Surah Yaseen Notes (48-57)

Source: Ibn Kathir

The Disbelievers thought that the Day of Resurrection would never come to pass

(48) And they say: "When will this promise (i.e. Resurrection) be fulfilled if you are truthful?"

Allah tells us how the disbelievers thought that the Day of Resurrection would never come to pass, as they said:

("When will this promise be fulfilled...'')

(Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it) (42:18).  

(49) They await only but a single Saihah (shout, etc.), which will seize them while they are disputing!

(They await only but a single Sayhah which will seize them while they are disputing!) meaning, they are only waiting for a single shout which -- and Allah knows best -- will be the trumpet blast of terror when the Trumpet will be blown while the people are in their marketplaces and places of work, arguing and disputing as they usually do. While in this state, Allah will command Israfil to blow into the Trumpet, so he will sound a long note and there will be no one left on the face of the earth except he will tilt his head to listen to the sound coming from heaven. Then the people who are alive will be driven to the gathering place by a fire which will surround them on all sides. 

(50) Then they will not be able to make a bequest, nor they will return to their family.

Allah says:

(Then they will not be able to make bequest, ) meaning, with regard to their possessions, because the matter is more serious than that,

(nor they will return to their family.) Numerous Hadiths and reports have been narrated about this, which we have mentioned elsewhere. After this, there will be the Trumpet blast which will cause everyone who is alive to die, besides the One Who is Ever-Living, Eternal. Then after that, the trumpet blast of the resurrection will be sounded.

The Trumpet Blast of the Resurrection

(51) And the Trumpet will be blown (i.e. the second blowing) and behold! From the graves, they will come out quickly to their Lord.

This will be the third blast of the trumpet, the trumpet blast of the resurrection when people will come forth from their graves.  Allah says: (and behold from the graves they will come out quickly to their Lord.) Yansilun means they will be walking quickly.  This is like the Ayah: (The Day when they will come out of the graves quickly as racing to a goal.) (70:43).

(52) They will say: "Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of sleep." (It will be said to them): "This is what the Most Beneficent (Allah) had promised, and the Messengers spoke the truth!"

(They will say: "Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of sleep.'') meaning, their graves, which in this world they thought they would never be raised from. When they see with their own eyes that in which they had disbelieved,

(They will say: "Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of sleep.'') This does not contradict the fact that they will be punished in their graves, because in comparison to what is to come afterwards, that will seem like a nap. Ubayy bin Ka`b, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, Al-Hasan and Qatadah said, "They will sleep before the Resurrection.'' Qatadah said, "That will be between the two trumpet blasts, they will say, `Who has raised us up from our place of sleep''' When they say that, the believers will respond. This was the view of more than one of the Salaf.

((It will be said to them): "This is what the Most Gracious had promised, and the Messengers spoke truth!'') Al-Hasan said, "The angels will reply to them in this manner. There is no contradiction because both are possible. And Allah knows best.

(53) It will be but a single Saihah (shout, etc.), so behold! They will all be brought up before Us!

(It will be but a single Sayhah, so behold they will all be brought up before Us!) This is like the Ayat:

(But it will be only a single Zajrah, when behold, they find themselves (on the surface of the earth) alive (after their death).) (79:13-14),

(And the matter of the Hour is not but as a twinkling of the eye, or even nearer) (16:77), 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) which means, `We will issue but one command, and all of them will be gathered together.'

(54) This Day (Day of Resurrection), none will be wronged in anything, nor will you be requited anything except that which you used to do.

(This Day, none will be wronged in anything,) means, with regard to his deeds.

(nor will you be requited anything except that which you used to do.)

The Life of the People of Paradise

(55) Verily, the dwellers of the Paradise, that Day, will be busy in joyful things.

Allah tells us that on the Day of Resurrection, when the people of Paradise have reached the arena of judgement, and have settled in the gardens of Paradise, they will be too preoccupied with their own victory and new life of eternal delights to worry about anyone else. Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Isma`il bin Abi Khalid said, "They will be too busy to think about the torment which the people of Hell are suffering. 

Mujahid said:

(will be busy with joyful things.) "With the delights which they are enjoying.'' This was also the view of Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "This means that they will be rejoicing.''

(56) They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones.

(They and their wives) Mujahid said, "Their spouses,

(will be in pleasant shade,) means, in the shade of trees.''

(reclining on thrones.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Muhammad bin Ka`b, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Khusayf said:

(throne) means beds beneath canopies.

(57) They will have therein fruits (of all kinds) and all that they ask for.

(They will have therein fruits) means, of all kinds.

(and all that they ask for.) means, whatever they ask for, they will find it, all kinds and types.