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Surah 53 of 114

An-Najm

62 verses
Hamzat WaslSilentGhunnahIkhfaIkhfa ShafawiIqlabIdgham (w/ ghunnah)Idgham (no ghunnah)Idgham ShafawiQalqalahNormal ProlongationPermissible ProlongationObligatory ProlongationNecessary Prolongation
1
وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَى
By the star when it descends,
وَٱلنَّجۡمِBy the star
إِذَاwhen
هَوَىٰit goes down,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The First Surah in which a Prostration is revealed

Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) said, "Surat An-Najm was the first Surah in which a prostration was revealed. The Prophet (recited it in Makkah) and prostrated. Those who were with him did the same, except an old man who took a handful of soil and prostrated on it. Later on, I saw him killed as a disbeliever; he was Umayyah bin Khalaf.'' Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith in several places of his Sahih, as did Muslim, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i, using various chains of narration through Abu Ishaq from `Abdullah.

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

﴿ وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(1. By the star when it goes down.) (2. Your companion has neither gone astray nor has he erred.) (3. Nor does he speak of desire.) (4. It is only a revelation revealed.)

2
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَى
Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred,
مَاNot
ضَلَّhas strayed
صَاحِبُكُمۡyour companion
وَمَاand not
غَوَىٰhas he erred,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The First Surah in which a Prostration is revealed

Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) said, "Surat An-Najm was the first Surah in which a prostration was revealed. The Prophet (recited it in Makkah) and prostrated. Those who were with him did the same, except an old man who took a handful of soil and prostrated on it. Later on, I saw him killed as a disbeliever; he was Umayyah bin Khalaf.'' Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith in several places of his Sahih, as did Muslim, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i, using various chains of narration through Abu Ishaq from `Abdullah.

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

﴿ وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(1. By the star when it goes down.) (2. Your companion has neither gone astray nor has he erred.) (3. Nor does he speak of desire.) (4. It is only a revelation revealed.)

3
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ
Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.
وَمَاAnd not
يَنطِقُhe speaks
عَنِfrom
ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓthe desire.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The First Surah in which a Prostration is revealed

Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) said, "Surat An-Najm was the first Surah in which a prostration was revealed. The Prophet (recited it in Makkah) and prostrated. Those who were with him did the same, except an old man who took a handful of soil and prostrated on it. Later on, I saw him killed as a disbeliever; he was Umayyah bin Khalaf.'' Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith in several places of his Sahih, as did Muslim, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i, using various chains of narration through Abu Ishaq from `Abdullah.

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

﴿ وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(1. By the star when it goes down.) (2. Your companion has neither gone astray nor has he erred.) (3. Nor does he speak of desire.) (4. It is only a revelation revealed.)

4
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَى
It is not but a revelation revealed,
إِنۡNot
هُوَit
إِلَّا(is) except
وَحۡىٌ۬a revelation
يُوحَىٰrevealed,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The First Surah in which a Prostration is revealed

Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) said, "Surat An-Najm was the first Surah in which a prostration was revealed. The Prophet (recited it in Makkah) and prostrated. Those who were with him did the same, except an old man who took a handful of soil and prostrated on it. Later on, I saw him killed as a disbeliever; he was Umayyah bin Khalaf.'' Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith in several places of his Sahih, as did Muslim, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i, using various chains of narration through Abu Ishaq from `Abdullah.

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

﴿ وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(1. By the star when it goes down.) (2. Your companion has neither gone astray nor has he erred.) (3. Nor does he speak of desire.) (4. It is only a revelation revealed.)

5
عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَى
Taught to him by one intense in strength –
عَلَّمَهُ ۥHas taught him
شَدِيدُthe (one) mighty
ٱلۡقُوَىٰ(in) power,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

6
ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَى
One of soundness. And he rose to [his] true form
ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬Possessor of soundness.
فَٱسۡتَوَىٰAnd he rose,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

7
وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَى
While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.
وَهُوَWhile he
بِٱلۡأُفُقِ(was) in the horizon -
ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰthe highest.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

8
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى
Then he approached and descended
ثُمَّThen
دَنَاhe approached
فَتَدَلَّىٰand came down,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

9
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَى
And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.
فَكَانَAnd was
قَابَ(at) a distance
قَوۡسَيۡنِ(of) two bow-(lengths)
أَوۡor
أَدۡنَىٰnearer.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

10
فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَى
And he revealed to His Servant what he revealed.
فَأَوۡحَىٰٓSo he revealed
إِلَىٰto
عَبۡدِهِۦHis slave
مَآwhat
أَوۡحَىٰhe revealed.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

11
مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ
The heart did not lie [about] what it saw.
مَاNot
كَذَبَlied
ٱلۡفُؤَادُthe heart
مَاwhat
رَأَىٰٓit saw.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

12
أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَى
So will you dispute with him over what he saw?
أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥThen will you dispute with him
عَلَىٰabout
مَاwhat
يَرَىٰhe saw?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

13
وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَى
And he certainly saw him in another descent
وَلَقَدۡAnd certainly
رَءَاهُhe saw him
نَزۡلَةً(in) descent
أُخۡرَىٰanother,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

14
عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَى
At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary –
عِندَNear
سِدۡرَةِ(the) Lote Tree
ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ(of) the utmost boundary,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

15
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ
Near it is the Garden of Refuge –
عِندَهَاNear it
جَنَّةُ(is the) Garden
ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ(of) Abode.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

16
إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَى
When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].
إِذۡWhen
يَغۡشَىcovered
ٱلسِّدۡرَةَthe Lote Tree
مَاwhat
يَغۡشَىٰcovers,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

17
مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَى
The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].
مَاNot
زَاغَswerved
ٱلۡبَصَرُthe sight
وَمَاand not
طَغَىٰit transgressed.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

18
لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ
He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
لَقَدۡCertainly
رَأَىٰhe saw
مِنۡof
ءَايَـٰتِ(the) Signs
رَبِّهِ(of) his Lord
ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓthe Greatest.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Muhammad was sent as a Mercy for all that exists; He does not speak of His Desire

Allah said,

﴿ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

(Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish,

﴿ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ

(It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَيَدْخُلَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ بِشَفَاعَةِ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيَ مِثْلُ الْحَيَّيْنِ أَوْ مِثْلُ أَحَدِ الْحَيَّيْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَمُضَر »

(Verily, numbers similar to the two tribes, or one of them, Rabi`ah and Mudar, will enter Paradise on account of the intercession of one man, who is not a Prophet.) A man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Is not Rabi`ah a subtribe of Mudar.'' The Prophet said,

« إِنَّمَا أَقُولُ مَا أَقُول »

(I said what I said.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "I used to record everything I heard from the Messenger of Allah so it would be preserved. The Quraysh discouraged me from this, saying, `You record everything you hear from the Messenger of Allah , even though he is human and sometimes speaks when he is angry' I stopped recording the Hadiths for a while, but later mentioned what they said to the Messenger of Allah , who said,

« اكْتُبْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا خَرَجَ مِنِّي إِلَّا الْحَق »

(Write! By He in Whose Hand is my soul, every word that comes out of me is the Truth.)'' Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(5. He has been taught by one mighty in power.) (6. Dhu Mirrah then he Istawa.) (7. While he was in the highest part of the horizon,) (8. Then he approached and came closer,) (9. And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.) (10. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) (11. The heart lied not in what he saw.) (12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) (13. And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) (14. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) (15. Near it is the Paradise of Abode.) (16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) (17. The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) (18. Indeed he saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord.)

19
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّى
So have you considered al-Lat and al-‘Uzza?
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُSo have you seen
ٱللَّـٰتَthe Lat
وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰand the Uzza,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Angels, Light and colors covered Sidrat Al-Muntaha

Allah said,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) We mentioned before, in the Hadiths about Al-Isra' that the angels, Allah's Light, and spectacular colors covered the Sidrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When the Messenger of Allah was taken on the Isra' journey, he ascended to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, which is in the seventh heaven. There everything terminates that ascends from the earth and is held there, and terminates everything that descends from above it is held there,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) He said, "Golden butterflies. The Messenger of Allah was given three things: He was given the five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah.'' Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah's statement,

﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) indicates that the Prophet's sight did not turn right or left, according to `Ibn `Abbas,

﴿ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) not exceeding what has been ordained for it. This is a tremendous quality that demonstrates the Prophet's firm obedience to Allah, because he only did what was commanded and did ask beyond what he was given. Allah's statement,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) is similar to another Ayah,

﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ

(In order that We might show him of Our Ayat.)(17:1), meaning, signs that testify to Allah's might and greatness. Relying on these two Ayat, some scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah said that the Prophet did not see Allah during the Isra' journey, because Allah said,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) They said that, had the Prophet seen his Lord, Allah would have conveyed this news and the Prophet would have narrated it to the people.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌ۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّہِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(19. Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza.) (20. And Manat, the other third) (21. Is it for you the males and for Him the females) (22. That indeed is a division most unfair!) (23. They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the guidance from their Lord!) (24. Or shall man have what he wishes) (25. But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).) (26. And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing, except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)

20
وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ
And Manat, the third – the other one?
وَمَنَوٰةَAnd Manat
ٱلثَّالِثَةَthe third,
ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓthe other?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Angels, Light and colors covered Sidrat Al-Muntaha

Allah said,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) We mentioned before, in the Hadiths about Al-Isra' that the angels, Allah's Light, and spectacular colors covered the Sidrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When the Messenger of Allah was taken on the Isra' journey, he ascended to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, which is in the seventh heaven. There everything terminates that ascends from the earth and is held there, and terminates everything that descends from above it is held there,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) He said, "Golden butterflies. The Messenger of Allah was given three things: He was given the five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah.'' Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah's statement,

﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) indicates that the Prophet's sight did not turn right or left, according to `Ibn `Abbas,

﴿ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) not exceeding what has been ordained for it. This is a tremendous quality that demonstrates the Prophet's firm obedience to Allah, because he only did what was commanded and did ask beyond what he was given. Allah's statement,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) is similar to another Ayah,

﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ

(In order that We might show him of Our Ayat.)(17:1), meaning, signs that testify to Allah's might and greatness. Relying on these two Ayat, some scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah said that the Prophet did not see Allah during the Isra' journey, because Allah said,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) They said that, had the Prophet seen his Lord, Allah would have conveyed this news and the Prophet would have narrated it to the people.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌ۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّہِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(19. Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza.) (20. And Manat, the other third) (21. Is it for you the males and for Him the females) (22. That indeed is a division most unfair!) (23. They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the guidance from their Lord!) (24. Or shall man have what he wishes) (25. But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).) (26. And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing, except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)

21
أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَى
Is the male for you and for Him the female?
أَلَكُمُIs for you
ٱلذَّكَرُthe male
وَلَهُand for Him
ٱلۡأُنثَىٰthe female?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Angels, Light and colors covered Sidrat Al-Muntaha

Allah said,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) We mentioned before, in the Hadiths about Al-Isra' that the angels, Allah's Light, and spectacular colors covered the Sidrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When the Messenger of Allah was taken on the Isra' journey, he ascended to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, which is in the seventh heaven. There everything terminates that ascends from the earth and is held there, and terminates everything that descends from above it is held there,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) He said, "Golden butterflies. The Messenger of Allah was given three things: He was given the five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah.'' Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah's statement,

﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) indicates that the Prophet's sight did not turn right or left, according to `Ibn `Abbas,

﴿ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) not exceeding what has been ordained for it. This is a tremendous quality that demonstrates the Prophet's firm obedience to Allah, because he only did what was commanded and did ask beyond what he was given. Allah's statement,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) is similar to another Ayah,

﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ

(In order that We might show him of Our Ayat.)(17:1), meaning, signs that testify to Allah's might and greatness. Relying on these two Ayat, some scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah said that the Prophet did not see Allah during the Isra' journey, because Allah said,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) They said that, had the Prophet seen his Lord, Allah would have conveyed this news and the Prophet would have narrated it to the people.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌ۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّہِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(19. Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza.) (20. And Manat, the other third) (21. Is it for you the males and for Him the females) (22. That indeed is a division most unfair!) (23. They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the guidance from their Lord!) (24. Or shall man have what he wishes) (25. But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).) (26. And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing, except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)

22
تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ
That, then, is an unjust division.
تِلۡكَThis,
إِذً۬اthen,
قِسۡمَةٌ۬(is) a division
ضِيزَىٰٓunfair.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Angels, Light and colors covered Sidrat Al-Muntaha

Allah said,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) We mentioned before, in the Hadiths about Al-Isra' that the angels, Allah's Light, and spectacular colors covered the Sidrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When the Messenger of Allah was taken on the Isra' journey, he ascended to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, which is in the seventh heaven. There everything terminates that ascends from the earth and is held there, and terminates everything that descends from above it is held there,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) He said, "Golden butterflies. The Messenger of Allah was given three things: He was given the five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah.'' Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah's statement,

﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) indicates that the Prophet's sight did not turn right or left, according to `Ibn `Abbas,

﴿ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) not exceeding what has been ordained for it. This is a tremendous quality that demonstrates the Prophet's firm obedience to Allah, because he only did what was commanded and did ask beyond what he was given. Allah's statement,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) is similar to another Ayah,

﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ

(In order that We might show him of Our Ayat.)(17:1), meaning, signs that testify to Allah's might and greatness. Relying on these two Ayat, some scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah said that the Prophet did not see Allah during the Isra' journey, because Allah said,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) They said that, had the Prophet seen his Lord, Allah would have conveyed this news and the Prophet would have narrated it to the people.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌ۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّہِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(19. Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza.) (20. And Manat, the other third) (21. Is it for you the males and for Him the females) (22. That indeed is a division most unfair!) (23. They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the guidance from their Lord!) (24. Or shall man have what he wishes) (25. But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).) (26. And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing, except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)

23
إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌ۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّہِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ
They are not but [mere] names you have named them – you and your forefathers – for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance.
إِنۡNot
هِىَthey
إِلَّآ(are) except
أَسۡمَآءٌ۬names
سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآyou have named them,
أَنتُمۡyou
وَءَابَآؤُكُمand your forefathers,
مَّآnot
أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُhas Allah sent down
بِہَاfor it
مِنany
سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚauthority.
إِنNot
يَتَّبِعُونَthey follow
إِلَّاexcept
ٱلظَّنَّassumption
وَمَاand what
تَهۡوَىdesire
ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖthe(ir) souls.
وَلَقَدۡAnd certainly
جَآءَهُمhas come to them
مِّنfrom
رَّبِّہِمُtheir Lord
ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓthe guidance.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Angels, Light and colors covered Sidrat Al-Muntaha

Allah said,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) We mentioned before, in the Hadiths about Al-Isra' that the angels, Allah's Light, and spectacular colors covered the Sidrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When the Messenger of Allah was taken on the Isra' journey, he ascended to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, which is in the seventh heaven. There everything terminates that ascends from the earth and is held there, and terminates everything that descends from above it is held there,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) He said, "Golden butterflies. The Messenger of Allah was given three things: He was given the five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah.'' Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah's statement,

﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) indicates that the Prophet's sight did not turn right or left, according to `Ibn `Abbas,

﴿ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) not exceeding what has been ordained for it. This is a tremendous quality that demonstrates the Prophet's firm obedience to Allah, because he only did what was commanded and did ask beyond what he was given. Allah's statement,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) is similar to another Ayah,

﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ

(In order that We might show him of Our Ayat.)(17:1), meaning, signs that testify to Allah's might and greatness. Relying on these two Ayat, some scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah said that the Prophet did not see Allah during the Isra' journey, because Allah said,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) They said that, had the Prophet seen his Lord, Allah would have conveyed this news and the Prophet would have narrated it to the people.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌ۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّہِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(19. Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza.) (20. And Manat, the other third) (21. Is it for you the males and for Him the females) (22. That indeed is a division most unfair!) (23. They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the guidance from their Lord!) (24. Or shall man have what he wishes) (25. But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).) (26. And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing, except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)

24
أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّى
Or is there for man whatever he wishes?
أَمۡOr
لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ(is) for man
مَاwhat
تَمَنَّىٰhe wishes?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Angels, Light and colors covered Sidrat Al-Muntaha

Allah said,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) We mentioned before, in the Hadiths about Al-Isra' that the angels, Allah's Light, and spectacular colors covered the Sidrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When the Messenger of Allah was taken on the Isra' journey, he ascended to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, which is in the seventh heaven. There everything terminates that ascends from the earth and is held there, and terminates everything that descends from above it is held there,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) He said, "Golden butterflies. The Messenger of Allah was given three things: He was given the five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah.'' Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah's statement,

﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) indicates that the Prophet's sight did not turn right or left, according to `Ibn `Abbas,

﴿ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) not exceeding what has been ordained for it. This is a tremendous quality that demonstrates the Prophet's firm obedience to Allah, because he only did what was commanded and did ask beyond what he was given. Allah's statement,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) is similar to another Ayah,

﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ

(In order that We might show him of Our Ayat.)(17:1), meaning, signs that testify to Allah's might and greatness. Relying on these two Ayat, some scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah said that the Prophet did not see Allah during the Isra' journey, because Allah said,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) They said that, had the Prophet seen his Lord, Allah would have conveyed this news and the Prophet would have narrated it to the people.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌ۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّہِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(19. Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza.) (20. And Manat, the other third) (21. Is it for you the males and for Him the females) (22. That indeed is a division most unfair!) (23. They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the guidance from their Lord!) (24. Or shall man have what he wishes) (25. But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).) (26. And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing, except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)

25
فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَى
Rather, to Allah belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].
فَلِلَّهِBut for Allah
ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ(is) the last
وَٱلۡأُولَىٰand the first.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Angels, Light and colors covered Sidrat Al-Muntaha

Allah said,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) We mentioned before, in the Hadiths about Al-Isra' that the angels, Allah's Light, and spectacular colors covered the Sidrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When the Messenger of Allah was taken on the Isra' journey, he ascended to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, which is in the seventh heaven. There everything terminates that ascends from the earth and is held there, and terminates everything that descends from above it is held there,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) He said, "Golden butterflies. The Messenger of Allah was given three things: He was given the five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah.'' Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah's statement,

﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) indicates that the Prophet's sight did not turn right or left, according to `Ibn `Abbas,

﴿ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) not exceeding what has been ordained for it. This is a tremendous quality that demonstrates the Prophet's firm obedience to Allah, because he only did what was commanded and did ask beyond what he was given. Allah's statement,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) is similar to another Ayah,

﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ

(In order that We might show him of Our Ayat.)(17:1), meaning, signs that testify to Allah's might and greatness. Relying on these two Ayat, some scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah said that the Prophet did not see Allah during the Isra' journey, because Allah said,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) They said that, had the Prophet seen his Lord, Allah would have conveyed this news and the Prophet would have narrated it to the people.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌ۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّہِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(19. Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza.) (20. And Manat, the other third) (21. Is it for you the males and for Him the females) (22. That indeed is a division most unfair!) (23. They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the guidance from their Lord!) (24. Or shall man have what he wishes) (25. But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).) (26. And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing, except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)

26
وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ
And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except [only] after Allah has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.
۞ وَكَمAnd how many
مِّنof
مَّلَكٍ۬(the) Angels
فِىin
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِthe heavens
لَاnot
تُغۡنِىwill avail
شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡtheir intercession
شَيۡـًٔاanything
إِلَّاexcept
مِنۢ بَعۡدِafter
أَن[that]
يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُAllah has given permission
لِمَنfor whom
يَشَآءُHe wills
وَيَرۡضَىٰٓand approves.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Angels, Light and colors covered Sidrat Al-Muntaha

Allah said,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) We mentioned before, in the Hadiths about Al-Isra' that the angels, Allah's Light, and spectacular colors covered the Sidrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When the Messenger of Allah was taken on the Isra' journey, he ascended to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, which is in the seventh heaven. There everything terminates that ascends from the earth and is held there, and terminates everything that descends from above it is held there,

﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) He said, "Golden butterflies. The Messenger of Allah was given three things: He was given the five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah.'' Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah's statement,

﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) indicates that the Prophet's sight did not turn right or left, according to `Ibn `Abbas,

﴿ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

(nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) not exceeding what has been ordained for it. This is a tremendous quality that demonstrates the Prophet's firm obedience to Allah, because he only did what was commanded and did ask beyond what he was given. Allah's statement,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) is similar to another Ayah,

﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ

(In order that We might show him of Our Ayat.)(17:1), meaning, signs that testify to Allah's might and greatness. Relying on these two Ayat, some scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah said that the Prophet did not see Allah during the Isra' journey, because Allah said,

﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) They said that, had the Prophet seen his Lord, Allah would have conveyed this news and the Prophet would have narrated it to the people.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌ۬ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِہَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ‌ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّہِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(19. Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza.) (20. And Manat, the other third) (21. Is it for you the males and for Him the females) (22. That indeed is a division most unfair!) (23. They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the guidance from their Lord!) (24. Or shall man have what he wishes) (25. But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).) (26. And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing, except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)

27
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَى
Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels female names,
إِنَّIndeed,
ٱلَّذِينَthose who
لَا(do) not
يُؤۡمِنُونَbelieve
بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِin the Hereafter,
لَيُسَمُّونَsurely they name
ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَthe Angels
تَسۡمِيَةَname(s)
ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ(of) female,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

No Interecession except with Allah's Leave

Allah said,

﴿ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.) As He said;

﴿ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦ‌ۚ

(Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission)(2:255) and,

﴿ وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا لِمَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُۚ ۥ

(Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits.) (34:23) `If this is the case with the angels who are close to Him, how can you, O ignorant ones, hope for Allah to grant you the intercession of the idols and rivals you worship with Him without having His permission or any divine legislation permitting you to worship them' Rather, Allah has forbidden idol worshipping by the tongues of all of His Messengers and He revealed this prohibition in all of His Books.

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ‌ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ‌ۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِى مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ذَٲلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ

(27. Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.) (28. But they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but conjecture, and verily, conjecture is no substitute for the truth.) (29. Therefore withdraw from him who turns away from Our Reminder and desires nothing but the life of this world.) (30. That is what they could reach of knowledge. Verily, your Lord is He, Who knows best him who goes astray from His path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.)

28
وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ‌ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ‌ۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِى مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا
And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.
وَمَاAnd not
لَهُمfor them
بِهِۦabout it
مِنۡany
عِلۡمٍ‌ۖknowledge.
إِنNot
يَتَّبِعُونَthey follow
إِلَّاbut
ٱلظَّنَّ‌ۖassumption.
وَإِنَّAnd indeed,
ٱلظَّنَّthe assumption
لَا(does) not
يُغۡنِىavail
مِنَagainst
ٱلۡحَقِّthe truth
شَيۡـًٔ۬اanything.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

No Interecession except with Allah's Leave

Allah said,

﴿ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.) As He said;

﴿ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦ‌ۚ

(Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission)(2:255) and,

﴿ وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا لِمَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُۚ ۥ

(Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits.) (34:23) `If this is the case with the angels who are close to Him, how can you, O ignorant ones, hope for Allah to grant you the intercession of the idols and rivals you worship with Him without having His permission or any divine legislation permitting you to worship them' Rather, Allah has forbidden idol worshipping by the tongues of all of His Messengers and He revealed this prohibition in all of His Books.

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ‌ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ‌ۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِى مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ذَٲلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ

(27. Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.) (28. But they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but conjecture, and verily, conjecture is no substitute for the truth.) (29. Therefore withdraw from him who turns away from Our Reminder and desires nothing but the life of this world.) (30. That is what they could reach of knowledge. Verily, your Lord is He, Who knows best him who goes astray from His path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.)

29
فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا
So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.
فَأَعۡرِضۡSo turn away
عَنfrom
مَّن(him) who
تَوَلَّىٰturns away
عَنfrom
ذِكۡرِنَاOur Reminder
وَلَمۡand not
يُرِدۡhe desires
إِلَّاexcept
ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَthe life
ٱلدُّنۡيَا(of) the world.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

No Interecession except with Allah's Leave

Allah said,

﴿ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.) As He said;

﴿ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦ‌ۚ

(Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission)(2:255) and,

﴿ وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا لِمَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُۚ ۥ

(Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits.) (34:23) `If this is the case with the angels who are close to Him, how can you, O ignorant ones, hope for Allah to grant you the intercession of the idols and rivals you worship with Him without having His permission or any divine legislation permitting you to worship them' Rather, Allah has forbidden idol worshipping by the tongues of all of His Messengers and He revealed this prohibition in all of His Books.

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ‌ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ‌ۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِى مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ذَٲلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ

(27. Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.) (28. But they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but conjecture, and verily, conjecture is no substitute for the truth.) (29. Therefore withdraw from him who turns away from Our Reminder and desires nothing but the life of this world.) (30. That is what they could reach of knowledge. Verily, your Lord is He, Who knows best him who goes astray from His path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.)

30
ذَٲلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَى
That is their sum of knowledge. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided.
ذَٲلِكَThat
مَبۡلَغُهُم(is) their sum
مِّنَof
ٱلۡعِلۡمِ‌ۚknowledge.
إِنَّIndeed,
رَبَّكَyour Lord
هُوَ(is) He (Who)
أَعۡلَمُknows best
بِمَن(he) who
ضَلَّstrays
عَنfrom
سَبِيلِهِۦHis Path,
وَهُوَand He
أَعۡلَمُknows best
بِمَنِ(he) who
ٱهۡتَدَىٰis guided.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

No Interecession except with Allah's Leave

Allah said,

﴿ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

(And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.) As He said;

﴿ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦ‌ۚ

(Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission)(2:255) and,

﴿ وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا لِمَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُۚ ۥ

(Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits.) (34:23) `If this is the case with the angels who are close to Him, how can you, O ignorant ones, hope for Allah to grant you the intercession of the idols and rivals you worship with Him without having His permission or any divine legislation permitting you to worship them' Rather, Allah has forbidden idol worshipping by the tongues of all of His Messengers and He revealed this prohibition in all of His Books.

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ‌ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ‌ۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِى مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ذَٲلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ

(27. Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.) (28. But they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but conjecture, and verily, conjecture is no substitute for the truth.) (29. Therefore withdraw from him who turns away from Our Reminder and desires nothing but the life of this world.) (30. That is what they could reach of knowledge. Verily, your Lord is He, Who knows best him who goes astray from His path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.)

31
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى
And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth – that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward] –
وَلِلَّهِAnd for Allah
مَا(is) whatever
فِى(is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِthe heavens
وَمَاand whatever
فِى(is) in
ٱلۡأَرۡضِthe earth
لِيَجۡزِىَthat He may recompense
ٱلَّذِينَthose who
أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْdo evil
بِمَاwith what
عَمِلُواْthey have done
وَيَجۡزِىَand recompense
ٱلَّذِينَthose who
أَحۡسَنُواْdo good
بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىwith the best.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Necessity of turning away from the People of Misguidance

Allah's statement,

﴿ فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا

(Therefore withdraw from him who turns away from Our Reminder), means, stay away from those who turn away from the Truth and shun them,

﴿ وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا

(and desires nothing but the life of this world.) meaning, whose aim and knowledge are concentrated on this life; this is the goal of those who have no goodness in them,

﴿ ذَٲلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ‌ۚ

(That is what they could reach of knowledge.) meaning, seeking this life and striving hard in its affairs is the best knowledge they have acquired. There is also the reported supplication:

« اللْهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا، وَلَا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا »

(O Allah! Make not this life the greatest of our concerns nor the best knowledge that we can attain.) Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ

(Verily, your Lord is He, Who knows best him who goes astray from His path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.) meaning, He is the Creator of all creatures and He knows whatever benefits His servants. Allah is the One Who guides whom He wills and misguides whom He wills, and all of this indicates His power, knowledge and wisdom. Certainly, He is Just and never legislates or decrees unjustly.

﴿ وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(31. And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, that He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good, with what is best.) (32. Those who avoid great sins and Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) except Al-Lamam -- verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness. He knows you well when He created you from the earth (Adam), and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs. So, ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who has Taqwa.)

32
ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ
Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.
ٱلَّذِينَThose who
يَجۡتَنِبُونَavoid
كَبَـٰٓٮِٕرَgreat
ٱلۡإِثۡمِsins
وَٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَand the immoralities
إِلَّاexcept
ٱللَّمَمَ‌ۚthe small faults;
إِنَّindeed,
رَبَّكَyour Lord
وَٲسِعُ(is) vast
ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ(in) forgiveness.
هُوَHe
أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ(is) most knowing about you
إِذۡwhen
أَنشَأَكُمHe produced you
مِّنَfrom
ٱلۡأَرۡضِthe earth
وَإِذۡand when
أَنتُمۡyou were
أَجِنَّةٌ۬fetuses
فِىin
بُطُونِ(the) wombs
أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ(of) your mothers.
فَلَاSo (do) not
تُزَكُّوٓاْascribe purity
أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ(to) yourselves.
هُوَHe
أَعۡلَمُknows best
بِمَنِ(he) who
ٱتَّقَىٰٓfears.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Necessity of turning away from the People of Misguidance

Allah's statement,

﴿ فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا

(Therefore withdraw from him who turns away from Our Reminder), means, stay away from those who turn away from the Truth and shun them,

﴿ وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا

(and desires nothing but the life of this world.) meaning, whose aim and knowledge are concentrated on this life; this is the goal of those who have no goodness in them,

﴿ ذَٲلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ‌ۚ

(That is what they could reach of knowledge.) meaning, seeking this life and striving hard in its affairs is the best knowledge they have acquired. There is also the reported supplication:

« اللْهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا، وَلَا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا »

(O Allah! Make not this life the greatest of our concerns nor the best knowledge that we can attain.) Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ

(Verily, your Lord is He, Who knows best him who goes astray from His path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.) meaning, He is the Creator of all creatures and He knows whatever benefits His servants. Allah is the One Who guides whom He wills and misguides whom He wills, and all of this indicates His power, knowledge and wisdom. Certainly, He is Just and never legislates or decrees unjustly.

﴿ وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(31. And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, that He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good, with what is best.) (32. Those who avoid great sins and Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) except Al-Lamam -- verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness. He knows you well when He created you from the earth (Adam), and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs. So, ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who has Taqwa.)

33
أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّى
Have you seen the one who turned away
أَفَرَءَيۡتَDid you see
ٱلَّذِىthe one who
تَوَلَّىٰturned away
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Encouraging Repentance and forbidding Claims of Purity for Oneself

Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

(verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.) asserts that His Mercy encompasses everything, and His forgiveness entails every type of sin, if one repents,

﴿ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against them- selves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (39:53) Allah said,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(He knows you well when He created you from the earth,) Allah says, `He was and still is the All-Knowing Whose knowledge encompasses your affairs, statements and all of the actions that will be committed by you, even when He created your father `Adam from the earth and took his offspring from his loin, as small as ants. He then divided them into two groups, a group destined for Paradise and a group to Hellfire,'

﴿ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ

(and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs.) when He commanded the angel to record one's provisions, age, actions and if he would be among the miserable or the happy. Allah said,

﴿ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ

(So, ascribe not purity to yourselves.) forbidding one from ascribing purity and praising himself and thinking highly of his actions,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(He knows best him who has Taqwa.) Allah said in another Ayah,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَہُم‌ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

(Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with unjustly, even equal to the extent of a Fatil.) (4:49) In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Muhammad bin `Amr bin `Ata said, "I called my daughter, Barrah (the pious one), and Zaynab bint Abu Salamah said to me, `The Messenger of Allah forbade using this name. I was originally called Barrah and he said,

« لَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، إِنَّ اللهَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُم »

(Do not ascribe purity to yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious people among you are)' They said, `What should we call her' He said,

« سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَب »

(Call her Zaynab.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded a Hadith from `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah, from his father who said, "A man praised another man before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said,

« وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مرارًا إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا، أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذلِك »

(Woe to you, you have cut off the neck of your friend! (He repeated this) If one of you must praise a friend of his, let him say, "I think that so-and-so is this and that; Allah knows best about him and I will never purify anyone before Allah,'' if he knows his friend to be as he is describing him.)'' Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "A man came before `Uthman bin `Affan and praised him. Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad started throwing sand in the face of that man, saying, `The Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in their faces when we see those who praise.''' Muslim and Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(33. Did you observe him who turned away (from Islam).) (34. And gave a little, then stopped) (35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) (36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Suhuf of Musa,) (37. And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that:) (38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.) (39. And that man can have nothing but what he does.) (40. And that his deeds will be seen.) (41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

34
وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ
And gave a little and [then] refrained?
وَأَعۡطَىٰAnd gave
قَلِيلاً۬a little,
وَأَكۡدَىٰٓand withheld?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Encouraging Repentance and forbidding Claims of Purity for Oneself

Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

(verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.) asserts that His Mercy encompasses everything, and His forgiveness entails every type of sin, if one repents,

﴿ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against them- selves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (39:53) Allah said,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(He knows you well when He created you from the earth,) Allah says, `He was and still is the All-Knowing Whose knowledge encompasses your affairs, statements and all of the actions that will be committed by you, even when He created your father `Adam from the earth and took his offspring from his loin, as small as ants. He then divided them into two groups, a group destined for Paradise and a group to Hellfire,'

﴿ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ

(and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs.) when He commanded the angel to record one's provisions, age, actions and if he would be among the miserable or the happy. Allah said,

﴿ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ

(So, ascribe not purity to yourselves.) forbidding one from ascribing purity and praising himself and thinking highly of his actions,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(He knows best him who has Taqwa.) Allah said in another Ayah,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَہُم‌ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

(Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with unjustly, even equal to the extent of a Fatil.) (4:49) In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Muhammad bin `Amr bin `Ata said, "I called my daughter, Barrah (the pious one), and Zaynab bint Abu Salamah said to me, `The Messenger of Allah forbade using this name. I was originally called Barrah and he said,

« لَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، إِنَّ اللهَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُم »

(Do not ascribe purity to yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious people among you are)' They said, `What should we call her' He said,

« سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَب »

(Call her Zaynab.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded a Hadith from `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah, from his father who said, "A man praised another man before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said,

« وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مرارًا إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا، أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذلِك »

(Woe to you, you have cut off the neck of your friend! (He repeated this) If one of you must praise a friend of his, let him say, "I think that so-and-so is this and that; Allah knows best about him and I will never purify anyone before Allah,'' if he knows his friend to be as he is describing him.)'' Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "A man came before `Uthman bin `Affan and praised him. Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad started throwing sand in the face of that man, saying, `The Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in their faces when we see those who praise.''' Muslim and Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(33. Did you observe him who turned away (from Islam).) (34. And gave a little, then stopped) (35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) (36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Suhuf of Musa,) (37. And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that:) (38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.) (39. And that man can have nothing but what he does.) (40. And that his deeds will be seen.) (41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

35
أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ
Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees?
أَعِندَهُ ۥIs with him
عِلۡمُ(the) knowledge
ٱلۡغَيۡبِ(of) the unseen,
فَهُوَso he
يَرَىٰٓsees?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Encouraging Repentance and forbidding Claims of Purity for Oneself

Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

(verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.) asserts that His Mercy encompasses everything, and His forgiveness entails every type of sin, if one repents,

﴿ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against them- selves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (39:53) Allah said,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(He knows you well when He created you from the earth,) Allah says, `He was and still is the All-Knowing Whose knowledge encompasses your affairs, statements and all of the actions that will be committed by you, even when He created your father `Adam from the earth and took his offspring from his loin, as small as ants. He then divided them into two groups, a group destined for Paradise and a group to Hellfire,'

﴿ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ

(and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs.) when He commanded the angel to record one's provisions, age, actions and if he would be among the miserable or the happy. Allah said,

﴿ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ

(So, ascribe not purity to yourselves.) forbidding one from ascribing purity and praising himself and thinking highly of his actions,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(He knows best him who has Taqwa.) Allah said in another Ayah,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَہُم‌ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

(Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with unjustly, even equal to the extent of a Fatil.) (4:49) In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Muhammad bin `Amr bin `Ata said, "I called my daughter, Barrah (the pious one), and Zaynab bint Abu Salamah said to me, `The Messenger of Allah forbade using this name. I was originally called Barrah and he said,

« لَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، إِنَّ اللهَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُم »

(Do not ascribe purity to yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious people among you are)' They said, `What should we call her' He said,

« سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَب »

(Call her Zaynab.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded a Hadith from `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah, from his father who said, "A man praised another man before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said,

« وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مرارًا إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا، أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذلِك »

(Woe to you, you have cut off the neck of your friend! (He repeated this) If one of you must praise a friend of his, let him say, "I think that so-and-so is this and that; Allah knows best about him and I will never purify anyone before Allah,'' if he knows his friend to be as he is describing him.)'' Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "A man came before `Uthman bin `Affan and praised him. Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad started throwing sand in the face of that man, saying, `The Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in their faces when we see those who praise.''' Muslim and Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(33. Did you observe him who turned away (from Islam).) (34. And gave a little, then stopped) (35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) (36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Suhuf of Musa,) (37. And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that:) (38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.) (39. And that man can have nothing but what he does.) (40. And that his deeds will be seen.) (41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

36
أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَى
Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses
أَمۡOr
لَمۡnot
يُنَبَّأۡhe was informed
بِمَاwith what
فِى(was) in
صُحُفِ(the) Scriptures
مُوسَىٰ(of) Musa,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Encouraging Repentance and forbidding Claims of Purity for Oneself

Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

(verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.) asserts that His Mercy encompasses everything, and His forgiveness entails every type of sin, if one repents,

﴿ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against them- selves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (39:53) Allah said,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(He knows you well when He created you from the earth,) Allah says, `He was and still is the All-Knowing Whose knowledge encompasses your affairs, statements and all of the actions that will be committed by you, even when He created your father `Adam from the earth and took his offspring from his loin, as small as ants. He then divided them into two groups, a group destined for Paradise and a group to Hellfire,'

﴿ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ

(and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs.) when He commanded the angel to record one's provisions, age, actions and if he would be among the miserable or the happy. Allah said,

﴿ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ

(So, ascribe not purity to yourselves.) forbidding one from ascribing purity and praising himself and thinking highly of his actions,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(He knows best him who has Taqwa.) Allah said in another Ayah,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَہُم‌ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

(Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with unjustly, even equal to the extent of a Fatil.) (4:49) In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Muhammad bin `Amr bin `Ata said, "I called my daughter, Barrah (the pious one), and Zaynab bint Abu Salamah said to me, `The Messenger of Allah forbade using this name. I was originally called Barrah and he said,

« لَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، إِنَّ اللهَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُم »

(Do not ascribe purity to yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious people among you are)' They said, `What should we call her' He said,

« سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَب »

(Call her Zaynab.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded a Hadith from `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah, from his father who said, "A man praised another man before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said,

« وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مرارًا إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا، أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذلِك »

(Woe to you, you have cut off the neck of your friend! (He repeated this) If one of you must praise a friend of his, let him say, "I think that so-and-so is this and that; Allah knows best about him and I will never purify anyone before Allah,'' if he knows his friend to be as he is describing him.)'' Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "A man came before `Uthman bin `Affan and praised him. Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad started throwing sand in the face of that man, saying, `The Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in their faces when we see those who praise.''' Muslim and Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(33. Did you observe him who turned away (from Islam).) (34. And gave a little, then stopped) (35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) (36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Suhuf of Musa,) (37. And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that:) (38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.) (39. And that man can have nothing but what he does.) (40. And that his deeds will be seen.) (41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

37
وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ
And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations] –
وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَAnd Ibrahim,
ٱلَّذِىwho
وَفَّىٰٓfulfilled?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Encouraging Repentance and forbidding Claims of Purity for Oneself

Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

(verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.) asserts that His Mercy encompasses everything, and His forgiveness entails every type of sin, if one repents,

﴿ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against them- selves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (39:53) Allah said,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(He knows you well when He created you from the earth,) Allah says, `He was and still is the All-Knowing Whose knowledge encompasses your affairs, statements and all of the actions that will be committed by you, even when He created your father `Adam from the earth and took his offspring from his loin, as small as ants. He then divided them into two groups, a group destined for Paradise and a group to Hellfire,'

﴿ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ

(and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs.) when He commanded the angel to record one's provisions, age, actions and if he would be among the miserable or the happy. Allah said,

﴿ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ

(So, ascribe not purity to yourselves.) forbidding one from ascribing purity and praising himself and thinking highly of his actions,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(He knows best him who has Taqwa.) Allah said in another Ayah,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَہُم‌ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

(Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with unjustly, even equal to the extent of a Fatil.) (4:49) In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Muhammad bin `Amr bin `Ata said, "I called my daughter, Barrah (the pious one), and Zaynab bint Abu Salamah said to me, `The Messenger of Allah forbade using this name. I was originally called Barrah and he said,

« لَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، إِنَّ اللهَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُم »

(Do not ascribe purity to yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious people among you are)' They said, `What should we call her' He said,

« سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَب »

(Call her Zaynab.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded a Hadith from `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah, from his father who said, "A man praised another man before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said,

« وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مرارًا إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا، أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذلِك »

(Woe to you, you have cut off the neck of your friend! (He repeated this) If one of you must praise a friend of his, let him say, "I think that so-and-so is this and that; Allah knows best about him and I will never purify anyone before Allah,'' if he knows his friend to be as he is describing him.)'' Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "A man came before `Uthman bin `Affan and praised him. Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad started throwing sand in the face of that man, saying, `The Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in their faces when we see those who praise.''' Muslim and Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(33. Did you observe him who turned away (from Islam).) (34. And gave a little, then stopped) (35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) (36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Suhuf of Musa,) (37. And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that:) (38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.) (39. And that man can have nothing but what he does.) (40. And that his deeds will be seen.) (41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

38
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَى
That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another
أَلَّاThat not
تَزِرُwill bear
وَازِرَةٌ۬a bearer of burdens
وِزۡرَ(the) burden
أُخۡرَىٰ(of) another,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Encouraging Repentance and forbidding Claims of Purity for Oneself

Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

(verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.) asserts that His Mercy encompasses everything, and His forgiveness entails every type of sin, if one repents,

﴿ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against them- selves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (39:53) Allah said,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(He knows you well when He created you from the earth,) Allah says, `He was and still is the All-Knowing Whose knowledge encompasses your affairs, statements and all of the actions that will be committed by you, even when He created your father `Adam from the earth and took his offspring from his loin, as small as ants. He then divided them into two groups, a group destined for Paradise and a group to Hellfire,'

﴿ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ

(and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs.) when He commanded the angel to record one's provisions, age, actions and if he would be among the miserable or the happy. Allah said,

﴿ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ

(So, ascribe not purity to yourselves.) forbidding one from ascribing purity and praising himself and thinking highly of his actions,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(He knows best him who has Taqwa.) Allah said in another Ayah,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَہُم‌ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

(Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with unjustly, even equal to the extent of a Fatil.) (4:49) In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Muhammad bin `Amr bin `Ata said, "I called my daughter, Barrah (the pious one), and Zaynab bint Abu Salamah said to me, `The Messenger of Allah forbade using this name. I was originally called Barrah and he said,

« لَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، إِنَّ اللهَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُم »

(Do not ascribe purity to yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious people among you are)' They said, `What should we call her' He said,

« سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَب »

(Call her Zaynab.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded a Hadith from `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah, from his father who said, "A man praised another man before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said,

« وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مرارًا إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا، أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذلِك »

(Woe to you, you have cut off the neck of your friend! (He repeated this) If one of you must praise a friend of his, let him say, "I think that so-and-so is this and that; Allah knows best about him and I will never purify anyone before Allah,'' if he knows his friend to be as he is describing him.)'' Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "A man came before `Uthman bin `Affan and praised him. Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad started throwing sand in the face of that man, saying, `The Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in their faces when we see those who praise.''' Muslim and Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(33. Did you observe him who turned away (from Islam).) (34. And gave a little, then stopped) (35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) (36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Suhuf of Musa,) (37. And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that:) (38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.) (39. And that man can have nothing but what he does.) (40. And that his deeds will be seen.) (41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

39
وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَى
And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives
وَأَنAnd that
لَّيۡسَis not
لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِfor man
إِلَّاexcept
مَاwhat
سَعَىٰhe strives (for),
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Encouraging Repentance and forbidding Claims of Purity for Oneself

Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

(verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.) asserts that His Mercy encompasses everything, and His forgiveness entails every type of sin, if one repents,

﴿ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against them- selves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (39:53) Allah said,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(He knows you well when He created you from the earth,) Allah says, `He was and still is the All-Knowing Whose knowledge encompasses your affairs, statements and all of the actions that will be committed by you, even when He created your father `Adam from the earth and took his offspring from his loin, as small as ants. He then divided them into two groups, a group destined for Paradise and a group to Hellfire,'

﴿ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ

(and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs.) when He commanded the angel to record one's provisions, age, actions and if he would be among the miserable or the happy. Allah said,

﴿ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ

(So, ascribe not purity to yourselves.) forbidding one from ascribing purity and praising himself and thinking highly of his actions,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(He knows best him who has Taqwa.) Allah said in another Ayah,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَہُم‌ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

(Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with unjustly, even equal to the extent of a Fatil.) (4:49) In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Muhammad bin `Amr bin `Ata said, "I called my daughter, Barrah (the pious one), and Zaynab bint Abu Salamah said to me, `The Messenger of Allah forbade using this name. I was originally called Barrah and he said,

« لَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، إِنَّ اللهَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُم »

(Do not ascribe purity to yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious people among you are)' They said, `What should we call her' He said,

« سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَب »

(Call her Zaynab.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded a Hadith from `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah, from his father who said, "A man praised another man before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said,

« وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مرارًا إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا، أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذلِك »

(Woe to you, you have cut off the neck of your friend! (He repeated this) If one of you must praise a friend of his, let him say, "I think that so-and-so is this and that; Allah knows best about him and I will never purify anyone before Allah,'' if he knows his friend to be as he is describing him.)'' Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "A man came before `Uthman bin `Affan and praised him. Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad started throwing sand in the face of that man, saying, `The Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in their faces when we see those who praise.''' Muslim and Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(33. Did you observe him who turned away (from Islam).) (34. And gave a little, then stopped) (35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) (36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Suhuf of Musa,) (37. And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that:) (38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.) (39. And that man can have nothing but what he does.) (40. And that his deeds will be seen.) (41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

40
وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَى
And that his effort is going to be seen –
وَأَنَّAnd that
سَعۡيَهُ ۥhis striving
سَوۡفَwill soon
يُرَىٰbe seen
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Encouraging Repentance and forbidding Claims of Purity for Oneself

Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

(verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.) asserts that His Mercy encompasses everything, and His forgiveness entails every type of sin, if one repents,

﴿ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against them- selves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (39:53) Allah said,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(He knows you well when He created you from the earth,) Allah says, `He was and still is the All-Knowing Whose knowledge encompasses your affairs, statements and all of the actions that will be committed by you, even when He created your father `Adam from the earth and took his offspring from his loin, as small as ants. He then divided them into two groups, a group destined for Paradise and a group to Hellfire,'

﴿ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ

(and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs.) when He commanded the angel to record one's provisions, age, actions and if he would be among the miserable or the happy. Allah said,

﴿ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ

(So, ascribe not purity to yourselves.) forbidding one from ascribing purity and praising himself and thinking highly of his actions,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(He knows best him who has Taqwa.) Allah said in another Ayah,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَہُم‌ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

(Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with unjustly, even equal to the extent of a Fatil.) (4:49) In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Muhammad bin `Amr bin `Ata said, "I called my daughter, Barrah (the pious one), and Zaynab bint Abu Salamah said to me, `The Messenger of Allah forbade using this name. I was originally called Barrah and he said,

« لَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، إِنَّ اللهَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُم »

(Do not ascribe purity to yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious people among you are)' They said, `What should we call her' He said,

« سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَب »

(Call her Zaynab.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded a Hadith from `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah, from his father who said, "A man praised another man before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said,

« وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مرارًا إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا، أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذلِك »

(Woe to you, you have cut off the neck of your friend! (He repeated this) If one of you must praise a friend of his, let him say, "I think that so-and-so is this and that; Allah knows best about him and I will never purify anyone before Allah,'' if he knows his friend to be as he is describing him.)'' Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "A man came before `Uthman bin `Affan and praised him. Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad started throwing sand in the face of that man, saying, `The Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in their faces when we see those who praise.''' Muslim and Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(33. Did you observe him who turned away (from Islam).) (34. And gave a little, then stopped) (35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) (36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Suhuf of Musa,) (37. And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that:) (38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.) (39. And that man can have nothing but what he does.) (40. And that his deeds will be seen.) (41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

41
ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَى
Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense
ثُمَّThen
يُجۡزَٮٰهُhe will be recompensed for it
ٱلۡجَزَآءَthe recompense
ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰthe fullest
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Encouraging Repentance and forbidding Claims of Purity for Oneself

Allah's statement,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٲسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ‌ۚ

(verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.) asserts that His Mercy encompasses everything, and His forgiveness entails every type of sin, if one repents,

﴿ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against them- selves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (39:53) Allah said,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(He knows you well when He created you from the earth,) Allah says, `He was and still is the All-Knowing Whose knowledge encompasses your affairs, statements and all of the actions that will be committed by you, even when He created your father `Adam from the earth and took his offspring from his loin, as small as ants. He then divided them into two groups, a group destined for Paradise and a group to Hellfire,'

﴿ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌ۬ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ‌ۖ

(and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs.) when He commanded the angel to record one's provisions, age, actions and if he would be among the miserable or the happy. Allah said,

﴿ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ

(So, ascribe not purity to yourselves.) forbidding one from ascribing purity and praising himself and thinking highly of his actions,

﴿ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

(He knows best him who has Taqwa.) Allah said in another Ayah,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَہُم‌ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

(Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with unjustly, even equal to the extent of a Fatil.) (4:49) In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Muhammad bin `Amr bin `Ata said, "I called my daughter, Barrah (the pious one), and Zaynab bint Abu Salamah said to me, `The Messenger of Allah forbade using this name. I was originally called Barrah and he said,

« لَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، إِنَّ اللهَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُم »

(Do not ascribe purity to yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious people among you are)' They said, `What should we call her' He said,

« سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَب »

(Call her Zaynab.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded a Hadith from `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah, from his father who said, "A man praised another man before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said,

« وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مرارًا إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا، أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذلِك »

(Woe to you, you have cut off the neck of your friend! (He repeated this) If one of you must praise a friend of his, let him say, "I think that so-and-so is this and that; Allah knows best about him and I will never purify anyone before Allah,'' if he knows his friend to be as he is describing him.)'' Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "A man came before `Uthman bin `Affan and praised him. Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad started throwing sand in the face of that man, saying, `The Messenger of Allah ordered us to throw sand in their faces when we see those who praise.''' Muslim and Abu Dawud also collected this Hadith.

﴿ أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلاً۬ وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ أَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(33. Did you observe him who turned away (from Islam).) (34. And gave a little, then stopped) (35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) (36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Suhuf of Musa,) (37. And of Ibrahim who fulfilled all that:) (38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.) (39. And that man can have nothing but what he does.) (40. And that his deeds will be seen.) (41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

42
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَى
And that to your Lord is the finality
وَأَنَّAnd that
إِلَىٰto
رَبِّكَyour Lord
ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ(is) the final goal
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

43
وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَى
And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep
وَأَنَّهُ ۥAnd that He
هُوَ[He]
أَضۡحَكَmakes (one) laugh
وَأَبۡكَىٰand makes (one) weep
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

44
وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا
And that it is He who causes death and gives life
وَأَنَّهُ ۥAnd that He
هُوَ[He]
أَمَاتَcauses death
وَأَحۡيَاand gives life
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

45
وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَى
And that He creates the two mates – the male and female –
وَأَنَّهُ ۥAnd that He
خَلَقَcreated
ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِthe pairs,
ٱلذَّكَرَthe male
وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰand the female
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

46
مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَى
From a sperm-drop when it is emitted
مِنFrom
نُّطۡفَةٍa drop
إِذَاwhen
تُمۡنَىٰit is emitted
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

47
وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَى
And that [incumbent] upon Him is the next creation
وَأَنَّAnd that
عَلَيۡهِupon Him
ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ(is) bringing forth
ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰanother,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

48
وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَى
And that it is He who enriches and suffices
وَأَنَّهُ ۥAnd that He
هُوَ[He]
أَغۡنَىٰenriches
وَأَقۡنَىٰand suffices
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

49
وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَى
And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius
وَأَنَّهُ ۥAnd that He
هُوَ[He]
رَبُّ(is the) Lord
ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ(of) the Sirius
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

50
وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَى
And that He destroyed the first [people of] ‘Aad
وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤAnd that He
أَهۡلَكَdestroyed
عَادًاAad
ٱلۡأُولَىٰthe first,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

51
وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَى
And Thamūd – and He did not spare [them] –
وَثَمُودَاْAnd Thamud,
فَمَآso not
أَبۡقَىٰHe spared,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

52
وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَى
And the people of Noah before. Indeed, it was they who were [even] more unjust and oppressing.
وَقَوۡمَAnd (the) people
نُوحٍ۬(of) Nuh
مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖbefore.
إِنَّہُمۡIndeed, they
كَانُواْ هُمۡthey were
أَظۡلَمَmore unjust
وَأَطۡغَىٰand more rebellious.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

53
وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَى
And the overturned towns He hurled down
وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَAnd the overturned cities
أَهۡوَىٰHe overthrew
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

54
فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّى
And covered them by that which He covered.
فَغَشَّٮٰهَاSo covered them
مَاwhat
غَشَّىٰcovered.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

55
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَى
Then which of the favors of your Lord do you doubt?
فَبِأَىِّThen which (of)
ءَالَآءِthe Favors
رَبِّكَ(of) your Lord,
تَتَمَارَىٰwill you doubt?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

None shall carry the Burden of Any Other on the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Exalted explained what He has revealed in the Scripture of Ibrahim and Musa,

﴿ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ۬ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

(That no burdened person shall bear the burden of another.) Meaning, every soul shall carry its own injustices, whether disbelief or sin, and none else shall carry its burden of sin, as Allah states

﴿ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ۬ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)(35:18) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

(And that man can have nothing but what he does.) So just as no soul shall carry the burden of any other, the soul shall only benefit from the good that one earns for himself. As for the Hadith recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

« إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِه »

(When a person dies, his deeds will cease except in three cases: from a righteous son who invokes Allah for him, or an ongoing charity after his death, or knowledge that people benefit from.) These three things are, in reality, a result of one's own deeds, efforts and actions. For example, a Hadith states,

« إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ، وَإِنَّ وَلَدَهُ مِنْ كَسْبِه »

(Verily, the best type of provision that one consumes is from what he himself has earned, and one's offspring are among what he has earned.) The ongoing charity that one leaves behind, like an endowment, for example, are among the traces of his own actions and deeds. Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَڪۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمۡۚ

(Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them) and their traces.)(36:12) The knowledge that one spreads among people which they are guided by is among his actions and deeds. A Hadith collected in the Sahih states,

« مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا »

(Whoever invites to guidance, he will earn as much reward as those who follow him, without decreasing anything out of their own rewards.) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُ ۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

(And that his deeds will be seen.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

﴿ وَقُلِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمۡ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

(And say: "Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.'')(9:105), Then Allah will remind you of your actions and recompense you for them in the best manner, good for good and evil for evil. Allah's statement here,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَٮٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

(Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.)

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ فَغَشَّٮٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(42. And that to your Lord is the End.) (43. And that it is He Who makes laugh, and makes weep.) (44. And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) (45. And that He creates the pairs, male and female,) (46. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) (47. And that upon Him is another bringing forth (Resurrection).) (48. And that it is He Who Aghna and Aqna.) (49. And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) (50. And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,) (51. And Thamud. He spared none of them.) (52. And the people of Nuh aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) (53. And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) (54. So, there covered them that which did cover.) (55. Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt)

56
هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ
This [Prophet] is a warner like the former warners.
هَـٰذَاThis
نَذِيرٌ۬(is) a warner,
مِّنَfrom
ٱلنُّذُرِthe warners
ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓthe former.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Some Attributes of the Lord, that He returns Man as He originated Him, and some of what He does with His Servants

Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ

(And that to your Lord is the End.) meaning, the return of everything on the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Maymun Al-Awdi said, "Once, Mu`adh bin Jabal stood up among us and said, `O Children of Awd! I am the emissary of Allah's Messenger to you; know that the Return is to Allah, either to Paradise or the Fire.''' Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

(And that it is He Who makes you laugh, and makes you weep.) means that He created in His creatures the ability to laugh or weep and the causes for each of these opposites,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

(And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) In a similar statement, Allah said,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life.)(67:2) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

(And that He creates the pairs, male and female. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) as He said:

﴿ أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى أَلَمۡ يَكُ نُطۡفَةً۬ مِّن مَّنِىٍّ۬ يُمۡنَىٰ ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً۬ فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ فَجَعَلَ مِنۡهُ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ أَلَيۡسَ ذَٲلِكَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧىَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ

(Does man think that he will be left neglected Was he not a Nutfah Then he became an `Alaqah (something that clings); then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion. And made of him two sexes, male and female. Is not He (Allah) able to give life to the dead) (75:36-40) Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

(And that upon Him is another bringing forth.) meaning, just as He first originated creation, He is able to bring it back to life, resurrecting it for the Day of Judgment,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(And that it is He Who Aghna (gives much) and Aqna (a little).) It is Allah Who gives wealth to His servants and this wealth remains with them. This means they are able to use it to their benefit, is this out of the completeness of His favor. Most of the statements of the scholars of Tafsir revolve around this meaning, such as those from Abu Salih, Ibn Jarir and others. Mujahid said that,

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) meaning: He gives wealth.

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) meaning: He gives servants. Similar was said by Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid said;

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) means: He granted; while,

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) means: He gave contentment.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

(And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said about Ash-Shi`ra that it is the bright star, named Mirzam Al-Jawza' (Sirius), which a group of Arabs used to worship.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

(And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad) the people of Hud. They are the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of Sam, son of Nuh. As Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَادِ ٱلَّتِى لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ

(Saw you not how your Lord dealt with `Ad. Of Iram, with the lofty pillars, the like of which were not created in the land) (89:6-8) The people of `Ad were among the strongest, fiercest people and the most rebellious against Allah the Exalted and His Messenger. Allah destroyed them,

﴿ بِرِيحٍ۬ صَرۡصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ۬ سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ سَبۡعَ لَيَالٍ۬ وَثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومً۬ا

(By a furious violent wind! Which Allah imposed in them for seven nights and eight days in succession.)(69:6-7) Allah's statement,

﴿ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

(And Thamud. He spared none), declares that He destroyed them all and spared none of them,

﴿ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ

(And the people of Nuh aforetime.) before `Ad and Thamud,

﴿ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

(Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) more unjust in disobeying Allah than those who came after them,

﴿ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

(And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) meaning, the cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) to which Prophet Lut was sent. Allah turned their cities upside down over them and sent on them stones of Sijjil. Allah's statement that whatever has covered it, has covered it, is like the case with the stones of Sijjil that He sent on them,

﴿ وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مَّطَرً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ

(And We rained on them a rain (of torment). And how evil was the rain of those who had been warned!)(26:173) Allah said,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt) meaning, `which of Allah's favors for you, O man, do you doubt,' according to Qatadah. Ibn Jurayj said that the Ayah,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt), is directed towards the Prophet saying: "O Muhammad!'' However, the first explanation is better, and it is the meaning that Ibn Jarir preferred.

﴿ هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأَزِفَةُ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ أَفَمِنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ وَأَنتُمۡ سَـٰمِدُونَ فَٱسۡجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ۩

(56. This is a warner from the warners of old.) (57. The Azifah draws near.) (58. None besides Allah can avert it.) (59. Do you then wonder at this recitation) (60. And you laugh at it and weep not,) (61. While you are Samidun.) (62. So fall you down in prostration to Allah and worship Him.)

57
أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأَزِفَةُ
The Approaching Day has approached.
أَزِفَتِHas approached
ٱلۡأَزِفَةُthe Approaching Day.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Some Attributes of the Lord, that He returns Man as He originated Him, and some of what He does with His Servants

Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ

(And that to your Lord is the End.) meaning, the return of everything on the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Maymun Al-Awdi said, "Once, Mu`adh bin Jabal stood up among us and said, `O Children of Awd! I am the emissary of Allah's Messenger to you; know that the Return is to Allah, either to Paradise or the Fire.''' Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

(And that it is He Who makes you laugh, and makes you weep.) means that He created in His creatures the ability to laugh or weep and the causes for each of these opposites,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

(And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) In a similar statement, Allah said,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life.)(67:2) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

(And that He creates the pairs, male and female. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) as He said:

﴿ أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى أَلَمۡ يَكُ نُطۡفَةً۬ مِّن مَّنِىٍّ۬ يُمۡنَىٰ ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً۬ فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ فَجَعَلَ مِنۡهُ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ أَلَيۡسَ ذَٲلِكَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧىَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ

(Does man think that he will be left neglected Was he not a Nutfah Then he became an `Alaqah (something that clings); then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion. And made of him two sexes, male and female. Is not He (Allah) able to give life to the dead) (75:36-40) Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

(And that upon Him is another bringing forth.) meaning, just as He first originated creation, He is able to bring it back to life, resurrecting it for the Day of Judgment,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(And that it is He Who Aghna (gives much) and Aqna (a little).) It is Allah Who gives wealth to His servants and this wealth remains with them. This means they are able to use it to their benefit, is this out of the completeness of His favor. Most of the statements of the scholars of Tafsir revolve around this meaning, such as those from Abu Salih, Ibn Jarir and others. Mujahid said that,

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) meaning: He gives wealth.

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) meaning: He gives servants. Similar was said by Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid said;

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) means: He granted; while,

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) means: He gave contentment.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

(And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said about Ash-Shi`ra that it is the bright star, named Mirzam Al-Jawza' (Sirius), which a group of Arabs used to worship.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

(And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad) the people of Hud. They are the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of Sam, son of Nuh. As Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَادِ ٱلَّتِى لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ

(Saw you not how your Lord dealt with `Ad. Of Iram, with the lofty pillars, the like of which were not created in the land) (89:6-8) The people of `Ad were among the strongest, fiercest people and the most rebellious against Allah the Exalted and His Messenger. Allah destroyed them,

﴿ بِرِيحٍ۬ صَرۡصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ۬ سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ سَبۡعَ لَيَالٍ۬ وَثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومً۬ا

(By a furious violent wind! Which Allah imposed in them for seven nights and eight days in succession.)(69:6-7) Allah's statement,

﴿ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

(And Thamud. He spared none), declares that He destroyed them all and spared none of them,

﴿ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ

(And the people of Nuh aforetime.) before `Ad and Thamud,

﴿ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

(Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) more unjust in disobeying Allah than those who came after them,

﴿ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

(And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) meaning, the cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) to which Prophet Lut was sent. Allah turned their cities upside down over them and sent on them stones of Sijjil. Allah's statement that whatever has covered it, has covered it, is like the case with the stones of Sijjil that He sent on them,

﴿ وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مَّطَرً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ

(And We rained on them a rain (of torment). And how evil was the rain of those who had been warned!)(26:173) Allah said,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt) meaning, `which of Allah's favors for you, O man, do you doubt,' according to Qatadah. Ibn Jurayj said that the Ayah,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt), is directed towards the Prophet saying: "O Muhammad!'' However, the first explanation is better, and it is the meaning that Ibn Jarir preferred.

﴿ هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأَزِفَةُ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ أَفَمِنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ وَأَنتُمۡ سَـٰمِدُونَ فَٱسۡجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ۩

(56. This is a warner from the warners of old.) (57. The Azifah draws near.) (58. None besides Allah can avert it.) (59. Do you then wonder at this recitation) (60. And you laugh at it and weep not,) (61. While you are Samidun.) (62. So fall you down in prostration to Allah and worship Him.)

58
لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ
Of it, [from those] besides Allah, there is no remover.
لَيۡسَNot is
لَهَاfor it
مِن دُونِbesides
ٱللَّهِAllah
كَاشِفَةٌany remover.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Some Attributes of the Lord, that He returns Man as He originated Him, and some of what He does with His Servants

Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ

(And that to your Lord is the End.) meaning, the return of everything on the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Maymun Al-Awdi said, "Once, Mu`adh bin Jabal stood up among us and said, `O Children of Awd! I am the emissary of Allah's Messenger to you; know that the Return is to Allah, either to Paradise or the Fire.''' Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

(And that it is He Who makes you laugh, and makes you weep.) means that He created in His creatures the ability to laugh or weep and the causes for each of these opposites,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

(And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) In a similar statement, Allah said,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life.)(67:2) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

(And that He creates the pairs, male and female. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) as He said:

﴿ أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى أَلَمۡ يَكُ نُطۡفَةً۬ مِّن مَّنِىٍّ۬ يُمۡنَىٰ ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً۬ فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ فَجَعَلَ مِنۡهُ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ أَلَيۡسَ ذَٲلِكَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧىَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ

(Does man think that he will be left neglected Was he not a Nutfah Then he became an `Alaqah (something that clings); then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion. And made of him two sexes, male and female. Is not He (Allah) able to give life to the dead) (75:36-40) Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

(And that upon Him is another bringing forth.) meaning, just as He first originated creation, He is able to bring it back to life, resurrecting it for the Day of Judgment,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(And that it is He Who Aghna (gives much) and Aqna (a little).) It is Allah Who gives wealth to His servants and this wealth remains with them. This means they are able to use it to their benefit, is this out of the completeness of His favor. Most of the statements of the scholars of Tafsir revolve around this meaning, such as those from Abu Salih, Ibn Jarir and others. Mujahid said that,

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) meaning: He gives wealth.

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) meaning: He gives servants. Similar was said by Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid said;

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) means: He granted; while,

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) means: He gave contentment.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

(And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said about Ash-Shi`ra that it is the bright star, named Mirzam Al-Jawza' (Sirius), which a group of Arabs used to worship.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

(And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad) the people of Hud. They are the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of Sam, son of Nuh. As Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَادِ ٱلَّتِى لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ

(Saw you not how your Lord dealt with `Ad. Of Iram, with the lofty pillars, the like of which were not created in the land) (89:6-8) The people of `Ad were among the strongest, fiercest people and the most rebellious against Allah the Exalted and His Messenger. Allah destroyed them,

﴿ بِرِيحٍ۬ صَرۡصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ۬ سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ سَبۡعَ لَيَالٍ۬ وَثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومً۬ا

(By a furious violent wind! Which Allah imposed in them for seven nights and eight days in succession.)(69:6-7) Allah's statement,

﴿ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

(And Thamud. He spared none), declares that He destroyed them all and spared none of them,

﴿ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ

(And the people of Nuh aforetime.) before `Ad and Thamud,

﴿ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

(Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) more unjust in disobeying Allah than those who came after them,

﴿ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

(And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) meaning, the cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) to which Prophet Lut was sent. Allah turned their cities upside down over them and sent on them stones of Sijjil. Allah's statement that whatever has covered it, has covered it, is like the case with the stones of Sijjil that He sent on them,

﴿ وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مَّطَرً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ

(And We rained on them a rain (of torment). And how evil was the rain of those who had been warned!)(26:173) Allah said,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt) meaning, `which of Allah's favors for you, O man, do you doubt,' according to Qatadah. Ibn Jurayj said that the Ayah,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt), is directed towards the Prophet saying: "O Muhammad!'' However, the first explanation is better, and it is the meaning that Ibn Jarir preferred.

﴿ هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأَزِفَةُ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ أَفَمِنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ وَأَنتُمۡ سَـٰمِدُونَ فَٱسۡجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ۩

(56. This is a warner from the warners of old.) (57. The Azifah draws near.) (58. None besides Allah can avert it.) (59. Do you then wonder at this recitation) (60. And you laugh at it and weep not,) (61. While you are Samidun.) (62. So fall you down in prostration to Allah and worship Him.)

59
أَفَمِنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ
Then at this statement do you wonder?
أَفَمِنۡThen of
هَـٰذَاthis
ٱلۡحَدِيثِstatement
تَعۡجَبُونَyou wonder?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Some Attributes of the Lord, that He returns Man as He originated Him, and some of what He does with His Servants

Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ

(And that to your Lord is the End.) meaning, the return of everything on the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Maymun Al-Awdi said, "Once, Mu`adh bin Jabal stood up among us and said, `O Children of Awd! I am the emissary of Allah's Messenger to you; know that the Return is to Allah, either to Paradise or the Fire.''' Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

(And that it is He Who makes you laugh, and makes you weep.) means that He created in His creatures the ability to laugh or weep and the causes for each of these opposites,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

(And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) In a similar statement, Allah said,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life.)(67:2) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

(And that He creates the pairs, male and female. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) as He said:

﴿ أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى أَلَمۡ يَكُ نُطۡفَةً۬ مِّن مَّنِىٍّ۬ يُمۡنَىٰ ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً۬ فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ فَجَعَلَ مِنۡهُ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ أَلَيۡسَ ذَٲلِكَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧىَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ

(Does man think that he will be left neglected Was he not a Nutfah Then he became an `Alaqah (something that clings); then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion. And made of him two sexes, male and female. Is not He (Allah) able to give life to the dead) (75:36-40) Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

(And that upon Him is another bringing forth.) meaning, just as He first originated creation, He is able to bring it back to life, resurrecting it for the Day of Judgment,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(And that it is He Who Aghna (gives much) and Aqna (a little).) It is Allah Who gives wealth to His servants and this wealth remains with them. This means they are able to use it to their benefit, is this out of the completeness of His favor. Most of the statements of the scholars of Tafsir revolve around this meaning, such as those from Abu Salih, Ibn Jarir and others. Mujahid said that,

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) meaning: He gives wealth.

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) meaning: He gives servants. Similar was said by Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid said;

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) means: He granted; while,

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) means: He gave contentment.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

(And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said about Ash-Shi`ra that it is the bright star, named Mirzam Al-Jawza' (Sirius), which a group of Arabs used to worship.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

(And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad) the people of Hud. They are the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of Sam, son of Nuh. As Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَادِ ٱلَّتِى لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ

(Saw you not how your Lord dealt with `Ad. Of Iram, with the lofty pillars, the like of which were not created in the land) (89:6-8) The people of `Ad were among the strongest, fiercest people and the most rebellious against Allah the Exalted and His Messenger. Allah destroyed them,

﴿ بِرِيحٍ۬ صَرۡصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ۬ سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ سَبۡعَ لَيَالٍ۬ وَثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومً۬ا

(By a furious violent wind! Which Allah imposed in them for seven nights and eight days in succession.)(69:6-7) Allah's statement,

﴿ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

(And Thamud. He spared none), declares that He destroyed them all and spared none of them,

﴿ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ

(And the people of Nuh aforetime.) before `Ad and Thamud,

﴿ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

(Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) more unjust in disobeying Allah than those who came after them,

﴿ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

(And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) meaning, the cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) to which Prophet Lut was sent. Allah turned their cities upside down over them and sent on them stones of Sijjil. Allah's statement that whatever has covered it, has covered it, is like the case with the stones of Sijjil that He sent on them,

﴿ وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مَّطَرً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ

(And We rained on them a rain (of torment). And how evil was the rain of those who had been warned!)(26:173) Allah said,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt) meaning, `which of Allah's favors for you, O man, do you doubt,' according to Qatadah. Ibn Jurayj said that the Ayah,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt), is directed towards the Prophet saying: "O Muhammad!'' However, the first explanation is better, and it is the meaning that Ibn Jarir preferred.

﴿ هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأَزِفَةُ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ أَفَمِنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ وَأَنتُمۡ سَـٰمِدُونَ فَٱسۡجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ۩

(56. This is a warner from the warners of old.) (57. The Azifah draws near.) (58. None besides Allah can avert it.) (59. Do you then wonder at this recitation) (60. And you laugh at it and weep not,) (61. While you are Samidun.) (62. So fall you down in prostration to Allah and worship Him.)

60
وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ
And you laugh and do not weep
وَتَضۡحَكُونَAnd you laugh
وَلَاand (do) not
تَبۡكُونَweep?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Some Attributes of the Lord, that He returns Man as He originated Him, and some of what He does with His Servants

Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ

(And that to your Lord is the End.) meaning, the return of everything on the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Maymun Al-Awdi said, "Once, Mu`adh bin Jabal stood up among us and said, `O Children of Awd! I am the emissary of Allah's Messenger to you; know that the Return is to Allah, either to Paradise or the Fire.''' Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

(And that it is He Who makes you laugh, and makes you weep.) means that He created in His creatures the ability to laugh or weep and the causes for each of these opposites,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

(And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) In a similar statement, Allah said,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life.)(67:2) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

(And that He creates the pairs, male and female. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) as He said:

﴿ أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى أَلَمۡ يَكُ نُطۡفَةً۬ مِّن مَّنِىٍّ۬ يُمۡنَىٰ ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً۬ فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ فَجَعَلَ مِنۡهُ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ أَلَيۡسَ ذَٲلِكَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧىَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ

(Does man think that he will be left neglected Was he not a Nutfah Then he became an `Alaqah (something that clings); then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion. And made of him two sexes, male and female. Is not He (Allah) able to give life to the dead) (75:36-40) Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

(And that upon Him is another bringing forth.) meaning, just as He first originated creation, He is able to bring it back to life, resurrecting it for the Day of Judgment,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(And that it is He Who Aghna (gives much) and Aqna (a little).) It is Allah Who gives wealth to His servants and this wealth remains with them. This means they are able to use it to their benefit, is this out of the completeness of His favor. Most of the statements of the scholars of Tafsir revolve around this meaning, such as those from Abu Salih, Ibn Jarir and others. Mujahid said that,

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) meaning: He gives wealth.

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) meaning: He gives servants. Similar was said by Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid said;

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) means: He granted; while,

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) means: He gave contentment.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

(And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said about Ash-Shi`ra that it is the bright star, named Mirzam Al-Jawza' (Sirius), which a group of Arabs used to worship.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

(And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad) the people of Hud. They are the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of Sam, son of Nuh. As Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَادِ ٱلَّتِى لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ

(Saw you not how your Lord dealt with `Ad. Of Iram, with the lofty pillars, the like of which were not created in the land) (89:6-8) The people of `Ad were among the strongest, fiercest people and the most rebellious against Allah the Exalted and His Messenger. Allah destroyed them,

﴿ بِرِيحٍ۬ صَرۡصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ۬ سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ سَبۡعَ لَيَالٍ۬ وَثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومً۬ا

(By a furious violent wind! Which Allah imposed in them for seven nights and eight days in succession.)(69:6-7) Allah's statement,

﴿ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

(And Thamud. He spared none), declares that He destroyed them all and spared none of them,

﴿ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ

(And the people of Nuh aforetime.) before `Ad and Thamud,

﴿ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

(Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) more unjust in disobeying Allah than those who came after them,

﴿ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

(And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) meaning, the cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) to which Prophet Lut was sent. Allah turned their cities upside down over them and sent on them stones of Sijjil. Allah's statement that whatever has covered it, has covered it, is like the case with the stones of Sijjil that He sent on them,

﴿ وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مَّطَرً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ

(And We rained on them a rain (of torment). And how evil was the rain of those who had been warned!)(26:173) Allah said,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt) meaning, `which of Allah's favors for you, O man, do you doubt,' according to Qatadah. Ibn Jurayj said that the Ayah,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt), is directed towards the Prophet saying: "O Muhammad!'' However, the first explanation is better, and it is the meaning that Ibn Jarir preferred.

﴿ هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأَزِفَةُ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ أَفَمِنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ وَأَنتُمۡ سَـٰمِدُونَ فَٱسۡجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ۩

(56. This is a warner from the warners of old.) (57. The Azifah draws near.) (58. None besides Allah can avert it.) (59. Do you then wonder at this recitation) (60. And you laugh at it and weep not,) (61. While you are Samidun.) (62. So fall you down in prostration to Allah and worship Him.)

61
وَأَنتُمۡ سَـٰمِدُونَ
While you are proudly sporting?
وَأَنتُمۡWhile you
سَـٰمِدُونَamuse (yourselves)?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Some Attributes of the Lord, that He returns Man as He originated Him, and some of what He does with His Servants

Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ

(And that to your Lord is the End.) meaning, the return of everything on the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Maymun Al-Awdi said, "Once, Mu`adh bin Jabal stood up among us and said, `O Children of Awd! I am the emissary of Allah's Messenger to you; know that the Return is to Allah, either to Paradise or the Fire.''' Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

(And that it is He Who makes you laugh, and makes you weep.) means that He created in His creatures the ability to laugh or weep and the causes for each of these opposites,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

(And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) In a similar statement, Allah said,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life.)(67:2) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

(And that He creates the pairs, male and female. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) as He said:

﴿ أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى أَلَمۡ يَكُ نُطۡفَةً۬ مِّن مَّنِىٍّ۬ يُمۡنَىٰ ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً۬ فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ فَجَعَلَ مِنۡهُ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ أَلَيۡسَ ذَٲلِكَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧىَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ

(Does man think that he will be left neglected Was he not a Nutfah Then he became an `Alaqah (something that clings); then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion. And made of him two sexes, male and female. Is not He (Allah) able to give life to the dead) (75:36-40) Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

(And that upon Him is another bringing forth.) meaning, just as He first originated creation, He is able to bring it back to life, resurrecting it for the Day of Judgment,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(And that it is He Who Aghna (gives much) and Aqna (a little).) It is Allah Who gives wealth to His servants and this wealth remains with them. This means they are able to use it to their benefit, is this out of the completeness of His favor. Most of the statements of the scholars of Tafsir revolve around this meaning, such as those from Abu Salih, Ibn Jarir and others. Mujahid said that,

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) meaning: He gives wealth.

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) meaning: He gives servants. Similar was said by Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid said;

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) means: He granted; while,

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) means: He gave contentment.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

(And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said about Ash-Shi`ra that it is the bright star, named Mirzam Al-Jawza' (Sirius), which a group of Arabs used to worship.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

(And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad) the people of Hud. They are the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of Sam, son of Nuh. As Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَادِ ٱلَّتِى لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ

(Saw you not how your Lord dealt with `Ad. Of Iram, with the lofty pillars, the like of which were not created in the land) (89:6-8) The people of `Ad were among the strongest, fiercest people and the most rebellious against Allah the Exalted and His Messenger. Allah destroyed them,

﴿ بِرِيحٍ۬ صَرۡصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ۬ سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ سَبۡعَ لَيَالٍ۬ وَثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومً۬ا

(By a furious violent wind! Which Allah imposed in them for seven nights and eight days in succession.)(69:6-7) Allah's statement,

﴿ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

(And Thamud. He spared none), declares that He destroyed them all and spared none of them,

﴿ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ

(And the people of Nuh aforetime.) before `Ad and Thamud,

﴿ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

(Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) more unjust in disobeying Allah than those who came after them,

﴿ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

(And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) meaning, the cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) to which Prophet Lut was sent. Allah turned their cities upside down over them and sent on them stones of Sijjil. Allah's statement that whatever has covered it, has covered it, is like the case with the stones of Sijjil that He sent on them,

﴿ وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مَّطَرً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ

(And We rained on them a rain (of torment). And how evil was the rain of those who had been warned!)(26:173) Allah said,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt) meaning, `which of Allah's favors for you, O man, do you doubt,' according to Qatadah. Ibn Jurayj said that the Ayah,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt), is directed towards the Prophet saying: "O Muhammad!'' However, the first explanation is better, and it is the meaning that Ibn Jarir preferred.

﴿ هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأَزِفَةُ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ أَفَمِنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ وَأَنتُمۡ سَـٰمِدُونَ فَٱسۡجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ۩

(56. This is a warner from the warners of old.) (57. The Azifah draws near.) (58. None besides Allah can avert it.) (59. Do you then wonder at this recitation) (60. And you laugh at it and weep not,) (61. While you are Samidun.) (62. So fall you down in prostration to Allah and worship Him.)

62
فَٱسۡجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ۩
So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him].
فَٱسۡجُدُواْSo prostrate
لِلَّهِto Allah
وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ۩and worship (Him).
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Some Attributes of the Lord, that He returns Man as He originated Him, and some of what He does with His Servants

Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَہَىٰ

(And that to your Lord is the End.) meaning, the return of everything on the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Maymun Al-Awdi said, "Once, Mu`adh bin Jabal stood up among us and said, `O Children of Awd! I am the emissary of Allah's Messenger to you; know that the Return is to Allah, either to Paradise or the Fire.''' Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

(And that it is He Who makes you laugh, and makes you weep.) means that He created in His creatures the ability to laugh or weep and the causes for each of these opposites,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

(And that it is He Who causes death and gives life.) In a similar statement, Allah said,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life.)(67:2) Allah said,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

(And that He creates the pairs, male and female. From Nutfah when it is emitted.) as He said:

﴿ أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى أَلَمۡ يَكُ نُطۡفَةً۬ مِّن مَّنِىٍّ۬ يُمۡنَىٰ ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً۬ فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ فَجَعَلَ مِنۡهُ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ أَلَيۡسَ ذَٲلِكَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧىَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ

(Does man think that he will be left neglected Was he not a Nutfah Then he became an `Alaqah (something that clings); then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion. And made of him two sexes, male and female. Is not He (Allah) able to give life to the dead) (75:36-40) Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

(And that upon Him is another bringing forth.) meaning, just as He first originated creation, He is able to bring it back to life, resurrecting it for the Day of Judgment,

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(And that it is He Who Aghna (gives much) and Aqna (a little).) It is Allah Who gives wealth to His servants and this wealth remains with them. This means they are able to use it to their benefit, is this out of the completeness of His favor. Most of the statements of the scholars of Tafsir revolve around this meaning, such as those from Abu Salih, Ibn Jarir and others. Mujahid said that,

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) meaning: He gives wealth.

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) meaning: He gives servants. Similar was said by Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid said;

﴿ أَغۡنَىٰ

(Aghna) means: He granted; while,

﴿ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

(Aqna) means: He gave contentment.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

(And that He is the Lord of Ash-Shi`ra.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said about Ash-Shi`ra that it is the bright star, named Mirzam Al-Jawza' (Sirius), which a group of Arabs used to worship.

﴿ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

(And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad) the people of Hud. They are the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of Sam, son of Nuh. As Allah the Exalted said,

﴿ أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَادِ ٱلَّتِى لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ

(Saw you not how your Lord dealt with `Ad. Of Iram, with the lofty pillars, the like of which were not created in the land) (89:6-8) The people of `Ad were among the strongest, fiercest people and the most rebellious against Allah the Exalted and His Messenger. Allah destroyed them,

﴿ بِرِيحٍ۬ صَرۡصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ۬ سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ سَبۡعَ لَيَالٍ۬ وَثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومً۬ا

(By a furious violent wind! Which Allah imposed in them for seven nights and eight days in succession.)(69:6-7) Allah's statement,

﴿ وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

(And Thamud. He spared none), declares that He destroyed them all and spared none of them,

﴿ وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ

(And the people of Nuh aforetime.) before `Ad and Thamud,

﴿ إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

(Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing.) more unjust in disobeying Allah than those who came after them,

﴿ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

(And He destroyed the overthrown cities.) meaning, the cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) to which Prophet Lut was sent. Allah turned their cities upside down over them and sent on them stones of Sijjil. Allah's statement that whatever has covered it, has covered it, is like the case with the stones of Sijjil that He sent on them,

﴿ وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مَّطَرً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ

(And We rained on them a rain (of torment). And how evil was the rain of those who had been warned!)(26:173) Allah said,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt) meaning, `which of Allah's favors for you, O man, do you doubt,' according to Qatadah. Ibn Jurayj said that the Ayah,

﴿ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

(Then which of the graces of your Lord will you doubt), is directed towards the Prophet saying: "O Muhammad!'' However, the first explanation is better, and it is the meaning that Ibn Jarir preferred.

﴿ هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأَزِفَةُ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ أَفَمِنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ وَأَنتُمۡ سَـٰمِدُونَ فَٱسۡجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ۩

(56. This is a warner from the warners of old.) (57. The Azifah draws near.) (58. None besides Allah can avert it.) (59. Do you then wonder at this recitation) (60. And you laugh at it and weep not,) (61. While you are Samidun.) (62. So fall you down in prostration to Allah and worship Him.)