About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

       (This) Book (the Quran) is revealed to you from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Indeed, We have sent this Book to you in truth. So worship Allah (Alone) by performing your religious practices sincerely for Him only.

       Bear in mind that all forms of worship and obedience is for Allah (Alone). And those who take protectors besides Allah (say): “We worship them only so that they may bring us near to Allah.” Indeed, Allah will judge between them (on the Day of Judgement) concerning their differences. Indeed, Allah does not guide him who is a liar and a disbeliever. (Also see Surah Yunus:18.)

       Had Allah willed to take a son, He could have chosen whom He willed from His creation. But He is above such things. He is Allah, the One, the Supreme.

       He has created the heavens and the earth with wisdom. He makes the night cover the day and makes the day cover the night. The sun and the moon follow His Command, each floating (in its assigned orbit) for an appointed term (i.e. the sun will extinguish after a certain period. We discovered this fact recently). No doubt, He is the All-Mighty, the Very-Forgiving. (Also Verse13:2, 31:29, 35:13, 75:9, 81:1 and Bukhari Vol. 4 No. 422.)

       He created you from a single person [Adam ( )], then made from him his wife (Hawwa). And He has sent down for you eight pairs of cattle (sheep, goat, ox and camel). He creates you in the wombs of your mothers in three veils of darkness changing your shape and form continuously. Such is Allah, your Creator. His is the kingdom. None has the right to be worshipped but He. So how then are you turned away?

       If you are ungrateful, then, indeed, Allah does not need your thanks. And He does not like ungratefulness from His slaves. And if you are grateful (to Allah), He will be pleased with it for you. (And Our rule is that) nobody will carry the burden (of sin) of another person. Then you will return to your Creator and He will inform you what you used to do. Indeed, He is All-Knower of that which is (hidden) in the breasts.

       When a person faces a hardship he prays to his Creator, turning to Him in repentance. But when (Allah) bestows a Favour upon him from Himself, the person forgets that for which he prayed for before, and he makes rivals with Allah, so that he may mislead (others) from His Path. Say: “Enjoy the benefits of your disbelief for a short while. (Eventually) you are, indeed, going to be among the people of Hell-Fire.”

       Is the one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating and standing (in prayer) during the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of His Creator (like the one who disbelieves)? Say: “Are those who know equal to those who don’t know?” Indeed, only the people of understanding will learn a lesson from this.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “O My slaves who believe (in the One-ness of Allah)! Fear your Creator. There is an excellent reward for those who do good deeds in this world. Allah’s earth is very spacious (hence if necessary, migrate to other part of the land). Indeed, the patient are given full and unlimited reward.”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “Indeed, I am commanded to worship Allah in such a manner that my worship is sincerely for Him alone.”

       “And I am commanded to be among the first Muslims.”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “Indeed, I fear the torment of a great Day if I disobey my Creator.”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “I worship Allah sincerely, so that my worship is sincerely for Him alone.”

       So you may worship whom you like besides Allah. [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “The (real) losers are those who put themselves and their families in loss on the Day of Resurrection. Bear in mind that it will be an obvious loss.”

       They shall have covering (or canopy) of Fire above and below them. This is (the torment) about which Allah does frighten His slaves (saying): “O My slaves! So (always) fear Me.”

       And those who avoid worshipping false deities and turn in repentance to Allah, they deserve a glad tiding. Hence announce the good news to (My) slaves,

       Those who listen attentively to His Word (i.e. Allah’s Advice), and follow the best from it (i.e. they follow the Quran and the Sunnah since these are the best teachings – Tafsir Ibn Kathir), those are the ones whom Allah has guided and those are the people of understanding.

       Is then one for whom Allah’s punishment is justified (equal to one who is pious)? Can you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] rescue the one who is in Hell-Fire?

       But those who fear their Creator, there are lofty apartments built for them, one above another, beneath which rivers flow (i.e. Paradise). (This is) the Promise of Allah and Allah does not break His Promise.

       Don’t you see that Allah has sent down rain water from the sky, and makes it penetrate the earth? Then He produces with it vegetations of different colours (and tastes). Then they become dry and you see them turn yellow and then He makes them tiny pieces. Indeed, there is a reminder in it for the people of understanding.

       Is he whose breast Allah has opened for Islam and has light (i.e. guidance) from his Creator (like he who is a disbeliever)? So woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. They are in obvious error.

       Allah has sent down the Best Statements, which is a Book; its parts resemble each other (in eloquence) and often repeated (to explain its commands). Those who fear Allah, their skins tremble by reciting this Book (since they fully understand the warnings given in it). Then their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah. Allah guides with it whom He wills. And whom Allah sends astray, there is no guide for him.

       Is he who will confront the terrible torment with his face on the Day of Resurrection (like one who enters paradise peacefully)? And it will be said to the wrong-doers: “Taste (the result of) what you used to do!”

       People before them also denied (the truth), so the torment came to them from directions they did not perceive. 

       So Allah made them taste disgrace in the worldly life, and the torment of the Hereafter is far greater, if they only knew!

       And, indeed, We have given in this Quran every kind of example for men, so that they will learn a lesson from it.

       This Quran is in Arabic without any crookedness in it, in order that they may fear (Allah).

       Allah gives an example of a (slave) person belonging to many partners who are quarrelling among themselves, and another (slave) person who has only one master (like those who worship Allah Alone). Are they equal in this example? (Indeed, the second slave is in a better situation. Hence it is proved that the believers are in a much better situation). All praise and thanks are due to Allah (Who has given such a simple example). (Even after this example) most of them don’t care to understand.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Indeed, you will die and they will die too.

       Then, indeed, all of you will dispute before your Creator on the Day of Resurrection. 

       So who is more wrong (than the one) who coins a lie against Allah and denies the truth (the Quran) when it comes to him?! Is Hell not the abode for such disbelievers?

       And he [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] who has brought the truth and also those who confirmed it, such are the pious persons.

       They shall have all that they will desire from their Creator. That is the reward for the good-doers.

       So that Allah may remove their evil deeds and give them fantastic reward for the good deeds they used to do.

       Is not Allah Sufficient for (the protection of) His slave [i.e. Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)]. Yet they try to frighten you (from false gods) besides Him. And whom Allah sends astray, then there will be no guide for him.

       And whomsoever Allah guides, there will be none who can mislead him. Is not Allah All-Mighty and Capable of taking revenge?

       And, if you ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth?” Surely they will say: “Allah.” (When they confess that He is the Only Creator) Say: “Then tell me, what about those whom you worship besides Allah. If Allah intended to harm me, could they remove His harm? Or if Allah intends some Mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy from me?” Hence [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “(This proves that) Allah is Sufficient for me. Those who trust put their trust in Him only. (Hence I put my trust in Him too and don’t care about your opposition).”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “O my people! Act according to your choices and I shall act according to mine. Then soon you will come to know (the result of it),”

       “Who receives the disgracing torment, and who is inflicted by an everlasting torment.”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Indeed, We have sent down to you the Quran for mankind in truth. (So it is your duty to convey it). Whoever follows the guidance, it will be to his benefit and whoever goes astray,  it is his own loss. You are not sent as a guardian over them. 

       It is Allah Who takes away souls at the time of death (and the person dies permanently in this world, called ). And Allah also disables the souls temporarily at the time of sleep, but the person does not die (called ). Those for whom the time of death has arrived, Allah takes away the soul () and for others restores it for an appointed term. Indeed, there are signs in it for those who ponder deeply. (And it is a proof of the Power of Allah). (Also see Surah Al-Anam:60 and 61).

       Have they taken others as intercessors besides Allah? Say: “Even though they have no power over anything, nor any intelligence (to understand intercession. Then how can they be intercessors)?”

       Say: “All (kinds of) interces-sion belong to Allah Alone. He is the Sovereign of the heavens and the earth, and then you shall be brought back to Him. (Hence, fear Him).”

       And when Allah Alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who don’t believe in the Hereafter are filled with hatred (from the Oneness of Allah), and when the others (i.e. false gods) are mentioned, they spontaneously rejoice.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! The All Knower of the Unseen and the seen! You will judge between your slaves about that which they used to differ.”

       (And the condition at the time of this judgement will be as follows). And if the wrong-doers own whatever is on earth and additional equal to this, then they offer this to free themselves from the terrible torment on the Day of Resurrection (it will not be accepted). And certain things will become apparent to them from Allah which they never thought about (i.e. severity of torment etc.)

       And the evils of their deeds will become apparent to them and they will be entrapped in (i.e. torment) what they used to mock at.

       When a person faces hardship, he calls Us for help. When We grant him a Favour from Us, he says: “Indeed, I have it because of my knowledge.” In fact, there is a test in it (whether he gives thanks for the favour or not), but most of them don’t know it. 

       Indeed, people before them said that too, but it did not benefit them, what they used to do (e.g. Qarun). 

       Hence, they suffered for their evil deeds. (This was for the people in the past). And the (present) evil-doers will also suffer for their evil deeds and they will not be able to escape (from Allah’s punishment).

       Don’t you know that Allah gives provisions in abundance to whom He wills and limits it (for whom He wills). Indeed, there are signs in it for the people who believe.

       Say (on behalf of Allah): “O my slaves, who have transgressed against themselves (by committing sins)! Don’t despair of the Mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Very-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

       (The conditions and method of this forgiveness is) “Turn in repentance to your Creator (with belief) and obey Him constantly before the torment strikes you, after that you will not be helped.

       “And follow the fantastic thing which has been sent down to you from your Creator (i.e. the Quran), before the torment comes to you suddenly, while you are not even aware of it.”

       Lest a person should say (on the Day of Judgement). “Alas, I neglected my duties towards Allah. And, in fact, I was one of those who mocked (at the truth).”

       Or (lest) he should say: “If only Allah had guided me, I should have been definitely among the pious persons.” (Also see Surah Al-Anam:148)

       Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: “If only I was given another chance (to return to the worldly life), then I should definitely be among the good-doers.”

       In fact, My revelations came to you, but you denied them and you were arrogant and were among the disbelievers.

       And those who lied against Allah, you will see their faces black on the Day of Resurrection. Is there not in Hell the residence for the arrogant (people)?

       And Allah will save those who are pious persons due to their good deeds. Evil shall not touch them, nor shall they grieve.

       Allah is the Creator of All things, and He is the Guardian over all things.

       The keys of the heavens and the earth belong to Allah (i.e. Allah is the Controller of all affairs). And the disbelievers of the Allah's revelations will be the losers.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “O you ignorant people! Do you compel me to worship other than Allah?”

       And, indeed, it was revealed to you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] and to those before you: “If you join others in worship with Allah, all your deeds will surely become null and void, and you will certainly be among the losers.”

       In fact, you should worship Allah (Alone), and be among the grateful (persons).

       (Alas!) People did not value (the Greatness and Power of) Allah the way they should have. The whole of the earth will be held in His Palm on the Day of Resurrection and heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified is He, and High is He above all that they associate as partners with Him.

       And the Trumpet will be blown, and all those in the heavens and on the earth will become unconscious except whom Allah wills (i.e. some angels). Then the Trumpet will be blown a second time and suddenly they will be standing and looking on (i.e. waiting).

       (Allah will appear on the earth in the form which suits His Majesty). The earth will shine with the light of its Creator (Allah), and the Book of accountability will be placed (in front of everybody), and the Prophets and witnesses will be brought, and judgement will be made between them with justice and they will not be wronged.

       And every person will be rewarded fully according to his deeds, and He knows Best what you are doing.

       And the disbelievers will be driven to Hell in groups. When they reach near Hell, its gates will be opened. And its guards will say: “Did messengers not come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Verses of your Creator and warning you of the Meeting of this Day?” They will say: “Yes, but the Word (command) of torment has been justified against the disbelievers.” (Also see Surah At-Tur:13)

       It will be said (to them): “Enter the gates of Hell, to reside there forever. What an evil residence for the arrogant people!”

       And those who feared their Creator will be led to Paradise in groups. When they arrive there, its gates will be opened (for their reception even before their arrival), and its guards will say to them: “Peace be upon you! Enjoy yourselves here, and enter to reside there forever.”

       And the residents of Paradise will say: “All praise and thanks are due to Allah who has fulfilled His Promise and has made us inherit this land so that we can reside in Paradise wherever we like. So what a fantastic reward for the good workers!”

       And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne (of Allah) from all around, glorifying the praise of their Creator (during this meeting for accountability). And they will be judged with full justice. (At those judgements everybody will say with excitement): “All praise and thanks are due to Allah, the Creator of the universe.” (With this the meeting will be closed).