Message for Muslims

83 Sura Mutaffifin (Those Who Give Short Measure or Weight)

In this chapter a warning is given to those traders who deal fraudently, all their wicked actions will be exposed in the deep dungeons of hell. Even those who deny the judgement day will enter hell while the pious believers shall enter the lofty places of heaven.

Warning to the fraudulent traders

“Woe to those that deal in fraud, Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, But when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due.

Do they not think that they will be called to account? On a mighty day, A day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?” (v 1-6)

Sijjin, the register of the acts of the wicked

“Nay! Surely the record of the wicked is (preserved) in Sijjin.

And what will explain to thee what Sijjin is?

(There is) a register (fully) inscribed” (v 7-10).

Sijjin ‘prison’ is the name of the book in which the evil deeds of men and jinn are registered. It is also the name of the dungeon beneath the seventh earth, the residence of Iblis and his host.

The unbelivers who deny the judgement day and accuse Muhammad of obtaining his information from different sources

“Woe, that day, to those that deny those that deny the day of judgment. And none can deny it but the transgressor beyond bounds the sinner!

When Our signs are rehearsed to him, he says, “Tales of the ancients!” By no means! but on their hearts is the stain of the which they do! (v.10-14)

They will enter the fire of hell

“Verily, from (the light of) their Lord, that day, will they be veiled.

Further, they will enter the fire of hell.

Further, it will be said to them: “This is the (reality) which ye rejected as false” (v 15-17).

The believers shall enter ‘Illiyun

“Verily the record of the righteous is (preserved) in ‘Illiyun.

And what will explain to thee what ‘Illiyun is?

(There is) a register (fully) inscribed,

To which bear witness those nearest” (v.18-21).

Illiyun is the seventh stage of celestial bliss and the register in which the good deeds of Muslims are said to be written. The Mishkat book 5 chapter 3 part 3 states that the angels follow the soul through each heaven, and the angels of one region pass it on to the next until it reaches the seventh heaven, when God says, ‘Write the name of my servant in ’Illiyun, and return him in the earth, that is, to his body which is in the earth.’

* * * * * * * * * * *

84 Sura Al-Inshiqaq (The Splitting Asunder) Mecca

This chapter has all the ingredients of many of the Meccan suras found in the latter parts of the Quran; signs of judgement, books of men’s works and the denunciation of unbelievers.

Creation obeys Allah’s commands in the signs of judgement day

“When the sky is rent asunder, And hearkens to (the command of) it’s Lord, and it must needs (do so);

And when the earth is flattened out, And casts forth what is within it and becomes (clean) empty,

And hearkens to (the command of) it’s Lord, and it must needs (v.1-5)

The books of men’s actions

“Then he who is given his record in his right hand, Soon will his account be taken by an easy reckoning, And he will turn to his people, rejoicing

But he who is given his record behind his back, Soon will he cry for perdition, And he will enter a blazing fire.

Truly, did he go about among his people, rejoicing! Truly, did he think that he would not have to return (to Us)!

Nay, nay! for his Lord was (ever) watchful of him!” (v.7-15)

Every person will be examined from his own book of deeds which will have all his deeds and works recorded. The righteous will receive their book in their right hand but the unrighteous will be forced to take their books in their left hands which will be bound behind their backs.

The denunciation of unbelievers

“What then is the matter with them that they believe not?

And when the Quran is read to them, they fall not prostrate,But on the contrary the unbelievers reject (it).

But Allah has full knowledge of what they secrete (in their breasts) So announce to them a penalty grievous” (v 20-24).

* * * * * * * * * * *

85 Sura Al-Buruj (The Celestial Signs) Mecca

This chapter refers to the persecutions suffered by the early Muslims but to those who vex the believers and reject the signs of Allah the torment of hell awaits them. Muhammad reminds his hearers that the denunciations that he propounds upon his enemies are not his but the pronouncement of the ’glorious Quran inscribed in a tablet preserved.’ The written decrees of Allah, which are found written in the Quran will come to completion when portents in heaven will be seen.

“By the sky, (displaying) the Zodiacal Signs” (v.1)

Denunciation for those who persecute believers

“Woe to the makers of the pit, fire supplied with fuel.

Behold! They sat over against the (fire), And they witnessed (all) that they were doing against the believers.

And they ill-treated them for no other reason than that they believed in Allah, exalted in power, worthy of all praise! Him to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth! And Allah is witness to all things.

Those who persecute the believers, men and women, and do not turn in repentance, will have the penalty of hell:

they will have the penalty of the burning fire (v 4-14).

Commentators say that these were Christian martyrs of Najran who rather than accepting Judaism were cast into a pit filled with fire and were burnt to ashes. Others say that it refers to the lengthy story of ‘the boy and the king’ found in Sahih Muslim, Volume 4, hadith number 7148.

Joy for those who believe

“For those who believe and do righteous deeds, will be gardens; beneath which rivers flow: that is the great salvation” (v.11).

Example of those who rejected Allah in the past

“Has the story reached thee, of the forces of Pharaoh and the Thamud?

And yet the unbelievers (persist) in rejecting! But Allah doth encompass them from behind!” (v 17-20)

87 Sura Al-Ala (The Most High) Mecca

This chapter declared that the Most High, the creator of all things has given his revelation in nature and scripture. Muhammad believes he will not forget any of his revelation unless God pleases and believes it corresponds to books sent down to earlier prophets.

The Creator, Most High, and His laws

“Glorify the name of thy Guardian-Lord most high Who hath created, and further, given order and proportion;

Who hath ordained laws and granted guidance; And Who bringeth out the (green) pasture,

and then doth make it (but) swarthy stubble” (v.2-5).

When Muhammad forgets the revelation

“By degrees shall We teach thee to declare (the message), so thou shalt not forget, Except as Allah wills:

For He knoweth what is manifest and what is hidden. And We will make it easy for thee (to follow) the simple” (v 6-8).

Muhammad is said to have received his revelation in stages as this would aid his memory, however, on occasions he forgot some aspects of the revelation and this made the unbelievers in Mecca suspicious. Al-Itqan 3:74 written by al-Suyuti states that ‘Two men read a sura which the Apostle of God had taught them, yet one night they rose up to pray but failed to remember one word of it. The next morning, they went to the Apostle of God and related it to him. He told them, ‘It is one of those which have been abrogated, thus forget about it.’ Because of such behaviour the unbelievers said he does not receive inspiration but changes his mind whenever he wishes too, or he says I forgot this verse because God made me forget.

Muhammad’s response to those who question he has forgotten a revelation

“Therefore give admonition in case the admonition profits (the hearer). The admonition will be received by those who fear (Allah):

But it will be avoided by those most unfortunate ones, Who will enter the great fire, In which they will then neither die nor live.

But those will prosper who purify themselves” (v.9-14 and on to 17)

Muhammad believes his revelation is the same as that given to Abraham and Moses

“And this is in the books of the earliest (revelation), the books of Abraham and Moses” (v.18,19)

Muslims believe that the number of sacred books delivered to mankind is one hundred and four. Ten were given to Adam; fifty to Seth; thirty to Enoch; ten to Abraham; the Taurat to Moses; the Zabur to David; the Injil to Jesus and the Quran to Muhammad.

* * * * * * * * * *

88 Sura Al-Ghashiyah (The Overwhelming) Mecca

T he title of this chapter and the main emphasis of the chapter is the overwhelming last day when some will be in bliss while others will enter the blazing fire because of the way they have responded o the warnings of Muhammad. Therefore the title verse reads ”Has the story reached thee of the overwhelming (event)? v.1

Those who enter the blazing fire

“Some faces, that day, will be humiliated, labouring (hard), weary,

The while they enter the blazing fire, The while they are given, to drink, of a boiling hot spring,

No food will there be for them but a bitter Dhari’ (bitter thorn fruit) which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger”       (v 2-7)

Those who enter Heaven

“(Other) faces that day will be joyful, Pleased with their striving, In a garden on high, Where they shall hear no (word) of vanity:

Therein will be a bubbling spring: Therein will be thrones raised on high,

Goblets placed, and cushions set in rows, and rich carpets spread out” (v 8-16).

Muhammad is a warner to the unbelievers

“Therefore do thou give admonition, for thou art one to admonish. Thou art not one to manage (men’s) affairs “(v 21-22).

Allah will reckon with the unbelievers

“But if any turn away and reject Allah, Allah will punish him with a mighty punishment,

For to us will be their return; Then it will be for us to call them to account “(v 23-26).