Surah At Taghabun Notes (1-8)

Source: Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Al-Madinah or Makkah

Praising Allah and mentioning His Creation and Knowledge

(1) Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah. His is the dominion, and to Him belong all the praises and thanks, and He is Able to do all things.

This is the last Surah among Al-Musabbihat. We mentioned before that all creatures praise the glory of Allah, their Creator, and Owner. 

Allah the Exalted said,

(His is the dominion, and to Him belongs the praise,) meaning, He is the One Who has control over all creation, the One praised for all He created and decreed. Allah's statement,

(and He is Able to do all things.) means that whatever He wills occur without resistance, and whatever He does not will, never occurs. 

(2) He it is Who created you, then some of you are disbelievers and some of you are believers. And Allah is All-Seer of what you do.

(He it is Who created you, then some of you are disbelievers and some of you are believers.) meaning, Allah created you with these characteristics and He willed that for you. Therefore, there will be believers and disbelievers. Surely, Allah is the One Who sees those who deserve guidance and those who deserve misguidance. He is the Witness over His servant's deeds and He will completely recompense them. 

This is why Allah the Exalted said,

(And Allah is All-Seer of what you do. ) 

(3) He has created the heavens and the earth with truth, and He shaped you and made good your shapes, and to Him is the final Return.

(He has created the heavens and the earth with truth,) with equity and wisdom,

(and He shaped you and made good your shapes.) He made you in the best shapes and forms. 

Allah the Exalted said,

(O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the most Generous Who created you, fashioned you perfectly and gave you due proportion; in whatever form He willed, He put you together.) (82:6-8) 

And His saying,

(Allah, it is He Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking) and has provided you with good things.) (40:64) and His saying;

(And to Him is the return.) means the return and final destination. Allah then informs of His knowledge of all that there is in the heavens, in the earth, and in the souls,

(4) He knows what is in the heavens and on earth, and He knows what you conceal and what you reveal. And Allah is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men).

A Warning delivered through mentioning the End of the Disbelieving Nations

(5) Has not the news reached you of those who disbelieved aforetime? And so they tasted the evil result of their disbelief, and theirs will be a painful torment.

Informing about the past nations and the torment and disciplinary lessons that they suffered because of opposing the Messengers and denying the truth. Allah says;

(Has not the news reached you of those who disbelieved aforetime) meaning, information about them and what happened to them,

(And so they tasted the evil result of their disbelief.) They tasted the evil consequences of their denial and sinful actions. And it refers to the punishment and humiliation they received in the life of the world,

(and theirs will be a painful torment.) in the Hereafter, added to the torment they received in this life.

(6) That was because there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs (signs), but they said: "Shall mere men guide us?" So they disbelieved and turned away (from the truth), and Allah was not in need (of them). And Allah is Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise.

Allah explained why;

(That was because there came to them their Messengers with Bayyinat,) supporting arguments, evidence, and clear proofs,

(but they said:"Shall mere men guide us'') They discounted and dismissed the possibility that the Message would be sent to a human and that their guidance would come by the hands of a man like themselves,

(So they disbelieved and turned away.) they denied the truth and turned away from abiding by it,

(But Allah was not in need.) of them,

(And Allah is not in need, Worthy of all praise.)

Life after Death is True

(7) The disbelievers pretend that they will never be resurrected (for the Account). Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Yes! By my Lord, you will certainly be resurrected, then you will be informed of (and recompensed for) what you did, and that is easy for Allah.

Allah the Exalted informs about the disbelievers, idolators and the atheists that they claim that they will not be resurrected,

(Say: "Yes! By my Lord, you will certainly be resurrected, then you will be informed of what you did...'') meaning, `you will be informed of all of your actions, whether major or minor, big or small,'

(and that is easy for Allah.) `resurrecting and recompensing you is easy for Allah.' This is the third Ayah in which Allah orders His Messenger to swear by His Lord, the Exalted and Most Honored, that Resurrection occurs. 

(8) Therefore, believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and in the Light (this Quran) which We have sent down. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

(Therefore, believe in Allah and in His Messenger and in the Light which We have sent down.) that is, the Qur'an,

(And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.) none of your deeds ever escapes His knowledge.