Sūrah Ṣu‘ād

This is Sūrah Ṣu‘ād. The Qur’ān replete with reminders bears witness that they do not have any argument. In fact, these disbelievers are inflicted with great arrogance and mutual enmity. [They think that the torment is a far-fetched possibility for them!] Before them, how many a nation have We destroyed; so, they raised a hue and cry [in order to save themselves] but it was not the time for being saved.

They are wonder-struck that a warner has come to them from among themselves. And these disbelievers said: “He is a magician; an absolute liar. Has he made so many gods into one God? This is a very strange thing.” Their leaders got up: “Let us go and remain attached to our gods. Indeed, this is what is required. We have never heard this in this last nation. Nothing! It has been fabricated [by him]. Has this reminder only been revealed to Him among us?” No! these statements are baseless; in fact, they are in doubt from My reminder. In fact, the real thing is that until now they have not tasted the flavour of My torment.¹

[They do not regard anyone but themselves to be worthy of My favours.] Are the treasures of your Lord, the Powerful, the Giver, in their custody? Or the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and whatever is in between them in their control? [If this is the case,] then let them climb the heavens [and block His mercy]. The greatest army among all armies is destined to be defeated [if it rises against God].

Before them, Noah’s nation, the ‘Ād, the Pharaoh of the pegs, the Thamūd and the nation of Lot and the dwellers of Aykah have already denied. These were the factions that were vanquished in this manner. Each of them denied My messengers; so, My torment surely descended on them. These too await a shout after which there is no respite. They have said: “Our Lord! Bring us to account before the day of accountability.”

Be patient on whatever they say [O Prophet] and recall Our mighty servant, David. In reality, He was an embodiment of repentance. We had subdued the mountains with him so that they glorified God day and night and birds too, flock after flock – all were those who turned to God. We had strengthened his kingdom, endowed him with wisdom and blessed him with the ability to deliver decisive verdicts in disputes.

Has the news of those people reached you who had come with a dispute? When they entered his abode after climbing the wall; at that time when they reached David, he was scared of them. They immediately said: “Fear not. We are two litigants of a case, one has committed an excess over the other; so, decide between us with

6 justice and do not be unfair in any way and show us the straight path.”

This is my brother. He has ninety nine ewes and I have only one. Now he says: “Give that to me as well,” and he has prevailed over me in argument. David said: “He has indeed been unjust to you by asking you to hand over your ewe in order to add it to his ewes, and in reality most parties of a case are unfair to one another in this manner. Only those are protected from it who have faith and do righteous deeds and very few are such people. At that time, David thought that this was a test that We have put him through. Thus he asked for forgiveness from his Lord and bent down in prostration before Him and turned to Him [with full attention]. Then We forgave that mistake of his and for him there certainly is a special place of nearness with Us and a good fate.²

O David! We have made you a ruler in the land. So, pass judgement with fairness among people [in this manner] and follow not your desire so that it may lead you astray from the path of God. Those who go astray from the path of God, for them surely is a stern punishment because they forgot the day of accountability.

[But it is bound to come because] We have not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them without any purpose. This is the notion of those who have become adamant on denial. So, for such disbelievers is the destruction of Hell. Will We make those who have accepted faith and done righteous deeds like those who spread disorder in the land? Or equate the God-fearing with those who are disobedient to Him? [Certainly not! It is precisely this towards which the Qur’ān reminds;] it is a blessed book which We have revealed to you [O Prophet] so that people ponder on its verses and so that those endowed with intellect are reminded by it.

And We gave David [a son like] Solomon. What a great servant he was! No doubt, He was very penitent towards God.

Recall when fine and thorough bred horses were presented for his inspection in the evening [and he became so engrossed in their inspection that he missed the prayer]. So, he said: “I was overcome with the love of wealth while being negligent of God’s remembrance until the sun has hidden in the curtain [of sunset]. Bring them back to me. [They were brought back;] so, [overcome with grief,] he began hacking their legs and necks with a sword.

We had put Solomon through [another] trial also and placed the likes of a body on his throne. Then he repented [and] prayed: “Lord! Forgive me and bless me with a kingdom which does not befit anyone but me. Indeed, you are very forgiving. So, We put the wind into his service which at his behest blew favourably in whichever direction he wanted to sail.³⁴

And also subdued rebellious jinn for him, competent artisans and divers of all sorts [who would remain engaged in work] and others too besides them, who would remain fettered in chains.

This is Our boundless blessing. [Give] you now [to people and] do them a favour or withhold it. [We had said to Solomon] and We certainly have for him [in future] a special place of nearness and a good fate.

And recall Our servant Job when he pleaded before his Lord: “Satan has inflicted me with great sorrow and pain.” We directed: “Strike your foot on the ground.” [He struck it and as a result a stream gushed forth. God said:] “This is cold water for you to bathe and drink. [This will restore your health.” Then] We gave him back his family again and with them more in the same number so as to show Our blessings to Him from Our selves and so that those endowed with intellect are reminded. And said: “Grab a bunch of twigs in your hand and with them hit yourself and do not break [the oath you had sworn to punish yourself]. In reality, We found him steadfast [in all circumstances]. What a person he was! Without doubt, he was a very penitent servant of his Lord.

And recall Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men of might and insight. We had selected them for a special task – reminding of that House – and they surely were from Our chosen and righteous servants.

And recall Ishmael and Yasa‘ and Dhū al-Kifl. All of them were from among the righteous also.

This is a reminder. [Pay heed to this reminder] and [remember that] for those who fear God there is surely the best abode, eternal orchards whose gates shall be open for them. They shall sit in them leaning on cushions. They shall be asking for many drinks and fruits [from their attendants]. There shall be bashful women of the same age with them – this is the thing you are being promised with for the day of accountability. Indeed, this is Our sustenance which shall never cease.

On the one hand is this, and on the other for the rebellious surely there is a horrible abode, Hell which they will enter. So, what a dreadful place! This boiling water and pus; now they will taste it and other things of similar sort as well will be [present for them].

[They will be told: “Here comes a multitude of your followers.] This multitude will also enter with you.” They will immediately say: “God’s curse be on them! These people are destined to enter Hell.” The followers will reply: “In fact, may the curse of God be on you! [Whatever we see] you have brought it in front of us.” So, what an evil abode will it be! [At that time,] they will say: “Our Lord! They who have brought it before us, doubly punish them in this [raging] fire.”

[After this,] they will ask [one another:] “What is the matter! We do not see those people here whom we counted among the miscreants? Is it [because] we had made fun of them [merely as a prank] or [is it that they are also present here and] our eyes fail to see them? Undoubtedly, this argument of the dwellers of Paradise is a certain thing that is destined to happen.

Tell them [O Prophet:] I am only a warner. [Since while relying on your deities, you are paying no heed to my warning, listen:] There is no deity but God; the only one and the dominant. It is He Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; Powerful and Forgiving. Say: What I am warning you of is a great [piece of] news and you are paying no heed to it.

I had no knowledge of the Upper Realm when the dwellers of Hell will be disputing there with one another. [These are the words of revelation and] I am sent this revelation only because I am an open warner [from God].

[The reason for their denial O Prophet is precisely the same as that of Iblīs.] Narrate to them the incident when your Lord said to the angels: “I am about to make a human being from clay. Then when I have perfected it and blown My spirit into it, prostrate before him.” Thus all the angels together fell down in prostration except Iblīs. He showed arrogance and became among the rejecters. The Lord said: “Iblīs! What stopped you from worshipping what I created from My hands? Was this arrogance on your part or are you a superior being [in your conceited opinion]?” He replied: “I am far better than him. You have created me from fire and him from clay.” God said: “Alright. Get out from here because you are accursed and now My curse is on you until the Day of Judgement.” He said: “Lord! Give me respite until the day when people will be raised up.” God said: “Go, you have this respite until the day whose time is known.” He said: “Then I also swear by your honour that I shall certainly lead all these people astray except for those of your servants who you have chosen from among them.” God said: “Then this is the truth and I only speak the truth that I shall fill Hell with you and all those who follow you.”

Tell them [O Prophet: If I am reciting out this Qur’ān to you,] I do not seek any reward from you on this nor am I one who falsely poses. This is only a reminder for the people of the world and rest assured that the news it is informing you of, its truth shall soon be known to you.

The Phase of Hijrah and Barā’ah