Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Surah al-Ahqaf, Chapter 46

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful

Verses 1 – 10

حم {1}

1. Ha Meem.1

تَنْزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ {2}

2. The Book is revealed by God the Almighty and the Wise.

مَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّىۚ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَمَّا أُنْذِرُوا مُعْرِضُونَ {3}

3. Heaven and earth and in between are not created in vain, but with the definite purpose behind them, for a stipulated period, and those who are infidels, when warned, turn away (in arrogance).

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِۖ ائْتُونِي بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ هَٰذَا أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ {4}

4. Say, “Do you see whom you worship, barring God, show me what of earth have they created? Have they any share in (creation of) the heavens? Bring me a testimony thereof (in) any revelation before this, or any record of knowledge, if you are true (in support of your claims).

وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ يَدْعُو مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَنْ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَهُمْ عَنْ دُعَائِهِمْ غَافِلُونَ {5}

5. And who can be more misguided than one who worships, barring God, him who shall not answer him until the Day of Judgment. Rather, they (gods) are ignorant of his worship.

وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوا لَهُمْ أَعْدَاءً وَكَانُوا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَافِرِينَ {6}

6. And when men will be assembled, they (gods) will be hostile to them (their worshippers) will deny their worship.

وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ {7}

7. And when Our open Couplets are being read out to them, the infidels said, when Truth came to them, “This is an open magic.”

أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُۖ قُلْ إِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهُ فَلَا تَمْلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًاۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِۖ كَفَىٰ بِهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْۖ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ {8}

8. Do they say he has fabricated it? Say, “If I have done so, none can save me from Divine wrath. He is well acquainted with what you are busy about (in falsifying me). Enough is He to testify (about my genuineness) between me and you, and He is Forgiving and Merciful.”

قُلْ مَا كُنْتُ بِدْعًا مِنَ الرُّسُلِ وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمْۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ {9}

9. Say, “I am not a new (warner) among the Prophets2 and I am not aware of what shall be done with me and you. I simply follow the revelation unto me and I am nothing but an open warner.

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُمْ بِهِ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثْلِهِ فَآمَنَ وَاسْتَكْبَرْتُمْۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ {10}

10. Say, “Do you see! If this revelation from God, which you have been denying, and whereas it has been testified (By one Abdus Salam) of Bani Israel, who have in the Torah, and has embraced faith, whereas you have turned away in pride, (what shall be your fate). Verily God does not guide a transgressing tribe.

Moral

Abdus Salam demanded a reply to three questions from the Prophet before embracing faith: (1) a sign of an approaching Judgment Day, (2) first food men in Paradise have, (3) to whom is born a daughter and to whom a son? Reply being satisfactory, he embraced Islam.

Verses 11 – 20

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَوْ كَانَ خَيْرًا مَا سَبَقُونَا إِلَيْهِۚ وَإِذْ لَمْ يَهْتَدُوا بِهِ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا إِفْكٌ قَدِيمٌ {11}

11. And the infidels said to the faithful, if their religion had any good in it, they (as an intelligent race) would not have been superceded by (the poor faithful, who are idiots) and when they did not follow it, they began to say, “This is an old lie.”

وَمِنْ قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةًۚ وَهَٰذَا كِتَابٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِسَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِيُنْذِرَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُحْسِنِينَ {12}

12. And before that, the Qur’an, there was the Torah, guidance and mercy (for the faithful) and this revelation which confirms it, in Arabic, is to warn the tyrants (of hell for disbelieving it) and give tidings to the faithful.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ {13}

13. Verily those who admitted by maintaining our Providence is God as declared by Divine Lights and strictly adhered to it, (i.e. obeyed Divine Lights until the end of life) shall neither have sorrow (for the past) nor grief (for the future).

أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ {14}

14. These are the men of paradise to reside, time out of mind, in Paradise in return for their deeds.

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًاۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًاۖ وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًاۚ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ {15}

15. And We commanded man to be virtuous to his parents, his mother conceived and carried it in travail, and delivered it likewise, and the period of her pregnancy and weaning of it amounted to 30 months, until when he attained maturity (i.e. 40 years) he prayed to his Providence to guide him so he may be grateful to Him, for His bounties on him and his parents and he should so act virtuously, as to win His will and improve upon his children, “Verily I have done penance unto Thee, and verily I am supplicant to You.”

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ فِي أَصْحَابِ الْجَنَّةِۖ وَعْدَ الصِّدْقِ الَّذِي كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ {16}

16. Those are the people whose acts shall be appreciated and sins absolved and be admitted in Paradise, as a promise which shall be fulfilled.

وَالَّذِي قَالَ لِوَالِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَكُمَا أَتَعِدَانِنِي أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ الْقُرُونُ مِنْ قَبْلِي وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ اللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ آمِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَا إِلَّا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ {17}

17. And he who addresses his parents, woe to you! What! Do you threaten me in which I shall be taken out from my grave to account for my deeds whereas preceding generations have not verified it? And they (parents) would jointly complain to God saying, “Saying woe to you. Better believe in us.” Divine promise is true, and he who repeats, “This is nothing but tales of old.”

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَوْلُ فِي أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا خَاسِرِينَ {18}

18. These are the people on whom shall We condemn (Our Promise) along with the preceding generations of spirit and men which they shall be the sufferers.

وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِمَّا عَمِلُواۖ وَلِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ {19}

19. And for every one are grades in reward for their deeds to which shall they shall be raised without fail.

وَيَوْمَ يُعْرَضُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَلَى النَّارِ أَذْهَبْتُمْ طَيِّبَاتِكُمْ فِي حَيَاتِكُمُ الدُّنْيَا وَاسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهَا فَالْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَفْسُقُونَ {20}

20. And when the infidels shall be brought before hell (they shall be addressed), “You enjoyed in the world profiting thereby. Today is the reward of the disgraceful punishment for your unjustifiable arrogance and falsification (of this Day).”

Moral

1. Self-estimation is another great cause of misguidance, whereby the rich look down upon the poor for following the Prophet, takin him worthy of being obeyed.

2. Steadfastness in faith leads to salvation and has three grades, viz. common, special, and extra-ordinarily special. Common grade consists in admission of God and Divine Lights with Day of Reckoning and following the commands on action and refrain. In special grade, one has to give up dainty food and clothing and prefer Divine Will with piety. In Extra-ordinary grade, one has to give up love for life, property and children ad absorb themselves in Divine Glory by resigning self to Him, diligently toiling to develop spiritual form of soul.

3. Divine Light Hussain and Prophet Yenya (Joshua) were born within six months. Man at the age of 33 attains a matured gave and at 40 is at his highest rise, thereafter he declines.

4. Couplet 20 refers to worldly gluttons.

5. Couplet 13 is repetition to Couplets 38 and 39, page 8 set 1 of “The Cow” and is variously reminded by God the Almighty.

Verses 21 – 26

وَاذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنْذَرَ قَوْمَهُ بِالْأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ النُّذُرُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ {21}

21. Relate the history of Prophet Hud, brother to ‘Ad, when he warned them on the sand dunes, saying several warners had preceded him and shall succeed him, and exhorted them why they did not worship the only (Unique) God. “Verily I am afraid of intense punishment on you.”

قَالُوا أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ آلِهَتِنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ {22}

22. They said, “What! Are you coming to divert us from our gods? Bring what you promise us if you are true.”

قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ وَلَٰكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ {23}

23. He said, “Its knowledge lies with God. I have transmitted the message I was duped to, but I see you are an ignorant tribe.”

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضًا مُسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُوا هَٰذَا عَارِضٌ مُمْطِرُنَاۚ بَلْ هُوَ مَا اسْتَعْجَلْتُمْ بِهِۖ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ {24}

24. And when they saw a cloud spreading over they valley, they said, “It shall rain.” Rather, they hastened towards it which carried intense punishment.

تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا لَا يُرَىٰ إِلَّا مَسَاكِنُهُمْۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ {25}

25. It destroyed everything which came in contact with and they saw nothing of their houses save. Thus We punish a criminal tribe.

وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِيمَا إِنْ مَكَّنَّاكُمْ فِيهِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ سَمْعًا وَأَبْصَارًا وَأَفْئِدَةً فَمَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَلَا أَبْصَارُهُمْ وَلَا أَفْئِدَتُهُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِذْ كَانُوا يَجْحَدُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ {26}

26. Verily We had populated them in habitations of their predecessors and endowed upon them power of hearing, seeing and understanding (spiritual facts), but none of the faculties of hearing, seeing and understanding came to their rescue, while they were disputing God’s Commands and it enveloped them for their having ridiculed them.

Moral

Try to use faculties granted in all their various passes, physical, intellectual, and spiritual, as man is superior to the rest of creation.

Verses 27 – 35

وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُمْ مِنَ الْقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفْنَا الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ {27}

27. And verily We destroyed other tribes in the vicinity, (and thus) exemplified them, so they may revert to us.

فَلَوْلَا نَصَرَهُمُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ قُرْبَانًا آلِهَةًۖ بَلْ ضَلُّوا عَنْهُمْۚ وَذَٰلِكَ إِفْكُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ {28}

28. Why did not their gods, whom they worshiped besides Allah, come to their help? Rather they fled away from them, and this is a proof of their lie, which they were fabricating.

وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوا أَنْصِتُواۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوْا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ مُنْذِرِينَ {29}

29. And call to mind when We sent you a group of spirits who were listening to you while you were reciting the Holy Qur’an, and when they assembled they said, “Listen to it with attention” and when it was completed they returned to their tribe to warn them.3

قَالُوا يَا قَوْمَنَا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَابًا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ {30}

30. They said to their tribe, “We have heard about a Text which has been revealed after Moses (Torah) confirming the previous Text, guiding Truth and leading on to Paradise.

يَا قَوْمَنَا أَجِيبُوا دَاعِيَ اللَّهِ وَآمِنُوا بِهِ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُجِرْكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ {31}

31. So better admit the call of the Divine Messenger by believing in him so you may be forgiven of your sins and saved from intense punishment.

وَمَنْ لَا يُجِبْ دَاعِيَ اللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ بِمُعْجِزٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءُۚ أُولَٰئِكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ {32}

32. And he who shall not admit the call is not going to withstand Him on Earth, and he shall not have any sympathizer except God, and those are in open misguidance.

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلَمْ يَعْيَ بِخَلْقِهِنَّ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَنْ يُحْيِيَ الْمَوْتَىٰۚ بَلَىٰ إِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ {33}

33. What! Have they not seen God creating the heavens and earth without fatigue? And do they not deem Him Omnipotent on their recreation and re-enlivening and destroying them? Aye! Certainly, He is Omnipotent.

وَيَوْمَ يُعْرَضُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَلَى النَّارِ أَلَيْسَ هَٰذَا بِالْحَقِّۖ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَاۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ {34}

34. And on Reckoning Day, the infidels will be brought before hell, and addressed, “Is this not a fact?” They, in reply, will say, “By your Providence, it is so.” They will be told, “Well then, taste the punishment for your infidelity.”

فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُولُو الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلْ لَهُمْۚ كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِنْ نَهَارٍۚ بَلَاغٌۚ فَهَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ {35}

35. So you Prophet! Be patient as the (preceding) resolute prophets and do not be in a hurry of their destruction as though they are viewing it, what they have been promised, when they will say, they did not stop the world more than an hour of the day. This is a message and who is going to be destroyed except the disobedient tribe?

Moral

Clear.

Notes

1. By Mohammad.

2. With regard tothe Mission and the treatment in lieu of its falsification.

3. After Abu Talib’s death, the Prophet went to taif to seek publich help in propagating Islam. Being unsuccessful, on his way to return home, he halted at a place where he had the occasion to convert the spirits which came to hear the Qur’an.

Surah Muhammad, Chapter 47

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful

Verses 1 – 10

الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَضَلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ {1}

1. Those who deny (believing in Divine Lights as the only genuine Guides) and barred men from following Divine Light (Ali), wasted their past virtues (in having participated in crusade with the Prophet) leading to Eternal rewards.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَآمَنُوا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْۙ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَأَصْلَحَ بَالَهُمْ {2}

2. Those who put fate in Divine Light (Ali) and acted righteously and further attested the Prophet in what was revealed unto him (regarding succession of Ali) from their Providence, shall have their sins absolved with betterment of their condition (reconfirmation of faith).

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا اتَّبَعُوا الْبَاطِلَ وَأَنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّبَعُوا الْحَقَّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ أَمْثَالَهُمْ {3}

3. This is because the infidels followed imposters whereas the faithful followed the truth from their Providence and thus We describe for men the state of their faithful and faithless affairs.

فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَثْخَنْتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَاۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَانْتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَٰكِنْ لِيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُمْ بِبَعْضٍۗ وَالَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَنْ يُضِلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ {4}

4. And when you defy an infidel, slay him, when you capture him until he is bled to death or handcuff him and if he surrenders, the Divine Light may set him free or demand a ransom or make him a slave. This is because, if God had desired, He would have helped them, but He tries a faithful with the faithless, and the deeds of the martyrs shall not be voided.1

سَيَهْدِيهِمْ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَهُمْ {5}

5. Shortly shall He guide them and improve their affairs.

وَيُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ عَرَّفَهَا لَهُمْ {6}

6. And admit them to paradise with bounties with which He has acquainted them.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ {7}

7. Oh you faithful, if you help the Divine Lights, it will strengthen your faith.

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَتَعْسًا لَهُمْ وَأَضَلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ {8}

8. And those who defy Divine Lights, shall be destroyed with wastage of their past virtues.

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ {9}

9. And this is because they disliked what was reveled (to the Prophet) by God (regarding Ali) so He voided their virtues.

أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْۚ دَمَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْۖ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ أَمْثَالُهَا {10}

10. Have they not seen on Earth what has been the fate of the preceding people? God destroyed them, and this is an example for the infidels (which their fate shall be similar) because God is a sympathizer of the faithful where the infidels have none for them to sympathize with them.

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَأَنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ لَا مَوْلَىٰ لَهُمْ {11}

11. This is because God is the protector of the believers and those who deny the truth have no protector at all.

Moral

Man should guard his virtues, rewards whereof in Eternity, commencing with death, as worldly gifts have to be paid for his labour under Divine Justices, as the Devil has been given power in the world. Be not led away by worldly position of politicians, be they socialists and industrialists or scientists as it is payment of their labour in the world.

Verses 12 – 19

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَتَمَتَّعُونَ وَيَأْكُلُونَ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ الْأَنْعَامُ وَالنَّارُ مَثْوًى لَهُمْ {12}

12. Verily shall God admit the faithful who have acted virtuously in Paradise, below which flow streams and let the infidels enjoy in this world and feed like beasts, as their destination is hell.

وَكَأَيِّنْ مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ هِيَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةً مِنْ قَرْيَتِكَ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَتْكَ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَهُمْ {13}

13. And how many of the cities, which were strong than Meccans, who drove you (oh Prophet) out. We destroyed without their having assistance.

أَفَمَنْ كَانَ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ كَمَنْ زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ {14}

14. What! He who is steadfast on his Divine proof (certifying his faith in Divine Lights) is alike him whose acts have been eulogized in his eye by passionate acts (i.e. hypocrites) and he is a slave to his passion.

مَثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَۖ فِيهَا أَنْهَارٌ مِنْ مَاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِنْ لَبَنٍ لَمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِنْ خَمْرٍ لَذَّةٍ لِلشَّارِبِينَ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِنْ عَسَلٍ مُصَفًّىۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْۖ كَمَنْ هُوَ خَالِدٌ فِي النَّارِ وَسُقُوا مَاءً حَمِيمًا فَقَطَّعَ أَمْعَاءَهُمْ {15}

15. Or are alike the gardens of paradise, promised to the pious, where are streams of water without (stinking) smell, or mild without change of taste, of wine sweet of the taste, and streams of transparent honey, and for them in those gardens are available fruits of every kind and forgiveness from their Providence, the same as compared to one who is in permanent hell wherein he is given boiling liquid to drying, tearing off his intestines?

وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِنْدِكَ قَالُوا لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ مَاذَا قَالَ آنِفًاۚ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ {16}

16. And amongst them are hypocrites, who pretend to listen to you, until when they leave you out, they ask the learned men, what did he say now? Those are the people whose hearts have been sealed by God, and what have followed their passion.

وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَآتَاهُمْ تَقْوَاهُمْ {17}

17. And those who have embraced faith shall have their guidance increased (confirmed) with endowment of piety (a sign of confirmation).

فَهَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا السَّاعَةَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُمْ بَغْتَةًۖ فَقَدْ جَاءَ أَشْرَاطُهَاۚ فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمْ إِذَا جَاءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرَاهُمْ {18}

18. What! Are they anticipating sudden advent of Reckoning Day when its forecasts have already come? How can they be saved when they are disregarding the advice which has come to them?2

اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ {19}

19. Know there is none else except God the Unique, pray to Him for forgiveness of your sins, and of faithful men and women, as God knows your whereabouts and final destination.

Moral

Best kind of prayers is admitting iniquity of Providence in obeying Divine Lights and praying forgiveness of one’s sins from Him, through their intercession.

Verses 20 – 28

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَتْ سُورَةٌۖ فَإِذَا أُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ مُحْكَمَةٌ وَذُكِرَ فِيهَا الْقِتَالُۙ رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ نَظَرَ الْمَغْشِيِّ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِۖ فَأَوْلَىٰ لَهُمْ {20}

20. And the faithful say, “Why no commands for crusade are being received?” And when a clear command thereon is revealed, wherein crusade is declared, you will see those of diseased hearts, looking at you, as though they were under agony of death. It would have been better on their part.

طَاعَةٌ وَقَوْلٌ مَعْرُوفٌۚ فَإِذَا عَزَمَ الْأَمْرُ فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا اللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ {21}

21. To comply and make an honest statement, and when participation (in crusade) is decided, had they verified it, it would have been better on their part.

فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ {22}

22. What? By turning away therefrom, they propose to fan sedition and cause disaffection among relatives?

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَىٰ أَبْصَارَهُمْ {23}

23. Those are the people whom God has cursed, their ears are sealed and eyes blinded.

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا {24}

24. Do they not think over the Glorious Qur’an or are their hearts sealed?

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ارْتَدُّوا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْهُدَىۙ الشَّيْطَانُ سَوَّلَ لَهُمْ وَأَمْلَىٰ لَهُمْ {25}

25. Those who have apostate, after guidance was enlightened upon them, which was due to the devil (Khalifa II) having deceived them, by eulogizing their suggestions in winning power and position in the world and entertaining desires for a long life.

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا لِلَّذِينَ كَرِهُوا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ سَنُطِيعُكُمْ فِي بَعْضِ الْأَمْرِۖ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِسْرَارَهُمْ {26}

26. This is why those who did not approve of what were revealed by God.3 They said they would not comply with it and God knows what is secreted in their hearts.

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ {27}

27. How will they help (the situation) when death angels will be lashing on their faces and backs.

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ اتَّبَعُوا مَا أَسْخَطَ اللَّهَ وَكَرِهُوا رِضْوَانَهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ {28}

28. This is due to their following what enraged God and they dislikened to seek Divine Will, thus voiding their acts.

Moral

23. Those who spread disaffection amongst relatives by intriguing against the Prophet have been cursed. Hence the faithful should not associate with them (on religious affairs) as Hell is their destination.

24. This refers to Shaiks and those of like-minded (as per Divine Light Six in Kafi) and needs no elucidation.

26. This hatred was exposed several times, viz. in the Battle of Badr, Battle of Hunain, Batne Nakhle, water the Hajis, revelation of Khum (Khum-e-Ghadeer).

Verses 29 – 38

أَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ أَنْ لَنْ يُخْرِجَ اللَّهُ أَضْغَانَهُمْ {29}

29. Do those who have plotted the ink We shall not expose their malice (towards Divine Lights).

وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَأَرَيْنَاكَهُمْ فَلَعَرَفْتَهُمْ بِسِيمَاهُمْۚ وَلَتَعْرِفَنَّهُمْ فِي لَحْنِ الْقَوْلِۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَعْمَالَكُمْ {30}

30. If we desired, we could acquaint you with their signs, and you would recognize from the tone of their speech, and God is acquainted with your acts.

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَعْلَمَ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ مِنْكُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَ أَخْبَارَكُمْ {31}

31. We shall try you until We find out (prove) who are the real participants of the crusade among you and patient and test your reports.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَشَاقُّوا الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْهُدَىٰ لَنْ يَضُرُّوا اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيُحْبِطُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ {32}

32. Verily, those apostate from faith and barred men from the path of God (i.e. from following the Immaculates) and disobeyed the Prophet, after guidance was enlightened on them, they shall not affect Him in any way. Rather, void is their acts.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ {33}

33. Oh you faithful believe in God and the Prophet and do not void your acts.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ مَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ {34}

34. OF course, those who became apostate and barred the Divine Path and died as such, shall never be forgiven by God.

فَلَا تَهِنُوا وَتَدْعُوا إِلَى السَّلْمِ وَأَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ وَاللَّهُ مَعَكُمْ وَلَنْ يَتِرَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ {35}

35. And do not slack and do not plead for peace. You will get the upper hand. God is with you and shall not suspend your acts.

إِنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌۚ وَإِنْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْأَلْكُمْ أَمْوَالَكُمْ {36}

36. Wildly life is nothing but play and sport, whereas if you believe and fear God, God will give you the reward and will not demand all of your property.

إِنْ يَسْأَلْكُمُوهَا فَيُحْفِكُمْ تَبْخَلُوا وَيُخْرِجْ أَضْغَانَكُمْ {37}

37. And if He demands, under insistence, the whole of it, and if you act in hesitation miserly (as those who departed Hussain at Karbala) He would expose your weakness.

هَا أَنْتُمْ هَٰؤُلَاءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يَبْخَلُۖ وَمَنْ يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِۚ وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُۚ وَإِنْ تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوا أَمْثَالَكُمْ {38}

38. These are the people who are asked to spend in the name of God. Those who are miserly, consequence thereof is on the one who so acts, and God is Self-sufficient and you are dependent upon Him. So if you turn away, He will replace you by another nation (Persians) who will not so act as you do.

Moral

God has given sufficient intimation of apostates who, notwithstanding their participation in the crusade, bore hatred (to Ali) and wasted their labours under secret plotting against Ali. Ultimately, God gave a definite decision, i.e. lovers of Divine Lights, will be found outside Arabia, i.e. in Persia and elsewhere. As when the Glorious Qur’an was being read out to them, they admitted His Commands wholly, entertaining Divine love, i.e. love of purity, that is love for the Divine Lights and hatred for lovers of the world. these are places where freely Islam can be observed in the original cult duly approved by Divinity.

Notes

1. IF the faithful overpowers the faithless he gets the booty and reward inthe world, and if he is a martyr (killed for the sake of God) in the eyes of God, he receives Paradise (in return). Similarly, if the faithless survifes, in victory, he is condemned to hell for infidelity, or if He surrenders, he has a chance to embrace faith.

2. Of some forecasts are (1) indifference to prayers, (2) following passion, (3) respeciting the rich, (4) selling Eternithy for the sake of the world, (5) dishonesty of rulers, ovvicers and the trustees, (5) virtues being deemed vices and vice versa, (6) women shall rule, (7) slaves will be consulted, (8) immature will sermonize, (9) tithe considered as ransom, (10) Muslim property taken as booty, (11) children will disobey parents, (12) friends will beguile, (13) comets will appear, (14) ladies will transact business, (15) sunshine in rain, (16) respectable will be degraded and the mean will be respected, (17) when you should not go to market, where ungratefulness shll be openly declared, (18) public awe of being robbed in life and property will prevail, (19) unemployment will be on the rise, (20) people will idulge in international export and import, (21) economic condition of the country will be upset by Divine disasters, etc. (22) the youth will be cruelly treated and elders not respected, (23) there appearance will be human and hearts like the devil, (24) self-satisfaction of passion among the sexes, (25) inter-change of dress, (26) mosques will gilded like charges and synagogues, (27) the Glorious Qur’an shall be likened with minarets of mosques, (28) people will congregate in mosques with no sincere hearts, (29) men will lwear gold ornaments and silk suits and wild skin boots, (30) they will do bjisness of interest, accept bribes and torment the virtuous, (31) there will be excess of divorce, over-ruling Divine Commands, (32) music in various forms, such as cinema ad radio will prevail, (33) the rich will go on pilgrimages as on a change of climate, middle class men for business, and the beggars to show, (34) theology will be studied for litigation and not for guidance, (35)fornication will develop, (36) people will be drowned in worldly pleasures, (37) heart failures will be on the increase, (38) femail birth will be on the increase, so as to make the combination of 40 females to one, (39) lies will be a common feature, (40) untimely (heavy) rain, (41) readers of the Text and religious worshippers will find fault with one another and will be raised as dirty animals before God, (42) the rich will be afraid of the poor for life, (43) incapable men will be on stage, (44) after short period land will slip and everbody will feel affected.

3. Regarding Ali’s succession.