About the Surah

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

Alif-Lam-Mim (Allah, Alone, knows their meanings).

These are the Verses of the Book, full of wisdom.

(It is) a guidance and a Mercy (from Allah) for the good-doers.

Those who perform Salat and give the poor-due and have firm faith in the Hereafter.

Those are on the guidance from their Creator and they are the successful.

And among the people is he who (ignores the Quran and) purchases the vain talk to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah without knowledge and mocks (at the Quran). Such people will have humiliating torment (in the Hell-Fire). 

And when Our Verses are recited to him, he turns away with arrogance as if he did not hear them, as if there is deafness in his ear. So inform him that there is a painful torment for him.

Indeed, those who believe and do good deeds, there are Gardens of Delight (Paradise) for them.

To reside there forever. It is a Promise of Allah in truth. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

He has created the heavens without any pillars that you see, and has placed firm mountains on the earth lest it should shake with you. And He has spread all kinds of (living) creatures in the land. And We send down the rainwater from the sky, then We grow in the earth every kind of lovely plants in pairs. (Also see 21:31, 31:10, 77:27, 78:7 and 79:32). 

This is the creation of Allah. So show Me that which those besides Allah have created. In fact, the wrong-doers are in an obvious error.

And, indeed, We granted Luqman wisdom (i.e. know-ledge along with its practice), (saying): “Be thankful to Allah.” And whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for his own benefit. And whoever is unthankful, then, indeed Allah is Self-Sufficient (free from all needs), Worthy of all praise.

And (remember) when Luqman said to his son when he was advising him: “O my son! Don’t join others in worship with Allah. Indeed, joining others in worship with Allah is a major sin.”

And We have commanded man (to be good) to his parents. His mother bore him with hardship after hardship and his weaning is in two years. Be thankful to Me and to your parents. (Everyone) will be returned to Me. 

And if they compel you to make partners in worship with Me, of whom you have no knowledge, then don’t obey them. And treat them nicely in this world, and follow the Path of him who leans towards Me (i.e. believer). Then you will be returned to Me, so I shall tell you what you used to do.

(Luqman added:) “O my son! (Allah’s Knowledge and Power is so great) if something is equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and if it is inside a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring that forth on the (Day of Resurrection).” Allah is Subtle (in bringing out that grain) Well-Acquainted (with its location).

“O my son! Perform Salat, and command people to do good, and forbid them from evil, and be patient in facing your hardships. Indeed, these are from the mandatory commands of Allah.”

“And don’t swell your cheek for the people (with arrogance), nor walk on the earth boastfully. Indeed, Allah does not like the arrogant boaster.”

“And be moderate in your walk, and lower your voice. Indeed, the worst of all the voices is the braying of asses.”

Don’t you see that Allah has made whatsoever is in the heavens and whatso-ever is in the earth to serve you? And Allah has bestowed upon you His (innu-merable) Favours, apparent as well as hidden. Yet some people dispute about (the Oneness of) Allah without having (any) knowledge, or guidance or a Book giving light (i.e. giving true guidance)!

And when it is said to them: “Follow what Allah has sent down.” They say: “Ra-ther we shall follow that which we found our forefathers following.” (Would they follow their forefathers) even if Satan invites them to the torment of Fire?

And whosoever submits his face to the obedience of Allah and performs his deeds sincerely, then he has grasped a strong hand-hold. And all matters are de-cided by Allah.

And whosoever disbelieves, so let not his disbelief grieve you [O Muham-mad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!]. They will return to Us, so We shall inform them about what they had done. Indeed, Allah is All-Knower of what is hidden in their chests.

We let them benefit (from the worldly life) for a little while then We shall drive them into a great torment.

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] And if you ask them: “Who has created the heavens and the earth?”, they will certainly con-fess: “Allah.” Say: “All praise and thanks are due to Allah (Alone) (since their confession is a proof against them). But most of them don’t know.

Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, all belongs to Allah. Indeed, Al-lah is Self Sufficient (free of all needs), Worthy of all praise.

And if all the trees on the earth were pens and seas were ink, and there were additional seven seas (as ink), yet the Words of Allah (His Virtues, Glorious Names etc) would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

(Allah’s Power is so Supreme that) the creation of all of you and the resur-rection of all of you are like (the creation and resurrection) of a single person. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer.

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Don’t you see that Allah merges the night into the day and merges the day into night153, and He has made the sun and the moon obedient to Him, each running (on its own path) for an appointed term? And that Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.

That is because Allah is the Truth, and that which they call besides Allah is falsehood, and that Allah is the Most High, the Most Great,

Don’t you see (this proof of the Oneness of Allah) that the ships sail through the sea by Allah’s Grace so that He may show you His signs? Indeed, there are signs in this for every patient, grateful (person). 

And when waves cover them like canopies, they pray to Allah sincerely with full faith in Him, (ignoring totally their false gods). But when He brings them safely to the land, some of them become neutral (i.e. neither believers nor disbe-lievers – Tafseer Ibn-Kathir). None denies Our signs except every treacherous and ungrateful person.

O mankind! Fear your Creator and be conscious of the Day when no father can benefit his son, nor any son benefit his father. Indeed, the Promise of Allah is true. Hence, let not the worldly life deceive you, nor let the deceiver (i.e. Satan) deceive you regarding Allah.

Indeed, only Allah has the knowledge (of the time of the occurrence) of the Day of Judgement. Allah sends down the rain (with His knowledge and control), and He Alone knows what is in the womb (whether he/she will be good or bad in person, features, colour, etc). And no person knows what deeds he will perform tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Indeed, Allah is All-Knower, Well-Acquainted (with all things).