Sūrah 52
Sūrah al-Ṭūr
Introduction to this pair
Both these sūrahs form a pair with regard to their topics. The theme of both is to substantiate the Day of Judgement and to warn and to give glad tidings to people on its basis. In the first sūrah, warning people of the punishment and criticism on the attitude of the leaders of the Quraysh is evident, whereas in the second, the element of refutation of their foolish beliefs about God and the Hereafter is prominent. Both sūrahs sound assurance to Prophet Muḥammad (sws).
Both are addressed to the Quraysh, and it is evident from their topics that they were revealed in Makkah in the phase of open warning (indhār-i ‘ām) of Prophet Muḥammad’s (sws) preaching mission.
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful.
The Mount of Sinai bears witness and also the scripture inscribed on a parchment unrolled. Similarly, this populated house – this earth of yours – bears witness and the lofty roof of the sky and the overflowing seas also that indeed the punishment of your Lord is certain to come. No one can avert it.1
On the day when the sky will shake while shuddering and the mountains will start to move; so, on that day, misery be to the deniers, who, toying around, are engaging in pleasantries. On the day when they will be driven and shoved towards the Fire of Hell. It will be said to them: “This is the same Fire you had been denying.” Now, speak up: “Is this magic or are you not being able to see anything? Go, enter into it. Then whether you bear it or not, it is alike for you. You are being rewarded exactly with what you had been doing.”
The righteous, however, will be in gardens and bliss, enjoying what their Lord has blessed them with and that their Lord has preserved them from the torment of Hell. Now eat and drink with relish as reward for the deeds you have been doing. They will be reclining on adjacent thrones and We shall have wed them with large-eyed houris.
Those who have accepted faith, and their children too have followed them with any level of faith, We shall unite their children with them [in their level] and not even slightly diminish the reward of their deeds. [This is because] each individual is in pledge for his own earning. We shall continue to provide them the fruits and the meat they like. In it, they will be acquiring cups of wine from one another; in which there will neither be any nonsensical talk nor allegations of sins on others. And [handsome] boys like pearls preserved will specially serve them in a diligent manner.2
They will turn towards one another asking about [the past]. They will say: “Before this, we used to remain fearful about our families; so, God has been gracious to us and has delivered us from the blazing breeze of Hell. Before this, we used to invoke the same [Lord] only. Undoubtedly, He is the keeper of His promises, the Ever-Merciful.”
Therefore keep reminding [O Prophet and pay no heed] because by the grace of your Lord you are neither a soothsayer nor one possessed. Do they say that he is a poet for whom we await an adverse turn of fortune? Tell them: If so, then wait, I shall also wait with you. Does their intellect prompt them to say this, or are they a people rebellious? Do they say that he himself has concocted this Qur’ān? No, this is not so; in fact, they do not want to believe. So, if they are truthful, let them produce a discourse having the same majesty.
[Ask them: If they do not believe in the Hereafter, then] have they been created without any creator or are they their own creators? Or have they created the heavens and the earth? No, this is not the case. In fact, they do not have conviction.
[What has made them arrogant?] Do they alone have the treasures of your Lord or are they alone in charge of them? Do they have a ladder that they climb and overhear the information of the heavens [that they will be in bliss there as well?] If it is so, then let the one who has heard [this] bring a clear proof. [They should only reflect on their beliefs.] Does He [–the Creator of the heavens and the earth–] have daughters whereas you have sons?
[Why don’t they listen?] Do you ask some reward from them that they are being burdened with its penalty? Do they have knowledge of the Unseen; thus they write it down themselves [and do not need any prophet for their guidance]? Do they intend to contrive a plot? Then those who have disbelieved will themselves be trapped in it. Do they have another deity besides God [who will save them? Certainly not!] Exalted is God above what they associate with Him.
[They will not profess belief] and even if they see a fragment of the
heavens falling down, they will say: “These are but layers of clouds [that are coming forth].” So, leave them alone until they encounter their day when they will lose their senses, the day when none of their guiles will be of any avail to them, nor will they be helped.
For these wrongdoers, there is another punishment besides this, but most of them know it not. [So, leave them alone] and with perseverance wait for your Lord’s decree. They will not be able to harm you in any way because you are before Our eyes. And [to acquire perseverance,] glorify your Lord while praising Him when you wake up [for the prayer,] and glorify Him in the night also and at the time of declining of the stars too.