سورة يونس   

Surah Name: Younus-AS Meaning: Jonah

  • Revealed at Makkah
  • By virtue of Revelation, it is a Makkan Surah but has been placed after Surah Taubah in sequence. It continues the same topic, as of Surah Taubah and answers the objections raised by the infidels over the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet-SW. This Surah presents both logical as well as historical answers. Firstly, it proves that Islam logically is the best Code of Life for everyone, and is not merely to be imposed on people. Secondly, it quotes historical evidence of some of the preceding nations; how Allah-SWT blessed those who obeyed Him-SWT , and the end of those who engaged in frivolous arguments, thus failing to embrace Islam
  • Total Number of Rukū / Sections 11
  • Total Number of Āyāt / Parts 109
  • Sūrah / Chapter number 10
  • Rukū / Section 5 contains Āyāt / Parts 13
  • Siparah/ Volume 11

bismillah

وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّي عَمَلِي وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ أَنتُمْ بَرِيئُونَ مِمَّا أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَاْ بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

Wain kaththabooka faqul lee AAamalee walakum AAamalukum antum bareeoona mimma aAAmalu waana bareeon mimma taAAmaloon(a)

And if they belie you-SW  , then do you-SW  say: my deeds are mine, and your deeds are yours; you-SW  are quit of what I do, and I am quit of what you do.

(10:41)

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ

Waminhum man yastamiAAoona ilayka afaanta tusmiAAu a(l)ssumma walaw kanoo la yaAAqiloon(a)

And of them are some who give ear to them, so can you-SW make the deaf hear, while they do not comprehend?

(10:42)

وَمِنهُم مَّن يَنظُرُ إِلَيْكَ أَفَأَنتَ تَهْدِي الْعُمْيَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ لاَ يُبْصِرُونَ

Waminhum man yanthuru ilayka afaanta tahdee alAAumya walaw kanoo layubsiroon(a)

And of them are some who look at you, so can you guide the blind, while they do not see.

(10:43)

إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا وَلَـكِنَّ النَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

Inna Allaha la yathlimu a(l)nnasa shayan walakinna a(l)nnasa anfusahum yathlimoon(a)

Verily Allaah-SWT does not wrong in anything, but mankind wrong themselves.

(10:44)

وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ كَأَن لَّمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ سَاعَةً مِّنَ النَّهَارِ يَتَعَارَفُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِلِقَاء اللّهِ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ

Wayawma yahshuruhum kaan lam yalbathoo illa saAAatan mina a(l)nnahari yataAAarafoona baynahum qad khasira allatheena kaththaboo biliqai Allahi wamakanoo muhtadeen(a)

And on the Day when He-SWT shall gather them, as though they had not stayed save an hour of the day, they shall mutually recognize. Lost surely are those who belie the meeting with Allaah-SWT and they were not such as to be guided.

(10:45)

وَإِمَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ الَّذِي نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ ثُمَّ اللّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَى مَا يَفْعَلُونَ

Waimma nuriyannaka baAAda allathee naAAiduhum aw natawaffayannaka failayna marjiAAuhum thumma Allahu shaheedun AAala ma yafAAaloon(a)

Whether We-SWT show you some of the Signs We-SWT have provided them, or We-SWT cause you to die, to Us-SWT is their return, and Allaah-SWT is Witness of what they do.

(10:46)

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ فَإِذَا جَاء رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ

Walikulli ommatin rasoolun faitha jaa rasooluhum qudiya baynahum bi(a)lqisti wahum la yuthlamoon(a)

For each community there has been sent a Messenger-AS and when their Messenger-AS has arrived, the affair between them is decreed in equity, and they are not wronged.

(10:47)

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَـذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُم   صَادِقِينَ

Wayaqooloona mata hatha alwaAAdu in kuntum sadiqeen(a)

And they say: when is coming that promise, if you-SW are truthful?

(10:48)

قُل لاَّ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي ضَرًّا وَلاَ نَفْعًا إِلاَّ مَا شَاء اللّهُ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ إِذَا جَاء أَجَلُهُمْ فَلاَ يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلاَ يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

Qul la amliku linafsee darran wala nafAAan illa ma shaa Allahu likulli ommatin ajalun itha jaa ajaluhum fala yastakhiroona saAAatan wala yastaqdimoon(a)

Say you-SW: I do not own any power of hurt or benefit to myself, save what Allaah-SWT may will. For each community is a term; when their term arrives, not an hour can they stay behind nor can they advance.

(10:49)

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُهُ بَيَاتًا أَوْ نَهَارًا مَّاذَا يَسْتَعْجِلُ مِنْهُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ

Qul araaytum in atakum AAathabuhu bayatan aw naharan matha yastaAAjilu minhu almujrimoon(a)

Say you-SW: bethink you; if His-SWT chastisement comes on you by night or by day, which portion thereof would the culprits hasten on?

(10:50)

أَثُمَّ إِذَا مَا وَقَعَ آمَنْتُم بِهِ آلآنَ وَقَدْ كُنتُم بِهِ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

Athumma itha ma waqaAAa amantum bihi alana waqad kuntum bihi tastaAAjiloon(a)

Is it, then, that when it has actually befallen that you will believe therein? Now! Whereas you have been hastening it on all along.

(10:51)

ثُمَّ قِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْخُلْدِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ

Thumma qeela lillatheena thalamoo thooqoo AAathaba alkhuldi hal tujzawna illabima kuntum taksiboon(a)

Thereafter it will be said to them who wronged themselves: taste the torment everlasting; you are requited not save for what you have been earning.

(10:52)

وَيَسْتَنبِئُونَكَ أَحَقٌّ هُوَ قُلْ إِي وَرَبِّي إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ وَمَا أَنتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ

Wayastanbioonaka ahaqqun huwa qul ee warabbee innahu lahaqqun wama antum bimuAAjizeen(a)

They ask you-SW to tell them if it be true. Say you-SW: yea! By my Rabb-SWT , it is the very truth, and you shall not be able to escape.

(10:53)
In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

There is a limit to everything. It is indeed Allah-SWT's Great Favour that He-SWT has dispensed guidance. The facts revealed by Him-SWT are concrete and manifest the truth. If some people are still not satisfied, the Holy Prophet-SW must inform them that the path he-SW is following will lead him-SW to his-SW destiny while the consequences of their conduct will be borne by them. Hence we are not accountable for each other's actions.

 

Imposing Religion not Permitted To Convince by Reasoning is Essential.

It is, therefore, obvious that in matters of Din, to substantiate the truth with objective reasoning and to convince others is an important duty. It is, however, entirely upto the listener to accept or reject it. There is no need whatsoever for the preacher to impose his views on others. Today, conflicts are being stirred in the name of propagation of religion, and the acrimonious tirades have become a distinct feature, with very few exceptions. In fact, acceptance is the function of Qalb and when draped in darkness it impairs the senses, making it impossible for a person to see and perceive the truth.

 

Effects of Vitiation of Qalb

The deniers also listened to the Holy Prophet-SW; some of them formally attended his-SW sermons for the purpose of understanding, but the darkness that engulfed their hearts made them blind to the truth. Nevertheless, it was not within the powers of the Holy Prophet-SW to cure their deafness or blindness. The power to choose is vested by Allah-SWT in each individual. If he opts for disbelief, it is his own doing. Similarly the infidels see the Holy Prophet-SW but fail to see the hues of the Prophethood as they are colour blind. The cure again lies within their access and that is the decision they make in their hearts.

 

Destiny and Choice

This decision to embrace faith will not be imposed upon them, nor the Holy Prophet-SW will force them, because the matter is within their own jurisdiction. It is incorrect to argue that Allah-SWT had made them like they were because had He-SWT imposed disbelief on someone, it would then have been very cruel on His-SWT part to punish him for that crime. And Allah-SWT never wrongs anyone. It is the people who suffer because of the decisions they take and thus wrong their own selves.

 

Power of Recognition Stays after Death even for non Believers

Eventually when mankind will gather on the Day of Judgement they will recognize one another clearly. The prolonged interlude would not have impaired their cognizance. They will be able to recall their worldly life vividly and will be aware of its worth in comparison to the eternal life. The former will appear to them as a fleeting moment as compared to the latter. In other words, the prolonged effects of death and the stay in Barzakh will not impair their awareness and memory. Knowledge and awareness are symbols of life, therefore, it is established that even a non believer is blessed with a certain level of life in Barzakh. Death is synonymous to a change in the form of life and not extinction.

 

All those who deny the truth, believing death to be the ultimate end of life and do not prepare themselves for the accountability in the Akhirah are at a great loss. They will certainly face the consequents of their conduct. Whether during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet-SW or after his-SW passing away, there is no escape for them. And after suffering different inflictions in this world they shall have to return to Allah-SWT , Who is well Aware of the minutest details of their lives.

 

Every Nation was Blessed with Prophets-AS

Allah-SWT blessed every nation with guidance by raising His-SWT Prophets-AS at different times. They never imposed a practice or a set of beliefs on anyone. Once His-SWT Message is conveyed everyone is given a fair chance to make a choice to accept or reject it. This very choice shall determine their fate in the Akhirah. Allah-SWT‘s Messengers-AS are only enjoined to convey His-SWT Message and not to enforce His-SWT Commands. But the infidels foolishly argued with the Holy Prophet-SW that if he-SW  was truly Allah's Messenger-SW  , he-SAAW  should invoke on them the promised curse and destruction in order to authenticate his-SW  Prophethood. What a unique formula of wisdom for after being doomed, what will be left to argue about!

 

Besides, a Prophet-AS is also human and only carries His-SWT Message to mankind. So the Holy Prophet-SW may inform them that by virtue of being human his destiny as well as all matters pertaining to good or bad also rest with Allah-SWT . He-SW himself has no control over his-SW own destiny so how could he-SW claim to alter theirs? However, one thing which he could tell them for sure is that every nation is given respite until a predetermined time. Once that is over, the promised result cannot be delayed by even a micro second.

 

So these infidels must be made to realize that their demand for destruction is based on extreme ignorance, for how could they benefit from the truth after annihilation. If only they could think what would become of them if they were struck by a catastrophe at night while they enjoyed their slumber? Or even if they were wide awake, will they be able to find a way out of it? Certainly not!

 

Don't they realize that when destruction sets in. their embracing Islam will carry no weight. It will be rejected because the time to accept would be over and lost in their foolish demands. According to the Holy Prophet-SW Allaah-SWT accepts the repentance of a person before the onset of death. Once that begins, the respite is over, as Barzakh and the Akhirah are revealed before him and the condition of believing in the unseen can no longer be fulfilled. The non believers, at that moment, are condemned to eternal doom, the logical result of their misdeeds and disbeliefs. It is added that this treatment is only for the non believers. A believer's penitence is accepted even after the signs of death begin to appear.

 

The infidels continue to show great curiosity whether it will actually happen this way or will death be another kind of animation, or will they ever be brought to life once again and held accountable for their deeds? The Holy Prophet-SW should reassure them by swearing upon his-SW Rabb-SWT that what Quran says is true and will certainly happen. Here the Divine Attribute of Providence is mentioned because the very system based on His-SWT Providence demands that this journey of life must meet its end. When everything created in this system is result oriented, how can human life end without any conclusion? All this will surely materialize and none can dare stop it.

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