Sūrat Yūnus

سورۃ یونس

Sūrat Yūnus makkiyyah wa-hiya miʾah wa-tisʿ āyātin wa-aḥad ʿashara rukūʿā Sūrat Yūnus — a Meccan sūrah, comprising one hundred and nine (109) verses and eleven (11) sections of bowing (rukūʿ).

This sūrah is named after Ḥaḍrat Yūnus (upon him be peace), and in some commentaries the following episode concerning him is recorded. The people of Yūnus (upon him be peace) lived in Nineveh (Naynawā), in the region of Mosul (Mawṣil). They were sunk in disbelief and polytheism. Allah the Exalted sent Ḥaḍrat Yūnus (upon him be peace) to them. He commanded them to give up idol-worship and to believe. They refused and denied Ḥaḍrat Yūnus (upon him be peace). By Allah's command he told them that punishment would descend. They said among themselves: "Ḥaḍrat Yūnus (upon him be peace) has never said anything untrue. Look — if he stays here tonight, there is nothing to fear; but if he does not spend the night here, we should understand that the punishment will come."

In the night Ḥaḍrat Yūnus (upon him be peace) departed from there, and in the morning fearful signs of the punishment appeared. A black, dreadful cloud came over the sky, and a great mass of smoke gathered and spread over the whole city. Seeing this, they became certain that the punishment was about to fall. They searched for Ḥaḍrat Yūnus (upon him be peace) and, not finding him, grew even more alarmed. In their distress they went out into the wilderness with their women, children and animals. They put on coarse clothing and declared their repentance and their Islam. Husbands were separated from wives and children from mothers, and all began weeping and lamenting at the divine court, saying: "We believe in what Yūnus (upon him be peace) brought," and they made sincere repentance. They redressed the wrongs they had done and returned other people's property — so much so that if one man's stone had gone into another's foundation, he dug up the foundation, took the stone out and returned it. They prayed to Allah the Exalted for forgiveness with sincerity. The Lord of the worlds had mercy on them; He accepted their prayer, and the punishment was lifted.

Bismi'llāhi'l-raḥmāni'l-raḥīm — In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Alif Lām Rā; tilka āyātu'l-kitābi'l-ḥakīm "Alif Lām Rā. These are the verses of the Wise Book." — Yūnus 10:1

Translation: These are the verses of the Book of Wisdom.

Commentary: Alif Lām Rā — these are among the disjointed letters (ḥurūf muqaṭṭaʿāt). Tilka āyātu'l-kitābi'l-ḥakīm — these are the verses of the Book full of wisdom.

أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ النَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ قَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَاحِرٌ مُّبِينٌ

a-kāna li'l-nāsi ʿajaban an awḥaynā ilā rajulin minhum an andhari'l-nāsa wa-bashshiri'lladhīna āmanū anna lahum qadama ṣidqin ʿinda rabbihim qāla'l-kāfirūna inna hādhā la-sāḥirun mubīn "Was it a wonder for people that We revealed to a man from among them: 'Warn mankind, and give glad tidings to those who believe that they have a sure footing with their Lord'? The disbelievers say: 'This is indeed a manifest sorcerer!'" — Yūnus 10:2

Translation: Is it a matter of astonishment for people that We sent revelation to a man from among them (and honoured him): that you warn people, and give the believers good news (glad tidings) that for them there is a true station with their Lord (a firm footing)? The disbelievers said: "Surely this man is an open sorcerer."

Commentary: A-kāna li'l-nāsi ʿajaban — is this something for people to wonder at? Is it an astonishing matter? An awḥaynā — that We sent revelation, sent down Our speech. Ilā rajulin minhum — to a man from among them. Between a prophet and his community there is necessarily a kinship (munāsabat); hence there is nothing astonishing in a man being a prophet. What was revealed? An andhiri'l-nās — that you warn people, inform them of what will harm them. Wa-bashshiri'lladhīna āmanū — and give glad tidings to the believers, give them good news. Anna lahum — that for them there is. Qadama ṣidqin — a footing of truth: greatness and truthfulness. ʿInda rabbihim — with their Lord. Qadama is the noun (ism) of anna, which is why it is in the accusative (manṣūb). Qāla'l-kāfirūn — the disbelievers said; what did they say of the Prophetﷺ? Inna hādhā — surely this man. La-sāḥirun mubīn — is an open, manifest sorcerer, a magician.

Commentary (continued — Intercession):

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

inna rabbakumu'llāhu'lladhī khalaqa'l-samāwāti wa'l-arḍa fī sittati ayyāmin thumma'stawā ʿalā'l-ʿarshi yudabbiru'l-amra mā min shafīʿin illā min baʿdi idhnihi dhālikumu'llāhu rabbukum fa'ʿbudūhu a-fa-lā tadhakkarūn "Indeed your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself upon the Throne, governing all affairs. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allah, your Lord — so worship Him. Will you not then take heed?" — Yūnus 10:3

Translation: Surely your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then manifested His majesty upon the throne of sovereignty. He directs all affairs (whatever He does, He does with order and deliberation). (In His court) none can intercede except by His permission. This is Allah, your Lord; worship Him alone. Do you not take heed? (Do you not benefit from this reminder?)

Commentary: Inna rabbakumu'llāh — surely your Lord is Allah alone; to nurture and sustain is the work of Allah alone. Alladhī khalaqa'l-samāwāti wa'l-arḍ — Who created the heavens and the earth. Fī sittati ayyām — in six days; in six different conditions and states. Thumma'stawā ʿalā'l-ʿarsh — then He manifested His majesty upon the Throne of governance and brought the order of the universe to completion. Yudabbiru'l-amr — He directs every affair; whatever He does, He does with wisdom and fitness. Mā min shafīʿin — there is no intercessor, no one to put in a word. Illā min baʿdi idhnihi — except after His leave and permission. From this it is clearly known that the intercession (shafāʿah) of the prophets is true, and Allah will certainly grant the prophets such permission. Dhālikumu'llāhu rabbukum — this is Allah, your Lord. Fa'ʿbudūh — worship Him alone. A-fa-lā tadhakkarūn — do you not take counsel? Do you not accept His reminder?

إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقًّا إِنَّهُ يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ بِالْقِسْطِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ

ilayhi marjiʿukum jamīʿan waʿda'llāhi ḥaqqan innahu yabdaʾu'l-khalqa thumma yuʿīduhu li-yajziya'lladhīna āmanū wa-ʿamilū'l-ṣāliḥāti bi'l-qisṭi wa'lladhīna kafarū lahum sharābun min ḥamīmin wa-ʿadhābun alīmun bi-mā kānū yakfurūn "To Him shall all of you return — the promise of Allah, true indeed. He originated creation then He will repeat it, that He may recompense those who believe and do righteous deeds with justice. And those who disbelieve — for them is a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment because of what they used to deny." — Yūnus 10:4

Translation: You must all go back to the divine court. This is Allah's firm promise (a true decree). He it is Who creates in the beginning, and He it is Who will create again, so that He may reward the believers and the righteous according to justice. As for the disbelievers, for them there is hot water to drink and a painful punishment. All this is because of their disbelief.

Commentary: Ilayhi — to Him alone. Marjiʿukum jamīʿan — is the return of you all. Waʿda'llāh — God's promise. Ḥaqqan — wholly true; in origin it is waʿada'llāhu waʿdan ḥaqqan. Innahu yabdaʾu'l-khalq — surely He creates the creatures in the beginning. Thumma yuʿīduh — then He repeats it, creates them again: rising after death is true. Why does He repeat it? Li-yajziya'lladhīna āmanū — so that He may reward those who believed. Wa-ʿamilu'l-ṣāliḥāt — and did good deeds, righteous works. Bi'l-qisṭ — with fairness and justice, so as to give a fitting return. Wa'lladhīna kafarū — and those who disbelieved. Lahum sharābun — for them there is water. Min ḥamīm — hot. Wa-ʿadhābun alīm — and a painful punishment, agonising suffering. Why? Bi-mā kānū yakfurūn — because they used to disbelieve: they denied the commands of God and the Messenger and concealed the truth.

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ

huwa'lladhī jaʿala'l-shamsa ḍiyāʾan wa'l-qamara nūran wa-qaddarahu manāzila li-taʿlamū ʿadada'l-sinīna wa'l-ḥisāba mā khalaqa'llāhu dhālika illā bi'l-ḥaqqi yufaṣṣilu'l-āyāti li-qawmin yaʿlamūn "He it is Who made the sun a radiant light and the moon a [reflected] light, and ordained for it stations so that you may know the number of years and the reckoning. Allah has not created that except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know." — Yūnus 10:5

Translation: He it is (Allah alone) Who made the sun radiant and the moon bright, and appointed stations for it, so that you may know the number of years and the reckoning. God created it wholly in truth. (Whatever He created, He created rightly.) He sets forth His signs to you in detail (but for whom?) — for those who have some knowledge.

Commentary: Huwa'lladhī jaʿala — He it is Who created, Who made. Al-shamsa ḍiyāʾan — the sun shining, brilliantly radiant. Wa'l-qamara nūran — and the moon lit, bright. Wa-qaddarahu — and determined for it, measured out. Manāzil — stations. Why the stations? Li-taʿlamū — so that you may know. ʿAdada'l-sinīna wa'l-ḥisāb — the number of the years and the reckoning. The moon stays in one station each day. In a month the moon's cycle is completed, and in a year the sun completes its cycle. It is no concern of ours whether the moon goes round the earth or the earth round the moon; the point is that in everyday affairs one has to reckon with twenty-eight stations in a month, and this is the purpose in keeping accounts. The lunar months follow the reckoning of the moon. In 365 days the sun passes through the twelve zodiacal signs (burūj). We have nothing to do with astronomy (ʿilm-i hayʾat) and philosophy; our concern is practical affairs. Mā khalaqa'llāhu dhālika — God did not create it. Illā bi'l-ḥaqq — except in truth: most fittingly, in accord with reality. Yufaṣṣilu'l-āyāt — He sets forth His signs and verses in detail, explains them plainly — but for whom? Li-qawmin yaʿlamūn — for those who have knowledge, who think and understand somewhat. If the ignorant do not accept, what does their denial matter?

Gar na-bīnad ba-rōz shappara chashm / chashma-yi āftāb rā chi gunāh? [Translation (Academy): (If the bat-eyed one, of defective sight, does not see in the brightness of day, what fault is it of the sun's light?)]

Dear readers! Reflect a little on the moon and the sun; watch the moon wax and wane; consider the eclipses of the sun and the moon. These great heavenly bodies, which some ignorant people worship, neither fall behind nor run ahead by a single minute of the pace that God the Exalted has fixed for them. To worship such will-less and utterly helpless creatures, and not to acknowledge the God in Whose grip of power all the stars are held, is folly, is ignorance, is the height of ignorance, is the utmost disbelief.

إِنَّ فِي اخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَّقُونَ

inna fi'khtilāfi'l-layli wa'l-nahāri wa-mā khalaqa'llāhu fi'l-samāwāti wa'l-arḍi la-āyātin li-qawmin yattaqūn "In the alternation of night and day, and in what Allah has created in the heavens and the earth — there are surely signs for a people who are God-fearing." — Yūnus 10:6

Translation: Surely in the alternation and changes of night and day, and in whatever Allah has created in the heavens and the earth, there are signs for those who fear God.

Commentary: Inna fi'khtilāfi'l-layli wa'l-nahār — surely in the alternation of night and day: the night is dark and the day bright (by day a man goes about his work, and at night he rests). Wa-mā khalaqa'llāh — and in what Allah has created. Fi'l-samāwāti wa'l-arḍ — in the heavens and the earth. La-āyātin li-qawmin yattaqūn — there are certainly signs for those who adopt taqwā and fear the wrath of God.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا وَرَضُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاطْمَأَنُّوا بِهَا وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا غَافِلُونَ ۝ أُولَٰئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

inna'lladhīna lā yarjūna liqāʾanā wa-raḍū bi'l-ḥayāti'l-dunyā wa-'ṭmaʾannū bihā wa'lladhīna hum ʿan āyātinā ghāfilūn۝ulāʾika maʾwāhumu'l-nāru bi-mā kānū yaksibūn "Truly those who do not hope for the encounter with Us, who are content with the life of this world and are at peace with it, and those who are heedless of Our signs — their abode is the Fire, because of what they used to earn." — Yūnus 10:7–8

Translation: Surely those who have no hope of meeting Us, who are pleased with the life of this world and, content with it, have become carefree, and those who are heedless of Our signs — their abode is Hell, because of their deeds.

Commentary: Inna'lladhīna — surely those who. Lā yarjūna liqāʾanā — have no hope of meeting Us. They consider themselves free; they do not believe in rising after death and hold no belief in the vision of God (dīdār-i ilāhī). Wa-raḍū bi'l-ḥayāti'l-dunyā — and are pleased with the life of this world. Wa'ṭmaʾannū bihā — and have grown content with it and carefree. Wa'lladhīna hum ʿan āyātinā ghāfilūn — and those who are heedless of Our verses and signs. Ulāʾika — those people. Maʾwāhum — their abode, their refuge. Al-nār — is Hell. Why? Bi-mā kānū yaksibūn — because of the deeds they used to do, what they used to earn.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ يَهْدِيهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِإِيمَانِهِمْ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ

inna'lladhīna āmanū wa-ʿamilū'l-ṣāliḥāti yahdīhim rabbuhum bi-īmānihim tajrī min taḥtihimu'l-anhāru fī jannāti'l-naʿīm "Indeed those who believe and do righteous deeds — their Lord will guide them by means of their faith; rivers will flow beneath them in the Gardens of Bliss." — Yūnus 10:9

Translation: Surely those who believed and did righteous deeds — their Lord, because of their faith, will bring them to their intended destination; in gardens full of blessing, rivers will flow beneath them.

Commentary: Inna'lladhīna āmanū — surely those who believed. Wa-ʿamilu'l-ṣāliḥāt — and did fitting deeds, kept doing righteous works. Yahdīhim rabbuhum — their Lord will guide them, will bring them to their intended destination. Bi-īmānihim — because of their faith. Tajrī min taḥtihimu'l-anhār — rivers will flow beneath them. Fī jannāti'l-naʿīm — in gardens of blessing.

دَعْوَاهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَامٌ وَآخِرُ دَعْوَاهُمْ أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

daʿwāhum fīhā subḥānaka'llāhumma wa-taḥiyyatuhum fīhā salāmun wa-ākhiru daʿwāhum ani'l-ḥamdu li'llāhi rabbi'l-ʿālamīn "Their call therein is: 'Glory be to You, O Allah!' Their greeting therein is 'Peace!' and the close of their call is: 'All praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds!'" — Yūnus 10:10

Translation: Their prayer in it (Paradise) will be: "O Allah, You are pure!" (What will they say to one another when they greet?) They will say salām (that is, may you ever remain safe). (And what will they say at the end of their prayer?) At the end they will say: al-ḥamdu li'llāhi rabbi'l-ʿālamīn.

Commentary: Daʿwāhum fīhā — they will call out therein; this will be their prayer in it. Subḥānaka'llāhumma — O Allah, You are pure; I declare Your purity. Wa-taḥiyyatuhum fīhā — and their greeting in Paradise, their prayer for life. When the Arabs pray for someone they say ḥayyāka'llāh, that is, may you live. What will they say in their greeting? Salām — that is, peace be upon you; may you remain safe. Wa-ākhiru daʿwāhum — and at the end of their prayer they will say: ani'l-ḥamdu li'llāh — that praise and laudation belong to Allah alone; no one else is worthy of praise. Allah's existence is by His very essence (bi'l-dhāt), so His praise too is by essence; His laudation is by essence, and thanks to Him is by essence. Rabbi'l-ʿālamīn — Lord of all the worlds, Sustainer of the whole world, the Nourisher; He feeds everyone and gives everyone to drink, so thanks too will be His.

Dear readers! The greeting can be said in two wordings: one, salāmun ʿalaykum; the other, al-salāmu ʿalaykum. In salāmun ʿalaykum the indefinite form is for magnification (taʿẓīm), meaning a very great peace. Al-salām means peace of every kind: the alif-lām is for the genus (jins) or for comprehensiveness (istighrāq), meaning peace in the smallest matter and peace in the greatest. Look: in the Taḥiyyāt we say al-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuha'l-nabiyyu wa-raḥmatu'llāhi wa-barakātuh — these are the words of Allah the Exalted to His Beloved. The greeting of others does not hold the rank that the word of God holds. Al-Salām is also a name of God, and al-salāmu ʿalaykum means: may God the Exalted honour you with every kind of peace; God be your protector. In any case, al-salāmu ʿalaykum as God the Exalted has spoken it is far better than the salām that people say.

وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِالْخَيْرِ لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ فَنَذَرُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

wa-law yuʿajjilu'llāhu li'l-nāsi'l-sharra'stiʿjālahum bi'l-khayri la-quḍiya ilayhim ajaluhum fa-nadharu'lladhīna lā yarjūna liqāʾanā fī ṭughyānihim yaʿmahūn "If Allah were to hasten for people the evil [they invoke] as they desire to hasten the good, their term would already have been decreed for them. But We leave those who do not hope for the encounter with Us wandering in their insolence." — Yūnus 10:11

Translation: And if Allah were as quick in bringing evil and inflicting punishment (if He acted in haste) as they are hasty for their own benefit and good, their end would already have come (their days would have been completed). But no — We leave (We give respite to) those who have no hope of appearing in Our court, (so that) they keep wandering bewildered and lost in their rebellion and transgression.

Commentary: Wa-law yuʿajjilu'llāh — and if Allah too were to hasten. Li'l-nās — for people. Al-sharr — the evil, the punishment. Istiʿjālahum bi'l-khayr — as they seek good and benefits in haste. La-quḍiya ilayhim ajaluhum — their term would be completed, their days of life would end, and their matter would be settled. Fa-nadharu — but We leave. Alladhīna lā yarjūna — those who have no hope or expectation. Liqāʾanā — of meeting Us. Fī ṭughyānihim — in their rebellion and transgression, in going beyond all bounds. Yaʿmahūn — wandering, bewildered and distraught.

وَإِذَا مَسَّ الْإِنسَانَ الضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنبِهِ أَوْ قَاعِدًا أَوْ قَائِمًا فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمْ يَدْعُنَا إِلَىٰ ضُرٍّ مَّسَّهُ كَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

wa-idhā massa'l-insāna'l-ḍurru daʿānā li-janbihi aw qāʿidan aw qāʾiman fa-lammā kashafnā ʿanhu ḍurrahu marra ka-an lam yadʿunā ilā ḍurrin massahu kadhālika zuyyina li'l-musrifīna mā kānū yaʿmalūn "When affliction touches man, he calls upon Us lying on his side, or sitting, or standing. But when We remove his affliction from him, he passes on as if he never called upon Us to remove the affliction that touched him. Thus is made alluring to the extravagant what they used to do." — Yūnus 10:12

Translation: When hardship touches a person, he calls upon Us — lying on his side, sitting, or standing. But when We remove his affliction, he moves on as if he had never called upon Us regarding the hardship that struck him. In this way, the deeds of those who exceed bounds are made to seem fair to them.

Commentary: Li-janbihi — lying on his side; qāʿidan — sitting; qāʾiman — standing: in every posture, in distress, he cries out to Allah. Fa-lammā kashafnā ʿanhu ḍurrahu marra — but when We remove his suffering, he passes on, indifferent. Ka-an lam yadʿunā — as though he never cried out to Us. Kadhālika zuyyina li'l-musrifīna mā kānū yaʿmalūn — such is how the deeds of those who transgress bounds are beautified and made alluring to them — their evil deeds seem good to them.

Dear readers! I am not addressing those who do not believe in God at all, nor those who are ashamed even to bear Islamic names — if they keep a name at all, it is A. B. C. D. My address is to those who believe in God to some degree. What is the state of these people? When some calamity strikes, or they need worldly advancement, then — mā shāʾa'llāh — the rosary is in the hand and God's name on the tongue. Some abstain from meat (tark-i ḥaywānāt), sit in forty-day retreats (chilla), even put on the iḥrām, and are busy night and day in remembrance (dhikr) and spiritual practice (shughl). But as soon as the trouble is removed, or the rise in monthly income they wanted has come, it is the same old state again, the same heedlessness, the same entanglement in the affairs of the world. Yet not all: there are some servants of God who at first took God's name for the sake of the world, but then it became something of a habit; some of God's favour came to include them, and through sincerity they succeeded. But all this happens only when there is a link with God, however slight. It is this very link that grows and brings one to the divine court.

Commentary (continued — The fate of destroyed nations):

وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا الْقُرُونَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَمَا كَانُوا لِيُؤْمِنُوا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

wa-la-qad ahlaknā'l-qurūna min qablikum lammā ẓalamū wa-jāʾathum rusuluhum bi'l-bayyināti wa-mā kānū li-yuʾminū kadhālika najzī'l-qawma'l-mujrimīn "We certainly destroyed the generations before you when they did wrong — their messengers came to them with clear signs, yet they would not believe. Thus do We recompense a criminal people." — Yūnus 10:13

Translation: Surely We destroyed the people of generation after generation (qarn) who passed before you, when they took to oppression and tyranny — We destroyed them (wiped them out). Their prophets had come to them with clear proofs, but how would they accept (and how would they believe)? Thus do We punish criminal people.

Commentary: Wa-la-qad ahlaknā — and We destroyed. Al-qurūn — the generations, the people of various groups. Here by qarn the people of a qarn are meant. What period is called a qarn? Some say twelve years, and some hold that it is the length of an average natural lifetime. In any case, here the people of various ages are meant. Min qablikum — before you, prior to you. Lammā ẓalamū — when people began to do wrong and to inflict tyranny on one another. Wa-jāʾathum rusuluhum — and their prophets came to them. Bi'l-bayyināt — with clear evidence and manifest proofs. Wa-mā kānū li-yuʾminū — and they were not such as to believe; how would they accept? Kadhālika najzī — thus do We recompense, thus do We punish. Al-qawma'l-mujrimīn — criminal people, the wicked.

Just look at this verse: why does punishment come? When people take to oppression and tyranny and do not accept their prophets. Is it not so in this age? What kind of oppression is not being committed? Which of the Prophet's commands are being obeyed? What will be the outcome of all this? In the intensity of their selfish passions (nafsāniyyat) they will destroy one another; evil and disorder will become general. The end will be the same — destruction and ruin.

ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ خَلَائِفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ لِنَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ

thumma jaʿalnākum khalāʾifa fi'l-arḍi min baʿdihim li-nanẓura kayfa taʿmalūn "Then We made you successors in the earth after them, to see how you would act." — Yūnus 10:14

Translation: Then after them We made you successors in the earth, to see what you do.

Commentary: Thumma jaʿalnākum — then We made you. Khalāʾif — successors, those who stand in another's place. Fi'l-arḍ — in the earth. Min baʿdihim — after them. Li-nanẓura — that We may see. Kayfa taʿmalūn — what you do, how you act.

The people of past ages have been ruined; now, after them, We wish to make you successors in the earth, and We want to see what you do in it.

Dear readers! It is the same former state, the same old oppression and tyranny, the same indifference to religion and to the Prophetﷺ. Then remember: the same destruction is coming. Allāhu akbar! Yā Allāh! Hide us in the skirt of Your mercy and grant us a life of peace.

وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا ائْتِ بِقُرْآنٍ غَيْرِ هَٰذَا أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ قُلْ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَن أُبَدِّلَهُ مِن تِلْقَاءِ نَفْسِي إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ إِنِّي أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

wa-idhā tutlā ʿalayhim āyātunā bayyināttin qāla'lladhīna lā yarjūna liqāʾanā'iʾti bi-qurʾānin ghayri hādhā aw baddilhu qul mā yakūnu lī an ubaddilahu min tilqāʾi nafsī in attabiʿu illā mā yūḥā ilayya innī akhāfu in ʿaṣaytu rabbī ʿadhāba yawmin ʿaẓīm "When Our clear signs are recited to them, those who do not hope for the encounter with Us say: 'Bring a Qurʾān other than this, or change it.' Say: 'It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I follow only what is revealed to me. I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.'" — Yūnus 10:15

Translation: And when Our clear verses are recited before them (and read out to them), those who have no hope of meeting Us (who do not believe in the Resurrection) say: "Bring some Qurʾān other than this one, or change this one somewhat." (O Prophetﷺ,) say: "It is not in my power to change it (the Qurʾān) of my own accord. I am only a follower of divine revelation. I fear the punishment of a great Day (I dread the Resurrection) if I disobey my Lord (and do not obey His commands)."

Commentary: Wa-idhā tutlā — and when they are recited, read out. ʿAlayhim — to them. Āyātunā — Our signs, Our verses. Bayyināt — though they are open and clear, manifest and not difficult. Qāla'lladhīna — those people say. Lā yarjūna — who have no hope or expectation. Liqāʾanā — of meeting Us and of appearing in Our court. ائْتِ بِقُرْآنٍ غَيْرِ هَٰذَا أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ — bring a Qurʾān other than this, or change this one. Qul — say. Mā yakūnu lī — it is not my work, not within my power. An ubaddilahu — that I should change it. Min tilqāʾi nafsī — of my own accord. In — not. Attabiʿu — I follow, I obey. Illā mā yūḥā ilayya — except the revelation sent to me; whatever I am commanded, that I follow. Innī akhāfu — I fear. In ʿaṣaytu rabbī — if I disobey my Lord, disobey Allah. ʿAdhāba yawmin ʿaẓīm — the punishment of the great Day, that is, the Day of Resurrection.

قُلْ لَّوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا تَلَوْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا أَدْرَاكُم بِهِ فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُمْ عُمُرًا مِّن قَبْلِهِ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

qul law shāʾa'llāhu mā talawtuhu ʿalaykum wa-lā adrākum bihi fa-qad labithtu fīkum ʿumurān min qablihi a-fa-lā taʿqilūn "Say: Had Allah willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made you aware of it. I have already dwelt among you for a lifetime before this — will you not then reason?" — Yūnus 10:16

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ,) tell them: if God the Exalted had willed (and it had been His pleasure), I would not have recited it (the Qurʾān) before you at all, nor would I have told you anything about it. I have lived among you for a long time before this. Do you not understand even this much?

Commentary: Qul — O Prophetﷺ, say. Law shāʾa'llāh — if God had willed; had it been within God's intention and will. Mā talawtuhu ʿalaykum — I would not have read it out to you. Wa-lā adrākum bihi — nor told you of it. Fa-qad labithtu fīkum — I have lived among you, stayed with you. ʿUmuran — a lifetime, a long time. Min qablihi — before this. Before the claim of prophethood I lived with you for a long time. Did I ever before this claim to be a prophet, or say that revelation came to me? A-fa-lā taʿqilūn — do you not understand even this much; will you not use your reason at all?

فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِآيَاتِهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ

fa-man aẓlamu mimmani'ftarā ʿalā'llāhi kadhiban aw kadhdhaba bi-āyātihi innahu lā yufliḥu'l-mujrimūn "Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah, or denies His signs? Surely the criminals shall never prosper." — Yūnus 10:17

Translation: Who then is more unjust than one who forged a lie against God (made a fabrication) or belied His verses? (Not accepting His signs is the work of criminals, and) criminals never attain success and well-being. (The disobedient can never succeed.)

Commentary: Fa-man aẓlamu — then who will be more unjust. Mimmani'ftarā ʿalā'llāhi kadhiban — than the one who forged a lie against God, made a fabrication, invented things from his own heart. Aw kadhdhaba bi-āyātihi — or belied His verses and signs, denied them. That would be a great crime. Innahu lā yufliḥu'l-mujrimūn — it is plain that criminals have no success; the disobedient have no achievement.

Commentary (continued — The Qurʾān cannot be imitated):

Dear readers! Reflect upon these verses. The Messenger of God ﷺ spent forty years among these very deniers, and never did a single false word leave his mouth. His character and habits were all good; these same people used to call the Ḥaḍrat Muḥammad Amīn (Muḥammad the Trustworthy). How could one who does not tell a lie about men dare to tell a lie about God? The Messenger of God ﷺ was afṣaḥ al-ʿarab wa'l-ʿajam (the most eloquent of the Arabs and the non-Arabs), yet between the Ḥadīth Sharīf and the Qurʾān Sharīf there is the difference of earth and sky: the Qurʾān's manner of expression is one thing and the Ḥadīth's another. The Qurʾān is no small book. It is a very great book and gives guidance in many different matters. Not only is its eloquence and rhetorical excellence (faṣāḥat o balāghat) without parallel; in theology (ilāhiyyāt), law, the principles of civilisation and ethics it stands out in all. And the Qurʾān's style of exposition, from beginning to end, is miracle upon miracle (iʿjāz). Not to reflect on all these things, and to regard the Qurʾān Sharīf as the composition of the Ḥaḍrat ﷺ, would be a great wrong. To say so is to confess one's own foolishness and to give proof of one's own ignorance.

I say: look at the Qurʾān. Look at it again and again. If not with love, then look at it with enmity. Look! What does it do? It will not leave the honour of your religion and your laws standing in your eyes. You will run from it, but when does it let you go? Give your heart to it, and it will enter your heart. You will be compelled to reform your own religion. Outwardly you will deny that this is the effect of the Qurʾān, but your conscience, your heart, will confess that all this is gleaned from Islam, crumbs from its table; it is its charity (ṣadaqa).

Just think this much: a man who never set his hand to a pen, who never sat on bended knee in respect before anyone, and who was born in so dark an age that there was not even the ordinary light of learning and accomplishment — a single man rises, brings an utterly ignorant nation into the light and makes it civilised. Ṣalla'llāhu ʿalayka yā Rasūla'llāh. Salāmu'llāhi ʿalayka yā Rasūla'llāh.

وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِندَ اللَّهِ قُلْ أَتُنَبِّئُونَ اللَّهَ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

wa-yaʿbudūna min dūni'llāhi mā lā yaḍurruhum wa-lā yanfaʿuhum wa-yaqūlūna hāʾulāʾi shufaʿāʾunā ʿinda'llāhi qul a-tunabbi'ūna'llāha bi-mā lā yaʿlamu fi'l-samāwāti wa-lā fi'l-arḍi subḥānahū wa-taʿālā ʿammā yushrikūn "They worship, besides Allah, what can neither harm them nor benefit them, and they say: 'These are our intercessors with Allah.' Say: Are you informing Allah of what He does not know in the heavens or on the earth? Glorified is He and exalted above what they associate with Him." — Yūnus 10:18

Translation: They worship, apart from Allah, idols that can neither harm nor benefit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors before Allah." Say: Are you informing Allah of something He does not know, whether in the heavens or on the earth? Transcendent and Exalted is He above all they associate with Him.

Commentary: Mā lā yaḍurruhum wa-lā yanfaʿuhum — what can neither harm them nor benefit them. Hāʾulāʾi shufaʿāʾunā ʿinda'llāh — the polytheists claimed: "these idols will intercede for us with Allah." But the claim to intercession is false when it is asserted in defiance of reality. The true intercessors — prophets and saints — intercede only by Allah's leave (bi-idhnihi). The idols have no such reality. A-tunabbi'ūna'llāha bi-mā lā yaʿlamu — are you telling Allah of something He does not know? The rhetorical answer is: if such intercessors existed, Allah would know them — but since they do not exist as intercessors, the claim is groundless. Subḥānahū wa-taʿālā ʿammā yushrikūn — Exalted and Transcendent is Allah above all their false associations.

The author notes: the claim that saints intercede is not like idol worship. The real saints and the prophets do intercede — but by Allah's permission (idhnihi). However, fabricating intercessors who have no divine authorisation, and treating them like gods — that is the shirk condemned here. If the claim to intercession were itself true in some divine reality, Allah would know it; the very fact that He denies such knowledge confirms that these idols have no such intercessory standing.

Commentary (continued):

The author continues: how unfortunate it would be if the claim of intercession through idols were actually true! Allah's knowledge encompasses all things. If any entity in the heavens or earth possessed intercessory power — Allah would know it perfectly well. The statement bi-mā lā yaʿlamu fi'l-samāwāti wa-lā fi'l-arḍ — "of what He does not know in the heavens or on the earth" — is decisive proof that these false intercessors have no such reality. For Allah knows all beings in the heavens and earth; and if they had any genuine intercessory capacity, He would certainly know it. But He knows they do not.

وَمَا كَانَ النَّاسُ إِلَّا أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَاخْتَلَفُوا وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِيمَا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

wa-mā kāna'l-nāsu illā ummatan wāḥidatan fa'khtalafū wa-lawlā kalimatun sabaqat min rabbika la-quḍiya baynahum fī mā fīhi yakhtalifūn "Mankind was not but a single community; then they differed. Were it not for a word that had already gone forth from your Lord, the matter would have been decided between them regarding that in which they differ." — Yūnus 10:19

Translation: And (in the beginning) people were of one single group; then (afterwards) they began to differ. Had punishment not been fixed by Allah for the Day of Resurrection, the matters in which they are differing would already have been decided (where then would they have been given respite? How would they ever have had the chance to turn to Allah and repent?).

Commentary: Wa-mā kāna'l-nāsu — and people were not; illā ummatan wāḥidah — anything but one single group. As they grew distant from the teaching of the prophets and from their times, fa'khtalafū — people began to differ among themselves. Wa-lawlā kalimatun sabaqat — and had this not been settled beforehand, and had there not been the promise to grant them respite, min rabbika — from your Lord. Allah Most High has appointed the punishment for the Resurrection so that people may turn back to Allah (rujūʿ ilā'llāh). Had it not been so, la-quḍiya baynahum — the matter between them would have been decided, fī mā fīhi yakhtalifūn — in the questions over which they differ.

Commentary (continued):

وَيَقُولُونَ لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَا الْغَيْبُ لِلَّهِ فَانتَظِرُوا إِنِّي مَعَكُم مِّنَ الْمُنتَظِرِينَ

wa-yaqūlūna lawlā unzila ʿalayhi āyatun min rabbihi fa-qul innamā'l-ghaybu li'llāhi fa'ntaẓirū innī maʿakum mina'l-muntaẓirīn "And they say: 'Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?' Say: The unseen belongs to Allah alone; so wait — I too am waiting with you." — Yūnus 10:20

Translation: (Even if they were shown a thousand miracles, they would not believe.) They keep saying: "Why has God not sent some great miracle?" (Why has He not shown some great sign?) (O Prophetﷺ,) say: The matters of the unseen are known to God alone. (This much is certain: the Resurrection is coming.) Now wait; I too am waiting with you.

Commentary: Wa-yaqūlūna — and they say: lawlā unzila ʿalayhi — why has there not been sent down upon him āyatun min rabbihi — a sign from his Lord, some decisive verse, some token? Fa-qul — then, O Prophetﷺ, say: innamā'l-ghaybu li'llāh — the things of the unseen are with God; what is to happen tomorrow, God alone knows. The decisive sign is the Resurrection. Fa'ntaẓirū — so you too wait; innī maʿakum mina'l-muntaẓirīn — I also am waiting with you.

وَإِذَا أَذَقْنَا النَّاسَ رَحْمَةً مِّن بَعْدِ ضَرَّاءَ مَسَّتْهُمْ إِذَا لَهُم مَّكْرٌ فِي آيَاتِنَا قُلِ اللَّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَكْرًا إِنَّ رُسُلَنَا يَكْتُبُونَ مَا تَمْكُرُونَ

wa-idhā adhaqnā'l-nāsa raḥmatan min baʿdi ḍarrāʾa massathum idhā lahum makrun fī āyātinā quli'llāhu asraʿu makran inna rusulanā yaktubūna mā tamkurūn "When We give people a taste of mercy after hardship has touched them — at once they scheme against Our signs. Say: Allah is swifter in scheming. Our messengers [angels] are recording what you scheme." — Yūnus 10:21

Translation: When We make people taste Our mercy after hardship (and show them kindness), at once they start plotting against Our verses and signs (with evasions and unwarranted interpretations). (O Prophetﷺ!) Say: Allah is very swift in punishing plotting. Indeed Our angels are writing down your cunning.

Commentary: Wa-idhā adhaqnā'l-nāsa — and when We give people a taste raḥmah — of Our mercy and kindness min baʿdi ḍarrāʾa massathum — after harm and affliction have reached and touched them, idhā lahum makrun fī āyātinā — at once they practise cunning and contrivance in Our verses. Quli'llāhu asraʿu makran — O Prophetﷺ, say: Allah's plan, and the punishment of plotting, is very swift. Inna rusulanā — indeed Our envoys, Our angels, sent by Us, yaktubūna mā tamkurūn — are writing down whatever plots you make.

Dear reader, this is the state of man: when he suffers, when he is caught in some calamity, he begins to remember God. Then, the moment he is well off and freed from his troubles — what then? The same old cunning, the same contrivances. But they ought to know that God will soon punish them for their cunning. Whatever cunning they practise, the angels are writing it down.

هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا بِهَا جَاءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَاءَهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُم أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ

huwa'lladhī yusayyirukum fi'l-barri wa'l-baḥri ḥattā idhā kuntum fi'l-fulki wa-jarayna bihim bi-rīḥin ṭayyibatin wa-fariḥū bihā jāʾathā rīḥun ʿāṣifun wa-jāʾahumu'l-mawju min kulli makānin wa-ẓannū annahum uḥīṭa bihim daʿawu'llāha mukhliṣīna lahu'l-dīna la-in anjaytanā min hādhihi la-nakūnanna mina'l-shākirīn "He is the One Who conveys you across land and sea — until, when you are in ships and they sail on with them in a fair breeze and they rejoice in it, a storm wind comes upon them and waves surge from every side, and they think they are engulfed — they call upon Allah with sincere devotion: 'If You deliver us from this, we will surely be among the grateful.'" — Yūnus 10:22

Translation: He it is Who makes you travel on land and sea (on dry ground and on water). Then when you are seated in a ship, and good winds carry the ship along, they are very happy and delighted. In this state a fierce, violent wind arrives, and waves rise against them from every side (and fall upon the ship), and they think that now they are surrounded (that they are badly trapped). Then, with the utmost sincerity and obedience, they call upon God: "(O God!) If You deliver us from this calamity (and save us), we will always give You thanks."

Commentary: Huwa'lladhī yusayyirukum — it is God who makes you go, sends you on your way, takes you travelling fi'l-barri wa'l-baḥr — on land and sea, in wilderness and ocean. Ḥattā idhā kuntum — then when you are fi'l-fulk — in a boat, in a ship, wa-jarayna bihim — and the ships carry them along bi-rīḥin ṭayyibah — with a good and favourable wind, wa-fariḥū bihā — and they are very happy with that wind, jāʾathā — there reaches those ships, comes upon them, rīḥun ʿāṣif — a hard and violent wind; wa-jāʾahumu'l-mawj — and waves come upon them min kulli makān — from every side. Wa-ẓannū — and they begin to suppose and think annahum uḥīṭa bihim — that they have been surrounded, badly hemmed in, caught in a great calamity. Daʿawu'llāh — then they begin to call upon God and remember Him, mukhliṣīna lahu'l-dīn — with religion made sincere for Him, with the utmost obedience, acknowledging God alone. And what do they say? La-in anjaytanā min hādhihi — if You deliver us from this calamity, from this affliction, la-nakūnanna — then we shall surely be mina'l-shākirīn — among the grateful.

When the ship is caught in a storm and to all appearances there is no way of escape, they begin to call upon God.

فَلَمَّا أَنجَاهُمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَبْغُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ مَّتَاعَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَنُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

fa-lammā anjāhum idhā hum yabghūna fi'l-arḍi bi-ghayri'l-ḥaqqi yā ayyuhā'l-nāsu innamā baghyukum ʿalā anfusikum matāʿa'l-ḥayāti'l-dunyā thumma ilaynā marjiʿukum fa-nunabbi'ukum bi-mā kuntum taʿmalūn "But when He delivers them, at once they transgress in the earth without right. O people! Your transgression is only against your own souls — the enjoyment of this worldly life. Then to Us is your return, and We shall inform you of what you used to do." — Yūnus 10:23

Translation: Then when (God) delivers them, they at once commit unjust and unwarranted arrogance and rebellion in the land. O people! This arrogance and rebellion of yours (will be a noose around your own neck;) it will be a calamity for your own souls. These are all the pleasures of worldly life. (Then what will happen?) You must all come back to Us, and We shall tell you of your deeds.

Commentary: Fa-lammā anjāhum — then when God grants them deliverance, idhā hum yabghūna fi'l-arḍ — they spread rebellion and arrogance in the land bi-ghayri'l-ḥaqq — unjustly, without any right. Yā ayyuhā'l-nās — O people! Innamā baghyukum — your rebellion and arrogance is nothing other than this: ʿalā anfusikum — its evil consequence will fall on you yourselves. Matāʿa'l-ḥayāti'l-dunyā — these are the pleasures of the life of this world. Thumma ilaynā marjiʿukum — then it is to Us that you must turn back; you must return. Fa-nunabbiʾukum — then We shall call you to account, We shall inform you and tell you bi-mā kuntum taʿmalūn — of whatever you used to do.

Dear reader, the world is transient, and its prosperity cannot be relied upon. If you wish to understand the life of this world, reflect on the following example.

إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالْأَنْعَامُ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَخَذَتِ الْأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَازَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَا أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَيْهَا أَتَاهَا أَمْرُنَا لَيْلًا أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَاهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَن لَّمْ تَغْنَ بِالْأَمْسِ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

innamā mathalu'l-ḥayāti'l-dunyā ka-māʾin anzalnāhu mina'l-samāʾi fa'khtalaṭa bihi nabātu'l-arḍi mimmā yaʾkulu'l-nāsu wa'l-anʿāmu ḥattā idhā akhadhati'l-arḍu zukhrufahā wa'zzayyanat wa-ẓanna ahluhā annahum qādirūna ʿalayhā atāhā amrunā laylan aw nahāran fa-jaʿalnāhā ḥaṣīdan ka-an lam taghna bi'l-amsi kadhālika nufaṣṣilu'l-āyāti li-qawmin yatafakkarūn "The likeness of the life of this world is only as water that We send down from the sky — the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, of which people and livestock eat — until, when the earth has taken on its adornment and is beautified, and its people think they have power over it, Our command comes to it by night or by day, and We make it as though it had never flourished the day before. Thus do We detail the signs for a people who reflect." — Yūnus 10:24

Translation: The likeness of the life of this world is that of water which We rained down from the cloud (or from the sky), mingling with which all the plants of the earth grew, which men eat and animals too. Until, when the earth comes into its spring (and becomes green and lush) and takes on beauty and grace, and people begin to think that the earth is now under their control, Our command comes by night or by day (punishment comes), and then We wipe it clean (and cut it down into heaps); it seems as if nothing had been there yesterday. Thus do We set out Our verses and signs in detail (but for whom?) — for those who reflect.

Commentary: Innamā mathalu'l-ḥayāti'l-dunyā — truly the likeness of the life of this world — what is it like? Ka-māʾin anzalnāhu mina'l-samāʾ — like water which We sent down from the sky, or from the cloud, or from above. Fa'khtalaṭa bihi — then there mingled with that water nabātu'l-arḍ — the plants of the earth, mimmā yaʾkulu'l-nāsu — which men eat, wa'l-anʿām — and the cattle too. Ḥattā idhā akhadhati'l-arḍu — until, when the earth takes on zukhrufahā — its spring, its freshness and lushness, wa'zzayyanat — and is adorned, takes on beauty and grace, becomes green and verdant, wa-ẓanna ahluhā — and its dwellers think, become certain, annahum qādirūna ʿalayhā — that it has now come into their grasp, under their power, and that they have the power to dispose of it, atāhā amrunā — then Our command comes, that is, the punishment comes, laylan aw nahāran — by night or by day. Fa-jaʿalnāhā ḥaṣīdan — then We cut it down into heaps; We wipe it clean; We lay waste the whole growth. Ka-an lam taghna bi'l-ams — as if nothing at all had been there yesterday; ghaniya here means "to dwell, to remain". Kadhālika nufaṣṣilu'l-āyāt — in this way We set out Our verses in detail and lay the signs wide open. But for whom? Li-qawmin yatafakkarūn — for those who reflect and ponder. What will the ignorant and foolish understand? Will they take any lesson?

برگِ درختانِ سبز در نظرِ ہوشیار — ہر ورقے دفتریست معرفتِ کردگار "To the discerning eye, every leaf of the green trees is a whole volume on the knowledge of the Creator."

وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَىٰ دَارِ السَّلَامِ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

wa'llāhu yadʿū ilā dāri'l-salāmi wa-yahdī man yashāʾu ilā ṣirāṭin mustaqīm "And Allah invites to the Abode of Peace, and guides whom He wills to a straight path." — Yūnus 10:25

Translation: And Allah is calling you to Dār al-Salām (the abode of peace, that is, Paradise), and whom He wills He shows the straight path (He guides him).

Commentary: Wa'llāhu yadʿū — and Allah calls ilā dāri'l-salām — to the abode of peace, that is, towards Paradise. Wa-yahdī man yashāʾu — and He guides whom He wills ilā ṣirāṭin mustaqīm — to the straight path.

(But remember: the invitation of Islam is given to everyone, yet only that person takes to the right path whose nature (fiṭrah) is lofty, who is pure of disposition, and whose guidance divine wisdom requires.)

لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا الْحُسْنَىٰ وَزِيَادَةٌ وَلَا يَرْهَقُ وُجُوهَهُمْ قَتَرٌ وَلَا ذِلَّةٌ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

li'lladhīna aḥsanū'l-ḥusnā wa-ziyādatun wa-lā yarhaqu wujūhahum qatarun wa-lā dhillatun ulāʾika aṣḥābu'l-jannati hum fīhā khālidūn "For those who have done good there is the best reward and more. Neither dust nor humiliation shall cover their faces. Those are the companions of Paradise — they will abide therein forever." — Yūnus 10:26

Translation: For those who do good there is a good reward, and more than it as well. Neither darkness will cover their faces, nor humiliation and disgrace. These are the people of Paradise; they will remain in Paradise forever.

Commentary: Li'lladhīna aḥsanū — for those who do good deeds, al-ḥusnā wa-ziyādah — a good reward, and something more besides. What is this increase (ziyādah)? Some scholars say that it is the vision of God (dīdār-e ilāhī). It is priceless; nothing can be given in exchange for it.

«إِذَا دَخَلَ أَهْلُ الجَنَّةِ الجَنَّةَ...يُكْشَفُ الحِجَابُ فَمَا أُعْطُوا شَيئًا أَحَبَّ إِلَيهِم مِنَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى رَبِّهِم»"When the people of Paradise enter Paradise… the veil is lifted, and nothing they are given will be more beloved to them than the vision of their Lord." — Muslim

Wa-lā yarhaqu — and there will not cover wujūhahum — their faces qatarun — darkness, blackness, wa-lā dhillah — nor humiliation, disgrace and shame. Ulāʾika aṣḥābu'l-jannah — these are the people of Paradise; hum fīhā khālidūn — they will remain in Paradise forever.

وَالَّذِينَ كَسَبُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ جَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ بِمِثْلِهَا وَتَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ مَّا لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍ كَأَنَّمَا أُغْشِيَتْ وُجُوهُهُم قِطَعًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مُظْلِمًا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

wa'lladhīna kasabū'l-sayyiʾāti jazāʾu sayyiʾatin bi-mithlihā wa-tarhaquhum dhillatun mā lahum mina'llāhi min ʿāṣimin ka-annamā ughshiyat wujūhuhum qiṭaʿan mina'l-layli muẓliman ulāʾika aṣḥābu'l-nāri hum fīhā khālidūn "And those who earned evil deeds — the recompense of an evil deed is its like; and humiliation shall cover them. They have no protector from Allah — as if their faces were covered with pieces of the darkest night. Those are the companions of the Fire — abiding therein forever." — Yūnus 10:27

Translation: And those who earn evil deeds will be given a punishment like their evil deeds. Humiliation will cover them; no one can save them from the hand of God. Such darkness will cover their faces (they will be so disgraced) as though a sheet of the dark night had been drawn over them. These are the people of Hell, and they will remain in it forever.

Commentary: Wa'lladhīna kasabū'l-sayyiʾāt — and those who earned evils, who earned sins: jazāʾu sayyiʾatin bi-mithlihā — the recompense of an evil, the punishment of sins, will be its like, just what it deserves. Wa-tarhaquhum dhillah — and humiliation and abasement will cover them. Mā lahum mina'llāhi min ʿāṣim — they will have no one to save them from Allah's hand, from Allah's punishment. What will their state be? Ka-annamā ughshiyat wujūhuhum — as if their faces had been covered, wrapped, qiṭaʿan mina'l-layli muẓliman — in pieces of the night, dark and black. Ulāʾika aṣḥābu'l-nār — these are the people of Hell; hum fīhā khālidūn — they will remain in it forever; theirs will be everlasting permanence in Hell.

وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا مَكَانَكُمْ أَنتُمْ وَشُرَكَاؤُكُمْ فَزَيَّلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَقَالَ شُرَكَاؤُهُم مَّا كُنتُمْ إِيَّانَا تَعْبُدُونَ

wa-yawma naḥshuruhum jamīʿan thumma naqūlu li'lladhīna ashrakū makānakum antum wa-shurakāʾukum fa-zayyalnā baynahum wa-qāla shurakāʾuhum mā kuntum iyyānā taʿbudūn "And on the Day We shall gather them all together, then We shall say to those who ascribed partners: 'Stay in your place, you and your partners.' Then We shall separate them from one another, and their partners shall say: 'You were not worshipping us.'" — Yūnus 10:28

Translation: And remember that day when We shall gather them all (assemble them). Then We shall say to the polytheists: "You and your friends, stay in one place." Then We shall separate them from one another (division will fall among them and dispute will arise among them), and their partners and objects of worship will say: "You did not worship us."

Commentary: Wa-yawma — and remember that day naḥshuruhum — when We shall gather them, raise them from their graves, assemble them, jamīʿan — all of them. Thumma naqūlu — then We shall say li'lladhīna ashrakū — to those who committed shirk: makānakum — stay in your place, antum wa-shurakāʾukum — you and your partners, those who shared your views. Fa-zayyalnā baynahum — then We shall separate them from one another; We shall lay bare their mutual opposition, and division will fall among them. Wa-qāla shurakāʾuhum — and their partners, their objects of worship, will say: mā kuntum iyyānā taʿbudūn — you did not worship us, did not adore us, did not serve us.

fa-kafā bi'llāhi shahīdan baynanā wa-baynakum in kunnā ʿan ʿibādatikum la-ghāfilīn "So Allah suffices as a witness between us and you that we were unaware of your worship." — Yūnus 10:29

Translation: Between us and you, Allah's witness is sufficient (God knows full well) that we had no knowledge at all of your adoration and worship.

Commentary: Fa-kafā bi'llāh — so Allah is sufficient; the bāʾ is redundant (zāʾid), and Allah is the subject (fāʿil). Shahīdan — in respect of being a witness. Baynanā wa-baynakum — between us and you. In kunnā — that we were ʿan ʿibādatikum — of your worship and adoration la-ghāfilīn — wholly heedless, unaware.

هُنَالِكَ تَبْلُو كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا أَسْلَفَتْ وَرُدُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ

hunālika tablū kullu nafsin mā aslafat wa-ruddū ilā'llāhi mawlāhumu'l-ḥaqqi wa-ḍalla ʿanhum mā kānū yaftarūn "There, every soul shall experience what it sent forth, and they will be returned to Allah, their true Master, and lost from them will be what they used to fabricate." — Yūnus 10:30

Translation: There each one will see his past deeds, and they will all be returned to Allah, their true Master, and all their fabrications (their schemes) will prove useless and false.

Commentary: Hunālika — there tablū — will test, examine and find out kullu nafsin — every person mā aslafat — whatever he had sent ahead. Wa-ruddū ilā'llāh — and they will be returned to Allah, mawlāhumu'l-ḥaqq — who is their true Master. Wa-ḍalla ʿanhum — and lost to them, proved false, will be mā kānū yaftarūn — all that they used to devise and fabricate.

قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَمَّن يَمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَمَن يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَن يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ فَسَيَقُولُونَ اللَّهُ فَقُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

qul man yarzuqukum mina'l-samāʾi wa'l-arḍi amman yamliku'l-samʿa wa'l-abṣāra wa-man yukhriju'l-ḥayya mina'l-mayyiti wa-yukhriju'l-mayyita mina'l-ḥayyi wa-man yudabbiru'l-amra fa-sa-yaqūlūna'llāhu fa-qul a-fa-lā tattaqūn "Say: Who provides for you from the sky and the earth? Who possesses hearing and sight? Who brings the living out of the dead and the dead out of the living? And who governs all affairs? They will say: 'Allah.' So say: Will you not then be God-fearing?" — Yūnus 10:31

Translation: Say to them: Who gives you sustenance from the sky and the earth? Or who is the owner of (your) hearing and sight? Who brings forth the living from the lifeless, and who the lifeless from the living? And who manages all the affairs (of the world)? (Who devises their ordering?) They will at once say: "Allah." Then say: Then why do you not fear (such an All-Powerful Lord of majesty)? (Why do you not take up taqwā? Why do you not guard yourselves against His wrath?)

Commentary: Qul — (O Prophetﷺ!) say: man yarzuqukum — who feeds you, who gives you provision mina'l-samāʾi wa'l-arḍ — from the sky and the earth? Amman yamliku — or who is the owner, in whose hand of power are al-samʿa wa'l-abṣār — your hearing and sight, your ears and your eyes? All are in His hand: whom He willed He made to hear and see, and whom He willed He made neither hear nor see. Wa-man yukhriju — and who brings forth al-ḥayya mina'l-mayyit — the living from the lifeless: man from the drop of seed, the chick from the egg; wa-yukhriju'l-mayyita mina'l-ḥayy — and brings forth the lifeless from the living: the drop of seed from man, the egg from the hen? Wa-man yudabbiru'l-amr — and who orders every affair, who manages the world? They will have to say it: fa-sa-yaqūlūna'llāh — they will all say, "Allah"; He does everything, and everything is in His hand of power. Fa-qul — then, O Prophetﷺ, say: a-fa-lā tattaqūn — why then do you not take up taqwā, why do you not fear God, why do you not guard yourselves against His wrath?

فَذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمُ الْحَقُّ فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا الضَّلَالُ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصْرَفُونَ

fa-dhālikumu'llāhu rabbukumu'l-ḥaqqu fa-mādhā baʿda'l-ḥaqqi illā'l-ḍalālu fa-annā tuṣrafūn "That, then, is Allah, your true Lord. So what is there after the truth except error? How then are you turned away?" — Yūnus 10:32

Translation: Then this is Allah, your true Lord. After the truth, what is there but error? Then where are you wandering off to?

Commentary: Fa-dhālikumu'llāh — so this is Allah, rabbukumu'l-ḥaqq — your true Lord, your real Sustainer. Fa-mādhā — then what is there baʿda'l-ḥaqq — after the truth illā'l-ḍalāl — except error? Fa-annā tuṣrafūn — then where are you wandering off to, from where are you turning your faces away?

كَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا أَنَّهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

kadhālika ḥaqqat kalimatu rabbika ʿalā'lladhīna fasaqū annahum lā yuʾminūn "Thus the word of your Lord has been fulfilled upon those who acted wickedly — that they shall not believe." — Yūnus 10:33

Translation: In this way the word of your God proves true of these sinful and disobedient people: they will never believe (they are surely confirmed unbelievers).

Commentary: Kadhālika — in this way ḥaqqat — is established, has come to pass, kalimatu rabbik — the word of your Lord, the decree of your God, ʿalā'lladhīna fasaqū — upon those who commit fisq, who are disobedient, who are sinful and wicked: annahum lā yuʾminūn — they will never believe; there is no hope of faith from them.

قُلْ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَائِكُم مَّن يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ قُلِ اللَّهُ يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ

qul hal min shurakāʾikum man yabdaʾu'l-khalqa thumma yuʿīduhu quli'llāhu yabdaʾu'l-khalqa thumma yuʿīduhu fa-annā tuʾfakūn "Say: Is there among your partners any who originates creation and then repeats it? Say: Allah originates creation and then repeats it. How then are you deluded?" — Yūnus 10:34

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Say (to these people): Is there among your partners (and objects of worship) anyone who has originated creation (brought it into being) and who also brings it into being again? You yourself say: It is Allah alone who creates in the beginning and creates again. Then where are you spinning these lies from!

Commentary: Qul — O Prophetﷺ, say: hal min shurakāʾikum — is there anyone like this among your partners and objects of worship, man yabdaʾu'l-khalq — who creates the first time, thumma yuʿīduh — and then creates again? The beginning is from Him and the end is from Him too. What will they say? Quli'llāhu yabdaʾu'l-khalq — you yourself say: in the beginning too it is He who creates, thumma yuʿīduh — and again it is He who creates. Fa-annā tuʾfakūn — then what tall tales are you telling, where are you straying?

قُلْ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَائِكُم مَّن يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ قُلِ اللَّهُ يَهْدِي لِلْحَقِّ أَفَمَن يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ أَحَقُّ أَن يُتَّبَعَ أَمَّن لَّا يَهِدِّي إِلَّا أَن يُهْدَىٰ فَمَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ

qul hal min shurakāʾikum man yahdī ilā'l-ḥaqqi quli'llāhu yahdī li'l-ḥaqqi a-fa-man yahdī ilā'l-ḥaqqi aḥaqqu an yuttabaʿa amman lā yahiddī illā an yuhdā fa-mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn "Say: Is there among your partners any who guides to the truth? Say: Allah guides to the truth. Is the one who guides to the truth more worthy of being followed, or the one who cannot find the way unless he is guided? What is the matter with you? How do you judge?" — Yūnus 10:35

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Just ask them: Is there among your objects of worship anyone who guides to the truth? (What will they say?) You yourself say: Allah alone guides to the truth. Should one obey and follow him who gives true guidance, or should one follow him who himself cannot walk the straight path until he is guided? Then what has come over you that you make such wrong judgements (and talk such nonsense)?

Commentary: Qul — O Prophetﷺ, say to them; just ask them: hal min shurakāʾikum — is there anyone among your partners and objects of worship man yahdī ilā'l-ḥaqq — who guides to the truth, who tells the true word and gives guidance? What will they say? Quli'llāh — you yourself say: Allah alone yahdī li'l-ḥaqq — guides to the truth, gives guidance to what is right. A-fa-man yahdī ilā'l-ḥaqq — is then the one who guides to the truth, who shows the true way, aḥaqqu an yuttabaʿ — more deserving to be followed, to be listened to, to have his commands carried out, amman lā yahiddī — or the one who does not find guidance, who cannot even find the way? Yahiddī was originally yahtadī; read it carefully, and do not read it as yahdī. Illā an yuhdā — unless he himself is guided. Until God guides him, no one can walk any path; and unless the Prophet's commands are acted upon, how can one obtain guidance? Fa-mā lakum — what then has happened to you? Kayfa taḥkumūn — what wrong judgements you pass, what kind of justice is this you are doing!

wa-mā yattabiʿu aktharuhum illā ẓannan inna'l-ẓanna lā yughnī mina'l-ḥaqqi shayʾan inna'llāha ʿalīmun bi-mā yafʿalūn "And most of them follow nothing but conjecture; surely conjecture avails nothing against the truth. Surely Allah knows well what they do." — Yūnus 10:36

Translation: And these people follow their own idle, worthless notions. These notions can be of no use at all against the truth. Allah is well aware of their doings (He has full knowledge of their deeds).

Commentary: Wa-mā yattabiʿu — and they do not follow — aktharuhum — most of them — illā ẓannan — anything but idle, worthless fancies; they make baseless conjectures. Inna'l-ẓanna lā yughnī — surely conjecture and supposition are of no avail, bring no benefit, give no sufficiency mina'l-ḥaqqi shayʾan — against the truth in anything. Inna'llāha ʿalīm — surely Allah knows full well bi-mā yafʿalūn — what they do. Whatever you are doing, God knows it well.

Commentary (continued — The Qurʾān confirms earlier scriptures):

وَمَا كَانَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنُ أَن يُفْتَرَىٰ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

wa-mā kāna hādhā'l-qurʾānu an yuftarā min dūni'llāhi wa-lākin taṣdīqa'lladhī bayna yadayhi wa-tafṣīla'l-kitābi lā rayba fīhi min rabbi'l-ʿālamīn "This Qurʾān could not have been invented apart from Allah; rather it is a confirmation of what came before it and a detailed exposition of the Scripture — in which there is no doubt — from the Lord of all the worlds." — Yūnus 10:37

Translation: This Qurʾān has not been fabricated by anyone on his own, contrary to God's commands (no one has made it up out of his own heart). This Qurʾān is a confirmation of the earlier Books and their detailed exposition (one part of the Qurʾān itself sets out and explains another in detail). There is no room in it for doubt or suspicion. It is from the Lord of all the worlds. (It is God's revelation, not idle gossip from here and there.)

Commentary: Wa-mā kāna — and it was not, it is not so — hādhā'l-qurʾān — this Qurʾān — an yuftarā — that it should be forged, made up, invented as a fabrication min dūni'llāh — apart from God, leaving God aside. Wa-lākin taṣdīqa'lladhī bayna yadayh — rather, it confirms the earlier Books, those Books which are before it. Wa-tafṣīla'l-kitāb — and this Qurʾān is the detailed exposition of the former Book, and one part of the Qurʾān itself is the commentary (tafsīr) on another. Lā rayba fīh — there is no room in it for doubt or suspicion. Min rabbi'l-ʿālamīn — it has been sent down from the Lord of the worlds.

أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

am yaqūlūna'ftarāhu qul fa'tū bi-sūratin mithlihi wa'dʿū mani'staṭaʿtum min dūni'llāhi in kuntum ṣādiqīn "Or do they say: 'He has invented it'? Say: Bring then a sūrah like it, and call on whomever you can besides Allah, if you are truthful." — Yūnus 10:38

Translation: Do they say that the Prophetﷺ has made up the Qurʾān by himself? (Then, O Prophetﷺ!) Say: Then bring a single sūrah like it (like the Qurʾān), and, leaving God aside, call as many others as you can, if you are truthful and honest.

Commentary: Am yaqūlūn — do they say? Iftarāh — that the Prophetﷺ has made up the Qurʾān himself? The composition of the noble Qurʾān is entirely different from the aḥādīth. Qul — (O Prophetﷺ, to them) say: if the Qurʾān can be produced by any man's making, then fa'tū bi-sūratin mithlih — bring just one sūrah like it (the very shortest sūrah — Innā aʿṭaynāka and Qul huwa'llāhu). Not only you yourselves — take help from others too. Wa'dʿū mani'staṭaʿtum — and call as many others as you can min dūni'llāh — besides God, in kuntum ṣādiqīn — if you are truthful.

بَلْ كَذَّبُوا بِمَا لَمْ يُحِيطُوا بِعِلْمِهِ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِهِمْ تَأْوِيلُهُ كَذَٰلِكَ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الظَّالِمِينَ

bal kadhdhabū bi-mā lam yuḥīṭū bi-ʿilmihi wa-lammā yaʾtihim taʾwīluhu kadhālika kadhdhaba'lladhīna min qablihim fa'nẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu'l-ẓālimīn "No — they have denied what they have not encompassed in knowledge, and whose ultimate outcome has not yet reached them. Thus did those before them deny. Look then at how the end was for the wrongdoers." — Yūnus 10:39

Translation: Rather, (the deniers) are rejecting something they cannot even properly understand, and they have not yet come to know even the outcome of this denial of the truth. (This is nothing new.) Those who passed before them denied (the prophets) in just the same way. Just think! Just look! What was the end of the wrongdoers and of those who do not recognise the truth!

Commentary: Bal kadhdhabū — rather, these people deny and give the lie bi-mā lam yuḥīṭū bi-ʿilmih — to a thing they cannot even properly understand: they can neither grasp the secrets and wisdoms of the Qurʾān nor come to know the divine realities (maʿārif ilāhiyyah). Wa-lammā yaʾtihim taʾwīluh — and they have not yet even had the chance to reflect and ponder, nor have they understood at all what the outcome of denying the Qurʾān will be. The denial of the ignorant is nothing new: kadhālika kadhdhaba'lladhīna min qablihim — those who were before them, who passed away before them, denied in just the same way; that is, the ignorant have always denied the prophets. Reflect a little! Fa'nẓur — look! Kayfa kāna — how was it, what happened? ʿĀqibah — the end, the outcome — al-ẓālimīn — of the unjust, the wrongdoers.

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُفْسِدِينَ

wa-minhum man yuʾminu bihi wa-minhum man lā yuʾminu bihi wa-rabbuka aʿlamu bi'l-mufsidīn "And among them are those who believe in it, and among them are those who do not believe in it; and your Lord is most knowing of the corrupters." — Yūnus 10:40

Translation: And of them, some believe in it (in the Qurʾān) and some do not; and your Lord knows the corrupters well (He is well aware of their state).

Commentary: Wa-minhum man yuʾminu bih — and some people are such that they believe in the Qurʾān, have certainty in it, accept it with their hearts. Wa-minhum man lā yuʾminu bih — and some among them are such that they do not accept it at all; they have no faith whatsoever. Wa-rabbuka aʿlamu bi'l-mufsidīn — O Prophetﷺ, your Lord knows the corrupters well; He has full knowledge of the mischief-makers.

Sūrat Yūnus (10)

﴿فَقُلْ لَّا تَعْتَذِرُوا لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكُمْ﴾fa-qul lā taʿtadhirū lan nuʾmina lakum "Say: Do not offer excuses — we will not believe you." (al-Tawbah 9:94) [running context from preceding section]

﴿إِنَّهُم مُّبَرِّئُونَ مِنكُمْ﴾innahum mubarriʾūna minkum "They are absolved of all responsibility toward you." (al-Tawbah 9:97) [contextual reference]

﴿وَأَنَا بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ﴾wa-anā barīʾun mimmā taʿmalūn "And I am free of all that you do." (Yūnus 10:41)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) If these people deny you (call you a liar), then say: For me is my work, and for you is your work. You are free of my deeds, and I am free of your deeds. (No one bears responsibility for another's deeds.)

Commentary: Gentlemen! The Christians hold the belief that the punishment for the sins people commit was taken upon himself by Ḥaḍrat ʿĪsā (upon him be peace), who went into Hell himself. So what is left now? Do as much wrong as you like, commit as many sins as you wish — one sinless person has already borne the punishment. Religion, the very thing that held people back from evil deeds, no longer remains.

﴿وَمِنْهُمْ مَّن يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ وَلَوْ كَانُوا لَا يَعْقِلُونَ﴾wa-minhum man yastamiʿūna ilayka — a-fa-anta tusmiʿu al-ṣumma wa-law kānū lā yaʿqilūn "Among them are those who listen to you; but can you make the deaf hear, even if they have no understanding?" (Yūnus 10:42)

Translation: And among them are some who (outwardly) listen to your words attentively. Can you then make these deaf ones hear, even though they understand nothing at all?

Commentary: Wa-minhum man — and among them are some (man is general, used for singular and plural alike). Yastamiʿūna ilayka — they hear your words, and listen with great attention. A-fa-anta tusmiʿu al-ṣumm — can you make those who are deaf of heart hear? Wa-law kānū lā yaʿqilūn — even if they do not understand; outwardly they do listen with their ears. But what is gained by such listening, when they do not want to use their reason at all?

﴿وَمِنْهُمْ مَّن يَنظُرُ إِلَيْكَ أَفَأَنتَ تَهْدِي الْعُمْيَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا لَا يُبْصِرُونَ﴾wa-minhum man yanẓuru ilayka — a-fa-anta tahdī al-ʿumya wa-law kānū lā yubṣirūn "Among them are those who look toward you; but can you guide the blind, even if they will not see?" (Yūnus 10:43)

Translation: Some of them are such that they look at you with great attention. Well then! Can you show the way to the blind, even though they see nothing at all?

﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا وَلَٰكِنَّ النَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ﴾inna Allāha lā yaẓlimu al-nāsa shayʾan wa-lākinna al-nāsa anfusahum yaẓlimūn "Indeed Allah does not wrong people in the least, but people wrong themselves." (Yūnus 10:44)

Translation: And Allah wrongs no one in the least; it is people who wrong their own selves.

Commentary: Inna Allāha lā yaẓlimu al-nāsa shayʾan — truly Allah does not wrong people in anything; He does not ruin them. Wa-lākinna al-nāsa anfusahum yaẓlimūn — but people wrong themselves. We do not destroy them; they destroy themselves.

﴿وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ كَأَن لَّمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِّنَ النَّهَارِ يَتَعَارَفُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِلِقَاءِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ﴾wa-yawma yaḥshuruhum ka-an lam yalbathū illā sāʿatan mina al-nahāri yataʿārafūna baynahum — qad khasira al-ladhīna kadhdhabū bi-liqāʾi Allāhi wa-mā kānū muhtadīn "And on the Day He shall gather them — as though they had lingered only an hour of the day — they will recognise one another. Those who denied the meeting with Allah have indeed suffered loss, and they were not rightly guided." (Yūnus 10:45)

Translation: And on the Day when (He will bring them to life again and) gather them, it will seem to them that they had stayed in the world only for a moment; they will recognise one another. Those who denied appearing in the Divine court will be in great loss (they were astray) — they were not rightly guided.

Commentary: Wa-yawma yaḥshuruhum — remember the Day when they will all be gathered and brought to life again. Ka-an lam yalbathū — as though they had not stayed, had not lived at all, illā sāʿatan mina al-nahār — except for an hour of the day: it will seem to them that they lived in the world for only a very short while. Yataʿārafūna baynahum — they will also recognise one another, so that the righteous and the wicked can be told apart: the wicked will be ashamed and the righteous glad. Qad khasira alladhīna kadhdhabū — those who denied and would not accept will be in great loss. What did they deny? Bi-liqāʾi Allāh — the vision of Allah, the meeting with Allah, going into the Divine court; they did not accept rising again after death. Such people wa-mā kānū muhtadīn — were not ones to receive guidance.

﴿وَإِمَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ الَّذِي نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفْعَلُونَ﴾wa-immā nuriyannaka baʿḍa alladhī naʿiduhum aw natawaffayannaka fa-ilaynā marjiʿuhum thumma Allāhu shahīdun ʿalā mā yafʿalūn "Whether We show you part of what We have promised them, or cause you to die — to Us is their return, and Allah is witness over what they do." (Yūnus 10:46)

Translation: And whether We show you that thing (the fate of these people) which We are promising them, or We complete the days of your own life (what difference does it make?) — in any case they must return to Us. (Who escapes the hand of God? Everyone's return is to God.) And God observes and sees the deeds of all.

Commentary: Wa-immā nuriyannaka baʿḍa alladhī naʿiduhum — if We show you part of what We are promising them, that is, if We send the punishment down, that is possible; and it may be that We finish them all off — that too is possible. Aw natawaffayannaka — or We complete the days of your life and you are moved to the other world — that is possible. But where will they run from God? Even after death they cannot escape His hand. Fa-ilaynā marjiʿuhum — then to Us alone is their return; they must appear in Our court. Thumma Allāhu shahīdun ʿalā mā yafʿalūn — then Allah is observing, seeing, and is witness to their deeds.

﴿وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ فَإِذَا جَاءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ﴾wa-li-kulli ummatin rasūlun fa-idhā jāʾa rasūluhum quḍiya baynahum bi-l-qisṭi wa-hum lā yuẓlamūn "For every community there is a messenger. When their messenger comes, judgment is rendered between them in justice, and they are not wronged." (Yūnus 10:47)

Translation: Every people has a prophet. Then, when their prophet comes, judgement is made between them according to justice, and no wrong of any kind will be done to them.

Commentary: Wa-li-kulli ummatin rasūl — every community has a messenger. Fa-idhā jāʾa rasūluhum — then when their messenger comes to them, quḍiya baynahum bi-l-qisṭ — understand that judgement will be made among them according to justice. Wa-hum lā yuẓlamūn — and no wrong of any kind will be done to them: the good will receive reward and the bad punishment.

﴿وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ﴾wa-yaqūlūna matā hādhā al-waʿdu in kuntum ṣādiqīn "And they say: When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?" (Yūnus 10:48)

Translation: And (the deniers) say: When, after all, will these promises be fulfilled? (Just tell us,) if you are truthful (true to your promise).

﴿قُل لَّا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ﴾qul lā amliku li-nafsī ḍarran wa-lā nafʿan illā mā shāʾa Allāh "Say: I have no power to bring harm or benefit to myself, except what Allah wills." (Yūnus 10:49)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Say: I can neither harm nor benefit myself, except as much as God wills. Every people has a term (a fixed time). When their time comes, there is neither a moment's delay nor any advance (what is to happen comes to pass).

Commentary: Qul lā amliku li-nafsī — O Prophetﷺ, say: I am not the owner; it is not in my power; I hold nothing for myself. Ḍarran wa-lā nafʿan — neither harm nor benefit; nothing at all is in my hand. Illā mā shāʾa Allāh — except what God wills. This is the perfection of servanthood (kamāl-e ʿabdiyyat). To understand one's own essential non-being (ʿadam-e dhātī) is the utmost of servanthood. What God wills, happens. Truly the servant can do nothing. But to understand this, and to keep clear of associating others with God in power (shirk fī al-qudra), is the work of great people.

The Messenger of Allahﷺ says: nothing is in my hand except what God wills. And Allah the Exalted says: ﴿إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ﴾— innā aʿṭaynāka al-kawthar — "We have given you abundance" (al-Kawthar 108:1). The one to whom God gives abundance — what can he lack? Allāhu yuʿṭī wa-anā qāsim: "Allah gives, and distributing is my work." Whatever we receive, we receive from the hands of Muḥammadﷺ. Destitute will be those who do not take from that magnificent hand.

﴿لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ إِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ﴾li-kulli ummatin ajalun — idhā jāʾa ajaluhum fa-lā yastaʾkhirūna sāʿatan wa-lā yastaqdimuun "For every community there is an appointed term; when their term arrives, they can neither delay it by an hour nor advance it." (Yūnus 10:49, continued)

Commentary: Li-kulli ummatin ajal — every people has a time; nothing can happen before its time. Idhā jāʾa ajaluhum — when their time comes, the term of their respite is over. Fa-lā yastaʾkhirūna sāʿatan — then they do not delay even by an hour, wa-lā yastaqdimūn — nor do they bring it forward or hasten it.

﴿قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُهُ بَيَاتًا أَوْ نَهَارًا مَّاذَا يَسْتَعْجِلُ مِنْهُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ﴾qul a-raʾaytum in atākum ʿadhābuhu bayātan aw nahāran — mādhā yastaʿjilu minhu al-mujrimūn "Say: Tell me — if His punishment were to come upon you by night or by day, what part of it would the sinners wish to hasten?" (Yūnus 10:50)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Say: What is your opinion? If His punishment comes upon you, whether by night or by day — then why are these criminals in such a hurry?

﴿أَثُمَّ إِذَا مَا وَقَعَ آمَنتُم بِهِ آلْآنَ وَقَدْ كُنتُم بِهِ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ﴾a-thumma idhā mā waqaʿa āmantum bihi — al-āna wa-qad kuntum bihi tastaʿjilūn "Is it then that when it actually falls upon you, you will believe in it? Now — when previously you were asking it to be hastened?" (Yūnus 10:51)

Translation: So then, when it comes down and actually happens, will you believe in it? Now (you believe)? Before, you were in such great haste for it.

﴿ثُمَّ قِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْخُلْدِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ﴾thumma qīla li-lladhīna ẓalamū dhūqū ʿadhāba al-khuldi — hal tujzawna illā bi-mā kuntum taksibūn "Then it will be said to the wrongdoers: Taste the enduring punishment! Are you rewarded except for what you used to earn?" (Yūnus 10:52)

Translation: Then it will be said to the wrongdoers: Taste the punishment that lasts for ever. And you will be punished only for what you yourselves did.

Commentary: Thumma qīla — then it was said, it will be said, li-lladhīna ẓalamū — to the wrongdoers, to those who committed great wrong: dhūqū — taste ʿadhāba al-khuld — the everlasting punishment. Hal tujzawna: hal means "is it?", but here it is a question of denial (istifhām inkārī), so hal here means "not": you will not be punished illā bi-mā kuntum taksibūn — except for what you used to earn. You will be punished only for your own deeds.

wa-yastanbiʾūnaka a-ḥaqqun huwa — qul ī wa-rabbī innahu la-ḥaqqun — wa-mā antum bi-muʿjizīn "And they ask you: Is it true? Say: Yes, by my Lord, it is surely true, and you cannot frustrate it." (Yūnus 10:53)

Translation: And these people ask you whether it is true. Say: By God, it is true. And you cannot stop it.

Commentary: Wa-yastanbiʾūnaka — and they ask you, they question you (nabaʾ means news; from it comes nabī). A-ḥaqqun huwa — is it true, what you are doing and promising — is it real? Qul ī wa-rabbī — say: Yes, by God, by my Lord. The word rabbī points to this: when God has nurtured me, reared me and brought me to perfection, why would He teach me something false? Innahu la-ḥaqq — truly it is the truth. Wa-mā antum bi-muʿjizīn — and you cannot make Him powerless; you cannot hold back His punishment.

wa-law anna li-kulli nafsin ẓalamat mā fī al-arḍi la-ftadat bihi — wa-asarrū al-nadāmata lammā raʾawu al-ʿadhāba — wa-quḍiya baynahum bi-l-qisṭi wa-hum lā yuẓlamūn "If every soul that did wrong possessed all that is on the earth, it would offer it as ransom; and they will hide their remorse when they see the punishment. Judgement will be made between them with justice, and they will not be wronged." (Yūnus 10:54)

Translation: And if these wrongdoers had the wealth of the whole world, they would want to give it as ransom to free themselves. These people will be remorseful in their hearts when they see the Divine punishment. Judgement will be made among them with justice, and no wrong will be done to them.

Commentary: Wa-law anna li-kulli nafsin — and if every person had — ẓalamat — who has done wrong, that is, this will be the state of the wrongdoers — mā fī al-arḍ — whatever is in the earth, la-ftadat bihi — they would give it as ransom, hand it over as a penalty. The wealth that was the greatest thing they had will have no worth at all before the Divine punishment. If they could, they would give the wealth of the whole world to free themselves. But where is the time for ransom now? Who will accept it? Wa-asarrū al-nadāma — they will feel remorse in their hearts; inwardly they will be ashamed and will regret in their hearts, lammā raʾawu al-ʿadhāb — when they see the punishment. Every wrongdoer will be in this state: he will want to free himself by giving the wealth of the whole world, and will be remorseful in his heart when he sees the Divine punishment. This punishment will not come without cause. Wa-quḍiya baynahum bi-l-qisṭ — judgement will be made among them with justice, wa-hum lā yuẓlamūn — and no wrong of any kind will be allowed against them.

alā inna li-Llāhi mā fī al-samāwāti wa-al-arḍ — alā inna waʿda Allāhi ḥaqqun wa-lākinna aktharahum lā yaʿlamūn "Behold! To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Behold! Allah's promise is true, but most of them do not know." (Yūnus 10:55)

Translation: Yes! Look, think, understand: whatever is in the heavens and the earth all belongs to God. Remember this too: God's promise is true. But most of them are ignorant (they have no knowledge; they understand nothing).

Commentary: Alā inna li-Llāh — yes, truly everything belongs to Allah alone: mā fī al-samāwāti wa-al-arḍ — whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Whose wealth can anyone give, and how can he save himself? Alā inna waʿda Allāh — truly Allah's promise ḥaqq — is true and real. Whoever does evil will surely be punished; whoever does good will receive his reward. Wa-lākinna aktharahum lā yaʿlamūn — but most of them have no knowledge; they do not know.

﴿هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ﴾huwa yuḥyī wa-yumītu wa-ilayhi turjaʿūn "He gives life and He causes death; and to Him you shall return." (Yūnus 10:56)

Translation: Life and death are in His hand alone (having given life, He will also cause death), and one day you must go to His court.

Commentary: Huwa yuḥyī wa-yumīt — He alone gives life and He alone causes death, the One who created you. He who gave life will also cause death. Both life and death are in His hand. Wa-ilayhi turjaʿūn — and to Him you must return; you must go again into His court.

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾yā ayyuhā al-nāsu qad jāʾatkum mawʿiẓatun min rabbikum wa-shifāʾun li-mā fī al-ṣudūri wa-hudan wa-raḥmatun li-l-muʾminīn "O people! There has come to you an admonition from your Lord, a healing for what is in the breasts, a guidance and mercy for the believers." (Yūnus 10:57)

Translation: O people! There has reached you, from your Lord, admonition and good counsel. It is a healing for the diseases of the heart, and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Listen to its counsels, reflect on them, act on them. All your doubt and suspicion will be removed. You will be on the path of guidance. God's mercy will be upon you.)

Commentary: Wa-shifāʾun li-mā fī al-ṣudūr — and a healing for the disease that is in your breasts: that is, it is the healing, the remedy, for the diseases of your hearts. Li-l-muʾminīn — for those who have faith, who accept, who are certain.

﴿قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ﴾qul bi-faḍli Allāhi wa-bi-raḥmatihi fa-bi-dhālika fal-yafraḥū — huwa khayrun mimmā yajmaʿūn "Say: In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy — in that let them rejoice! It is better than all that they accumulate." (Yūnus 10:58)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Say (to the people): Because of the grace and mercy of Allah — over this they should rejoice. It is better than (all the wealth and riches) that they gather.

Commentary: Today the plague of wrong belief is spreading, and love for the Messenger of Godﷺ is decreasing day by day. In the world, ordinary people commemorate their elders; through this, attention is drawn to the lives of those elders, and they can be followed. But nowadays some ignorant people say that the joys of the blessed Mīlād of the Messenger of Allahﷺ should not be celebrated. They regard the gathering of the blessed Mīlād as resembling the Rām Līlā, and they hold the food of the Fātiḥa to be ḥarām under mā uhilla bihi li-ghayri Allāh ("that over which a name other than Allah's has been invoked"). Just reflect! Allah the Exalted says:﴿وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا﴾— "And He taught you what you did not know, and the bounty of God upon you is immense" (al-Nisāʾ 4:113): that is, We told you and taught you all those things that you did not know; God's favour upon you is great. (If you put this verse together with the present verse, a logical syllogism follows.) That the Messenger of Godﷺ is a prophet is a great favour of God. And now He says: rejoice over the grace and mercy of Allah. The conclusion will be this. Just look! Fal-yafraḥū is in the imperative form. The imperative is for obligation (wujūb), or at the lowest degree for recommendation (istiḥbāb). Therefore, holding a gathering for the blessed Mīlād, if not obligatory (wājib), is certainly recommended (mustaḥabb). Those who do not rejoice at the birth and the prophethood of Ḥaḍratﷺ ought to weep over their own misfortune. When someone has a child, his birthday is kept and joy is celebrated; the birthdays of kings are celebrated. Had Muḥammad Muṣṭafāﷺ not been born, and not been a prophet, where would you have found the light of guidance? And how would you have found salvation from burning in eternal Hell?

For us, rejoicing at the Mīlād of Ḥaḍratﷺ is a sign of loving him. That person will never be a Muslim who does not love the Messenger of Godﷺ more than anyone else. Only he whose lot is weeping will not celebrate the joy of the blessed Mīlād of Ḥaḍratﷺ.

qul a-raʾaytum mā anzala Allāhu lakum min rizqin fa-jaʿaltum minhu ḥarāman wa-ḥalālan — qul āllāhu adhina lakum am ʿalā Allāhi taftarūn "Say: Have you considered the provision Allah has sent down for you, and you have made some of it unlawful and some lawful? Say: Has Allah permitted you, or do you forge lies against Allah?" (Yūnus 10:59)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Say: Just look, reflect: of the provision God has sent down for you, you hold some to be ḥarām and some ḥalāl. Well, say this too: Has God commanded you to do so, or do you attach made-up things to God (do you fabricate)?

Commentary: Qul a-raʾaytum — O Prophetﷺ, say: just tell me, what is your opinion? Mā anzala Allāh — whatever God has sent down lakum — for you min rizq — of provision, things to eat and drink. Fa-jaʿaltum — then you made minhu ḥarāman — some of it ḥarām wa-ḥalālan — and some ḥalāl. Qul āllāhu — say: is it God? (Note that this was originally a-Allāhu; here the long vowel must be drawn out.) Adhina lakum — has He permitted you, commanded you, informed you? Am ʿalā Allāhi — or against God taftarūn — are you fabricating, telling lies, making things up?

Reflect a little and see what is happening in the present age! They show no hesitation in eating the meat of animals that God has made ḥarām. They eat pork with pleasure and drink wine with great relish. Yet alongside this, falsely pious people hold that whatever is cooked for conveying reward to the dead (īṣāl-e thawāb) is ḥarām — while eating pork is permissible! To them, taking bribes is the reward of their mental labour; embezzling government money shows their cleverness; robbing the poor by schemes proves their intelligence. If you eat ḥarām wealth, your worship will not be accepted, and no good or blessing will come of it. In short, the present age is an age of trial (fitna). Through eating ḥarām, the light of faith has grown weak; now no right thing makes sense to them. May Allah grant the Muslims the ability to do good (tawfīq).

﴿وَمَاظَنُّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ﴾wa-mā ẓannu alladhīna yaftarūna ʿalā Allāhi al-kadhiba yawma al-qiyāmati — inna Allāha la-dhū faḍlin ʿalā al-nāsi wa-lākinna aktharahum lā yashkurūn "What do those who forge lies against Allah think will happen on the Day of Resurrection? Indeed Allah is full of bounty to humankind, but most of them do not give thanks." (Yūnus 10:60)

Translation: These people who fabricate lies against God — what have they supposed about the Day of Resurrection? Truly Allah is most gracious and generous towards people, but most of them neither give thanks nor appreciate it.

Commentary: Tomorrow you will know what will happen on the Day of Resurrection. Today you do whatever you like; you eat whatever you like and drink whatever you like. Making the ḥalāl ḥarām and the ḥarām ḥalāl is not in your hands; you do not see that this is legislating in religion (tashrīʿ fī al-dīn). Going against God's commands will appear tomorrow as punishment. Your deeds will take on form and appear, and will inflict every kind of punishment upon you. Those who do not value the favours of God the Exalted will weep and regret, but nothing will come of it.

﴿وَمَا تَكُونُ فِي شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُو مِنْهُ مِن قُرْآنٍ وَلَا تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلَّا كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا إِذْ تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ﴾wa-mā takūnu fī shaʾnin wa-mā tatlū minhu min qurʾānin wa-lā taʿmalūna min ʿamalin illā kunnā ʿalaykum shuhūdan idh tufīḍūna fīh "And you are not in any state, nor do you recite of the Qurʾān, nor do you perform any deed, except that We are witnesses over you when you engage in it." (Yūnus 10:61)

Translation: (O addressee!) In whatever state you are, whatever verse of the Qurʾān you recite, and (O people!) whatever work you do and whatever work you are busy with, We are watching over it (We know it). Whatever thing there is, in the earth or in the heaven, small or large, even the weight of an atom — (O addressee!) it is by no means hidden from your Lord (He knows everything), and it is in a clear Book (that is, the Preserved Tablet and the Divine knowledge).

Commentary: Gentlemen! The attributes of God the Exalted are joined to His Essence. The mother attributes (ummahāt al-ṣifāt) are three: (1) Life; (2) Knowledge; (3) Power. All things knowable are in the Divine knowledge; there is nothing that God does not know. If anything were not known to Him, God's knowledge would become originated (ḥādith), and ignorance would have to be attributed to Him. Some ignorant people say that God the Exalted makes a promise and then does not see fit to fulfil it. This question is called badāʾ. This is breaking a promise, which is a defect, and a defect cannot be attributed to God. We have explained before that breaking a promise (khulf al-waʿd) is not permissible, while not carrying out a threat (khulf al-waʿīd) is permissible, because a threat means only deserving punishment; and pardoning punishment is what mercy calls for and what grace and generosity require.

﴿أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾alā inna awliyāʾa Allāhi lā khawfun ʿalayhim wa-lā hum yaḥzanūn "Behold! Indeed, the friends of Allah — no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve." (Yūnus 10:62)

Translation: Yes! The friends of Allah (awliyāʾ Allāh) will have no fear at all, nor any grief or sorrow.

Commentary: Gentlemen! Who is a walī, and what does the word mean? Waliya, yalī means to be near, to become close (muqarrab); a friend; one who manages another's affairs.

In the technical vocabulary of the fuqarāʾ (the dervishes), when does the word walī truly apply to a person? When a state of annihilation (fanāʾ) comes over him, when he forgets everything besides God the Exalted — indeed, nothing but God remains for him. Who experiences fear? One who disobeys Allah the Exalted, one who acts contrary to His commands, one who fears his own sins and acts of disobedience. The friends of God — why would they ever act against His commands? Their occupation is pure servanthood. And who experiences grief? One who desires the things of this world and loses them, and feels distress at their loss. The friends of God neither act against Him, nor desire anything other than Him. Hence neither fear comes to them nor grief.

﴿الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ﴾alladhīna āmanū wa-kānū yattaqūn "Those who believed and were ever God-fearing." (Yūnus 10:63)

Translation: Those who believed and were ever mindful of God (taqwā).

﴿لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَىٰ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ﴾lahumu al-bushrā fī al-ḥayāti al-dunyā wa-fī al-ākhirati — lā tabdīla li-kalimāti Allāhi — dhālika huwa al-fawzu al-ʿaẓīm "For them is glad tidings in the life of this world and in the Hereafter. There is no change in the words of Allah — that is the supreme triumph." (Yūnus 10:64)

Translation: To them (the believers and the God-fearing) good tidings will surely come, in this world and in the Hereafter. There is no alteration in the words of God (no change). This is the magnificent attainment of the goal, and success.

Commentary: Gentlemen! Some ignorant people use lā tabdīla li-kalimāti Allāh to deny the breaking of the natural course (kharq al-ʿādāt). They should know that all the things in the world are themselves words of Allah (kalimat Allāh), and everyone sees that change and alteration do take place in them. These people are mistaken in understanding what breaking the natural course is. There is a general rule, and there is a special rule. Generally all things exist at fixed times and under fixed rules. The prophets and the awliyāʾ turning to God the Exalted and praying to Him, and God the Exalted accepting their prayer — this too is a breaking of the natural course. Therefore lā tabdīla li-kalimāti Allāh means that the promise God the Exalted has made to reward the righteous will certainly come to pass; there will be no change in it, no alteration. His promise is true and His word is truth.

The pity is that these ignorant people make a law after seeing a few situations, and then deny the results that follow in other situations. God's power, the miracles (muʿjizāt) of the prophets and the wonders (karāmāt) of the awliyāʾ are all true. Denying them shows the denier's misfortune and his deprivation of spiritual grace (fayḍ). These ignorant people greatly limit the Divine power. Their example is that of a lion sitting still: a spider spun its web over it and began to rejoice that it had captured the lion — and when the lion rises, where is the spider's web? In the same way, how could God be bound by our rules?

wa-lā yaḥzunka qawluhum — inna al-ʿizzata li-Llāhi jamīʿan — huwa al-samīʿu al-ʿalīm "And let not their speech grieve you. Indeed all honour belongs to Allah; He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." (Yūnus 10:65)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Do not be upset by what they say. Honour of every kind belongs to God. He hears (your words and theirs), and He knows as well.

Commentary: Wa-lā yaḥzunka qawluhum — let not their words grieve you; do not be upset by their idle talk, do not be troubled by their absurd chatter. Inna al-ʿizzata li-Llāhi jamīʿan — truly all honour and dominance belong to God alone. He will do whatever He wills; no one will be able to stop Him. Huwa al-samīʿu al-ʿalīm — He hears all these people and He knows as well.

﴿أَلَا إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ﴾alā inna li-Llāhi man fī al-samāwāti wa-man fī al-arḍi — wa-mā yattabiʿu alladhīna yadʿūna min dūni Allāhi shurakāʾa — in yattabiʿūna illā al-ẓanna wa-in hum illā yakhruṣūn "Behold! To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And those who call upon others beside Allah as partners — they follow nothing but conjecture and they do nothing but lie." (Yūnus 10:66)

Translation: Yes! Whatever is in the heavens and the earth all belongs to God (all are His property and His servants). Those who hold that God has a partner, and call upon one thinking him a partner, follow nothing but their own fancies. All their ideas are guesswork and idle supposition.

Commentary: Alā inna li-Llāh — yes, truly they belong to Allah alone: man fī al-samāwāti wa-man fī al-arḍ — those who are in the heavens and those who are in the earth. All are His property and His servants; no one can turn away from His command. He has neither partner nor minister. Wa-mā yattabiʿu alladhīna yadʿūna — and those who call upon, who pray to, min dūni Allāh — others, leaving God, shurakāʾ — that is, those who associate partners with God: who regard others as equal to God, or hold that they have existence in their own right (wujūd bi-l-dhāt) or independence in any attribute, or regard others as worthy of worship. In yattabiʿūna — they follow nothing illā al-ẓann — except conjecture, empty fancies. Wa-in hum illā yakhruṣūn — and they only speak by guesswork, by shots in the dark. These are all their mere fancies.

﴿هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ لِتَسْكُنُوا فِيهِ وَالنَّهَارَ مُبْصِرًا إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ﴾huwa alladhī jaʿala lakumu al-layla li-taskunū fīhi wa-al-nahāra mubṣiran — inna fī dhālika la-āyātin li-qawmin yasmaʿūn "He it is Who made the night for you to rest therein, and the day to give you sight. Indeed in that are signs for a people who listen." (Yūnus 10:67)

Translation: It is He who made the night for your rest and comfort, and the day for seeing (made it bright so that you may do your work). Surely in this are signs of God (but for whom?) — for those who listen attentively.

Commentary: That is, these people are utterly ignorant: those who associate partners with God do not even know the purposes and aims of night and day. Remember! Black and white, moving and still — all belongs to God; no one is God's partner. Inna fī dhālika la-āyāt — truly in this there are many signs — but for whom? Li-qawmin yasmaʿūn — for those who listen attentively. Those who are deaf of heart — what will they hear, what will they understand?

﴿قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ﴾qālū ittakhadha Allāhu waladan — subḥānahu — huwa al-ghaniyyu — lahu mā fī al-samāwāti wa-mā fī al-arḍ "They say: Allah has taken a son. Glory be to Him! He is the Self-Sufficient. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth." (Yūnus 10:68)

Translation: People say that God has a son or daughter. God is pure of such things. He is (free of need) self-sufficient. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth (all is His; all are His servants) is His property. Have you any proof for this (for these false claims of yours)? Do you say things about God that you yourselves do not know? (All that you say about God shows your ignorance; it is all a baseless lie.)

Commentary: Qālū ittakhadha Allāh — these people say that God has taken — waladan — offspring. In Arabic walad applies to both son and daughter. Some say ʿUzayr is the son of God, some that ʿĪsā is the son of God; some say the angels are the daughters of God. Subḥānahu — He is pure of all these things. Huwa al-ghaniyy — He is free of need, self-sufficient; He needs no one. Lahu mā fī al-samāwāti wa-mā fī al-arḍ — whatever is in the heavens and the earth is all His; all are His servants and His property. How then could a servant be a son or a daughter? God's existence is in His own right (bi-l-dhāt); the existence of servants is derived (bi-l-ʿaraḍ). One whose existence is derived can only be a servant. One whose existence is in His own right — how would He depend on others, and what need would He have of them? He does not create you for His own need; He creates you for your need. In ʿindakum — have you min sulṭānin bi-hādhā — any proof, any argument, any evidence for this? A-taqūlūna ʿalā Allāhi mā lā taʿlamūn — do you say about God things that you yourselves do not know? You are telling baseless lies; all you say is groundless and rests on ignorance.

﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ﴾inna alladhīna yaftarūna ʿalā Allāhi al-kadhiba lā yufliḥūn "Indeed, those who fabricate lies against Allah will not prosper." (Yūnus 10:69)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Say: Those who fabricate lies against God will never succeed. (They will never attain true success.)

matāʿun fī al-dunyā thumma ilaynā marjiʿuhum thumma nudhīquhumu al-ʿadhāba al-shadīda bi-mā kānū yakfurūn "A brief enjoyment in this world; then to Us is their return; then We shall make them taste the severe punishment for their disbelief." (Yūnus 10:70)

Translation: This is (a few days') enjoyment in the world; then they must come back before Us, and then We shall make them taste the severe punishment, because they used to disbelieve (used to cover up the truth).

Commentary: Matāʿ — to enjoy, to take benefit; to pass a few days in the world and indulge in its pleasures. Then what will happen? Thumma ilaynā marjiʿuhum — then to Us alone they must return; that is their going back. Thumma nudhīquhum — then We shall make them taste al-ʿadhāba al-shadīd — the harsh punishment, the severe penalty. Why? Bi-mā kānū yakfurūn — because they used to disbelieve, used to deny: because of their disbelief.

Before this, the false religions were refuted. Now He describes what the end of the followers of falsehood is, giving the examples of the prophets. First comes the account of Nūḥ (upon him be peace). The community of Nūḥ (upon him be peace), apart from a few people, drowned in the water.

﴿وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِم نَبَأَ نُوحٍ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ إِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكُم مَّقَامِي وَتَذْكِيرِي بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَعَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ فَأَجْمِعُوا أَمْرَكُمْ وَشُرَكَاءَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُنْ أَمْرُكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ غُمَّةً ثُمَّ اقْضُوا إِلَيَّ وَلَا تُنظِرُونِ﴾wa-utlu ʿalayhim nabaʾa Nūḥin idh qāla li-qawmihi — yā qawmi in kāna kabura ʿalaykum maqāmī wa-tadhkīrī bi-āyāti Allāhi fa-ʿalā Allāhi tawakkaltu fa-ajmaʿū amrakum wa-shurakāʾakum thumma lā yakun amrukum ʿalaykum ghummatan thumma iqḍū ilayya wa-lā tunẓirūn "And recite to them the story of Nūḥ — when he said to his people: 'O my people! If my station and my reminding you of the signs of Allah are burdensome to you — then in Allah alone I place my trust. So resolve on your course of action, together with your partners, then let your course of action not remain obscure to you; then carry out against me and give me no respite.'" (Yūnus 10:71)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Tell them the story of Nūḥ — when Nūḥ said to his people: "O my people! (My brothers!) If my speaking and my preaching and admonishing you with the signs of Allah and His tokens is hateful to you (weighs heavily upon you), then I put my trust in Allah alone (in Him is my reliance). Very well — now you too make a firm resolve, call in your friends and your deities (gather them), and let your plan not remain hidden from you (nor from anyone else — come out into the open). Then do to me whatever you have to do, and give me no respite." (See! What the outcome of it will be.)

﴿فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَمَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ﴾fa-in tawallaytum fa-mā saʾaltukum min ajrin — in ajriya illā ʿalā Allāhi wa-umirtu an akūna mina al-muslimīn "But if you turn away, I have not asked you for any reward — my reward is only upon Allah, and I have been commanded to be among those who submit." (Yūnus 10:72)

Translation: If you (do not do as I say and) turn away, I do not want any recompense from you. My reward is with God alone. (What am I to do?) I am commanded to be among (God's) obedient servants (muslimīn).

Commentary: I preach to you, yet I ask for no offering and collect no donations; my work is purely for God's sake.

﴿فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ خَلَائِفَ وَأَغْرَقْنَا الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُنذَرِينَ﴾fa-kadhdhabūhu fa-najjaynāhu wa-man maʿahu fī al-fulki wa-jaʿalnāhum khalāʾifa wa-aghraqnā alladhīna kadhdhabū bi-āyātinā — fa-unẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu al-mundharīn "Then they denied him — so We saved him and those with him in the ark, and made them successors, and drowned those who denied Our signs. Observe then what was the end of those who were warned." (Yūnus 10:73)

Translation: Then the people denied Nūḥ, and We saved him (from the hands of those people), together with those who were with him in the ark, and made them vicegerents and successors; and those who used to deny Our signs We drowned. (O you who are addressed!) See and understand — what was the end of those who heard the admonition and would not accept counsel?

Commentary: Fellow seekers! What is the state of preachers and listeners today? The preachers are after offerings and want donations — or, at the very least, fame and to be called great orators. And what is the state of those who listen to counsel? They hear a great deal and act on nothing. A lecture was given, a speech was made, the cries of "bravo, bravo" rang out. They got up from the gathering having heard with one ear and let it fly out of the other. Acting on it was never the aim; "bravo, bravo" was the aim, and that has been achieved. From such preaching neither the speaker benefits nor the listeners. But from this preaching business one thing certainly does come about: God's proof is established against them. Now they should be ready for some grave outcome.

﴿ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ فَجَاءُوهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَمَا كَانُوا لِيُؤْمِنُوا بِمَا كَذَّبُوا بِهِ مِن قَبْلُ كَذَٰلِكَ نَطْبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ الْمُعْتَدِينَ﴾thumma baʿathnā min baʿdihi rusulan ilā qawmihim fa-jāʾūhum bi-l-bayyināti fa-mā kānū li-yuʾminū bi-mā kadhdhabū bihi min qablu — kadhālika naṭbaʿu ʿalā qulūbi al-muʿtadīn "Then after him We sent messengers to their respective peoples and they came to them with clear signs — but they would not believe in what they had already rejected before. Thus do We seal the hearts of the transgressors." (Yūnus 10:74)

Translation: Then after them (after Nūḥ) We sent many prophets to their peoples, and they presented clear proofs. But how would they believe in the very matters they had already denied? Thus do We set a seal upon the hearts of the rebellious.

﴿ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِم مُّوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ بِآيَاتِنَا فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ﴾thumma baʿathnā min baʿdihim Mūsā wa-Hārūna ilā Firʿawna wa-malaʾihi bi-āyātinā fa-istakbarū wa-kānū qawman mujrimīn "Then after them We sent Mūsā and Hārūn to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our signs — but they were arrogant, and they were a sinful people." (Yūnus 10:75)

Translation: Then after them We sent Mūsā and Hārūn (upon them be peace) to Pharaoh and his people with Our signs and verses. But they rebelled (and schemed), and they were indeed (very disobedient and) criminal people.

﴿فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ عِندِنَا قَالُوا إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ﴾fa-lammā jāʾahumu al-ḥaqqu min ʿindinā qālū inna hādhā la-siḥrun mubīn "But when the truth came to them from Us, they said: 'This is surely plain sorcery.'" (Yūnus 10:76)

Translation: When the truth came to them from Our presence, they said: "This is nothing but manifest sorcery."

﴿قَالَ مُوسَىٰ أَتَقُولُونَ لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءَكُمْ أَسِحْرٌ هَٰذَا وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُونَ﴾qāla Mūsā a-taqūlūna li-l-ḥaqqi lammā jāʾakum — a-siḥrun hādhā — wa-lā yufliḥu al-sāḥirūn "Mūsā said: 'Do you say of the truth when it has come to you: Is this sorcery? Yet sorcerers do not prosper.'" (Yūnus 10:77)

Translation: Mūsā (upon him be peace) said: "When the truth and miracles come to you, do you say (that it is sorcery)? Is sorcery like this? Sorcerers never attain success; they never succeed." (Success belongs to the people of truth — it may come late, but it surely comes.)

﴿قَالُوا أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَلْفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا الْكِبْرِيَاءُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾qālū a-jiʾtanā li-talfitanā ʿammā wajadnā ʿalayhi ābāʾanā wa-takūna lakumā al-kibriyāʾu fī al-arḍi wa-mā naḥnu lakumā bi-muʾminīn "They said: 'Have you come to turn us away from what we found our forefathers doing, and so that the two of you might have greatness in the land? We will not believe in the two of you.'" (Yūnus 10:78)

Translation: They (Pharaoh's people) said: "Mūsā! Have you come to us to turn us away from the way we found our forefathers following, so that all greatness in the land may be established for the two of you? We shall never believe in the two of you."

﴿وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ائْتُونِي بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ﴾wa-qāla Firʿawnu iʾtūnī bi-kulli sāḥirin ʿalīm "And Pharaoh said: Bring me every knowledgeable sorcerer." (Yūnus 10:79)

Translation: And Pharaoh said: "Bring me every skilled and expert sorcerer."

﴿فَلَمَّا جَاءَ السَّحَرَةُ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ أَلْقُوا مَا أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ﴾fa-lammā jāʾa al-saḥaratu qāla lahum Mūsā alqū mā antum mulqūn "When the sorcerers came, Mūsā said to them: 'Cast whatever you are going to cast.'" (Yūnus 10:80)

Translation: When the sorcerers came, Mūsā (upon him be peace) said to them: "Cast whatever you intend to cast."

﴿فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا قَالَ مُوسَىٰ مَا جِئْتُم بِهِ السِّحْرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ﴾fa-lammā alqaw qāla Mūsā mā jiʾtum bihi al-siḥru — inna Allāha sa-yubṭiluhu — inna Allāha lā yuṣliḥu ʿamala al-mufsidīn "When they cast, Mūsā said: 'What you have brought is sorcery — Allah will surely render it null. Allah does not set right the work of the corrupters.'" (Yūnus 10:81)

Translation: When they had cast their devices, Mūsā (upon him be peace) said: "What you have brought is sorcery. Allah will surely annul it — Allah does not make the work of the corrupters succeed." Allah will expose and destroy it; He never grants ultimate success to those who spread corruption.

﴿وَيُحِقُّ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُجْرِمُونَ﴾wa-yuḥiqqu Allāhu al-ḥaqqa bi-kalimātihi wa-law kariha al-mujrimūn "And Allah establishes the truth by His words, even though the sinners dislike it." (Yūnus 10:82)

Translation: And Allah confirms and establishes the truth through His decrees and words — though the guilty may resent it and dislike it.

﴿فَمَا آمَنَ لِمُوسَىٰ إِلَّا ذُرِّيَّةٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ عَلَىٰ خَوْفٍ مِّن فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِمْ أَن يَفْتِنَهُمْ وَإِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ لَعَالٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَإِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ﴾fa-mā āmana li-Mūsā illā dhurriyyatun min qawmihi ʿalā khawfin min Firʿawna wa-malaʾihim an yaftinuhum — wa-inna Firʿawna la-ʿālin fī al-arḍi wa-innahu la-mina al-musrifīn "But none believed in Mūsā except a group of young people among his people, out of fear that Pharaoh and his chiefs would persecute them — for Pharaoh was truly a tyrant in the land, and truly among the transgressors." (Yūnus 10:83)

Translation: Then none believed in Mūsā except people of his own nation, and they too were afraid of Pharaoh and his chiefs, lest they stir up some trial (fitna) against them. Pharaoh was indeed a great tyrant in the land, and extravagant (and given to transgressing all bounds).

﴿وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَا قَوْمِ إِن كُنتُمْ آمَنتُم بِاللَّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُوا إِن كُنتُم مُّسْلِمِينَ﴾wa-qāla Mūsā yā qawmi in kuntum āmantum bi-Llāhi fa-ʿalayhi tawakkalū in kuntum muslimīn "And Mūsā said: 'O my people! If you have believed in Allah, then in Him alone put your trust — if you are submitters to Him.'" (Yūnus 10:84)

Translation: And Mūsā (upon him be peace) said: "People! If you believe in Allah, then put your trust in Him (rely on Him), if you are Muslims" (that is, if along with sound belief you also have righteous deeds).

﴿فَقَالُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ﴾fa-qālū ʿalā Allāhi tawakkalnā — rabbanā lā tajʿalnā fitnatan li-l-qawmi al-ẓālimīn "They said: 'In Allah we place our trust. Our Lord! Do not make us a trial for the wrongdoing people.'" (Yūnus 10:85)

Translation: Then (Mūsā's) people said: "We put our trust in Allah (and rely on Him). Our Lord! Do not make us the target of the oppression and tyranny of the wrongdoing people."

﴿وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾wa-najjinā bi-raḥmatika mina al-qawmi al-kāfirīn "And deliver us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people." (Yūnus 10:86)

Translation: And deliver us, by Your mercy, from the people who disbelieve.

﴿وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَأَخِيهِ أَن تَبَوَّآ لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتًا وَاجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾wa-awḥaynā ilā Mūsā wa-akhīhi an tabawwaʾā li-qawmikumā bi-Miṣra buyūtan wa-jʿalū buyūtakum qiblatan wa-aqīmū al-ṣalāta wa-bashshiri al-muʾminīn "And We revealed to Mūsā and his brother: Settle your people in Egypt in houses, and make your houses places of worship, and establish the prayer, and give glad tidings to the believers." (Yūnus 10:87)

Translation: And We revealed to Mūsā and his brother: Stay in Egypt and make houses for your people, and make your very houses into mosques (places of prayer), and be constant in prayer; and give glad tidings to the Muslims. (That is, after every hardship comes relief: today you bear hardships, tomorrow you will find ease. Victory belongs to the truth, though it comes late.)

﴿وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ آتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالًا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا عَن سَبِيلِكَ رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَىٰ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ﴾wa-qāla Mūsā rabbanā innaka ātayta Firʿawna wa-malaʾahu zīnatan wa-amwālan fī al-ḥayāti al-dunyā — rabbanā li-yuḍillū ʿan sabīlika — rabbanā iṭmis ʿalā amwālihim wa-ishdud ʿalā qulūbihim fa-lā yuʾminū ḥattā yarawu al-ʿadhāba al-alīm "And Mūsā said: 'Our Lord! You have given Pharaoh and his chiefs splendour and wealth in the life of this world — our Lord — that they may lead astray from Your path. Our Lord! Obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts, so that they do not believe until they see the painful punishment.'" (Yūnus 10:88)

Translation: And Mūsā (upon him be peace) supplicated: "Our Lord! You have given Pharaoh and his chiefs the adornments and riches of this worldly life — O our Lord — so that they may mislead people from Your path. O our Lord! Destroy their wealth and harden their hearts so that they do not believe until they behold the painful punishment."

﴿قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا فَاسْتَقِيمَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعَانِّ سَبِيلَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾qāla qad ujībat daʿwatukumā fa-istaqīmā wa-lā tattabiʿāni sabīla alladhīna lā yaʿlamūn "He said: 'Your supplication has been accepted — so remain steadfast, and do not follow the path of those who do not know.'" (Yūnus 10:89)

Translation: (Allah the Exalted) said: "The supplication of you both has been accepted. So remain firm on the true religion, and do not follow the way of the ignorant (do not walk their path)."

﴿وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ﴾wa-jāwaznā bi-banī Isrāʾīla al-baḥra fa-atbaʿahum Firʿawnu wa-junūduhu baghyan wa-ʿadwan — ḥattā idhā adrakahu al-gharaqu qāla āmantu annahu lā ilāha illā alladhī āmanat bihi banū Isrāʾīla wa-anā mina al-muslimīn "And We brought the Children of Isrāʾīl across the sea — and Pharaoh and his army followed them in insolence and aggression — until, when drowning overtook him, he said: 'I believe that there is no god but He in whom the Children of Isrāʾīl believe, and I am among the submitters.'" (Yūnus 10:90)

Translation: And We caused the Children of Isrāʾīl to cross the sea. Pharaoh and his army pursued them in arrogance and aggression — until, when drowning had overtaken him, he said: "I believe that there is no god but He in whom the Children of Isrāʾīl believe, and I am among the Muslims (those who submit)."

﴿آلْآنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ﴾al-āna wa-qad ʿaṣayta qablu wa-kunta mina al-mufsidīn "Now? — while before this you disobeyed and were among the corrupters!" (Yūnus 10:91)

Translation: "Now you believe? — while before this you disobeyed, and you were among the corrupters!"

Commentary: Fellow seekers! Only that faith can be accepted which is faith in the unseen (īmān bi-l-ghayb) — while the angels of punishment have not yet appeared. Forgiveness is possible only up to that point; repentance is acceptable only so long as one has not been seized by the punishment. That is, faith in despair (īmān-e-yaʾs) is not acceptable. Pharaoh's faith, therefore, was mere imitation of the Children of Isrāʾīl (taqlīdī), not born of his own certainty (yaqīn).

Fellow seekers! At this point, those who read Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam fall into a misunderstanding. People who do not distinguish between tafsīr (exegesis) and iʿtibār (drawing an inner lesson) think that Shaykh Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn al-ʿArabī (raḥimahu'llāh) held that Pharaoh died a believer. Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam is a book of taṣawwuf; I have translated it. In it the Shaykh's beliefs are set out from al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya. The Shaykh does not say a single word against the Qurʾān.

What is iʿtibār? It is to mould someone's words to fit one's own state. Those who draw iʿtibār, wherever Satan, Pharaoh and other misguided ones are mentioned, apply it as an address to their own nafs (lower self). In the story of Pharaoh, Shaykh Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn al-ʿArabī has drawn this iʿtibār: "Our Pharaoh is our nafs; Mūsā is the faculty of inspiration (ilhām); Hārūn is the faculty of intellect (ʿaql). The Pharaoh of the nafs does not believe and does not attain certainty until it begins to drown in the sea of annihilation (fanāʾ). After fanāʾ the nafs no longer remains, but the faculties of inspiration and intellect remain."

All the trouble comes from taking iʿtibār for tafsīr; once it is understood as iʿtibār, no objection arises. Look! We say li-kulli Firʿawnin Mūsā — "for every Pharaoh there is a Mūsā" — and take its meaning to be: for every tyrant and rebel there is someone to crush him; for every one who has gone astray there is a guide. Can anyone honestly say there is anything wrong in that? Sukhan-shinās naʾī, Ḥāfiẓā, khaṭā īn jā-st — "You are no judge of speech, O Ḥāfiẓ: that is where the fault lies."

﴿فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ﴾fa-l-yawma nunajjīka bi-badanika li-takūna li-man khalfaka āyatan — wa-inna kathīran mina al-nāsi ʿan āyātinā la-ghāfilūn "This day We shall preserve your body, that you may be a sign for those who come after you. And indeed most people are heedless of Our signs." (Yūnus 10:92)

Translation: Today We shall bring your corpse out (of the sea), so that you may be a sign for those who come after. And many people are heedless of Our signs (remain unaware of them).

﴿وَلَقَدْ بَوَّأْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مُبَوَّأَ صِدْقٍ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ فَمَا اخْتَلَفُوا حَتَّىٰ جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ﴾wa-la-qad bawwaʾnā banī Isrāʾīla mubawwaʾa ṣidqin wa-razaqnāhum mina al-ṭayyibāti — fa-mā ikhtalafū ḥattā jāʾahumu al-ʿilmu — inna rabbaka yaqḍī baynahum yawma al-qiyāmati fī-mā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūn "And We settled the Children of Isrāʾīl in a honourable dwelling, and We provided them with good things. Then they did not differ until knowledge came to them. Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection in that wherein they differed." (Yūnus 10:93)

Translation: And We gave the Children of Isrāʾīl an excellent place to dwell, and good things to eat and drink. Then when did they fall into disagreement? Only once knowledge had come to them (that is, they create disagreement in religion knowingly). God will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection in the matters over which these people differ.

﴿فَإِن كُنتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَقَدْ جَاءَكَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ﴾fa-in kunta fī shakkin mimmā anzalnā ilayka fa-saʾali alladhīna yaqraʾūna al-kitāba min qablika — la-qad jāʾaka al-ḥaqqu min rabbika fa-lā takūnanna mina al-mumtarīn "And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed to you, ask those who were reading the Book before you. The truth has indeed come to you from your Lord, so do not be among those who doubt." (Yūnus 10:94)

Translation: And if (O you who are addressed!) you have doubt about Our revelation (Our Word), then ask those before you who are acquainted with the Books (and read them). The truth has come to you from your Lord; now do not doubt.

﴿وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾wa-lā takūnanna mina alladhīna kadhdhabū bi-āyāti Allāhi fa-takūna mina al-khāsirīn "And do not be of those who deny the signs of Allah, lest you become of the losers." (Yūnus 10:95)

Translation: And do not be among those who have denied God's signs (refused to accept them), for then you will fall into loss.

﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾inna alladhīna ḥaqqat ʿalayhim kalimatu rabbika lā yuʾminūn "Indeed, those against whom the word of your Lord has been decreed — they will not believe." (Yūnus 10:96)

Translation: Those upon whom your Lord's word has been proven true — they will not believe.

Commentary: Those whose nature (fiṭra) was corrupt, whose very reality was misguidance, whom God had declared misguided, and who in the divine knowledge and in the decree (taqdīr) were people of Hell — they will not believe.

﴿وَلَوْ جَاءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ آيَةٍ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ﴾wa-law jāʾathum kullu āyatin ḥattā yarawu al-ʿadhāba al-alīm "Even if every sign came to them — until they see the painful punishment." (Yūnus 10:97)

Translation: Even though every kind of sign and token should come to them, until they see the painful punishment (that is, until they are seized by the punishment, they will never believe).

﴿فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ﴾fa-law-lā kānat qaryatun āmanat fa-nafaʿahā īmānuhā illā qawma Yūnusa lammā āmanū kashafnā ʿanhum ʿadhāba al-khizyi fī al-ḥayāti al-dunyā wa-mattaʿnāhum ilā ḥīn "Was there then no city that believed and its belief benefited it — except the people of Yūnus? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of the world and allowed them enjoyment for a time." (Yūnus 10:98)

Translation: If only there had been a town that believed, and in such a state its believing benefited it — except the people of Yūnus (upon him be peace): when they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the worldly life, and let them enjoy and benefit for a time (We let them settle and flourish, and gave them food and drink).

Commentary: The people of Yūnus (upon him be peace) were a people among whom the signs of the approaching punishment had already appeared. When they believed, the punishment of disgrace was lifted from them, and for a time they were let to settle and flourish and to benefit from the good things of the world.

﴿وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ لَآمَنَ مَن فِي الْأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا﴾wa-law shāʾa rabbuka la-āmana man fī al-arḍi kulluhum jamīʿan "And had your Lord willed, all those on earth would have believed, all of them together." (Yūnus 10:99)

Translation: Had God willed, all the people of the whole world would have believed. (But God wills only what His wisdom requires and what the decree demands; God did not will that everyone become Muslim, and they did not.)

﴿أَفَأَنتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّىٰ يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ﴾a-fa-anta tukrihu al-nāsa ḥattā yakūnū muʾminīn "Can you then compel people to become believers?" (Yūnus 10:99)

Translation: Do you, then, (O Prophetﷺ) compel people so that they (willy-nilly become Muslims and) believe?

﴿وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تُؤْمِنَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَيَجْعَلُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ﴾wa-mā kāna li-nafsin an tuʾmina illā bi-idhni Allāhi — wa-yajʿalu al-rijsa ʿalā alladhīna lā yaʿqilūn "And it is not possible for any soul to believe except by the permission of Allah. And He places impurity upon those who do not use their reason." (Yūnus 10:100)

Translation: No one can believe without God's command. Filth becomes manifest from the one who is of poor understanding and ignorant.

Commentary: That is, God has given intellect. Those who act in accordance with it will benefit; those who are ignorant will be destroyed. As is the fixed essence (ʿayn thābita) — as is its nature and its fiṭra — so are the effects that flow from it, and so are the rulings upon it. What is this ʿayn thābita and fiṭra? It is what is known to God — God's knowledge. Nothing can happen contrary to His knowledge. And God's knowledge itself accords with the reality of the thing.

﴿قُلِ انظُرُوا مَاذَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُغْنِي الْآيَاتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾quli unẓurū mādhā fī al-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi — wa-mā tughni al-āyātu wa-l-nudhuru ʿan qawmin lā yuʾminūn "Say: Behold what is in the heavens and the earth! But signs and warners avail not a people who will not believe." (Yūnus 10:101)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Say: See what is there not in the heavens and the earth! But neither signs nor warnings can benefit people who do not believe.

﴿فَهَلْ يَنتَظِرُونَ إِلَّا مِثْلَ أَيَّامِ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قُلْ فَانتَظِرُوا إِنِّي مَعَكُم مِّنَ الْمُنتَظِرِينَ﴾fa-hal yantaẓirūna illā mithla ayyāmi alladhīna khalaw min qablihim — qul fa-intaẓirū innī maʿakum mina al-muntaẓirīn "Are they waiting for anything except the like of the days of those who passed away before them? Say: Then wait — I too am with you among those who wait." (Yūnus 10:102)

Translation: These people are waiting for nothing but (a fate) like that of the people of that age who passed before them. Very well, (O Prophetﷺ!) say: You wait; I too am waiting with you. (That is, these people will not accept until the punishment comes upon them, or the Resurrection takes place.)

﴿ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كَذَٰلِكَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نُنجِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾thumma nunajjī rusulanā wa-alladhīna āmanū — kadhālika ḥaqqan ʿalaynā nunji al-muʾminīn "Then We shall save Our messengers and those who believe — just so it is an obligation upon Us to save the believers." (Yūnus 10:103)

Translation: Then We save Our messengers and the believers in just this way; and saving the believers is necessary for Us (it is incumbent upon Us).

﴿قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِي شَكٍّ مِّن دِينِي فَلَا أَعْبُدُ الَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنْ أَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾qul yā ayyuhā al-nāsu in kuntum fī shakkin min dīnī fa-lā aʿbudu alladhīna taʿbudūna min dūni Allāhi wa-lākin aʿbudu Allāha alladhī yatawaffākum wa-umirtu an akūna mina al-muʾminīn "Say: O people! If you are in doubt about my religion — I do not worship those you worship besides Allah. But I worship Allah, Who causes you to die; and I have been commanded to be among the believers." (Yūnus 10:104)

Translation: (O Prophetﷺ!) Say: "People! If you have any doubt about my religion, then (hear this:) I shall never worship those whom you worship, leaving Allah; rather I shall serve and worship Allah — (which Allah?) the One Who will cause you to die (Who will complete the days of your life, and in Whose court you will have to answer). And I am commanded (it has been enjoined on me) to remain a believer (and a Muslim)."

﴿وَأَنْ أَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ﴾wa-an aqim wajhaka li-l-dīni ḥanīfan wa-lā takūnanna mina al-mushrikīn "And: Set your face toward the faith as a pure monotheist, and never be of the polytheists." (Yūnus 10:105)

Translation: And (I have been commanded:) Turn single-mindedly (ḥanīfan) to the pure religion, and do not be among the polytheists.

wa-lā tadʿu min dūni Allāhi mā lā yanfaʿuka wa-lā yaḍurruka — fa-in faʿalta fa-innaka idhan mina al-ẓālimīn "And do not call, besides Allah, upon what can neither benefit you nor harm you; for if you do, you will then be among the wrongdoers." (Yūnus 10:106)

Translation: And do not call, leaving God, upon such as can neither benefit you nor harm you. If you did so, then you too would be among the wrongdoers (you would fall into the darkness of disbelief and shirk).

﴿وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ وَإِن يُرِدْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَلَا رَادَّ لِفَضْلِهِ يُصِيبُ بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ﴾wa-in yamsaska Allāhu bi-ḍurrin fa-lā kāshifa lahu illā huwa — wa-in yuridka bi-khayrin fa-lā rādda li-faḍlihi — yuṣību bihi man yashāʾu min ʿibādihi wa-huwa al-Ghafūru al-Raḥīm "And if Allah afflicts you with adversity, none can remove it except Him; and if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty — He bestows it upon whomever He wills among His servants; and He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful." (Yūnus 10:107)

Translation: And (O addressed one!) if Allah should afflict you with any adversity, none can remove it except Him alone. And if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty — He grants it to whomever He wills among His servants. And He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful — the Forgiver of sins and Ever-Merciful.

﴿قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَنِ اهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا وَمَا أَنَا عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍ﴾qul yā ayyuhā al-nāsu qad jāʾakumu al-ḥaqqu min rabbikum — fa-mani ihtadā fa-innamā yahtadī li-nafsihi — wa-man ḍalla fa-innamā yaḍillu ʿalayhā — wa-mā anā ʿalaykum bi-wakīl "Say: O people! The truth has come to you from your Lord. Whoever is guided — his guidance is for his own soul; whoever goes astray — his straying is against his own soul. And I am not a guardian over you." (Yūnus 10:108)

Translation: Say (O Prophetﷺ!): "O people! The truth has come to you from your Lord. Whoever is guided — his guidance benefits himself. And whoever goes astray — his going astray harms himself. I am not appointed as a guardian over you."

Commentary: I am not responsible for your deeds, nor am I, willy-nilly, the one who arranges your affairs. As you do, so shall you reap: if you sow thorns, where will you get mangoes to eat?

wa-ittabiʿ mā yūḥā ilayka wa-iṣbir ḥattā yaḥkuma Allāhu — wa-huwa khayru al-ḥākimīn "And follow what is revealed to you, and be patient until Allah judges; and He is the best of judges." (Yūnus 10:109)

Translation: And (O Prophetﷺ!) follow whatever is being revealed to you, and be patient (over the hardships that are befalling you) until Allah gives His decisive judgement; and He is the best of all who judge.

Commentary: If He wills, He will guide them; or He will overpower them in this very world; or the decisive Resurrection will come; or He will hurl them into Hell.

Sūrat Hūd (11)