of Muslims, and that if they persisted in rejecting the Divine Message, their prosperity itself would prove to be their ruin. The Surah ends with an exhortation to the Holy Prophet and his followers, calling upon them, that as brave votaries of Truth they should bear with patience and fortitude all the suffering and persecution to which they are being subjected, as the time was fast approaching, when their cause will triumph and their persecutors will stand before them in utter disgrace and humiliation, begging for forgiveness and mercy.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
[46:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

حم
[46:2] Ha Mim.

تَنْزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنْ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
[46:3] The revelation of this Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

مَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَمَّا أُنْذِرُوا مُعْرِضُونَ

[46:4] We have not created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, but with truth, and for an appointed term[2717]; but those who disbelieve turn away from that of which they have been warned.

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنْ الأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ اِئْتُونِي بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ هَذَا أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

[46:5] Say, ‘Do you know what it is you call on beside Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth. Or have they a share in the creation of the heavens[2718]? Bring me a Book revealed before this or some vestige of knowledge in your support[2719], if you indeed speak the truth.’

وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ يَدْعُو مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَنْ لاَ يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَهُمْ عَنْ دُعَائِهِمْ غَافِلُونَ

[46:6] And who is more astray than those who, instead of Allah, pray unto such as will not answer them till the Day of Resurrection[2720], and they are even unconscious of their prayer?

وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوا لَهُمْ أَعْدَاءً وَكَانُوا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَافِرِينَ
[46:7] And when mankind are gathered together they will become enemies to them, and will deny their worship.

وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ
[46:8] And when Our clear Signs are recited unto them, those who disbelieve say of the truth when it comes to them, ‘This is manifest sorcery.’

أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ إِنْ افْتَرَيْتُهُ فَلاَ تَمْلِكُونَ لِي مِنْ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ كَفَى بِهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

[46:9] Do they say, ‘He has forged it?’ Say, ‘If I have forged it, you cannot avail me aught against[2721] Allah. He knows best what mischievous talk you indulge in. Sufficient is He for a Witness between me and you. And He is the Most Forgiving, the Merciful.’

قُلْ مَا كُنْتُ بِدْعًا مِنْ الرُّسُلِ وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي وَلاَ بِكُمْ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلاَّ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا إِلاَّ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ

[46:10] Say, ‘I am no new Messenger, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you in this life. I do but follow what is revealed to me; and I am but a plain Warner.’

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُمْ بِهِ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى مِثْلِهِ فَآمَنَ وَاسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

[46:11] Say, ‘Tell me, if this is from Allah and you disbelieve therein, and a witness from among the children of Israel[2722] bears witness to the advent of one like him, and he believed, but you are too proud, how should you fare?’ Verily, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَوْ كَانَ خَيْرًا مَا سَبَقُونَا إِلَيْهِ وَإِذْ لَمْ يَهْتَدُوا بِهِ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَذَا إِفْكٌ قَدِيمٌ

[46:12] And those who disbelieve say of those who believe: ‘If it were any good, they could not have been ahead of us in attaining it.’ And since they have not been guided thereby, they will say, ‘This is an old lie.’

وَمِنْ قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَى إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِسَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِيُنْذِرَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُحْسِنِينَ

[46:13] And before it there was the Book of Moses, a guide and a mercy; and this is a Book in the Arabic language fulfilling previous prophecies[2723], that it may warn those who do wrong; and as glad tidings to those who do good.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
[46:14] Verily, those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remain steadfast — no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve[2724].

أُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
[46:15] These are the dwellers of the Garden; they shall abide therein — a recompense for what they did.

وَوَصَّيْنَا الإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلاَثُونَ شَهْرًا حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

[46:16] And We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents. His mother bears him with pain, and brings him forth with pain. And the bearing of him and his weaning takes thirty months[2725], till, when he attains his full maturity[2726] and reaches the age of forty years, he says, ‘My Lord, grant me the power that I may be grateful for Thy favour which Thou hast bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do such good works as may please Thee. And make my seed righteous for me. I do turn to Thee; and, truly, I am of those who submit to Thee.’

أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَنَتَجاوَزُ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ فِي أَصْحَابِ الْجَنَّةِ وَعْدَ الصِّدْقِ الَّذِي كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ

[46:17] Those are they from whom We accept their good works and overlook their ill deeds. They shall be among the inmates of the Garden, in fulfilment of the true promise which was made to them.

وَالَّذِي قَالَ لِوَالِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَكُمَا أَتَعِدَانِنِي أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ الْقُرُونُ مِنْ قَبْلِي وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ اللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ آمِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَذَا إِلاَّ أَسَاطِيرُ الأَوَّلِينَ

[46:18] But the one who says to his parents, ‘Fie on you both! do you threaten me that I shall be brought forth again, when generations have already passed away before me?’ And they both cry unto Allah for help and say to him: ‘Woe unto thee! believe; for the promise of Allah is true.’ But he says, ‘This is nothing but the fables of the ancients.’

أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمْ الْقَوْلُ فِي أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ مِنْ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنسِ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا خَاسِرِينَ

[46:19] These are they against whom the sentence of punishment became due, along with the communities of the Jinn and mankind that had gone before them. Indeed, they were the losers.

وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِمَّا عَمِلُوا وَلِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ
[46:20] And for all are degrees of rank according to what they did, and that Allah may fully repay them for their deeds[2727]; and they shall not be wronged.

وَيَوْمَ يُعْرَضُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَلَى النَّارِ أَذْهَبْتُمْ طَيِّبَاتِكُمْ فِي حَيَاتِكُمْ الدُّنْيَا وَاسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهَا فَالْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَفْسُقُونَ

[46:21] And on the day when those who disbelieve will be brought before the Fire, it will be said to them, ‘You exhausted your good things in the life of the world, and you fully enjoyed them. Now this day you shall be requited with ignominious punishment because you were arrogant in the earth[2728] without justification, and because you acted rebelliously.’

وَاذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنْذَرَ قَوْمَهُ بِالأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ النُّذُرُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُوا إِلاَّ اللَّهَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

[46:22] And make mention of the brother of ‘Ad, when he warned his people among the sand-hills — and Warners there have been before him and after him — saying, ‘Worship none but Allah. I fear for you the punishment of a great day.’

قَالُوا أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ آلِهَتِنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنْ الصَّادِقِينَ
[46:23] They said, ‘Hast thou come to us to turn us away from our gods? Bring us then that with which thou dost threaten us, if indeed thou art of the truthful.’

قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ
[46:24] He said, ‘The knowledge[2729] thereof is only with Allah. And I convey to you what I have been sent with, but I see you to be a very ignorant people.’

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضًا مُسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُوا هَذَا عَارِضٌ مُمْطِرُنَا بَلْ هُوَ مَا اسْتَعْجَلْتُمْ بِهِ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

[46:25] Then, when they saw it coming towards their valleys as a cloud, they said, ‘This is a cloud which will give us rain.’ ‘Nay, but it is that which you sought to hasten — a wind wherein is a grievous punishment.

تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا لاَ يُرَى إِلاَّ مَسَاكِنُهُمْ كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

[46:26] ‘It will destroy everything by the command of its Lord.’ And they became such that there was nothing left to be seen, except their dwellings. Thus do We requite the guilty people.

وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِيمَا إِنْ مَكَّنَّاكُمْ فِيهِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ سَمْعًا وَأَبْصَارًا وَأَفْئِدَةً فَمَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَلاَ أَبْصَارُهُمْ وَلاَ أَفْئِدَتُهُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِذْ كَانُوا يَجْحَدُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُون

[46:27] And We had established them in what We have established you not; and We gave them ears and eyes and hearts[2730]. But their ears and their eyes and their hearts availed them naught since they denied the Signs of Allah; and that at which they used to mock encompassed them.

وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُمْ مِنْ الْقُرَى وَصَرَّفْنَا الآياتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
[46:28] And We did destroy townships round about you[2731]; and We have varied the Signs[2732], that they might turn to Us.

فَلَوْلاَ نَصَرَهُمُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ قُرْبَانًا آلِهَةً بَلْ ضَلُّوا عَنْهُمْ وَذَلِكَ إِفْكُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ

[46:29] Why, then, did not those help them whom they had taken for gods beside Allah, seeking His nearness through them? Nay, they were lost to them. That was the result of their lie, and of what they fabricated.

وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنْ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوا أَنْصِتُوا فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوْا إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ مُنْذِرِينَ

[46:30] And remember when We turned towards thee a party of the Jinn[2733] who wished to hear the Qur’an and, when they were present at its recitation, they said to one another, ‘Be silent and listen,’ and, when it was finished, they went back to their people, warning them.

قَالُوا يَا قَوْمَنَا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَابًا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُوسَى مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَإِلَى طَرِيقٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

[46:31] They said, ‘O our people, we have heard a Book, which has been sent down after Moses[2734], fulfilling that which is before it; it guides to the truth, and to the right path.

يَا قَوْمَنَا أَجِيبُوا دَاعِيَ اللَّهِ وَآمِنُوا بِهِ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُجِرْكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
[46:32] ‘O our people, respond to Allah’s Summoner and believe in Him. He will forgive you your sins, and protect you from a painful punishment.

وَمَنْ لاَ يُجِبْ دَاعِيَ اللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ بِمُعْجِزٍ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ دُونِهِ أَولِيَاءُ أُوْلَئِكَ فِي ضَلاَلٍ مُبِينٍ

[46:33] ‘And whoso does not respond to Allah’s Summoner, he cannot escape Him in the earth, nor can he have any protector beside Him. Such are in manifest error.’

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلَمْ يَعْيَ بِخَلْقِهِنَّ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَى أَنْ يُحْيِيَ الْمَوْتَى بَلَى إِنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

[46:34] Have they not seen that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth and was not wearied by their creation[2735], has the power to give life to the dead? Yea, verily, He has power over all things.

وَيَوْمَ يُعْرَضُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَلَى النَّارِ أَلَيْسَ هَذَا بِالْحَقِّ قَالُوا بَلَى وَرَبِّنَا قَالَ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ

[46:35] And on the day when those who disbelieve will be brought before the Fire, it will be said to them, ‘Is not this the truth?’ They will say, ‘Aye, by our Lord.’ He will say, ‘Then taste the punishment, because you disbelieved.’

فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُوا الْعَزْمِ مِنْ الرُّسُلِ وَلاَ تَسْتَعْجِلْ لَهُمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلاَّ سَاعَةً مِنْ نَهَارٍ بَلاَغٌ فَهَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلاَّ الْقَوْمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

[46:36] Have patience, then, as had the Messengers of strong determination; and be in no haste about them. On the day when they see that with which they are threatened, it will appear to them as though they had not tarried save for an hour[2736] of a day. This warning has been conveyed; and none but the disobedient people shall be destroyed.

2717. The universe had a beginning and will also have an end. 'All that is on it will pass away. And there will remain only the Person of thy Lord, Master of Glory and Honor' (55:27, 28).

2718. Only that Being can command adoration and is fit to be worshipped Who as the Architect and Creator of the universe controls our destinies. But the false gods of idolaters not only have not created anything but themselves have been created (25:4).

2719. In reality no authority except that of a revealed Scripture and also human science and reason can form the basis for determining whether a certain belief is right or wrong.

2720. Islam presents a Living God Who reveals Himself to His votaries by accepting their prayers and consoles them in the hour of distress by speaking to them words of comfort and consolation (2: 187).

2721. The expression, min Allah, means, (a) in opposition to Allah; (b) from the punishment of Allah.

2722. The witness from among the Children of Israel is Moses. It is to his prophecy concerning the advent of the Holy Prophet that reference has been made in this verse. The prophecy is to this effect: 'I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren like unto thee, and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto My words, which he shall speak in My name; I will require it of him' (Deut. 18: 18, 19).

2723. Verse 11 supported by Deut. 18: 18 referred to the appearance of a Prophet among the Ishmaelites. The present verse refers to Arabia as the scene of the advent of the Prophet who was to be the like of Moses and also to the Book (the Qur'an) which was to fulfill the prophecies contained in the Book of Moses and which also was to supersede it. The relevant prophecy is as follows: 'The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, 0 ye travelling companies of Dedanim. The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they presented with their bread him that fled'(Isa. 21:13-15).

2724. What fear or grief, even under the severest trial, can possibly disturb the equanimity
and mental poise of a true believer, who possesses an invincible faith that Allah, the Creator
and Lord of the whole universe; is at his back?

2725. In 31:15, it was stated that the weaning of a child takes two years, but in this verse the combined period of pregnancy and suckling is given as thirty months which leaves six months as the period of gestation; and that seems to be the period during which a pregnant woman feels the burden of pregnancy, the fourth month being the time from which she begins to have such a feeling.

2726. The word Ashudd seems to have been used in the sense of spiritual maturity here and in 12:23, and in the sense of intellectual and physical maturity in 6:153 and 18:83.

2727. All the works of men will be properly judged and weighed, and all relevant circumstances will be taken into consideration before judgment is pronounced. The Divine law of compensation works in this way that whereas the reward of a good deed is many times greater than the deed itself, the punishment of the evil deed is proportionate to the deed committed.

2728. When confronted with the consequences of their evil deeds the disbelievers will be told on the day of Reckoning that as they had fully exploited and drained to the dregs the material gifts that God had bestowed upon them and had used them not in the service of good causes but to further their own sordid ends, they should now be prepared to suffer disgrace and ignominy as a fit requital for their misdeeds.

2729. AS God alone knows the circumstances under which a man does his actions, good or bad, therefore only He knows whether or not he has incurred Divine punishment; and the knowledge of the time, manner and form of the punishment also rests with Him.

2730.  Af’idah (hearts) is the plural of Fu'ad which is synonymous with Qalb, both meaning heart, mind or intellect. In the Qur'iin both these words have been used synonymously. In 28:11 they have been used together, signifying the heart. It is the context which determines, where any of these words is used as signifying the heart and where as signifying the mind. Some authors, however, make a distinction between Fu'ad and Qalb; the latter is said to have a more special signification than the former which is said to be the Ghisha' or the Wi'a' of the Qalb, or the middle or the interior thereof. Tara Fu'adu-hu means, his mind, or intellect, or courage fled (Lane).

2731. The peoples of 'Ad and Tubba' held sway over vast territories in the south of Arabia; and the tribe of Thamud lived in its north-west, and on the shores of the Dead Sea were situated the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. The destruction of these places constituted an eye opener for the Meccans. The words, 'round about you' may also signify the whole world.

2732. The Qur'an reverts again and again to the fundamental problems of faith, morals and other kindred subjects, and deals with them from different angles and points of view in order to satisfy doubts and misgivings of men of varied attitudes, mental make-ups and outlooks on life. People of shallow thinking and prejudiced minds may call it a repetition, but in fact it is the right approach to different human problems.

2733. The party of jinn referred to in this verse were the Jews of Nasibin, or, as some say, of Mausal or Nineveh in Iraq. Being apprehensive of the Meccans' opposition they met the and after listening to the Qur'an and to the Holy Prophet's discourse, they became converted to Islam and carried the new Message to their people who also readily accepted it (Bayan, vol. 8). See also 72:2.

2734. The verse shows that the party of jinn mentioned in the previous verse were Jews because they spoke of the Qur'an as 'the Book which has been sent down after Moses.'

2735. The process of the creation of new heavens and earth has not ceased. Neither is it an empty and unsubstantiated claim. With the coming of a great Divine Reformer the old order dies and a new one takes its place. This signifies the coming into being of a new heaven and a new earth.

2736. So severe, swift and overwhelming will be God's punishment for disbelievers that compared to it a whole life, spent in comfort and ease, would seem to them 'but an hour.'