Surah Al-Mu'minun

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

✦

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The Surah · Verses 51 to 118

﴾٥١﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرُّسُلُ كُلُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَٱعْمَلُوا۟ صَٰلِحًا ۖ إِنِّى بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌۭ

Yaaa aiyuhar Rusulu kulu minat taiyibaati wa'malu saalihan inni bimaa ta'maluna 'Alim

Messengers, eat from the good things and do righteous work. I am Knowing of what you do.

﴾٥٢﴿ وَإِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦٓ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ وَأَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱتَّقُونِ

Wa inna haazihie ummatukum ummatanw waahidatanw wa Ana Rabbukum fattaqun

This community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so be mindful of Me.

﴾٥٣﴿ فَتَقَطَّعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ زُبُرًۭا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍۭ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ

Fataqatta'uo amrahum bainahum zuburaa; kullu hizbim bimaa ladaihim farihun

But they cut their affair into pieces among themselves, each party rejoicing in what it has.

﴾٥٤﴿ فَذَرْهُمْ فِى غَمْرَتِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ

Fazarhum fi ghamratihim hattaa hin

So leave them in their confusion for a time.

﴾٥٥﴿ أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُم بِهِۦ مِن مَّالٍۢ وَبَنِينَ

A-yahsabuna annnamaa numiduhum bihi mimmaalinw wa banin

Do they think that what We extend to them of wealth and children

﴾٥٦﴿ نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ بَل لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ

Nusaari'u lahum fil khairaat; bal laa yash'urun

means We are hurrying good things to them? No, they do not perceive.

﴾٥٧﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ

Innal lazina hum min khashyati Rabbihim mushfiqun

Those who are apprehensive from the fear of their Lord,

﴾٥٨﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Wallazina hum bi Aayaati Rabbihim yu'minun

and who believe in the verses of their Lord,

﴾٥٩﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِرَبِّهِمْ لَا يُشْرِكُونَ

Wallazina hum bi Rabbihim laa yushrikun

and who do not associate anything with their Lord,

﴾٦٠﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَآ ءَاتَوا۟ وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ رَٰجِعُونَ

Wallazina yu'tuna maaa aataw wa qulubuhum wajilatun annahum ilaa Rabbihim raaji'un

and who give what they give while their hearts tremble, because they are returning to their Lord,

﴾٦١﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَٰبِقُونَ

Ulaaa'ika yusaari'una fil khairaati wa hum lahaa saabiqun

those are the ones hurrying to good things, and they are foremost in them.

﴾٦٢﴿ وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَٰبٌۭ يَنطِقُ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

Wa laa nukallifu nafsan illaa wus'ahaa wa ladainaa kitaabuny yantiqu bilhaqqi w ahum la yuzlamun

We do not burden any soul beyond its capacity, and with Us is a record that speaks the truth. They will not be wronged.

﴾٦٣﴿ بَلْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فِى غَمْرَةٍۢ مِّنْ هَٰذَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْمَٰلٌۭ مِّن دُونِ ذَٰلِكَ هُمْ لَهَا عَٰمِلُونَ

Bal qulubuhum fi ghamratim min haazaa wa lahum a'maalum min duni zaalika hum lahaa 'aamilun

Rather, their hearts are in confusion about this, and they have deeds besides that which they keep doing,

﴾٦٤﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَخَذْنَا مُتْرَفِيهِم بِٱلْعَذَابِ إِذَا هُمْ يَجْـَٔرُونَ

Hattaaa izaaa akhznaa mutrafihim bil'azaabi izaa hum yaj'arun

until, when We seize the comfortable among them with punishment, they cry out.

﴾٦٥﴿ لَا تَجْـَٔرُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّكُم مِّنَّا لَا تُنصَرُونَ

Laa taj'arul yawma innakum minnaa laa tunsarun

Do not cry out today. You will not be helped by Us.

﴾٦٦﴿ قَدْ كَانَتْ ءَايَٰتِى تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَٰبِكُمْ تَنكِصُونَ

Qad kaanat Aayaati tutlaa 'alaikum fakuntum 'alaaa a'qaabikum tankisun

My verses were recited to you, and you used to turn back on your heels,

﴾٦٧﴿ مُسْتَكْبِرِينَ بِهِۦ سَٰمِرًۭا تَهْجُرُونَ

Mustakbirina bihi saamiran tahjurun

arrogant about it, talking through the night, speaking foolishly.

﴾٦٨﴿ أَفَلَمْ يَدَّبَّرُوا۟ ٱلْقَوْلَ أَمْ جَآءَهُم مَّا لَمْ يَأْتِ ءَابَآءَهُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Afalam yaddabbarrul qawla am jaaa'ahum maa lam yaati aabaaa'ahumul awwalin

Have they not reflected upon the word, or has something come to them that did not come to their first fathers?

﴾٦٩﴿ أَمْ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوا۟ رَسُولَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ

Am lam ya'rifu Rasulahum fahum lahu munkirun

Or did they not recognize their messenger, so they are rejecting him?

﴾٧٠﴿ أَمْ يَقُولُونَ بِهِۦ جِنَّةٌۢ ۚ بَلْ جَآءَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لِلْحَقِّ كَٰرِهُونَ

Am yaquluna bihi jinnnah; bal jaaa'ahum bilhaqqi wa aksaruhum lil haqqi kaarihun

Or do they say there is madness in him? No, he brought them the truth, and most of them hate the truth.

﴾٧١﴿ وَلَوِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ لَفَسَدَتِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ بَلْ أَتَيْنَٰهُم بِذِكْرِهِمْ فَهُمْ عَن ذِكْرِهِم مُّعْرِضُونَ

Wa lawit taba'al haqqu ahwaaa'ahum lafasadatis samaawaatu wal ardu wa man fihinnn; bal atainaahum bizikrihim fahum 'an zikrihim mu'ridon

If the truth had followed their desires, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined. Rather, We brought them their reminder, and they turn away from their reminder.

﴾٧٢﴿ أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ خَرْجًۭا فَخَرَاجُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌۭ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ

Am tas'aluhum kharjan fakharaaju Rabbika khairunw wa Huwa khairur raaziqin

Or do you ask them for payment? The payment of your Lord is better, and He is the best of providers.

﴾٧٣﴿ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

Wa innaka latad'uhum ilaa Siraatim Mustaqim

You are calling them to a straight path,

﴾٧٤﴿ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَنِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ لَنَٰكِبُونَ

Wa innnal lazina laa yu'minuna bil Aakhirati 'anis siraati lanaakibun

and those who do not believe in the hereafter are deviating from the path.

﴾٧٥﴿ ۞ وَلَوْ رَحِمْنَٰهُمْ وَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِم مِّن ضُرٍّۢ لَّلَجُّوا۟ فِى طُغْيَٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

Wa law rahimnaahum wa kashafnaa maa bihim min durril lalajju fi tughyaanihim ya'mahun

If We had mercy on them and removed the harm they are in, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.

﴾٧٦﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَٰهُم بِٱلْعَذَابِ فَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمْ وَمَا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ

Wa laqad akhaznaahum bil'azaabi famastakaanu li Rabbihim wa maa yatadarra'un

We seized them with punishment, but they did not submit to their Lord, and they do not humble themselves.

﴾٧٧﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَابًۭا ذَا عَذَابٍۢ شَدِيدٍ إِذَا هُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ

Hattaaa izaa fatahnaa 'alaihim baaban zaa 'azaabin shadidin izaa hum fihi mublisun

Until, when We open upon them a door of severe punishment, they are in despair in it.

﴾٧٨﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۚ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ

Wa Huwal lazie ansha a-lakumus sam'a wal absaara wal af'idah; qalilam maa tashkurun

He is the One who produced for you hearing, sight and hearts. Little do you give thanks.

﴾٧٩﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

Wa Huwal lazi zara akum fil ardi wa ilaihi tuhsharun

He is the One who scattered you across the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.

﴾٨٠﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ وَلَهُ ٱخْتِلَٰفُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Wa Huwal lazi yuhyi wa yumitu wa lahukh tilaaful laili wannahaar; afalaa ta'qilun

He is the One who gives life and causes death, and to Him belongs the alternation of the night and the day. Will you not reason?

﴾٨١﴿ بَلْ قَالُوا۟ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ

Bal qaalu misla maa qaalal awwalun

Rather, they said the like of what the earlier peoples said.

﴾٨٢﴿ قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ

Qaaluo 'a-izaa mitnaa wa kunnaa turaabanw wa 'izaaman 'a-innaa lamab 'usun

They said, "When we are dead and have become dust and bones, will we really be raised?

﴾٨٣﴿ لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا نَحْنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا هَٰذَا مِن قَبْلُ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Laqad wu'idnaa nahnu wa aabaaa'unaa haazaa min qablu in haazaaa illaaa asaatirul awwalin

We were promised this before, we and our fathers. This is nothing but the tales of the ancients."

﴾٨٤﴿ قُل لِّمَنِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Qul limanil ardu wa man fihaaa in kuntum ta'lamun

Say, "To whom does the earth belong, and whoever is in it, if you know?"

﴾٨٥﴿ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Sa-yaquluna lillaah; qul afalaa tazakkkarun

They will say, "To Allah." Say, "Then will you not remember?"

﴾٨٦﴿ قُلْ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ٱلسَّبْعِ وَرَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Qul mar Rabbus samaawaatis sab'i wa Rabbul 'Arshil 'Azim

Say, "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the great Throne?"

﴾٨٧﴿ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

Sa yaquluna lillaah; qul afalaa tattaqun

They will say, "Allah." Say, "Then will you not be mindful of Him?"

﴾٨٨﴿ قُلْ مَنۢ بِيَدِهِۦ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُوَ يُجِيرُ وَلَا يُجَارُ عَلَيْهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Qul mam bi yadihi malakutu kulli shai'inw wa Huwa yujiru wa laa yujaaru 'alaihi in kuntum ta'lamun

Say, "In whose hand is the dominion of all things, and He protects while none can be protected against Him, if you know?"

﴾٨٩﴿ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ فَأَنَّىٰ تُسْحَرُونَ

Sa yaquluna lillaah; qul fa annaa tus harun

They will say, "Allah." Say, "Then how are you deluded?"

﴾٩٠﴿ بَلْ أَتَيْنَٰهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَٰذِبُونَ

Bal atainaahum bil haqqi wa innahum lakaazibun

Rather, We brought them the truth, and they are liars.

﴾٩١﴿ مَا ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٍۢ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُۥ مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ ۚ إِذًۭا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَٰهٍۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ سُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

Mat takhazal laahu minw waladinw wa maa kaana ma'ahu min ilaah; izal lazahaba kullu ilaahim bimaa khalaqa wa la'alaa ba'duhum 'alaa ba'd; Subhaannal laahi 'ammaa yasifun

Allah has not taken a son, and there is no god with Him. Otherwise each god would have taken what he created, and some of them would have overcome others. Glory to Allah, above what they describe.

﴾٩٢﴿ عَٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ فَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

'Aalimil Ghaibi wash shahhaadati fata'aalaa 'ammaa yushrikun

The Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is far above what they associate.

﴾٩٣﴿ قُل رَّبِّ إِمَّا تُرِيَنِّى مَا يُوعَدُونَ

Qur Rabbi immmaa turiyanni maa yu'adun

Say, "My Lord, if You show me what they are promised,

﴾٩٤﴿ رَبِّ فَلَا تَجْعَلْنِى فِى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Rabbi falaa taj'alni fil qawmiz zaalimin

then, my Lord, do not place me among the wrongdoing people."

﴾٩٥﴿ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّرِيَكَ مَا نَعِدُهُمْ لَقَٰدِرُونَ

Wa innaa 'alaaa an nuriyaka maa na'iduhum laqaadirun

And We are able to show you what We promise them.

﴾٩٦﴿ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ ۚ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ

Idfa' billate hiya ahsanus saiyi'ah; nahnu a'lamu bimaa yasifun

Repel evil with what is better. We know best what they describe.

﴾٩٧﴿ وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَٰتِ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ

Wa qur Rabbi a'uzu bika min hamazaatish Shayaatin

And say, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the promptings of the devils,

﴾٩٨﴿ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ

Wa a'uzu bika Rabbi ai-yahdurun

and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, from their presence around me."

﴾٩٩﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرْجِعُونِ

Hattaaa izaa jaaa'a ahada humul mawtu qaala Rabbir ji'un

Until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back,

﴾١٠٠﴿ لَعَلِّىٓ أَعْمَلُ صَٰلِحًۭا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ ۚ كَلَّآ ۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآئِلُهَا ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

La'allie a'malu saalihan fimaa taraktu kallaa; innahaa kalimatun huwa qaaa'iluhaa wa minw waraaa'him barzakhun ilaa Yawmi yub'asun

so that I may do righteous work in what I left behind." No. It is only a word he is saying. Behind them is a barrier until the Day they are raised.

﴾١٠١﴿ فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَلَآ أَنسَابَ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ وَلَا يَتَسَآءَلُونَ

Fa izaa nufikha fis Suri falaaa ansaaba bainahum yawma'izinw wa laa yatasaaa'alun

When the horn is blown, there will be no lineage between them that Day, and they will not ask about one another.

﴾١٠٢﴿ فَمَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

Faman saqulat mawaazi nuhu fa ulaaa'ika humul muflihun

Those whose scales are heavy, they are the successful.

﴾١٠٣﴿ وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فِى جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدُونَ

Wa man khaffat mawaa zinuhu fa ulaaa'ikal lazina khasirun anfusahum fi Jahannnama khaalidun

Those whose scales are light, they are the ones who lost themselves, remaining in Hell.

﴾١٠٤﴿ تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَٰلِحُونَ

Talfahu wujuhahumun Naaru wa hum fihaa kaalihud

The Fire will scorch their faces, and they will grimace in it.

﴾١٠٥﴿ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ ءَايَٰتِى تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَكُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ

Alam takun Aayaati tutlaa 'alaikum fakuntum bihaa tukazzibun

Were My verses not recited to you, and you used to deny them?

﴾١٠٦﴿ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْنَا شِقْوَتُنَا وَكُنَّا قَوْمًۭا ضَآلِّينَ

Qaalu Rabbanaa ghalabat 'alainaa shiqwatunaa wa kunnaa qawman daaallin

They will say, "Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people who went astray.

﴾١٠٧﴿ رَبَّنَآ أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْهَا فَإِنْ عُدْنَا فَإِنَّا ظَٰلِمُونَ

Rabbanaa akhrijnaa minhaa fa in 'udnaa fa innaa zaalimun

Our Lord, take us out of it. If we return, then we are wrongdoers."

﴾١٠٨﴿ قَالَ ٱخْسَـُٔوا۟ فِيهَا وَلَا تُكَلِّمُونِ

Qaalakh sa'u fihaa wa laa tukallimun

He will say, "Remain in it in disgrace, and do not speak to Me.

﴾١٠٩﴿ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْ عِبَادِى يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

Innahu kaana fariqum min 'ibaadi yaquluna Rabbanaaa aamannaa faghfir lanaa warhamnaa wa Anta khairur raahimin

There was a group of My servants who used to say, our Lord, we believe, so forgive us and have mercy on us, and You are the best of the merciful.

﴾١١٠﴿ فَٱتَّخَذْتُمُوهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا حَتَّىٰٓ أَنسَوْكُمْ ذِكْرِى وَكُنتُم مِّنْهُمْ تَضْحَكُونَ

Fattakhaztumuhum sikhriyyan hattaaa ansawkum zikri wa kuntum minhum tadhakun

But you took them in mockery, until they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.

﴾١١١﴿ إِنِّى جَزَيْتُهُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ بِمَا صَبَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ هُمُ ٱلْفَآئِزُونَ

Ini jazaituhumul Yawma bimaa sabaruo annahum humul faaa'izun

Today I have rewarded them for their patience. They are the ones who have won."

﴾١١٢﴿ قَٰلَ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ عَدَدَ سِنِينَ

Qaala kam labistum fil ardi 'adada sinin

He will say, "How many years did you remain on the earth?"

﴾١١٣﴿ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍۢ فَسْـَٔلِ ٱلْعَآدِّينَ

Qaalu labisnaa yawman aw ba'da yawmin fas'alil 'aaaddin

They will say, "We remained a day, or part of a day. Ask those who keep count."

﴾١١٤﴿ قَٰلَ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا ۖ لَّوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Qaala il labistum illaa qalilal law annakum kuntum ta'lamun

He will say, "You remained only a little, if you had only known.

﴾١١٥﴿ أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ عَبَثًۭا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ

Afahsibtum annamaa khalaqnaakum 'abasanw wa annakum ilainaa laa turja'un

Did you think that We created you for no purpose, and that you would not be returned to Us?"

﴾١١٦﴿ فَتَعَٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْكَرِيمِ

Fata'aalal laahul Malikul Haqq; laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa Rabbul 'Arshil Karim

So exalted is Allah, the True King. There is no god but Him, Lord of the noble Throne.

﴾١١٧﴿ وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَا بُرْهَٰنَ لَهُۥ بِهِۦ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ

Wa mai yad'u ma'allaahi ilaahan aakhara laa burhaana lahu bihi fa innnamaa hisaabuhu 'inda Rabbih; innahu laa yuflihul kaafirun

Whoever calls upon another god with Allah, for which he has no proof, his account is only with his Lord. The disbelievers do not succeed.

﴾١١٨﴿ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ وَٱرْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

Wa qur Rabbigh fir warham wa Anta khairur raahimin

And say, "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful."

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What This Part Means

Overview

Wealth Misread, and a Request Refused.

Part Two contains two of the most consequential verses in the Quran for a man who is doing well. Verse 55 and verse 56 ask whether he thinks the wealth and children he has been given are Allah hurrying good things to him, and answer it in two words. No, they do not perceive. Then verse 60 describes the men who are actually hurrying to good, and the distinguishing mark is not the size of what they give. It is that their hearts tremble while they give it. The part ends at the edge of a grave, with a man asking to be sent back and being told no, and then with a question addressed directly to the reader. Did you think that We created you for no purpose?

Verses 51 to 62

They Give, and Their Hearts Tremble.

Verse 51 is addressed to the messengers themselves, and what they are told to do is what everyone else is told to do. Eat from the good things and do righteous work. No separate standard, no elevated regimen. Clean intake and correct output. Verse 52 states the design: this community of yours is one community. Verse 53 states what happened to it: they cut their affair into pieces among themselves, each party rejoicing in what it has. Zuburan, into fragments, and then the detail that makes it permanent, each faction pleased with the fragment it holds. Nobody is unhappy inside the split. That is why it lasts. Verses 55 and 56 then take on the oldest misreading there is. Do they think that what We extend to them of wealth and children means We are hurrying good things to them? Numiddu, extending, drawing out, the same root used for a rope let out. This is not an argument against wealth. It is an argument against reading wealth as a verdict. Verses 57 through 61 give the four marks of the men who are genuinely ahead. They are apprehensive from the fear of their Lord. They believe in His verses. They associate nothing with Him. And verse 60, they give what they give while their hearts tremble, because they are returning to their Lord. At-Tirmidhi records that Aisha asked the Prophet, peace be upon him, whether this verse describes the one who steals and commits sins and fears, and he said no, it is the man who prays and fasts and gives in charity and fears that it will not be accepted from him. That is the trembling being described. Not guilt over what he did. Concern over whether what he did was received. Verse 61 then names those men as the ones hurrying, yusari'un, and verse 62 places the mercy immediately after so that no reader turns the trembling into despair. We do not burden any soul beyond its capacity.

Verses 63 to 92

Three Questions They Answer Correctly.

Verse 67 gives a picture worth holding: arrogant about it, talking through the night, speaking foolishly. Men sitting up late, saying nothing of value, secure. Verse 68 then asks the question this whole site is built around. Have they not reflected upon the word? Tadabbur, turning it over. The charge is not that they read and disagreed. It is that they never turned it over. Verse 71 is one of the largest statements in the Quran and it is easy to read past. If the truth had followed their desires, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined. Reality is not negotiable to preference, and the verse says the reason plainly: a universe arranged around what men want would collapse. Verse 75 adds the uncomfortable follow-up. If We had mercy on them and removed the harm they are in, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly. Relief would not have fixed them. Verse 78 names the three instruments again, hearing, sight and hearts, and closes with the same measurement As-Sajdah uses. Little do you give thanks. Then verses 84 through 89, which is the cleanest argument in the surah. Three questions, and the text tells you in advance what they will answer. To whom does the earth belong? They will say, to Allah. Who is Lord of the seven heavens and the great Throne? They will say, Allah. In whose hand is the dominion of all things? They will say, Allah. They answer correctly three times. And after each correct answer comes a different follow-up: then will you not remember, then will you not be mindful of Him, then how are you deluded. The problem was never the information. Every one of them already knew the answer. The gap is between what a man will say when asked and what he does the next morning.

Verses 93 to 118

Send Me Back.

Verses 97 and 98 give a prayer worth taking word for word. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the promptings of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, from their presence around me. Two separate requests. Protection from the whisper, and protection from the presence. A man can be protected from acting on a thought and still be sitting in bad company. Verse 96 gives the method for everything before it. Repel evil with what is better. Then verse 99 and verse 100, which are among the heaviest verses in the Book. Until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back, so that I may do righteous work in what I left behind.” The request is not for forgiveness. It is for time, and for the specific purpose of working. Then the answer arrives with no discussion. Kalla. No. It is only a word he is saying. The verse dismisses the request as speech rather than intention, because a man who wanted to work had the whole life to do it in. Behind them is a barzakh, a barrier, until the Day they are raised. Verse 101 removes the last thing a man leans on. When the horn is blown, there will be no lineage between them that Day, and they will not ask about one another. No family, and no interest in each other. Verses 109 through 111 then settle an old account. A group of My servants used to say, our Lord, we believe, so forgive us and have mercy on us. But you took them in mockery, until they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them. Today I have rewarded them for their patience. Read verse 110 carefully. The mockery is described as the thing that made the mockers forget, which means the laughing was not harmless entertainment. It was the mechanism of their own loss. Verses 112 through 114 then compress a life. How many years did you remain on the earth? A day, or part of a day. Ask those who keep count. And the correction: you remained only a little. Verse 115 is the question the surah has been building toward, and it is asked of the reader as much as of them. Did you think that We created you for no purpose, and that you would not be returned to Us? Abathan, aimlessly, as an idle act. The surah closes in verse 118 by handing him the sentence to answer with. My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful.

Structural Summary

Verses Fifty-One to One Hundred Eighteen. Did You Think We Created You For No Purpose.

The messengers are given the same two instructions as everyone else, and the one community is shown cutting itself into fragments that each faction is happy to hold. Wealth and children are refused as evidence of approval, and the men genuinely ahead are identified by hearts that tremble while they give. Three questions are put to the deniers and answered correctly all three times, which locates the failure in conduct rather than information. Then a man at the edge of death asks for time to work and is told no, a lifetime is measured at a day or part of a day, and the surah ends by asking whether the reader thought he was made for nothing.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 60. The next time you give, notice whether you feel finished or unsure. The verse names the second one as the mark.

Verses 97 and 98. Say both refuges together this week, the whisper and the presence, and then look at who you are sitting with.

Verse 99. Write the sentence you would ask to go back and do. Then do it while the request still works.

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.

Verse 511 / 12

The Verse

What two things are the messengers told to do in verse 51?