Islam commands men and women to lower their gaze and protect their modesty

Modesty is defined differently in different cultures, societies and countries. At its core, modesty usually refers to not drawing excessive attention to oneself—especially in appearance, behavior, or self-promotion. When it comes to matter related to modesty, women figure out more than men for their revealing and inviting attires and knocking high heels on the floor attracting attention of the onlookers. It may not be wrong to say that most of the crimes take place due to revealing attire of women than men who generally wear clothes not exposing their bare flesh.  

In Islam, there is much stress on the chastity and modesty -for both men and women. Surah An Nur, The 24th chapter of AL Qur'an gives special importance to modesty and commands both men and women to lower their graze with respect to opposite sexes, thereby protecting their modesty. Herein under we share verses 30-31 which command both men and women separately to protect their modesty:

Surah An-Nur (24:30)

“And O Prophet, enjoin the Believing men to restrain their gaze and guard their private parts. This is a more righteous way for them: Allah has knowledge of what they do..”

• Context of the Verse 
• Surah An-Nūr deals with purity of society—not just outward rules, but also Inner discipline, Social boundaries and Protection of dignity.
• Importantly: This command comes first to men (24:30) and then a parallel command comes to women (24:31)
• Both  these verses act as a comprehensive set of social regulations designed to protect the chastity, honor, and purity of the Muslim community by controlling unlawful sexual desires and the means that lead to them.
• This shows that Responsibility begins with self-control, not blaming others
• What Does “Lower the Gaze” Mean?
• Some may think that men should never look and glance at a woman and living in isolation.
• Remember there are two things: Looking and gazing. Looking is only meant to recognize someone and greeting with good intention. 
• But gazing is often with lustful looks or inappropriate looking. Gazing leads to desires, which can lead to zina. Thus, the restriction is a preventative measure.
• Therefore, men are warned to avoid staring, objectifying, consuming indecent imagery in order to “Guard their as well as that of the females' chastity.”
• Guarding modesty means to protect actions, thoughts, and desires from corruption and not letting evil thoughts coming close or entering one's thoughts.
• The Deeper Meaning
• This verse is about inner اخلاق (character):
• The eye is a gateway to the heart
• What you repeatedly look at shapes, these effect thoughts, desires and behavior.
• That is why Islam addresses the problem at its root - to lower gaze
• Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this is a direct command from Allah to restrain the eyes from looking at prohibited things, particularly women who are not permissible for them (non-mahram). If a person's gaze falls upon something prohibited unintentionally, they should immediately look away. The transgression is looking intentionally and repeatedly. Ibn Kathir quotes a Hadith explaining that the eyes, ears, tongue, and hands can commit their own form of "adultery" (zina) by engaging with forbidden things before the private parts act on it.
• Another enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi explains:  
• It is not lawful for a man to cast a full gaze at the other women except at his own wife or the mahram women of his family. The chance look is pardonable but not the second look which one casts when one feels the lure of the object. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has termed such gazing and glancing as wickedness of the eyes. He has said that man commits adultery with all his sensory organs. The evil look at the other woman is the adultery of the eyes; lustful talk is the adultery of the tongue; relishing the other woman's voice is adultery of the ears; and touching her body with the hand or walking for an unlawful purpose is adultery of the hands and feet. After these preliminaries the sexual organs either bring the act of adultery to completion or leave it incomplete. (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Da'ud).
• "Guard their private parts": Abstain from illicit sexual gratification and from exposing their satar before others. For males, the satar is the part of the body from the navel to the knee, and it is not permissible to expose that pan of the body intentionally before anybody except one's own wife.

Surah An-Nur (24:31)

And tell the believing women to lower their glances and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment [i.e., beauty] except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess [i.e., slaves], or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O Believers, that you might succeed.

While verse 30 restricts men to lower their gaze and protect their modesty, women in the next verse are asked one added thing: not to expose their adornment. Those who can reflect on these two verses would know that the exposure of body parts of women are more attractive to men and in fact all ills of the society commence from the exposure of women. Let us dwell on this post as explained by eminent Muslim scholar Ibn Kathir:

• Tafsir of Ayah 31: Modesty and Veil for Women And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts..."
• Women's Responsibility: Similar to men, women are ordered to guard their modesty and avoid gazing at men with desire.
• Adornment (Zinah): Women are commanded not to display their beauty or ornaments except for what appears naturally (such as the outer garment or hands/face according to different interpretations).
• Covering the Chest: The verse commands women to draw their veils (khumur) over their chests (juyub) to cover their neck and bosom.
• Exceptions (Mahram): A woman may display her adornments only to close relatives (mahram) who are forbidden to her in marriage (e.g., father, son, brother, etc.), or other women, servants, and small children.
• Walking Modestly: Women are instructed not to stamp their feet to attract attention to their hidden beauty (such as ankle bracelets).
• Tafsir Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi
• The Commandments of restraining the gaze for women are the same as for men. They should not glance intentionally at the other men, and if they happen to cast a chance look, they should turn their eyes away; and they should abstain from looking at the satar of others. However, the Commandments relating to the men's looking at women are a little different from those relating to the women's looking at men. On the one hand, there is an incident related in a Tradition saying that Hadrat Umm Salamah and Hadrat Umm Maimunah, wives of the Holy Prophet, were sitting with him when lbn Umm Maktum, a blind Companion, made his appearance. The Holy Prophet said to his wives: "Conceal your faces from him." The wives said, "O Messenger of Allah: Is he not a blind man '? Neither will he see us nor recognize us." Thereupon the Holy Prophet remarked: "Are you two also blind? Do you not see him?" While it is forbidden for women to sit face to face with men, it is not unlawful if they cast a look at men while passing on the way or see a harmless performance by them from a distance. There is also no hams for women to see the other men in case of real need.
• They should abstain from illicit gratification of their sex desire as well as from exposing their satar before others. Though the commandments for men in this respect are the same as for women, the boundaries of satar for women are different from those prescribed for men. Moreover, the female satar with respect to men is different from that with respect to women.
• The Female Satar ( that is to "concealer," "veil," or "cover")
• The female satar with respect to men is the entire body, excluding only the hand and the face, which should not be exposed before any other man, not even the brother and father, except the husband. The woman is not allowed to wear a thin or a tight fitting dress which might reveal the skin or the outlines of the body.
• The boundaries of female satar with respect to women are the same as the boundaries of the male satar with respect to men, which is the part of the body from the navel to the knee. This does not, however, mean that a woman should appear half naked before other women. It only means that while it is obligatory to keep the part of body from the navel to the knee duly covered, it is not so in case of other parts. 
• "Adornment" includes attractive clothes, ornaments and other decorations of the head, face, hand, feet, etc. which the women usually employ, and is expressed by the modern word 'make-up'. The injunction that this `makeup' should not be displayed before others

Relevance Today: Social Media Reality

Let’s be direct—this verse is extremely relevant today. Today, the access to open ended social media, where men and women can easily interact and converse, which often results in closeness and getting into acts unbecoming. Following matter:

• Constant Exposure
• Social media promotes: (1) Body display, (2) Sexualized content, and (3) Attention through appearance.
• What used to be occasional is now constant and normalized.
• The Culture of Objectification
• Women (and increasingly men) are reduced to appearance and judged by physical attraction.
• This creates: (1) Unrealistic standards, (2) Insecurity, and (3) Loss of dignity.
• Addiction to Visual Stimulation
• Endless scrolling trains the mind to seek stimulation - to lose self-control.
• This weakens: (1) Focus, (2) Discipline, and (4) Spiritual awareness

What the Verse is Addressing

This verse is not just about “looking”: It is about: (1) Respecting human dignity, (2) Protecting the heart from فساد and (3) preventing society from becoming morally chaotic.

How to create a Balance (Very Important)

• This verse does NOT mean: (1) Blaming women for men’s behavior, (2) Ignoring male responsibility, and (3) Policing others while ignoring نفسك
• Instead it starts with: “Tell the believing men…” You are responsible for your gaze first
• The verses apply to both genders, recognizing that both men and women have responsibilities in maintaining a decent society.

Practical Application Today

• Digital Discipline: (1) Unfollow harmful content, (2) Filter your feed, and (3) Be intentional, not passive.
• Lowering the “Digital Gaze” Not just in real life, but also What You (1) Watch, (2) Scroll or (3) Linger on.
• Respect Over Objectification See people as Humans and not as Objects of Desires.
• Internal Awareness:  
• Remember: “Allah is aware of what they do”
• That is even in Private browsing and hidden habits.

A Deeper Reflection

• The verse ends with: “That is purer for them”. Which means it protects your heart, mind and relationships. 
• That is what seems like restriction is actually protection and purification

A Powerful Way to Understand It

In today’s terms, this verse is saying: Don’t let your eyes be controlled by a culture that profits from your ضعف (weakness). Take control of what you consume.

In a world where exposure is normalized, modesty is mocked in the name of freedom and desires are constantly stimulated, this verse stands as a counter-cultural principle:

Final Reflection: Real strength is not in seeing everything… It is in controlling what you allow yourself to see. The Divine commands are clear with respect to gazing other sexes and more so on women not to show their adornment openly for it has very negative fallout. All Muslim men and women must adhere to these commands lest we unknowingly commit sins that are unpardonable, unless sincerely repented.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life. from Al Qur'an:

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Surah 24. An Nur (The Light), already published.

Following referencces may also be consulted for more selected verses from Al Qur'an: 

• Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
• Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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How Qur'an helps shaping the Character "Akhlāq" of a Man

Qur'an, the last of the Divine Scriptures, which provides the best of the guidance to the mankind. Unlike other religious books with volumes attached, Qur'an, a merely a six hundred plus pages book, is addressed directly to man and each of its verses seems like God, the Only One God without associates and assistance, talking directly to His subjects.

And it is through these Divine words, God tells His servants how to shape their character to become a better man. But for that, one has to read and read each verse of Qur'an time and again to go to the depth of wisdom contained therein. And if one finds it hard to know what is being said, one must consult authentic Tafsir / exegesis of Qur'an or consult some of the most unbiased scholars and exegete of Qur'an.

The Qur’an does not merely inform the mind; it reforms the heart and disciplines behavior. Together with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, it shapes a person’s character (akhlāq) at every level. Herein under  are ten powerful Qur’anic guiding verses that directly build character —not just belief, but how a person thinks, behaves, and lives. Each one targets a core trait needed today.

Note: We only refer to these ten verses with a brief note. For detailed reflection and understand, link under each trait are mentioned in some , while for others news post will be added to understand the character in wholesome.

1. Truthfulness & Integrity

• “O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are truthful.” Surah At-Tawbah (9:119)
• Honesty builds Moral courage and Authenticity to what one says.
• Please refer to our earlier posts on truthfulness and Integrity:
• Believers, fear Allah and speak the truth Surah 33. Al Ahzab Verse 70
• Truth: The Essence of Holy Quran

2. Justice—even Against Yourself

• “Stand firmly for justice, even against yourselves, parents, or relatives…” Surah An-Nisa (4:135)
• Justice builds Integrity over bias and Courage to uphold truth
• Please refer to our Reference Page on Selected verses from Qur'an on Justice / Rules of Islamic Law to know in detail why justice is so important for believers to ensure. Remember, with impartial justice no society can progress - nor the humans.

3. Control of Anger & Forgiveness

• “…those who restrain anger and pardon people…” Surah Aal-E-Imran (3:134)
• Anger management builds Emotional intelligence, mercy and maturity
• Please refer to our already published posts on Anger Management and Ability to Forgive:
• Why must one restrain Anger and how: Islamic viewpoint on Anger Management
• Allah loves those who restrain their anger, and forgive others Surah 3:134
• Anger Management as taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ : What to say when one is angry
• Selected Verses from Quran: Charity and Suppression of Anger

4. Guarding Speech

• “Do not mock one another… nor insult one another…” Surah Al-Hujurat (49:11)
• Guarding one's speech adds respect, social acceptance and healthy communication with others.
• Please refer to our already published posts on sanctity of speech 
• Etiquettes of  Speech for a Believer - Speak Good
• The best among you is he who is Pure at Heart and Sincere in Speech (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

5. Avoid Suspicion, Spying & Backbiting

• “Avoid much suspicion… do not spy or backbite…” Surah Al-Hujurat (49:12)
• Avoiding suspicion and valuing others dignity builds mutual trust purity of heart and improves ethical social behavior
• Please refer to our already published posts on Suspicion, Slandering and Backbiting:
• What is the wisdom behind Prohibition of Backbiting (ghibah الغيبة) in Islam
• Woe to every scandal-monger and backbiter
• Don't Backbite and be Excessively Suspicious 
• DO NOT Slander or Backbite your brother (Surah Al Ahzab verse 58)
• Backbiting and slandering - The worst acts of a believer (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

6. Lowering the Gaze & Modesty

• “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their modesty…” Surah An-Nur (24:30)
• Modesty adds to one's self control,  inner discipline and respect for others
• Please refer to our following posts covering verses 30-31 from Surah AN Nur for detailed explanation of this very  important subject:
• Social Etiquettes of Islam: Say (O Prophet) enjoin believing men to cast down their looks - verse 30
• Special instructions for Muslim women: Do not reveal your adornment  - verse 31
• Islam commands men and women to lower their gaze and protect their modesty (Verses 30-31)

7. Humility in Life

• “The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk on the earth humbly…” Surah Al-Furqan (25:63)
• Humility builds calmness under provocation
• Please refer to our already published post on Humility: Important DOs and DON'Ts from Qur'an: Walk on earth Gently

8. Kindness to Parents

• “…Do not say even ‘uff’ to them, and speak to them noble words.” Surah Al-Isra (17:23)
• Kindness to parents builds , Respect, and Emotional sensitivity
• Please refer to our already published posts on kindness to parents:
• Islam enjoins Man to care for his parents as an act of worship next to worship of Allah (31:14)
•  Be Good to Your Parents
• Who will be the unlucky to be humbled into dust (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

9. Fulfilling Trusts & Promises

• “Those who are faithful to their trusts and their promises…” Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:8)
• Fulfilling trusts and promises adds one's Reliability and Trustworthiness.
• Please refer to our already published posts on Keeping promises:
• Successful are those who are true to their trusts and covenants (23:8)

10. Excellence in Conduct

• “Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence (ihsan), and giving to relatives…” Surah An-Nahl (16:90)
• An exemplary conduct builds Justice, Generosity and Excellence beyond obligation
• Universal moral code as explained in Al Qur'an (16:90)

Final Reflection

These verses together shape a complete personality:

• Inner character → sincerity, humility, self-control
• Social character → respect, honesty, kindness
• Moral strength → justice, truth, responsibility

a glance over each trait mention above means that the Qur’an does not just teach you what to believe… It teaches you who to become.

These traits are not difficult to be made part of one's life, which will earn greater rewards not only yhis world, but the eternal life of the Hereafter.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Yusuf Ali Translation
• Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Why the wrongdoers are robbed of Humility and punished - Selected verses from Al Qur'an

We live in this world with all type of people around: honest and humble, hypocrites and the cruel and oppressor. While one can feel a radiance of humility from the honest, we feel a strange strong smell of arrogance and heartlessness from the oppressors. Ever wondered why?

In stead of I answering the question, let me quote a verse from Al Qur'an which would tell you why. This is the 57th verse of Surah Aal-E-Imran, the 3rd chapter / Surah of Al Qur'an shared herein under:

The Verse

“As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will give them their full rewards. And Allah does not love the wrongdoers (ẓālimīn).”

Note: This verse is also part of our reference post Warning Shots of severe consequences for the Oppressors and dispensers of injustice mentioned in Al Qur'an. Refer to this page to know the other verses on the subjects.

What the Verse is Saying

This verse makes a clear moral divide:

• Believers with righteous deeds will be fully rewarded
• Wrongdoers (ẓālimīn) will be deprived of Allah’s love

That is the greatest loss is not punishment alone for the wrongdoers, it is being cut off from Allah’s love. And when the heart is devoid of love of Allah, one becomes stubborn, cruel and heartless. Such people who love to torture and oppress others for in their hearts love of Allah does not reside, therefore flowing tears from the eyes of the oppressed do not move them.

Who Are the “Ẓālimīn” (Wrongdoers)?

In the Qur’anic sense, they include those:

• Who reject truth knowingly
• Who oppress others
• Who act with arrogance and فساد (corruption)
• Who persist in wrongdoing without repentance

Examples from the Past who did not allow love of Allah reside in their hearts and faced Divine Consequences

These are those people or even communities who reject the Divine path which makes their hearts hardened for the light of truth does not reach their hearts. Such are the people who are robbed of softness of their hearts, and thus humility. These are often mentioned in Al Qur'an repeatedly. Some are mentioned below:

• Pharaoh (Fir‘awn)
• Pharaoh is notorious for Enslavement of Bani Israeel بني إسرائيل and killing of innocent children for he proclaimed himself as a god as a symbol of his extreme arrogance: “I am your lord most high.”
• His stubbornness, arrogance and self centeredness hardened his heart to be inclined to the love of God.
• For this brutal behaviour of his, he was drowned in the sea along with his army of which he was proud of and from which it wielded his power and arrogance.
• The mention of Pharaoh which exhibits tyranny and arrogance lead to humiliation and destruction
• Nation of Nūḥ (Noah)
• For over 900 years Prophet Nūḥ persuaded his people to obey Allah and leave their stubbornness. But they mocked truth and persistently denied existence of God.
• Therefore they were drowned in the great flood and only those survived who listened to him and accepted the existence of God. It was unfortunate that son of Nūḥ did not listen to his father and was too perished in the flood.
• Nations of ʿĀd and Thamūd Both these nations prided in their strength and rejecting clear signs of God. They were thus destroyed by violent winds and ear tearing blast.
• People of Lūṭ (Lot) and Shuʿayb Defied Divine commandments, exhibit moral corruption and economic justice. Thus their people were destroyed

A Deeper Understanding of Devoid of love of Allah and “Divine Wrath”

When people become heartless and commandments of Allah do not find a way into their hearts, Allah too devoid them of humility, add more to their arrogance and false pride which finally invites Divine wrath for them and they are destroyed.

It is not only complete destructing of such people always. Sometimes they are robbed of Barakah (blessings) or inner emptiness of their hearts, which gradually results into their downfall. From high positions of power of strength, they fall to the earth duly exposed of their hollowness and utterly humiliated.

The Most Important Application

Let us not only look back for this verse is not just about “them”—it is about us. We need to ask ourselves:

• Do I oppress others—even in small ways?
• Do I justify my wrong actions?
• Do I ignore truth when it challenges me?
• Do I find hollowness in my heart or absence of even iota of goodness?
• Do I feel happy seeing people in misery and under burden of oppression?

If the answer is yes, we need to repent immediately and let love of Allah enter into our hearts to make us humble and caring. For if we continue with our oppressive actions and wrongdoings, let us be ready for the Divine wrath which may befall unannounced.

Remember: The line between “believer” and “ẓālim” is drawn by actions and sincerity

A Powerful Reflection

The verse ends with: “Allah does not love the wrongdoers”

Think about that a person my be powerful, successful and admired. Yet if he is oppressive, he is living without divine love - and that is the greatest loss.

So let us not focus only on who was punished… Focus on what made them deserving of punishment—

so we too never fall into the same category of wrongdoers and oppressors.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Surah 3. Al-i'Imran (The Family of Imran) already published

You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages: 

• Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
• Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Who are those promised a Painful Seizure mentioned in Al Qur'an

This world was created for human coexistence - a place where everyone cared for the others to live happily. And certainly, this world was not created for tyranny or oppression, but rather is a place where human beings are tested, often allowing free will to produce injustice alongside opportunities for justice and compassion. There have been rulers and communities that upheld the justice and treated others with kindness and care. Yet there have been rulers and nations that enjoyed oppression and usurping rights of the masses. It is the second category that often inadvertently called for the Divine wrath and were destroyed for ever.

Today, in our series of posts on Warning Shots of severe consequences for the Oppressors and dispensers of injustice mentioned in Al Qur'an, we share the 102nd verse of Surah 11. Hud, which warns the oppressors and dispensers of injustice of a painful seizure to show them that Divine justice always prevails.

The Verse Surah Hud (11:102)

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَآ أَخَذَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَهِىَ ظَٰلِمَةٌ ۚ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُۥٓ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ

“Such is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the towns while they are oppressive. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.”

Context of the Verse

This verse comes after a long section in Surah Hūd where Allah recounts the stories of earlier nations like the People of Nūḥ (Noah), ʿĀd, Thamūd, People of Lūṭ and People of Shuʿayb  just to mention a few. Each of these societies: persisted in Zulm (injustice, oppression, corruption) and rejected truth despite clear warnings

So this verse is a concluding principle: What happened to them is not random—it is a pattern of divine justice. This verse thus follows accounts of past destroyed nations serving as a warning to the people of Mecca and all future generations about the consequences of rejecting faith and committing injustices.

What Does akhdhahu “Seizure” (أخذ) Mean?

It means here not just punishment - but a sudden, decisive, overwhelming consequence. It represents God's intervention to punish, which is inevitable for those who ignore prophetic warnings. It may be delayed, but when it comes: It is inescapable and complete. None at that time escapes the Divine seizure, so is the degree of punishment for those who oppress people heartlessly.

Ibn Kathir notes that the phrase "painful and severe" indicates the intense nature of Allah's punishment upon oppressive nations.

Why Were They Punished?

The people mentioned above were punished when their oppression exceeded to an unbearable degree.

The verse specifies: “…while they are oppressive (ẓālimah)” This means it was not just their disbelief, but but systemic ظلم, including: exploitation, moral corruption, rejection of truth, and physically and spiritually harming and torturing others. That is their ظلم was the defining trait that caught them in the unescapable seizure.

The Examples of Oppression and Injustice of previous nations/people

Let us briefly see who were the people who were caught by Divine seizure - why and how:

• People of Nūḥ (Noah)
• What was their ظلم? Mocking the truth - Rejecting the Prophet for generations, and Moral corruption became normalized
• The “seizure” A flood that wiped out the entire corrupt society
• Key insight: They were given long time (centuries) - but when the seizure came - it was total and irreversible, 
• Nation of ʿĀd
• What was their ظلم? Arrogance due to power and the notion: “Who is stronger than us?” attitude. Thus they created oppression and فساد (corruption)
• The “seizure” A violent, freezing wind that destroyed them
• Lesson: Power does not protect from divine justice
• Nation of Thamūd
• What was their ظلم? Denial after clear signs (the she-camel miracle), Arrogance and oppression
• The “seizure” A mighty blast/earthquake that left them lifeless
• Lesson: Rejecting truth knowingly leads to sudden collapse
• People of Lūṭ (Lot)
• What was their ظلم? Moral فساد at a societal level - Public normalization of sin (open acts of homosexuality) and aggression toward the Prophet
• The “seizure” Their towns were turned upside down and destroyed
• Lesson: When corruption becomes public and defended, consequences escalate
• People of Shuʿayb (Madyan)
• What was their ظلم? Economic injustice by cheating in trade and exploiting people financially
• The “seizure” A cry/blast and destruction
• Lesson: ظلم is not only moral—it includes economic injustice

These examples show that what happened to them is not isolated history - It is a universal law of justice

A Deep Pattern in the Qur’an

This verse teaches a universal law:

• When the oppression spreads beyond limits, Divine warnings are delivered to them by the prophets. They are given time to mend their ways. 
• But the people ignore Divine warnings, seizures happen and there comes sudden inescapable accountability that no one can escape.
• The punishment is directed at towns and people who are zalim (doing wrong/oppressing) and persisting in their tyranny. 
• In Kathir cites a Sahih Bukhari/Muslim Hadith where Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: "Verily, Allah gives respite to a wrongdoer until He seizes him and he cannot escape".

Can this be Applied to Oppressors in Our Lives?

Yes indeed - though the scale of Divine seizures has much reduced, for man has become wiser and generally heeds to Divine cautions and warnings. However, still there are large scale earthquakes, tornados, flash floods and even persistent droughts that still remind man of his ungratefulness and oppression he continues to commit.

• What You CAN Understand
• This verse assures you that Allah sees injustice and that no oppressor is beyond His accountability.
• Delay does NOT mean approval or neglect - rather it gives: Patience (ṣabr) and Hope in justice
• What You SHOULD NOT Assume
• You should not declare specific people as “doomed” or predict exactly when or how punishment will come.
• Because Divine justice operates with wisdom beyond our view

How This Applies Personally 

• When you Face ظلم, don’t lose hope or think injustice will last forever, Rest assured that Justice may be delayed—but it is never absent.
• When You Are Tempted to Do Wrong, this verse is also a warning to yourself: No ظلم is small in the sight of Allah
• When You See Global Injustice GO back into pages of history and see how mighty empires rose to their utter glory - but then crumbled in no time due to their injustice and oppression. This verse thus explains: why downfall happens

A Psychological Insight

One of the hardest things for humans is seeing injustice go unpunished. This verse answers that pain - What you see is partial reality. The full reality includes: time, accountability and divine justice.

A Powerful Way to Understand It

This verse can be summarized like this: Oppression may build power… but it also builds the conditions of its own سقوط (collapse).

Final Reflection This verse is both: A warning to the oppressor and a comfort to the oppressed. It tells us not to be deceived by temporary power… Because when justice comes, it is complete and undeniable. While the verse discusses past communities, it is a standing warning to all future generations, including the Muslim Ummah.

So let us not be just contended with the notion that we are Muslims and above everything. In our ranks today, we have oppressors and dispensers of injustice too other than the non Muslims. And we too are liable for Divine seizure unless we give heed to Divine cautions and warnings and dispense justice lest time runs out for us.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please visit our reference page:  Sūrah 11. Hūd  (Prophet Hūd " هود‎ ") for selected verses from Surah Hud.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages: 

• Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
• Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Warning Shots of severe consequences for the Oppressors and dispensers of injustice mentioned in Al Qur'an

No two men are born equal and resultantly one has to be above the other in position, status, wealth and even power. While it is expected for the one's enjoying a better status to look after those below their status are dependent on them, generally speaking opposite is the case. The shower of blessings on those who are above the rest is taken as their right, which often breeds arrogance, false pride, which finally results in overpowering those under them and treated with oppression, injustice and even torture.

This attitude is something that the Creator of the universe least likes and thus warns those in the corridors of power, status and wealth to be kind to the less privileged. The Qur’an speaks very powerfully against Zulm (injustice, oppression)—warning that even if it seems to go unchecked for a time, its consequences are certain and severe. 

In Islam, ẓulm (ظلم) is a very deep concept—it’s not limited to obvious injustice like oppression or ظلم between people. At its core, it means: “Putting something in a place where it does not belong.” (وضع الشيء في غير موضعه)

With this broader framework of zulm, through this post, we share some of the most striking verses from Al Qur'an which caution such heartless men in power of very severe consequences, both in this world and in the life of the Hereafter.

Note: Herein under we only mention the verses and a brief unpacking of their meaning. For detailed reading, we will post elaboration of each verse along with the context and relevance to our present times. 

1. Allah Is Not Unaware of Oppression

• Surah Ibrahim (14:42): “Do not think that Allah is unaware of what the ظلم-doers (oppressors) do. He only delays them until a Day when eyes will stare in horror.”
• Meaning: Oppression ظلم may appear to succeed but Allah is fully aware. Though His justice may be deferred for a stipulated period of time to allow the oppressors to mend their ways by siting examples in Al Qur'an of previous people who were punished for the oppression and injustice.
• Lesson: No injustice escapes accountability

2. The Fate of Destroyed Nations

• Surah Hud (11:102): “Such is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the towns while they are oppressive. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.”
• Meaning: Entire civilizations were destroyed due to ظلم - Which means when the Divine punishment comes—it is decisive and sever beyond one's imagination.
• Lesson: Collective injustice leads to collective downfall.
• For detailed explanation/tafsir by scholars, link to our post:  Who are those promised a Painful Seizure mentioned in Al Qur'an

3. Oppression Leads to Ruin

• Surah Ash-Shura (42:42): “The blame is only upon those who ظلم people and transgress on earth without right…”
• Meaning: ظلم is not just wrongdoing - it is transgression beyond limits if not timely checked.
• Lesson: ظلم is morally and spiritually destructive
• For detailed explanation/tafsir by scholars, link to our post: Painful punishment for those who tyrannize upon the earth 

4. Allah Does Not Love the Oppressors

• Surah Aal-E-Imran (3:57): “…And Allah does not love the wrongdoers.”
• Meaning: Oppression cuts a person off from the Divine love and spiritual success. That is why oppressors and dispensers of injustice are heartless, stubborn and ruthless.
• Lesson: Even if society praises an oppressor (though may be due to fear to escape their wrath) —Allah’s disapproval is what matters.
• For detailed explanation/tafsir by scholars, link to our post: Why the wrongdoers are robbed of Humility and punished - Selected verses from Al Qur'an

5. The End of the Oppressors

• Surah Al-An'am (6:45): “So the last remnant of the people who did wrong was قطع off. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
• Meaning: Oppression does not last forever - Its end is complete eradication

6. No Escape on the Day of Judgment

• Surah Ghafir (40:18): “…For the wrongdoers there will be no close friend and no intercessor to be obeyed.”
• Meaning: Power, connections, influence are useless when the oppressors stand alone before justice

7. ظلم Will Be Darkness on the Day of Judgment

• Hadith (in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim): “Oppression will be darkness upon darkness on the Day of Judgment.”
• Meaning: ظلم creates moral darkness in this world and literal darkness in the Hereafter

8. Even Small Injustice is Accounted For

• Surah An-Nisa (4:40): “Indeed, Allah does not do injustice even as much as an atom’s weight…”
• Meaning: That is the justice of Allah is flawless and impartial - therefore every ظلم will be precisely accounted for.
• For detailed explanation/tafsir by scholars, link to our post: The Divine Justice: Allah Wrongs Not Even the Weight of a Speck of Dust

9. Warning Against Inclining toward Oppressors

• Surah Hud (11:113): “Do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire touch you…”
• Meaning: This is a very important verse which means that not only ظلم itself, even those supporting or sympathizing with oppressors are equally culprits and will get their due share.

10. Ultimate Justice Will Be Established

• Surah Az-Zumar (39:69): “…And every soul will be fully compensated for what it did, and He knows best what they do.”

Powerful Summary Pattern in the Qur’an

The Qur’an consistently teaches:

• Oppression may rise
• It may seem successful
• It is given time
• But then comes: Sudden downfall (in الدنيا) and complete justice (in الآخرة)

Applicability Today

These verses speak directly to modern realities:

• Political oppression
• Economic injustice
• Social ظلم
• Personal ظلم (within families, workplaces)

The warning is clear:

• Power does not protect
• Influence does not save
• Time does not erase wrongdoing

Final Reflection

These verses show the powerful Qur’anic truth: Oppression is not just a crime against people—it is a rebellion against the justice of Allah.

Therefore, Allah in the Qur’an assures: that the justice may be delayed… But it is never ignored, never forgotten, and never without consequence.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Photo | references: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A. You may also refer to our refference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on important issue related to Islam to know more about Islam.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Why it is Divinely said in Al Qur’an that the heavens and the earth were not created for play

There are two types of people around us. The first category consists of the people who have inclination towards religion and believe what is being said Divinely in the Divine Scriptures. They mostly refrain from acts or activities that lead one to sin or amusement which is more often than not mere wastage of time and take them away from the reembrace of their Creator. The other category is of those who think life is too short to enjoy and do not let any moment go wasted to indulge them in amusing them, laughing, making merry, boozing and other unbecoming acts. This category of people is least religious or mindful of the reality of Day of Judgement when scales of justice will weigh their worldly acts that in fact were just wastage of time, yet full of fun and joy.

In our series of posts Ten most powerful verses of Al Qur'an that challenge how we think, live, and understand reality, today we share the 16th verse of Surah 21. Al Anbiya (The Prophets) and try to find the answer of the verses in which it is Divinely said that the heavens and the earth were not created for play and its relevance to our daily life where play is preferred that reflection on the purpose of life.

The Verse: Al-Qurʾān Surah Al-Anbiya (21:16)

أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا آلِهَةً مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ هُمْ يُنشِرُونَ

“We did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them for play.”

Let us unpack this verse and try to know why this verse has been revealed and for whom:

Context of the Verse

This verse comes in a passage (21:16–23) where Allah responds to a serious misunderstanding of people who treat life as random, meaningless or something to mock or ignore. That is why Allah declares: The universe is not a game. It has purpose, order, and truth. 

If we look back into the history before Islam, we find polytheists of Makkah remained busy in playful activities, generally immoral and putting their slaves into sports when most of the time turned out to be lethal and life threatening - a site which amused the heartless elite who clapped and enjoyed the distress of their slaves. Even before that time, the times of Roman kings and their joyful activities are mentioned in history books and many a films show slaves being run down under chariots, made to duel without arms and protective garments with powerful men who would kill them mercilessly, bashed their heads to walls amid applaud from the watching elite and the royalty.

The next two verses further elaborate the meaning of above quoted verse:

• (21:17): If We had intended play, We could have done so—but that is not Our way.
• (21:18): Truth is cast against falsehood—and it crushes it.

Contextual meaning: What is being said here is that Creation is built on truth (ḥaqq), not amusement (laʿib) and that there is seriousness, accountability, and purpose in whatever a man do.

What Does “Not for Play” Mean?

It does NOT mean that there is no joy or enjoyment in life. Rather it means that:

• Life is not purposeless entertainment
• The universe is not:
• random
• meaningless
• without consequence

Deeper meaning: Everything in existence is part of a deliberate, meaningful system. Thus it should not be wasted away.

This verse in fact refute their entire conception of life which was based on the assumption that man was free to do whatever he liked, and there was none to call him to account or take him to task: that there was no life in the Hereafter where one's good deeds would be rewarded and evil deeds punished. In other words, this meant that the whole universe had been created without any serious purpose and therefore there was no need to pay any heed to the Divine commandments which have been revealed to prophets of Allah and which were clearly made clear to their followers.

Connection with Other Verses

The Qur’an reinforces this idea:

• Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:115): “Did you think We created you in vain and that you would not be returned to Us?”
• Surah Ad-Dukhan (44:38–39): “We did not create the heavens and the earth in play… but in truth.”

Repeated message: Creation has a purpose and each action has its accountability. Therefore, instead of whiling away one's time in playful mood and activities, one should pay heed to the purpose of creation.

The Problem Today: Life Has Become “Play”

Ironically, this verse describes our modern condition perfectly. Today, life is often reduced to:

• Entertainment Culture  That is life becomes “Pass time and enjoyment” - which means not taking responsibilities carefully and seriously and spending on things on enjoyment rather than on charity and helping others. The distracted culture in fact robs our ability to reflect and find useful activities and actions to help others.
• Avoidance of Serious Questions
• People today generally avoid asking them some serious questions, like:
• Why am I here?
• What happens after death?
• What is right and wrong?
• In the absence of self appraisal, man loses sense of direction and indulges in acts that robs of his reflective and logical thinking and indulge him in a emotional quagmire.
• Redefining Success
• Today, the meaning of success has worn a modern cloak which means success is for those who have a status, wealth, fame and lot of wealth. This false cloak is similar to the cloak of the naked king who though he was all wise while his actions showed a bitter reality.
• In this redefined success scenario, no one really cares for the truth, character, values and accountability.

The Qur’anic Correction

This verse is a wake-up call for all of us to be warned that we are not here to “kill time”… Rather, we are here because time will judge what we did with it.

Practical Impact on Our Lives

• Reframing Time This verse tells us that our time is not for endless distraction - rather it is for our positive growth, عبادہ (purposeful living) and contribution to life rather than to satisfy our own self.
• Taking Life Seriously—Without Losing Balance Here someone may ask a question that if this life is not for paly then how do we attain joy. For them the answer is Islam does not remove joy from one's life like playing with family, taking a leisure trip to ward off one's tiredness from a heavy week work load. In fact Islam leads us to meaningless living which is sheer wastage of time and one's weath,
• Accountability Mindset Every action matters, even words, choices and intentions. So let us focus on  a purposeful life where even small thin.gs matter
• Living with Direction What is being said in this verse is that instead of “What do I feel like doing?”, ask: “What is the right thing to do?”

A Deep Reflection

This verse challenges a hidden assumption: If the universe were a game… then nothing would ultimately matter. That is Qur’an says: (1) Truth matters, (2) Justice matters, and (3) Your actions matter - Because The Creator did not create all this in vain.

A Powerful Way to Understand It

We need t understand that the universe is not an accident, and our life is not entertainment. It is a meaningful journey with real consequences. So let us not reduce our existence to play… when the One who created everything created it with purpose.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may now refer to some of the Selected verses from Sūrah 21 Al-Anbiyā (The Prophets) already published: 

You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages: 

• Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
• Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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