SURAH AL-AN AAM (AYA 61 to 70)

SECTION 8

The Judgment

ALLAH is supreme over everything---ALLAH’s chastisement may come from above or from below the feet of men---Mockers of religion to be avoided.

وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ {6:61}

[Q6:61] Wa huwal qaahiru fawqa 'ibaadihee wa yursilu 'alaikum hafazatan hattaaa izaa jaaa'a ahadakumul mawtu tawaffathu rusulunaa wa hum laa yufarritoon. 
[Q6:61] And He is the Supreme, above His servants, and He sends keepers over you; until when death comes to one of you, Our messengers cause him to die, and they are not remiss.

[Q6:61] Dan Dialah yang berkuasa atas sekalian hambaNya dan Dia mengutuskan kepada kamu pengawal-pengawal (malaikat yang menjaga dan menulis segala yang kamu lakukan), sehingga apabila sampai ajal maut kepada salah seorang di antara kamu, lalu diambil (nyawanya) oleh utusan-utusan Kami (malaikat); sedang mereka pula (malaikat itu) tidak cuai (dalam menjalankan tugasnya). 

ALLAH (SWT) IS THE SUBDUER OF HIS CREATURES BY HIS ABSOLUTE AND SOVEREIGN POWER AND AUTHORITY, WITH OR WITHOUT THEIR WILL.

Ì  The angels or "the sent ones" (rusul) carry out His commands all over the universe as His subordinate agents. His absolute authority is supreme.

ATTRIBUTION OF ANY ACTIVITY TO ANY PERSON OR THING FOR WHICH THERE IS NO DIVINE DECREE OR DECLARATION MEANS ASSIGNING A PARALLEL AUTHORITY WHICH IS SHIRK (POLYTHEISM).

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(6:61) And He alone holds sway over His servants and sets guardians over you *40 till death approaches any of you and Our deputed angels take his soul, neglecting no part of their task.

*40. The angels who keep watch and maintain a record of everything, i.e. all their movements, deeds and so on. 

ثُمَّ رُدُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ الْحَاسِبِينَ {6:62}

[Q6:62] Summa ruddooo ilallaahi mawlaahumul haqq; alaa lahul hukmu wa Huwa asra'ul haasibeen. 

[Q6:62] Then are they sent back to ALLAH (SWT), their Master, the True one; now surely His is the judgment and He is swiftest in taking account.
[Q6:62] Kemudian mereka (yang diambil nyawanya itu) dikembalikan kepada ALLAH (SwT) Pengawas mereka yang sebenar (yang akan membalas dengan adil). Ketahuilah, bagi ALLAH (SwT) jualah kuasa menetapkan hukum (pada hari kiamat itu) dan Dialah secepat-cepat Pengira (Penghitung). 

MAWLA (LORD-MASTER) HAS BEEN USED BY THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) FOR HIMSELF AND IMAM ALI ON THE DAY OF GHADIR KHUM (SEE COMMENTARY OF MA-IDAH 5:67) IN THE SAME SENSE ALLAH (SWT) HAS USED IT FOR HIMSELF IN THIS VERSE.

v  THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) AS ALLAH (SWT)'S VICEGERENT AND ALI AS THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD)'S VICEGERENT, APPOINTED BY HIM AT THE COMMAND OF THE LORD OF THE WORLDS, HAVE ALSO BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE DIVINE POWER OF JUDGEMENT. Judgement requires the full knowledge of truth and perfect ability to distinguish between right and wrong. No one possesses it save ALLAH (SWT) and His messenger and his successors appointed by Him.

Asra ul hasibin - when asked "How ALLAH (SWT) would take account of all the created beings simultaneously" Imam Ali replied: “Just as He provides sustenance to one and all at the same time.”

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(6:62) Then all are restored to Allah, their true protector. Behold, His is the judgement. He is the swiftest of those who take account.'

قُلْ مَنْ يُنَجِّيكُمْ مِنْ ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً لَئِنْ أَنْجَانَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ {6:63}

[Q6:63] Qul mai yunajjeekum min zulumaatil barri walbahri tad'oonahoo tadarru'anw wa khufyatann la'in anjaanaa min haazihee lanakoonana minash shaakireen. 

[Q6:63] Say: Who is it that delivers you from the dangers of the land and the sea (when) you call upon Him (openly) humiliating yourselves, and in secret: If He delivers us from this, we should certainly be of the grateful ones.
[Q6:63] Katakanlah: Siapakah yang menyelamatkan kamu dari bencana-bencana di darat dan di laut? (Ketika) kamu berdoa merayu kepadaNya dengan merendah diri (secara terbuka) dan secara bersembunyi, (dengan berkata): Demi sesungguhnya jika ALLAH (SwT) selamatkan kami dari bencana ini nescaya menjadilah kami dari orang-orang yang bersyukur. 
 

Calling upon ALLAH (SWT) in times of danger shows that in the depths of their hearts people feel His need. ALLAH (SWT)'s providence saves them, and yet they ungratefully run after false gods. In addition to [1] the physical calamities that they have to fear, there are [2] their mutual discords and craving for vengeance which are much more destructive, and only faith in ALLAH (SWT) can save them from all types of calamities.

ò  The pagans of Makka had, as a body, not only rejected ALLAH (SWT)'s message but were persecuting His messenger.

THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD)'S DUTY WAS TO DELIVER HIS MESSAGE, WHICH HE DID. He was not responsible for their conduct. ALL WARNINGS FROM ALLAH (SWT) HAD THEIR TIME-LIMIT. The leaders of the resistance came to an evil end, and their whole system of fraud and selfishness was destroyed in order to make room for the religion of ALLAH (SWT). Apart from the particular warning in these verses there is a general warning for the present and for all time.

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(6:63) Ask them (0 Muhammad!): 'Who is it that delivers you from dangers in the deep darknesses of the land and the sea, and to whom do you call in humility and in the secrecy of your hearts? To whom do you pray: "If He will but save us from this distress, we shall most certainly be among the thankful?"

قُلِ اللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُمْ مِنْهَا وَمِنْ كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنْتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ {6:64}

[Q6:64] Qulil laahu yunajjjeekum minhaa wa min kulli karbin summa antum tushrikoon. 
[Q6:64] Say: ALLAH (SWT) delivers you from them and from every distress, but again you set up others (with Him).

[Q6:64] Katakanlah: ALLAH (SwT) jualah yang menyelamatkan kamu dari bencana itu dan dari segala jenis kesusahan; dalam pada itu, kamu (masih) mempersekutukan (ALLAH (SwT) dengan sesuatu yang lain). 

(see commentary for verse 63)

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(6:64) Say: "It is Allah alone Who delivers you from this and from every distress, and yet you associate others with Allah in His divinity." *41

*41. That God alone possesses all power and authority, and has full control over the things which cause either benefit or harm to men, and that He alone holds the reins of their destiny are facts to which there is ample testimony in man's own being. For instance, whenever man is faced with a really hard time, and when the resources upon which he normally fails back seem to fail him, he instinctively turns to God. In spite of such a clear sign, people set up partners to God without any shred of evidence that anyone other than God has any share in His power and authority. 

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ انْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ {6:65}

[Q6:65] Qul huwal Qaadiru 'alaaa ai yab'asa 'alaikum 'azaabam min fawqikum aw min tahti arjulikum aw yalbisakum shiya'anw wa yuzeeqa ba'dakum baasa ba'd; unzur kaifa nusarriful Aayaati la'allahum yafqahoon. 

[Q6:65] Say: He has the power that He should send on you a chastisement from above you or from beneath your feet, or that He should throw you into confusion, (making you) of different parties; and make some of you taste the fighting of others. See how We repeat the communications that they may understand.
[Q6:65] Katakanlah: Dialah yang berkuasa menghantar kepada kamu azab seksa (bala bencana), dari sebelah atas kamu atau dari bawah kaki kamu atau Dia menjadikan kamu bertentangan dan berpecah-belah berpuak-puak dan Dia merasakan sebahagian daripada kamu akan perbuatan ganas dan kejam sebahagian yang lain. Perhatikanlah bagaimana Kami menjelaskan ayat-ayat keterangan (yang menunjukkan kebesaran Kami) dengan berbagai cara, supaya mereka memahaminya.  

(see commentary for verse 63)

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(6:65) Say: "It is He Who has the power to send forth chastisement upon you from above you, or from beneath your feet, or split you into hostile groups and make some of you taste each others' violence. Behold, how We set forth Our signs in diverse forms, so that maybe they will understand the Truth". *42

*42. God's punishment can strike in an instant. This is the warning to those who, supposing such punishment to he remote, were growing bolder in their hostility towards the Truth. They could be destroyed in a moment by a hurricane. Just a few earthquake trernors could raze villages and cities to the ground. Likewise, a few spark, of hostility could ultimately wreak such havoc among tribes. nations and countries that bloodshed and lawlessness plague them for years on end. Hence if they are spared punishments for a while that should not drug them to heedlessness and lead them to live in total disregard of distinctions between right and wrong. They should rather he grateful that God had given thern respite and by means of a number of signs He was making it possible for thern to recognize the Truth and foliow it.

وَكَذَّبَ بِهِ قَوْمُكَ وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ ۚ قُلْ لَسْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِوَكِيلٍ {6:66}

[Q6:66] Wa kaz zaba bihee qawmuka wa huwal haqq; qul lastu'alaikum biwakeel; 
[Q6:66] And your people call it a lie and it is the very truth. Say: I am not placed in charge of you.

[Q6:66] Dan kaum engkau (wahai Muhammad) mendustakannya (Al-Quran), padahal ia adalah benar. Katakanlah: Aku bukanlah orang yang ditugaskan menjaga urusan kamu, (aku hanya seorang Rasul yang menyampaikan perintah-perintah ALLAH (SwT) kepada kamu).  

(see commentary for verse 63)

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(6:66) Your people have denied it even though it is the Truth. Say: "I am not a guardian over You. *43

*43. A PROPHET IS NEITHER REQUIRED TO COMPEL PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO SEE NOR TO FORCE INTO THEIR HEARTS WHAT THEY FAIL TO COMPREHEND. It is not a Prophet's task to chastise people for failing to see and comprehend the Truth. His task is merely to proclaim Truth as distinct from falsehood. If people fail thereafter to accept it, they will be overwhelmed by the very misfortunes against which that Prophet had warned.

لِكُلِّ نَبَإٍ مُسْتَقَرٌّ ۚ وَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ {6:67}

[Q6:67] Likulli naba im mustaqar runw wa sawfa ta'lamoon.
[Q6:67] For every prophecy is a term, and you will come to know (it).

[Q6:67] Tiap-tiap khabar berita mempunyai masa yang menentukannya (yang membuktikan benarnya atau dustanya) dan kamu akan mengetahuinya.  

(see commentary for verse 63)

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(6:67) Every tiding has its appointed time; you yourselves will soon know (the end)."

وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنْسِيَنَّكَ الشَّيْطَانُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ {6:68}

[Q6:68] Wa izaa ra aital lazeena yakhoodoona feee Aayaatinaa fa a'rid 'anhum hattaa yakkhoodoo fee hadeesin ghairih; wa immaa yunsiyannakash Shaitaanu falaa taq'ud ba'dazzikraa ma'al qawmiz zaalimeen. 

[Q6:68] And when you see those who enter into false discourses about Our communications, withdraw from them until they enter into some other discourse, and if the Shaitan causes you to forget, then do not sit after recollection with the unjust people.
[Q6:68] Dan apabila engkau melihat orang-orang yang memperkatakan dengan cara mencaci atau mengejek-ejek ayat-ayat Kami, maka tinggalkanlah mereka sehingga mereka memperkatakan soal yang lain dan jika engkau dilupakan oleh Syaitan (lalu engkau duduk bersama mereka), maka janganlah engkau duduk lagi bersama-sama kaum yang zalim itu, sesudah engkau mengingati (akan larangan itu). 

Refer to Nisa 4:140.

THE FOLLOWERS OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) ARE WARNED NOT TO SIT IN THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO RIDICULE THE TRUTH REVEALED THROUGH THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD).

»    According to verse 15:42 of al Hijr Shaytan has no authority (influence) over ALLAH (SWT)'s servants, of whom His chosen prophets and their successors are the best example.

THE PROPHETS OF ALLAH (SWT) DID NOT COMMIT MISTAKES [1] INTENTIONALLY, OR [2] UNINTENTIONALLY, OR [3] BY FORGETFULNESS.

The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said:

"My eyes sleep, but my heart always remains awake."

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(6:68) When you see those who are engaged in blasphemy against Our signs, turn away from them until they begin to talk of other things; and should Satan ever cause you to forget, *44 then do not remain, after recollection, in the company of those wrong-doing people.

*44. In case the Muslims fail to remember this directive and mistakenly continue to remain in the company of those who were indulging in making fun of their faith, they should withdraw from such company as soon as they remember this directive. 

وَمَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ وَلَٰكِنْ ذِكْرَىٰ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ {6:69}

[Q6:69] Wa maa 'alal lazeena yattaqoona min hisaabihim min shai'inw wa laakin zikraa la'allahum yattaqoon. 
[Q6:69] And nought of the reckoning of their (deeds) shall be against those who guard (against evil), but (theirs) is only to remind, haply they may guard.

[Q6:69] Dan tidaklah ada tanggungjawab sedikitpun atas orang-orang yang bertakwa mengenai dosa orang-orang (kafir yang mengejek-ejek) itu, akan tetapi (kewajipan orang-orang Islam) ialah mengingati (larangan ALLAH (SwT) itu) supaya mereka bertakwa.

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(6:69) For those who are God-fearing are by no means accountable for the others except that it is their duty to adinonish them; maybe then, they will shun evil. *45

*45. Those who avoid disobedience to God will not be held responsible for the errors of those who disobey. This being the case, the former have no justification for taking it upon themselves to persuade the latter to obedience or to consider themselves obliged to answer all their questions, however absurd and flimsy, until the Truth is forced down their throats. Their duty is merely to admonish and place the Truth before those whom they find stumbling about in error. If there is no response to this call except remonstration and obstinate argument they are under no obligation to waste their time and energy on them. They should rather devote their time and energy to instructing and admonishing those who have an urge to seek out the Truth.

  

وَذَرِ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًا وَلَهْوًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا ۚ وَذَكِّرْ بِهِ أَنْ تُبْسَلَ نَفْسٌ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ لَيْسَ لَهَا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ وَإِنْ تَعْدِلْ كُلَّ عَدْلٍ لَا يُؤْخَذْ مِنْهَا ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ أُبْسِلُوا بِمَا كَسَبُوا ۖ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِنْ حَمِيمٍ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ {6:70}

[Q6:70] Wa zaril lazeenat takhazoo deenahum la'ibanwwa lahwanw wa gharrat humul ha yaatud dunyaa; wa zakkir biheee an tubsala nafsum bimaa kasabat laisa lahaa min doonil laahi waliyyunw wa laa shafee'unw wa in ta'dil kulla 'adlil laa yu'khaz minhaa; ulaaa'ikal lazeena ubsiloo bimaa kasaboo lahum sharaabum min hameeminw wa 'azaabun aleemum bimaa kaanoo yakkfuroon. 

[Q6:70] And leave those who have taken their religion for a play and an idle sport, and whom this world's life has deceived, and remind (them) thereby lest a soul should be given up to destruction for what it has earned; it shall not have besides ALLAH (SWT) any guardian nor an intercessor, and if it should seek to give every compensation, it shall not be accepted from it; these are they who shall be given up to destruction for what they earned; they shall have a drink of boiling water and a painful chastisement because they disbelieved.
[Q6:70] Dan jauhkanlah diri dari orang-orang yang menjadikan agama mereka sebagai permainan dan hiburan dan mereka pula telah diperdayakan oleh kehidupan dunia dan peringatkanlah (mereka) dengan Al-Quran itu supaya tiap-tiap diri (di akhirat kelak) tidak terjerumus (ke dalam azab Neraka) dengan sebab apa yang dia telah usahakan (dari perbuatan yang buruk dan keji). Tidak ada baginya pelindung dan tidak juga pemberi syafaat yang lain dari ALLAH (SwT) dan jika dia hendak menebus (dirinya) dengan segala jenis tebusan, (nescaya tebusan itu) tidak akan diterima daripadanya. Mereka itulah orang-orang yang dijerumuskan (ke dalam azab Neraka) dengan sebab apa yang telah mereka usahakan. Bagi mereka disediakan minuman dari air panas yang menggelegak dan azab seksa yang tidak terperi sakitnya, disebabkan mereka kufur ingkar (semasa hidupnya). 

See commentary of verse 32 of this surah.

Worldly people are deceived by the allurement of this life AND the illusion of vicarious atonements. EVERY SOUL DELIVERS ITSELF TO RUIN BY ITS OWN ACT.

THEY DO NOT PROFIT BY ADMONITION AND PAY NO HEED TO THE VOICE OF REASON.

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(6:70) Leave alone those who have made a sport and a pastime of their religion and whom the life of the world has beguiled. But continue to admonish them (with the Qur'an) lest a man should be caught for what he has himself earned for there shall neither be any protector nor intercessor apart from Allah; and though he may offer any conceivable ransom it shall not be accepted from him, for such people have been caught for the deeds that they have themselves earned. Boiling water to drink and a painful chastisement to suffer for their unbelief is what awaits them.