Surahs Mursalat -- Naba

 

Qur’anic Exegesis

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Surah Mursalat and Surah Naba form a pair surah as regards the subject discussed in them. Surah Mursalat  substantiates the Day of Judgement through evidence in the world around man, through historical events and through the signs of power and wisdom of the Almighty in the creation of man, while its counterpart, Surah Naba validates this claim, in particular, through various manifestations of Allah’s providence in the world around man. In both surahs, alongside arguments, an element of reprimand and admonition is evident from every verse. The surahs are directed at the leadership of the Quraysh and it is evident from their contents that like the previous surahs they were revealed in Makkah in the phase of indhar-i-‘amofthe Prophet’s mission (sws).

The central theme of both surahs is to validate the day of Judgement, and to warn the Quraysh with its reference.

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EXPLANATION

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِیْمِِ

وَالْمُرْسَلَاتِ عُرْفاً (1) فَالْعَاصِفَاتِ عَصْفاً (2) وَالنَّاشِرَاتِ نَشْراً (3) فَالْفَارِقَاتِ فَرْقاً (4) فَالْمُلْقِیَاتِ ذِکْراً (5) عُذْراً أَوْ نُذْراً (6) إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَوَاقِعٌ (7) فَإِذَا النُّجُومُ طُمِسَتْ (8) وَإِذَا السَّمَاء فُرِجَتْ (9) وَإِذَا الْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ (10) وَإِذَا الرُّسُلُ أُقِّتَتْ (11) لِأَیِّ یَوْمٍ أُجِّلَتْ (12) لِیَوْمِ الْفَصْلِ (13) وَمَا أَدْرَاکَ مَا یَوْمُ الْفَصْلِ (14) وَیْْلٌ یَوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (15) أَلَمْ نُہْلِکِ الْأَوَّلِیْنَ (16) ثُمَّ نُتْبِعُہُمُ الْآخِرِیْنَ (17) کَذٰلِکَ نَفْعَلُ بِالْمُجْرِمِیْنَ (18) وَیْْلٌ یَوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (19) أَلَمْ نَخْلُقکُّم مِّن مَّاء مَّہِیْنٍ (20) فَجَعَلْنَاہُ فِیْ قَرَارٍ مَّکِیْنٍ (21) إِلَی قَدَرٍ مَّعْلُومٍ (22) فَقَدَرْنَا فَنِعْمَ الْقَادِرُونَ (23) وَیْْلٌ یَوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (24) أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ الْأَرْضَ کِفَاتاً (25) أَحْیَاء وَأَمْوَاتاً (26) وَجَعَلْنَا فِیْہَا رَوَاسِیَ شَامِخَاتٍ وَأَسْقَیْْنَاکُم مَّاء فُرَاتاً (27) وَیْْلٌ یْوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (28) انطَلِقُوا إِلَی مَا کُنتُم بِہِ تُکَذِّبُونَ (29) انطَلِقُوا إِلَی ظِلٍّ ذِیْ ثَلَاثِ شُعَبٍ (30) لَا ظَلِیْلٍ وَلَا یُغْنِیْ مِنَ اللَّہَبِ (31) إِنَّہَا تَرْمِیْ بِشَرَرٍ کَالْقَصْرِ (32) کَأَنَّہُ جِمَالَتٌ صُفْرٌ (33) وَیْْلٌ یَوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (34) ہَذَا یَوْمُ لَا یَنطِقُونَ (35) وَلَا یُؤْذَنُ لَہُمْ فَیَعْتَذِرُونَ (36) وَیْْلٌ یَوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (37) ہَذَا یَوْمُ الْفَصْلِ جَمَعْنَاکُمْ وَالْأَوَّلِیْنَ (38) فَإِن کَانَ لَکُمْ کَیْْدٌ فَکِیْدُونِ (39) وَیْْلٌ یَوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (40) إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِیْنَ فِیْ ظِلَالٍ وَعُیُونٍ (41) وَفَوَاکِہَ مِمَّا یَشْتَہُونَ (42) کُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا ہَنِیْئاً بِمَا کُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ (43) إِنَّا کَذَلِکَ نَجْزِیْ الْمُحْسِنیْنَ (44) وَیْْلٌ یَوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (45) کُلُوا وَتَمَتَّعُوا قَلِیْلاً إِنَّکُم مُّجْرِمُونَ (46) وَیْْلٌ یَوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (47) وَإِذَا قِیْلَ لَہُمُ ارْکَعُوا لَا یَرْکَعُونَ (48) وَیْْلٌ یَوْمَءِذٍ لِّلْمُکَذِّبِیْنَ (49) فَبِأَیِّ حَدِیْثٍ بَعْدَہُ یُؤْمِنُونَ (50)

These winds when their reins are let loose1, then they blow dust all over2, and these winds which scatter [the clouds], then settle affairs separately3, then infuse [the hearts] with a reminder4 to leave no justification for some and to warn some5 , they bear witness that indeed the torment which you are being promised is bound to come6. (1-7)

So when the stars are dimmed, and the sky is cleft asunder and the mountains crumble into  dust7 and the appointed time of the Prophets’appearance[beforetheirAllah]arrives8.[Doyouknow]whatdaykeptthem [fromthisappearance]?--this Day of Judgement. And what do you know what this Day of Judgement is?9DevastationshallonthatDaybeuponthosewhodeny.10(8-15)

[If they are denying, then they should tell that] did We not destroy those before them?11 Then did We not continue to put their successors behind them? Thus do We deal with such culprits.12 Devastation shall13 on that Day be upon those who deny. (16-19)

[Do you think that We will not be able to raise you once again]? Did We not create you from an insignificant fluid? Then We placed it in a safe abode till an appointed time? Thus did We estimate; how excellent  do We  estimate!14 [Then how  do  you deny]?15 Devastation shall on that Day be upon those who deny. (20-24)

Have16 We not made this earth one which accumulates the living and the dead?17 And firmly placed upon it high mountains and provided for you sweet water [by taking out springs from them]?18 [Then how do you deny?]19 Devastation shall on that Day be upon those who deny. (25-28)

Proceed now20 to that which you used to deny. Proceed to the  shadow  which  has  three  branches  [to  engulf you from all sides].21 It does not provide shade nor does it save [people] from the flames.22 [This fire], it emits sparks [as huge as] castles23 – as if they were like [a group of] yellow camels24 -- [You will see all this]. Devastation shall on that Day be upon those who deny. (29-34)

This is the Day when they shall not be able to speak, and nor shall they be allowed to [come before their Lord] while offering excuses.25 Devastation shall on that Day be upon those who deny. (35-37)

This is the Day of Judgement. We have gathered you and all those before you. Now if you can contrive a plot against Me, then do so. Devastation shall on that Day be upon those who deny.26 (38-40)

Eat and enjoy yourselves [O Quraysh!] as well for a while. Verily, you are the wrongdoers.29 Devastation shall on that Day be upon those who deny. (46-47)

[Look at them! They have been blessed with all the favours of this world], and [in spite of this] when they are asked to bow down [before their Lord] they do not do so. Devastation shall on that Day be upon those who deny.  (48-49)

[These wrongdoers! They have denied the Qur’an]. So what is it after this that they are going to believe?30 (50)

 

 

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِیْمِِ

عَمَّ یَتَسَاء لُونَ (1) عَنِ النَّبَإِ الْعَظِیْمِ (2) الَّذِیْ ہُمْ فِیْہِ مُخْتَلِفُونَ (3) کَلَّا سَیَعْلَمُونَ (4) ثُمَّ کَلَّا سَیَعْلَمُونَ (5) أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ الْأَرْضَ مِہَاداً (6) وَالْجِبَالَ أَوْتَاداً (7) وَخَلَقْنَاکُمْ أَزْوَاجاً (8) وَجَعَلْنَا نَوْمَکُمْ سُبَاتاً (9) وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّیْْلَ لِبَاساً (10) وَجَعَلْنَا النَّہَارَ مَعَاشاً (11) وَبَنَیْْنَا فَوْقَکُمْ سَبْعاً شِدَاداً (12) وَجَعَلْنَا سِرَاجاً وَہَّاجاً (13) وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْمُعْصِرَاتِ مَاء ثَجَّاجاً (14) لِنُخْرِجَ بِہِ حَبّاً وَنَبَاتاً (15) وَجَنَّاتٍ أَلْفَافاً (16) إِنَّ یَوْمَ الْفَصْلِ کَانَ مِیْقَاتاً (17) یَوْمَ یُنفَخُ فِیْ الصُّورِ فَتَأْتُونَ أَفْوَاجاً (18) وَفُتِحَتِ السَّمَاء فَکَانَتْ أَبْوَاباً (19) وَسُیِّرَتِ الْجِبَالُ فَکَانَتْ سَرَاباً (20) إِنَّ جَہَنَّمَ کَانَتْ مِرْصَاداً (21) لِلْطَّاغِیْنَ مَآباً (22) لَابِثِیْنَ فِیْہَا أَحْقَاباً (23) لَّا یَذُوقُونَ فِیْہَا بَرْداً وَلَا شَرَاباً (24) إِلَّا حَمِیْماً وَغَسَّاقاً (25) جَزَاء وِفَاقاً (26) إِنَّہُمْ کَانُوا لَا یَرْجُونَ حِسَاباً (27) وَکَذَّبُوا بِآیَاتِنَا کِذَّاباً (28) وَکُلَّ شَیْْءٍ أَحْصَیْْنَاہُ کِتَاباً (29) فَذُوقُوا فَلَن نَّزِیْدَکُمْ إِلَّا عَذَاباً (30) إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِیْنَ مَفَازاً (31) حَدَاءِقَ وَأَعْنَاباً (32) وَکَوَاعِبَ أَتْرَاباً (33) وَکَأْساً دِہَاقاً (34) لَّا یَسْمَعُونَ فِیْہَا لَغْواً وَلَا کِذَّاباً (35) جَزَاء مِّن رَّبِّکَ عَطَاء حِسَاباً (36) رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَیْْنَہُمَا الرحْمَنِ لَا یَمْلِکُوْنَ مِنْہُ خِطَاباً (37) یَوْمَ یَقُومُ الرُّوحُ وَالْمَلَاءِکَۃُ صَفّاً لَّا یَتَکَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَہُ الرحْمَنُ وَقَالَ صَوَاباً (38) ذَلِکَ الْیَوْمُ الْحَقُّ فَمَن شَاء اتَّخَذَ إِلَی رَبِّہِ مَآباً (39) إِنَّا أَنذَرْنَاکُمْ عَذَاباً قَرِیْباً یَوْمَ یَنظُرُ الْمَرْءُ مَا قَدَّمَتْ یَدَاہُ وَیَقُولُ الْکَافِرُ یَا لَیْْتَنِیْ کُنتُ تُرَاباً (40)

What is it that these people are inquiring about31? Is it something concerning the Great News about which each person has a different view32. [All their estimates are baseless]. Nay! they shall soon come to know [in this world]33. We repeat: Nay! they shall soon come to know [in the next world as well]34. (1-5)

[They should behold:]35 Have  We  not  made the earth as a cradle36 and made the mountains [its] pegs37? And not created you in pairs38? And not made your sleep a means of comfort [for you]? And not made the night a clothing39 [for you] and the day a time to earn [your] livelihood? And not built above you seven sturdy [skies]? And not placed [in them] a glowing lamp [---this sun]40? And not sent down abundant water41 from dripping clouds that We may bring forth grain and vegetation and gardens of luxurious growth? [All this clearly testifies that] indeed the Day of Judgement has an appointed time. (6-17)

The Day42 when the trumpet is sounded and all of you come forth  in  multitudes and the sky is flung open and therein appear gates all over and the mountains are set in motion so that they become a mirage. Verily! the Hell lurks in ambush, a place for the transgressors. They will abide therein for ages. Nothing cool will they taste therein nor will they have anything to drink save hot water and pus. A recompense according to their deeds. These people are those who did not expect any account [of their deeds] and had recklessly denied Our revelations, [whereas] We have counted all their doings by writing them down. So taste [you O people! ] We shall only increase torment for you43. (18-30)

However, for the God-fearing,44 there is great success on that Day. Gardens [to dwell in] and grapes [to feast on] and blooming maidens of equal ages [to be charmed with] and overflowing cups [to be drunk in their companionship]. They will not hear therein any idle talk or any false accusation. This will be the reward from your Lord -- exactly according to their deeds.(31-36)

[A reward] from the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them; the most Gracious – there is no one who  has  the  authority  to  speak  on  His  behalf45.  On the Day when Gabriel and the angels will stand arrayed [before Him]. [The Day] when only they will speak whom the most Gracious allows and who speak the truth. That Day [O People!] is sure to come; therefore, now whoever wishes can make his abode towards his Lord46. We have forewarned you of an imminent doom on the Day when a man will see all that he has sent forward, and the unbeliever will cry: O would that I were dust! (37-40)