(Revealed before Hijrah)

Date of Revelation and Context
A large majority of Muslim scholarly opinion is inclined to place the revelation of the Surah in the middle or the late middle Meccan period. The Surah seems to derive its title from v. 42 where the falsity and futility of polytheistic beliefs are illustrated by a beautiful simile that these beliefs, being frail and brittle like a spider's web, cannot stand intelligent criticism. The preceding Surah had ended on the note that the Holy Prophet will come back as a victor and conqueror to his native town, Mecca, from where he had been driven out as a friendless fugitive, a price being placed on his head. The present Surah opens with a warning to believers that long and hard work; and hardships and privations patiently borne, are the sine qua non of a successful life.

Subject-Matter
The Surah continues to develop the theme that great favours and blessings which are to be bestowed upon believers in this and the next life will not be conferred upon them unless their belief is put to a severe test. They will have to pass through the crucible of fire and blood to deserve them. It is only by true and sincere repentance and by turning to God with a humble and contrite heart and by bringing about real and abiding reformation in one's life that one can earn God's forgiveness and become entitled to Divine boons and bounties. Reverting to the subject of the persecution of believers the Surah proceeds to say that they should allow no amount of hardships and privations to stand in the way of their serving the cause of Truth, and are forcefully exhorted to place their loyalty to God above the loyalty to their parents when the two loyalties clash and conflict. Then brief references are made to the life-stories of the Prophets Noah, Abraham, Lot and some other Divine Messengers, to show that persecution can never arrest or retard the progress of the true Faith and that compulsion in matters of religion never pays, and a people cannot be compelled permanently to continue to subscribe to views forcibly imposed upon them.

The Surah further says that polytheistic beliefs, being as frail as a spider's web, cannot stand intelligent and searching criticism. The disbelievers, therefore, have no reason or justification to continue to hold idolatrous beliefs when a book like the Qur'an which fully meets all the moral needs and requirements of man and is eminently fitted to raise him to the highest moral summits has been revealed. The Surah further disposes of an oft-quoted objection of disbelievers that the Qur'an has been composed by the Holy Prophet; on the contrary, it is presented as the greatest Divine miracle in answer to the disbelievers' demand for Signs and miracles.

Towards its close believers are consoled and comforted with the assurance that if they remained steadfast under the persecution to which they are being subjected a great and bright future lies before them. The Surah ends on the note that believers will have to take up the sword in defence of Islam and to conduct vigorous Jihad against the forces of evil. But the real Jihad, it says, does not consist in killing and being killed, but in striving hard to win the pleasure of God and in preaching the Message of the Qur'an.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
[29:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

الم
[29:2] Alif Lam Mim.[2236A]

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لاَ يُفْتَنُونَ
[29:3] Do men think that they will be left alone because they say, ‘We believe,’ and that they will not be tested?

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ
[29:4] And We did test those who were before them. So Allah will surely distinguish[2237] those who are truthful and He will surely distinguish the liars from the truthful.

أَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ أَنْ يَسْبِقُونَا سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
[29:5] Or do those who commit evil deeds think that they will escape Us? Evil is what they judge.

مَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ لَآتٍ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
[29:6] Whoso hopes[2238] to meet Allah, let him be prepared for it, for Allah’s appointed time is certainly coming. And He is the All-Hearing, the All-knowing.

وَمَنْ جَاهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَاهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
[29:7] And whoso strives, strives[2239] only for his own soul; verily Allah is Independent of all creatures.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

[29:8] And as to those who believe and do good works, We shall surely remove from them their evils, and We shall surely give them the best reward of their works.

وَوَصَّيْنَا الإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلاَ تُطِعْهُمَا إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

[29:9] And We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; but if they strive to make thee associate that with Me of which thou hast no knowledge[2240], then obey them not. Unto Me is your return, and I shall inform you of what you did.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ فِي الصَّالِحِينَ
[29:10] And those who believe and do good works — them We shall surely admit into the company of the righteous.

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ فَإِذَا أُوذِيَ فِي اللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ النَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَئِنْ جَاءَ نَصْرٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْ أَوَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِمَا فِي صُدُورِ الْعَالَمِينَ

[29:11] And of men there are some who say, ‘We believe in Allah,’ but when they are made to suffer in the cause of Allah, they regard the persecution of men to be like the punishment of Allah. And if help comes from thy Lord, they are sure to say, ‘Certainly, we were with you.[2241]’ Is not Allah best aware of what is in the bosom of His creatures?

وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ
[29:12] And Allah will surly distinguish those who believe and He will surely distinguish the hypocrites from the believers.

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّبِعُوا سَبِيلَنَا وَلْنَحْمِلْ خَطَايَاكُمْ وَمَا هُمْ بِحَامِلِينَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ

[29:13] And those who disbelieve say to those who believe, ‘Follow our way, and we will surely bear your sins.’ And they cannot bear aught of their sins[2242]. They are surely liars.

وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَأَثْقَالاً مَعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ وَلَيُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ
[29:14] But they shall surely bear their own burdens, and other burdens along with their own burdens. And they will surely be questioned on the Day of Resurrection concerning that which they fabricated.

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَى قَوْمِهِ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلاَّ خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمْ الطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُون

[29:15] And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he dwelt among them a thousand years save fifty years[2243]. Then the deluge overtook them, while they were wrongdoers.

فَأَنجَيْنَاهُ وَأَصْحَابَ السَّفِينَةِ وَجَعَلْنَاهَا آيَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ
[29:16] But We saved him and those who were with him in the Ark; and We made it a Sign for all peoples.

وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاتَّقُوهُ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
[29:17] And remember Abraham when he said to his people, ‘Worship Allah and fear Him. That is better for you if you understand.

إِنَّمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَانًا وَتَخْلُقُونَ إِفْكًا إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لاَ يَمْلِكُونَ لَكُمْ رِزْقًا فَابْتَغُوا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعْبُدُوهُ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

[29:18] ‘You only worship idols beside Allah, and you forge a lie. Those whom you worship beside Allah have no power to provide sustenance for you. Then seek sustenance from Allah, and worship Him, and be grateful to Him. Unto Him will you be brought back.

وَإِنْ تُكَذِّبُوا فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أُمَمٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَمَا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلاَّ الْبَلاَغُ الْمُبِينُ
[29:19] ‘And if you reject, then generations before you also rejected. And the Messenger is only responsible for the clear conveying of the Message.

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا كَيْفَ يُبْدِئُ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
[29:20] See they not how Allah originates creation, then repeats it?[2244] That surely is easy for Allah

قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ يُنشِئُ النَّشْأَةَ الآخِرَةَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

[29:21] Say, ‘Travel in the earth[2245], and see how He originated the creation. Then will Allah provide the latter creation.’ Surely, Allah has power over all things.

يُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْحَمُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُقْلَبُونَ
[29:22] He punishes whom He pleases and shows mercy unto whom He pleases[2245A]; and to Him will you be turned back.

وَمَا أَنْتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ

[29:23] And you cannot frustrate[2246] the designs of Allah in the earth nor in the heaven; nor have you any friend or helper beside Allah.

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَلِقَائِهِ أُوْلَئِكَ يَئِسُوا مِنْ رَحْمَتِي وَأُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
[29:24] Those who disbelieve in the Signs of Allah and the meeting with Him — it is they who have despaired of My mercy. And they will have a grievous punishment.

فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ قَالُوا اقْتُلُوهُ أَوْ حَرِّقُوهُ فَأَنجَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ النَّارِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

[29:25] And the only answer of his people was that they said, ‘Slay him or burn him.’ But Allah saved him from the fire. In that surely are Signs for a people who would believe[2247].

وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَانًا مَوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًا وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِينَ

[29:26] And he said, ‘Verily you have taken for yourselves idols beside Allah, out of love for each other[2248] in the present life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny each other, and curse each other. And your abode will be the Fire; and you will have no helpers.’

فَآمَنَ لَهُ لُوطٌ وَقَالَ إِنِّي مُهَاجِرٌ إِلَى رَبِّي إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
[29:27] And Lot believe him; and Abraham said, ‘I take refuge with my Lord; surely He is the Mighty, the Wise.’

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهِ النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَابَ وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَجْرَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِين

[29:28] And We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and We placed the gift of prophethood and the Book among his descendants, and We gave him his reward in this life, and in the Hereafter he will surely be among the righteous.

وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
[29:29] And We sent Lot; he said to his people, ‘You commit an abomination which none among mankind has ever committed before you.

أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ السَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِي نَادِيكُمْ الْمُنكَرَ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ قَالُوا ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

[29:30] ‘Do you indeed come lustfully to men and cut off the highway[2249] for travellers? And you commit abomination in your meetings![2250]’ But the only answer of his people was that they said, ‘Bring upon us the punishment of Allah if thou speakest the truth.’

قَالَ رَبِّ انصُرْنِي عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
[29:31] He said, ‘Help me, my Lord, against the wicked people.’

وَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَى قَالُوا إِنَّا مُهْلِكُو أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ

[29:32] And when Our messengers brought Abraham the glad tidings, they said, ‘We are going to destroy the people of this town; surely its people are wrongdoers.’

قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ فِيهَا لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِين
[29:33] He said, ‘But Lot is there.’ They said, ‘We know full well who is there. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife, who is of those who remain behind.’

وَلَمَّا أَنْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِيءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالُوا لاَ تَخَفْ وَلاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّا مُنَجُّوكَ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَكَ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ

[29:34] And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed on account of them and felt powerless[2251] with regard to them. And they said, ‘Fear not, nor grieve; we will surely save thee and thy family except thy wife, who is of those who remain behind.

إِنَّا مُنزِلُونَ عَلَى أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ
[29:35] ‘We are surely going to bring dow

وَلَقَد تَرَكْنَا مِنْهَا آيَةً بَيِّنَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
[29:36] And We have left thereof a clear Sign for a people who would understand.

وَإِلَى مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا فَقَالَ يَاقَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَارْجُوا الْيَوْمَ الآخِرَ وَلاَ تَعْثَوْا فِي الأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِين

[29:37] And to Midian We sent their brother Shu‘aib who said, ‘O my people, serve Allah, and fear the Last Day and commit not iniquity in the earth, creating disorder.’

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ
[29:38] But they called him a liar. So a violent earthquake seized them, and in their homes they lay prostrate upon the ground.

وَعَادًا وَثَمُودَ وَقَدْ تَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ مِنْ مَسَاكِنِهِمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَكَانُوا مُسْتَبْصِرِينَ

[29:39] And We destroyed ‘Ad and Thamud; and it is evident to you from their dwelling-places. And Satan made their deeds appear good to them, and thus turned them away from the path, sagacious though they were[2252].

وَقَارُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مُوسَى بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي الأَرْضِ وَمَا كَانُوا سَابِقِينَ

[29:40] And We destroyed Korah and Pharaoh and Haman. And Moses did come to them with manifest Signs, but they behaved proudly in the earth, yet they could not outstrip Us.

فَكُلاً أَخَذْنَا بِذَنْبِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَغْرَقْنَا وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

[29:41] So each one of them We seized in his sin; of them were those against whom We sent a violent sandstorm, and of them were those whom a roaring blast overtook, and of them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow up, and of them were those whom We drowned[2253]. And Allah would not wrong them, but they used to wrong their own souls.

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

[29:42] The case of those who take helpers beside Allah is like unto the case of the spider, who makes for herself a house; and surely the frailest[2254] of all houses is the house of the spider, if they but knew!

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
[29:43] Verily, Allah knows whatever they call upon beside Him; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

وَتِلْكَ الأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَا إِلاَّ الْعَالِمُونَ
[29:44] And these are similitudes which We set forth for mankind, but only those understand them who have knowledge.

خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[29:45] Allah created the heavens and the earth in accordance with the requirements of wisdom[2255]. In that surely is a Sign for the believers.

اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمْ الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ تَنْهَى عَنْ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

[29:46] Recite[2256] that which has been revealed to thee of the Book, and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue. And Allah knows what you do[2256A].

وَلاَ تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلاَّ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ وَقُولُوا آمَنَّا بِالَّذِي أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَأُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَإِلَهُنَا وَإِلَهُكُمْ وَاحِدٌ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ

[29:47] And argue not with the People of the Book except with what is best; but argue not at all with such of them as are unjust. And say, ‘We believe in that which has been revealed to us and that which has been revealed to you; and our God and your God is one[2257]; and to Him we submit.’

وَكَذَلِكَ أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ فَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمْ الْكِتَابَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَمِنْ هَؤُلاَء مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلاَّ الْكَافِرُونَ

[29:48] And in like manner have We sent down the Book to thee, so those to whom We have given true knowledge of the Book believe in it (the Qur’an); and of these Meccans also there are some who believe in it. And none but the ungrateful deny Our Signs.

وَمَا كُنْتَ تَتْلُو مِنْ قَبْلِهِ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَلاَ تَخُطُّهُ بِيَمِينِكَ إِذًا لاَرْتَابَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ
[29:49] And thou didst not recite any Book before it, nor didst thou write one with thy right hand; in that case the liars would have doubted[2258].

بَلْ هُوَ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ فِي صُدُورِ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلاَّ الظَّالِمُونَ
[29:50] Nay, it is a collection of clear Signs in the hearts of those who are given knowledge[2259]. And none but the wrongdoers deny Our Signs.

وَقَالُوا لَوْلاَ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ قُلْ إِنَّمَا الآيَاتُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ
[29:51] And they say, ‘Why are not Signs sent down to him from his Lord?’ Say, ‘The Signs are with Allah, and certainly I am a clear Warner.’

أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْ أَنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَرَحْمَةً وَذِكْرَى لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
[29:52] Is it not enough for them that We have sent down to thee the Book which is recited to them? Verily, there is mercy in it and a reminder for a people who believe[2260].

قُلْ كَفَى بِاللَّهِ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ شَهِيدًا يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ وَكَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْخَاسِرُونَ

[29:53] Say, ‘Allah is sufficient as a Witness between me and you. He knows what is in the heavens and the earth. And as for those who believe in falsehood and disbelieve in Allah, they it is who are the losers.’

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَلَوْلاَ أَجَلٌ مُسَمًّى لَجَاءَهُمْ الْعَذَابُ وَلَيَأْتِيَنَّهُمْ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ

[29:54] They ask thee to hasten on the punishment; and had there not been an appointed term, the punishment would have come upon them. And it shall surely overtake them unexpectedly[2261], while they perceive not.

يَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ
[29:55] They ask thee to hasten on the punishment[2261A]; but verily, Hell is already encompassing the disbelievers.

يَوْمَ يَغْشَاهُمْ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ وَيَقُولُ ذُوقُوا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
[29:56] Remember the day when the punishment will overwhelm them from above them and from underneath their feet[2262], and He will say, ‘Taste ye the fruit of your actions.’

يَاعِبَادِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ أَرْضِي وَاسِعَةٌ فَإِيَّايَ فَاعْبُدُونِي
[29:57] O My servants who believe! verily, vast is My earth, so worship Me alone.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
[29:58] Every soul shall taste of death; then to Us shall you be brought back.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ مِنْ الْجَنَّةِ غُرَفًا تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا نِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ

[29:59] And those who believe and do good works — them shall We surely house in lofty mansions of Paradise[2263], beneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein. Excellent is the reward of those who work good

الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
[29:60] Those who are steadfast, and put their trust in their Lord.

وَكَأَيِّن مِنْ دَابَّةٍ لاَ تَحْمِلُ رِزْقَهَا اللَّهُ يَرْزُقُهَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
[29:61] And how many an animal there is that carries not its own sustenance! Allah provides for it and for you[2264]. And He is the All-Hearing, the All-knowing.

وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ فَأَنَّا يُؤْفَكُونَ

[29:62] And if thou ask them, ‘Who has created the heavens and the earth and pressed into service the sun and the moon[2265]?’, they will surely say, ‘Allah.’ How then are they being turned away from the truth?

اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
[29:63] Allah enlarges the means of sustenance for such of His servants as He pleases, and straitens them for whom He pleases. Surely Allah has full knowledge of all things

وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ نَزَّلَ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الأَرْضَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهَا لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ قُلْ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ

[29:64] And if thou ask them, ‘Who sends down water from the sky and therewith gives life to the earth after its death?’, they will surely say, ‘Allah.’ Say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah.’ But most of them understand not.

وَمَا هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
[29:65] And this life of the world is nothing but a pastime and a sport, and the Home of the Hereafter — that indeed is Life, if they but knew![2266]

فَإِذَا رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوْا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَ

[29:66] And when they go on board a ship, they call on Allah, with sincere and exclusive faith in Him. But when He brings them safe to land, behold, they associate partners with Him;

لِيَكْفُرُوا بِمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ وَلِيَتَمَتَّعُوا فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ
[29:67] That they may deny that which We have bestowed on them, and that they may enjoy themselves for a time. But they will soon come to know.

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمًا آمِنًا وَيُتَخَطَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ يَكْفُرُونَ

[29:68] Have they not seen that We have made the sanctuary secure for them, while people are snatched away from all around them?[2267] Would they then believe in falsehood and deny the favour of Allah?

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِالْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءَهُ أَلَيْسَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ مَثْوًى لِلْكَافِرِينَ

[29:69] And who is more unjust than he who invents a lie concerning Allah, or rejects the truth when it comes to him? Is there not an abode in Hell for those who disbelieve?

وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
[29:70] And as for those who strive[2268] in Our path — We will surely guide them in Our ways. And verily Allah is with those who do good.

2236A. See 16.

2237. 'Ilm (knowledge) is of two kinds: (a) That which consists in knowing a thing before it comes into existence. This kind of knowledge is not meant here because God is the Knower of the seen and the unseen (59:23). (b) The kind of knowledge which consists in knowing an event after it has actually taken place. It is this knowledge which is meant here. The verse signifies that the primeval knowledge of God will take the form of the matter of fact knowledge. Or, it means that God will distinguish the liars from the truthful as the word 'Ilm also possesses the sense of distinguishing between two things, particularly when it is followed by the particle min (from). See also 2: 144 and 3: 141. Believers are made to pass through great hardships and privations and their belief is put to a severe test, and it is after they come out of the ordeal successfully that the fact becomes established that they are true and sincere servants of God. It is in this way that they are distinguished from the hypocrites and from those who are false in their profession of faith.

2238. Yarju (hopes) is derived from Raja, i.e., he hoped to get the thing or he feared it. In the sense of hoping, the word is used on those occasions when the thing hoped for is likely to afford satisfaction (Mufradat).

2239. The verse gives a brief but very apt description of a Mujahid -true striver in the way of God. High and noble ideals and consistent and constant effort to carry them out into actual practice is what in Islamic terminology is called Jihad; and the person who possesses these noble ideals and lives up to them is a Mujahid in the true sense of the word.

2240. T.he alpha and omega of all religious teachings is God's Unity. Man's loyalty, first and last, is to his Creator. All other loyalties proceed from, and are subject to, it. Even man's loyalty to his parents is not allowed to clash with it.

2241. In contrast to the unflinching faith which early Muslims exhibited under the severest trials and which true believers have demonstrated in every age, there are always to be found in the ranks of believers persons so weak of faith that they flinch under ordinary privations and are ready rather to renounce their faith than suffer loss. On the other hand, they are always on the lookout to claim comradeship with believers when they see that Divine help is coming to them (believers) and the cause of Truth is gaining ground.

2242. Besides the hypocrites, there is another class of men, the aggressive leaders of disbelief, who, taking advantage of their own high social status, seek to mislead others who are not so highly placed in life, telling them that they will bear all the loss the latter will incur by accepting their lead and by refusing to accept the true new Faith.

2243. Here the age of Noah has been mentioned as 950 years. The Bible places it at 952. It is difficult to assign a definite date as to when the Prophets of antiquity, such as Noah, Hud, Salih and others lived and how long they lived. 'None knows them save Allah' says the Qur'an (14:10). The period, nine hundred and fifty years, does not seem to be the span of Noah's personal physical life. It seems to be the period of his Dispensation. Thus it seemed first to extend to Abraham's ministry because Abraham 'was of his party' (37:84) and then to Joseph's and then down even to that of Moses. In fact, the age of a Prophet is the age of his Dispensation and teaching. In describing the limit of Noah's age; two words Sanah and 'Am have been used. Whereas the root meaning of the former word possesses a sense of badness, that of the latter has a sense of goodness. It seems that the first fifty years of Noah's Dispensation were years of all round spiritual progress and regeneration and that after that
moral decadence and degeneration set in and his people gradually became degraded morally,
till their degeneration became complete in nine hundred years.

2244. The verse signifies that the Divine law of creation and reproduction will work in this way that God would create through the Holy Prophet a new humanity and a new order on the ashes of the old one.

2245. The expression has been used at several places in the Qur'an (6:12; 12:1 1 0; 30:10; 35:45: 40:83), and almost everywhere it has been followed by a sentence which points to the destruction of one people and the creation of another in their place. The verse does not refer to the Resurrection after death, but only to the phenomenon of the rise and fall of nations.

2245A.  As stated at several places in the Qur'an, God does not punish arbitrarily but only after punishment has been fully deserved. The verse only emphasizes this fact.

2246. Disbelievers are most emphatically warned that they cannot frustrate God's plan and avert the terrible fate that is in store for them as the Divine decree has gone forth that Islam shall make progress and its cause shall triumph.

2247. Abraham's account began with the 17th verse and in the 18th verse he gave strong arguments in refutation of Shirk. From 19th to 24th verse, in consonance with the Quranic style and practice which adds to its elegance and beauty, a digression intervened and a great religious principle was briefly discussed in relation to the Holy Prophet. The principle discussed was that when one nation, as a result of its rejection of the Divine Message, falls a victim to decay and decadence another people takes its place. From this verse the thread is taken up of Abraham's story.

2248. The expression, Mawaddata Bainikum, may mean: (1) Social relations or the desire to win each other's love are the basis of your idolatrous ideals and practices. (2) You have made your idolatrous beliefs and practices the foundation of your love with each other, i.e., you have made the identity of your idolatrous beliefs the means to preserve the homogeneity of your community.

2249. Qata'a al- Tariqa meaning, he made the way dangerous for wayfarers and forbade them to use it, the Quranic expression signifies: (a) You rob travellers on the highway (Lot's people had adopted the calling of the road). (b) You violate the Divinely appointed sex-laws and commit unnatural offences.

2250. Three vices have been ascribed to the people of Lot in this verse. (1) unnatural vice; (2) highway robbery; (3) committing crimes openly and unashamedly in their assemblies.

2251. Daqa Bihi Dhar'an means, he lacked strength or ability or power to do the thing (Lane). Who the messengers mentioned in the verse were and what their mission was has been explained in 11 :70, 71 and 15:68-72. Their visit distressed and grieved Prophet Lot because his people, having adopted the calling of the road, did not like strangers to visit their town and therefore they had forbidden Lot to receive outsiders. He feared that his people might humiliate him before his guests.

2252. The Quranic expression means: (1) They clearly saw that the course they had adopted was wrong. (2) They deliberately adopted a course knowing full well what the end would be.

2253. The Qur'an has used different words and expressions for the punishment which overtook the opponents of the various Prophets in their respective times. The punishment that came upon 'Ad is described as furious wind (41:17; 54:20 & 69:7); that which overtook Thamud as earthquake (7:79);  blast (11:68; 54:32); thunderbolt (41:18) and violent blast (69:6); that which destroyed the people of Lot as stones of clay (1 1:83; 15:75), storm of stones (54:35); and that which overtook Midian, the people of Shu'aib, as earthquake (7:92;29:38), blast (11 :95), and punishment of the day of overshadowing doom (26: 190). Last of all the heavenly punishment which seized Pharaoh and his mighty hosts and courtiers, Haman and Korah and destroyed them root and branch, has been described by the expressions: We ...
drowned Pharaoh's people (2:5 1 ; 7: 137 & 17: 104), and We caused the earth to swallow him up (28:82).

2254. The subject of the Unity of God with which the Surah primarily deals is brought to a close in this verse with a beautiful metaphor which drives home to polytheists the folly, futility and falsity of idolatrous beliefs and practices. They are as frail as the web of a spider and cannot stand intelligent criticism.

2255. The expression Bilhaqqi signifies that there is clear evidence of an intelligent design and purpose in the creation of the heavens and the earth and that a profound and consummate plan works in all the celestial and terrestrial bodies.

2256. Utlu means, proclaim; preach; read, recite, rehearse, follow (Lane).

2256A. Three things have been mentioned in this verse, viz., preaching and reading of the Qur'an; observance of Prayer and the remembrance of Allah. The purpose of all three is to deliver man from the bondage of sin and to help him to rise morally and spiritually. A living faith in a Supreme Being is the basic principle of all revealed religions because it is this faith that can serve as a potent and effective check on man's evil propensities and actions. This is why the Qur'an reverts again and again to the subject of God's existence and speaks of His great power, glory and love and lays the greatest emphasis on Divine remembrance in the form of the Islamic Prayer, which, if performed with all its necessary conditions, purity of mind and actions is the inevitable result.

2257. The verse lays down a very sound principle to guide us when preaching our Faith to others. We should begin preaching by laying stress on those beliefs and religious principles which are common between us and our adversary. As an instance we are told that while talking to "the People of the Book" we should start with the two basic religious principles of the Unity of God and Divine revelation.

2258. The fact that a man who could neither read nor write, and, who being born in a country, and having lived among a people, cut off from all contact with civilized humanity, could conceivably have no knowledge of the other revealed Scriptures, should have been able to produce a Book which not only contains all that is of permanent value in those Scriptures but is also a compendium of all the universal teachings that are calculated to satisfy the moral and spiritual needs and requirements of humanity for all time, does constitute an infallible proof of the Qur'an being a revealed Book and the Holy Prophet being a Divine Teacher.

2259. While the preceding verse referred to external evidence in support of the Qur'an being the revealed Word of God, the present one furnishes an internal evidence; which is that from the hearts of those who have been endowed with knowledge of the Qur'an gush forth fountains of Divine light.

2260. To the demand of disbelievers for a Sign of punishment (see preceding verse); the present verse gives an answer full of pathos. It asks them, why do they demand a Sign of punishment when God has already given them a Sign of mercy in the form of the Qur'an by acting upon which they can acquire eminence and become an honored and respected people in the world.

2261. The verse gives a direct answer to the disbelievers' demand for the Sign of punishment and says that instead of benefiting by the Sign of mercy which has been given to them in the form of the Qur'an, these ill-fated people persist in their demand for punishment. So they will have this Sign and the punishment will come upon them all of a sudden and from quarters least expected. But they will have to wait for a fixed and appointed term.

2261A. The punishment referred to in the preceding verse is the punishment promised to the disbelievers in this life. The punishment mentioned in this verse is the punishment promised to them in the Hereafter.

2262. When Divine punishment comes, it is sudden and swift and like a cataract overwhelms disbelievers from every direction.

2263. Believers are here promised in clear and unequivocal terms that those who leave their hearths and homes in the way of God, and then remain steadfast in their belief and do righteous deeds, the reward they get far exceeds all that they lose for God's sake.

2264. When even animals and birds do not go without food, it is inconceivable that man, who is God's noblest creation and its acme and apex, should starve.

2265. God is the Creator and Source of all life, and for its continuity He has pressed into the service of man all the forces of nature.

2266. Life without hardships and privations borne for a noble cause, and without sacrifices undergone for the sake of God, is 'but a pastime and a sport,' a useless and purposeless existence. The purposeful life is that which is spent in the quest of a sublime and noble object and in preparation for everlasting life for which God has created man.

2267. This verse constitutes a standing testimony to Ka'bah being God's own Sacred House. Ever since the advent of Islam when it was Divinely declared to be humanity's everlasting Qiblah and even in the Days of Ignorance when the Arabs had no respect for human life, the territory called the Haram-the precincts of the Ka'bah, remained a haven of safety. While there was no safety outside, complete security and peace reigned in it.

2268. Jihad as ordained by Islam does not consist in killing and being killed, but in striving hard to win the pleasure of God, the word, Fina meaning 'to meet Us.'