About the Surah

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

       By those (angels) which stand in rows (to worship Allah or to listen to His Commands).

       By those (angels) who repel (Satan to overhear the news in the heavens).

       By those angels who engage in the remembrance of Allah (or who bring revelation from Allah to mankind) – Tafsir Ibn Kathir.

       Indeed, your God is One (i.e. Allah).

       The Creator of the heavens and of the earth, and all that is between them, and the Creator of every point the rising of the sun.

       Indeed, We have decorated the lowest sky with stars.

       And guarded it against every rebellious Satan.

       They cannot listen (to the speech of the angels) high in heavens and they are attacked from every direction,

       To drive them away. And there is a lasting torment for them.

       Except one who snatches away some speech, so he is pursued by bright flaming fire.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Hence ask them (the disbelievers): “Are they more difficult to be created or those other things which We have created (e.g. earth, heavens and angels)?” Indeed, We created them from sticky clay.

       In fact, you are surprised (by their denial of the Hereafter) while they are making fun (of you, the Quran and the concept of the Hereafter).

       And when they are reminded (with proofs), they don’t pay any attention.

       And when they see a miracle, they mock it.

       And they say: “This is nothing but clear magic.”

       “When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we really be resurrected?”

       “And our forefathers too?”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “Yes, and you shall then be disgraced.” (Also see Surah Ghafir:60)

       So, indeed, it will be a single shout (i.e. blowing of the second Trumpet), and they shall suddenly see (the horrors of the Day of Resurrection).

       And they will say: “Woe to us! This is the Day of Recompense!”

       (It will be said): “This is the Day of Judgement which you used to deny.”

       (It will be said to the angels): “Gather those who did wrong, along with their companions (from the devils) and what they used to worship,

       Instead of Allah, and lead them to the way of Hell-Fire;

       And stop them. Indeed, they are to be questioned.”

       “What is wrong with you? Why don’t you help one another now (as you used to do in the worldly life)?”

       In fact, all of them shall surren-der themselves obediently that Day.

       And they will face one another and question (and quarrel with) one another.

       They will say: “Indeed, you used to come to us from the right [i.e. (i) with great force to compel us to go astray (ii) with oaths to make us go astray]”.

       They will say: “In fact, you yourselves were not believers.”

       “And we had no authority over you. Rather you were transgressing people.”

       “Hence now the Word of Our Creator has been justified against us that we shall certainly taste (the torment).”

       “So we led you astray since we ourselves were astray.” (Also see Surah Ibrahim:22)

       Hence, indeed, that Day they will all share in the torment.

       Indeed, thus We treat the criminals.

       Indeed, when it was said to them: “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,” they displayed arrogance.

       And (they) said: “Should we abandon our gods for the sake of a mad poet?”

       In fact, he [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] has come with the truth and he confirms all the messengers.

       Indeed, you (idolaters) are going to taste a painful torment.

       And you will be rewarded exactly for what you used to do

       Except the chosen slaves of Allah (i.e. true believers).

       For them there will be a known provision (in Paradise),

       (All kinds of) fruits, and they shall be honoured,

       In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise),

       Facing one another on couches.

       A cup of pure wine will be passed around continuously.

       White, delicious for the drink-ers,

       Neither will they have head-ache, nor will they get drunk (by this wine).

       And they will have females (wives), of restraining gaze with big lovely eyes.

       (Delicate and pure) as if they were (hidden) eggs.

       Then (the people of Paradise) will mutually question one another while facing each other.

       One of them will say: “Indeed. I had a companion (in the world),

       Who used to say: “Are you among those who believe (in Resurrection after death)?

       Who used to say: “Are you among those who believe (in Resurrection after death)?

       (The speaker) said: (to his companions in Paradise) “Would you like to look down (into Hell)?”

       As he looks down (into the Hell), he will see his (worldly) com-panion in the middle of Hell.

       He will say (to his worldly companion): “By Allah! You have nearly caused me to be ruined.”

       He will say (to his worldly companion): “By Allah! You have nearly caused me to be ruined.”

       He will say (to the people of Paradise around him out of happiness): “Is it not true that we are not going to die (anymore)?”

       “Except our first death and we shall not be punished (after we have entered the paradise).”

       Indeed, it is a supreme success!

       All workers should work (for a success) like this.

       Is that (Paradise) a better hos-pitality or the Zaqqum tree (an ex-tremely distasteful tree in Hell)?

       Indeed, We have made this tree a trial for the wrong-doers.

       Indeed, it is a tree that comes out from the bottom of Hell-Fire.

       Its shoots are like the heads of devils.

       So they will, indeed, eat from this tree and will fill their bellies with it.

       Then, indeed, there will be boiling water for them to drink on top of it to make a mixture (of boiling water and Zaqqum). Also see Surah Muhammad:15

       And, indeed, their return will be to Hell-Fire.

       Indeed, they found their fore-fathers gone astray.

       So they rushed in their foot-steps.

       And, indeed, most of the people before them went astray.

       And, indeed, We sent among them warners (messengers).

       So see what the end of those who have been warned was (but they ignored the warning).

       Except the chosen slaves of Allah (true believers).

       And, indeed, Nuh ( ) called upon Us, and We are the Best of those who answer (the call).

       And We saved him and his family from the great distress.

       And We made his children survive.

       And We left for him (a good remembrance) among the later generations.

       “Peace be upon Nuh ( ) (from Us) among mankind, jinn and all that exists.”

       Indeed, thus We do reward the good-doers.

       Indeed, he [Nuh ( )] was one of Our believing slaves. 

       Then We drowned the others (i.e. disbelievers).

       And, indeed, among those who obeyed Nuh ( ) was Ibrahim ( ).

       When he came to his Creator with a pure heart.

       When he said to his father and to his people: “What is it which you worship?”

       “Do you wish to worship false gods besides Allah?”

       “So what do you think about the Creator of mankind, jinn and all that exists?”

       Then he looked towards the stars,

       And said: “Indeed, I am sick (hence cannot accompany you to the village fair).”

       (After listening to his excuse they left him and went away from him.

       Ibrahim ( ) turned to their gods, and said: “Why don’t you eat (from the offering before you)?”

       “What is wrong with you that you don’t speak?”

       So he started hitting them with his right hand (with full force).

       Then they (the worshippers of idols) came to him hurriedly.

       Ibrahim ( ) said: “Do you worship that which you (yourselves) carve?”

       “And Allah has created you and what you make (or carve)!”

       They said: “Build for him a building and then throw him into the (blazing) fire!”

       So they intended to hatch a plot against him [Ibrahim ( )], but We disgraced them (and saved him from the fire).

       And Ibrahim ( ) said (being disappointed by his people): “In-deed, I shall emigrate in the Path of my Creator, Who will guide me (to a right place. Hence he went to Syria).

       “O my Creator! Grant me righ-teous children.” 

       Then We gave him the glad-tidings of a forbearing son. [Ismail ( ) was born and grew up.]

       So when his son was old enough to walk with him, Ibrahim ( ) said: “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (as a sacrifice to Allah). So think about it and give me your opinion.” He said: “O my father! Feel free to do that what you are commanded. Allah willing, you shall find me from among the patient (persons).”

       So when they both had sub-mitted themselves (to the will of Allah), and he had laid his son on (the side of) his forehead (for slaughtering),

       We called out to him: “O Ibrahim ( )!” 

       “Indeed, you have fulfilled the dream!” Indeed, thus We do reward the good-doers.

       Indeed, it was a big trial.

       And We replaced it with a great sacrifice (i.e. a ram from Paradise). – Tafsir Ibn Kathir

       And We left for him (a good remembrance) among the later generations.

       “Peace be upon Ibrahim ( ).”

       Thus We do reward the good-doers.

       Indeed, he was one of Our believing slaves.

       And We gave him the glad tidings of Ishaq ( ), a Prophet from the righteous.

       And We blessed him and Ishaq ( ). (One blessing was that there were many Prophets from their children). And from the children of both of them, some did good deeds while others openly wronged themselves.

       And, indeed, We did great favour to Musa ( ) and Harun ( ).

       And We saved them and their people from great distress.

       And We helped them and they became victorious.

       And We gave them the clear Scripture.

       And guided them to the Right Path.

And We left for them (a good remembrance) among the later generations.

       “Peace be on Musa ( ) and Harun ( ).”

       Indeed, thus We do reward the good-doers.

       Indeed, both of them were from Our believing slaves.

       And, indeed, Ilyas ( ) was one of the messengers.

       When he said to his people: “Why don’t you fear (Allah)?

       Do you worship Ba’l (an idol) and forsake the Best of creators,

       Allah, your Creator and the Creator of your forefathers?”

       But they denied Ilyas ( ). So they will certainly be held (for the punishment of the Hereafter).

       Except the chosen slaves of Allah (true believers).

       And We left for him (a good remembrance) among the later generation.

       “Peace be upon Ilyasin ( ) (this was also a name of Ilyas ( )].”

       Indeed, thus We do reward the good-doers.

       Indeed, he was one of Our believing slaves.

       And, indeed, Lut ( ) was one of the messengers.

       When We saved him and all his family,

       Except an old woman (his wife) who was among those who remained behind (to be punished).

       Then We destroyed the re-maining (population).

       And, indeed, you do pass by them in the morning

       And at night (during your journey to Syria). Don’t you under-stand this?

       And, indeed, Yunus ( ) was one of the messengers.

       When he fled to the laden ship.

       Then he joined to cast lots, and he was among the rejected ones.

       So (by the Command of Allah) a big fish swallowed him and he started blaming himself.

       Had he not been from those who glorify Allah,

       He would have remained inside the belly of the fish till the Day of Resurrection. (Also see Surah Al-Anbiya:87)

       So We threw him on a bare shore and he was sick (at that time).

       And We grew over him a plant of gourd (for shade).

       And We sent him to one hundred thousand people or even more (as a Prophet in Nainwa near Musal in Iraq).

       So they became believers. Then We let them have luxuries of this life (as a blessing of belief) for a while.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Hence ask them: “Are there daughters for your Creator and sons for them?

       “Did We create the angels as female while they were witnes-sing?”

       Bear in mind that they are fabricating lies by saying:

       “Allah has begotten children.” And, indeed, they are liars.

       Has Allah (then) preferred daughters to sons? 

       What is wrong with you? How nonsensical is your judgement?

       Don’t you understand this?

       Or do you have a clear proof?

       So bring your Book if you are truthful.

       And they have made a kinship between Allah and the jinn, but the jinn know that (anybody with such faith) will be held (for punishment).

       Glorified is Allah! (He is free) from what they attribute to Him!

       Except the chosen slaves of Allah (who don’t say like the disbelievers).

       Hence you (the idolaters) and those whom you worship (i.e. idols),

       (You) cannot lead (anyone) astray, 

       Except those who (are predes-tined to) go to Hell.

       And each one of us (the angels) has a fixed level.

       And indeed, we (i.e. angels) stand in rows [respectfully, (i) to pray (ii) to hear the Commands of Allah].

       And, indeed, we (angels) are engaged in glorifying Allah. (Hence, we are only humble slaves of Allah).

       And, indeed, they (Arab pa-gans) used to say (before the coming of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)]:

       “If We had a Book like the one earlier people had, 

       “We would have been, indeed, the sincere slaves of Allah.”

       “But they disbelieved it (the Quran). Hence they would soon come to know (the result of it).

       And, indeed, Our promise is already there for Our messengers (in the Clear Book).

       That they will, indeed, be given help.

       And, indeed, that Our troops would dominate. (Also Surah Al-Mujadilah:21)

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Hence turn away from them for a while (i.e. be patient).

       And watch them (till Allah’s torment strikes them), so they shall soon see (the torment),

       Are they hastening for Our torment? 

       Then, when it falls in their courtyard (i.e. near them), it will be an evil morning for those who have been warned!

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] And turn away from them for a while.

       And watch them, so they shall soon see (the torment).

       Glorified is your Creator, the Creator of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they attribute to Him!

       And peace be on the mes-sengers!

       And all praise and thanks are due to Allah, the Creator of the universe. (What a beautiful ending of this Surah!)