Sūrat Fāṭir
سورۃ فاطر
(The heading in the source text: Sūrat Fāṭir — revealed in Makkah al-Mukarrama; it has thirty-five (45) verses and five (5) rukūʿ.)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhi l-Raḥmāni l-Raḥīm.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi fāṭiri l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi jāʿili l-malāʾikati rusulan ulī ajniḥa...
"All praise is due to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, who made the angels messengers having wings..." (Fāṭir 35:1)
Continued commentary on Fāṭir 35:1: Al-ḥamdu lillāh — praise and thanks and acknowledgement belongs to Allah alone. Fāṭiri l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍ — the Creator of the heavens and earth. "Fāṭir" means: the originator of a thing on a suitable foundation — to cut, to split, to break, to originate something from nothing, to create. Jāʿili l-malāʾikati rusulan — the Maker of the angels as messengers, as bearers of message, as envoys — ulī ajniḥa — those possessed of wings — two by two, three by three, four by four — mathnā wa-thulātha wa-rubāʿ. He increases in His creation whatever He wills. Yuzīdu fī l-khalqi mā yashāʾ — He adds to the creation whatever He wills. Inna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr — indeed Allah has power over all things.
Translation: All praise belongs to Allah — the Creator of the heavens and earth — the Maker of angels as messengers, possessing wings two, three, and four — and He adds to the creation whomsoever and whatever He wills — indeed Allah is over all things powerful.
مَّا يَفْتَحِ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحْمَةٍ فَلَا مُمْسِكَ لَهَا وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلَا مُرْسِلَ لَهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Mā yaftaḥi llāhu li-l-nāsi min raḥmatin fa-lā mumsika lahā wa-mā yumsik fa-lā mursila lahū min baʿdihī wa-huwa l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīm.
"Whatever Allah opens for the people of mercy — none can withhold it; and whatever He withholds — none can release it after Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (Fāṭir 35:2)
Commentary: Mā yaftaḥi llāhu li-l-nāsi — what Allah opens for the people, the door of mercy that He opens — min raḥmatin — a mercy, the gate of mercy — fa-lā mumsika lahā — then no one can hold it back, no one can seize it, no one can stop it. Wa-mā yumsik — and whatever He withholds, locks up — fa-lā mursila lahū — then no one is able to release it — min baʿdihī — after Him. Wa-huwa l-ʿazīzul ḥakīm — and He is the Lord of might and wisdom; He does what is appropriate and fitting.
Translation: Whatever Allah opens for the people as mercy, no one can withhold it — and whatever He withholds, no one can release it — and He is all-powerful, all-wise.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
Yā ayyuhā l-nāsu dhkurū niʿmata llāhi ʿalaykum hal min khāliqin ghayru llāhi yarzuqukum min al-samāʾi wa-l-arḍi lā ilāha illā huwa fa-annā tuʾfakūn.
"O people! Remember the favour of Allah upon you. Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the sky and the earth? There is no deity except Him — so how are you deluded?" (Fāṭir 35:3)
Commentary: Yā ayyuhā l-nāsu — O people! Udhkurū niʿmata llāhi ʿalaykum — remember the blessings of Allah upon you — hal min khāliqin ghayru llāh — is there any creator besides Allah? Yarzuqukum min al-samāʾi wa-l-arḍ — who provides you sustenance from sky and earth — water falls from the sky, the earth grows plants and greenery. Lā ilāha illā huwa — there is no deity except Him — fa-annā tuʾfakūn — then where are you going astray, wandering about so foolishly?
Translation: O people! Remember the favour Allah has done to you — is there any Creator besides Allah who provides you sustenance from the sky and the earth? There is no deity besides Him — then where are you heading so foolishly?
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ
Wa-in yukadhdhibūka fa-qad kudhdhibat rusulun min qablika wa-ilā llāhi turjaʿu l-umūr.
"And if they deny you — already were messengers denied before you. And to Allah are all matters returned." (Fāṭir 35:4)
Commentary: Wa-in yukadhdhibūka — and if they are denying you, O Prophet! Fa-qad kudhdhibat rusulun min qablika — the prophets before you were also denied. Not only you — they also denied the earlier prophets. Their work is this — wa-ilā llāhi turjaʿu l-umūr — and towards Allah is the return of all affairs.
Translation: If they deny you, prophets before you were already denied — the return of all affairs is to Allah alone.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ
Yā ayyuhā l-nāsu inna waʿda llāhi ḥaqqun fa-lā taghurrannakumu l-ḥayātu l-dunyā wa-lā yaghurrannakum bi-llāhi l-gharūr.
"O people! Indeed, the promise of Allah is true. So let not the worldly life delude you, and let not the Deceiver delude you about Allah." (Fāṭir 35:5)
Commentary: Inna waʿda llāhi ḥaqqun — without doubt the promise of Allah is true. Fa-lā taghurrannakumu l-ḥayātu l-dunyā — so do not let the life of this world deceive you. Wa-lā yaghurrannakum bi-llāhi l-gharūr — and do not let the Deceiver delude you about Allah — al-Gharūr — the great fraud, the Deceiver — Satan.
Translation: O people! Allah's promise is true — do not let the life of this world deceive you, and do not let Satan deceive you about Allah and His swift punishment.
إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ
Inna l-shayṭāna lakum ʿaduwwun fa-ttakhidhūhu ʿaduwwan innamā yadʿū ḥizbahū li-yakūnū min aṣḥābi l-saʿīr.
"Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze." (Fāṭir 35:6)
Commentary: Inna l-shayṭāna lakum ʿaduwwun — without doubt Satan is certainly your enemy. So — fa-ttakhidhūhu ʿaduwwan — take him as an enemy too. Innamā yadʿū ḥizbahū — he is calling his own party, his own group — li-yakūnū min aṣḥābi l-saʿīr — so that they become the companions of the blazing fire; so that they all become the denizens of the burning, raging fire.
Translation: Without doubt Satan is your enemy — so regard him as an enemy too. He calls his own party — so that they become the people of the Fire.
الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
Alladhīna kafarū lahum ʿadhābun shadīdun wa-lladhīna āmanū wa-ʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti lahum maghfiratun wa-ajrun kabīr.
"Those who disbelieve — for them will be severe punishment; and those who believe and do righteous deeds — for them is forgiveness and great reward." (Fāṭir 35:7)
Commentary: Alladhīna kafarū — those who disbelieve and deny the commands of Allah and His messenger — lahum ʿadhābun shadīdun — for them is a severe punishment. Wa-lladhīna āmanū wa-ʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāt — and those who believe with certitude and perform righteous deeds — lahum maghfiratun wa-ajrun kabīr — for them is forgiveness and a great reward.
Translation: For the disbelievers is a severe punishment — and for the believers and the doers of righteous deeds there is forgiveness and a great reward.
In this rukūʿ, Allah Almighty manifests His power by demonstrating that He created the heavens and earth from nothing and He sends the angels as messengers. He grants mercy — everything is in His hands. He sends provision to all — and He sends His Prophet. These foolish people can never find contentment. Disbelievers will receive severe punishment, and Allah forgives the past sins of the believers and grants them a great recompense.
أَفَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَنًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ فَلَا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
Afa-man zuyyina lahū sūʾu ʿamalihī fa-raʾāhu ḥasanan fa-inna llāha yuḍillu man yashāʾu wa-yahdī man yashāʾu fa-lā tadhhab nafsuka ʿalayhim ḥasarātin inna llāha ʿalīmun bi-mā yaṣnaʿūn.
"Then is he whose evil deed was made attractive to him so he considers it good — for indeed, Allah leads astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. So do not let yourself perish over them in regret. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what they do." (Fāṭir 35:8)
Commentary: Afa-man zuyyina lahū sūʾu ʿamalih — well now! A person to whom it appeared — his eyes opened — fa-raʾāhu ḥasanan — and he saw his evil deeds as good. Fa-inna llāha yuḍillu man yashāʾu wa-yahdī man yashāʾu — then indeed Allah leads astray whomsoever He wills, and guides whomsoever He wills. Fa-lā tadhhab nafsuka ʿalayhim ḥasarāt — so do not let your soul perish for grief over them. Inna llāha ʿalīmun bi-mā yaṣnaʿūn — Allah is well-acquainted with what they do.
Translation: A person to whom his bad deeds appear good — then whoever Allah wills He leads astray and whoever He wills He guides. Do not let yourself perish in grief over them — Allah knows their deeds well.
وَاللَّهُ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ الرِّيَاحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَسُقْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ فَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا كَذَٰلِكَ النُّشُورُ
Wa-llāhu lladhī arsala l-riyāḥa fa-tuthīru saḥāban fa-suqnāhu ilā baladin mayyitin fa-aḥyaynā bihi l-arḍa baʿda mawtihā kadhālika l-nushūr.
"And it is Allah who sends the winds, and they stir up a cloud, and We drive it to a dead land and revive thereby the earth after its lifelessness. Thus is the resurrection." (Fāṭir 35:9)
Commentary: Wa-llāhu lladhī arsala l-riyāḥ — and Allah is the One who drives winds. Fa-tuthīru saḥāban — then that wind stirs up clouds, raises the clouds up, lifts them aloft. Fa-suqnāhu ilā baladin mayyitin — then We drive it to a desolate, lifeless land. Fa-aḥyaynā bihi l-arḍa baʿda mawtihā — then We bring the earth to life after its death — after its becoming dry and barren We make the earth alive and fresh. Kadhālika l-nushūr — such is the Resurrection — just as it is possible to bring this dead earth back to life with rain, the raising of the dead is exactly like this.
Translation: And Allah is the One who sends the winds — then they stir up clouds — then We drive that cloud toward a dead, dry land and bring the waterless and plantless earth to life after its death — the Resurrection is just like this.
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَكْرُ أُولَٰئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ
Man kāna yurīdu l-ʿizzata fa-li-llāhi l-ʿizzatu jamīʿan ilayhi yaṣʿadu l-kalimu l-ṭayyibu wa-l-ʿamalu l-ṣāliḥu yarfaʿuhū wa-lladhīna yamkurūna l-sayyiʾāti lahum ʿadhābun shadīdun wa-makru ulāʾika huwa yabūr.
"Whoever desires honour — to Allah belongs all honour. To Him ascend good words, and righteous deeds He raises up. But those who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those — it will perish." (Fāṭir 35:10)
Commentary: Man kāna yurīdu l-ʿizzata — whoever desires honour and glory — fa-li-llāhi l-ʿizzatu jamīʿan — all honour belongs to Allah alone. Ilayhi yaṣʿadu l-kalimu l-ṭayyib — towards Him ascend the good words, the beautiful words. Wa-l-ʿamalu l-ṣāliḥu yarfaʿuhū — and righteous deeds raise those good words up; they uplift and elevate the word of Allah. Wa-lladhīna yamkurūna l-sayyiʾāt — and those who plot evil schemes — lahum ʿadhābun shadīd — for them there will be a severe punishment. Wa-makru ulāʾika huwa yabūr — and the scheming of those people will all become null and void.
Translation: Whoever desires honour — all honour belongs to Allah. Good words ascend towards Him, and righteous deeds raise them up. And those who devise evil schemes will receive severe punishment — and all their schemes will come to nothing and be destroyed.
وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِ وَمَا يُعَمَّرُ مِن مُّعَمَّرٍ وَلَا يُنقَصُ مِنْ عُمُرِهِ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
Wa-llāhu khalaqakum min turābin thumma min nuṭfatin thumma jaʿalakum azwājan wa-mā taḥmilu min unthā wa-lā taḍaʿu illā bi-ʿilmihī wa-mā yuʿammaru min muʿammarin wa-lā yunqaṣu min ʿumurihī illā fī kitābin inna dhālika ʿalā llāhi yasīr.
"And Allah created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then He made you mates. And no female conceives nor gives birth except with His knowledge. And no aged person is granted long life, nor is anything decreased from his life — except that it is in a Register. Indeed, that for Allah is easy." (Fāṭir 35:11)
Commentary: Wa-llāhu khalaqakum min turāb — and Allah created you all from soil. Thumma min nuṭfatin — then from a drop of fluid. Thumma jaʿalakum azwājan — then He made you into pairs. Wa-mā taḥmilu min unthā wa-lā taḍaʿu illā bi-ʿilmihī — no female conceives and no female gives birth except with His knowledge — it all happens with His full knowledge. Wa-mā yuʿammaru min muʿammarin wa-lā yunqaṣu min ʿumurihī illā fī kitābin — and not a long-lived person is given long life, and no one's life is reduced, except it is in a Book — it is in the divine knowledge, inscribed in the Preserved Tablet. Inna dhālika ʿalā llāhi yasīr — indeed this is easy for Allah — everything is simple and effortless for Him, never difficult.
Translation: And Allah created you from soil, then from a drop, then made you into pairs — no female conceives or gives birth except with His knowledge — no one's life is added to or reduced except that it is in a Book — indeed this is easy for Allah.
وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْبَحْرَانِ هَٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَائِغٌ شَرَابُهُ وَهَٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ وَمِن كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Wa-mā yastawi l-baḥrāni hādhā ʿadhbun furātun sāʾighun sharābuhū wa-hādhā milḥun ujājun wa-min kullin taʾkulūna laḥman ṭariyyan wa-tastakhrijūna ḥilyatan talbisūnahā wa-tarā l-fulka fīhi mawākhira li-tabtaghū min faḍlihī wa-laʿallakum tashkurūn.
"And not equal are the two seas. This one is fresh, sweet, and pleasant to drink, while this one is salty and bitter. But from each you eat tender meat and extract ornaments which you wear; and you see the ships plowing through them so that you may seek of His bounty — and perhaps you will be grateful." (Fāṭir 35:12)
Commentary: Wa-mā yastawi l-baḥrān — and the two seas are not equal. Hādhā ʿadhbun furātun — this is sweet water — sāʾighun sharābuhū — its water goes down easily, it is pleasantly drinkable. Wa-hādhā milḥun ujājun — and this is salt water, bitter and acrid. Wa-min kullin taʾkulūna laḥman ṭariyyan — and from both you eat fresh meat — fish, fresh from each. Wa-tastakhrijūna ḥilyatan talbisūnahā — and from them you extract ornaments — pearls, precious stones, gemstones — which you wear. Wa-tarā l-fulka fīhi mawākhira — and you see ships plowing through the water — li-tabtaghū min faḍlihī — so that you may seek Allah's bounty and grace from it. Wa-laʿallakum tashkurūn — and so that you be grateful.
Translation: And both seas are not equal — one is sweet, pleasant, good to drink — and this one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat fresh meat — and you extract ornaments to wear — and you see the ship plowing through the water — so that you obtain your necessities from Allah's grace — and so that you be grateful.
يُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ
Yūliju l-layla fī l-nahāri wa-yūliju l-nahāra fī l-layli wa-sakhkhara l-shamsa wa-l-qamara kullun yajrī li-ajalin musamman dhālikumu llāhu rabbukum lahū l-mulku wa-lladhīna tadʿūna min dūnihī mā yamlikūna min qiṭmīr.
"He causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night, and He has subjected the sun and the moon — each running to a specified term. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. And those whom you invoke besides Him do not possess so much as the thin membrane on a date-seed." (Fāṭir 35:13)
Commentary: Yūliju l-layla fī l-nahār — He enters night into day, night becomes absorbed into day and day grows bigger. Wa-sakhkhara l-shamsa wa-l-qamar — and He has subjugated the sun and moon to His command. Kullun yajrī li-ajalin musamman — each runs for a fixed time, a determinate period. Dhālikumu llāhu rabbukum — this is your Lord. Lahū l-mulk — His is the sovereignty. Wa-lladhīna tadʿūna min dūnihī mā yamlikūna min qiṭmīr — and those who are called upon besides Him do not possess even a thread, not even the skin of a date-seed, not even a fine membrane.
Translation: He enters night into day and day into night — and He has harnessed the sun and moon, each running until an appointed term — this is your Lord — His is the dominion — and those whom you call upon besides Him do not possess even so much as the thin skin on a date-seed.
إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ
In tadʿūhum lā yasmaʿū duʿāʾakum wa-law samiʿū mā stajabu lakum wa-yawma l-qiyāmati yakfurūna bi-shirkikum wa-lā yunabbi'uka mithlu khabīr.
"If you call them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they were to hear, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your association — and none can inform you like the All-Aware." (Fāṭir 35:14)
Commentary: In tadʿūhum lā yasmaʿū duʿāʾakum — if you call upon them they will not hear your supplications. Wa-law samiʿū mā stajabu lakum — and even if they heard, they would not answer you. Wa-yawma l-qiyāmati yakfurūna bi-shirkikum — and on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your associating them with Allah. Wa-lā yunabbi'uka mithlu khabīr — and no one can inform you like the All-Knowing; this is a great piece of wisdom, a tested and verified thing.
Translation: If you call them they will not hear your supplications — and even if they heard they would not answer — and on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your shirk — and no one can give you more information than the All-Knowing.
Commentary continued: Friends! This verse is addressed to Muslims — the matter of intercession (shafāʿa) is only bi-idhnihi — with His permission — and this is not for disbelievers. The second instruction elsewhere is: illā man irtaḍā min rusulihī — only those amongst the messengers whom He is pleased with. The foolish ones cannot understand the verse, nor apply it to different situations without due consideration. The elders who harboured enmity against the Truth never properly grasped it.
O disbelievers! Allah Almighty turns attention to Himself through His many manifestations of power, showing that He is the Director — do not commit shirk with Him. Turn towards Him with both hands. The greatest tested truth is that everything is before Him — stretch out your hands before Him — Allāhu Rabbī wa-Huwa Ḥasbī — Allah is my Lord and He is sufficient for me.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ
Yā ayyuhā l-nāsu antumu l-fuqarāʾu ilā llāhi wa-llāhu huwa l-ghaniyyu l-ḥamīd.
"O people! You are those in need of Allah, while Allah — He is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy." (Fāṭir 35:15)
Commentary: Yā ayyuhā l-nāsu — O people! Antumu l-fuqarāʾu ilā llāh — you are all in need of Allah — you are all dependent and in want before Him. Wa-llāhu huwa l-ghaniyyu l-ḥamīd — and Allah is the Self-Sufficient — He is independent and free of need — and He is praiseworthy and worthy of praise.
Translation: O people! You are all poor and in need before Allah — Allah is the Self-Sufficient and Praiseworthy.
إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ
In yashāʾ yudh-hibkum wa-yaʾti bi-khalqin jadīd.
"If He wills, He can take you away and bring forth a new creation." (Fāṭir 35:16)
Commentary: In yashāʾ yudh-hibkum — if Allah wills He will remove you all from existence and destroy you. Wa-yaʾti bi-khalqin jadīd — and He will bring a new creation — other people will come, a newly created generation.
Translation: If Allah wills He can destroy you all — and create a new creation.
وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ
Wa-mā dhālika ʿalā llāhi bi-ʿazīz.
"And that is not difficult for Allah." (Fāṭir 35:17)
Commentary: Wa-mā dhālika ʿalā llāhi bi-ʿazīz — and that is no difficulty for Allah whatsoever — nothing is hard for Him.
Translation: And that is not difficult for Allah at all.
وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفْسِهِ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ
Wa-lā taziru wāziratun wizra ukhrā wa-in tadʿu muthqalatun ilā ḥimlihā lā yuḥmal minhu shayʾun wa-law kāna dhā qurbā innamā tundhiru lladhīna yakhshawna rabbahum bi-l-ghaybi wa-aqāmū l-ṣalāta wa-man tazakkā fa-innamā yatazakkā li-nafsihī wa-ilā llāhi l-maṣīr.
"And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls for another to carry some of its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for his own good. And to Allah is the final destination." (Fāṭir 35:18)
Commentary: Wa-lā taziru wāziratun wizra ukhrā — no soul carries the burden of another — the root is soul itself; no one carries the burden of another. Wa-in tadʿu muthqalatun ilā ḥimlihā — and if a heavily-laden soul calls someone to take on its burden — lā yuḥmal minhu shayʾun — nothing from it will be taken, nothing even a little bit will be lifted. Wa-law kāna dhā qurbā — even if the one being called is a close relative, a close companion. Why? Innamā tundhiru — only those benefit from warning — alladhīna yakhshawna rabbahum bi-l-ghayb — those who fear their Lord in the unseen, those who tremble before Him — wa-aqāmū l-ṣalāt — and observe prayer with regularity and correctness — wa-man tazakkā — and whoever has become pure — fa-innamā yatazakkā li-nafsihī — then his purification is for his own benefit; it returns to him. Wa-ilā llāhi l-maṣīr — and the final end and destination of all things is to Allah — return to Him.
Translation: No soul bears the burden of another — and if a heavy-laden soul calls someone to take on its burden, no one can carry even a little of it. The warning benefits only those who fear their Lord in secret (even without seeing Him) and who observe prayer with regularity. Whoever purifies himself, he purifies himself for his own benefit — and to Allah is the return of all things.
وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَىٰ وَالْبَصِيرُ
Wa-mā yastawi l-aʿmā wa-l-baṣīr.
"And not equal are the blind and the seeing." (Fāṭir 35:19)
Commentary: Wa-mā yastawi l-aʿmā — and the blind and the sighted are not equal — the sighted, the scholar — the blind, the ignorant — wa-l-baṣīr — and the sighted — one who sees with eyes; the scholar, the knower.
Translation: And the blind and the sighted cannot be equal.
وَلَا الظُّلُمَاتُ وَلَا النُّورُ
Wa-lā l-ẓulumātu wa-lā l-nūr.
"And not equal are the darknesses and the light." (Fāṭir 35:20)
Commentary: Wa-lā l-ẓulumāt — and not the darknesses — wa-lā l-nūr — and not the light — darkness, be it outward or inward; and the light — be it the glow of outward light or the light of inner guidance.
Translation: And neither darkness nor light (can be equal — the two are unequal).
وَلَا الظِّلُّ وَلَا الْحَرُورُ
Wa-lā l-ẓillu wa-lā l-ḥarūr.
"And not equal are the shade and the scorching heat." (Fāṭir 35:21)
Commentary: Wa-lā l-ẓill — and not the shade — shade, shadow — wa-lā l-ḥarūr — and not the scorching heat — the hot blaze, the blazing heat — hot wind — the scorching sun.
Translation: And shade and scorching heat are not equal.
وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْأَحْيَاءُ وَلَا الْأَمْوَاتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسْمِعُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَّن فِي الْقُبُورِ
Wa-mā yastawi l-aḥyāʾu wa-lā l-amwātu inna llāha yusmiʿu man yashāʾu wa-mā anta bi-musmiʿin man fī l-qubūr.
"And not equal are the living and the dead. Indeed, Allah causes to hear whom He wills, but you cannot make hear those who are in the graves." (Fāṭir 35:22)
Commentary: Wa-mā yastawi l-aḥyāʾu wa-lā l-amwāt — and the living and the dead cannot be equal — the living and the dead — the scholar and the ignorant. Inna llāha yusmiʿu man yashāʾu — indeed Allah causes whoever He wills to hear — wa-mā anta bi-musmiʿin man fī l-qubūr — and you cannot make those lying in the graves hear — and you cannot make those who are ignorant and spiritually dead hear. These are the spiritually dead hearts — they are ignorant dead people walking about.
Translation: The living and the dead can never be equal — certainly Allah can cause to hear whoever He wills — and you cannot cause these dead people lying in graves to hear.
إِنْ أَنتَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ
In anta illā nadhīr.
"You are only a warner." (Fāṭir 35:23)
Commentary: In anta — you are nothing — illā nadhīrun — but a warner, nothing but one who gives warning.
Translation: You are only a warner.
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ
Innā arsalnāka bi-l-ḥaqqi bashīran wa-nadhīran wa-in min ummatin illā khalā fīhā nadhīr.
"Indeed, We have sent you with the truth as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warner. And there was no nation but that a warner had passed among them." (Fāṭir 35:24)
Commentary: Innā arsalnāka — We have sent you without doubt — bi-l-ḥaqqi — with the Truth, with the religion of Truth — bashīran wa-nadhīran — as a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. What is the glad tidings? The news of joy, of the good. And what is the warning? The warning of fear, the telling of what is to come. Wa-in min ummatin — and there is no nation — illā khalā fīhā nadhīr — but that a warner has already passed through it. Every nation, every people has had a prophet as a warner. But it is also the case that in our Umma there may be no specific prophet — except the people who carry on his work. Illā khalā fīhā nadhīr — except that our Prophet is definitely present — certainly the people of certainty can say this to others. They cannot deny prophethood because one certainty is that we have a right to certainty which gives us a certain command.
Translation: Indeed We have sent you with the Truth as a bearer of good news and a warner of fear — and every people has had a warner (a prophet for warning).
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَبِالزُّبُرِ وَبِالْكِتَابِ الْمُنِيرِ
Wa-in yukadhdhibūka fa-qad kadhdhaba lladhīna min qablihim jāʾathum rusuluhum bi-l-bayyināti wa-bi-l-zuburi wa-bi-l-kitābi l-munīr.
"And if they deny you — those before them also denied. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs and the psalms and the luminous Scripture." (Fāṭir 35:25)
Commentary: Wa-in yukadhdhibūka — and if these people mock your denial, do not take it — fa-qad kadhdhaba lladhīna min qablihim — the people who came before them also denied — this is the denial of the former peoples. They did not acknowledge the truth and they refused to accept it. Jāʾathum rusuluhum — their prophets came to them, the messengers arrived — bi-l-bayyināt — with clear proofs and evidences, witnesses and wonders — wa-bi-l-zubur — and with the scriptures — the Zabūr — scriptures, written scrolls — wa-bi-l-kitābi l-munīr — and with the Illuminating Book — full of light, a glowing and luminous Book.
Translation: And if these people deny you, the people before them also denied — their prophets came to them with clear evidences, the holy scriptures, and a glowing luminous Book.
ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
Thumma akhadhtu lladhīna kafarū fa-kayfa kāna nakīr.
"Then I seized those who disbelieved, and how terrible was My reproach!" (Fāṭir 35:26)
Commentary: (What came after was this:) Thumma akhadhtu lladhīna kafarū — then I seized the disbelievers — then I took hold of the disbelievers, I caught them. Fa-kayfa kāna nakīr — then how was My reproach? My displeasure was real — "Nakīr" means in essence the denial — the thing that is displeasing, that must be rejected — and "nakīr" here means punishment.
Translation: Then I seized the disbelievers — what was My punishment, what was its outcome?
Continued commentary: Friends! Some people argue on the basis of wa-mā anta bi-musmiʿin man fī l-qubūr — from this they try to argue that no one in the graves hears. But the meaning here is guidance — the purpose here is to convey guidance to the heart. And "hearing from the graves" is well established and supported by the noble Aḥādīth. It is our purpose to do ziyāra of the graves, and people should pass by and say: as-salāmu ʿalaykum yā ahla l-qubūr — greetings upon you, O people of the graves. Regarding the matter of the Battle of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ addressed the (fallen disbelievers), and Ḥaḍrat ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: but they are dead! — and the Prophet ﷺ replied: you cannot hear more than what they hear. And from meetings with the departed Prophets, this is established in the Aḥādīth through numerous chains.
Keep this matter in mind too — physical hearing and spiritual hearing are two different things — to understand this and to say it to the servants of Allah our Prophet ﷺ is well-known and familiar. Those people who listen to shirk are the ones who in matters of shirk from the command of not engaging in shirk have been caught — to say the mushrik is among the greatest of sins — and Muslims should be protected from the evil of the mushrikūn.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ ثَمَرَاتٍ مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهَا وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ
Alam tara anna llāha anzala min al-samāʾi māʾan fa-akhrajnā bihi thamarātin mukhtalifan alwānuhā wa-min al-jibāli jududun bīḍun wa-ḥumrun mukhtalifun alwānuhā wa-gharābību sūd.
"Have you not seen that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains are tracts, white and red of varying shades and intensely black?" (Fāṭir 35:27)
Commentary: Alam tara — have you not seen? Have you not been shown? Anna llāha anzala min al-samāʾi māʾan — that Allah sends down water from the sky — He sent down rain from the cloud, the sky sent down water. Fa-akhrajnā bihi thamarāt — then We brought out from it fruits — mukhtalifan alwānuhā — they are of different and varying colours; their colours are various. Wa-min al-jibāli jududun — and from the mountains there are distinct streaks, separate ridges — mountains with separate and distinct lanes — bīḍun wa-ḥumrun — white and red — gemstones, minerals — mukhtalifun alwānuhā — varying colours — wa-gharābību sūd — and intensely black ones — black, very black, extremely black ones.
Translation: Have you not seen that Allah sent down rain from the sky, from which We brought out fruits of different colours — and from the mountains there are streaks, white and red and multi-coloured, and intensely black ones.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَٰلِكَ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ
Wa-min al-nāsi wa-l-dawābbi wa-l-anʿāmi mukhtalifun alwānuhu kadhālika innamā yakhshā llāha min ʿibādihī l-ʿulamāʾu inna llāha ʿazīzun ghafūr.
"And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving." (Fāṭir 35:28)
Commentary continued: Wa-min al-nāsi — and similarly from among people — produced and brought forth from them — wa-l-dawābb — and from animals on the earth, those that walk on the ground — wa-l-anʿām — and from the grazing livestock — mukhtalifun alwānuhū — similarly varied and differing colours — like this they are various — kadhālika — in this very way; so too their colours are all of Allah's power manifesting — innamā yakhshā llāha min ʿibādihī l-ʿulamāʾ — truly, only those among His servants who have knowledge truly fear Allah — those who become afraid, those who know — Allah is feared by those who know. Inna llāha ʿazīzun ghafūr — indeed Allah is All-Mighty — Forgiving; He forgives those who fear Him even despite their being forced into submission.
Translation: And from people and from animals on the earth and from livestock are differing colours — in this way it is only the knowledgeable ones among Allah's servants who truly fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Mighty and Forgiving (He forgives despite His power).
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ
Inna lladhīna yatlūna kitāba llāhi wa-aqāmū l-ṣalāta wa-anfaqū mimmā razaqnāhum sirran wa-ʿalāniyatan yarjūna tijāratan lan tabūr.
"Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, can expect a profit that will never perish." (Fāṭir 35:29)
Commentary: Inna lladhīna yatlūna kitāba llāhi — indeed those who recite the Book of Allah without doubt — their tongue is engaged with it and their heart too keeps running with the word. Wa-aqāmū l-ṣalāt — and observe prayer with regularity — wa-anfaqū mimmā razaqnāhum — and spend from what We have given them, from this very thing they spend — sirran wa-ʿalāniyatan — in secret and in the open, inwardly and outwardly, hidden and manifest — yarjūna tijāratan lan tabūr — they hope for a trade that will never perish; lan tabūr — it will not be a loss, never cause any harm, never wasted.
Translation: Indeed those who recite the Book of Allah with full regularity and observe prayer and spend in the way of Allah secretly and openly — they hope for a trade that will never perish.
لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
Li-yuwaffiyahum ujūrahum wa-yazīdahum min faḍlihī innahū ghafūrun shakūr.
"That He may give them in full their rewards and increase them of His bounty. Indeed, He is Forgiving and Appreciative." (Fāṭir 35:30)
Commentary: Li-yuwaffiyahum — so that He gives them in full — ujūrahum — their recompense — He gives their reward in full. Wa-yazīdahum min faḍlihī — and He gives them more from His grace — from His bounty and favour He gives them additional. Innahū ghafūrun shakūr — indeed Allah is Forgiving and Appreciative — He forgives without doubt, and He is appreciative and values things greatly — and accepting is also His work.
Translation: So that He gives them their full reward — and gives them even more from His grace and favour. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Appreciative.
وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ هُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِعِبَادِهِ لَخَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ
Wa-lladhī awḥaynā ilayka min al-kitābi huwa l-ḥaqqu muṣaddiqan li-mā bayna yadayhi inna llāha bi-ʿibādihī la-khabīrun baṣīr.
"And what We have revealed to you of the Book — it is the Truth, confirming what was before it. Indeed, Allah is, of His servants, Acquainted and Seeing." (Fāṭir 35:31)
Commentary: Wa-lladhī awḥaynā ilayka — and what We have sent down toward you — min al-kitāb — from the Book, a Book — We sent it down upon you — huwa l-ḥaqq — it is the Truth, standing firmly in its own place, truly correct. Muṣaddiqan li-mā bayna yadayhi — it confirms all the heavenly scriptures that came before it — it verifies them all. Inna llāha bi-ʿibādihī la-khabīrun baṣīr — indeed Allah is acquainted with His servants, He is Knowing and Seeing of His servants' condition.
Translation: And what We have sent down upon you from the Book — it is the Truth — and it confirms all the heavenly scriptures before it. Indeed, Allah knows well the condition of His servants and is perceptive.
ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْكَبِيرُ
Thumma awrathnā l-kitāba lladhīna ṣṭafaynā min ʿibādinā fa-minhum ẓālimun li-nafsihī wa-minhum muqtaṣidun wa-minhum sābiqun bi-l-khayrāti bi-idhni llāhi dhālika huwa l-faḍlu l-kabīr.
"Then We caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself, and among them is he who is moderate, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by the permission of Allah. That is what is the great bounty." (Fāṭir 35:32)
Commentary: Thumma awrathnā l-kitāb — then We made the Book a heritage — a preserver of deeds, a carrier of actions — and We made those people the inheritors of it — alladhīna ṣṭafaynā min ʿibādinā — those whom We chose from Our servants — those people whom We made Our favoured and selected ones. Then among them — fa-minhum ẓālimun li-nafsihī — among them there are some who have oppressed themselves — those from among them who have wronged themselves — wa-minhum muqtaṣidun — and among them are those on the middle path, doing things by the middle way — wa-minhum sābiqun bi-l-khayrāt — and among them those who race ahead in good deeds, who go beyond others in good deeds — bi-idhni llāhi — by the permission of Allah — dhālika huwa l-faḍlu l-kabīr — this is the great bounty of Allah.
Translation: Then We gave the Book as an inheritance to those servants of ours whom We chose — then among them there are those who do wrong to themselves, and some are on the middle path, and some race ahead in good deeds by Allah's command — this is the great bounty of Allah.
جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
Jannātu ʿadnin yadkhulūnahā yuḥallawna fīhā min asāwira min dhahabin wa-luʾluʾan wa-libāsuhum fīhā ḥarīr.
"Gardens of perpetual residence which they will enter. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearl, and their garments therein will be silk." (Fāṭir 35:33)
(What is the great bounty?)
Commentary: Jannātu ʿadnin — the permanent, eternally-staying gardens of ʿAdn — the permanent abode — mineral mines — it is there. Yadkhulūnahā — they will enter those gardens, those places of beauty and decoration — yuḥallawna fīhā — they will be adorned and decorated there. How will it be? Like putting on jewels and decorating — min asāwira min dhahabin — with bracelets of gold — bangles, bracelets — gold — wa-luʾluʾan — and pearls — gemstones — wa-libāsuhum fīhā ḥarīrun — and their clothing in the Garden will be silk.
Translation: The gardens of eternal abode — they will enter them. They will be adorned with golden bracelets and pearl necklaces, and their clothing in the Garden will be silken.
وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا الْحَزَنَ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
Wa-qālū l-ḥamdu lillāhi lladhī adhhaba ʿannā l-ḥazana inna rabbanā la-ghafūrun shakūr.
"And they will say: All praise to Allah, who has removed from us sorrow. Indeed, our Lord is Forgiving and Appreciative." (Fāṭir 35:34)
Commentary: Wa-qālū — and they will say — in gratitude to Allah — al-ḥamdu lillāhi lladhī adhhaba ʿannā l-ḥazana — all praise to Allah Who has removed from us sorrow; Who has chased away the grief and sadness from us. Inna rabbanā la-ghafūrun shakūr — indeed our Lord without doubt — forgiving, merciful — la-ghafūrun shakūr — He is Forgiving and Appreciative; He forgives.
Translation: And they will say — in gratitude to Allah — Who removed from us the grief, indeed our Lord is Forgiving and Appreciative (He forgives bad deeds and is appreciative of good deeds).
الَّذِي أَحَلَّنَا دَارَ الْمُقَامَةِ مِن فَضْلِهِ لَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا لُغُوبٌ
Alladhī aḥallanā dāra l-muqāmati min faḍlihī lā yamassunā fīhā naṣabun wa-lā yamassunā fīhā lughūb.
"Who has settled us in the home of permanence out of His bounty. No fatigue touches us therein, nor does weariness touch us therein." (Fāṭir 35:35)
Commentary: Alladhī aḥallanā — Who brought us to rest, Who gave us a home — dāra l-muqāma — the Home of Permanence — the Residence, our permanent abode — from His bounty and grace and favour — lā yamassunā fīhā naṣabun — no fatigue shall touch us there, no toil and hardship shall reach us — wa-lā yamassunā fīhā lughūb — nor shall weariness touch us there — exhaustion, distress, fatigue.
Translation: Who has given us a home from His bounty — the permanent abode — there no fatigue reaches us, and no weariness and tiredness reaches us.
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُم مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي كُلَّ كَفُورٍ
Wa-lladhīna kafarū lahum nāru jahannama lā yuqḍā ʿalayhim fa-yamūtū wa-lā yukhaffafu ʿanhum min ʿadhābihā kadhālika najzī kulla kafūr.
"But those who disbelieve will have the fire of Hell. They will not be finished off so they may die, nor will its punishment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every ungrateful person." (Fāṭir 35:36)
Commentary: Wa-lladhīna kafarū — and those who disbelieve and deny — those who do not believe — lahum nāru jahannama — for them is the Fire of Hell — the fire of Jahannam will be their destination. Lā yuqḍā ʿalayhim — their end will not come — fa-yamūtū — so that they die — they will not die. Wa-lā yukhaffafu ʿanhum min ʿadhābihā — and nothing of the punishment of Hell will be reduced for them, nothing at all; the severity will not lessen, nothing will ease. Kadhālika najzī kulla kafūr — thus We requite every ungrateful person — we give such a punishment to every ungrateful disbeliever.
Translation: And for the disbelievers and the ungrateful is the Fire of Jahannam — neither will their end come so that they die, nor will any of its punishment be eased. We give every ungrateful person such a punishment.
وَهُمْ يَصْطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ أَوَلَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُم مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَن تَذَكَّرَ وَجَاءَكُمُ النَّذِيرُ فَذُوقُوا فَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ
Wa-hum yaṣṭarikhūna fīhā rabbanā akhrijnā naʿmal ṣāliḥan ghayra lladhī kunnā naʿmalu awa-lam nuʿammirkum mā yatadhakkaru fīhi man tadhakkara wa-jāʾakumu l-nadhīru fa-dhūqū fa-mā li-l-ẓālimīna min naṣīr.
"And they will cry out therein, 'Our Lord, remove us; we will do righteousness — other than what we used to do!' But did We not grant you a life long enough for whoever would remember therein to remember? And the warner had come to you. So taste the punishment, for there is not for the wrongdoers any helper." (Fāṭir 35:37)
Commentary: Wa-hum yaṣṭarikhūna fīhā — and they, crying out in Jahannam, screaming — rabbanā akhrijnā — O our Lord! Take us out! Rescue us from Jahannam — naʿmal ṣāliḥan — we will perform righteous deeds — we will do good deeds — ghayra lladhī kunnā naʿmalu — other than what we did before — contrary to those past works, the actions that were wrong. But Allah will say to them: awa-lam nuʿammirkum — did We not give you a long life? — mā yatadhakkaru fīhi man tadhakkara — a life long enough for anyone who wished to reflect to have reflected — wa-jāʾakumu l-nadhīr — and your Prophet also came to you as a warner. Fa-dhūqū — then taste now — fa-mā li-l-ẓālimīna min naṣīr — there is no helper for the wrongdoers, none at all.
Translation: And they will cry out in Jahannam — O Lord take us out — we will do good deeds! — other than what we used to do — but (the answer comes) did We not give you a long life such that any reflective person could reflect? — and your prophet also came as a warner — so taste — the wrongdoers have no helper.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَالِمُ غَيْبِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
Inna llāha ʿālimu ghaybi l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi innahū ʿalīmun bi-dhāti l-ṣudūr.
"Indeed, Allah is Knower of the unseen of the heavens and the earth. Indeed, He is Knowing of what is within the breasts." (Fāṭir 35:38)
Commentary: Inna llāha ʿālimu ghaybi l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍ — indeed Allah knows the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and all the hidden things of the skies. Innahū ʿalīmun bi-dhāti l-ṣudūr — indeed He is Knowing — what is hidden in the hearts, even the deeply hidden things — He knows them fully — all the thoughts that arise in the breast, He knows those too.
Translation: Indeed Allah knows the unseen of the heavens and earth — and He knows the secrets that lie in the hearts.
هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَمَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا مَقْتًا وَلَا يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
Huwa lladhī jaʿalakum khalāʾifa fī l-arḍi fa-man kafara fa-ʿalayhi kufruhu wa-lā yazīdu l-kāfirīna kufruhum ʿinda rabbihim illā maqtan wa-lā yazīdu l-kāfirīna kufruhum illā khasārā.
"He is the One who made you successors upon the earth. So whoever disbelieves — upon him is his disbelief. And the disbelief of the disbelievers does not increase them with their Lord except in hatred; and the disbelief of the disbelievers does not increase them except in loss." (Fāṭir 35:39)
Commentary: Huwa lladhī — it is He Who — jaʿalakum khalāʾifa fī l-arḍ — made you successors in the earth — the one who comes after the other is a khalīfa. This is the station of man — one person comes, another replaces them; that is His authority. So the government of this earth is of man — hence man is the khalīfa of God. Fa-man kafara fa-ʿalayhi kufruhu — so whoever commits kufr, upon that person falls his kufr — the consequence of his kufr falls upon him. Wa-lā yazīdu l-kāfirīna kufruhum ʿinda rabbihim illā maqtan — the kufr of the disbelievers does not increase for them except the displeasure of their Lord; it gives them nothing besides His anger and displeasure — the cause of disgrace. Wa-lā yazīdu l-kāfirīna kufruhum illā khasārā — and the kufr of the disbelievers does not increase them in anything except loss — illā khasārān — only harm, loss, damage.
Translation: It is He who made you as khalīfas in the earth — so whoever commits kufr, upon him is his kufr — and the disbelievers' kufr adds nothing to them before their Lord except His displeasure — and the disbelievers' kufr adds nothing to them except loss and damage.
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ شُرَكَاءَكُمُ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ أَمْ آتَيْنَاهُمْ كِتَابًا فَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّنْهُ بَلْ إِن يَعِدُ الظَّالِمُونَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًا إِلَّا غُرُورًا
Qul ara'aytum shurakāʾakumu lladhīna tadʿūna min dūni llāhi arunī mādhā khalaqū min al-arḍi am lahum shirkun fī l-samāwāti am ātaynāhum kitāban fa-hum ʿalā bayyinatin minhu bal in yaʿidu l-ẓālimūna baʿḍahum baʿḍan illā ghurūrā.
"Say: Have you considered your partners whom you call upon besides Allah? Show me what they have created from the earth, or do they have partnership in the heavens? Or have We given them a scripture so they follow clear evidence from it? Rather, the wrongdoers do not promise each other except delusion." (Fāṭir 35:40)
Commentary: Qul — say: ara'aytum shurakāʾakum — have you seen your own associates — those you call upon instead of God. Arunī mādhā khalaqū min al-arḍ — show me what they have created from the earth? Did they create trees? Did they create mountains? Did they create animals? Am lahum shirkun fī l-samāwāt — or do they have any shareholding in creating the heavens? Am ātaynāhum kitāban — or have We given them a Book, some scripture by the aid of which they can present clear argument as valid evidence? No — bal in yaʿidu l-ẓālimūna baʿḍahum baʿḍan illā ghurūrān — rather, these wrongdoers do not promise each other anything but deception, fraud — mutual deception — all their talk is baseless.
Translation: (O Prophet!) Say to them: Have you seen those you call upon instead of God? Show me what they have created in the earth — or do they have some shareholding in the heavens — or have We given them a Book they can present as evidence? No — rather these wrongdoers promise each other nothing but deception — all their things are baseless.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا وَلَئِن زَالَتَا إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّن بَعْدِهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
Inna llāha yumsiku l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍa an tazūlā wa-la'in zālatā in amsakahumā min aḥadin min baʿdihī innahū kāna ḥalīman ghafūrā.
"Indeed, Allah holds the heavens and the earth so they do not move. And if they moved, no one could hold them after Him. Indeed, He is Forbearing and Forgiving." (Fāṭir 35:41)
Commentary: Inna llāha yumsiku l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍ — indeed Allah holds the heavens and the earth without doubt — He keeps both constantly in place. An tazūlā — so that they slip from their places. Wa-la'in zālatā — and if they were to slip away from their places — in amsakahumā min aḥadin — no one can hold them — min baʿdihī — besides Him. No one from those two can hold them back. Innahū kāna ḥalīmā ghafūrā — indeed He is forbearing, a Lord of patience and forbearance and pardon — He sees the evils of these people and bears it patiently and forgives too.
Translation: Indeed Allah holds the heavens and the earth so they do not slip from their places — and if they were to slip, who besides Allah could stop them? Indeed He is Forbearing and Forgiving.
وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لَئِن جَاءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ لَّيَكُونُنَّ أَهْدَى مِنْ إِحْدَى الْأُمَمِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ مَّا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّا نُفُورًا
Wa-aqsamū bi-llāhi jahda aymānihim la'in jāʾahum nadhīrun la-yakūnunna ahdā min iḥdā l-umami fa-lammā jāʾahum nadhīrun mā zādahum illā nufūrā.
"And they swore by Allah their strongest oaths that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than any of the nations. But when a warner came to them, it did not increase them except in aversion." (Fāṭir 35:42)
Commentary: Wa-aqsamū bi-llāhi jahda aymānihim — and they swore by Allah great, firm oaths — la'in jāʾahum nadhīrun — if a warner were to come to them, one bringing warning — a Prophet would come — la-yakūnunna ahdā — they would be more guided on the good path — min iḥdā l-umami — than all the other nations; from any of the nations' groupings they would be better. Fa-lammā jāʾahum nadhīrun — then when the Prophet arrived — mā zādahum illā nufūrān — they added nothing but hatred and aversion towards him — but when the Prophet came they began to express even more disgust and hatred.
Translation: And they used to swear great oaths by God that if a Prophet comes to us, we will be more guided than all other peoples. But when the Prophet came to them, nothing increased except their hatred and aversion.
اسْتِكْبَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ السَّيِّئِ وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ الْأَوَّلِينَ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا
Istikbāran fī l-arḍi wa-makra l-sayyiʾi wa-lā yaḥīqu l-makru l-sayyiʾu illā bi-ahlihī fa-hal yanẓurūna illā sunnata l-awwalīna fa-lan tajida li-sunnati llāhi tabdīlan wa-lan tajida li-sunnati llāhi taḥwīlā.
"Out of arrogance in the land and plotting of evil; but the evil plot does not encompass except its own people. Then do they await anything except the way of the former peoples? But you will never find in the way of Allah any change, and you will never find in the way of Allah any alteration." (Fāṭir 35:43)
Commentary: Istikbāran fī l-arḍ — out of arrogance in the earth, arrogance before God, and out of evil planning and bad schemes. Wa-lā yaḥīqu l-makru l-sayyiʾu illā bi-ahlihī — but the evil plot does not descend except upon its own authors; bad plans do not affect others — they close in on the plotters themselves. Fa-hal yanẓurūna illā sunnata l-awwalīn — then they are waiting (they are not waiting) for nothing but the customary destiny of the former peoples. Fa-lan tajida li-sunnati llāhi tabdīlan — you will not find any change in God's way — it will not alter. Wa-lan tajida li-sunnati llāhi taḥwīlān — and you will not find any transformation in God's way — it is His consistent way.
Translation: (This all came about) because of arrogance in the earth and because of bad schemes — but evil scheming falls back upon its own perpetrators. They are only waiting for the same end as former peoples — and you will never find any change or alteration in the way of Allah.
(Marginal note: It is the human nature that the one who abandons his own habits to break miracles — when its habit does not change, what happened then? But it is also Allah's way that some habits are general and some specific special moments of action also occur. And it is also Allah's way that whenever a Prophet makes duʿāʾ for something, He produces a special condition apart from the general custom.)
(The author notes:) Keep this one thing in mind: abandoning one's habit for the sake of performing miracles — if a person abandons his own habit to go against God to seek the special circumstances — God Almighty creates special circumstances apart from His general custom. One point: those people who keep their own habits against God — you keep your own habit against God and God will keep His against you — each person for them is their own departure from habit — a miracle is better.
أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُ شَيْءٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا
Awa-lam yasīrū fī l-arḍi fa-yanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu lladhīna min qablihim wa-kānū ashadda minhum quwwatan wa-mā kāna llāhu li-yuʿjizahū shayʾun fī l-samāwāti wa-lā fī l-arḍi innahū kāna ʿalīman qadīrā.
"Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? And they were mightier than them in power. But nothing in the heavens and the earth could escape Allah. Indeed, He is Knowing and Powerful." (Fāṭir 35:44)
Commentary: Awa-lam yasīrū fī l-arḍ — have they not traveled in the earth? — fa-yanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu lladhīna min qablihim — so that they see what happened to the people who came before them — wa-kānū ashadda minhum quwwatan — they were stronger and more powerful than these people — wa-mā kāna llāhu li-yuʿjizahū shayʾun fī l-samāwāti wa-lā fī l-arḍ — and nothing in the heavens and in the earth can make Allah powerless. Innahū kāna ʿalīman qadīrā — He knows all things — He has full power and knowledge.
Translation: Did they not travel in the earth and see what happened to the people before them — who were even stronger than them — nothing in the heavens and earth can defeat Allah — indeed He is All-Knowing and All-Powerful.
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَابَّةٍ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ بَصِيرًا
Wa-law yuʾākhidhu llāhu l-nāsa bi-mā kasabū mā taraka ʿalā ẓahrihā min dābbatin wa-lākin yuʾakhkhiruhum ilā ajalin musamman fa-idhā jāʾa ajaluhum fa-inna llāha kāna bi-ʿibādihī baṣīrā.
"And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon it any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allah has ever been, of His servants, Seeing." (Fāṭir 35:45)
Commentary: Wa-law yuʾākhidhu llāhu l-nāsa — and if Allah were to hold the people accountable — bi-mā kasabū — on account of their deeds, their earnings — mā taraka ʿalā ẓahrihā min dābbatin — He would not leave on the earth any living creature — no living creature on earth would remain. Wa-lākin yuʾakhkhiruhum — but Allah defers them — delays them — ilā ajalin musamman — up to a fixed, appointed term — fa-idhā jāʾa ajaluhum — then when their appointed time arrives — fa-inna llāha kāna bi-ʿibādihī baṣīrā — then Allah knows His servants very well — He is the All-Knower, He sees everything — all their wickednesses He sees.
Translation: And if Allah were to hold people accountable for their deeds, He would not leave a single living creature on earth. But He gives all of them a fixed respite — then when their time comes, He knows His servants well — He sees everything.