سورة القصص   

Surah Name: Al-Qasas Meaning: The Narratives

  • Revealed at Makkah
  • Total Number of Rukū / Sections 9
  • Total Number of Āyāt / Parts 88
  • Sūrah / Chapter number 28
  • Rukū / Section 6 contains Āyāt / Parts 10
  • Siparah/ Volume 20

bismillah

وَلَقَدْ وَصَّلْنَا لَهُمُ الْقَوْلَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

Walaqad wassalna lahumu alqawla laAAallahum yatathakkaroon(a)

And assuredly We-SWT have caused the Word to reach them in succession, that may be they are admonished.

(28:51)

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِهِ هُم بِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Allatheena ataynahumu alkitaba min qablihi hum bihi yuminoon(a)

Those unto whom We-SWT vouchsafed the Book before it, they believe therein

(28:52)

وَإِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِهِ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ

Waitha yutla AAalayhim qaloo amanna bihi innahu alhaqqu min rabbina inna kunna min qablihi muslimeen(a)

And when it is rehearsed to them, they say, we believe in it, verily this is the truth from our Rabb-SWT , verily we have been even before it of those who submit themselves.

(28:53)

أُوْلَئِكَ يُؤْتَوْنَ أَجْرَهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيَدْرَؤُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

Olaika yutawna ajrahum marratayni bima sabaroo wayadraoona bi(a)lhasanati a(l)ssayyiata wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoon(a)

These shall be vouchsafed their wage twice over, because they have persevered, and they repel evil with good, and expend of what We-SWT have provided them.

(28:54)

وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجَاهِلِينَ

Waitha samiAAoo allaghwa aAAradoo AAanhu waqaloo lana aAAmaluna walakum aAAmalukum salamun AAalaykum la nabtaghee aljahileen(a)

And when they hear a vain discourse, they withdraw there from and say: To us our works and to you your works; peace be to you; and we do not seek the ignorants.

(28:55)

إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ

Innaka la tahdee man ahbabta walakinna Allaha yahdee man yashao wahuwa aAAlamu bi(a)lmuhtadeen(a)

Verily you-SW cannot guide whoever you-SW like, but it is Allah-SWT Who shall guide whoever He-SWT Will. And He-SWT knows best who are the guided.

(28:56)

وَقَالُوا إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدَى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَا أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا آمِنًا يُجْبَى إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رِزْقًا مِن لَّدُنَّا وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Waqaloo in nattabiAAi alhuda maAAaka nutakhattaf min ardina awalam numakkin lahum haraman aminan yujba ilayhi thamaratu kulli shayin rizqan min ladunna walakinna aktharahum la yaAAlamoon(a)

And they say: Were we to follow the guidance with you-SW, we shall be snatched away from our land. Have We-SWT not established for them an inviolable sanctuary to which are brought all manner of fruits! A provision from Our-SWT Presence? Yet most of them know not.

(28:57)

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ بَطِرَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا فَتِلْكَ مَسَاكِنُهُمْ لَمْ تُسْكَن مِّن بَعْدِهِمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا وَكُنَّا نَحْنُ الْوَارِثِينَ

Wakam ahlakna min qaryatin batirat maAAeeshataha fatilka masakinuhum lam tuskan min baAAdihim illa qaleelan wakunna nahnu alwaritheen(a)

And how many a city We-SWT have destroyed that exulted in their living, and over there are their dwellings which have not been inhabited after them unless for a little while; and verily We-SWT ! We-SWT have been the inheritors.

(28:58)

وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ فِي أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِنَا وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِي الْقُرَى إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَالِمُونَ

Wama kana rabbuka muhlika alqura hatta yabAAatha fee ommiha rasoolan yatloo AAalayhim ayatina wama kunna muhlikee alqura illa waahluha thalimoon(a)

Nor was your-SW Rabb-SWT to destroy the cities until He-SWT had raised up in their mother-city a Messenger-AS reciting to them Our-SWT Revelations. Nor were We-SWT to destroy the cities unless their inhabitants had been ungodly.

(28:59)

وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Wama ooteetum min shayin famataAAu alhayati a(l)ddunya wazeenatuha wama AAinda Allahi khayrun waabqa afala taAAqiloon(a)

And whatever you are vouchsafed is an enjoyment of the life of this world and its adornment, and what is with Allah-SWT is better and more lasting. Will you not then reflect?

(28:60)
In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

The wisdom behind the gradual revelation of the Quran is being unveiled. He-SWT revealed it step wise so that people may repeatedly be blessed with the latest Divine Words, and are progressively invited to Allah-SWT . Besides, each revelation is associated with an event to facilitate ready answers to questions and for easy remembrance. Otherwise He-SWT is all Powerful and could have sent it in one go like the Torah.

 

This is an objection for the sake of objection. Otherwise the believers amongst the people of the Book, that is, those who believed in their own Book had instantly endorsed the Quranic revelations when these were recited to them. They said that they had been foretold by their Books about the raising of the Holy Prophet-SW and revelation of the Quran. It was a reality they had accepted in anticipation. Now that the raising had actually taken place, how could they possibly not avail the honour to embrace Islam?

 

These are the blessed souls qualifying for double reward for their perseverance on faith, firstly by believing in the prophecies in their Books, and then by embracing the truth when the Holy Prophet-SW was finally raised

 

Double Reward

Double reward has also been promised to others, for instance, the illustrious wives of the Holy Prophet-SW for they obeyed him-SW as a Prophet-SW and served him-SW as a husband. Likewise, some others have also been promised double reward. Their virtuous acts will be recorded twice, whereas each shall be rewarded manifolds by His-SWT Mercy. This double recording will thus bring them tremendous rewards.

 

Perseverance On Faith Provides The Capacity To Act

Because of their perseverance on faith they are blessed with such a capacity that they respond to evil with virtue. In return for the wrong done to them, they do good, thereby aiding virtue to prevail over evil. They are not niggardly in spending their wealth in the Cause of Allaah-SWT . This alludes to the fact that if one enjoys perseverance on faith he is blessed with the capacity to act in the manner mentioned above. The one who does not is ensnared in evil and fells prey to avarice. Those blessed with this capacity simply ignore the objections raised and the nonsense uttered by the infidels. They tell them to do as they please, as they will have to face the sequel themselves. They simply lake leave of the squabbling infidel, refusing to engage in any disputation. In other words, getting influenced by the objections raised by the infidels and indulging in absurd arguments is a vice by itself against which Allah-SWT protects them.

 

It is reiterated that the Holy Prophet-SW's task is to dispense and not to force guidance. He-SW, of course, desires that all the infidels may embrace Islam, but it is not possible, as it is Allah-SWT's prerogative to guide whoever He-SWT Wills. He has made it clear that He-SWT will surely guide the one who responds to the His-SWT ’s Prophet-SW teachings and aspires for guidance. And He-SWT is well aware of the seekers.

 

A Word About Abu 'Talib

According to the Commentators, this Ayah was revealed with reference to Abu Talib. It was the Holy Prophet-SW’s earnest desire that his-SW uncle is blessed with guidance, but he himself was not keen. The author of Ruh al Ma'ani warns against discussing the topic lest it may cause grief to the Holy Prophet-SW.

 

Fear Of Worldly Loss Impedes Acceptance Of Faith

The hearts of these infidels are drenched in mundane love. It is evident by the fact that while they do acknowledge the Holy Prophet-SW’s Message to be true, they are not ready to accept it for fear that they would be victimized by others. They anticipate a worldly loss, to the extent of expulsion from their homes. A similar concern is shared by the Muslims of today who go through the rituals of Salat and fasting but in their practical lives they are obsessed by the ungodly Western influences, and dare rot annoy America.

 

Such objections do not befit the Makkans at all, as Allah-SWT has made the Sacred Precincts a sanctuary for them where no one oppresses the other and provisions from all over the world are made available in abundance throughout the year. Nevertheless, mankind is heedless of His-SWT favours. And how can the temporal affluence be trusted? How many a people have gone by who lived a life of grandeur yet when they denied the teachings of Allah-SWT's Prophets-AS, they were taken to task. Their once palatial abodes now lie in ruins for they did not live for long after they had resorted to denial. This is because it is Allah-SWT , the real Owner of this world and its wealth, Who-SWT allows people to keep it for as long as He-SWT pleases and retrieves it at His-SWT free Will. And O’ Prophet-SW! Your-SW Rabb-SWT is so Munificent that as long as a community does not transgress beyond limits, He-SWT overlooks and gives respite. But if they persist on transgression He-SWT decrees disaster. So the wealth and the abodes they wish to protect by not accepting Islam are with them for a while only in this temporal life. Had they accepted faith, the rewards that lie with Allah-SWT are far better and permanent, if only they ponder over!

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