Tafsir of Surah Aal ‘Imran 1-9: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

This is the first installment of our translation of al-Tafsir al-Muyassar‘s explanation of surah Aal ‘Imran, covering ayaat 1-9. This section centers around Allah’s sole right to be worshiped and the revelation He has sent down. See the series guide here for more information about this series and other installments.

ـ {الم (1)}
سبق الكلام عليها في أول سورة البقرة. ـ

الم

Alif Lam Meem (1)

This has already been discussed in the beginning of surah al-Baqarah.

ـ {اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ (2)}
هو الله، لا معبود بحق إلا هو، المتصف بالحياة الكاملة كما يليق بجلاله، القائم على كل شيء. ـ

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ

Allah – There is no deity worthy of worship except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining (2)

He is Allah, there is nothing worthy of worship besides Him, the One characterized by complete life – as befits His majesty -, the One who sustains everything.

ـ {نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنْجِيلَ (3) مِنْ قَبْلُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَأَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ (4)}
نَزَّل عليك القرآن بالحق الذي لا ريب فيه، مصدِّقًا لما قبله من كتب ورسل، وأنزل التوراة على موسى علبه السلام، والإنجيل على عيسى عليه السلام من قبل نزول القرآن؛ لإرشاد المتقين إلى الإيمان، وصلاح دينهم ودنياهم، وأنزل ما يفرق بين الحق والباطل. والذين كفروا بآيات الله المنزلة، لهم عذاب عظيم. والله عزيز لا يُغَالَب، ذو انتقام بمن جحد حججه وأدلته، وتفرُّده بالألوهية. ـ

نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ * مِن قَبْلُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَنزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ ۗ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انتِقَامٍ ‎

He sent the Book down to you, confirming what came before it, and He sent the Tawrah and the Injeel (3) Before, as guidance for the people. And He sent down the Criterion. Those who disbelieve in Allah’s signs will have a painful punishment. And Allah is Almighty, Able to Avenge. (4)

He sent the Qur’an down to you in truth with no doubt about it, confirming the scriptures and messenger that came before it. And He sent the Tawrah down to Moosaa and the Injeel down to ‘Eesaa prior to sending the Qur’an. These were sent down to guide the pious people to faith and to set both their spiritual and worldly matters in order. He sent down what would distinguish truth from falsehood. But those who disbelieve in Allah’s revealed signs will have a serious punishment. And Allah is the Almighty who cannot be defeated, able to deal with those who reject His proofs and evidences, the only One who deserves to be deified.

Tafsir of Surah al-Mursalat: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

The book Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar was written by a group of scholars under the direction of sheikh Saalih Aal al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed to be a simple and easy-to-understand tafsir according to the understanding of the salaf. What follows is its brief tafsir of surah al-Mursalat (77) and translation:

ـ {وَالْمُرْسَلاتِ عُرْفًا (1) فَالْعَاصِفَاتِ عَصْفًا (2) وَالنَّاشِرَاتِ نَشْرًا (3) فَالْفَارِقَاتِ فَرْقًا (4) فَالْمُلْقِيَاتِ ذِكْرًا (5) عُذْرًا أَوْ نُذْرًا (6) إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَوَاقِعٌ (7)}
أقسم الله تعالى بالرياح حين تهب متتابعة يقفو بعضها بعضًا، وبالرياح الشديدة الهبوب المهلكة، وبالملائكة الموكلين بالسحب يسوقونها حيث شاء الله، وبالملائكة التي تنزل من عند الله بما يفرق بين الحق والباطل والحلال والحرام، وبالملائكة التي تتلقى الوحي من عند الله وتنزل به على أنبيائه؛ إعذارًا من الله إلى خلقه وإنذارًا منه إليهم؛ لئلا يكون لهم حجة. إن الذي توعدون به مِن أمر يوم القيامة وما فيه من حساب وجزاء لنازلٌ بكم لا محالة. ـ

وَالْمُرْسَلَاتِ عُرْفًا * فَالْعَاصِفَاتِ عَصْفًا * وَالنَّاشِرَاتِ نَشْرًا * فَالْفَارِقَاتِ فَرْقًا * فَالْمُلْقِيَاتِ ذِكْرًا * عُذْرًا أَوْ نُذْرًا * إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَوَاقِعٌ

By those sent successively (1) Blowing violently (2) And by those who scatter widely (3) Separating decisively (4) Receiving a message (5) An excuse or a warning (6) What you have been promise will surely occur. (7)

Allah swears by the blowing winds which come one after another, and by the strong winds with destructive gusts. And by the angels assigned to the clouds who drive them wherever Allah wishes, and by the angels who descend from Allah’s presence with what will distinguish truth from falsehood and permissible from impermissible. And by the angles who receive the revelation from Allah and take it down to His Prophets to serve as way for the creation to absolve themselves before Allah and as a warning from Him to them, so that they would have no excuse. The things about the Day of Resurrection and things it contains such as the reckoning and repayment that you have been promised will certainly happen to you; there is no way to avoid it.

ـ {فَإِذَا النُّجُومُ طُمِسَتْ (8) وَإِذَا السَّمَاءُ فُرِجَتْ (9) وَإِذَا الْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ (10) وَإِذَا الرُّسُلُ أُقِّتَتْ (11) لأَيِّ يَوْمٍ أُجِّلَتْ (12) لِيَوْمِ الْفَصْلِ (13) وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الْفَصْلِ (14) وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ (15)}
فإذا النجوم طُمست وذهب ضياؤها، وإذا السماء تصدَّعت، وإذا الجبال تطايرت وتناثرت وصارت هباء تَذْروه الرياح، وإذا الرسل عُيِّن لهم وقت وأجل للفصل بينهم وبين الأمم، يقال: لأيِّ يوم عظيم أخِّرت الرسل؟ أخِّرت ليوم القضاء والفصل بين الخلائق. وما أعلمك- أيها الإنسان- أيُّ شيء هو يوم الفصل وشدته وهوله؟ هلاك عظيم في ذلك اليوم للمكذبين بهذا اليوم الموعود. ـ

فَإِذَا النُّجُومُ طُمِسَتْ * وَإِذَا السَّمَاءُ فُرِجَتْ * وَإِذَا الْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ * وَإِذَا الرُّسُلُ أُقِّتَتْ * لِأَيِّ يَوْمٍ أُجِّلَتْ * لِيَوْمِ الْفَصْلِ * وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الْفَصْلِ * وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

When the stars are extinguished (8) And when the sky is cracked (9) And when the mountains are blown away (10) And when the messengers’ time has come. (11) What day have they been awaiting? (12) The Day of Settling. (13) And what will make you understand what the Day of Settling is? (14) Woe to the deniers on that Day. (15)

Then when the stars will be extinguished and their lights will disappear, and when the sky will split and crack, and when the mountains will be scattered and dispersed and become like dust particles blown about by the wind, and when the time and date that has been set comes for there to be settlement between the messengers and their nations, it will be said, “What tremendous day have the messengers been awaiting?” They have been waiting for this Day when the judgement and the settling of accounts between the created beings will occur. And what would make you, O mankind, know what kind of thing this Day of Settling is, and how severe and frightening it is? On that Day there will be terrible ruin for any who denied the existence of this promised day.

Tafsir of Surah al-Insan: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

The book Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar was written by a group of scholars under the direction of sheikh Saalih Aal al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed to be a simple and easy-to-understand tafsir according to the understanding of the salaf. What follows is its brief tafsir of surah al-Insan (76) and translation:

ـ {هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الإِنسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئًا مَذْكُورًا (1)}
قد مضى على الإنسان وقت طويل من الزمان قبل أن تُنفَخ فيه الروح، لم يكن شيئا يُذكر، ولا يُعرف له أثر. ـ

هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الإِنسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئًا مَذْكُورًا

Wasn’t there a period of time for man when he was nothing to be mentioned? (1)

A long time has already passed for man since the period before a soul was even blown into him when he wasn’t even anything to be mentioned and he was not known to have any significance.

ـ {إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الإِنسَانَ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا (2) إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا (3)}
إنا خلقنا الإنسان من نطفة مختلطة من ماء الرجل وماء المرأة، نختبره بالتكاليف الشرعية فيما بعد، فجعلناه من أجل ذلك ذا سمع وذا بصر؛ ليسمع الآيات، ويرى الدلائل، إنا بينَّا له وعرَّفناه طريق الهدى والضلال والخير والشر؛ ليكون إما مؤمنًا شاكرًا، وإما كفورًا جاحدًا. ـ

إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الإِنسَانَ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا * إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

We created man from a sperm drop mixed so that We would test him, so We made him hearing and seeing. (2) We showed him the path; either he will be grateful or ungrateful. (3)

We created man from a sperm drop, mixed with the fluid of a man and the fluid of a woman. We informed him of his legal responsibilities according to the sharee’ah going forward. In order to fulfill those responsibilities, We made him with the ability to hear and see so that he could listen to the ayaat and see the evidences. We have clarified those things for him and made him aware of the path of guidance and misguidance, good and evil. This is all in order that he may either be a grateful believer or an ungrateful disbeliever.

Tafsir of Surah al-Qiyamah: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

The book Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar was written by a group of scholars under the direction of sheikh Saalih Aal al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed to be a simple and easy-to-understand tafsir according to the understanding of the salaf. What follows is its brief tafsir of surah al-Qiyamah (75) and translation:

ـ{لا أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ (1) وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ (2) أَيَحْسَبُ الإِنسَانُ أَلَّنْ نَجْمَعَ عِظَامَهُ (3) بَلَى قَادِرِينَ عَلَى أَنْ نُسَوِّيَ بَنَانَهُ (4)}
أقسم الله سبحانه بيوم الحساب والجزاء، وأقسم بالنفس المؤمنة التقية التي تلوم صاحبها على ترك الطاعات وفِعْل الموبقات، أن الناس يبعثون. أيظنُّ هذا الإنسان الكافر أن لن نقدر على جَمْع عظامه بعد تفرقها؟ بلى سنجمعها، قادرين على أن نجعل أصابعه أو أنامله- بعد جمعها وتأليفها- خَلْقًا سويًّا، كما كانت قبل الموت. ـ

لا أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ * وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ * أَيَحْسَبُ الإِنسَانُ أَلَّنْ نَجْمَعَ عِظَامَهُ * بَلَى قَادِرِينَ عَلَى أَنْ نُسَوِّيَ بَنَانَهُ

I swear by the Day of Resurrection (1) And I swear by the self-reproaching soul (2) Does man think that We will never gather his bones? (3) No, We are able to proportion his fingers. (4)

Allah swears by the Day of Reckoning and Repayment, and He swears by the believing god-fearing soul which blames its owner for abandoning obedience and committing harmful acts. He swears that mankind will be raised from the dead.

Does the disbelieving person think that We would never be able to bring his bones back together after they have been separated? On the contrary, We will gather them back together, We are able to put the fingers and fingertips back in order after regathering the bones and putting them all together, just as they had been before death.

Tafsir of Surah al-Muddathir: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

The book Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar was written by a group of scholars under the direction of sheikh Saalih Aal al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed to be a simple and easy-to-understand tafsir according to the understanding of the salaf. What follows is its brief tafsir of surah al-Muddathir (74) and translation:

ـ{يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ (1) قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ (2) وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ (3) وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ (4) وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ (5) وَلا تَمْنُنْ تَسْتَكْثِرُ (6) وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ (7)}
يا أيها المتغطي بثيابه، قم مِن مضجعك، فحذِّر الناس من عذاب الله، وخُصَّ ربك وحده بالتعظيم والتوحيد والعبادة، وَطَهِّر ثيابك من النجاسات؛ فإن طهارة الظاهر من تمام طهارة الباطن، ودُمْ على هَجْر الأصنام والأوثان وأعمال الشرك كلها، فلا تقربها، ولا تُعط العطيَّة؛ كي تلتمس أكثر منها، ولمرضاة ربك فاصبر على الأوامر والنواهي. ـ

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ * قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ * وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ * وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ * وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ * وَلَا تَمْنُن تَسْتَكْثِرُ * وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ

O you covered up (1) Stand and warn (2) And magnify your Lord (3) And purify your clothes (4) And avoid filth (5) And no not do favors in order to gain something (6) And be steadfast for your Lord. (7)

O you who is wrapped up in your clothing, get up from your bed and warn the people of Allah’s punishment. And single out your Lord alone for magnification, tawheed and worship. And purify your clothing from any forms of filth, for outer purification is part of the completion of inward purification. Be resolute in your abandonment of any idols, statues or any other form of shirk; do not even come near to them. And do not give a gift in the hopes that you might receive more in return. And steadfastly persist in fulfilling the commands and prohibitions for the pleasure of your Lord.

ـ {فَإِذَا نُقِرَ فِي النَّاقُورِ (8) فَذَلِكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوْمٌ عَسِيرٌ (9) عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ غَيْرُ يَسِيرٍ (10)}
فإذا نُفخ في القرن نفخة البعث والنشور، فذلك الوقت يومئذ شديد على الكافرين، غير سهل أن يخلصوا مما هم فيه من مناقشة الحساب وغيره من الأهوال. ـ

فَإِذَا نُقِرَ فِي النَّاقُورِ * فَذَٰلِكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوْمٌ عَسِيرٌ * عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ غَيْرُ يَسِيرٍ

And when the horn is blown (8) That Day will be a difficult Day (9) It will not be easy for the disbelievers. (10)

Then when the horn is sounded with the blow for the resurrection and gathering of the dead, that time on that Day will be extremely trying for the disbelievers, not easy for them to escape the interrogation of the Reckoning or the other terrifying things they will experience.

Tafsir of Surah al-Muzzammil: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

The book Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar was written by a group of scholars under the direction of sheikh Saalih Aal al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed to be a simple and easy-to-understand tafsir according to the understanding of the salaf. What follows is its brief tafsir of surah al-Muzzammil (73) and translation:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ (1) قُمْ اللَّيْلَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلًا (2) نِصْفَهُ أَوْ انْقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا (3) أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلْ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا (4)}
يا أيها المتغطي بثيابه، قم للصلاة في الليل إلا يسيرًا منه. قم نصف الليل أو انقص من النصف قليلا حتى تَصِلَ إلى الثلث، أو زد على النصف حتى تصل إلى الثلثين، واقرأ القرآن بتُؤَدَة وتمهُّلٍ مبيِّنًا الحروف والوقوف.ـ

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ * قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا * نِّصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا * أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا

O you wrapped up (1) Stand the night, except a little (2) Half of it, or a little less than that (3) Or more than that. And recite the Qur’an in a measured manner. (4)

O you who has covered himself with his garments, stand in prayer for the night except for a small portion of it. Stand for half the night or a little less than half so that you reach one third, or more than half until you reach two thirds. And recite the Qur’an at a slow and deliberate pace, making each word and pause clear.

{إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا (5)}
إنا سننزل عليك- أيها النبي- قرآنًا عظيمًا مشتملا على الأوامر والنواهي والأحكام الشرعية. ـ

إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا

We will certainly send a weighty word to you. (5)

We will certainly send a marvelous recitation containing commands, prohibitions and legal rulings down to you, O Prophet.

{إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا (6)}
إن العبادة التي تنشأ في جوف الليل هي أشد تأثيرًا في القلب، وأبين قولا لفراغ القلب مِن مشاغل الدنيا.ـ

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا

The night hours are especially potent for impact and best suited for speech. (6)

Worship that is undertaken during the middle of the night has a stronger impact on the heart and lends itself to clearer discourse since the heart is freed of worldly concerns.

Tafsir of Surah al-Jinn: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

The book Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar was written by a group of scholars under the direction of sheikh Saalih Aal al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed to be a simple and easy-to-understand tafsir according to the understanding of the salaf. What follows is its brief tafsir of surah al-Jinn (72) and translation:

ـ {قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنْ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا (1) يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا (2)}
قل- أيها الرسول-: أوحى الله إليَّ أنَّ جماعة من الجن قد استمعوا لتلاوتي للقرآن، فلما سمعوه قالوا لقومهم: إنا سمعنا قرآنًا بديعًا في بلاغته وفصاحته وحكمه وأحكامه وأخباره، يدعو إلى الحق والهدى، فصدَّقنا بهذا القرآن وعملنا به، ولن نشرك بربنا الذي خلقنا أحدًا في عبادته. ـ

قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنْ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا * يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا

Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of Jinn listened and said: We have heard an amazing Qur’an (1) It guides to the right course, so we have believed in it and we will never associate anyone with our Lord. (2)

Say, O Messenger: Allah has sent revelation to me that a group of Jinn were listening to my recitation of the Qur’an and after they heard it they told their people: We have heard a recitation that is truly marvelous in its eloquence and linguistic beauty, and amazing in its perfection, its legal rulings and its contents. It calls to guidance and the truth. So we believe in this Qur’an and act according to it, and we will never associate any partners in the worship of our Lord who created us.

{وَأَنَّهُ تَعَالَى جَدُّ رَبِّنَا مَا اتَّخَذَ صَاحِبَةً وَلا وَلَدًا (3)}
وأنه تعالَتْ عظمة ربنا وجلاله، ما اتخذ زوجة ولا ولدًا.

وَأَنَّهُ تَعَالَى جَدُّ رَبِّنَا مَا اتَّخَذَ صَاحِبَةً وَلا وَلَدًا

And that exalted is the majesty of our Lord. He has not taken a companion or a child. (3)

And the greatness and majesty of our Lord is at such a high level. He has not taken any wife or offspring.

{وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطًا (4)}
وأن سفيهنا- وهو إبليس- كان يقول على الله تعالى قولا بعيدًا عن الحق والصواب، مِن دعوى الصاحبة والولد.

وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطًا

And our foolish one used to say outrageous things about Allah. (4)

And the foolish one among us, who is Iblis, used to say things about Allah which were far removed from the truth and what is correct, such as claiming that He has a wife and offspring.

Tafsir of Surah Nuh: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

The book Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar was written by a group of scholars under the direction of sheikh Saalih Aal al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed to be a simple and easy-to-understand tafsir according to the understanding of the salaf. What follows is its brief tafsir of surah Nuh (71) and translation:

ـ {إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَى قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (1) قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ (2) أَنْ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَطِيعُونِ (3) يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ إِذَا جَاءَ لا يُؤَخَّرُ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (4)}
إنا بعثنا نوحا إلى قومه، وقلنا له: حذِّر قومك من قبل أن يأتيهم عذاب موجع. قال نوح: يا قومي إني نذير لكم بيِّن الإنذار من عذاب الله إن عصيتموه، وإني رسول الله إليكم فاعبدوه وحده، وخافوا عقابه، وأطيعوني فيما آمركم به، وأنهاكم عنه، فإن أطعتموني واستجبتم لي يصفح الله عن ذنوبكم ويغفر لكم، ويُمدد في أعماركم إلى وقت مقدر في علم الله تعالى، إن الموت إذا جاء لا يؤخر أبدًا، لو كنتم تعلمون ذلك لسارعتم إلى الإيمان والطاعة. ـ

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ * قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ * أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَطِيعُونِ * يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ إِذَا جَاءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ ۖ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

We certainly sent Nuh to his people. “Warn your people before a painful punishment comes to them.” (1) He said, “O people, I am a clear warner to you. (2) Worship Allah, have taqwa of Him, and obey Me. (3) He will forgive you of your sins and grant you an extension until a certain time. When Allah’s time comes, it cannot be delayed. If only you knew.” (4)

We certainly sent Nuh to his people and told him, “Warn your people before an excruciating punishment comes to them.”

Nuh said, “O my people, I am a warner to you clearly warning you of Allah’s punishment if you disobey Him. I am Allah’s Messenger to you, so worship Him alone, fear His punishment, and obey me in what I command and forbid for you. If you obey me and respond to me, Allah will overlook your sins and forgive you, and He will prolong your lives until a specified time that He knows. When death comes, it can never be pushed back. If you only knew that, you would rush to believe and obey.”

Tafsir of Surah al-Ma’arij: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

The book Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar was written by a group of scholars under the direction of sheikh Saalih Aal al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed to be a simple and easy-to-understand tafsir according to the understanding of the salaf. What follows is its brief tafsir of surah al-Ma’arij (70) and translation:

 ـ{سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ (1) لِلْكَافِرينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ (2) مِنْ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ (3) تَعْرُجُ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ (4)}
دعا داع من المشركين على نفسه وقومه بنزول العذاب عليهم، وهو واقع بهم يوم القيامة لا محالة، ليس له مانع يمنعه من الله ذي العلو والجلال، تصعد الملائكة وجبريل إليه تعالى في يوم كان مقداره خمسين ألف سنة من سني الدنيا، وهو على المؤمن مثل صلاة مكتوبة. ـ

سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ * لِّلْكَافِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ * مِّنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ * تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ

A questioner asked for the oncoming punishment. (1) There is no one to protect the disbelievers from it (2) Against Allah, the Owner of Loftiness. (3) The Angels and the Spirit ascend to Him on a Day whose length is fifty thousand years. (4)

One of the mushrikoon supplicated against himself and his people for the punishment to be sent down on them, which will certainly happen to them on the Day of Resurrection. There is no one who could stop Allah, who is High and Exalted, from doing that. The Angels and Jibril rise up to Him on a day whose length is fifty thousand years when counting in worldly years, yet for the believer it is like the length of a single mandatory prayer.

{فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا (5)}
فاصبر- أيها الرسول- على استهزائهم واستعجالهم العذاب، صبرًا لا جزع فيه، ولا شكوى منه لغير الله. ـ

فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا

So be patient with beautiful steadfastness. (5)

So be steadfast, O Messenger, in the face of their mockery and asking for the punishment to be brought. Be steadfast without giving in to sorrow or complaining to anyone besides Allah.

{إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيدًا (6) وَنَرَاهُ قَرِيبًا (7)}
إن الكافرين يستبعدون العذاب ويرونه غير واقع، ونحن نراه واقعًا قريبًا لا محالة. ـ

إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيدًا * وَنَرَاهُ قَرِيبًا

They see it as distant (6) But We see it as near. (7)

The disbelievers consider punishment unlikely and believe it will not happen, but We see it as inevitable, close at hand, and inescapable.

Tafsir of Surah al-Haqqah: al-Tafsir al-Muyassar

The book Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar was written by a group of scholars under the direction of sheikh Saalih Aal al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed to be a simple and easy-to-understand tafsir according to the understanding of the salaf. What follows is its brief tafsir of surah al-Haqqah (69) and translation:

{الْحَاقَّةُ (1) مَا الْحَاقَّةُ (2) وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحَاقَّةُ (3)}
القيامة الواقعة حقًّا التي يتحقق فيها الوعد والوعيد، ما القيامة الواقعة حقًّا في صفتها وحالها؟ وأي شيء أدراك- أيها الرسول- وعَرَّفك حقيقة القيامة، وصَوَّر لك هولها وشدتها؟ ـ

الْحَاقَّةُ * مَا الْحَاقَّةُ * وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحَاقَّةُ

The Reality (1) What is the Reality? (2) And what will make you know what the Reality is? (3)

The impending Resurrection that will certainly happen during which all of the promises and threats will be fulfilled. What is the description of this impending Resurrection that will certainly take place? And what will make you, O Messenger, grasp and know how this Resurrection will be, such that it gives you a picture of its terror and intensity?

{كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ وَعَادٌ بِالْقَارِعَةِ (4)}
كذَّبت ثمود، وهم قوم صالح، وعاد، وهم قوم هود بالقيامة التي تقرع القلوب بأهوالها. ـ

كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ وَعَادٌ بِالْقَارِعَةِ

Thamud and ‘Aad denied the Striking. (4)

Thamud, who were Salih’s people, and ‘Aad, who were Hud’s people, did not believe in the Resurrection that ought to strike terror into one’s heart.