About the Surah

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

Blessed is Allah in Whose Hand is the Kingdom, and He is Able to do all things.

Who has created death and life so that He may test you who are the best in conduct? (i.e. Death reminds of the Hereafter. Hence, it is a motivator for good conduct. Life is necessary to perform good deeds to earn good credit). And Allah is the All-Mighty, the Very-Forgiving.

Who has created the seven heavens one above another, you cannot find any defect in the cre-ation of the Most Gracious. Then look (for defects) again: “Can you see any disorder?”

Then look (for defects) again and again. Your sight will return to you disgraced and fatigued.

And (the proof of Our Power is that) We have decorated the nearest sky with stars and made them (the stars) the means of hitting (and driving away) the devils.

And there is torment of Hell for those who disbelieve in their Creator, and it is a very bad destination

When they (the disbelievers) will be thrown in it (the Hell), they will hear it roaring and will find it churning (like the contents of a cooking pot on fire).

It will appear to burst with rage anytime. Every time a group is thrown into Hell, the keepers of Hell will ask: “Did no warner come to you?”

They (the disbelievers) will say: “Yes, indeed, a warner did come to us, but we denied him and said: ‘Allah never sent down anything (as revelation). You are only in a big error.’”

They (the disbelievers) will also say: “If we had listened (to the warner) or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the residents of the blazing fire!”

Hence, they will confess their sins. So the residents of the blazing Fire are far off (from the Mercy of Allah).

Indeed, those who fear their Creator without seeing Him, there will be forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).

And whether you talk secretly or openly, Allah is, indeed, All-Knower of what is in your breasts.

Why should He Who created you not know? And He is the Most Kind, the Well Acquainted (with everything).

He has made the earth sub-servient to you so that you can travel on its paths and  may eat from His provisions. And you have to return to Him.

Do you feel secure from Him, Who is over the heaven, that He may make you sink into the earth and then, all of a sudden, it starts shaking violently (too) (i.e. the earth which is for your benefit, Allah may use it to destroy you)?

       Or do you have the security from Him Who is over the sky that He will not send down rain of stones upon you? Then you shall know how (important) was (My) Warning.

And, indeed, the people before them also denied, then how terrible was (the punishment) of (My) denial?

And don’t you see the birds, flying over you with their wings spread out and (at times) folded in? None holds them there except the Most Gracious (Allah). Indeed, He is All-Seer of everything.

. Is there any other army which can help you besides the Most Gracious (Allah). Indeed, the disbelievers are merely in deception.

If Allah withholds your provi-sion, who can grant you provision? In fact, they persist in their arro-gance and their fleeing (from the truth).

Is he who walks headlong on his face better guided (to reach his destination) or he who walks upright on a Straight Path? (Also see Surah Al-Isra:97)

Say: “Allah has created you and granted you hearing, seeing and heart. You thank Him very little (for these favours).”

Say: “Allah has spread you in the earth and you shall be gathered to Him (in the Hereafter).”

And they (the disbelievers) ask (mockingly): “When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful (in your claim)?”

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “The knowledge (of its exact time) is with Allah Alone and I am only a plain warner.”

So when they (the disbelievers) will see it (the torment) close to them, their faces will turn black (with extreme grief) and it will be said (to them): “This is (the torment) which you used to demand (in the worldly life).”

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “Tell me! If Allah destroys me and those with me, or He showers His Mercy on us – but who will protect the disbelievers from the painful torment?”

Say: “He is the Most Gracious, we believe in Him, and we put our trust in Him (He will save us from the torment of the Hereafter). Then you will come to know who is in  obvious error.”

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “Tell me! If your (drinking) water sinks into the earth, who can supply you with clean and flowing water?” (If you don’t have the power to do this, how can you have the power to remove the torment of Hell-Fire from yourself?)