(Revealed before Hijrah)

Date of Revelation and Context
The Surah was revealed at Mecca, probably at the time at which the preceding Surah was revealed. In that Surah Muslims were told that like the Israelites they will be given wealth, power, prosperity and prestige and that if in the heyday of their glory and greatness they consigned God to oblivion and abandoned themselves to a life of luxury and ease, they will draw upon their heads His wrath as did the Israelites before them. In the present Surah they are promised honor and eminence through the Qur'an whose commandments they should not fail to observe.

Subject-Matter
The Surah opens with the declaration that all praise belongs to God Who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. The declaration implies that being the Creator of the universe God has not only provided for the physical needs of man but also for his moral and spiritual needs, and that for this purpose He has created angels through whose instrumentality He controls the physical universe and conveys His Will to men. It further says that since the creation of man God has been sending Prophets and Messengers to convey His Will and that now He has decreed to bestow His mercy upon mankind in the form of the Qur'an. After this announcement of the bestowal of Divine mercy upon man he has been warned not to reject it, as this will entail grave consequences.

The Surah proceeds to draw a moral lesson from the quite insignificant beginning of man, that Islam will, from a humble start, grow into a mighty organization. It further compares it to a sea whose water is sweet which slakes the thirst of spiritual wayfarers. Next, it observes that Islam is no novel phenomenon. Alternate periods of spiritual light and darkness continue to come over the world as day follows night and vice versa. After a long period of darkness and cessation of revelation, the sun of Islam has risen to illumine the dark world and God has decreed to bring into being a new creation and a new order of things through its teachings. Through the Qur'an God will give eyes to the blind and ears to the deaf and the dead will also receive a new life, but those who will deliberately shut the avenues of their hearts and refuse to listen to the Divine Call will incur spiritual death.

The Surah then invites attention to the study of the physical phenomenon which bears a striking resemblance to a similar phenomenon in the spiritual realm. When rain falls on dry and parched land, it begins to bloom, blossom and vibrate with a new life, and crops, flowers and fruits of varying hues, tastes and forms, are brought forth. The water that comes down in the form of rain is the same but the crops and fruits are different. Similarly, the same water of Divine revelation produces different results among men of different natures and moral aptitudes. While on the one hand it produces highly righteous and God-fearing men, on the other, a community of vicious and wicked men also comes into being who carry on relentless fight against the cause of truth. This fight between the devotees of truth and the forces of darkness invariably ends in one inevitable result-the triumph of truth over falsehood.

Towards its close the Surah brings home to idolaters the untenability of their position and warns them that if, in spite of the falsity and futility of their beliefs and practices, they continued to stick to them, Divine punishment will overtake them, though God is very slow in punishing and continues to grant respite to sinners till by persisting in their perverse attitude they shut upon themselves the doors of His mercy.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
[35:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ رُسُلاً أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَثْنَى وَثُلاَثَ وَرُبَاعَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

[35:2] All praise belongs to Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, Who employs the angels as messengers, having wings, two, three, and four. He adds to His creation[2407] whatever He pleases; for Allah has power over all things.

مَا يَفْتَحْ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ رَحْمَةٍ فَلاَ مُمْسِكَ لَهَا وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلاَ مُرْسِلَ لَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

[35:3] Whatever of mercy Allah grants to men — there is none to withhold it[2408]; and whatever He withholds, there is none who can release it after that; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ فَأَنَّى تُؤْفَكُونَ

[35:4] O ye men, remember the favour of Allah towards you. Is there any Creator other than Allah Who provides for you from the heaven and earth? There is none worthy of worship but He. Whither then are you turned away?

وَإِنْ يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الأُمُورُ
[35:5] And if they reject thee, verily, God’s Messengers have been rejected before thee; and unto Allah all things are brought back for decision.

يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلاَ تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلاَ يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ
[35:6] O ye men, assuredly the promise of Allah is true, so let not the present life deceive you, nor let the Deceiver deceive you with respect to Allah.

إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ
[35:7] Surely Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He calls his followers only that they may become inmates of the burning Fire.

الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
[35:8] For those who disbelieve there is a severe punishment. And for those who believe and do good works there is forgiveness and a great reward.

أَفَمَنْ زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَنًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ فَلاَ تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

[35:9] Is he , then, to whom the evil of his deed is made to appear pleasing, so that he looks upon it as good, like him who believes and does good deeds? Surely, Allah adjudges astray whom He will and guides whom He will. So let not thy soul waste away[2409] in sighing for them. Surely Allah knows what they do.

وَاللَّهُ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ الرِّيَاحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَسُقْنَاهُ إِلَى بَلَدٍ مَيِّتٍ فَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِ الأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا كَذَلِكَ النُّشُورُ

[35:10] And Allah it is Who sends the winds which raise the clouds; then do We drive them to a lifeless tract of land, and quicken thereby the earth after its death. Likewise shall the Resurrection be[2410].

مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَكْرُ أُوْلَئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ

[35:11] Whoso desires honour, then let him know that all honour belongs to Allah. Unto Him ascend good words, and righteous work does He exalt. And those who plot evils — for them is a severe punishment; and the plotting of such will perish.

وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنْثَى وَلاَ تَضَعُ إِلاَّ بِعِلْمِهِ وَمَا يُعَمَّرُ مِنْ مُعَمَّرٍ وَلاَ يُنْقَصُ مِنْ عُمُرِهِ إِلاَّ فِي كِتَابٍ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ

[35:12] And Allah created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then He made you pairs. And no female conceives, nor does she bring forth a child without His knowledge. And no one whose life is prolonged has his life prolonged, nor is anything diminished of his life, but it is recorded in a Book[2411]. That surely is easy for Allah.

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْبَحْرَانِ هَذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَائِغٌ شَرَابُهُ وَهَذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ وَمِنْ كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

[35:13] And the two seas[2412] are not alike: this one palatable, sweet and pleasant to drink, and the other, salt and bitter. And from each you eat fresh meat, and take forth ornaments which you wear. And thou seest the ships therein ploughing the waves that you may seek of His bounty, and that you may be grateful.

يُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي ِلأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ذَلِكُمْ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِنْ قِطْمِيرٍ

[35:14] He merges the night into the day, and He merges the day into the night[2413]. And He has pressed into service the sun and the moon; each one runs its course to an appointed term. Such is Allah, your Lord; His is the kingdom, and those whom you call upon beside Allah own not even a whit[2413A].

إِنْ تَدْعُوهُمْ لاَ يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ وَلاَ يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ

[35:15] If you call on them, they will not hear your call; and even if they heard it, they could not answer you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your having associated them with God. And none can inform thee like the One Who is All-Aware.

يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنْتُمْ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ
[35:16] O ye men, it is you that stand in need of Allah, but Allah is He Who is Self-Sufficent, the Praiseworthy.

إِنْ يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ
[35:17] If He please, He could destroy you, and bring a new creation instead.

وَمَا ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ
[35:18] And that is not difficult for Allah[2414].

وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى وَإِنْ تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَى حِمْلِهَا لاَ يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى إِنَّمَا تُنْذِرُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَمَنْ تَزَكَّى فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّى لِنَفْسِهِ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ

[35:19] And no burdened soul can bear the burden of another; and if a heavily laden soul call another to bear its load, naught of it shall be carried by the other, even though he be a kinsman. Thou canst warn only those who fear their Lord in secret and observe Prayer. And whoso purifies himself, purifies himself only to his own advantage; and to Allah shall be the return.

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ
[35:20] And the blind and the seeing are not alike,

وَلاَ الظُّلُمَاتُ وَلاَ النُّورُ
[35:21] Nor the darkness and light,

وَلاَ الظِّلُّ وَلاَ الْحَرُورُ
[35:22] Nor the shade and heat.

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الأَحْيَاءُ وَلاَ الأَمْوَاتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسْمِعُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَا أَنْتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَنْ فِي الْقُبُورِ
[35:23] Nor alike are the living and the dead[2415]. Surely, Allah causes him to hear whom He pleases; and thou canst not make those to hear who are in the graves[2416].

إِنْ أَنْتَ إِلاَّ نَذِيرٌ
[35:24] Thou art only a Warner.

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَإِنْ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلاَّ خلاَ فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ
[35:25] Verily, We have sent thee with the truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and as a Warner; and there is no people to whom a Warner has not been sent[2417].

وَإِنْ يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَبِالزُّبُرِ وَبِالْكِتَابِ الْمُنِيرِ

[35:26] And if they treat thee as a liar, those who were before them also treated their Prophets as liars. Their Messengers came to them with clear Signs, and with the Scriptures, and with the illuminating Book.

ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
[35:27] Then I seized those who disbelieved and how terrible was the change I brought about!

أَلَمْ تَرَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ ثَمَرَاتٍ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهَا وَمِنْ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ

[35:28] Dost thou not see that Allah sends down water from the sky and We bring forth therewith fruits of different colours; and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of diverse hues and others raven black[2418];

وَمِنْ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالأَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

[35:29] And of men and beasts and cattle, in like manner, there are various colours? Only those of His servants who possess knowledge fear Allah[2419]. Verily, Allah is Mighty, Most Forgiving.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَأَنْفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَنْ تَبُورَ

[35:30] Surely, only those who follow the Book of Allah and observe Prayer and spend out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly[2420], hope for a bargain which will never fail;

لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
[35:31] In order that He may give them their full rewards, and even increase them out of His bounty. He is surely Most Forgiving, Most Appreciating.

وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ مِنْ الْكِتَابِ هُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِعِبَادِهِ لَخَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ

[35:32] And the Book which We have revealed to thee is the truth itself, fulfilling that which is before it. Surely, Allah is All-Aware, All-Seeing with respect to His servants.

ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمِنْهُمْ مُقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْكَبِيرُ

[35:33] Then We gave the Book for an inheritance to those of Our servants whom We chose. And of them are some who are breaking down their own selves by suppressing their desires, and of them are some who keep to the right course, and of them are some who excel others in acts of goodness[2421] by Allah’s leave. And that indeed is the great distinction.

جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
[35:34] Gardens of Eternity! They will enter them. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and pearls; and their garments therein will be of silk.

وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا الْحَزَنَ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
[35:35] And they will say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah Who has removed grief from us. Surely, our Lord is Most Forgiving, Most Appreciating,

الَّذِي أَحَلَّنَا دَارَ الْمُقَامَةِ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ لاَ يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَلاَ يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا لُغُوبٌ
[35:36] ‘Who has, out of His bounty, settled us in the Adobe of Eternity, where no toil will touch us, nor any sense of weariness affect[2422] us therein.’

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا وَلاَ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِهَا كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي كُلَّ كَفُورٍ

[35:37] But as for those who disbelieve, for them is the fire of Hell. Death will not be decreed for them so that they may die; nor will the punishment thereof be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every ungrateful person.

وَهُمْ يَصْطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ أَوَلَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُمْ مَا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَنْ تَذَكَّرَ وَجَاءَكُمُ النَّذِيرُ فَذُوقُوا فَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ نَصِير

[35:38] And they will cry for help therein, ‘O our Lord, take us out, we will do righteous works other than those we used to do.’ ‘Did We not give you a life long enough so that he who would reflect could reflect therein? And there came unto you a Warner too. So taste ye the punishment; for wrongdoers have no helper.’

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَالِمُ غَيْبِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
[35:39] Verily, Allah knows the secrets of the heavens and of the earth. Verily, He knows full well all that lies hidden in the breasts.

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلاَئِفَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَلاَ يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ إِلاَّ مَقْتًا وَلاَ يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ إِلاَّ خَسَارًا

[35:40] He it is Who made you vicegerents in the earth. So he who disbelieves, will himself suffer the consequences of his disbelief. And for the disbelievers their disbelief will only increase odium in the sight of their Lord, and their disbelief will increase for the disbelievers nothing but loss.

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ شُرَكَاءَكُمْ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنْ الأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ أَمْ آتَيْنَاهُمْ كِتَابًا فَهُمْ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْهُ بَلْ إِنْ يَعِدُ الظَّالِمُونَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا إِلاَّ غُرُورًا

[35:41] Say, ‘Have you seen your associate- gods whom you call on beside Allah? Show me then what they have created of the earth. Or have they a share in the creation of the heavens? Or have We given them a Book so that they have an evidence therefrom?’ Nay, the wrongdoers promise one another nothing but deception.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ أَنْ تَزُولاَ وَلَئِنْ زَالَتَا إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

[35:42] Surely, Allah holds the heavens and the earth lest they deviate from their places. And if they did deviate, none can hold them after Him[2423]. Verily, He is Forbearing, Most Forgiving.

وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لَئِنْ جَاءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ لَيَكُونُنَّ أَهْدَى مِنْ إِحْدَى الأُمَمِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ مَا زَادَهُمْ إِلاَّ نُفُورًا

[35:43] And they swore by Allah their strongest oaths, that if a Warner came to them, they would follow guidance better than any other people. But when a Warner did come to them, it only increased them in aversion,

اسْتِكْبَارًا فِي الأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ السَّيِّئِ وَلاَ يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلاَّ بِأَهْلِهِ فَهَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلاَّ سُنَّةَ الأَوَّلِينَ فَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلاً وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَحْوِيلاً

[35:44] Out of arrogance in the earth and evil plotting. But the evil plot encompasses none but the authors thereof. Do they then look for anything but God’s way of dealing with the peoples of old? But thou wilt never find any change in the way of Allah; nor wilt thou ever find any alteration in the way of Allah

أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلاَ فِي الأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا

[35:45] Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how evil was the end of those who were before them? And they were stronger than they in power. And Allah is not such that anything in the heavens or the earth should frustrate His plans[2424]; verily, He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.

وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا مَا تَرَكَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ بَصِيرًا

[35:46] And if Allah were to punish people for what they do, He would not leave a living creature on the surface of the earth; but He grants them respite until an appointed term[2425]; and when their appointed time comes, then they will know that Allah has all His servants under His eyes.

2407. To angels is entrusted the control, management and supervision of the affairs of the physical world (79:6). This is one duty and responsibility placed upon them. Their other and heavier duty is to carry God's commandments and will to His Messengers. The angels bearing revelation manifest two, three, or four Divine attributes at the same time; and there are others who manifest even a larger number of these attributes. Ajnihah being a symbol of power and ability (Lane), the verse signifies that angels possess powers and qualities in varying degrees and in accordance with the importance of the work entrusted to each one of them. Some of the angels are endowed with powers and qualities greater than the others. The Archangel Gabriel is the chief of all the angels and, therefore, the most important work of carrying Divine revelation to God's Messengers is entrusted to him and is done under his care and supervision.

2408. After having mentioned in the previous verse that God has created the heavens and the earth and that He has made full provision for man's physical and spiritual needs the verse under comment signifies that God has now decreed to bestow His mercy upon mankind in the form of the revelation of the Qur'an.

2409. The verse constitutes an eloquent commentary on the solicitude and concern of the Holy Prophet for the spiritual well-being of his people and on his deep grief for their opposition to truth. See also 18:7.

2410.  Resurrection here signifying the resurrection of a people from a state of spiritual decline and degradation, the verse means that just as a dead and dry land blossoms into new life when rain falls upon it, so will a people, morally and spiritually dead and steeped in sin and wickedness, rise to a new life by means of the heavenly water of Divine revelation.

2411.  The verse implies a prophecy that just as out of an insignificant sperm-drop there grows a well-proportioned and fully-developed human being, similarly the lowly and poor Muslims will one day grow into a mighty community. Reference to what a female conceives and what she gives birth to, and to the lengthening and diminishing of a man's life implies another prophecy that the progeny of opponents of the Holy Prophet will decrease and that of Muslims increase. The words in the text translated as, 'it is all recorded in a Book,' may also mean, 'it is in accordance with Divine law.'

2412.  Metaphorically, the two seas spoken of are true and false religions. See 2085. The verse continuing the metaphor purports to say that though saltish water is not fit for drinking and irrigation, it has other uses. From it come out fresh meat and ornaments. Similarly, though the present opponents of Islam are, like saltish water, bitter and worthless, yet out of their loins there will be born those who will be zealous and devout bearers of its Message.

2413. The metaphor of the preceding verse is continued here. Al-Nahar (day) represents prosperity and power and al-Lail (night) signifies loss of these things combined with national decline and decadence.

2413A.  Qitmir means, the white point in the back of a date-stone, hence a mean, paltry or contemptible thing (Lane).

2414. God has decreed to bring into being a new creation, a new order. through the Holy Prophet and it is not at all difficult for Him to do so.

2415.  The believers have been called 'the living' because by accepting the truth they receive a new life, and the disbelievers are called 'the dead' because by rejecting the truth which is the elixir of life eternal they bring spiritual death upon themselves.

2416.  It is not possible for a Prophet of God to make those who have deliberately shut their hearts and ears listen to and accept the Divine Message. Such people spiritually are as dead and defunct as those buried in the graves.

2417. The verse unfolds a great truth which had remained unknown to the world till the Qur'an revealed it, viz., that there had been sent to every people in the past a Heavenly Messenger who preached to them the same Message of truth and righteousness. This great and noble principle leads to the belief in the Divine origin of all religions, and in their Founders as Divine Messengers. It is an article of faith with a Muslim to believe in and equally respect and revere all of them. By giving to the world this sublime truth, Islam has sought to create an atmosphere of amity and goodwill among different creeds, and to remove and banish rancor and bitterness which has embittered relations between the followers of these creeds all over the world.

2418. The verse purports to say that when rain falls upon dry and parched land it gives rise to a vast variety of crops, flowers and fruits of different colors, tastes, forms and kinds. The rain-water is the same but the crops, flowers and fruits it produces are vastly different from one another. This difference is evidently due to the nature of the soil and the seed. Similarly, when Divine revelation, which at many places in the Qur'an has been likened to water, comes to a people, it produces different effects upon different men according to the soil of their hearts and to the way in which they receive it.

2419. The kaleidoscopic variety in form, color and kind to which reference has been made in the preceding verse does not only exist in flowers, fruits and rocks but in men; beasts and cattle as well. The words, al-Nas (men), al-Dawabb (beasts) and al-An'am (cattle) may also represent men of different capabilities, dispositions and natural aptitudes. The expression, 'Only those of His servants, who are endowed with knowledge fear God,' lends weight to the view that these three words stand for three classes of men from among whom only those endowed with right knowledge fear God. Knowledge, here, however; does not necessarily mean spiritual knowledge but also knowledge of the laws of nature. A reverent study of nature and its laws inevitably leads one to realize the great powers of God and consequently makes him hold God in reverential awe.

2420. This verse gives a description of 'Ulama' (those who are endowed with knowledge) mentioned in the preceding verse.

2421. A believer passes through various stages of rigorous spiritual discipline. At the first stage he wages a veritable war against his low desires and passions and practices strict self denial. At the next stage his progress towards his goal is only gradual, and at the last stage he attains his full moral stature and his progress towards his great goal is very rapid and uniform.

2422. Complete freedom from every kind of fear and anxiety and perfect peace of mind and satisfaction of heart coupled with the pleasure of God is the highest stage of Paradise that the Qur’an, as the verse under comment and the preceding one show, has promised to believers in this and the next world.

2423. Both the celestial and terrestrial systems continue to work in perfect harmony without deviating the least from their set courses. This harmony reveals the existence of an Intelligent and All-Powerful Being behind it. That Supreme and Intelligent Being is God Who deserves and demands our worship and adoration.

2424. It is God's unalterable decree that all the plans and plots of disbelievers to bring the Holy Prophet to naught will end in failure and the cause of Islam will triumph.

2425. The Merciful God is slow to punish. He grants respite and affords chances to the wicked and the rebellious in order that they may mend their ways. If God had meted out swift and quick punishment that the sinners deserved they would have been destroyed in no time; and the world would have come to an end, and all life on earth would have become extinct, because then there would be no purpose left in the beasts, animals, birds, etc., remaining alive after man's destruction. Or, the verse may mean that God will not hesitate to destroy these abominable worms of the earth, i.e., disbelievers.