Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Surah Qaaf Notes (38-45)


Source: Ibn Kathir
(38) And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six Days and nothing of fatigue touched Us.

The statement of Allah the Exalted and Most Honored;

(And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and all that between them in six Days and nothing of fatigue touched Us.) is an emphasis on the Resurrection because He Who is able to create the heavens and earth without fatigue, then surely He is able to resurrect the dead. Qatadah said, "The Jews, may Allah's curses descend on them, said that Allah created the heavens and earth in six days and then rested on the seventh day, which was the Sabbath. This is why they call it a holiday. Allah the Exalted then sent down denial of their statement and false opinion.'' 

Allah said, 

(and nothing of fatigue touched Us.) indicating that no sleep, exhaustion or weariness affects Him. Allah the Exalted the Blessed said in other Ayat,

(Do they not see that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied by their creation, is able to give life to the dead Yes, He surely is Able to do all things.)(46:33),

(The creation of the heavens and the earth is indeed greater than the creation of mankind.)(40:57) and,

(Are you more difficult to create or is the heaven that He constructed)(79:27) 


(39) So bear with patience (O Muhammad SAW) all that they say, and glorify the Praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting (i.e. the Fajr, Zuhr, and 'Asr prayers).

Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said,

(So bear with patience all that they say, ) in reference to those who deny the Prophet, ordering him to be patient with them and turn away from them in a good way,

(and glorify the praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting.) There were two ordained prayers prior to the Isra' journey. One before the rising of the sun at dawn and the other before sunset in the evening. Qiyam Al-Layl, prayer at night, was a command for the Prophet and his followers for some time but it was later abrogated for the Ummah. Later, during the Isra' journey, Allah abrogated all of the previous orders for prayer by ordaining five daily prayers, including the prayers of Fajr before sunrise, and `Asr in the late afternoon. 

Imam Ahmad recorded that Jarir bin `Abdullah said, "When we were sitting with the Prophet, he looked at the full moon and said, (Certainly you will be brought before your Lord and will see Him as you see this moon, and you will have no trouble in seeing Him. So, if you can avoid missing the prayer before the sunrise and the prayer before sunset, you must do so.) He then recited Allah's statement,

(and glorify the praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting.)''' The Two Sahihs and the rest of the Group collected this Hadith through the chain of Isma`il.


(40) And during a part of the night (also), glorify His praises (i.e. Maghrib and 'Isha prayers), and (so likewise) after the prayers [As-Sunnah, Nawafil optional and additional prayers, and also glorify, praise and magnify Allah - Subhan Allah, Alhamdu lillah, Allahu-Akbar].

(And during a part of the night glorify His praises), meaning pray to Him. Allah said Ayah,

(And in some parts of the night offer the Salah with it, as an additional prayer for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqam Mahmud.) (17:79) 

Ibn Abi Najih reported that Mujahid said that Ibn `Abbas said that,

(and after the prostrations.) refers to Tasbih, i.e. glorifying Allah's praises, after the prayers. 

There is a Hadith collected in the Two Sahihs that supports this meaning. Abu Hurayrah said, "Some poor migrants came and said, `O Allah's Messenger! The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment. ' The Prophet said, (Why is that) They said, `They pray as we do, fast as we do, yet they give charity, but we can not. They free slaves, but we can not.' The Prophet said,
(Shall I tell you about something that, if you did it, you would catch up with those who have surpassed you and nobody would be better than you except those who would do the same Say, `Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar,' thirty-three times each after every prayer.) Later, they came back and said, `O Allah's Messenger! Our brethren, the wealthy Muslims, heard of what we did and they also did the same.' The Prophet said,
(This is a favor and grace of Allah, and He grants it to whom He wills.)'' There is another way of explaining the Ayah. It is that Allah's statement,
(and after the prostrations.) refers to the two Rak`ahs after the Maghrib prayer. This was reported from `Umar bin Al-Khattab, `Ali bin Abi Talib and his son Al-Hasan, `Abdullah bin `Abbas, Abu Hurayrah and Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with them. This is also the saying of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Ash-Sha`bi, An-Nakha`i, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah, and others.


Admonition from Some Scenes of the Day of Resurrection

(41) And listen on the Day when the caller will call from a near place,

Allah the Exalted said,

(And listen) `O Muhammad,'

(on the Day when the caller will call from a near place.) to the gathering for the Day of Judgement,


(42) The Day when they will hear As-Saihah (shout, etc.) in truth, that will be the Day of coming out (from the graves i.e. the Day of Resurrection).

(The Day when they will hear As-Sayhah in truth,) in reference to the blowing in the Trumpet which will bring forth the truth that most of them discounted and denied,

(that will be the Day of coming out.) from the graves,




(43) Verily, it is We who give life and cause death; and to Us is the final return,

(Verily, it is We Who give life and cause death; and to Us is the final return.) Allah is He Who starts creation and then brings it back to life, and the latter is easier for Him; to Him is the final return of all creations. At this time, He will recompense each according to his or her deeds, good for good and evil for evil.



(44) On the Day when the earth shall be cleft, from off them, (they will come out) hastening forth. That will be a gathering, quite easy for Us.

(On the Day when the earth shall be cleft, from off them (they will come out) hastening forth.) Allah the Exalted and Most Honored will send down rain from the sky. From that rain the bodies of the creations will grow while they are in their graves, just as the seed grows in soil in the aftermath of rain. When the bodies grow to their full strength, Allah the Exalted will command angel Israfil and he will blow in the Trumpet (for a second time). The souls will be enclosed in a hole in the Trumpet. When Israfil blows in the Trumpet, the souls will depart from it and will fly between the heavens and earth. Allah the Exalted and Most Honored, will declare, "By My grace and power, each soul shall return to the body that it used to inhabit,'' and indeed, every soul will return to its body. The soul will enter its body just as poison enters the body, then the earth will be uncovered from above them, and they will all stand and head towards the Reckoning place hastening to obey the command of Allah the Exalted and Most Honored,

(Hastening towards the caller. The disbelievers will say: "This is a hard Day.'')(54:8), and

(On the Day when He will call you, and you will answer (His Call) with (words of) His praise and obedience, and you will think that you have stayed (in this world) but a little while!) (17:52) 

In the Sahih, it is recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said, (The earth will open up first around me.) 

Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said,

(That will be a gathering, quite easy for Us.) `bringing them back to life is easy for Us and effortless.' Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said,

(And Our commandment is but one as the twinkling of an eye.)(54:50), and,

(The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all are only as of a single person. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer.) (31:28)



Comforting the Prophet

(45) We know of best what they say; and you (O Muhammad SAW) are not a tyrant over them (to force them to Belief). But warn by the Quran, him who fears My Threat.

The statement of Allah the Exalted and Most High,

(We know best what they say.) means, `Our knowledge is all encompassing of the denial that the idolators are confronting you with, so do not be concerned.' In similar Ayat, Allah said,

(Indeed, We know that your breast is straitened at what they say. So glorify the praises of your Lord and be of those who prostrate themselves (to Him). And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e., death).) (15:97) 

Allah's statement,

(And you are not the one to force them.) says, `it is not you who forces them to accept the guidance; this is not a part of your mission.' Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said,

(But warn by the Qur'an; him who fears My threat.) meaning, `convey the Message of your Lord, for only those who fear Allah and dread His torment, and hope in His promise will remember and heed,'

(Your duty is only to convey (the Message) and on Us is the reckoning.)(13:40),

(So remind them -- you are only one who reminds. You are not a dictator over them.)(88:21-22)

(Not upon you is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills.)(2:272) and,

(Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.) (28:56) 

Allah's statement here,

(And you are not the one to force them. But warn by the Qur'an; him who fears My threat.) Qatadah used to invoke Allah by saying, "O Allah! Make us among those who fear Your threat and hope for Your promise, O Barr (Subtle, Kind, Courteous, and Generous), O Rahim (the Most Merciful).'' This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Qaf. All praise is due to Allah, He is for us, the most excellent Trustee.

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