About the Surah

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

So his people had no other answer to give except that they said: “Expel the family of Lut ( )  from your town since they pretend to be clean and pure people.”

       Whenever a new piece of advice (i.e. the Quranic revelation) comes to them from their Creator, they listen to it as a play (and a joke, and don’t ponder over it).

       Their hearts are not attentive to it at all and these wrong-doers whisper secretly saying: “Is he not a human being like you then why should you be carried away by his magic while you see it?”

       [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] said: “My Creator is fully aware of every word uttered in the heavens and on the earth. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower,”

       In fact, the disbelievers say: “This Quran is the collection of false dreams. In fact, he has coined it himself, rather he is a poet. Otherwise he would have brought to us a miracle like the former messengers [e.g. like the stick of Musa ( ) ]”.

       The communities which We have destroyed before remained disbelievers (even after witnessing the miracles), would they believe (after witnessing the demanded miracles)? (Not at all).

       And all the messengers We sent before you were men (and human beings). We sent Our revelations to them. So you can verify this from the People of the Scriptures, if you don’t know.

       And We did not create them with bodies that they do not have to eat meals, nor did they live forever. (This is the proof that they were human beings).

       Then We fulfilled all Our promises made to them, and We saved them whom We willed and We destroyed the transgressors.

       Indeed, We have sent down a Book (the Quran) for you which is (full of) reminders. Don’t you understand this? (Note that Arabs became well-known only because of the Quran).

       And how many communities gave in to wrongdoing We have destroyed and then raised another nation after them.

       So when they saw Our torment (approaching them), they suddenly (tried to) flee from it.

       Don’t flee. And return to where you enjoyed a luxurious life and to your homes, in order that you may be questioned.

       They said: “Woe to us! Indeed, we have been the wrong-doers.”

       So they kept uttering this (i.e. they confessed their wrong-doing), till We made them (like a) reaped harvest and extinguished fire).

       And We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for just a play (they are created with great wisdom and benefits in them). Also see 15:89, 19:65, 20:6, 25:59

       Had We been keen to have a pastime, We would have done so from Us, if We were to do it. (With-out making this elaborate system of the heavens and the earth and placing living creatures in there).

       (One of the objectives of creation of heavens and the earth is that We send down the Quran against the falsehood). In fact, We strike the falsehood with truth, hence the truth knocks out the brain of falsehood, and suddenly the falsehood is wiped out. And there is the destruction for you also, for the false accusation you make against Allah (e.g. that He has created the universe as a mere play or Allah has a son).

       Whoever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. And those who are near Him (i.e. angels), are not too proud to worship Him nor do they feel tired (worshiping Him).

       They (i.e. angels) glorify His praises night and day, and do not slacken about it.

       Or have they taken gods from the (creatures of) the earth who can put life in a dead body?

       Had there been gods in the heaven and the earth besides Allah, then the functioning of both of them would have failed (due to the differences in two gods. Since it did not fail, hence there is one God only). So Glorified is Allah, the Creator of the Throne, above all that (evil) they associate with Him.

       He cannot be questioned about what He does, while they will be questioned.

       Or have they taken for worship other gods besides Allah? Say [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)]: “Bring your proof. This Quran is the Reminder for those with me and Reminder for those before me (i.e. the Quran and earlier Scriptures remind the people to worship one God only).” In fact, most of the people don’t know the Truth; hence they turn away from it.

       And We did not send any mes-senger before you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] but We revealed to him: “None has the right to be worshipped ex-cept I (Allah), hence worship Me (Alone).”

       And they say: “The Most Gracious (Allah) has begotten a son.” Glory be to Him! In fact, they (whom they call His children) are honoured slaves (of Allah).

       They (the angels) don’t speak (out of respect to Him) until He has spoken and they obey His Command.

       He knows (all their affairs) including what is before them and is behind them. And they cannot intercede except for him with whom Allah is pleased. And they tremble with fear of Allah (this Verse proves that even angels will intercede on the Day of Judgement).

       And if any of them should say: “I am a god besides Him.” So We should reward him with Hell. Thus We reward the wrong-doers.

       Have the disbelievers not seen that the heavens and the earth were closed (i.e. there was no rain from the sky and no vegetation from the earth), then We opened them both (i.e. rain started from the sky and vegetation from the earth, Tafseer Ibn Kathir). And We created every living thing from water (i.e. its creation and survival depends on water). (After listening to all this) Will they not then believe?

       And We have placed the mountains on the earth lest it should shake146 with them, and We have made wide highways in it so that they can reach their destinations. 

       And We have made the sky a safe roof (e.g. sky prevents dangerous radiations reaching the earth), and they do not pay attention to His signs. 

And Allah has created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon each floating in its (specific) orbit.

       And We have not made any human being immortal before you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!], then if you die, would they live forever?

       Everyone is going to taste death. And We make everyone of you experience good and bad time to test you. And (finally) you will be returned to Us.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] And whenever the disbelievers see you, they mock at you (saying): “Is this the one who talks (bad) about your gods?”(Hence, they object to your denial of their gods) while they disbelieve at the mention of the Most Gracious (Allah). (In fact, their disbelief of the Most Gracious deserves mockery). (Also Surah Al-Furqan:41)

       Man is created (by his nature) loving haste. (Allah says): “I shall soon show My signs (i.e. torments). So do not ask Me to hasten it.”

       And they say: “When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?”

       And if the disbelievers knew that at that time they will not be able to keep away Fire from their faces, nor from their backs, and they will not be helped. (If they knew it, they would not have hastened about their demand for torment).

       In fact, the promised Hour will come to them all of a sudden and they will be perplexed. So they will not be able to avert it, nor will it be delayed for them.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Indeed, (many) messengers were mocked at before you, and then the people were entrapped by that which they used to mock at.

       Say: “Who can save you during the night or during the day from (the punishment of) the Most Gracious (Allah)?” In fact, they have turned away from the remembrance of their Creator.

       Or do they have gods besides Us who can protect them (from adversities)? They don’t have the ability to help themselves, nor can they be saved from Us (i.e. from Our torment).

       In fact, We gave the comforts of this life to them and to their forefathers for a long period of their lives. (Does it mean that they followed the truth? Not at all). Don’t they see that We are gradually reducing the land (under the control of the disbelievers) from its outlying borders? Do they still have the upper hand? (Not at all).

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “I convey to you the warnings by the revelations. But the deaf (who cannot hear the truth) will not hear the message even when they are warned.”

       And even if a breath (i.e. small part) of the torment of your Creator touches them, they will surely say: “Woe to us! Indeed, we have been the wrong-doers.”

       And on the Day of Judgement We will place a true and correct balance and no injustice will be done to anybody. And if a deed has a weight equal to a mustard seed, We will account for it. And We are Sufficient to take the account.

       And, indeed, We gave Musa ( )  and Harun ( )  the criterion (of right and wrong), a shining light (i.e. Taurat) and a Reminder for the pious people,

       Those who fear their Creator without seeing Him and they tremble with the thought of the Day of Judgement [for (i) torment (ii) displeasure of Allah].

       And this is the blessed reminder (the Quran), which We have sent down. Will you then deny it?

       And, indeed, We gave wisdom to Ibrahim ( )  even before (his Prophethood) and We knew his state of mind (that he deserved it and would use it correctly).

       (Remember) when Ibrahim ( )  said to his father and his people: “What are these idols, which you worship so devotedly?”

       They said: “We found our forefathers worshipping them.”

       Ibrahim ( )  said: “Indeed, you and your forefathers have been in an obvious error.”

       They said: “Have you really brought us the truth or are you just joking?”

       Ibrahim ( )  said: “In fact, your Creator is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He created them, and I am one of the witnesses (and believer of that).

       “And by Allah, I shall play a trick for your idols after you have gone and have turned your backs.”

       So he broke them into pieces except the biggest one so that they turn to it (and make enquiries from it).

       They said: “Who has done this (disrespect) to our idols? He is, indeed, one of the wrong-doers.”

       They said: “We heard a young man talking (bad) about them, who is called Ibrahim ( ) .”

       They said: “Then bring him in front of the people (perhaps he will confess his crime) and the people become witness (of his confession).”

       They said: “Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Ibrahim ( ) ?”

       Ibrahim ( )  said: “In fact, this biggest one did it. So ask them, if they can speak!”

       So they were convinced deep in their hearts and said (quietly to one another): “Indeed, you are the wrong-doers [and Ibrahim ( )  is speaking the truth. How can such helpless objects be gods?”]

       Then they returned to their earlier thought and said: “(O Ibrahim!) You know very well that they don’t speak.”

       Ibrahim ( )  responded: “Do you then worship things besides Allah, while those things can neither benefit you nor harm you a bit?” 

       “I am fedup with you and with those you worship besides Allah! Don’t you have any sense?”

       They said (to each other): “Burn Ibrahim ( )  in the fire and take revenge of your gods (from him), if you are going to do anything about his matter.”

       Allah ordered (the fire): “Be-come cool and safe (unharmful) for Ibrahim ( ) .” (It is a big miracle!)

       And they intended to harm Ibrahim ( ) , so We made them (absolute) losers.

       And We saved him [Ibrahim ( ) ] and Lut ( )  (from the mischief of the disbelievers) and took them to the land which We have blessed for mankind and jinn. (It has fruits and crops and it is the burial place of many Prophets).

       And We granted him Ishaq ( )  (as a son) and additionally Yaqub ( )  (as a grandson). And We made each one of them a pious person.

       And We made them (religious) leaders so that they guide mankind according to Our Commands. And We commanded them to do good deeds, perform Salat and pay the poor-due. And all of them were Our (sincere) worshippers.

       And We gave Lut ( )  wis-dom and (religious) knowledge (be-fitting the level of the Prophets) and rescued him from the community which was engaged in filthy activi-ties. Residents of this community were, indeed, the worst sinners.

       And We admitted Lut ( )  to Our Mercy (i.e. saved him while We destroyed the community). He was, of course, of the righteous people.

       And (remember) when Nuh ( )  requested before [i.e before the time Ibrahim ( ) ] and We granted his request. Hence, We rescued him and his followers from a big torture.

       And We helped him against the people who denied Our revelations. Indeed, they were evil people. So We drowned them all.

       And (remember) Dawud ( )  and Sulaiman ( ) , when they gave judgement regarding the crop of a field which was eaten up by the sheep of some people during the night. And We were present in their judgement.

       We taught Sulaiman ( )  the correct judgement of this (dispute). And We gave Prophethood and (religious) knowledge to each of them. And We put the mountains and the birds under the control of Dawud ( )  and they glorified Our Praise along with Dawud ( ) . (And nobody should be surprised by this) since it was We Who were the doer (of all these things).

       We taught him the skills of manufacturing clothes (for battles) to protect you in your fighting. Will you then be grateful?

       And We put violent winds under Sulaiman’s ( )  control, which used to blow (smoothly) by his command towards the land which We had blessed (i.e. Greater Syria). And We are All-Knower of everything.

       And (similarly) the devils (from jinn) used to dive for Sulaiman ( )  and they did other works besides that and it was We Who guarded them (so that the devils may not harm Sulaiman ( )  by their rebellious nature).

       And (remember) Ayyub ( )  when he prayed to his Creator: “Indeed, I am afflicted with distress, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy.”

       So We granted his prayer, and We recovered him from the ailment which he had and We bestowed upon him his family (i.e. children which had disappeared or died) and also additionally equal number of children through Our Mercy and as a Reminder for Our (sincere) worshippers.

       And (remember) Ismail ( )  and Idris ( )  and Dhul-Kifl ( ) , all were from among the patient people.

       And We admitted them to Our Mercy. Indeed, they were from the righteous people.

       And (remember) the compan-ion of the fish [i.e. Yunus ( ) ], when he went away angrily (from his people who refused to believe. He did not wait for Our instruc-tions regarding his journey). So he thought that We shall not be able to seize him. (He was swallowed by a big fish during this journey). Then he prayed through the darkness [i.e. (i) darkness of the belly of the fish (ii) of the deep river water (iii) of the night] saying: “None has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah!), Glorified You are! Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.”

       So We granted his prayer and removed his distress. And thus We rescue the believers.

       And (remember) Zakariyya ( ) , when he prayed to his Creator: “O my Creator! (Please) don’t leave me childless. (Grant me an inheritor), and You are the Best of the inheritors.”

       So We answered his prayer and granted him Yahya ( )  and We cured for him (the child bearing defect of) his wife. Indeed, they used to hurry in performing good deeds, and used to pray to Us with great hope and extreme fear and used to tremble with humbleness before Us. (Note these are the prerequisites for a prayer to be granted).

       And she who guarded her chastity (Virgin Maryam). We breathed towards her through Jibrael ( )  and made her and her son a sign for mankind and jinn.

       Indeed, this is your ummah (i.e. religion) which is, in fact, one and the same religion (introduced by all the Prophets). I am your Creator. Hence, worship Me (Alone) – (Ibn-Kathir).

       But people differed among themselves regarding their religion. They all shall return to Us.

       So whoever does good deeds while he is a believer, his efforts will not be rejected. And We, indeed, record it for him.

       And whichever community We have destroyed, it is impossible for them to return (to this world to repent to Us).

       Until when Yajuj and Majuj are let loose and they will come down running from every height (or mountain).

       And when the true promise (Day of Resurrection) shall come closer to its occurrence, then the eyes of the disbelievers will be staring widely (in horror). (They will say:) “Woe to us! We indeed, were heedless to this. In fact, we were the wrong-doers.”

       Indeed, you and that which you are worshipping besides Allah are fuel of Hell. You are going to enter it (i.e. Hell).

       Had these idols been (true) gods they would not have entered Hell, and all of them are going to reside there forever.

       They will be roaring and wail-ing there (due to pain and sadness) and they will not hear anything.

       Indeed, those for whom We have already promised goodness, they will be kept far away (from the Hell. e.g. Jesus ( ) , Maryam, Uzair ( ) , since the disbelievers may think that because they worshipped them, hence they will go to Hell with us too. Not at all!).

       They shall not hear even the slightest sound (of Hell) and they will eternally reside in (the place) which their souls desired.

       The time of the Greatest Horror [i.e. when the second Trumpet will be blown and everyone will become alive again, according to Ibn Abbas (ؓ)] will not even grieve them and (as soon as they come out of their graves) the angels will receive them warmly (with the greeting): “This is your Day which you were promised.”

       (Mention) the Day when We shall roll up the heaven (at the blowing of the first Trumpet) like a written scroll (i.e. long strip of paper) rolled up for books. We will recreate everything (easily) as We originally created everything the first time. It is a binding promise from Us and We shall definitely fulfil it.

       And after the reminders We have written in Az-Zabur that My righteous servants will inherit the land.

       Indeed, in this (the Quran or in this Surah) there is a big beneficial message for my sincere worshippers. (Others don’t benefit from this message since they do not ponder over it).

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] And We have not sent you except as a mercy for mankind, jinn and all that exists.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)! As a summary to your message you should announce to the people] Say: “It is revealed to me that your God is only one God (Allah). Then are you also going to submit to it?”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] But if the disbelievers turn away from you, say to them: “I equally warn you (i.e. just like how you turn away from me, I also turn away from you, declaring a war between us). I don’t know what you have been promised (i.e. torment or the Day of Judgement) is near or far.”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “Allah knows that which is expressed loudly (or openly) and that which you conceal.”

       And I don’t know (whether this delaying of Torment) is a trial for you and to let you benefit (from the worldly life) for a limited period.

       (When all these detailed topics did not benefit the disbelievers) then Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “My Creator! (Please) judge in truth. (i.e. fulfil the promise of victory for the believers). Our Creator is the Most Gracious, from Whom we seek help against what you attribute [to Allah, to Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and to the Quran].”