The Tafsīr of Sūrat Adh-Dhāriyāt (Chapter - 51)

Which was revealed in Makkah

Qur’an 51:7–30وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْحُبُكِ إِنَّكُمْ لَفِى قَوْلٍ مُّخْتَلِفٍ يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ قُتِلَ ٱلْخَرَّٰصُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى غَمْرَةٍ سَاهُونَ يَسْـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ ذُوقُوا۟ فِتْنَتَكُمْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَٰتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقٌّ مِّثْلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمْ تَنطِقُونَ هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا۟ سَلَٰمًا قَالَ سَلَٰمٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٍ فَأَقْبَلَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ فِى صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ قَالُوا۟ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

Qur’an 51:1–14وَٱلذَّٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرْوًا فَٱلْحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقْرًا فَٱلْجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسْرًا فَٱلْمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمْرًا إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٌ وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ لَوَٰقِعٌ وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْحُبُكِ إِنَّكُمْ لَفِى قَوْلٍ مُّخْتَلِفٍ يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ قُتِلَ ٱلْخَرَّٰصُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى غَمْرَةٍ سَاهُونَ يَسْـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ ذُوقُوا۟ فِتْنَتَكُمْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

«1. By the scattering Dhāriyāt;» «2. And the laden Ḥāmilāt;» «3. And the steady Jāriyāt;» «4. And the distributors of command,» «5. Verily, that which you are promised is surely true.» «6. And verily, Ad-Dīn is sure to occur.» «7. By the heaven full of Ḥubuk,» «8. Certainly, you have different ideas.» «9. Turned aside therefrom is he who is turned aside.» «10. Cursed be Al-Kharrāṣūn» «11. Who are under a cover of Sāhūn,» «12. They ask: "When will be the Day of Ad-Dīn?"» «13. (It will be) a Day when they will be Yuftanūn in the Fire!» «14. "Taste you your trial! This is what you used to ask to be hastened!"»

Affirming the News of the Resurrection

The Commander of the faithful, 'Ali bin Abi Ṭālib may Allāh be pleased with him, ascended the Minbar in Kufah and declared, "Any Āyah in the Book of Allāh the Exalted and any Sunnah from Allāh's Messenger ﷺ you ask me about today, I will explain them." Ibn Al-Kawwā stood up and said, "O Leader of the faithful! What is the meaning of Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 51:1وَٱلذَّٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرْوًا

«By the scattering Dhāriyāt»," and 'Ali said, "The wind." The man asked,

Qur’an 51:2فَٱلْحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقْرًا

"«And the laden Ḥāmilāt»?" 'Ali said, "The clouds." The man again asked,

Qur’an 51:3فَٱلْجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسْرًا

"«And the steady Jāriyāt»?" 'Ali said, "The ships." The man asked,

Qur’an 51:4فَٱلْمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمْرًا

"«And the distributors of command»?" 'Ali said, it refers to "The angels."^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:389-392 and 'Abdur-Razzāq 3:41.}

Some scholars said that Al-Jariyāt Yusrā refers to the stars that float in their orbits with ease. This would mean that the things mentioned were ascendant in their order, beginning with the lower, then mentioning the higher one after that, etc. The winds bring the clouds, the stars are above them and the angels who distribute by Allāh's order are above that, and they descend with Allāh's legislative orders and the decrees He determines.

These Āyāt contain a vow from Allāh that Resurrection shall come to pass. Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 51:5إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٌ

«Verily, that which you are promised is surely true.», it is a truthful promise,

Qur’an 51:6وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ

«And verily, Ad-Dīn» the Recompense,

Qur’anلَوَٰقِعٌ

«will occur», it will surely come to pass.

Then Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 51:7وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْحُبُكِ

«By the heaven full of Ḥubuk,» Ibn 'Abbās said; "Full of beauty, grace, magnificence and perfection."^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:395-396.} Mujāhid, 'Ikrimah, Sa'īd bin Jubayr, Abu Mālik, Abu Ṣāliḥ, As-Suddi, Qatādah, 'Aṭiyah Al-'Awfi, Ar-Rabī' bin Anas and others said similarly.^{3Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:396-397.} Aḍ-Ḍaḥḥāk, Al-Minhāl bin 'Amr and others said, "The meandering of the water, sand and plants when the wind passes over them; carving paths out of them, that is the Ḥubuk."

All of these sayings return to the same meaning, that of beauty and complexity. The sky is high above us, clear yet thick, firmly structured, spacious and graceful, beautified with stars such as the sun and orbiting planets such as the moon and the planets of the solar system.

The Differing Claims of the Idolators

Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 51:8إِنَّكُمْ لَفِى قَوْلٍ مُّخْتَلِفٍ

«Certainly, you have different ideas.» Allāh says, 'you disbelievers who deny the Messengers have different and confused opinions that do not connect or conform to each other.' Qatādah commented on the Āyah, "You have different ideas about the Qur'ān. Some of you agree that it is true while some others deny this fact."^{4'Abdur-Razzāq 4 :242.} Allāh said,

Qur’an 51:9يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ

«Turned aside therefrom is he who is turned aside.»

Allāh says, these confused and different opinions only fool those who are inwardly misguided. Surely, such falsehood is accepted, embraced and it becomes the source of confusion only for those who are misguided and originally liars, the fools who have no sound comprehension, as Allāh said,

Qur’an 37:161–163فَإِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ بِفَٰتِنِينَ إِلَّا مَنْ هُوَ صَالِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

«So, verily you and those whom you worship cannot lead astray, except those who are predetermined to burn in Hell!»(37:161-163)

Ibn 'Abbās, may Allāh be pleased with him, and As-Suddi said:

Qur’an 51:9يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ

«Turned aside therefrom is he who is turned aside.» "He who is misguided is led astray from it." Allāh said;

Qur’an 51:10قُتِلَ ٱلْخَرَّٰصُونَ

«Cursed be Al-Kharrāṣūn», Mujāhid said; "The liars. This is similar to what is mentioned in (Sūrah) 'Abasa:

Qur’an 80:17قُتِلَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُۥ

«Be cursed man! How ungrateful he is!»(80:17)

Al-Kharrāṣūn are those who claim that they will never be brought back to life, doubting the coming of Resurrection.^{5Aṭ-Ṭabari 22 :400.} 'Ali bin Abi Ṭalḥah reported from Ibn 'Abbās;

Qur’an 51:10قُتِلَ ٱلْخَرَّٰصُونَ

«Cursed be Al-Kharrāṣūn», "Cursed be the doubters."^{6Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:399.} Mu'ādh said similarly, may Allāh be pleased with him. During one of his speeches he said, "Destroyed be the doubters." Qatādah said, "Al-Kharrāṣūn are the people of doubt and suspicion."^{7Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:400.}

Allāh said;

Qur’an 51:11ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى غَمْرَةٍ سَاهُونَ

«Who are under a cover of Sāhūn,» Ibn 'Abbās, may Allāh be pleased with him, and others said; "In disbelief and doubt, they are heedless and playful."^{8Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:400-401.} Allāh said,

Qur’an 51:12يَسْـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ

«They ask: "When will be the Day of Ad-Dīn?"»

They utter this statement in denial, stubbornness, doubt and suspicion. Allāh the Exalted replied,

Qur’an 51:13يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ

«(It will be) a Day when they will be Yuftanūn in the Fire!»

Ibn 'Abbās, Mujāhid, Al-Ḥasan and several others said that Yuftanūn means punished.^{9Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:402.} Mujāhid said: "Just as gold is forged in the fire."^{10Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:402.} A group of others also including Mujāhid, 'Ikrimah, Ibrāhīm An-Nakha'ī, Zayd bin Aslam, and Sufyān Ath-Thawri said, "They will be burnt."

Qur’an 51:14ذُوقُوا۟ فِتْنَتَكُمْ

«Taste you your trial!», Mujāhid said, "Your burning"^{11Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:403.} while others said, "Your punishment."

Qur’an 51:14هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

«This is what you used to ask to be hastened!»

This will be said admonishing, chastising, humiliating and belittling them. Allāh knows best.

Qur’an 51:15–23إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَٰتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقٌّ مِّثْلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمْ تَنطِقُونَ

«15. Verily, those who have Taqwā will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs,» «16. Taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this doers of good.» «17. They used to sleep but little by night.» «18. And in the hours before dawn, they were asking for forgiveness.» «19. And in their wealth there was the right of the Sā'il and the Maḥrūm.» «20. And on the earth are signs for those who have faith with certainty.» «21. And also in yourselves. Will you not then see? «22. And in the heaven is your provision, and that which you are promised.» «23. Then by the Lord of the heaven and the earth, it is the truth, just as you can speak.»

Qualities of Those Who have Taqwā and Their Reward

Allāh the Exalted informs about those who have Taqwā, that on the Day of their Return they will be amidst gardens and springs. To the contrary the miserable ones will be amidst torment, punishment, fire and chains. Allāh said,

Qur’an 51:16ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ

«Taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them.»

His statement;

Qur’an 51:16ءَاخِذِينَ

«Taking» describes the state of the people of Taqwā in the midst of gardens and springs. They will receive what their Lord gives them, meaning, delight, happiness and favors. Allāh the Exalted and Most Honored said,

Qur’an 51:16إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ

«Verily, they were before that», in the life of the world,

Qur’an 51:16مُحْسِنِينَ

«gooddoers» As He said:

Qur’an 69:24كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ هَنِيٓـًٔۢا بِمَآ أَسْلَفْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَيَّامِ ٱلْخَالِيَةِ

«Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!»(69:24)

Allāh the Exalted described the good acts that they performed,

Qur’an 51:17كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ

«They used to sleep but little at night.»

The scholars of Tafsīr have two opinions about this:

The First Opinion

The first is that, they used to spend a little part of every night awake. Ibn 'Abbās said, "Every night, they would worship Allāh, even during a little part of the night."^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:407.} Qatādah narrated that Muṭarrif bin 'Abdullāh said, "Hardly a night would pass by them that they did not pray to Allāh the Exalted and Most Honored, either in the beginning, or the middle of it."^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:407.} Mujāhid said, "Only a few nights, if any, would they sleep through the night until the morning without praying Tahajjud."^{3Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:408.} Qatādah said similarly.^{4Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:408.} Anas bin Mālik and Abu Al-'Āliyah said, "They used to pray between Al-Maghrib and Al-'Ishā'."^{5Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:407-408.}

The Second Opinion

They used to spend a little part of the night in sleep. This was preferred by Ibn Jarīr. Al-Ḥasan Al-Baṣri said:

Qur’an 51:17كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ

«They used to sleep but little by night»,

"They performed voluntary night prayer and would not sleep during the night except a little. They were active and would continue until they were seeking forgiveness right before dawn."^{6Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:408-409.}

'Abdullāh bin Salām said, "When the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ arrived at Al-Madīnah, people quickly gathered around him and I was among them. When I saw his face, I knew that it was not the face of a liar. The first statement I heard from him was,

Ḥadīthيَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! أَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ، وَصِلُوا الْأَرْحَامَ، وَأَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ، وَصَلُّوا بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ، تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلَامٍ

«O people! Feed with food, keep relations to kith and kin, spread the Salām, pray at night while people are asleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace.»"^{7Tuḥfat Al-Aḥwadhi 7:187.}

Imām Aḥmad recorded that 'Abdullāh bin 'Umar said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthإِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ غُرَفًا يُرَىٰ ظَاهِرُهَا مِنْ بَاطِنِهَا وَبَاطِنُهَا مِنْ ظَاهِرِهَا

«Verily, there are lofty rooms in Paradise in which their outside can be seen from inside and their inside from the outside.»

Abu Mūsā Al-Ash'ari said, "Who are they for, O Allāh's Messenger?" He ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthلِمَنْ أَلَانَ الْكَلَامَ، وَأَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ، وَبَاتَ لِلَّهِ قَائِمًا وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ

«For those who use soft speech, feed food and spend the night in voluntary prayer while people are asleep.»^{8Aḥmad 2:173.}

Allāh said:

Qur’an 51:18وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ

«And in the hours before dawn, they were asking for forgiveness.» Mujāhid and several others said: "They were performing Ṣalāh."^{9Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:413.} Others said that they would stand in prayer during the night and delayed asking Allāh for forgiveness until the latter hours before dawn. As Allāh, the Exalted the Blessed, said;

Qur’an 3:17وَٱلْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِٱلْأَسْحَارِ

«And those who seek forgiveness during the last hours of the night.»(3:17);

This is because it is better if asking for forgiveness is done while praying.

It is confirmed in the Ṣaḥīḥ collections as well as others, from several Companions, that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthإِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَىٰ يَنْزِلُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَىٰ سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَىٰ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الْأَخِيرُ، فَيَقُولُ: هَلْ مِنْ تَائِبٍ فَأَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِ. هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ. هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ فَيُعْطَىٰ سُؤْلَهُ؟ حَتَّىٰ يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ

«Allāh, the Most High, descends each night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains. He says, "Is there anyone who is repenting so that I may accept his repentance? Is there anyone seeking forgiveness, so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone asking of Me, so that I may grant him his request?" until Fajr begins.»^{10Fatḥ Al-Bāri 3:35, 11:133 and 13:473, Muslim 1:521 and 523, Abu Dāwud 2:77 and 5:101, Tuḥfat Al-Aḥwadhi 9:471, An-Nasā'ī in Al-Kubrā, 4:24 and Ibn Mājah 1:435.}

Many of the scholars of Tafsīr said that when the Prophet Ya'qub said to his sons:

Qur’an 12:98سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّىٓ

«I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you»(12:98), he delayed doing so until the hours before dawn.

Allāh the Exalted and Most Honored said,

Qur’an 51:19وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ

«And in their wealth there was the right of the Sā'il and the Maḥrūm.»

After Allāh mentioned their quality of performing prayer, He then mentioned their quality of spending in charity and acts of compassion and kindness,

Qur’an 51:19وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ

«And in their wealth there was the right», a designated part which they dedicated to the Sā'il and Maḥrūm. The Sā'il is the poor who begs others, and he has a due right. As for the Maḥrūm, Ibn 'Abbās and Mujāhid said, "He is the poor person who does not receive a stipend." ^{11Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:414.}Meaning he does not receive a stipend from the Muslim treasury, nor does he have a means of income, nor a profession.

The Mother of the faithful, 'Ā'ishah may Allāh be pleased with her, said about the Maḥrūm, "He is the displaced, the one who does not have a profession to easily earn an income from." Qatādah and Az-Zuhri: "The Maḥrūm is the one who does not ask the people for anything."^{12Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:416.} Az-Zuhri added that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthلَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِالطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي تَرُدُّهُ اللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ وَالتَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَانِ، وَلٰكِنِ الْمِسْكِينُ الَّذِي لَا يَجِدُ غِنًى يُغْنِيهِ وَلَا يُفْطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ

«The poor (Miskīn) is not the one who goes round to the people and asks them for a mouthful or two or a date or two. But the poor is the one who does not have enough to satisfy his needs and whose condition is not known to others, so that others may give him something in charity.»^{13An-Nasā'ī, 5:85.}

This Ḥadīth is recorded in the Two Ṣaḥīḥs using another chain of narration.^{14Fatḥ Al-Bāri 3:399 and Muslim 2:719.}

Allāh's Signs on the Earth and in Mankind

Allāh the Exalted and the Blessed said next,

Qur’an 51:20وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَٰتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ

«And on the earth are signs for those who have faith with certainty.»

Allāh says that there are signs on earth that testify to the might of the Creator and His boundless ability. These signs include what Allāh placed on the earth, the various plants, animals, valleys, mountains, deserts, rivers and oceans. He also created mankind with different languages, colors, intentions and abilities, and a variety among them, differences in the power of understanding and comprehension, their deeds, and ultimately earning happiness or misery. Allāh put every organ in their bodies in its rightful place where they most need it to be. So He said;

Qur’an 51:21وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ

«And also in yourselves. Will you not then see?»

Qatādah commented, "He who thinks about his own creation will realize that he was created with flexible joints so that it is easy for him to perform acts of worship."^{15Al-Qurṭubi 17:40.}

Allāh the Exalted said next,

Qur’an 51:22وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ

«And in the heaven is your provision,» meaning, rain,

Qur’an 51:22وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ

«and that which you are promised.» meaning Paradise. This was said by Ibn 'Abbās, Mujāhid and several others.^{16Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:420.}

Allāh said:

Qur’an 51:23فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقٌّ مِّثْلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمْ تَنطِقُونَ

«Then by the Lord of the heaven and the earth, it is the truth, just as you can speak.»

Allāh is swearing by His honorable Self, all of the matters of the Judgement, Resurrection, and Recompense that they have been promised shall certainly occur. Therefore, it is the truth, there being no doubt about it, so do not doubt its coming, just as you do not doubt that you can speak

When he would talk to one of his friends, Mu'ādh used to say: "What I am saying is as true as your being here."

Qur’an 51:24–30هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا۟ سَلَٰمًا قَالَ سَلَٰمٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٍ فَأَقْبَلَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ فِى صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ قَالُوا۟ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

«24. Has the story reached you, of the honored guests of Ibrāhīm?»

«25. When they came in to him and said: "Salāman!" He answered: "Salāmun" and said: "You are a people unknown to me."»

«26. Then he turned to his household, and brought out a roasted calf.»

«27. And placed it before them (saying): "Will you not eat?"»

«28. Then he conceived fear of them (when they ate not). They said: "Fear not." And they gave him glad tidings of a son having knowledge.»

«29. Then his wife came forward with a loud voice; she smote her face, and said: "A barren old woman!"»

«30. They said: "Even so says your Lord. Verily, He is the All-Wise, the All-Knower."»

The Guests of the Prophet Ibrāhīm

We mentioned this story before in Sūrah Hūd and Al-Ḥijr.^{1See volume five, the Tafsīr of Sūrah Hūd (11:69), and the Tafsīr of Sūrat Al-Ḥijr (15:51).} Allāh said,

Qur’an 51:24هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ

«Has the story reached you, of the honored guests of Ibrāhīm», whom Ibrāhīm honored and who,

Qur’an 11:69قَالُوا۟ سَلَٰمًا قَالَ سَلَٰمٌ

«they said: "Salāman!" He answered: "Salāmun."»

Qur’an 4:86وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ

«When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or return it equally.»(4:86)

So the Friend of Allāh chose a better reply in return for their greeting, implementing Allāh's command: Reciprocating the greeting with the term Salāmun is stronger than the greeting using the term Salāman.

The three angels; Jibrīl, Mīkā'īl and Isrāfīl came to Ibrāhīm in the image of handsome young wonderfully graceful men. This is why Ibrāhīm said,

Qur’an 51:25قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ

«You are a people unknown to me.» Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 51:26فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ

«Then he turned to his household,» Ibrāhīm discretely went inside in haste,

Qur’an 51:26فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ

«and brought out a roasted calf.» from the best of his menu,

And in another Āyah

Qur’an 11:69فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَآءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ

«And he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf.» (11:69) means roasted on hot coals

Qur’an 51:27فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِمْ

«And placed it before them», brought it close to them,

Qur’an 51:27قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

«Saying, "Will you not eat?" »

Ibrāhīm said this polite and kind statement to his guests, and surely, this Āyah indicates proper manners for honoring guests. For he brought the food to his guests quickly, while they were unaware that it was being prepared for them. He did not first mention this favor to them by saying, "We will make food for you." Rather, he discretely had it prepared and placed before them. He prepared the best kind of food he had, a young, fat roasted calf. He did not place the food far from them and invite them to come close to it to eat. Rather, he placed it close to them and refrained from ordering them to eat. Instead he invited them using a kind and subtle invitation,

Qur’an 51:27أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

«Will you not eat?» This statement is similar to one of us saying to a guest, "Would you be kind and generous to do such and such?"

Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 51:28فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً

«Then he conceived fear of them.» this Āyah is explained by Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 11:70–71فَلَمَّا رَءَآ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ

«But when he saw their hands went not towards it, he mistrusted them, and felt a sense of fear of them. They said: "Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lūṭ." And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed.»(11:70-71),

meaning, she was glad that the people of Lūṭ would be destroyed on account of their rebellion and transgression against Allāh, the Exalted. This is when the angels delivered the good news to her of a son, Isḥāq, and Ya'qūb after Isḥāq,

Qur’an 11:72–73قَالَتْ يَٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ ءَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا۠ عَجُوزٌ وَهَٰذَا بَعْلِى شَيْخًا إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ

«She said: "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old man? Verily, this is a strange thing!" They said, "Do you wonder at the decree of Allāh? The mercy of Allāh and His blessings be on you, O family of the house. Surely, He (Allāh) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious."»(11:72-73)

Allāh said here;

Qur’an 51:28وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٍ

«And they gave him glad tidings of a son having knowledge.»

This news was as good to Ibrāhīm as it was to his wife, for this son would be theirs, and therefore, they both were getting some good news. Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 51:29فَأَقْبَلَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ فِى صَرَّةٍ

«Then his wife came forward with a loud voice»,

She screamed loudly, according to Ibn 'Abbās, Mujāhid, 'Ikrimah, Abu Ṣāliḥ, Aḍ-Ḍaḥḥāk, Zayd bin Aslam, Ath-Thawri and As-Suddi.^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:426 and Al-Qurṭubi 17:46.} She said when she shouted,

Qur’an 25:28يَٰوَيْلَتَىٰ

«Ah! Woe to me!»(25:28), then,

Qur’an 51:29فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا

«she smote her face,» meaning, she struck herself upon her forehead, according to Mujāhid and Ibn Sābiṭ.^{3Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:428.} Ibn 'Abbās said that she smacked her face just as women do when confronted with an amazing thing,^{4Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:427.}

Qur’an 51:29وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ

«and said: "A barren old woman!"» meaning, "How can I give birth while I am an old woman? And even when I was young I was barren and could not have children,"

Qur’an 51:30قَالُوا۟ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

«They said: "Even so says your Lord. Verily, He is the All-Wise, the All-Knower"»,

'He is the All-Knower of the honor that you are worthy of and He is the most Wise in His statements and decisions.'

Qur’an 51:31–37قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن طِينٍ مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ

«31. (Ibrāhīm) said: "Then for what purpose you have come, O messengers?"»

«32. They said: "We have been sent to a people who are criminals."»

«33. "To send down upon them stones of clay."»

«34. "Marked by your Lord for transgressors."»

«35. So We brought out from therein the believers.»

«36. But We found not there any household of the Muslims except one.»

«37. And We have left there a sign for those who fear the painful torment.»

The Angels were sent to destroy the People of the Prophet Lūṭ

Allāh the Exalted said about Ibrāhīm, peace be upon him,

Qur’an 11:74–76فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلرَّوْعُ وَجَآءَتْهُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَٰدِلُنَا فِى قَوْمِ لُوطٍ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّٰهٌ مُّنِيبٌ يَٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَآ إِنَّهُۥ قَدْ جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ وَإِنَّهُمْ ءَاتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ

«Then when the fear had gone away from (Ibrāhīm), and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lūṭ. Verily, Ibrāhīm was, without doubt forbearing, used to invoke Allāh with humility, and was repentant. "O Ibrāhīm! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which cannot be turned back."»(11:74-76) Allāh said here,

Qur’an 51:31قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ

«(Ibrāhīm) said: "Then for what purpose you have come, O messengers?"»

meaning, 'what is the mission that you were sent with,'

Qur’an 51:32قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ

«They said: "We have been sent to a people who are criminals."»

in reference to the people of Lūṭ,

Qur’an 51:33–34لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن طِينٍ مُّسَوَّمَةً

«To send down upon them stones of baked clay, marked», or written,

Qur’an 51:34عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ

«by your Lord for transgressors.» recorded with Allāh to their names; each stone has the name of its companion. Allāh said in Sūrat Al-'Ankabūt,

Qur’an 29:32قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ

«(Ibrāhīm) said: "But there is Lūṭ in it." They said: "We know better who is there. We will verily save him and his family except his wife: she will be of those who remain behind."»(29:32), and said here,

Qur’an 51:35فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

«So We brought out from therein the believers.» they are: Lūṭ and his family, except his wife,

Qur’an 51:36فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

«But We found not there any household of the Muslims except one.»

Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 51:37وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ

«And We have left there a sign for those who fear the painful torment.»

meaning, 'We left a proof of the punishment, torment and stones made of Sijjīl (baked clay) that We sent on them; We made their dwelling place a putrid, evil, dead sea. This should provide a lesson for the believers,'

Qur’an 51:37لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ

«for those who fear the painful torment.»

Qur’an 51:38–44وَفِى مُوسَىٰٓ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكْنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَٰحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ وَفِى عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلْعَقِيمَ مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتْهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ وَفِى ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ فَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ

Qur’an 51:44–46أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ فَمَا ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ مِن قِيَامٍ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنتَصِرِينَ وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَٰسِقِينَ

«38. And in Mūsā, when We sent him to Fir'awn with a manifest authority.»

«39. But (he) turned away along with his hosts, and said: "A sorcerer or a madman."»

«40. So We took him and his armies, and dumped them into the sea (Yamm), for he was blameworthy.»

«41. And in 'Ād when We sent against them the barren wind;»

«42. It spared nothing that it reached, but blew it into broken spreads of rotten ruins.»

«43. And in Thamūd, when they were told: "Enjoy yourselves for a while!"»

«44. But they insolently defied the command of their Lord, so the Ṣā'iqah overtook them while they were looking.»

«45. Then they were unable to rise up, nor could they help themselves.»

«46. (So were) the people of Nūḥ before them. Verily, they were a people who were rebellious.»

Lessons from the Destruction of Fir'awn, 'Ād, Thamūd, and the People of Nūḥ

Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 51:38وَفِى مُوسَىٰٓ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ

«And in Mūsā, when We sent him to Fir'awn with a manifest authority.»

meaning, with clear proof and plain evidence,

Qur’an 51:39فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكْنِهِۦ

«But he turned away along with his hosts,» meaning, in rebellion and arrogance, Fir'awn turned away from the plain truth that Mūsā was sent with,

Qur’an 22:9ثَانِىَ عِطْفِهِۦ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ

«Bending his neck in pride, and leading (others) too (far) astray from the path of Allāh.»(22:9 ), meaning turning away from truth in arrogance,

Qur’an 51:39وَقَالَ سَٰحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ

«and said: "A sorcerer, or a madman."» meaning Fir'awn said to Mūsā, "With regards to the message that you brought me, you are either a magician or a madman." Allāh the Exalted replied,

Qur’anفَأَخَذْنَٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذْنَٰهُمْ

«So We took him and his armies, and dumped them», meaning 'We threw them,'

Qur’an 51:40فِى ٱلْيَمِّ

«into the Yamm», into the sea,

Qur’an 51:40وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ

«for he was blameworthy.» meaning, Fir'awn was a denying sinner and a stubborn disbeliever worthy of blame.

Allāh the Exalted and Most Honored said,

Qur’an 51:41وَفِى عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلْعَقِيمَ

«And in 'Ād when We sent against them the barren wind»

that destroys everything and produces nothing. This was said by Aḍ-Ḍaḥḥāk, Qatādah and others.^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:434.} Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 51:42مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ

«It spared nothing that it reached,» meaning, everything that the wind could destroy,

Qur’an 51:42إِلَّا جَعَلَتْهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ

«but blew it into broken spreads of rotten ruins.»

meaning, made it just like a rotten and destroyed. Sa'īd bin Al-Musayyib and others commented on:

Qur’an 51:41إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلْعَقِيمَ

«when We sent against them the barren wind», "Southerly winds."^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:433.} However, there is a Ḥadīth in the Ṣaḥīḥ from Shu'bah bin Al-Ḥakam, from Mujāhid, from Ibn 'Abbās, who said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthنُصِرْتُ بِالصَّبَا وَأُهْلِكَتْ عَادٌ بِالدَّبُورِ

«I have been made victorious with the Ṣabā (easterly wind), and the people of 'Ād were destroyed with the Dabūr (westerly wind).»^{3Fatḥ Al-Bāri 2:604 and Muslim 2:617.} Allāh saying,

Qur’an 51:43وَفِى ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ

«And in Thamūd, when they were told: "Enjoy yourselves for a while!"»

is just as He said in another Āyah,

Qur’an 41:17وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَٰهُمْ فَٱسْتَحَبُّوا۟ ٱلْعَمَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ صَٰعِقَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْهُونِ

«And as for Thamūd, We guided them to the path of truth, but they preferred blindness to guidance; so the Ṣā'iqah of disgracing torment seized them.» (41:17) Allāh said here,

Qur’an 51:43–44وَفِى ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ فَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ

«And in Thamūd, when they were told: "Enjoy yourselves for a while!" But they insolently defied the command of their Lord, so the Ṣā'iqah overtook them while they were looking.»

Thamūd were given a respite for three days, during which they await the torment. In the early morning of the fourth day, the torment overtook them,

Qur’an 51:45فَمَا ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ مِن قِيَامٍ

«Then they were unable to rise up,» they were unable to escape and run away from it,

Qur’an 51:45وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنتَصِرِينَ

«nor could they help themselves.» nor could they save themselves from the torment that befell them. Allāh the Exalted and Most

Qur’an 51:31–50قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن طِينٍ مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ وَفِى مُوسَىٰٓ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكْنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَٰحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ وَفِى عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلْعَقِيمَ مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتْهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ وَفِى ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ فَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ فَمَا ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ مِن قِيَامٍ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنتَصِرِينَ وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَٰسِقِينَ وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا بِأَيْي۟دٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَٰهَا فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَٰهِدُونَ وَمِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

Honored said,

Qur’anوَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ

«(So were) the people of Nūḥ before them.» meaning, 'We destroyed the people of Nūḥ before these people (Fir'awn, 'Ād and Thamūd).’

Qur’anإِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَٰسِقِينَ

«Verily, they were a people who were revellious.» We mentioned these stories in details before in the Tafsīr of several other Sūrahs.

Qur’an 51:47–50وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا بِأَيْي۟دٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَٰهَا فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَٰهِدُونَ وَمِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

«47. With Hands We constructed the heaven. Verily, We are able to expand the vastness of space thereof.»

«48. And We have made the earth a Firāsh; how excellent spreader (thereof) are We!»

«49. And of everything We have created pairs, that you may remember.»

«50. So, flee to Allāh. Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him.»

«51. And set not up any other god along with Allāh. Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him.» Proofs of Allāh's Oneness abound in the Creation of the Heavens and the Earth

Allāh reminds us of the creating of the higher and lower worlds,

Qur’an 51:47وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا

«We constructed the heaven.» meaning, 'We made it as a high roof, protected from falling,'

Qur’an 51:47بِأَيْي۟دٍ

«with Hands», meaning, with strength, according to 'Abdullāh bin 'Abbās, Mujāhid, Qatādah, Ath-Thawri and several others,^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 22:438.}

Qur’an 51:47وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ

«Verily, We are able to extend the vastness of space thereof.» means, 'We made it vast and We brought its roof higher without pillars to support it, and thus it is hanging independently.'

Qur’an 51:48وَٱلْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَٰهَا

«And We have made the earth a Firāsh», meaning, 'We have made it a resting place for the created,'

Qur’an 51:48فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَٰهِدُونَ

«how excellent a spreader (thereof) are We!», meaning, 'We spread it for its inhabitants,'

Qur’an 51:49وَمِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ

«And of everything We have created pairs,»

meaning, all the created are in pairs, the heaven and earth, night and day, sun and moon, land and sea, light and darkness, faith and disbelief, death and life, misery and happiness, Paradise and Fire, in addition to the animals and plants. The statement of Allāh the Exalted,

Qur’an 51:49لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Arabic quotation as printed; not matched to Tanzil, so not shown as the Qur’anكَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَتَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُوا۟ سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ أَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِهِۦ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُونَ فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍ وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذَنُوبًا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَٰبِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن يَوْمِهِمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ وَٱلطُّورِ وَكِتَٰبٍ مَّسْطُورٍ فِى رَقٍّ مَّنشُورٍ وَٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْمَعْمُورِ وَٱلسَّقْفِ ٱلْمَرْفُوعِ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ٱلْمَسْجُورِ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ لَوَٰقِعٌ مَّا لَهُۥ مِن دَافِعٍ يَوْمَ تَمُورُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ مَوْرًا وَتَسِيرُ ٱلْجِبَالُ سَيْرًا فَوَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى خَوْضٍ يَلْعَبُونَ يَوْمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلَىٰ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّا هَٰذِهِ ٱلنَّارُ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ

«that you may remember.» and know that the Creator, Allāh, is One without partners,

Qur’an 51:50فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ

«So, flee to Allāh.» meaning, seek shelter with Him and trust in Him in all of your affairs,

Qur’an 51:50–51إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ

«Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him. And set not up any other god along with Allāh.» do not associate any partners with Him,

Qur’anإِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

«Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him.»

Qur’an 51:52–60كَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَتَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُوا۟ سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ أَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِهِۦ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُونَ فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍ وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذَنُوبًا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَٰبِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن يَوْمِهِمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ

«52. Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them but they said: "A sorcerer or a madman!"»

«53. Have they transmitted this saying to these? Nay, they are themselves a people transgressing beyond bounds!»

«54. So turn away from them, you are not blameworthy.»

«55. And remind, for verily, the reminding profits the believers.»

«56. And I created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.»

«57. I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me.»

«58. Verily, Allāh is the All-Provider, Owner of power, the Most Strong.»

«59. And verily, for those who do wrong, there is a portion of torment like to the evil portion of torment (which came for) their likes (of old); so let them not ask Me to hasten on!»

«60. Then woe to those who disbelieve from their Day which they have been promised.»

All Messengers met the Same Type of Denial from Their Nations

Allāh comforts His Prophet ﷺ by saying to Him, 'just as these idolators denied you, the disbelievers of old used the same words with their Messengers,'

Qur’an 51:52كَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَتَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُوا۟ سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ

«Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them but they said: "A sorcerer or a madman!"»

Allāh the Exalted and Most Honored said,

Qur’an 51:53أَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِهِۦ

«Have they transmitted this saying to these?», meaning, have those of the past taught these words to the people of the present?

Qur’an 51:53بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُونَ

«Nay, they are themselves a people transgressing beyond bounds!»

They are tyrannical people whose hearts are the same. Therefore, the latter said the same as those before them have said. Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 51:54فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ

«So turn away from them,» meaning, 'O Muḥammad, turn away from the Quraysh idolators,'

Qur’an 51:54فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍ

«you are not blameworthy.» meaning, 'We blame you not if you turn away from them,'

Qur’an 51:55وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

«And remind, for verily, the reminding profits the believers.» meaning, for only the believing hearts benefit from being reminded.

Allāh Only created Mankind and Jinns to worship Him Alone

Allāh the Exalted and Most Honored said,

Qur’an 51:56وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

«And I created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.»

meaning, 'I, Allāh, only created them so that I order them to worship Me, not that I need them.'

'Ali bin Abi Ṭalḥah reported that Ibn 'Abbās commented on the Āyah,

Qur’an 51:56إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

«...except that they should worship Me.» meaning, "So that they worship Me, willingly or unwillingly."

Allāh the Exalted said,

Qur’an 51:57–58مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ

«I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allāh is the All-Provider, Owner of power, the Most Strong.»

Imām Aḥmad recorded that 'Abdullāh bin Mas'ud said, "The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ taught the following:

(إِنِّي أَنَا الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ)

'Verily, I am the Provider, Owner of power, the Most Strong.'^{1Aḥmad 1:418.} Abu Dāwud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasā'ī also collected this Ḥadīth. At-Tirmidhi said, "Ḥasan Ṣaḥīḥ."^{2Abu Dāwud 4:290, Tuḥfat Al-Aḥwadhi 8:261 and An-Nasā'ī in Al-Kubrā 6:469.} The meaning of this Āyah (51:56) is that, Allāh the Exalted, the Blessed created the creatures so that they worship Him Alone without partners. Those who obey Him will be rewarded with the best rewards, while those who disobey Him will receive the worst punishment from Him. Allāh stated that He does not need creatures, but rather, they are in need of Him in all conditions. He is alone their Creator and Provider.

Imām Aḥmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: يَاابْنَ آدَمَ تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأْ صَدْرَكَ غِنًى وَأَسُدَّ فَقْرَكَ، وَإِلَّا تَفْعَلْ، مَلَأْتُ صَدْرَكَ شُغْلاً وَلَمْ أَسُدَّ فَقْرَكَ

«Allāh the Exalted said, "O Son of Ādam! Busy yourself in worshipping Me, and I will fill your chest with riches and dissipate your meekness. Otherwise, I will fill your chest with distracting affairs and will not do away with your meekness."»^{3Aḥmad 2:358.}

At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Mājah collected this Ḥadīth and At-Tirmidhi said, "Ḥasan Gharīb."^{4Tuḥfat Al-Aḥwadhi 7:166 and Ibn Mājah 2:1376.}

The statement of Allāh the Exalted,

Qur’an 51:59فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذَنُوبًا

«And verily, for those who do wrong, there is a portion», indicates that they will receive their due share of the torment,

Qur’an 51:59مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَٰبِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ

«like the evil portion (which came for) their likes (of old); so let them not ask Me to hasten on!»

let them not ask that the punishment is rushed to them, for it will surely come,

Qur’an 51:60فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن يَوْمِهِمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ

«Then woe to those who disbelieve from their Day which they have been promised.»

meaning, the Day of Resurrection.

This is the end of the Tafsīr of Sūrat Adh-Dhāriyāt; all praise is due to Allāh and all the favors come from Him Alone.