Al-Qurʾān: Selected verses from Sūrah 10. Yūnus (Prophet Jonah)

Surah Yūnus "يونس", (Prohet "Jonah"), is the 10th surah / chapter the Quran with 109 ayat / verses. The Surah is named after the Prophet Yunus (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). It is believed to have been revealed before the migration of the Prophet Muhammed صلى الله عليه وسلم and his followers from Makkah to Medina (Hijra), and is thus called a Meccan surah. 

Surah Yunus is the first of six surahs which open with the tri-letters alif, lam and ra'. For other surahs of Qur'an which commence with Huroof Muqatta’at - Disjoined Letters, please refer to our earlier post: Understanding the Holy Quran: Huroof Muqatta’at - Disjoined Letters

About Sūrah Yūnus

Its content presents a unified discourse, likely revealed in one sitting, designed to bolster the believers’ resolve and confront the Quraysh’s objections to the message of Islam 

Major Themes 

According to scholars, its major themes include:

• Tawhid (Divine Oneness) & Revelation: Emphasizes monotheism, the authenticity of the Quran, and the rejection of polytheism and false gods 
• Prophethood and Divine Message: It addresses the rejection faced by the Prophet ﷺ by drawing parallels with prophets like Nūḥ, Mūsā, and Yūnus (Jonah) — highlighting both struggle and triumph 
• Signs in Nature: Invites reflection on creation—the heavens, earth, day/night cycles, sun and moon—as evidence of God’s power and sovereignty 
• Graphic descriptions of the Hereafter: there are several verses that provide graphic descriptions of the Hereafter to serve as a stern warning, urging people to reform their ways before it’s too late.
• Judgment and Accountability: Reaffirms belief in resurrection and the Day of Judgment, warning of consequences for disbelief and neglect of divine guidance 
• Hope, Mercy & Repentance: Although some nations faced destruction, the people of Yūnus were forgiven after sincere repentance—highlighting Allah’s mercy even after delay 
• Guidance for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Encourages patience, perseverance in hardship, and steadfastness in delivering the message without forcing belief 
• Critique of Disbelief: Addresses the argument of unbelievers who rejected the Quran as fabricated, demanded miracles or alternate scripture, and mocked resurrection 

Structure and Flow

• Verses 1–20: Assertion of the divine nature of the Quran, denial of sorcery accusations, and the reality of revelation to a man from among them 
• Verses 21–32: Debate over resurrection, divine purpose, and reminders from past warnings.
• Verses 33–41: Life as trial and the shifting human attitudes towards gratitude and remembrance.
• Verses 42–70: Stories of Nūḥ, Mūsā vs. Pharaoh, and the people of Yūnus.
• Verses 71–109: Reflection on faith, repentance, free will, and final exhortation to the Prophet ﷺ to continue patiently.

Relevance in the Present Day

1. Strengthening Faith Amid Opposition: Just as early Muslims faced hostility, believers today are reminded that doubt and resistance to truth is not new 
2. Miracles of Reflection: Encourages modern readers to contemplate natural phenomena as signs of divine power, especially in an age of scientific discovery 
3. Mercy through Repentance: Demonstrates that sincere repentance—even after error or delay—is recognized and rewarded by Allah (as in Yūnus’s recitation of “Lā ilāha illā anta...” 
4. Clarity in Dialogue: Provides tools to respond to skepticism, secularism, relativism, and ideological bias with reasoned evidence and prophetic wisdom.
5. Reminder of Purpose: Reinforces that life is a test; each person must choose belief and accountability over convenience or cultural acceptance.

Summary Table (Theme vis Meaning & Message)

• Monotheism & Revelation: The Quran is divine; idols and false gods cannot benefit or harm.
• Prophetic Stories: Resistance faced by prophets is timeless; conviction persists despite hardship.
• Signs in Creation: Nature as evidence of Divine Wisdom, inviting reflection and recognition.
• Judgment & Mercy: Resurrected accountability balanced by compassion for those who repent and reform.
• Responding to Rejection: Use reasoned argument and patience, not force or despair.
• Life’s Test: Human existence is temporary; faith and actions define eternal destiny.

In summary, Sūrah 10. Yūnus is a powerful Makkan surah whose themes—Tawhid, accountability, prophetic resilience, divine mercy, and rational reflection—continue to guide, console, and challenge believers today.-

We have already published detailed exegesis of the Surah which can be accessed from links given below:

| Overview | Exegesis: | Part I | Part II | Part III |  | Part IV |

*You may like to read the story of Prophet Yunus as mentioned in Qur'an from our earlier post: Prophet Younis (Jonah) and Allah's Displeasure

Mention of Prophet Yunus in other surahs of Qur'an:

• Surah As‑Saffāt (37:139–148) describes the event in detail 
• Surah Al-Anbiyā’ (21:87–88) mentions his supplication and rescue 
• Surah Yunus (10:98) mentions the people of Yunus repenting after he was sent back 
• Surah Al-Qalam (68:48–50) refers to “the companion of the Fish” urging patience in contrast to his experience 

We now share some of the verses from Sūrah Yūnus which have already been published covering some important messages:

• Divine Warning for those who worship others than Allah and call them their Intercessors with Allah - verse 18
• Allah calls you to the Abode of Peace - verse 25
• Beware of a Day when there will be no barter exchange of sins with worldly wealth - verse 54
• What do we learn from the fate of the disgraced (like Pharaoh) who remain alive in corridors of history - verse 92
• Do not worship others beside Allah - verse 104
• If Allah afflicts you with any hardship, none other than He can remove it - verse 107

In time we will continue to add more selected verses from Sūrah Yūnus for information of our readers.

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 refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from Surah 14. Ibrāhīm "إبراهيم" (Prophet Abraham) for verses from this Surah

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and 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 | 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

Beware of a Day when there will be no barter exchange of sins with worldly wealth

The wrong doers, sinner, denier of prophets and messengers of Allah and the day the justice scales to be established on the Day of the Judgement generally seem oblivious of the Divine promise of a day when justice will be established and no one shall be wronged. And on that day, such deniers of Divine Commandments will realize how grossly misled they were and how they ruled the world using their wealth and mocked the messengers sent to them for their benefit.

The 54th verse of Surah 10 Yunus (Prophet Jonah, peace be upon him) carries a stern warning fo rall wrong doers, sinners and tyrants

وَلَوۡ اَنَّ لِكُلِّ نَفۡسٍ ظَلَمَتۡ مَا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ لَافۡتَدَتۡ بِهٖ​ؕ وَاَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَاَوُا الۡعَذَابَ​ۚ وَقُضِىَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ بِالۡقِسۡطِ​ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ 

(10:54) If a wrong-doer had all that is in the earth he would surely offer it to ransom himself. When the wrong-doers perceive the chastisement, they will feel intense remorse in their hearts. But a judgement shall be made with full justice about them. They shall not be wronged.

“And they will feel remorse”. When all of a sudden, they face the torment on the Day, which they had denied throughout their lives, and on that presumption had gone on doing wrong deeds. Not only this: they will also feel very sorry that they had denied the Messengers and brought baseless charges against them, who had warned them of it. Therefore when they witness it against all their expectations, they will find the ground slipping from under their feet and will feel utterly helpless and guilty in their minds because of the remembrance of their wrong doings and of the pricking of their conscience. In short, their condition will be that of a gambler, who turns a deaf ear to the counsel of his well wishers and stakes his all on mere speculation and goes bankrupt. But such a person has to blame none but himself only for his sad plight.

Let us further expand the meaning of the above quoted verses and its relevance for us:

• Desperation of the Wrongdoer: The verse begins by depicting how those who committed wrong (sins, disobedience to Allah, injustice to others) will, on the Day of Judgment, realize the enormity of their sins. If they possessed everything on earth—wealth, power, or any material resources—they would try to offer it as a ransom to escape the punishment. However, nothing in this world will be sufficient to save them once they face Allah's judgment.
• Intense Regret and Remorse: When the wrongdoers finally witness the reality of the punishment awaiting them, they will experience intense regret (Arabic: أسروا النَّدامة), which they will internalize. This remorse comes from their realization that they wasted their opportunities in life by rejecting the truth and committing sins. At this point, their regret will be of no benefit because the time for repentance and doing good deeds has passed.
• Judgment with Full Justice: Despite their remorse, justice will be served. The verse emphasizes that Allah will judge the wrongdoers with absolute fairness. The judgment will be based on their deeds, and no one will be treated unfairly. Allah is All-Knowing and Just, so everyone will be recompensed precisely according to what they deserve.
• No Injustice Will Be Done: The verse closes by reassuring that “they will not be wronged” (وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ). This highlights Allah's perfect justice—no one will be treated unfairly, and no soul will bear the burden of another. Each person will face the consequences of their own actions.

Broader Themes and Lessons from the Verse

• The Futility of Material Wealth: The verse shows that, in the Hereafter, all the wealth and material possessions of this world will be meaningless. The wrongdoer’s attempt to offer the entire world in exchange for freedom from punishment reflects the futility of materialism when facing Allah's judgment. Only righteous deeds, faith, and submission to Allah will matter on that day.
• The Importance of Repentance and Good Deeds: This verse serves as a warning to act now while there is still time. Wrongdoers will wish they had acted righteously, but once the Day of Judgment comes, regret will no longer benefit them. This underscores the importance of repentance (tawbah) and performing good deeds while alive.
• Divine Justice: The verse also emphasizes that Allah’s judgment will be completely just. No one will be punished unjustly or more than what they deserve. Similarly, no one will be deprived of any good they have done. Every deed, whether good or bad, will be accounted for.

Supporting Hadith

The idea of regret in the Hereafter and the futility of material possessions is echoed in several hadiths:

• Hadith on Regret in the Hereafter: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"The people of Hell will be made to feel remorse and regret, and they will say, 'Send us back so we can do good deeds, not the evil that we used to do.' But it will be said to them: 'No, it is just a word that they say, and in front of them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.'" (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:99-100; Sahih Muslim)

This hadith mirrors the concept of intense regret felt by the wrongdoers, as described in the verse. After death, the chance for redemption is lost, and all they can do is regret the missed opportunities to do good.

• Hadith on the Value of Righteous Deeds: The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned about focusing too much on the material world and neglecting one’s obligations to Allah. He said:

“Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your preoccupation, and your life before your death.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 2417)

This hadith encourages believers to use their wealth, health, and time wisely for the sake of good deeds, as these are fleeting and will not be available after death.

Broader Implications in Today’s World

• Avoiding Materialism: In today’s world, people often pursue wealth and status at the expense of their spiritual well-being. This verse serves as a reminder that material possessions cannot save a person in the Hereafter. What truly matters are good deeds and faith in Allah.
• Being Mindful of Justice: The verse also reinforces the concept of justice. In a world where injustice is often prevalent, it reminds us that Allah’s justice is absolute and that all wrongdoers will be held accountable. Therefore, believers should strive to uphold justice in their own lives and actions.
• Urgency of Good Deeds: The message of the verse is to take advantage of the time given in this life to perform good deeds, repent for mistakes, and follow Allah’s commands. Procrastination in matters of faith and good deeds can lead to regret when it is too late.

In the light of explanation above, Surah Yunus, verse 54, offers a stark reminder of the Day of Judgment and the regret that wrongdoers will feel when they face Allah’s punishment. Their desperate attempts to ransom themselves with the wealth of the world will be in vain, as the time for repentance and good deeds will have passed. The verse emphasizes the futility of materialism in the Hereafter and highlights the need for repentance and righteous actions in this life. Furthermore, it reassures that Allah's judgment is perfectly just, and no one will be wronged in the least.

Remember, the above quoted verse takes us deep into the time when people are made to account for their deeds and their fate is determined. But such a ransom will not be accepted, even should it be offered. But before the verse is concluded, we see that what was supposed has come to pass and the whole matter is done and finished with. It has all come as a great surprise which leaves them powerless. The image here is one of gloomy faces, full of sadness, their lips unable to utter a word. 

Time is now to shun any thoughts of being superior to others and harming the weak and meek for self interests and thinking that since we have been blessed so much, we are among the blessed and we will continue to be placed at a higher pedestal even on the Day of Judgement. Or being satisfied that even if we were to be penalized on that day, we could barter trade our sins with what we owned in the world and get a free ticket to Heavens. Beware of such foolish thoughts for justice of Allah cannot be bought with money but with good deeds and by living a worldly life as prescribed for us in Qur'an.

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.

You may like to read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Ref Page: Divine Court Rules

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 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses 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 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. 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

What do we learn from the fate of the disgraced (like Pharaoh) who remain alive in corridors of history

Anyone or any nation or civilization that disobeys the Divine Orders and ridicule His prophets and messengers, are bound to doom and ultimately perish. But their remains remain alive as sign of wrath of Allah for those who defy Him and such signs continue to "live" in the corridors of history as a sign of warning for all posterity.

We share today the 92nd verse of Surah 10 Yunus which is about the drowning and then saving of his body on Divine orders as a warning for all future generations, that anyone who even thinks of defying the Divine orders should think twice before taking any act of perfidiousness, disobedience and disloyalty to the Master of the universe.

Although the verse being shared is about the fate of the mighty Pharaoh, it applies equally to all demagogues of the world today who think a little power in their hands can let them dominate the meek and weak. In recent history, we remember Hitler for the so called genocide of the Jews, and we condemn it from every muscle in our body, yet we keep our eyes closed when the same people of Israelites who were saved by Allah, wage a far torturous genocide of the Palestinians, a people who allowed Jews into the lands presently occupied by Israel. Do we forget what is still echoing in the corridors of history?

Before our readers move on to read our selected post, it may be added here that in all history books before Islam, it is said that Pharaoh drowned when the sea met again after the safe exit of the Israelites, the mention of Pharaoh in Qur'an differs and it is clearly said that though Pharaoh drowned, his body was expelled by sea to be preserved as a sign of warning for all posterity that Allah will never spare the disobeying and merciless worldly gods and will have their names echoing forever as long as the world lives.

* Scroll down for the lessons we should learn from the fate of the disgraced

فَالۡيَوۡمَ نُـنَجِّيۡكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُوۡنَ لِمَنۡ خَلۡفَكَ اٰيَةً  ؕ وَاِنَّ كَثِيۡرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ عَنۡ اٰيٰتِنَا لَغٰفِلُوۡنَ

(10:92) We shall now save your corpse that you may serve as a sign of warning for all posterity, although many men are heedless of Our signs.

Explanation Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi:

Even today the place, where the dead body of Pharaoh was found floating, is pointed out by the inhabitants of that region. It lies on the western coast of the Sinai Peninsula and is now known by the name of Jabl-i-Fir`aun (Pharaoh's Mount). There is also near it a hot spring called Hammam-i-Fir`aun (Pharaoh's Bath), which is situated at a distance of a few miles from Abu Zenimah, where, they say, Pharaoh's dead body was found lying.

If the Pharaoh who was drowned was Mineptah, who ruled over Egypt when Prophet Moses was sent to him, his embalmed dead body is still lying in the Cairo Museum. When Sir Grafton E. Smith removed the bandages from his mummy, a layer of salt was found on the body, which was a clear proof that he was drowned in the sea.

That is, "We show Signs to the people over and over again so that these should serve as warnings and be the means of teaching them lessons, but it is a pity that they do not learn lessons even from such Signs as the dead body of Pharaoh."

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

(So this day We shall deliver your (dead) body (out from the sea) that you may be a sign to those who come after you!) Ibn 'Abbas and others from among the Salaf have said: "Some of the Children of Israel doubted the death of Fir'awn so Allah commanded the sea to throw his body – whole, without a soul – with his known armor plate. The body was thrown to a high place on the land so that the Children of Israel could confirm his death and destruction." 

That is why Allah said, ("So this day We shall deliver your..") meaning that We will put your body on a high place on the earth. Mujahid said, (your (dead) body) means, 'your physical body. "

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

These words of God became true word for word and the corpse of the Pharaoh was not accepted by the sea after he had drowned in it. It was expelled by it as an exemplary sign of God’s scourge. Later the corpse was spotted by people and they saw with their very eyes the fate of those who show rebelliousness against God. On the western coast of the Sinai desert the sites of the “Mount of the Pharaoh” and the “Bath of the Pharaoh” are memorials of this incident. Even today people living in the area which is a few kilometers up north of Abū Zanīmah point out the place where the corpse was found. In current times, among the mummified bodies discovered in Egypt it is generally believed that one of them is that of the Merneptah Pharaoh. This dead body is preserved in a museum in Cairo and invites every eye to learn a lesson from it.

… The experts of archeology may differ about the corpse whether it is of the same Pharaoh or some other one yet this fourteen century old statement of the Qur’ān about the corpse is much more trustworthy than their conjectures. In this way, God made his dead body an exemplary sign for even the Pharaohs of today but this needs eyes for observation and there is nothing more rare in this world than eyes which have insight. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 4, 84)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

His body would remain intact, uneaten by sharks or other sea creatures. It would not be allowed to drift with the waves, but would be saved so that his end would be known to all and sundry. It may be that when others see your body they will take heed and realize that defying God and His warnings brings certain doom. They do not turn to them with open hearts and minds, nor do they consider their significance, be they evident in the great universe or within their own selves.

Having gone through the historical perspective and mentioning the narration as given out in Qur'an, let us see what can we learn from this episode:

Pharaoh's refusal to heed the warnings of Moses (in fact the Divine Warnings conveyed to Pharaoh through Prophet Musa) and his stubbornness in holding onto power despite the plagues sent by God are often seen as examples of arrogance and hubris. This can serve as a lesson about the dangers of pride and the consequences of refusing to acknowledge one's mistakes.

The drowning of Pharaoh (and later expulsion of his body from the sea) and his army serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of oppression and injustice. It underscores the idea that those who oppress others will ultimately face their own downfall.  

The story highlights the power of faith and obedience to Allah. Moses and the Israelites trusted in promise of Allah and His deliverance, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This can be seen as a lesson in the importance of trust and obedience in one's spiritual journey.

The event is often interpreted as an act of divine justice. Pharaoh's oppression of the Israelites and his refusal to release them from slavery led to his downfall, illustrating the idea that ultimately, justice will prevail. 

 Today we see people of Kashmir and Palestine being denied justice and are forcibly being subjugated, tortured, denied of all human rights, to an extent of robbing them of their homes and denying food and water, even the much needed medical facilities for those who are victims of brute force and merciless bombing and inhuman treatment. 

The Exodus story serves as a symbol of liberation and redemption. The drowning of Pharaoh and the subsequent freedom of the Israelites represent the triumph of good over evil and the possibility of liberation from oppression. This should serve as a cue for those struggling for independence from the clutches of inhuman masters to continue to strive for their freedom, for one day all bondages are let loose, if one has faith in Allah and His promise of deliverance.

Let us then, sister and brothers in Islam, be faithful to Allah and do not extend our stature longer than ours and be always thankful to Allah, lest any act that smacks of disobedience or disloyalty have us stumbled to live in disgrace. 

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 | Resource Reference: ChatGPT

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. 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

Selected verses from Qur'an: Do not worship others beside Allah

When last of the prophets Muhammad ﷺ proclaimed his prophethood and conveyed to the disbelievers of Makkah and all those who worshiped gods other than One Omnipotent Allah or associated humans at par with Allah, he faced a stiff resistance from the idolators who were not willing to leave the traditions and culture of their forefathers. At that time the 104th verse of Surah 10. Yunus (Jonah) was revealed in which Allah commands His prophet to plainly tell the disbelievers that he will never serve anyone beside Allah.

After more than 1400 years since the advent of Islam, this message still stands clear as it was when this revelation was revealed:

قُلۡ يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ فِىۡ شَكٍّ مِّنۡ دِيۡنِىۡ فَلَاۤ اَعۡبُدُ الَّذِيۡنَ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ وَلٰـكِنۡ اَعۡبُدُ اللّٰهَ الَّذِىۡ يَتَوَفّٰٮكُمۡ​ ۖۚ​ وَاُمِرۡتُ اَنۡ اَكُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَۙ‏ 

(10:104) (O Prophet!) Tell them: 'Men! If you are still in doubt concerning my religion, know that I do not serve those whom you serve beside Allah. I only serve Allah Who will cause (all of) you to die. I have been commanded to be one of those who believe,

The Arabic word literally means "gives you death", but it has been purposely translated into "who has power to cause your death" in order to convey its real spirit in the content it occurs. It implies this: "I worship only that One, who has full power over your life: He has complete authority and power to let you live as long as He wills and cause you to die at any moment He wills. That is why I am fully convinced that I should submit and surrender, worship, serve and obey Him alone."

Now let us consider why of all His characteristics, this quality of Allah was specifically cited here. This was to bring home to the mushriks of Makkah that the doctrine of shirk was absolutely false. For they also believed (and all the mushriks have always believed) that death is entirely in the hands of Allah, the Lord of the universe, and none else has any power over it; so much so that they confessed that even those beings, whom they believed to be partners with God in other qualities and powers of, His, could not avert death even from themselves. Thus the mention of this quality of Allah along with the statement of the Doctrine of Tauhid has been made to serve as a proof of that creed. That is, "I serve Him only for He alone has the full power over life and death. Why should, then, I serve others who have no power at all over their own lives and deaths, not to mention the lives and deaths of others?" The eloquence and force of the statement has been enhanced manifold by saying, ".......Who gives you life and death" instead of ".....Who gives me life and death". For this contains the statement of the Doctrine, its proof and invitation to it, all the three combined in one concise sentence. Had it been said, "...I serve that one Who gives me death," then it would have implied, "I alone should serve Him". But by saying. "......Who gives you death" the implication is: "It is not only I, who should serve Him, but you also should serve Him. For it is absolutely wrong to serve any other than Allah, Who alone has such powers."

And the next verse makes abundantly clear that be not those who associate others with Allah in His divinity.

وَاَنۡ اَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّيۡنِ حَنِيۡفًا​ ۚ وَلَا تَكُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِيۡنَ‏  

(10:105) and to adhere exclusively and sincerely to the true faith,108 and not to be one of those who associate others with Allah in His divinity.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

"The Command to worship Allah Alone and rely upon Him." Allah, the Exalted, says to His Messenger, Muhammad , `Say: O mankind! If you are in doubt about the correctness of that which I have been sent with the Hanif (monotheism) religion - the religion which Allah has revealed to me -- then know that I do not worship those whom you worship besides Allah. Rather, I worship Allah alone, ascribing no partners to Him. He is the One Who causes you to die just as He gives you life. Then, unto Him is your final return. If the gods that you call upon are real, I still refuse to worship them. So call upon them and ask them to harm me, and you will see that they can bring no harm or benefit. The only One Who holds the power of harm and benefit in His Hand is Allah alone, Who has no partners.'

Yusuf Ali  Explanation: 

Other people may hesitate, or doubt, or wonder. But the righteous man has no doubt in his own mind, and he declares his Faith clearly and unambiguously to all, as did Al-Mustafa, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The worship of the One and True God is not a fancy worship, to be arrived at merely by reasoning and philosophy. It touches the vital issues of life and death-which are in His hands and His alone.

Nor is the worship of One God an invention of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ . It comes as a direct command through him and to all.

Individual Faith is good, but it is completed and strengthened by joining or forming a Righteous Society, in which the individual can develop and expand. Islam was never a religion of monks and anchorites. It laid great stress on social duties, which in many ways test and train the individual's character.

Please listen to explanation of the ayat by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:

May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

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

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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.

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 following sources: 

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

In addition the 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.

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

If Allah afflicts you with any hardship, none other than He can remove it

Firm and true faith is the hallmark of Islam. We as Muslims must have an unflinching faith in Allah and must know that every good or bad that happens to us or we are under trials and retribution, it all is a form of test from Allah. Those who pass the test will be the ones who will be elevated to the highest plains of Jannatul Firdous.

We may recall the story of Prophet Yunus (may Allah be pleased with him) when he erred and was then when swallowed by the big fish repented and Allah eased his sufferings. His mere swallowing up by the big fish and still being alive in its belly was an affliction caused to him by Allah so that he realizes his mistake and then it was Allah Who eased his hardship and have him delivered alive ashore.

This situation is an eye opener to all of us who upon being in a bad situation move their worldly gods rather than invoking the mercifulness of Allah to deliver them of their hardships and bad days. We have selected the 107th verse of Surah 10. Yunus which points towards this important aspect in which Allah assures the believers that all bad or good is from Allah and if He so wills none can change or improve our situation.

Note: In the end of the verse below, two attributes of Allah Al-Ghafur (الغفور) - The Forgiving, The Pardoner and Ar Rahim (الرحيم) -The Most Merciful have been used. Please click the highlighted text to read more about these two attributes of Allah.

وَاِنۡ يَّمۡسَسۡكَ اللّٰهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهٗۤ اِلَّا هُوَ ​ۚ وَاِنۡ يُّرِدۡكَ بِخَيۡرٍ فَلَا رَآدَّ لِفَضۡلِهٖ​ ؕ يُصِيۡبُ بِهٖ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهٖ​ ؕ وَهُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِيۡمُ‏ 

(10:107) If Allah afflicts you with any hardship, none other than He can remove it; and if He wills any good for you, none can avert His bounty. He bestows good upon whomsoever of His servants He wills. He is All Forgiving, All-Merciful.'

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

This verse contains the explanation that good, evil, benefit and harm only come from Allah alone and no one shares with His power over these things. Therefore, He is the One Who deserves to be worshipped alone, without ascription of partners. 

Concerning His statement, ( وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ And He is the Pardoning, the Merciful.) This means that He is forgiving and merciful towards those who turn to Him in repentance, regardless of what sin the person has committed. Even if the person associated a partner with Allah, verily Allah would forgive him if he repented from it.

Yusuf Ali  Explanation: 

Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Even when we suffer under trials and tribulations, it is for our good, and no one can remove them except He, when, in His Plan, He sees it to be best for all concerned. On the other hand, there is no power that can intercept His blessings and favours, and His bounty flows freely when we are worthy, and often when we are not worthy of it.

Qur'an Wiki:

God has set certain laws in operation whereby harm and benefit inevitably affect human beings when they expose themselves to their causes. So if harm afflicts you through the operation of God’s laws, then no one can remove that harm unless you follow the right course of action. This means that you should cease to expose yourself to the causes of harm if you are aware of them or appeal to God to make them known to you if you do not know them. Similarly, if you follow His laws which generate benefit for you, no one will be able to stop that benefit. It will always be granted by God to those of His servants who decide to follow the means to achieve it. This is His general will and modus operandi. 

Furthermore, He forgives past sins when one sincerely repents. Furthermore, He is merciful to His servants, forgiving them their errors and increasing their reward for their good deeds when they adhere to the true path.

Please listen to explanation of the ayat by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:

May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

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

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 

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.

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 following sources: 

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

In addition the 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.

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

Divine Warning for those who worship others than Allah and call them their Intercessors with Allah

Idolatry is one of the oldest religions outside the Divine religions. At the time of advent of Islam, the people of Makkah were diehard idolaters and it took a lot of efforts on the part of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to cleanse the Arabian lands from idols and idolaters. However, despite this, a very large segment of populations still worship idols, specially in India and South East Asia and consider them their intercessors with Allah.

The irony is that a large number of Muslims in the Indian Sub Continent and Bangladesh also revere religious people as their intercessors, even when they are long since dead. Some even claim that their worldly deities still hear them in their graves and "answer" their calls.

Allah has strictly forbidder such practices of worship and has warned at a number of places in the Qur'an that those whom they worship are mere stones or deities who even themselves are not sure of their salvation. Herein under we share today 18th verse from Surah 10. Yunus (Jonah) warning such worshippers:

وَيَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمۡ وَلَا يَنۡفَعُهُمۡ وَيَقُوۡلُوۡنَ هٰٓؤُلَاۤءِ شُفَعَآؤُنَا عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ​ؕ قُلۡ اَتُـنَـبِّـُٔوۡنَ اللّٰهَ بِمَا لَا يَعۡلَمُ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَلَا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ​ؕ سُبۡحٰنَهٗ وَتَعٰلٰى عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُوۡنَ‏ 

(10:18) They worship, beside Allah, those who can neither harm nor profit them, saying; 'These are our intercessors with Allah.' Tell them (O Muhammad): 'Do you inform Allah of something regarding whose existence in the heavens or on the earth He has no knowledge? Holy is He and He is exalted far above what they associate with Him in His divinity'.

This is a fine way of saying that no such intercessors exist as can plead their cases with Allah. For if something is not in the knowledge of Allah, it implies that it does not exist at all, for everything that exists anywhere in the heavens and the earth is in His knowledge.

Yusuf Ali Explanation:

When we shut our eyes to Allah's glory and goodness, and go after false gods, we give some plausible excuse to ourselves, such as that they will intercede for us. But how can stocks and stones intercede for us? And how can men intercede for us, when they themselves have need of Allah's Mercy? Even the best and noblest cannot intercede as of right, but only with His permission (x. 3). To pretend that there are other powers than Allah is to invent lies and to teach Allah. There is nothing in heaven or earth that He does not know, and there is no other like unto Him.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: What do the Idolaters believe about Their Gods

Allah reproaches the idolaters that worshipped others beside Allah, thinking that those gods would intercede for them before Allah. Allah states that these gods do not harm or benefit. They don't have any authority over anything, nor do they own anything. These gods can never do what the idolaters had claimed about them. 

That is why Allah said:

(Say: `Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth') Ibn Jarir said: "This means, `Are you telling Allah about what may not happen in the heavens and earth' Allah then announced that His Glorious Self is far above their Shirk and Kufr by saying: (Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners (with Him)!)

Allah then tells us that Shirk was new among mankind. It was not in existence in the beginning. He tells us that people were believers in one religion and that religion was Islam. Ibn `Abbas said: "There were ten centuries between Adam and Nuh. They were all on Islam. Then differences among people took place. They worshipped idols and rivals. 

So Allah sent extensive evidence and irrefutable proof with His Messengers.'' (So that those who were to be destroyed (for rejecting the faith) might be destroyed after a clear evidence, and those who were to live might live after a clear evidence.) [8:42] 

Muhammad Asad Explanation:

Literally, the beginning of the sentence reads thus: "And they worship that which neither harms them nor benefits them" - an expression alluding to both concrete representations and conceptual images. It should be noted that the "they" elliptically referred to here are not identical with the people spoken of earlier as "those who do not believe that they are destined to meet Us" (in other words, those who deny the reality of resurrection and of the Day of Judgment): for the people of whom the above verse speaks obviously do believe - albeit in a confused manner - in life after death and man's responsibility before God, as is evident from the statement that they worship imaginary "intercessors with God".

Thus, belief in the efficacy of anyone's unqualified intercession with God, or mediation between man and Him, is here equated with a denial of God's omniscience, which takes all the circumstances of the sinner and his sinning a priori into consideration. (As regards God's symbolic grant of permission to His prophets to "intercede" for their followers on the Day of Judgment)

The same has ben mentioned in verse 3 of Surah Yunus:

" ... There is none that could intercede with Him unless He grants leave therefor."

Lit., "there is no intercessor whatever, save after His leave [has been granted]". Cf. 2:255 - "Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave?" Thus, the Qur'an rejects the popular belief in unqualified "intercession" by living or dead saints or prophets. As is shown elsewhere in the Qur'an (e.g., in 20:109 , 21:28 or 34:23 ), God will grant to His prophets on Judgment Day the permission to "intercede", symbolically, for such of the sinners as will have already achieved His redemptive acceptance (rida') by virtue of their repentance or basic goodness. in other words, the right of "intercession" thus granted to the prophets will be but an expression of God's approval of the latter. Furthermore, the above denial of the possibility of unqualified intercession stresses, indirectly, not only God's omniscience - which requires no "mediator" - but also the immutability of His will: and thus it connects with the preceding mention of His almightiness. 

Qur'an Wiki: When people deviate from the truth, there is no end to their absurdity. The numerous deities to whom they address their worship can neither harm nor benefit them in any way. Nevertheless, they think they have a role to play.

God does not know anyone who can intercede with Him. Do you then presume to know what is unknown to God Himself? Are you, by implication, informing Him of the existence, in the heavens or on earth, of beings He is unaware of? Here the Qur’ān adopts sarcasm as the means to best counter their unrivalled absurdity. But this is followed with a statement of God’s glorification which makes it clear that all their claims are absolutely false. 

May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein and save us from deviating His path. Aameen.

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

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

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.

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 plain translation has been taken from the Qur'ān officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [1]
• 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. [2]  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

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

In addition the 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.

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