Sūrat Yā-Sīn
سورۃ یٰس
(The heading in the source text: Sūrat Yāsīn — revealed in Makkah al-Mukarrama; it has eighty-three (83) verses and five (5) rukūʿ.)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhi l-Raḥmāni l-Raḥīm.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
يس﴾ ﴿وَالْقُرْآنِ الْحَكِيمِ
Yā Sīn. Wa-l-Qurʾāni l-ḥakīm.
"Yā Sīn. By the Wise Quran." (Yāsīn 36:1–2)
Commentary: Yā Sīn — its special meaning has not been given to us. Some people say it means: "O Sayyid!" — O Master! That meaning is this — O Sayyid, O Master, O Prince, O Sire! Wa-l-Qurʾāni l-ḥakīm — by the Wise Quran — it is an oath. Al-ḥakīm — full of wisdom — and if you reflect deeply on it, you will know that this Quran is filled with wisdom — and this Quran has been sent down towards the Lord of necessity, and Muḥammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is its Prophet.
Translation: Yā Sīn — (O Master, if anyone reflects on this Quran of wisdom, they bear witness to the Prophet's prophethood) —
إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ﴾ ﴿عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Innaka la-min al-mursalīn. ʿAlā ṣirāṭin mustaqīm.
"Indeed you are of the messengers. Upon a straight path." (Yāsīn 36:3–4)
Commentary: Innaka la-min al-mursalīn — indeed you without doubt are from among the Prophets — ʿalā ṣirāṭin mustaqīm — on the straight path; be on that path — the straight path — which is the right path.
Translation: Indeed you are among the Prophets (and) on the straight path (stay on the straight path).
تَنزِيلَ الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ
Tanzīla l-ʿazīzi l-raḥīm.
"A revelation of the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful." (Yāsīn 36:5)
Commentary: Tanzīla l-ʿazīz — a revelation sent down from the All-Mighty — this is meant as a sent-down revelation. And al-Raḥīm — the Most Merciful; One who is full of mercy.
Translation: (This Quran is) sent down by the All-Mighty — it is full of power and mercy.
لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّا أُنذِرَ آبَاؤُهُمْ فَهُمْ غَافِلُونَ
Li-tundhira qawman mā undhira ābāʾuhum fa-hum ghāfilūn.
"To warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are heedless." (Yāsīn 36:6)
Commentary: Li-tundhira qawmā — so that you warn such a people — inform them with awareness — mā undhira ābāʾuhum — whose fathers and grandfathers were not warned. The Prophet ﷺ has been sent for such a people. Fa-hum ghāfilūn — therefore they are heedless — heedless, oblivious. The warning had not reached them.
Translation: (We have sent this Quran) so that you warn those people whose fathers and grandfathers were not warned — so they are heedless (oblivious).
لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَىٰ أَكْثَرِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
La-qad ḥaqqa l-qawlu ʿalā aktharihim fa-hum lā yuʾminūn.
"Already the word has come into effect upon most of them, so they do not believe." (Yāsīn 36:7)
Commentary: La-qad ḥaqqa l-qawl — indeed this word has been established, verified — settled — Allah's word has remained fixed and settled — ʿalā aktharihim — upon the majority of them. Therefore — fa-hum lā yuʾminūn — they will never bring faith — they do not keep faith at all.
Translation: Indeed Allah's word has come true about most of them — therefore they will never bring faith.
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ أَغْلَالًا فَهِيَ إِلَى الْأَذْقَانِ فَهُمْ مُّقْمَحُونَ
Innā jaʿalnā fī aʿnāqihim aghlālan fa-hiya ilā l-adhqāni fa-hum muqmaḥūn.
"Indeed, We have put shackles on their necks, and they are to the chins, so they are with heads held high." (Yāsīn 36:8)
Commentary: Innā jaʿalnā — We have put — fī aʿnāqihim — in their necks — aghlālan — iron shackles, collars — fa-hiya ilā l-adhqān — they go up to the chins — that collar of iron. Fa-hum muqmaḥūn — therefore their chins are lifted up high, they are neck-craned with their heads forced up — they cannot raise their heads, they are held up with their chins. The meaning here is that God's wrath has become their companion — they will never find the Truth, their heads forced up high.
Translation: We have placed iron collars around their necks — and they reach up to their chins — so they are forced to keep their heads up (and cannot see the path of salvation).
وَجَعَلْنَا مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَاهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ
Wa-jaʿalnā min bayni aydīhim saddan wa-min khalfihim saddan fa-aghshaynāhum fa-hum lā yubṣirūn.
"And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see." (Yāsīn 36:9)
Commentary: Wa-jaʿalnā — and We have placed — min bayni aydīhim — before them — saddan — a wall, a barrier — wa-min khalfihim saddan — and behind them a wall. Fa-aghshaynāhum — then We have encircled them from every direction, We have surrounded them. Fa-hum lā yubṣirūn — they cannot see anything — the path of salvation does not come to their sight.
Translation: And We have placed a wall before them and behind them — then We have surrounded them from every side — so the path of salvation does not appear to them.
وَسَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Wa-sawāʾun ʿalayhim a-andhartahum am lam tundhirhum lā yuʾminūn.
"And it is the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them — they will not believe." (Yāsīn 36:10)
Commentary: Wa-sawāʾun ʿalayhim — and it is equal for them — warning them and not warning them are both equal — a-andhartahum am lam tundhirhum — whether you warn or do not warn them — they do not want to bring faith — they will never bring faith. The root here is: mustawan ʿindahum indhāruhu wa-ʿadamu indhārihī lā yuʾminūn.
Translation: And it is the same for them — whether you warn them or not — they will never bring faith.
إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ مَن اتَّبَعَ الذِّكْرَ وَخَشِيَ الرَّحْمَٰنَ بِالْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَأَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ
Innamā tundhiru man ittabaʿa l-dhikra wa-khashiya l-raḥmāna bi-l-ghaybi fa-bashshirhu bi-maghfiratin wa-ajrin karīm.
"You can only warn one who follows the Reminder and fears the Most Merciful unseen. So give him glad tidings of forgiveness and a noble reward." (Yāsīn 36:11)
Commentary: Innamā tundhiru man — you can only warn one who — ittabaʿa l-dhikra — follows the Quran, follows its teaching — wa-khashiya l-raḥmāna bi-l-ghayb — and fears the Merciful, fears Allah and sees Him as a Witness even without seeing Him. Fa-bashshirhu bi-maghfiratin — so give such a person the glad tidings — two glad tidings — of forgiveness — pardon of sins, forgiveness and nobility — and give them glad tidings and reward of dignity.
Translation: You can only give guidance to such a person who follows the Quran and fears the Merciful even without seeing Him — so give such a person glad tidings of forgiveness and a noble reward.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ
Innā naḥnu nuḥyī l-mawtā wa-naktubu mā qaddamū wa-āthārahum wa-kulla shayʾin aḥṣaynāhu fī imāmin mubīn.
"Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register." (Yāsīn 36:12)
Commentary: Innā naḥnu nuḥyī l-mawtā — We give life to the dead, We bring them to life. Wa-naktubu mā qaddamū — and We write down their deeds, We record what they did before. Wa-āthārahum — and their vestiges too We have recorded. Wa-kulla shayʾin aḥṣaynāhu — and everything We have enumerated and tallied. Where? Fī imāmin mubīn — in a clear Book; by this is meant the Preserved Tablet (Lawḥ Maḥfūẓ) — the pure, original Book in which everything is recorded.
Translation: We give the dead life — and We record their past deeds and their legacies — and We have kept count of everything in the Preserved Tablet.
وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَاءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ
Wa-ḍrib lahum mathalan aṣḥāba l-qaryati idh jāʾahā l-mursalūn.
"And present to them an example: the people of the city, when the messengers came to it." (Yāsīn 36:13)
Commentary: Wa-ḍrib lahum mathalan — and set forth an example for them. What example? Aṣḥāba l-qaryati — the people of a village — by "village" is meant Antioch. Idh jāʾahā l-mursalūn — when the messengers came to them — the prophets came to give them the message — when they came as the Prophet's emissaries.
Translation: And present the example of a village (Antioch) to them — narrate the state of the village-dwellers when the Prophets arrived —
إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ مُّرْسَلُونَ
Idh arsalnā ilayhimu thnaynī fa-kadhdhabūhumā fa-ʿazzaznā bi-thālithin fa-qālū innā ilaykum mursalūn.
"When We sent to them two but they denied them, so We strengthened them with a third, and they said: 'Indeed, we are messengers to you.'" (Yāsīn 36:14)
Commentary: Idh arsalnā ilayhim ithnayn — when We sent two messengers to them — two were sent from our side — fa-kadhdhabūhumā — they denied them both, they mocked and rejected them. Fa-ʿazzaznā bi-thālithin — then We reinforced them with a third — fa-qālū — then those three messengers said: innā ilaykum mursalūn — we are indeed messengers sent to you.
Translation: When We sent two messengers to them — they denied them both — then We strengthened them with a third — and they said: We are certainly sent as messengers to you.
قَالُوا مَا أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَمَا أَنزَلَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا تَكْذِبُونَ
Qālū mā antum illā basharun mithlunā wa-mā anzala l-raḥmānu min shayʾin in antum illā takdhibūn.
"They said: 'You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only lying.'" (Yāsīn 36:15)
Commentary: Qālū — the Antioch villagers said — mā antum illā basharun mithlunā — you are nothing but human beings just like us — ordinary people — wa-mā anzala l-raḥmānu min shayʾin — and the Merciful has not sent down anything at all. In antum illā takdhibūn — you are nothing but liars — you are completely lying, this is all a lie.
Translation: They said: You are just ordinary people like us — and Allah the Merciful has not sent down anything — you are simply lying.
قَالُوا رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ
Qālū rabbunā yaʿlamu innā ilaykum la-mursalūn.
"They said: 'Our Lord knows that we are indeed messengers to you.'" (Yāsīn 36:16)
Commentary: Qālū — the messengers said — rabbunā yaʿlam — our Lord knows everything very well — innā ilaykum la-mursalūn — indeed we are without doubt sent as messengers to you.
Translation: The messengers said: Our Lord knows well — we are certainly sent as messengers to you.
وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ
Wa-mā ʿalaynā illā l-balāghu l-mubīn.
"And we are not responsible except for clear notification." (Yāsīn 36:17)
Commentary: Wa-mā ʿalaynā — and our responsibility is nothing — illā l-balāghu l-mubīn — but to convey a clear message.
Translation: And our duty is only to deliver a clear message.
قَالُوا إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهُوا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Qālū innā taṭayyarnā bikum la'in lam tantahū la-narjumannakum wa-la-yamassannakum minnā ʿadhābun alīm.
"They said: 'Indeed, we consider you a bad omen. If you do not desist, we will surely stone you, and there will surely touch you from us a painful punishment.'" (Yāsīn 36:18)
Commentary: Qālū innā taṭayyarnā bikum — the Antioch villagers said: we regard you as a bad omen, we consider you unlucky. La'in lam tantahū — if you do not stop — if you do not abandon your way — la-narjumannakum — we will certainly stone you to death. Wa-la-yamassannakum minnā ʿadhābun alīm — and certainly a painful punishment from us will reach you — a painful, wretched punishment.
Translation: They said: We regard you as a bad omen — if you do not stop we will certainly stone you to death — and a painful punishment from us will reach you.
قَالُوا طَائِرُكُم مَّعَكُمْ أَئِن ذُكِّرْتُم بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ
Qālū ṭāʾirukum maʿakum a'in dhukkirtum bal antum qawmun musrifūn.
"They said: 'Your omen is with yourselves. Is it because you were reminded? Rather, you are a transgressing people.'" (Yāsīn 36:19)
Commentary: Qālū — the messengers said — ṭāʾirukum maʿakum — your omen is with you — your bad fortune stays with you. A'in dhukkirtum — if advice comes to you — you will continue to be reminded. Bal antum qawmun musrifūn — rather you are a people who have gone far beyond the limits — your excessive wild thoughts and foolish ideas are beyond the limits of reason.
Translation: The messengers said: Your own misfortune is with you — (if advice comes) you will stay with it — rather you yourselves are overstepping the bounds.
وَجَاءَ مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَىٰ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ
Wa-jāʾa min aqṣā l-madīnati rajulun yasʿā qāla yā qawmi ttabiʿū l-mursalīn.
"And there came from the farthest end of the city a man running. He said: 'O my people, follow the messengers.'" (Yāsīn 36:20)
Commentary: Wa-jāʾa min aqṣā l-madīnati — and from the farthest end of the city — from the far side of the town — rajulun yasʿā — a man running — a single person hurrying, a person dashing. Qāla yā qawmi — he said: O my people! Ittabiʿū l-mursalīn — follow the messengers — follow the Prophets, follow the commands, obey them.
Translation: And from the far end of the city (Antioch) a man came running — he said: O my people! Follow the Prophets (obey them).
اتَّبِعُوا مَن لَّا يَسْأَلُكُمْ أَجْرًا وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ
Ittabiʿū man lā yasʾalukum ajran wa-hum muhtadūn.
"Follow those who do not ask of you any payment, and they are rightly guided." (Yāsīn 36:21)
Commentary: Ittabiʿū — follow them, follow their path. Man lā yasʾalukum ajrā — those from whom nothing in the way of reward is asked — wa-hum muhtadūn — and they are themselves on the guided path.
Translation: Follow those from whom nothing is asked in reward — and they are themselves on the right path.
(The narrative of the man from the far end of the city continues into Juzʾ 23, Wa-mālī.)
(Page 155: Cover page for Juzʾ 23 — "Wa-Mālī" — Tafsīr-e-Ṣiddīqī, Juzʾ 23 of Sūrat Yāsīn. The title page bears the title "Tafsīr-e-Ṣiddīqī" with the author's name: Bahrul Uloom Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadeer Siddiqui Rahmatullah Alaih. This page contains no commentary and is a division marker.)
وَمَالِيَ لَا أَعْبُدُ الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Wa-māli lā aʿbudu lladhī faṭaranī wa-ilayhi turjaʿūn.
"And why should I not worship the One who created me, and to whom you will be returned?" (Yāsīn 36:22)
Commentary: Wa-māli — and what has happened to me — lā aʿbudu — that I should not worship? Why should I not worship? Whom? — alladhī faṭaranī — the One who created me, who fashioned me according to the disposition of nature and made me — wa-ilayhi — and towards Him — turjaʿūn — you will all return — and He is the ultimate destination and return of all things — and all will return to Him.
Translation: And what has happened to me (O people!) that I should not worship my God (my own Creator) — the One who created me — and to Him all of you will return.
أَأَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً إِن يُرِدْنِ الرَّحْمَٰنُ بِضُرٍّ لَّا تُغْنِ عَنِّي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُنقِذُونِ
A-attakhidhu min dūnihī ālihatan in yuridni l-raḥmānu bi-ḍurrin lā tughnī ʿannī shafāʿatuhum shayʾan wa-lā yunqidhūn.
"Should I take other gods besides Him? If the Most Merciful intends me harm, their intercession will not avail me at all, nor can they save me." (Yāsīn 36:23)
Commentary: A-attakhidhu min dūnihī ālihatan — should I adopt deities besides Him — in yuridni l-raḥmānu bi-ḍurrin — if the Merciful wishes to send some calamity upon me — lā tughnī ʿannī shafāʿatuhum shayʾan — their intercession will not avail me in any way, my need will not be fulfilled — wa-lā yunqidhūn — and they cannot rescue me from this calamity. This was also the original wording here.
Translation: Should I adopt other deities besides God — when if the Merciful sends some harm upon me, their intercession will not avail me in anything (nor will any non-divine helper come to my aid) — and they cannot rescue me from calamity.
إِنِّي إِذًا لَّفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
Innī idhan la-fī ḍalālin mubīn.
"Indeed, I would then be in clear error." (Yāsīn 36:24)
Commentary: Innī — without doubt — idhan — then — by making such a choice — la-fī ḍalālin mubīn — I would be in clear, complete error — manifestly in error — clear and manifest error.
Translation: Then indeed I would fall completely into open error and going astray.
إِنِّي آمَنتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَاسْمَعُونِ
Innī āmantu bi-rabbikum fa-smaʿūn.
"Indeed, I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me." (Yāsīn 36:25)
Commentary: Innī āmantu — I have brought faith — bi-rabbikum — in your Lord — your Lord and mine — fa-smaʿūn — so listen to my advice very well — hear this very well. This was also the same.
Translation: (O people!) I have brought faith in your Lord — so listen well to this advice of mine!
قِيلَ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ
Qīla dkhuli l-jannata qāla yā layta qawmī yaʿlamūn.
"It was said: 'Enter Paradise.' He said: 'I wish my people could know.'" (Yāsīn 36:26)
Commentary: Qīla — it was said to him — udkhuli l-jannata — enter the Garden — enter Paradise. Qāla — he said — yā layta — if only! — qawmī — my people — yaʿlamūn — would know — these people would know about it.
Translation: (To the man of faith it) was said — enter the Garden — and he said: If only my people knew (what has happened).
بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ
Bi-mā ghafara lī rabbī wa-jaʿalanī min al-mukramīn.
"Of how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honoured." (Yāsīn 36:27)
Commentary: Bi-mā ghafara lī — of that forgiveness which Allah has done for me — rabbī — my Lord — wa-jaʿalanī min al-mukramīn — and made me from among the honoured and noble ones, included me among the honoured people.
Translation: (If only they knew) — how the Lord forgave me — (they would know His mercy has enveloped me, taken me into His mercy) — and He included me among the honoured and respected people.
وَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ مِن بَعْدِهِ مِن جُندٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا كُنَّا مُنزِلِينَ
Wa-mā anzalnā ʿalā qawmihī min baʿdihī min jundin min al-samāʾi wa-mā kunnā munzilīn.
"And We did not send down upon his people after him any soldiers from the heaven, nor would We have done so." (Yāsīn 36:28)
Commentary: Wa-mā anzalnā ʿalā qawmihī — and We did not send down upon his people — min baʿdihī — after him — after his death — min jundin min al-samāʾi — any army from the sky — armies from above — and We did not need to send any army. Wa-mā kunnā munzilīn — and We would not have needed to send any.
Translation: We did not send any army from the sky upon that people after him — We did not need to send any.
(Commentary): Friends! This person thought their people had believed in them — but He considered them martyred. And after them We did not send any army from the sky — We did not need to.
إِن كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَاهُمْ خَامِدُونَ
In kānat illā ṣayḥatan wāḥidatan fa-idhā hum khāmidūn.
"It was not but a single shout, and immediately they were extinguished." (Yāsīn 36:29)
Commentary: In kānat — it was nothing — illā ṣayḥatan wāḥidatan — but a single, one-time harsh, severe shout, blast — one single voice — fa-idhā hum khāmidūn — then they were all extinguished — then all of them fell silent and cold like fire that has gone out.
Translation: (For those wrongdoers) a single harsh cry came — and they were all silenced and extinguished (they died).
يَا حَسْرَةً عَلَى الْعِبَادِ مَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
Yā ḥasratan ʿalā l-ʿibādi mā yaʾtīhim min rasūlin illā kānū bihī yastahziʾūn.
"How regrettable for the servants! No messenger came to them except that they were ridiculing him." (Yāsīn 36:30)
Commentary: Yā ḥasratan ʿalā l-ʿibād — how regrettable for the people — what a wretched state of these servants! Mā yaʾtīhim min rasūlin — whenever any prophet came to them — illā kānū bihī yastahziʾūn — they would mock that prophet and ridicule him.
Translation: (What a wretched state) — how regrettable for these servants! — whenever a prophet came to them, they mocked him and made a joke of him.
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ الْقُرُونِ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ
Alam yaraw kam ahlaknā qablahum min al-qurūni annahum ilayhim lā yarjiʿūn.
"Do they not see how many generations We have destroyed before them, that they to them will not return?" (Yāsīn 36:31)
Commentary: Alam yaraw — have these people not seen this — kam ahlaknā qablahum — how many peoples We have destroyed before them, how many We have ruined — min al-qurūn — from the generations, communities, groups who came before. Annahum ilayhim lā yarjiʾūn — that they will never return to this world — after dying they will not return.
Translation: Have they not reflected that We have destroyed many generations of peoples before them — those who will never return to this world?
وَإِن كُلٌّ لَّمَّا جَمِيعٌ لَّدَيْنَا مُحْضَرُونَ
Wa-in kullun lammā jamīʿun ladaynā muḥḍarūn.
"And indeed, all of them will yet be brought present before Us." (Yāsīn 36:32)
Commentary: Wa-in kullun — and yet all — lammā — but — jamīʿun — all together — ladaynā — our side — muḥḍarūn — they will be brought to us — they will be hauled in.
Translation: But none of them is like that — they will all be brought in before Us.
وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمُ الْأَرْضُ الْمَيْتَةُ أَحْيَيْنَاهَا وَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهَا حَبًّا فَمِنْهُ يَأْكُلُونَ
Wa-āyatun lahumu l-arḍu l-maytatu aḥyaynāhā wa-akhrajnā minhā ḥabban fa-minhu yaʾkulūn.
"And a sign for them is the dead earth. We gave it life and brought forth from it grain, and from it they eat." (Yāsīn 36:33)
Commentary: Wa-āyatun lahum — and one sign is there for them — for people. Al-arḍu l-maytatu — the dead, dry earth — aḥyaynāhā — We gave it life, brought it to life — wa-akhrajnā minhā ḥabban — and We brought out grain from it — wheat, barley, seeds and the like — grains and cereals. Fa-minhu yaʾkulūn — then from this they eat.
Translation: And a sign for people is that dry earth — We made it fresh and alive — and We brought out grain and wheat from it — people eat from it.
(Commentary:) Friends! The One who can bring this earth to life from crops extracted by it — that same One also has the power to bring dead people back to life after death — that is Resurrection, twice over, a new reckoning.
وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا جَنَّاتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ وَفَجَّرْنَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْعُيُونِ
Wa-jaʿalnā fīhā jannātin min nakhīlin wa-aʿnābin wa-fajjarnā fīhā min al-ʿuyūn.
"And We made therein gardens of palm trees and grapevines and caused to burst forth therein some springs." (Yāsīn 36:34)
Commentary: Wa-jaʿalnā fīhā — and We made in the earth — jannātin — gardens, various kinds of gardens — min nakhīlin wa-aʿnābin — of palm trees and grapevines — date-palms and grapes. Wa-fajjarnā fīhā min al-ʿuyūn — and We caused springs to flow in those gardens.
Translation: And We made in the earth gardens of palms and vines — and We caused springs to flow therein.
(Why?)
لِيَأْكُلُوا مِن ثَمَرِهِ وَمَا عَمِلَتْهُ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَفَلَا يَشْكُرُونَ
Li-yaʾkulū min thamarihī wa-mā ʿamilathu aydīhim afa-lā yashkurūn.
"So that they may eat of its fruit and what their hands have made. Will they not then be grateful?" (Yāsīn 36:35)
Commentary: Li-yaʾkulū — so that the people may eat — min thamarihī — from the fruits — wa-mā ʿamilathu aydīhim — and the grain that their hands produced — by farming, through cultivation — their own hands brought out that grain. Afa-lā yashkurūn — then will the people not be grateful — so then why not show gratitude for this gift of Allah — so then will people not acknowledge and be grateful?
Translation: (All this We did so:) so that people may eat the fruits (and benefit from them) and (also benefit from) the grain that their own hands produced by farming — so then will people not be grateful for this?
(Commentary, continued:) (O people! What has Allah done for you with His kindness — will you not acknowledge and show gratitude?)
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Subḥāna lladhī khalaqa l-azwāja kullahā mimmā tunbitu l-arḍu wa-min anfusihim wa-mimmā lā yaʿlamūn.
"Exalted is He who created all pairs — from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know." (Yāsīn 36:36)
Commentary: Subḥāna — He is pure — alladhī — the One who — khalaqa — created — al-azwāja kullahā — all pairs, every kind of pair — all pairs of every sort. Mimmā tunbitu l-arḍ — of what the earth grows — all growing things — wa-min anfusihim — and from themselves — from humans; they too come in pairs — wa-mimmā lā yaʿlamūn — and those things which people do not know — those hidden things which people do not know about.
(Commentary:) How wretched is humanity! From human imaginations and how it all came to be. Where were you before? Allah Almighty has created the entire world's plants, animals and vegetation and humans' essential things — you were not even your own master — until He created you. O weak human! You were previously where — you originated from where? How did you come about? Then how can you not acknowledge the Creator? These are the ones who do not accept the Lord of the Worlds — why do they waste themselves so?
(The author quotes a verse of poetry:)
ع — Bāz bāz ā, ānjā bes-tī bāz ā!
"Come back, come back — into that very nothingness, come back!"
÷ Sad bār agar tawba shikastī bāz ā
"Even if a hundred times you have broken your repentance — come back!"
وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمُ اللَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَاهُم مُّظْلِمُونَ
Wa-āyatun lahumu l-laylu naslikhu minhu l-nahāra fa-idhā hum muẓlimūn.
"And a sign for them is the night. We strip it of the day, and at once they are in darkness." (Yāsīn 36:37)
Commentary: Wa-āyatun lahum — and a sign and demonstration is there for people — al-laylu — the night — it is a sign for them. Naslikhu minhu l-nahāra — We strip the day from it — peel it out — meaning the close of the month: the 29th, 30th — the end of the days of Ramaḍān — minha l-nahāra — We strip the day from it. Fa-idhā hum muẓlimūn — then they are all in darkness — darkness surrounds them, they are in dark.
Translation: And a sign for people is the night — that We strip the day from it (bring night) — then they are suddenly in darkness (the night ends its day, and suddenly there is day, and suddenly all of it is covered in dark — the whole world has been covered in darkness).
وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ
wa-l-shamsu tajrī li-mustaqarrin lahā dhālika taqdīru l-ʿazīzi l-ʿalīm.
"And the sun runs on its appointed course — that is the decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing." (Yā-Sīn 36:38)
Al-shamsu — the sun, which is also one of the signs of Allah. Tajrī — it flows, it moves. Li-mustaqarrin lahā — towards its appointed resting-place, its fixed station. Dhālika — this. Taqdīru — the precise measure, the authoritative decree. Al-ʿazīz — the Possessor of honour and might. Al-ʿalīm — the All-Knowing, the Master of wisdom.
Translation: "The sun also — it is one of the signs — and it moves on, running continuously through its appointed stations. This is the decree of Allah, the Lord of honour and wisdom."
Now, esteemed readers, some people are of the opinion that the earth is stationary and the sun revolves around it, while others hold that the sun is stationary and the earth and the other planets revolve around it. Both views, however, are in agreement on one essential point: that the sun does move — this is unanimously accepted by all. We do not need to investigate the matter further; what we need to establish is simply that the sun runs along its course, and this is something that stands before the power of the divine — and before such majestic divine decree, our minds are altogether incapable of comprehending it. Allah Most High has set the sun on its course, and it cannot deviate from it in the slightest.
وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ
wa-l-qamara qaddarnāhu manāzila ḥattā ʿāda ka-l-ʿurjūni l-qadīm.
"And the moon — We have determined for it phases, until it returns like the old dried date-stalk." (Yā-Sīn 36:39)
Al-qamara qaddarnāhu — and the moon: We have measured out for it precise phases. Manāzil — its stations, the phases of its monthly orbit. Ḥattā ʿāda — until it returns to such a state that it becomes like. Ka-l-ʿurjūni — like the withered curved branch of a date-palm. Al-qadīm — the ancient, the one that has become old and bent.
Translation: "And We have determined precise phases for the moon, by which it passes through its stations until it returns to the appearance of an old withered branch of a date-palm."
لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِي لَهَا أَن تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ
lā l-shamsu yanbaghī lahā an tudrika l-qamara wa-lā l-laylu sābiqu l-nahāri wa-kullun fī falakin yasbaḥūn.
"It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outrun the day — and each floats in its own orbit." (Yā-Sīn 36:40)
Lā l-shamsu yanbaghī lahā — it is not proper for the sun, it is not befitting. An tudrika l-qamara — that it should catch up with the moon and seize it. Wa-lā l-laylu sābiqun — and neither does the night outrun or precede. Al-nahār — the day; for the night cannot come before the day has passed, and the day cannot overtake the night. Wa-kullun fī falakin — and everything, all of them, are in their own orbit — a circular path in the heavens. Yasbaḥūn — they swim, they glide.
Translation: "The sun cannot overreach and seize the moon — and the night cannot come before the day has run its course. Each one of them floats, gliding along, in its own circular orbit."
وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمْ أَنَّا حَمَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ
wa-āyatun lahum annā ḥamalnā dhurriyyatahum fī l-fulki l-mashḥūn.
"And a sign for them is that We carried their offspring in the laden ship." (Yā-Sīn 36:41)
Wa-āyatun lahum — and a sign, another proof, for them. Annā ḥamalnā — that We carried. Dhurriyyatahum — their progeny, their descendants. Dhurra — the fine particles of dust, the minute components — and from this the progeny are so called, because they are formed from the minutest elements. Fī l-fulki — in the ship; in the vessel. Al-mashḥūn — the fully-laden, the heavily-loaded ship.
Translation: "And a sign for them (to ponder) is that We carried their entire lineage on board a fully-laden vessel."
Esteemed readers, it is the view of some exegetes that this verse alludes to the Ark of the Prophet Nūḥ (upon him be peace) and to his companions, those whom Allah Most High saved from the flood through this vessel. The magnitude of the flood was such that there was no trace or sign of human settlement left. It was of an extent in those ancient times that no windswept or rowing vessel built before that time could match. Although today the steam-ship, the motor-car, and the aeroplane have made the battle against wind and flood more manageable, even now when a storm strikes at sea the ship is tossed in enormous swells and the feeling of death's proximity takes hold — and in such moments the remembrance of Allah comes naturally to the heart.
وَخَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّن مِّثْلِهِ مَا يَرْكَبُونَ
wa-khalaqnā lahum min mithlihi mā yarkabūn.
"And We created for them of its like what they ride." (Yā-Sīn 36:42)
Wa-khalaqnā lahum — and We created for them. Min mithlihi — of its likeness, similar to the ship. Mā yarkabūn — what they ride upon — such things as they mount for travel. These include the railway, the motorcar, the aeroplane, and other conveyances — for people ride upon all of these.
Translation: "And We created for them, similar to that ship, the means they ride upon — and all the peoples of the world ride upon them."
وَإِن نَّشَأْ نُغْرِقْهُمْ فَلَا صَرِيخَ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنقَذُونَ
wa-in nashʾ nughriqqhum fa-lā ṣarīkha lahum wa-lā hum yunqadhūn.
"And if We will, We shall drown them — then there will be no one to cry out for them, nor will they be saved." (Yā-Sīn 36:43)
Wa-in nashāʾ — and if We so wish. Nughriqqhum — We shall drown them, We shall cause them to sink. Fa-lā ṣarīkha lahum — then there will be no cry heard for them, no one to call out, no one to hear their plea. Ṣarīkh — the one who shouts and screams in distress, who cries for help and whose cries reach the ears. Wa-lā hum yunqadhūn — and they will not be rescued from this calamity, nor will there be any means of their salvation.
Translation: "And if We so will, We shall drown them — and then there will be no one to hear their cries, no one to appeal to, and they will not be rescued from this affliction. (They will be drowned and there will be no means of escape for them.)"
إِلَّا رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا وَمَتَاعًا إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
illā raḥmatan minnā wa-matāʿan ilā ḥīn.
"But as a mercy from Us and as enjoyment for a time." (Yā-Sīn 36:44)
Illā raḥmatan minnā — but it is only our mercy. Wa-matāʿan — and an enjoyment, a benefit, a taking of life's pleasures. Ilā ḥīn — up to a fixed appointed time.
Translation: "(This calamity cannot be lifted from them) except by our mercy — and they will benefit for only a short while longer."
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّقُوا مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَمَا خَلْفَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
wa-idhā qīla lahumu ttaqū mā bayna aydīkum wa-mā khalfakum laʿallakum turḥamūn.
"And when it is said to them: 'Fear what is before you and what is behind you, that perhaps you may receive mercy.'" (Yā-Sīn 36:45)
Wa-idhā qīla lahum — and when it is said to them. Ittaqū — guard yourselves, be wary, take precaution. Mā bayna aydīkum — what is before you, what stands immediately in your path. Wa-mā khalfakum — and what is behind you, what will come after your death. Laʿallakum turḥamūn — so that you may be shown mercy, so that Allah may bestow His grace upon you.
Translation: "And when it is said to them (in admonition): 'Guard yourselves against what stands before you and what will follow after your death' — so that you may receive mercy."
وَمَا تَأْتِيهِم مِّنْ آيَةٍ مِّنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانُوا عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ
wa-mā taʾtīhim min āyatin min āyāti rabbihim illā kānū ʿanhā muʿriḍīn.
"And no sign comes to them from the signs of their Lord except that they turn away from it." (Yā-Sīn 36:46)
Wa-mā taʾtīhim — and there does not come to them. Min āyatin — any sign whatsoever. Min āyāti rabbihim — from among the signs of their Lord, whether in the heavens or on the earth. Illā kānū ʿanhā muʿriḍīn — except that they are those who turn away from it, those who avert their faces, those who are obstinately heedless.
Translation: "And whenever any sign from the signs of their Lord comes to them, these people turn their faces away from it (they reject it)."
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَنفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنُطْعِمُ مَن لَّوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ أَطْعَمَهُ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
wa-idhā qīla lahum anfiqū mimmā razaqakumu llāhu qāla lladhīna kafarū lil-ladhīna āmanū a-nuṭʿimu man law yashāʾu llāhu aṭʿamahū in antum illā fī ḍalālin mubīn.
"And when it is said to them: 'Spend of what Allah has provided for you,' those who disbelieve say to those who believe: 'Shall we feed one whom, if Allah had willed, He would have fed? You are in nothing but manifest error.'" (Yā-Sīn 36:47)
Wa-idhā qīla lahum — and when it is said to them. Anfiqū — spend, give charity, lay out in the way of Allah, give from what Allah has provided. Mimmā razaqakumu llāhu — from what Allah has given you as provision. The disbelievers then say to the believers — qāla lladhīna kafarū — a-nuṭʿimu — shall we feed, shall we provide food. Man — to the one whom. Law yashāʾu llāhu aṭʿamahū — if Allah had wished He would have fed him Himself, had He given him from His own bounty. In antum illā — you are in nothing but. Fī ḍalālin mubīn — in clear, open misguidance.
Translation: "And when it is said to them (by the believers): 'Spend something in the way of Allah from what He has given you,' then the disbelievers say to the believers: 'Shall we feed those whom Allah could have fed if He had wished? (He has not given them, so what business is it of ours?) You are clearly in open error.'"
Esteemed readers, when the time comes to help the poor, some people say this and claim that those who are destitute are so by divine decree. But the matter at issue is not their own destiny — it is that we should give. No one can change another's destiny. But at this very moment there is a call of divine decree upon us — we have what Allah has given; He wants us to spend it on the poor. Let us reflect on this.
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
wa-yaqūlūna matā hādhā l-waʿdu in kuntum ṣādiqīn.
"And they say: 'When will this promise come to pass, if you are truthful?'" (Yā-Sīn 36:48)
Wa-yaqūlūna — and they say. Matā hādhā l-waʿdu — when will this promise be fulfilled? The promise of the Day of Judgement — when will it come? In kuntum ṣādiqīn — if you are truthful. In other words: tell us, be precise, when will this promise arrive? If you are true in what you say, then say it clearly and tell us.
Translation: "And they say: 'When will this promise be fulfilled — when will the Day of Judgement come? If you are truthful, just tell us.'"
مَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً تَأْخُذُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَخِصِّمُونَ
mā yanẓurūna illā ṣayḥatan wāḥidatan taʾkhudhuhum wa-hum yakhiṣṣimūn.
"They await nothing but a single Blast that will seize them while they are still disputing." (Yā-Sīn 36:49)
Mā yanẓurūna — they are not waiting, they are not expecting. Illā ṣayḥatan wāḥidatan — except one single Blast, one mighty Cry. Taʾkhudhuhum — it will seize them, it will take hold of them. Wa-hum yakhiṣṣimūn — while they are still quarreling with one another, still arguing back and forth. The original form was yakhtaṣimūna — the chapter (bāb) is not tafaʿʿul but iftʿāl, the form of mutual action.
Translation: "These people will keep on waiting arrogantly, but suddenly one thunderous Blast will seize them — and they will still be quarreling among themselves when this punishment strikes."
فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ تَوْصِيَةً وَلَا إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
fa-lā yastaṭīʿūna tawṣiyatan wa-lā ilā ahlihim yarjiʿūn.
"They will not be able to make any testament, nor will they return to their families." (Yā-Sīn 36:50)
Fa-lā yastaṭīʿūna tawṣiyatan — they will not be able to make a will or give any final counsel to another. Wa-lā ilā ahlihim yarjiʿūn — and they will not be able to return to their homes and families.
Translation: "(So sudden will this calamity be that) they will not be able to give any final instructions and will not be able to return to their homes and families."
وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَإِذَا هُم مِّنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَنسِلُونَ
wa-nufikha fī l-ṣūri fa-idhā hum mina l-ajdāthi ilā rabbihim yansilūn.
"And the Trumpet will be blown — and behold, from their graves they will hasten towards their Lord." (Yā-Sīn 36:51)
Wa-nufikha fī l-ṣūri — and the Trumpet will be blown; the horn will be sounded. Fa-idhā hum — then suddenly they will be. Mina l-ajdāthi — from the graves, from those very same graves. Ilā rabbihim — towards their Lord, racing to meet their Lord. Yansilūn — they will come running, they will hasten rapidly.
Translation: "And when the Trumpet is blown, then all people will come rushing out of their graves and hasten towards their Lord."
قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا مَن بَعَثَنَا مِن مَّرْقَدِنَا هَٰذَا مَا وَعَدَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَصَدَقَ الْمُرْسَلُونَ
qālū yā waylanā man baʿathanā min marqadinā hādhā mā waʿada l-raḥmānu wa-ṣadaqa l-mursalūn.
"They will say: 'Woe to us! Who has raised us from our resting-place? This is what the Most Merciful had promised, and the Messengers spoke the truth!'" (Yā-Sīn 36:52)
Qālū — they will cry out. Yā waylanā — woe to us! Alas, our destruction! Man baʿathanā min marqadinā — who has raised us from our sleeping-place? [It is worth noting here that in the entire Qurʾān there are only four places where one should pause to read without a breath — (1) Sūrat al-Kahf, (2) Sūrat Yā-Sīn, (3) Sūrat al-Muṭaffifīn, (4) Sūrat al-Muṭaffifīn — one should pause at these but not hold the breath completely; rather, one should just pause slightly and continue reading.]
The answer will come: hādhā mā waʿada l-raḥmānu wa-ṣadaqa l-mursalūn — this is the thing that the Merciful Lord had promised, and the Prophets had indeed spoken the truth.
Translation: "They will cry out: 'Oh, our misfortune! Who has raised us from our resting-place? This is the very thing that Allah (the Most Merciful) had promised and that the Prophets had declared as truth.'"
إِن كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ جَمِيعٌ لَّدَيْنَا مُحْضَرُونَ
in kānat illā ṣayḥatan wāḥidatan fa-idhā hum jamīʿun ladaynā muḥḍarūn.
"It will have been no more than a single Blast — and behold, they will all be brought before Us." (Yā-Sīn 36:53)
In kānat illā ṣayḥatan wāḥidatan — it will be nothing but a single mighty Blast, nothing more than one thunderous Cry. Fa-idhā hum jamīʿun — and then all of them at once. Ladaynā muḥḍarūn — will be brought and presented before Us; at once they will all be in Our presence.
Translation: "It will be nothing more than a single mighty Blast — and by that one Blast all will be presented before Us at once."
فَالْيَوْمَ لَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا وَلَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
fa-l-yawma lā tuẓlamu nafsun shayʾan wa-lā tujzawna illā mā kuntum taʿmalūn.
"So this Day no soul will be wronged at all, and you will not be recompensed except for what you used to do." (Yā-Sīn 36:54)
Fa-l-yawma — so on this Day. Lā tuẓlamu nafsun — no person will be wronged, no one will be treated unjustly, nothing will be laid on any individual. Shayʾan — in any respect, not even a little. Wa-lā tujzawna — and you will not be recompensed, you will not be given any reward or punishment. Illā mā kuntum taʿmalūn — except for the very deeds you were doing; for the very things you did in the world, you will receive exactly that return.
Translation: "Today no injustice will be done to anyone — and you will receive nothing but the fruits of what you yourselves were doing."
إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ الْيَوْمَ فِي شُغُلٍ فَاكِهُونَ
inna aṣḥāba l-jannati l-yawma fī shughulin fākihūn.
"Indeed, the companions of Paradise today are occupied in joyful delight." (Yā-Sīn 36:55)
Inna aṣḥāba l-jannati l-yawma — indeed, the people of Paradise today. Fī shughulin — are in a state of occupation, engaged in their own joyful pursuits. Fākihūn — those who are delighted at heart, those who rejoice and are pleased, those who gather the fruits of their labours.
Translation: "The people of Paradise will, without doubt, be joyfully occupied on that Day (engaged in their pleasant work, reaping the fruits of their deeds)."
هُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُهُمْ فِي ظِلَالٍ عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ مُتَّكِئُونَ
hum wa-azwājuhum fī ẓilālin ʿalā l-arāʾiki muttakiʾūn.
"They and their spouses — in shade, reclining on thrones." (Yā-Sīn 36:56)
Hum wa-azwājuhum — they and their wives in Paradise. Fī ẓilālin — in shades, in the cool shadows. ʿAlā l-arāʾiki — upon raised couches, upon adorned thrones. Muttakiʾūn — reclining, leaning in ease and comfort.
Translation: "They and their wives will be in the cool shades of Paradise, reclining upon adorned couches (with every ease and comfort)."
لَهُمْ فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَلَهُم مَّا يَدَّعُونَ
lahum fīhā fākihatun wa-lahum mā yadda ʿūn.
"For them therein is every fruit, and for them is whatever they call for." (Yā-Sīn 36:57)
Lahum fīhā fākihatun — for them in Paradise will be every variety of fruit; there will be no shortage of fruit whatsoever. Wa-lahum mā yadduʿūn — and whatever they call for and whatever they desire will come to them. Whatever wish they express will be granted.
Translation: "For them there will be every fruit and whatever they desire will be given to them."
سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِّن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ
salāmun qawlan min rabbin raḥīm.
"Peace — a word from a Most Merciful Lord." (Yā-Sīn 36:58)
Salāmun qawlan — greetings of peace will be announced. Min rabbin raḥīmim — from a Most Merciful Lord, from the side of the Compassionate Nurturer.
Translation: "A greeting of peace will be conveyed to them from their Most Merciful Lord."
وَامْتَازُوا الْيَوْمَ أَيُّهَا الْمُجْرِمُونَ
wa-mtāzū l-yawma ayyuhā l-mujrimūn.
"And be separated today, O you criminals!" (Yā-Sīn 36:59)
Wa-mtāzū — and separate yourselves, depart, move aside from the believers. Al-yawma — today. Ayyuhā l-mujrimūn — O you criminals! O you sinners, O you transgressors!
Translation: "O criminals, sinners, and polytheists — move aside today! (Be separated.)"
أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
a-lam aʿhad ilaykum yā banī ādama an lā taʿbudū l-shayṭāna innahū lakum ʿaduwwun mubīn.
"Did I not charge you, O children of Adam, that you should not worship Satan? Indeed, he is a manifest enemy to you." (Yā-Sīn 36:60)
A-lam aʿhad ilaykum — did I not make a covenant with you, did I not give you a firm command? Yā banī ādama — O children of Adam, O children of Adam! An lā taʿbudū l-shayṭāna — that you should not worship Satan, that you should not obey him, that you should not follow him. Innahū lakum ʿaduwwun mubīn — indeed, without doubt, he is your open and manifest enemy.
Translation: "And He will say: O children of Adam! Did I not give you the command that you should not worship Satan — for he is certainly your open enemy?"
وَأَنِ اعْبُدُونِي هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
wa-ani ʿbudūnī hādhā ṣirāṭun mustaqīm.
"And that you should worship Me — this is the straight path." (Yā-Sīn 36:61)
Wa-ani ʿbudūnī — and that you should worship Me, that you should adore Me alone. Hādhā ṣirāṭun mustaqīmun — this is the straight path, this is the direct and right road.
Translation: "And that you should worship Me alone — this is indeed the straight path (and the right road)."
وَلَقَدْ أَضَلَّ مِنكُمْ جِبِلًّا كَثِيرًا أَفَلَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْقِلُونَ
wa-laqad aḍalla minkum jibillan kathīran a-fa-lam takūnū taʿqilūn.
"And he indeed led astray from among you a great multitude — did you not understand?" (Yā-Sīn 36:62)
Wa-laqad aḍalla — and he most certainly led astray. Minkum — from among you. Jibillan kathīran — a very large multitude of creation. A-fa-lam takūnū taʿqilūn — did you not understand anything, did you not apply any intelligence? Did you not use your God-given reason?
Translation: "And that Satan led a very great multitude of you into misguidance — did you not even understand this? Did you not reflect on it at all?"
هَٰذِهِ جَهَنَّمُ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
hādhihi jahannamu llatī kuntum tūʿadūn.
"This is Hell which you were promised!" (Yā-Sīn 36:63)
Hādhihi jahannamu — this is Hell, this is the Fire. Allatī kuntum tūʿadūn — the very one which you were promised, which was foretold to you.
Translation: "This is the Hell which was promised to you (and whose promise has now been fulfilled)."
اصْلَوْهَا الْيَوْمَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
iṣlawhā l-yawma bi-mā kuntum takfurūn.
"Enter and burn in it today for what you used to disbelieve." (Yā-Sīn 36:64)
Iṣlawhā — enter it, go into the Fire. Al-yawma — today. Bi-mā kuntum takfurūn — because of the disbelief you were engaged in.
Translation: "Enter the Fire today on account of the disbelief you persisted in."
الْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَىٰ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَا أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
al-yawma nakhtimu ʿalā afwāhihim wa-tukallimunā aydīhim wa-tashhadu arjuluhum bi-mā kānū yaksibūn.
"Today We shall seal their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will bear witness to what they used to earn." (Yā-Sīn 36:65)
Al-yawma nakhtimu — today We shall set a seal. ʿAlā afwāhihim — upon their mouths. Wa-tukallimunā aydīhim — and their hands will speak to Us, they will give reply by speaking — for the animal spirit (rūḥ ḥaywānī) within them will cause every part of the body to speak up. Wa-tashhadu arjuluhum — and their feet will also bear witness. Bi-mā kānū yaksibūn — for whatever they were doing, all that they did.
Translation: "Today We shall seal their mouths and speak with their hands, and their feet too will give testimony of their deeds (what they were doing and what they used to do)."
وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَطَمَسْنَا عَلَىٰ أَعْيُنِهِمْ فَاسْتَبَقُوا الصِّرَاطَ فَأَنَّىٰ يُبْصِرُونَ
wa-law nashāʾu laṭamasnā ʿalā aʿyunihim fa-stabaqa l-ṣirāṭa fa-annā yubṣirūn.
"And if We willed, We would have obliterated their eyes — then they would race to find the path, but how would they see?" (Yā-Sīn 36:66)
Wa-law nashāʾu — and if We had wished (even here in the world). Laṭamasnā ʿalā aʿyunihim — We would have blotted out their eyes, We would have erased their sight entirely, We would have obliterated them, blinded them, deprived them of sight, and withheld every Divine grace. Fa-stabaqa l-ṣirāṭa — then they would rush to find the road, they would try with great effort to take the straight path. Fa-annā yubṣirūn — then how would they see? They would not know where the right way is or where to go; they would not be able to see, to think, to understand — they would not even know where the straight path is.
Translation: "And if We had wished, We would have blotted out their eyes — and then they would go scrambling to find the path, but how would they be able to see? They would not be able to return."
Esteemed readers, in the Qurʾān Sharīf it is stated (in Sūrat Banī Isrāʾīl, verse 44): "And there is not a single thing except that it glorifies His praise — but you do not understand their glorification." Everything in this world, from the smallest particle to the greatest orb of the sun, is full of the light of the soul, and everything is engaged in remembering Allah — the hand of every foot is unaware! And the foot too has its spirit. The human spirit (nafs insānī) is the ruler of all, prior to which the animal spirit (rūḥ ḥaywānī) governs every part of the body. The human spirit governs the animal spirit, but on the Day of Judgement when every organ of the human body testifies, these organs that the human has used will all present their testimony before the Divine Court.
وَمَن نُّعَمِّرْهُ نُنَكِّسْهُ فِي الْخَلْقِ أَفَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ
wa-man nuʿammirhu nunakkishu fī l-khalqi a-fa-lā yaʿqilūn.
"And he whom We grant long life — We cause him to decline in strength. Do they not then understand?" (Yā-Sīn 36:68)
Wa-man nuʿammirhu — and the one whose life We extend, to whom We grant long years. Nunakkishu fī l-khalqi — We reduce him in physical constitution; We bring him back to weakness from strength, from the heights of vigour to the depths of decrepitude, from the state of honour to the state of humility. We make him bent over. A-fa-lā yaʿqilūn — do they not understand then? Do they not think at all? Do they have no intelligence?
Translation: "And whoever We grant a long life, We cause all his powers to diminish — do people not understand this at all?"
وَمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ الشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنبَغِي لَهُ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْآنٌ مُّبِينٌ
wa-mā ʿallamnāhu l-shiʿra wa-mā yanbaghī lahū in huwa illā dhikrun wa-qurʾānun mubīn.
"And We did not teach him poetry, nor is it befitting for him. It is nothing but a Reminder and a clear Qurʾān." (Yā-Sīn 36:69)
Wa-mā ʿallamnāhu l-shiʿra — and We did not teach him (our Prophet ﷺ) the art of poetry. Wa-mā yanbaghī lahū — nor is it fitting for him, nor is it appropriate for him. In huwa illā dhikrun — it is nothing but a remembrance, a reminder. Wa-qurʾānun mubīnun — and a clear Qurʾān, the manifest speech of Allah — which they recite.
Translation: "And We did not teach him (our Prophet ﷺ) poetry, nor was it fitting for him — this is simply a reminder, and a clear speech of Allah (which they recite)."
It is apparent that the work of the poet is merely to create emotions — whether distant events or nearby ones, so long as they fall near to the heart and the emotions align with them. For some people rhyme and metre in poetry are also necessary — the rhyme brings pleasure to the ear. And in poetry there is no requirement of intention: poets say things a thousand times a day in conversation, and those things are in verse but also in prose. But this is not speech at all — because poetry's purpose is not sincere counsel. The work of the preacher and the admonisher is to give useful instruction and useful counsel — this is indeed the most important condition of poetry: that in poetry there should be the intention, and the Prophet ﷺ exemplifies this magnificently — for whatever he says conforms to the reality of events.
لِّيُنذِرَ مَن كَانَ حَيًّا وَيَحِقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ
li-yundhira man kāna ḥayyan wa-yaḥiqqa l-qawlu ʿalā l-kāfirīn.
"That it may warn whoever is alive and that the Word may be established against the disbelievers." (Yā-Sīn 36:70)
Li-yundhira — so that it warns, so that it gives terrifying notice. Man kāna ḥayyan — the one who is alive — but which alive? It is the one whose heart is awake, whose inner being is not dead. Wa-yaḥiqqa l-qawlu ʿalā l-kāfirīn — and so that the Word of Allah's proof be completed against the disbelievers. This is his explanation of His decree — so that it becomes established and proven.
Translation: "So that it warns those who have living hearts and that the proof of Allah be fulfilled against the disbelievers."
Esteemed readers, li-yundhira man kāna ḥayyan — by man kāna ḥayyan the living of heart are intended. The Qurʾān Sharīf uses the expression of "the dead" throughout for the ignorant and the heedless — for those who are not alive of heart, Muslims they are not — they are of the living heart, yet they are in another world. But they are with faith, with life of heart, with living connection (imān).
We have been commanded that when we go to someone's grave we say: "Peace be upon you, O people of the abode of the believers." What benefit is there for the living-hearted Muslims in addressing the people of the graves? There is no need to pay attention to dead people's words — therefore I shall read it again: li-yundhira man kāna ḥayyan.
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا أَنْعَامًا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَالِكُونَ
a-wa-lam yaraw annā khalaqnā lahum mimmā ʿamilat aydīnā anʿāman fa-hum lahā mālikūn.
"Have they not seen that We created for them from the work of Our hands the cattle — and then they are the owners of them?" (Yā-Sīn 36:71)
A-wa-lam yaraw — have they not seen, do they not observe? Annā khalaqnā lahum — that We have created for them. Mimmā ʿamilat aydīnā — from what Our hands have made, from Our direct creative act. Anʿāman — cattle, livestock. Fa-hum lahā mālikūn — and then they become the owners of them. This is our grace — for We have made the creatures that We Ourselves created subservient to man, and man has become their master.
Translation: "And do they not see? We created these creatures (cattle and livestock) with Our own hands, and We have made man their master — this is Our grace, that We have made Our own creatures subservient to them, and man has become their owner."
وَذَلَّلْنَاهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ
wa-dhallalnāhā lahum fa-minhā rakūbuhum wa-minhā yaʾkulūn.
"And We have made them subservient to them — so some of them they ride and from some they eat." (Yā-Sīn 36:72)
Wa-dhallalnāhā lahum — and We made them submissive and obedient for them, We made them tame. Fa-minhā rakūbuhum — so some of them are their mounts. Wa-minhā yaʾkulūn — and from some of them they eat.
Translation: "And We made them obedient for human beings — some of them they ride and some they eat."
وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ أَفَلَا يَشْكُرُونَ
wa-lahum fīhā manāfiʿu wa-mashāribu a-fa-lā yashkurūn.
"And for them in them are benefits and drinks — will they not then give thanks?" (Yā-Sīn 36:73)
Wa-lahum fīhā manāfiʿu — and for them, the human beings, there are benefits in these animals, and also useful things. Wa-mashāribun — and drinking — meaning they also provide some milk for drinking. A-fa-lā yashkurūna — then why do they not give thanks? Why do they not express gratitude?
Translation: "And there are also benefits for them and other things (milk and the like) — then what is the reason that these people do not give thanks (are they not grateful for this)?"
وَاتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ آلِهَةً لَّعَلَّهُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
wa-ttakhadhū min dūni llāhi ālihatan laʿallahum yunṣarūn.
"And they have taken gods besides Allah, hoping they would be helped." (Yā-Sīn 36:74)
Wa-ttakhadhū — and they have adopted and taken for themselves. Min dūni llāhi — other than Allah. Ālihatan — some deity, some idol. Laʿallahum yunṣarūna — hoping that perhaps they will come to their aid on their behalf and provide them help.
Translation: "And they have adopted and kept gods other than Allah, hoping that perhaps these gods will come to their assistance."
لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُمْ جُندٌ مُّحْضَرُونَ
lā yastaṭīʿūna naṣrahum wa-hum lahum jundun muḥḍarūn.
"They are not able to help them, yet they are for them a host brought forward." (Yā-Sīn 36:75)
Lā yastaṭīʿūna naṣrahum — these deities will not be able to help them at all. Wa-hum lahum jundun muḥḍarūna — but these people are like their army, coming forward and presenting themselves — but in fact they have merely come forward as prisoners.
Translation: "And they will not be able to help them at all — and those people are like an army that has come forth and presented itself (for them) — but these have arrived as prisoners, brought and seized."
فَلَا يَحْزُنكَ قَوْلُهُمْ إِنَّا نَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ
fa-lā yaḥzunka qawluhum innā naʿlamu mā yusirrūna wa-mā yuʿlinūn.
"So let not their speech grieve you — indeed, We know what they conceal and what they declare." (Yā-Sīn 36:76)
Fa-lā yaḥzunka qawluhum — so, O Prophet ﷺ! Do not be saddened by their words, do not feel grief and despondency. Innā naʿlamu mā yusirrūna — without doubt We know everything they conceal. Wa-mā yuʿlinūna — and whatever they publicly declare.
Translation: "(O Prophet ﷺ!) Do not be saddened by their words — We know what they conceal and what they openly declare."
أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الْإِنسَانُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُّبِينٌ
a-wa-lam yara l-insānu annā khalaqnāhu min nuṭfatin fa-idhā huwa khaṣīmun mubīn.
"Does man not see that We created him from a drop of fluid — then behold, he is a clear adversary?" (Yā-Sīn 36:77)
A-wa-lam yara l-insānu — does man not know, does he not observe? Annā khalaqnāhu min nuṭfatin — that We created him from a drop, from a mere droplet. Fa-idhā huwa khaṣīmun mubīnun — and then he is a clear adversary, he comes forward in open confrontation and begins to quarrel with us openly.
Translation: "Is man unaware that We created him from a mere drop — and then he rises up to quarrel and argue with Us openly?"
وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلًا وَنَسِيَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَن يُحْيِي الْعِظَامَ وَهِيَ رَمِيمٌ
wa-ḍaraba lanā mathalan wa-nasiya khalqahū qāla man yuḥyī l-ʿiẓāma wa-hiya ramīm.
"And he has coined a parable for Us and forgotten his own creation — he says: 'Who will give life to the bones when they are decayed?'" (Yā-Sīn 36:78)
Wa-ḍaraba lanā mathalan — and he began to devise comparisons and examples for us. Wa-nasiya khalqahū — and he forgot his own origin, his own creation. Qāla man yuḥyī l-ʿiẓāma — he said: who will bring these bones back to life? Wa-hiya ramīmun — when they have become entirely decayed and crumbled to dust?
Translation: "And he began making comparisons for us and forgot his own creation — and said: who can bring these decayed and crumbled bones back to life?"
قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِي أَنشَأَهَا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ
qul yuḥyīhā lladhī anshaʾahā awwala marratin wa-huwa bi-kulli khalqin ʿalīm.
"Say: He who created them the first time will give them life — and He is Knowing of all creation." (Yā-Sīn 36:79)
Qul yuḥyīhā — say to them: O Prophet ﷺ! He will give them life — the One. Alladhī anshaʾahā awwala marratin — who originally created them for the first time. Wa-huwa bi-kulli khalqin ʿalīmun — and He knows how to create every kind of creation.
Translation: "Say: 'He will give them life who originally created them the first time — and He knows thoroughly well how to create all creation.'"
الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الشَّجَرِ الْأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَا أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ
alladhī jaʿala lakum mina l-shajari l-akhḍari nāran fa-idhā antum minhu tūqidūn.
"He who made for you from the green tree fire, and behold, from it you kindle fire." (Yā-Sīn 36:80)
Alladhī jaʿala lakum — He who made for you. Mina l-shajari l-akhḍari — from the green tree. Nāran — fire. It is evident that heat is produced from rubbing — the tree also gives fire from friction. Al-markh and al-ʿafār trees are famous for being ignited quickly. Fa-idhā antum minhu tūqidūn — and then you kindle fire from it; you light fire from it.
Translation: "He who produces fire from the green tree — and you light fire from it."
أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ
a-wa-laysa lladhī khalaqa l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍa bi-qādirin ʿalā an yakhluqa mithlahum wa-huwa l-khallāqu l-ʿalīm.
"Is not He who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like of them? Yes, and He is the Knowing Creator." (Yā-Sīn 36:81)
A-wa-laysa lladhī — is He not the One who. Khalaqa l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍa — created the heavens and the earth. Bi-qādirin — able to do, powerful enough. ʿAlā an yakhluqa mithlahum — to create the like of them all over again? Balā — yes, certainly He can. Wa-huwa l-khallāqu l-ʿalīmu — and He is the great Creator, the All-Knowing — He who knows best how to create perfectly.
Translation: "Is not He who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like of them? Why not — He is the One who creates perfectly and knows everything."
إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
innamā amruhu idhā arāda shayʾan an yaqūla lahū kun fa-yakūn.
"His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it 'Be!' — and it is." (Yā-Sīn 36:82)
Innamā amruhu — His command is only this, there is no other need for His command. Idhā arāda shayʾan — when He intends to create something. An yaqūla lahū kun — that He says to it: "Be!" — He commands it to exist. Fa-yakūnu — and it immediately comes into being.
Translation: "And His command is nothing else but this — that when He intends to create anything, He simply commands it: 'Be!' — and it immediately comes into being."
فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
fa-subḥāna lladhī bi-yadihi malakūtu kulli shayʾin wa-ilayhi turjaʿūn.
"So glory be to Him in whose hand is the dominion of all things — and to Him you will be returned." (Yā-Sīn 36:83)
Fa-subḥāna lladhī — then He is pure and holy. Bi-yadihi malakūtu kulli shayʾin — in whose hand is the complete sovereignty over all things, in whose hand is the governance of everything in the world. Wa-ilayhi turjaʿūna — and to Him you all will return, to Him is the return of all.
Translation: "Then He is pure and holy — He who has the sovereignty of all the world in His hand — and all of you must return to Him."
Esteemed readers, this "kun" — whose command is it? This is the command of all things — that is, Allah Most High knows the realities of all things in His ʿilm (knowledge). He therefore creates them from His foreknowledge — and so the manifestation (tajallī) of the Eternal Divine Names and Attributes was their source — this made the command (ḥukm) come into being, and it became manifest. It thus became known that "kun" is the command of the eternal prototypes (aʿyān thābita).
Some people say that by "kun fa-yakūnu" the meaning is: the arising from non-existence is intended, coming into existence from nothingness — these scholars are not acquainted with the eternal prototypes; they hold that the Divine manifestation (tajallī al-ilāhī) through which prototypes arise.