(Revealed before Hijrah)
Date of Revelation and Context
Like the preceding five Chapters with which it has great resemblance in style and subject-matter, this Surah was revealed early in the Holy Prophet's ministry. Some writers like Rodwell and Muir assign it to the late Meccan period. Predominance of scholarly opinion, however, is in favor of the Surah having been revealed early in the Holy Prophet's life at Mecca. The principal theme of the six Chapters, which begin with Saba', is Divine revelation with special reference to the revelation of the Qur'an and the doctrine of the Unity of God. The fact that there is one Designer and One Controller and Creator of the whole universe is inescapably inferable from the order, adaptation, proportion and coordination which pervade the whole universe and to which all the sciences bear undeniable testimony. The success of Divine Messengers with their extremely meager resources against very heavy odds constitutes another argument to prove God's Existence and His Unity.
Subject-Matter
The Surah opens with the subject of Quranic revelation and proceeds to deal with the need, purpose and the supreme object of all revealed Books and Divine Prophets which is the establishment of Unity of God on earth. The greatest impediment that bars the way to the achievement of this great and noble object lies in the fact that man is prone to worship false gods-the idols of his own creation. Of all forms of idolatry, perhaps the most hideous and most prevalent, and which has done the greatest injury to the spiritual development of whole communities, is the belief that Jesus is son of God.
The Surah cites the most beautiful and consummate design and order in the universe as an argument in support of the belief that there is only one Designing Mind behind all creation. The three stages, through which the embryo passes before it develops into a full-fledged human being, are adduced as an additional argument. After having briefly discussed the need and purpose of Divine revelation, the Surah gives two very strong and sound arguments in its support, viz., (1) those who invent lies against God, and those who reject truth, never succeed in life. Failure and ignominy dog their footsteps. (2) The Prophets of God and those who accept them and follow their lead always meet with success and their cause prospers. These two arguments constitute an infallible criterion to judge the truth of a claimant to Divine revelation. Judged by these standards, the claim of the Holy Prophet as a Divine Messenger, and of the Qur'an as Heavenly revelation, stands unchallenged and proved beyond doubt.
Next, the Surah gives sinners a message of hope and good cheer. It tells them that God is Most Merciful and Forgiving. His mercy encompasses all things. He only requires a change of heart on the part of the sinner. Man has to work out his own destiny and the vicarious sacrifice of nobody can save him. But he is vouchsafed many opportunities to repent and reform, but if he continues to walk in evil ways deliberately, he is severely punished. Towards the close the Surah devotes quite a few verses to the description of the Day of Resurrection.
 بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
[39:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
 تَنْزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنْ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
[39:2] The revelation of this Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
 إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ فَاعْبُدْ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ
[39:3] Surely it is We Who have revealed the Book to thee with truth; so worship Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience.
أَلاَ لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلاَّ لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ
[39:4] Hearken, it is to Allah alone that sincere obedience is due. And those who take for protectors others beside Him say, ‘We serve them only that they may bring us near to Allah in station[2562].’ Surely, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Surely, Allah guides not him who is an ungrateful liar.
 لَوْ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا لاَصْطَفَى مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ
[39:5] If Allah had desired to take to Himself a son, He could have chosen whom He pleased out of what He creates. Holy is He! He is Allah, the One, the Most Supreme.
خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ يُكَوِّرُ اللَّيْلَ عَلَى النَّهَارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ النَّهَارَ عَلَى اللَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي ِلأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى أَلاَ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفَّارُ
[39:6] He created the heavens and the earth in accordance with the requirements of wisdom. He makes the night to cover the day, and He makes the day to cover the night; and He has pressed the sun and the moon into service; each pursues its course until an appointed time. Hearken, it is He alone Who is the Mighty, the Great Forgiver.
خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَأَنْزَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ الأَنْعَامِ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَزْوَاجٍ يَخْلُقُكُمْ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ خَلْقًا مِنْ بَعْدِ خَلْقٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ ثَلاَثٍ ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ فَأَنَّى تُصْرَفُونَ
[39:7] He created you from a single being; then from that He made its mate; and He has sent[2563] down for you eight head of cattle in pairs[2564]. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, in threefold darkness[2565]. This is Allah, your Lord. His is the kingdom. There is no God but He. Whither then are you being turned away?
إِنْ تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْكُمْ وَلاَ يَرْضَى لِعِبَادِهِ الْكُفْرَ وَإِنْ تَشْكُرُوا يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
[39:8] If you are ungrateful, surely Allah is Self-Sufficient being independent of you. And He is not pleased with ingratitude in His servants. But if you show gratefulness[2566], He likes it in you. And no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return; And He will inform you of what you have been doing. Surely, He knows full well all that is hidden in the breasts.
وَإِذَا مَسَّ الإِنسَانَ ضُرٌّ دَعَا رَبَّهُ مُنِيبًا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلَهُ نِعْمَةً مِنْهُ نَسِيَ مَا كَانَ يَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَجَعَلَ لِلَّهِ أَنْدَادًا لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ قُلْ تَمَتَّعْ بِكُفْرِكَ قَلِيلاً إِنَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ
[39:9] And when an affliction befalls a man, he calls upon his Lord, turning penitently to Him. Then, when He confers upon him a favour from Himself, he forgets what he used to pray for before, and begins to assign rivals to Allah, that he may lead men astray from His way. Say, ‘Benefit thyself with thy disbelief a little while; thou art surely of the inmates of the Fire.’
أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِ
[39:10] Is he who prays devoutly to God in the hours of the night, prostrating himself and standing, and fears the Hereafter and hopes for the mercy of his Lord, like him who does not do so? Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who know not?’ Verily, only those endowed with understanding will take heed.
قُلْ يَاعِبَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ وَأَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةٌ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
[39:11] Say, ‘O ye My servants who believe, fear your Lord. There is good for those who do good in this life. And Allah’s earth is spacious. Verily the steadfast will have their reward without measure.[2567]’
 قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ
[39:12] Say, ‘Verily I am commanded to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion.
 وَأُمِرْتُ ِلأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
[39:13] ‘And I am commanded to be the first of those who submit to Him.’
 قُلْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
[39:14] Say, ‘Indeed I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of the great day.’
 قُلِ اللَّهَ أَعْبُدُ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ دِينِي
[39:15] Say, ‘It is Allah I worship, being sincere to Him in my religion[2568].
فَاعْبُدُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ قُلْ إِنَّ الْخَاسِرِينَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَلاَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ
[39:16] ‘So worship what you like beside Him.’ Say, ‘Surely the losers will be those who ruin their souls and ruin their families on the Day of Resurrection.’ Beware! that will surely be the manifest loss.
 لَهُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ مِنْ النَّارِ وَمِنْ تَحْتِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ ذَلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ اللَّهُ بِهِ عِبَادَهُ يَاعِبَادِ فَاتَّقُونِي
[39:17] They will have over them coverings of fire, and beneath them similar coverings. It is this against which Allah warns His servants. ‘O My servants, take Me, then, for your Protector.’
 وَالَّذِينَ اجْتَنَبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ أَنْ يَعْبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ لَهُمْ الْبُشْرَى فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ
[39:18] And those who shun false gods lest they worship them and turn to Allah — for them is glad tidings. So give glad tidings to My servants,
الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِ
[39:19] Who listen to the Word and follow the best thereof[2569]. It is they whom Allah has guided, and it is they who are men of understanding.
 أَفَمَنْ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذَابِ أَفَأَنْتَ تُنقِذُ مَنْ فِي النَّارِ
[39:20] Is he, then, against whom the sentence of punishment has become due fit to be rescue? Canst thou rescue him who is in the Fire?
لَكِنْ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ غُرَفٌ مِنْ فَوْقِهَا غُرَفٌ مَبْنِيَّةٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ لاَ يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ الْمِيعَاد
[39:21] But for them who fear their Lord there are lofty mansions built over lofty mansions[2570], beneath which rivers flow. Allah has made that promise; and Allah breaks not His promise.
أَلَمْ تَرَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَسَلَكَهُ يَنَابِيعَ فِي الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِ زَرْعًا مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُ حُطَامًا إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَذِكْرَى ِلأَوْلِي الأَلْبَابِ
[39:22] Hast thou not seen that Allah sends down water from the sky, and causes it to flow in the form of streamlets in the earth and then brings forth thereby herbage, varying in its colours? Then it dries up and thou seest it turn yellow; then He reduces it to broken straw. In that verily is a reminder for men of understanding.
أَفَمَنْ شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرَهُ لِلإِسْلاَمِ فَهُوَ عَلَى نُورٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ فَوَيْلٌ لِلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ فِي ضَلاَلٍ مُبِينٍ
[39:23] Is he then whose bosom Allah has opened for the acceptance of Islam, so that he possesses a light[2571] from his Lord, like him who is groping in the darkness of disbelief ? Woe, then, to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah! They are in manifest error.
اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُتَشَابِهًا مَثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ
[39:24] Allah has sent down the best Message in the form of a Book, whose verses are mutually supporting and repeated in diverse forms[2572] at which do creep the skins of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of Allah. Such is the guidance of Allah; He guides therewith whom He pleases. And he whom Allah adjudges astray — he shall have no guide.
 أَفَمَنْ يَتَّقِي بِوَجْهِهِ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَقِيلَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ ذُوقُوا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ
[39:25] Is he, then, who has nothing but his own face[2573] to protect him with from the evil punishment on the Day of Resurrection like him who is secure? And it will be said to the wrongdoers, ‘Taste ye what you used to earn.’
 كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَاهُمْ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ
[39:26] Those who were before them rejected Our Messengers, so the punishment came upon them whence they knew not.
 فَأَذَاقَهُمْ اللَّهُ الْخِزْيَ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَعَذَابُ الآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
[39:27] So Allah made them taste humiliation in the present life and the punishment of the Hereafter will certainly be greater, if they but knew! [39:28] And, indeed, We have set forth to men all kinds of parables in this Qur’an that they may take heed.
 وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَثَلٍ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
[39:28] And, indeed, We have set forth to men all kinds of parables in this Qur’an that they may take heed[2574].
 قُرآنًا عَرَبِيًّا غَيْرَ ذِي عِوَجٍ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
[39:29] We have revealed the Qur’an in Arabic wherein there is no deviation from rectitude, that they may become righteous.
ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلاً رَجُلاً فِيهِ شُرَكَاءُ مُتَشَاكِسُونَ وَرَجُلاً سَلَمًا لِرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلاً الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
[39:30] Allah sets forth a parable: a man belonging to several partners, disagreeing with one another, and a man belonging wholly to one man. Are they both equal in condition[2575]? All praise belongs to Allah. But most of them know not.
 إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ مَيِّتُونَ
[39:31] Surely thou wilt die, and surely they too will die.
 ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عِنْدَ رَبِّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ
[39:32] Then surely on the Day of Resurrection you will dispute with one another before your Lord.
 فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَكَذَّبَ بِالصِّدْقِ إِذْ جَاءَهُ أَلَيْسَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ مَثْوًى لِلْكَافِرِينَ
[39:33] Who, then, is more unjust than he who lies against Allah or he who rejects the truth when it comes to him? Is there not in Hell an abode for the disbelievers?
 وَالَّذِي جَاءَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ
[39:34] But he who has brought the truth, and he who testifies to it as such — these it is who are the righteous.
 لَهُمْ مَا يَشَاءُونَ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ ذَلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
[39:35] They will have with their Lord whatever they desire; that is the reward of those who do good.
 لِيُكَفِّرَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَسْوَأَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
[39:36] So that Allah will remove from them the evil consequences of what they did, and will give them their reward according to the best of their actions[2576].
 أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ وَيُخَوِّفُونَكَ بِالَّذِينَ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ
[39:37] Is not Allah sufficient for His servant? And yet they would frighten thee with those beside Him. And he whom Allah adjudges astray — for him there is no guide.
 وَمَنْ يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ مُضِلٍّ أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِعَزِيزٍ ذِي انْتِقَامٍ
[39:38] And he whom Allah guides — there is none to lead him astray. Is not Allah the Mighty, the Lord of retribution?
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ قُلْ أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَاشِفَاتُ ضُرِّهِ أَوْ أَرَادَنِي بِرَحْمَةٍ هَلْ هُنَّ مُمْسِكَاتُ رَحْمَتِهِ قُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
[39:39] And if thou ask them, ‘Who created the heavens and the earth?’, they will surely say, ‘Allah.[2577]’ Say, ‘What think ye, if Allah intends to do me an injury, will those whom you call upon beside Allah be able to remove the injury inflicted by Him? Or if He wills to show me mercy, could they withhold His mercy?’ Say, ‘Allah is sufficient for me. In Him trust those who would trust.’
 قُلْ يَاقَوْمِ اعْمَلُوا عَلَى مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّي عَامِلٌ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
[39:40] Say, ‘O my people, act as best you can; I too am acting; soon shall you know[2578],
 مَنْ يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابٌ مُقِيمٌ
[39:41] ‘Who it is unto whom comes a punishment that will disgrace him, and on whom there descends an abiding punishment.’
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ لِلنَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ فَمَنِ اهْتَدَى فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا وَمَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِوَكِيلٍ
[39:42] Verily, We have revealed to thee the Book with truth for the good of mankind. So whoever follows guidance, follows it for the benefit of his own soul; and whoever goes astray, goes astray only to its detrimen[2579]t. And thou art not a guardian over them.
اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الأَنْفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِي قَضَى عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الأُخْرَى إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
[39:43] Allah takes away the souls of human beings at the time of their death; and during their sleep of those also that are not yet dead. And then He retains those against which He has decreed death, and sends back the others till an appointed term[2580]. In that surely are Signs for a people who reflect.
 أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ شُفَعَاءَ قُلْ أَوَلَوْ كَانُوا لاَ يَمْلِكُونَ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَعْقِلُونَ
[39:44] Have they taken intercessors beside Allah? Say, ‘Even if they have no power over anything and no intelligence?[2581]’
 قُلْ لِلَّهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيعًا لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
[39:45] Say, ‘All intercession rests with Allah[2582]. To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. And to Him then shall you be brought back.’
وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ اشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بالآخِرَةِ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ دُونِهِ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
[39:46] And when Allah alone is mentioned the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter shrink with aversion; but when those beside Him are mentioned, behold, they begin to rejoice.
قُلْ اللَّهُمَّ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِي مَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
[39:47] Say, ‘O Allah! Originator of the heavens and the earth; Knower of the unseen and the seen; Thou alone wilt judge between Thy servants concerning that in which they differed.’
وَلَوْ أَنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مَا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ لاَفْتَدَوْا بِهِ مِنْ سُوءِ الْعَذَابِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَبَدَا لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَحْتَسِبُونَ
[39:48] And even if the wrongdoers possessed all that is in the earth, and the like thereof in addition to it, they would surely seek to ransom themselves with it from the evil punishment on the Day of Resurrection; but there shall appear unto them, from Allah, that which they never thought of.
 وَبَدَا لَهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا وَحَاقَ بِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُون
[39:49] And the evil consequences of what they had earned will become apparent to them and that which they used to mock at will encompass them.
فَإِذَا مَسَّ الإِنسَانَ ضُرٌّ دَعَانَا ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلْنَاهُ نِعْمَةً مِنَّا قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ بَلْ هِيَ فِتْنَةٌ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
[39:50] And when trouble touches man, he cries unto Us. But when We bestow on him a favour from Us, he says, ‘This has been given to me on account of my own knowledge.[2583]’ Nay, it is only a trial; but most of them know not.
 قَدْ قَالَهَا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَمَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
[39:51] Those who were before them said the same thing, yet all that they had earned availed them not;
فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا وَالَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ سَيُصِيبُهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا وَمَا هُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ
[39:52] So the evil consequences of what they had earned overtook them; and those who do wrong from among these disbelievers — the evil consequences of what they earned shall also overtake them. They cannot escape.
 أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
[39:53] Know they not that Allah enlarges the provision for whomsoever He pleases, and straitens it for whomsoever He pleases? Verily, in that are Signs for a people who believe.
قُلْ يَاعِبَادِي الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
[39:54] Say, “O My servants who have committed excesses against their own souls! despair not[2584] of the mercy of Allah, surely Allah forgives all sins. Verily He is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
 وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لاَ تُنْصَرُونَ
[39:55] “And turn ye to your Lord, and submit[2585] yourselves to Him, before there comes unto you the punishment; for then you shall not be helped.
وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ العَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنْتُمْ لاَ تَشْعُرُونَ
[39:56] “And follow the best teaching that has been revealed to you from your Lord, before the punishment comes upon you unawares, while you perceive not;
 أَنْ تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَاحَسْرَتَا عَلَى مَا فَرَّطْتُ فِي جَنْبِ اللَّهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتُ لَمِنَ السَّاخِرِينَ
[39:57] “Lest a soul should say, ‘O my grief for my remissness in my duty in respect of Allah! and surely I was among those who scoffed;’
 أَوْ تَقُولَ لَوْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هَدَانِي لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
[39:58] “Or lest it should say, ‘If Allah had guided me, I should certainly have been among the righteous;’
 أَوْ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى الْعَذَابَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِي كَرَّةً فَأَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
[39:59] “Or lest it should say, when it sees the punishment, ‘Would that there were for me a return to the world, I would then be among those who do good!’”
 بَلَى قَدْ جَاءَتْكَ آيَاتِي فَكَذَّبْتَ بِهَا وَاسْتَكْبَرْتَ وَكُنْتَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ
[39:60] God will answer, ‘Aye, there came to thee My Signs, but thou didst treat them as lies, and thou wast arrogant, and thou wast of the disbelievers.[2586]’
وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تَرَى الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ وُجُوهُهُمْ مُسْوَدَّةٌ أَلَيْسَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ مَثْوًى لِلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ
[39:61] And on the Day of Resurrection, thou wilt see those who lied aga
 وَيُنَجِّي اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا بِمَفَازَتِهِمْ لاَ يَمَسُّهُمُ السُّوءُ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
[39:62] And Allah will deliver the righteous and lead them to a place of security and success; evil shall not touch them, nor shall they grieve.
 اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
[39:63] Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is Guardian over all things.
 لَهُ مَقَالِيدُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
[39:64] To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth; and as for those who disbelieve in the Signs of Allah, these it is who are the losers.
 قُلْ أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ تَأْمُرُونِّي أَعْبُدُ أَيُّهَا الْجَاهِلُونَ
[39:65] Say, ‘Is it other gods than Allah that you bid me worship, O ye ignorant ones?’
وَلَقَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
[39:66] And verily it has been revealed to thee as unto those before thee: ‘If thou attribute partners to God, thy work shall surely go vain and thou shalt certainly be of the losers.’
 بَلْ اللَّهَ فَاعْبُدْ وَكُنْ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ
[39:67] Aye, worship Allah and be among the thankful.
وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالسَّماوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
[39:68] And they do not esteem Allah, with the esteem that is due to Him. And the whole earth will be but His handful on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand[2587]. Glory to Him and exalted is He above that which they associate with Him.
وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ إِلاَّ مَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَى فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنْظُرُونَ
[39:69] And the trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are in the earth will fall down in a swoon, except those whom Allah will please to exempt. Then will it be blown a second time, and lo! they will be standing, awaiting[2588].
وَأَشْرَقَتِ الأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ وَجِيءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ
[39:70] And the earth will shine with the light of her Lord, and the Book will be laid open before them, and the Prophets and the witnesses will be brought[2589], and judgment will be given between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.
 وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَا عَمِلَتْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ
[39:71] And every soul will be fully rewarded for what it did. And He knows full well what they do.
وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنْذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا قَالُوا بَلَى وَلَكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذَابِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ
[39:72] And those who disbelieve will be driven to Hell in troops until, when they reach it, its gates will be opened, and its Keepers will say to them: ‘Did not Messengers from among yourselves come to you, reciting unto you the Signs of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?’ They will say, ‘Yea, but the sentence of punishment has become justly due against the disbelievers.’
 قِيلَ ادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ
[39:73] It will be said, ‘Enter ye the gates of Hell, abiding therein. And evil is the abode of the arrogant.’
وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ
[39:74] And those who feared their Lord will be conducted to Heaven in groups until, when they reach it, and its gates are opened, and its Keepers say to them, ‘Peace be upon you! be ye happy[2590], and enter it abiding therein;’
وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ وَأَوْرَثَنَا الأَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَاءُ فَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ
[39:75] And they will say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah Who has fulfilled His promise to us, and has given us the land for an inheritance, making our abode in the Garden wherever we please.’ How excellent then is the reward of the righteous workers!
وَتَرَى الْمَلاَئِكَةَ حَافِّينَ مِنْ حَوْلِ الْعَرْشِ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ وَقِيلَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
[39:76] And thou wilt see the angels going round the Throne, glorifying their Lord with His praise[2591]. And it will be judged between them with justice. And it will be said: ‘All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.’
2562. Man is prone to worship false gods, the idols of his own imagination, such as saints and holy men; wealth, power and passion; inherited beliefs and customs; etc., always pretending to believe that these can help him to understand and realize the Divine Being.
2563. The word, Anzala, when used in connection with the Word of God, means Auha, i.e., He revealed; and when used about things of constant daily use, it means A'ta, i.e., he gaveor bestowed. The word has been used in the latter sense in the present verse and in vv. 7:27and 57:26.
2564. Special reference in the words 'eight pairs of cattle' is to the pairs of goat, sheep, camel and the ox, mentioned in 6:144, 145; perhaps because they are animals of daily use for man.
2565. The expression, 'three stages of darkness,' may refer to the three stages of development of the embryo, Nutfah (sperm drop), 'Alaqah (clot) and Mudghah (lump of flesh) or to the three forms mentioned in 86:7, 8; 3:7 and 16:79, or to the three critical periods of pregnancy: (a) from the second to the third month of pregnancy; (b) from the third to the fifth month and (c) the beginning of the eighth month. During pregnancy there is danger of miscarriage at these three stages.
2566. Whereas Shukr denotes the proper use of Divine favors in a manner intended by God (14:8), Kufr is the misuse of these favors.
2567. The verse warns believers that they will be made to pass through trials and tribulations and will have to leave even their hearths and homes for the sake of God. It is when they have met the ordeal successfully that they will find God's earth spacious for them and will have their full reward from God without measure.
2568. In the brief space of four verses (3rd; 4th, 12th and 15th) the Holy Prophet has been enjoined to worship Allah with sincere devotion. The verses seemed to prepare Muslims for the severe trials that lay ahead of them in Medina. The Surah was revealed in the later Meccan period, when Muslims were leaving for Medina singly or in small groups.
2569. When two equally permissible courses are open to a believer, he adopts the one which is productive of the best results.
2570. The difference in ranks of believers in Paradise shows that there will be a corresponding difference in their endeavor and labor which signifies that the next life will not be a life of inactivity and lassitude but of incessant work and continuous advance.
2571. The teaching of Islam has such depth and vastness that it makes the hearts of believers expand and overflow with Divine knowledge and love. It certainly opens up new and endless vistas of thought, knowledge and truth.
2572. Divine revelation has found the completest and most perfect expression in the Qur'an. In the verse under comment the Qur'an has been described as Kitaban Mutashabihan signifying that it is a Book which is susceptible of different interpretations which are consistent with and support each other. There is no contradiction or inconsistency anywhere in the Qur'an. This constitutes one of its inimitable excellences. Another excellence of the Qur'an lies in the fact that it has made use of metaphors, allegories and parables. This greatly adds to the beauty and grace of its style and assures vastness of meaning in the fewest possible words. Again, the Qur'an is called Mathani which signifies that it describes its basic beliefs and principles repeatedly and in different ways and forms, in order to emphasize their importance, necessity and purpose. The word also signifies that some of the teachings of the Qur'an resemble those of other revealed Scriptures and some are new and inapproachable and incomparable in their excellences and beauties.
2573. The words signify the severity of the punishment which disbelievers will receive on the Day of Reckoning. They will become so confused and confounded by the severe punishment that, instead of protecting their faces, which are the most sensitive part of the body, they will put them forward.
2574. The verse develops the argument given in v. 24, viz., that the Qur'an contains the best Message for mankind, in that it has comprehensively dealt with all those principles and teachings which have deep bearing on man's spiritual and moral development, and also with all those subjects which can make his life useful and pleasant, It has provided guidance in matters of belief and conduct.
2575. A polytheist is like a person who has to serve several masters, having mutually antagonistic interests and who also are ill-tempered and quarrelsome. Pitiable indeed is the lot of such a person! Can he be like a true believer who has to serve and please only one Master Allah?
2576. God rewards the good actions of believers, of whatever degree and measure, as He would reward their best actions.
2577. Though idolaters, out of superstition or traditional attachment, worship false gods, yet if the argument is driven home to them, they have to, and invariably do, confess that God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and in Him alone resides all real power.
2578. The verse throws out an open challenge to disbelievers to do their worst and use all their power, resources and influence to destroy Islam, but they will never succeed in their evil designs. Islam is humanity's last hope and final destiny and, therefore, its cause is bound to triumph and prevail.
2579. Man himself is the architect of his destiny-good or bad.
2580. With his death man's soul does not die or disintegrate but is taken away from its mortal habitat and is kept in other regions to account for man's actions in due course.
2581. As the human soul is immortal, man is warned against committing deeds which might vitiate it. The most heinous of all evil deeds is the setting up of 'partners' with God.
2582. See 85.
2583. It is human nature that when man is involved in trouble he prays to God, but when he is in affluent circumstances he consigns Him to oblivion and attributes all his success in life to his own ability and knowledge.
2584. The verse holds out a message of hope and good cheer to the sinners. It encourages optimism and kills despair and despondency. It denounces and condemns pessimism because pessimism lies at the root of most sins and failures in life. Again and again the Qur'an gives a promise of Divine mercy and forgiveness (6:55;7: 157; 12:88;15:57; 18:59) than which there could be no greater message of solace and comfort for the grieved and the heavy-laden.
2585. Whereas the preceding verse holds out to sinners the message of hope and good cheer, this verse warns them that they will have to work out their destiny themselves by submitting to Divine laws.
2586. Many chances are given to the man who is steeped in sin to repent and reform himself. It is when his rejection of Truth is deliberate and repeated, and when he exceeds all legitimate bounds in committing sin and transgression and when the day of reckoning is actually upon him that his sighs and regrets prove of no avail to him.
2587. Yamin signifying power and strength, the verse refers to the great Power and Majesty of God and purports to say that nothing is more derogatory to His great attributes than that idols made of wood and stone or weak human beings should be worshipped.
2588. The verse seems to apply to Resurrection in the next life. But it may also apply to the spiritual condition of people immediately before the appearance of a Divine Teacher in the world whose advent is here likened to the blowing of the trumpet. In view of this simile the words, 'will fall down into a swoon,' may signify spiritual torpor of the people immediately before the appearance of a Divine Reformer and the words, 'will be standing, awaiting,' may signify their having seen and followed the right path after he has made his appearance.
2589. Applied to the next life, the words, 'And the earth will shine with the light of her Lord,' would mean that the veil will be lifted from the mysteries of life and the consequences of good and bad actions which man will have done in this life and which remain hidden here; will become manifest. With reference, however, to the appearance of a Divine Teacher in the world, particularly to that of the Holy Prophet, the words may signify that now that the Holy Prophet has appeared the whole earth will shine with Divine Light, and spiritual darkness will be completely dispelled. The words, 'The Prophets and witnesses will be brought, may signify the advent of the Holy Prophet who represents in his person all the Prophets and Divine Teachers; and 'witnesses' refers to his true followers who enjoy the proud privilege of having been appointed witnesses over all men (2: 144).
2590. Tibtum may also mean, because you led good and pure lives.
2591. God's attributes will see their most complete manifestation on the Judgment Day and the cherubs will be on duty singing alleluias to the Divine Being. Or, the verse may mean that the Unity of God will become established in Arabia; and God's true servants in the world together with the angels in heavens will celebrate His praises.
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