سورة الشورى   

Surah Name: Ash-Shura' Meaning: The Council

  • Revealed at Makkah
  • Total Number of Rukū / Sections 5
  • Total Number of Āyāt / Parts 53
  • Sūrah / Chapter number 42
  • Rukū / Section 4 contains Āyāt / Parts 14
  • Siparah/ Volume 25

bismillah

وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ

Wama asabakum min museebatin fabima kasabat aydeekum wayaAAfoo AAan katheer(in)

And whatever of affliction befalls you is owing to what your hands have earned, and He-SWT pardons much.

(42:30)

وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ

Wama antum bimuAAjizeena fee alardi wama lakum min dooni Allahi min waliyyin wala naseer(in)

And you cannot frustrate Him-SWT in the earth; and you have, besides Allah-SWT, neither a protector nor a helper.

(42:31)

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ الْجَوَارِ فِي الْبَحْرِ كَالْأَعْلَامِ

Wamin ayatihi aljawari fee albahri ka(a)laAAlam(i)

And of His-SWT Signs are ships in the sea like high mountains.

(42:32)

إِن يَشَأْ يُسْكِنِ الرِّيحَ فَيَظْلَلْنَ رَوَاكِدَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ

In yasha yuskini a(l)rreeha fayathlalna rawakida AAala thahrihi inna fee thalika laayatin likulli sabbarin shakoor(in)

If He-SWT wills He-SWT causes the wind to cease, so that they stand still on the back thereof; verily therein are Signs for every one patient and grateful.

(42:33)

أَوْ يُوبِقْهُنَّ بِمَا كَسَبُوا وَيَعْفُ عَن كَثِيرٍ

Aw yoobiqhunna bima kasaboo wayaAAfu AAan katheer(in)

Or He-SWT may destroy them for what the people have earned, and He-SWT pardons many of them.

(42:34)

وَيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا مَا لَهُم مِّن مَّحِيصٍ

WayaAAlama allatheena yujadiloona fee ayatina ma lahum min mahees(in)

And those who dispute in respect of Our-SWT revelations may know that there is for them no place of shelter.

(42:35)

فَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

Fama ooteetum min shayin famataAAu alhayati a(l)ddunya wama AAinda Allahi khayrun waabqa lillatheena amanoo waAAala rabbihim yatawakkaloon(a)

So whatsoever things are vouchsafed to you are but a passing enjoyment for the life of this world, and what is with Allah-SWT , better and more lasting, is for those who believe and put their trust in Allah-SWT .

(42:36)

وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ

Wa(a)llatheena yajtaniboona kabaira alithmi wa(a)lfawahisha waitha ma ghadiboo hum yaghfiroon(a)

And those who avoid heinous sins and indecencies and forgive when they are wrathful.

(42:37)

وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

Wa(a)llatheena istajaboo lirabbihim waaqamoo a(l)ssalata waamruhum shoora baynahum wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoon(a)

And those who answer the call of their Rabb-SWT and establish Salat and whose affairs being matter of counsel among themselves and who spend of that wherewith We-SWT have provided them.

(42:38)

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْيُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ

Wa(a)llatheena itha asabahumu albaghyu hum yantasiroon(a)

And those who vindicate themselves when they are oppressed

(42:39)

وَجَزَاء سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ

Wajazao sayyiatin sayyiatun mithluha faman AAafa waaslaha faajruhu AAala Allahi innahu la yuhibbu a(l)ththalimeen(a)

The meed of an ill-deed is an ill like thereunto, but whosoever pardons and is reconciled, his wage is on Allah-SWT Verily He-SWT does not approve the wrong-doers.

(42:40)

وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ

Walamani intasara baAAda thulmihi faolaika ma AAalayhim min sabeel(in)

And whosoever vindicates himself after wrong done to him; these! Against them there is no way of blame.

(42:41)

إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَظْلِمُونَ النَّاسَ وَيَبْغُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُم عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Innama a(l)ssabeelu AAala allatheena yathlimoona a(l)nnasa wayabghoona fee alardi bighayri alhaqqi olaika lahum AAathabun aleem(un)

The way of blame is only against those who wrong mankind, and rebel on the earth without justification, these! For them is an afflictive torment.

(42:42)

وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ

Walaman sabara waghafara inna thalika lamin AAazmi alomoor(i)

And  whosoever forgives and forbears-that verily is of the firmness of affairs

(42:43)

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

Any distress that befalls people is the outcome of their actions, though Allah-SWT overlooks many lapses. Most of the troubles are in punishment for sins and for a believer these lead to repentance and forgiveness. Similarly, the commission of a sin by the Qalb leads to another unless repented. This is a general rule. Had Allah-SWT not been so Relenting, people would not have escaped punishment by way of absconding or hiding, nor could they find any helping friend to save them.

 

It is His-SWT Magnificence that He-SWT taught mankind how to build ships. As a result colossal vessels as tall as mountains sail smoothly across the seas. If Allah-SWT turns the weather against and causes the winds to cease, these ships are stranded. These are the Signs to ponder over for the patient and the grateful for His-SWT favors.

 

Allah-SWT is Potent over destroying the deniers for misconduct, yet He-SWT relents. However, those who squabble over His-SWT Ayat must be warned that failing repentance they will be taken to task and will find no refuge. The worldly benefits are temporary like the world itself. There are so many people who have tons of money but cannot spend it. They have tables cluttered with culinary delights but cannot eat. In contrast are the blessings of Akhirah, far superior and everlasting, excelling in taste and pleasure. A resident of Jannah shall avail all of them without any let or hindrance while a non believer can never qualify for them. A believer with sound beliefs and conduct will get these rewards right away, while the neglecting believer may be forgiven or punished, but he will eventually be blessed. The former are those who put their trust in Allah-SWT , never disobey Him-SWT under duress or temptation and keep away from major sins. The term Fawahish stands for sins committed obdurately in public. To keep away from major sins means a total abstinence from the sinful ways. It does not mean to avoid major sins while continuing to indulge in minor ones which pile up to convert into the former.

 

And the true believers are not subdued by anger. When annoyed they forgive and do not wrong anyone. They readily accept the Allah-SWT's Commands, constantly try- to execute them, fulfil all their obligations, refrain from what is unlawful and establish Salat-an obligation that ushers a believer into His-SWT Court. The feelings generated by this attendance serve as the very source of abstinence from all sins.

 

Shura or Mutual Consultation

The believers resort to mutual consultations in matters where there is no standard verdict of Shari’ah. This includes the affairs of the State, as Islam bases the selection of a leader on Shura, revoking the traditional monarchy based on kinship. Islam replaced it with true democracy, which has been distorted by the West into an affliction for mankind. Islam sets rules and regulations for the members of the Shura as well. Not everyone qualifies to give counsel but, according to Hadith, only the nobles who are diligent worshippers. Such counsel invokes guidance by Allah-SWT to the appropriate course of action According to another Hadith, so long as the elite and the ruling class comprise noble people and matters are resolved through counselling, it is easy for people to live. And when they become evil the rich become niggardly and matters are left to women, it is preferable for people to slip into the belly of the earth rather than on its surface. This certainly does not recommend suicide, rather highlights the importance of Jihad and martyrdom for the reformation of the affairs of the State. The true believers spend in the Cause of Allah-SWT out of His-SWT blessings, be it wealth, knowledge or any other skill. They pay Zakat, give away voluntary alms and spend within the limits marked by Shari’ah. The knowledge they possess is for the benefit of mankind. And if anyone wrongs them they avenge it only to put the oppressor on guard, yet they do not cross the Limits of Shari'ah. However, if the wronged forgives the oppressor for the sake of reformation, his reward is with Allah-SWT , Who-SWT undoubtedly disapproves the oppressors.

 

Forgive and Forget

According to the scholars, forgiveness is highly meritorious in a situation where it can lead to reformation; but where it is likely to encourage mischief it is best to avenge. And the oppressed is at no blame if he takes revenge from the oppressor, as the guilty are those who wrong others. However, if the avenger exceeds the limits he too will be accountable. Those who make mischief will be severely punished by Allah-SWT . And the one blessed with patience to forgive and forget indeed does a mighty job.

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