English Translation and Commentary of the Holy Quran (1951/2002)
by Maulana Muhammad Ali
سُوۡرَۃُ فَـاطِرٍ مَکِّیَّۃٌ
Chapter 35
Al-Fatir
The Originator
Revealed at Makkah
(5 sections; 45 verses)
Introductory Note by Translator: The title of this chapter, Al-Fāṭir, is taken from the Divine attribute mentioned in its opening verse. The Originator of the heavens and the earth sweeps away the old order and generates a new one, because, if truth must prosper, a new generation must be raised to propagate that truth. The chapter is also known as Al-Malā’ikah or The Angels, because of the mention, in its opening verse, of angels who make men attain the nearness of God. For the date of revelation and relation to the previous chapter, see introductory note on last chapter.
The first section speaks of Divine favours to man, and the second reasserts the promise that truth will prevail. The third section refers to the rising of a new generation, which will take the place of the old generation that proved itself unfit to promote the cause of truth and justice in the world. The section that follows promises peace, safety, success, and abundance to the believers, while the last section reiterates the law that punishment is due to evil deeds.
بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Section 1: Divine Favours
رکوع ۱
اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ فَاطِرِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ جَاعِلِ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ رُسُلًا اُولِیۡۤ اَجۡنِحَۃٍ مَّثۡنٰی وَ ثُلٰثَ وَ رُبٰعَ ؕ یَزِیۡدُ فِی الۡخَلۡقِ مَا یَشَآءُ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ ﴿۱﴾
35:1 Praise be to Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Maker of the angels, messengers flying on wings, two, and three, and four.a He increases in creation what He pleases.b Surely Allah is Possessor of power over all things.
1a (Commentary on 35:1) God is here mentioned by his name Fāṭir, from faṭara, which means he clove or split, also he originated or brought a thing into existence newly or for the first time, it not having existed before (LL). There may be reference to the creation of primeval matter in the original significance of cleaving or splitting. Derived from the same root is fiṭrah, which means nature or constitution or natural or original quality in which all men are said to have been made — the nature made by Allah in which He has created men (30:30) — and which has therefore been translated as the faculty of knowing God with which He has created mankind (LL). So there may be reference to this fiṭrah in the use of the word Fāṭir, the fiṭrah or nature of man having a close relation with the Fāṭir or the Maker of that fiṭrah.
The representation of angels as possessing wings is met with in sacred history, but the janāḥ or wing of an angel by no means indicates the fore-limbs of a bird, which fit it for flight. It is a symbol of power enabling these immaterial beings to execute their functions, and in Arabic, the word janāḥ stands for power, as you say huwa maqṣūṣ al-janāḥ (lit., he has the wing clipped), meaning he is one who lacks strength or power or ability, or he is impotent (T, LL). Angels are here spoken of as having two, three or four wings. Is there a reference here to the rak‘ahs of prayer which are two, three or four in number? The morning prayer consists of two rak‘ahs, the maghrib of three and the two afternoon prayers, and the ‘Ishā’ of four rak‘ahs. In prayer man holds communion with God and is raised to spiritual eminence; he, as it were, flies to God, is on his wings, and the angels are the agents which make him fly to God, their wings thus standing for the rak‘ahs of prayer.
1b (Commentary on 35:1) The increase in creation may refer in a general sense to the new creation which is going on momentarily in this universe, or there may be a reference here to the increase in the number of the elect which was to be brought about through the Prophet. Or still again, the meaning may be that the power of angels is not limited to two, three or four wings, for there are angels of mighty power like Gabriel, who is spoken of as having six hundred wings.
مَا یَفۡتَحِ اللّٰہُ لِلنَّاسِ مِنۡ رَّحۡمَۃٍ فَلَا مُمۡسِکَ لَہَا ۚ وَ مَا یُمۡسِکۡ ۙ فَلَا مُرۡسِلَ لَہٗ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہٖ ؕ وَ ہُوَ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ ﴿۲﴾
35:2 Whatever Allah grants to men of (His) mercy, there is none to withhold it, and what He withholds, none can grant thereafter. And He is the Mighty, the Wise.
یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اذۡکُرُوۡا نِعۡمَتَ اللّٰہِ عَلَیۡکُمۡ ؕ ہَلۡ مِنۡ خَالِقٍ غَیۡرُ اللّٰہِ یَرۡزُقُکُمۡ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ۫ۖ فَاَنّٰی تُؤۡفَکُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
35:3 O men, call to mind the favour of Allah to you. Is there any Creator besides Allah who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? There is no God but He. How are you then turned away?
وَ اِنۡ یُّکَذِّبُوۡکَ فَقَدۡ کُذِّبَتۡ رُسُلٌ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکَ ؕ وَ اِلَی اللّٰہِ تُرۡجَعُ الۡاُمُوۡرُ ﴿۴﴾
35:4 And if they reject thee — truly messengers before thee were rejected. And to Allah are all affairs returned.
یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اِنَّ وَعۡدَ اللّٰہِ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّکُمُ الۡحَیٰوۃُ الدُّنۡیَا ٝ وَ لَا یَغُرَّنَّکُمۡ بِاللّٰہِ الۡغَرُوۡرُ ﴿۵﴾
35:5 O men, surely the promise of Allah is true, so let not the life of this world deceive you. And let not the archdeceiver deceive you about Allah.
اِنَّ الشَّیۡطٰنَ لَکُمۡ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوۡہُ عَدُوًّا ؕ اِنَّمَا یَدۡعُوۡا حِزۡبَہٗ لِیَکُوۡنُوۡا مِنۡ اَصۡحٰبِ السَّعِیۡرِ ؕ﴿۶﴾
35:6 Surely the devil is your enemy, so take him for an enemy. He only invites his party to be companions of the burning Fire.
اَلَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ شَدِیۡدٌ ۬ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَہُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَۃٌ وَّ اَجۡرٌ کَبِیۡرٌ ﴿٪۷﴾
35:7 Those who disbelieve, for them is a severe chastisement. And those who believe and do good, for them is forgiveness and a great reward.
Section 2: Truth will prevail
رکوع ۲
اَفَمَنۡ زُیِّنَ لَہٗ سُوۡٓءُ عَمَلِہٖ فَرَاٰہُ حَسَنًا ؕ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُضِلُّ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ۫ۖ فَلَا تَذۡہَبۡ نَفۡسُکَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ حَسَرٰتٍ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلِیۡمٌۢ بِمَا یَصۡنَعُوۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
35:8 Is he whose evil deed is made fair-seeming to him so that he considers it good? — Now surely Allah leaves in error whom He pleases and guides aright whom He pleases, so let not thy soul waste in grief for them. Surely Allah is Knower of what they do.
وَ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡۤ اَرۡسَلَ الرِّیٰحَ فَتُثِیۡرُ سَحَابًا فَسُقۡنٰہُ اِلٰی بَلَدٍ مَّیِّتٍ فَاَحۡیَیۡنَا بِہِ الۡاَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِہَا ؕ کَذٰلِکَ النُّشُوۡرُ ﴿۹﴾
35:9 And Allah is He Who sends the winds, so they raise a cloud, then We drive it on to a dead land, and therewith give life to the earth after its death. Even so is the quickening.a
9a (Commentary on 35:9) The quickening here is clearly the quickening to spiritual life.
مَنۡ کَانَ یُرِیۡدُ الۡعِزَّۃَ فَلِلّٰہِ الۡعِزَّۃُ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ اِلَیۡہِ یَصۡعَدُ الۡکَلِمُ الطَّیِّبُ وَ الۡعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ یَرۡفَعُہٗ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَمۡکُرُوۡنَ السَّیِّاٰتِ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ شَدِیۡدٌ ؕ وَ مَکۡرُ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُوَ یَبُوۡرُ ﴿۱۰﴾
35:10 Whoever desires might, then to Allah belongs the might wholly. To Him do ascend the goodly words, and the goodly deed — He exalts it. And those who plan evil — for them is a severe chastisement. And their plan will perish.a
10a (Commentary on 35:10) The ultimate triumph of truth and the destruction of falsehood could not be expressed in clearer words. Good words ascend to God, i.e., prosper and bear fruit, and good deeds are exalted, while the evil plans to destroy Truth perish.
وَ اللّٰہُ خَلَقَکُمۡ مِّنۡ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِنۡ نُّطۡفَۃٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَکُمۡ اَزۡوَاجًا ؕ وَ مَا تَحۡمِلُ مِنۡ اُنۡثٰی وَ لَا تَضَعُ اِلَّا بِعِلۡمِہٖ ؕ وَ مَا یُعَمَّرُ مِنۡ مُّعَمَّرٍ وَّ لَا یُنۡقَصُ مِنۡ عُمُرِہٖۤ اِلَّا فِیۡ کِتٰبٍ ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِکَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ یَسِیۡرٌ ﴿۱۱﴾
35:11 And Allah created you from dust, then from the life-germ, then He made you pairs. And no female bears, nor brings forth, except with His knowledge. And no one living long is granted a long life, nor is aught diminished of one’s life, but it is all in a book. Surely this is easy to Allah.a
11a (Commentary on 35:11) There is a hint that the seed of truth is sown and generates in a similar manner.
وَ مَا یَسۡتَوِی الۡبَحۡرٰنِ ٭ۖ ہٰذَا عَذۡبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَآئِغٌ شَرَابُہٗ وَ ہٰذَا مِلۡحٌ اُجَاجٌ ؕ وَ مِنۡ کُلٍّ تَاۡکُلُوۡنَ لَحۡمًا طَرِیًّا وَّ تَسۡتَخۡرِجُوۡنَ حِلۡیَۃً تَلۡبَسُوۡنَہَا ۚ وَ تَرَی الۡفُلۡکَ فِیۡہِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبۡتَغُوۡا مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ وَ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾
35:12 And the two seas are not alike: the one sweet, very sweet, pleasant to drink; and the other salt, bitter. Yet from both you eat fresh flesh and bring forth ornaments which you wear. And thou seest the ships cleave through it, that you may seek of His bounty and that you may give thanks.
یُوۡلِجُ الَّیۡلَ فِی النَّہَارِ وَ یُوۡلِجُ النَّہَارَ فِی الَّیۡلِ ۙ وَ سَخَّرَ الشَّمۡسَ وَ الۡقَمَرَ ۫ۖ کُلٌّ یَّجۡرِیۡ لِاَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّی ؕ ذٰلِکُمُ اللّٰہُ رَبُّکُمۡ لَہُ الۡمُلۡکُ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ مَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ مِنۡ قِطۡمِیۡرٍ ﴿ؕ۱۳﴾
35:13 He causes the night to enter in upon the day, and causes the day to enter in upon the night, and He has made subservient the sun and the moon, each one moves to an appointed time. This is Allah, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those whom you call upon besides Him own not a straw.a
13a (Commentary on 35:13) The Arabic word qiṭmīr stands for the white point in the back of a date-stone.
اِنۡ تَدۡعُوۡہُمۡ لَا یَسۡمَعُوۡا دُعَآءَکُمۡ ۚ وَ لَوۡ سَمِعُوۡا مَا اسۡتَجَابُوۡا لَکُمۡ ؕ وَ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ یَکۡفُرُوۡنَ بِشِرۡکِکُمۡ ؕ وَ لَا یُنَبِّئُکَ مِثۡلُ خَبِیۡرٍ ﴿٪۱۴﴾
35:14 If you call on them, they hear not your call; and if they heard, they could not answer you. And on the day of Resurrection they will deny your associating them (with Allah). And none can inform thee like the All-Aware One.
Section 3: A New Generation will be raised
رکوع ۳
یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اَنۡتُمُ الۡفُقَرَآءُ اِلَی اللّٰہِ ۚ وَ اللّٰہُ ہُوَ الۡغَنِیُّ الۡحَمِیۡدُ ﴿۱۵﴾
35:15 O men, it is you that have need of Allah, and Allah is the Self-Sufficient, the Praised One.
اِنۡ یَّشَاۡ یُذۡہِبۡکُمۡ وَ یَاۡتِ بِخَلۡقٍ جَدِیۡدٍ ﴿ۚ۱۶﴾
35:16 If He please, He will remove you and bring a new creation.
وَ مَا ذٰلِکَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ بِعَزِیۡزٍ ﴿۱۷﴾
35:17 And this is not hard to Allah.
وَ لَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَۃٌ وِّزۡرَ اُخۡرٰی ؕ وَ اِنۡ تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَۃٌ اِلٰی حِمۡلِہَا لَا یُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡہُ شَیۡءٌ وَّ لَوۡ کَانَ ذَا قُرۡبٰی ؕ اِنَّمَا تُنۡذِرُ الَّذِیۡنَ یَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّہُمۡ بِالۡغَیۡبِ وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ ؕ وَ مَنۡ تَزَکّٰی فَاِنَّمَا یَتَزَکّٰی لِنَفۡسِہٖ ؕ وَ اِلَی اللّٰہِ الۡمَصِیۡرُ ﴿۱۸﴾
35:18 And no burdened soul can bear another’s burden. And if one weighed down by a burden calls another to carry his load, naught of it will be carried, even though he be near of kin. Thou warnest only those who fear their Lord in secret and keep up prayer. And whoever purifies himself, purifies himself only for his own good. And to Allah is the eventual coming.
وَ مَا یَسۡتَوِی الۡاَعۡمٰی وَ الۡبَصِیۡرُ ﴿ۙ۱۹﴾
35:19 And the blind and the seeing are not alike,
وَ لَا الظُّلُمٰتُ وَ لَا النُّوۡرُ ﴿ۙ۲۰﴾
35:20 Nor the darkness and the light,
وَ لَا الظِّلُّ وَ لَا الۡحَرُوۡرُ ﴿ۚ۲۱﴾
35:21 Nor the shade and the heat.
وَ مَا یَسۡتَوِی الۡاَحۡیَآءُ وَ لَا الۡاَمۡوَاتُ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُسۡمِعُ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اَنۡتَ بِمُسۡمِعٍ مَّنۡ فِی الۡقُبُوۡرِ ﴿۲۲﴾
35:22 Neither are the living and the dead alike. Surely Allah makes whom He pleases hear, and thou canst not make those hear who are in the graves.a
22a (Commentary on 35:22) Note how spiritual truths are conveyed in words relating to physical life. Those in the graves are the very men who were actively engaged in opposition to the Prophet. The seeing are those who have their eyes opened spiritually, the light is the spiritual light, the living are those alive in spirit, and so on.
اِنۡ اَنۡتَ اِلَّا نَذِیۡرٌ ﴿۲۳﴾
35:23 Thou art naught but a warner.
اِنَّاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ بِالۡحَقِّ بَشِیۡرًا وَّ نَذِیۡرًا ؕ وَ اِنۡ مِّنۡ اُمَّۃٍ اِلَّا خَلَا فِیۡہَا نَذِیۡرٌ ﴿۲۴﴾
35:24 Surely We have sent thee with the Truth as a bearer of good news and a warner. And there is not a people but a warner has gone among them.a
24a (Commentary on 35:24) This broad doctrine that a prophet was raised among every nation is taught repeatedly in the Quran, and, curiously enough, it is met with in the earlier revelation at Makkah as well as the later revelation at Madīnah. This great truth, which had remained hidden for thousands of years from the wisest men of the world, had shone upon the mind of an unlearned Arabian, who did not even know what nations then existed and what scriptures they possessed. This broad doctrine alone could form the basis of the universality of a Divine message to the whole of mankind. Only he who had the breadth of mind to recognize truth in all could unite all men.
وَ اِنۡ یُّکَذِّبُوۡکَ فَقَدۡ کَذَّبَ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ۚ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ وَ بِالزُّبُرِ وَ بِالۡکِتٰبِ الۡمُنِیۡرِ ﴿۲۵﴾
35:25 And if they reject thee, those before them also rejected — their messengers came to them with clear arguments, and with scriptures, and with the illuminating Book.a
25a (Commentary on 35:25) See 3:184a.
ثُمَّ اَخَذۡتُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا فَکَیۡفَ کَانَ نَکِیۡرِ ﴿٪۲۶﴾
35:26 Then I seized those who disbelieved, so how (terrible) was My disapproval!
Section 4: The Elect
رکوع ۴
اَلَمۡ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰہَ اَنۡزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً ۚ فَاَخۡرَجۡنَا بِہٖ ثَمَرٰتٍ مُّخۡتَلِفًا اَلۡوَانُہَا ؕ وَ مِنَ الۡجِبَالِ جُدَدٌۢ بِیۡضٌ وَّ حُمۡرٌ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ اَلۡوَانُہَا وَ غَرَابِیۡبُ سُوۡدٌ ﴿۲۷﴾
35:27 Seest thou not that Allah sends down water from the clouds, then We bring forth therewith fruits of various hues? And in the mountains are streaks, white and red, of various hues and (others) intensely black.
وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ الدَّوَآبِّ وَ الۡاَنۡعَامِ مُخۡتَلِفٌ اَلۡوَانُہٗ کَذٰلِکَ ؕ اِنَّمَا یَخۡشَی اللّٰہَ مِنۡ عِبَادِہِ الۡعُلَمٰٓؤُا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَزِیۡزٌ غَفُوۡرٌ ﴿۲۸﴾
35:28 And of men and beasts and cattle there are various colours likewise. Those of His servants only who are possessed of knowledge fear Allah. Surely Allah is Mighty, Forgiving.
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ یَتۡلُوۡنَ کِتٰبَ اللّٰہِ وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اَنۡفَقُوۡا مِمَّا رَزَقۡنٰہُمۡ سِرًّا وَّ عَلَانِیَۃً یَّرۡجُوۡنَ تِجَارَۃً لَّنۡ تَبُوۡرَ ﴿ۙ۲۹﴾
35:29 Surely those who recite the Book of Allah and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them, secretly and openly, hope for a gain which perishes nota —
29a (Commentary on 35:29) Tijārah literally signifies a buying and selling for gain, hence I render the word here as meaning gain.
لِیُوَفِّیَہُمۡ اُجُوۡرَہُمۡ وَ یَزِیۡدَہُمۡ مِّنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ ؕ اِنَّہٗ غَفُوۡرٌ شَکُوۡرٌ ﴿۳۰﴾
35:30 That He may pay them back fully their rewards and give them more out of His grace. Surely He is Forgiving, Multiplier of reward.
وَ الَّذِیۡۤ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ مِنَ الۡکِتٰبِ ہُوَ الۡحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡہِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ بِعِبَادِہٖ لَخَبِیۡرٌۢ بَصِیۡرٌ ﴿۳۱﴾
35:31 And that which We have revealed to thee of the Book, that is the truth, verifying that which is before it.a Surely Allah is Aware, Seer of His servants.
31a (Commentary on 35:31) Note that as the Holy Quran recognizes that prophets were raised in every nation, so it claims that previous revelation contains prophecies which have been fulfilled in the advent of the Holy Prophet. This is an early Makkan revelation.
ثُمَّ اَوۡرَثۡنَا الۡکِتٰبَ الَّذِیۡنَ اصۡطَفَیۡنَا مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا ۚ فَمِنۡہُمۡ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفۡسِہٖ ۚ وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مُّقۡتَصِدٌ ۚ وَ مِنۡہُمۡ سَابِقٌۢ بِالۡخَیۡرٰتِ بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ ہُوَ الۡفَضۡلُ الۡکَبِیۡرُ ﴿ؕ۳۲﴾
35:32 Then We have given the Book as inheritance to those whom We have chosen from among Our servants: so of them is he who wrongs himself, and of them is he who takes a middle course, and of them is he who is foremost in deeds of goodness by Allah’s permission.a That is the great grace,
32a (Commentary on 35:32) After speaking of the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet, we are told that the Holy Book was now being given as an inheritance to a chosen people, i.e., the Muslim community, who are chosen to carry this great message to the whole world. But the chosen people are not all alike. Among the elect are some people who wrong themselves — they do not fulfil Divine commandments. There are others among them who follow a middle course; they are not wrongdoers but they are not very active in the doing of good. There are others still, who are foremost in the doing of good, who are elsewhere called muqarrabūn (56:11), those who have attained to nearness to God. It is thus made clear that when a community is spoken of as being a chosen community, all members of it are not alike. It is chosen because of those who are foremost in the doing of good, whose example the others should try to follow.
جَنّٰتُ عَدۡنٍ یَّدۡخُلُوۡنَہَا یُحَلَّوۡنَ فِیۡہَا مِنۡ اَسَاوِرَ مِنۡ ذَہَبٍ وَّ لُؤۡلُؤًا ۚ وَ لِبَاسُہُمۡ فِیۡہَا حَرِیۡرٌ ﴿۳۳﴾
35:33 Gardens of perpetuity, which they enter — they are made to wear therein bracelets of gold and pearls, and their dress therein is silk.a
33a (Commentary on 35:33) The promise refers to this life as well as to the next. See 22:23a, where it is shown that the Caliph ‘Umar made Surāqah wear Kisrā’s bracelets of gold.
وَ قَالُوا الۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡۤ اَذۡہَبَ عَنَّا الۡحَزَنَ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُوۡرٌ شَکُوۡرُۨ ﴿ۙ۳۴﴾
35:34 And they say: Praise be to Allah, Who has removed grief from us! Surely our Lord is Forgiving, Multiplier of reward,a
34a (Commentary on 35:34) Here is drawn a true picture of paradise: Who has removed grief from us. This shows that freedom from grief and anxiety is the real bliss of paradise. The repeated promise to the righteous, that they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve, expresses the same truth, and shows that paradise begins in this life.
الَّذِیۡۤ اَحَلَّنَا دَارَ الۡمُقَامَۃِ مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ ۚ لَا یَمَسُّنَا فِیۡہَا نَصَبٌ وَّ لَا یَمَسُّنَا فِیۡہَا لُغُوۡبٌ ﴿۳۵﴾
35:35 Who out of His grace has made us alight in a house abiding forever; therein toil touches us not nor does fatigue afflict us therein.a
35a (Commentary on 35:35) Note this further description of a spiritual paradise: where toil and fatigue no more afflict a man. It is all peace and satisfaction and the highest bliss.
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَہُمۡ نَارُ جَہَنَّمَ ۚ لَا یُقۡضٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ فَیَمُوۡتُوۡا وَ لَا یُخَفَّفُ عَنۡہُمۡ مِّنۡ عَذَابِہَا ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِیۡ کُلَّ کَفُوۡرٍ ﴿ۚ۳۶﴾
35:36 And those who disbelieve, for them is Fire of hell; it is not finished with them so that they should die, nor is chastisement thereof lightened to them. Thus We deal retribution on every ungrateful one.
وَ ہُمۡ یَصۡطَرِخُوۡنَ فِیۡہَا ۚ رَبَّنَاۤ اَخۡرِجۡنَا نَعۡمَلۡ صَالِحًا غَیۡرَ الَّذِیۡ کُنَّا نَعۡمَلُ ؕ اَوَ لَمۡ نُعَمِّرۡکُمۡ مَّا یَتَذَکَّرُ فِیۡہِ مَنۡ تَذَکَّرَ وَ جَآءَکُمُ النَّذِیۡرُ ؕ فَذُوۡقُوۡا فَمَا لِلظّٰلِمِیۡنَ مِنۡ نَّصِیۡرٍ ﴿٪۳۷﴾
35:37 And therein they cry for succour: Our Lord, take us out! we will do good deeds other than those which we used to do! Did We not give you a life long enough, for him to be mindful who would mind? And there came to you the warner. So taste; because for the iniquitous there is no helper.
Section 5: Punishment due to Evil Deeds
رکوع ۵
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عٰلِمُ غَیۡبِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ عَلِیۡمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوۡرِ ﴿۳۸﴾
35:38 Surely Allah is the Knower of the unseen in the heavens and the earth. Surely He is Knower of what is in the hearts.
ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ جَعَلَکُمۡ خَلٰٓئِفَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ فَمَنۡ کَفَرَ فَعَلَیۡہِ کُفۡرُہٗ ؕ وَ لَا یَزِیۡدُ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ کُفۡرُہُمۡ عِنۡدَ رَبِّہِمۡ اِلَّا مَقۡتًا ۚ وَ لَا یَزِیۡدُ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ کُفۡرُہُمۡ اِلَّا خَسَارًا ﴿۳۹﴾
35:39 He it is Who made you successors in the earth. So whoever disbelieves, his disbelief is against himself. And their disbelief increases the disbelievers with their Lord in naught but hatred; and their disbelief increases the disbelievers in naught but loss.
قُلۡ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ شُرَکَآءَکُمُ الَّذِیۡنَ تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اَرُوۡنِیۡ مَاذَا خَلَقُوۡا مِنَ الۡاَرۡضِ اَمۡ لَہُمۡ شِرۡکٌ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ ۚ اَمۡ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ کِتٰبًا فَہُمۡ عَلٰی بَیِّنَتٍ مِّنۡہُ ۚ بَلۡ اِنۡ یَّعِدُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ بَعۡضُہُمۡ بَعۡضًا اِلَّا غُرُوۡرًا ﴿۴۰﴾
35:40 Say: Have you seen your associates which you call upon besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth! Or have they any share in the heavens? Or, have We given them a Book so that they follow a clear argument thereof? Nay, the wrongdoers hold out promises one to another only to deceive.
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُمۡسِکُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ اَنۡ تَزُوۡلَا ۬ۚ وَ لَئِنۡ زَالَتَاۤ اِنۡ اَمۡسَکَہُمَا مِنۡ اَحَدٍ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِہٖ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ حَلِیۡمًا غَفُوۡرًا ﴿۴۱﴾
35:41 Surely Allah upholds the heavens and the earth lest they come to naught. And if they come to naught, none can uphold them after Him. Surely He is ever Forbearing, Forgiving.
وَ اَقۡسَمُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ جَہۡدَ اَیۡمَانِہِمۡ لَئِنۡ جَآءَہُمۡ نَذِیۡرٌ لَّیَکُوۡنُنَّ اَہۡدٰی مِنۡ اِحۡدَی الۡاُمَمِ ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَہُمۡ نَذِیۡرٌ مَّا زَادَہُمۡ اِلَّا نُفُوۡرَۨا ﴿ۙ۴۲﴾
35:42 And they swore by Allah, their strongest oaths, that, if a warner came to them, they would be better guided than any of the nations. But when a warner came to them, it increased them in naught but aversion,a
42a (Commentary on 35:42) There were Jews and Christians in Arabia who were as corrupt as the idolaters of Arabia. The Arabs, therefore, said that, if a prophet came to them as prophets came to other people, they would follow him, and set an example of goodness.
اسۡتِکۡـبَارًا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَکۡرَ السَّیِّیَٔ ؕ وَ لَا یَحِیۡقُ الۡمَکۡرُ السَّیِّیُٔ اِلَّا بِاَہۡلِہٖ ؕ فَہَلۡ یَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَّا سُنَّتَ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ۚ فَلَنۡ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللّٰہِ تَبۡدِیۡلًا ۬ۚ وَ لَنۡ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللّٰہِ تَحۡوِیۡلًا ﴿۴۳﴾
35:43 Behaving proudly in the land and planning evil. And the evil plan besets none save the authors of it. So they wait for naught but the way of the ancients. But thou wilt find no alteration in the course of Allah; and thou wilt find no change in the course of Allah.
اَوَ لَمۡ یَسِیۡرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَیَنۡظُرُوۡا کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ وَ کَانُوۡۤا اَشَدَّ مِنۡہُمۡ قُوَّۃً ؕ وَ مَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ لِیُعۡجِزَہٗ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ لَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ عَلِیۡمًا قَدِیۡرًا ﴿۴۴﴾
35:44 Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them — and they were stronger than those in power? And Allah is not such that anything in the heavens or the earth can escape Him. Surely He is ever Knowing, Powerful.
وَ لَوۡ یُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰہُ النَّاسَ بِمَا کَسَبُوۡا مَا تَرَکَ عَلٰی ظَہۡرِہَا مِنۡ دَآبَّۃٍ وَّ لٰکِنۡ یُّؤَخِّرُہُمۡ اِلٰۤی اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّی ۚ فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُہُمۡ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ بِعِبَادِہٖ بَصِیۡرًا ﴿٪۴۵﴾
35:45 And were Allah to punish men for what they earn, He would not leave on the back of it any creature,a but He respites them till an appointed term; so when their doom comes, then surely Allah is ever Seer of His servants.
45a (Commentary on 35:45) Similar words occur in 16:61: “And if Allah were to destroy men for their iniquity, He would not leave therein a single creature”. Evidently by dābbah or creature here are meant people bent low on earth, people ignorant of the higher or spiritual values of life, or the iniquitous; see 27:82a and 34:14a.