The Tafsīr of Sūrah Ibrāhīm (Chapter -14)

Which was revealed in Makkah

Arabic quotation as printed; not matched to Tanzil, so not shown as the Qur’anوَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ الٓر كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا عَلَى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِۦ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ فَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَذَكِّرْهُم بِأَيَّىٰمِ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Qur’an 14:1–3الٓر كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا عَلَى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍ

«1. Alif-Lām-Rā. (This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness into light by their Lord's leave to the path of the Almighty, the Praised.»

«2. Allāh to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth! And woe unto the disbelievers from a severe torment.» «3. Those who prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter, and hinder (men) from the path of Allāh and seek crookedness therein - they are far astray.»

Describing the Qur'ān and warning Those Who defy it

Previously we discussed the meaning of the separate letters that appear in the beginnings of some Sūrahs.

Qur’an 14:1كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ

«(This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you...»

Allāh says, 'This is a Book that We have revealed to you, O Muḥammad. This 'Book', is the Glorious Qur'ān, the most honored Book, that Allāh sent down from heaven to the most honored Messenger of Allāh sent to all the people of the earth, Arabs and non-Arabs alike,

Qur’an 14:1لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ

«in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness into light»

We sent you, O Muḥammad, with this Book in order that you might lead mankind away from misguidance and crookedness to guidance and the right way,'

Qur’an 2:257ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّٰغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ

«Allāh is the Walī (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Awliyā (supporters and helpers) are Ṭāghūt (false deities), they bring them out from light into darkness.» [2:257], and,

Qur’an 57:9هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَٰتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ

«It is He Who sends down manifest Āyāt to His servant that He may bring you out from darkness into light.» [57:9] Allāh said next,

Qur’anبِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ

«by their Lord's leave», He guides those whom He destined to be guided by the hand of His Messenger ﷺ, whom He sent to guide them by His command,

Qur’an 14:1إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ

«to the path of the All-Mighty,»

Who can never be resisted or overpowered. Rather, Allāh is Irresistible above everything and everyone else,

Qur’an 14:1ٱلْحَمِيدِ

«the Praised.» Who is glorified and praised in all His actions, statements, legislation, commandments and prohibitions and Who only says the truth in the information He conveys. Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:2ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ

«Allāh to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth!», is similar to,

Qur’an 7:158قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ

«Say: "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allāh - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.» [7:158] Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:2وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ

«And woe unto the disbelievers from a severe torment.»

means, 'woe to them on the Day of Judgment because they defied you, O Muḥammad, and rejected you.' Allāh described the disbelievers as preferring the life of the present world to the Hereafter, coveting the former life and working hard for its sake. They have forgotten the Hereafter and abandoned it behind their backs,

Qur’an 14:3وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ

«and hinder (men) from the path of Allāh», from following the Messengers,

Qur’an 14:3وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا

«and seek crookedness therein» they seek to make Allāh's path crooked, even though it is straight itself and does not deviate on account of those who defy or betray it. When the disbelievers do this, they become engulfed in ignorance and misguidance far away from truth, and therefore, there is no hope that they will gain guidance and correctness while on this state.

Qur’an 14:4وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِۦ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ فَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

«4. And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people, in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them. Then Allāh misleads whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.»

Every Prophet was sent with the Language of His People; Guidance or Misguidance follows the Explanation

Allāh is Kind and Compassionate with His creation, sending Messengers to them from among them and speaking their language, so that they are able to understand the Message that the Messengers were sent with. Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:4فَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ

«Then Allāh misleads whom He wills and guides whom He wills.»

after the proof and evidence have been established for the people, Allāh misguides whom He wills from the path of guidance and guides whom He wills to the truth,

Qur’an 14:4وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ

«And He is the All-Mighty,» whatever He wills occurs and whatever He does not will never occurs,

Qur’an 14:4ٱلْحَكِيمُ

«the All-Wise.» in His decisions, misleading those who deserve to be misled and guiding those who deserve guidance. This is from Allāh's wisdom with His creation, every Prophet He sent to a people spoke their language and everyone of these Prophets were only sent to their people. Muḥammad bin 'Abdullāh, Allāh's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, was sent to all people. It is recorded in the Two Ṣaḥīḥs that Jābir said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthأُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ قَبْلِي: نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ مَسِيرَةَ شَهْرٍ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الْأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا، وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ وَلَمْ تُحَلَّ لِأَحَدٍ قَبْلِي، وَأُعْطِيتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّةً

«I have been given five things which were not given to anyone else before me. Allāh made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey. The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for worship and a purifier. The war booty has been made lawful for me and it was not lawful for anyone else before me. I have been given the right of Intercession (on the Day of Resurrection). Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only, but I have been sent to all mankind.»^^{1Fatḥ Al-Bāri 1:519, Muslim 1:370.} Allāh said,

Qur’an 7:158قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا

«Say: "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allāh..."» [7:158]

Qur’an 14:5وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَذَكِّرْهُم بِأَيَّىٰمِ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ

«5. And indeed We sent Mūsā with Our Āyāt (saying): "Bring out your people from darkness into light, and remind them of the annals (or days) of Allāh. Truly, therein are Āyāt for every patient, thankful (person)."»

Story of Mūsā and His People

Allāh says here, 'Just as We sent you (O, Muḥammad) and sent down to you the Book, in order that you might guide and call all people out of darkness into the light, We also sent Mūsā to the Children of Israel with Our Āyāt (signs, or miracles).' Mujāhid said that this part of the Āyah refers to the nine miracles.

Qur’an 14:5أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ

«Bring out your people» he is being commanded;

Qur’an 14:5أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ

«Bring out your people from darkness into light,»

call them to all that is good and righteous, in order that they might turn away from the darkness of ignorance and misguidance they indulged in, to the light of guidance and the enlightenment of faith,

Qur’an 14:5وَذَكِّرْهُم بِأَيَّىٰمِ ٱللَّهِ

«and remind them of the annals (or days) of Allāh»

remind them (O Mūsā) of Allāh's days, meaning, favors and bounties which He bestowed on them when He delivered them from the grip of Fir'awn and his injustice, tyranny and brutality. This is when Allāh delivered them from their enemy, made a passage for them through the sea, shaded them with clouds, sent down manna and quails for them, and other favors and bounties. Mujāhid, Qatādah and several others said this.^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:521.} Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:5إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ

«Truly, therein are Āyāt for every patient, thankful (person).»

Allāh says, 'Our delivering of Our loyal supporters among the Children of Israel from the grasp of Fir'awn and saving them from the disgraceful torment, provides a lesson to draw from for those who are patient in the face of affliction, and thankful in times of prosperity. Qatādah said, "Excellent is the servant who if he is tested, he observes patience, and if he is granted prosperity, he is thankful for it."^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:523.} It is recorded in the Ṣaḥīḥ that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthإِنَّ أَمْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِ كُلَّهُ عَجَبٌ، لَا يَقْضِي اللهُ لَهُ قَضَاءً إِلَّا كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ، فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ، فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ

«Verily, all of the matter of the believer is amazing, for every decision that Allāh decrees for him is good for him. If an affliction strikes him, he is patient and this is good for him; if a bounty is give to him, he is thankful and this is

Qur’an 14:6–10وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ أَنجَىٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِن تَكْفُرُوٓا۟ أَنتُمْ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَرَدُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِىٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَنَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِى ٱللَّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى قَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ

good for him.»^{3Muslim 4:2295.}

Qur’an 14:6–8وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ أَنجَىٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِن تَكْفُرُوٓا۟ أَنتُمْ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ

«6. And (remember) when Mūsā said to his people: "Call to mind Allāh's favor to you, when He delivered you from Fir'awn's people who were afflicting you with horrible torment, and were slaughtering your sons and letting your women live; and in it was a tremendous trial from your Lord."»

«7. And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks, I will give you more; but if you are thankless, verily, My punishment is indeed severe."»

«8. And Mūsā said: "If you disbelieve, you and all on earth together, then verily, Allāh is Rich (free of all needs), Worthy of all praise."»

Allāh states that Mūsā reminded his people about Allāh's annals and days and of Allāh's favors and bounties that He bestowed on them, when He saved them from Fir'awn and his people and the torment and disgrace they used to exert on them. They used to slaughter whomever they could find among their sons and let their females live. Allāh delivered them from all this torment, and this is a great bounty, indeed. This is why Allāh described this affliction,

Qur’an 14:6وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ

«and in it was a tremendous trial from your Lord.»

'for He granted you (O Children of Israel) a great favor for which you are unable to perfectly thank Him.' Some scholars said that this part of the Āyah means, 'what Fir'awn used to do to you was a tremendous

Qur’an 14:6بَلَآءٌ

«trial.»' Both meanings might be considered here and Allāh knows best. Allāh said in another Āyah ,

Qur’an 7:168وَبَلَوْنَٰهُم بِٱلْحَسَنَٰتِ وَٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

«And We tried them with good and evil in order that they might turn (to Allāh).» [7:168] Allāh's statement next,

Qur’an 14:7وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ

«And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed»

means, proclaimed and made known His promise to you. It is possible that this Āyah means, your Lord has vowed and sworn by His might, grace and exaltness. Allāh said in a similar Āyah,

Qur’an 7:167وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ

«And (remember) when your Lord declared that He would certainly keep on sending against them (i.e. the Jews), till the Day of Resurrection.» [7:167] Allāh said,

Qur’an 14:7لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ

«If you give thanks, I will give you more;»

meaning, 'if you appreciate My favor on you, I will give you more of it,

Qur’an 14:7وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ

«but if you are thankless» if you are not thankful for My favors, covering and denying, them,

Qur’an 14:7إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ

«verily, My punishment is indeed severe», by depriving you of the favor and punishing you for being unappreciative of it.' A Ḥadīth states that,

Ḥadīthإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيُحْرَمُ الرِّزْقَ بِالذَّنْبِ يُصِيبُهُ

«A servant might be deprived of a provision (that was written for him) because of a sin that he commits.» Allāh said,

Qur’an 14:8وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِن تَكْفُرُوٓا۟ أَنتُمْ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ

«And Mūsā said: "If you disbelieve, you and all on earth together, then verily, Allāh is Rich (free of all needs), Worthy of all praise."»

Allāh does not need the gratitude of His servants, and He is worthy of all praise even if the disbelievers disbelieve in Him,

Qur’an 39:7إِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنكُمْ

«If you disbelieve, then verily, Allāh is not in need of you» [39:7] and,

Qur’an 64:6فَكَفَرُوا۟ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّٱسْتَغْنَى ٱللَّهُ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ

«So they disbelieved and turned away. But Allāh was not in need (of them). And Allāh is Rich (free of all needs), Worthy of all praise.» [64:6]

In his Ṣaḥīḥ, Muslim recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said that his Lord the Exalted and Most Honored said,

Ḥadīthيَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَتْقَى قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ، مَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ فِي مُلْكِي شَيْئًا، يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَفْجَرِ قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ، مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ فِي مُلْكِي شَيْئًا، يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ قَامُوا فِي صَعِيدٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَسَأَلُونِي، فَأَعْطَيْتُ كُلَّ إِنْسَانٍ مَسْأَلَتَهُ، مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مُلْكِي شَيْئًا إِلَّا كَمَا يَنْقُصُ الْمِخْيَطُ إِذَا أُدْخِلَ الْبَحْرَ

«O My servants. If the first and the last among you, mankind and Jinns among you, had the heart of the most pious and righteous man among you, that will not increase my kingdom in the least. O My servants! If the first and the last among you, mankind and the Jinns among you, had the heart of the most wicked man among you, that will not decrease My kingdom in the least. O My servants! If the first and the last among you, the mankind and Jinns among you, stood in one flat area and each asked me (what they wish), and I gave each one of them what they asked, that will not decrease My kingdom except by that which the needle carries (of water) when inserted in the ocean."»^{1Muslim 4:1994.}

Verily, all praise and glory are due to Allāh, the Rich [free of need], the Worthy of all praise.

Qur’an 14:9أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَرَدُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِىٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَنَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ

«9. Has not the news reached you, of those before you, the people of Nūh, 'Ād, and Thamūd? And those after them? None knows them but Allāh. To them came their Messengers with clear proofs, but they put their hands in their mouths and said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent, and we are really in grave doubt as to that to which you invite us."»

Earlier Nations disbelieved in Their Prophets

Allāh narrated to this Ummah (followers of Muḥammad ﷺ) the stories of the people of Prophet Nūh, 'Ād and Thamūd, and other ancient nations that belied their Messengers. Only Allāh knows the count of these nations,

Qur’an 14:9جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ

«To them came their Messengers with clear proofs,»

they brought them evidences and plain, tremendous proofs and signs. Ibn Isḥāq reported that 'Amr bin Maymūn said that 'Abdullāh said about Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:9لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ

«None knows them but Allāh.»

"The genealogists utter lies."^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:528.} This is why 'Urwah bin Az-Zubayr said, "We did not find anyone who knows the forefathers of Ma'dd bin 'Adnān."^{2Tafsīr Al-Qurṭubi 9:344.}

Meaning of, "They put Their Hands in Their Mouths"

Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:9فَرَدُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِىٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ

«but they put their hands in their mouths»

It is said that they pointed to the Messengers' mouths asking them to stop calling them to Allāh, the Exalted and Most Honored. It is also said that it means, they placed their hands on their mouths in denial of the Messengers. It was also said that it means that they did not answer the call of the Messengers, or they were biting their hands in rage. Mujāhid, Muḥammad bin Ka'b and Qatādah said that they belied the Messengers and refuted their call with their mouths.^{3Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:534.} I (Ibn Kathīr) say that Mujāhid's Tafsīr is supported by the completion of the narrative,

Qur’an 14:9وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَنَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ

«and said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent, and we are really in grave doubt as to that to which you invite us."»

Al-'Awfi reported that Ibn 'Abbās said, "When they heard Allāh's Word, they were amazed and placed their hands on their mouths,"^{4Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:533.}

Qur’an 14:9وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ

«and said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent."»

Qur’an 14:11–18قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنَا سُبُلَنَا وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاذَيْتُمُونَا وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِى وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ وَٱسْتَفْتَحُوا۟ وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ مِّن وَرَآئِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ وَيُسْقَىٰ مِن مَّآءٍ صَدِيدٍ يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ أَعْمَٰلُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ

They said, We do not believe what you brought us, and have strong doubt in its authenticity.'

Qur’an 14:10–12قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِى ٱللَّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى قَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنَا سُبُلَنَا وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاذَيْتُمُونَا وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

«10. Their Messengers said: "(What!) Can there be a doubt about Allāh, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you that He may forgive you of your sins and give you respite for a term appointed." They said: "You are no more than human beings like us! You wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring us a clear authority."»

«11. Their Messengers said to them: "We are no more than human beings like you, but Allāh bestows His grace to whom He wills of His servants. It is not ours to bring you an authority (proof) except by the permission of Allāh. And in Allāh (alone) let the believers put their trust."»

«12. "And why should we not put our trust in Allāh while He » indeed has guided us in our ways? And we shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us, and in Allāh (alone) let those who trust, put their trust."»

The Argument between the Prophets and the Disbelievers

Allāh narrates to us the arguments that ensued between the disbelievers and their Messengers. When their nations doubted the Message of worshipping Allāh alone without partners, the Messengers said,

Qur’an 14:10أَفِى ٱللَّهِ شَكٌّ

«(What!) Can there be a doubt about Allāh...?»

about His Lordship and having the exclusive right to be worshipped alone, being the only Creator of all creatures? Verily, none besides Allāh is worthy of worship, alone without partners with Him.

Most nations were, and still are, affirming the existence of the Creator, but they call upon intermediaries besides Him whom they think will benefit them or bring them closer to Allāh. Their Messengers said to them,

Qur’an 14:10يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ

«He calls you that He may forgive you of your sins» in the Hereafter,

Qur’an 14:10وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى

«and give you respite for a term appointed.», in this worldly life. Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 11:3وَأَنِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَٰعًا حَسَنًا إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِى فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُۥ

«Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding grace to every owner of grace.» [10:3]

However, their nations went on arguing against their prophethood, after they had to submit to the first evidence (that Allāh Alone created everything). Disbelievers reject Prophethood because the Messengers were Humans!

Their nations said,

Qur’an 14:10إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا

«You are no more than human beings like us!»

so why should we follow you just because you say so, even though we did not witness a miracle by your hands,

Qur’an 14:10فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ

«Then bring us a clear authority.», a miracle of our choice.

Qur’an 14:11قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ

«Their Messengers said to them: "We are no more than human beings like you..."»

affirming that truly, they were only human being like their nations,

Qur’an 14:11وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ

«but Allāh bestows His grace to whom He wills of His servants.», with prophethood and messengership which is His choice,

Qur’an 14:11وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَٰنٍ

«It is not ours to bring you an authority» according to your choice,

Qur’anإِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ

«except by the permission of Allāh.», after we beg Him and He provides us with a miracle,

Qur’an 14:11وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

«And in Allāh (alone) let the believers put their trust.» in all their affairs. Their Messengers said to them next,

Qur’an 14:12وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ

«And why should we not put our trust in Allāh», after He had guided us to the best, most clear and plain way,

Qur’an 14:12وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاذَيْتُمُونَا

«And we shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us», such as foolish actions and abusive statements,

Qur’an 14:12وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

«and in Allāh (alone) let those who trust, put their trust.»

Qur’an 14:13–17وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِى وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ وَٱسْتَفْتَحُوا۟ وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ مِّن وَرَآئِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ وَيُسْقَىٰ مِن مَّآءٍ صَدِيدٍ يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ

«13. And those who disbelieved, said to their Messengers: "Surely, we shall drive you out of our land, or you shall return to our religion." So their Lord revealed to them: "Truly, We shall destroy the wrongdoers."»

«14. "And indeed, We shall make you dwell in the land after them. This is for him who fears standing before Me and also fears My threat."»

«15. And they sought victory and help; and every obstinate, arrogant dictator (who refuses to believe in the Oneness of Allāh) was brought to a complete loss and destruction.»

«16. In front of him is Hell, and he will be made to drink boiling, festering water.»

«17. He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find great difficulty in swallowing it down his throat, and death will come to him from every side, yet he will not die, and in front of him, will be a great torment.»

Disbelieving Nations threaten Their Messengers with Expulsion

Allāh narrates to us how the disbelieving nations threatened their Messengers, that being, expulsion from their land and banshiment. For instance, the people of Prophet Shu'ayb, peace be upon him, said to him and to those who believed in him,

Qur’an 7:88لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَٰشُعَيْبُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَآ

«We shall certainly drive you out from our town, O Shu'ayb, and those who have believed with you.» [7:88] The people of Prophet Lūt, peace be upon him, said,

Qur’an 27:56أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ ءَالَ لُوطٍ مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ

«Drive out the family of Lut from your city.» [27:56] Allāh said about the idolators of Quraysh,

Qur’an 17:76وَإِن كَادُوا۟ لَيَسْتَفِزُّونَكَ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُخْرِجُوكَ مِنْهَا وَإِذًا لَّا يَلْبَثُونَ خِلَٰفَكَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

«And verily, they were about to frighten you so much as to drive you out from the land. But in that case they would not have stayed after you, except for a little while.»[17:76] and,

Qur’an 8:30وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ ٱللَّهُ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَٰكِرِينَ

«And when the disbelievers plotted against you to imprison you, or to kill you, or to expel you out; they were plotting and Allāh too was plotting; and Allāh is the Best of those who plot.» [8:30]

Allāh gave victory and aid to His Messenger ﷺ after he emigrated from Makkah and gathered followers, supporters, and soldiers around him, who fought in the cause of Allāh, the Exalted. Allāh kept granting His Messenger ﷺ more dominance until He opened for him Makkah, which sought to expel him. Allāh gave him dominance over it, even when his enemies from Makkah and the rest of the people of the earth disliked it. Soon after, people began embracing the religion of Allāh in large crowds and in a very short time Allāh's Word and religion became high over all other religions, from the eastern and western parts of the world. Hence Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:13–14فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ

«So their Lord revealed to them: "Truly, We shall destroy the wrongdoers. And indeed, We shall make you dwell in the land after them."» [14:13,14] Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 37:171–173وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ ٱلْمَنصُورُونَ وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ ٱلْغَٰلِبُونَ

«And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our servants, the Messengers, that they verily, would be made triumphant, and that Our hosts! They verily, would be the victors.» [37:171-173],

Qur’an 58:21كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا۠ وَرُسُلِىٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ

«Allāh has decreed: "Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious. Verily, Allāh is All-Powerful, All-Mighty."»[58:21]

Qur’an 21:105وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلذِّكْرِ

«And indeed We have written in Az-Zabūr after Adh-Dhikr.» [21:05]

Qur’an 7:128قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَٱلْعَٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

«Mūsā said to his people: "Seek help in Allāh and be patient. Verily, the earth is Allāh's. He gives it as a heritage to whom He wills of His servants: and the (blessed) end is for the those who have Taqwā."»[7:128] and,

Qur’an 7:137وَأَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُوا۟ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَٰرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَغَٰرِبَهَا ٱلَّتِى بَٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُۥ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْرِشُونَ

«And We made the people who were considered weak to inherit the eastern parts of the land and the western parts thereof which We have blessed. And the fair Word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because of their endurance. And We destroyed completely all the great works and buildings which Fir'awn and his people erected.»[7:137] Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:14ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِى وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ

«This is for him who fears standing before Me and also fears My threat.» this warning is for he who fears standing before Him on the Day of Resurrection and fears His warnings and torment. Allāh said in other instances,

Qur’an 79:37–41فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ وَءَاثَرَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ ٱلْجَحِيمَ هِىَ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ وَنَهَى ٱلنَّفْسَ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰ فَإِنَّ ٱلْجَنَّةَ هِىَ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ

«Then for him who transgressed all bounds, and preferred the life of this world, verily, his abode will be Hellfire. But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts. Verily, Paradise will be his abode.»[79:37-41] and,

Qur’an 55:46وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ جَنَّتَانِ

«But for him who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two Gardens.»[55:46] Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:15وَٱسْتَفْتَحُوا۟

«And they sought victory and help» refers to the Messengers who sought the help and victory of their Lord over their nations, according to 'Abdullāh bin 'Abbās, Mujāhid and Qatādah.^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:544-545.} 'Abdur-Raḥmān bin Zayd bin Aslam said that this Āyah refers to the nations, invoking Allāh's victory against themselves!^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:545.} Some idolators said,

Qur’an 8:32ٱللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَٰذَا هُوَ ٱلْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَوِ ٱئْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

«O Allāh ! If this (Qur'ān) is indeed the truth (revealed) from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky or bring on us a painful torment.» [8:32] It is possible that both meanings are desired here, for the idolators (of Quraysh) invoked Allāh against themselves on the day of Badr, and the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ invoked Him for victory and support. Allāh said to the idolators then,

Qur’an 8:19إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُوا۟ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْفَتْحُ وَإِن تَنتَهُوا۟ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ

«(O disbelievers) if you ask for a judgment, now has the judgment come unto you; and if you cease (to do wrong), it will be better for you.» [8:19]

Allāh knows best. Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:15وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ

«and every obstinate, arrogant dictator was brought to a complete loss and destruction.»

those who were arrogant and rebelled against the truth. Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 50:24–26أَلْقِيَا فِى جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ مُّرِيبٍ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَأَلْقِيَاهُ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلشَّدِيدِ

«(Allāh will say to the angels): "Both of you throw into Hell every stubborn disbeliever - hinderer of good, transgressor, doubter, who set up another deity with Allāh. Then both of you cast him in the severe torment."» [50:24-26]

The Prophet ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthإِنَّهُ يُؤْتَى بِجَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، فَتُنَادِي الْخَلَائِقَ، فَتَقُولُ: إِنِّي وُكِّلْتُ بِكُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ

«On the Day of Resurrection, Jahannam (Hellfire) will be brought and it will call the creatures, saying, "I was given the responsibility of every rebellious tyrant."»^{3At-Tirmidhi nos. 2573,2574.}

Therefore, every tyrant has earned utter demise and loss when the Prophets invoked Allāh, the Mighty, the Able for victory.

Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:16مِّن وَرَآئِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ

«In front of him is Hell,» Allāh says that Jahannam is in front of every obstinate tyrant, awaiting him, and he will reside in it forever on the Day of Return. He will be brought to it in the morning and the afternoon until the Day of the Call,

Qur’an 14:16وَيُسْقَىٰ مِن مَّآءٍ صَدِيدٍ

«and he will be made to drink boiling, festering water.»

in the Fire, his only drink will be from Ḥamīm and Ghassāq, the former is very hot and the latter is very cold and rotten. Allāh said in another instance,

Qur’an 38:57–58هَٰذَا فَلْيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌ وَغَسَّاقٌ وَءَاخَرُ مِن شَكْلِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجٌ

«This is so! Then let them taste it - Ḥamīm and Ghassāq. And other (torments) of similar kind all together!»[38:57-58] Mujāhid and 'Ikrimah said that this festering water is made of puss and blood.^{4Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:548.} Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 47:15وَسُقُوا۟ مَآءً حَمِيمًا فَقَطَّعَ أَمْعَآءَهُمْ

«And be given to drink boiling water so that it cuts up their bowels.» [47:15] and,

Qur’an 18:29وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا۟ يُغَاثُوا۟ بِمَآءٍ كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَشْوِى ٱلْوُجُوهَ

«And if they ask for help, they will be granted water like boiling oil, that will scald their faces.» [18:29] Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:17يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ

«He will sip it unwillingly», indicates that he will hate to drink this water, but he will be forced to sip it; he will refuse until the angel strikes him with an iron bar,

Qur’an 22:21وَلَهُم مَّقَٰمِعُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ

«And for them are hooked rods of iron.»[22:21] Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:17وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ

«and he will find great difficulty in swallowing it down his throat,» meaning, he will hate to swallow it because of its awful taste, color and unbearable heat or coldness,

Qur’an 14:17وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ

«and death will come to him from every side,» his organs, limbs and entire body will suffer pain because of this drink. 'Amr bin Maymūn bin Mahrān commented, "Every bone, nerve and blood vessel."^{5Ad-Durr Al-Manthūr 5:16.}

Aḍ-Ḍaḥḥāk reported that Ibn 'Abbās commented on Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:17وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ

«and death will come to him from every side,»

"All types of torment that Allāh will punish him with on the Day of Resurrection in the fire of Jahannam will come to him carrying death, if he were to die. However, he will not die because Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 35:36لَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا۟ وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُم مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا

«Neither will it affect them that they die nor shall its torment be lightened for them»[35:36]."^{6Ad-Durr Al-Manthūr 5:16.}

Therefore, according to Ibn 'Abbās, may Allāh be pleased with him and his father, every type of punishment will come to him (the obstinate, rebellious tyrant) carrying death with it, if he will ever die there. Yet, he will not die, he will instead receive eternal punishment and torment. Hence Allāh's statement here,

Qur’an 14:17وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ

«and death will come to him from every side, yet he will not die,»

Allāh said,

Qur’an 14:17وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ

«and in front of him, will be a great torment.»

even in this condition, he will still suffer another severe type of torment, more severe and painful from the one before it, harsher more bitter. Allāh described the tree of Zaqqūm,

Qur’an 37:64–68إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِىٓ أَصْلِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُۥ رُءُوسُ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَـَٔاكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًا مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى ٱلْجَحِيمِ

«Verily, it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire, the shoots of its fruits stalks are like the heads of Shayāṭīn; Truly, they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on top of that they will be given boiling water to drink so that it becomes a mixture. Then thereafter, verily, their return is to the flaming fire of Hell.»[37:64-68]

Allāh states that they will either be eating from the Zaqqūm, drinking the Ḥamīm, or being tormented in the Fire, again and again; we seek refuge with Allāh from all of this. Allāh also said,

Qur’an 55:43–44هَٰذِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ ٱلَّتِى يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ يَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ حَمِيمٍ ءَانٍ

«This is the Hell which the criminals denied. They will go between it (Hell) and the fierce boiling water!»[55:43-44],

Qur’an 44:43–50إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ ٱلزَّقُّومِ طَعَامُ ٱلْأَثِيمِ كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَغْلِى فِى ٱلْبُطُونِ كَغَلْىِ ٱلْحَمِيمِ خُذُوهُ فَٱعْتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ثُمَّ صُبُّوا۟ فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِۦ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلْحَمِيمِ ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْكَرِيمُ إِنَّ هَٰذَا مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَمْتَرُونَ

«Verily, the tree of Zaqqūm will be the food of the sinners. Like boiling oil, it will boil in the bellies, like the boiling of scalding water. (It will be said) "Seize him and drag him into the midst of blazing Fire, then pour over his head the torment of boiling water. Taste you (this)! Verily, you were the mighty, the generous! Verily, this is that whereof you used to doubt!"»[44:43-50],

Qur’an 56:41–44وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ فِى سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ

«And those on the Left Hand - how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand? In fierce hot wind and boiling water, and shadow of black smoke, neither cool nor pleasant.»[56:41-44], and,

Qur’an 38:55–58هَٰذَا وَإِنَّ لِلطَّٰغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَـَٔابٍ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ هَٰذَا فَلْيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌ وَغَسَّاقٌ وَءَاخَرُ مِن شَكْلِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجٌ

«This is so! And for the Ṭāghūn will be an evil final return. Hell! Where they will burn, and worst is that place to rest! This is so! Then let them taste it Ḥamīm and Ghassāq. And other (torments) of similar kind all together!»[38:55-58]

There are many other similar Āyāt that indicate that the punishment they will receive is of different kinds, and that it is repeated in various types and forms that only Allāh the Exalted knows, as just recompense,

Qur’an 41:46وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ

«And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves.» [41:46]

Qur’an 14:18مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ أَعْمَٰلُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ

«18. The parable of those who disbelieved in their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a stormy day; they shall not be able to get aught of what they have earned. That is the straying, far away (from the right path).»

A Parable for the Deeds of the Disbelievers

This is a parable that Allāh has given for the deeds and actions of the disbelievers who worshipped others besides Him and rejected His Messengers, thus building their acts on groundless basis. Their actions vanished from them when they were most in need of their rewards. Allāh said,

Qur’an 14:18مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ أَعْمَٰلُهُمْ

«The parable of those who disbelieved in their Lord is that their works»

on the Day of Judgment, when they will seek their rewards from Allāh the Exalted. They used to think that they had something, but they will find nothing, except what remains of ashes when a strong wind blows on it,

Qur’an 14:18فِى يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ

«on a stormy day;» They will not earn rewards for any of the good works they performed during this life, except what they can preserve of ashes during a day of strong wind. Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 25:23وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُ هَبَآءً مَّنثُورًا

«And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust.»[25:23],

Qur’an 3:117مَثَلُ مَا يُنفِقُونَ فِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَثَلِ رِيحٍ فِيهَا صِرٌّ أَصَابَتْ حَرْثَ قَوْمٍ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَأَهْلَكَتْهُ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَٰكِنْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

«The parable of what they spend in this world is that of a wind which is extremely cold; it struck the harvest of a people who did wrong against themselves and destroyed it. Allāh wronged them not, but they wronged themselves.»[3:117],and,

Qur’an 2:264يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبْطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَٰتِكُم بِٱلْمَنِّ وَٱلْأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلْدًا لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

«O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Ṣadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men, and he does not believe in Allāh, nor in the Last Day. His parable is that of a smooth rock on which is a little dust; on it falls heavy rain which leaves it bare. They are not able to do anything with what they have earned. And Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.»[2:264]

Allāh said in this Āyah,

Qur’an 14:18ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ

«That is the straying, far away from the right path»

meaning, their work and deeds were not based on firm, correct grounds, and thus, they lost their rewards when they needed them the most,

Qur’an 14:18ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ

«That is the straying, far away from the right path.»

Qur’an 14:19–20أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ

«19. Do you not see that Allāh has created the heavens and the earth with truth? If He wills, He can remove you and bring (in your place) a new creation!»

«20. And for Allāh that is not hard or difficult.»

Proof that Resurrection occurs after Death

Allāh affirms His ability to resurrect the bodies on the Day of Resurrection, stating that He has created the heavens and earth which are stronger than the creation of man. Is not He Who is able to create the heavens, high, wide and strongly built, which include in them the planets and stars and the various heavenly objects and clear signs. Is not He Who created this earth with all what it contains of land, valleys, mountains, deserts, green fields, barren lands, seas and various shapes, benefits, species and colors of trees, plants and animals?

Qur’an 46:33أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَمْ يَعْىَ بِخَلْقِهِنَّ بِقَٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحْـِۧىَ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

«Do they not see that Allāh, Who created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied by their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes, He surely, is able to do all things.»[46:33],

Qur’an 36:77–83أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُّبِينٌ وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلًا وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُۥ قَالَ مَن يُحْىِ ٱلْعِظَٰمَ وَهِىَ رَمِيمٌ قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ ٱلْأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ أَوَلَيْسَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِقَٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ ٱلْخَلَّٰقُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُۥٓ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ فَسُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِۦ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

«Does not man see that We have created him from Nutfah (drop of sperm). Yet behold he (stands forth) as an open opponent. And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation He says: "Who will give life to these bones after they are rotten and have become dust?" Say: "He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All- Knower of every creation!" He Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, when behold you kindle therewith. Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth, able to create the like of them? Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing Supreme Creator. Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!" - and it is! So glorified is He and exalted above all that they associate with Him, and in Whose Hands is the dominion of all things: and to Him you shall be returned.»[36:77-83]

Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:19–20إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ

«If He wills, He can remove you and bring (in your place) a new creation! And for Allāh that is not hard or difficult.»

means, it is not hard or impossible for Allāh to do that. Rather, it is easy for Him, that if you defy His order, He takes you away and brings in your place another creation who is unlike you. Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 35:15–17يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ

«O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allāh. But Allāh is Rich, Worthy of all praise. If He willed, He could destroy you and bring about a new creation. And that is not hard for Allāh.»[35:15-17],

Qur’an 47:38وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓا۟ أَمْثَٰلَكُم

«And if you turn away, He will exchange you for some other people and they will not be your likes.» [47:38]

Qur’an 5:54يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِى ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُۥٓ

«O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion, Allāh will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him.»[5:54] and,

Qur’an 4:133إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَيَأْتِ بِـَٔاخَرِينَ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ قَدِيرًا

«If He wills, He can take you away, O people, and bring others. And Allāh is Ever All-Potent over that.»[4:133]

Qur’an 14:21وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَٰٓؤُا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَٰكُمْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَجَزِعْنَآ أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ

«21. And they all shall appear before Allāh; then the weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Verily, we were following you; can you avail us anything against Allāh's torment?" They will say: "Had Allāh guided us, we would have guided you. It makes no difference to us (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience; there is no place of refuge for us."»

Disbelieving Chiefs and Their Followers will dispute in the Fire

Allāh said,

Qur’anوَبَرَزُوا۟

«And they shall appear» meaning, all the creatures, the wicked and the righteous among them, will appear before Allāh the One, the Irresistible. They will be gathered on a flat plain that does not have anything those present could use for cover,

Qur’an 14:21فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَٰٓؤُا۟

«then the weak will say» the followers who used to obey their chiefs, leaders and notables will say,

Qur’an 14:21لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟

«to those who were arrogant» who rebelled against worshipping Allāh alone without partners and obeying the Messengers,

Qur’an 14:21إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا

«Verily, we were following you,», we obeyed your orders and implemented them,

Qur’an 14:21فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ

«can you avail us anything against Allāh's torment?»

They will ask, 'can you prevent any of Allāh's torment from striking us as you used to promise and vow to us?' The leaders will say in response,

Qur’an 14:21لَوْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَٰكُمْ

'«Had Allāh guided us, we would have guided you.»

but the statement of our Lord shall come to pass concerning us, and the destiny that He has appointed for us and you shall come true; the word of punishment shall befall the disbelievers,

Qur’an 14:21سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَجَزِعْنَآ أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ

«It makes no difference to us (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience; there is no place of refuge for us.»

we have no means of escape from what we are in, whether we face it with patience or grief.'

I (Ibn Kathīr) say that it appears that this conversation will occur in the Fire after they enter it, just as Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 40:47–48وَإِذْ يَتَحَآجُّونَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ فَيَقُولُ ٱلضُّعَفَٰٓؤُا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُلٌّ فِيهَآ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ حَكَمَ بَيْنَ ٱلْعِبَادِ

«And, when they will dispute in the Fire, the weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Verily, we followed you, can you then take from us some portion of the Fire?" Those who were arrogant will say: "We are all (together) in this (Fire)! Verily, Allāh has judged between (His) servants!"»[40:47-48],

Qur’an 7:38–39قَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ فِىٓ أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَتْ أُمَّةٌ لَّعَنَتْ أُخْتَهَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱدَّارَكُوا۟ فِيهَا جَمِيعًا قَالَتْ أُخْرَىٰهُمْ لِأُولَىٰهُمْ رَبَّنَا هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ أَضَلُّونَا فَـَٔاتِهِمْ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ قَالَ لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَعْلَمُونَ وَقَالَتْ أُولَىٰهُمْ لِأُخْرَىٰهُمْ فَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِن فَضْلٍ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ

«(Allāh) will say: "Enter you in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and Jinn, into the Fire." Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister nation (that went before) until they will be gathered all together in the Fire. The last of them will say to the first of them: "Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire." He will say: "For each one there is double (torment), but you know not." The first of them will say to the last of them: "You were not better than us, so taste the torment for what you used to earn."»[7:38-39], and,

Qur’an 33:67–68وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّآ أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَآءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَٱلْعَنْهُمْ لَعْنًا كَبِيرًا

«Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) way. Our Lord! Give them a double torment and curse them with a mighty curse!»[33:67-68]

Disbelievers will also dispute on the Day of Gathering,

Qur’an 34:31–33وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ مَوْقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يَرْجِعُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ٱلْقَوْلَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أَنتُمْ لَكُنَّا مُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوٓا۟ أَنَحْنُ صَدَدْنَٰكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْهُدَىٰ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَآءَكُم بَلْ كُنتُم مُّجْرِمِينَ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ بَلْ مَكْرُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًا وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَغْلَٰلَ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

«But if you could see when the wrongdoers will be made to stand before their Lord, how they will cast the (blaming) word one to another! Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Had it not been for you, we certainly have been believers!" And those who were arrogant will say to those who were deemed weak: "Did we keep you back from guidance after it had come to you? Nay, but you were wrongdoers." Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day: when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allāh and set up rivals to Him!" And We shall put iron collars round the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught except what they used to do?﴾[34:31-33]

Qur’an 14:22–23وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ وَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِى فَلَا تَلُومُونِى وَلُومُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُم مَّآ أَنَا۠ بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصْرِخِىَّ إِنِّى كَفَرْتُ بِمَآ أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِن قَبْلُ إِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ تَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَٰمٌ

﴿22. And Shayṭān will say when the matter has been decided: "Verily, Allāh promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Shayṭān) as a partner with Allāh (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the wrongdoers."﴾

﴿23. And those who believed and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow, - to dwell therein for ever (i.e. in Paradise), with the permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: "Salām (peace!)."﴾

Shayṭān disowns His Followers on the Day of Resurrection

Allāh narrates to us what Iblīs will say to his followers after Allāh finishes with the judgement between His servants, sending the believers to the gardens of Paradise and the disbelievers to the lows (of the Fire). Iblīs, may Allāh curse him, will stand and address the latter, in order to add depression to their depression, sorrow to their sorrow and grief to their grief. He will declare,

Qur’an 14:22إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ ٱلْحَقِّ

'﴿Verily, Allāh promised you a promise of truth.﴾ by the words of His Messengers that if you follow them, you will gain safety and deliverance. Truly, Allāh's promise was true and correct news, while I promised you then betrayed you.' Allāh said in another Āyah,

Qur’an 4:120يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا

﴿He (Shayṭān) makes promises to them, and arouses in them false desires; and Shayṭān's promises are nothing but deceptions.﴾ [4:120]

Qur’an 14:22وَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍ

﴿I had no authority over you﴾ Shayṭān will say, 'I had no proof for what I called you to, nor evidence for what I promised you,

Qur’an 14:22إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِى

﴿except that I called you, and you responded to me.﴾ even though the Messengers establish the proof and unequivocal evidences against you and affirmed the truth of what they were sent to you with. But you disobeyed the Messengers and ended up earning this fate,

Qur’an 14:22فَلَا تَلُومُونِى

﴿So blame me not,﴾ today,

Qur’an 14:22وَلُومُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُم

﴿but blame yourselves.﴾, because it is your fault for defying the proofs and following me in the falsehood that I called you to.' Shayṭān will say next,

Qur’an 14:22مَّآ أَنَا۠ بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ

﴿I cannot help you﴾, I cannot benefit, save, or deliver you from what you are suffering,

Qur’an 14:22وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصْرِخِىَّ

﴿nor can you help me.﴾, nor can you save me and deliver me from the torment and punishment I am suffering,

Qur’an 14:22إِنِّى كَفَرْتُ بِمَآ أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِن قَبْلُ

﴿I deny your former act of associating me (Shayṭān) as a partner with Allāh.﴾ or because you associated me with Allāh before,' according to Qatādah.^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:564.} Ibn Jarīr commented; "I deny being a partner with Allāh, the Exalted and Most Honored."^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:561.} This opinion is the most plausible, for Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 46:5–6وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ وَهُمْ عَن دُعَآئِهِمْ غَٰفِلُونَ وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُوا۟ لَهُمْ أَعْدَآءً وَكَانُوا۟ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَٰفِرِينَ

﴿And who is more astray than one who calls on others besides Allāh, such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls to them? And when mankind are gathered, they will become their enemies and will deny their worshipping.﴾[46:5-6] and,

Qur’an 19:82كَلَّا سَيَكْفُرُونَ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ وَيَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضِدًّا

﴿Nay, but they (the so-called gods) will deny their worship of them, and become opponents to them.﴾[19:82]

Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:22إِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

﴿Verily, the wrongdoers﴾, who deviate from truth and follow falsehood, will earn a painful torment. It appears that this part of the Āyah narrates the speech that Shayṭān will deliver to the people of the Fire after they enter it, as we stated. 'Āmir Ash-Sha'bi said, "On the Day of Resurrection, two speakers will address the people. Allāh the Exalted will say to 'Īsā, son of Maryam,

Qur’an 5:116ءَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ ٱتَّخِذُونِى وَأُمِّىَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ

﴿Did you say unto men: "Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allāh?"﴾ [5:116] until,

Qur’an 5:119قَالَ ٱللَّهُ هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ

﴿Allāh will say: "This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth."﴾[5:119] Shayṭān, may Allāh curse him, will stand and address the people,

Qur’an 14:22وَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِى

﴿I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me.﴾^{3Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:562.}

Allāh next mentioned the final destination of the miserable ones, who earned the disgrace and torment and having to listen to Shayṭān address them, then He mentioned the final destination of the happy ones,

Qur’an 14:23وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ

﴿And those who believed and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow,﴾ wherever they wish them to flow and wherever they may be,

Qur’an 14:23خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا

﴿to dwell therein for ever,﴾ and will never transfer or be transferred from it,

Qur’an 14:23بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ تَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَٰمٌ

﴿with the permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: "Salām (peace!)."﴾ Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 39:73حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ

﴿Till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened and its keepers will say: "Salāmun 'Alaykum (peace be upon you!)"﴾ [39:73]

Qur’an 13:23–24وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْكُم

﴿And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): "Salāmun 'Alaykum (peace be upon you!)."﴾ [13:23-24]

Qur’an 25:75وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَٰمًا

﴿Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.﴾ [25:75]

Qur’an 10:10دَعْوَىٰهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَٰنَكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَٰمٌ وَءَاخِرُ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ أَنِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

﴿Their way of request therein will be Subḥānaka Allāhumma (glory to you, O Allāh) and Salām (peace!) will be their greetings therein (Paradise)! And the close of their request will be: Al-Ḥamdu Lillāhi Rabbil-'Ālamīn [all praise to Allāh the Lord of that exists].﴾[10:10].

Qur’an 14:24–26أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ تُؤْتِىٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍۭ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجْتُثَّتْ مِن فَوْقِ ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ

﴿24. See you not how Allāh sets forth a parable? A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky.﴾

﴿25. Giving its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord, and Allāh sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember.﴾

﴿26. And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of earth, having no stability.﴾

The Parable of the Word of Islām and the Word of Kufr

'Ali bin Abi Ṭalḥah reported that 'Abdullāh bin 'Abbās commented that Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:24مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً

﴿a parable: a goodly word﴾, refers to testifying to Lā ilāha illallāh, (none has the right to be worshipped but Allāh) while,

Qur’an 14:24كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ

﴿as a goodly tree﴾, refers to the believer, and that,

Qur’an 14:24أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ

﴿whose root is firmly fixed﴾, indicates that Lā ilāha illallāh, (none has the right to be worshipped but Allāh) is firm in the believers' heart,

Qur’an 14:24وَفَرْعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ

﴿and its branches (reach) to the sky.﴾ with which the believer's works are ascended to heaven.^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:567.} Similar is said by Aḍ-Ḍaḥḥāk, Sa'īd bin Jubayr, 'Ikrimah, Mujāhid and several others.^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:572-573.} They stated that this parable describes the believer's deeds, good statements and good actions. The believer is just like the beneficial date tree, always having good actions ascending at all times, by day and by night. Al-Bukhāri recorded that 'Abdullāh bin 'Umar said, "We were with the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ when he asked,

Ḥadīthأَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ شَجَرَةٍ تُشْبِهُ - أَوْ - كَالرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ لَا يَتَحَاتُّ وَرَقُهَا صَيْفًا وَلَا شِتَاءً، وَتُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا

«Tell me about a tree that resembles the Muslim, the leaves of which do not fall in summer or winter and gives its fruit at all times by the leave of its Lord.»" Ibn 'Umar said, "I thought of the date palm tree, but felt shy to answer when I saw that Abu Bakr and 'Umar did not talk. When they did not give an answer, the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

«هِيَ النَّخْلَةُ»

«It is the date palm tree.» When we departed, I said to 'Umar, 'My father, by Allāh! I thought that it was the date tree.' He said, 'Why did you not speak then?' I said, 'I saw you were silent and I felt shy to say anything.' 'Umar said, 'Had you said it, it would have been more precious to me than such things (i.e., would have been very precious to me).'"^{3Fatḥ Al-Bāri 8:228.} 'Abdullāh bin 'Abbās said that,

Qur’an 14:24كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ

﴿as a goodly tree﴾, is a tree in Paradise.^{4Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:573.} Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:25تُؤْتِىٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍۭ

﴿Giving its fruit at all times,﴾ It is said that it means by day and by night. And they say that describes the believer as a tree that always has fruits during summer and winter, by night and by day. This is the parable of the believer whose good works ascend to heaven by day and by night and at all times,

Qur’an 14:25بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا

﴿by the leave of its Lord,﴾ thus earning perfection and becoming beneficial, plentiful, pure and blessed,

Qur’an 14:25وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

﴿and Allāh sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember.﴾ Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:26وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ

﴿And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree﴾ describing the disbelief of the disbeliever, for it has no basis or stability. It is similar to the colocynth tree (a very bitter, unscented plant) which is also called, 'Ash-Shiryān'. Shu'bah narrated that Mu'āwiyah bin Abi Qurrah narrated that Anas bin Mālik said that it is the colocynth tree.^{5Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:569.} Allāh said,

Qur’an 14:26ٱجْتُثَّتْ

﴿uprooted﴾, meaning, was cutoff from the root,

Qur’an 14:26مِن فَوْقِ ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ

﴿from the surface of earth, having no stability.﴾ therefore, existing without basis or stabililty, just like Kufr (disbelief), for it does not have a basis or roots. Surely, the works of the disbelievers will never ascend nor will any of them be accepted.

Qur’an 14:27يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ وَيَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ

﴿27. Allāh will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world, and in the Hereafter. And Allāh will cause the wrongdoers to go astray, and Allāh does what He wills.﴾

Allāh keeps the Believers Firm in This Life and in the Hereafter with a Word that stands Firm

Al-Bukhāri recorded that Al-Barā bin 'Āzib, may Allāh be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

«الْمُسْلِمُ إِذَا سُئِلَ فِي الْقَبْرِ شَهِدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ، فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ:

Qur’an 14:27يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ

»

«When the Muslim is questioned in the grave, he will testify that, 'Lā ilāha illallāh', and that Muḥammad is Allāh's Messenger, hence Allāh's statement, ﴿Allāh will keep firm those who believe, with word that stands firm in this world, and in the Hereafter.﴾^{1Fatḥ Al-Bāri 8 :229.}

Muslim and the rest of the Group recorded it.^{2Muslim 4 :2201, Abu Dāwud 5 :112, Tuḥfat Al-Aḥwadhi 8 :547, An-Nasā'ī in As-Sunan Al-Kubrā 6 :372.} Imām Aḥmad recorded that Al-Barā bin 'Āzib said, "We went with the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ to attend a funeral procession of an Anṣāri man. We reached the grave site when it had not yet been completed. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ sat, and we sat all around him, as if there were birds hovering above our heads. The Prophet ﷺ was holding a piece of wood in his hand, poking the ground with it. He next raised his head and said twice or thrice,

Ḥadīthاسْتَعِيذُوا بِاللهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ

«Seek refuge with Allāh from the punishment of the grave.» He said next,

«إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي انْقِطَاعٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَإِقْبَالٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ، نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَائِكَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِيضُ الْوُجُوهِ، كَأَنَّ وُجُوهَهُمُ الشَّمْسُ، مَعَهُمْ كَفَنٌ مِنْ أَكْفَانِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَحَنُوطٌ مِنْ حَنُوطِ الْجَنَّةِ، حَتَّى يَجْلِسُوا مِنْهُ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ، ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ، فَيَقُولُ: أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الطَّيِّبَةُ اخْرُجِي إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٍ - قَالَ -: فَتَخْرُجُ تَسِيلُ، كَمَا تَسِيلُ الْقَطْرَةُ مِنْ فِي السِّقَاءِ، فَيَأْخُذُهَا، فَإِذَا أَخَذَهَا لَمْ يَدَعُوهَا فِي يَدِهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ حَتَّى يَأْخُذُوهَا فَيَجْعَلُوهَا فِي ذَلِكَ الْكَفَنِ وَفِي ذَلِكَ الْحَنُوطِ، وَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا كَأَطْيَبِ نَفْحَةِ مِسْكٍ وُجِدَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ، فَيَصْعَدُونَ بِهَا فَلَا يَمُرُّونَ بِهَا، يَعْنِي عَلَى مَلَإٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ، إِلَّا قَالُوا: مَا هَذِهِ الرُّوحُ الطَّيِّبَةُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ بِأَحْسَنِ أَسْمَائِهِ الَّتِي كَانُوا يُسَمُّونَهُ بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَنْتَهُوا بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَسْتَفْتِحُونَ لَهُ، فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُ فَيُشَيِّعُهُ مِنْ كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ مُقَرَّبُوهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا، حَتَّى يُنْتَهَى بِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ، فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ: اكْتُبُوا كِتَابَ عَبْدِي فِي عِلِّيِّينَ وَأَعِيدُوهُ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ، فَإِنِّي مِنْهَا خَلَقْتُهُمْ وَفِيهَا أُعِيدُهُمْ، وَمِنْهَا أُخْرِجُهُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَى، قَالَ: فَتُعَادُ رُوحُهُ فِي جَسَدِهِ، فَيَأْتِيهِ مَلَكَانِ فَيُجْلِسَانِهِ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ: مَنْ رَبُّكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ: رَبِّي اللهُ، فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ: مَا دِينُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ: دِينِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ، فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ: مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِيكُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُ: هُوَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ: وَمَا عِلْمُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ: قَرَأْتُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ فَآمَنْتُ بِهِ وَصَدَّقْتُ، فَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ: أَنْ صَدَقَ عَبْدِي فَأَفْرِشُوهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ، وَأَلْبِسُوهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ، وَافْتَحُوا لَهُ بَابًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ - قَالَ -: فَيَأْتِيهِ مِنْ رَوْحِهَا وَطِيبِهَا وَيُفْسَحُ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ مَدَّ بَصَرِهِ وَيَأْتِيهِ رَجُلٌ حَسَنُ الْوَجْهِ، حَسَنُ الثِّيَابِ، طَيِّبُ الرِّيحِ، فَيَقُولُ: أَبْشِرْ بِالَّذِي يَسُرُّكَ، هَذَا يَوْمُكَ الَّذِي كُنْتَ تُوعَدُ، فَيَقُولُ لَهُ: مَنْ أَنْتَ فَوَجْهُكَ الْوَجْهُ الَّذِي يَأْتِي بِالْخَيْرِ؟ فَيَقُولُ: أَنَا عَمَلُكَ الصَّالِحُ، فَيَقُولُ: رَبِّ أَقِمِ السَّاعَةَ رَبِّ أَقِمِ السَّاعَةَ، حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَمَالِي.

«When a believing slave is reaching the end of his term in the life of this world and the beginning of his term in the Hereafter, a group of angels, whose faces are white and as radiant as the sun, will descend onto him from heaven. They will carry with them white shroud from Paradise, and fragrance for enshrouding from Paradise. They will sit as far from him as the sight goes. Then, the angel of death, will come until he sits right next to his head, saying, "O, good and pure soul! Depart (your body) to Allāh's forgiveness and pleasure." So the soul flows (out of its body), just as the drop flows out from the tip of the jug, and the angel of death captures it. When he captures the soul, they (the group of angels) will not leave it with him for more than an instance, and they will seize it and wrap it in that shroud, and in that fragrance. A most pleasant musk scent ever found on the earth, will flow out of the soul, and the angels will ascend it (to heaven). They will not pass by, but they will say, "Whose is this Ṭayyib (good) soul?" They (the angels who are ascending the soul) will reply, "Such person, the son of such and such person," - calling him by the best names that he used to be called in the world. They will reach the lower heaven and will ask that its door be opened for him, and it will be opened for them. The best residents of every heaven will then see him to the next heaven, until he is brought to the seventh heaven. Allāh, the Exalted and Ever High, will say, "List my servants record in 'Illiyyīn^{3See Sūrat Al-Muṭaffifīn 83:18-21.} and send him back to earth, for I have created them from it, and into it I shall return them, and from it I shall bring them out once again." The soul will be joined with its body, and two angels will come to him, sit him up and ask him, "Who is your Lord?" He will say, "Allāh is my Lord." They will ask him, "What is your religion?" He will say, "My religion is Islām." They will say to him, "What do you say about this man (Prophet Muḥammad) who was sent to you?" He will say, "He is the Messenger of Allāh." They will ask him, "And what proof do you have about it?" He will say, "I read the Book of Allāh (the Qur'ān), and had faith and belief in him." Then, a caller (Allāh) will herald from heaven, "My servant has said the truth. Therefore, furnish him from Paradise, and let him wear from (the clothes of) Paradise, and open a door for him to Paradise." So he is given from Paradise's tranquillity and good scent, and his grave will be expanded for him as far as his sight can reach. Then, a man, with a handsome face and handsome clothes and whose scent is pleasant, will come to him, saying, "Receive the glad tidings with that which pleases you. This is the Day which you were promised." He will ask him, "Who are you; for yours is the face that carries the good news?" He will reply, "I am your good works." He will say, "O Lord! Hurry up with the commencement of the Hour, hurry up with the commencement of the Hour, so I can return to my family and my wealth."»

قَالَ: وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْكَافِرَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي انْقِطَاعٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَإِقْبَالٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ، نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَائِكَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ سُودُ الْوُجُوهِ مَعَهُمُ الْمُسُوحُ، فَجَلَسُوا مِنْهُ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ، ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ فَيَجْلِسَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ، فَيَقُولُ: أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْخَبِيثَةُ، اخْرُجِي إِلَى سَخَطٍ مِنَ اللهِ وَغَضَبٍ - قَالَ –: فَتَفَرَّقُ فِي جَسَدِهِ فَيَنْتَزِعُهَا كَمَا يُنْتَزَعُ السَّفُّودُ مِنَ الصُّوفِ الْمَبْلُولِ، فَيَأْخُذُهَا فَإِذَا أَخَذَهَا لَمْ يَدَعُوهَا فِي يَدِهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ حَتَّى يَجْعَلُوهَا فِي تِلْكَ الْمُسُوحِ، فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا كَأَنْتَنِ رِيحِ جِيفَةٍ وُجِدَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ، فَيَصْعَدُونَ بِهَا، فَلَا يَمُرُّونَ بِهَا عَلَى مَلَإٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا قَالُوا: مَا هَذِهِ الرُّوحُ الْخَبِيثَةُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ بِأَقْبَحِ أَسْمَائِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُسَمَّى بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا، حَتَّى يُنْتَهَى بِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَيَسْتَفْتِحُ لَهُ فَلَا يُفْتَحُ لَهُ - ثُمَّ قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ:

Qur’an 7:40لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَٰبُ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ ٱلْجَمَلُ فِى سَمِّ ٱلْخِيَاطِ

فَيَقُولُ اللهُ: اكْتُبُوا كِتَابَهُ فِي سِجِّينٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ السُّفْلَى، فَتُطْرَحُ رُوحُهُ طَرْحًا - ثُمَّ قَرَأَ

Qur’an 22:31وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ ٱلطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِى بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ

فَتُعَادُ رُوحُهُ فِي جَسَدِهِ، وَيَأْتِيهِ مَلَكَانِ فَيُجْلِسَانِهِ وَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ: مَنْ رَبُّكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ: هَاهْ هَاهْ لَا أَدْرِي، فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ: مَا دِينُكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ: هَاهْ هَاهْ لَا أَدْرِي، فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ: مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِيكُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُ: هَاهْ هَاهْ لَا أَدْرِي، فَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ: أَنْ كَذَبَ عَبْدِي فَأَفْرِشُوهُ مِنَ النَّارِ، وَافْتَحُوا لَهُ بَابًا إِلَى النَّارِ، فَيَأْتِيهِ مِنْ حَرِّهَا وَسَمُومِهَا، وَيَضِيقُ عَلَيْهِ قَبْرُهُ حَتَّى تَخْتَلِفَ فِيهِ أَضْلَاعُهُ، وَيَأْتِيهِ رَجُلٌ قَبِيحُ الْوَجْهِ، قَبِيحُ الثِّيَابِ، مُنْتِنُ الرِّيحِ، فَيَقُولُ: أَبْشِرْ بِالَّذِي يَسُوؤُكَ، هَذَا يَوْمُكَ الَّذِي كُنْتَ تُوعَدُ، فَيَقُولُ: وَمَنْ أَنْتَ، فَوَجْهُكَ الْوَجْهُ يَجِيءُ بِالشَّرِّ؟ فَيَقُولُ: أَنَا عَمَلُكَ الْخَبِيثُ، فَيَقُولُ: رَبِّ لَا تُقِمِ السَّاعَةَ»

«And when the disbelieving person is reaching the end of his term in the world and the beginning of his term in the Hereafter, there will descend onto him from heaven angels with dark faces. They will bring with them Musūḥ,^{4The Musūḥ: a piece of thick, hard cloth made from animal hides.} and will sit as far from him as the sight reaches. Then the angel of death will come forward and sit right next to his head, saying, "O impure, evil soul! Depart (your body) to the anger of Allāh and a wrath from Him." The soul will scatter throughout his body, and the angel of death will seize it as when the thorny branch is removed from wet wool. The angel of death will seize the soul, and when he does, they (the group of angels) will not let it stay in his hand for more than an instance, and they will wrap it in the Musūḥ. The most putrid smell a dead corpse can ever have on earth will emit from the soul, and the angels will ascend with it. Whenever they pass by a group of angels, they will ask, "Whose is this evil soul?" The angels will respond, "He is such person son of such person," - calling him by the worst names he was known by in the world. When they reach the lowest heaven, they will request that its door be opened for him, and their request will be denied. "For them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle." [7:40] Allāh will declare, "List his record in Sijjīn^{5See Sūrat Al-Muṭaffifīn 83:8.} in the lowest earth." The wicked soul will then be thrown [from heaven]. "And whoever assigns partners to Allāh, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place."[22:31] His soul will be returned to his body, and two angels will come to him, sit him up and ask him, "Who is your Lord?" He will say, "Oh, oh! I do not know." They will ask him, "What is your religion?", and he will say, "Oh, oh! I do not know." They will ask him, "What do you say about this man (Prophet Muḥammad) who was sent to you?" He will say, "Oh, oh, I do not know!" A caller (Allāh) will herald from heaven, "My servant has lied, so furnish him with the Fire and open a door for him to the Fire." He will find its heat and fierce hot wind. And his grave will be reduced in size, until his bones crush each other. Then, a man with a dreadful face, wearing dreadful clothes and with a disgusting smell emitting from him will come to him, saying, "Receive the glad tidings with that which will displease you! This is the Day that you have been promised." He will ask that man, "And who are you, for yours is the face that brings about evil?" He will say, "I am your evil work." He will therefore cry, "O, my Lord! Do not commence the Hour!"»

Abu Dāwud and Ibn Mājah collected this Ḥadīth.^{6Aḥmad 4:287, Sunan Abu Dāwud 3:546, An-Nasā'ī 4:78, Ibn Mājah 1:494} In his Musnad, Imām 'Abd bin Ḥumayd recorded that Anas bin Mālik said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا وُضِعَ فِي قَبْرِهِ، وَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُ أَصْحَابُهُ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسْمَعُ قَرْعَ نِعَالِهِمْ، فَيَأْتِيهِ مَلَكَانِ فَيُقْعِدَانِهِ فَيَقُولَانِ لَهُ: مَا كُنْتَ تَقُولُ فِي هَذَا الرَّجُلِ؟ قَالَ: فَأَمَّا الْمُؤْمِنُ فَيَقُولُ: أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ، قَالَ: فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: انْظُرْ إِلَى مَقْعَدِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ قَدْ أَبْدَلَكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مَقْعَدًا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ

«Verily, when the servant is placed in his grave and his friends (or family) depart, as he hears the sound of their shoes, two angels will come to him. They will sit him up and ask him, 'What do you say about this man (Muḥammad)?' As for the believer, he will say, 'I bear witness that He is Allāh's servant and Messenger.' He will be told, 'Look at your seat in the Fire, Allāh has replaced it for you with a seat in Paradise.'»

The Prophet ﷺ said next,

«فَيَرَاهُمَا جَمِيعًا»

«So he will see both seats.»

Qatādah added, "We were told that his grave will be enlarged up to seventy forearms length and will be filled with greenery for him until the Day of Judgement."^{7Al-Muntakhab by 'Abd bin Ḥumayd, no. 1178.} Muslim collected this Ḥadīth also from 'Abd bin Ḥumayd, while An-Nasā'ī collected it from Yunūs bin Muḥammad bin Al-Mu'addah.^{8Muslim no. 2870, An-Nasā'ī, 4:97.}

Al-Ḥāfiẓ Abu 'Īsā At-Tirmidhi, may Allāh grant him mercy, recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthإِذَا قُبِرَ الْمَيِّتُ - أَوْ قَالَ: أَحَدُكُمْ - أَتَاهُ مَلَكَانِ أَسْوَدَانِ أَزْرَقَانِ، يُقَالُ لِأَحَدِهِمَا مُنْكَرٌ وَالْآخَرِ نَكِيرٌ، فَيَقُولَانِ: مَا كُنْتَ تَقُولُ فِي هَذَا الرَّجُلِ؟ فَيَقُولُ: مَا كَانَ يَقُولُ هُوَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، فَيَقُولَانِ: قَدْ كُنَّا نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُولُ هَذَا، ثُمَّ يُفْسَحُ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعًا فِي سَبْعِينَ، وَيُنَوَّرُ لَهُ فِيهِ، ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ: نَمْ، فَيَقُولُ: أَرْجِعُ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَأُخْبِرُهُمْ، فَيَقُولَانِ: نَمْ نَوْمَةَ الْعَرُوسِ الَّذِي لَا يُوقِظُهُ إِلَّا أَحَبُّ أَهْلِهِ إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَبْعَثَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ مَضْجَعِهِ ذَلِكَ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مُنَافِقًا قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ: فَقُلْتُ مِثْلَهُمْ لَا أَدْرِي، فَيَقُولَانِ: قَدْ كُنَّا نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُولُ هَذَا، فَيُقَالُ لِلْأَرْضِ: الْتَئِمِي عَلَيْهِ فَتَلْتَئِمُ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى تَخْتَلِفَ أَضْلَاعُهُ، فَلَا يَزَالُ فِيهَا مُعَذَّبًا حَتَّى يَبْعَثَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ مَضْجَعِهِ ذَلِكَ

«When the dead - or one of you - is buried, two dark and blue angels will come to him; one is called 'Munkir' and the other is called 'Nakīr'. They will ask him, 'What did you say about this man (Muḥammad)?' He will reply, 'What he used to say, that he is Allāh's servant and Messenger. I bear witness that there is no true deity except Allāh and that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger.' They will say, 'We know that you used to say that,' and his grave will be made larger for him to seventy forearms length by seventy forearms length and will be filled with light for him. He will be told, 'Sleep,' but he will reply, 'Let me go back to my family in order that I tell them.' They will say, 'Sleep, just like the bridegroom who is awakened by the dearest of his family, until Allāh resurrects him from that sleep.' If he was a hypocrite, his answer will be, 'I do not know! I heard people say something, so I used to repeat what they were saying.' They will say, 'We know that you used to say that.' The earth will be commanded, 'Come closer all around him,' and it will come closer to him until his ribs cross each other. He will remain in this torment, until Allāh resurrects him from his sleep.»^{9At-Tirmidhi no. 1071.}

At-Tirmidhi said, "This Ḥadīth is Ḥasan, Gharīb." Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

«

Qur’an 14:27يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ

» «Allāh will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world, and in the Hereafter.»

ذَلِكَ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ فِي الْقَبْرِ مَنْ رَبُّكَ، وَمَا دِينُكَ، وَمَنْ نَبِيُّكَ؟ فَيَقُولُ: رَبِّيَ اللهُ، وَدِينِي الْإِسْلَامُ، وَنَبِيِّي مُحَمَّدٌ جَاءَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ، فَآمَنْتُ بِهِ وَصَدَّقْتُ، فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: صَدَقْتَ، عَلَى هَذَا عِشْتَ، وَعَلَيْهِ مِتَّ، وَعَلَيْهِ تُبْعَثُ»

«When he will be asked in the grave, 'Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet?' He will reply, 'Allāh is my Lord, Islām is my religion and Muḥammad is my Prophet who brought the clear proofs from Allāh. I believed in him and had faith in him.' He will be told, 'You have said the truth; you have lived on this, died on it and will be resurrected on it.'»^{10Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:596.}

Ibn Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، إِنَّ الْمَيِّتَ لَيَسْمَعُ خَفْقَ نِعَالِكُمْ حِينَ تُوَلُّونَ عَنْهُ مُدْبِرِينَ، فَإِنْ كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا كَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ وَالزَّكَاةُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَالصَّوْمُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ وَكَانَ فِعْلُ الْخَيْرَاتِ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ وَالصِّلَةِ وَالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ إِلَى النَّاسِ عِنْدَ رِجْلَيْهِ، فَيُؤْتَى مِنْ قِبَلِ رَأْسِهِ، فَتَقُولُ الصَّلَاةُ: مَا قِبَلِي مَدْخَلٌ، فَيُؤْتَى عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَتَقُولُ الزَّكَاةُ: مَا قِبَلِي مَدْخَلٌ، فَيُؤْتَى عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَيَقُولُ الصِّيَامُ: مَا قِبَلِي مَدْخَلٌ، فَيُؤْتَى عِنْدَ رِجْلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ فِعْلُ الْخَيْرَاتِ: مَا قِبَلِي مَدْخَلٌ، فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: اجْلِسْ، فَيَجْلِسُ قَدْ مُثِّلَتْ لَهُ الشَّمْسُ قَدْ دَنَتْ لِلْغُرُوبِ، فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: أَخْبِرْنَا عَمَّا نَسْأَلُكَ، فَيَقُولُ: دَعْنِي حَتَّى أُصَلِّيَ، فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: إِنَّكَ سَتَفْعَلُ، فَأَخْبِرْنَا عَمَّا نَسْأَلُكَ، فَيَقُولُ: وَعَمَّ تَسْأَلُونِي؟ فَيُقَالُ: أَرَأَيْتَ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي كَانَ فِيكُمْ مَاذَا تَقُولُ بِهِ، وَمَاذَا تَشْهَدُ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ؟ فَيَقُولُ: أَمُحَمَّدٌ؟ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: نَعَمْ، فَيَقُولُ: أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ، وَأَنَّهُ جَاءَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ فَصَدَّقْنَاهُ، فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: عَلَى ذَلِكَ حَيِيتَ وَعَلَى ذَلِكَ مِتَّ، وَعَلَيْهِ تُبْعَثُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ، ثُمَّ يُفْسَحُ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعًا وَيُنَوَّرُ لَهُ فِيهِ، وَيُفْتَحُ لَهُ بَابٌ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ: انْظُرْ إِلَى مَا أَعَدَّ اللهُ لَكَ فِيهَا، فَيَزْدَادُ غِبْطَةً وَسُرُورًا، ثُمَّ تُجْعَلُ نَسَمَتُهُ فِي النَّسْمِ الطَّيِّبِ، وَهِيَ طَيْرٌ خُضْرٌ تَعْلُقُ بِشَجَرِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَيُعَادُ الْجَسَدُ إِلَى مَا بُدِئَ مِنَ التُّرَابِ

«By He Who owns my life! The dead person hears the sound of your slippers (or shoes) when you depart and leave him. If he is a believer, the prayer will stand by his head, Zakāh to his right and the fast by his left; the righteous deeds, such as charity, keeping relations with kith and kin and acts of kindness to people will stand by his feet. He will be approached from his head, and the prayer will declare, 'No entrance from my side.' He will be approached from his right, and Zakāh will declare, 'There is no entrance from my side.' He will be approached from his left, and the fast will declare, 'There is no entrance from my side.' He will be approached from his feet, and the acts of righteousness will declare, 'There is no entrance from our side.' He will be commanded to sit up, and he will sit up while the sun appears to him just like when it is about to set. He will be told, 'Tell us about what we are going to ask you.' He will say, 'Leave me until I pray.' He will be told, 'You will pray, but first tell us what we want to know.' He will ask, 'What are your questions?' He will be told, 'This man who was sent among you, what do you say about him and what is your testimony about him?' He will ask, 'Muḥammad?' He will be answered in the positive and he will reply, 'I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allāh and that he has brought us the proofs from our Lord. We believed in him.' He will be told, 'This is the way you lived and died and Allāh willing, you will be resurrected on it.' His grave will be made wider for him seventy forearms length, and it will be filled with light. A door will also be opened for him to Paradise. He will be told, 'Look at what Allāh has prepared for you in it.' He will increase in joy and delight and then his soul will be placed with the pure souls, inside green birds eating from the trees of Paradise. The body will be returned to its origin, dust. So Allāh said, ﴿

Qur’an 14:27يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ

﴾

«Allāh will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world, and in the Hereafter.»»^{11Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:596.}

Ibn Ḥibbān collected this Ḥadīth, and his narration added the

Qur’an 14:25–33تُؤْتِىٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍۭ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجْتُثَّتْ مِن فَوْقِ ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ وَيَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ كُفْرًا وَأَحَلُّوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ ٱلْبَوَارِ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا وَبِئْسَ ٱلْقَرَارُ وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا لِّيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ قُل لِّعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَٰلٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِىَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْهَٰرَ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَيْنِ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ

disbeliever's answer and his torment.^{12Ibn Ḥibbān 5:45.} 'Abdur-Razzāq recorded that Ṭāwūs said,

Qur’an 14:27يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا

«Allāh will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world,» is in reference to Lā ilāha ilallāh, while,

Qur’an 14:27وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ

«and in the Hereafter» is in reference to the questioning in the grave.^{13'Abdur-Razzāq 2:342.} Qatādah commented, "As for this life, Allāh will make them firm on the way of righteousness and good deeds,

Qur’an 14:27وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ

«and in the Hereafter.» in the grave."^{14Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:602.} Several others among the Salaf said the same.^{15Aṭ-Ṭabari 16:602.}

Qur’an 14:28–30أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ كُفْرًا وَأَحَلُّوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ ٱلْبَوَارِ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا وَبِئْسَ ٱلْقَرَارُ وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا لِّيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ

«28. Have you not seen those who have changed the blessings of Allāh into disbelief (by denying Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ and his Message of Islām), and caused their people to dwell in the house of destruction?»

«29. Hell, in which they will burn, - and what an evil place to settle in!»

«30. And they set up rivals to Allāh, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: "Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!"»

The Recompense of Those Who have changed the Blessings of Allāh into Disbelief

Al-Bukhāri said, "Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:28أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ كُفْرًا

«Have you not seen those who have changed the blessings of Allāh into disbelief...», means, do you have knowledge in. Allāh said in other Ayāt,

Qur’an 14:24أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ

«Saw you not how.» and,

Qur’an 2:243أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا۟

«Did you not think of those who went forth.»

Qur’anقَوْمًۢا بُورًا

«A lost people» [25:18]

Ali bin 'Abdullāh narrated that Sufyān said that 'Amr said that 'Aṭā said that he heard Ibn 'Abbās saying that,

Qur’an 14:28أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ كُفْرًا

"«Have you not seen those who have changed the blessings of Allāh into disbelief», is in reference to the people of Makkah."^{1Fatḥ Al-Bāri 8:229.}

Ibn Abi Ḥātim recorded that Abu Aṭ-Ṭufayl said that Ibn Al-Kawwā' asked 'Ali about Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:28ٱلَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ كُفْرًا وَأَحَلُّوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ ٱلْبَوَارِ

«those who have changed the blessings of Allāh into disbelief, and caused their people to dwell in the house of destruction» and 'Ali said that it refers to the disbelievers of Quraysh on the day of Badr.^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:6.}

He also said that the blessing of Allāh was faith that came to the polytheists of Quraysh, and they changed this blessing into disbelief and led their people to utter destruction.^{3Ibn Abi Ḥātim 12273.} This includes all disbelievers, for Allāh sent Muḥammad ﷺ as a mercy and a blessing to all mankind. Those who accepted this blessing and were thankful for it, will enter Paradise, while those who denied it and disbelieved in it, will enter the Fire.

Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:30وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا لِّيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ

«And they set up rivals to Allāh, to mislead from His path!» meaning, they set up partners to Allāh whom they worship besides Him and called the people to worship them. Allāh threatened them and warned them by the words of His Prophet ﷺ,

Qur’an 14:30قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ

«Say: "Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!"»

'Whatever you are able to do in this life, then do it, for no matter what will happen,

Qur’an 14:30فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ

«But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!» for to Us will be your destination and end.' Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 31:24نُمَتِّعُهُمْ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ نَضْطَرُّهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ

«We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall force them to (enter) a great torment.»[31:24] and,

Qur’an 10:70مَتَٰعٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ ثُمَّ نُذِيقُهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلشَّدِيدَ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ

«(A brief) enjoyment in this world! And then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve.»[10:70]

Qur’an 14:31قُل لِّعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَٰلٌ

«31. Say to My servants who have believed, that they should perform the Ṣalāh, and spend (in charity) out of the sustenance We have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a Day on which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.»

The Command for Prayer and Charity

Allāh orders His servants to obey Him, fulfill His rights and be kind to His creatures. He ordained the prayer, which affirms the worship of Allāh alone, without partners, and to spend from the provisions that He has granted them, by paying the due Zakāh, spending on relatives and being kind to all others. Establishing the prayer requires performing it on time, perfectly, preserving its act of bowing having humility during it, and preserving its prostrations. Allāh has ordained spending from what He granted, in secret and public, so that the people save themselves,

Qur’an 14:31مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ

«before the coming of a Day», the Day of Resurrection,

Qur’an 14:31لَّا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَٰلٌ

«on which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.»

on which no ransom will be accepted from anyone, if he seeks to buy himself. Allāh said in another Āyah,

Qur’an 57:15فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟

«So this Day no ransom shall be taken from you, nor of those who disbelieved.» [57:15] Allāh said here,

Qur’an 14:31وَلَا خِلَٰلٌ

«nor befriending.» Ibn Jarīr commented, "Allāh says that on that Day, there will be no friendship between friends that might save those deserving punishment from it. Rather, on that Day, there will be fairness and justice."^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:12.}

Qatādah said, "Allāh knows that in this life, there is mutual bargaining and there are friendships which people benefit from. A man chooses his friends and the reasons behind befriending them; if it was for Allāh's sake, their friendship should be maintained, but if it was for other than Allāh, their friendship is bound to be cutoff."^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:12.} I say that the meaning of this, is that Allāh the Exalted is declaring that on that Day, no mutual bargaining or ransom will avail anyone, even if he ransoms himself with the earth's fill of gold if he could find that amount! No friendship or intercession shall avail one if he meets Allāh while a disbeliever. Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 2:123وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِى نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَٰعَةٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ

«And fear the Day when no person shall avail another, nor shall compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him, nor shall they be helped.»[2:123] and,

Qur’an 2:254يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌ وَلَا شَفَٰعَةٌ وَٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

«O you believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the wrongdoers.»[2:254]

Qur’an 14:32–34ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِىَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْهَٰرَ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَيْنِ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ

«32. Allāh is He Who has created the heavens and the earth and sends down water (rain) from the sky, and thereby brought forth fruits as provision for you; and He has made the ships to be of service to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command; and He has made rivers (also) to be of service to you.»

«33. And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you; and He has made the night and the day to be of service to you.»

«34. And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you [try to] count the blessings of Allāh, never will you be able to count them. Verily, man is indeed an extreme wrongdoer, ungrateful.»

Describing Some of Allāh's Tremendous Favors

Allāh mentions some of the favors He has done for His creatures, such as creating the heavens as a protective ceiling and the earth as a bed. He also sends down rain from the sky and, in its aftermath brings forth a variety of vegetation, fruits and plants of different colors, shapes, tastes, scents and uses. Allāh also made the ships sail on the surface of the water by His command and He made the sea able to carry these ships in order that travelers can transfer from one area to another to transport goods. Allāh also created the rivers that flow through the earth from one area to another as provision for the servants which they use to drink and irrigate, and for other benefits,

Qur’an 14:33وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَيْنِ

«And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses», rotating by night and by day,

Qur’an 36:40لَا ٱلشَّمْسُ يَنۢبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تُدْرِكَ ٱلْقَمَرَ وَلَا ٱلَّيْلُ سَابِقُ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ

«It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit.»[36:40] and,

Qur’an 7:54يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتٍۭ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْخَلْقُ وَٱلْأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

«He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His command. His is the creation and commandment. Blessed is Allāh, the Lord of all that exists!» [7:54] The sun and the moon rotate in succession, and the night and the day are opposites, each taking from the length of the other or giving up some of its length,

Qur’anيُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ

«(Allāh ) merges the night into day, and merges the day into night.» [35:13] and,

Qur’an 39:5وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى أَلَا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفَّٰرُ

«And He has subjected the sun and the moon. Each running (on a fixed course) for an appointed term. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.» [39:5]

Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:34وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ

«And He gave you of all that you asked for», He has prepared for you all that you need in all conditions, and what you ask Him to provide for you,

Qur’an 14:34وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ

«and if you [try to] count the blessings of Allāh, never will you be able to count them.»

Allāh states that the servants are never able to count His blessings, let alone thank Him duly for them. In Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhāri it is recorded that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ used to supplicate;

Ḥadīthاللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا

«O Allāh ! All praise is due to You, without being able to sufficiently thank You, nor ever wish to be cutoff from You, nor ever feeling rich from relying on You; our Lord!»^{1Fatḥ Al-Bāri 9:493.}

It was reported that Prophet Dāwud, peace be upon him, used to say in his supplication, "O Lord! How can I ever duly thank You, when my thanking You is also a favor from You to me?" Allāh the Exalted answered him, "Now, you have thanked Me sufficiently, O Dāwud," meaning, 'when you

Qur’an 14:34–42وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًا وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّى وَمَنْ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِى زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةً مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِى وَمَا نُعْلِنُ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلْكِبَرِ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ

admitted that you will never be able to duly thank Me.'

Qur’an 14:35–36وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًا وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّى وَمَنْ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

«35. And (remember) when Ibrāhīm said: "O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.»

«36. "O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he verily, is of me. And whoso disobeys me, still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.»

Ibrāhīm's Supplication to Allāh when He brought Ismā'īl to Makkah

Allāh mentions here, while bringing forth more evidences against Arab polytheists, that the Sacred House in Makkah was established on the worship of Allāh alone, without partners. He also states that Ibrāhīm, who establsihed the city, has disowned those who worship others besides Allāh, and that he begged Allāh to make Makkah peaceful and secure,

Qur’an 14:35رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًا

«O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) of peace and security,» and Allāh accepted his supplication. Allāh said in other Ayāt,

Qur’an 29:67أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمًا ءَامِنًا

«Have they not seen that We have made (Makkah) a secure sanctuary.» [29:67] and,

Qur’an 3:96–97إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ فِيهِ ءَايَٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَٰتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًا

«Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-'Ālamīn. In it are manifest signs, the Maqām of Ibrāhīm; whosoever enters it, he attains security.»[3:96]

Allāh said here that Ibrāhīm supplicated,

Qur’an 14:35رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًا

«O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) a of peace and security,»

saying, "this city", after he established it, and this is why he said afterwards,

Qur’an 14:39ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلْكِبَرِ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ

«All praise is due to Allāh, Who has given me in old age Ismā'īl and Isḥāq.» [14:39]

It is well-known that Ismā'īl was thirteen years older than Isḥāq. When Ibrāhīm took Ismā'īl and his mother to Makkah, while Ismā'īl was still young enough to nurse, he supplicated to Allāh,

Qur’an 2:126رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا ءَامِنًا

«O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) a place of peace and security.» [2:126] as we in explained in Sūrat Al-Baqarah.

Ibrāhīm then said,

Qur’an 14:35وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ

«and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.»

It is proper for whoever supplicates to Allāh to also ask for the benefit of his parents and offspring, as well as himself. Ibrāhīm next mentioned that many among mankind were led astray because of idols, and he disowned those who worship them and referred their matter to Allāh; if Allāh wills, He will punish them, and if He wills, He will forgive them. 'Īsā, peace be upon him, said similar words,

Qur’an 5:118إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

«If You punish them, they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, verily, You, only You are the Almighty, the All-Wise.»[5:118]

This supplication refers this and all matters to Allāh, not that it is actually going to happen. 'Abdullāh bin 'Amr narrated that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ recited Ibrāhīm's supplication,

Qur’an 14:36رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ

«O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind.», and the supplication of 'Īsā,

Qur’an 5:118إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ

«If You punish them, they are Your servants.» [5:118]

then raised his hands and said,

Ḥadīthاللَّهُمَّ أُمَّتِي، اللَّهُمَّ أُمَّتِي، اللَّهُمَّ أُمَّتِي

«O Allāh, Save my Ummah! O, Allāh, Save my Ummah! O, Allāh, Save my Ummah!»

and cried. Allāh said to the angel Jibrīl, "O Jibrīl, go to Muḥammad, and Your Lord has more knowledge, and ask him what makes him cry." Jibrīl came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked him, and he repeated to him what he said (in his supplication). Allāh said, "Go to Muḥammad and tell him this; 'We will make you pleased with your Ummah, O Muḥammad, and will not treat them in a way you dislike.'"^{1Muslim 1:191.}

Qur’an 14:37رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِى زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةً مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

«37. "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House in order, O our Lord, that they may perform Ṣalāh. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allāh) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.»

This Āyah indicates that this was different supplication than the first one that Ibrāhīm said when he left Hajar and her son Ismā'īl in Makkah, before the Sacred House was built.^{1See Al-Bukhāri no. 3364, where it is clear that Ibrāhīm said this supplication when he first arrived in Makkah leaving his wife and Ismā'īl.} This prayer, it appears, was said after the House was built, begging Allāh and seeking His favor, and He is the Exalted and Most Honored. Ibrāhīm said here,

Qur’an 14:37عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ

«by Your Sacred House...» then he,

Qur’an 14:37رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ

«O our Lord, that they may perform Ṣalāh.»

Ibn Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabari commented that this, "Refers to his earlier statement,

Qur’an 14:37ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ

«the Sacred...»," meaning, 'You have made this House Sacred so that people establish the prayer next to it,'

Qur’an 14:37فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةً مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ

«So fill some hearts among men with love towards them,»

Ibn 'Abbās, Mujāhid and Sa'īd bin Jubayr said, "Had Ibrāhīm said, 'The hearts of mankind', Persians, Romans, the Jews, the Christians and all other people would have gathered around it."^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:25-26.} However, Ibrāhīm said,

Qur’anمِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ

«among men», thus making it exclusive to Muslims only. He said next,

Qur’an 14:37وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ

«and (O Allāh) provide them with fruits» in order that they may be helped in obeying You, and because this is a barren valley; bring to them fruits that they might eat. Allāh accepted Ibrāhīm's supplication,

Qur’an 28:57أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا ءَامِنًا يُجْبَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَٰتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رِّزْقًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا

«Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves.» [28:57]

This only indicates Allāh's compassion, kindness, mercy and blessing, in that there are no fruit producing trees in the Sacred City, Makkah, yet all kinds of fruits are being brought to it from all around; this is how Allāh accepted the supplication of the Khalīl - Allāh's intimate friend, Prophet Ibrāhīm, peace be upon him.

Qur’an 14:38–41رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِى وَمَا نُعْلِنُ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلْكِبَرِ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ

«38. "O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allāh."»

«39. "All praise is due to Allāh, Who has given me in old age Ismā'īl and Isḥāq. Verily, my Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations."»

«40. "O my Lord! Make me one who performs Ṣalāh, and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation."»

«41. "Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established."»

Ibn Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabari said, "Allāh said that Ibrāhīm, His Khalīl, said,

Qur’an 14:38رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِى وَمَا نُعْلِنُ

«O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal.»

meaning, 'You know the intention behind my supplication for the people of this town, seeking Your pleasure in sincerity to You. You know all things, apparent and hidden, and nothing escapes Your knowledge on the earth or in heaven.'" He next praised and thanked his Lord the Exalted and Most Honored for granting him offspring after he became old,

Qur’an 14:39ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلْكِبَرِ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ

«All praise is due to Allāh, Who has given me in old age Ismā'īl (Ishmael) and Isḥāq (Isaac). Verily, my Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.»

'He accepts the supplication of those who invoke Him, and has accepted my invocation when I asked Him to grant me offspring.' Ibrāhīm said next,

Qur’an 14:40رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ

«O my Lord! Make me one who performs Ṣalāh,», preserving its obligations and limits,

Qur’an 14:40وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى

«and (also) from my offspring,», make them among those who establish the prayer, as well,

Qur’an 14:40رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ

«our Lord! And accept my invocation.», all of my invocation which I invoked You with herein,

Qur’an 14:41رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ

«Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents,»

Ibrāhīm said this before he declared himself innocent from his father, after he became sure that he was an enemy of Allāh,

Qur’an 14:41وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

«and the believers», all of them,

Qur’an 14:41يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ

«on the Day when the reckoning will be established.»

on the Day when You will reckon Your servants and recompense or reward them for their deeds - good for good and evil for evil.

Qur’an 14:42–43وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌ

«42. Consider not that Allāh is unaware of that which the wrongdoers do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.»

«43. (They will be) hastening forward with necks outstretched, their heads raised up (towards the sky), their gaze returning not towards them and their hearts empty.»

Allāh gives Respite to the Disbelievers and is never unaware of what They do

Allāh says, 'O Muḥammad, do not think that Allāh is unaware of what the unjust disbelievers do. Do not think because Allāh gave them respite and delayed their punishment that He is unaware or ignoring punishing them for what they do. Rather, Allāh keeps full account of this for them and keeps it on record against them,

Qur’an 14:42إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ

«but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.»

from the horror of the Day of Resurrection.' Allāh next mentions how they will all be raised up from their graves and hurriedly gathered for the Day of Gathering,

Qur’an 14:43مُهْطِعِينَ

«hastening forward», in a hurry. Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 54:8مُّهْطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِ

«Hastening towards the caller.» [54:8]

Qur’an 20:108يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلدَّاعِىَ لَا عِوَجَ لَهُۥ

«On that Day mankind will follow strictly Allāh's caller, no crookedness will they show him.» [20:108] until,

Qur’an 20:111وَعَنَتِ ٱلْوُجُوهُ لِلْحَىِّ ٱلْقَيُّومِ

«And (all) faces shall be humbled before the Ever Living, the Sustainer.» [20:111]

Allāh said: another Āyah,

Qur’an 70:43يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا

«The Day when they will come out of the graves quickly.» [70:43]

Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:43مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ

«with necks outstretched» meaning, raising their heads up, according to Ibn 'Abbās, Mujāhid and several others.^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:31-32.} Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:43لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ

«their gaze returning not towards them»

meaning, their eyes are staring in confusion, trying not to blink because of the horror and tremendous insights they are experiencing, and fear of what is going to strike them, we seek refuge with Allāh from this end. This is why Allāh said,

Qur’an 14:43وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌ

«and their hearts empty.» meaning, their hearts are empty due to extreme fear and fright. Qatādah and several others said that the places of their hearts are empty then, because the hearts will ascend to the throats due to extreme fear.^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:34.} Allāh said next to His Messenger ﷺ,

Qur’an 14:44–46وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ وَسَكَنتُمْ فِى مَسَٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ كَيْفَ فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ وَضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ

«44. And warn mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them; then the wrongdoers will say: "Our Lord! Respite us for a little while, we will answer Your call and follow the Messengers!" (It will be said:) "Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave (the world for the Hereafter)."»

«45. "And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves, and it was clear to you how We dealt with them. And We put forth (many) parables for you."»

«46. Indeed, they planned their plot, and their plot was with Allāh, though their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places.»

There will be no Respite after the Coming of the Torment

Allāh mentions what those who committed injustice against themselves will say when they witness the torment,

Qur’an 14:44رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ

«Our Lord! Respite us for a little while, we will answer Your call and follow the Messengers!»

Allāh said in other Āyāt,

Qur’an 23:99حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرْجِعُونِ

«Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: "My Lord! Send me back."»[23:99] and,

Qur’an 63:9يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ

«O you who believe! Let not your properties divert you.» [63:9-10]

Allāh described the condition of the wrongdoers on the Day of Gathering, when He said,

Qur’an 32:12وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُوا۟ رُءُوسِهِمْ

«And if you only could see when the criminals shall hang their heads.» [32:12],

Qur’an 6:27وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَقَالُوا۟ يَٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلَا نُكَذِّبَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّنَا

«If you could but see when they will be held over the Fire! They will say: "Would that we were but sent back (to the world)! Then we would not deny the Āyāt of Our Lord..."!» [6:27] and,

Qur’an 35:37وَهُمْ يَصْطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا

«Therein they will cry.» [35:27] Allāh refuted their statement here,

Qur’an 14:44أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ

«Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave.» Allāh says, 'Had you not vowed before, that your previous state will not change, that there will be no Resurrection or Reckoning? Therefore, taste this torment because of what you vowed before.' Mujāhid commented that,

Qur’an 14:44مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ

«that you would not leave.» refers to leaving this worldly life to the Hereafter.^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:36.} Allāh also said,

Qur’an 16:38وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَٰنِهِمْ لَا يَبْعَثُ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ

«And they swear by Allāh with their strongest oaths, that Allāh will not raise up him who dies.» [16:38]

Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:45وَسَكَنتُمْ فِى مَسَٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ كَيْفَ فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ وَضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ

«And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves, and it was clear to you how We had dealt with them. And We put forth (many) parables for you.»

Allāh says, 'you have witnessed or heard of the news of what happened to the earlier disbelieving nations, but you did not draw a lesson from their end, nor did what We punished them with provide an example for you,'

Qur’an 54:5حِكْمَةٌۢ بَٰلِغَةٌ فَمَا تُغْنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ

«Perfect wisdom but the warners benefit then not.»[54:5] Shu‘bah narrated that Abu Isḥāq said that 'Abdur-Raḥmān bin Dābīl said that 'Ali bin Abi Ṭālib commented on Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 14:46وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ

«though their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places.» "He who disputed with Ibrāhīm about his Lord, took two eaglets and raised them until they became adult eagels. Then he tied each eagel's leg to a wooden box with ropes and left them go hungry. He and another man sat inside the wooden box and raised a staff with a piece of meat on its tip. So, the two eagles started flying. The king asked his companion to tell him what he was seeing, and he described the scenes to him, until he said that he saw the earth as a fly. So, the king brought the staff closer to the eagels and they started landing slowly. This is why Allāh said,

(وَإِنْ كَادَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ)

'though their plot was hardly one to remove the mountains from their places."'^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:39.} Mujāhid also mentioned that this story was about Nebuchadnezzar, and that when the king's sight was far away from earth and its people, he was called, 'O tyrant one! Where are you headed to?' He became afraid and brought the staff closer to the eagels, which flew faster with such haste that the mountains almost shook from the noise they made. The mountains were almost moved from their places, so Allāh said,

Qur’an 14:46وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ

«though their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places.»"^{3Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:39.} Ibn Jurayj narrated that Mujāhid recited this Āyah in a way that means, "though their plot was such as to remove the mountains from their places." However, Al-'Awfi reported that Ibn 'Abbās said that,

Qur’an 14:46وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ

«though their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places.» indicates that their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places. Similar was said by Al-Ḥasan Al- Baṣri. Ibn Jarīr reasoned that, "Associating others with Allāh and disbelieving in Him, which they brought upon themselves, did not bother the mountains nor other creatures. Rather, the harm of their actions came to haunt them." I (Ibn Kathīr) said, this meaning is similar to Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 17:37وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ ٱلْجِبَالَ طُولًا

«And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height.»[17:37] There is another way of explaining this Āyah; 'Ali bin Abi Ṭalḥah reported that Ibn 'Abbās said that,

Qur’an 14:46وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ

«though their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places.» refers to their Shirk, for Allāh said in another Āyah,

Qur’an 19:90تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ

«Whereby the heavens are almost torn.»^{4Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:41.} [19:90] Aḍ-Ḍaḥḥāk and Qatādah said similarly.^{5Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:41.}

Qur’an 14:47–48فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِۦ رُسُلَهُۥٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍ يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ ٱلْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ

«47. So think not that Allāh will fail to keep His promise to His Messengers. Certainly, Allāh is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution.» «48. On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens, and they (all creatures) will appear before Allāh, the One, the Irresistible.»

Allāh never breaks a Promise Allāh affirms His promise,

Qur’an 14:47فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِۦ رُسُلَهُۥٓ

«So think not that Allāh will fail to keep His promise to His Messengers.»

His promise to grant them victory in this life and on the Day when the Witnesses shall come forth. Allāh affirms that He is All-Able and that nothing He wills escapes His power and none can resist Him. Allāh affirms that He is Able to exact retribution from those who disbelieve in Him and deny Him,

Qur’anوَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

«Woe that Day to the deniers!»[77:15] Allāh said here,

Qur’an 14:48يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ ٱلْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ

«On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens,»

meaning, His promise shall come to pass on the Day when the earth will be changed to an earth other than this earth that we know and recognize. It is recorded in the Two Ṣaḥīḥs that Sahl bin Sa'd said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthيُحْشَرُ النَّاسُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى أَرْضٍ بَيْضَاءَ عَفْرَاءَ كَقُرْصَةِ النَّقِيِّ لَيْسَ فِيهَا مَعْلَمٌ لِأَحَدٍ

«On the Day of Resurrection, the people will be gathered on a white (barren), flat earth just like the wheat bread, it has no recognizable features for anyone.»^{1Fatḥ al-Bāri 11:379, Muslim 4:2150.}

Imām Aḥmad recorded that 'Ā'ishah said, "I was the first among all people who asked the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ about this Āyah,

Qur’an 14:48يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ ٱلْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ

«On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens,»

saying, 'O Allāh's Messenger! Where will the people be then?' He said,

«عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ» «On the Ṣirat.»"^{2Aḥmad 6:35. Ṣirāṭ originally means ' a road'; it also means the bridge that will be laid across Hellfire for the people to pass over on the Day of Judgement. It is described as sharper than a sword and thinner than a hair. It will have hooks over it to snatch the people.} Muslim, but not Al-Bukhāri, collected this Ḥadīth. At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Mājah also recorded it, and At-Tirmidhi said "Ḥasan Ṣaḥīḥ".^{3Muslim 4:2150, Tuḥfat Al-Aḥwadhi 8:548, Ibn Mājah 2:1430.}

Imām Muslim bin Al-Ḥajjāj recorded in his Ṣaḥīḥ that Thawbān the servant of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said, "I was standing next to the Messenger of Allāh when a Jewish rabbi came to him and said, 'Peace be to you, O Muḥammad.' I pushed him with such a force that almost caused him to fall down and he asked me why I did that. I said, 'Why did you not say, 'O Messenger of Allāh?' The Jew said, 'We call him by the name which his family gave him.' The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthإِنَّ اسْمِي مُحَمَّدٌ الَّذِي سَمَّانِي بِهِ أَهْلِي

«Muḥammad is indeed the name which my family gave me.»

The Jew said, 'I came to ask you about something.' The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ replied,

Ḥadīthأَيَنْفَعُكَ شَيْئًا إِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ؟

«Would it benefit you if I replied to your question?»

He said, 'I will hear it with my ear.' The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ poked the ground with a staff he had and said,

«سَلْ»

«Ask.» The Jew said, 'Where will the people be when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will the heavens?' The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthهُمْ فِي الظُّلْمَةِ دُونَ الْجِسْرِ

قال: فمن أول الناس إجازة؟ فقال: «فُقَرَاءُ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ»، فقال اليهودي: فما تحفتهم حين يدخلون الجنة؟ قال:

Ḥadīthزِيَادَةُ كَبِدِ النُّونِ

قال: فما غذاؤهم في إثرها؟ قال:

Ḥadīthيُنْحَرُ لَهُمْ ثَوْرُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا

قال: فما شرابهم عليه؟ قال:

Ḥadīthمِنْ عَيْنٍ فِيهَا تُسَمَّى سَلْسَبِيلًا

. قال: صدقت، قال: وجئت أسألك عن شيء لا يعلمه أحد من أهل الأرض إلا نبي أو رجل أو رجلان. قال:

Ḥadīthأَيَنْفَعُكَ إِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ؟

قال: أسمع بأذني. قال: جئت أسألك عن الولد، قال:

Ḥadīthمَاءُ الرَّجُلِ أَبْيَضُ، وَمَاءُ الْمَرْأَةِ أَصْفَرُ، فَإِذَا اجْتَمَعَا فَعَلَا مَنِيُّ الرَّجُلِ مَنِيَّ الْمَرْأَةِ، أَذْكَرَا بِإِذْنِ اللهِ تَعَالَى، وَإِذَا عَلَا مَنِيُّ الْمَرْأَةِ مَنِيَّ الرَّجُلِ، أَنَّثَا بِإِذْنِ اللهِ

قال اليهودي: لقد صدقت وإنك لنبي ثم انصرف، فقال رسول الله ﷺ:

Ḥadīthلَقَدْ سَأَلَنِي هَذَا عَنِ الَّذِي سَأَلَنِي عَنْهُ، وَمَا لِي عِلْمٌ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْهُ حَتَّى أَتَانِي اللهُ بِهِ

«In the darkness before the Bridge (Jasr).» He asked, 'Who will be the first to pass it?' He said, «The poor emigrants (Muhājirīn).» He asked, 'What will their (refreshment) be when they enter Paradise?' He said, «The caul of fish liver.» He asked, 'What will they have after that?' He said, «A bull of Paradise which grazed through its pathways will be slaughtered for them.» He asked, 'From what will they drink?' He said, «From a fountain whose name is Salsabīl.» He said, 'You have said the truth. I have come to ask you something about which none of the inhabitants of the earth knows, with the exception of a Prophet or one or two other men.' He said, «Would you benefit by me informing you about it?» He replied, 'I would listen. I have come to ask you about the child.' He ﷺ said, «The fluid of the man is white, and the woman's is yellow. When they meet, if the discharge of the man is greater than that of the woman, then it becomes a male, by Allāh's permission. When the womans discharge is greater than the man's, it becomes a female by Allāh's permission.» The Jew said, 'You have told the truth and are indeed a Prophet.' Then he left. So Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said; «He asked me such things that I had no knowledge of it until Allāh gave it to me.»^{4Muslim no. 315.} Allāh said next,

Qur’anوَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ

«and they will appear before Allāh», describing when the creatures will be resurrected before Allāh from their graves,

Qur’an 14:48ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ

Qur’an 14:43–52مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌ وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ وَسَكَنتُمْ فِى مَسَٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ كَيْفَ فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ وَضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِۦ رُسُلَهُۥٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍ يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ ٱلْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ وَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُّقَرَّنِينَ فِى ٱلْأَصْفَادِ سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ هَٰذَا بَلَٰغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَلِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

«the One, the Irresistible.» Who has full power and control over all things and to Whom the necks and minds are subservient.

Qur’an 14:49–51وَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُّقَرَّنِينَ فِى ٱلْأَصْفَادِ سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

«49. And you will see the criminals that Day, Muqarranūn (bound together) in fetters.» «50. Their garments will be of Qaṭirān (tar), and fire will cover their faces.» «51. That Allāh may requite each person according to what he has earned. Truly, Allāh is swift at reckoning.»

The Condition of the criminals on the Day of Resurrection

Allāh said,

Qur’an 14:48يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ ٱلْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ

«On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens»

'and the creations will be brought before their Lord, and you, O Muḥammad, will witness the criminals who committed the crimes of Kufr and mischief,'

Qur’an 14:49مُّقَرَّنِينَ

«Muqarranīn» bound together, each with his or her like, just as Allāh said,

Qur’an 37:22ٱحْشُرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ وَأَزْوَٰجَهُمْ

«Assemble those who did wrong, together with their companions.» [37:22]

Qur’an 81:7وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ

«And when the souls are joined with their bodies.﴾ [81:7],

Qur’an 25:13وَإِذَآ أُلْقُوا۟ مِنْهَا مَكَانًا ضَيِّقًا مُّقَرَّنِينَ دَعَوْا۟ هُنَالِكَ ثُبُورًا

«And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together, they will exclaim therein for destruction.» [25:13] and,

Qur’an 38:37–38وَٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّآءٍ وَغَوَّاصٍ وَءَاخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِى ٱلْأَصْفَادِ

«And also the Shayāṭīn from the Jinn (including) every kind of builder and diver, and also others bound in fetters.﴾ [38:37-38] Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:50سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ

«Their garments will be of Qaṭirān (pitch),» that is used to coat camels. Qatādah commented that Qaṭirān (tar) is one of the fastest objects to catch fire. Ibn 'Abbās used to say that the Qaṭirān, mentioned in the Āyah, is dissolved lead.^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:56.} It is possible that this Āyah reads as:

سَرَابِيلُهُمْ مِنْ قَطِرٍ آنٍ

refering to heated lead that has reached tremendous heat, according to Mujāhid, Ikrimah, Sa'īd bin Jubayr Al-Ḥasan and Qatādah.^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 17:55-56.} Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:50وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ

«and fire will cover their faces», which is similar to His other statement,

Qur’an 23:104تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَٰلِحُونَ

«The Fire will burn their faces, and therein they will grin, with displaced lips.»[23:104]

Imām Aḥmad recorded that Yaḥyā bin Abi Isḥāq said that Abān bin Yazīd said that Yaḥyā bin Abi Kathīr said that Zayd bin Abi Salām said that Abu Mālik Al-Ash‘ari said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthأَرْبَعٌ فِي أُمَّتِي مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ لَا يَتْرُكُونَهُنَّ: الْفَخْرُ بِالْأَحْسَابِ، وَالطَّعْنُ فِي الْأَنْسَابِ، وَالْاسْتِسْقَاءُ بِالنُّجُومِ، وَالنِّيَاحَةُ عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ، وَالنَّائِحَةُ إِذَا لَمْ تَتُبْ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهَا، تُقَامُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَعَلَيْهَا سِرْبَالٌ مِنْ قَطِرَانٍ وَدِرْعٌ مِنْ جَرَبٍ

«Four characteristics from the time of Jāhiliyyah will remain in my Ummah, since they will not abandon them: boasting about their family lineage, discrediting family ties, seeking rain through the stars, and wailing for their dead. Verily, if she who wails, dies before she repents from her behavior, she will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection while wearing a dress of Qaṭirān and a cloak of mange.»^{3Aḥmad 5:342.}

Muslim collected this Ḥadīth.^{4Muslim 2:644.}

Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:51لِيَجْزِىَ ٱللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ

«That Allāh may requite each person according to what he has earned.»

meaning, on the Day of Resurrection. Allāh said in another Āyah,

Qur’an 53:31لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَٰٓـُٔوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟

«That He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done.» [53:31] Allāh said here,

Qur’an 14:51إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

«Truly, Allāh is swift at reckoning.» when He wills to reckon a servants of His, for He knows everything and nothing ever escapes His observation. Verily, His power over all of His creation is the same as His power over one creature,

Qur’an 31:28مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ

«The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all are only as a single person.»[31:28]

And this is why Mujāhid said,

Qur’anسَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

«swift at reckoning», means “keeping count.”

Qur’an 14:52هَٰذَا بَلَٰغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَلِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

«52. This (Qur'ān) is a Message for mankind (and a clear proof against them), in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is the only One God and that men of understanding may take heed.»

Allāh states that this Qur'ān is a Message for mankind,

Qur’an 6:19لِأُنذِرَكُم بِهِۦ وَمَنۢ بَلَغَ

«(So) that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach.» [6:19]

This Qur'ān is for all mankind and the Jinns, just as Allāh said in the beginning of this Sūrah,

Qur’an 14:1الٓر كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ

«Alif-Lām-Rā. (This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness into light.» [14:1]

Allāh said next,

Qur’an 14:52وَلِيُنذَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ

«in order that they may be warned thereby», or to receive and draw lessons from it,

Qur’an 14:52وَلِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ

«and that they may know that He is the only One God» using its proofs and evidences that testify that there is no true deity except Allāh,

Qur’an 14:52وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

«and that men of understanding may take heed.» meaning those who have good minds.

This is the end of the Tafsīr of Sūrah Ibrāhīm, and all praise is due to Allāh.