About the Surah

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

       Alif-Lam-Ra (Only Allah knows their meanings). These are Verses of a (complete) Book and clear Quran.

       (When the disbelievers will be tortured on the Day of Judgement) how much the disbeliever would wish that they had been Muslims (in the worldly life).

       Leave them eating, having fun and deceived with (false) hopes. So they will soon know (the truth at the time of their death).

       And we did not destroy any community but there was an ap-pointed time for it.

       (According to Our principle) No community can advance or delay its fixed term (similarly the present disbelievers will be punished when their fixed time comes).

       And the disbelievers (of Makkah) said [to Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)]: “O you, to whom the Quran is sent, you are, indeed, a mad man.

       “Why do you not bring angels to us if you are from the truthful?”

       We don’t send angels except with truth (i.e. for torment) and, in that case, they (the disbelievers) are not granted any delay (in the torment).

       Indeed, We sent down the Quran and, surely, We will protect it (from corruption). (No other Book or Prophet had this type of protection. It is a miracle of Quran which even an ordinary person can appreciate).

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Don’t be sad by their denial of your Prophethood).We sent messengers before you in the past communities.

       And never came to them a messenger but they did mock at him (mocking is the worst form of denial).

       Thus We put it (mocking) in the hearts of these criminals.

       They would not believe in the Quran. The examples of the earlier communities have passed before.

       Even if We open for them a gate from the heaven and they were to continue ascending into it.

       They will certainly say: “In-deed, our eyes are closed or locked to see (any angels etc); rather we are a bewithched people.”

       (Allah’s power is being des-cribed in the following Verses). And, indeed, We have created big stars (which appear) in the sky and We have decorated the sky (with them) for the lookers.

       And We have protected the sky with these stars from every outcast devil. 

       Except if a devil tries to steal the conversation (of angels), then he is pursued by a clear flaming fire.

       And We have spread out the earth and have placed heavy mountains on it and We have caused to grow in the earth all kinds of things in fixed or needed quantity.

       And We have created in the earth all the necessities of life for you and even for those whom you do not provide (e.g. cattle etc).

       And there is not a thing but We have treasures of it and We send everything in a fixed amount (due to Our Wisdom). 

       And We send the heavy winds (i.e. water laden clouds) and We send rainwater from the sky to let you drink it and it was not possible for you to store it (and distribute it according to your liking). 

       And We give life and We cause death, (and after everybody dies) We are the Inheritors.

       And, indeed, We know those who went before you and We know those who are left behind you.

       And, indeed, your Creator will gather them together (on the Day of Judgement). Indeed, He is All-Wise, (rewards everybody appropriately) All-Knowing (fully knows every body’s deeds).

       And, indeed, We created man from the dried (sounding) clay which is made from the wet (stinky) mud.

       And before [Adam ( ) ] We created jinn from the smokeless flame of fire.

       And (remember) when your Creator said to the angels: “I am going to create a man from the dried (sounding) clay which is made from the wet (stinky) mud.

       “So when I have completed (all parts of his body) and breathed soul into it, then prostrate yourselves to him.”

       So all the angels prostrated together.

       Except Satan – he refused to be among the prostrators.

       (Allah) said: “O Satan! Why did you not join the prostrators?” 

       (Satan) said: “I shall not prostrate to a human being whom you created from dried (sounding) clay made out of wet (stinky) mud.”

       (Allah) said: “So get out from the heavens. Verily, you are an outcast (due to your disobedience).

       “And, indeed, the curse shall be upon you till the Day of Judgement.”

       (Satan) said: “O my Creator! Please postpone (my punishment) till the Day of Resurrection.”

       (Allah) said: “Verily, so you are from those whose punishment is postponed,

       “Till a limited time.”

       (Satan) Said: “O my Creator! Because you misled me. I shall make the sins of mankind attractive to them in the land and I shall mislead them all.

       “Except Your chosen or guided slaves among them.”

       Allah said: “This is the Path (followed by my slaves with their good deeds) which will lead straight to Me.

       “Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves except those who follow you and have gone astray.

       “And, indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all.”

       “It (hell) has seven gates, for each of those gates is a group (of sinners) assigned.

       “Indeed, the God-fearing (i.e. believers) will reside in Gardens and water-springs (i.e. Paradise).

       “(It will be said to them:) ‘Enter (the Paradise) with peace and security.’

       “And We will remove from them bitterness (if any) and they will be there on the couches like (loving) brothers facing each other.”

       “They shall neither feel any fatigue there nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave it.”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] An-nounce to My slaves, that I am Very-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

       And that My Torment is the most painful torment.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Narrate to them (the story) of the guests of Ibrahim ( ) . (They were angels but came in the form of human beings).

       When they came to Ibrahim ( )  they said: “Salam (peace)!” [Ibrahim ( ) ] said: “Indeed! I am afraid of you.”

       (The angels) said: “Don’t be afraid! We, indeed, give you glad tidings of a son, very knowledgeable and wise (i.e. will be a Prophet since the Prophets have the most knowledge).”

       [Ibrahim ( ) ] Said: “Do you give me a glad tiding (of a son) when I have grown very old? Why do you give me this news (in this situation)?”

       (The angels) said: “We are conveying you the true news. So don’t be from those who despair.”

       [Ibrahim ( ) ] said: “(True) nobody despairs of the Mercy of his Creator except those who go astray.” (I only said it due to surprise.) 

       (As a Prophet, I know you have some other major business to do). Ibrahim ( )  said: “O messengers! What other business you have come for?”

       (The angels) said: “We are sent to the criminal people.

       “Except the family of Lut. We are surely going to save them (from the destruction),

       “With the exception of his wife. We have decided that she shall be of those who remain behind (i.e. she will be destroyed).”

       So when the angels came (in human form) to the family of Lut ( ) .

       [Lut ( ) ] said: “Verily, you are strangers for me.” (And my people bother the strangers).

       (Angels) said: “In fact, we have come to you with that (torment) regarding which they doubted.

       “And We have come to you with truth, and we speak the truth.

       “Hence, you travel (away from this place) with your family during the night, and you stay in the rear of them, and none of you should even look back (i.e. leave in a hurry), and go where you are ordered to go (i.e. Syria).”

       And We informed Lut ( )  about Our decision (through angels), that the root of those (criminals) will be cut off in the early morning.

       (Angels came to Lut ( )  in the form of young men) and the residents of the town came joyfully (at the news of young men’s arrival).

       [Lut ( ) ] said: “Verily, these are my guests. Don’t put me to shame.

       “And fear Allah, and don’t disgrace me.”

       (The residents of the town) said: “Did we not forbid you from protecting any people (from us)?”

       [Lut ( ) ] said: “Here are my daughters (to marry lawfully, since  a Prophet is like a spiritual father of the community), if you must act so.”

       By your life [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!], they were carried away intoxicated and they were acting blindly. [Allah has not sworn by the life of any other Porphet. It is an honour for Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)].

       Hence, an awful cry seized them at the time of sunrise.

       And We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down and rained down on them stones of baked clay.

       Indeed, in this are signs for those who learn a lesson from it.

       And, indeed, those towns were situated on the busy road (from Makkah to Syria i.e. the place where the Dead sea is now).

       Indeed, there are signs in it for the believers.

       And the residents of the woods (i.e. people of Madyan to whom Prophet Shuaib ( )  was sent) were also wrong-doers.

       So, We took revenge from them. And both these towns are situated on a visible and well-known road.

       And, verily, the residents of the rocky area (i.e. Thamud people) denied the messengers.(i.e. when they deny one messenger they, in fact, are denying all the messengers).

       And We gave them Our signs, but they turned away from them.

       And they used to make their homes by cutting mountains for security (from all disasters).

       So a torment in the form of an awful cry seized them in the early morning.

       Then their (worldly) actions and plans did not benefit them.

       And We did not create the skies and the earth and all that is between them except with wisdom (and benefits). And indeed, the Day of Judgement will come. So overlook (their faults) with graciousness (this was before the permission for Jihad).

       Indeed, your, Creator is the All-Knowing Creator.

       And, indeed, We have given you seven often repeated Verses (i.e. Surah Al-Fatihah) and the Grand Quran.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Don’t even care to look towards the (worldly) things which We have provided to some of the disbelievers. (They will be separated from them soon). And don’t be sad about them (due to their disbelief). And lower your wings for the believers (i.e. be gracious and courteous to them).

       And [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] say: “I am, indeed, an obvious warner.”

       Just like how We inflicted (the torment) on those who divided (Book of Allah) into various parts.

       Who had made this Quran into parts (i.e. believed in one part and disbelieved in the other part)-Tabari.

       So, by your Creator [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!], We shall, certainly, call all of them to account (on the Day of Judgement). 

       Regarding all that which they used to do.

       So announce (the Message) openly what you have been com-manded and turn away from the idolaters.

       We are enough (to take the revenge) from those who mock at you. 

       Those who make partners in worship with Allah. So they will soon see (the result of it).

       And We do know that you feel bad in your heart about what they say. (It is a natural feeling).

       (Its spiritual treatment is) so (you have to) glorify the praise of your Creator and be of them who prostrate themselves (i.e. perform Salat).

       And worship your Creator till your last breath. (Hence, remembrance of Allah and Salat will not only give benefit in the Hereafter but also decreases the sadness and stress in the worldly life).