tafsir

Surah al-Hashr: Introduction and Tafsir

Surah al-Hashr: Introduction and Tafsir

In Surah al-Mujadilah Allah promised that the believers will prevail over the people who follow shayṭan, and Surah al-Ḥashr demonstrates how this happens through the Battle of Banu Naḍir.

Allah teaches us how He instills fear in the hearts of His enemies, thereby making it easy for the believers to overcome them and deliver the justice that they deserve for betraying the Messenger of Allah. He also shows us how the Messenger of Allah is further supported through the spoils of war that Allah has given him rights over thereby enabling a more equitable distribution of wealth. This is important because, in the past, the wealthy were in much better positions to participate in war. They had the means to gather equipment and men to fight in battle through which they earned access to the spoils. Meanwhile, the less fortunate people, such as the poor and orphans, would be at a natural disadvantage.

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 101-110: The Last Ten Verses

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 101-110: The Last Ten Verses

The Real (Exalted is His Majesty) said, in rebuke of the aforementioned disbelievers:

“Do those who disbelieve deem” when they have turned away from My Remembrance, and after their eyes have been veiled from witnessing the evidences of My Oneness, “that they can take My slaves” such as the Angels, ‘Isa and ‘Uzayr, or the devils - because, in reality, they are also slaves - “as partners apart from Me?” In other words, do they deem that they can take them as objects of worship apart from Me? Those who disbelieve ally themselves with them through worship. Do they believe that this worship will benefit them? Or, do they believe that We will not punish them for that? Of course We will punish them for that.

Surah al-Waqi’ah: Introduction and Tafsir

Surah al-Waqi’ah: Introduction and Tafsir

He ﷻ said:

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

{In the Name of Allāh, the Beneficent, the Merciful}

“In the Name of Allāh” It is the name of the All-Powerful, who demonstrates His generosity to those who observe the dignity of His rank. For those who choose to remain in disobedience to Him, He comes between that person and his choice by subjecting him to His authority. If the person does not then adhere to obedience, He exposes him to afflictions so that he will come to Him out of necessity.

It is the name of the Eternal Almighty, the All-Powerful and Absolute, the Overpowering, Singular One, who protects the believers and is lenient to the disobedient slaves. His beauty has no equal and His Majesty has no counterpart, and He is a protector of the disobedient believers.

56|1| إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ

56|2|لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ

{When the momentous event occurs. Its occurrence cannot be denied} When the Judgement commences, nothing can prevent it. The word (kādhibah) is used here as a verbal noun, similar to ‘āfiyah and ‘āqibah. It means that the momentous event is real and cannot be warded off by anything. There is nothing about its occurrence that is a lie.

Surah al-Rahman: Introduction and Tafsir

Surah al-Rahman: Introduction and Tafsir

He ﷻ said:

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

{In the Name of Allāh, the Beneficent, the Merciful} “In the Name of Allah” informs of us His might and His greatness. “The Beneficent, the Merciful” informs us His grace and His mercy. Spiritual happiness is perfected by witnessing His greatness, and physical bliss is obtained due to the existence of His mercy. If it were not for His greatness, no servant would have worshiped the Beneficent. If not for His mercy, no one would have loved Him.

He ﷻ said:

55|1| ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ

55|2|عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ

{The Beneficent; He taught the Qur’ān} These verses mean that the Beneficent (al-Raḥmān), the One whom the monotheists recognize and the disbelievers deny, is the One who taught the Qur’ān.

It has also been said that it means, “The Beneficent—the One who has shown them mercy, protected them from polytheism, ennobled them with faith, and demanded of them the word of God-consciousness—is the One who taught the Qur’ān to His servants.”

It has also been said, “Al-Ḥaq Himself taught the Qur’ān to His servants.”

Surah Ya Sin: Introduction and Tafsir

Surah Ya Sin: Introduction and Tafsir

His (How majestic is His mention) words:

{In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful}

“In the Name of Allah is a verse with which He has begun His address. Thus, if someone learns it, his reward is increased; if someone becomes acquainted with it, his supplication is more likely to receive a response; and if someone magnifies its value, his final abode will be nobler.

His (How majestic is His mention) words:

{(1) YaSin (2) By the Wise Qur’an}.

It is said that the meaning [of YaSin] is “O, Master!” It has also been said that the Ya’ indicates the day of the primordial covenant, and the Sin indicates His secret amongst His lovers. So, it is as if He is saying, “[I swear by] the reality of the day of the primordial covenant, by My secret amongst My lovers; and by the Wise Qur’an.”

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf: The Story of Musa and al-Khidr

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf: The Story of Musa and al-Khidr

The Real (Exalted is His Majesty) mentioned the story of the People of the Cave, in which there was also mentioned a gentle correction of the Messenger ﷺ. That gentle correction was His words “And do not say about anything…” (23) after the Prophet ﷺ had not conditioned his statement regarding the delay in revelation.

So, Allah mentioned also the story of Musa with Khidhr عليهم السلام, since the cause of that story was the Real’s gentle correction of Musa عليه السلام because he had not referred the knowledge to Allah when someone asked him, “Do you know of anyone more knowledgeable than you?”

And he replied, “No.”

So, the Real (Exalted is He) mentioned the story of them both as a consolation to our Prophet ﷺ through giving someone a share of the correction.

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 32-44: The Man with the Two Gardens

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 32-44: The Man with the Two Gardens

The Real (Exalted is His Majesty) said:

“And strike for them” i.e. for the two aforementioned groups, believers and disbelievers, “a parable” of the contrast of the disobedience of the disbeliever, despite his turning about in bliss, and the obedience of the believer, despite his suffering the difficulties of poverty, and of that which has been promised to the both of them. However, this is not from the standpoint of what the disbeliever and the believer will receive in the Hereafter.

Rather, strike a parable of the situation of “two men.” These two men may be theoretical or real. If they are real, then it refers to two brothers, or partners, from among the Children of Israel. One was a disbeliever, whose name was Qutrus. The other was a believer whose name was Yahudha. They shared [earnings] of nine thousand dinars. It has also been said that they inherited the money from their father. The disbeliever spent his portion on wasteful things and land, while the believer spent his portion in different kinds of charity.

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 11-26: The Story of the Sleepers of the Cave

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 11-26: The Story of the Sleepers of the Cave

Then, Allah embarked upon the story of the People of the Cave, which is the main point of this Surah. He said:

11 So, We sealed their ears in the cave for a number of years 12 Then, We awakened them that We may know which of the two parties had better measured the period of time that they had tarried.

Then, Allah mentioned the first part of the story of the People of the Cave. He said:

“So, We sealed their ears” Allah caused the People of the Cave to sleep, and that heavy sleep, which prevented any voices from arriving to their ears, was likened to placing a veil over them. And their ears are specified mentioned in relation to this veiling, because while all of their senses were equally veiled during their sleep, hearing is the sense that is most in need of a veil, since it is the way that one awakes a person most of the time.