SURAH (16) AL-NAHL (AYA 21 to 40)

SECTION 3

God of all is Only One

The God of all is only One – Pride and proud ones detested by God – The disbelievers shall bear their own burden and also the burden of those whom they lead astray.

أَمْوَاتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَاءٍ ۖ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ {16:21}

[Q16:21] Amwaatun ghairu ahyaaa'inw wa maa yash'uroona aiyaana yub'asoon. 
[Q16:21] Dead (are they), not living, and they know not when they shall be raised.

[Q16:21] Makhluk-makhluk itu tetap akan mati, bukanlah kekal hidup dan mereka tidak mengetahui bilakah masing-masing akan dibangkitkan (menerima balasan).  

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(16:21) They are dead, not living, and they do not know at all when they shall again be raised to life. *19

*19 The words employed here to refute man-made deifies clearly indicate that these deities were deceased prophets, saints, martyrs and pious and other extraordinary beings buried in their graves and not angels, jinns, devils or idols. For the angels and devils are alive: therefore, the words, "They are dead, not living" cannot apply to them, and it is out of the question to say about idols of stone or wood that "They do not know at all when they shall again be raised to life" in the Hereafter. As regards the objection to this version that there were no such deities in Arabia, this is based on the lack of knowledge of the history of the pre-Islamic period. It is well known that there was a large number of Jews and Christians living among many clans of Arabia, who used to invoke and worship their Prophets, saints, etc. It is also a fact that many gods of the mushriks of Arabia were human beings, whose idols they had set up for worship after their death. According to a Tradition cited in Bukhari on the authority of Ibn ' Abbas, "Wadd, Sua`, Yaghuth, Ya`uq, and Nasr were pious human beings, whom the succeeding generations had made gods." In another Tradition, related by Hadrat 'A'ishah, Asaf and Na'ilah were human beings. There are also traditions to the same effect about Lat, Munat and 'Uzza. So much so that according to some traditions of the mushriks, Lat and `Uzza were the beloved ones of AIIah who used to pass His winter with Lat and summer with `Uzza. But "Allah is absolutely free from such (absurd) things they attribute to Him." 

إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۚ فَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ مُنْكِرَةٌ وَهُمْ مُسْتَكْبِرُونَ {16:22}

[Q16:22] Illahukum Ilaahunw Waahid; fallazeena laa yu'minoona bil Aakhirati quloobuhum munkiratunw wa hum mustakbiroon. 
[Q16:22] Your ALLAH (SWT) is one ALLAH (SWT); so (as for) those who do not believe in the hereafter, their hearts are ignorant and they are proud.

[Q16:22] Tuhan kamu (yang berhak disembah) ialah Tuhan yang satu (Maha Esa); oleh itu, orang-orang yang tidak beriman kepada hari akhirat: Hati mereka ingkar dan sikap zahir mereka sombong takbur (menentang kebenaran). 

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(16:22) Your Deity is One Allah, but the hearts of those, who do not believe in the Hereafter, are given to denial, and they are puffed up with pride. *20

*20 That is, "Those who do not believe in the life in the Hereafter, have become so irresponsible, care-free and intoxicated with the life of this world, that they feel no hesitation or pang in denying any reality, and they put no value on or attach no worth to truth. That -is why, they are not prepared to impose any moral restraint on themselves and feel no need to investigate as to whether the way, they are following, is right or wrong. 

لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ {16:23}

[Q16:23] Laa jarama annal laaha ya'lamu maa yusirrona wa ma yu'linoon; innahoo laa yuhibbul mustakbireen. 

[Q16:23] Truly ALLAH (SWT) knows what they hide and what they manifest; surely He does not love the proud.
[Q16:23] Sebenarnya, bahawa ALLAH (SwT) mengetahui akan apa yang mereka sembunyikan dan apa yang mereka zahirkan; sesungguhnya Dia tidak suka kepada orang-orang yang sombong takbur. 

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(16:23) Surely Allah has full knowledge of all their deeds, both secret and open. He does not like those people, who are puffed up with pride.

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ مَاذَا أَنْزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۙ قَالُوا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ {16:24}

[Q16:24] Wa izaa qeela lahum maazaaa anzala Rabbukum qaaloo asaateerul awwaleen. 

[Q16:24] And when it is said to them, what is it that your Lord has revealed? They say: Stories of the ancients;
[Q16:24] Dan apabila dikatakan kepada mereka: Apakah yang diturunkan oleh Tuhan kamu (kepada nabi Muhammad)? Mereka menjawab: Cerita-cerita dongeng orang-orang dahulu kala. 

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(16:24) And *21 when they are asked, "What is it that your Lord has sent down"? They say these are mere fairy tales of the ancients. *22

*21 In the preceding verse (23) those puffed up people, who were rejecting the Message were warned that Allah had full knowledge of all their "deeds." Now from v. 24 the Qur'an takes up those "deeds" one by one and deals with the arguments they presented against the Messenger, the objections they raised and the lame excuses they invented for their rejection, and reproaches and admonishes them.
*22 One of their cunning devices was to create doubts about the Qur'an. Whenever outsiders came tc visit Makkah, they would naturally make enquiries about the Qur'an, which the Holy Prophet declared, was being sent down to him by Allah. The disbelievers would answer that it contained merely fairy-tales of the ancients. They would say such things in order to create doubts in the minds of the inquirers so that they should not take any interest in the Message of the Holy Prophet. 

لِيَحْمِلُوا أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ أَلَا سَاءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ {16:25}

[Q16:25] Liyahmilooo awzaarahum kaamilatany Yawmal Qiyaamati wa min awzaaril lazeena yudilloonahum bighairi 'ilm; alaa saaa'a maa yaziroon. 
[Q16:25] That they may bear their burdens entirely on the day of resurrection and also of the burdens of those whom they lead astray without knowledge; now surely evil is what they bear.

[Q16:25] (Mereka dibiarkan menuduh dengan yang demikian) supaya mereka memikul dosa-dosa mereka dengan sepenuhnya pada hari kiamat dan juga memikul sebahagian dari dosa orang-orang yang mereka sesatkan dengan tidak berdasarkan pengetahuan yang benar; sesungguhnya amatlah buruknya dosa-dosa yang mereka lakukan itu.

ALL THE BLESSINGS MENTIONED IN THE PRECEDING VERSES ARE SUFFICIENT TO PROVE THAT OUR ALLAH (SWT) IS ONE THEREFORE, on the day of judgement, those who mislead others, shall bear their own full commentary of al Baqarah 2:256 and Yunus 10:47 burden of sins and also the burden of those whom they lead astray, without any remission.

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

"Man is positively influenced by his environment particularly by his associates whom he befriends."

ß  Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir said:

"Keep aloof from the company of the sinners, do not live in their neighbourhood, and refrain from helping the aggressor and the unjust."

ß  Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq said:

"Do not keep company with the wicked, even avoid acquaintanceship with them, lest you may also become like them, then you will be punished by ALLAH (SWT) as they will be punished."

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(16:25) They say such things so that they should bear the full brunt of their own burdens on the Day of Resurrection together with some of the burdens of those whom they are leading astray in their ignorance. Behold! What a heavy responsibility they are taking on themselves!

SECTION 4

The disgrace which the wicked shall have

Those who plan against the truth shall meet disgrace inreturn – The reward which the righteous will gain – Those who mock at the truth, their own earnings shall overtake them.

قَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى اللَّهُ بُنْيَانَهُمْ مِنَ الْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّقْفُ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَاهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ {26}

[Q16:26] Qad makaral lazeena min qablihim fa atal laahu bunyaa nahum minal qawaa'idi fakharra 'alaihimus saqfu min fawqihim wa ataahumul 'azaabu min haisu laa yash'uroon. 
[Q16:26] Those before them did indeed devise plans, but ALLAH (SWT) demolished their building from the foundations, so the roof fell down on them from above them, and the punishment came to them from whence they did not perceive.

[Q16:26] Sebenarnya orang-orang yang terdahulu dari mereka telah menjalankan rancangan jahat (terhadap agama ALLAH (SwT) dan Rasul-rasulNya); maka ALLAH (SwT) binasakan bangunan (rancangan jahat) mereka dari asas-asasnya, lalu bumbung (bangunan itu) jatuh menimpa ke atas mereka dan mereka pula didatangi azab kebinasaan dari arah yang mereka tidak menyedarinya. 

ALLAH (SWT) GIVES THE ROPE OF RESPITE TO THE DISBELIEVERS AND THE WICKED in which they hang themselves in the end. Evil always devises plots against good, BUT THE EVIL-DOERS finally shall be overcome and shall be mustered towards hell so that ALLAH (SWT) may distinguish the evil from the good, as has been said in al Anfal 8:36.

r  Some say the reference is also to the imposing structure Namrud built which when it was completed collapsed at the command of ALLAH (SWT) by a violent storm, after which the people of Namrud lost memory of their language and began to speak in seventy different dialects, each quite unlike and different from the other.

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(16:26) Many of those who have gone before them also contrived such cunning devices to defeat the Truth, but behold! Allah smote the edifice of their evil designs at its foundations and its roof fell down upon their heads from above them, and the scourge overtook them from the direction they little dreamed that it would come.

ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنْتُمْ تُشَاقُّونَ فِيهِمْ ۚ قَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ إِنَّ الْخِزْيَ الْيَوْمَ وَالسُّوءَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ {16:27}

[Q16:27] Summa Yawmal Qiyaamati yukhzeehim wa yaqoolu aina shurakaaa'iyal lazeena kuntum tushaaaqqoona feehim; qaalal lazeena ootul 'ilma innal khizyal Yawma wassooo'a 'alal kaafireen,
[Q16:27] Then on the resurrection day He will bring them to disgrace and say: Where are the associates you gave Me, for whose sake you became hostile? Those who are given the knowledge will say: Surely the disgrace and the evil are this day upon the unbelievers:

[Q16:27] Kemudian pada hari kiamat, ALLAH (SwT) menghinakan mereka (dengan azab seksa) sambil bertanya: Mana dia sekutu-sekutuKu yang kamu berperi-peri memusuhi (Nabi-nabi dan orang-orang yang beriman) untuk membela mereka? (Pada ketika itu) berkatalah orang-orang yang beroleh ilmu pengetahuan: Sesungguhnya kehinaan hari ini dan azab seksa, adalah tertimpa kepada orang-orang yang kafir;

Otool-‘ilma (those who have been given knowledge) INDICATES THAT THERE ARE SOME WHOM ALLAH (SWT) HAS GIVEN DIVINE KNOWLEDGE. THEY ARE THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) AND HIS THOROUGHLY PURIFIED AHLUL BAYT (ahzab 33:33) WHO ARE DIVINELY CHOSEN AND COMMISSIONED TO PRESERVE AND PREACH THE TRUTH. See commentary of Ali Imran 3:7 and 18 and Nisa 4:162.

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(16:27) Then on the Day of Resurrection Allah will disgrace and degrade them. He will say to them: "Now where are My partners concerning whom you used to dispute (with the truthful)?"-Those, *23 to whom Knowledge had been given in the world, will say, "Today there is ignominy and misery for the disbelievers."

*23 There is a gap between this answer and the preceding question which has been left for the reader to fill. When Allah will ask, "Now where arc My partners .... " there will be dead silence in the Plain where the whole of mankind shall have to gather on the occasion of Resurrection. The disbelievers and the mushriks will be dumb-founded for they will be at a loss to find an answer to this. Then those who had been given knowledge will make the assertion, "Today, there is ............" 

الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِنْ سُوءٍ ۚ بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ{16:28}

[Q16:28] Allazeena tatawaf faahu mul malaaa'ikatu zaalimeee anfusihim fa alqawus salama maa kunnaa na'malu min sooo'; balaaa innal laaha 'aleemum bimaa kuntum ta'maloon.
[Q16:28] Those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to themselves. Then would they offer submission: We used not to do any evil. Aye! Surely ALLAH (SWT) knows what you did.

[Q16:28] (Iaitu) mereka yang diambil nyawanya oleh malaikat dalam keadaan mereka menganiaya diri sendiri (dengan kekufurannya). Lalu mereka tunduk menyerah (ketika melihat azab sambil berkata): Kami tiada melakukan sesuatu kejahatan. (Malaikat menjawab): Bahkan (kamu ada melakukannya); sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) Maha Mengetahui akan apa yang kamu telah kerjakan. 

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(16:28) Yes *24, this is for those disbelievers, who, while they are still engaged in wronging themselves, shall surrender themselves when seized by the angels, *25 saying, "We were doing nothing wrong at all." The angels will retort, "What, dare you deny this! Allah is fully aware of what you were doing.

*24 This is Allah's addition to the previous assertion, and not its continuation. Those commentators who have wrongly considered this as continuation of the preceding sentence, are unable to offer any satisfactory explanation for their opinion.
*25 That is, "When the angels take possession of their souls at the time of death....." 

فَادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ {16:29}

[Q16:29] Fadkhulooo abwaaba jahannama khaalideena feeha falabi'sa maswal mutakab bireen. 
[Q16:29] Therefore enter the gates of hell, to abide therein; so certainly evil is the dwelling place of the proud.

[Q16:29] Oleh itu, masukilah pintu-pintu Neraka, tinggal kekallah kamu di dalamnya; maka sesungguhnya (Neraka itu) seburuk-buruk tempat bagi orang-orang yang sombong takbur. 

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(16:29) Now, go and enter the gates of Hell, where you shall abide for ever." *26 The fact is that a very miserable abode it is for the haughty ones.

*26 This verse (28) and verse 32, and several other verses in the Qur'an, clearly and definitely assert that immediately after death, souls suffer torment or enjoy peace in the world of Barzakh. The Traditions use the word "qabar" (grave) metaphorically for this existence of the souls. This is the world in which souls enter immediately after death and will remain therein up to the Day of Resurrection. Yet the disbelievers of the Traditions declare that after death souls will remain in a dormant state up to the time of Resurrection, and will neither feel any pain nor joy, nor will be conscious of anything at all. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A WRONG OPINION, FOR ACCORDING TO V. 28, JUST AFTER DEATH WHEN THE DISBELIEVERS WILL BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT THEY HAD BEEN LEADING AN EVIL LIFE, THEY WILL TRY TO MAKE THE ANGELS BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD NOT DONE ANY EVIL DEED. THE ANGELS WILL REBUKE THEM AT THIS "BOLDNESS" AND WILL TELL THEM THAT THEY SHALL HAVE TO GO INTO HELL. On the other hand, according to verse 32, just after their death, the pious believers are welcomed by the angels and given the good news that they will enter into Paradise. Besides these verses, there is the mention of a dialogue between the angels and those Muslims, who did not migrate to Al-Madinah, after their souls were seized by the angels in IV: 97. Above all, according to XL: 45-46, the people of Pharaoh have been encircled by a torment and are exposed before the Fire of Hell every morning and every evening. This will go on up to the Day of Resurrection when they shall be sentenced to eternal torment.
IN FACT, BOTH THE QUR'AN AND THE TRADITIONS PRESENT THE SAME KIND OF PICTURE OF THE CONDITION OF THE SOUL AFTER DEATH UP TO RESURRECTION. Death causes merely the separation of the soul from the body but does not annihilate it. The soul lives with the same personality that was formed by the different experiences and the mental exercises and moral activities it had in its worldly life in co-operation with the body. This nature of the consciousness, feelings, observations and experiences of the soul, during the waiting period, is similar to that, in a dream. Just as a criminal sentenced to death suffers from mental torture on the eve of his crucifixion, in the same way the angels take to task the guilty as in a dream, torture it and take it to the horrible Hell in order to make it fore-taste the impending torture. In contrast to this, the pure soul is welcomed by the angels and is given the good news of entry into paradise and is made to enjoy its pleasant breeze and smell, and to feel happy like the faithful servant who is invited to the headquarters to receive his reward. But this "life" in the world of Barzakh will suddenly come to an end on the second blowing of the Trumpet of Resurrection. When the guilty souls will again enter into their former bodies and muster in the Plain, they will cry in horror, "Oh! Woe to us! Who has roused us from our sleeping places?" But the true Believers will say with perfect peace of mind, "This is exactly what the Beneficent had predicted, and the Messengers had told the truth." (XXXVI: 52).
This has been further elucidated in Chapter XXX.
As the guilty ones will be under the delusion that they had been lying in their death-bed for an hour or so and had been roused from given Knowledge and Faith, will say. "According to the Record of Allah, you have remained after death till this Day of Resurrection and this is the same Day of Resurrection, but you did not know this." (XXX: 55-56). 

وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا مَاذَا أَنْزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا خَيْرًا ۗ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۚ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِينَ {16:30}

[Q16:30] Wa qeela lillazeenat taqaw maazaaa anzala Rabbukum; qaaloo khairaa; lillazeena absanoo fee haazihid dunyaa hasanah; wa la Daarul Aakhirati khair; wa lani'ma daarul muttaqeen,
[Q16:30] And it is said to those who guard (against evil): What is it that your Lord has revealed? They say, Good. For those who do good in this world is good, and certainly the abode of the hereafter is better; and certainly most excellent is the abode of those who guard (against evil);

[Q16:30] Dan ditanya pula kepada orang-orang yang bertakwa: Apakah yang telah diturunkan oleh tuhan yang telah diturunkan oleh Tuhan kamu? Mereka menjawab: Kebaikan orang-orang yang berbuat kebaikan di dunia ini beroleh balasan yang baik dan sesungguhnya balasan negeri akhirat itu lebih baik lagi dan memanglah negeri akhirat ialah sebaik-baik negeri bagi orang-orang yang bertakwa. 

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(16:30) On the other hand, when the God-fearing people are asked, "What is it that has been sent by your Lord?" they say, "It is the best thing that has been sent down." *27 There is good for those righteous people who do good works in this world, and far better is their abode in the Hereafter." Blessed indeed is the dwelling place for the pious people.

*27 In contrast to the disbelievers (v. 24), the righteous people spoke highly of the Holy Prophet and of the teachings of the Qur'an to the people coming from the suburbs of Makkah. Unlike the former they did not delude the people nor created misunderstandings in the minds. They were full of praise for them and told the truth about the Holy Prophet. 

جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ لَهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَاءُونَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْزِي اللَّهُ الْمُتَّقِينَ {16:31}

[Q16:31] Jannaatu 'Adniny yadkhuloonahaa tajree min tahtihal anhaaru lahum feehaa maa yashaaa'oon; kazaalika yajzil laahul muttaqeen,
[Q16:31] The gardens of perpetuity, they shall enter them, rivers flowing beneath them; they shall have in them what they please. Thus does ALLAH (SWT) reward those who guard (against evil),

[Q16:31] (Untuk mereka) Syurga-syurga "Adn", yang mereka akan memasukinya, yang mengalir padanya beberapa sungai; mereka beroleh di dalam Syurga itu apa yang mereka kehendaki; demikianlah ALLAH (SwT) membalas orang-orang yang bertakwa,  

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(16:31) There will be gardens for their permanent residence into which they will enter: canals will be flowing underneath them: above all, they will find there everything as they would desire: *28

*28 This is the best blessing of Paradise. The dweller will get there whatever he will desire and wish and there will be nothing at all to offend him. This is the blessing that has never been attained even by the richest and the most powerful people in this world. On the contrary, every dweller of Paradise will enjoy this blessing to his fill because he will always have everything to his desire and liking, and will have each and every wish and desire fulfilled. 

الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ {16:32}

[Q16:32] Allazeena tatawaf faahumul malaaa'ikatu taiyibeena yaqooloona salaamun 'alai kumud khulul Jannata bimaa kuntum ta'maloon.   
[Q16:32] Those whom the angels cause to die in a good state, saying: Peace be on you: enter the garden for what you did.

[Q16:32] (Iaitu) mereka yang diambil nyawanya oleh malaikat dalam keadaan mereka bersih suci (dari kufur syirik dan maksiat), sambil malaikat itu berkata kepada mereka: Selamat sejahtera kepada kamu; masuklah ke dalam Syurga disebabkan amal baik yang telah kamu kerjakan. 

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(16:32) this is the reward for those pious people whose souls are received in a pure state, by the angels, who welcome them, saying, "Peace be on you: enter into Paradise as the reward of your good deeds".

هَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَٰكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ {16:33}

[Q16:33] Hal yanzuroona illaaa an taatiyahumul malaaa'ikatu aw yaatiya amru Rabbik; kazaalika fa'alal lazeena min qablihim; wa maa zalamahumul laahu wa laakin kaanoo anfusahum yazlimoon.
[Q16:33] They do not wait aught but that the angels should come to them or that the commandment of your Lord should come to pass. Thus did those before them; and ALLAH (SWT) was not unjust to them, but they were unjust to themselves.

[Q16:33] (Apakah yang ditunggu-tunggu oleh mereka yang tidak beriman itu?) Mereka tidak menunggu melainkan kedatangan malaikat (yang akan mencabut nyawa mereka) atau kedatangan azab Tuhanmu (yang akan membinasakan mereka). Demikianlah juga yang dilakukan oleh orang-orang kafir yang terdahulu daripada mereka (lalu dibinasakan); dan (sebenarnya) ALLAH (SwT) tidak menganiaya mereka, tetapi merekalah yang menganiaya diri sendiri.

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(16:33) (O Muhammad!) are these people still waiting, though now nothing has been left but that angels should come or your Lord's judgment be passed on them? *29 Many people before them behaved audaciously like them, and had to take the consequence: it was not Allah Who was unjust to them but they were unjust to themselves.

*29 This is to admonish the unbelievers to this effect: "Why are they still hesitating to accept the Message which is very simple and clear? We have tried every method to present each aspect of the Truth clearly with arguments and brought witnesses thereof from the whole system of the universe, and have left no room for any man of understanding to stick to shirk. Now what they are waiting for is nothing more than this that the angel of death should come before them: and then they will accept the Message at the last moment of their lives. Or, do they wait for the scourge of God to overtake them and make them accept the Message?"

فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا وَحَاقَ بِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ {16:34}

[Q16:34] Fa asaabahum saiyi aatu maa 'amiloo wa haaqa bihim maa kaano bihee yastahzi'oon. 
[Q16:34] So the evil (consequences) of what they did shall afflict them and that which they mocked shall encompass them.

[Q16:34] Oleh itu, mereka ditimpa azab sebagai balasan perbuatan jahat yang mereka lakukan; dan azab ALLAH (SwT) itu meliputi mereka sebagai balasan bagi apa yang mereka telah ejek-ejek dahulu.

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(16:34) In the end their evil deeds brought upon them the consequences and that very thing, they used to scoff at, overwhelmed them. 

SECTION 5

Every people had the guidance through an apostle from God

Every people had the guidance through an apostle from God – The wrong belief that the dead will not be raised – Anything, God wills, takes existence.

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا لَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا عَبَدْنَا مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ نَحْنُ وَلَا آبَاؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ فَهَلْ عَلَى الرُّسُلِ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ {16:35}

[Q16:35] Wa qaalal lazeena ashrakoo law shaaa'al laahu ma 'abadnaa min doonihee min shai'in nahnu wa laaa aabaaa'unaa wa laa harramnaa min doonihee min shai'; kazaalika fa'alal lazeena min qablihim fahal 'alar Rusuli illal balaaghul mubeen. 
[Q16:35] And they who give associates (to ALLAH (SWT)) say: If ALLAH (SWT) had pleased, we would not have served anything besides ALLAH (SWT), (neither) we nor our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything without (order from) Him. Thus did those before them; is then aught incumbent upon the messengers except a plain delivery (of the message)?

[Q16:35] Dan berkatalah orang-orang kafir musyrik: Kalaulah ALLAH (SwT) menghendaki, tentulah kami tidak menyembah selain daripadanya sesuatupun, (tidak) kami dan tidak juga datuk nenek kami dan tentulah kami tidak mengharamkan sesuatu pun dengan ketiadaan perintahnya. Demikianlah juga yang telah dilakukan oleh orang-orang yang terdahulu daripada mereka. (Apa yang mereka katakan itu adalah salah semata-mata) kerana bukankah Rasul-rasul semuanya tidak bertanggungjawab selain daripada menyampaikan (kehendak dan hukum ALLAH (SwT)) dengan cara yang jelas nyata? 

It is an old excuse of the evil-doers to shift the responsibility of their actions to ALLAH (SWT) by wilfully concealing the fact that He has given a free will to every human being, and sent His messengers with true guidance in every age to all peoples. See commentary of al Baqarah 2:256 and Yunus 10:47.

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(16:35) The mushriks say, "Had Allah willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshipped any other than Allah nor made anything unlawful without His will" *30 Such excuses were put forward also by those who went before them. *31 Have the Messengers any more responsibility than to convey the Message clearly?

*30 In order to understand the significance of this argument the reader should keep in view vv. 148-150 and E.N.'s 124-126 of Chapter VI, for this has been cited and answered there. 
*31 That is, "Your argument" is not a new one but the same old one which had always been offered by erroneous people who went before you. Today you arc, like them, excusing yourselves for your deviation and evil conduct, saying that it is the will of God. You know that this is a lame excuse that has been invented to delude yourselves, and to escape from admonition."
This answer also contains a subtle retort to the objection of the disbelievers that the Qur'an consisted merely of old stories of the ancients (v. 24). They meant to imply that the Prophet had nothing new to offer. So he was repeating the same old stories that had been repeated over and over again since the time of Prophet Noah. The retort is this: "If the Holy Prophet was not presenting anything new but was reciting the old stories of the ancients, you yourselves are not putting forward any new excuse in defence of your evil deeds, but the same old excuse that was put forward by the people who went before you." 

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلَالَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ {16:36}

[Q16:36] Wa laqad ba'asnaa fee kulli ummatir Rasoolan ani'budul laaha wajtanibut Taaghoota faminhum man hadal laahu wa minhum man haqqat 'alaihid dalaalah; faseeroo fil ardi fanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul mukazzibeen. 
[Q16:36] And certainly We raised in every nation a messenger saying: Serve ALLAH (SWT) and shun the Shaitan. So there were some of them whom ALLAH (SWT) guided and there were others against whom error was due; therefore travel in the land, then see what was the end of the rejecters.

[Q16:36] Dan sesungguhnya Kami telah mengutus dalam kalangan tiap-tiap umat seorang Rasul (dengan memerintahkannya menyeru mereka): Hendaklah kamu menyembah ALLAH (SwT) dan jauhilah taghut. Maka di antara mereka (yang menerima seruan Rasul itu), ada yang diberi hidayat petunjuk oIeh ALLAH (SwT) dan ada pula yang berhak ditimpa kesesatan. Oleh itu mengembaralah kamu di bumi, kemudian lihatlah bagaimana buruknya kesudahan umat-umat yang mendustakan Rasul-rasulnya.  

(see commentary for verse 35)

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(16:36) Accordingly, we sent to every community a Messenger, saying, "Worship Allah and keep away from the taghut." *32 After that Allah showed guidance to some of them, while deviation took hold of others. *33 So, roam about in the earth and behold what has been the end of the rejectors of the Messengers. *34

*32 That is, "You are not justified in excusing yourselves for these sins, saying that it is the will of God for We sent Messengers to every ummat, who told the people in plain words that they should worship Us and none else, and should not follow and obey taghut. Besides this, We have already warned you that We do not approve of your deviations. Why should you then put forward this excuse for your deviations ? Do you mean to say that We ought to have sent such Messengers as would have forced you to follow the Right Way instead of bringing you to it by preaching?" (Please refer to E.N. 80 of Al-A am VI for the distinction between God's "will" and God's "approval. ")
*33 That is, "Whenever a Messenger came to a people, they were divided into two groups:
(1) Those who accepted the Message (and that, too, could not have been possible except with the will of Allah. )
(2) Those who rejected it and stuck to their deviation". (For fuller explanation, please consult E.N. 28 of A/-An am VI. 
*34 That is, "You can see for yourselves the lesson of human history. It is this that the people, who rejected the Message, incurred the scourge of Allah like Pharaoh and the people of Pharaoh, while Prophet Moses received the blessings of Allah" .

إِنْ تَحْرِصْ عَلَىٰ هُدَاهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ يُضِلُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِينَ {37}

[Q16:37] In tahris 'alaa hudaahum fa innal laaha laa yahdee mai yudillu wa maa lahum min naasireen. 
[Q16:37] If you desire for their guidance, yet surely ALLAH (SWT) does not guide him who leads astray, nor shall they have any helpers.

[Q16:37] Jika engkau (wahai Muhammad) terlalu tamak (inginkan mereka beroleh hidayat petunjuk, maka sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) tidak memberi hidayat petunjuk kepada orang-orang yang berhak disesatkanNya dan tiadalah bagi mereka sesiapapun yang dapat memberikan pertolongan. 

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(16:37) (0 Muhammad!) howsoever desirous you may be of their guidance, (know) that Allah does not show guidance to those whom He lets go astray, and such people have no helpers.

وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ ۙ لَا يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَمُوتُ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ {16:38}

[Q16:38] Wa aqsamoo billaahi jahda aimaanihim laa yab'asul laahu mai yamoot; balaa wa'dan 'alaihi haqqanw wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya'lamoon. 
[Q16:38] And they swear by ALLAH (SWT) with the most energetic of their oaths: ALLAH (SWT) will not raise up him who dies. Yea! It is a promise binding on Him, quite true, but most people do not know;

[Q16:38] Dan mereka bersumpah dengan nama ALLAH (SwT) dengan bersungguh-sungguh (sambil berkata): ALLAH (SwT) tidak akan membangkitkan semula orang-orang yang telah mati. (Itu tidak benar), bahkan janji ALLAH (SwT) membangkitkan orang-orang yang telah mati) tetap benar; tetapi kebanyakan manusia tidak mengetahui.  

A disbeliever owed a debt to a Muslim. While demanding the repayment of the loan the Muslim took an oath saying: ‘I swear in the name of ALLAH (SWT) who would raise me after death.’ At which the disbeliever asked the Muslim: ‘Art thou sure that thou would be raised from death?’ in a tone asserting that there is no return to life after death. The Muslim replied saying: ‘Yes’, by all means.’ The reference here is to the belief of the disbeliever. The resurrection of the dead for the Final Judgment is reiterated here as the promise of the Lord to do it.

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(16:38) They solemnly swear by God with their most sacred oaths that "Allah will never raise him who once is dead".Why will He not raise? It is a promise He has made binding on Himself, but most people do not know it.

لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِي يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا كَاذِبِينَ {16:39}

[Q16:39] Liyubaiyina lahumul lazee yakhtalifoona feehi wa liya'lamal lazeena kafarooo annahum kaanoo kaazibeen. 
[Q16:39] So that He might make manifest to them that about which they differ, and that those who disbelieve might know that they were liars.

[Q16:39] (ALLAH (SwT) menghidupkan semula orang-orang yang mati) untuk menerangkan kepada mereka apa yang mereka berselisihan padanya dan supaya orang-orang kafir mengetahui bahawa mereka adalah orang-orang yang berdusta. 

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(16:39) And It must be fulfilled so that He may reveal to them that thing about which thay are differing, and that the disbelievers might know that they were liars. *35

*35 n v. 39 those two things have been stated which rationally and morally require that there must be Resurrection and Life-after-death, that is: (1) to reveal what the reality was, and (2) to reward or punish people in accordance with the right or wrong stand they took about it in this world. It is common knowledge that since the creation of Man on the Earth there have been many differences regarding the Reality which have been sowing dissension between families, nations and races. These have also led to the formation of many different societies, cultures and creeds on different theories. In every age millions of the torch-bearers of each of these theories have been putting at stake their all-life, property, honour-to propagate and defend their favourite theory. Nay, there has aIways been such a bitter conflict between them that each group tried to annihilate the other, who, in his turn, stuck to it to the last. THIS BEING THE CASE, COMMON SENSE DEMANDS THAT SUCH FAR-REACHING AND SERIOUS DIFFERENCES SHOULD BE CLEARED SOME TIME OR OTHER, SO AS TO DECIDE WITH CERTAINTY WHAT WAS RIGHT AND WHAT WAS WRONG, WHO WAS IN THE RIGHT AND WHO WAS IN THE WRONG. Obviously, it is not possible to lift the curtain from the Reality in this world so as to reveal things in their true perspective. This is because the system on which this world has been created does not allow this. Therefore, there should be another world to fulfil this demand of common sense.
This is not the demand of common sense alone but also of the moral sense, which requires that the partners in this conflict should be rewarded or punished according to right or wrong, just or unjust part they played in it. For, some of these committed cruelties on the others, who had to make sacrifices for their cause. Then each one should also bear the responsibility for formulating and practising a moral or immoral philosophy which influenced millions and billions of others for better or worse. Moral sense demands that there should be a time for the moral consequences to take their due course. As this is not possible in this world there should be another world for the purpose. 

إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَيْءٍ إِذَا أَرَدْنَاهُ أَنْ نَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ {16:40}

[Q16:40] Innamaa qawlunaa lishay'in izaa aradnaahu an naqoola lahoo kun fa yakoon. 

[Q16:40] Our word for a thing when We intend it, is only that We say to it, Be, and it is.
[Q16:40] Sesungguhnya perkataan Kami kepada sesuatu apabila Kami kehendaki, hanyalah Kami berkata kepadanya: Jadilah engkau!, maka menjadilah ia. 

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(16:40) (As regards its possibility.) when We desire to bring a thing into existence, We need only say, "Be", and it is there. *36

*36 This is the answer to those who imagined that it was the most difficult thing to raise the dead, and that, too, to raise together at once all the people who had died at any time. They have been told that it is an easy thing for Allah, Who has the power to bring into existence anything He desires, merely by His command, "Be", for He does not stand in need of any provisions, any means and any favourable environment for this. His mere Command produces necessary provisions, means and environment. This world was brought into existence by His mere Command, "Be", and likewise the Next world will at once come into existence by His single Command.