A verse from Al Qur’an that Reinforces Tawhid (Absolute Oneness of God) and breaks reliance on idols

Understanding some of the verses of Al Qur'an can dispel many misconceptions that reside in the minds of Muslims who still cling to beliefs that are tangent to the teachings of Islam.  These verses are also meant to remove the misunderstanding of the polytheists, who believed that from among the servants of Allah, someone gave them the provision, someone the children and someone health to their patients. All these superstitions of shirk are baseless, and the pure truth is just that whatever of mercy reaches the people, reaches to them only through Allah Almighty’s bounty and grace. No one else has the power either to bestow it or to withhold it. This theme has been expressed at many places in the Quran and the Ahadith in different ways so that man may avoid the humiliation of begging at every door and at every shrine and may realize that making or marring of his destiny is in the power of One Allah alone and of none else.

To reinforce our premise, we share the second verse from Surah Fatir, the 35 Surah / Chapter of Al Qur'an, given herein under, reflecting on its core meaning and its application to every living being and to ponder over:

The Verse 2 — Surah Fāṭir (35:2):

مَا يَفْتَحِ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحْمَةٍ فَلَا مُمْسِكَ لَهَا ۖ وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلَا مُرْسِلَ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

“Whatever mercy Allah opens up for people, none can withhold it; and whatever He withholds, none can release after Him. And He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.”

What is Tawhid

Before we explain this verse, let us understand what is Tawhid.

Tawhid means the absolute oneness of God (Allah) and is the most fundamental concept in Islam, asserting that there is only one God who is unique and has no partners. This belief in monotheism is the core of the Islamic faith, signifying that God is the sole creator and sustainer of the universe and that all worship should be directed to Him alone. 

Tawhid teaches us:

• Oneness of being: Allah is uniquely one in His being, not composed of parts.
• Oneness of attributes: Allah's divine attributes, such as knowledge, hearing, and power, are unique and not shared with anyone.
• Oneness of actions: Allah has no partner or helper in His divine actions, such as creation and control of the universe.
• Pillar of faith: Tawheed is the first and most important pillar of Islam and is essential for a person to be considered a Muslim.
• Avoidance of Shirk: The practical application of Tawheed involves avoiding Shirk (associating partners with God), which is considered the greatest sin in Islam. This includes avoiding both major forms of shirk (like worshipping idols) and minor forms (like showing off in worship). 

That is Tawhid means belief in absolute Oneness of Allah and avoidance of Shirk in all its forms.

What the Verse Means

Let us now see how this verse can be explained to find its relevance to belief in One True God and rejection of Idolism:

• All good comes only from Allah
• Here the Mercy of Allah has been explained which comes to us in many shades despite our arrogant rejection of the Divine Mercy. 
• The Mercy here includes: Rizq (sustenance), Health, Guidance, Protection, Success, Peace, Opportunities, Good relationships. Hope, Relief and of course Barakah.
• That is if Allah decides to give you something, no creation can stop it.
• No one can give what Allah withholds
• No boss, no doctor, no government, no powerful person can deliver what has not been written for you.
• This removes: Fear of people, fear of loss, and attachment to worldly sources.
• Allah gives and withholds with perfect wisdom
• The verse ends with two major attributes of Allah: (1) Al-‘Azīz — The All-Powerful, and (2) Al-Ḥakīm — The All-Wise
• The mention of these two powerful attributes of Allah means: (1) His power is perfect, (2) His decisions are wise, (3) His timing is flawless and that (4) Nothing is random.

How to Reflect on This Verse

If one reflects deeply on Who Allah is and what are His limitless powers and mercy, one would start to understand the wisdom behind this verse. Here is just a cue to the immense wisdom this verse carries:

• Trust Allah more, worry less
• When something is meant for you, it will come: a job, marriage, provision, healing, and an opportunity.
• Your heart finds peace knowing that Allah never misses you.
• Stop fearing people: People cannot harm or benefit you except by Allah’s permission. with this form belief, our hearts become free from anxiety and stress.
• Let go of envy: If Allah gave someone something, He opened a door of mercy for them. We uct have faith in the fact that our turn will come if it is good for us.
• Accept the wisdom behind delays: Sometimes Allah withholds to: protect, purify, strengthen, redirect and elevate our rank. Delays are not denials — they are wisdom.
• Strengthen your du‘ā: This verse teaches that ALL mercy is in Allah’s hand, so du‘ā becomes: sincere, hopeful and confident. Our du‘ā is asking the One who controls all outcomes.
• Be grateful for the blessings you already have - Health, family, safety, food, knowledge — these are “doors of mercy” Allah has opened for you.
• Be patient in hardships - Hardship is also mercy if it: brings you closer to Allah, increases your tawakkul, wipes away sins, and reshapes your character. Allah’s withholding is not cruelty — it is mercy in disguise.

Relevance to Our Modern Life

Unless we shape our lives that hinge on unflinching faith and trust in Allah, we can never understand the Divine wisdom of mercy, delays and denials. Remember:

• When job hunting → Allah opens doors no résumé can open.
• When worried about money → rizq is from Allah, not the employer.
• When relationship breaks → Allah withholds for your future good.
• When dealing with illness → healing is a mercy only He grants.
• When feeling anxious → control belongs to Allah, not circumstances.
• When facing injustice → Allah’s power overrides all oppressors.

This, this verse removes crippling fear, anxiety, resentment, and stress and replaces the heart with: trust, patience, contentment, and inner peace. Surah Fāṭir 35:2 teaches that everything you hope for or fear is entirely in Allah’s hands — so attach your heart to Him alone. No idols or saints or priests can help us to our wishes fulfilled, for it is only the Divine Wisdom that decides who to give, when and how much or hold something for someone to test the strength of one's faith. Let us never fail this test.

You may refer to Summary and Selected verses of Sürah (35) Fāṭir “The Originator / The Creator” for more Selected Verses already published. For more scholarly explanation of this verse, click on link |3| given below.

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

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.

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.

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Al-Qurʾān: Summary and Selected verses of Sürah (35) Fāṭir “The Originator / The Creator”

At "Islam: My Ultimate Decision" it has been our endeavour to introduce Al Qur'an in as much ways as possible so that our viewers can understand Al Qur'an and follow it as easily as possible. We have already presented the Overview, the Tafseer/Exegesis of all 114 Surahs / Chapters of Al Qur'an. In addition to that we have also embarked upon us to present some of the important and selected verses from each Surah for easy understanding. 

In our continuing series of selected verses from selected Surahs of Al Qur'an, today we share the bird eye view of Surah 35 Fatir, meaning the Originator and some of the selected verses.  We have already shared a brief overview and Tafseer / Exegesis of the Surah which can be read from links given below:

| Overview | Exegesis / Tafseer |

Herein under we will only present a condensed overview of the entire Sūrah, for the scope of this post is to only to introduce the Sūrah and provide links to some of the selected verses from this Sūrah for selective reading / references. The following bird eye view includes the context, major themes and subjects and lessons that we can learn from this Sūrah, followed by references to  some of the selected verses already published.

About the Surah:

Surah Fāṭir (Arabic: فاطر, fāṭir; meaning: The Originator / The Creator), is also known as Al-Mala’ikah (ﺍﻟملائكة, ’al-malā’ikah; meaning: "The Angels"). It has 45 ayats / verses part of the Juzʼ 22 with five rukūʿ (Arabic: رُكوع) - that is a group of thematically related verses in a given Surah. The Surah Fatir is classified as the Makkan Surah, for it was revealed before the migration of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to Medinah, called as Hijrah.

Main Audience: Since it was revealed in Makkah, its audience were the early Meccan disbelievers, idolaters, and those doubting the Prophet ﷺ.

Context of Revelation: Sūrah Fāṭir was revealed:  

• It was revealed in a period when: (1) The Quraysh were resisting the message, (2) Mocking the Prophet ﷺ, (3) Arguing about resurrection, (4) Taking idols as “closer intercessors,” (5) Being overly impressed with worldly life, (6) Rejecting the idea of accountability.
• The surah comes as a powerful reminder of: (1) Who Allah is (the Creator, Provider, Originator), (2) Why humans are accountable, (3) The purpose of life, (4) The reality of the Hereafter - It is a surah that awakens the conscience and breaks arrogance.

Core Theme: The central theme of Sūrah Fāṭir is: “Recognizing Allah’s absolute creative power leads to guidance; ignoring His signs leads to ruin. It contrasts: (1) Creator vs. creation, (2) Truth vs. falsehood, (3) Guidance vs. misguidance, (4) Gratitude vs. ingratitude, and (5) The fleeting dunya vs. eternal Akhirah.

Key Subjects and Structure: Following are some of the key subjects discussed in the Surah under the overall theme of Allah being the Originator and the Creator of the entire universe:

• Allah as al-Fāṭir — The Originator (verses 1–3) - Allah introduces Himself as: (1) Creator of the heavens and the earth, (2) Maker of angels as messengers, (3) Provider of all sustenance. This sets the foundation: He alone deserves worship.
• No one can withhold what Allah gives (verse 2) - This reinforces Tawḥīd and breaks reliance on idols.
• Creation signs & natural phenomena (verses 5–14) - Allah uses: (1) life & death, (2) day & night, (3) rain, (4) plants, (5) winds to show that all power belongs to Him alone.
• Warning against being deceived by worldly life (verse 5) - The surah strongly warns: (1) “Don’t be deceived by dunya.” (2) “Don’t be deceived by Shayṭān.”
• Human ingratitude vs. gratitude (verses 15–18) - A major theme: People need Allah; Allah does not need anyone and that every soul carries its own burden.
• Parable of the good and bad people (verse 19–22) - Powerful analogy: (1) The blind vs. the seeing, (2) Darkness vs. light, (3) Shade vs. heat, and (4) The living vs. the dead. These metaphors symbolize faith vs. disbelief.
• Prophets brought the same message (verses 23–25) - Reassurance to the Prophet ﷺ that rejection is not new.
• The reward of the righteous (verses 32–35) - The verses mention description of Paradise, Peace, Removal of sorrow, True success.
• The Fate of previous nations (verse 45) - If Allah punished people immediately, nothing would remain — but He gives time. This is the idea of Divine patience (imhal) and warning.

Why is the Surah Important Today?

No verse or surah of Qur'an has been irrelevant throughout the history since revelation more than fourteen centuries ago. Let us view the relevance of Surah Fatir in modern times:

• It addresses materialism - People today, like Quraysh, are dazzled by wealth and status.
• It teaches gratitude - In an age of entitlement, it reminds that everything is from Allah.
• It strengthens faith in God’s power - When people feel helpless or overwhelmed.
• It explains why evil exists - Allah gives time for repentance, not immediate punishment.
• It helps overcome doubts - By pointing to the natural world as signs of Allah’s existence.
• It teaches personal accountability - Everyone carries their own burden — no blame-shifting.

Lessons for Us Today

• Do not be deceived by worldly life.
• Stay grateful — ingratitude is spiritually deadly.
• Do not rely on intermediaries between you and Allah.
• Reflect on nature to strengthen iman.
• Be patient in calling others to Islam (like Prophet ﷺ).
• Prepare for the Hereafter — the only lasting success.
• Do not confuse temporary prosperity with Divine approval.
• Allah delays punishment out of pure mercy.

Selected verses from Sürah Fāṭir

Now let us share herein some of the selected ayat / verses from this surah already shared:

• Verse 2: A verse from Al Qur’an that Reinforces Tawhid (Absolute Oneness of God) and breaks reliance on idols
• Verse 3: Is there any creator, apart from Allah, who provides you your sustenance?
• Verse 18: No one can share burden of sin committed by another - even though he be a near of kin
• Verse 43: An evil scheme [ultimately] besieges the person who contrives it
• Verse 45: 
• Do not test the Divine patience
• Why does Allah give leverage to the tyrants and demagogues

In time we will add more verses from Sürah (35) Fāṭir that reinforce its themes.

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

You may 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 | Help has been taken from ChatGPT for expanding the scope of this post.

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

Do not test the Divine patience

The Lord of the World made the entire universe for a reason - and that reason is to let the man understand Allah's wisdom by reflecting on His creations. He also wished that man should only worship Him alone and shun any Satanic influences so as not to be misled. Yet man is always been in defiance to the Godly commands and is generally seen to be inclined towards the Satanic enticements in one form or the other. This certainly annoys the Lord of the World for no master likes to have defiant subjects.

It is for this reason that in all Divine Scriptures, specially Al Qur'an, man has been cautioned umpteen number of times never to be defiant to commands of Allah for while the patience of Allah is limitless, there is always a breaking point for nonsense cannot be tolerated for ever. One of such caution is mentioned in the 45th verse of Surah 35. Fāṭir in which man has been forewarned that if Allah starts to take mankind to task, there would not have been a single human living on earth.

Let us read this verse and then reflect on its meaning and the hidden message to mankind.

The Verse (Surah Fāṭir 35:45)

وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ بَصِيرًا

“If Allah were to take mankind to task for what they have earned, He would not leave a single living creature on the earth; but He grants them respite until an appointed time. And when their appointed time arrives, Allah is fully aware of His servants.”

A brief on Surah Fāṭir 

Before we expand the above quoted verse, let us just briefly know what this Surah is all about and the theme of the last verses of the Surah.

Surah Fāṭir is Makkan, and its themes revolve around: (1) Allah’s power and creation, (2) Human ingratitude, (3) Warning of resurrection and accountability, (4) The mercy of Allah despite human sins. 

The last six verses of the Surah (Verses 40–45) reflect on (1): People ignoring Allah’s signs, (2) Their reliance on powerless idols, (3) Their arrogance and denial, (4) Yet Allah continues to delay punishment, (5) Not because people deserve it — but because Allah is Merciful. These verses mean that plotting evil recoil none but the author of it and If Allah was to punish people for their wrong doings, He would have not left even and animal around.

Deep Explanation of the Verse

Reflecting exclusively on the 45th verse, it would be noticed that the last verses of the earlier five verses in fact is a conclusion by saying: "If Allah punished people immediately for their sins, not a living thing would survive — but He gives time, He delays, He allows people chances to return."

This verse is foundational for understanding three major Islamic concepts:

• Environmental corruption (فساد في الأرض)
• Moral decline in society
• The theological principle of divine delay (الإمهال)

Now let us reflect on the verse deeply:

• “If Allah were to take mankind to task for what they have earned…”
• Human sins are so many that if Allah were to punish them instantly, humanity would not survive.
• People continuously violate Allah’s commands by: (1) Shirk, (2) injustice, (3) oppression, (4) immorality, and (5) corruption - specially Environmental corruption (فساد في الأرض)
• Yet Allah does not seize them immediately.

Let us dwell on Environmental corruption (فساد في الأرض) in some detail.

It is a Qur’anic principle that human sin harms the entire creation. Allah says in Surah Al-Rūm 30:41: “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s hands have earned…”

This corruption includes: (1) pollution, (2) ecological destruction, (3) climate imbalance, (3) exploitation of animals, (4) depletion of natural resources, (5) imbalance in rainfall, crops, and seasons

How does 35:45 connect to corruption?

• Connection 1 - Human wrongdoing affects all living creatures
• Allah says if He punished people immediately: “He would not leave a single living creature (دابة) on the earth.”
• Why? Because animals, the environment, and ecosystems suffer because of human misconduct.
• This shows: (1) Human sins have global consequences, (2) Even innocent creatures suffer because of human corruption, (3) Ecosystems collapse when humans behave immorally.
• Imam Ibn Kathīr and Al-Tabari say this verse shows: “Human sins affect the entire environment and all creation.”
• Connection 2 — Natural disasters are sometimes linked to human wrongdoing
• The Qur’an and Sunnah affirm that: (1) drought, (2) floods, (3) crop failure, (4) famine - often result from moral and spiritual corruption.
• For Example: “Whatever misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your own hands have earned…” (42:30)
• Hadith: “No people decrease in weights and measures except that they are afflicted with famine, hardship, and the tyranny of rulers.” —Ibn Majah
• This links فساد with moral wrongdoing in society.
• Connection 3 — Human moral failure is the root cause of فساد
• The Qur’an repeatedly shows that: (1) Moral corruption leads to societal corruption, (2) societal corruption leads to environmental corruption, and (3) environmental corruption is the total destruction
• Surah 35:45 fits into this chain by stating: If Allah seized people for their sins, all life would perish. This means that human moral decline is severe, yet Allah is still patient - allowing humans the chance to reform
• How moral decline affects everything: (1) Dishonesty results into economic corruption, (2) Oppression and injustice results in social breakdown, (3) Neglect of divine law decays spirituality, (4) Greed and consumerism results into environmental destruction, (5) Wars and aggression kills and incur ecological loss.
• Supporting Verses: (1) 7:56: “Do not spread corruption on earth after its reformation.” (2) 
• 11:85: “Do not cause فساد on earth.” (3) 2:205: “He strives to spread corruption on earth and destroy crops and animals.” 
• All of these reinforce 35:45: Humans destroy what Allah created, yet Allah delays consequences so they may return.
• Connection 4 — Allah delays the collapse of nature out of mercy
• Despite widespread corruption on earth—pollution, injustice, exploitation—Allah does not send immediate destruction.
• Why? Because of Divine Delay (الإمهال), which we explain below.
• Divine Delay (الإمهال) — A Core Islamic Concept
• الإمهال means Allah delaying punishment despite wrongdoing.
• It is not approval of sin, nor forgetfulness or weakness - it is Mercy + Wisdom + Test.
• Surah 35:45 is one of the clearest proofs of الإمهال - “He grants them respite (يؤخرهم) until an appointed time.”
• Allah delays punishment: (1) so people can reflect, (2) so they can repent - so the message reaches them, so injustice becomes clear and so reward or punishment becomes fully deserved
• Hadith (Sahih Bukhari): “Allah gives respite to the wrongdoer until, when He seizes him, He does not let him escape.”  - This exact hadith explains 35:45.
• Why does Allah delay? (Three Theological Reasons) - (1) To give humans time to repent for Allah loves repentance and forgives quickly, (2) To complete the test of earthly life, for life is not a place of immediate justice—that is the Hereafter, and (3) To let events unfold according to divine wisdom
• Now coming back to the segment wise reflection on the above quoted verse:

• “He would not leave a single living creature on the earth.”
• Because human sins draw divine punishment on the whole environment.
• Even animals suffer due to human wrongdoing.
• This is supported by hadith: “Animals suffer punishments because of the sins of people.” (Recorded by al-Bayhaqi; meaning supported by other narrations)
• It shows human moral corruption has global consequences.
• “But He grants them respite until an appointed time.”
• This is pure Divine Mercy: Allah gives people life, health, wealth, opportunities — even when they disobey Him.
• Every delay in punishment is a chance to repent.
• The "appointed time" is: (1) the moment of death, or (2) the Day of Judgment
• “And when their appointed time comes, He sees (perfectly) His servants.”
• That is No one escapes accountability.
• Allah delays, not ignores - for He is not blind to injustice or disbelief — He is only giving time.
• Allah ends the verse with: “…Allah sees His servants.” meaning by He delays, but is not unaware, He postpones, but does not ignore and for sure Accountability is certain.

Putting It All Together — The Verse as a Unified Message and is is a masterpiece of Qur’anic theology because it connects: (1) Human moral failures (sins, injustice, greed) (2) Destruction of nature and society (فساد) which is the real possibility of global destruction - Yet Allah delays out of mercy (الإمهال), giving humans time to return to moral and spiritual truth. It shows that: human sin is powerful enough to destroy the world, but Allah’s mercy is even greater - yet this mercy is not unlimited but in time for those who still sway away from the righteous path, accountability will arrive when the time finally comes for those who test Divine patience.

Qur’anic Support Verses

There are many other verses which are based on the same theme, some are listed below:

• 14:42 — Allah delays, but does not forget - “Do not think Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do.”
• 16:61 — identical meaning - “If Allah were to punish mankind for their wrongdoing, He would not leave a single creature upon the earth.”
• 39:53 — He delays so that people repent - “O My servants who have transgressed… do not despair of Allah’s mercy.”

Hadith Support

• Allah gives time; He does not seize immediately. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah gives respite to the wrongdoer, but when He seizes him, He does not let him escape.” — Sahih Bukhari
• Sins affect the entire creation - The Prophet ﷺ said: “No people decrease in weights and measures except that they are afflicted with famine and hardship.” — Ibn Majah

This shows how society’s moral sins bring global consequences.

Relevance Today

• Humanity’s corruption affects the earth 
• Today we see (1) environmental collapse, (2) exploitation, (3) oppression, (4) moral decline, (5) injustice, and (6) wars and bloodshed.
• These are consequences of human wrongdoing — yet Allah still gives time for people to return.
• Modern arrogance mirrors ancient nations
• People today deny: (1) accountability, (2) resurrection, (3) Divine Command, and (4) moral bounds
• Just like ancient nations, but Allah still allows time.
• Allah’s Mercy is greater than humanity’s sin
• Despite all human rebellion, Allah continues: (1) feeding them, (2) giving life, (3) giving chances, and (4) delaying punishment
• This verse reminds us that every new day is a chance to repent.
• A warning against complacency
• Just because punishment is delayed, people assume: (1) Allah is pleased with them, (2) or that there is no Judgment, (3) or that sins have no consequences.
• But the verse says: Allah sees everything — and delay is not approval.

Lessons for Us Today

• Allah’s Mercy is vast — He delays punishment, gives countless chances.
• Sins have consequences — socially, spiritually, environmentally.
• Delay is not escape — accountability is certain.
• Repent while the door is open — before the appointed time comes.
• Do not be deceived by worldly comfort — it does not mean Allah is pleased.
• Human wrongdoing affects all creation.

In summary, Surah Fāṭir 35:45 teaches that human sins are so destructive that they could ruin even animals and the environment, yet Allah delays punishment out of pure mercy. This delay allows humans to repent and correct their moral decline. Meanwhile, the Qur’an (especially 30:41) explicitly connects human wrongdoing to environmental فساد. The verse therefore forms a theological bridge between moral corruption, environmental harm, and the divine principle of giving respite (الإمهال). Ultimately, Allah sees all and will bring final justice when the appointed time comes.

This verse thus combines fear, hope, and awareness — and remains deeply relevant to our world today. Let us not wait for the Divine wrath to put our books straight and clean, for there has never been an instance in which the people were told when and where the Divine wrath will catch them - men are always caught unaware and unprepared thinking that there is still time to repent and seek Divine mercy. So let us not test the Divine patience and reshape our lives according to Divine commands to avert chances of Divine anger and be always be begging Him for His infinite mercy to forgive our wrong doings.

Readers may like to read the tafsir of the above quoted verse by some of the revered scholars of Islam from one of our earlier publications: Why does Allah give leverage to the tyrants and demagogues

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

Photo | references: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

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Do not think Allah is heedless of the evil deeds of the evil-doers

Most of the people are peace loving and want to live a life happily away from all evil deeds and sins. Yet many of us fall prey to the evil one way or the other and end up doing acts unbecoming. Islam strictly forbids indulging in any act that is forbidden - these actions may include any actions, words, or intentions that violate the commands of Allah, harm others, corrupt the soul, or disrupt justice and moral order. These deeds can be against: Allah (through disbelief or disobedience), Oneself (through spiritual or moral self-harm), or Other people (through oppression, injustice, or harm, sexual abuse, bodily or spiritually abuse).

Men are harmed by unjust rulers, power wielding demagogues and abusers, specially involving sexual ingresses, bodily or spiritually harm. These evil doers make lives of others miserable. While a few can muster some strength to stand and challenge these evil doers, mostly people are forced to bow to their demands, but they in their hearts cry out to their Lord for why He is letting them hurt others and do not take stock of their crimes. In answer to such silent prayers, Allah reassures them that Allah is not heedless of the evil deeds of the evil doers. Instead, He just giving them some leverage to realise their evil deeds and repent. And when such people do not repent and continue with their evil deeds, the Divine wrath does strike, as we can look back and see the fate of the people of "Ad, Thamud and Lot.

Therefore, one should never think that Allah may ever be unaware of what the wrongdoers are perpetrating. It might appear so to some people who see the wrongdoers enjoying a comfortable life in this world. Such people hear God’s warning, but see nothing of it taking place in this life. This explains the deadline which is fixed for their final punishment when they are given no further respite. That takes place on the day when eyes stare fixedly in horror, unable even to wink. The fear is so great that there is no blinking of a single eyelid.

Before we share the verse of warning for the evil doers and reassurance to the oppressed, you may like to read our post for the question that usually comes to mind of the oppressed:

• Why does Allah give leverage to the tyrants and demagogues
• Beware! Camera is watching you

The following verse, the 42nd verse from Surah 14. Ibrahim (Prophet Abraham) of Al Qur'an is a Divine warning for the demagogues and reassurance to the oppressed, wherein Allah says:

وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ اللّٰهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعۡمَلُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ​ ؕ اِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمۡ لِيَوۡمٍ تَشۡخَصُ فِيۡهِ الۡاَبۡصَارُ ۙ‏ 

"Do not think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them until a Day when eyes will stare (in horror)." (Qur'an 14:42)

Context of the Verse (Asbāb al-Nuzūl)

This verse was revealed in Makkah, during a time when rhe Prophet ﷺ and his companions were being persecuted at the hands of the polytheists of Makkah and the leaders of leading tribe of Quraysh were mocking, torturing, and oppressing Muslims without consequence. The disbelievers thought their wealth and status protected them from any consequences

Thus, this verse was sent as a warning to the oppressors and a comfort to the oppressed. It reassured the Prophet ﷺ and his followers that Allah is not unaware or unjust — He is simply giving the oppressors time, not escape.

Detailed Explanation

• Do not think Allah is unaware...”
• A direct address to both the Prophet ﷺ and the believers: Don't mistake Allah’s silence for ignorance or approval.
• Allah sees every act of oppression, injustice, and evil, even if He does not punish it immediately.
• “He only delays them...”: That is Allah gives respite (أَمهَلَ) to wrongdoers to:
• Let them repent
• Let the test of life continue
• Let the full weight of their choices accumulate
• This delay is part of Allah’s wisdom and mercy — but it is not forgiveness unless repentance occurs.
• “Until a Day when eyes will stare in horror”
• Refers to Yawm al-Qiyāmah (Day of Judgment).
• On that day, the reality of divine justice will be so terrifying that eyes will be fixed, unblinking in fear — paralyzed by what they see.

What does this Ayat / verse Teaches

• Don’t confuse delay with approval: Many people today assume that because evil seems to go unpunished, there may be no consequence. This verse destroys that illusion.
• Oppression will never be ignored: Allah’s justice is perfect. Every act of:
• Oppression
• Abuse
• Corruption
• That is evil doers will be accounted for, even if not immediately punished.
• The Day of Judgment is real and terrifying The Qur'an often gives imagery of the terror of the Day of Judgment to remind people that ultimate justice is certain, even if delayed.

Hadiths Supporting this Verse

• Allah gives respite, but not neglect:
• “Indeed, Allah gives respite to the wrongdoer. But when He seizes him, He does not let go.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 4686, Muslim 2583)
• This hadith directly echoes the meaning of 14:42. Allah may delay punishment to give a chance for repentance — but when the moment of justice comes, it is swift and decisive.
• Injustice is darkness on the Day of Judgment
• “Beware of oppression, for oppression will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection...” (Sahih Muslim 2578)
• Those who wrong others will face humiliation and punishment on a day when there is no escape.
• Hadith Qudsi: Allah’s warning to the oppressors
• “O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another.” (Sahih Muslim 2577)
• This ties directly into 14:42 — it shows how serious oppression is in the eyes of Allah.

Summary of Lessons from 14:42

• Allah is never unaware: That is even if justice is delayed, it is never denied
• Respite viz Approval: Delay is a test for the oppressor and the oppressed
• Day of Judgment is real Eyes will stare in terror — it will be undeniable and overwhelming
• Comfort for the oppressed Justice is promised; stay patient and firm
• Warning to the arrogant Your deeds are not hidden; you are only being given time

Let us not fall in the category of the evil doers of which Allah is never unaware of and will haul them one day with consequences so unbearable that one cannot imagine.

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 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. 

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: Al-Qurʾān: Selected verses from Surah 14. Ibrāhīm "إبراهيم" (Prophet Abraham) for more selected verses.

Fore more selected verses from Al-Qurʾān Please refer to our Selected verses from Sūrahs of Qur'an to highlight important topics with detailed explanation and Reference Page on Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

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Overview: Sūrah Fāṭir (The Originator) - 35th Chapter of Qur'an

Sūrah Fāṭir (The Originator) is the thirty fifth Sürah with 45 āyāt and five rukus, is part of the 22nd Juzʼ  of the Qur'ān. The Sūrah derives its title from the word Fāṭir which is mentioned in the very first verse, in which God’s power of creation is affirmed. It is also known as Sūrat al-Malāʼikah (سورة ﺍﻟملائكة - The Angels). for the word al-Malāʼikah (سورة ﺍﻟملائكة - The Angels) which also occurs in the first verse, where God mentions the wings of the angels.  God’s power is confirmed and contrasted with the powerlessness of idols.  The idolaters receive a warning and the Prophet is comforted.

The internal evidence of the style shows that the period of the revelation of this Sarah is probably the middle Makkan period, and especially that part of it, when antagonism had grown quite strong and every sort of mischief was being adopted to frustrate the mission of the Holy Prophet.

The Sūrah has been divided into five Ruku as under:

• Ruku One: Verses 1- 7: None can withhold or award blessings besides Allah and Shaitan is your enemy, so take him as your enemy. 
• Ruku Two: Verses 8-14: (8-9) That person who considers his evil deeds to be good cannot be guided to the Right Path.  (10-11) Let all those who are seeking honor know that real honor is in the obedience of Allah. (12-14 Allah) has created water, day, night, sun and moon for man's benefit and Deities besides Allah can neither hear, nor response nor yet own even a thread of a date-stone
• Ruku Three: Verses 15-26: (15-18) Mankind is in need of Allah, while He is not in need of anyone. (19-26) Living and dead are not alike You cannot make those who are buried in the grave hear you
• Ruku Four: Verses 27-37: Those who recite Al Qur'an, establish Salah and give charity may hope for Allah's blessings and rewards and Those who disbelieve shall have a painful punishment in the Hell-Fire forever.
• Ruku One: Verses 38-45: (38-41) Allah has not sent any Book which has a provision of Shirk (worshipping anyone else besides Allah). (42-45) Plotting evil recoil none but the author of it and If Allah was to punish people for their wrong doings, He would have not left even and animal around.

Herein we present an overview of the Sūrah. This will be followed by a detailed post on the meaning and explanation/tafsir/exegesis of the entire Sūrah verse by verse in one of our following posts, In Sha Allah. You may also listen to the recitation of the Sūrah in Arabic with English sub titles at the end of this post.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ 

"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"

اَ لۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ جَاعِلِ الۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةِ رُسُلًا اُولِىۡۤ اَجۡنِحَةٍ مَّثۡنٰى وَثُلٰثَ وَرُبٰعَ ؕ يَزِيۡدُ فِى الۡخَـلۡقِ مَا يَشَآءُ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرٌ‏ 

(35:1) All praise be to Allah, the Fashioner of the heavens and earth, Who appointed angels as His message bearers, having two, three, four wings. He adds to His creation whatever He pleases. Verily, Allah has power over everything.

The discourse is meant to warn and reprove the people of Makkah and their chiefs for their antagonistic attitude that they had then adopted towards the Holy Prophet's message of Tauhid, like a well-wisher, and also to admonish them like a teacher, as if to say: "O foolish people, the way to which this Prophet is calling you is to your own advantage. Your anger, your tricks and machinations against it and your conspiracies and designs to frustrate it are not directed against him but against your own selves. If you do not listen to him, you will be harming your own selves, not him. Just consider and ponder over what he says : there is nothing wrong in it. He repudiates shirk. If you look around carefully, you will realize that there is no basis for shirk in the world. He presents the doctrine of Tauhid. If you use your common sense, you will come to the conclusion that there is no being, beside Allah, Creator of the Universe, which might possess divine attributes and powers and authority. He tells you that you have not been created to be irresponsible in this world, but you have to render an account of your deeds before your God, and that there is life after the life of this world when everyone will meet the consequences of what he has done here. If you think a little you will see that your doubts and your astonishment about it are absolutely baseless. Don't you see the phenomenon of the reproduction of creation day and night? How can then your own recreation be impossible for that God Who created you from an insignificant sperm drop? Doesn't your own intellect testify that the good and the evil cannot be alike? Then think and judge for yourselves as to what is reasonable, should the good and the evil meet with the same fate and end up in the dust, or should the good be requited with good and the evil with evil? Now, if you do not admit and acknowledge these rational and reasonable things and do not abandon your false gods, and wish to continue living only as irresponsible people in the world, the Prophet will not lose anything. It is you yourselves who will suffer the consequences. The Prophet's only responsibility was to make the truth plain to you, which he has done."

In this connection, the Holy Prophet has been consoled again and again, as if to say: "When you are doing full justice to the preaching of your mission, you do not incur any responsibility for those who persist in their error and do not accept and follow the right way." Furthermore, he has also been consoled to the effect "You should neither grieve on account of those who do not want to believe, nor consume yourself with the thought of how to bring them to the rights path. Instead of this, you should pay your full attention to those who are inclined to listen to you."

The believers also, in this connection, have been given the good news so that they may feel strengthened and encouraged and remain steadfast on the path of the truth with full faith in the promises made by Allah.

You may now like to listen to recitation of the Sūrah:

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 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. 

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 "114 Chapters (Sūrahs) of the Holy Qur'an" for translation, explanation and exegesis of all other chapters of the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

The overview is based on the source "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.  Links to additional references are given below:

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 |

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 Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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An evil scheme [ultimately] besieges the person who contrives it

There are many in world who have evil residing in them and they are all the time ready to contrive evil designs against others. This stems from individual to level of nations. And this is not an unusual thing for it has always been so since worldly life began. The prophets chosen by God were the most hit and were most of their lives surrounded by evil designs of the people who did not believe in them and wanted to harm them so as to 'preserve' their ancestorial beliefs and way of life.

But the time showed that all such evil schemes utterly failed and those who hatched the schemes were devastated and destroyed. Today, we can only see their remnants, while those who preached the word of God succeeded and we still see Divine order prevailing over the utterly disgusting fate of those who tried to stopped them.

When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ proclaimed Islam, he too was physically, mentally and morally harmed so to stop him from propagating the world of God. But despite all evil efforts, he succeeded and a day came when he entered Makkah, the stronghold of the pagans of Makkah with no resistance. And theen Islam spread to the entire world, as we can see it today, despite all hurdles and schemes. Today, Islam is the most thriving, yet threatened religion and schemes after schemes have been and still being made to arrest its spread. But it continues and those who are plotting against it see their schemes falling back on them as Islam is said to be the leading religion of the world by 2050.

The following verse selected for our series of posts on Selected Verses from Qur'an, is a Divine Warning for those who hatch schemes against Islam, the last of the Godly religion, or even against others, and tells them that no matter what schemes they may hatch, those will besiege them and mock them for having failed.

اۨسۡتِكۡبَارًا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ وَمَكۡرَ السَّيّیٴِؕ وَلَا يَحِيۡقُ الۡمَكۡرُ السَّيِّـئُ اِلَّا بِاَهۡلِهٖ ؕ فَهَلۡ يَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَّا سُنَّتَ الۡاَوَّلِيۡنَ ۚ فَلَنۡ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللّٰهِ تَبۡدِيۡلًا ۚ وَلَنۡ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللّٰهِ تَحۡوِيۡلًا‏ 

(35:43) They began to wax even more proud on earth and contrived evil designs although the contriving of evil designs only overtakes their authors. Are they waiting, then, for anything except what happened to the nations before them? You shall not find any change in the Way of Allah; and you shall not find anything that can ever alter the Way of Allah.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

((They took to flight because of their) arrogance in the land) means, they were too arrogant to follow the signs of Allah.

(and their plotting of evil.) means, they plotted to prevent people from following the path of Allah.

(But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it.) means, the evil consequences of that will come back upon them and not on others.

(Then, can they expect anything (else) but the Sunnah (way of dealing) of the peoples of old) meaning, the punishment of Allah for disbelieving in His Messengers and going against His command.

(and no turning off will you find in Allah's Sunnah.) means, it does not change or alter, and this is what happens to every disbeliever.

(and no turning off will you find in Allah's Sunnah.) means, (But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it) (13:11). This means, no one can remove that from them or ward it off from them. And Allah knows best.

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

Two reasons are mentioned why the Truth is refused acceptance. (1) Unregenerate man is arrogant, and Truth and Righteousness expose all his pretenses. (2) He hopes, by underhand plots, to undermine Truth and destroy it; but he is caught in his own snares, while Truth marches forward triumphant.

In all history, men who followed evil were dealt with in three stages by Allah: (1) He was forbearing and merciful, and gave them respite; (2) He sent them admonition through His Messengers, or His Signs, or His revelation; (3) He dealt out justice and punishment. At any given moment, those given to iniquity may well be asked: "Are you going to wait through all these stages or are you going at once to repent, obtain forgiveness, and walk in the ways of righteousness?"

Allah's Laws are fixed, and His ways of dealing with those who follow iniquity are the same in all ages. Our human will may falter or turn away from its course, but Allah's Will ever follows its course and cannot be turned away by any cause whatever.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

Needless to say, only foul people would swear so strongly and then behave with such arrogance and evil. The sūrah exposes them, recording their behaviour, before adding to their disgrace a warning to all who emulate such actions: “Yet such evil scheming will engulf none but its authors.” Thus, their evil will harm no one but themselves. It will engulf and ruin them.

This being the case, what are they waiting for? They cannot wait for anything other than the fate that engulfed those who rejected the truth in the past. They are well aware of that fate. Hence, they can wait for nothing other than the operation of God’s law which will never change: “Can they expect anything but the way of those unbelievers of old times? No change will you ever find in God’s ways; no deviation will you ever find there.”

Now you may listen to the following short clipped video to explanation of the aforesaid Ayat by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:

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 | 

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.

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