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Surah 67 of 114

Al-Mulk

30 verses
Hamzat WaslSilentGhunnahIkhfaIkhfa ShafawiIqlabIdgham (w/ ghunnah)Idgham (no ghunnah)Idgham ShafawiQalqalahNormal ProlongationPermissible ProlongationObligatory ProlongationNecessary Prolongation
1
تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ
Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent –
تَبَـٰرَكَBlessed is
ٱلَّذِىHe
بِيَدِهِin Whose Hand
ٱلۡمُلۡكُ(is) the Dominion,
وَهُوَand He
عَلَىٰ(is) over
كُلِّevery
شَىۡءٍ۬thing
قَدِيرٌAll-Powerful.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Virtues of Surat Al-Mulk

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Allah's Messenger said,

« إِنَّ سُورَةً فِي الْقُرْآنِ ثَلَاثِينَ آيَةً شَفَعَتْ لِصَاحِبِهَا حَتْى غُفِرَ لَهُ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(Verily, there is a chapter in the Qur'an which contains thirty Ayat that will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.)) This Hadith was collected by At-Tirmidhi and the four Sunan Compilers. At-Tirmidhi said concerning it, "This is a Hasan Hadith.'' At-Tabarani and Al-Hafiz Ad-Diya' Al-Maqdisi both recorded from Anas that the Messenger of Allah said,

« سُورَةٌ فِي الْقُرْآنِ خَاصَمَتْ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا حَتْى أَدْخَلَتْهُ الْجَنَّةَ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(There is a chapter of the Qur'an that will argue on behalf of its reciter until it causes him to enter into Paradise. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.))

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(1. Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is Able to do all things.) (2. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving;) (3. Who has created the seven heavens one above the other; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. Then look again. Can you see any rifts) (4. Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you Khasi', and worn out.) (5. And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin, and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.)

2
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving –
ٱلَّذِىThe One Who
خَلَقَcreated
ٱلۡمَوۡتَdeath
وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَand life
لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡthat He may test you,
أَيُّكُمۡwhich of you
أَحۡسَنُ(is) best
عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ(in) deed.
وَهُوَAnd He
ٱلۡعَزِيزُ(is) the All-Mighty,
ٱلۡغَفُورُthe Oft-Forgiving.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Virtues of Surat Al-Mulk

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Allah's Messenger said,

« إِنَّ سُورَةً فِي الْقُرْآنِ ثَلَاثِينَ آيَةً شَفَعَتْ لِصَاحِبِهَا حَتْى غُفِرَ لَهُ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(Verily, there is a chapter in the Qur'an which contains thirty Ayat that will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.)) This Hadith was collected by At-Tirmidhi and the four Sunan Compilers. At-Tirmidhi said concerning it, "This is a Hasan Hadith.'' At-Tabarani and Al-Hafiz Ad-Diya' Al-Maqdisi both recorded from Anas that the Messenger of Allah said,

« سُورَةٌ فِي الْقُرْآنِ خَاصَمَتْ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا حَتْى أَدْخَلَتْهُ الْجَنَّةَ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(There is a chapter of the Qur'an that will argue on behalf of its reciter until it causes him to enter into Paradise. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.))

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(1. Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is Able to do all things.) (2. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving;) (3. Who has created the seven heavens one above the other; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. Then look again. Can you see any rifts) (4. Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you Khasi', and worn out.) (5. And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin, and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.)

3
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬
[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks?
ٱلَّذِىThe One Who
خَلَقَcreated
سَبۡعَseven
سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬heavens
طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖone above another.
مَّاNot
تَرَىٰyou see
فِىin
خَلۡقِ(the) creation
ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ(of) the Most Gracious
مِنany
تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖfault.
فَٱرۡجِعِSo return
ٱلۡبَصَرَthe vision,
هَلۡcan
تَرَىٰyou see
مِنany
فُطُورٍ۬flaw?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Virtues of Surat Al-Mulk

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Allah's Messenger said,

« إِنَّ سُورَةً فِي الْقُرْآنِ ثَلَاثِينَ آيَةً شَفَعَتْ لِصَاحِبِهَا حَتْى غُفِرَ لَهُ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(Verily, there is a chapter in the Qur'an which contains thirty Ayat that will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.)) This Hadith was collected by At-Tirmidhi and the four Sunan Compilers. At-Tirmidhi said concerning it, "This is a Hasan Hadith.'' At-Tabarani and Al-Hafiz Ad-Diya' Al-Maqdisi both recorded from Anas that the Messenger of Allah said,

« سُورَةٌ فِي الْقُرْآنِ خَاصَمَتْ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا حَتْى أَدْخَلَتْهُ الْجَنَّةَ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(There is a chapter of the Qur'an that will argue on behalf of its reciter until it causes him to enter into Paradise. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.))

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(1. Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is Able to do all things.) (2. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving;) (3. Who has created the seven heavens one above the other; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. Then look again. Can you see any rifts) (4. Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you Khasi', and worn out.) (5. And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin, and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.)

4
ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬
Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued.
ثُمَّThen
ٱرۡجِعِreturn
ٱلۡبَصَرَthe vision
كَرَّتَيۡنِtwice again.
يَنقَلِبۡWill return
إِلَيۡكَto you
ٱلۡبَصَرُthe vision
خَاسِئً۬اhumbled
وَهُوَwhile it
حَسِيرٌ۬(is) fatigued.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Virtues of Surat Al-Mulk

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Allah's Messenger said,

« إِنَّ سُورَةً فِي الْقُرْآنِ ثَلَاثِينَ آيَةً شَفَعَتْ لِصَاحِبِهَا حَتْى غُفِرَ لَهُ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(Verily, there is a chapter in the Qur'an which contains thirty Ayat that will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.)) This Hadith was collected by At-Tirmidhi and the four Sunan Compilers. At-Tirmidhi said concerning it, "This is a Hasan Hadith.'' At-Tabarani and Al-Hafiz Ad-Diya' Al-Maqdisi both recorded from Anas that the Messenger of Allah said,

« سُورَةٌ فِي الْقُرْآنِ خَاصَمَتْ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا حَتْى أَدْخَلَتْهُ الْجَنَّةَ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(There is a chapter of the Qur'an that will argue on behalf of its reciter until it causes him to enter into Paradise. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.))

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(1. Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is Able to do all things.) (2. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving;) (3. Who has created the seven heavens one above the other; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. Then look again. Can you see any rifts) (4. Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you Khasi', and worn out.) (5. And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin, and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.)

5
وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.
وَلَقَدۡAnd certainly
زَيَّنَّاWe have beautified
ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَاthe nearest heaven
بِمَصَـٰبِيحَwith lamps,
وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَاand We have made them
رُجُومً۬ا(as) missiles
لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖfor the devils,
وَأَعۡتَدۡنَاand We have prepared
لَهُمۡfor them
عَذَابَpunishment
ٱلسَّعِيرِ(of) the Blaze.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Virtues of Surat Al-Mulk

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Allah's Messenger said,

« إِنَّ سُورَةً فِي الْقُرْآنِ ثَلَاثِينَ آيَةً شَفَعَتْ لِصَاحِبِهَا حَتْى غُفِرَ لَهُ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(Verily, there is a chapter in the Qur'an which contains thirty Ayat that will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.)) This Hadith was collected by At-Tirmidhi and the four Sunan Compilers. At-Tirmidhi said concerning it, "This is a Hasan Hadith.'' At-Tabarani and Al-Hafiz Ad-Diya' Al-Maqdisi both recorded from Anas that the Messenger of Allah said,

« سُورَةٌ فِي الْقُرْآنِ خَاصَمَتْ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا حَتْى أَدْخَلَتْهُ الْجَنَّةَ:
﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

(There is a chapter of the Qur'an that will argue on behalf of its reciter until it causes him to enter into Paradise. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.))

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

﴿ تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(1. Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is Able to do all things.) (2. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving;) (3. Who has created the seven heavens one above the other; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. Then look again. Can you see any rifts) (4. Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you Khasi', and worn out.) (5. And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin, and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.)

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وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ
And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination.
وَلِلَّذِينَAnd for those who
كَفَرُواْdisbelieved
بِرَبِّہِمۡin their Lord
عَذَابُ(is the) punishment
جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ(of) Hell,
وَبِئۡسَand wretched is
ٱلۡمَصِيرُthe destination.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Glorification of Allah and mentioning the Creation of Death, Life, the Heavens and the Stars

Allah the Exalted glorifies His Noble Self and informs that the dominion is in His Hand. This means that He deals with all of His creatures however He wishes and there is none who can reverse His decree. He is not questioned concerning what He does because of His force, His wisdom and His justice. For this reason Allah says,

﴿ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ

(and He is Able to do all things.) Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life) Those who say that death is an existing creation use this Ayah as a proof because it is something that has been created. This Ayah means that He brought creation into existence from nothing in order to test the creatures. He examines them to see which of them will be best in deeds. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَڪُنتُمۡ أَمۡوَٲتً۬ا فَأَحۡيَـٰڪُمۡ‌ۖ

(How can you disbelieve in Allah, seeing that you were dead and He gave you life.) (2:28) In this Ayah Allah named the first stage, which is non-existence, "death.'' Then he named the origin or beginning of existence, "life.'' This is why Allah says,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيكُمۡ

(Then He will give death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection)) (2:28). Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ

(He may test you which of you is best in deed.) it means best in deeds. This is as Muhammad bin `Ajlan said. It should be noted that Allah did not say "which of you does the most deeds.'' Allah then says,

﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ

(And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) This means that He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses. Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ

(Who has created the seven heavens one above the other;) meaning stacked one on top of the other. Are they connected to each other, meaning that they are in elevated ascension, some of them being stacked above others, or separated with space between them There are two views concerning this, and the most correct opinion seems to be the latter as is proven in the Hadith of Isra' (the Prophet's Night Journey) and other narrations. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ

(you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.) means, it (the creation) is done in a flawless manner, and these are connected with each other so as to forms a straight level, having no disunion, conflict, inconsistency, deficiency, flaw or defect. This is the reason that Allah says,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or rifts in it Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri and others said concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) that it means cracks. As-Suddi said that,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means any tears. Qatadah said,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means, `do you see any defects O Son of Adam (mankind)' In reference to Allah's statement,

﴿ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ

(Then look again and yet again,) Qatadah said, "It means (look) twice.''

﴿ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا

(your sight will return to you Khasi',) Ibn `Abbas said that Khasi' means humiliated. Mujahid and Qatadah both said that it means despised.

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) Ibn `Abbas said that this means it will be exhausted. Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi all said that it means broken down fatigue that comes from weakness. Thus, the Ayah means that if you continuously looked, no matter how much you look, your sight will return to you.

﴿ خَاسِئً۬ا

(Khasi') due to the inability to see any flaw or defect (in Allah's creation).

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) meaning, exhausted and broken down feebleness due to the great amount of repeated looking without being able to detect any deficiency. Then, after Allah negated any deficiency in the creation of the heavens, He explains their perfection and beauty. He says,

﴿ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ

(And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps,) This refers to the stars which have been placed in the heavens, some moving and some stationary. In Allah's statement,

﴿ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ

(and We have made them (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin,) The pronoun `them' in His statement, "and We have made them'' is the same type of statement as the stars being referred to as lamps. This does not mean that they are actually missiles, because the stars in the sky are not thrown. Rather, it is the meteors beneath them that are thrown and they are taken from the stars. And Allah knows best. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.) means, `We have made this disgrace for the devils in this life and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire in the Hereafter.' This is as Allah said in the beginning of Surat As-Saffat,

﴿ إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلۡكَوَاكِبِ وَحِفۡظً۬ا مِّن كُلِّ شَيۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مَّارِدٍ۬ لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ وَيُقۡذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ۬ دُحُورً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ وَاصِبٌ إِلَّا مَنۡ خَطِفَ ٱلۡخَطۡفَةَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُ ۥ شِہَابٌ۬ ثَاقِبٌ۬

(Verily, We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.) (37:6-7) Qatadah said, "These stars were only created for three purposes: Allah created them as adornment for the heaven (sky), as missiles for the devils and as signs for navigation. Therefore, whoever seeks to interpret any other meanings for them other than these, then verily he has spoken with his own opinion, he has lost his portion and burdened himself with that which he has no knowledge of.'' Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this statement.

﴿ وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬ وَقَالُواْ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(6. And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) (7. When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq while it is simmering.) (8. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'') (9. They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') (10. And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!'') (11. Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!)

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إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ
When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up.
إِذَآWhen
أُلۡقُواْthey are thrown
فِيہَاtherein,
سَمِعُواْthey will hear
لَهَاfrom it
شَہِيقً۬اan inhaling
وَهِىَwhile it
تَفُورُboils up.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Glorification of Allah and mentioning the Creation of Death, Life, the Heavens and the Stars

Allah the Exalted glorifies His Noble Self and informs that the dominion is in His Hand. This means that He deals with all of His creatures however He wishes and there is none who can reverse His decree. He is not questioned concerning what He does because of His force, His wisdom and His justice. For this reason Allah says,

﴿ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ

(and He is Able to do all things.) Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life) Those who say that death is an existing creation use this Ayah as a proof because it is something that has been created. This Ayah means that He brought creation into existence from nothing in order to test the creatures. He examines them to see which of them will be best in deeds. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَڪُنتُمۡ أَمۡوَٲتً۬ا فَأَحۡيَـٰڪُمۡ‌ۖ

(How can you disbelieve in Allah, seeing that you were dead and He gave you life.) (2:28) In this Ayah Allah named the first stage, which is non-existence, "death.'' Then he named the origin or beginning of existence, "life.'' This is why Allah says,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيكُمۡ

(Then He will give death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection)) (2:28). Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ

(He may test you which of you is best in deed.) it means best in deeds. This is as Muhammad bin `Ajlan said. It should be noted that Allah did not say "which of you does the most deeds.'' Allah then says,

﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ

(And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) This means that He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses. Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ

(Who has created the seven heavens one above the other;) meaning stacked one on top of the other. Are they connected to each other, meaning that they are in elevated ascension, some of them being stacked above others, or separated with space between them There are two views concerning this, and the most correct opinion seems to be the latter as is proven in the Hadith of Isra' (the Prophet's Night Journey) and other narrations. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ

(you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.) means, it (the creation) is done in a flawless manner, and these are connected with each other so as to forms a straight level, having no disunion, conflict, inconsistency, deficiency, flaw or defect. This is the reason that Allah says,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or rifts in it Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri and others said concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) that it means cracks. As-Suddi said that,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means any tears. Qatadah said,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means, `do you see any defects O Son of Adam (mankind)' In reference to Allah's statement,

﴿ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ

(Then look again and yet again,) Qatadah said, "It means (look) twice.''

﴿ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا

(your sight will return to you Khasi',) Ibn `Abbas said that Khasi' means humiliated. Mujahid and Qatadah both said that it means despised.

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) Ibn `Abbas said that this means it will be exhausted. Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi all said that it means broken down fatigue that comes from weakness. Thus, the Ayah means that if you continuously looked, no matter how much you look, your sight will return to you.

﴿ خَاسِئً۬ا

(Khasi') due to the inability to see any flaw or defect (in Allah's creation).

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) meaning, exhausted and broken down feebleness due to the great amount of repeated looking without being able to detect any deficiency. Then, after Allah negated any deficiency in the creation of the heavens, He explains their perfection and beauty. He says,

﴿ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ

(And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps,) This refers to the stars which have been placed in the heavens, some moving and some stationary. In Allah's statement,

﴿ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ

(and We have made them (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin,) The pronoun `them' in His statement, "and We have made them'' is the same type of statement as the stars being referred to as lamps. This does not mean that they are actually missiles, because the stars in the sky are not thrown. Rather, it is the meteors beneath them that are thrown and they are taken from the stars. And Allah knows best. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.) means, `We have made this disgrace for the devils in this life and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire in the Hereafter.' This is as Allah said in the beginning of Surat As-Saffat,

﴿ إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلۡكَوَاكِبِ وَحِفۡظً۬ا مِّن كُلِّ شَيۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مَّارِدٍ۬ لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ وَيُقۡذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ۬ دُحُورً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ وَاصِبٌ إِلَّا مَنۡ خَطِفَ ٱلۡخَطۡفَةَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُ ۥ شِہَابٌ۬ ثَاقِبٌ۬

(Verily, We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.) (37:6-7) Qatadah said, "These stars were only created for three purposes: Allah created them as adornment for the heaven (sky), as missiles for the devils and as signs for navigation. Therefore, whoever seeks to interpret any other meanings for them other than these, then verily he has spoken with his own opinion, he has lost his portion and burdened himself with that which he has no knowledge of.'' Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this statement.

﴿ وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬ وَقَالُواْ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(6. And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) (7. When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq while it is simmering.) (8. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'') (9. They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') (10. And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!'') (11. Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!)

8
تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬
It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, "Did there not come to you a warner?"
تَكَادُIt almost
تَمَيَّزُbursts
مِنَwith
ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖrage.
كُلَّمَآEvery time
أُلۡقِىَis thrown
فِيہَاtherein
فَوۡجٌ۬a group,
سَأَلَهُمۡwill ask them
خَزَنَتُہَآits keepers,
أَلَمۡ`Did not
يَأۡتِكُمۡcome to you
نَذِيرٌ۬a warner?`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Glorification of Allah and mentioning the Creation of Death, Life, the Heavens and the Stars

Allah the Exalted glorifies His Noble Self and informs that the dominion is in His Hand. This means that He deals with all of His creatures however He wishes and there is none who can reverse His decree. He is not questioned concerning what He does because of His force, His wisdom and His justice. For this reason Allah says,

﴿ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ

(and He is Able to do all things.) Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life) Those who say that death is an existing creation use this Ayah as a proof because it is something that has been created. This Ayah means that He brought creation into existence from nothing in order to test the creatures. He examines them to see which of them will be best in deeds. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَڪُنتُمۡ أَمۡوَٲتً۬ا فَأَحۡيَـٰڪُمۡ‌ۖ

(How can you disbelieve in Allah, seeing that you were dead and He gave you life.) (2:28) In this Ayah Allah named the first stage, which is non-existence, "death.'' Then he named the origin or beginning of existence, "life.'' This is why Allah says,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيكُمۡ

(Then He will give death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection)) (2:28). Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ

(He may test you which of you is best in deed.) it means best in deeds. This is as Muhammad bin `Ajlan said. It should be noted that Allah did not say "which of you does the most deeds.'' Allah then says,

﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ

(And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) This means that He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses. Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ

(Who has created the seven heavens one above the other;) meaning stacked one on top of the other. Are they connected to each other, meaning that they are in elevated ascension, some of them being stacked above others, or separated with space between them There are two views concerning this, and the most correct opinion seems to be the latter as is proven in the Hadith of Isra' (the Prophet's Night Journey) and other narrations. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ

(you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.) means, it (the creation) is done in a flawless manner, and these are connected with each other so as to forms a straight level, having no disunion, conflict, inconsistency, deficiency, flaw or defect. This is the reason that Allah says,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or rifts in it Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri and others said concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) that it means cracks. As-Suddi said that,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means any tears. Qatadah said,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means, `do you see any defects O Son of Adam (mankind)' In reference to Allah's statement,

﴿ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ

(Then look again and yet again,) Qatadah said, "It means (look) twice.''

﴿ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا

(your sight will return to you Khasi',) Ibn `Abbas said that Khasi' means humiliated. Mujahid and Qatadah both said that it means despised.

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) Ibn `Abbas said that this means it will be exhausted. Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi all said that it means broken down fatigue that comes from weakness. Thus, the Ayah means that if you continuously looked, no matter how much you look, your sight will return to you.

﴿ خَاسِئً۬ا

(Khasi') due to the inability to see any flaw or defect (in Allah's creation).

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) meaning, exhausted and broken down feebleness due to the great amount of repeated looking without being able to detect any deficiency. Then, after Allah negated any deficiency in the creation of the heavens, He explains their perfection and beauty. He says,

﴿ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ

(And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps,) This refers to the stars which have been placed in the heavens, some moving and some stationary. In Allah's statement,

﴿ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ

(and We have made them (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin,) The pronoun `them' in His statement, "and We have made them'' is the same type of statement as the stars being referred to as lamps. This does not mean that they are actually missiles, because the stars in the sky are not thrown. Rather, it is the meteors beneath them that are thrown and they are taken from the stars. And Allah knows best. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.) means, `We have made this disgrace for the devils in this life and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire in the Hereafter.' This is as Allah said in the beginning of Surat As-Saffat,

﴿ إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلۡكَوَاكِبِ وَحِفۡظً۬ا مِّن كُلِّ شَيۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مَّارِدٍ۬ لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ وَيُقۡذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ۬ دُحُورً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ وَاصِبٌ إِلَّا مَنۡ خَطِفَ ٱلۡخَطۡفَةَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُ ۥ شِہَابٌ۬ ثَاقِبٌ۬

(Verily, We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.) (37:6-7) Qatadah said, "These stars were only created for three purposes: Allah created them as adornment for the heaven (sky), as missiles for the devils and as signs for navigation. Therefore, whoever seeks to interpret any other meanings for them other than these, then verily he has spoken with his own opinion, he has lost his portion and burdened himself with that which he has no knowledge of.'' Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this statement.

﴿ وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬ وَقَالُواْ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(6. And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) (7. When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq while it is simmering.) (8. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'') (9. They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') (10. And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!'') (11. Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!)

9
قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬
They will say," Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, 'Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.' "
قَالُواْThey will say,
بَلَىٰ`Yes,
قَدۡindeed
جَآءَنَاcame to us
نَذِيرٌ۬a warner,
فَكَذَّبۡنَاbut we denied
وَقُلۡنَاand we said,
مَا`Not
نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُhas Allah sent down
مِنany
شَىۡءٍthing.
إِنۡNot
أَنتُمۡyou (are)
إِلَّاbut
فِىin
ضَلَـٰلٍ۬error
كَبِيرٍ۬great.``
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Glorification of Allah and mentioning the Creation of Death, Life, the Heavens and the Stars

Allah the Exalted glorifies His Noble Self and informs that the dominion is in His Hand. This means that He deals with all of His creatures however He wishes and there is none who can reverse His decree. He is not questioned concerning what He does because of His force, His wisdom and His justice. For this reason Allah says,

﴿ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ

(and He is Able to do all things.) Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life) Those who say that death is an existing creation use this Ayah as a proof because it is something that has been created. This Ayah means that He brought creation into existence from nothing in order to test the creatures. He examines them to see which of them will be best in deeds. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَڪُنتُمۡ أَمۡوَٲتً۬ا فَأَحۡيَـٰڪُمۡ‌ۖ

(How can you disbelieve in Allah, seeing that you were dead and He gave you life.) (2:28) In this Ayah Allah named the first stage, which is non-existence, "death.'' Then he named the origin or beginning of existence, "life.'' This is why Allah says,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيكُمۡ

(Then He will give death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection)) (2:28). Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ

(He may test you which of you is best in deed.) it means best in deeds. This is as Muhammad bin `Ajlan said. It should be noted that Allah did not say "which of you does the most deeds.'' Allah then says,

﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ

(And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) This means that He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses. Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ

(Who has created the seven heavens one above the other;) meaning stacked one on top of the other. Are they connected to each other, meaning that they are in elevated ascension, some of them being stacked above others, or separated with space between them There are two views concerning this, and the most correct opinion seems to be the latter as is proven in the Hadith of Isra' (the Prophet's Night Journey) and other narrations. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ

(you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.) means, it (the creation) is done in a flawless manner, and these are connected with each other so as to forms a straight level, having no disunion, conflict, inconsistency, deficiency, flaw or defect. This is the reason that Allah says,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or rifts in it Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri and others said concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) that it means cracks. As-Suddi said that,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means any tears. Qatadah said,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means, `do you see any defects O Son of Adam (mankind)' In reference to Allah's statement,

﴿ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ

(Then look again and yet again,) Qatadah said, "It means (look) twice.''

﴿ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا

(your sight will return to you Khasi',) Ibn `Abbas said that Khasi' means humiliated. Mujahid and Qatadah both said that it means despised.

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) Ibn `Abbas said that this means it will be exhausted. Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi all said that it means broken down fatigue that comes from weakness. Thus, the Ayah means that if you continuously looked, no matter how much you look, your sight will return to you.

﴿ خَاسِئً۬ا

(Khasi') due to the inability to see any flaw or defect (in Allah's creation).

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) meaning, exhausted and broken down feebleness due to the great amount of repeated looking without being able to detect any deficiency. Then, after Allah negated any deficiency in the creation of the heavens, He explains their perfection and beauty. He says,

﴿ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ

(And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps,) This refers to the stars which have been placed in the heavens, some moving and some stationary. In Allah's statement,

﴿ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ

(and We have made them (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin,) The pronoun `them' in His statement, "and We have made them'' is the same type of statement as the stars being referred to as lamps. This does not mean that they are actually missiles, because the stars in the sky are not thrown. Rather, it is the meteors beneath them that are thrown and they are taken from the stars. And Allah knows best. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.) means, `We have made this disgrace for the devils in this life and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire in the Hereafter.' This is as Allah said in the beginning of Surat As-Saffat,

﴿ إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلۡكَوَاكِبِ وَحِفۡظً۬ا مِّن كُلِّ شَيۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مَّارِدٍ۬ لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ وَيُقۡذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ۬ دُحُورً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ وَاصِبٌ إِلَّا مَنۡ خَطِفَ ٱلۡخَطۡفَةَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُ ۥ شِہَابٌ۬ ثَاقِبٌ۬

(Verily, We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.) (37:6-7) Qatadah said, "These stars were only created for three purposes: Allah created them as adornment for the heaven (sky), as missiles for the devils and as signs for navigation. Therefore, whoever seeks to interpret any other meanings for them other than these, then verily he has spoken with his own opinion, he has lost his portion and burdened himself with that which he has no knowledge of.'' Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this statement.

﴿ وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬ وَقَالُواْ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(6. And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) (7. When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq while it is simmering.) (8. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'') (9. They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') (10. And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!'') (11. Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!)

10
وَقَالُواْ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze."
وَقَالُواْAnd they will say,
لَوۡ`If
كُنَّاwe had
نَسۡمَعُlistened
أَوۡor
نَعۡقِلُreasoned,
مَاnot
كُنَّاwe (would) have been
فِىٓamong
أَصۡحَـٰبِ(the) companions
ٱلسَّعِيرِ(of) the Blaze.`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Glorification of Allah and mentioning the Creation of Death, Life, the Heavens and the Stars

Allah the Exalted glorifies His Noble Self and informs that the dominion is in His Hand. This means that He deals with all of His creatures however He wishes and there is none who can reverse His decree. He is not questioned concerning what He does because of His force, His wisdom and His justice. For this reason Allah says,

﴿ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ

(and He is Able to do all things.) Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life) Those who say that death is an existing creation use this Ayah as a proof because it is something that has been created. This Ayah means that He brought creation into existence from nothing in order to test the creatures. He examines them to see which of them will be best in deeds. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَڪُنتُمۡ أَمۡوَٲتً۬ا فَأَحۡيَـٰڪُمۡ‌ۖ

(How can you disbelieve in Allah, seeing that you were dead and He gave you life.) (2:28) In this Ayah Allah named the first stage, which is non-existence, "death.'' Then he named the origin or beginning of existence, "life.'' This is why Allah says,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيكُمۡ

(Then He will give death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection)) (2:28). Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ

(He may test you which of you is best in deed.) it means best in deeds. This is as Muhammad bin `Ajlan said. It should be noted that Allah did not say "which of you does the most deeds.'' Allah then says,

﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ

(And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) This means that He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses. Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ

(Who has created the seven heavens one above the other;) meaning stacked one on top of the other. Are they connected to each other, meaning that they are in elevated ascension, some of them being stacked above others, or separated with space between them There are two views concerning this, and the most correct opinion seems to be the latter as is proven in the Hadith of Isra' (the Prophet's Night Journey) and other narrations. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ

(you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.) means, it (the creation) is done in a flawless manner, and these are connected with each other so as to forms a straight level, having no disunion, conflict, inconsistency, deficiency, flaw or defect. This is the reason that Allah says,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or rifts in it Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri and others said concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) that it means cracks. As-Suddi said that,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means any tears. Qatadah said,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means, `do you see any defects O Son of Adam (mankind)' In reference to Allah's statement,

﴿ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ

(Then look again and yet again,) Qatadah said, "It means (look) twice.''

﴿ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا

(your sight will return to you Khasi',) Ibn `Abbas said that Khasi' means humiliated. Mujahid and Qatadah both said that it means despised.

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) Ibn `Abbas said that this means it will be exhausted. Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi all said that it means broken down fatigue that comes from weakness. Thus, the Ayah means that if you continuously looked, no matter how much you look, your sight will return to you.

﴿ خَاسِئً۬ا

(Khasi') due to the inability to see any flaw or defect (in Allah's creation).

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) meaning, exhausted and broken down feebleness due to the great amount of repeated looking without being able to detect any deficiency. Then, after Allah negated any deficiency in the creation of the heavens, He explains their perfection and beauty. He says,

﴿ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ

(And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps,) This refers to the stars which have been placed in the heavens, some moving and some stationary. In Allah's statement,

﴿ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ

(and We have made them (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin,) The pronoun `them' in His statement, "and We have made them'' is the same type of statement as the stars being referred to as lamps. This does not mean that they are actually missiles, because the stars in the sky are not thrown. Rather, it is the meteors beneath them that are thrown and they are taken from the stars. And Allah knows best. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.) means, `We have made this disgrace for the devils in this life and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire in the Hereafter.' This is as Allah said in the beginning of Surat As-Saffat,

﴿ إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلۡكَوَاكِبِ وَحِفۡظً۬ا مِّن كُلِّ شَيۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مَّارِدٍ۬ لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ وَيُقۡذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ۬ دُحُورً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ وَاصِبٌ إِلَّا مَنۡ خَطِفَ ٱلۡخَطۡفَةَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُ ۥ شِہَابٌ۬ ثَاقِبٌ۬

(Verily, We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.) (37:6-7) Qatadah said, "These stars were only created for three purposes: Allah created them as adornment for the heaven (sky), as missiles for the devils and as signs for navigation. Therefore, whoever seeks to interpret any other meanings for them other than these, then verily he has spoken with his own opinion, he has lost his portion and burdened himself with that which he has no knowledge of.'' Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this statement.

﴿ وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬ وَقَالُواْ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(6. And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) (7. When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq while it is simmering.) (8. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'') (9. They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') (10. And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!'') (11. Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!)

11
فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze.
فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْThen they (will) confess
بِذَنۢبِہِمۡtheir sins,
فَسُحۡقً۬اso away with
لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ(the) companions
ٱلسَّعِيرِ(of) the Blaze.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Glorification of Allah and mentioning the Creation of Death, Life, the Heavens and the Stars

Allah the Exalted glorifies His Noble Self and informs that the dominion is in His Hand. This means that He deals with all of His creatures however He wishes and there is none who can reverse His decree. He is not questioned concerning what He does because of His force, His wisdom and His justice. For this reason Allah says,

﴿ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ

(and He is Able to do all things.) Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ

(Who has created death and life) Those who say that death is an existing creation use this Ayah as a proof because it is something that has been created. This Ayah means that He brought creation into existence from nothing in order to test the creatures. He examines them to see which of them will be best in deeds. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَڪُنتُمۡ أَمۡوَٲتً۬ا فَأَحۡيَـٰڪُمۡ‌ۖ

(How can you disbelieve in Allah, seeing that you were dead and He gave you life.) (2:28) In this Ayah Allah named the first stage, which is non-existence, "death.'' Then he named the origin or beginning of existence, "life.'' This is why Allah says,

﴿ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيكُمۡ

(Then He will give death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection)) (2:28). Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ

(He may test you which of you is best in deed.) it means best in deeds. This is as Muhammad bin `Ajlan said. It should be noted that Allah did not say "which of you does the most deeds.'' Allah then says,

﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ

(And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) This means that He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses. Then Allah says,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ

(Who has created the seven heavens one above the other;) meaning stacked one on top of the other. Are they connected to each other, meaning that they are in elevated ascension, some of them being stacked above others, or separated with space between them There are two views concerning this, and the most correct opinion seems to be the latter as is proven in the Hadith of Isra' (the Prophet's Night Journey) and other narrations. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ

(you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.) means, it (the creation) is done in a flawless manner, and these are connected with each other so as to forms a straight level, having no disunion, conflict, inconsistency, deficiency, flaw or defect. This is the reason that Allah says,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or rifts in it Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri and others said concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) that it means cracks. As-Suddi said that,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means any tears. Qatadah said,

﴿ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

(Can you see any rifts) means, `do you see any defects O Son of Adam (mankind)' In reference to Allah's statement,

﴿ ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ

(Then look again and yet again,) Qatadah said, "It means (look) twice.''

﴿ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا

(your sight will return to you Khasi',) Ibn `Abbas said that Khasi' means humiliated. Mujahid and Qatadah both said that it means despised.

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) Ibn `Abbas said that this means it will be exhausted. Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi all said that it means broken down fatigue that comes from weakness. Thus, the Ayah means that if you continuously looked, no matter how much you look, your sight will return to you.

﴿ خَاسِئً۬ا

(Khasi') due to the inability to see any flaw or defect (in Allah's creation).

﴿ وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

(and worn out.) meaning, exhausted and broken down feebleness due to the great amount of repeated looking without being able to detect any deficiency. Then, after Allah negated any deficiency in the creation of the heavens, He explains their perfection and beauty. He says,

﴿ وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ

(And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps,) This refers to the stars which have been placed in the heavens, some moving and some stationary. In Allah's statement,

﴿ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا رُجُومً۬ا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ

(and We have made them (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin,) The pronoun `them' in His statement, "and We have made them'' is the same type of statement as the stars being referred to as lamps. This does not mean that they are actually missiles, because the stars in the sky are not thrown. Rather, it is the meteors beneath them that are thrown and they are taken from the stars. And Allah knows best. Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.) means, `We have made this disgrace for the devils in this life and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire in the Hereafter.' This is as Allah said in the beginning of Surat As-Saffat,

﴿ إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلۡكَوَاكِبِ وَحِفۡظً۬ا مِّن كُلِّ شَيۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مَّارِدٍ۬ لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ وَيُقۡذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ۬ دُحُورً۬ا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ وَاصِبٌ إِلَّا مَنۡ خَطِفَ ٱلۡخَطۡفَةَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُ ۥ شِہَابٌ۬ ثَاقِبٌ۬

(Verily, We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.) (37:6-7) Qatadah said, "These stars were only created for three purposes: Allah created them as adornment for the heaven (sky), as missiles for the devils and as signs for navigation. Therefore, whoever seeks to interpret any other meanings for them other than these, then verily he has spoken with his own opinion, he has lost his portion and burdened himself with that which he has no knowledge of.'' Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this statement.

﴿ وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬ وَقَالُواْ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(6. And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) (7. When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq while it is simmering.) (8. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'') (9. They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') (10. And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!'') (11. Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!)

12
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَأَجۡرٌ۬ كَبِيرٌ۬
Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward.
إِنَّIndeed,
ٱلَّذِينَthose who
يَخۡشَوۡنَfear
رَبَّهُمtheir Lord
بِٱلۡغَيۡبِunseen,
لَهُمfor them
مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬(is) forgiveness
وَأَجۡرٌ۬and a reward
كَبِيرٌ۬great.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Description of Hell and Those Who will enter into it

Allah the Exalted says,

﴿ وُ

(and) meaning, `and We have prepared,'

﴿ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

(for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) This means that this will be the worst end and a terrible destiny.

﴿ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا

(When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq) Ibn Jarir said, "This means the sound of shouting.''

﴿ وَهِىَ تَفُورُ

(while it is simmering.) Ath-Thawri said, "It will boil them just as a small number of seeds are boiled in a lot of water.'' Then Allah says,

﴿ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ

(It almost bursts up with fury.) meaning, some parts of it almost break apart from other parts due to the severity of its rage and anger with them.

﴿ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬

(Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'' They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') In these Ayat Allah reminds of His justice in dealing with His creatures and that He does not punish anyone until the proof has been established against them and a Messenger has been sent to them. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبۡعَثَ رَسُولاً۬

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger.) (17:15) Allah also says,

﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتۡ أَبۡوَٲبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ رُسُلٌ۬ مِّنكُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمۡ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِكُمۡ هَـٰذَا‌ۚ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنۡ حَقَّتۡ كَلِمَةُ ٱلۡعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

(till when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened. And its keepers will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Ayat of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours'' They will say: "Yes,'' but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!'') (39:71) Thus, they have no recourse but to blame themselves and they will feel remorseful when such remorse will be of no benefit to them. They will say,

﴿ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!) meaning, `if we would have benefited from our intellects or listened to the truth that Allah revealed, we would not have been disbelieving in Allah and misguided about Him. But we did not have understanding to comprehend what the Messengers came with, and we did not have the intelligence to guide us to following them.' Allah then says,

﴿ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!) Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Al-Bakhtari At-Ta'i that he heard from one of the Companions that the Messenger of Allah said,

« لَنْ يَهْلِكَ النَّاسُ حَتْى يُعْذِرُوا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِم »

(The people will not be destroyed until they themselves confess their guilt.)

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَأَجۡرٌ۬ كَبِيرٌ۬ وَأَسِرُّواْ قَوۡلَكُمۡ أَوِ ٱجۡهَرُواْ بِهِۦۤ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ أَلَا يَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولاً۬ فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ

(12. Verily, those who fear their Lord unseen, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.) (13. And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts.) (14. Should not He Who has created know And He is the Most Kind and Courteous, All-Aware.) (15. He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof and eat of His provision. And to Him will be the resurrection.)

13
وَأَسِرُّواْ قَوۡلَكُمۡ أَوِ ٱجۡهَرُواْ بِهِۦۤ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
And conceal your speech or publicize it; indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
وَأَسِرُّواْAnd conceal
قَوۡلَكُمۡyour speech
أَوِor
ٱجۡهَرُواْproclaim
بِهِۦۤ‌ۖit.
إِنَّهُ ۥIndeed, He
عَلِيمُۢ(is the) All-Knower
بِذَاتِof what (is in)
ٱلصُّدُورِthe breasts.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Description of Hell and Those Who will enter into it

Allah the Exalted says,

﴿ وُ

(and) meaning, `and We have prepared,'

﴿ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

(for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) This means that this will be the worst end and a terrible destiny.

﴿ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا

(When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq) Ibn Jarir said, "This means the sound of shouting.''

﴿ وَهِىَ تَفُورُ

(while it is simmering.) Ath-Thawri said, "It will boil them just as a small number of seeds are boiled in a lot of water.'' Then Allah says,

﴿ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ

(It almost bursts up with fury.) meaning, some parts of it almost break apart from other parts due to the severity of its rage and anger with them.

﴿ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬

(Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'' They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') In these Ayat Allah reminds of His justice in dealing with His creatures and that He does not punish anyone until the proof has been established against them and a Messenger has been sent to them. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبۡعَثَ رَسُولاً۬

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger.) (17:15) Allah also says,

﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتۡ أَبۡوَٲبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ رُسُلٌ۬ مِّنكُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمۡ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِكُمۡ هَـٰذَا‌ۚ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنۡ حَقَّتۡ كَلِمَةُ ٱلۡعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

(till when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened. And its keepers will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Ayat of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours'' They will say: "Yes,'' but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!'') (39:71) Thus, they have no recourse but to blame themselves and they will feel remorseful when such remorse will be of no benefit to them. They will say,

﴿ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!) meaning, `if we would have benefited from our intellects or listened to the truth that Allah revealed, we would not have been disbelieving in Allah and misguided about Him. But we did not have understanding to comprehend what the Messengers came with, and we did not have the intelligence to guide us to following them.' Allah then says,

﴿ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!) Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Al-Bakhtari At-Ta'i that he heard from one of the Companions that the Messenger of Allah said,

« لَنْ يَهْلِكَ النَّاسُ حَتْى يُعْذِرُوا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِم »

(The people will not be destroyed until they themselves confess their guilt.)

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَأَجۡرٌ۬ كَبِيرٌ۬ وَأَسِرُّواْ قَوۡلَكُمۡ أَوِ ٱجۡهَرُواْ بِهِۦۤ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ أَلَا يَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولاً۬ فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ

(12. Verily, those who fear their Lord unseen, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.) (13. And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts.) (14. Should not He Who has created know And He is the Most Kind and Courteous, All-Aware.) (15. He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof and eat of His provision. And to Him will be the resurrection.)

14
أَلَا يَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ
Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?
أَلَا يَعۡلَمُDoes He not know,
مَنۡ(the One) Who
خَلَقَcreated?
وَهُوَAnd He
ٱللَّطِيفُ(is) the Subtle,
ٱلۡخَبِيرُthe All-Aware.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Description of Hell and Those Who will enter into it

Allah the Exalted says,

﴿ وُ

(and) meaning, `and We have prepared,'

﴿ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

(for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) This means that this will be the worst end and a terrible destiny.

﴿ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا

(When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq) Ibn Jarir said, "This means the sound of shouting.''

﴿ وَهِىَ تَفُورُ

(while it is simmering.) Ath-Thawri said, "It will boil them just as a small number of seeds are boiled in a lot of water.'' Then Allah says,

﴿ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ

(It almost bursts up with fury.) meaning, some parts of it almost break apart from other parts due to the severity of its rage and anger with them.

﴿ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬

(Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'' They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') In these Ayat Allah reminds of His justice in dealing with His creatures and that He does not punish anyone until the proof has been established against them and a Messenger has been sent to them. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبۡعَثَ رَسُولاً۬

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger.) (17:15) Allah also says,

﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتۡ أَبۡوَٲبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ رُسُلٌ۬ مِّنكُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمۡ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِكُمۡ هَـٰذَا‌ۚ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنۡ حَقَّتۡ كَلِمَةُ ٱلۡعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

(till when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened. And its keepers will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Ayat of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours'' They will say: "Yes,'' but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!'') (39:71) Thus, they have no recourse but to blame themselves and they will feel remorseful when such remorse will be of no benefit to them. They will say,

﴿ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!) meaning, `if we would have benefited from our intellects or listened to the truth that Allah revealed, we would not have been disbelieving in Allah and misguided about Him. But we did not have understanding to comprehend what the Messengers came with, and we did not have the intelligence to guide us to following them.' Allah then says,

﴿ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!) Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Al-Bakhtari At-Ta'i that he heard from one of the Companions that the Messenger of Allah said,

« لَنْ يَهْلِكَ النَّاسُ حَتْى يُعْذِرُوا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِم »

(The people will not be destroyed until they themselves confess their guilt.)

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَأَجۡرٌ۬ كَبِيرٌ۬ وَأَسِرُّواْ قَوۡلَكُمۡ أَوِ ٱجۡهَرُواْ بِهِۦۤ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ أَلَا يَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولاً۬ فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ

(12. Verily, those who fear their Lord unseen, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.) (13. And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts.) (14. Should not He Who has created know And He is the Most Kind and Courteous, All-Aware.) (15. He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof and eat of His provision. And to Him will be the resurrection.)

15
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولاً۬ فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ
It is He who made the earth tame for you – so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision – and to Him is the resurrection.
هُوَHe
ٱلَّذِى(is) the One Who
جَعَلَmade
لَكُمُfor you
ٱلۡأَرۡضَthe earth
ذَلُولاً۬subservient,
فَٱمۡشُواْso walk
فِىin
مَنَاكِبِہَا(the) paths thereof
وَكُلُواْand eat
مِنof
رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖHis provision,
وَإِلَيۡهِand to Him
ٱلنُّشُورُ(is) the Resurrection.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Description of Hell and Those Who will enter into it

Allah the Exalted says,

﴿ وُ

(and) meaning, `and We have prepared,'

﴿ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

(for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) This means that this will be the worst end and a terrible destiny.

﴿ إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيہَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَہِيقً۬ا

(When they are cast therein, they will hear its Shahiq) Ibn Jarir said, "This means the sound of shouting.''

﴿ وَهِىَ تَفُورُ

(while it is simmering.) Ath-Thawri said, "It will boil them just as a small number of seeds are boiled in a lot of water.'' Then Allah says,

﴿ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ

(It almost bursts up with fury.) meaning, some parts of it almost break apart from other parts due to the severity of its rage and anger with them.

﴿ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِىَ فِيہَا فَوۡجٌ۬ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرٌ۬ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ۬ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ كَبِيرٍ۬

(Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask: "Did no warner come to you'' They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said: `Allah never sent down anything; you are only in great error.''') In these Ayat Allah reminds of His justice in dealing with His creatures and that He does not punish anyone until the proof has been established against them and a Messenger has been sent to them. This is similar to Allah's statement,

﴿ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبۡعَثَ رَسُولاً۬

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger.) (17:15) Allah also says,

﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتۡ أَبۡوَٲبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُہَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ رُسُلٌ۬ مِّنكُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمۡ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِكُمۡ هَـٰذَا‌ۚ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنۡ حَقَّتۡ كَلِمَةُ ٱلۡعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

(till when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened. And its keepers will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Ayat of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours'' They will say: "Yes,'' but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!'') (39:71) Thus, they have no recourse but to blame themselves and they will feel remorseful when such remorse will be of no benefit to them. They will say,

﴿ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!) meaning, `if we would have benefited from our intellects or listened to the truth that Allah revealed, we would not have been disbelieving in Allah and misguided about Him. But we did not have understanding to comprehend what the Messengers came with, and we did not have the intelligence to guide us to following them.' Allah then says,

﴿ فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِہِمۡ فَسُحۡقً۬ا لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

(Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!) Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Al-Bakhtari At-Ta'i that he heard from one of the Companions that the Messenger of Allah said,

« لَنْ يَهْلِكَ النَّاسُ حَتْى يُعْذِرُوا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِم »

(The people will not be destroyed until they themselves confess their guilt.)

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَأَجۡرٌ۬ كَبِيرٌ۬ وَأَسِرُّواْ قَوۡلَكُمۡ أَوِ ٱجۡهَرُواْ بِهِۦۤ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ أَلَا يَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولاً۬ فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ

(12. Verily, those who fear their Lord unseen, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.) (13. And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts.) (14. Should not He Who has created know And He is the Most Kind and Courteous, All-Aware.) (15. He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof and eat of His provision. And to Him will be the resurrection.)

16
ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخۡسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ
Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?
ءَأَمِنتُمDo you feel secure
مَّن(from Him) Who
فِى(is) in
ٱلسَّمَآءِthe heaven
أَنnot
يَخۡسِفَHe will cause to swallow
بِكُمُyou
ٱلۡأَرۡضَthe earth
فَإِذَاwhen
هِىَit
تَمُورُsways?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah's Favor of subjugating the Earth to His Servants

Then Allah mentions His favor to His creation in subjugating the earth to them, and making it subservient to them. This is by His making it a stable abode and dwelling place. He placed in it mountains and caused water springs to gush forth from it. He fashioned pathways, and placed useful things in it and places fertile for the growth of fruit and vegetation. Allah says,

﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولاً۬ فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا

(He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof) meaning, travel wherever you wish throughout its regions and frequent its countrysides and all the areas of its domain in your various journeys to seek earnings and trade. And know that your efforts will not benefit you anything unless Allah makes matters easy for you. Allah continues to say,

﴿ وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖ

(and eat of His provision.) Thus, striving by using the means (to attain something) does not negate the necessity of depending upon Allah (At-Tawakkul). This is similar to what Imam Ahmad recorded from `Umar bin Al-Khattab, that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَوْأَنَّكُمْ تَتَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ، لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزُقُ الطَّيْرَ، تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا »

(If you would trust in Allah as He truly should be trusted in, He would surely provide for you as He provides for the birds. They set out in the morning with empty stomachs and return in the evening with full stomachs.) At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah all recorded this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.'' So this confirms that the bird searches morning and evening for its sustenance while depending upon Allah. For He is the Subduer, the Controller and the One Who causes everything.

﴿ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ

(And to Him will be the resurrection.) meaning, the place of return on the Day of Judgment. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, As-Suddi and Qatadah all said that Manakibiha (its paths) means its outermost borders, its roads and its regions.

﴿ ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخۡسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ أَمۡ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَاصِبً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ كَيۡفَ نَذِيرِ وَلَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(16. Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not cause the earth to sink with you, and then it should quake) (17. Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not send against you a Hasib Then you shall know how has been My warning.) (18. And indeed those before them rejected, then how terrible was My reproach) (19. Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the Most Gracious. Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.)

17
أَمۡ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَاصِبً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ كَيۡفَ نَذِيرِ
Or do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [severe] was My warning.
أَمۡOr
أَمِنتُمdo you feel secure
مَّن(from Him) Who
فِى(is) in
ٱلسَّمَآءِthe heaven,
أَنnot
يُرۡسِلَHe will send
عَلَيۡكُمۡagainst you
حَاصِبً۬ا‌ۖa storm of stones?
فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَThen you would know
كَيۡفَhow
نَذِيرِ(was) My warning?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah's Favor of subjugating the Earth to His Servants

Then Allah mentions His favor to His creation in subjugating the earth to them, and making it subservient to them. This is by His making it a stable abode and dwelling place. He placed in it mountains and caused water springs to gush forth from it. He fashioned pathways, and placed useful things in it and places fertile for the growth of fruit and vegetation. Allah says,

﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولاً۬ فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا

(He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof) meaning, travel wherever you wish throughout its regions and frequent its countrysides and all the areas of its domain in your various journeys to seek earnings and trade. And know that your efforts will not benefit you anything unless Allah makes matters easy for you. Allah continues to say,

﴿ وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖ

(and eat of His provision.) Thus, striving by using the means (to attain something) does not negate the necessity of depending upon Allah (At-Tawakkul). This is similar to what Imam Ahmad recorded from `Umar bin Al-Khattab, that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَوْأَنَّكُمْ تَتَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ، لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزُقُ الطَّيْرَ، تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا »

(If you would trust in Allah as He truly should be trusted in, He would surely provide for you as He provides for the birds. They set out in the morning with empty stomachs and return in the evening with full stomachs.) At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah all recorded this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.'' So this confirms that the bird searches morning and evening for its sustenance while depending upon Allah. For He is the Subduer, the Controller and the One Who causes everything.

﴿ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ

(And to Him will be the resurrection.) meaning, the place of return on the Day of Judgment. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, As-Suddi and Qatadah all said that Manakibiha (its paths) means its outermost borders, its roads and its regions.

﴿ ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخۡسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ أَمۡ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَاصِبً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ كَيۡفَ نَذِيرِ وَلَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(16. Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not cause the earth to sink with you, and then it should quake) (17. Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not send against you a Hasib Then you shall know how has been My warning.) (18. And indeed those before them rejected, then how terrible was My reproach) (19. Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the Most Gracious. Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.)

18
وَلَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
And already had those before them denied, and how [terrible] was My reproach.
وَلَقَدۡAnd indeed,
كَذَّبَdenied
ٱلَّذِينَthose
مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡbefore them,
فَكَيۡفَand how
كَانَwas
نَكِيرِMy rejection.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah's Favor of subjugating the Earth to His Servants

Then Allah mentions His favor to His creation in subjugating the earth to them, and making it subservient to them. This is by His making it a stable abode and dwelling place. He placed in it mountains and caused water springs to gush forth from it. He fashioned pathways, and placed useful things in it and places fertile for the growth of fruit and vegetation. Allah says,

﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولاً۬ فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا

(He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof) meaning, travel wherever you wish throughout its regions and frequent its countrysides and all the areas of its domain in your various journeys to seek earnings and trade. And know that your efforts will not benefit you anything unless Allah makes matters easy for you. Allah continues to say,

﴿ وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖ

(and eat of His provision.) Thus, striving by using the means (to attain something) does not negate the necessity of depending upon Allah (At-Tawakkul). This is similar to what Imam Ahmad recorded from `Umar bin Al-Khattab, that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَوْأَنَّكُمْ تَتَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ، لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزُقُ الطَّيْرَ، تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا »

(If you would trust in Allah as He truly should be trusted in, He would surely provide for you as He provides for the birds. They set out in the morning with empty stomachs and return in the evening with full stomachs.) At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah all recorded this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.'' So this confirms that the bird searches morning and evening for its sustenance while depending upon Allah. For He is the Subduer, the Controller and the One Who causes everything.

﴿ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ

(And to Him will be the resurrection.) meaning, the place of return on the Day of Judgment. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, As-Suddi and Qatadah all said that Manakibiha (its paths) means its outermost borders, its roads and its regions.

﴿ ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخۡسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ أَمۡ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَاصِبً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ كَيۡفَ نَذِيرِ وَلَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(16. Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not cause the earth to sink with you, and then it should quake) (17. Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not send against you a Hasib Then you shall know how has been My warning.) (18. And indeed those before them rejected, then how terrible was My reproach) (19. Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the Most Gracious. Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.)

19
أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ
Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing.
أَوَلَمۡDo not
يَرَوۡاْthey see
إِلَى[to]
ٱلطَّيۡرِthe birds
فَوۡقَهُمۡabove them
صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬spreading (their wings)
وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚand folding?
مَاNot
يُمۡسِكُهُنَّholds them
إِلَّاexcept
ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚthe Most Gracious.
إِنَّهُ ۥIndeed, He
بِكُلِّ(is) of every
شَىۡءِۭthing
بَصِيرٌAll-Seer.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah's Favor of subjugating the Earth to His Servants

Then Allah mentions His favor to His creation in subjugating the earth to them, and making it subservient to them. This is by His making it a stable abode and dwelling place. He placed in it mountains and caused water springs to gush forth from it. He fashioned pathways, and placed useful things in it and places fertile for the growth of fruit and vegetation. Allah says,

﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولاً۬ فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا

(He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof) meaning, travel wherever you wish throughout its regions and frequent its countrysides and all the areas of its domain in your various journeys to seek earnings and trade. And know that your efforts will not benefit you anything unless Allah makes matters easy for you. Allah continues to say,

﴿ وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ‌ۖ

(and eat of His provision.) Thus, striving by using the means (to attain something) does not negate the necessity of depending upon Allah (At-Tawakkul). This is similar to what Imam Ahmad recorded from `Umar bin Al-Khattab, that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

« لَوْأَنَّكُمْ تَتَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ، لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزُقُ الطَّيْرَ، تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا »

(If you would trust in Allah as He truly should be trusted in, He would surely provide for you as He provides for the birds. They set out in the morning with empty stomachs and return in the evening with full stomachs.) At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah all recorded this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.'' So this confirms that the bird searches morning and evening for its sustenance while depending upon Allah. For He is the Subduer, the Controller and the One Who causes everything.

﴿ وَإِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ

(And to Him will be the resurrection.) meaning, the place of return on the Day of Judgment. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, As-Suddi and Qatadah all said that Manakibiha (its paths) means its outermost borders, its roads and its regions.

﴿ ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخۡسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ أَمۡ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَاصِبً۬ا‌ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ كَيۡفَ نَذِيرِ وَلَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(16. Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not cause the earth to sink with you, and then it should quake) (17. Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not send against you a Hasib Then you shall know how has been My warning.) (18. And indeed those before them rejected, then how terrible was My reproach) (19. Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the Most Gracious. Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.)

20
أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ
Or who is it that could be an army for you to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion.
أَمَّنۡWho is
هَـٰذَاthis,
ٱلَّذِىthe one,
هُوَhe
جُندٌ۬(is) an army
لَّكُمۡfor you
يَنصُرُكُمto help you
مِّن دُونِbesides
ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚthe Most Gracious?
إِنِNot
ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ(are) the disbelievers
إِلَّاbut
فِىin
غُرُورٍdelusion.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The flight of Birds is by the Power of Allah and it is a Proof that He sees everything small and large

Allah says,

﴿ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ

(Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in) meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread (flapping) the wings in flight

﴿ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ

(None upholds them) meaning, in the air,

﴿ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ

(except the Most Gracious.) meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.) means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures. This is similar to His statement,

﴿ أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ مُسَخَّرَٲتٍ۬ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

(Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky? None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe.)(24:79)

﴿ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِى عُتُوٍّ۬ وَنُفُورٍ أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(20. Who is it besides the Most Gracious that can be an army to you to help you The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.) (21. Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and flee.) (22. Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path) (23. Say: "It is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts. Little thanks you give.'') (24. Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered.'') (25. They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if you are telling the truth'') (26. Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.'') (27. But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous, and it will be said: "This is what you were calling for!'')

21
أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِى عُتُوٍّ۬ وَنُفُورٍ
Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.
أَمَّنۡWho is
هَـٰذَاthis,
ٱلَّذِىthe one,
يَرۡزُقُكُمۡto provide you
إِنۡif
أَمۡسَكَHe withheld
رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚHis provision.
بَلNay,
لَّجُّواْthey persist
فِىin
عُتُوٍّ۬pride
وَنُفُورٍand aversion.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The flight of Birds is by the Power of Allah and it is a Proof that He sees everything small and large

Allah says,

﴿ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ

(Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in) meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread (flapping) the wings in flight

﴿ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ

(None upholds them) meaning, in the air,

﴿ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ

(except the Most Gracious.) meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.) means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures. This is similar to His statement,

﴿ أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ مُسَخَّرَٲتٍ۬ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

(Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky? None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe.)(24:79)

﴿ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِى عُتُوٍّ۬ وَنُفُورٍ أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(20. Who is it besides the Most Gracious that can be an army to you to help you The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.) (21. Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and flee.) (22. Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path) (23. Say: "It is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts. Little thanks you give.'') (24. Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered.'') (25. They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if you are telling the truth'') (26. Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.'') (27. But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous, and it will be said: "This is what you were calling for!'')

22
أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬
Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?
أَفَمَنThen is he who
يَمۡشِىwalks
مُكِبًّاfallen
عَلَىٰon
وَجۡهِهِۦۤhis face
أَهۡدَىٰٓbetter guided,
أَمَّنor (he) who
يَمۡشِىwalks
سَوِيًّاupright
عَلَىٰon
صِرَٲطٍ۬(the) Path
مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬Straight?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The flight of Birds is by the Power of Allah and it is a Proof that He sees everything small and large

Allah says,

﴿ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ

(Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in) meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread (flapping) the wings in flight

﴿ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ

(None upholds them) meaning, in the air,

﴿ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ

(except the Most Gracious.) meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.) means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures. This is similar to His statement,

﴿ أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ مُسَخَّرَٲتٍ۬ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

(Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky? None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe.)(24:79)

﴿ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِى عُتُوٍّ۬ وَنُفُورٍ أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(20. Who is it besides the Most Gracious that can be an army to you to help you The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.) (21. Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and flee.) (22. Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path) (23. Say: "It is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts. Little thanks you give.'') (24. Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered.'') (25. They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if you are telling the truth'') (26. Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.'') (27. But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous, and it will be said: "This is what you were calling for!'')

23
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ
Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful."
قُلۡSay,
هُوَ`He
ٱلَّذِىٓ(is) the One Who
أَنشَأَكُمۡproduced you
وَجَعَلَand made
لَكُمُfor you
ٱلسَّمۡعَthe hearing,
وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَand the vision
وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖand the feelings.
قَلِيلاً۬Little
مَّا(is) what
تَشۡكُرُونَyou give thanks.`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The flight of Birds is by the Power of Allah and it is a Proof that He sees everything small and large

Allah says,

﴿ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ

(Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in) meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread (flapping) the wings in flight

﴿ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ

(None upholds them) meaning, in the air,

﴿ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ

(except the Most Gracious.) meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.) means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures. This is similar to His statement,

﴿ أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ مُسَخَّرَٲتٍ۬ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

(Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky? None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe.)(24:79)

﴿ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِى عُتُوٍّ۬ وَنُفُورٍ أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(20. Who is it besides the Most Gracious that can be an army to you to help you The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.) (21. Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and flee.) (22. Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path) (23. Say: "It is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts. Little thanks you give.'') (24. Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered.'') (25. They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if you are telling the truth'') (26. Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.'') (27. But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous, and it will be said: "This is what you were calling for!'')

24
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ
Say, " It is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered."
قُلۡSay,
هُوَ`He
ٱلَّذِى(is) the One Who
ذَرَأَكُمۡmultiplied you
فِىin
ٱلۡأَرۡضِthe earth
وَإِلَيۡهِand to Him
تُحۡشَرُونَyou will be gathered.`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The flight of Birds is by the Power of Allah and it is a Proof that He sees everything small and large

Allah says,

﴿ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ

(Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in) meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread (flapping) the wings in flight

﴿ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ

(None upholds them) meaning, in the air,

﴿ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ

(except the Most Gracious.) meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.) means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures. This is similar to His statement,

﴿ أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ مُسَخَّرَٲتٍ۬ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

(Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky? None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe.)(24:79)

﴿ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِى عُتُوٍّ۬ وَنُفُورٍ أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(20. Who is it besides the Most Gracious that can be an army to you to help you The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.) (21. Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and flee.) (22. Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path) (23. Say: "It is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts. Little thanks you give.'') (24. Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered.'') (25. They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if you are telling the truth'') (26. Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.'') (27. But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous, and it will be said: "This is what you were calling for!'')

25
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ
And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"
وَيَقُولُونَAnd they say,
مَتَىٰ`When
هَـٰذَا(is) this
ٱلۡوَعۡدُpromise,
إِنif
كُنتُمۡyou are
صَـٰدِقِينَtruthful?`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The flight of Birds is by the Power of Allah and it is a Proof that He sees everything small and large

Allah says,

﴿ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ

(Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in) meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread (flapping) the wings in flight

﴿ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ

(None upholds them) meaning, in the air,

﴿ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ

(except the Most Gracious.) meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.) means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures. This is similar to His statement,

﴿ أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ مُسَخَّرَٲتٍ۬ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

(Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky? None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe.)(24:79)

﴿ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِى عُتُوٍّ۬ وَنُفُورٍ أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(20. Who is it besides the Most Gracious that can be an army to you to help you The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.) (21. Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and flee.) (22. Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path) (23. Say: "It is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts. Little thanks you give.'') (24. Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered.'') (25. They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if you are telling the truth'') (26. Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.'') (27. But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous, and it will be said: "This is what you were calling for!'')

26
قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬
Say, "The knowledge is only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner."
قُلۡSay,
إِنَّمَا`Only
ٱلۡعِلۡمُthe knowledge
عِندَ(is) with
ٱللَّهِAllah,
وَإِنَّمَآand only
أَنَا۟I am
نَذِيرٌ۬a warner
مُّبِينٌ۬clear.`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The flight of Birds is by the Power of Allah and it is a Proof that He sees everything small and large

Allah says,

﴿ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ

(Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in) meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread (flapping) the wings in flight

﴿ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ

(None upholds them) meaning, in the air,

﴿ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ

(except the Most Gracious.) meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.) means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures. This is similar to His statement,

﴿ أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ مُسَخَّرَٲتٍ۬ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

(Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky? None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe.)(24:79)

﴿ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِى عُتُوٍّ۬ وَنُفُورٍ أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(20. Who is it besides the Most Gracious that can be an army to you to help you The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.) (21. Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and flee.) (22. Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path) (23. Say: "It is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts. Little thanks you give.'') (24. Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered.'') (25. They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if you are telling the truth'') (26. Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.'') (27. But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous, and it will be said: "This is what you were calling for!'')

27
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ
But when they see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be distressed, and it will be said, "This is that for which you used to call."
فَلَمَّاBut when
رَأَوۡهُthey (will) see it
زُلۡفَةً۬approaching,
سِيٓـَٔتۡ(will be) distressed
وُجُوهُ(the) faces
ٱلَّذِينَ(of) those who
كَفَرُواْdisbelieved,
وَقِيلَand it will be said,
هَـٰذَا`This
ٱلَّذِى(is) that which
كُنتُمyou used (to)
بِهِۦfor it
تَدَّعُونَcall.`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The flight of Birds is by the Power of Allah and it is a Proof that He sees everything small and large

Allah says,

﴿ أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَ‌ۚ

(Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in) meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread (flapping) the wings in flight

﴿ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ

(None upholds them) meaning, in the air,

﴿ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ‌ۚ

(except the Most Gracious.) meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ

(Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.) means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures. This is similar to His statement,

﴿ أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ مُسَخَّرَٲتٍ۬ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

(Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky? None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe.)(24:79)

﴿ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِى عُتُوٍّ۬ وَنُفُورٍ أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(20. Who is it besides the Most Gracious that can be an army to you to help you The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.) (21. Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and flee.) (22. Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path) (23. Say: "It is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts. Little thanks you give.'') (24. Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered.'') (25. They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if you are telling the truth'') (26. Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.'') (27. But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous, and it will be said: "This is what you were calling for!'')

28
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَهۡلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِىَ أَوۡ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬
Say, [O Muhammad], "Have you considered: whether Allah should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?"
قُلۡSay,
أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ`Have you seen,
إِنۡif
أَهۡلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُAllah destroys me
وَمَنand whoever
مَّعِىَ(is) with me
أَوۡor
رَحِمَنَاhave mercy upon us,
فَمَنthen who
يُجِيرُ(can) protect
ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَthe disbelievers
مِنۡfrom
عَذَابٍa punishment
أَلِيمٍ۬painful.`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah's Power to create and It being an Evidence of the Final Abode

Allah says,

﴿ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ

(Say it is He Who has created you,) meaning, He initiated your creation after you were not even a thing worth mentioning (i.e., nothing). Then He says,

﴿ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ

(and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts.) meaning, intellects and powers of reasoning.

﴿ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ

(Little thanks you give.) meaning, how little you use these abilities that Allah has blessed you with to obey Him, to act according to His commandments, and avoid His prohibitions.

﴿ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth...'') meaning, He has spread and distributed you all throughout the various regions and areas of the earth with your differing languages, colors, shapes, appearances and forms.

﴿ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ

(and to Him shall you be gathered.) meaning, you all will come together after this separation and division. He will gather you all just as He separated you and He will bring you back again just as He originated you. Then while informing of the disbelievers who reject the final return, and doubt concerning its real occurrence, Allah said;

﴿ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ

(They say: "When will this promise come to pass if you are telling the truth'') meaning, `when will this gathering after separation that you are informing us of, occur'

﴿ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ

(Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only...'') meaning, `no one knows the time of the Day of Judgment exactly except Allah, but He has commanded me to inform you that it is real and it will definitely occur, so beware of it.'

﴿ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬

(and I am only a plain warner.) meaning, `I am only obligated to convey, and verily I have performed my duty (of conveying) towards you.' Then Allah says,

﴿ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ

(But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous.) means, when the Day of Judgment begins, and the disbelievers witness it, and they see that the matter has drawn close, because everything that is to occur will occur, even if it takes a long time. So, when what they denied occurs, it will grieve them because they will know what is awaiting them there (in Hell) of the worst evil. This means that it will surround them and Allah will command what they were not able to reckon or fully comprehend to come to them.

﴿ وَلَوۡ أَنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمِثۡلَهُ ۥ مَعَهُ ۥ لَٱفۡتَدَوۡاْ بِهِۦ مِن سُوٓءِ ٱلۡعَذَابِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۚ وَبَدَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يَكُونُواْ يَحۡتَسِبُونَ وَبَدَا لَهُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا ڪَسَبُواْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ

(and there will become apparent to them from Allah what they had not been reckoning. And the evils of that which they earned will become apparent to them, and that which they used to mock at will encircle them.) (39:47,48) This is why it will be said to them in order to scold and reprimand them,

﴿ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(This is what you were calling for!) meaning, that you were seeking to hasten.

﴿ قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَهۡلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِىَ أَوۡ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡنَا‌ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ مَنۡ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَصۡبَحَ مَآؤُكُمۡ غَوۡرً۬ا فَمَن يَأۡتِيكُم بِمَآءٍ۬ مَّعِينِۭ

(28. Say: "Tell me! If Allah destroys me, and those with me, or He bestows His mercy on us - who can save the disbelievers from a painful torment'') (29. Say: "He is the Most Gracious, in Him we believe, and upon Him we rely. So, you will come to know who it is that is in manifest error.'') (30. Say: "Tell me! If (all) your water were to sink away, who then can supply you with flowing water'')

29
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡنَا‌ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ مَنۡ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬
Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied. And you will [come to] know who it is that is in clear error."
قُلۡSay,
هُوَ`He
ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ(is) the Most Gracious;
ءَامَنَّاwe believe
بِهِۦin Him,
وَعَلَيۡهِand upon Him
تَوَكَّلۡنَا‌ۖwe put (our) trust.
فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَSo soon you will know
مَنۡwho
هُوَ(is) it
فِى(that is) in
ضَلَـٰلٍ۬error
مُّبِينٍ۬clear.`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah's Power to create and It being an Evidence of the Final Abode

Allah says,

﴿ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ

(Say it is He Who has created you,) meaning, He initiated your creation after you were not even a thing worth mentioning (i.e., nothing). Then He says,

﴿ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ

(and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts.) meaning, intellects and powers of reasoning.

﴿ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ

(Little thanks you give.) meaning, how little you use these abilities that Allah has blessed you with to obey Him, to act according to His commandments, and avoid His prohibitions.

﴿ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth...'') meaning, He has spread and distributed you all throughout the various regions and areas of the earth with your differing languages, colors, shapes, appearances and forms.

﴿ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ

(and to Him shall you be gathered.) meaning, you all will come together after this separation and division. He will gather you all just as He separated you and He will bring you back again just as He originated you. Then while informing of the disbelievers who reject the final return, and doubt concerning its real occurrence, Allah said;

﴿ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ

(They say: "When will this promise come to pass if you are telling the truth'') meaning, `when will this gathering after separation that you are informing us of, occur'

﴿ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ

(Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only...'') meaning, `no one knows the time of the Day of Judgment exactly except Allah, but He has commanded me to inform you that it is real and it will definitely occur, so beware of it.'

﴿ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬

(and I am only a plain warner.) meaning, `I am only obligated to convey, and verily I have performed my duty (of conveying) towards you.' Then Allah says,

﴿ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ

(But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous.) means, when the Day of Judgment begins, and the disbelievers witness it, and they see that the matter has drawn close, because everything that is to occur will occur, even if it takes a long time. So, when what they denied occurs, it will grieve them because they will know what is awaiting them there (in Hell) of the worst evil. This means that it will surround them and Allah will command what they were not able to reckon or fully comprehend to come to them.

﴿ وَلَوۡ أَنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمِثۡلَهُ ۥ مَعَهُ ۥ لَٱفۡتَدَوۡاْ بِهِۦ مِن سُوٓءِ ٱلۡعَذَابِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۚ وَبَدَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يَكُونُواْ يَحۡتَسِبُونَ وَبَدَا لَهُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا ڪَسَبُواْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ

(and there will become apparent to them from Allah what they had not been reckoning. And the evils of that which they earned will become apparent to them, and that which they used to mock at will encircle them.) (39:47,48) This is why it will be said to them in order to scold and reprimand them,

﴿ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(This is what you were calling for!) meaning, that you were seeking to hasten.

﴿ قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَهۡلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِىَ أَوۡ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡنَا‌ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ مَنۡ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَصۡبَحَ مَآؤُكُمۡ غَوۡرً۬ا فَمَن يَأۡتِيكُم بِمَآءٍ۬ مَّعِينِۭ

(28. Say: "Tell me! If Allah destroys me, and those with me, or He bestows His mercy on us - who can save the disbelievers from a painful torment'') (29. Say: "He is the Most Gracious, in Him we believe, and upon Him we rely. So, you will come to know who it is that is in manifest error.'') (30. Say: "Tell me! If (all) your water were to sink away, who then can supply you with flowing water'')

30
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَصۡبَحَ مَآؤُكُمۡ غَوۡرً۬ا فَمَن يَأۡتِيكُم بِمَآءٍ۬ مَّعِينِۭ
Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?"
قُلۡSay,
أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ`Have you seen,
إِنۡif
أَصۡبَحَbecomes
مَآؤُكُمۡyour water
غَوۡرً۬اsunken,
فَمَنthen who
يَأۡتِيكُمcould bring you
بِمَآءٍ۬water
مَّعِينِۭflowing?`
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah's Power to create and It being an Evidence of the Final Abode

Allah says,

﴿ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ

(Say it is He Who has created you,) meaning, He initiated your creation after you were not even a thing worth mentioning (i.e., nothing). Then He says,

﴿ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ‌ۖ

(and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts.) meaning, intellects and powers of reasoning.

﴿ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ

(Little thanks you give.) meaning, how little you use these abilities that Allah has blessed you with to obey Him, to act according to His commandments, and avoid His prohibitions.

﴿ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

(Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth...'') meaning, He has spread and distributed you all throughout the various regions and areas of the earth with your differing languages, colors, shapes, appearances and forms.

﴿ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ

(and to Him shall you be gathered.) meaning, you all will come together after this separation and division. He will gather you all just as He separated you and He will bring you back again just as He originated you. Then while informing of the disbelievers who reject the final return, and doubt concerning its real occurrence, Allah said;

﴿ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ

(They say: "When will this promise come to pass if you are telling the truth'') meaning, `when will this gathering after separation that you are informing us of, occur'

﴿ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ

(Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only...'') meaning, `no one knows the time of the Day of Judgment exactly except Allah, but He has commanded me to inform you that it is real and it will definitely occur, so beware of it.'

﴿ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ نَذِيرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬

(and I am only a plain warner.) meaning, `I am only obligated to convey, and verily I have performed my duty (of conveying) towards you.' Then Allah says,

﴿ فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً۬ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ

(But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous.) means, when the Day of Judgment begins, and the disbelievers witness it, and they see that the matter has drawn close, because everything that is to occur will occur, even if it takes a long time. So, when what they denied occurs, it will grieve them because they will know what is awaiting them there (in Hell) of the worst evil. This means that it will surround them and Allah will command what they were not able to reckon or fully comprehend to come to them.

﴿ وَلَوۡ أَنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمِثۡلَهُ ۥ مَعَهُ ۥ لَٱفۡتَدَوۡاْ بِهِۦ مِن سُوٓءِ ٱلۡعَذَابِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۚ وَبَدَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يَكُونُواْ يَحۡتَسِبُونَ وَبَدَا لَهُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا ڪَسَبُواْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ

(and there will become apparent to them from Allah what they had not been reckoning. And the evils of that which they earned will become apparent to them, and that which they used to mock at will encircle them.) (39:47,48) This is why it will be said to them in order to scold and reprimand them,

﴿ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ

(This is what you were calling for!) meaning, that you were seeking to hasten.

﴿ قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَهۡلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِىَ أَوۡ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬ قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡنَا‌ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ مَنۡ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَصۡبَحَ مَآؤُكُمۡ غَوۡرً۬ا فَمَن يَأۡتِيكُم بِمَآءٍ۬ مَّعِينِۭ

(28. Say: "Tell me! If Allah destroys me, and those with me, or He bestows His mercy on us - who can save the disbelievers from a painful torment'') (29. Say: "He is the Most Gracious, in Him we believe, and upon Him we rely. So, you will come to know who it is that is in manifest error.'') (30. Say: "Tell me! If (all) your water were to sink away, who then can supply you with flowing water'')