1 The Virtues of the Surahs that begin with Ha Mim

Revealed in MakkahThe Virtues of the Surahs that begin with Ha MimIbn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,"Everything has an essence and the essence of theQur'an is the family of Ha Mim,'' or he said, "the HaMims.''Mis`ar bin Kidam said,"They used to be called `the brides'.''All of this was recorded by the the Imam, great scholar, AbuUbayd Al-Qasim bin Sallam, may Allah have mercy upon him, inhis book Fada'il Al-Qur'an.Humayd bin Zanjuyah narrated that Abdullah, may Allah bepleased with him, said,"The parable of the Qur'an is that of a man who sets outto find a place for his family to stay, and he comes to aplace where there is evidence of rainfall. While he iswalking about, admiring it, he suddenly comes uponbeautiful gardens. He says, `I liked the first traces ofrainfall, but this is far better.' It was said to him, `Thefirst place is like the Qur'an, and these beautiful gardens1

are like the splendor of family of Ha Mim in relation tothe rest of the Qur'an'.''This was recorded by Al-Baghawi.Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said,"When I reach the family of Ha Mim, it is like reaching abeautiful garden, so I take my time.''بِسْمِ‏ اللّهِ‏ الر َّحْمَنِ‏ الر َّحِيمIn the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the MostMerciful.40:1 Ha Mim.حمتَنزِیلُ‏ الْكِتَبِ‏ مِنَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ الْعَزِیزِ‏ الْعَلِيمِ‏40:2 The revelation of the Book is from Allah, theAlmighty, the All-Knower.غَافِرِ‏ الذ َّنبِ‏ وَقَابِلِ‏ الت َّوْبِ‏ شَدِیدِ‏ الْعِقَابِ‏ ذِى الط َّوْلِ‏ لاَ‏إِلَهَ‏ إِلا َّ هُوَ‏ إِلَيْهِ‏ الْمَصِي ‏ُر40:3 The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor ofrepentance, the Severe in punishment, theBestower. La ilaha illa Huwa, to Him is the finalreturn.Allah says,حم ١﴿ ﴾Ha Mim,2

4وَأَن َّ عَذَابِى هُوَ‏ الْعَذَابُ‏ الا ٌّلِي ‏ُمDeclare unto My servants that truly I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful. And that My tormentis indeed the most painful torment. (15:49-50)These two attributes (mercy and punishment) areoften mentioned together in the Qur'an, so thatpeople will remain in a state of both hope andfear.the Bestower.Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,ذِي الط َّوْلِ‏ ..."This means He is Generous and Rich(Independent of means).''The meaning is that He is Most Generous to Hisservants, granting ongoing blessings for whichthey can never sufficiently thank Him.وَإِن تَعُد ُّواْ‏ نِعْمَةَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ لاَ‏ تُحْصُوهَاAnd if you would count the favors of Allah, nevercould you be able to count them... (16:18)La ilaha illa Huwa,لَا إِلَهَ‏ إِل َّا هُوَ‏means, there is none that is equal to Him in allHis attributes; there is no God or Lord besidesHim.to Him is the final return....إِلَيْهِ‏ الْمَصِيرُ‏ ﴿٣ ﴾means, all things will come back to Him and Hewill reward or punish each person according to hisdeeds.and He is Swift at reckoning. (13:41)وَهُوَ‏ سَرِیعُ‏ الْحِسَابِ‏.........

مَا یُجَدِلُ‏ فِى ءَایَتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ إِلا َّ ال َّذِینَ‏ آَفَرُواْ‏ فَلاَ‏ یَغْرُرْكَ‏تَقَل ُّبُهُمْ‏ فِى الْبِلاَدِ‏40:4 None disputes in the Ayat of Allah but thosewho disbelieve. So let not their ability of goingabout here and there through the land (for theirpurposes) deceive you!آَذ َّبَتْ‏ قَبْلَهُمْ‏ قَوْمُ‏ نُوحٍ‏ وَالا ٌّحْزَابُ‏ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ‏ وَهَم َّتْ‏آُل ُّ أُم َّةٍ‏ بِرَسُولِهِمْ‏ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ‏ وَجَدَلُوا بِالْبَطِلِ‏ لِيُدْحِضُواْ‏بِهِ‏ الْحَ‏ َّق40:5 The people of Nuh and the groups after themdenied before these; and every nation plottedagainst their Messenger to seize him, and disputedby means of falsehood to refute therewith the truth.فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ‏فَكَيْفَ‏ آَانَ‏ عِقَا ‏ِبSo I seized them, and how was My punishment!وَآَذَلِكَ‏ حَق َّتْ‏ آَلِمَةُ‏ رَب ِّكَ‏ عَلَى ال َّذِینَ‏ آَفَرُواْ‏ أَن َّهُمْ‏أَصْحَبُ‏ الن َّارِ‏40:6 Thus has the Word of your Lord been justifiedagainst those who disbelieved, that they will be thedwellers of the Fire.Allah says,None disputes in the Ayat of Allah,5مَا یُجَادِلُ‏ فِي آیَاتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ ...One of the Attributes of the Disbelievers is Thatthey dispute the Ayat of Allah -- and TheConsequences of that Allah tells us that no one

ejects or disputes His signs after clear proof hascome,but those who disbelieve,6إِل َّا ال َّذِینَ‏ آَفَرُوا ...i.e., those who reject the signs of Allah and Hisproof and evidence.فَلَا یَغْرُرْكَ‏ تَقَل ُّبُهُمْ‏ فِي الْبِلَادِ‏ ﴿٤ ﴾So let not their ability of going about here and therethrough the land deceive you!means, their wealth and luxurious life.This is like the Ayah:لاَ‏ یَغُر َّن َّكَ‏ تَقَل ُّبُ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ آَفَرُواْ‏ فِى الْبِلَدِ‏مَتَعٌ‏ قَلِيلٌ‏ ثُم َّ مَأْوَاهُمْ‏ جَهَن َّمُ‏ وَبِئْسَ‏ الْمِهَا ‏ُدLet not the free disposal (and affluence) of thedisbelievers throughout the land deceive you. Abrief enjoyment; then, their ultimate abode isHell; and worst indeed is that place for rest.(3:196-197)نُمَت ِّعُهُمْ‏ قَلِيلاً‏ ثُم َّ نَضْطَر ُّهُمْ‏ إِلَى عَذَابٍ‏ غَلِي ‏ٍظWe let them enjoy for a little while, then in theend We shall oblige them to (enter) a greattorment. (31:24)Then Allah consoles His Prophet Muhammad for therejection of his people. He tells him that he has anexample in the Prophets who came before him, may theblessings and peace of Allah be upon them all, for theirnations disbelieved them and opposed them, and only afew believed in them.The people of Nuh denied before these;.........آَذ َّبَتْ‏ قَبْلَهُمْ‏ قَوْمُ‏ نُوحٍ‏

Nuh was the first Messenger whom Allah sent todenounce and forbid idol worship.7وَالْأَحْزَابُ‏ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ‏ ...and the groups after them, (means, from every nation).وَهَم َّتْ‏ آُل ُّ أُم َّةٍ‏ بِرَسُولِهِمْ‏ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ‏ ...and every (disbelieving) nation plotted against theirMessenger to seize him,means, they wanted to kill him by any meanspossible, and some of them did kill theirMessenger.وَجَادَلُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ‏ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ‏ الْحَ‏ َّق ...and disputed by means of falsehood to refute therewiththe truth.means, they came up with specious argumentswith which to dispute the truth which was so plainand clear.So I seized them,فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ‏means, `I destroyed them, because of the sinsthey committed.'and how was My punishment!﴾ ٥﴿...فَكَيْفَ‏ آَانَ‏ عِقَا ‏ِبmeans, `how have you heard that My punishmentand vengeance was so severe and painful.'Qatadah said,"It was terrible, by Allah.''وَآَذَلِكَ‏ حَق َّتْ‏ آَلِمَتُ‏ رَب ِّكَ‏ عَلَى ال َّذِینَ‏ آَفَرُوا أَن َّهُمْ‏ أَصْحَابُ‏ الن َّا ‏ِر ﴿٦ ﴾Thus has the Word of your Lord been justified againstthose who disbelieved, that they will be the dwellers ofthe Fire................

means, `just as the Word of punishment wasjustified against those of the past nations whodisbelieved, so too is it justified against thesedisbelievers who have rejected you and goneagainst you, O Muhammad, and it is even morejustified against them, because if they havedisbelieved in you, there is no certainty that theywill believe in any other Prophet.'And Allah knows best.ال َّذِینَ‏ یَحْمِلُونَ‏ الْعَرْشَ‏ وَمَنْ‏ حَوْلَهُ‏ یُسَب ِّحُونَ‏ بِحَمْدِ‏ رَب ِّهِمْ‏وَیُؤْمِنُونَ‏ بِهِ‏ وَیَسْتَغْفِرُونَ‏ لِل َّذِینَ‏ ءَامَنُواْ‏40:7 Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allah)and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord,and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for thosewho believe (saying):رَب َّنَا وَسِعْتَ‏ آُل َّ شَىْءٍ‏ ر َّحْمَةً‏ وَعِلْماً‏ فَاغْفِرْ‏ لِل َّذِینَ‏ تَابُواْ‏وَات َّبَعُواْ‏ سَبِيلَكَ‏ وَقِهِمْ‏ عَذَابَ‏ الْجَحِيمِ‏"Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy andknowledge, so forgive those who repent and followYour way, and save them from the torment of theblazing Fire!رَب َّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ‏ جَن َّتِ‏ عَدْنٍ‏ ال َّتِى وَعَدْت َّهُمْ‏ وَمَن صَلَحَ‏مِنْ‏ ءَابَآئِهِمْ‏ وَأَزْوَجِهِمْ‏ وَذُر ِّی َّتِهِمْ‏40:8 Our Lord! And make them enter the `Adn(Eternal) Gardens which you have promised them --and to the righteous among their fathers, theirwives, and their offspring!إِن َّكَ‏ أَنتَ‏ الْعَزِیزُ‏ الْحَكِيمُ‏Verily, You are the Almighty, the All-Wise.8

وَقِهِمُ‏ الس َّي ِّئَتِ‏ وَمَن تَقِ‏ الس َّي ِّئَتِ‏ یَوْمَئِذٍ‏ فَقَدْ‏ رَحِمْتَ‏ ‏ُه40:9 And save them from the sins, and whomsoeverYou save from the sins that Day, him verily, Youhave taken into mercy.''وَذَلِكَ‏ هُوَ‏ الْفَوْزُ‏ الْعَظِيمُ‏And that is the supreme success.The Bearers of the Throne praise Allah and pray forforgiveness for the BelieversAllah tells us that;ال َّذِینَ‏ یَحْمِلُونَ‏ الْعَرْشَ‏ وَمَنْ‏ حَوْلَهُ‏ یُسَب ِّحُونَ‏ بِحَمْدِ‏ رَب ِّهِمْ‏ ...Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allah) and thosearound it glorify the praises of their Lord,Allah tells us that the angels who are close toHim, the bearers of the Throne, and the angelswho are around Him -- all glorify the praises oftheir Lord. They combine glorification (Tasbih)which implies that He is free of any shortcomings,with praise (Tahmid) which is an affirmation ofpraise.and believe in Him,9وَیُؤْمِنُونَ‏ بِهِ‏ ...means, they humbly submit themselves beforeHim.and ask forgiveness for those who believe,وَیَسْتَغْفِرُونَ‏ لِل َّذِینَ‏ آمَنُواmeans, for those among the people of earth whobelieve in the Unseen. Allah commanded that Hisangels who are close to Him should pray for thebelievers in their absence, so it is a part of the.........

angels' nature that they say Amin when abeliever prays for his brother in his absence.In Sahih Muslim it says:إِذَا دَعَا الْمُسْلِمُ‏ لِأَخِيهِ‏ بِظَهْرِ‏ الْغَيْبِ‏ قَالَ‏ الْمَلَ‏ ‏ُك:‏ آمِينَ‏ وَلَكَ‏ بِمِثْلِهWhen a Muslim prays for his brother in hisabsence, the angel says, `Amin, and may youhave something similar to it'.Shahr bin Hawshab said,"The bearers of the Throne are eight; four ofthem say,`Glory and praise be to You, O Allah, toYou be praise for Your forbearance afterYour knowledge. 'Four of them say,`Glory and praise be to You, O Allah, to You bepraise for Your forgiveness after Your power.'When they pray for forgiveness for those who believe,they say:رَب َّنَا وَسِعْتَ‏ آُل َّ شَيْءٍ‏ ر َّحْمَةً‏ وَعِلْمًا ...Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy andknowledge,meaning, `Your mercy encompasses their sinsand Your knowledge encompasses all their deeds,words and action.'10فَاغْفِرْ‏ لِل َّذِینَ‏ تَابُوا وَات َّبَعُوا سَبِيلَ‏ ‏َكso forgive those who repent and follow Your way.''...That is, `forgive the sinners when they repent toYou and turn to You and give up their formerways, following Your commands to do good andabstain from evil.'وَقِهِمْ‏ عَذَابَ‏ الْجَحِي ‏ِم ﴿٧ ﴾and save them from the torment of the blazing Fire!.........

means, `snatch them away from the punishmentof Hell, which is a painful, agonizing punishment.'رَب َّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ‏ جَن َّاتِ‏ عَدْنٍ‏ ال َّتِي وَعَدت َّهُم وَمَن صَلَحَ‏ مِنْ‏ آبَائِهِمْ‏ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ‏وَذُر ِّی َّاتِهِمْ‏ ...Our Lord! And make them enter the `Adn (Eternal)Gardens which you have promised them -- and to therighteous among their fathers, their wives, and theiroffspring!meaning, `bring them together so that they may finddelight in one another in neighboring dwellings.'This is like the Ayah:وَال َّذِینَ‏ ءَامَنُواْ‏ وَات َّبَعَتْهُمْ‏ ذُر ِّی َّتُهُم بِإِیمَنٍ‏ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ‏ ذُر ِّی َّتَهُمْ‏ وَمَآأَلَتْنَهُمْ‏ م ِّنْ‏ عَمَلِهِم م ِّن شَىْءٍ‏And those who believe and whose offspring followthem in faith, -- to them shall We join theiroffspring, and We shall not decrease the rewardof their deeds in anything. (52:21)This means, `that all of them will be made equalin status. In this way they may delight in oneanother's company; the one who is in the higherstatus will not lose anything. On the contrary Wewill raise the one whose deeds are of a lowerstatus so that they will become equal, as a favorand a blessing from Us.'Sa`id bin Jubayr said that;when the believer enters Paradise, he will askwhere his father, son and brother are. It will besaid to him, `they did not reach the same level ofgood deeds as you did'.He will say, `but I did it for my sake and fortheirs.'Then they will be brought to join him in thathigher degree.Then Sa`id bin Jubayr recited this Ayah:11

رَب َّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ‏ جَن َّاتِ‏ عَدْنٍ‏ ال َّتِي وَعَدت َّهُم وَمَن صَلَحَ‏ مِنْ‏آبَائِهِمْ‏ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ‏ وَذُر ِّی َّاتِهِمْ‏ إِن َّكَ‏ أَنتَ‏ الْعَزِیزُ‏ الْحَكِي ‏ُمOur Lord! And make them enter the `Adn(Eternal) Gardens which you havepromised them -- and to the righteousamong their fathers, their wives, and theiroffspring! Verily, You are the Almighty, theAll-Wise.Mutarrif bin Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhkhir said,"The most sincere of the servants of Allahtowards the believers are the angels.''رَب َّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ‏ جَن َّاتِ‏ عَدْنٍ‏ ال َّتِي Ayah: Then he recited this(Our Lord! And make them enter the `Adn وَعَدت َّهُم(Eternal) Paradises which you have promisedthem...)He then said,"The most treacherous of the servants of Allahtowards the believers are the Shayatin.''12﴾ ٨﴿You are the Almighty, the All-Wise.إِن َّكَ‏ أَنتَ‏ الْعَزِیزُ‏ الْحَكِيمُ‏means, `the One Whom none can resist oroverwhelm; what You will happens and what Youdo not will does not happen; You are Wise in allthat You say and do, in all that You legislate anddecree.'And save them from the sins,means, the actions and the consequences.......وَقِهِمُ‏ الس َّي ِّئَاتِ‏وَمَن تَقِ‏ الس َّي ِّئَاتِ‏ یَوْمَئِذٍ‏and whomsoever You save from the sins that Day,...means, the Day of Resurrection,...

... فَقَدْ‏ رَحِمْتَهُ‏ ...him verily, You have taken into mercy.means, `You have protected him and saved himfrom punishment.'And that is the supreme success.... وَذَلِكَ‏ هُوَ‏ الْفَوْزُ‏ الْعَظِيمُ‏ ﴿٩ ﴾إِن َّ ال َّذِینَ‏ آَفَرُواْ‏ یُنَادَوْنَ‏40:10 Those who disbelieve will be addressed:لَمَقْتُ‏ الل َّهِ‏ أَآْبَرُ‏ مِن م َّقْتِكُمْ‏ أَنفُسَكُمْ‏ إِذْ‏ تُدْعَوْنَ‏ إِلَىالإِیمَنِ‏ فَتَكْفُرُونَ‏"Indeed, Allah's aversion was greater towards youthan your aversion toward yourselves, when youwere called to the Faith but you used to refuse.''قَالُواْ‏ رَب َّنَآ أَمَت َّنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ‏ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ‏ فَاعْتَرَفْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَافَهَلْ‏ إِلَى خُرُوجٍ‏ م ِّن سَبِيلٍ‏40:11 They will say: "Our Lord! You have made usto die twice, and You have given us life twice! Nowwe confess our sins, then is there any way to getout?''ذَلِكُم بِأَن َّهُ‏ إِذَا دُعِىَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ وَحْدَهُ‏ آَفَرْتُمْ‏ وَإِن یُشْرَكْ‏ بِهِ‏تُؤْمِنُواْ‏ فَالْحُكْمُ‏ لل َّهِ‏ الْعَلِى ِّ الْكَبِيرِ‏40:12 (It will be said): "This is because, when AllahAlone was invoked, you disbelieved; but whenpartners were joined to Him, you believed! So thejudgement is only with Allah, the Most High, theMost Great!''13

هُوَ‏ ال َّذِى یُرِیكُمْ‏ ءَایَتِهِ‏ وَیُنَز ِّلُ‏ لَكُم م ِّنَ‏ الس َّمَآءِ‏ رِزْقاً‏ وَمَایَتَذَآ َّرُ‏ إِ‏ َّلا مَن یُنِي ‏ُب40:13 It is He Who shows you His Ayat and sendsdown provision for you from the sky. And noneremembers but those who turn in repentance.فَادْعُواْ‏ الل َّهَ‏ مُخْلِصِينَ‏ لَهُ‏ الد ِّینَ‏ وَلَوْ‏ آَرِهَ‏ الْكَفِرُونَ‏40:14 So, call you upon Allah making religionsincerely for Him, however much the disbelieversmay hate.The Regret of the Disbelievers after They enter HellAllah tells;14...Those who disbelieve will be addressed:إِن َّ ال َّذِینَ‏ آَفَرُوا یُنَادَوْنَ‏Allah tells us that the disbelievers will feel regreton the Day of Resurrection, when they enter Helland sink in the agonizing depth of fire. When theyactually experience the unbearable punishment ofAllah, they will hate themselves with the utmosthatred, because of the sins they committed in thepast, which were the cause of their entering theFire. At that point the angels will tell them in aloud voice that Allah's hatred towards them in thisworld, when Faith was offered to them and theyrejected it, is greater than their hatred towardsthemselves in this situation.Qatadah said, concerning the Ayah:لَمَقْتُ‏ الل َّهِ‏ أَآْبَرُ‏ مِن م َّقْتِكُمْ‏ أَنفُسَكُمْ‏ إِذْ‏ تُدْعَوْنَ‏ إِلَى الْإِیمَانِ‏ فَتَكْفُرُونَ‏ ﴿١٠ ﴾Indeed, Allah's aversion was greater towards you thanyour aversion toward yourselves, when you were calledto the Faith but you used to refuse....

"Allah's hatred for the people of misguidance --when Faith is presented to them in this world,and they turn away from it and refuse to accept it-- is greater than their hatred for themselveswhen they see the punishment of Allah with theirown eyes on the Day of Resurrection.''This was also the view of Al-Hasan Al-Basri,Mujahid, As-Suddi, Dharr bin Ubaydullah Al-Hamdani, Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam andIbn Jarir At-Tabari, may Allah have mercy onthem all.﴾ ١١﴿قَالُوا رَب َّنَا أَمَت َّنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ‏ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ‏ ...فَاعْتَرَفْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا فَهَلْ‏ إِلَى خُرُوجٍ‏ م ِّن سَبِيلٍ‏They will say: "Our Lord! You have made us to die twice,and You have given us life twice!...''Ath-Thawri narrated from Abu Ishaq from Abu Al-Ahwasfrom Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him:"This Ayah is like the Ayah:آَيْفَ‏ تَكْفُرُونَ‏ بِالل َّهِ‏ وَآُنتُمْ‏ أَمْوَتًا فَأَحْيَكُمْ‏ ثُم َّ یُمِيتُكُمْ‏ ثُم َّ یُحْيِيكُمْ‏ ثُ َّمإِلَيْهِ‏ تُرْجَعُونَ‏How can you disbelieve in Allah Seeing that youwere dead and He gave you life. Then He will giveyou death, then again will bring you to life andthen unto Him you will return. ''(2:28)This was also the view of Ibn Abbas, Ad-Dahhak,Qatadah and Abu Malik.This is undoubtedly the correct view. What ismeant by all of this is that when they arestanding before Allah in the arena ofResurrection, the disbelievers will ask to go back,as Allah says:وَلَوْ‏ تَرَى إِذِ‏ الْمُجْرِمُونَ‏ نَاآِسُواْ‏ رُءُوسِهِمْ‏ عِندَ‏ رَب ِّهِمْ‏ رَب َّنَآأَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ‏ صَلِحاً‏ إِن َّا مُوقِنُونَ‏15...

And if you only could see when the criminals shallhang their heads before their Lord (saying):"Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so sendus back, that we will do righteous good deeds.Verily, we now believe with certainty.'' (32:12)However, they will get no response. Then whenthey see the Fire and they are held over it andthey look at the punishments therein, they willask even more fervently than before to go back,but they will get no response.Allah says:وَلَوْ‏ تَرَى إِذْ‏ وُقِفُواْ‏ عَلَى الن َّارِ‏ فَقَالُواْ‏ یلَيْتَنَا نُرَد ُّ وَلاَ‏ نُكَذ ِّبَ‏ بَِایَتِ‏رَب ِّنَا وَنَكُونَ‏ مِنَ‏ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏بَلْ‏ بَدَا لَهُمْ‏ م َّا آَانُواْ‏ یُخْفُونَ‏ مِن قَبْلُ‏ وَلَوْ‏ رُد ُّواْ‏ لَعَدُواْ‏ لِمَا نُهُواْ‏عَنْهُ‏ وَإِن َّهُمْ‏ لَكَذِبُو ‏َنIf you could but see when they will be held overthe (Hell) Fire! They will say: "Would that wewere but sent back (to the world)! Then we wouldnot deny the Ayat of our Lord, and we would beof the believers!''Nay, it has become manifest to them what theyhad been concealing before. But if they werereturned, they would certainly revert to thatwhich they were forbidden. And indeed they areliars. (6:27-28)When they actually enter Hell and have a taste ofits heat, hooked rods of iron and chains, theirplea to go back will be at its most desperate andfervent:وَهُمْ‏ یَصْطَرِخُونَ‏ فِيهَا رَب َّنَآ أَخْرِجْنَا نَعْمَلْ‏ صَلِحاً‏ غَيْرَ‏ ال َّذِىآُن َّا نَعْمَلُ‏ أَوَلَمْ‏ نُعَم ِّرْآُمْ‏ م َّا یَتَذَآ َّرُ‏ فِيهِ‏ مَن تَذَآ َّرَ‏ وَجَآءَآُمُ‏ الن َّذِیرُ‏فَذُوقُواْ‏ فَمَا لِلظ َّلِمِينَ‏ مِن ن َّصِيرٍ‏Therein they will cry: "Our Lord! Bring us out, weshall do righteous good deeds, not that we useddo.''16

(Allah will reply): "Did We not give you lives longenough, so that whosoever would receiveadmonition could receive it, and the warner cameto you. So taste you. For the wrongdoers there isno helper.'' (35:37)رَب َّنَآ أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْهَا فَإِنْ‏ عُدْنَا فَإِن َّا ظَلِمُونَ‏قَالَ‏ اخْسَئُواْ‏ فِيهَا وَلاَ‏ تُكَل ِّمُونِ‏Our Lord! Bring us out of this. If ever we return(to evil), then indeed we shall be wrongdoers.''He (Allah) will say: "Remain you in it withignominy! And speak you not to Me! (23:108)According to this Ayah, they will speak more eloquently,رَب َّنَا أَمَت َّنَا words: and they will introduce their plea with the(Our Lord! You have made us to die اثْنَتَيْنِ‏ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ‏twice, and You have given us life twice!)meaning, `by Your almighty power, You havebrought us to life after we were dead, then Youcaused us to die after we were alive; You are ableto do whatever You will. فَاعْتَرَفْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا (Now weconfess our sins), i.e. We confess our sins andadmit that we wronged ourselves in the world,'﴾ ١١﴿then is there any way to get out?فَهَلْ‏ إِلَى خُرُوجٍ‏ م ِّن سَبِيلٍ‏means, `will You answer our prayer to send usback to the world, for You are able to do that, sothat we might do deeds different from thosewhich we used to do. Then if we go back to ourformer ways, we will indeed be wrongdoers.'The response will be: `There is no way for you togo back to the world.' Then the reason for thatwill be given: `Your nature will not accept thetruth and be governed by it, you would reject itand ignore it.'...17

Allah says:ذَلِكُم بِأَن َّهُ‏ إِذَا دُعِيَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ وَحْدَهُ‏ آَفَرْتُمْ‏ وَإِن یُشْرَكْ‏ بِهِ‏ تُؤْمِنُوا ...(It will be said): "This is because, when Allah Alone wasinvoked (in worship), you disbelieved; but when partnerswere joined to Him, you believed!''meaning, `if you were to go back, this is how youwould be.'This is like the Ayah:وَلَوْ‏ رُد ُّواْ‏ لَعَدُواْ‏ لِمَا نُهُواْ‏ عَنْهُ‏ وَإِن َّهُمْ‏ لَكَذِبُونَ‏But if they were returned (to the world), theywould certainly revert to that when they wereforbidden. And indeed they are liars. (6:28)18فَالْحُكْمُ‏ لِل َّهِ‏ الْعَلِي ِّ الْكَبِيرِ‏ ﴿١٢ ﴾So the judgement is only with Allah, the Most High, theMost Great!means, He is the Judge of His creation, the JustWho is never unjust. He guides whomsoever Hewills and sends astray whomsoever He wills; Hehas mercy on whomsoever He wills and punisheswhomsoever He wills; there is no God exceptHim.It is He Who shows you His Ayat,......هُوَ‏ ال َّذِي یُرِیكُمْ‏ آیَاتِهِ‏means, He demonstrates His power to Hisservants through the mighty signs which they seein His creation, above and below, which indicatethe perfection of its Creator and Originator.وَیُنَز ِّلُ‏ لَكُم م ِّنَ‏ الس َّمَاء رِزْقًا ...and sends down provision for you from the sky.this refers to rain, through which crops and fruitsare brought forth, which with their differentcolors, tastes, fragrances and forms are a sign ofthe Creator. It is one kind of water, but by Hisgreat power He makes all these things different....

... وَمَا یَتَذَآ َّرُ‏ ...And none remembers,means, no one learns a lesson or is reminded bythese things, or takes them as a sign of the mightof the Creator,but those who turn in repentance.19إِل َّا مَن یُنِيبُ‏ ﴿١٣ ﴾which means, those who have insight and turn toAllah, may He be blessed and exalted.The Believers are commanded to worship Allah Alone nomatter what Their CircumstancesAllah says;﴾ ١٤﴿...فَادْعُوا الل َّهَ‏ مُخْلِصِينَ‏ لَهُ‏ الد ِّینَ‏ وَلَوْ‏ آَرِهَ‏ الْكَافِرُونَ‏So, call you upon Allah making religion sincerely for Him,however much the disbelievers may hate.This means, worship Allah and call upon Himalone in all sincerity. Do not be like the idolatorsin conduct and beliefs.Imam Ahmad recorded that after ending every prayer,Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr used to say:"There is no (true) God except Allah Alone withno partner or associate, His is the dominion andpraise, for He is able to do all things; there is nostrength and no power except with Allah; there isno (true) God except Allah and we worship nonebut Him; to Him belongs the blessings and thevirtue and good praise; there is no (true) Godexcept Allah, we worship Him in all sincerity eventhough the disbelievers may hate that.''He said,"The Messenger of Allah used to say Tahlil withthis after every prayer.''

Something similar was also recorded by Muslim,Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i.It was reported in Sahih from Ibn Az-Zubayr, may Allahbe pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah used tosay the following after the prescribed (obligatory)prayers:لَا إِلهَ‏ إِل َّا االلهُ‏ وَحْدَهُ‏ لَا شَرِیكَ‏ لَهُ،‏ لَهُ‏ الْمُلْكُ‏ وَلَهُ‏ الْحَمْدُ،‏ وَهُوَ‏ عَلىآُل ِّ شَيْءٍ‏ قَدِیرٌ،‏ لَا حَوْلَ‏ وَلَا قُو َّةَ‏ إِل َّا بِااللهِ،‏لَا إِلهَ‏ إِل َّا االلهُ،‏ وَلَا نَعْبُدُ‏ إِل َّا إِی َّاهُ،‏ لَهُ‏ الن ِّعْمَةُ‏ وَلَهُ‏ الْفَضْلُ‏ وَلَهُ‏ الث َّنَا ‏ُءالْحَسَنُ،‏لَا إِلهَ‏ إِل َّا االلهُ‏ مُخْلِصِينَ‏ لَهُ‏ الد ِّینَ‏ وَلَوْ‏ آَرِهَ‏ الْكَافِرُونThere is no (true) God except Allah Alone with nopartner or associate, His is the dominion andpraise, for He is able to do all things; there is nostrength and no power except with Allah;there is no (true) God except Allah and weworship none but Him; His is the blessing andvirtue and good praise;there is no (true) God except Allah, we worshipHim in all sincerity even though the disbelievershate that.رَفِيعُ‏ الد َّرَجَتِ‏ ذُو الْعَرْشِ‏ یُلْقِى الر ُّوحَ‏ مِنْ‏ أَمْرِهِ‏ عَلَىمَن یَشَآءُ‏ مِنْ‏ عِبَادِهِ‏ لِيُنذِرَ‏ یَوْمَ‏ الت َّلاَقِ‏40:15 (He is Allah) Owner of high ranks anddegrees, the Owner of the Throne. He sends therevelation by His command to any of His servantsHe wills, that he may warn of the Day of MutualMeeting.20

یَوْمَ‏ هُم بَرِزُونَ‏ لاَ‏ یَخْفَى عَلَى الل َّهِ‏ مِنْهُمْ‏ شَىْءٌ‏40:16 The Day when they will come out, nothing ofthem will be hidden from Allah.ل ِّمَنِ‏ الْمُلْكُ‏ الْيَوْمَ‏ لِل َّهِ‏ الْوَحِدِ‏ الْقَه َّا ‏ِرWhose is the kingdom this Day? It is Allah's, theOne, the Irresistible!الْيَوْمَ‏ تُجْزَى آُل ُّ نَفْسٍ‏ بِمَا آَسَبَتْ‏ لاَ‏ ظُلْمَ‏ الْيَوْمَ‏40:17 This Day shall every person be recompensedfor what he earned. This Day no injustice.إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ سَرِیعُ‏ الْحِسَابِ‏Truly, Allah is swift in reckoning.Allah sends the Revelation to warn His Servants of the Day ofMutual MeetingAllah tells us of His might and pride, and that His Mighty Throneis raised above21رَفِيعُ‏ الد َّرَجَاتِ‏ ذُو الْعَرْ‏ ‏ِش ...(He is Allah) Owner of high ranks and degrees, theOwner of the Throne.Allah tells us of His might and pride, and that HisMighty Throne is raised above all of His creationlike a roof.This is like the Ayah:م ِّنَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ ذِي الْمَعَارِ‏ ‏ِجتَعْرُجُ‏ الْمَلَئِكَةُ‏ وَالر ُّوحُ‏ إِلَيْهِ‏ فِى یَوْمٍ‏ آَانَ‏ مِقْدَارُهُ‏ خَمْسِينَ‏ أَلْفَ‏سَنَةٍ‏

From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. Theangels and the Ruh (Jibril) ascend to Him in aDay the measure whereof is fifty thousand years.(70:3-4)If Allah wills, we will discuss below which is the mostcorrect view the distance between the Throne and theseventh earth according to a group of earlier and laterscholars. More than one scholar said that the Throne ismade of red rubies. The width between two corners of itis the distance of a fifty thousand year long journey andits height above the seventh earth is the distance of afifty thousand years long journey.یُلْقِي الر ُّوحَ‏ مِنْ‏ أَمْرِهِ‏ عَلَى مَن یَشَاء مِنْ‏ عِبَادِهِ‏ ...He sends the revelation of His command to any of Hisservants He wills,This is like the Ayat:یُنَز ِّلُ‏ الْمَلَئِكَةَ‏ بِالْر ُّوحِ‏ مِنْ‏ أَمْرِهِ‏ عَلَى مَن یَشَآءُ‏ مِنْ‏ عِبَادِهِ‏ أَنْ‏أَنْذِرُواْ‏ أَن َّهُ‏ لاَ‏ إِلَهَ‏ إِلاَ‏ أَنَاْ‏ فَات َّقُو ‏ِنHe sends down the angels with the Ruh(revelation) of His command to whom of Hisservants He wills (saying): "Warn mankind thatnone has the right to be worshipped but I, sohave Taqwa of Me.'' (16:2)and,وَإِن َّهُ‏ لَتَنزِیلُ‏ رَب ِّ الْعَلَمِينَ‏نَزَلَ‏ بِهِ‏ الر ُّوحُ‏ الا ٌّمِينُ‏عَلَى قَلْبِكَ‏ لِتَكُونَ‏ مِنَ‏ الْمُنْذِرِینَ‏And truly, this is a revelation from the Lord of allthat exits, Which the trustworthy Ruh (Jibril) hasbrought down Upon your heart that you may be(one) of the warners. (26:192-194)Allah says:...22... لِيُنذِرَ‏ یَوْمَ‏ الت َّلَاقِ‏ ﴿١٥ ﴾

that he may warn (men) of the Day of Mutual Meeting.Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said:"The Day of Mutual Meeting is one of the namesof the Day of Resurrection, of which Allah warnsHis servants.''That is the Day when everyone will find out about hisdeeds, good and bad.یَوْمَ‏ هُم بَارِزُونَ‏ لَا یَخْفَى عَلَى الل َّهِ‏ مِنْهُمْ‏ شَيْءٌ‏ ...The Day when they will come out, nothing of them willbe hidden from Allah.means, they will all appear in the open, withnothing to give them shelter or shade, or coverیَوْمَ‏ هُم بَارِزُونَ‏ لَا یَخْفَى عَلَى الل َّهِ‏ مِنْهُمْ‏ says: them. Allah(The Day when they will come out, nothing شَيْءٌ‏of them will be hidden from Allah).meaning, everything will be equally known toHim.ل ِّمَنِ‏ الْمُلْكُ‏ الْيَوْمَ‏ لِل َّهِ‏ الْوَاحِدِ‏ الْقَه َّارِ‏ ﴿١٦ ﴾Whose is the kingdom this Day It is Allah's, the One, theIrresistible!We have already mentioned the Hadith of Ibn Umar, mayAllah be pleased with him, that Allah will roll up theheavens and the earth in His Hand and will say,أَنَا الْمَلِكُ،‏ أَنَا الْجَب َّارُ،‏ أَنَا الْمُتَكَب ِّرُ،‏ أَیْنَ‏ مُلُوكُ‏ الْأَرْضِ؟ أَیْنَ‏الْجَب َّارُونَ؟ أَیْنَ‏ الْمُتَكَب ِّرُونَ؟"I am the King, I am the Compeller, I am theProud, where are the kings of the earth? Whereare the tyrants? Where are the proud?''In the Hadith about the Trumpet, it says that Allah willtake the souls of all of His creatures, and there will benone left but Him Alone, with no partner or associate.Then He will say,"Whose is the kingdom today'' three times,23...

لِل َّهِ‏ الْوَاحِدِ‏ saying, and He will answer Himself byIrresistible!) (It is Allah's, the One, the الْقَه َّارmeaning, He is the Only One Who has subjugatedall things.الْيَوْمَ‏ تُجْزَى آُل ُّ نَفْسٍ‏ بِمَا آَسَبَتْ‏ لَا ظُلْمَ‏ الْيَوْمَ‏ إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ سَرِیعُ‏ الْحِسَابِ‏﴾ ١٧﴿This Day shall every person be recompensed for what heearned. This Day no injustice (shall be done to anybody).Truly, Allah is swift in reckoning.Here Allah tells us of His justice when He judgesbetween His creation; He does not do even aspeck of dust's weight of injustice, whether it befor good or for evil. For every good deed He givesa tenfold reward and for every bad deed He givesلَا ظُلْمَ‏ says: recompense of one bad deed. Allah(This Day no injustice (shall be done to الْيَوْمَ‏anybody)).It was reported in Sahih Muslim from Abu Dharr, mayAllah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allahsaid that Allah said:یَا عِبَادِي إِن ِّي حَر َّمْتُ‏ الظ ُّلْمَ‏ عَلى نَفْسِي وَجَعَلْتُهُ‏ بَيْنَكُمْ‏ مُحَر َّمًافَلَا تَظَالَمُوا24إلى أنقال یَا عِبَادِي إِن َّمَا هِيَ‏ أَعْمَالُكُمْ‏ أُحْصِيهَا عَلَيْكُمْ‏ ثُم َّ أُوَف ِّيكُمْ‏ إِی َّاهَا،‏فَمَنْ‏ وَجَدَ‏ خَيْرًا فَلْيَحْمَدِ‏ االلهَ‏ تَبَارَكَ‏ وَتَعَالَى،‏ وَمَنْ‏ وَجَدَ‏ غَيْرَ‏ ذَلِكَ‏فَلَا یَلُومَن َّ إِل َّا نَفْسَه"O My servants, I have forbidden injustice forMyself, and made it unlawful for you, so do notcommit injustice to one another ...''up to:"O My servants, these are your deeds, I recordthem for you then I will recompense you forthem. Whoever finds something good, let himgive praise to Allah, and whoever finds something

other than that, let him blame no one buthimself.''Truly, Allah is swift in reckoning.إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ سَرِیعُ‏ الْحِسَابِ‏means, He will bring all His creation to account asif He is bringing just one person to account.This is like the Ayah:م َّا خَلْقُكُمْ‏ وَلاَ‏ بَعْثُكُمْ‏ إِلا َّ آَنَفْسٍ‏ وَحِدَةٍ‏The creation of you all and the resurrection of youall are only as a single person, (31: 28)وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلا َّ وَحِدَةٌ‏ آَلَمْحٍ‏ بِالْبَصَ‏ ‏ِرAnd Our commandment is but one as thetwinkling of an eye. (54:50)...وَأَنذِرْهُمْ‏ یَوْمَ‏ الا ٌّزِفَةِ‏ إِذِ‏ الْقُلُوبُ‏ لَدَى الْحَنَاجِرِ‏ آَظِمِينَ‏مَا لِلظ َّلِمِينَ‏ مِنْ‏ حَمِيمٍ‏ وَلاَ‏ شَفِيعٍ‏ یُطَاعُ‏40:18 And warn them of the Day that is drawingnear, when the hearts will be at the throatsKazimin. There will be no friend, nor an intercessorfor the wrongdoers, who could be given heed to.یَعْلَمُ‏ خَآئِنَةَ‏ الا ٌّعْيُنِ‏ وَمَا تُخْفِى الص ُّدُورُ‏40:19 Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and allthat the breasts conceal.وَالل َّهُ‏ یَقْضِى بِالْحَق ِّ وَال َّذِینَ‏ یَدْعُونَ‏ مِن دُونِهِ‏ لاَ‏ یَقْضُونَ‏بِشَىْءٍ‏40:20 And Allah judges with truth, while those towhom they invoke besides Him, cannot judgeanything.25

إِ‏ َّن الل َّهَ‏ هُوَ‏ الس َّمِيعُ‏ الْبَصِي ‏ُرCertainly, Allah! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.Warning of the Day of Resurrection and Allah's judgement onthat DayAllah says:And warn them of the Day that is drawing near,26وَأَنذِرْهُمْ‏ یَوْمَ‏ الْآزِفَةِ‏ ...`The Day that is drawing near' is one of thenames of the Day of Judgement. It is so calledbecause it is close, as Allah says:أَزِفَتِ‏ الا ٌّزِفَةُ‏لَيْسَ‏ لَهَا مِن دُونِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ آَاشِفَةٌ‏The Day of Resurrection draws near. Nonebesides Allah can avert it. (53:57-58)اقْتَرَبَتِ‏ الس َّاعَةُ‏ وَانشَق َّ الْقَمَرُ‏The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has beencleft asunder. (54:1)اقْتَرَبَ‏ لِلن َّاسِ‏ حِسَبُهُمْ‏Draws near for mankind their reckoning. (21:1)أَتَى أَمْرُ‏ الل َّهِ‏ فَلاَ‏ تَسْتَعْجِلُوُهThe Event (the Hour) ordained by Allah will cometo pass, so seek not to hasten it. (16:1)فَلَم َّا رَأَوْهُ‏ زُلْفَةً‏ سِيئَتْ‏ وُجُوهُ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ آَفَرُواْ‏But when they will see it approaching, the facesof those who disbelieve will change and turn blackwith sadness and in grief. (67:27)

and27إِذِ‏ الْقُلُوبُ‏ لَدَى الْحَنَاجِرِ‏ آَاظِمِينَ‏when the hearts will be at the throats Kazimin.Qatadah said,..."When the hearts reach the throats because offear, and they will neither come out nor go backto their places.''This was also the view of Ikrimah, As-Suddi andothers.(Kazimin), آَاظِمِينَ‏means silent, for no one will speak without Hispermission:یَوْمَ‏ یَقُومُ‏ الر ُّوحُ‏ وَالْمَلَئِكَةُ‏ صَفّاً‏ لا َّ یَتَكَل َّمُونَ‏ إِلا َّ مَنْ‏ أَذِنَ‏ لَهُ‏الر َّحْمَنُ‏ وَقَالَ‏ صَوَابًاThe Day that Ar-Ruh (Jibril) and the angels willstand forth in rows, they will not speak excepthim whom the Most Gracious allows, and he willspeak what is right. (78:38)Ibn Jurayj said: آَاظِمِينَ‏ (Kazimin),"It means weeping.''مَا لِلظ َّالِمِينَ‏ مِنْ‏ حَمِيمٍ‏ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ‏ یُطَاعُ‏ ﴿١٨ ﴾There will be no friend, nor an intercessor for thewrongdoers, who could be given heed to.means, those who wronged themselves byassociating others in worship with Allah, will haveno relative to help them and no intercessor whocan plead on their behalf; all means of good willbe cut off from them.﴾ ١٩﴿......یَعْلَمُ‏ خَائِنَةَ‏ الْأَعْيُنِ‏ وَمَا تُخْفِي الص ُّدُورُ‏Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that thebreasts conceal.

Allah tells us about His complete knowledge whichencompasses all things, great and small, majorand minor, so that people will take note that. Heknows about them and they will have the propersense of shyness before Allah. They will payattention to the fact that He can see them, for Heknows the fraud of the eyes, even if the eyes lookinnocent, and He knows what the hearts conceal.Ad-Dahhak said: خَائِنَةَ‏ الْأَعْيُنِ‏ (the fraud of the eyes),"A wink and a man saying that he has seensomething when he has not seen it, or saying thathe has not seen it when he did see it.''Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,"Allah knows when the eye looks at something,whether it wants to commit an act of betrayal ornot.''This was also the view of Mujahid and Qatadah.Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, commentedon the Ayah: وَمَا تُخْفِي الص ُّدُورُ‏ (and all that the breastsconceal)."He knows, if you were able to, whether youwould commit Zina with a woman or not.''As-Suddi said: وَمَا تُخْفِي الص ُّدُورُ‏ (and all that the breastsconceal).meaning, of insinuating whispers.And Allah judges with truth,means, He judges with justice.28وَالل َّهُ‏ یَقْضِي بِالْحَ‏ ِّق ...Al-A`mash narrated from Sa`id bin Jubayr from IbnAbbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that this Ayahmeans:"He is able to reward those who do good withgood and those who do evil with evil.''

إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ هُوَ‏ ال س َّمِيعُ‏ الْبَصِي ‏ُرCertainly, Allah! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.This is how it was interpreted by Ibn Abbas, mayAllah be pleased with him.This is like the Ayah:لِيَجْزِىَ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ أَسَاءُواْ‏ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ‏ وَیِجْزِى ال َّذِینَ‏ أَحْسَنُواْ‏بِالْحُسْنَىthat He may requite those who do evil with thatwhich they have done, and reward those who dogood, with what is best. (53:31)......وَال َّذِینَ‏ یَدْعُونَ‏ مِن دُونِهِ‏ لَا یَقْضُونَ‏ بِشَيْءٍ‏while those to whom they invoke besides Him, cannotjudge anything.(while those to whom they وَال َّذِینَ‏ یَدْعُونَ‏ مِن دُونِهِ‏invoke besides Him), means, the idols and falsegods,means, (cannot judge anything). لَا یَقْضُونَ‏ بِشَيْءٍ‏they do not possess anything and they cannotjudge anything.إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ هُوَ‏ الس َّمِيعُ‏ الْبَصِي ‏ُر ﴿٢٠ ﴾Certainly, Allah! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.means, He hears all that His creatures say and Heknows all about them, so He guides whomsoeverHe wills and sends astray whomsoever He wills.And He judges with perfect justice in all of that.......أَوَلَمْ‏ یَسِيروُاْ‏ فِى الا ٌّرْضِ‏ فَيَنظُرُواْ‏ آَيْفَ‏ آَانَ‏ عَقِبَةُ‏ال َّذِینَ‏ آَانُواْ‏ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ‏40:21 Have they not traveled in the land and seenwhat was the end of those who were before them?29

آَانُواْ‏ هُمْ‏ أَشَد َّ مِنْهُمْ‏ قُو َّةً‏ وَءَاثَاراً‏ فِى الا ٌّرْ‏ ‏ِضThey were superior to them in strength, and in thetraces in the land.فَأَخَذَهُمُ‏ الل َّهُ‏ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ‏ وَمَا آَانَ‏ لَهُم م ِّنَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ مِن وَاقٍ‏But Allah seized them with punishment for theirsins. And none had they to protect them from Allah.ذَلِكَ‏ بِأَن َّهُمْ‏ آَانَت ت َّأْتِيهِمْ‏ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَي ِّنَتِ‏ فَكَفَرُواْ‏ فَأَخَذَهُمُ‏الل َّهُ‏40:22 That was because there came to them theirMessengers with clear evidences but theydisbelieved (in them). So Allah seized them.إِن َّهُ‏ قَوِى ٌّ شَدِیدُ‏ الْعِقَابِ‏Verily, He is All-Strong, Severe in punishment.The Severe Punishment for the DisbelieversAllah says,Have they not traveled,30أَوَ‏ لَمْ‏ یَسِيرُوا ...`these people who disbelieve in your Message, OMuhammad,'فِي الْأَرْضِ‏ فَيَنظُرُوا آَيْفَ‏ آَانَ‏ عَاقِبَةُ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ آَانُوا مِن قَبْلِهِمْ‏ ...in the land and seen what was the end of those whowere before them,means, the nations of the past who disbelieved intheir Prophets (peace be upon them), for whichthe punishment came upon them even thoughthey were stronger than Quraysh....

They were superior to them in strength,and in the traces in the land.31آَانُوا هُمْ‏ أَشَد َّ مِنْهُمْ‏ قُو َّةً‏ ...وَآثَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ‏means, they left behind traces in the earth, suchas structures, buildings and dwellings which thesepeople (i.e., the Quraysh) cannot match. This islike the Ayat:...وَلَقَدْ‏ مَك َّنَهُمْ‏ فِيمَآ إِن م َّك َّن َّكُمْ‏ فِيهِ‏And indeed We had firmly established them withthat wherewith We have not established you!(46:26)وَأَثَارُواْ‏ الا ٌّرْضَ‏ وَعَمَرُوهَآ أَآْثَرَ‏ مِم َّا عَمَرُوهَاand they tilled the earth and populated it ingreater numbers than these have done. (30:9)فَأَخَذَهُمُ‏ الل َّهُ‏ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ‏But Allah seized them with punishment for their sins.Yet despite this great strength, Allah punishedthem for their sin, which was their disbelief intheir Messengers.﴾ ٢١﴿...وَمَا آَانَ‏ لَهُم م ِّنَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ مِن وَاقٍ‏And none had they to protect them from Allah.means, they had no one who could protect themor ward off the punishment from them.Then Allah mentions the reason why He punished them,and the sins which they committed.Allah says:...............ذَلِكَ‏ بِأَن َّهُمْ‏ آَانَت ت َّأْتِيهِمْ‏ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَي ِّنَا ‏ِتThat was because there came to them their Messengerswith clear evidences,meaning with clear proof and definitive evidence.

ut they disbelieved.فَكَفَرُواmeans, despite all these signs, they disbelievedand rejected the Message.So Allah seized them........فَأَخَذَهُمُ‏ الل َّهُ‏means, He destroyed them utterly, and a similarfate awaits the disbelievers.﴾ ٢٢﴿Verily, He is All-Strong, Severe in punishment.إِن َّهُ‏ قَوِي ٌّ شَدِیدُ‏ الْعِقَابِ‏means, He is possessed of great strength andmight.punishment), (Severe in شَدِیدُ‏ الْعِقَابِ‏means, His punishment is severe and agonizing;we seek refuge with Allah, may He be blessed andexalted, from that.........وَلَقَدْ‏ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَى بَِایَتِنَا وَسُلْطَانٍ‏ م ُّبِينٍ‏40:23 And indeed We sent Musa with Our Ayat, anda manifest authority,إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ‏ وَهَمَنَ‏ وَقَشرُونَ‏ فَقَالُواْ‏ سَحِرٌ‏ آَذ َّابٌ‏40:24 To Fir`awn, Haman and Qarun, but theycalled (him): "A sorcerer, a liar!''فَلَم َّا جَآءَهُمْ‏ بِالْحَق ِّ مِنْ‏ عِندِنَا قَالُواْ‏ اقْتُلُواْ‏ أَبْنَآءَ‏ ال َّذِی ‏َنءَامَنُواْ‏ مَعَهُ‏ وَاسْتَحْيُواْ‏ نِسَآءَهُمْ‏40:25 Then, when he brought them the Truth fromUs, they said: "Kill with him the sons of those whobelieve and let their women live;''32

وَمَا آَيْدُ‏ الْكَفِرِینَ‏ إِلا َّ فِى ضَلَ ‏ٍلbut the plots of disbelievers are nothing but in vain!وَقَالَ‏ فِرْعَوْنُ‏ ذَرُونِى أَقْتُلْ‏ مُوسَى وَلْيَدْعُ‏ رَب َّهُ‏40:26 Fir`awn said: "Leave me to kill Musa, and lethim call his Lord!إِن ِّى أَخَافُ‏ أَن یُبَد ِّلَ‏ دِینَكُمْ‏ أَوْ‏ أَن یُظْهِرَ‏ فِى الا ٌّرْ‏ ‏ِضالْفَسَادَ‏I fear that he may change your religion, or that hemay cause mischief to appear in the land!''وَقَالَ‏ مُوسَى إِن ِّى عُذْتُ‏ بِرَب ِّى وَرَب ِّكُمْ‏ م ِّن آُل ِّ مُتَكَب ِّرٍ‏ َّلایُؤْمِنُ‏ بِيَوْمِ‏ الْحِسَابِ‏40:27 Musa said: "Verily, I seek refuge in my Lordand your Lord from every arrogant who believes notin the Day of Reckoning!''The Story of Musa and Fir`awnAllah says,And indeed We sent Musa,وَلَقَدْ‏ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَى ...Allah consoles His Prophet Muhammad for thedisbelief of his people and gives him the gladtidings of good consequences and victory in thisworld and the Hereafter, as happened to Musa binImran, peace be upon him, whom Allah sent withclear proof and definitive evidence.Allah says:33... بِآیَاتِنَا وَسُلْطَانٍ‏ م ُّبِينٍ‏ ﴿٢٣ ﴾

with Our Ayat, and a manifest authority.Authority means proof and evidence.إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ‏to Fir`awn, (who was the king of the Copts of Egypt).Haman, (who was his adviser)....... وَهَامَانَ‏ ...... ‏َن وَقَارُو ...and Qarun, (who was the richest trader among thepeople of his time).34﴾ ٢٤﴿but they called (him): "A sorcerer, liar!''فَقَالُوا سَاحِرٌ‏ آَذ َّابٌ‏means, they rejected him and thought he was asorcerer, a madman and an illusionist who wastelling lies about having been sent by Allah.This is like the Ayah:آَذَلِكَ‏ مَآ أَتَى ال َّذِینَ‏ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ‏ م ِّن ر َّسُولٍ‏ إِلا َّ قَالُواْ‏ سَحِرٌ‏ أَوْ‏مَجْنُونٌ‏أَتَوَاصَوْاْ‏ بِهِ‏ بَلْ‏ هُمْ‏ قَوْمٌ‏ طَغُونَ‏Likewise, no Messenger came to those beforethem but they said: "A sorcerer or a madman!''Have they transmitted this saying to these?Nay, they are themselves a people transgressingbeyond bounds! (51:52-53)...فَلَم َّا جَاءهُم بِالْحَق ِّ مِنْ‏ عِندِنَا ق ...Then, when he brought them the Truth from Us,means, with definite evidence that Allah had senthim to them,

‏...َالُوا اقْتُلُوا أَبْنَاء ال َّذِینَ‏ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ‏ وَاسْتَحْيُوا نِسَاءهُمْ‏ ...they said: "Kill with him the sons of those who believeand let their women live;"This was a second command from Fir`awn to killthe males of the Children of Israel. The firstcommand had been as a precaution against theemergence of a man like Musa, or an act intendedto humiliate this people or reduce their numbersor both. The second command was for the secondreason, to humiliate the people so that theywould regard Musa as a bad omen. they said:أُوذِینَا مِن قَبْلِ‏ أَن تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِن بَعْدِ‏ مَا جِئْتَنَا قَالَ‏ عَسَى رَب ُّكُمْ‏ أَنیُهْلِكَ‏ عَدُو َّآُمْ‏ وَیَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ‏ فِى الا ٌّرْضِ‏ فَيَنظُرَ‏ آَيْفَ‏ تَعْمَلُونَ‏"We (Children of Israel) had suffered troublesbefore you came to us, and since you have cometo us.''He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroyyour enemy and make you successors on theearth, so that He may see how you act.'' (7:129)Qatadah said, this was one command afteranother.﴾ ٢٥﴿35وَمَا آَيْدُ‏ الْكَافِرِینَ‏ إِل َّا فِي ضَلَا ‏ٍلbut the plots of disbelievers are nothing but in vain!means, their schemes and intentions -- to reducethe numbers of the Children of Israel lest theyprevail over them -- were doomed to failure.......وَقَالَ‏ فِرْعَوْنُ‏ ذَرُونِي أَقْتُلْ‏ مُوسَى وَلْيَدْعُ‏ رَب َّ ‏ُهFir`awn said: "Leave me to kill Musa, and let him call hisLord!...''Fir`awn, may Allah curse him, resolved to killMusa, peace be upon him, i.e., he said to hispeople, `let me kill him for you.'

Lord!), (and let him call his وَلْيَدْعُ‏ رَب َّهُ‏means, `I do not care.' This is the utmost inoffensive stubbornness.إِن ِّي أَخَافُ‏ أَن یُبَد ِّلَ‏ دِینَكُمْ‏ أَوْ‏ أَن یُظْهِرَ‏ فِي الْأَرْضِ‏ الْفَسَادَ‏ ﴿٢٦ ﴾I fear that he may change your religion, or that he maycause mischief to appear in the land! (means, Musa);Fir`awn was afraid that Musa would lead hispeople astray and change their ways andcustoms. As if Fir`awn would be concerned aboutwhat Musa might do to his people!The majority understood this as meaning, `he willchange your religion and cause mischief to appearin the land.'وَقَالَ‏ مُوسَى إِن ِّي عُذْتُ‏ بِرَب ِّي وَرَب ِّكُم م ِّن آُل ِّ مُتَكَب ِّرٍ‏ ل َّا یُؤْمِنُ‏ بِيَوْمِ‏٢٧﴿ ﴾ الْحِسَابِ‏Musa said: "Verily, I seek refuge in my Lord and yourLord from every arrogant who believes not in the Day ofReckoning!''means, when he heard that Fir`awn had said,Musa, (Leave me to kill Musa), ذَرُونِي أَقْتُلْ‏ مُوسَىpeace be upon him, said, "I seek refuge andprotection with Allah from his evil and the evil ofthose like him.''So he said: إِن ِّي عُذْتُ‏ بِرَب ِّي وَرَب ِّكُم (Verily, I seek refugein my Lord and your Lord) -- those who werebeing addressed here -- م ِّن آُل ِّ مُتَكَب ِّرٍ‏ (from everyل َّا یُؤْمِنُ‏ بِيَوْمِ‏ evildoer, arrogant) means, from every(who believes not in the Day of الْحِسَابِ‏Reckoning!).It was reported in the Hadith narrated from Abu Musa,may Allah be pleased with him, that when the Messengerof Allah was afraid of some people, he would say:...36

اللْهُم َّ إِن َّا نَعُوذُ‏ بِكَ‏ مِنْ‏ شُرُورِهِمْ،‏ وَنَدْرَأُ‏ بِكَ‏ فِي نُحُورِهِمO Allah, we seek refuge in You from their evil andwe seek Your help in repulsing them.وَقَالَ‏ رَجُلٌ‏ م ُّؤْمِنٌ‏ م ِّنْ‏ ءَالِ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ یَكْتُمُ‏ إِیمَنَهُ‏ أَتَقْتُلُونَ‏رَجُلاً‏ أَن یَقُولَ‏ رَب ِّىَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ وَقَدْ‏ جَآءَآُمْ‏ بِالْبَي ِّنَتِ‏ مِن ر َّب ِّكُمْ‏40:28 And a believing man of Fir`awn's family, whohid his Faith said: "Would you kill a man because hesays: `My Lord is Allah,' and he has come to youwith clear signs from your Lord?وَإِن یَكُ‏ آَذِباً‏ فَعَلَيْهِ‏ آَذِبُهُ‏ وَإِن یَكُ‏ صَدِقاً‏ یُصِبْكُمْ‏ بَعْضُ‏ال َّذِى یَعِدُآُمْ‏And if he is a liar, upon him will be (the sin of) hislie; but if he is telling the truth, then some of that(calamity) wherewith he threatens you will befallon you.''إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ لاَ‏ یَهْدِى مَنْ‏ هُوَ‏ مُسْرِفٌ‏ آَذ َّابٌ‏Verily, Allah guides not one who is a transgressor, aliar!یقَومِ‏ لَكُمُ‏ الْمُلْكُ‏ الْيَوْمَ‏ ظَهِرِینَ‏ فِى الا ٌّرْضِ‏ فَمَن یَنصُرُنَامِن بَأْسِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ إِن جَآءَنَا40:29 "O my people! Yours is the kingdom today,you being dominant in the land. But who will saveus from the torment of Allah, should it befall us''قَالَ‏ فِرْعَوْنُ‏ مَآ أُرِیكُمْ‏ إِلا َّ مَآ أَرَى وَمَآ أَهْدِیكُمْ‏ إِلا َّ سَبِيلَ‏الر َّشَادِ‏Fir`awn said: "I show you only that which I see,and I guide you only to the path of right policy!''37

Musa was supported by a believing Man from Fir`awn'sFamilyAllah says,وَقَالَ‏ رَجُلٌ‏ م ُّؤْمِنٌ‏ م ِّنْ‏ آلِ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ یَكْتُمُ‏ إِیمَانَهُ‏ أَتَقْتُلُونَ‏ رَجُلًا أَن یَقُولَ‏رَب ِّيَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ ...And a believing man of Fir`awn's family, who hid hisFaith said: "Would you kill a man because he says: `MyLord is Allah,'The well-known view is that this believing manwas a Coptic (Egyptian) from the family ofFir`awn.As-Suddi said, he was a cousin (son of thepaternal uncle) of Fir`awn. And it was said that hewas the one who was saved along with Musa,peace be upon him.Ibn Jurayj reported that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleasedwith him, said,"No one from among the family of Fir`awnbelieved apart from this man, the wife of Fir`awn,یَا مُوسَى إِن َّ الْمَلَأَ‏ یَأْتَمِرُونَ‏ بِكَ‏ said, and the one who("O Musa! Verily, the chiefs are taking لِيَقْتُلُوكَ‏counsel together about you, to kill you.'')''(28:20)This was narrated by Ibn Abi Hatim.This man concealed his Faith from his people, theEgyptians, and did not reveal it except on this daywhen Fir`awn said, ذَرُونِي أَقْتُلْ‏ مُوسَى (Leave me tokill Musa).The man was seized with anger for the sake ofAllah, and the best of Jihad is to speak a justword before an unjust ruler, as is stated in theHadith. There is no greater example of this thanthe words that this man said to Fir`awn:38

أَتَقْتُلُونَ‏ رَجُلًا أَن یَقُولَ‏ رَب ِّيَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ ...Would you kill a man because he says:`My Lord is Allah,Al-Bukhari narrated a similar story in his Sahih from`Urwah bin Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him,who said:"I said to `bdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As, may Allahbe pleased with him: `Tell me, what was theworst thing the idolators did to the Messenger ofAllah?'He said, `While the Messenger of Allah waspraying in the courtyard of the Ka`bah, Uqbahbin Abi Mu`it came and grabbed the shoulder ofthe Messenger of Allah and started twisting hisgarment so that it strangled him. Abu Bakr, mayAllah be pleased with him, came and grabbed(Uqbah's) shoulder and pushed him away from theProphet, then he said,أَتَقْتُلُونَ‏ رَجُلًا أَن یَقُولَ‏ رَب ِّيَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ وَقَدْ‏ جَاءآُم بِالْبَي ِّنَاتِ‏مِن ر َّب ِّكُمْ‏Would you kill a man because he says:`My Lord is Allah,' and he has come to youwith clear signs from your Lord.'''This was recorded by Al-Bukhari.Allah's saying;39...وَقَدْ‏ جَاءآُم بِالْبَي ِّنَاتِ‏ مِن ر َّب ِّكُمْ‏and he has come to you with clear signs from your Lord,means, "how can you kill a man just because hesays, `My Lord is Allah,' and he brings proof thatwhat he is saying is the truth''Then, for the sake of argument, he went along with themand said,......

وَإِن یَكُ‏ آَاذِبًا فَعَلَيْهِ‏ آَذِبُهُ‏ وَإِن یَكُ‏ صَادِقًا یُصِبْكُم بَعْضُ‏ ال َّذِي یَعِدُآُمْ‏And if he is a liar, upon him will be (the sin of) his lie;but if he is telling the truth, then some of that (calamity)wherewith he threatens you will befall on you.meaning, `if you do not believe in what he issaying, then it is only common sense to leave himalone and not harm him; if he is lying, then Allahwill punish him for his lies in this world and in theHereafter. If he is telling the truth and you harmhim, then some of what he is warning about willhappen to you too, because he is threatening youwith punishment in this world and in theHereafter if you go against him. It is possible thathe is telling the truth in your case, so you shouldleave him and his people alone, and not harmthem.'Allah tells us that Musa asked Fir`awn and his people toleave them in peace, as Allah says:وَلَقَدْ‏ فَتَن َّا قَبْلَهُمْ‏ قَوْمَ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ وَجَآءَهُمْ‏ رَسُولٌ‏ آَرِیمٌ‏أَنْ‏ أَد ُّواْ‏ إِلَى َّ عِبَادَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ إِن ِّى لَكُمْ‏ رَسُولٌ‏ أَمِينٌ‏وَأَن لا َّ تَعْلُواْ‏ عَلَى الل َّهِ‏ إِن ِّى ءَاتِيكُمْ‏ بِسُلْطَانٍ‏ م ُّبِينٍ‏وَإِن ِّى عُذْتُ‏ بِرَب ِّى وَرَب ِّكُمْ‏ أَن تَرْجُمُو ‏ِن40وَإِن ل َّمْ‏ تُؤْمِنُواْ‏ لِى فَاعْتَزِلُونِ‏And indeed We tried before them Fir`awn'speople, when there came to them a nobleMessenger, saying: "Deliver to me the servants ofAllah. Verily, I am to you a Messenger worthy ofall trust. And exalt not yourselves against Allah.Truly, I have come to you with a manifestauthority. And truly, I seek refuge with my Lordand your Lord, lest you should stone me. But ifyou believe me not, then keep away from me andleave me alone.'' (44:17-21)......

Similarly, the Messenger of Allah told the Qurayshto leave him alone and let him call the servants ofAllah to Allah; he asked them not to harm him,and to uphold the ties of kinship that existedbetween him and them, by not harming him.Allah says:قُل لا َّ أَسَْلُكُمْ‏ عَلَيْهِ‏ أَجْراً‏ إِلا َّ الْمَوَد َّةَ‏ فِى الْقُرْبَىSay: "No reward do I ask of you for this except tobe kind to me for my kinship with you.'' (42:23)meaning, `do not harm me, because of the ties ofkinship that exist between me and you; so do notharm me, and let me address my call to thepeople.'This was the basis of the truce agreed upon onthe day of Al-Hudaybiyyah, which was amanifest victory.إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ لَا یَهْدِي مَنْ‏ هُوَ‏ مُسْرِفٌ‏ آَذ َّابٌ‏ ﴿٢٨ ﴾Verily, Allah guides not one who is a transgressor, a liar!means, `if the one who claims to have been sentby Allah is a liar, as you say, this would beobvious to everyone from his words and deeds,for they would be inconsistent and selfcontradictory.But we can see that this man isupright and what he says is consistent. If he wasa sinner and a liar, Allah would not have guidedhim and made his words and actions rational andconsistent as you see them.'Then this believer warned his people that theywould lose the blessings Allah bestowed uponthem and that the vengeance of Allah would befallthem:...41...یَا قَوْمِ‏ لَكُمُ‏ الْمُلْكُ‏ الْيَوْمَ‏ ظَاهِرِینَ‏ فِي الْأَرْضِ‏O my people! Yours is the kingdom today, you beingdominant in the land.

means, `Allah has blessed you with this kingdom,dominance in the land, power and authority, sotake care of this blessing by giving thanks to Allahand believing in his Messenger, and beware of thepunishment of Allah if you reject His Messenger.'فَمَن یَنصُرُنَا مِن بَأْسِ‏ ال َّلهِ‏ إِنْ‏ جَاءنَا ...But who will save us from the torment of Allah, should itbefall us?means, `these soldiers and troops will not availyou anything and will not ward off thepunishment of Allah, if He decides to punish us.'Fir`awn said to his people, in response to the advice ofthis righteous man who was more deserving of kingshipthan Fir`awn:42قَالَ‏ فِرْعَوْنُ‏ مَا أُرِیكُمْ‏ إِل َّا مَا أَرَىFir`awn said: "I show you only that which I see,"...meaning, `I only tell you and advise you to dothat which I think is good for myself, too.' ButFir`awn lied, because he knew that Musa wastelling the truth concerning the Message which hebrought.قَالَ‏ لَقَدْ‏ عَلِمْتَ‏ مَآ أَنزَلَ‏ هَؤُلاءِ‏ إِلا َّ رَب ُّ الس َّمَوَتِ‏ وَالا ٌّرْضِ‏بَصَآئِرَ‏(Musa) said: "Verily, you know that these signshave been sent down by none but the Lord of theheavens and the earth.'' (17:102)وَجَحَدُواْ‏ بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ‏ ظُلْماً‏ وَعُلُوّاً‏And they belied them (those Ayat) wrongfullyand arrogantly, though they were themselvesconvinced thereof, (27:14)-- see), (I show you only that which I مَا أُرِیكُمْ‏ إِل َّا مَا أَرَىFir`awn uttered a lie and a fabrication; hebetrayed Allah and His Messenger, and cheatedhis people by not advising them sincerely.......

وَمَا أَهْدِیكُمْ‏ إِل َّا سَبِيلَ‏ الر َّشَادِ‏ ﴿٢٩ ﴾and I guide you only to the path of right policy!means, `and I am only calling you to the path oftruth, sincerity and guidance.'This was also a lie, but his people obeyed him andfollowed him.Allah says:فَات َّبَعُواْ‏ أَمْرَ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ وَمَآ أَمْرُ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ بِرَشِيدٍ‏they followed the command of Fir`awn, and thecommand of Fir`awn was no right guide, (11:97)وَأَضَل َّ فِرْعَوْنُ‏ قَوْمَهُ‏ وَمَا هَدَىAnd Fir`awn led his people astray, and he did notguide them. (20:79)According to a Hadith:مَا مِنْ‏ إِمَام یَمُوتُ‏ یَوْمَ‏ یَمُوتُ‏ وَهُوَ‏ غَاش ٌّ لِرَعِي َّتِهِ،‏ إِل َّا لَمْ‏ یَرَحْ‏رَائِحَةَ‏ الْجَن َّةِ،‏ وَإِن َّ رِیحَهَا لَيُوجَدُ‏ مِنْ‏ مَسِيرَةِ‏ خَمْسِمِائَةِ‏ عَامThere is no leader who dies having cheated hispeople, but he will never smell the fragrance ofParadise, and its fragrance can be detected froma distance of a five-hundred year journey.''And Allah is the Guide to the straight path....وَقَالَ‏ ال َّذِى ءَامَنَ‏ یقَوْمِ‏ إِن ِّى أَخَافُ‏ عَلَيْكُمْ‏ م ِّثْلَ‏ یَوْ‏ ‏ِمالا ٌّحْزَابِ‏40:30 And he who believed said:"O my people! Verily, I fear for you an end like thatday (of disaster) of the groups (of old)!''43

مِثْلَ‏ دَأْبِ‏ قَوْمِ‏ نُوحٍ‏ وَعَادٍ‏ وَثَمُودَ‏ وَال َّذِینَ‏ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ‏40:31 "Like the end of the people of Nuh, and `Ad,and Thamud and those who came after them.وَمَا الل َّهُ‏ یُرِیدُ‏ ظُلْماً‏ ل ِّلْعِبَادِ‏And Allah wills no injustice for (His) servants.''وَیقَوْمِ‏ إِن ِّى أَخَافُ‏ عَلَيْكُمْ‏ یَوْمَ‏ الت َّنَادِ‏40:32 "And, O my people! Verily, I fear for you theDay when there will be mutual calling.''یَوْمَ‏ تُوَل ُّونَ‏ مُدْبِرِینَ‏ مَا لَكُمْ‏ م ِّنَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ مِنْ‏ عَاصِمٍ‏40:33 A Day when you will turn your backs and fleehaving no protector from Allah.وَمَن یُضْلِلِ‏ الل َّهُ‏ فَمَا لَهُ‏ مِنْ‏ هَا ‏ٍدAnd whomsoever Allah sends astray, for him thereis no guide.وَلَقَدْ‏ جَآءَآُمْ‏ یُوسُفُ‏ مِن قَبْلُ‏ بِالْبَي ِّنَتِ‏ فَمَا زِلْتُمْ‏ فِى شَ‏ ٍّكم ِّم َّا جَآءَآُمْ‏ بِهِ‏ حَت َّى إِذَا هَلَكَ‏ قُلْتُمْ‏ لَن یَبْعَثَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ مِنبَعْدِهِ‏ رَسُولاً‏40:34 And indeed Yusuf did come to you, in timesgone by, with clear signs, but you ceased not todoubt in that which he did bring to you, till when hedied, you said: "No Messenger will Allah send afterhim.''آَذَلِكَ‏ یُضِل ُّ الل َّهُ‏ مَنْ‏ هُوَ‏ مُسْرِفٌ‏ م ُّرْتَابٌ‏Thus Allah leaves astray him who is a transgressorand a skeptic.44

ال َّذِینَ‏ یُجَدِلُونَ‏ فِى ءَایَتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ بِغَيْرِ‏ سُلْطَنٍ‏ أَتَهُمْ‏ آَبُرَ‏مَقْتاً‏ عِندَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ وَعِندَ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ ءَامَنُواْ‏40:35 Those who dispute about the Ayat of Allah,without any authority that has come to them, it isgreatly hateful and disgusting to Allah and to thosewho believe.آَذَلِكَ‏ یَطْبَعُ‏ الل َّهُ‏ عَلَى آُل ِّ قَلْبِ‏ مُتَكَب ِّرٍ‏ جَب َّارٍ‏Thus does Allah seal up the heart of every arrogant,tyrant.Allah informs,And he who believed said:45وَقَالَ‏ ال َّذِي آمَنَ‏ ...Here Allah tells us that this righteous man, thebeliever from among the family of Fir`awn,warned his people of the punishment of Allah inthis world and the Hereafter, saying,یَا قَوْمِ‏ إِ ِّني أَخَافُ‏ عَلَيْكُم م ِّثْلَ‏ یَوْمِ‏ الْأَحْزَا ‏ِب ﴿٣٠ ﴾O my people! Verily, I fear for you an end like that day(of disaster) of the groups (of old)!),......مِثْلَ‏ دَأْبِ‏ قَوْمِ‏ نُوحٍ‏ وَعَادٍ‏ وَثَمُودَ‏ وَال َّذِینَ‏ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ‏"Like the end of the people of Nuh, and `Ad, andThamud and those who came after them.meaning, those of the earlier nations whodisbelieved the Messengers of Allah, such as thepeople of Nuh, `Ad, Thamud and thedisbelieving nations who came after them, howthe punishment of Allah came upon them andthey had no one to protect them or ward off thatpunishment.وَمَا الل َّهُ‏ یُرِیدُ‏ ظُلْمًا ل ِّلْعِبَادِ‏ ﴿٣١ ﴾And Allah wills no injustice for (His) servants....

means, Allah destroyed them for their sins andfor their disbelief in and rejection of HisMessengers;this was His command and His decree concerningthem that was fulfilled.Then he said:﴾ ٣٢﴿46وَیَا قَوْمِ‏ إِن ِّي أَخَافُ‏ عَلَيْكُمْ‏ یَوْمَ‏ الت َّنَادِ‏And, O my people! Verily, I fear for you the Day whenthere will be mutual calling.meaning, the Day of Resurrection.A Day when you will turn your backs and flee,means, running away.یَوْمَ‏ تُوَل ُّونَ‏ مُدْبِرِینَ‏ ...آَلا َّ لاَ‏ وَزَرَ‏إِلَى رَب ِّكَ‏ یَوْمَئِذٍ‏ الْمُسْتَقَ‏ ُّرNo! There is no refuge! Unto your Lord will be theplace of rest that Day. (75:11-12)Allah says:having no protector from Allah.مَا لَكُم م ِّنَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ مِنْ‏ عَاصِ‏ ‏ٍم ...meaning, `you will have no one to protect youfrom the punishment and torment of Allah.'وَمَن یُضْلِلِ‏ الل َّهُ‏ فَمَا لَهُ‏ مِنْ‏ هَادٍ‏ ﴿٣٣ ﴾And whomsoever Allah sends astray, for him there is noguide.means, whomever Allah sends astray will have noother guide except Him.Allah's saying:.........وَلَقَدْ‏ جَاءآُمْ‏ یُوسُفُ‏ مِن قَبْلُ‏ بِالْبَي ِّنَاتِ‏And indeed Yusuf came to you, in times gone by, withclear signs,refers to the people of Egypt.

Allah sent a Messenger to them before the time of Musa,peace be upon him, in the person of Yusuf, peace beupon him, who attained a high position in thegovernment of the people of Egypt. He was a Messengerwho called his people to Allah with justice, but they didnot obey him in matters of worshipping Allah, they onlyobeyed him in worldly matters that pertained to hisposition in the government.Allah says:فَمَا زِلْتُمْ‏ فِي شَك ٍّ م ِّم َّا جَاءآُم بِهِ‏ حَت َّى إِذَا هَلَكَ‏ قُلْتُمْ‏ لَن یَبْعَثَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ مِنبَعْدِهِ‏ رَسُولًاbut you ceased not to doubt in that which he brought toyou, till when he died, you said: "No Messenger will Allahsend after him.''means, `you despaired, and said by way ofwishful thinking,'...47...لَن یَبْعَثَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ مِن بَعْدِهِ‏ رَسُولًاNo Messenger will Allah send after him.This was because of their disbelief and rejection(of the Messengers).﴾ ٣٤﴿...آَذَلِكَ‏ یُضِل ُّ الل َّهُ‏ مَنْ‏ هُوَ‏ مُسْرِفٌ‏ م ُّرْتَابٌ‏Thus Allah leaves astray him who is a transgressor and askeptic.means, this is the state of the one whom Allahsends astray because of his sinful actions and thedoubts in his heart..........ال َّذِینَ‏ یُجَادِلُونَ‏ فِي آیَاتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ بِغَيْرِ‏ سُلْطَانٍ‏ أَتَاهُمْ‏Those who dispute about the Ayat of Allah, without anyauthority that has come to them,means, those who attempt to refute truth withfalsehood and who dispute the proof withoutevidence or proof from Allah, Allah will hate themwith the utmost loathing.

Allah says:آَبُرَ‏ مَقْتًا عِندَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ وَعِندَ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ آمَنُوا ...it is greatly hateful and disgusting to Allah and to thosewho believe.meaning, the believers too will despise those whoare like this, and whoever is like this, Allah willput a seal on his heart so that after that he willnot acknowledge anything good or denounceanything evil.Allah says:آَذَلِكَ‏ یَطْبَعُ‏ الل َّهُ‏ عَلَى آُل ِّ قَلْبِ‏ مُتَكَب ِّرٍ‏ ...Thus does Allah seal up the heart of every arrogant.tyrant.meaning, so that they cannot follow the truth.﴾ ٣٥﴿......... جَب َّارٍ‏وَقَالَ‏ فَرْعَوْنُ‏ یهَمَنُ‏ ابْنِ‏ لِى صَرْحاً‏ ل َّعَل ِّى أَبْلُغُ‏الا ٌّسْبَبَ‏40:36 And Fir`awn said: "O Haman! Build me a loftytower that I may arrive at the ways –أَسْبَبَ‏ الس َّمَوَتِ‏40:37 The ways of the heavens,فَأَط َّلِعَ‏ إِلَى إِلَهِ‏ مُوسَى وَإِن ِّى لاّظُن ُّهُ‏ آَذِباً‏and I may look upon the God of Musa, but verily, Ithink him to be a liar.''48

وَآَذَلِكَ‏ زُی ِّنَ‏ لِفِرْعَوْنَ‏ سُوءُ‏ عَمَلِهِ‏ وَصُد َّ عَنِ‏ الس َّبِي ‏ِلوَمَا آَيْدُ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ إِلا َّ فِى تَبَابٍ‏Thus it was made fair seeming, in Fir`awn's eyes,the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from thepath; and the plot of Fir`awn led to nothing but lossand destruction.How Fir`awn mocked the Lord of MusaAllah tells,وَقَالَ‏ فِرْعَوْنُ‏ یَا هَامَانُ‏ ابْنِ‏ لِي صَرْحًا ...And Fir`awn said: "O Haman! Build me a lofty towerAllah tells us of the arrogant and hostile defianceof Fir`awn and his rejection of Musa, when hecommanded his minister Haman to build him atower, i.e., a tall, high, strong fortress. He built itof bricks made from baked clay, as Allah says:فَأَوْقِدْ‏ لِى یَهَمَنُ‏ عَلَى الط ِّينِ‏ فَاجْعَل ل ِّى صَرْحاً‏So kindle for me (a fire), O Haman, to bake(bricks out of) clay, and set up for me a loftytower. (28:38)49ل َّعَل ِّي أَبْلُغُ‏ الْأَسْبَابَ‏ ﴿٣٦ ﴾......أَسْبَابَ‏ الس َّمَاوَاتِ‏that I may arrive at the ways -- the ways of theheavens,Sa`id bin Jubayr and Abu Salih said,"The gates of the heavens.''Or it was said, the ways of the heavens.... فَأَط َّلِعَ‏ إِلَى إِلَهِ‏ مُوسَى وَإِن ِّي لَأَظُن ُّهُ‏ آَاذِبًا ...

and I may look upon the God of Musa, but verily, I thinkhim to be a liar.Because of his disbelief and defiance, he did notbelieve that Allah had sent Musa to him.Allah says:وَآَذَلِكَ‏ زُی ِّنَ‏ لِفِرْعَوْنَ‏ سُوءُ‏ عَمَلِهِ‏ وَصُد َّ عَنِ‏ الس َّبِيلِ‏ ...Thus it was made fair seeming, in Fir`awn's eyes, theevil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the path;means, this act of his (building the tower), bymeans of which he wanted to deceive his peopleand make them think that he could prove thatMusa was lying.Allah says:وَمَا آَيْدُ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ إِل َّا فِي تَبَابٍ‏ ﴿٣٧ ﴾and the plot of Fir`awn led to nothing but loss anddestruction.Ibn Abbas and Mujahid said,"Meaning nothing but ruin.''......وَقَالَ‏ ال َّذِى ءَامَنَ‏ یقَوْمِ‏ ات َّبِعُونِ‏ أَهْدِآُمْ‏ سَبِيلَ‏ الر َّشَادِ‏40:38 And the man who believed said: "O mypeople! Follow me, I will guide you to the way ofright conduct.''یقَوْمِ‏ إِن َّمَا هَذِهِ‏ الْحَيَوةُ‏ الد ُّنْيَا مَتَعٌ‏ وَإِن َّ الا ٌّخِرَةَ‏ هِىَ‏ دَا ‏ُرالْقَرَارِ‏40:39 "O my people! Truly, this life of the world isnothing but an enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafterthat is the home that will remain forever.''50

مَنْ‏ عَمِلَ‏ سَي ِّئَةً‏ فَلاَ‏ یُجْزَى إِلا َّ مِثْلَهَا40:40 "Whoever does an evil deed, will not berequited except the like thereof;وَمَنْ‏ عَمِلَ‏ صَلِحاً‏ م ِّن ذَآَرٍ‏ أَوْ‏ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ‏ مُؤْمِنٌ‏فَأُوْلَئِكَ‏ یَدْخُلُونَ‏ الْجَن َّةَ‏ یُرْزَقُونَ‏ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ‏ حِسَا ‏ٍبand whosoever does a righteous deed, whethermale or female and is a true believer, such willenter Paradise, where they will be provided thereinwithout limit.''More of what the Believer from Fir`awn's Family saidAllah tells that,And the man who believed said:51وَقَالَ‏ ال َّذِي آمَ‏ ‏َن ...This believer said to his people who persisted intheir rebellion and transgression, and preferredthe life of this world:یَا قَوْمِ‏ ات َّبِعُونِ‏ أَهْدِآُمْ‏ سَبِيلَ‏ الر َّشَادِ‏ ﴿٣٨ ﴾O my people! Follow me, I will guide you to the way ofright conduct.This is in contrast to the false claim of Fir`awn:(and I guide you only to the وَمَا أَهْدِیكُمْ‏ إِل َّا سَبِيلَ‏ الر َّشَادِ‏path of right policy). (40:29)Then he sought to make them shun this worldwhich they preferred to the Hereafter, and whichhad prevented them from believing in theMessenger of Allah, Musa, peace be upon him.He said:...

یَا قَوْمِ‏ إِن َّمَا هَذِهِ‏ الْحَيَاةُ‏ الد ُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ‏ ...O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing butan enjoyment,meaning, it is insignificant and fleeting, and soonit will diminish and pass away.وَإِن َّ الْآخِرَةَ‏ هِيَ‏ دَارُ‏ الْقَرَارِ‏ ﴿٣٩ ﴾and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that willremain forever.Allah says:means, the abode which will never end and fromwhich there will be no departure, which will beeither Paradise or Hell.......مَنْ‏ عَمِلَ‏ سَي ِّئَةً‏ فَلَا یُجْزَى إِل َّا مِثْلَهَاWhosoever does an evil deed, will not be requited exceptthe like thereof; (means, one like it).وَمَنْ‏ عَمِلَ‏ صَالِحًا م ِّن ذَآَرٍ‏ أَوْ‏ أُنثَى وَهُوَ‏ مُؤْمِنٌ‏ فَأُوْلَئِكَ‏ یَدْخُلُونَ‏الْجَن َّةَ‏ یُرْزَقُونَ‏ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ‏ حِسَابٍ‏﴾ ٤٠﴿and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male orfemale and is a true believer, such will enter Paradise,where they will be provided therein without limit.means, the reward cannot be enumerated, butAllah will give an immense reward without end.And Allah is the Guide to the straight path....وَیقَوْمِ‏ مَا لِى أَدْعُوآُمْ‏ إِلَى الن َّجَوةِ‏ وَتَدْعُونَنِى إِلَى الن َّا ‏ِر40:41 "And O my people! How is it that I call you tosalvation while you call me to the Fire!''52

تَدْعُونَنِى لاّآْفُرَ‏ بِالل َّهِ‏ وَأُشْرِكَ‏ بِهِ‏ مَا لَيْسَ‏ لِى بِهِ‏ عِلْمٌ‏وَأَنَاْ‏ أَدْعُوآُمْ‏ إِلَى الْعَزِیزِ‏ الْغَف َّارِ‏40:42 "You invite me to disbelieve in Allah, and tojoin partners in worship with Him of which I haveno knowledge; and I invite you to the Almighty, theOft-Forgiving!''لاَ‏ جَرَمَ‏ أَن َّمَا تَدْعُونَنِى إِلَيْهِ‏ لَيْسَ‏ لَهُ‏ دَعْوَةٌ‏ فِى الد ُّنْيَا وَلاَ‏فِى الا ٌّخِرَةِ‏ وَأَن َّ مَرَد َّنَآ إِلَى الل َّهِ‏ وَأَن َّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ‏ هُمْ‏أَصْحَبُ‏ الن َّارِ‏40:43 "La Jarama, you call me to one that does nothave a claim in this world or in the Hereafter. Andour return will be to Allah, and the transgressors,they shall be the dwellers of the Fire!''فَسَتَذْآُرُونَ‏ مَآ أَقُولُ‏ لَكُمْ‏ وَأُفَو ِّضُ‏ أَمْرِى إِلَى الل َّهِ‏ إِ‏ َّنالل َّهَ‏ بَصِيرٌ‏ بِالْعِبَادِ‏40:44 "And you will remember what I am tellingyou, and my affair I leave it to Allah. Verily, Allah isthe All-Seer of (His) servants.''فَوقَاهُ‏ الل َّهُ‏ سَي ِّئَاتِ‏ مَا مَكَرُواْ‏ وَحَاقَ‏ بَِالِ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ سُوءُ‏الْعَذَابِ‏40:45 So, Allah saved him from the evils that theyplotted (against him), while an evil tormentencompassed Fir`awn's people.الن َّارُ‏ یُعْرَضُونَ‏ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوّاً‏ وَعَشِيّاً‏ وَیَوْمَ‏ تَقُومُ‏ الس َّاعَ‏ ‏ُةأَدْخِلُواْ‏ ءَالَ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ أَشَد َّ الْعَذَابِ‏40:46 The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning andafternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will beestablished (it will be said to the angels): "AdmitFir`awn's people into the severest torment!''53

The Conclusion of the Believer's Words, and the ultimateDestiny of both PartiesAllah informs that the believer said:...54وَیَا قَوْمِ‏ مَا لِي أَدْعُوآُمْ‏ إِلَى الن َّجَاةِ‏"And O my people! How is it that I call you to salvation,That believer said: `Why do I call you tosalvation, which is the worship of Allah alone withno partner or associate, and belief in HisMessenger, whom He has sent,'...وَتَدْعُونَنِي إِلَى الن َّارِ‏ ﴿٤١ ﴾تَدْعُونَنِي لِأَآْفُرَ‏ بِالل َّهِ‏ وَأُشْرِكَ‏ بِهِ‏ مَا لَيْسَ‏ لِي بِهِ‏ عِلْمٌ‏while you call me to the Fire! You invite me to disbelievein Allah, and to join partners in worship with Him ofwhich I have no knowledge;means, on the basis of ignorance, with no proofor evidence.وَأَنَا أَدْعُوآُمْ‏ إِلَى الْعَزِیزِ‏ الْغَف َّارِ‏ ﴿٤٢ ﴾and I invite you to the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving!means, with all His might and pride, He stillforgives the sin of the one who repents to Him.La Jarama, you call me to one,They say it means, "Truly.''.........لَا جَرَمَ‏ أَن َّمَا تَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ‏As-Suddi and Ibn Jarir said that the meaning of Hissaying:"Truly.'' (La jarama) means لَا جَرَمَ‏Ad-Dahhak said:lie.'' (La Jarama) means, "No لَا جَرَمَ‏

Ali bin Abi Talhah and Ibn Abbas said:(La Jarama) means, "Indeed, the one that لَا جَرَمَ‏you call me to of idols and false godsلَيْسَ‏ لَهُ‏ دَعْوَةٌ‏ فِي الد ُّنْيَا وَلَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ‏ ...that does not have a claim in this world or in theHereafter.''Mujahid said, "The idols that do not have anything.''Qatadah said,"This means that idols possess no power either tobenefit or to harm.''As-Suddi said,"They do not respond to those who call uponthem, either in this world or in the Hereafter.''This is like the Ayah:وَمَنْ‏ أَضَل ُّ مِم َّن یَدْعُو مِن دُونِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ مَن لا َّ یَسْتَجِيبُ‏ لَهُ‏ إِلَى یَوْمِ‏الْقِيَمَةِ‏ وَهُمْ‏ عَن دُعَآئِهِمْ‏ غَفِلُونَ‏وَإِذَا حُشِرَ‏ الن َّاسُ‏ آَانُواْ‏ لَهُمْ‏ أَعْدَآءً‏ وَآَانُواْ‏ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ‏ آَفِرِینَ‏And who is more astray than one who calls onbesides Allah, such as will not answer him till theDay of Resurrection, and who are unaware oftheir calls to them And when the people aregathered, they will become their enemies anddeny their worship. (46:5-6)إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ‏ لاَ‏ یَسْمَعُواْ‏ دُعَآءَآُمْ‏ وَلَوْ‏ سَمِعُواْ‏ مَا اسْتَجَابُواْ‏ لَكُمْ‏If you invoke them, they hear not your call; and ifthey were to hear, they could not grant it to you.(35:14)And our return will be to Allah,55......وَأَن َّ مَرَد َّنَا إِلَى الل َّهِ‏means, in the Hereafter, where He will reward orpunish each person according to his deeds....

He says:وَأَن َّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ‏ هُمْ‏ أَصْحَابُ‏ الن َّارِ‏ ﴿٤٣ ﴾and the transgressors, they shall be the dwellers of theFire!meaning, they will dwell therein forever, becauseof their great sin, which is associating others inworship with Allah.And you will remember what I am telling you,......فَسَتَذْآُرُونَ‏ مَا أَقُولُ‏ لَكُمْ‏means, `you will come to know the truth of whatI enjoined upon you and forbade you to do, theadvice I gave you and what I explained to you.You will come to know, and you will feel regret atthe time when regret will be of no avail.'and my affair I leave it to Allah.وَأُفَو ِّضُ‏ أَمْرِي إِلَى الل َّهِ‏means, `I put my trust in Allah and seek His help,and I renounce you utterly.'...﴾ ٤٤﴿Verily, Allah is the All-Seer of (His) servants.إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ بَصِيرٌ‏ بِالْعِبَادِ‏means, He knows all about them, may He beexalted and sanctified, and He guides those whodeserve to be guided and sends astray those whodeserve to be sent astray; His is the perfectproof, utmost wisdom and mighty power.......فَوَقَاهُ‏ الل َّهُ‏ سَي ِّئَاتِ‏ مَا مَكَرُواSo Allah saved him from the evils that they plotted,means, in this world and in the Hereafter;...56

in this world, Allah saved him along with Musa,peace be upon him, and in the Hereafter (He willadmit him) to Paradise.Proof of the Torment of the GraveAllah says:﴾ ٤٥﴿57وَحَاقَ‏ بِآلِ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ سُوءُ‏ الْعَذَابِ‏while an evil torment encompassed Fir`awn's people.this refers to drowning in the sea,......الن َّارُ‏ یُعْرَضُونَ‏ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوا وَعَشِياThe Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon.Allah says:then being transferred from there to Hell, for theirsouls are exposed to the Fire morning andevening until the Hour begins. When the Day ofResurrection comes, their souls and bodies will bereunited in Hell.وَیَوْمَ‏ تَقُومُ‏ الس َّاعَةُ‏ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ أَشَد َّ الْعَذَابِ‏ ﴿٤٦ ﴾And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it willbe said to the angels): "Admit Fir`awn's people to theseverest torment!''meaning, more intense pain and greater agony.This Ayah contains one of the major proofs used by theAhlus-Sunnah to prove that there will be torment in thegrave during the period of Al-Barzakh; it is the phrase:(The Fire, they are exposed to الن َّارُ‏ یُعْرَضُونَ‏ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوا وَعَشِياit, morning and afternoon). But the question arises: thisAyah was undoubtedly revealed in Makkah, but they useit as evidence to prove that there will be torment in thegrave during the period of Al-Barzakh.Imam Ahmad recorded from A'ishah, may Allah bepleased with her, that a Jewish woman used to serve...

her, and whenever A'ishah did her a favor, the Jewishwoman would say,"May Allah save you from the torment of the grave.''A'ishah said, "Then the Messenger of Allah came in, andI said, `O Messenger of Allah, will there be any tormentin the grave before the Day of Resurrection?'He said,No, who said that?58لَا،‏ مَنْ‏ زَعَمَ‏ ذَلِكَ؟I said, `This Jewish woman, whenever I do her afavor, she says: May Allah save you from thetorment of the grave.'''The Messenger of Allah said,آَذَبَتْ‏ یَهُودُ‏ وَهُمْ‏ عَلَى االلهِ‏ أَآْذَبُ،‏ لَا عَذَابَ‏ دُونَ‏ یَوْمِ‏الْقِيَامَةThe Jews are lying, and they tell more liesabout Allah. There is no torment except onthe Day of Resurrection.Then as much time passed as Allah willed shouldpass, then one day he came out at midday,wrapped in his robe with his eyes reddening,calling at the top of his voice:الْقَبْرُ‏ آَقِطَع الل َّيْلِ‏ الْمُظْلِمِ،‏أَی ُّهَا الن َّاسُ‏ لَوْ‏ تَعْلَمُونَ‏ مَا أَعْلَمُ‏ لَبَكَيْتُمْ‏ آَثِيرًا وَضَحِكْتُمْ‏قَلِيلًا،‏أَی ُّهَا الن َّاسُ،‏ اسْتَعِيذُوا بِااللهِ‏ مِنْ‏ عَذَابِ‏ الْقَبْرِ،‏ فَإِ‏ َّنعَذَابَ‏ الْقَبْرِ‏ حَقThe grave is like patches of dark night!O people, if you knew what I know, youwould weep much and laugh little.

O people, seek refuge with Allah from thetorment of the grave, for the torment ofthe grave is real.''This chain of narration is Sahih according to theconditions of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, althoughthey did not record it.It was said, `how can this report be reconciledwith the fact that the Ayah was revealed inMakkah and the Ayah indicates that there will betorment during the period of Al-Barzakh?'The answer is that the Ayah refers to the souls (ofFir`awn and his people) being exposed to the Firemorning and evening; it does not say that thepain will affect their bodies in the grave. So itmay be that this has to do specifically with theirsouls. With regard to there being any effect ontheir bodies in Al-Barzakh, and their feeling painas a result, this is indicated in the Sunnah, insome Hadiths which we will mention below.It was said that this Ayah refers to thepunishment of the disbelievers in Al-Barzakh,and that it does not by itself imply that thebeliever will be punished in the grave for his sins.This is indicated by the Hadith recorded by ImamAhmad from A'ishah, may Allah be pleased withher, according to which the Messenger of Allahentered upon A'ishah when a Jewish woman waswith her, and she (the Jewish woman) wassaying, "I was told that you will be tried in thegrave.''The Messenger of Allah was worried and said:Only the Jews will be tested.59إِن َّمَا یُفْتَنُ‏ یَهُودA'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said,"Several nights passed, then the Messenger ofAllah said:

Verily you will be tested in the graves.''أَلَا إِن َّكُمْ‏ تُفْتَنُونَ‏ فِي الْقُبُورA'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said,"After that, the Messenger of Allah used to seekrefuge with Allah from the torment of the grave.''This was also recorded by Muslim.It could be said that this Ayah indicates that thesouls will be punished in Al-Barzakh, but thisdoes not necessarily imply that the bodies in theirgraves will be affected by that. When Allahrevealed something about the torment of thegrave to His Prophet, he sought refuge with Allahfrom that. And Allah knows best.The Hadiths which speak of the torment of thegrave are very many.Qatadah said, concerning the Ayah, وَعَشِيا غُدُوا (morningand afternoon),"(This means) every morning and every evening,for as long as this world remains, it will be said tothem by way of rebuke and humiliation, O peopleof Fir`awn, this is your position.''Ibn Zayd said,"They are there today, being exposed to itوَیَوْمَ‏ begins. morning and evening, until the Hour(And on the Day تَقُومُ‏ الس َّاعَةُ‏ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ‏ فِرْعَوْنَ‏ أَشَد َّ الْعَذَابِ‏when the Hour will be established (it will be saidto the angels): "Cause Fir`awn's people to enterthe severest torment!'')The people of Fir`awn are like foolish camels,stumbling into rocks and trees without thinking.''Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Umar, may Allah bepleased with him, said,60

"The Messenger of Allah said:إِن َّ أَحَدَآُمْ‏ إِذَا مَاتَ‏ عُرِضَ‏ عَلَيْهِ‏ مَقْعَدُهُ‏ بِالْغَدَاةِ‏ وَالْعَشِي ِّ،‏ إِنْ‏ آَانَ‏مِنْ‏ أَهْلِ‏ الْجَن َّةِ‏ فَمِنْ‏ أَهْلِ‏ الْجَن َّةِ،‏ وَإِنْ‏ آَانَ‏ مِنْ‏ أَهْلِ‏ الن َّارِ‏ فَمِنْ‏أَهْلِ‏ الن َّارِ،‏ فَيُقَالُ:‏ هذَا مَقْعَدُكَ‏ حَتْى یَبْعَثَكَ‏ االلهُ‏ عَز َّ وَجَل َّ إِلَيْهِ‏ یَوْ‏ ‏َمالْقِيَامَةWhen one of you dies, he is shown his place (inParadise or Hell) morning and evening; if he isone of the people of Paradise, then he is one ofthe people of Paradise, and if he is one of thepeople of Hell, then he is one of the people ofHell. It will be said to him, this is your place untilAllah resurrects you to go to it on the Day ofResurrection.''It was also reported in the Two Sahihs.وَإِذْ‏ یَتَحَآج ُّونَ‏ فِى الن َّارِ‏ فَيَقُولُ‏ الض ُّعَفَاءُ‏ لِل َّذِی ‏َناسْتَكْبَرُواْ‏40:47 And, when they will dispute in the Fire, theweak will say to those who were arrogant:إِن َّا آُن َّا لَكُمْ‏ تَبَعاً‏ فَهَلْ‏ أَنتُم م ُّغْنُونَ‏ عَن َّا نَصِيباً‏ م ِّنَ‏ الن َّارِ‏"Verily, we followed you, can you then take from ussome portion of the Fire?''قَالَ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ‏ إِن َّا آُل ٌّ فِيهَآ40:48 Those who were arrogant will say: "We areall (together) in this (Fire)!إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ قَدْ‏ حَكَمَ‏ بَيْنَ‏ الْعِبَادِ‏Verily, Allah has judged between (His) servants!''61

وَقَالَ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ فِى الن َّارِ‏ لِخَزَنَةِ‏ جَهَن َّمَ‏ ادْعُواْ‏ رَب َّكُمْ‏ یُخَف ِّفْ‏عَن َّا یَوْماً‏ م ِّنَ‏ الْعَذَابِ‏40:49 And those in the Fire will say to the keepers(angels) of Hell: "Call upon your Lord to lighten forus the torment for a day!''قَالُواْ‏ أَوَلَمْ‏ تَكُ‏ تَأْتِيكُمْ‏ رُسُلُكُم بِالْبَي ِّنَتِ‏40:50 They will say: "Did there not come to you,your Messengers with (clear) evidences?''They will say: "Yes.''قَالُواْ‏ بَلَىقَالُواْ‏ فَادْعُواْ‏They will reply: "Then call (as you like)!وَمَا دُعَاءُ‏ الْكَفِرِینَ‏ إِلا َّ فِى ضَلَلٍ‏And the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing butin vain!''The Dispute of the People of HellAllah says,وَإِذْ‏ یَتَحَاج ُّونَ‏ فِي الن َّارِ‏ فَيَقُولُ‏ الض ُّعَفَاء لِل َّذِینَ‏ اسْتَكْبَرُوا ...And, when they will dispute in the Fire, the weak will sayto those who were arrogant:Allah tells us how the people of Hell will disputeand argue with one another, and Fir`awn and hispeople will be among them. The weak, who werethe followers, will say to those who werearrogant, who were the leaders and masters:62

... إِن َّا آُن َّا لَكُمْ‏ تَبَعًا ...Verily, we followed you,meaning, `we obeyed you and heeded your callto disbelief and misguidance in the world, 'فَهَلْ‏ أَنتُم م ُّغْنُونَ‏ عَن َّا نَصِيبًا م ِّنَ‏ الن َّا ‏ِر ﴿٤٧ ﴾can you then take from us some portion of the Fire?means, `can you carry a part of our burden forus?'63......قَالَ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ اسْتَكْبَرُوا إِن َّا آُل ٌّ فِيهَاThose who were arrogant will say: "We are all (together)in this (Fire)!...''meaning, `we will not bear any part of yourburden for you; our own punishment is enoughfor us to bear.'﴾ ٤٨﴿Verily, Allah has judged (His) servants!إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ قَدْ‏ حَكَمَ‏ بَيْنَ‏ الْعِبَادِ‏means, `He has shared out the punishmentamong us according to what each of us deserves'.This is like the Ayah:قَالَ‏ لِكُل ٍّ ضِعْفٌ‏ وَلَكِن لا َّ تَعْلَمُونَ‏He will say: "For each one there is double(torment), but you know not.'' (7:38)وَقَالَ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ فِي الن َّارِ‏ لِخَزَنَةِ‏ جَهَن َّمَ‏ ادْعُوا رَب َّكُمْ‏ یُخَف ِّفْ‏ عَن َّا یَوْمًا م ِّ ‏َن٤٩﴿ ﴾ الْعَذَابِ‏And those in the Fire will say to the keepers (angels) ofHell: "Call upon your Lord to lighten for us the tormentfor a day!''They know that Allah will not answer them andwill not listen to their prayer, because He said,...

اخْسَئُواْ‏ فِيهَا وَلاَ‏ تُكَل ِّمُونِ‏Remain you in it with ignominy! And speakyou not to Me! (23:108),so they will ask the keepers of Hell, who are likejailers watching over the people of Hell, to pray toAllah to lessen the Fire for them if only for oneday. But the keepers of Hell will refuse, saying tothem,قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ‏ تَكُ‏ تَأْتِيكُمْ‏ رُسُلُكُم بِالْبَي ِّنَاتِ‏ ...Did there not come to you, your Messengers with (clear)evidences?meaning, was not proof established in the worldon the lips of the MessengersThey will say: "Yes.''They will reply: "Then call (as you like)!...''قَالُوا بَلَى ...قَالُوا فَادْعُواmeans, you are on your own. We will not pray foryou or listen to you; we do not want you to besaved and we have nothing to do with you.Moreover, we tell you that it is all the samewhether you offer supplication or not, becauseAllah will not respond and He will not lighten thetorment for you.'They will say:﴾ ٥٠﴿...وَمَا دُعَاء الْكَافِرِینَ‏ إِل َّا فِي ضَلَالٍ‏And the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but invain!meaning, it will not be accepted or responded to..........64

إِن َّا لَنَنصُرُ‏ رُسُلَنَا وَال َّذِینَ‏ ءَامَنُواْ‏ فِى الْحَيَوةِ‏ الد ُّنْيَا وَیَوْمَ‏یَقُومُ‏ الا ٌّشْهَدُ‏40:51 Verily, We will indeed make victorious OurMessengers and those who believe in this world'slife and on the Day when the witnesses will standforth, --یَوْمَ‏ لاَ‏ یَنفَعُ‏ الظ َّلِمِينَ‏ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ‏40:52 The Day when their excuses will be of noprofit to wrongdoers.وَلَهُمُ‏ الْل َّعْنَةُ‏ وَلَهُمْ‏ سُوءُ‏ الد َّارِ‏Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evilabode.وَلَقَدْ‏ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْهُدَى وَأَوْرَثْنَا بَنِى إِسْرَءِیلَ‏ الْكِتَبَ‏40:53 And, indeed We gave Musa the guidance, andWe caused the Children of Israel to inherit theScripture –هُدًى وَذِآْرَى لا ٌّوْلِى الا ٌّلْبَبِ‏40:54 A guide and a reminder for men ofunderstanding.40:55 So be patient.فَاصْبِرْ‏إِن َّ وَعْدَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ حَق ٌّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ‏ لِذَنبِكَ‏ وَسَب ِّحْ‏ بِحَمْدِ‏ رَب ِّ ‏َكبِالْعَشِى ِّ وَالابْكَارِ‏Verily, the promise of Allah is true, and askforgiveness for your fault, and glorify the praises ofyour Lord in the `Ashi and in the Ibkar.65

إِن َّ ال َّذِینَ‏ یُجَدِلُونَ‏ فِى ءَایَتِ‏ ال َّلهِ‏ بِغَيْرِ‏ سُلْطَنٍ‏ أَتَهُمْ‏ إِنفِى صُدُورِهِمْ‏ إِلا َّ آِبْرٌ‏ م َّا هُم بِبَلِغِيهِ‏40:56 Verily, those who dispute about the Ayat ofAllah, without any authority having come to them,there is nothing else in their breasts except pride.They will never have it.فَاسْتَعِذْ‏ بِالل َّهِ‏ إِن َّهُ‏ هُوَ‏ الس َّمِيعُ‏ الْبَصِيرُ‏So seek refuge in Allah. Verily, it is He Who is theAll-Hearer, the All-Seer.The Victory of the Messengers and the BelieversAllah says,إِن َّا لَنَنصُرُ‏ رُسُلَنَا وَال َّذِینَ‏ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ‏ الد ُّنْيَا ...Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengersand those who believe in this world's life.As-Suddi said,"Allah never sends a Messenger to a people andthey kill him or some of the believers who callthem to the truth, then that generation passesaway, but He then sends them someone who willsupport their call and will seek vengeance fortheir blood from those who did that to them inthis world. So the Prophets and believers may bekilled in this world, but their call will prevail in thisworld.''Allah granted victory to His Prophet Muhammad and hisCompanions over those who had opposed him,disbelieved in him and shown hostility towards him. Hecaused His Word and His religion to prevail over all otherreligions, commanded him to emigrate from his peopleto Al-Madinah, where He gave him supporters andhelpers. Then He caused him to prevail over the idolators66

on the day of Badr, when He granted him victory overthem and he humiliated them, killing their leaders andtaking their elite prisoner, driving them before him inchains. Then he did them the favor of accepting ransomfrom them. Shortly after that, Allah enabled him toconquer Makkah, and he rejoiced in his return to hishomeland, the sacred and holy land of Al-Haram.Through him, Allah saved it from its disbelief and Shirk.Then Allah enabled him to conquer the Yemen, and theentire Arabian Peninsula submitted to him, and thepeople entered the religion of Allah in crowds. Then Allahtook him (in death), because of his high status andhonor, and He established his Companions as hisKhalifahs. They conveyed the religion of Allah from him,called mankind to Allah, they conquered many regions,countries and cities, and opened people's hearts, untilthe call of Muhammad spread throughout the world, eastand west. This religion will continue to prevail until theHour begins.Allah says:إِن َّا لَنَنصُرُ‏ رُسُلَنَا وَال َّذِینَ‏ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ‏ الد ُّنْيَا وَیَوْمَ‏ یَقُومُ‏ الْأَشْهَادُ‏ ﴿٥١ ﴾Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengersand those who believe in this world's life and on the Daywhen the witnesses will stand forth.meaning, on the Day of Resurrection the victorywill be greater and more complete.Mujahid said,"The witnesses are the angels.''67یَوْمَ‏ لَا یَنفَعُ‏ الظ َّالِمِينَ‏ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ‏ ...The Day when their excuses will be of no profit towrongdoers.is referring to the same as; وَیَوْمَ‏ یَقُومُ‏ الْأَشْهَادُ‏ (...theDay when the witnesses will stand forth).Others read it with that meaning;

...‏...وَیَوْمَ‏ یَقُومُ‏ الْأَشْهَادُ‏ ﴿٥١﴾یَوْمَ‏ لَا یَنفَعُ‏ الظ َّالِمِينَ‏And the Day the witnesses will stand forth, is aDay when there will be no profit to wrongdoers.(and the wrongdoers are the idolators).excuses), (their مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ‏means, no excuse or ransom will be acceptedfrom them.Theirs will be the curse,68وَلَهُمُ‏ الل َّعْنَةُ‏ ...means, they will be cast out far away from themercy of Allah.and theirs will be the evil abode.means, the Hell-fire,وَلَهُمْ‏ سُوءُ‏ الد َّارِ‏ ﴿٥٢ ﴾as As-Suddi said, a terrible abode and dwellingplace.Indication that the Messenger and the Believers will prevailjust as Musa and the Children of Israel prevailedAllah says,And, indeed We gave Musa the guidance..........وَلَقَدْ‏ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْهُدَىmeans, the guidance and light with which Allahsent him.وَأَوْرَثْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ‏ الْكِتَابَ‏ ﴿٥٣ ﴾and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit theScripture.means, `We caused them to prevail in the endand they inherited the land and accumulated...

wealth of Fir`awn, because of their patience inobeying Allah and following His Messenger Musa.'The Scripture which they inherited, the Tawrah, was69هُدًى وَذِآْرَى لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ‏ ﴿٥٤ ﴾A guide and a reminder for men of understanding.i.e. those of a sound and upright nature.Then Allah says,So be patient,means, `O Muhammad,'Verily, the promise of Allah is true,...فَاصْبِرْ‏ ...إِن َّ وَعْدَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ حَ‏ ٌّقmeans, `We have promised that your word willprevail and that the ultimate victory will be foryou and those who follow you, and Allah does notbreak His promises. What We have told you istrue and there is no doubt in it whatsoever.'and ask forgiveness for your fault,وَاسْتَغْفِرْ‏ لِذَنبِكَ‏This encourages the Ummah to seek forgiveness....وَسَب ِّحْ‏ بِحَمْدِ‏ رَب ِّكَ‏ بِالْعَشِ‏ ِّيand glorify the praises of your Lord in the `Ashi,meaning, at the end of the day and the beginningof the night,and in the Ibkar....وَالْإِبْكَارِ‏ ٥٥﴿ ﴾meaning, at the beginning of the day and the endof the night.............

إِن َّ ال َّذِینَ‏ یُجَادِلُونَ‏ فِي آیَاتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ بِغَيْرِ‏ سُلْطَانٍ‏ أَتَاهُمْ‏ ...Verily, those who dispute about the Ayat of Allah,without any authority having come to them,means, they try to refute the truth withfalsehood, and to refute sound evidence withdubious arguments, having no proof or evidencefrom Allah.إِن فِي صُدُورِهِمْ‏ إِل َّا آِبْرٌ‏ م َّا هُم بِبَالِغِيهِ‏ ...there is nothing else in their breasts except pride. Theywill never have it.means, they are too proud to follow the truth andsubmit to the one who has brought it. But theirattempts to suppress the truth and elevatefalsehood will fail; the truth will prevail and theirwords and aspirations will be defeated.So seek refuge in Allah.means, from being like these people,فَاسْتَعِذْ‏ بِالل َّهِ‏ ...or seek refuge with Him from being like thesepeople who dispute about the Ayat of Allahwithout any authority having come to them.إِن َّهُ‏ هُوَ‏ الس َّمِيعُ‏ الْبَصِي ‏ُر ﴿٥٦ ﴾Verily, it is He Who is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer..........لَخَلْقُ‏ الس َّمَوَتِ‏ وَالا ٌّرْضِ‏ أَآْبَرُ‏ مِنْ‏ خَلْقِ‏ الن َّاسِ‏ وَلَكِ‏ َّنأَآْثَرَ‏ الن َّاسِ‏ لاَ‏ یَعْلَمُونَ‏40:57 The creation of the heavens and the earth isindeed greater than the creation of mankind; yet,most of the people do not know.70

وَمَا یَسْتَوِى الا ٌّعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ‏40:58 And not equal are the blind and those whosee;وَال َّذِینَ‏ ءَامَنُواْ‏ وَعَمِلُواْ‏ الص َّلِحَتِ‏ وَلاَ‏ الْمُسِىءُ‏nor those who believe, and do righteous gooddeeds, and those who do evil.Little do you remember!قَلِيلاً‏ م َّا تَتَذَآ َّرُونَ‏إِن َّ الس َّاعَةَ‏ لاّتِيَةٌ‏ لا َّ رَیْبَ‏ فِيهَا40:59 Verily, the Hour is surely coming, there is nodoubt about it,وَلَكِن َّ أَآْثَرَ‏ الن َّاسِ‏ لاَ‏ یُؤْمِنُو ‏َنyet most men believe not.Life after DeathAllah tells us that He will bring back His creation on the Day ofResurrection. That is very easy for Him, because He created theheavens and the earth, and creating them is greater thancreating mankind, the first time and when He creates themagain. The One Who is able to do that is able to do anythingthat is less than that. As Allah says:أَوَلَمْ‏ یَرَوْاْ‏ أَن َّ الل َّهَ‏ ال َّذِى خَلَقَ‏ الس َّمَوَتِ‏ وَالا ٌّرْضِ‏ وَلَمْ‏ یَعْىَ‏ بِخَلْقِهِن َّ بِقَادِ‏ ‏ٍرعَلَى أَن یُحْىِ‏ الْمَوْتَى بَلَى إِن َّهُ‏ عَلَى آُل ِّ شَىْءٍ‏ قَدِیرٌ‏Do they not see that Allah, Who created the heavens andthe earth, and was not wearied by their creation, is ableto give life to the dead!Yes, He surely is able to do all things. (46:33)71

And Allah says here:لَخَلْقُ‏ الس َّمَاوَاتِ‏ وَالْأَرْضِ‏ أَآْبَرُ‏ مِنْ‏ خَلْقِ‏ الن َّاسِ‏ وَلَكِن َّ أَآْثَرَ‏ الن َّاسِ‏ لَایَعْلَمُونَ‏72﴾ ٥٧﴿The creation of the heavens and the earth is indeedgreater than the creation of mankind; yet, most ofmankind know not.hence they do not think about or ponder thisproof.Similarly, many of the Arabs recognized that Allahhad created the heavens and the earth, but theydenied and rejected the idea of the resurrection;they acknowledged something which was greaterthan that which they denied.Then Allah says:وَمَا یَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ‏ وَال َّذِینَ‏ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الص َّالِحَاتِ‏ وَلَاالْمُسِيءُ‏ قَلِيلًا م َّا تَتَذَآ َّرُونَ‏﴾ ٥٨﴿And not equal are the blind and those who see; nor arethose who believe, and do righteous good deeds, andthose who do evil. Little do you remember!The blind man who cannot see anything is not thesame as the sighted man who can see everythingas far as his eyesight reaches -- there is a hugedifference between them. By the same token, therighteous believers and the immoral disbelieversare not equal.remember!), (Little do you قَلِيلًا م َّا تَتَذَآ َّرُونَ‏means, most of the people rememberlittle.إِن َّ الس َّاعَةَ‏ لَآتِيَةٌ‏ ...Verily, the Hour (Day of Judgement) is surely coming,means, it will indeed come to pass.

ل َّا رَیْبَ‏ فِيهَا وَلَكِن َّ أَآْثَرَ‏ الن َّاسِ‏ لَا یُؤْمِنُونَ‏ ﴿٥٩ ﴾there is no doubt about it, yet most men believe not.means, they do not believe in it, and in fact theydoubt its existence altogether....وَقَالَ‏ رَب ُّكُمْ‏ ادْعُونِى أَسْتَجِبْ‏ لَكُمْ‏40:60 And your Lord said: "Call upon Me, I willanswer you.إِن َّ ال َّذِینَ‏ یَسْتَكْبِرُونَ‏ عَنْ‏ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدْخُلُونَ‏ جَهَن َّمَ‏دَخِرِینَ‏Verily, those who scorn My worship they will surelyenter Hell in humiliation!''The Command to call upon Allah By His grace and kindness,And your Lord said:73وَقَالَ‏ رَب ُّكُمُ‏ ...Allah encourages His servants to call upon Him, and Heguarantees to respond.Sufyan Ath-Thawri used to say:"O You Who love most those who ask of You, andO You Who hate most those who do not ask ofYou, and there is no one like that apart from You,O Lord.''This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.Similarly; the poet said:"Allah hates not to be asked, and the son of Adamhates to be asked.''

Qatadah said that Ka`b Al-Ahbar said,"This Ummah has been given three things whichwere not given to any nation before, only toProphets.• When Allah sent a Prophet, He said to him,`You are a witness over your nation.' Butyou have been made witnesses overmankind;• it was said to the Prophets individually,`Allah has not laid upon you any hardshipin religion,' but He said to this entireUmmah: وَمَا جَعَلَ‏ عَلَيْكمْ‏ فِى الد ِّینِ‏ مِنْ‏ حَرَجٍ‏ (and(Allah) has not laid upon you in religionany hardship), (22:78) and• it was said to the Prophets individually;`Call upon Me, I will answer you,' but itادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ‏ لَكُم Ummah, was said to this(Call upon Me, I will answer you).''This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Nu`man bin Bashir, mayAllah be pleased with him, said,"The Messenger of Allah said:Indeed the supplication is the worship.''Then he recited,74إِن َّ الد ُّعَاءَ‏ هُوَ‏ الْعِبَادَةوَقَالَ‏ رَب ُّكُمُ‏ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ‏ لَكُمْ‏ إِن َّ ا َّلذِینَ‏ یَسْتَكْبِرُو ‏َنعَنْ‏ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ‏ جَهَن َّمَ‏ دَاخِرِینَ‏And your Lord said: "Call upon Me, I willanswer you. Verily, those who scorn Myworship they will surely enter Hell inhumiliation!''.This was also recorded by the Sunan compilers;At-Tirmdhi, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and Ibn AbiHatim and Ibn Jarir.

At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.''It was also recorded by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi,An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Jarir with a different chain ofnarration.Allah's saying:...Verily, those who scorn My worship,إِن َّ ال َّذِینَ‏ یَسْتَكْبِرُونَ‏ عَنْ‏ عِبَادَتِيmeans, `those who are too proud to call on Meand single Me out,'﴾ ٦٠﴿they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!means, in disgrace and insignificance....... سَيَدْخُلُونَ‏ جَهَن َّمَ‏ دَاخِرِینَ‏Imam Ahmad recorded from `Amr bin Shu`ayb from hisfather, from his grandfather that the Prophet said:یُحْشَرُ‏ الْمُتَكَب ِّرُونَ‏ یَوْمَ‏ الْقِيَامَةِ‏ أَمْثَالَ‏ الذ َّر ِّ فِي صُوَرِ‏ الن َّاسِ،‏یَعْلُوهُمْ‏ آُل ُّ شَيْءٍ‏ مِنَ‏ الص َّغَارِ،‏ حَتْى یَدْخُلُوا سِجْنًا فِي جَهَن َّ ‏َمیُقَالُ‏ لَهُ:‏ بُولَسُ،‏ تَعْلُوهُمْ‏ نَارُ‏ الْأنْيَارِ،‏ یُسْقَوْنَ‏ مِنْ‏ طِينَةِ‏ الْخَبَالِ،‏عُصَارَةِ‏ أَهْلِ‏ الن َّارThe proud will be gathered on the Day ofResurrection like ants in the image of people, andeverything will be stepping on them, humiliatingthem, until they enter a prison in Hell calledBulas. They will be fed flames of fire, and givenfor drink a paste of insanity dripping from thepeople the Fire.''الل َّهُ‏ ال َّذِى جَعَلَ‏ لَكُمُ‏ ال َّيْلَ‏ لِتَسْكُنُواْ‏ فِيهِ‏ وَالن َّهَارَ‏ مُبْصِرًا40:61 Allah, it is He Who has made the night for youthat you may rest therein and the day for you tosee.75

إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ لَذُو فَضْلٍ‏ عَلَى الن َّاسِ‏ وَلَكِن َّ أَآْثَرَ‏ الن َّاسِ‏ لاَ‏یَشْكُرُونَ‏Truly, Allah is full of bounty to mankind; yet, mostof mankind give no thanks.ذَلِكُمُ‏ الل َّهُ‏ رَب ُّكُمْ‏ خَلِقُ‏ آُل ِّ شَىْءٍ‏ لا َّ إِلَهَ‏ إِلا َّ هُوَ‏40:62 That is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of allthings, La ilaha ila Huwa.فَأَن َّى تُؤْفَكُونَ‏How then are you turning away?آَذَلِكَ‏ یُؤْفَكُ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ آَانُواْ‏ بَِایَتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ یَجْحَدُونَ‏40:63 Thus were turned away those who used todeny the Ayat of Allah.الل َّهُ‏ ال َّذِى جَعَلَ‏ لَكُمُ‏ الا ٌّرْضَ‏ قَرَاراً‏ وَالس َّمَآءَ‏ بِنَآءً‏وَصَو َّرَآُمْ‏ فَأَحْسَنَ‏ صُوَرَآُمْ‏ وَرَزَقَكُمْ‏ م ِّنَ‏ الط َّي ِّبَ ‏ِت40:64 Allah, it is He Who has made for you theearth as a dwelling place and the sky as a canopy,and has given you shape and made your shapesgood and pure (looking) and has provided you withgood things.76ذَلِكُمُ‏ الل َّهُ‏رَب ُّكُمْ‏ فَتَبَرَكَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ رَب ُّ الْعَلَمِي ‏َنThat is Allah, your Lord, so Blessed be Allah, theLord of all that exists.هُوَ‏ الْحَى ُّ لاَ‏ إِلَهَ‏ إِلا َّ هُوَ‏ فَادْعُوهُ‏ مُخْلِصِينَ‏ لَهُ‏ الد ِّینَ‏40:65 He is the Ever Living, La ilaha illa Huwa; soinvoke Him making the religion for Him Alone.

الْحَمْدُ‏ لل َّهِ‏ رَب ِّ الْعَلَمِينَ‏All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord ofall that exits.Signs of the Power and Oneness of AllahAllah the exalted say;الل َّهُ‏ ال َّذِي جَعَلَ‏ لَكُمُ‏ الل َّيْلَ‏ لِتَسْكُنُوا فِيهِ‏ وَالن َّهَارَ‏ مُبْصِرًا ...Allah, it is He Who has made the night for you that youmay rest therein and the day for you to see.Allah reminds us of His grace towards His creationin that He has given them the night in which theyrest and relax from their activities so that theycan go back to them for their livelihood during theday. He has given them the day with its light, sothat they can undertake their journeys andengage in their business.إِن َّ الل َّهَ‏ لَذُو فَضْلٍ‏ عَلَى الن َّاسِ‏ وَلَكِن َّ أَآْثَرَ‏ الن َّاسِ‏ لَا یَشْكُرُو ‏َن ﴿٦١ ﴾Truly, Allah is full of bounty to mankind; yet, most ofmankind give no thanks.means, they do not express gratitude for thefavors which Allah bestows upon them.Then Allah says:......ذَلِكُمُ‏ الل َّهُ‏ رَب ُّكُمْ‏ خَالِقُ‏ آُل ِّ شَيْءٍ‏ ل َّا إِلَهَ‏ إِل َّا هُ‏ ‏َوThat is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things, Lailaha illa Huwa.means, the One Who does all of these things isAllah, the One, the Unique, the Creator of allthings, besides Whom there is no other god orlord.77

... فَأَن َّى تُؤْفَكُونَ‏ ٦٢﴿ ﴾How then are you turning away?means, `how can you worship idols which cannotcreate anything but are themselves hand-madeand carved?'آَذَلِكَ‏ یُؤْفَكُ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ آَانُوا بِآیَاتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ یَجْحَدُو ‏َن ﴿٦٣ ﴾Thus were turned away those who used to deny theAyat of Allah.means, just as these people (Quraysh) were ledastray by their worship of gods other than Allah,those who came before them also disbelieved andworshipped others, with no proof or evidence, buton the basis of ignorance and desires. Theydenied the signs and proof of Allah....78الل َّهُ‏ ال َّذِي جَعَلَ‏ لَكُمُ‏ الْأَرْضَ‏ قَرَارًاAllah, it is He Who has made for you the earth as adwelling place,means, `He made it stable and spread it out foryou, so that you might live on it and travel aboutin it; He strengthened it with the mountains sothat it does not shake with you.'and the sky as a canopy,وَالس َّمَاء بِنَاء ...means, `a roof covering and protecting theworld.'وَصَو َّرَآُمْ‏ فَأَحْسَنَ‏ صُوَرَآُمْ‏and has given you shape and made your shapes good,means, `He created you in the best and most perfectform.'...وَرَزَقَكُم م ِّنَ‏ الط َّي ِّبَاتِ‏and has provided you with good and pure things.............

means, of food and drink in this world.Allah states that that He is the Creator of thedwelling place and of the inhabitants and of theprovision; He is the Creator and Provider, as Hesays in Surah Al-Baqarah:یَأَی ُّهَا الن َّاسُ‏ اعْبُدُواْ‏ رَب َّكُمُ‏ ال َّذِىْ‏ خَلَقَكُمْ‏ وَال َّذِینَ‏ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ‏ لَعَل َّكُمْ‏تَت َّقُونَ‏ال َّذِى جَعَلَ‏ لَكُمُ‏ الا ٌّرْضَ‏ فِرَاشاً‏ وَالس َّمَآءَ‏ بِنَآءً‏ وَأَنزَلَ‏ مِنَ‏ الس َّمَآءِ‏مَآءً‏ فَأَخْرَجَ‏ بِهِ‏ مِنَ‏ الث َّمَرَتِ‏ رِزْقاً‏ ل َّكُمْ‏ فَلاَ‏ تَجْعَلُواْ‏ لل َّهِ‏ أَندَاداً‏ وَأَنتُمْ‏تَعْلَمُو ‏َنO mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Whocreated you and those who were before you sothat you may have Taqwa. Who has made theearth a resting place for you, and the sky as acanopy, and sent down water (rain) from the skyand brought forth therewith fruits as a provisionfor you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah whileyou know. (2:21-22)And here Allah says, after mentioning the creation of allthese things:ذَلِكُمُ‏ الل َّهُ‏ رَب ُّكُمْ‏ فَتَبَارَكَ‏ الل َّهُ‏ رَب ُّ الْعَالَمِينَ‏ ﴿٦٤ ﴾That is Allah, your Lord, so Blessed be Allah, the Lord ofall that exists.meaning, exalted and sanctified and glorified beAllah, the Lord of all the worlds.Then He says:He is the Ever Living, La ilaha illa Huwa;79......هُوَ‏ الْحَي ُّ لَا إِلَهَ‏ إِل َّا هُوَ‏means, He is the Ever Living, from eternity toeternity, Who was, is and shall be, the First andthe Last, the Manifest, the Hidden.

Huwa), (La ilaha illa لَا إِلَهَ‏ إِل َّا هُوَ‏means, there is none comparable or equal to Him.فَادْعُوهُ‏ مُخْلِصِينَ‏ لَهُ‏ الد ِّی ‏َنso invoke Him making the religion for Him Alone.means, affirm His Oneness by testifying thatthere is no God but He.Imam Ahmad recorded that after ending every prayer,Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr used to say:لَا إِلهَ‏ إِل َّا االلهُ‏ وَحْدَهُ‏ لَا شَرِیكَ‏ لَهُ،لَهُ‏ الْمُلْكُ‏ وَلَهُ‏ الْحَمْدُ،‏ وَهُوَ‏ عَلَىآُل ِّ شَيْءٍ‏ قَدِیرٌ،‏...لَا حَوْلَ‏ وَلَا قُو َّةَ‏ إِل َّا بِااللهِ،‏لَا إِلهَ‏ إِل َّا االلهُ،‏ وَلَا نَعْبُدُ‏ إِل َّا إِی َّاهُ،‏لَهُ‏ الن ِّعْمَةُ‏ وَلَهُ‏ الْفَضْلُ‏ وَلَهُ‏ الث َّنَاءُ‏ الْحَسَنُ،‏لَا إِلهَ‏ إِل َّا االلهُ‏ مُخْلِصِينَ‏ لَهُ‏ الد ِّینَ‏ وَلَوْ‏ آَرِهَ‏ الْكَافِرُونThere is no (true) God except Allah Alone with nopartner or associate, to Him belongs the dominionand praise, for He is able to do all things;there is no strength and no power except withAllah;there is no (true) God except Allah and weworship none but Him;to Him belong blessings and virtue and goodlypraise;there is no (true) God except Allah, we worshipHim in all sincerity even though the disbelieversmay hate that.He said,"The Messenger of Allah used to say the Tahlil inthis fashion after every prayer.''...80

Similar was also recorded by Muslim, Abu Dawudand An-Nasa'i.الْحَمْدُ‏ لِل َّهِ‏ رَب ِّ الْعَالَمِينَ‏ ﴿٦٥ ﴾All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all thatexits....قُلْ‏ إِن ِّى نُهِيتُ‏ أَنْ‏ أَعْبُدَ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ تَدْعُونَ‏ مِن دُونِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ لَم َّاجَآءَنِى الْبَي ِّنَتُ‏ مِن ر َّب ِّى وَأُمِرْتُ‏ أَنْ‏ أُسْلِمَ‏ لِرَب ِّ الْعَلَمِينَ‏40:66 Say: "I have been forbidden to worship thosewhom you worship besides Allah, since there havecome to me evidences from my Lord; and I amcommanded to submit to the Lord of all that exists.هُوَ‏ ال َّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ‏ م ِّن تُرَابٍ‏40:67 It is He, Who has created you from dust,ثُم َّ مِن ن ُّطْفَةٍ‏ ثُم َّ مِنْ‏ عَلَقَةٍ‏ ثُ‏ َّمیُخْرِجُكُمْ‏ طِفْ‏ ‏ًلاthen from a Nutfah then from a clot (a piece ofcoagulated blood), then brings you forth as aninfant,ثُم َّ لِتَبْلُغُواْ‏ أَشُد َّآُمْ‏ ثُم َّ لِتَكُونُواْ‏ شُيُوخاً‏ وَمِنكُمْ‏ م َّن یُتَوَف َّىمِن قَبْلُ‏then (makes you grow) to reach the age of fullstrength, and afterwards to be old -- though someamong you die before --وَلِتَبْلُغُواْ‏ أَجَلاً‏ م ُّسَمى وَلَعَل َّكُمْ‏ تَعْقِلُونَ‏and that you reach an appointed term in order thatyou may understand.81

هُوَ‏ ال َّذِى یُحْىِ‏ وَیُمِيتُ‏40:68 It is He Who gives life and causes death.فَإِذَا قَضَى أَمْراً‏ فَإِن َّمَا یَقُولُ‏ لَهُ‏ آُن فيَكُونُ‏And when He decides upon a thing He says to itonly: "Be!'' -and it is.The Prohibition of Shirk, the Order for Tawhid, and theEvidenceAllah says,قُلْ‏ إِن ِّي نُهِيتُ‏ أَنْ‏ أَعْبُدَ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ تَدْعُونَ‏ مِن دُونِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ لَم َّا جَاءنِيَ‏ الْبَي ِّنَاتُ‏ مِنر َّب ِّي وَأُمِرْتُ‏ أَنْ‏ أُسْلِمَ‏ لِرَب ِّ الْعَالَمِينَ‏﴾ ٦٦﴿Say: "I have been forbidden to worship those whom youworship besides Allah, since there have come to meevidences from my Lord; and I am commanded tosubmit to the Lord of all that exists.Allah says, `say, O Muhammad, to theseidolators, that Allah forbids them to worshipanyone, such as these idols and false gods,except Him.'Allah explains that no one apart from Him isdeserving of worship, as He says:هُوَ‏ ال َّذِي خَلَقَكُم م ِّن تُرَابٍ‏ ثُم َّ مِن ن ُّطْفَةٍ‏ ثُم َّ مِنْ‏ عَلَقَةٍ‏ ثُم َّ یُخْرِجُكُمْ‏ طِفْلًا ثُ َّملِتَبْلُغُوا أَشُد َّآُمْ‏ ثُم َّ لِتَكُونُوا شُيُوخًا ...It is He, Who has created you from dust, then from aNutfah then from a clot (a piece of coagulated blood),then brings you forth as an infant, then (makes yougrow) to reach the age of full strength, and afterwards tobe old.meaning, He is the One Who Alone, with nopartner or associate, causes you to pass through82

these different stages, and this happens inaccordance with His command, will and decree.83...though some among you die before,وَمِنكُم م َّن یُتَوَف َّى مِن قَبْلُ‏means, before being fully formed and emerging tothis world; so his mother miscarries him. Andthere are some who die in infancy or in theiryouth, or when they are adults but before theyreach old age, as Allah says:ل ِّنُبَي ِّنَ‏ لَكُمْ‏ وَنُقِر ُّ فِى الا ٌّرْحَامِ‏ مَا نَشَآءُ‏ إِلَى أَجَلٍ‏ م ُّسَمىthat We may make (it) clear to you. And Wecause whom We will to remain in the wombs foran appointed term. (22:5)وَلِتَبْلُغُوا أَجَلًا م ُّسَمى وَلَعَل َّكُمْ‏ تَعْقِلُونَ‏ ﴿٦٧ ﴾and that you reach an appointed term in order that youmay understand.Ibn Jurayj said,"In order that you may remember theResurrection.''Then Allah says:It is He Who gives life and causes death..........هُوَ‏ ال َّذِي یُحْيِي وَیُمِيتُ‏meaning, He is the Only One Who does that, andnone is able to do that except He.فَإِذَا قَضَى أَمْرًا فَإِن َّمَا یَقُولُ‏ لَهُ‏ آُن فَيَكُونُ‏ ﴿٦٨ ﴾And when He decides upon a thing He says to it only:"Be!'' -- and it is.means, He cannot be opposed or resisted.Whatever He wills definitely comes to pass....

أَلَمْ‏ تَرَ‏ إِلَى ال َّذِینَ‏ یُجَدِلُونَ‏ فِى ءَایَتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ أَن َّى یُصْرَفُو ‏َن40:69 See you not those who dispute about theAyat of Allah? How are they turning away?ال َّذِینَ‏ آَذ َّبُواْ‏ بِالْكِتَبِ‏ وَبِمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا بِهِ‏ رُسُلَنَا فَسَوْفَ‏یَعْلَمُونَ‏40:70 Those who deny the Book, and that withwhich We sent Our Messengers they will come toknow.إِذِ‏ الا ٌّغْلَلُ‏ فِى أَعْنَقِهِمْ‏ والس َّلَسِلُ‏ یُسْحَبُونَ‏40:71 When iron collars will be rounded over theirnecks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along,فِى الْحَمِيمِ‏ ثُم َّ فِى الن َّارِ‏ یُسْجَرُونَ‏40:72 In the boiling water, then they will be burnedin the Fire.ثُم َّ قِيلَ‏ لَهُمْ‏ أَیْنَ‏ مَا آُنتُمْ‏ تُشْرِآُونَ‏40:73 Then it will be said to them: "Where are (all)those whom you used to consider partners!''40:74 ''Besides Allah''مِن دُونِ‏ الل َّهِ‏قَالُواْ‏ ضَل ُّواْ‏ عَن َّا بَل ل َّمْ‏ نَكُنْ‏ ن َّدْعُواْ‏ مِن قَبْلُ‏ شَيْئاً‏ آَذَلِكَ‏یُضِل ُّ الل َّهُ‏ الْكَفِرِینَ‏They will say: "They have vanished from us. Nay,we did not call upon anything before.'' Thus Allahleads astray the disbelievers.84

ذَلِكُمْ‏ بِمَا آُنتُمْ‏ تَفْرَحُونَ‏ فِى الا ٌّرْضِ‏ بِغَيْرِ‏ الْحَق ِّ وَبِمَاآُنتُمْ‏ تَمْرَحُونَ‏40:75 That was because you had been exulting inthe earth without any right, and that you used torejoice extremely.ادْخُلُواْ‏ أَبْوَبَ‏ جَهَن َّمَ‏ خَلِدِینَ‏ فِيهَا فَبِئْسَ‏ مَثْوَىالْمُتَكَب ِّرِینَ‏40:76 Enter the gates of Hell to abide therein, and(indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant!The End of Those Who dispute and deny the Signs of AllahAllah says,أَلَمْ‏ تَرَ‏ إِلَى ال َّذِینَ‏ یُجَادِلُونَ‏ فِي آیَاتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ أَن َّى یُصْرَفُو ‏َن ﴿٦٩ ﴾See you not those who dispute about the Ayat of Allah?How are they turning away?Allah says, `do you not wonder, O Muhammad, atthose who deny the signs of Allah and dispute thetruth by means of falsehood, how their minds arediverted from the truth and are misguided?'ال َّذِینَ‏ آَذ َّبُوا بِالْكِتَابِ‏ وَبِمَا أَرْسَلْنَا بِهِ‏ رُسُلَنَا ...Those who deny the Book, and that with which We sentOur Messengers,means, guidance and clear proof.they will come to know.85فَسَوْفَ‏ یَعْلَمُونَ‏ ﴿٧٠ ﴾This is a stern warning and clear threat from theLord to these people....

This is like the Ayah:Woe that Day to the deniers! (77:15)...86وَیْلٌ‏ یَوْمَئِذٍ‏ ل ِّلْمُكَذ ِّبِينَ‏إِذِ‏ الْأَغْلَالُ‏ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ‏ وَالس َّلَاسِ‏ ‏ُلWhen iron collars will be rounded over their necks, andthe chains.means, the chains will be attached to the ironcollars, and the keepers of Hell will drag themalong on their faces, sometimes to the boilingwater, and sometimes to the Fire.Allah says:﴾ ٧٢﴿... یُسْحَبُونَ‏ ٧١﴿ ﴾فِي الْحَمِيمِ‏ ثُم َّ فِي الن َّارِ‏ یُسْجَرُونَ‏they shall be dragged along, in the boiling water, thenthey will be burned in the Fire.This is like the Ayat:هَذِهِ‏ جَهَن َّمُ‏ ال َّتِى یُكَذ ِّبُ‏ بِهَا الْمُجْرِمُو ‏َنیَطُوفُونَ‏ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ‏ حَمِيمٍ‏ ءَانٍ‏This is the Hell which the criminals denied. Theywill go between it and the fierce boiling water!(55:43-44)After describing how they will eat Zaqqum (abitter tree of Hell) and drink Hamim (boilingwater),Allah says:ثُم َّ إِن َّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ‏ لإِلَى الْجَحِيمِ‏Then thereafter, verily, their return is to theflaming fire of Hell. (37:68)

And Allah says:وَأَصْحَبُ‏ الش ِّمَالِ‏ مَآ أَصْحَبُ‏ الش ِّمَالِ‏87فِى سَمُومٍ‏ وَحَمِي ‏ٍموَظِل ٍّ م ِّن یَحْمُومٍ‏لا َّ بَارِدٍ‏ وَلاَ‏ آَرِیمٍ‏And those on the Left Hand -- how (unfortunate)will be those on the Left Hand? In fierce hot windand boiling water, and shadow of black smoke,(that shadow) neither cool nor (even) pleasant.Until,ثُم َّ إِن َّكُمْ‏ أَی ُّهَا الض َّآل ُّونَ‏ الْمُكَذ ِّبُونَ‏لاّآِلُونَ‏ مِن شَجَرٍ‏ م ِّن زَق ُّومٍ‏فَمَالُِونَ‏ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ‏فَشَرِبُونَ‏ عَلَيْهِ‏ مِنَ‏ الْحَمِيمِ‏فَشَرِبُونَ‏ شُرْبَ‏ الْهِيمِ‏هَذَا نُزُلُهُمْ‏ یَوْمَ‏ الد ِّینِ‏Then moreover, verily, -- you the erring-ones, thedeniers (of Resurrection)! You verily, will eat ofthe trees of Zaqqum. Then you will fill yourbellies therewith, and drink boiling water on topof it. And you will drink (that) like thirsty camels!That will be their entertainment on the Day ofRecompense! (56: 41-44, 51-56),إِن َّ شَجَرَةَ‏ الز َّق ُّومِ‏طَعَامُ‏ الا ٌّثِيمِ‏آَالْمُهْلِ‏ یَغْلِى فِى الْبُطُونِ‏آَغَلْىِ‏ الْحَمِيمِ‏خُذُوهُ‏ فَاعْتِلُوهُ‏ إِلَى سَوَآءِ‏ الْجَحِيمِ‏ثُم َّ صُب ُّواْ‏ فَوْقَ‏ رَأْسِهِ‏ مِنْ‏ عَذَابِ‏ الْحَمِي ‏ِم

88ذُقْ‏ إِن َّكَ‏ أَنتَ‏ الْعَزِیزُ‏ الْكَرِیمُ‏إِن َّ هَذَا مَا آُنتُمْ‏ بِهِ‏ تَمْتَرُونَ‏Verily, the tree of Zaqqum will be the food of thesinners. 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 themidst of blazing Fire, then pour over his head thetorment of boiling water. Taste you (this)! Verily,you were (pretending to be) the mighty, thegenerous! Verily, this is that whereof you used todoubt!'' (44:43-50)i.e., this will be said to them to rebuke andridicule them.ثُم َّ قِيلَ‏ لَهُمْ‏ أَیْنَ‏ مَا آُنتُمْ‏ تُشْرِآُونَ‏ ﴿٧٣ ﴾مِن دُونِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ ...Then it will be said to them: "Where are (all) thosewhom you considered partners -- besides Allah,''means, it will be said to them, `where are theidols whom you used to worship instead of Allah.Can they help you today?'....They will say: "They have vanished from us...''قَالُوا ضَل ُّوا عَن َّاmean, they have gone away and they cannot doanything for us.'بَل ل َّمْ‏ نَكُن ن َّدْعُو مِن قَبْلُ‏ شَيْئًاNay, we did not invoke (worship) anything before.means, they will deny that they worshipped them.This is like the Ayah:...ثُم َّ لَمْ‏ تَكُنْ‏ فِتْنَتُهُمْ‏ إِلا َّ أَن قَالُواْ‏ وَالل َّهِ‏ رَب ِّنَا مَا آُن َّا مُشْرِآِي ‏َن.....

There will then be (left) no Fitnah (excuse) forthem but to say: "By Allah, our Lord, we were notthose who joined others in worship with Allah.''(6:23)Allah says:﴾ ٧٤﴿Thus Allah leads astray the disbelievers.﴾ ٧٥﴿آَذَلِكَ‏ یُضِل ُّ الل َّهُ‏ الْكَافِرِینَ‏ذَلِكُم بِمَا آُنتُمْ‏ تَفْرَحُونَ‏ فِي الْأَرْضِ‏ بِغَيْرِ‏ الْحَق ِّ وَبِمَا آُنتُمْ‏ تَمْرَحُونَ‏That was because you had been exulting in the earthwithout any right, and that you used to rejoiceextremely.means, the angels will say to them, `what youare suffering now is your recompense for yourexulting in the earth without any right, and foryour extravagance.'ادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ‏ جَهَن َّمَ‏ خَالِدِینَ‏ فِيهَا فَبِئْسَ‏ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَب ِّرِینَ‏ ﴿٧٦ ﴾Enter the gates of Hell to abide therein, and (indeed)what an evil abode of the arrogant!means, what a terrible abode and finaldestination, filled with humiliation and severepunishment for those who arrogantly ignored thesigns of Allah and refused to accept His proof andevidence.And Allah knows best....فَاصْبِرْ‏ إِن َّ وَعْدَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ حَق ٌّ فَإِم َّا نُرِیَن َّكَ‏ بَعْضَ‏ ال َّذِىنَعِدُهُمْ‏ أَوْ‏ نَتَوَف َّيَن َّكَ‏ فَإِلَيْنَا یُرْجَعُونَ‏40:77 So be patient, verily, the promise of Allah istrue and whether We show you some part of whatWe have promised them, or We cause you to die,then still it is to Us they all shall be returned.89

وَلَقَدْ‏ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلاً‏ م ِّن قَبْلِكَ‏ مِنْهُم م َّن قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ‏وَمِنْهُمْ‏ م َّن ل َّمْ‏ نَقْصُصْ‏ عَلَيْكَ‏40:78 And, indeed We have sent Messengers beforeyou, of some of them We have related to you theirstory. And of some We have not related to you theirstory,وَمَا آَانَ‏ لِرَسُولٍ‏ أَن یَأْتِىَ‏ بَِایَةٍ‏ إِلا َّ بِإِذْنِ‏ الل َّهِ‏and it was not given to any Messenger that heshould bring a sign except by the leave of Allah.فَإِذَا جَآءَ‏ أَمْرُ‏ الل َّهِ‏ قُضِىَ‏ بِالْحَق ِّ وَخَسِرَ‏ هُنَالِكَ‏الْمُبْطِلُونَ‏But, when comes the commandment of Allah, thematter will be decided with truth, and the followersof falsehood will then be lost.The Command to be Patient and Good News of VictoryAllah commands to His Messenger,90فَاصْبِرْ‏ إِن َّ وَعْدَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ حَ‏ ٌّق ...So be patient, verily, the promise of Allah is true,Here Allah commands His Messenger to patientlybear the rejection of those who rejected him:`Allah will fulfill His promise to you that you willbe victorious and will prevail over your people,and you and those who follow you, will be thesuccessful ones in this world and the Hereafter.'فَإِم َّا نُرِیَن َّكَ‏ بَعْضَ‏ ال َّذِي نَعِدُهُمْ‏ ...and whether We show you some part of what We havepromised them,...

means, in this world, and this is what happened,for Allah gave them the joy of humiliating theleaders and nobles (of the Quraysh), who werekilled on the day of Badr, then Allah grantedthem victory over Makkah and the entire ArabianPeninsula during the lifetime of the Prophet.أَوْ‏ نَتَوَف َّيَن َّكَ‏ فَإِلَيْنَا یُرْجَعُونَ‏ ﴿٧٧ ﴾or We cause you to die, then still it is to Us they all shallbe returned.means, `and We shall inflict a severe punishment uponthem in the Hereafter.'Then Allah says, consoling (His Prophet):وَلَقَدْ‏ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا م ِّن قَبْلِكَ‏ مِنْهُم م َّن قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ‏ ...And, indeed We have sent Messengers before you, ofsome of them We have related to you their story.as Allah also says in Surah An-Nisa', meaning,`We have revealed the stories of some of themand how their people disbelieved in them, but theMessengers ultimately prevailed.'وَمِنْهُم م َّن ل َّمْ‏ نَقْصُصْ‏ عَلَيْكَ‏And of some We have not related to you their story,and they are many, many more than those whosestories have been told, as has been stated inSurah An-Nisa'....Praise and blessings be to Allah.وَمَا آَانَ‏ لِرَسُولٍ‏ أَنْ‏ یَأْتِيَ‏ بِآیَةٍ‏ إِل َّا بِإِذْنِ‏ الل َّ ‏ِه ...and it was not given to any Messenger that he shouldbring a sign except by the leave of Allah.means, none of the Prophets was able to bringmiracles to his people except when Allah grantedhim permission to do that as a sign of the truth ofthe message he brought to them..........91

But, when comes the commandment of Allah,فَإِذَا جَاء أَمْرُ‏ الل َّهِ‏means, His punishment and vengeance which willencompass the disbelievers,the matter will be decided with truth,...قُضِيَ‏ بِالْحَ‏ ِّقso the believers will be saved and the disbelieverswill be destroyed.Allah says:﴾ ٧٨﴿...وَخَسِرَ‏ هُنَالِكَ‏ الْمُبْطِلُونَ‏and the followers of falsehood will then be lost..........الل َّهُ‏ ال َّذِى جَعَلَ‏ لَكُمُ‏ الا ٌّنْعَمَ‏ لِتَرْآَبُواْ‏ مِنْهَا وَمِنْهَا تَأْآُلُو ‏َن40:79 Allah, it is He Who has made cattle for you,that you may ride on some of them, and of someyou eat.وَلَكُمْ‏ فِيهَا مَنَفِعُ‏ وَلِتَبْلُغُواْ‏ عَلَيْهَا حَاجَةً‏ فِى صُدُورِآُمْ‏وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى الْفُلْكِ‏ تُحْمَلُونَ‏40:80 And you have (many other) benefits fromthem, and that you may reach by their means adesire that is in your breasts, and on them and onships you are carried.وَیُرِیكُمْ‏ ءَایَتِهِ‏40:81 And He shows you His Ayat.فَأَى َّ ءَایَتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ تُنكِرُونَ‏Which, then of the Ayat of Allah do you deny!92

The Cattle are also a Blessing from Allah and a Sign from HimAn`am﴾ for them, which refers to camels, cows and sheep;some of them they ride and some of them they eat. Camelsmay be ridden or eaten; their milk is drunk and they are usedfor carrying heavy burdens on journeys to distant lands. Cattleare eaten and their milk is drunk; they are also used for plowingthe earth. Sheep are eaten and their milk is also drunk. The hairand wool of all of these animals is used to make tents, clothingand furnishings, as we have already discussed in Surah Al-An`am and Surah An-Nahl, etc.Allah says here:الل َّهُ‏ ال َّذِي جَعَلَ‏ لَكُمُ‏ الْأَنْعَامَ‏ لِتَرْآَبُوا مِنْهَا وَمِنْهَا تَأْآُلُونَ‏ ﴿٧٩ ﴾وَلَكُمْ‏ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ‏ وَلِتَبْلُغُوا عَلَيْهَا حَاجَةً‏ فِي صُدُورِآُمْ‏ وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى الْفُلْ‏ ‏ِكتُحْمَلُونَ﴿‏‎٨٠‎ ﴾Allah, it is He Who has made cattle for you, that you mayride on some of them, and of some you eat.And you have (many other) benefits from them, and thatyou may reach by their means a desire that is in yourbreasts, and on them and on ships you are carried.And He shows you His Ayat.وَیُرِیكُمْ‏ آیَاتِهِ‏ ...means, `His proof and evidence, on the horizonsand in yourselves.'فَأَي َّ آیَاتِ‏ الل َّهِ‏ تُنكِرُونَ‏ ﴿٨١ ﴾Which, then of the Ayat of Allah do you deny!means, you cannot deny any of His signs andproofs, unless you are stubborn and arrogant....أَفَلَمْ‏ یَسِيرُواْ‏ فِى الا ٌّرْضِ‏ فَيَنظُرُواْ‏ آَيْفَ‏ آَانَ‏ عَقِبَةُ‏ال َّذِینَ‏ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ‏40:82 Have they not traveled through the earth andseen what was the end of those before them?93

آَانُواْ‏ أَآْثَرَ‏ مِنْهُمْ‏ وَأَشَد َّ قُو َّةً‏ وَءَاثَاراً‏ فِى الا ٌّرْضِ‏ فَمَآأَغْنَى عَنْهُم م َّا آَانُواْ‏ یَكْسِبُونَ‏They were more in number than them and mightierin strength, and in the traces in the land; yet allthat they used to earn availed them not.فَلَم َّا جَآءَتْهُمْ‏ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَي ِّنَتِ‏40:83 Then when their Messengers came to themwith clear proofs,فَرِحُواْ‏ بِمَا عِندَهُمْ‏ م ِّنَ‏ الْعِلْمِ‏ وَحَاقَ‏ بِهِم م َّا آَانُواْ‏ بِ‏ ‏ِهیَسْتَهْزِءُونَ‏they were glad (and proud) with that which theyhad of the knowledge (of worldly things). And thatat which they used to mock, surrounded them.فَلَم َّا رَأَوْاْ‏ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ‏ ءَامَن َّا بِالل َّهِ‏ وَحْدَهُ‏ وَآَفَرْنَا بِمَا آُن َّابِهِ‏ مُشْرِآِينَ‏40:84 So when they saw Our punishment, they said:"We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that weused to associate with Him as (His) partners.''فَلَمْ‏ یَكُ‏ یَنفَعُهُمْ‏ إِیمَنُهُمْ‏ لَم َّا رَأَوْاْ‏ بَأْسَنَا سُ َّنةَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ ال َّتِى قَدْ‏خَلَتْ‏ فِى عِبَادِهِ‏ وَخَسِرَ‏ هُنَالِكَ‏ الْكَفِرُونَ‏40:85 Then their Faith could not avail them whenthey saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been theway of Allah in dealing with His servants. And therethe disbelievers lost utterly.94

The Lesson to be learned from what happened to Those WhoCame beforeAllah informs that,أَفَلَمْ‏ یَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ‏ فَيَنظُرُوا آَيْفَ‏ آَانَ‏ عَاقِبَةُ‏ ال َّذِینَ‏ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ‏ آَانُواأَآْثَرَ‏ مِنْهُمْ‏ وَأَشَد َّ قُو َّةً‏ وَآثَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ‏ فَمَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُم م َّا آَانُوایَكْسِبُونَ‏...95﴾ ٨٢﴿فَلَم َّا جَاءتْهُمْ‏ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَي ِّنَاتِ‏ فَرِحُوا بِمَا عِندَهُم م ِّنَ‏ الْعِلْمِ‏Have they not traveled through the earth and seen whatwas the end of those before them? They were more innumber than them and mightier in strength, and in thetraces in the land; yet all that they used to earn availedthem not.Then when their Messengers came to them with clearproofs, they were glad (and proud) with that which theyhad of the knowledge (of worldly things).Allah tells us about the nations who rejected theirMessengers in ancient times. He mentioned thesevere punishment they suffered despite theirgreat strength, He mentioned the traces whichthey left behind in the earth and the great wealththey amassed. None of that availed themanything and could not prevent the punishment ofAllah at all.That is because when the Messengers came tothem with clear signs and decisive evidence, theydid not pay any attention to them. Instead, theywere content with the knowledge with them, or sothey claimed, and they said that they did notneed what the Messengers brought them.Mujahid said,"They said, we know better than them, we willnot be resurrected and we will not be punished.''As-Suddi said,"In their ignorance, they rejoiced in what theyhad of (worldly) knowledge. So Allah sent upon

them a punishment which they could not escapeor resist.''and surrounded them.means, encompassed them.that at which they used to mock,96﴾ ٨٣﴿وَحَاقَ‏ بِهِم ...م َّا آَانُوا بِهِ‏ یَسْتَهْزِؤُونmeans, that which they used to disbelieve in andsaid would never happen,So when they saw Our punishment,.........فَلَم َّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَاmeans, when they saw with their own eyes thepunishment which came upon them, they said,قَالُوا آمَن َّا بِالل َّهِ‏ وَحْدَهُ‏ وَآَفَرْنَا بِمَا آُن َّا بِهِ‏ مُشْرِآِينَ‏ ﴿٨٤ ﴾We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used toassociate with Him as (His) partners.means, they affirmed that Allah is One and deniedthe false gods, but this was at the time whenexcuses were to no avail.This is like what Fir`awn said as he wasdrowning:ءَامَنتُ‏ أَن َّهُ‏ لا إِلِهَ‏ إِلا َّ ال َّذِى ءَامَنَتْ‏ بِهِ‏ بَنواْ‏ إِسْرَءِیلَ‏ وَأَنَاْ‏ مِنَ‏الْمُسْلِمِينَ‏I believe that none has the right to be worshippedbut He in Whom the Children of Israel believe,and I am one of the Muslims. (10:90)But Allah said:ءَالَنَ‏ وَقَدْ‏ عَصَيْتَ‏ قَبْلُ‏ وَآُنتَ‏ مِنَ‏ الْمُفْسِدِینَ‏Now (you believe) while you refused to believebefore and you were one of the the corrupters.(10:91)...

meaning, Allah did not accept this from him,because He had answered the prayer of HisProphet Musa, when he said,وَاشْدُدْ‏ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ‏ فَلاَ‏ یُؤْمِنُواْ‏ حَت َّى یَرَوُاْ‏ الْعَذَابَ‏ الا ٌّلِيمَ‏And harden their hearts, so that they will notbelieve until they see the painful torment.(10:88)Allah says here:فَلَمْ‏ یَكُ‏ یَنفَعُهُمْ‏ إِیمَانُهُمْ‏ لَم َّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا سُن َّتَ‏ الل َّهِ‏ ال َّتِي قَدْ‏ خَلَتْ‏ فِي عِبَادِهِ‏ ...Then their Faith could not avail them when they saw Ourpunishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah indealing with His servants.means, this is the ruling of Allah concerning allthose who repent only when they actually see thepunishment: He does not accept that from them.It is said in the Hadith:إِن َّ االلهَ‏ تَعَالَى یَقْبَلُ‏ تَوْبَةَ‏ الْعَبْدِ‏ مَالَمْ‏ یُغَرْغِرAllah will accept the repentance of His servant solong as the death rattle is not sounding in histhroat.Once the death rattle is sounding and the soulhas reached the throat, and the dying personactually sees the angel (of death), then he can nolonger repent.Allah says:﴾ ٨٥﴿And there the disbelievers lost utterly.وَخَسِرَ‏ هُنَالِكَ‏ الْكَافِرُونَ‏This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Ghafir. Praise and thanksbe to Allah....97