Surah As Sajdah Notes (10-14)

Source: Ibn Kathir

Refutation of Those Who think the Resurrection is unlikely to happen

 (10) And they say, "When we are lost within the earth, will we indeed be [recreated] in a new creation?" Rather, they are, in [the matter of] the meeting with their Lord, disbelievers.

Allah tells us how the idolators thought it unlikely that the resurrection would ever come to pass, and how they said:

(When we are lost in the earth,) meaning, `when our bodies have been scattered and have disintegrated and dispersed in the earth,'

(shall we indeed be created anew) means, `after that, will we come back again' They thought it unlikely that this would happen, and in terms of their own feeble abilities it is indeed unlikely, but this is not the case with regard to the power of the One Who created them from nothing, Who when He wills a thing merely says to it, "Be!'' and it is.

(11) Say, "The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord you will be returned."

(Say: "The angel of death, who is set over you, will take your souls...'') The apparent meaning of this Ayah is that the angel of death is a specific personality among the angels, as is also apparent from the Hadith of Al-Bara' which we quoted in (our Tafsir of) Surah Ibrahim. In some reports he (the angel of death) is called `Izra'il, which is well known. This is the view of Qatadah and others. The angel of death has helpers. It was reported in the Hadith that his helpers draw out the soul from the rest of the body until it reaches the throat, then the angel of death takes it. Mujahid said, "The earth is brought together for him and it is like a platter from which he takes whenever he wants.''

(Then you shall be brought to your Lord.) means, on the Day when you are resurrected and brought forth from your graves to receive your reward or punishment.

The Bad State in which the Idolators will be on the Day of Resurrection

 (12) If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord, [saying], "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain."

Allah tells us the state of the idolators on the Day of Resurrection and what they will say when they see the Resurrection and are standing before Allah -- may He be glorified -- humiliated and brought low, with their heads bowed, i.e., in shame. 

They will say:

(Our Lord! We have now seen and heard,) meaning, `now we hear what You say and we will obey You.' 

This is like the Ayah,

(How clearly will they see and hear, the Day when they will appear before Us!) (19:38). 

And they will blame themselves when they enter the Fire, and will say:

("Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!'') ﴿67:10﴾ 

Similarly, here they are described as saying:

(Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back) to the world,

(that we will do righteous good deeds. Verily, we now believe with certainty.) means, `now we are sure and we believe that Your promise is true and that the meeting with You is true.' But the Lord, may He be exalted, knows that if He were to send them back to this world, they would behave as they did previously, and they would reject and disbelieve in the signs of Allah and would go against His Messengers, as He says:

(If you could but see when they will be held over the (Hell) Fire! They will say: "Would that we were but sent back! Then we would not deny the Ayat of our Lord,'') (6: 27) 

 (13) And if we had willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word from Me will come into effect [that] "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and people all together.

(And if We had willed, surely We would have given every person his guidance,) 

This is like the Ayah,

(And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together) (10:99).

(but the Word from Me took effect, that I will fill Hell with Jinn and mankind together.) i.e., from both classes, so their abode will be Hell and they will have no escape from it and no way out. We seek refuge with Allah and in His perfect Words from that.

(14) So taste [punishment] because you forgot the meeting of this, your Day; indeed, We have [accordingly] forgotten you. And taste the punishment of eternity for what you used to do."

(Then taste because of your forgetting the meeting of this Day of yours.) means, it will be said to the people of Hell by way of rebuke: `taste this punishment because you denied it and believed that it would never happen; you tried to forget about it and acted as if you had forgotten it.'

(Surely, We too will forget you,) means, `We will deal with you as if We have forgotten you,' but nothing escapes Allah's attention, and He makes the punishment fit the crime, as He says:

(This Day We will forget you as you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours) (45:34).

(so taste you the abiding torment for what you used to do.) i.e., because of your disbelief and rejection, as Allah says in another Ayah:

(Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink. Except Hamim, and Ghassaq) until:

(No increase shall We give you, except in torment) (78:24-30).