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EXCERPTS FROM SURAH
AL-NAM'L
(Surah 27)
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُوا أَئِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا وَآبَاؤُنَا
أَئِنَّا لَمُخْرَجُونَ
لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا
هَذَا نَحْنُ وَآبَاؤُنَا مِن قَبْلُ إِنْ هَذَا
إِلاّ أَسَاطِيرُ الأوَّلِينَ
قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي
الأرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ
الْمُجْرِمِينَ
ولا تَحْزَنْ
عَلَيْهِمْ ولا تَكُن فِي ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا
يَمْكُرُونَ
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى
هَذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
قُلْ عَسَى أَن
يَكُونَ رَدِفَ لَكُم بَعْضُ الَّذِي
تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ
لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَكِنَّ
أَكْثَرَهُمْ لا يَشْكُرُونَ
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ
لَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُكِنُّ صُدُورُهُمْ وَمَا
يُعْلِنُونَ
وَمَا مِنْ غَائِبَةٍ فِي السَّمَاء وَالأرْضِ
إِلاّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
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Those who disbelieve
say: "What! When we and our fathers
have become dust,
shall we really be raised (again)?
We and our fathers
had been promised this before,
this is nothing but
tales of the ancient."
Say (to them, O
Muhammad): Travel in the land and see how (bad)
was the end of the
guilty.
(O Muhammad) Do not
grieve over them, and do not be distressed
by what they
contrive.
They (who
disbelieve) also say: "When shall this promise come
to
pass, if you are
telling the truth?"
Say (to them): "May
be that a part of what you seek to hasten,
is right behind
you."
Lo! Your Lord is
the Lord of Grace for mankind,
yet most of them do
not give thanks.
Lo! Your Lord knows
what their hearts conceal
and all that they
proclaim
There is nothing of
the hidden in the Heavens or the Earth
that is not recorded
in the Manifest Book.
AYAH: 67-75 |
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَئِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا
وَآبَاؤُنَا أَئِنَّا لَمُخْرَجُونَ
Those who disbelieve say: "What! When we and our
fathers have become dust, shall we really be raised
(again)?
The disbelievers used to ask Muhammad (pbuh) in
a sarcastic manner, "After we have died and our
bodies have disintegrated to dust, how can it be
that we will be resurrected again? How will we be
restored to life again? How can such a thing ever
happen?" The disbelievers believed in the
material world, seeing this world as an end in
itself.
But if they open their minds, they can enter
the realm of faith and hope.
The Holy Quran has explained that life consists
of both the Present and the Hereafter.
Present life is to be taken in both material as
well as spiritual terms, with accountability on
the Day of Judgment. Life is incomplete without
its spiritual component. |
لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا هَذَا نَحْنُ وَآبَاؤُنَا مِن قَبْلُ
إِنْ هَذَا إِلاّ أَسَاطِيرُ الأوَّلِينَ
We and our fathers had been promised this before,
this is nothing but tales of the ancient.
The disbelievers spoke sarcastically that they
and their forefathers had heard about the Day of
Judgment, and were promised that they would be
brought to life again. They may have commented,
"So far we have not seen it happen. We don't think
it will happen; and furthermore we think this is
only a story made up by the ancestors. We don't
believe it." The disbelievers of today claim the
same thing. They deny that there will be a Day of
Judgment. They live only for the Present World.
But the disbelievers fail to ask themselves:
"Who has formed us to begin with, and from what
elements were we created? How did we come to be
the way we are, knowing that we were nothing
before?"
Armed with the knowledge of today the
disbelievers overlook the fact they themselves
consist of cells, which consist of elements, and
these elements consist of molecules. They do not
ask themselves the question: "How did these
molecules gather to form cells, and what made the
cells multiply in such a precise, predictable and
orderly manner to form a human being?"
Unfortunately, the disbeliever has closed his
mind, has the audacity to deny his own creation,
and further deny his rebirth on the Day of
Judgment! The disbeliever does not acknowledge
that in truth he is a trivial creature in the hands
of his Creator, and that Allah who brought all the
molecules to create him will once more do that on
the Day of Judgment. |
قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الأرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ
عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
Say (to them, O Muhammad): Travel in the land and
see how (bad) was the end of the guilty.
Allah (swt) asked Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to
remind the disbelievers to look around at relics of
societies once flourished and to reflect on their
demise. Let the disbelievers see how they are a
continuation of generations before, all of which
were influenced by the natural laws designated by
Allah (swt). The disbelievers are reminded to
reflect on the outcome of the evil-doers.
Thus, history can give a good lesson if one
takes time to consider and ponder its many events. |
ولا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ ولا تَكُن فِي ضَيْقٍ
مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ
(O Muhammad) Do not grieve over them, and do not be
distressed by what they contrive.
Allah (swt) consoled Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by
telling him not to grieve concerning the fate of
the disbelievers.
In the early years of Islam, the community of
Muslims underwent brutal treatment at the hands of
the disbelievers. They were rebuked, tortured, and
boycotted among other things. Many lost their
lives. Despite all this Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
still felt badly for the disbelievers. He was
troubled that they did not believe in his Message,
even though he was telling the truth. He was
worried about the dreadful outcome awaiting them.
Allah also informed Muhammad (pbuh) not to be
distressed about their plots and intrigues against
him or the Muslims. Allah assured him that with
His protection the Message of Islam would be
delivered in its entirety. |
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ
صَادِقِينَ
They (who disbelieve) also say: "When shall this
promise come to pass, if you are telling the
truth?"
The disbelievers argued with Muhammad (pbuh) by
sarcastically saying: "If you are telling us the
truth, when will this promise come to pass?"
Although the disbelievers mocked Muhammad
(pbuh), they may have experienced some secret
fears, especially having known him as the truthful.
Their fears made them worry, which is another
reason they wanted to know when to expect the Day
of Judgment. |
قُلْ عَسَى أَن يَكُونَ رَدِفَ لَكُم بَعْضُ الَّذِي
تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ
Say (to them): "May be that a part of what you seek
to hasten, is right behind you."
This Ayah was revealed to enhance a feeling of
misgiving in the disbelievers. It was to increase
their fear and anxiety about the doom ahead of
them, the doom that awaits them on the Day of
Judgment.
Allah directs Muhammad (pbuh) to answer the
disbelievers to the effect: The Day of Judgment
which you wish to see may be closer than you
think. He tried to inform them that their chances
to believe and repent would end at their death and
they will see the gravity of that Day! |
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَكِنَّ
أَكْثَرَهُمْ لا يَشْكُرُونَ
Lo! Your Lord is the Lord of Grace for mankind,
yet most of them do not give thanks.
Allah (swt) is Merciful to us and to all
people. He is generous to limitless extent. We
enjoy His bounties and Mercy continuously. Because
of His love for mankind, Allah revealed His
religion to direct humanity in the right path. But
to comply to His Directives man ought to have deep
faith and act accordingly. In other words, man is
to work in an uphill manner toward goodness. Some
people disobey and reject however, and they become
the disbelievers.
Allah gives generously of His bounty to the
believers and disbelievers alike. He does not
destroy the disbelievers nor is He vindictive
toward them. He gives everyone ample time to enjoy
His bounty and allows each to live his life the way
he sees fit.
Despite Allah's generosity and favors, man
continues to be short-sighted, ungrateful, and
rarely thankful. |
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُكِنُّ صُدُورُهُمْ
وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ
Lo! Your Lord knows what their hearts conceal and
all that they proclaim
Allah knows what is in the people's hearts and
minds. In other words, people stand totally
bare in Allah's presence and they can hide
nothing from Him. Allah also knows all about what
goes on, be it in secret or in public, thus His
knowledge of us is total and complete.
Knowing and acknowledging this fact makes us
appreciate Allah's mercy much more. |
وَمَا مِنْ غَائِبَةٍ فِي السَّمَاء وَالأرْضِ إِلاّ
فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
There is nothing of the hidden in the Heavens or
the Earth that is not recorded in the Manifest
Book.
Allah reminds mankind of the limitless extent
of His knowledge and capacity. Everything, be it
in heaven or on earth, is in His knowledge! Any
thought, intention, mystery, problem, or activity
anywhere is in His grasp, and it is in a record
clear to Him. It is all recorded, all saved
for the Day of Judgment.
Yet, the disbelievers continue to deny Him!
How blind and how sad! |
This selection in
brief:
-
The disbelievers sarcastically asked
that if they should die and become dust, would they
really be raised again?
-
The disbelievers acknowledge about
being raised again but they take it as a
superstition.
-
Allah enjoins man to travel in the
land and ponder about the destiny of previous
people.
-
Allah consoled Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) to not be saddened or distressed for the
disbelievers.
-
The disbelievers sarcastically ask
Muhammad (pbuh) to disclose when the Day of
Judgment would occur.
-
Allah asked Muhammad (pbuh) to
remind the disbelievers that the Day of Judgment be
close for them and they might soon see the ordeal
of that Day.
-
Allah is full of favors to mankind,
yet most people are not grateful.
-
Allah knows fully what every person
thinks, feels, and wants to do.
-
Allah promises that nothing goes
unrecorded, whether it is in Heaven or on Earth,
and it will be referred to when the time comes.
MEANING
OF WORDS
|
Say |
وَقَالَ
|
|
those who
disbelieve |
الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا
|
|
when
|
أَئِذَا
|
|
we
have become |
كُنَّا
|
|
dust |
تُرَابًا
|
|
and
our fathers |
وَآبَاؤُنَا
|
|
shall we be
|
أَئِنَّا
|
|
raised (again) |
لَمُخْرَجُونَ
|
|
certainly |
لَقَدْ
|
|
we
were promised |
وُعِدْنَا
|
|
this |
هَذَا |
|
we |
نَحْنُ
|
|
and
our fathers |
وَآبَاؤُنَا
|
|
beforehand |
مِن قَبْلُ
|
|
this is nothing |
إِنْ هَذَا
|
|
but |
إِلاّ |
|
tales |
أَسَاطِيرُ
|
|
the
ancient
|
الأوَّلِينَ
|
|
say |
قُلْ |
|
travel
|
سِيرُوا
|
|
in
the land |
فِي الأرْضِ
|
|
and
reflect
|
فَانظُرُوا
|
|
what |
كَيْفَ َ
|
|
became of
|
كَان |
|
the
destiny
|
عَاقِبَة |
|
the
guilty
|
الْمُجْرِمِينَ
|
|
Do
not grieve |
ولا تَحْزَنْ
|
|
for
them |
عَلَيْهِمْ
|
|
and
do not
|
ولا تَكُن
|
|
be
distressed |
فِي ضَيْقٍ
|
|
by
what they contrive |
مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ
|
|
they say |
وَيَقُولُونَ
|
|
when
|
مَتَى |
|
this |
هَذَا |
|
promise |
الْوَعْدُ
|
|
if |
إِن |
|
you
are |
كُنتُمْ
|
|
telling the truth |
صَادِقِينَ
|
|
say |
قُلْ |
|
may
be that |
عَسَى |
|
become
|
أَن يَكُونَ
|
|
right behind you
|
رَدِفَ
|
|
to
you |
لَكُم |
|
a
part of |
بَعْضُ
|
|
of
what |
الَّذِي
|
|
you
seek to hasten |
تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ
|
|
Lo! |
وَإِنَّ
|
|
your Lord |
رَبَّكَ
|
|
Lord of grace |
لَذُو فَضْلٍ
|
|
for
mankind |
عَلَى النَّاسِ
|
|
yet |
وَلَكِنَّ
|
|
most of them |
أَكْثَرَهُمْ
|
|
do
not give thanks |
لا يَشْكُرُونَ
|
|
Lo! |
وَإِنَّ
|
|
your Lord |
رَبَّكَ
|
|
knows |
لَيَعْلَمُ
|
|
conceal |
مَا تُكِنُّ
|
|
their hearts
|
صُدُورُهُمْ
|
|
and
what |
وَمَا |
|
they proclaim |
يُعْلِنُونَ
|
|
and
there is nothing |
وَمَا مِنْ
|
|
hidden |
غَائِبَةٍ
|
|
in |
فِي |
|
the
heavens |
السَّمَاء
|
|
and
on earth |
وَالأرْضِ
|
|
but |
إِلاّ |
|
it
is in |
فِي |
|
Book
|
كِتَابٍ
|
|
Manifest
|
مُّبِينٍ |
|
|