Surah Az Zariyat Notes (49-60)

Source: Ibn Kathir

(49) And of everything We have created pairs, that you may remember (the Grace of Allah).

(And of everything We have created pairs,) meaning, all the created are in pairs, the heaven and earth, night and day, sun and moon, land and sea, light and darkness, faith and disbelief, death and life, misery and happiness, Paradise and Fire, in addition to the animals and plants. The statement of Allah the Exalted,

(that you may remember.) and know that the Creator, Allah, is One without partners,

(50) So flee to Allah (from His Torment to His Mercy Islamic Monotheism), verily, I (Muhammad SAW) am a plain warner to you from Him.

(So, flee to Allah.) meaning, seek shelter with Him and trust in Him in all of your affairs,

(Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him. And set not up any other god along with Allah.) do not associate any partners with Him,

(Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him.)

All Messengers met the Same Type of Denial from Their Nations

(51) And set not up (or worship) any other ilahan (god) along with Allah [Glorified be He (Alone), Exalted above all that they associate as partners with Him]. Verily, I (Muhammad SAW) am a plain warner to you from Him.

(52) Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them, but they said: "A sorcerer or a madman!"

Allah comforts His Prophet by saying to Him, `just as these idolators denied you, the disbelievers of old used the same words with their Messengers,'

(Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them but they said: "A sorcerer or a madman!'')  

(53) Have they (the people of the past) transmitted this saying to these (Quraish pagans)? Nay, they are themselves a people transgressing beyond bounds (in disbelief)! 

Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said,

(Have they transmitted this saying to these), meaning, have those of the past taught these words to the people of the present.

(Nay, they are themselves a people transgressing beyond bounds!) They are tyrannical people whose hearts are the same. Therefore, the latter said the same as those before them have said. 

(54) So turn away (O Muhammad SAW) from them (Quraish pagans) you are not to be blamed (as you have conveyed Allah's Message). 

(So turn away from them,) meaning, `O Muhammad, turn away from the Quraysh idolators,'

(you are not blameworthy.) meaning, `We blame you not if you turn away from them,'

(55) And remind (by preaching the Quran, O Muhammad SAW) for verily, the reminding profits the believers.

(And remind, for verily, the reminding profits the believers.) meaning, for only the believing hearts benefit from being reminded.

 

Allah Only created Mankind and Jinns to worship Him Alone

(56) And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). 

Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said,

(And I created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.) meaning, `I, Allah, only created them so that I order them to worship Me, not that I need them.' `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah,

(...except that they should worship Me.) meaning, "So that they worship Me, willingly or unwillingly.'' 

(57) I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures).

(I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of power, the Most Strong.) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "The Messenger of Allah taught the following:  `Verily, I am the Provider, Owner of power, the Most Strong.' Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i also collected this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih. '' The meaning of this Ayah (51:56) is that Allah the Exalted, the Blessed created the creatures so that they worship Him Alone without partners. Those who obey Him will be rewarded with the best rewards, while those who disobey Him will receive the worst punishment from Him. Allah stated that He does not need creatures, but rather, they are in need of Him in all conditions. He is alone their Creator and Provider. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

(Allah the Exalted said, "O Son of Adam! Busy yourself in worshipping Me, and I will fill your chest with riches and dissipate your meekness. Otherwise, I will fill your chest with distracting affairs and will not do away with your meekness.'') At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib. 

(58) Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.

(59) And verily, for those who do wrong, there is a portion of torment like to the evil portion of torment (which came for) their likes (of old), so let them not ask Me to hasten on! 

(And verily, for those who do wrong, there is a portion), indicates that they will receive their due share of the torment,

(like the evil portion (which came for) their likes (of old); so let them not ask Me to hasten on!) let them not ask that the punishment is rushed to them, for it will surely come,

(60) Then, woe to those who disbelieve (in Allah and His Oneness Islamic Monotheism) from (that) their Day which they have been promised (for their punishment).

(Then woe to those who disbelieve from their Day which they have been promised.) meaning, the Day of Resurrection. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Adh-Dhariyat; all praise is due to Allah and all the favors come from Him Alone.