041 Fussilat

A revelation from the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful,

a Book whose verses are well explained; an Arabic Qur’an[2] for people who understand,

Translation notes: [2] i.e., revealed in the Arabic language.

as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; yet most of them turn away and they do not listen.

They say, “Our hearts are covered against what you are calling us to; there is deafness in our ears, and there is a barrier between us and you. So carry on [in your way], we will carry on [in our way].”

Say [O Prophet], “I am only a human being like yourselves; it has been revealed to me that your god is only One God, so seek the straight path to Him and seek His forgiveness, and woe to those who associate partners with Him,

those who do not give zakah, and who disbelieve in the Hereafter.

Those who believe and do righteous deeds, they will have a never-ending reward.

Say, “Do you disbelieve in the One Who created the earth in two Days[3] and you set up rivals to Him? Such is the Lord of the worlds.

Translation notes: [3] i.e., on Sunday and Monday.

He placed on it firm mountains standing high above it, showered His blessings upon it, and measured its sustenance totaling exactly four Days[4], for all who ask.

Translation notes: [4] These four Days include the first two Days, and the other two Days were: Tuesday and Wednesday.

Then He turned to the heaven when it was all smoke, and said to it and to the earth, ‘Come into being, willingly or unwillingly.’ They both said, ‘We come willingly.’

He then formed them into seven heavens in two Days[5] and assigned to each heaven its mandate. And We adorned the lowest heaven with lamps [i.e., stars] which also serve as protection[6]. That is the design of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.”

Translation notes: [5] i.e., on Thursday and Friday. So the total period of creating the whole universe was six heavenly Days. [6] i.e., protection from the devils who try to steal information from the angels in heaven.

But if they turn away, then say, “I warn you of a blast like the one that befell ‘Ād and Thamūd,

when the messengers came to them from the front and from behind [saying], “Worship none but Allah,” they said, “If our Lord had willed [7], He would have sent down angels; so we disbelieve in what you have been sent with.”

Translation notes: [7] To send us messengers.

As for ‘Ād, they were arrogant in the land without right, and said, “Who is more powerful than us?” Did they not see that Allah, Who created them, is more powerful than them? Yet they continued to reject Our signs.

So We sent against them a roaring wind[8] for several inauspicious days to make them taste a disgracing punishment in the life of this world, but the punishment of the Hereafter is far more disgracing, and they will not be helped.

Translation notes: [8] i.e., a screaming and furious wind.

As for Thamūd, We showed them guidance, but they preferred blindness over guidance. So they were seized by the blast of a debasing punishment for what they used to commit.

And We saved those who believed and feared Allah.

And [consider] the Day when Allah’s enemies will be gathered to the Fire, driven in rows.

until when they reach it, their hearing, their sight and their skins will testify[9] against them concerning what they used to do.

Translation notes: [9] On the Day of Judgment, the wicked will deny the evil deeds in their record of deeds - in an attempt to escape the punishment. They will be asked if they accept Allah, the angels, or even their own families and neighbors as witnesses, but they will refuse. So Allah will make their organs testify against them. [Ibn Kathīr]

They will say to their skins, “Why did you testify against us?” They will say, “It is Allah Who made us to speak, the One Who made everything speak. It is He Who created you the first time, and to Him you will be returned.

You did not bother to hide yourselves [when committing sins] from your hearing, your sight, and your skins lest they testify against you; rather you thought that Allah does not know much of what you do.

Such was your assumption that you entertained about your Lord that ruined you, so you became losers.”

Even if they endure patiently, the Fire will still be their abode; and if they seek to make amends, they will not be allowed to do so.

We assigned to them [evil] associates[10] who made appealing to them what was before them[11] and what was behind them[12], so the decree [of punishment] became due against them along with nations that passed before them of jinn and men, for indeed they were losers.

Translation notes: [10] In this world among the jinn and men. [11] Of neglecting the reckoning and account in the Hereafter. [12] Of their disbelief and evil deeds in this world.

Those who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to this Qur’an, but make noise [when it is recited], so that you may prevail.”

We will surely make those who disbelieve taste a severe punishment, and We will surely recompense them according to the worst of what they used to do.

Such is the recompense of the enemies of Allah: the Fire, which will be their eternal home, as a recompense for their rejection of Our verses.

Those who disbelieved will say, “Our Lord, show us those jinn and men who led us astray; we will trample them under our feet, so that they become among the lowest[13].”

Translation notes: [13] In the lowest depths of Hellfire, or that we may step on them in revenge for leading us astray.

Those who say, “Our Lord is Allah,” then remain steadfast, the angels will descend upon them[14][saying], “Do not fear, nor grieve, but receive glad tidings of Paradise which you were promised.

Translation notes: [14] At the time of their death throes.

We are your allies in the life of this world and in the Hereafter. You will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you ask for,

as a hospitality from the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful One.”

Who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, does righteous deeds, and says, “I am one of the Muslims [submitting to Allah]”?

Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with what is good; the one whom you have enmity with will become as if he were a close friend.

But none can attain this except those who are patient, and none can attain this except those who are greatly fortunate.

If you are prompted by Satan’s provocation, seek refuge with Allah, for He is indeed the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

Among His signs are the night and the day, the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if you truly worship Him[15]

Translation notes: [15] Do not worship Allah through His creatures, but worship the Creator Himself directly and dedicate your worship to Him alone.

But if they show arrogance, then those [angels] who are with your Lord glorify Him night and day, and they never grow weary.

And among His signs is that you see the land withered, but when We send down rain upon it, it stirs and swells. He Who gives it life will surely give life to the dead, for He is Most Capable of all things.

Those who seek to cause deviation in Our verses[16] are not hidden from Us. Is one who will be cast into the Fire better or one who will come safely on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you wish, for He is All-Seeing of what you do.

Translation notes: [16] By denying them, distorting their meanings, preferring deviant interpretation, or making noise while they are recited as the pagans of Makkah used to do.

Those who disbelieve in the Reminder[17] when it comes to them [will be punished], for it is truly a mighty Book[18].

Translation notes: [17] i.e., the Qur’an. [18] Inimitable and protected by Allah from any distortion or alteration.

No falsehood can approach it from the front or from behind; a revelation from the One Who is All-Wise, Praiseworthy.

Nothing is said to you [O Prophet] except what was already said to the messengers before you. Indeed, your Lord is All-Forgiving, but Severe in punishment.

If We had made it a non-Arabic Qur’an, they would have said, “If only its verses were made clear? What! A non-Arabic [book] and an Arab [messenger]?” Say, “It is a guidance and healing for those who believe. As for those who do not believe, there is deafness in their ears and they are blind to [understand] it – it is as if they are being called from a far-off place[19].”

Translation notes: [19] So they neither hear the call nor understand it.

We gave Moses the Scripture, but differences arose concerning it. Were it not for a prior decree[20] from your Lord, it would have been judged between them. Surely they are in a disquieting doubt about it.

Translation notes: [20] That Allah will delay their judgment until Judgment Day.

Whoever does a righteous deed, it is to his own benefit; and whoever does an evil deed, it is to his own loss. Your Lord is not unjust to His slaves.

The knowledge of the Hour is with Him alone. No fruit emerges from its husk, nor does any female conceive or give birth without His knowledge. On the Day when He will call them, “Where are My [alleged] partners?” They will say, “We declare before you that none of us can bear witness to that.”

Whatever they used to supplicate before will vanish from them, and they will realize that they have no escape.

Man never tires of asking for good, but if evil touches him, he is desperate and despondent.

But if We give him a taste of mercy from Us after being inflicted with adversity, he will surely say, “This is my due[21], and I do not think that the Hour will ever come, but if I am brought back to my Lord, I will surely have with Him the best [reward].” We will surely inform the disbelievers of what they did, and We will surely make them taste a harsh punishment.

Translation notes: [21] For I deserve it for my effort, knowledge, excellence, etc.

When We bestow favor upon man, he turns away and distances himself [from Us]; but when evil touches him, he is full of prolonged supplication.

Say, “Did you ever consider, if this [Qur’an] is really from Allah, but you reject it, who can be more astray than someone who is in extreme defiance?”

We will show them Our signs in the universe and in their own selves until it becomes clear to them that this [Qur’an] is the truth[22]. Is it not enough that your Lord is a Witness over all things?

Translation notes: [22] Or that He is the Truth.

Indeed, they are in doubt concerning the meeting with their Lord; He truly encompasses all things.