Sūrahs Qāf and Dhāriyāt (Part 1/2)
Qur’ānic Exegesis
Both these sūrahs form a pair with regard to their subject matter. The central theme of both is the substantiation of the Day of Judgement and meting out warnings with its reference. In the second sūrah however, the historical arguments for the substantiation of the Day of Judgement are presented in more detail than the first sūrah. Besides this the Qur’ānic warning of worldly punishment is also validated. Both address the Quraysh and it is evident from their subject matter that they were revealed in Makkah in the phase of indhār-i ‘ām of the Prophet Muhammad’s preaching mission.
Both sūrahs end on a note of assurance to the Prophet Muhammad (sws).
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
ق وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ (1) بَلْ عَجِبُوا أَن جَاءهُمْ مُنذِرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَقَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ هَذَا شَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ (2) أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا ذَلِكَ رَجْعٌ بَعِيدٌ (3)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful.
This is Sūrah Qāf.[1] The glorious Qur’ān [itself] is an evidence [over its own self.[2] The reason for their denial is not the one they are presenting] but, indeed, because they were confounded by the fact that a warner from amongst themselves has come to them. So these disbelievers said: “It is a strange thing that after we die and become dust [we would be returned to life again]. Such a return is very improbable.”[3] (1-3)
قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا تَنقُصُ الْأَرْضُ مِنْهُمْ وَعِندَنَا كِتَابٌ حَفِيظٌ (4) بَلْ كَذَّبُوا بِالْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي أَمْرٍ مَّرِيجٍ (5)
[They judge the extent of Our own knowledge on the basis of their own whereas] even what the earth consumes of their bodies is in Our notice and with Us is also a book which preserves.[4] [No! What they are saying is not true]; in fact, they have denied the truth after it has come to them.[5] So they are now in a state of contradiction.[6] (4-5)
أَفَلَمْ يَنظُرُوا إِلَى السَّمَاء فَوْقَهُمْ كَيْفَ بَنَيْنَاهَا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجٍ (6) وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ بَهِيجٍ (7) تَبْصِرَةً وَذِكْرَى لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِيبٍ (8) وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء مُّبَارَكًا فَأَنبَتْنَا بِهِ جَنَّاتٍ وَحَبَّ الْحَصِيدِ (9) وَالنَّخْلَ بَاسِقَاتٍ لَّهَا طَلْعٌ نَّضِيدٌ (10) رِزْقًا لِّلْعِبَادِ وَأَحْيَيْنَا
[If they do not believe, then] have they not observed the sky above them? How We have fashioned and adorned it, and there is no flaw in it. And We have spread the earth and set upon it mountains, and brought forth in it all kinds of beautiful things as an insight and reminder for every person who is attentive.[7] And We sent down blessed water[8] from the skies with which We thence brought forth gardens and crops which are harvested[9] and tall palm trees stacked with clusters of dates[10] as a means of
بِهِ بَلْدَةً مَّيْتًا كَذَلِكَ الْخُرُوجُ (11)
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَأَصْحَابُ الرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ (12) وَعَادٌ وَفِرْعَوْنُ وَإِخْوَانُ لُوطٍ (13) وَأَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ الرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ (14) أَفَعَيِينَا بِالْخَلْقِ الْأَوَّلِ بَلْ هُمْ فِي لَبْسٍ مِّنْ خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ (15)
sustenance for men.[11] And We enlivened a dead piece of land through this water. Likewise, shall be the rising [of the dead from the earth.] (6-11)
Before them the people of Noah and the dwellers of the al-Rass valley,[12] the Thamūd, the ‘A%d, the Pharaoh,[13] the brethren of Lot, the companions Aykah and of the Wood and the people of Tubb‘a also denied [on similar grounds]. Each denied my messengers; so [see], my threat materialized for them.[14] Ask them: “Were We not able to create them the first time? [Who can dare dispute this fact]? In fact, these people are in doubt about
[وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ (16)
إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ (17) مَا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ (18)
وَجَاءتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ (19) وَنُفِخَ فِي
being created a second time.[15] (12-15)
We created man and We know whatever thoughts come in his mind, and We are closer to him than his life vein.[16] (16)
[They should remember] when two acquirers seated on his right and left acquire;[17] not a word does a person utter but there is by him a vigilant guardian to note it down.[18] (17-18)
[Alas! O people! You only kept on denying], and the agony of death arrived with [this] reality[19] [which was concealed in this
الصُّورِ ذَلِكَ يَوْمُ الْوَعِيدِ (20) وَجَاءتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّعَهَا سَائِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ (21) لَقَدْ كُنتَ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَاءكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ (22) وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُ هَذَا مَا لَدَيَّ عَتِيدٌ (23) أَلْقِيَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ (24) مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ مُّرِيبٍ (25) الَّذِي جَعَلَ مَعَ اللهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ فَأَلْقِيَاهُ فِي الْعَذَابِ الشَّدِيدِ (26)
worldly life.][20] This is the very thing you had avoided. And [hark!] the trumpet has been sounded. This is the day about which We had warned. Every man has come forth with one who drives him on and another who bears witness. You remained heedless of this day; so [today] We have removed the veil before you and sharp is your eyesight today.[21] [And behold Our Court of justice has begun its proceedings], and the companion [--the driving angel--] of this criminal said:[22] “The one who was in my custody is present.” [It was ordered:] "Both of you cast into Hell[23] every ungrateful person, rival, forbidder of good,[24] crosser of limits, inflicted with doubts[25] who has set up another god
قَالَ قَرِينُهُ رَبَّنَا مَا أَطْغَيْتُهُ وَلَكِن كَانَ فِي ضَلَالٍ بَعِيدٍ (27) قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا لَدَيَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِالْوَعِيدِ (28) مَا يُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ (29)
besides Allah;[26] so, fling him into a severe torture.[27] (19-26)
[28]His companion [Satan] said:[29] “O Lord! I did not make him rebellious; in fact, he himself remained far astray.”[30] God said: “Dispute not in My presence; I had already informed you of My threat.[31] My Word does not change, and I do not the least injustice
يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ امْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍ (30) وَأُزْلِفَتِ الْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ (31) هَذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ (32) مَنْ خَشِيَ
to my servants.[32] (27-29)
Keep in mind the Day when We will ask hell: “Are you filled?” and she will reply: “Are there some more?!”[33] And Paradise shall be brought close to those who fear God and it shall not be far away.[34] This is what had been promised to you – for
الرَّحْمَن بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاء بِقَلْبٍ مُّنِيبٍ (33) ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ ذَلِكَ يَوْمُ الْخُلُودِ (34) لَهُم مَّا يَشَاؤُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ (35)
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ هَلْ مِن
every person who always turned [to God] and protected [the limits of his Lord],[35] who had feared the Merciful God even though he had not seen Him,[36] and has come with a heart inclined in devotion [towards God].[37] [Go] enter [Our] Paradise with peace. This is the eternal day, and they will get there whatever they desire, and We have still more. (30-35)
[38][They should beware], how many a nation have We destroyed
مَّحِيصٍ (36) إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَذِكْرَى لِمَن كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ (37)
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍ (38) فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ
before them who were mightier in power than they. So [when the punishment came] their people went forth in the land wherever they possibly could that is their a place of refuge?[39] In this, is a great reminder for people who have a heart [in their chests] or who attentively give ear.[40] (36-37)
[They wonder at being raised to life again after death]. The actual truth is that We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six days[41] and no weariness came upon Us.[42] So [O Prophet!] bear with patience what they say and glorify your Lord while celebrating His praises and blessings[43] before the rising of
الْغُرُوبِ (39) وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ (40)
the sun and before [its] setting,[44] and glorify Him in the night also, and also after the times of the [sun’s] prostration.[45] (38-40)
وَاسْتَمِعْ يَوْمَ يُنَادِ الْمُنَادِ مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ (41) يَوْمَ يَسْمَعُونَ الصَّيْحَةَ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكَ يَوْمُ الْخُرُوجِ (42) إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيْنَا الْمَصِيرُ (43) يَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ الْأَرْضُ عَنْهُمْ سِرَاعًا ذَلِكَ حَشْرٌ عَلَيْنَا يَسِيرٌ (44)
نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِجَبَّارٍ فَذَكِّرْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ (45)
And listen for the day when the crier will call from a place near,[46] the day when they will hear the clamorous sound [of the trumpet] with [the announcement of] that [day] which is certain to come. That will be the Day of [the dead] coming forth [from the graves]. It is a fact that it is We Who give life and We Who give death and [one day everyone has to] return to Us as well,[47] on the Day when the earth shall be rent asunder from above them; they shall be rushing out from it in haste. Easy for us is this gathering for Us. (41-44)
[Do not fret over them O Prophet[. We know what they are saying[48] [and remember that] you have not been appointed as someone to use force over them. So remind through this Qur’ān those who fear My warning. (45)
(Translated by Dr Shehzad Saleem)