Surah Al-An'am Part Two: Verses 56 to 110 | Quran Study Guide

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The Surah · Verses 56 to 110

﴾٥٦﴿ قُلْ إِنِّى نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قُل لَّآ أَتَّبِعُ أَهْوَآءَكُمْ ۙ قَدْ ضَلَلْتُ إِذًۭا وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ

Qul innee nuheetu an a'budal lazeena tad'oona min doonil laah; qul laaa attabi'u ahwaaa'akum qad dalaltu izanw wa maaa ana minal muhtadeen

Say, I have been forbidden to worship those you call on besides Allah. Say, I do not follow your desires. I would have gone astray then, and I would not be of the guided.

﴾٥٧﴿ قُلْ إِنِّى عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّى وَكَذَّبْتُم بِهِۦ ۚ مَا عِندِى مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ يَقُصُّ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَٰصِلِينَ

Qul innee 'alaa baiyinatim mir Rabbee wa kazzabtum bih; maa 'indee maa tasta'jiloona bih; inil hukmu illaa lillaahi yaqussul haqqa wa Huwa khairul faasileen

Say, I am on clear evidence from my Lord, and you have called it a lie. I do not have what you are rushing for. The judgment belongs only to Allah. He recounts the truth, and He is the best of those who decide.

﴾٥٨﴿ قُل لَّوْ أَنَّ عِندِى مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِۦ لَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Qul law anna 'indee maa tasta'jiloona bihee laqudiyal amru bainee wa bainakum; wallaahu a'lamu bizzaalimeen

Say, if I had what you are rushing for, the matter between me and you would have been settled. And Allah knows best the wrongdoers.

﴾٥٩﴿ وَعِندَهُۥ مَفَاتِحُ ٱلْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍۢ فِى ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍۢ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِى كِتَٰبٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

Wa 'indahoo mafaatihul ghaibi laa ya'lamuhaaa illaa Hoo; wa ya'lamu maa fil barri walbahr; wa maa tasqutu minw waraqatin illaa ya'lamuhaa wa laa habbatin fee zulumaatil ardi wa laa ratbinw wa laa yaabisin illaa fee Kitaabim Mubeen

And with Him are the keys of the unseen. No one knows them but Him. And He knows what is in the land and the sea. And no leaf falls without Him knowing it, and no seed in the darknesses of the earth, and nothing moist and nothing dry, except that it is in a clear record.

﴾٦٠﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِٱلنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰٓ أَجَلٌۭ مُّسَمًّۭى ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Wa Huwal lazee yatawaf faakum billaili wa ya'lamu maa jarahtum binnahaari summa yab'asukum fee liyuqdaaa ajalum musamman summa ilaihi marji'ukum summa yunabbi 'ukum bimaa kuntum ta'maloon

And He is the One who takes your souls at night and knows what you have earned by day, then raises you in it so that a named term may be completed. Then to Him is your return, then He will tell you what you were doing.

﴾٦١﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ

Wa huwal qaahiru fawqa 'ibaadihee wa yursilu 'alaikum hafazatan hattaaa izaa jaaa'a ahadakumul mawtu tawaffathu rusulunaa wa hum laa yufarritoon

And He is the Subduer over His servants. And He sends over you keepers, until when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they do not fall short.

﴾٦٢﴿ ثُمَّ رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ ٱلْحَٰسِبِينَ

Summa ruddooo ilallaahi mawlaahumul haqq; alaa lahul hukmu wa Huwa asra'ul haasibeen

Then they are returned to Allah, their true Master. The judgment belongs to Him, and He is the swiftest of reckoners.

﴾٦٣﴿ قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُۥ تَضَرُّعًۭا وَخُفْيَةًۭ لَّئِنْ أَنجَىٰنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ

Qul mai yunajjeekum min zulumaatil barri walbahri tad'oonahoo tadarru'anw wa khufyatann la'in anjaanaa min haazihee lanakoonana minash shaakireen

Say, who saves you from the darknesses of the land and the sea, when you call on Him in humility and in private, if He saves us from this we will certainly be of the grateful.

﴾٦٤﴿ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍۢ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ

Qulil laahu yunajjjeekum minhaa wa min kulli karbin summa antum tushrikoon

Say, Allah saves you from it and from every distress. Then you associate others with Him.

﴾٦٥﴿ قُلْ هُوَ ٱلْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًۭا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًۭا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ

Qul huwal Qaadiru 'alaaa ai yab'asa 'alaikum 'azaabam min fawqikum aw min tahti arjulikum aw yalbisakum shiya'anw wa yuzeeqa ba'dakum baasa ba'd; unzur kaifa nusarriful Aayaati la'allahum yafqahoon

Say, He is able to send on you a punishment from above you or from under your feet, or to confuse you into factions and make some of you taste the violence of others. Look how We turn the signs about, so that they may understand.

﴾٦٦﴿ وَكَذَّبَ بِهِۦ قَوْمُكَ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ قُل لَّسْتُ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍۢ

Wa kaz zaba bihee qawmuka wa huwal haqq; qul lastu'alaikum biwakeel

And your people called it a lie, and it is the truth. Say, I am not a guardian over you.

﴾٦٧﴿ لِّكُلِّ نَبَإٍۢ مُّسْتَقَرٌّۭ ۚ وَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Likulli naba im mustaqar runw wa sawfa ta'lamoon

For every announcement there is a settled time, and you will come to know.

﴾٦٨﴿ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَٰتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦ ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa izaa ra aital lazeena yakhoodoona feee Aayaatinaa fa a'rid 'anhum hattaa yakkhoodoo fee hadeesin ghairih; wa immaa yunsiyannakash Shaitaanu falaa taq'ud ba'dazzikraa ma'al qawmiz zaalimeen

And when you see those who wade into Our signs, turn away from them until they wade into a different conversation. And if Satan makes you forget, then after the reminder do not sit with the wrongdoing people.

﴾٦٩﴿ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ وَلَٰكِن ذِكْرَىٰ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ

Wa maa 'alal lazeena yattaqoona min hisaabihim min shai'inw wa laakin zikraa la'allahum yattaqoon

And nothing of their account is upon those who are conscious of Allah, but it is a reminder, so that they may become conscious.

﴾٧٠﴿ وَذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًۭا وَلَهْوًۭا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَذَكِّرْ بِهِۦٓ أَن تُبْسَلَ نَفْسٌۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِىٌّۭ وَلَا شَفِيعٌۭ وَإِن تَعْدِلْ كُلَّ عَدْلٍۢ لَّا يُؤْخَذْ مِنْهَآ ۗ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُبْسِلُوا۟ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌۭ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ

Wa zaril lazeenat takhazoo deenahum la'ibanwwa lahwanw wa gharrat humul ha yaatud dunyaa; wa zakkir biheee an tubsala nafsum bimaa kasabat laisa lahaa min doonil laahi waliyyunw wa laa shafee'unw wa in ta'dil kulla 'adlil laa yu'khaz minhaa; ulaaa 'ikal lazeena ubsiloo bimaa kasaboo lahum sharaabum min hameeminw wa 'azaabun aleemum bimaa kaanoo yakkfuroon

And leave those who took their religion as play and amusement, and the life of this world deceived them. And remind with it, so that a soul is not given up for what it earned. It has no protector besides Allah and no intercessor. And if it offered every ransom, it would not be taken from it. Those are the ones given up for what they earned. For them is a drink of boiling water and a painful punishment for their rejection.

﴾٧١﴿ قُلْ أَنَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُنَا وَلَا يَضُرُّنَا وَنُرَدُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَابِنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ كَٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَهْوَتْهُ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَيْرَانَ لَهُۥٓ أَصْحَٰبٌۭ يَدْعُونَهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱلْهُدَى ٱئْتِنَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ هُوَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۖ وَأُمِرْنَا لِنُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Qul anad'oo min doonil laahi maa laa yanfa'unaa wa laa yadurrunaa wa nuraddu 'alaaa a'qaabina ba'da iz hadaanal laahu kallazis tahwat hush Shayaateenu fil ardi hairaana lahooo ashaabuny yad'oo nahooo ilal huda' tinaa; qul inna hudal laahi huwal hudaa wa umirnaa linuslima li Rabbil 'aalameen

Say, shall we call besides Allah on what does not benefit us and does not harm us, and be turned back on our heels after Allah has guided us, like one whom the devils have lured away in the land, confused, who has companions calling him to guidance, come to us. Say, the guidance of Allah is the guidance. And we were commanded to submit to the Lord of all worlds.

﴾٧٢﴿ وَأَنْ أَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

Wa an aqeemus Salaata wattaqooh; wa Hual lazeee ilaihi tuhsharoon

And to establish the prayer and be conscious of Him. And He is the One to whom you will be gathered.

﴾٧٣﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ كُن فَيَكُونُ ۚ قَوْلُهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى ٱلصُّورِ ۚ عَٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

Wa an Huwal lazee khalaqas samaawaati wal arda bilhaqq; wa Yawma yaqoolu kun fa yakoon; Qawluhul haqq; wa lahul mulku Yawma yunfakhu fis Soor; 'Aalimul Ghaibi wash shahaadah; wa Huwal Hakeemul Khabeer

And He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in truth. And on the Day He says be, it is. His word is the truth. And His is the kingdom on the Day the trumpet is blown. Knower of the unseen and the seen. And He is the Wise, the Aware.

﴾٧٤﴿ وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ ءَازَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا ءَالِهَةً ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

Wa iz qaala Ibraaheemu li abeehi Aazara a-tattakhizu asnaaman aalihatan inneee araaka wa qawmaka fee dalaalim mmubeen

And when Ibrahim said to his father Azar, do you take idols as gods. I see you and your people in clear error.

﴾٧٥﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُوقِنِينَ

Wa kazaalika nureee Ibraaheema malakootas samaawaati wal ardi wa liyakoona minal mooqineen

And in this way We showed Ibrahim the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and so that he would be of those with certainty.

﴾٧٦﴿ فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلَّيْلُ رَءَا كَوْكَبًۭا ۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَآ أُحِبُّ ٱلْءَافِلِينَ

Falammaa janna 'alaihil lailu ra aa kawkabaan qaala haaza Rabbee falammaaa afala qaala laaa uhibbul aafileen

So when the night covered him he saw a star. He said, this is my Lord. Then when it set he said, I do not love things that set.

﴾٧٧﴿ فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْقَمَرَ بَازِغًۭا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِى رَبِّى لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

Falammmaa ra al qamara baazighan qaala haazaa Rabbee falammmmaaa afala qaala la'il lam yahdinee Rabbee la akoonanna minal qawmid daaalleen

Then when he saw the moon rising he said, this is my Lord. Then when it set he said, if my Lord does not guide me I will be of the people who go astray.

﴾٧٨﴿ فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةًۭ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّى هَٰذَآ أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

Falammmaa ra ashshamsa baazighatan qaala haazaa Rabbee haazaaa akbaru falammaaa afalat qaala yaa qawmi innee bareee'um mimmaa tushrikoon

Then when he saw the sun rising he said, this is my Lord, this is greater. Then when it set he said, my people, I am free of what you associate.

﴾٧٩﴿ إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًۭا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Innnee wajjahtu wajhiya lillazee fataras samaawaati wal arda haneefanw wa maaa ana minal mushrikeen

I have turned my face to the One who originated the heavens and the earth, inclining to truth, and I am not of those who associate.

﴾٨٠﴿ وَحَآجَّهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ ۚ قَالَ أَتُحَٰٓجُّوٓنِّى فِى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنِ ۚ وَلَآ أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ رَبِّى شَيْـًۭٔا ۗ وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا ۗ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ

Wa haaajjahoo qawmuh; qaala a-tuh aaajjooonnnee fillaahi wa qad hadaan; wa laaa akhaafu mmaa tushrikoona bihee illaaa ai yashaaa'a Rabbee shai'anw wasi'a Rabbee kulla shai'in 'ilman afalaa tatazakkaroon

And his people argued with him. He said, do you argue with me about Allah when He has guided me. And I do not fear what you associate with Him, except what my Lord wills. My Lord encompasses everything in knowledge. Will you not take heed.

﴾٨١﴿ وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَآ أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَٰنًۭا ۚ فَأَىُّ ٱلْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِٱلْأَمْنِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Wa kaifa akhaafu maaa ashraktum wa laa takhaafoona annakum ashraktum billaahi maa lam yunazzil bihee 'alaikum sultaanaa; fa aiyul fareeqaini ahaqqu bil amni in kuntum ta'lamoon

And how could I fear what you have associated, while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah what He sent down no authority to you for. So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you know.

﴾٨٢﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلْأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ

Allazeena aamanoo wa lam yalbisooo eemaanahum bizulmin ulaaa'ika lahumul amnu wa hum muhtadoon

Those who believed and did not mix their belief with wrongdoing, for them is security, and they are the guided.

﴾٨٣﴿ وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰهَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَٰتٍۢ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌۭ

Wa tilka hujjatunaaa aatainaahaaa Ibraaheema 'alaa qawmih; narfa'u darajaatim man nashaaa'; inna Rabbaka Hakeemun 'Aleem

And that was Our argument, which We gave Ibrahim against his people. We raise in ranks whom We will. Your Lord is Wise, Knowing.

﴾٨٤﴿ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ كُلًّا هَدَيْنَا ۚ وَنُوحًا هَدَيْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِۦ دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُوسُفَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Wa wahabnaa lahoo ishaaqa wa ya'qoob; kullan hadainaa; wa Noohan hadainaa min qablu wa min zurriyyatihee Daawooda wa Sulaimaana wa Ayyooba wa Yoosufa wa Moosaa wa haaroon; wa kazaalika najzil muhsineen

And We gave him Ishaq and Ya'qub. Each We guided. And Nuh We guided before. And from his descendants, Dawud and Sulayman and Ayyub and Yusuf and Musa and Harun. And in this way We reward those who do good.

﴾٨٥﴿ وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحْيَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَإِلْيَاسَ ۖ كُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

Wa Zakariyyaa wa Yahyaa wa 'Eesaa wa Illyaasa kullum minas saaliheen

And Zakariyya and Yahya and Isa and Ilyas. Each of the righteous.

﴾٨٦﴿ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًۭا ۚ وَكُلًّۭا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Wa Ismaa'eela wal Yasa'a wa Yoonusa wa Lootaa; wa kullan faddalnaa 'alal 'aalameen

And Isma'il and al-Yasa and Yunus and Lut. And each We preferred above the worlds.

﴾٨٧﴿ وَمِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّٰتِهِمْ وَإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ ۖ وَٱجْتَبَيْنَٰهُمْ وَهَدَيْنَٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

Wa min aabaaa'ihim wa zurriyyaatihim wa ikhwaanihim wajtabainaahum wa hadainaahum ilaa Siraatim Mustaqeem

And from their fathers and their descendants and their brothers. And We chose them and guided them to a straight path.

﴾٨٨﴿ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ يَهْدِى بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۚ وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُوا۟ لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Zaalika hudal laahi yahdee bihee mai yashaaa'u min 'ibaadih; wa law ashrakoo lahabita 'anhum maa kaanoo ya'maloon

That is the guidance of Allah. He guides by it whom He wills of His servants. And if they had associated, whatever they were doing would have collapsed for them.

﴾٨٩﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ۚ فَإِن يَكْفُرْ بِهَا هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ فَقَدْ وَكَّلْنَا بِهَا قَوْمًۭا لَّيْسُوا۟ بِهَا بِكَٰفِرِينَ

Ulaaa'ikal lazeena aatainaahumul Kitaaba wal hukma wan Nubuwwah; fa iny yakfur bihaa haaa'ulaaa'i faqad wakkalnaa bihaa qawmal laisoo bihaa bikaafireen

Those are the ones We gave the Book and the judgment and the prophethood. So if these people reject it, We have entrusted it to a people who are not rejecters of it.

﴾٩٠﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَبِهُدَىٰهُمُ ٱقْتَدِهْ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ۖ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Ulaaa'ikal lazeena hadal laahu fabihudaahumuq tadih; qul laaa as'alukum 'alaihi ajran in huwa illaa zikraa lil 'aalameen

Those are the ones Allah guided. So follow their guidance. Say, I ask you no payment for it. It is only a reminder to all the worlds.

﴾٩١﴿ وَمَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ بَشَرٍۢ مِّن شَىْءٍۢ ۗ قُلْ مَنْ أَنزَلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ٱلَّذِى جَآءَ بِهِۦ مُوسَىٰ نُورًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ ۖ تَجْعَلُونَهُۥ قَرَاطِيسَ تُبْدُونَهَا وَتُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًۭا ۖ وَعُلِّمْتُم مَّا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنتُمْ وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِى خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

Wa maa qadarul laaha haqqa qadriheee iz qaaloo maaa anzalal laahu 'alaa basharim min shai'; qul man anzalal Kitaabal lazee jaaa'a bihee Moosaa nooranw wa hudal linnaasi taj'aloonahoo qaraateesa tubdoonahaa wa tukhfoona kaseeranw wa 'ullimtum maa lam ta'lamooo antum wa laaa aabaaa'ukum qulil laahu summa zarhum fee khawdihim yal'aboon

And they did not measure Allah with the measure due to Him when they said, Allah has not sent down anything to any human being. Say, who sent down the Book that Musa brought, a light and a guidance for people, which you make into sheets, showing some of it and hiding much. And you were taught what neither you nor your fathers knew. Say, Allah. Then leave them playing in their wading.

﴾٩٢﴿ وَهَٰذَا كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ مُبَارَكٌۭ مُّصَدِّقُ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلِتُنذِرَ أُمَّ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

Wa haazaa Kitaabun anzalnaahu Mubaarakum musaddiqul lazee bainaa yadaihi wa litunzira ummal Quraa wa man hawlahaa; wallazeena yu'minoona bil Aakhirati yu'minoona bihee wa hum'alaa Salaatihim yuhaafizoon

And this is a Book We sent down, blessed, confirming what came before it, and so that you may warn the mother of towns and those around it. And those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they guard their prayer.

﴾٩٣﴿ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌۭ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ فِى غَمَرَٰتِ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ بَاسِطُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

Wa man azlamu mimmanif taraa 'alal laahi kaziban aw qaala oohiya ilaiya wa lam yooha ilaihi shai'un wa man qaala sa unzilu misla maaa anzalal laah; wa law taraaa iziz zaalimoona fee ghamaraatil mawti walmalaaa'ikatu baasitooo aideehim akhrijooo anfusakum; al yawma tujzawna 'azaabal hooni bimaa kuntum taqooloona 'alal laahi ghairal haqqi wa kuntum 'an aayaatihee tastakbiroon

And who does greater wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, or says it was revealed to me when nothing was revealed to him, and one who says I will send down the like of what Allah sent down. And if you could see when the wrongdoers are in the throes of death and the angels stretch out their hands, bring out your souls. Today you are paid the punishment of humiliation for what you used to say about Allah other than the truth, and for being arrogant toward His signs.

﴾٩٤﴿ وَلَقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا فُرَٰدَىٰ كَمَا خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۢ وَتَرَكْتُم مَّا خَوَّلْنَٰكُمْ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِكُمْ ۖ وَمَا نَرَىٰ مَعَكُمْ شُفَعَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّهُمْ فِيكُمْ شُرَكَٰٓؤُا۟ ۚ لَقَد تَّقَطَّعَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَضَلَّ عَنكُم مَّا كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ

Wa laqad ji'tumoonaa furaadaa kamaa khalaqnaakum awwala marratinw wa taraktum maa khawwalnaakum waraaa'a zuhoorikum wa maa naraa ma'akum shufa'aaa' akumul lazeena za'amtum annahum feekum shurakaaa'; laqat taqatta'a bainakum wa dalla 'annkum maa kuntum taz'umoon

And you have come to Us alone, as We created you the first time. And you have left behind you what We granted you. And We do not see with you your intercessors, the ones you claimed were partners among you. The bond between you has been cut, and what you used to claim has left you.

﴾٩٥﴿ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ فَالِقُ ٱلْحَبِّ وَٱلنَّوَىٰ ۖ يُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَمُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتِ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ

Innal laaha faaliqul habbi wannawaa yukhrijul haiya minal maiyiti wa mukhrijul maiyiti minal haiy; zaalikumul laahu fa annaa tu'fakoon

Allah is the One who splits the seed and the date stone. He brings the living out of the dead, and He brings the dead out of the living. That is Allah. So how are you turned away.

﴾٩٦﴿ فَالِقُ ٱلْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ ٱلَّيْلَ سَكَنًۭا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ

Faaliqul isbaahi wa ja'alal laila sakananw washh shamsa walqamara husbaanaa; zaalika taqdeerul 'Azeezil 'Aleem

Splitter of the dawn. And He made the night for rest, and the sun and the moon for reckoning. That is the measure of the Mighty, the Knowing.

﴾٩٧﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلنُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُوا۟ بِهَا فِى ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۗ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لِقَوْمٍۢ يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa Huwal lazee ja'ala lakumun nujooma litahtadoo bihaa fee zulumaatil barri walbahr; qad fassalnal Aayaati liqawminy ya'lamoon

And He is the One who made the stars for you, so that you may find your way by them in the darknesses of the land and the sea. We have laid out the signs in detail for a people who know.

﴾٩٨﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍۢ وَٰحِدَةٍۢ فَمُسْتَقَرٌّۭ وَمُسْتَوْدَعٌۭ ۗ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لِقَوْمٍۢ يَفْقَهُونَ

Wa hhuwal lazeee ansha akum min nasinw waahidatin famustaqarrunw wa mustawda'; qad fassalnal Aayaati liqaw miny-yafqahoon

And He is the One who brought you into being from a single soul, then a place of settling and a place of storage. We have laid out the signs in detail for a people who understand.

﴾٩٩﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِرًۭا نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبًّۭا مُّتَرَاكِبًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلنَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَانٌۭ دَانِيَةٌۭ وَجَنَّٰتٍۢ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍۢ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهًۭا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَٰبِهٍ ۗ ٱنظُرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ ثَمَرِهِۦٓ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكُمْ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Wa Huwal lazeee anzala minas samaaa'i maaa'an fa akhrajnaa bihee nabaata kulli shai'in fa akhrajnaa minhu khadiran nukhriju minhu habbam mutaraakibanw wa minan nakhli min tal'ihaa qinwaanun daaniyatunw wa jannaatim min a'naabinw wazzaitoona warrummaana mushhtabihanw wa ghaira mutashaabih; unzurooo ilaa samariheee izaaa asmars wa yan'ih; inna fee zaalikum la Aayaatil liqawminy yu'minoon

And He is the One who sent down water from the sky, and We brought out with it the growth of everything, and We brought out from it green shoots, from which We bring out grain in layers. And from the palm, from its spathe, clusters hanging low. And gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and not alike. Look at its fruit when it bears fruit and when it ripens. In that are signs for a people who believe.

﴾١٠٠﴿ وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ ٱلْجِنَّ وَخَلَقَهُمْ ۖ وَخَرَقُوا۟ لَهُۥ بَنِينَ وَبَنَٰتٍۭ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍۢ ۚ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

Wa ja'aloo lillaahi shurakaaa'al jinna wa khalaqa hum wa kharaqoo lahoo baneena wa banaatim bighairi 'ilm Subhaanahoo wa Ta'aalaa 'amma yasifoon

And they made the jinn partners with Allah, and He created them. And they invented for Him sons and daughters without knowledge. Glory be to Him, and exalted above what they describe.

﴾١٠١﴿ بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌۭ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ صَٰحِبَةٌۭ ۖ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۭ

Badee'us samaawaati wal ardi annaa yakoonu lahoo waladunw wa lam takul lahoo saahibatunw wa khalaqa kulla shai'inw wa Huwa bikulli shai'in 'Aleem

Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He has no companion, and He created everything, and He knows everything.

﴾١٠٢﴿ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ خَٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَكِيلٌۭ

Zaalikumul laahu Rabbukum laaa ilaaha illaa huwa khaaliqu kulli shai'in fa'budooh; wa huwa 'alaa kulli shai'inw Wakeel

That is Allah, your Lord. There is no god except Him, the Creator of everything, so worship Him. And He is a Guardian over everything.

﴾١٠٣﴿ لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

Laa tudrikuhul absaaru wa Huwa yudrikul absaara wa huwal Lateeful Khabeer

Sight does not grasp Him, and He grasps sight. And He is the Subtle, the Aware.

﴾١٠٤﴿ قَدْ جَآءَكُم بَصَآئِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِىَ فَعَلَيْهَا ۚ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍۢ

Qad jaaa'akum basaaa'iru mir Rabbikum faman absara falinafsihee wa man 'amiya fa'alaihaa; wa maaa ana 'alaikum bihafeez

Clear insights have come to you from your Lord. So whoever sees, it is for his own soul. And whoever is blind, it is against it. And I am not a keeper over you.

﴾١٠٥﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ وَلِيَقُولُوا۟ دَرَسْتَ وَلِنُبَيِّنَهُۥ لِقَوْمٍۢ يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa kazaalika nusarriful Aayaati wa liyaqooloo darasta wa linubaiyinahoo liqawminy ya'lamoon

And in this way We turn the signs about, and so that they will say, you have studied. And so that We may make it clear to a people who know.

﴾١٠٦﴿ ٱتَّبِعْ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Ittabi' maaa oohiya ilaika mir Rabbika laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa wa a'rid 'anil mushrikeen

Follow what is revealed to you from your Lord. There is no god except Him. And turn away from those who associate.

﴾١٠٧﴿ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَآ أَشْرَكُوا۟ ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًۭا ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍۢ

Wa law shaaa'al laahu maaa ashrakoo; wa maa ja'alnaaka 'alaihim hafeezanw wa maaa anta 'alaihim biwakeel

And if Allah had willed they would not have associated. And We have not made you a keeper over them, and you are not a guardian over them.

﴾١٠٨﴿ وَلَا تَسُبُّوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَدْوًۢا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍۢ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِم مَّرْجِعُهُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Wa laa tasubbul lazeena yad'oona min doonil laahi fa yasubbul laaha 'adwam bighairi 'ilm; kazaalika zaiyannaa likulli ummatin 'amalahum summa ilaa Rabbihim marji'uhum fa yunabbi'uhum bimaa kaanooya'maloon

And do not insult those they call on besides Allah, or they will insult Allah in hostility without knowledge. In this way We have made every community's deeds look good to them. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they were doing.

﴾١٠٩﴿ وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَٰنِهِمْ لَئِن جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَةٌۭ لَّيُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهَا ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْءَايَٰتُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا يُشْعِرُكُمْ أَنَّهَآ إِذَا جَآءَتْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Wa aqsamoo billaahi jahda aimaanihim la'in jaaa'at hum Aayatul la yu'minunna bihaa; qul innamal Aayaatu 'indal laahi wa maa yush'irukum annahaaa izaa jaaa'at laa yu'minoon

And they swore by Allah their strongest oaths that if a sign came to them they would certainly believe in it. Say, the signs are only with Allah. And what will make you realize that when it comes they will not believe.

﴾١١٠﴿ وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفْـِٔدَتَهُمْ وَأَبْصَٰرَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۢ وَنَذَرُهُمْ فِى طُغْيَٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

Wa nuqallibu af'idatahum wa absaarahum kamaa lam yu'minoo biheee awwala marratinw wa wa nazaruhum fee tughyaanihim ya'mahoon

And We turn their hearts and their sight away, as they did not believe in it the first time, and We leave them wandering blindly in their overreaching.

Tafsir

The Commentary

Overview

I Do Not Love Things That Set.

The centre of this passage is a young man standing outside at night, watching the sky, and drawing a conclusion in stages.

Read verse 75 before verses 76 to 78, because it changes what the sequence is. We showed Ibrahim the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and so that he would be of those with certainty. That comes first. He was not searching when he said this is my Lord. He was arguing, out loud, in the vocabulary of the people listening, and he let their own logic run to its end in front of them.

Their method was size and brightness. A star is impressive, the moon is more impressive, the sun is the most impressive thing there is. He accepts the method completely. And then he applies the one test the method cannot survive. Each of them goes down.

The line he uses is not I do not believe in things that set. It is I do not love things that set. The objection is not to the evidence. It is to the arrangement. Attaching your love to something scheduled to disappear is a bad position, and everyone watching had done exactly that with something.

Around that centre, the passage handles the keys of the unseen, the soul taken every night and returned every morning, eighteen prophets named in three verses, and one instruction about religious argument that most people who quote this chapter have never applied.

Verses 56 to 73

The Keys of the Unseen.

Verse 59 is one of the most complete statements of knowledge in the Quran, and its examples get smaller as it goes. With Him are the keys of the unseen. Then the land and the sea. Then a leaf falling, which nobody was watching. Then a seed inside the darknesses of the earth, which nobody could watch. Then nothing moist and nothing dry. The list moves from the vast to the microscopic and ends at a category so broad it covers everything remaining.

Verse 60 describes something that happens to every reader tonight. He is the One who takes your souls at night, and knows what you have earned by day, then raises you in it. Sleep is described with the same verb used for death, and waking with the same word used for resurrection. The thing being argued about elsewhere in the chapter is rehearsed by every human being every twenty-four hours.

Verses 63 and 64 catch the reversion that the whole Quran keeps returning to. Who saves you from the darknesses of the land and the sea, when you call on Him in humility and in private, promising gratitude. Then the answer: Allah saves you from it and from every distress. Then, four words: then you associate others with Him. The verse does not say they forget. It says the arrangement resumes.

Verse 68 is a rule of conduct that is easy to state and hard to keep. When you see those who wade into Our signs, turn away from them until they wade into a different conversation. Not answer them. Leave. And then the clause for people who are honest about themselves: and if Satan makes you forget, then after the reminder do not sit with the wrongdoing people. The verse allows for the forgetting, and puts the obligation at the moment of remembering rather than at the moment of arrival.

Verse 71 draws a picture rather than making an argument. A man lured away in open country, confused, turning in circles, while his companions stand calling to him, come to us. Everyone in the image can see the way except the man who needs it. That is the position being described for anyone who leaves guidance he already had.

Verses 74 to 90

A Star, the Moon, the Sun.

The sequence runs in three stages and each ends differently, which is the part usually missed.

After the star sets, he says, I do not love things that set. A statement about his own attachment.

After the moon sets, he says something else entirely: if my Lord does not guide me I will be of the people who go astray. In the middle of a demonstration he is winning, he stops to say that being right is not something he generates. That sentence, from the man conducting the argument, is the most instructive line in the passage.

After the sun sets, he turns from the sky to the people and closes: my people, I am free of what you associate. Then verse 79, the positive statement. I have turned my face to the One who originated the heavens and the earth, inclining to truth.

Verses 80 and 81 handle what happens when they push back, and the reversal is exact. They argue that he should fear their gods. He answers, how could I fear what you have associated, while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah what He sent down no authority to you for. Then the question: so which of the two parties has more right to security. He turns the accusation of recklessness back on the people making it, on their own terms.

Verse 82 gave the companions genuine difficulty. Those who believed and did not mix their belief with wrongdoing, for them is security. They asked which of them had never done wrong, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, told them the wrongdoing meant here is shirk, citing the words of Luqman to his son, that shirk is a great wrong. Reported in al-Bukhari and Muslim. A verse that reads as an impossible standard is answered by another verse, and the standard becomes the one thing everyone reading this has already met.

Verses 84 to 86 name eighteen prophets in three verses, in an order that follows no chronology. And Isa, peace be upon him, appears inside a list introduced as the descendants of Ibrahim, which scholars have long read as establishing that a daughter’s son counts as a man’s descendant.

And verse 90 contains something said nowhere else. Those are the ones Allah guided. So follow their guidance. The Prophet, peace be upon him, is told to take the guidance of the prophets before him as his own. The message is not presented as new. It is presented as the same thing arriving again.

Verses 91 to 110

Do Not Insult Their Gods.

Verse 91 names a failure that has nothing to do with disobedience. They did not measure Allah with the measure due to Him. The specific charge is the claim that Allah has not sent down anything to any human being, which is a statement about what He would or would not do, made by people with no access to the question.

Verse 94 describes the arrival, and every clause removes something. You have come to Us alone, as We created you the first time. You have left behind what We granted you. We do not see with you your intercessors. The bond between you has been cut. Position, property, relationships and representation, each named and each subtracted.

Verses 95 to 99 then answer the whole chapter with agriculture. Splitter of the seed and the date stone. Splitter of the dawn. Both use the same verb, and both describe something hard being opened from inside. Then the stars for navigation, then a single soul, then water, then the specific botany of verse 99: green shoots, grain stacked in layers, date clusters hanging low from the spathe, grapes, olives and pomegranates described as alike and not alike. And then the instruction, which is the only imperative in the passage: look at its fruit when it bears fruit and when it ripens. Not think about it. Look at it.

Verse 103 gives the sentence that has anchored Muslim theology for fourteen centuries. Sight does not grasp Him, and He grasps sight. Both clauses use the same verb, and the asymmetry is total.

And then verse 108, which is the most neglected practical instruction in the chapter. Do not insult those they call on besides Allah, or they will insult Allah in hostility without knowledge. Everything you would say about the idols is true. The verse does not dispute the content. It forbids the speech act on the basis of what it will produce, which is worse speech, aimed higher, from people who do not know what they are saying. A true statement delivered in a way that provokes blasphemy is a net loss, and the verse says so without softening it.

Verse 109 closes the argument the chapter opened at verse 7. They swore their strongest oaths that if a sign came they would believe. The reply does not accuse them of lying. It says something more unsettling: and what will make you realize that when it comes they will not believe. They meant the oath. They simply did not know themselves.

Structural Summary

Verses Fifty-Six to One Hundred and Ten. I Do Not Love Things That Set.

Keys held by one, and a list that shrinks from oceans to a falling leaf. A soul taken every night and returned every morning. A rescue prayed for and an arrangement resumed. An instruction to leave the conversation rather than win it. A man turning in circles while his companions call. A method borrowed and run to its collapse. Certainty granted before the argument began. A demonstrator stopping mid-proof to say he cannot guide himself. Security claimed by the wrong party and reassigned. Eighteen prophets in three verses. A command to follow guidance already given. Everything subtracted at the arrival. Seeds and dawns opened by the same verb. Sight that cannot grasp and is grasped. And a true sentence forbidden because of what it would produce.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 60. The verse says the soul is taken at night and returned in the morning. Say the du’a for waking tomorrow, out loud, before you touch your phone. Treat the waking as the return it is described as.

Verse 68. The verse says leave the conversation rather than win it. Identify the argument you keep re-entering online or in person. Leave it this week at the first sign it has started, without a closing statement.

Verse 108. The verse forbids insulting what others call on, because of what it produces. Take the true criticism of another group’s belief that you most enjoy repeating. Stop repeating it. Say the true thing about your own position instead.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verses 59 to 711 / 12

The Keys

How do the examples in verse 59 change as the list goes on?

Al-An’am · Part Two