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In the name
of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful |
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SECTION: 1
Săd.[1] And by the Qur’an which is full of admonition! Surely
the unbelievers are in sheer arrogance and perverseness.[2] How
many generations have We destroyed before them? When their
doom approached, they all cried out for mercy, but it was no
longer the time to be saved.[3] They wonder that a Warner has
come to them from among themselves, and the disbelievers say:
“He is a sorcerer telling lies![4] Does he claim that there is
only One God in place of all other gods? Surely this is a
strange thing.”[5] Their leaders go about saying: “Pay no heed,
stand firm in the service of your gods; this slogan of One
God is designed against you.[6] We have not heard such a
thing from anyone of the people of latter days (Jews and
Christians): it is nothing but a fabrication.[7] Is he the
only fit person among us to whom the admonition is revealed?”
But in fact they doubt My admonition, for they have not yet
tasted My punishment.[8] Do they have the treasures of the mercy
of your Rabb, the All-Mighty, the Munificent One.[9] Or do they
have sovereignty over the heavens and the earth and all that
lies between them? If so, let them ascend by any means to be
in a position of dictating to Allah according to their wishes.[10]
Their faction is no more than an army who will be beaten right
here.[11] Before them the people of Nüh, `Ad and Fir'on, the man
of stakes, denied their Rasools,[12] So did Thamüd, the
people of Lüt and those of Aiykah (the people of Median)
- all divided themselves into factions;[13] all charged their
Rasools liars, so just was my torment of annihilating them.[14]
38:[1-14] |
The Qur'an is full of admonition.
The unbelievers are in sheer arrogance for calling the Prophets
as liars |
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SECTION: 2
These people also await nothing but a single mighty Blast - the
one which none may retard.[15] They say: “Our Rabb, hasten our
doom for us before the Day of Reckoning.”[16] O Prophet,
have patience at what they say, and remember Our servant Dawőőd,
the man of strength, who was frequent in turning to Allah for
guidance.[17] We made the mountains join him in Our praises
at evening and the sunrise.[18] And the birds, too, with all
their flocks, join in singing with him.[19] We strengthened his
kingdom and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and
decision.[20] Have you heard the story of the two litigants who
made an entry into his private chamber through climbing over the
wall?[21] When they entered in upon Dawőőd and he became
terrified. They said: “Have no fear, we are two litigants, one
of whom has wronged the other. Judge rightly between us and do
not be unjust, and guide us to the Right Way.[22] This man is my
brother; he has ninety nine ewes while I have only one ewe. Yet
he says: 'Turn her over to me' and he has the means to prevail
against me in what he says.”[23] Dawőőd said: “He has
certainly wronged you in seeking to add your ewe to his flock:
in fact many partners are unjust to one another; except those
who believe and do good deeds, and they are few indeed.” -
While he said this, Dawőőd realized that We had tested him.
(Dawőőd had shown desire to one of his officers to divorce
his wife so that he could marry her even though he already hd 99
wives) So he sought forgiveness of his Rabb and fell down on
his knees and turned to Allah in repentance.[24] So We
forgave his error. He will enjoy a place of nearness with Us and
an excellent abode![25] We said: “O Dawőőd! We have made you a
vicegerent in the earth, so rule among the people with justice
and do not follow your own desires lest they mislead you from
the Way of Allah. As for those who go astray from the Way of
Allah, they shall surely have a severe punishment because of
forgetting the Day of Reckoning.[26]
38:[15-26] |
The story of the Prophet Dawőőd, with whom mountains and birds
used to sing the rhymes of Allah
The story of the two litigants who came to Dawőőd for a decision
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SECTION: 3
We have not created the heaven and the earth and all that lies
between them in vain. That is the fancy of the unbelievers. Such
disbelievers should be aware of the hellfire.[27] Should We
treat those who believe and do good deeds like those who create
mischief in the earth? Should We treat the righteous like the
sinners?[28] This Book (Al-Qur’an) which We have sent
down to you (O Muhammad) is highly blessed, so that they
may ponder upon its verses and the men of understanding may
learn a lesson from it.[29]
38:[27-29] |
Allah has not created the heavens and the earth in vain
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To Dawőőd We gave Sulaimăn (Solomon),
an excellent devotee! Who was frequent in returning to Us.[30]
Worthy of mention is the incident when, one evening,
excellent-bred steeds to be used in Jihăd, were presented
before him;[31] and he said: “Surely I have adopted the love of
these good things with a view to glorify my Rabb.” In testing
race of the steeds, when they disappeared from sight,[32] he
commanded: “Bring them back to me.” Then he began to pass his
hand over their legs and necks with affection.[33]
Behold, We also put Sulaimăn to test and placed a mere body on
his throne, then he turned to Us in repentance,[34] and said “O
my Rabb! Forgive me and grant me a kingdom similar to which may
not be given to anyone after me. Surely You are the real
Giver.”[35] We accepted his prayer and subjected the wind to his
power, which blew gently in whichever direction he wanted;[36]
and the shaităns (Jinns) including all kinds of
builders, divers[37] and others fettered in chains.[38] We
said to him: “This is Our gift: you may give or withhold to
whomever you want, without any accountability.”[39] Surely he
has a place of nearness to Us and will have an excellent place
of final abode.[40]
38:[30-40] |
The
story of Sulaimăn's inspection of steeds to be used in Jihăd
The Prophet Sulaimăn's prayer of granting him a kingdom, similar
of which may not be granted to anyone else |
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SECTION: 4
Mention Our devotee Ayüb (Job), when he called upon his
Rabb saying: “Shaităn has afflicted me with distress and
suffering,"[41] and We asked him: “Strike your foot on
the ground. A cool spring will gush forth. Wash and drink
to refresh yourself."[42] And We restored to him his family
and many more with them as a grace from Ourselves and a reminder
for the people of understanding.[43] Then, to fulfill his
oath of giving his wife one hundred strikes which he made during
his sickness, We said: “Take a bunch of twigs and strike
with it and do not break your oath.” Certainly We found him full
of patience. He was an excellent devotee, who turned to Us over
and over again.[44] And mention Our devotees Ibrăhďm (Abraham),
Ishăq (Isaac) and Ya'qoob (Jacob): men of power
and vision.[45] Surely We chose them for their special quality
of keeping in mind the abode of hereafter.[46] Certainly they
are with Us; among the best chosen.[47] Also mention Isma‘il,
Al-Yas'ă (Elisha) and Zul-Kifl; all of them were among
the best.[48]
38:[41-48]
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The story of Ayüb (Job), his sickness and relief |
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This Qur’an is but a reminder. Surely
the righteous shall return to an excellent resort.[49] The
Gardens of Eden, whose gates shall be wide open to receive
them.[50] They shall recline there, calling for abundant fruit
and delicious drinks;[51] and beside them there shall be bashful
virgin companions of equal age.[52] These are the things which
you are being promised on the Day of Reckoning;[53] this will be
Our provision which will never finish.[54] Such will be the
reward for the righteous. But for the rebellious there will
be an evil resort[55] - hell, that is! In which they will burn -
the worst abode.[56] Such will it be the reward for the
wrongdoers. So they will taste scalding water, festering
blood (pus)[57] and other things of the same sort.[58]
It will be said to the ringleaders: “Here are your troops
being thrown headlong with you. They are not welcomed here; for
they are going to burn in the hellfire.[59] The followers shall
say to their misguided leaders: “But you! There is no
welcome for you either! It was you who have brought us to this
end. Such an evil abode."[60] Then they will pray: “Our Rabb,
inflict on those who brought this fate upon us double punishment
in the fire."[61] Then they will say to one another: “But why do
we not see those whom we deemed wicked[62] and whom we used to
ridicule? Or has our eyesight failed to notice them?”[63]
Surely, this is the very truth: the people in the hellfire will
argue just like that.[64]
38:[49-64] |
The Qur'an is but a reminder about the reward of paradise and
punishment of the hellfire |
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SECTION: 5
O Prophet, tell them: “My mission is only as a Warner;
there is no divinity except Allah, the One, the
Irresistible,[65] the Rabb of the heavens and the earth and all
that lies between them, the Almighty, the Forgiver.”[66] Say:
“This is a supreme message:[67] yet you pay no heed to it.”[68]
Also say: “I have no knowledge of that time when the exalted
chiefs disputed among themselves.[69] I am informed about all
this through a revelation because I am assigned the
mission of a plain Warner.”[70]
38:[65-70] |
The mission of the Rasools is to warn people and declare that
there is no divinity except Allah |
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Behold when your Rabb said to the angels: “I
am about to create a man from clay:[71] then when I have
fashioned him and breathed of My spirit into him, kneel down and
prostrate yourselves before him."[72] Accordingly all the angels
prostrated themselves,[73] except Iblees; he acted arrogantly
and became one of the disbelievers.[74] Allah said: “O
Iblees! What prevented you from prostrating yourself to the one
whom I have created with My own hands? Are you too arrogant, or
do you think that you are one of the exalted ones?”[75]
Iblees said: “I am better than him: You created me from fire
and created him from clay."[76] Allah said: “Get out of
here: for you are accursed,[77] and My curse shall be on you
till the Day of Judgment."[78] Iblees said: “O Rabb! Then
give me respite till the Day of Resurrection."[79] Allah said:
“Well, you are given respite[80] till the Day of Appointed
Time."[81] Iblees said: “I swear by Your Honor, I will
mislead them all[82] except your chosen sincere devotees among
them.”[83] Allah said: “Fair enough and now what I am going to
say is also fair:[84] that I will fill hell with you and all of
those who follow you among them."[85] O Prophet, tell
them: “I do not ask you any recompense for conveying this
Message, nor do I pretend to be what I am not.[86] This
Qur'an is nothing but a Reminder to all the Worlds;[87] and
before long, you will certainly know its truth."[88]
38:[71-88]
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The
story of the creation of Adam and disobedience of Iblees (Shaităn)
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Major Issues, Divine
Law and Guidance:
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* Al-Qur’an is full of admonition. The
disbelievers are in sheer arrogance for calling the Prophet a
liar.
* Story of the Prophet Dawőőd:
- The mountains and birds used to sing the rhymes of Allah with
him.
- The litigants who came to him for a decision.
* The fact that Allah has not created the heavens and earth in
vain.
* Story of the Prophet Sulaimăn:
- His inspection of steeds which were to be used in Jihăd.
- His prayer to grant him a kingdom similar of which may not be
granted to any one.
* Story of Ayüb, his sickness, patience and relief.
* The mission of the Prophet:
- Warn the people - Declare that there is no divinity except
Allah.
* Story of Adam and disobedience of Iblees (Shaităn).
Here is a resume of the traditions related
by Imam Ahmed, Nasăi, Tirmidhi, Ibn Jareer, Ibn Abi Shaibah, Ibn
Abi Hătim, Muhammad bin Ishăq and others:
When Abu Tălib fell ill, and the Qureysh chiefs knew that the
end of his life was near, they held consultations and decided to
approach the old chief with the request that he should solve the
dispute between them and his nephew. They feared that if Abu
Tălib died and then they subjected Muhammad (pbuh) to harsh
treatment after his death, the Arabs would taunt them, saying,
“They were afraid of the old chief as long as he lived, now that
he is dead, they have started mistreating his nephew.” At least
25 of the Qureysh chiefs including Abu Jahl, Abu Sufyăn and
Umayyah bin Khalaf went to Abu Tălib. First, they put before him
their usual complaints against the Prophet, then said, “We have
come to present before you a just request and it is this : let
your nephew leave us to our religion, and we shall leave him to
his. He may worship whomever he pleases: we shall not stand in
his way in this matter; but he should not condemn our gods and
should not try to force us to give them up. Please tell him to
make terms with us on this condition.” Abu Tălib called the
Prophet and said, “Dear nephew, these people of your tribe have
come to me with a request. They want you to agree with them on a
just matter so as to put an end to your dispute with them.” Then
he told him about the request of the chiefs of the Qureysh. The
Prophet replied, “Dear uncle: I shall request them to agree upon
a thing which, if they accept, will enable them to conquer the
whole of Arabia and subject the non-Arab world to their
domination. “Hearing this the people were first confounded; they
did not know how they should turn down such a proposal. Then,
after they had considered the matter, they replied: ”You speak
of one word: we are prepared to repeat ten others like it, but
please tell us what it is.” The Prophet said: Lă-Ilăh-ill-Allah.
At this they got up all together and left the place saying what
Allah has narrated in the initial part of this Sürah.
The Sürah begins with a review of the aforesaid meeting and the
discourse is based on the dialogue between the Prophet and the
disbelievers. Allah says that the actual reason for their denial
is not because of any defect in the message of Islam, but their
own arrogance, jealousy and insistence on following their
ancestors blindly. They are not prepared to believe in a man
from their own clan as a Prophet of God and follow him. After
describing the stories of nine Prophets, one after the other,
Allah has emphasized the point that His law of justice is
impartial and that only the people of right attitude are
acceptable to Him, that He calls to account and punishes every
wrongdoer whoever he be, and likes only those people who do not
persist in wrongdoing but repent as soon as they are informed
about it, and pass their life in the world keeping in mind their
accountability to Allah in the Hereafter.
In conclusion, mention has been made of the story of Adam and
Iblees (Shaităn), which is meant to tell the disbelieving
Qureysh that the same arrogance and vanity which was preventing
them from bowing before Muhammad (pbuh) had prevented Iblees
also from bowing before Adam. Iblees felt jealous of the high
rank that Allah had given to Adam and was cursed when he
disobeyed His Command. Likewise, “You, O people of Qureysh, are
feeling jealous of the high rank that Allah has bestowed on
Muhammad (pbuh) and are not prepared to obey him whereas Allah
has appointed him as His Rasool. Therefore, you will be doomed
ultimately to the same fate as that of Shaităn.”
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