Surah Al Mulk Notes (12-30)

Source: Ibn Kathir

The Reward of those Who fear their Lord unseen

(12) Verily! Those who fear their Lord unseen (i.e. they do not see Him, nor His Punishment in the Hereafter, etc.), theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).

Allah informs of he who fears standing before his Lord, being frightened about matters between himself and Allah when he is not in the presence of other people. So he refrains from disobedience and he performs acts of obedience when no one sees him except Allah. Allah mentions that this person will have forgiveness and a great reward. This means that his sins will be remitted and he will be rewarded abundantly.

 This is similar to what has been confirmed in the Two Sahihs,

(There are seven people whom Allah the Exalted will shade in the shade of His Throne on the Day when there will be no shade except its shade.) Then he mentioned that among those people are:

(A man who is tempted by a beautiful woman of high social status, but he says: `Verily, I fear Allah.' Another person from among them is a man who gives charity and he conceals it so that his left-hand does not know what his right hand spent.) 

(13) And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men).

Then He says while informing that He is aware of the innermost conscience and secrets,

(And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts.) meaning, that which occurs in the hearts (ideas, thoughts, etc.).

(14) Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves) All-Aware (of everything).

(Should not He Who has created know) This means, `doesn't the Creator know'

(And He is the Most Kind and Courteous, All-Aware (of everything).)

Allah's Favor of subjugating the Earth to His Servants

(15) He it is, Who has made the earth subservient to you (i.e. easy for you to walk, to live and to do agriculture on it, etc.), so walk in the path thereof and eat of His provision, and to Him will be the Resurrection.

Then Allah mentions His favor to His creation in subjugating the earth to them and making it subservient to them. This is by His making it a stable abode and dwelling place. He placed in it mountains and caused water springs to gush forth from it. He fashioned pathways, and placed useful things in it and places fertile for the growth of fruit and vegetation. 

Allah says,

(He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you; so walk in the paths thereof) meaning, travel wherever you wish throughout its regions and frequent its countrysides and all the areas of its domain in your various journeys to seek earnings and trade. And know that your efforts will not benefit you anything unless Allah makes matters easy for you. 

Allah continues to say,

(and eat of His provision.) Thus, striving by using the means (to attain something) does not negate the necessity of depending upon Allah (At-Tawakkul). 

This is similar to what Imam Ahmad recorded from `Umar bin Al-Khattab, that he heard the Messenger of Allah say, (If you would trust in Allah as He truly should be trusted in, He would surely provide for you as He provides for the birds. They set out in the morning with empty stomachs and return in the evening with full stomachs.) At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah all recorded this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.'' So this confirms that the bird searches morning and evening for its sustenance while depending upon Allah. For He is the Subduer, the Controller and the One Who causes everything.

(And to Him will be the resurrection.) meaning, the place of return on the Day of Judgement. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, As-Suddi and Qatadah all said that Manakibiha (its paths) means its outermost borders, its roads, and its regions.

How can You feel Secure against the Punishment of Allah while He is Able to seize You however He wills

(16) Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not cause the earth to sink with you, then behold it shakes (as in an earthquake)?

This is another indication of His gentleness and His mercy with His creatures. He is able to punish them because some of them disbelieve in Him and worship others besides Him, yet He is forbearing, He pardons, and He gives respite for an appointed time without hastening. This is as He says,

(And if Allah were to punish men for that which they earned, He would not leave a moving creature on the surface of the earth; but He gives them respite to an appointed term: and when their term comes, then verily, Allah is Ever All-Seer of His servants.) ﴿35:45﴾ 

Here Allah says,

(Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not cause the earth to sink with you, and then it should quake) meaning, that it would move back and forth, and be disrupted.

(17) Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall know how (terrible) has been My Warning?

(Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not send against you a Hasib) meaning, a wind containing gravel that will strike you, as Allah says in another Ayah,

(Do you then feel secure that He will not cause a side of the land to swallow you up, or that He will not send against you a violent sandstorm Then, you shall find no trustee.) ﴿17:68﴾ 

And similarly, here Allah threatens them with His statement,

(Then you shall know how has been My warning.) meaning, `how is My admonition and what will happen to those who disregard and reject it.'

(18) And indeed those before them belied (the Messengers of Allah), then how terrible was My denial (punishment)?

Then Allah says,

(And indeed those before them rejected,) meaning, from the previous nations and the old generations that have passed. 

Then Allah says,

(then how terrible was My reproach) meaning, `how were My rebuke of them and my punishment of them.' Meaning, it was great, severe and painful.

The flight of Birds is by the Power of Allah and it is a Proof that He sees everything small and large

(19) Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the Most Beneficent (Allah). Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.

Allah says,

(Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in) meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread 

(flapping) the wings in flight

(None upholds them) meaning, in the air,

(except the Most Gracious.) meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

(Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.) means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures. This is similar to His statement,

(Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe.) ﴿24:79﴾

No One will help You and No One can grant Sustenance except for Allah

(20) Who is he besides the Most Beneficent that can be an army to you to help you? The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.

Allah addresses the idolators who worship others besides Him, seeking help and sustenance from them. Allah rebukes them for what they believe, and He informs them that they will not attain that which they hope for. Allah says,

(Who is it besides the Most Gracious that can be an army to you to help) meaning, there is no protector or helper for you beside Him. This is the reason that Allah says,

(The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.) 

(21) Who is he that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision? Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and (they) flee (from the truth).

(Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision) meaning, who is it that can provide for you if Allah cuts off your sustenance There is no one who gives, withholds, creates, provides and helps other than Allah alone, Who has no partner. This proves that they know this, yet they still worship others besides Him. 

Thus, Allah says,

(Nay, but they continue) meaning, they persist in their transgression, lying, and misguidance.

(to be in pride and flee.) meaning, they continue in obstinance, arrogance and fleeing away from the truth. They do not listen to it nor do they follow it.

(22) Is he who walks without seeing on his face, more rightly guided, or he who (sees and) walks on a Straight Way (i.e. Islamic Monotheism).

Then Allah says,

(Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path) This is a parable which Allah made of the believer and the disbeliever. So the condition of the disbeliever is like one who walks prone on his face. This is like a person walking bent over on his face (with his head down) instead of walking upright. This person does not know where he is going or how. Rather, he is lost, astray and confused. Is this person more guided,

(or he who walks upright) meaning, he who stands erect.

(on a straight path) meaning, this person who walks upright is on a clear path, and he is straight within himself while his path is straight as well. This is their likeness in this world, and their likeness will be the same in the Hereafter. So the believer will be gathered (on the Day of Judgement) walking upright upon the straight path and the vast and spacious Paradise will be opened up for him. However, the disbeliever will be gathered walking down on his face to the Hellfire.

(Assemble those who did wrong, together with their companions and what they used to worship instead of Allah, and lead them on to the way of flaming Fire.) (37:22,23) 

"Companions'' here means those like them. Imam Ahmad recorded from Anas bin Malik that it was said, "O Messenger of Allah! How will the people be gathered on their faces'' So the Prophet replied, (Is not He who made them walk on their legs able to make them walk on their faces'') This Hadith is also recorded in the Two Sahihs.

(23) Say it is He Who has created you and endowed you with hearing (ears), seeing (eyes), and hearts. Little thanks you give.

Allah says,

(Say it is He Who has created you,) meaning, He initiated your creation after you were not even a thing worth mentioning (i.e., nothing). Then He says,

(and endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts.) meaning, intellects and powers of reasoning.

(Little thanks you give.) meaning, how little you use these abilities that Allah has blessed you with to obey Him, to act according to His commandments, and avoid His prohibitions.

(24) Say: "It is He Who has created you from the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered (in the Hereafter)."

(Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth...'') meaning, He has spread and distributed you all throughout the various regions and areas of the earth with your differing languages, colors, shapes, appearances, and forms.

(and to Him shall you be gathered.) meaning, you all will come together after this separation and division. He will gather you all just as He separated you and He will bring you back again just as He originated you. 

(25) They say: "When will this promise (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) come to pass? if you are telling the truth."

Then while informing of the disbelievers who reject the final return, and doubt concerning its real occurrence, Allah said;

(They say: "When will this promise come to pass if you are telling the truth'') meaning, `when will this gathering after separation that you are informing us of, occur'

(26) Say (O Muhammad SAW): "The knowledge (of its exact time) is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner."

(Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only...'') meaning, `no one knows the time of the Day of Judgement exactly except Allah, but He has commanded me to inform you that it is real and it will definitely occur, so beware of it.'

(and I am only a plain warner.) meaning, `I am only obligated to convey, and verily I have performed my duty (of conveying) towards you.' 

(27) But when they will see it (the torment on the Day of Resurrection) approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be different (black, sad, and in grieve), and it will be said (to them): "This is (the promise) which you were calling for!"

(But when they will see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be sad and grievous.) means, when the Day of Judgement begins, and the disbelievers witness it, and they see that the matter has drawn close because everything that is to occur will occur, even if it takes a long time. So, when what they denied occurs, it will grieve them because they will know what is awaiting them there (in Hell) of the worst evil. This means that it will surround them and Allah will command what they were not able to reckon or fully comprehend to come to them.

(and there will become apparent to them from Allah what they had not been reckoning. And the evils of that which they earned will become apparent to them, and that which they used to mock at will encircle them.) (39:47,48) This is why it will be said to them in order to scold and reprimand them,

(This is what you were calling for!) meaning, that you were seeking to hasten.

The Death of the Believer will not save the Disbeliever, so let Him reflect upon His Deliverance

(28) Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Tell me! If Allah destroys me, and those with me, or He bestows His Mercy on us, - who can save the disbelievers from a painful torment?"

Allah says,

(say) `O Muhammad to these idolators who are associating partners with Allah and denying His favors,'

(Tell me! If Allah destroys me, and those with me, or He bestows His mercy on us - who can save the disbelievers from a painful torment) meaning, `save yourselves, for verily, there is nothing that can rescue you from Allah except repentance, turning to Him for forgiveness and returning to His religion. Your hopes that torment and exemplary punishment will strike us, will not benefit you. Whether Allah punishes us or has mercy on us, there is no escaping from Allah's punishment and painful torment that you will suffer.'

(29) Say: "He is the Most Beneficent (Allah), in Him we believe, and in Him, we put our trust. So you will come to know who is it that is in manifest error."

Then Allah says,

(Say: "He is the Most Gracious, in Him we believe, and upon Him, we rely.) meaning, `we believe in the Lord of all that exists, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and upon Him, we rely on in all of our affairs.' This is as Allah says,

(So worship Him and rely upon Him.) (11:123) Thus, Allah continues saying,

(So, you will come to know who it is that is in manifest error.) meaning, `between Us and you, and to whom the final end (ultimate victory) will be for in this life and in the Hereafter.'

Reminding of Allah's Blessing by the springing of Water and the Threat of It being taken away Demonstrating how merciful He is to His creatures,

(30) Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Tell me! If (all) your water were to be sunk away, who then can supply you with flowing (spring) water?"

Allah says;

(Say: "Tell me! If your water were to sink away...'') meaning, if it were to go away, disappearing into the lowest depths of the earth, then it would not be reachable with iron axes nor strong arms. `Gha'ir' 

(sinking) as used here in the Ayah, is the opposite of springing forth. This is why Allah says,

(who then can supply you with flowing water) meaning, springing forth, flowing, running upon the face of the earth. This means that no one is able to do this except Allah. So, it is merely out of His favor and His grace that He causes water to spring forth for you, and He makes it run to the various regions of the earth in an amount that is suitable for the needs of servants, be it little or abundant. So Allah's is all the praise and thanks. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Mulk and all praise and thanks are due to Allah.