True believers fear from a day which is harsh and distressful (selected verses from Qur'an)

True faith and Eeman are easy to describe in words, yet are most difficult to practice in reality. While believers with low categories of faith and Eeman are afraid of the Day of the Judgement when the acid test results were really brought forth, equally sad would be believers who fell in the superlative degree of faith who would be uncertain of their fate for the day will be really harsh and distressful.

Today we share the 10th verse of Surah 76. Al-Insān, the 5-22 verses of this Surah describe the qualities of believers and their fear and faith in Allah.

"إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا"

"Indeed, we fear from our Lord a Day, harsh and distressful." Or: "We fear from our Lord a Day, grim and full of hardship."

As stated before, this verse is part of a beautiful passage (verses 5–22) describing the righteous servants of Allah — people who:

• Fulfill their vows,
• Feed the poor, orphan, and captive purely for the sake of Allah,
• Expect no reward or thanks from others.

The 7th verse also carries a similar meaning: "These will be the ones who fulfil their vows10 and dread the Day whose woe shall be spread far and wide" and thus they feed the poor and hungry for their act may be accepted to save them from the harshness of the Day. And they say: "(We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you.) meaning, `we do not seek any reward from you in return for it. We also are not seeking for you to thank us in front of the people. (verse 9)'"

And verse 10 explains why they do all these selfless acts:

• They are motivated by deep consciousness of the Hereafter, particularly fear of a Day (of Judgment) that is so difficult, severe, and overwhelming, they call it ‘ʿAbūsan Qamṭarīrā’ — two very powerful Arabic words.
• Deep Dive into the Arabic Terms:
• ‘ʿAbūs’ (عَبُوس): Means frowning, grim, or gloomy. Describes the emotional atmosphere of the Day — no smiles, only tension and fear. It’s the same word used in Surah ‘Abasa (80:1) — "He frowned and turned away..."
• ‘Qamṭarīr’ (قَمْطَرِير): A very intense word, often translated as distressful, hard, difficult, or severely harsh. It implies long-lasting sorrow and unbearable hardship.
• Putting them together, the verse paints a picture of a Day that is: Gloomy, emotionally crushing, and unbearably hard to face.

Now the question arises Why Do They Fear This Day?

Because the Day of Judgment is described in the Qur’an as:

• A day when even prophets will say, "Nafsi, nafsi" (Myself, myself).
• A day when children will turn gray-headed (Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:17).
• A day when everyone will flee from even their mother, father, and children (Surah Abasa 80:34–37).
• A day when "no soul shall benefit another" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:123).

So, the righteous people, despite doing good deeds, never feel arrogant or complacent — instead, they live with humble fear and sincerity.

Practical Lesson for Us: This verse teaches:

• That true righteousness isn’t just about what you do, but why you do it.
• Good actions must come from a heart that is conscious of Allah, not one seeking praise.
• Even the righteous fear the Day of Judgment, which fuels their humility and sincerity.

Beautiful Balance: Fear and Hope

Though verse 10 highlights fear, the following verses (11 onward) show how Allah rewards such people with:

• Safety from the horrors they feared,
• Gardens and comfort,
• Peace and endless bliss.
• So this fear is not paralyzing — it's constructive fear, pushing us toward Allah, not away from Him.

Relevant Conclusion and Suggested Course of Action for Believers

We see compassion overflowing from such hearts that seek God's pleasure, looking for no reward or praise from any creature. They do not hold up their favours in an attitude of conceit. They simply want to avoid the woes of a bleak and grim day, which they genuinely fear. The Prophet showed them the way to spare themselves its woes, as he said: "Save yourself from the fire by as little as half a date."

And the best way of pleasing Allah is helping the poor and giving food to the needy in such a direct manner was at the time the proper expression of these people's own compassion and the most needed type of help. Ways and forms of charity may be completely different in other circumstances and social environments. What is important is the need to maintain such compassion towards others and the desire to do good only for God's sake, looking for no earthly recognition or reward.

May Allah instills in our hearts His fear and mercy so that while we still do good acts, specially acts of charity, we remain focused on the Day when every one will be made answerable for one's deeds. That is why true believers, despite all their good deeds, fear of any act of theirs that might have annoyed Allah.

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 | ChatGPT

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.

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Why the raising of the dead from graves in Qur'an is equated with swarms of Locust on the Day of Resurrection

Qur'an commences the life form of all creatures including the humans from the embryonic stage to the time of death. It mentions of a day when all dead will be risen from their graves like swarms of locust and will be paraded in for the Divine Court. This would be the Day of the Resurrection, when the fate of each individual will be decided based on one's deeds in the earthly world and directed as a reward to the Paradise or thrown into hell as punishment for not adhering to the Divine Commandments which have been conveyed to  them by the messengers and prophets of Allah and contained in the four Divine Scriptures, that is Psalms, Torah, Gospel and Qur'an.

Here a question arises why the raising of the dead from the graves is equated with the locust and not any other species? It must be understood that in Qur'an, the mention of various insects like fly or mosquito and other animals have been given for a specific reason. We will talk with reference to these insects and animals and birds in some other post. But now let us talk of the raising of the dead with the locust.

It is mentioned in the 6-8 verses of Surah 54 Al-Qamar - The Moon:

"So, O Prophet, turn away from them.5 The Day the Caller shall call them to a most terrifying event, the people shall rise out of their graves with awestruck looks as though they were scattered locusts. They will be rushing towards the Caller and the same disbelievers (who denied it in the world) shall say, "This indeed is a hard day!"

These verses paint a scene of that day which is fierce and grim, consistent with the ambience of the surah. They also warn of the closeness of the Last Hour, highlighted by the splitting of the moon in two. All of this fits perfectly with the rhythm maintained throughout the surah.

It is a scene full of quick movement, yet it is also prominent, with clear lines and features: multitudes of people are rising from their graves, like swarming locusts, yet their eyes are downcast, humble, fearful. They rush towards the one who calls them forward, but they do not know what they are called to, and they cannot be reassured. As this gathering continues to take place, and amidst all this humility, the unbelievers say in a tone of distress that reflects their dawning awareness of the hardship ahead of them: "Hard indeed is this day." (Verse 8) 

The dead so arisen will be reflecting disgrace and humiliation, for as soon as they arise out of their graves they would realize that it was indeed the same second life which they had been denying, for which they had made no preparation, and in which they would have to present themselves before their God as culprits.

The metaphor of locusts is used here to describe the chaotic and overwhelming nature of resurrection. Locusts often move in swarms, which can be both awe-inspiring and fearsome, symbolizing the mass resurrection where individuals rise from their graves in a hurried and spread-out manner, similar to a swarm of locusts.

The comparison to locusts serves to convey the visual impact and scale of resurrection, emphasizing the multitude and the rapid, uncontrollable nature of this event. The imagery evokes a scene of countless individuals rising simultaneously, underscoring the magnitude and the inescapability of the Day of Judgment.

Let us understand the magnitude of locust when they swarm in billions and destroy everything that come their way. The raising of the dead is equated with locust to tell those who say how would we and our ancestors who had been in billions could gather in a short time and get assembled at one place?

A massive swarm of locust (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Author: CSIRO , Source) 

Recent research benefiting from micro cameras conducted by a systematic observation of insects have given us an idea about the reason for the selection of locusts as an example. A large swarm can consist of billions of locusts spread out over an area of thousands of square kilometres, with a population of up to 80 million per square kilometre (200 million per square mile). When desert locusts meet, their nervous systems release serotonin, which causes them to become mutually attracted, a prerequisite for swarming. 

The enormity of locust swarm is indicative of rising of the billions of dead who lived since Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and Eve. This in fact is the reply to the infidels of the times of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who when listening to such parables raised eyebrows and said:

"When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?' and 'Our forefathers as well?' Say, 'Indeed, the former and the later [peoples] are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day.'" Surah Al-Waqi'ah (56:47-50) 

"Does man think that We will not assemble his bones? Yes. We are Able even to proportion his fingertips." Surah Al-Qiyamah (75:3-4) - This verse emphasizes the completeness of resurrection, indicating that even the smallest parts of the human body will be reassembled. 

And for those who question the raising alive of the dead, it is clarified to them that in Surah Ya-Sin (36:78-79) - verses that highlight the power of Allah in resurrecting the dead, as He is the one who created life initially.:

"And he presents for us an example and forgets his own creation. He says, 'Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated?' Say, 'He will give them life who produced them the first time; and He is, of all creation, Knowing.'" 

As can be seen each the above referred references highlights different aspects of the concept of resurrection, from the physical reassembly of the body to the power of Allah in bringing the dead back to life, to the chaotic and overwhelming nature of the event, depicted through the metaphor of locusts.

Readers would now be able to correlate the raising of the dead and the comparison with the swarms of locust. The Resurrection will thus be a day of utter confusion as billions and billions of bodies will be rising from their graves and heading to wards the parade ground of the Divine Justice. None would know what is in store for them and they will stand perplexed, confused and vey uncertain of their fate. May Allah help us to live a live in this earthly life as commanded by Him, so that we do not have to be ashamed of standing in front of our Lord on that fateful day.

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.

Please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q and A for more questions and answers. 

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 | Resource References: | 1 |  2  | 3 | 4 | 5 | 

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 shall be brought low (on Day of Judgement)

Man is born to be obedient. Right from the day he opens his eyes, he is taught to be obedient and respectful to his parents and elders, and the chain continues as he grows. He is to be obedient and respectful to his teachers in the school and honour the school discipline. When he gets employed, he is to be loyal and obedient to his employer, and honour the rules of the company he is serving in. At no stage of one's life, one is to deviate from the rules of obedience, honour and commitment.

Now raising the pedestal level and see a man's obligation to his Creator, the Sole Lord of the entire universe. Man has not been born in vain. Like being obedient and respectful to one's elders and place of work, he too has to exhibit obedience and loyalty to his Creator. Rather the level of loyalty, obedience and honour has to be of a level incompatible with any worldly relation.

That is, one has to bow to the WILL of his Creator without even raising a eyebrow. The restrictions imposed by One and the Only God are to be accepted and adhered to without a question. These Divine Rules have been sent to man through messengers of Allah since the Prophet Adam (may peace be upon him). Initially these Divine Laws were restricted to smaller communities and then the area of influence kept expanding so that no one is left out to know and respect these Divine Laws and Commandments. The Divine Books contained these laws, four in number, sent to man through Prophets Dawud (David), Musa (Moses), Eesa (Jesus) and Muhammad (may peace be upon all). 

All along the history, we have seen communities and people have vanished from the earth when they were punished for not obeying the One True God. Today only their remains remain as a reminder to those who do not accept the Divine Commandments and dishonour His messengers and prophets. And the bounds set by God have to be respected at all costs, otherwise grievous suffering [in the life to come] awaits all who deny the truth.

With this premise in view, we share today the fifth verse of Surah 58. Al-Mujadila (The Pleading woman) to caution those who oppose Allah and His final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and if they do not do so, they will be meted out to a treatment unimaginable on the Day of the Judgement:

اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يُحَآدُّوۡنَ اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوۡلَهٗ كُبِتُوۡا كَمَا كُبِتَ الَّذِيۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِهِمۡ​ وَقَدۡ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اٰيٰتٍۢ بَيِّنٰتٍ​ ؕ وَ لِلۡكٰفِرِيۡنَ عَذَابٌ مُّهِيۡنٌ​ ۚ‏ 

(58:5) Verily those who oppose Allah and His Messenger shall be brought low even as those before them were brought low. Surely, We have sent down Clear Signs; and a humiliating chastisement awaits the unbelievers;

"Those who oppose. . . ": Those who do not recognize the bounds set by Allah and instead set some other bounds for themselves. Ibn Jarir Tabari has given this commentary of this verse: "That is, the people who resist Allah with regard to the bounds and duties enjoined by Him, and set for themselves some other bounds instead of the bounds set by Him." Baidawi; has given this commentary of it: "That is, they show hostility towards and dispute with Allah and His Messenger, or set other bounds for themselves than the bounds set by them, or adopt the bounds set by others. " Alusi in his Ruh Al-Ma `ani has concurred with Baidawi in this commentary and cited the statement of Shaikh-ul-Islam Sa`dullah Chalpi to the effect: "In this verse a threat has been held out to those kings and evil rulers who have framed many such rules as are opposed to the bounds set by the Shari ah, and called tjem law." Here, `Allama Alusi has dwelt upon the constitutional status (i.e, constitutional from the Islamic viewpoint) of the manmade laws as against the Shari ah laws and concluded thus:

"There can be no doubt in the disbelief of the person who regards this law as commendable and superior to the Shari ah and says that it is wiser and better suited to the genius of the people. And when the Shari ah injunction in a particular matter is pointed out to him, he is angry, as we have seen some of those who are under the curse of Allah. "  

(shall be brought low even as those before them were brought low) The word used in the original is kabt كُبِتَ, which means to disgrace, to destroy, to curse, to drive off, to push out, to debase. What is meant to be said is that the communities of the former Prophets who resisted Allah and His Messenger and rebelled against His Commandments have already gone to their doom. Now those from among the Muslims who adopt the same attitude in life will also meet with the same evil end. Whenever the people made their own laws contradictory to Divine Law, or adopted laws made by others, they were deprived of Allah's bounty and grace, with the result that their lives were filled with deviations, immoralities and moral and social evils, which caused them to be ultimately degraded and humiliated oven in this world. If the same error now is committed by the community of the Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings), there is no reason why it should continue to be regarded with favor by Allah and He may go on protecting it from a disgraceful destruction for ever and ever. Allah had neither any ill will against the communities of His former Messengers nor has He any special connection with the community of this Messenger. 

(Surely, We have sent down Clear Signs; and a humiliating chastisement awaits the unbelievers) A little consideration of the context shows that here two punishments of this attitude have been mentioned:

(1) Kabt, i.e. debasement and humiliation of this world; and

(2) adhab muhin, i.e. a disgraceful torment that they will suffer in the Hereafter.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: (Explaining the Punishment of the Enemies of the Religion)

Allah states that those who defy Him and His Messenger and contradict His commandments, (كُبِتُواْ كَمَا كُبِتَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ will be disgraced as those before them were disgraced) meaning, they will be humiliated, cursed and disgraced, just as what happened to their like were before them,

(وَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ And We have sent down clear Ayat.) meaning, none contradicts or opposes them, except a disbeliever, rebellious, sinner,

(وَلِلْكَـفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ And for the disbelievers is a disgraceful torment) meaning, as just recompense for their arrogant refusal to follow, obey and submit to the religion of Allah.

 

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

This is a reference to the Hypocrites all of whose sympathies were with the enemies of Islam, in particular the Jews. They would launch a whispering campaign and a secret propaganda against any teaching of Islam they would regard as being against their desires. The purpose would be to create doubts in the minds of weak Muslims and strip them of their conviction in Islam.

Thus, their fate will be the same as the one met by the rejecters of the messengers of God after these messengers have conclusively communicated the truth to them. This is an established practice of God and He never changes this established practice. His law is the same for everyone.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

The opening passage of the surah provided an aspect of the care shown to the Muslim community, while this second passage provides an aspect of antagonism to the opposite group who contend against God and His Messenger. The Arabic term, translated here as 'contend' is derived from the same root as the word used earlier, which means 'boundaries'. Thus, this group are defined as taking a stand at the other boundary, confronting God and His Messenger. This gives an image of two parties in contention and confrontation. As such, it serves to show their action in a very bad light. How miserable for a creature to be in open hostility to his Creator when it is He who provides him with sustenance.

These people who are in contention "shall be brought low as those who lived before them were brought low." The way this sentence is phrased in Arabic may be understood as a prayer against them. A prayer by God is a sentence of judgement that makes it inevitable since it is He who pronounces this sentence, and His will is always done. The phrase, those who lived before them,' refers either to earlier communities who were punished by God, or to the then unbelievers who suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of the Muslims prior to the revelation of this surah, as happened, for example, at the Battle of Badr.

"We have bestowed from on high clear revelations." This sentence separates the two fates suffered by the unbelievers in this life and in the life to come, in order to point out that both fates are clearly stated in these verses. It also tells us that these unbelievers do not face these fates as a result of ignorance or any ambiguity in the truth. Indeed, the truth has been put to them clearly and lucidly in these revelations, which they too have been given.

As the surah refers to their fate in the hereafter, it adds an inspiring comment that serves an educational purpose: "Shameful suffering awaits the unbelievers on the day when God will raise them all from the dead and tell them exactly all that they did in lift. God will have taken it all into account, even though they may have forgotten it. God is witness to all things. (Verses 5-6) They are made to suffer shame in punishment for their arrogance. This shameful suffering will take place on the day when all will be resurrected. Thus, it will be seen by all. Besides, the suffering is determined on the basis of a true account of their deeds. If they have forgotten these, God has recorded them all, as nothing escapes His knowledge: "God is witness to all things."

To sum the discussion on the aforesaid verse, let us say that God (with no assistance and associates) sent down His divine Wisdom in the shape of Commandments gradually, so that man could start to absorb them gradually. When communities enlarged, the requirements of imposition of Divine Law increased and Divine Books were revealed, each adding more to the previous. This finally culminated in the revelation of Qur'an, the last and the final Godly scripture for the guidance of mankind till the end of the earthly life. Hence, not accepting Qur'an but accepting the previous scriptures is sheer display of animosity to One True God and His final Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ. 

Although, many a non-Muslims, especially adherents of the earlier Divine religions, have started to accept the Divine Wisdom contained in the Qur'an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and entering the fold of Islam in large number, yet a majority is till hesitant to accept the truth, and show extreme hatred toward Islam and have unleashed campaign of Islamophobia to belittle Islam. They even taunt God of Muslims as something different from their God, in one case Gods, just to close their eyes from seeing and reading the truth contained in Qur'an.

But the world is getting wiser day by day as it is heartening to see more and more non-Muslims entering the fold of Islam through extensive reading of Qur'an, Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and realizing that the hatred spread against Islam is only to escape from reality.

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 refer to our reference page: Believers!! Beware of the Rules of the Divine Court on the Day of Judgement to read more directives on the subject. 

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 |

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

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The Day when nothing will avail: Neither wealth nor offspring (Divine Court Rules)

This world is being ruled by the powerful and wealthy. If we look around, from every street to the world as a whole, justice is imprisoned by the rich and affluent and is used for their personal benefit. While common man is made to bear the brunt of justice even for a petty matter, those power wielding tyrants and holding positions of authority based on their family linkages and wealth get escort free from their heinous crimes and misdoing. 

At the height of their positional authority, arrogance creeps into their souls which keeps them blind of the Divine promises made in all divine Books. Herein under we share the 88th verse of Surah 26. Ash-Shu'araa which cautions such demagogues and tyrants to repent and seek forgiveness of their misdeeds for when the clock stops clicking, then there would be no going back to make amends or seek Divine forgiveness.

It may be added here that this is the Divine reply to the request of Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham, may peace be upon him) to forgive his father who despite his son's earnest desire to leave idolism and proclaim Oneness of Allah. See in how stern words, Allah rubbishes the prayer of a prophet whom Allah has called him as His friend. Here in very subtle words God has told him that even a son like him will not be of any benefit there to his father:

يَوۡمَ لَا يَنۡفَعُ مَالٌ وَّلَا بَنُوۡنَۙ‏ 

(26:88) the Day when nothing will avail, neither wealth nor offspring,

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

(يَوْمَ لاَ يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلاَ بَنُونَ  The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail,) means, a man's wealth will not protect him from the punishment of Allah, even if he were to pay a ransom equivalent to an earthfull of gold.

(وَلاَ بَنُونَ nor sons) means, `or if you were to pay a ransom of all the people on earth.' On that Day nothing will be of any avail except faith in Allah and sincere devotion to Him, and renunciation of Shirk and its people.

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

Now we have a vision of the Day of Judgment. Nothing will then avail except a pure heart; all sorts of the so-called "good deeds" of this world, without the motive of purity, will be useless. The contrast of the Garden of Bliss with the Fire of Misery will be plainly visible. Evil will be shown in its true colours,-isolated, helpless, cursing and despairing; and all chances will then have been lost.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

We also feel his humility before his Lord and his fear that he might have fallen short of what was expected of him. We also realize how profoundly he felt the nature of that great Day from his description of it. He also realizes that the only value recognized on that Day is a sincerity which makes one’s heart purely devoted to God, allowing no consideration or personal desire to detract from such devotion. This is the type of sound heart that is worthy of proper value. “The Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit.” Indeed, no other quality, property or consideration is of any benefit, because all are of a temporary nature and will inevitably come to an end. They may be coveted by people who try hard to possess such things in this life, but they are of no value in the ultimate reckoning.

This verse is but an eye opener for all of us. If Allah could turn down the request of one of His most favoured prophets, how could the ordinaries escape Divine justice? The affluent and the wealthy, though boast of their wealth and family in this world, how helpless and ashamed they would feel when none of their worldly positions would be of any avail to them. Let not time slip by and let us not be blinded by our arrogance and position take us blindfolded to our bitter end.

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 refer to our reference page: Believers!! Beware of the Rules of the Divine Court on the Day of Judgement to read more directives on the subject. 

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 | 

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
• 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

Beware of The Day of Matter Adequate

Man feels secure in his worldly life where he is protected by his parents, family and friends whenever any distress befalls him. There is always some hope or access to a helping hand that can save from a disaster or distress. For many evil doers, their advocates and lawyers come handy who save them from clutches of justice by tacit articulation of law and let them live a free life.

But behold!! for how long. Allah gives leverage to the criminals for a considered time and provides them adequate time to repent and seek Divine forgiveness. But those who, due to their sheer arrogance, position and wealth often brush off Divine warnings and cautions for they think they can prevail upon everyone due to their position and wealth. For such ungrateful people, we share the 37th verse of Surah 80. Abasa that warns them of the Day of Matter Adequate!! 

Sūrah ʻAbasa " سورة عَبَسَ " is the eightieth sürah with 42 āyāt with two rukus, part of the 30th Juzʼ  of the Holy Qur'ān. In its verses 33-42, the picture of the day of judgement is painted when no one shall care about his own mother, father, brother or children. The world as we know it will have so completely passed away that the landmarks in the heavens and on earth will also have vanished. Not only that, but the human relationships of mind and heart will have been transformed by sin into something ugly and dreadful. The sinners will be so overcome with terror at the realization of their personal responsibility that they will desert their most intimate friends, and indeed their very sight of each other will add to their agony.

لِكُلِّ امۡرِیءٍ مِّنۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَـئِذٍ شَاۡنٌ يُّغۡنِيۡهِؕ‏ 

(80:37)   For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him.

A tradition has been reported in the Hadith by different methods and through different channels, saying that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: On the Day of Resurrection all men will rise up naked. One of his wives (according to some reporters, Aishah, according to others, Saudah, or a woman) asked in bewilderment: O Messenger of Allah, shall we (women) appear naked on that Day before the people. The prophet (peace be upon him) recited this very verse and explained that on that Day each one will have enough of his own troubles to occupy him, and will be wholly unmindful of others. (Nasai, Tirmidhi, Ibn Abi Hatim,)

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: (The Day of Judgement and the fleeing of the People from Their Relatives during it):

Ibn `Abbas said, "As-Sakhkhah is one of the names of the Day of Judgement that Allah has magnified and warned His servants of.' Ibn Jarir said, "Perhaps it is a name for the blowing into Trumpet.'' Al-Baghawi said, "As-Sakhkhah means the thunderous shout of the Day of Judgement. It has been called this because it will deafen the ears. This means that it pierces the hearing to such an extent that it almost deafens the ears.'

(That Day shall a man flee from his brother, and from his mother and his father, and from his wife and his children.) Qatadah said, "The most beloved and then the next most beloved, and the closest of kin and then the next closest of kin -- due to the terror of that Day.' 

Allah said, (لِكُلِّ امْرِىءٍ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ Every man that Day will have enough to make him careless of others.) meaning, he will be preoccupied in his business and distracted from the affairs of others. 

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Ibn `Abbas that the Messenger of Allah said, (You will all be gathered barefoot, naked, walking and uncircumcised.) So, his wife said, "O Messenger of Allah! Will we look at or see each other's nakedness'' The Prophet replied, (Every man among them on that Day will have enough (worries) to make him careless of others) -- or he said: (he will be too busy to look.) 

Ibn `Abbas narrated that the Prophet said, (You will all be gathered barefoot, naked and uncircumcised.) So, a woman said, "Will we see or look at each other's nakedness'' He replied, (O so-and-so woman! Every man among them on that Day will have enough (worries) to make him careless of others.) At-Tirmidhi said, "This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.''

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

That is "Nor friend will ask after a friend that Day. On the contrary the sinner will desire to save himself at the expense even of his own family and benefactors."

This is as said in Surah 70 Al Maarij (The Ascending Steps), verses 10-14:

• (70:10) And no friend will ask after a friend
• (70:11 Though they will be put in sight of each other the sinner's desire will be: would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children) That is the sinner will offer his children, his family, his kinsmen, who had sheltered and protected him, -in fact everything on earth that he could-as a ransom for himself. Such would be his selfishness and his agony.
• (70:12) His wife and his brother
• (70:13) His kindred who sheltered him.
• (70:14 And all all that is on earth so it could deliver him) What would not the sinner give for his own deliverance! But nothing could save him. The Fire of Hell would be roaring for him!

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

The fearfulness depicted in this scene is purely psychological. It strikes the soul, isolates it and holds it in its grip. The result is that each of us will think only of ourselves. None shall have any time or power to think of others: “For each one of them will on that day have enough preoccupations of his own.” The description is vivid; yet there can be no shorter and yet more comprehensive statement to describe the general condition of worried minds and souls.

A picture has been painted, my brothers and sisters in Islam, as a caution and warning for all of us of a day when we shall stand all alone to answer for our bad deeds. And pray we do not fall short of good deeds that will be traded for each of our bad deeds, and that some good deeds are still left that could help us in achieving Divine forgiveness. However, before that day of matter adequate, let us leave all bad things and wrongdoings while we are still alive so that we do not have to stand in shame, for on that day any regret or apology will not help 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.

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 read more posts on similar themes in our series of posts related to: Rules of Divine Court on Day of Judgement.

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