Sura 35 Fatir (The Creator) Mecca
In character this sura is very similar to the preceding sura with sections referring to the Meccans rejection of Muhammad’s revelation and the rewards and consequences of this rejection. The title is based on the first verse: “Praise be to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth.”
I n praise of God: angels his messengers
“P raise be to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth,
Which made the angels, messengers with wings, two, or three or four” (v 1).
The number of wings is according to their order. Muslim writers say that when Gabriel appeared to Muhammad he had six hundred wings! (Al Beidawi)
In praise of God: mankind
“O ye men! It is ye that have need of Allah: but Allah is the one free of all wants, worthy of all praise” (v 15).
Muhammad like previous messengers rejected
“And if they reject thee, so were messengers rejected before thee” (v 4).
Consequences of rejection and benefits of believing
“For those who reject Allah is a terrible penalty: but for those who believe and work righteous deeds, is forgiveness, and a magnificent reward” (v 7).
Muhammad not to be concerned for the lost
“For Allah leaves to stray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. So let not thy soul go out in sighing after them: for Allah knows well all that they do!” (v eight)
F
oolishness of idolatry
“He merges night into day, and he merges day into night, and he has subjected the sun and the moon: each one runs its course for a term appointed. Such is Allah your Lord: to Him belongs all dominion. And those whom ye invoke besides Him have not the least power.If ye invoke them, they will not listen to your call, and if they were to listen, they cannot answer your (prayer). On the day of judgement they will reject your partnership. and none can tell thee (the truth) like the one Who is acquainted with all things” (v 13, 14).
Previous messengers like Muhammad, charged with imposture
“Thou art no other than a warner. Verily We have sent thee in truth, as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner: and there never was a people, without a warner having lived among them (in the past). And if they reject thee, so did their predecessors, to whom came their messengers with clear signs, books of dark prophecies, and the book of enlightenment. In the end did I punish those who rejected faith: and how (terrible) was My rejection” (v 23-26)!
The rewards of paradise
“Gardens of eternity will they enter: therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk. And they will say: Praise be to Allah, Who has removed from us sorrow: for our Lord is indeed Oft-Forgiving ready to appreciate (service): Who has, out of His bounty, settled us in a home that will last: no toil nor sense of weariness shall touch us therein.” (v 33-35)
The consequences of unbelief: Judgement delayed on unbelievers -Mercy for believers
“But those who reject (Allah) for them will be the fire of hell: No term shall be determined for them, so they should die, nor shall its penalty be lightened for them. Thus do We reward every ungrateful one! Therein will they cry aloud (for assistance): Our Lord! Bring us out: we shall work righteousness, not the (deeds) we used to do! Did We not give you long enough life so that he that should receive admonition? and (moreover) the warner came to you. So taste ye (the fruits of your deeds): for the wrong-doers there is no helper.” (v 36, 37)
The Meccans arrogant in unbelief
“They swore their strongest oaths by Allah that if a warner came to them, they would follow his guidance better than any (other) of the peoples: But when a warner came to them, it has only increased their flight” (v.42).
“If Allah were to punish men according to what they deserve. He would not leave on the back of the (earth) a single living creature: but He gives them respite for a stated term: when their term expires, verily Allah has in His sight all His servants” (v 45).
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Sura 36. Ya-Sin (Mecca)
This chapter is also called the heart of the Quran. It is held in great esteem by Muslims, and is often read to the dying owing to its teaching on the resurrection. In the Quran the doctrine of the resurrection and the judgement was second only to the doctrines of monotheism and creation. In this chapter Muhammad’s warnings of the resurrection are rejected by the Arabs and this rejection is likened to a legend of two of the messengers of Jesus who were sent to a ‘certain city.’ The title is taken from the mystic letters at the beginning of the chapter “Ya Sin” (v.1).
Muhammad a messenger sent to warn the Arabs
“By the Quran, full of wisdom, Thou art indeed one of the messengers, On a straight way. It is a revelation sent down by, the exalted in might, most merciful. In order that thou mayest admonish a people, whose fathers had received no admonition” (v 2-6).
Two apostles of Jesus sent to Antioch
“Set f orth to them, by way of a parable, the (story of) the companions of the city. Behold!, there came messengers to it. When We sent to them two messengers, they rejected them: But We strengthened them with a third: they said, Truly, we have been sent on a mission to you. The (people) said: Ye are only men like ourselves; and (Allah) most gracious sends no sort of revelation: ye do nothing but lie. They said: Our Lord doth know that we have been sent on a mission to you: And our duty is only to proclaim the clear message. The (people) said: for us, we augur an evil omen from you: if ye desist not, we will certainly stone you. And a grievous punishment indeed will be inflicted on you by us. They said: Your evil omens are with yourselves: (deem ye this an evil omen). If ye are admonished? Nay, but ye are a people transgressing all bounds!
Then there came running, from the farthest part of the city, a man, saying, O my people! Obey the messengers: Obey those who ask no reward of you, and who have themselves received guidance” (v 13-21).
Muslim writers say that Jesus Christ sent two of his disciples to the city of Antioch. Habib al-Najjar, although an idolater believed on account of the miracles they performed. When Jesus heard this he sent another disciple, supposedly Peter, to Antioch. The New Testament records no such story, it is more likely that Muhammad put into the mouth of the people of Antioch the words the Qurraish were saying to him.
Signs of the resurrection from creation
“A sign for them is the earth that is dead: We do give it life, and produce grains in therefrom, of which ye do eat. And We produce therein orchard with date-palms and vines, and We cause springs to gush forth therein: That they may enjoy the fruits of this: It was not their hands that made this: will they not then give thanks?” (v 33-35)
The resurrection and the happiness of believers
“The trumpet shall be sounded, when behold! from the sepulchres (men) will rush forth to their Lord! They will say: Ah! Woe unto us! Who hath raised us up from our beds of repose?… (A voice will say:) This is what (Allah) most gracious had promised. And true was the word of the messengers! It will be no more than a single blast, when lo! they will all be brought up before Us! Then, on that day, not a soul will be wronged in the least, and ye shall but be repaid for your past deeds. Verily the companions of the garden shall that day have joy in all that they do; They and their associates will be in groves of shade, reclining on thrones; fruit will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for (v.51-57).
Muhammad sent as a warner
“We have not instructed the (Prophet) in poetry, nor is it meet for him: this is no less than a message and a Quran making things clear: that it may give admonition to any alive, and that the charge may be proved against those who reject” (v 69,70).
If the unbelievers only viewed the Quran as a piece of poetry it might appear that it was his own composition and not the direct words of God so he rebutted the charge. The Meccans remained unconvinced.
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Sura 37. As-Saffat (The Range in Ranks) Mecca
Apart from matters relating to angels this chapter resembles former chapters with the ongoing theme of the rejection of Muhammad an d the earlier prophets and the rewards for believers and the punishment of those who will not believe. The chapter title is found with the oath in the first verse: “By those who range themselves in ranks”
The angels in Islam
The ranks of angels present us an opportunity of mentioning the second of the six articles of the Muslim Creed which is concerned with the Muslim belief about the angels. The Quran and tradition has much to say about angels.
1) The devil was created from fire, men from clay and angels from light.
2) Angels have life, speech and reason.
3) Angels have no carnal desire or anger. It is said that their food is celebrating God’s glory, their drink is proclaiming God’s holiness, their conversation is commemorating God and their pleasure is worshiping God.
4) Angels are thought to be inferior to human prophets, because they were commanded to prostrate themselves before Adam. (see Al-Baqarrah 2:34).
5) Every believer is attended by two recording angels, one of whom records his good actions, and the other his evil actions. (See Al-Intifar 82:10-12 and Qaf 50:17,18).
6) Four are archangels: Gabriel, the angel of revelation; Mikha’il, the patron of the Israelites; Israfil, who is to sound the trumpet on the last day; and Azra’il, the angel of death.
7) The chief angel in hell is called Malik (king) and he has 19 subordinate guards called Az Zabaniya (See Al-Muddaththir 74:30,31).
There are two angels, Munkar and Nakir, who examine the dead in their graves on the night after burial and examine them as to their faith.
9) Eight angels will support the throne of God ( See Al-Haqqah 69:17).
10) The angels intercede for man and celebrate the praises of the Lord (See Ash-Shura 42:15).
11) The angels act as guardians to men (See Ar-Ra’d 13:11).
12) The angels are in absolute submission and obedience to Allah yet there are examples of their disobedience. The angels Harut and Marut yielded to sexual temptation and were confined in a pit near Babel where they teach magic to men.
Angel’s protectors of the secrets of heaven
“W e have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars, (For beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits, (So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the exalted repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty, Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness. (v 6-10).
The devils endeavoured to rise up to heaven with the purpose of overhearing the conversations and tempting the inhabitants. They were repelled by shooting stars thrown by the protecting angels.
Judgement for those who ridicule
“Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule, And, when they are admonished, pay no heed, And, when they see a sign, turn it to mockery, And say, “This is nothing but evident sorcery! “What! when we die, and become dust and bones, shall we be raised up (again) “And also our fathers of old?” Say thou: “Yea, and ye shall then be humiliated.” Then it will be a single cry; and behold, they will begin to see! They will say, “Ah! Woe to us! this is the day of judgement!” (v 12-20)
Meccans refusal to believe in Muhammad
“For they, when they were told that there is no god except Allah, would puff themselves up with pride, And say: “What! shall we give up our gods for the sake of a poet possessed?” (v 35-36)
Th e sensual happiness of Paradise for believers
“
But the sincere servants of Allah, For them is a sustenance determined, fruits; and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity, In gardens of felicity, facing each other on thrones: Round will be passed to them a cup from a clear-flowing fountain, crystal-white, of a taste delicious to those who drink, free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication there from. And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes. As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded (v.40-49)
Believer in heaven views a close friend in hell
“Then they will turn to one another and question one another. One of them will start the talk and say: “ I had an intimate companion (on the earth), “Who used to say, ‘ what! art thou amongst those who bear witness to the truth? “‘When we die and become dust and bones, shall we ind eed receive rewards and punishments?’” (A voice) said: “Would ye like to look down?” He looked down and saw him in the midst of the fire. He said: “By Allah! thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition! “Had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I should certainly have been among those brought! (v 50-57)
The tree az-Zaqqum which is said to be in hell is described
“Is that the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum? For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong-doers. For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of hell-fire: The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils: Truly they will eat thereof and fill their belli es therewith. Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water. Then shall their return be to the fire. (v 62-68).
The Zaqqum is a tree which bears a very bitter fruit,
The rewards of the previously rejected messengers
“But We sent a foretime, among them, (messengers) to admonish them” (v.72)
Noah (v 75-81); Abraham (v.83-111); Isaac (v 112-113); Moses and Aaron (v 114-122); Elias (v 123-132);Lot (v 133-138); Jonah (v 139-148).
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This sura belongs to the midlle Meccan period. Tradit ion relates that the first ten verses were revealed on one of the occasions when the Qurraish tried to get Abu Talib to withdraw his protection from Muhammad which he absolutely declined to do. The Qurraish are vigorously warned by the fate of the generations of similar scorners who have passed away. Job is lauded for his patience and consistency. A confused narration of the prophet Nathan’s rebuke to David and legends concerning Solomon are also supplied. This chapter is so called from the Arabic letter with which it commences. Arabic commentators say that ‘God alone knows what He means by it’.
Op
position to Muhammad’s preaching
“But the unbelievers (are steeped) in self-glory and separatism. How many generations before them did We destroy? In the end they cried (for mercy) when there was no longer time for being saved! So they wonder that a warner has come to them from among themselves! and the unbelievers say, This is a sorcerer telling lies! Has he made the gods into one Allah? Truly this is a wonderful thing! And the leader among them go away, (saying), Walk ye away, and remain constant to your gods! For this is truly a thing designed ! We never heard of this among the people of these latter days: this is nothing but a made-up tale! (v 2-7)
The judgement of the confederates who oppose God’s messengers
“But there will be put to flight even a host of confederates. Before them (were many who) rejected messengers, the people of Noah, and ‘Ad, and Pharaoh, the Lord of Stakes, And Thamud, and the people of Lut, and the companions of the wood; such were the confederates. Not one (of them) but rejected the messengers, but My punishment came justly and inevitably. These only wait for a single mighty blast, which will brook no delay (v 11-15).
The example of David
“Has the story of the disputants reached thee? Behold, they climbed over the wall of the private chamber; When they entered the presence of David, and he was terrified of them, they said: Fear not: we are two disputants, one of whom has wronged the other: Decide now between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, but guide us to the even path ……… This man is my brother: He has nine and ninety ewes, and I have (but) one: Yet he says, ‘ commit her to my care,’ and is (moreover) harsh to me in speech. (David) said: He has undoubtedly wronged thee in demanding thy (single) ewe to be added to his (flock of) ewes: truly many are the partners (in business) who wrong each other: Not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few are they?…….. and David gathered that We had tried him: he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, and bowing (in prostration), and turned (to Allah in repentance). So We forgave him this he enjoyed, indeed, a near approach to Us, and a beautiful place of return. O David! We did indeed make thee a vicegerent on earth: so judge thou between men in truth: Nor follow thou the lusts (of thy heart), for they will mislead thee from the path of Allah: for those who wander astray from the path of Allah, is a penalty grievous, for that they forget the day of account” (v 19-26).
This is the parable that Nathan spoke to David in a different form. See 2 Samuel 12.
“To David We gave Solomon, How excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)! Behold, there were brought before him, at eventide coursers (horses) of the highest breeding, and swift of foot; And he said, Truly do I love the love of good, with a view to the glory of my Lord, until (the sun) was hidden in the veil (of night): Bring them back to me. then began he to pass his hand over (their) legs and their necks. And We did try Solomon: We placed on his throne a body (without life); but he did turn (to Us in true devotion): He said, O my Lord! Forgive me, and grant me a kingdom which, suits not another after me: for Thou art the granter of bounties. Then We subjected the wind to his power, to flow gently to his order, whithersoever he willed, As also the evil ones, every kind of builder and diver, And the unruly, every builder and diver (made We subservient), As also others bound together in fetters.
Such are Our bounties: whether thou bestow them or withhold them, no account will be asked. And he enjoyed, indeed, a near approach to Us, and a beautiful place of return” (v 30-40).
The legend about the horses is that one day Solomon was so taken up with them that he forgot the hour of evening prayer. He was so grieved that he ordered them all to be brought before him and all except a hundred, killed. God recompensed him by giving him dominion over the wind.
The counterfeit body of Solomon is from a Jewish legend. Solomon married the daughter of the king of Sidon. She so mourned for her father, that Solomon commanded the devils to make an image of him which his daughter worshipped. To punish Solomon a devil obtained possession of his ring, engraved with the holy name. With this the devil impersonated Solomon, who wandered about unknown forty days, the time during which the idol was worshipped. After this the devil flew away and threw the ring into the sea, where it was swallowed by a fish, which was afterwards caught and brought to Solomon, who then recovered his kingdom.
Job
“Commemorate Our servant Job. Behold he cried to his Lord: The Evil One has afflicted me with distress and suffering! Strike with thy foot: here is (water) wherein to wash, cool and refreshing, and to drink. And We gave him (back) his people, and doubled their number, as a grace from Ourselves, and a thing for commemoration, for all who have understanding. And take in thy hand a little grass, and strike therewith: and break not (thy oath). Truly We found him full of patience and constancy. How excellent in Our service! ever did he turn ”(v 41-44)!
The company of good men
“And commemorate Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, possessors of power and vision (v 45) …………….. they were, in Our sight, truly, of the company of the elect and the good” (v 47).
“And commemorate Isma’il, Elisha, and Zul-Kifl: Each of them was of the company of the good” (v 48).
The Paradise reward of the righteous
“This is a message (of admonition): and verily, for the righteous, is a beautiful place of return, Gardens of eternity, whose doors will (ever) be open to them; Therein will they recline: Therein can they call for fruit in abundance, and drink; And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances, of equal age” (v 49-52).
The penalty of Hell for unbelievers
“Yea, such! but for the wrong-doers will be an evil place of return! Hell! they will burn therein, an evil bed! Yea, such! then shall they taste it, a boiling fluid, and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold! And other penalties of a similar kind, to match them! Here is a troop rushing headlong with you! No welcome for them! truly, they shall burn in the fire!” (v 55-59)
Muhammad the warner of this dreadful peril
“Say: Truly am I a warner: no god is there but the one Allah, supreme and irresistible”(v 65)
“That I will certainly fill hell with thee and those that follow thee, every one. Say: No reward do I ask of you for this, nor am I a pretender. This is no less than a message to the worlds. And ye shall certainly know the truth of it after a while. (v 85-88)
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