About the Surah

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

       Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

       His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and causes death, and He is Able to do all things. 

       He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him). He is dominant, and He knows every hidden thing (or He is hidden from the sight and intelligence of the people – Fath al-Qadeer). And He is All-Knower of everything.

       He is the one Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then rose over the throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). He knows what goes into the earth and what comes out of it (e.g. vegetation) and what comes down from the heavens (e.g. His commands) and what rises towards heaven (e.g. angels and deeds). And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be (i.e. you cannot be hidden from Him). And Allah is All-Seer of what you do.

       His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. And all matters return to Him (for decision).

       He merges night into day (the length of day increases) and merges the day into night (the length of night increases). He fully knows whatsoever is in the breasts.

       Believe in Allah and His Messenger [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] and spend (on others) from what He has made you in charge. And there is a great reward for those who believe and spend (in the Cause of Allah).

       And what is the matter with you that you don’t believe in Allah, while the Messenger [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] invites you to believe in your Creator, and, indeed, Allah has taken a promise from you, if you are real believers? (Also see Surah Al-Araf:172)

       He is the only one Who sends down clear revelation to His messenger [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] so that He may bring you out from darkness (i.e. all forms of ignorance) into light. And, indeed, Allah is full of kindness to you, Most Merciful.

       And what is the matter with you that you don’t spend in the Cause of Allah and Allah inherits whatever is in the heavens and the earth? Those who spent and fought before the conquest (of Makkah) are not equal (to those who did so after that conquest). They are at higher levels than those who spent and fought afterwards. And Allah has promised an excellent reward for all of them. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.

       Who (among you) is ready to give a sincere loan to Allah so that He go on increasing it for him and (additionally) he will have a generous reward – Paradise. (i.e. Allah will definitely give you reward just like every loan must be returned).

       On the Day (of Judgement) you shall see the believing men and the believing women with their light in front of them and on their right (since their accounts are given to them in their right hands) and (it will be said to them) this Day you are given the glad tidings of Gardens beneath which rivers flow (i.e. Paradise) to reside there forever. That is, truly, a great success!

       On that Day when the hypocrites, men and women, will say to the believers: “Wait for us so that we may borrow from your light!” It will be said (to them): “Go back and look for light there.” Then a wall will be drawn between them which has a gate. Inside this gate will be mercy and outside it will be torment.

       (The hypocrites) will call the believers: “Were we not with you (in the worldly life during the various forms of worship)?” The believers will reply: “Yes, indeed. But you put yourselves in a trial (i.e. you were hiding disbelief and hypocrisy in your hearts), and you anxiously waited (for our destruction), and you doubted (in Faith), and you were deceived by your false desires till the Command of Allah came (i.e. death came to you), and the chief deceiver (Satan) deceived you regarding Allah.”

       So on this Day no penalty shall be accepted from you nor from the disbelievers. Your residence is the Fire. That is your friend (i.e. suitable place for you), and it is a very bad destination.

       Has not (yet) the time come that the hearts of the believers be softened by Allah’s remembrance and the truth (i.e. the Quran) which has been sent down? And don’t become like those who received the Scripture before. So a long time passed (without) them (repenting), so their hearts were hardened. (As a result of this) most of them were disobedient to Allah. (Hence, believers should hurry to repentance). (Also see Surah Al-Maidah:13).

       Bear in mind that Allah revives the earth after its death. (Similarly, if they repent, Allah will revive the dead hearts of the disbelievers.) Indeed, We have made Our revelations clear so that you may understand them.

       Indeed, those who give in charity, men and women, and give Allah a sincere loan, their reward will be increased manifold and they shall have (an additional) generous reward (i.e. Paradise).

       And those who believe (firmly) in (the Oneness of) Allah and His Messenger are Siddiqueen (who always speak and act truthfully) and martyrs with their Creator. They have their reward and their light (to guide them). And those who disbelieve and deny Our revelations shall be the residents of Hell-Fire.

       Bear in mind that the life of this world is only play and fun, and (apparent) pomp and show, and mutual boasting among you (in power, beauty and worldly skills) and (rivalry) in abundance of wealth and (number of) children. Its example is like vegetation after rain which looks very pleasing to farmers, then it becomes dry and you see it turn yellow and then it breaks into tiny particles. (There are two things in the Hereafter). There is severe torment (for the disbelievers) and there is forgiveness and the Good Pleasure of Allah (for the believers). And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment. 

       (Hence,) race with one another in seeking the forgiveness of your Creator and Paradise, the width of which is like the width of the heaven and the earth (hence, the length of paradise is even greater than this) prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messenger. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows upon whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.

       No adversity comes on the earth or to you but it is already written in the Book of Decrees (i.e. Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) before We bring it into existence (in this world), and that is, indeed, very easy for Allah.

       (This Guidance is provided) so that if you lose something (e.g. health, wealth, children etc) you don’t grieve too much (which prevents you from seeking the Hereafter. However, there is no harm in expression of some natural grief). And don’t boast about what is given to you (since it is granted by Allah and not achieved by your personal skills). And Allah does not like every haughty boaster.

       Those who are misers (in spending in the Cause of Allah) and instruct other people in miserliness too. Whosoever turns away (from spending in the Cause of Allah), then Allah is All-Rich (free of all needs), the Worthy of all praise.

       Indeed, We have sent Our messengers with clear proofs and sent with them the Book and the Balance (justice) so that people may maintain justice. And We created iron which has mighty power and there are benefits in it for mankind (e.g. iron weapons etc.). (Allah has also created iron) so that Allah may see who helps Him (i.e. helps in Allah’s Cause) and who helps (the religion of) His messengers without seeing Allah (i.e. in Jihad). (Note that Allah is not in need of your Jihad, since) Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. (Jihad is for you to seek reward).

       Indeed, We sent Nuh ( ) and Ibrahim ( ) and We bestowed their children with Prophethood and Scripture. Then some of them were guided by it, and most of them were disobedient (to Allah).

       Then, We made Our mes-sengers follow them one after the other, and We made Isa ( ), Son of Maryam to follow, and gave him Injeel, (His followers split into two groups). Those who followed him, we created mutual compassion and mercy among them. (Some of his followers) invented monasticism (i.e. to remain monks all life) for themselves which We did not prescribe for them. They tried to please Allah with it, but they did not stick to the purpose for which it was created. Hence, We gave those, who believed [in Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] among them their reward, but most of them were disobedient.

       O you who believe [in Musa ( ) and Isa ( )]! Fear Allah, and believe in His Messenger [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)], Allah will give you double reward from His Mercy, and He shall give you a light (or guidance) and you shall be able to walk with this light and He will forgive you (since by embracing Islam all previous sins are wiped out). And Allah is Very Forgiving, Most Merciful.

       So that the people of the Scripture [who did not believe in Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] may know that they have no power whatsoever over the Grace of Allah, and that (His) Grace is (entirely) in His Hand. He bestows it upon whomsoever He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty [i.e. People of the Scripture still brag that Allah’s Grace and Forgiveness is for them. It is not true at all. In fact, Allah’s Grace is bestowed upon the followers of Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)].