Surah Al Jathiya Notes (1-11)

Source: Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Makkah

A Directive to contemplate over Allah's Ayat

Allah directs His servants to contemplate His favors and gifts, as well as His great power that is demonstrated by His creating the heavens and the earth and the various types and categories of creatures in them. There are the angels, Jinns, humans, animals, birds, beasts, carnivores, insects and various kinds of sea creatures. The night and day alternate, each follows the other in succession, never ceasing to come, as decreed. One brings darkness and one brings light. Allah the Exalted also sends down the rain from the clouds when it is most needed. He is calling the rain, `provision', because it is the resource that produces various provisions,

(1) Ha-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings].

(2) The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

(3) Verily, in the heavens and the earth are signs for the believers.

(4) And in your creation, and what He scattered (through the earth) of moving (living) creatures are signs for people who have Faith with certainty.

(5) And in the alternation of night and day, and the provision (rain) that Allah sends down from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and in the turning about of the winds (i.e. sometimes towards the east or north, and sometimes towards the south or west etc., sometimes bringing glad tidings of rain etc., and sometimes bringing the torment), are signs for a people who understand.

(and revives therewith the earth after its death,) after it was dry and had no vegetation or life of any kind. Allah said next,

(and in the turning about of the winds,) sometimes towards the south and sometimes towards the north. Some are easterly winds and some are westerly winds, some bringing sea breezes and some blow from the land, some coming at night and some by day. Some winds bring rain, some cause pollination and some winds just revive the soul, while some others bear no benefit. Allah said first.

(are signs for the believers), then

(who have faith with certainty), then

(who understand), thus ascending from one honorable stage to what is more honorable and higher in grade. 

These Ayat are similar to an Ayah in Surat Al-Baqarah

(Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving creatures of all kinds that He has spread therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed signs for people of understanding.) (2:164)

The Description of the Sinful Liar and His Requital

(6) These are the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.) of Allah, which We recite to you (O Muhammad SAW) with truth. Then in which speech after Allah and His Ayat will they believe?

Allah the Exalted says,

(These are the Ayat of Allah) -- in reference to the Qur'an with the proofs and evidences that it contains,

(which We recite to you with truth.) for they contain the truth from the Truth (i.e., Allah). Therefore, if they do not believe in Allah's Ayat nor abide by them, what speech after Allah and His Ayat will they then believe in Allah said next, 

(7) Woe to every sinful liar,

(Woe to every sinful liar.) who lies in his speech, often swears, who is worthless, commits and utters sinful acts and statements, and disbelieves in Allah's Ayat,

(8) Who hears the Verses of Allah (being) recited to him, yet persists with pride as if he heard them not. So announce to him a painful torment!

(Who hears the Ayat of Allah Tutla (recited) to him,) meaning, being recited to him,

(yet persists) in his disbelief, denial, pride and rebellion,

(as if he heard them not. ) as if he did not hear them being recited to him,

(So announce to him a painful torment!) convey the news to him that on the Day of Resurrection, he will have a painful, severe torment from Allah. 

(9) And when he learns something of Our Verses (this Quran), he makes them a jest. For such there will be a humiliating torment. 

(And when he learns something of Our Ayat, he makes them a jest.) if he learns anything from the Qur'an, he disbelieves in it and takes it as the subject of jest and ridicule,

(For such there will be a humiliating torment.) as recompense for ridiculing the Qur'an and jesting about it. In the Sahih, Muslim recorded from `Abdullah bin `Umar that the Messenger of Allah prohibited traveling with the Qur'an to enemy lands for fear that the Qur'an might be desecrated by the enemy. Allah explained the type of torment that these people earn on the Day of Return;

(10) In front of them there is Hell, and that which they have earned will be of no profit to them, nor (will be of any profit to them) those whom they have taken as Auliya' (protectors, helpers, etc.) besides Allah. And theirs will be a great torment.

(In front of them there is Hell.) meaning, all those who have these evil characteristics will end up in Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection,

(And that which they have earned will be of no profit to them, ) their wealth and children will not avail them,

(nor those whom they have taken as protecting friends besides Allah.) nor will the false gods that they worshipped besides Allah benefit them in the least,

(And theirs will be a great torment.) 

(11) This (Quran) is a guidance. And those who disbelieve in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord, for them there is a painful torment of Rijz (a severe kind of punishment).

(This is Huda (guidance).) in reference to the Qur'an,

(And those who disbelieve in the Ayat of their Lord, for them there is a painful torment of Rijz.) that is agonizing and severe. Allah knows best.