Day 26
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TWENTY-SEVENTH PÂRA

At the end of the 26th pâra, those angels were discussed whom Ibrâhîm عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام regarded as ordinary guests. When the reality opened up to him and he come to know that these were angels, he asked them, “What important task did you come for?” They told him that they had been sent to rain down stones and destroy the nation of Lût. Besides the nation of Lût, Sûrah Dhâriyât mentions the end result of Fir’awn, the nation of Âd, Thamûd and Nûh عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام and thereafter turns our attention to the creation of the heavens and earth. Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى declares this scientific reality that Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has created everything in pairs. At the end of the sûrah, the purpose of man and jinn’s creation have been mentioned which is the recognition and worship of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. We are informed that Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is responsible for the sustenance of all creation. A warning of punishment on the Day of Qiyâmah is sounded out to the disbelievers and mushrikîn.

Sûrah Tûr

This is a Makkî sûrah. It has 49 verses and 2 rukûs. In the beginning of the sûrah, after taking an oath on five things, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى mentions, “Verily the punishment of your Rabb will definitely take place. None can escape it.” (1-8) Under the commentary of these verses, some commentators have mentioned the incident of Hadhrat Jubayr Ibn Mut’im رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, to show the powerful effect of the Qur’ân on hearts. He came to Madînah Munawwarah, whilst he was still a disbeliever, to discuss the prisoners of Badr. When he reached there, Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم was reciting Sûrah Tûr in Maghrib salâh. Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم read the 7th verse the translation of which is, “Verily the punishment of your Rabb will definitely take place.” Hadhrat Jubayr رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ says that on hearing it I felt as if my heart was going to burst. Therefore I accepted Islâm due to fear of the punishment descending. When Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم recited the 35th and 36th verse, in which Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى asks, “Were they created without a creator or are they the creators themselves? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? The fact is that they have no conviction.” He says that on hearing these verses, the thought crossed my mind that my heart and senses were going to collapse.

It is mentioned regarding Hadhrat Umar رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ that one night while he was walking around the streets and alleys of Madînah Munawwarah, he passed by a Muslim person’s house who was reciting the beginning verses of Sûrah Tûr in salâh. When he reached this verse, “Verily the punishment of your Rabb will definitely take place,” Hadhrat Umar رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ got off his mule and for a long time, he sat down leaning against a wall. Thereafter, for a period of one month, he remained within the confines of his home. People came to visit him but found no apparent cause for his illness.
Countless incidents of the effect of the Qur’ân can be presented, but the gathering of all these incidents is not the purpose here. The main aim is that we should take lesson from it and we should recite and listen to the Qur’ân with concentration and pondering so that our hearts are affected.

Thereafter this sûrah mentions the everlasting abode of the pious i.e. Jannah where-in they will be granted bounties such as hûrs (maidens of Jannah), young boys (as servants) tasty fruit, meat and glasses of wine filled to the brim. While speaking amongst themselves, they will say, “Before this, we used to be fearful among our families. However, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى favoured us and saved us from the punishment of the scorching winds.” (26-28) In the following verses, this sûrah clarifies the standpoint of the mushrikîn regarding the call of Rasûlullâh صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم. They would taunt him and regard him as a fortune-teller and mad. Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى commands Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم that he should continue his work of calling and reminding because they cannot cause any harm. At the end of the sûrah, the false notions of the mushrikîn are refuted. Proofs of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s divinity and oneness are shown and those foolish people who say that the angels are the daughters of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى are rebuked. Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم is commanded to be patient in propagation and inviting and to glorify and praise Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى (tasbîh and tahmîd). Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى asserts that He will protect Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم, and the oppressors will have to face two punishments. One is the worldly punishment and one is the punishment of the hereafter. (47)

Sûrah Najm

This is a Makkî sûrah. It has 62 verses and 3 rukûs. The important points mentioned in this sûrah are :
(1) In the beginning of this sûrah, an oath is taken on the falling stars mentioning Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم’s truthfulness. The miracle of Mi’raj is mentioned, where Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم witnessed the wonders and marvels of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s power and kingdom. He saw Hadhrat Jibrâ’îl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام in his original form. He visited such places like Jannah, Jahannum, Baitul-Mamûr and Sidratul-Muntahâ. (1-18)

(2) Sûrah Najm criticizes the mushrikîn who worship idols such as Lât, Uzzâ and Manât and who regard the angels to be Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s daughters. (19-23)

(3) This sûrah discusses Qiyâmah, where the good and evil actions of man will be fully recompensed. Mention is made of the pious, that they abstain from major sins and acts of shamelessness, whereas the disbelievers turned away from Islâm. (32-35)

(4) Every person is individually responsible for his own actions. The burden of one’s sins will not be carried by another. The man, who praises himself, will not be accepted. (42-43)

(5) This noble sûrah mentions some proofs of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s power and oneness e.g. Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى makes us laugh, He makes us cry, He takes away life and gives life, He creates males and females, it is His task to create us a second-time, He makes us wealthy and grant us possessions and it is He who has destroyed disobedient nations. (43-55)

At the end of the sûrah, the actions of the mushrikîn regarding the Qur’ân are mentioned, “Are you then surprised with this speech, as you laugh instead of crying and do you continue behaving arrogantly? Now prostrate to Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and worship Him.” (59-62)

Sûrah Qamar

Sûrah Qamar is a Makkî sûrah. It has 55 verses and 3 rukûs. In this sûrah, there are promises as well as warnings. There are glad-tidings for the believers and warnings for the disbelievers. There are advices and lessons in it as well as fundamental beliefs like nubuwwat, risâlat, resurrection and taqdîr (predestination). A glimpse of a few important points of this sûrah :

(1) In the first verse of this sûrah, mention is made of the closeness of Qiyâmah and the splitting of the moon. The meaning of the closeness of Qiyâmah is that the era after Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم’s nubuwwat is very little compared to the era before it. In a narration of Bukhârî and Muslim, Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم lifted up his index and middle finger and said, “Qiyâmah and I have been sent like this.” The splitting of the moon is Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم’s famous miracle. When the people of Makkah asked him for a miracle, he pointed towards the moon which split into two. However, where would those in whose share guidance was not written accept this? Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى states, “And if they see any miracle, they turn away and say, “Magic will soon vanish.” (3) Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى commands Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم to turn away from them and to wait for that day when they will arise from their graves. Their eyes will be lowered, the blackness of disgrace will envelop their faces, they will go towards the caller (i.e. Isrâfîl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام) running and will say, “This is a very difficult day for us.” (8)

(2) Thereafter, this sûrah warns the disbelievers of Makkah. It should not happen that they are afflicted with such a punishment which had come to the past nations because of their involvement in those sins which those people were involved in. Here, after mentioning all the nations which had been destroyed, this question is posed, “Then, how was My punishment and My warning?” Immediately after this question, we are informed, “Undoubtedly we have made the Qur’ân simple to take lesson from, so is there anyone who will take lesson?”

The meaning of the Qur’ân being easy, is that to recite it, memorize it, take advice from it and to practice on it is easy. The result of this is that a simple bedouin who cannot read a small booklet in his native language, can easily recite the Qur’ân-e-Karîm. Small, innocent children memorize it in their hearts keeping in mind all its laws and finer points. When pure-hearted people recite and hear it, then their eyes well up with tears and the desire for practise becomes alive in their hearts. The Qur’ân being easy does not imply that any person after studying it, can start extracting laws from it and can sit back and become a mujtahid. ( A Mujtahid is one who is an expert in all those branches of knowledge required for the proper understanding of Qu’rân and Hadîth. In this day and age, such people are non-existent. Translator)

(3) At the end of the sûrah, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى states, “We have created everything by measure.” (49) Everything that happens in this universe, whether good or evil, is the creation of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and it is all according to the demands of wisdom and order. Whatever is going to happen, is all written in the lawhe-mahfûz (the protected tablet). Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى knows what is going to happen before it comes into existence. The Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamâ’at have proven the belief of taqdîr (predestination) from this verse. In these verses, we learn that every small and big action has been noted in the lawhe-mahfûz, and that the kirâman-kâtibîn are writing them down. Therefore, one should never regard any sin as small and perpetrate it, nor should one regard any act of goodness as petty and leave it out. In the end, glad-tidings of a good result, earning the pleasure of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and a place of honour have been mentioned for the pious. (52-55)

Sûrah Rahmân

This is a Madanî sûrah. It has 78 verses and 3 rukûs. Its other name is “Urûsul-Qur’ân”. Hadhrat Ali كرم الله وجهه has mentioned that Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم has said, “Everything has an urûs (bride, beauty), the bride (beauty) of the Qur’ân is Sûrah Rahmân.” In this sûrah, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has mentioned His favours, the first of which is the revelation of the Qur’ân and teaching it to His servants. Definitely, this is a great favour. No material favour can ever compare with it. Every bounty has some substitute or the other, but nothing can ever substitute the Qur’ân. Its every verse and every letter is better than the whole world and whatever it contains. The Qur’ân is the protector, gatherer and abrogator of the contents of all other heavenly scriptures.

Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى commences this sûrah with His quality of الرَّحْمن (the Most Merciful), as if to inform us that all of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s bounties, especially the bounty of the Qur’ân is due to the blessings and effects of His mercy. Due to Him being Rahmân, He has mercy on His servants. He grants them all types of bounties. For their instruction and guidance, He has revealed the Qur’ân. To show the greatness and honour of the Qur’ân, the teaching of the Qur’ân has been mentioned before the creation of man. Thereafter, this sûrah mentions Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s bounties which are spread out throughout the universe : the sun and moon which move about in their orbits according to Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s set pattern; the stars and trees which are prostration in front of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى; the earth which has been spread out like a carpet; different fruits, grains and flowers from which man takes benefit from; rivers of sweet and bitter water which flows in their respective places; those pearls and emeralds which are extracted from these oceans; ships that are high and wide as mountains which move in the ocean, and which were, and are the best means of transportation and freighting. (5-24)

Besides these worldly bounties, the bounties of the hereafter as well as punishments have been mentioned. Mention is made of the flames and smoke of the fire of Jahannum wherein one cannot breathe properly, Jahannum whose one spark is sufficient to burn man, the boiling water which the people of Jahannum will be constrained to drink and which will cut through their intestines. On the other side, for those who fear Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, there (is a promise) of two lush and dense gardens, flowing streams, two types of every type of fruit and spread out carpets. The people of Jannah will sit reclining on pillows of thick silk. Besides the above mentioned gardens, there will be two other gardens which are lower than the first two. Two streams will gush forth from them. There will be different types of fruit as well as such hûrs (maidens of paradise) who will be an embodiment of modesty and beauty. After mentioning all these bounties of this world and the hereafter, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى asks this question 31 times in this sûrah فباي آلاء ربكما تكذبان “So which favours of Your Rabb do you deny?”

If there are one or two or even ten or twenty bounties, they can be denied. However when the condition is such that the bounties are uncountable, then to deny them is impossible.

If this sûrah is studied properly, it will be seen that Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has in the beginning mentioned the amazing nature of His creation. This verse has been mentioned 8 times in between them. Thereafter Jahannum and its punishment are mentioned wherein this verse is mentioned 7 times. One who has studied the Qur’ân knows that Jahannum has 7 doors. Thereafter, mentioning the gardens of Jannah and the inhabitants of Jannah, this verse has been mentioned 8 times. The doors of Jannah are eight. Finally, those gardens are mentioned which are lower in rank than the first ones. Here too, this verse is mentioned 8 times. The people of knowledge have extracted this result from this order and division that the person who has firm belief in the first eight and practices according to its demands, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will save him from the seven doors of Jahannum and will make him worthy of the two types of Jannah. Some crooked-minded people have raised this objection, “How can the punishment of the hereafter be a bounty of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى?” This can be answered in two ways :

1- Punishing the oppressors and disobedient ones is the demand of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s justice and is a mercy and favour in the right of the oppressed.
2- Warning His servants of the result of kufr, shirk, disobedience and sin, before it becomes apparent is a great favour of that Being who is Merciful and Kind. Is this not surprising that if someone informs us of the coming of any danger or calamity in this world, then we regard him as our benefactor, but we do not regard Our Master as our benefactor who has informed us in this world of the dangers of the hereafter, whereas there stands no comparison between the life of this world and the hereafter and the dangers of this world in comparison to the hereafter.

At the end of the sûrah Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى states, “The name of Your Rabb is full of blessings who is the Most Magnificent, the Most Kind.” The Ulamâ state that the name referred to is the same which Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى commences the sûrah with. This is an indication that the creation of the heavens and earth; and the existence of Jannah and Jahannum and whatever else has been mentioned in this sûrah is the result of the mercy of Ar-Rahmân (The Most Merciful)

Sûrah Wâqi’ah

Sûrah Wâqi’ah is a Makkî sûrah. It has 96 verses and 3 rukûs. It is also called Sûratul-Ginâ (sûrah of wealth). Hadhrat Abdullâh Ibn Mas’ûd صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم has narrated “Whoever recites Sûrah Wâqi’ah every night, will never face poverty.” (والله اعلم بالصواب) This sûrah informs us that when Qiyâmah takes place, then an earthquake will take place on the earth. The mountains will be razed to dust. Man will be divided into three groups :
1- As’hâbul-Yamîn (those who will be in Jannah).
2- As’hâbush-Shimâl (those who will be in Jahannum).
3- Sâbiqûn (The special believers who surpassed others in the good actions).
After dividing man into three groups, the recompense of every one is mentioned in detail. (1-56)

After this, the sûrah brings forth proofs of the existence, unity and perfect power of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى as well as proofs of resurrection and reckoning. Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, who creates man from a drop of liquid, who creates trees and plants from seeds placed in the soil, who cause rain to fall from the clouds, and who creates fire from trees can also bring a dead person back to life. After mentioning His power, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى mentions the greatness of His speech. Thereafter, He takes an oath on the falling stars. Regarding this oath, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى states, “This is undoubtedly a great oath if you knew.” (76) After taking this oath, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى states, “Verily this is the honourable Qur’ân in a protected tablet. Only pure people should touch it. It has been revealed from the Rabb of the universe.” (77-80)

Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has regarded the oath of stars as great. Today science has made apparent such investigations and wonders of thousands of stars by which we learn that definitely it is a huge oath. The scientists state that the universe is made up of 500 million galaxies. Each galaxy is made up of approximately 100 000 million stars. All these galaxies are in constant motion. The moon also orbits continuously. The earth rotates on its orbit at the speed of 1000 miles per hour. The sun orbits at a speed of 600 000 miles per hour. Amongst the stars, some move in their orbits at a distance of 8 miles per second, some at 33 miles per second and others at 84 miles per second. If these orbiting bodies have to clash with each other, then the whole system of the universe will go into chaos. Similarly, if there is a change in the speed of these celestial bodies, then our day night and even our seasons would change. Keeping all these details in front, one can judge what a huge oath Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has taken. The connection between the stars and the Qur’ân is that just as by means of stars, one is guided in the darkness when one is on land and in the ocean, by the verses of the Qur’ân, guidance is attained from the darkness of ignorance and misguidance. Just as all the amazing facts of the stars are not open to man as yet, similarly man is not aware of all the hidden knowledge in the verses and sûrahs of the Qur’ân-e-Karîm. At the end of the sûrah, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى mentions regarding the recompense of all three groups which have been mentioned, “This is most definitely the irrefutable truth. So glorify the name of Your Majestic Rabb.” (95-96)

Sûrah Hadîd

This is a Madanî sûrah. It comprises of 29 verses and 4 rukûs. Hadîd means “steel”. Since it is mentioned in this sûrah that Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has created steel, this sûrah has been named Sûrah Hadîd. Basically, this sûrah has 3 main topics :
(1) Whatever is in the universe belongs to Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. He is the Creator and Owner of everything. Everything in the universe praises and glorifies Him. Man and animals, trees and rocks, jinns and angels, plants and stones, in short everything, either verbally or by action testifies to His greatness and majesty. When there was nothing, He was in existence. When nothing remains, then too He will be there. He overpowers everything. Nothing can overpower Him. He is so apparent that in everything He manifests Himself and He is so hidden that no mind can comprehend His reality and no senses can perceive Him. (1-6)

(2) The command is given to believe in Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and His Rasûl صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم and of sacrificing one’s life and wealth for the upliftment of dîn. Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى encourages spending in the path of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, “Why is it that you do not spend in the path of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى when the inheritance of the heavens and the earth belongs to Him?” (10) After your death, He alone will be the owner of your wealth, goods, gold, silver and precious material. Thereafter Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى states, “Who is there who will grant Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى a beautiful loan, so that Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will multiply it for him so that he may have a generous reward.” (11) Together with encouragement of spending in the path of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, the conditions of the true believers and the hypocrites are also mentioned. (12-15) Thereafter, the believers are warned in a severe tone that they should not be deceived by the life and outward attractions of this world like the hypocrites, Jews and Christians. Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى states, “Has not the time come for the believers to submit to Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s remembrance and to the truth which has been revealed. And do not be like those who had been given the Book before, when after a long period of time elapsed, their hearts hardened. A large number of them are sinners.” (16)

(3) Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى mentions the reality of this world to man so that he does not become deceived by its outward glamour and beauties. We are made to understand that this world is a mirage, a deception, a place of play and futility. People of low intelligence are proud of their abundance of wealth and children, they have airs over their lineage and ancestry. They spend their whole life and all their abilities in gathering the goods of this world. The example of this world is that of a field whose greenery and beauty pleases the farmer. People become envious of it. Then a time comes when everything becomes destroyed and disperses in the air. This is the condition of this world. It is transitory and everything here will also come to an end. The life of the hereafter is everlasting and the bounties of the hereafter also will remain forever. (20) Thus the believers are commanded to compete with each other and to hasten towards the forgiveness of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and towards Jannah. (21)

At the end of the sûrah a promise of a double reward is given to those who fear Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and believe in Rasûlullâh صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم as the bestowal of a light by means of which they will be able to navigate the darkness of the hereafter. (28) May Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى grant all of us this light. (Amîn).