Introduction to
Surah
46. Al-Ahqâf
In the Name of Allâh, the Most
Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
1. HâMîm.
[These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'ân,
and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings].
2. The revelation
of the Book (this Qur'ân) is from Allâh, the All-Mighty,
the All-Wise.
3. We created not
the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except
with truth, and for an appointed term. But those who disbelieve
turn away from that whereof they are warned.
4. Say (O Muhammad
SAW to these pagans): "Think!
All that you invoke besides Allâh show me! What have they
created of the earth? Or have they a share in (the creation of)
the heavens? Bring me a Book (revealed before this), or some trace
of knowledge (in support of your claims), if you are truthful!"
5. And who is more
astray than one who calls (invokes) besides Allâh, such
as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are
(even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them?[]
6. And when mankind
are gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), they (false deities)
will become enemies for them and will deny their worshipping.
7. And when Our Clear
Verses are recited to them, the disbelievers say of the truth
(this Qur'ân), when it reaches them: "This is plain
magic!"
8. Or say they: "He
(Muhammad SAW)
has fabricated it." Say: "If I have fabricated it, still
you have no power to support me against Allâh. He knows
best of what you say among yourselves concerning it (i.e. this
Qur'ân)! Sufficient is He for a witness between me and you!
And He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."
9. Say (O Muhammad
SAW):"I am not a new thing among
the Messengers (of Allâh) (i.e. I am not the first Messenger)
nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow
that which is revealed to me, and I am but a plain warner."
10. Say: "Tell
me! If this (Qur'ân) is from Allâh, and you deny it,
and a witness from among the Children of Israel ('Abdullâh
bin Salâm ÑÖì <>
<>) testifies that this Qur'ân is from
Allâh [like the Taurât (Torah)], so he believed (embraced
Islâm)[] while you
are too proud (to believe)." Verily! Allâh guides not
the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists, disbelievers
and wrong-doing).
11. And those who
disbelieve (strong and wealthy) say of those who believe (weak
and poor): "Had it (Islâmic Monotheism to which Muhammad
SAW is inviting mankind) been a good
thing, they (weak and poor) would not have preceded us thereto!"
And when they have not let themselves be guided by it (this Qur'ân),
they say: "This is an ancient lie!"
12. And before this
was the Scripture of Mûsa (Moses) as a guide and a mercy.
And this is a confirming Book (the Qur'ân) in the Arabic
language, to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings to the
Muhsinûn (good-doers - see V.2:112).
13. Verily, those
who say: "Our Lord is (only) Allâh," and thereafter
Istaqâmû (i.e. stood firm and straight on the
Islâmic Faith of Monotheism by abstaining from all kinds
of sins and evil deeds which Allâh has forbidden and by
performing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained), on
them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
14. Such shall be
the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever), a reward
for what they used to do.
15. And We have enjoined
on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears
him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship, and
the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months,
till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he
says: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may
be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and
upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such
as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned
to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting
to Your Will)."
16. They are those
from whom We shall accept the best of their deeds and overlook
their evil deeds. (They shall be) among the dwellers of Paradise,
a promise of truth, which they have been promised.
17. But he who says
to his parents: "Fie upon you both! Do you hold out the promise
to me that I shall be raised up (again) when generations before
me have passed away (without rising)?" While they (father
and mother) invoke Allâh for help (and rebuke their son):
"Woe to you! Believe! Verily, the Promise of Allâh
is true." But he says: "This is nothing but the tales
of the ancient."
18. They are those
against whom the Word (of torment) is justified among the previous
generations of jinns and mankind that have passed away. Verily!
They are ever the losers.
19. And for all,
there will be degrees according to that which they did, that He
(Allâh) may recompense them in full for their deeds. And
they will not be wronged.
20. On the Day when
those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic
Monotheism) will be exposed to the Fire (it will be said): "You
received your good things in the life of the world, and you took
your pleasure therein. Now this Day you shall be recompensed with
a torment of humiliation, because you were arrogant in the land
without a right, and because you used to rebel and disobey (Allâh).
21. And remember
(Hûd) the brother of 'Ad, when he warned his people in Al-Ahqâf
(the curved sand-hills in the southern part of Arabian Peninsula).
And surely, there have passed away warners before him and after
him (saying): "Worship none but Allâh; truly, I fear
for you the torment of a mighty Day."
22. They said: "Have
you come to turn us away from our âliha (gods)? Then
bring us that with which you threaten us, if you are one of the
truthful!"
23. He said: "The
knowledge (of the time of its coming) is with Allâh only,
and I convey to you that wherewith I have been sent, but I see
that you are a people given to ignorance!"
24. Then, when they
saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said:
"This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Nay, but it is that
(torment) which you were asking to be hastened! a wind wherein
is a painful torment!
25. Destroying everything
by the Command of its Lord! So they became such that nothing could
be seen except their dwellings! Thus do We recompense the people
who are Mujrimûn (polytheists, disbelievers, sinners,
etc.)!
26. And indeed We
had firmly established them with that wherewith We have not established
you (O Quraish)! And We had assigned them the (faculties of) hearing
(ears), seeing (eyes), and hearts, but their hearing (ears), seeing
(eyes), and their hearts availed them nothing since they used
to deny the Ayât (Allâh's Prophets and their
Prophethood, proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.)
of Allâh, and they were completely encircled by that which
they used to mock at!
27. And indeed We
have destroyed towns (populations) round about you, and We have
(repeatedly) shown (them) the Ayât (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in various ways that
they might return (to the truth and believe in the Oneness of
Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism).
28. Then why did
those whom they had taken for âliha (gods) besides
Allâh, as a way of approach (to Allâh) not help them?
Nay, but they vanished completely from them (when there came the
torment). And that was their lie, and their inventions which they
had been inventing (before their destruction).
29. And (remember)
when We sent towards you (Muhammad SAW)
Nafran (three to ten persons) of the jinns, (quietly) listening
to the Qur'ân, when they stood in the presence thereof,
they said: "Listen in silence!" And when it was finished,
they returned to their people, as warners.
30. They said: "O
our people! Verily! We have heard a Book (this Qur'ân) sent
down after Mûsa (Moses), confirming what came before it,
it guides to the truth and to a Straight Path (i.e. Islâm).
31. O our people!
Respond (with obedience) to Allâh's Caller (i.e. Allâh's
Messenger Muhammad SAW),
and believe in him (i.e. believe in that which Muhammad SAW has brought from Allâh and
follow him). He (Allâh) will forgive you of your sins, and
will save you from a painful torment (i.e. Hell-fire)[]
.
32. And whosoever
does not respond to Allâh's Caller, he cannot escape on
earth, and there will be no Auliyâ' (protectors)
for him besides Allâh (from Allâh's Punishment). Those
are in manifest error.
33. Do they not see
that Allâh, Who created the heavens and the earth, and was
not wearied by their creation, is Able to give life to the dead?
Yes, He surely is Able to do all things.
34. And on the Day
when those who disbelieve will be exposed to the Fire (it will
be said to them): "Is this not the truth?" They will
say: "Yes, By our Lord!" He will say: "Then taste
the torment, because you used to disbelieve!"
35. Therefore be
patient (O Muhammad SAW)
as did the Messengers of strong will[]
and be in no haste about them (disbelievers). On the Day when
they will see that (torment) with which they are promised (i.e.
threatened, it will be) as if they had not stayed more than an
hour in a single day. (O mankind! This Qur'ân is sufficient
as) a clear Message (or proclamation to save yourself from destruction).
But shall any be destroyed except the people who are Al-Fâsiqûn
(the rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).
