SURAH (25) AL-FURQAN (AYA 21 to 40)

SECTION 3

The Qur’an revealed gradually

The Day of Punishment to the wicked – The Day the Kingdom will be of God alone – The wicked shall repent for not having adopted the Right Way along with the Apostle Muhammad – The Qur’an revealed Gradually.

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا لَوْلَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَىٰ رَبَّنَا ۗ لَقَدِ اسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْا عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا {25:21}

[Q25:21] Wa qaalal lazeena laa yarjoona liqaaa'anaa law laaa unzila 'alainal malaaa'ikatu awnaraa Rabbanaa; laqadistakbaroo feee anfusihim wa 'ataw 'utuwwan kabeeraa. 
[Q25:21] And those who do not hope for Our meeting, say: Why have not angels been sent down upon us, or (why) do we not see our Lord? Now certainly they are too proud of themselves and have revolted in great revolt.

[Q25:21] Dan berkatalah pula orang-orang yang tidak percaya akan menemui Kami: Mengapa tidak diturunkan malaikat kepada kita atau kita dapat melihat Tuhan kita? Demi sesungguhnya, mereka telah bersikap sombong angkuh dalam diri mereka sendiri, dan telah melampaui batas dengan cara yang sebesar-besarnya.

Many a clear signs of ALLAH (SWT) was made visible to the disbelievers on several occasions BUT they belied each of them because of their rebellious nature, a satanic tendency. Their arrogance and insolence were beyond all bounds.

Ü  Like the Jews (in al Baqarah 2:55) they insisted upon seeing ALLAH (SWT) with their own eyes which turned blind because of falsehood.

THE TENDENCY OF THE DISBELIEVERS TO REJECT WHATEVER IS NOT EXPERIENCED BY THE SENSES IS STILL THE YARDSTICK OF TRUTH AMONG THE SO-CALLED EDUCATED PERSONS.

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(25:21) Those people, who have no fear of coming before Us, say,"Why should not the angels be sent down to us? *33 Or else we should see our Lord. " *34 Great arrogance have they assumed in regard to themselves, *35 and have transgressed all limits in their rebellion.

*33 That is, "If Allah had really intended to convey His Message to us, He would not have chosen a prophet and sent an angel only to him, but to each one of us individually with the guidance, or He should have sent a deputation of angels to appear before the people with the Message". The same objection has been stated in Surah Al-An`am thus: "When a Revelation comes before them, they say, `We will not believe in it unless we are given the like of what has been given to the Messengers of Allah.' Allah knows best whom to entrust with His Mission and how it should be enforced." (v. 124) appeal." 
*34 That is. "Allah Himself should appear before us and make the appeal. 
*35 Another translation could be: "They have formed a very high opinion of their own selves." 

يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ لَا بُشْرَىٰ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُجْرِمِينَ وَيَقُولُونَ حِجْرًا مَحْجُورًا {25:22}

[Q25:22] Yawma yarawnal malaaa 'ikata laa bushraa Yawma'izil lilmujrimeena wa yaqooloona hijram mahjooraa. 
[Q25:22] On the day when they shall see the angels, there shall be no joy on that day for the guilty, and they shall say: It is a forbidden thing totally prohibited.

[Q25:22] (Ingatkanlah) hari mereka melihat malaikat, pada hari itu tiadalah sebarang berita gembira bagi orang-orang yang bersalah (bahkan sebaliknya) dan mereka akan berkata: Semoga kita jauh, dijauhkan (dari sebarang keadaan yang buruk).

The disbelievers will see the angels on the day of reckoning who will inform them that they will not be allowed to enter the land of eternal bliss.

r  By hijran mahjura it has been made emphatic and definite.

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(25:22) The Day, when they will see the angels, will not be a day of rejoicing for the criminals; *36 they will cry out, "May Allah save us!"

*36 This very theme has been expressed in much greater detail in AlAn'am: 8, Al-Hijr: 7-8 and 51-64, and also in Bani Isra`il: 90-95.

وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاءً مَنْثُورًا {25:23}

[Q25:23] Wa qadimnaaa ilaa maa 'amiloo min 'amalin faja'alnaahu habaaa'am mansooraa. 
[Q25:23] And We will proceed to what they have done of deeds, so We shall render them as scattered floating dust.

[Q25:23] Dan Kami tujukan perbicaraan kepada apa yang mereka telah kerjakan dari jenis amal (yang mereka pandang baik), lalu Kami jadikan dia terbuang sebagai debu yang berterbangan.

THIS VERSE clearly indicates that deeds however good they may be in their nature they shall not be of any avail to the people who lack the proper faith in ALLAH (SWT), i.e., the impious in their faith and conduct.

PEOPLE MIGHT SEEM TO BE RIGHTEOUS BUT AT HEART THEY MIGHT BE HYPOCRITES OR DISBELIEVERS. We are informed through this verse that all the good deeds of such persons shall be rendered as the scattered motes.

·         Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir said:

"It is also applicable to those who regularly prayed salat and observed fasts but did not abstain from forbidden acts."

·         Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq said:

"The good deeds of the enemies of the Ahlul Bayt will be of no use to them on the day of judgement."

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(25:23) Then We shall turn to what they had done and render it vain like scattered dust. *37

*37 For explanation, see Ibrahim: 18 and E. N.'s 25, 26 thereof. 

أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَيْرٌ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَأَحْسَنُ مَقِيلًا {25:24}

[Q25:24] As haabul jannati yawma'izin khairum mustaqar ranw wa ahsanu maqeela. 
[Q25:24] The dwellers of the garden shall on that day be in a better abiding-place and a better resting-place. 

[Q25:24] Ahli-ahli Syurga pada hari itu lebih baik tempat menetapnya dan lebih elok tempat rehatnya.

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(25:24) (On the contrary) only those who have deserved the Garden, will have a good abode on that Day and a cool place for midday rest. *38

*38 In contrast to the miserable plight of the disbelievers on the Day of Resurrection, the Believers will be protected from the hardships of that Day; they will be treated with honour and will have a blissful place for midday rest. According to a Tradition, the Holy Prophet said: "I declare on oath by AIIah, in Whose hand is my life, that the long, horrible Day of Resurrection will be made very short and light for a Believer, as short and light as the time taken in offering an obligatory Prayer." (Musnad Ahmad). 

وَيَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ السَّمَاءُ بِالْغَمَامِ وَنُزِّلَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ تَنْزِيلًا {25:25}

[Q25:25] Wa Yawma tashaqqaqus samaaa'u bilghamaami wa nuzzilal malaaa'ikatu tanzeela. 
[Q25:25] And on the day when the heaven shall burst asunder with the clouds, and the angels shall be sent down descending (in ranks).

[Q25:25] Dan (sebutkanlah perihal) hari segala langit pecah-belah (disertakan) dengan kumpulan awan (yang berisi malaikat) dan (pada hari yang tersebut) diturunkan malaikat itu dengan cara berpasuk-pasukan.

THIS VERSE AND VERSE 26 refers to what will happen at the dawn of the Day of Judgment when it would be proved that the kingdom in fact belonged to none but ALLAH (SWT). And it is then that the infidels would realise their position when the Day would be a Day of Hardship and Trial for them. What we cannot see without material limitations would then be seen. The sky which appears blank to us shall be rent asunder and the Holy Spirits of all grades of excellence shall appear and the world will be quite new in comparison and contrast to the one of our present experience.

Here sama means the various spheres, one upon the other, like the clouds which cover the space above them.

Shaq means the removal of the cover like a cloth is torn asunder. Then the dwellers of the upper spheres will descend.

»    In verse 21:104 of Anbiya it is said that the heavens will be rolled up like a written scroll.

»    In verse 26:29 of Shura it is said that all the living things will be gathered together if He wills.

»    Verses 56:4 to 6 of Waqi-ah say that the earth will be shaken up convulsively, the mountains bruised and crushed turned to dust, floating in the air.

»    Verses 75:7 to 9 of Qiyamah say that the eyes will be dazed, the moon eclipsed, and the sun and the moon are conjoined.

»    Verses 77:8 to 10 of Mursalat say that the stars will be obliterated, the heavens split asunder the mountains will be reduced to dust and blown away.

»    Verse 78:19 of Naba says that the heavens will be opened wide as if there were doors.

»    There are similar descriptions in Takwir, Infitar and Inshiqaq also.

A close study of these verses indicate that just before the Day of Resurrection all the barriers of time and space which separate the conscious beings from each other will be removed.

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(25:25) On that Day, a cloud will appear rending the sky and the angels will be senthi down rank after rank.

الْمُلْكُ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْحَقُّ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ ۚ وَكَانَ يَوْمًا عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ عَسِيرًا {25:26}

[Q25:26] Almulku Yawma'izinil haqqu lir Rahmaan; wa kaana Yawman'alal kaafireena 'aseeraa. 
[Q25:26] The kingdom on that day shall rightly belong to the Beneficent ALLAH (SWT), and a hard day shall it be for the unbelievers.

[Q25:26] Kuasa pemerintahan yang sebenar-benarnya pada hari itu adalah tertentu bagi ALLAH (SwT) Yang Maha melimpah rahmatNya dan adalah ia satu masa yang amat sukar keadaannya kepada orang-orang kafir.  

(see commentary for verse 25)

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(25:26) The real Kingdom on that Day will belong only to the Merciful, *39 and it will be a very hard Day for the disbelievers.

*39 That is, "On that Day all other kingdoms, which deluded man in the world, will come to an end, and there will be only the Kingdom of Allah, Who is the real Sovereign of the universe. In Surah Mu'min: 16, the same thing has been stated thus: "On that Day when aII the people will stand exposed, and nothing of them will be hidden from Allah, it will be asked, `Whose is the Sovereignty today?' The response from every side will be: `Of Allah, the Almighty'." According to a Tradition, the Holy Prophet said, "AIlah will take the heavens in one hand and the earth in the other, and will declare: `I am the Sovereign: I am the Ruler. Where are the other rulers of the earth? Where are those tyrants`? Where are the arrogant people?" (Musnad Ahmad, Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Da'ud, with slight variations). 

وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا {25:27}

[Q25:27] Wa Yawma ya'adduz zaalimu 'alaa yadaihi yaqoolu yaa laitanit takhaztu ma'ar Rasooli sabeelaa. 
[Q25:27] And the day when the unjust one shall bite his hands saying: O! Would that I had taken a way with the Messenger.

[Q25:27] Dan (ingatkanlah) perihal hari orang-orang yang zalim menggigit kedua-dua tangannya (marahkan dirinya sendiri) sambil berkata: Alangkah baiknya kalau aku (di dunia dahulu) mengambil jalan yang benar bersama-sama Rasul?

The unjust referred to in this verse are those who had gone astray after receiving the guidance. They were among those who declared belief in ALLAH (SWT) and His prophet and His religion.

Ä  After seeing and accepting the clear evidences they had deviated from the right path as said in verse 3:19 of Ali Imran.

There were quite a few like these among the companions of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

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(25:27) The unjust man will bite at his hand and say, "Would that I had stood by the Messenger!

يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا {25:28}

[Q25:28] Yaa wailataa laitanee lam attakhiz fulaanan khaleelaa. 
[Q25:28] O woe is me! Would that I had not taken such a one for a friend!

[Q25:28] Wahai celakanya aku, alangkah baiknya kalau aku tidak mengambil si dia itu menjadi sahabat karib!

To an intelligent student of the Holy Qur’an, verses 28 and 29 are sufficiently eloquent in their warning they contain against any such one as a friend who misleads from the Right Path of the faithful attachment to the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

A TRUE MUSLIM HAS TO DEFINITELY SHUN THOSE WHO TURNED HOSTILE TO THE HOLY AHLUL BAIT ABOUT WHOM THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) HAD OPENLY DECLARED:

Ø  ‘Al-mulku Yawma-‘izi-nil haqqu lir Rahmaaan; wa kaa-na Yawman ‘alal kaafireena ‘aseeraa. [25:26]. The kingdom on that day shall rightly belong to the Beneficent ALLAH (SWT), and a hard day shall it be for the unbelievers.

Ø  “I leave behind me amidst you Two great things, The Book of ALLAH (SWT) (The Holy Qur’an) and my ‘Itrat’, my Ahlul Bait, (i.e., the members of his Holy Family viz. Fatema, her husband Ali and her issues). Should ye be attached to these Two never, never shall ye be misled after me, for verily these Two will never be separated from one another until they meet me at the ‘Cistern of Kauthar’.” (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Durre-Manthur and others)

Ø  “The likeness of my Ahlul Bait is that of the Ark of Noah; he who got into it, got saved, and whomsoever turned away from it, was drowned and lost.”

THIS WARNING would apply particularly against following those who disregard ***the Word of ALLAH (SWT) (Qur’an), ***deserted the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) in the midst of the battles which were fought for the very existence of Islam, and ***those responsible for the martyrdom of the Holy ones of the Ahlul Bait (Holy Lady Fatema and the Holy Imams).

DO NOT MAKE FRIENDS WITH ANYONE WHO OPENLY OR SECRETLY HAS OPPOSED THE COMMANDS OF ALLAH (SWT) AND THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

THE IMPURITY OF EVIL IN THE OPPONENTS OF THE AHLUL BAYT ALWAYS BETRAYS PEOPLE IN TIME OF NEED.

THE THOROUGHLY PURIFIED AHLUL BAIT are alone the best medium to reach the nearness of the absolute pure. Be their friends and followers.

A warning has been given in these verses not to choose or accept any one, other than the thoroughly purified, as the guide-leader (Imam), particularly those who on account of their spiritual impurity openly defied the commands of ALLAH (SWT) and the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) regarding the wilayah and imamah of Ali ibne Abi Talib and the Imams in his progeny through Bibi Fatema Zahra.

©  Please refer to hadith al thaqalay; commentary of al Ma-idah 5:55 and 67; Ali Imran 3:61; Ahzab 33:33.

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(25:28) O, woe to me! Would that I had not chosen so and so for a friend!

لَقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءَنِي ۗ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنْسَانِ خَذُولًا {25:29}

[Q25:29] Laqad adallanee 'aniz zikri ba'da iz jaaa'anee; wa kaanash Shaitaanu lil insaani khazoolaa. 
[Q25:29] Certainly he led me astray from the reminder after it had come to me; and the Shaitan fails to aid man.

[Q25:29] Sesungguhnya dia telah menyesatkan daku dari jalan peringatan (Al-Quran) setelah ia disampaikan kepadaku dan adalah Syaitan itu sentiasa mengecewakan manusia (yang menjadikan dia sahabat karibnya). 

(see commentary for verse 28)

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(25:29) For it was he, who had deluded me to reject the Admonition which had come to me. Satan has proved very treacherous to man." *40

*40 "Satan has proved very treacherous to man" may also be a part of the disbelievers' lament, or it may be a remark by AIIah, in which case the meaning will be: "And Satan is indeed the one who always deceives man." 

وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا {25:30}

[Q25:30] Wa qaalar Rasoolu yaa Rabbi inna qawmit takhazoo haazal Qur-aana mahjooraa. 
[Q25:30] And the Messenger cried out: O my Lord! Surely my people have treated this Quran as a forsaken thing.

[Q25:30] Dan berkatalah Rasul: Wahai Tuhanku sesungguhnya kaumku telah menjadikan Al-Quran ini satu perlembagaan yang ditinggalkan, tidak dipakai.

The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) refers to those of his followers who have been described in verses 28 and 29, **WHO SEPARATED THE QUR’AN FROM THE AHLUL BAIT and **SHACKLED BOTH OF THEM HEAD TO FOOT AS SHOWN BY HISTORY. This is what the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) would say on the Day of Judgment about the people becoming indifferent to his teachings.

Ø  Moses wanted Aaron not only to be merely his aid BUT also a partner in bearing the burden of the ministry he was charged with, which means Aaron would naturally be entitled to share also the return or the reward from ALLAH (SWT) which the mission would earn for its faithful discharge. And it is said in verse 20:36 that the prayer of Moses was granted--- See also verse 28:36, that the prayer to ALLAH (SWT) to send Aaron along with him was what for Moses says, that Aaron was more eloquent than him.

It is a matter of history THAT WHAT ALL HAPPENED IN THE CASES OF THE MINISTRIES OF THE OTHER APOSTLES OF ALLAH (SWT), BEFELL ALL TOGETHER TO THE LOT OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) AND IT WAS WITH THE JUSTIFICATION TO STRENGTHEN HIM TO MEET ALL THE ORDEALS TOGETHER, THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) WAS ENDOWED WITH THE EXCELLENCE OF ALL THE APOSTLES TOGETHER, IN HIS SINGLE PERSONALITY.

Ø  It was Moses who, on being charged with the ministry got perturbed and prayed to be aided by Aaron **(verses 20:29-33) the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), **who would not even utter anything without the matter having been revealed to him (verses 53:3 & 4) would never act of his own accord without being definitely commanded by ALLAH (SWT), in appointing Ali as his Vicegerent at the start of his mission, in the feast of ‘Asheera’. The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) had also declared that what all happened in the ministry of Moses, will happen in his ministry.

Anas bin Malik reports, the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) having said that he who after learning the Holy Qur’an leaves it idle without being regularly recited, the Holy Book (the Holy Qur’an) would on the Day of Judgment complain to ALLAH (SWT) saying “Lord! This man left me idle let justice be done between me and the man!”

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(25:30) And the Messenger will say, "O my Lord, my people had made this Qur'an the object of their ridicule." *41

*41 The Arabic word mahjur is capable of several meanings. As such, the sentence may mean:" "these people did not regard the Qur'an as worthy of their consideration: they neither accepted it nor followed it"; or "They considered it to be a nonsense or the delirium of insanity: or "They made it the target of their ridicule and mockery." 

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا مِنَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ هَادِيًا وَنَصِيرًا {25:31}

[Q25:31] Wa kazaalika ja'alnaa likulli Nabiyyin 'aduwwam minal mujrimeen; wa kafaa bi Rabbika haadiyanw wa naseeraa. 
[Q25:31] And thus have We made for every prophet an enemy from among the sinners and sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and a Helper.

[Q25:31] Dan demikianlah Kami jadikan bagi tiap-tiap Nabi, musuh dari kalangan orang-orang yang bersalah dan cukuplah Tuhanmu (wahai Muhammad) menjadi Pemimpin (ke jalan mengalahkan mereka) serta menjadi Penolong (bagimu terhadap mereka). 

This is said in the consolation of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) anxiety for the people abiding themselves by the Word of ALLAH (SWT) (The Holy Qur’an), saying that every apostle of ALLAH (SWT) had his own enemy for only by a contrast with the counter, the excellence of a thing, manifests its sublimity.

Falsehood (of the sinners) is always hostile to truth BUT those who adhere to truth should not have any apprehension because ALLAH (SWT) helps those who sincerely work in His cause.

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(25:31) O Muhammad, in this very way We have made the criminals the enemies of every Prophet, *42 but your Lord suffices for you as your Guide and Helper. *43

*42 That is, "It is not a new thing that the disbelievers have become your enemies, for it has always been so with all the former Prophets and Messengers. (See also Al-An'am: 112-113). This is inevitable because it is Our Law that the criminals will always oppose the Truth. You should, therefore, pursue your mission with full confidence and determination without expecting any immediate results."
*43 "Guidance" does not only imply bestowing of the knowledge of the Truth, but it also means giving the right guidance at the right time to guide the Islamic Movement on the right lines and to defeat the strategy and scheme of the enemies of Islam "Help" means all kinds of moral, spiritual and material help to the followers of the Truth in their conflict against falsehood. Thus, Allah is AllSufficient for the righteous people and they need no other support provided they have full faith in Allaln and fight falsehood with all their energies and strength. This meant to encourage the Holy Prophet, otherwise the previous assertion would have been very discouraging without this. It meant to say, "Even if the unbelievers have become your enemies, you should continue your mission, for We shall guide you in every stage and situation and help you against them. We shall defeat aII the schemes of your enemies and help you in every way in your conflict with falsehood. We shall provide you with material means also, but you should trust in Us and exert your utmost against falsehood." 

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنُ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ ۖ وَرَتَّلْنَاهُ تَرْتِيلًا {25:32}

[Q25:32] Wa qaalal lazeena kafaroo law laa nuzzila 'alaihil Quraanu jumlatanw waahidah; kazaalika linusabbita bihee fu'aadaka wa rattalnaahu tarteelaa. 
[Q25:32] And those who disbelieve say: Why has not the Quran been revealed to him all at once? Thus, that We may strengthen your heart by it and We have arranged it well in arranging.

[Q25:32] Dan orang-orang yang kafir berkata: Mengapa tidak diturunkan Al-Quran itu kepada Muhammad semuanya sekali (dengan sekaligus)? Al-Quran diturunkan dengan cara (beransur-ansur) itu kerana Kami hendak menetapkan hatimu (wahai Muhammad) dengannya dan Kami nyatakan bacaannya kepadamu dengan teratur satu persatu. 

THE PURPOSE OF GRADUAL REVELATION IS TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF EVERY VERSE; and let them become familiar with the proper recitation of the Quran. Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:2.

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(25:32) The disbelievers say, "Why has not the entire Qur'an been sent down to this man all at nce?" *44 -Well, this has been done to impress it deeply on your mind, *45 and (for the same object) We have sent it down piecemeal by degrees.

*44 As the disbelievers of Makkah considered this objection to be very strong, they repeated it over and over again. The Qur'an also has cited it with its answer at several places; for instance, see E.N.'s 101-106 of Surah An-Naml and E.N. 119 of Bani Isra'il. Their question implied: "Had the Qur'an been really the Word of Allah, it would have been sent as a complete book aII at once; for Allah has the knowledge of everything and every human affair. Thus it is obvious that nothing is being sent down from above; but this man himself fabricates all its themes or gets these from other people or other books."
*45 Another translation can be: "So that by it We may strengthen your heart and imbue it with courage." The words are comprehensive and imply both the meanings. This concise sentence contains the following explanation why the Qur'an was revealed piecemeal by degrees:
(1) So that the Holy Prophet may commit it to memory perfectly and recite it to his people, who are illiterate, rather than present it in a written form.
(2) So that its teachings and messages may be impressed deeply on the minds.
(3) So that the way of life it teaches, may be followed with complete conviction, which would not be possible if all the Commandments and the whole system of life had been sent down all at once. 
(4) So that the hearts of the Prophet and his followers may be imbued with courage during the conflict between the Truth and falsehood. This required that the Divine Guidance and messages of encouragement should be revealed as and when needed according to the practical situation. Obviously, this could not have been possible if these had been sent down all at once. This also showed that Allah had not left His Messenger alone amidst persecution to counter all sorts of resistance and opposition after appointing him to the mission, but He Himself was watching the struggle with concern and guiding His Prophet through every difficulty by direct communion in every critical situation.

وَلَا يَأْتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَحْسَنَ تَفْسِيرًا {25:33}

[Q25:33] Wa laa yaatoonaka bimasainn illaa ji'naaka bilhaqqi wa ahsana tafseeraa. 
[Q25:33] And they shall not bring to you any argument, but We have brought to you (one) with truth and best in significance.

[Q25:33] Dan mereka tidak membawa kepadamu sesuatu kata-kata yang ganjil (untuk menentangmu) melainkan Kami bawakan kepadamu kebenaran dan penjelasan yang sebaik-baiknya (untuk menangkis segala yang mereka katakan itu). 

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(25:33) And (there is another wisdom in this: whenever they brought to you an odd thing (or a strange question), We sent its right answer to you in time and explained it all in the best manner, *46

*46 This is yet another point of wisdom of sending down the Qur'an by degrees. Allah did not intend to produce a book on "Guidance" and spread its teachings through the agency of His Prophet. Had it been so the disbelievers would have been justified in their objection as to why the Qur'an had not been sent down as a complete book all at once. The real object of the revelation of the Qur'an was that Allah intended to start a Movement of faith, piety and righteousness to combat disbelief, ignorance and sin, and He had raised a Prophet to lead and guide the Movement. Then, on the one hand, Allah had taken it upon Himself to send necessary instructions and guidance to the leader and his followers as and when needed, and on the other, He had also taken the responsibility to answer the objections and remove the doubts of opponents and give the right interpretation of things which they misunderstood. Thus the Qur'an was the collection of the differentdiscourses that were being revealed by Allah; it was not merely meant to be a code of laws or of moral principles, but a Book, which was being sent down piecemeal to guide the Movement in all its stages to suit its requirements on different occasions. (See also Introduction: The Meaning of the Qur'an, Vol. I, pp. 9- 18). 

الَّذِينَ يُحْشَرُونَ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ أُولَٰئِكَ شَرٌّ مَكَانًا وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا {25:34}

[Q25:34] Allazeena yuhsharoona 'alaa wujoohim ilaa jahannama ulaaa'ika sharrum makaananw wa adallu sabeelaa. 
[Q25:34] (As for) those who shall be gathered upon their faces to hell, they are in a worse plight and straying farther away from the path.

[Q25:34] Orang-orang yang akan diseret beramai-ramai ke Neraka Jahannam (dengan tertiarap) atas mukanya, merekalah orang-orang yang amat buruk keadaannya dan amat sesat jalannya. 

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(25:34) those who are going to be driven to Hell upon their faces, have taken an utterly wrong stand and their way is most erroneous! *47

*47 That is, "They will be driven towards Hell upon their faces because of their perversion and their perverted thinking." 

SECTION 4

What happen to the disbeliever people in the past

The fate of the disbeliever people in the past –Most of the disbelievers are worse than the cattle.

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا مَعَهُ أَخَاهُ هَارُونَ وَزِيرًا {25:35}

[Q25:35] Wa laqad aatainaa Moosal Kitaaba wa ja'alnaa ma'ahooo akhaahu Haaroona wazeeraa;
[Q25:35] And certainly We gave Musa the Book and We appointed with him his brother Haroun an aider.

[Q25:35] Dan sesungguhnya Kami telah berikan Kitab Taurat kepada Nabi Musa dan Kami lantik saudaranya Nabi Harun, sebagai menteri bersamanya.

Refer to the commentary of

Ü  Ta Ha 20:9 to 98 for Musa and Harun and Muhammad and Ali, also refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:51; Bara-at 9:41 and Maryam 19:53; and

Ü  Ali Imran 3:52 and 53 for dawat dhil ashirah in which Ali was appointed as the supporter and successor of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) right from the beginning of the open declaration of his prophethood.

According to verse 73:5 of al Muzzammil the prophetic mission (receiving orders, instructions and revelations from ALLAH (SWT) and conveying them to people) is a heavy burden or onerous responsibility because of which Musa asked for a supporter and his request was granted, and likewise Ali was given to Muhammad as said in verses 94:1 to 4 of Ash sharh.

THE VERSES OF THE QURAN MENTIONED IN THIS CONNECTION ASSERT THAT THE SUPPORTER SHOULD HAVE THE SAME QUALITIES AND PURIFICATION OF SOUL AS THE PERSON WHO IS SUPPORTED HAS.

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

"Ali is my brother here and in the hereafter. He is from me and I am from him. I and Ali are from the same light."

SEE VERSE 19:53 in which ALLAH (SWT) by His Mercy gave Moses the aid of Aaron while He commissioned him with apostleship.

·         In (verses 20:29-33) AND ACCORDINGLY he appointed Ali as his ‘Vazier’ and ‘Vasi’. Mark that the words which the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) used, i.e., ‘Vazier’ and ‘Vasi’; by the word ‘Vazier’, Ali was his partner after him. In the burden of his ministry and by ‘Vazi’, Ali was to succeed him as his heir, to guide the people after him.

·         In the case of Moses, the aid through Aaron was granted at the prayer from Moses BUT in the case of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), the aid through Ali was volunteered to him from the All-Merciful Providence.

·         As the appointment of Aaron to assist Moses was even before the start of Moses’ ministry, the appointment of Ali as the ‘Vazier’ and ‘Vasi’ was also at the very start of the mission of the apostleship of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) (See Tabari, Ibne-Athir, Abul-Fida, Gibbon, W. Smith, Muir, Amir Ali, the Islamic History by S.Husain and the others).

The apostolic task and becoming medium between the Absolute and His creation, the finite beings receiving orders, instructions, revelations and communicating it to mankind, is pronounced as a heavy burden in verse 73:5, it requires one to assist the apostolic burden--- This is expressively said by Moses via verses 20:29-32.

»    And in the cases it is hinted at (verse 94:2 & 3) and the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) announced it in his celebrated declaration: “O’ Ali thou art to me as Aaron was to Moses. Save that there is no prophet after me”.

»    Here and in verses 20:29-32 the tone of this statement is that the ‘Aider’ or the one who shoulders the weight should be of the same house with equal status of brotherhood for which the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said: “O’ Ali thou art my brother here and in the life hereafter---Thou art of me and I am of you’----‘I and Ali are of the same Light’.”

REFER to the commentary of Ta Ha 20:9 to 98 for Musa and Harun and Muhammad and Ali, also refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:51; Bara-at 9:41 and Maryam 19:53; and Ali Imran 3:52 and 53 for dawat dhil ashirah in which Ali was appointed as the supporter and successor of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) right from the beginning of the open declaration of his prophethood.

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(25:35) We gave Moses the Book *48 and appointed his brother Aaron as his counsellor:

*48 Here by "the Book" is not meant the Torah, which was given to Prophet Moses after the exodus from Egypt, but it implies that Divine Guidance which was given to him after his appointment as a Prophet up to the Exodus. It included the orations delivered by him in the court of Pharaoh and also the instructions given to him during his conflict with Pharaoh as mentioned in the Qur'an here and there. Most probably, these things were not included in the Torah; the Torah began with the Ten Commandments which were given to Moses engraved on stone tablets on Mount Sinai after the Exodus. 

فَقُلْنَا اذْهَبَا إِلَى الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا فَدَمَّرْنَاهُمْ تَدْمِيرًا {25:36}

[Q25:36] Faqulnaz habaaa ilal qawmil lazeena kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa fadammarnaahum tadmeeraa. 
[Q25:36] Then We said: Go you both to the people who rejected Our communications; so We destroyed them with utter destruction.

[Q25:36] Lalu Kami perintahkan: Pergilah kamu berdua kepada kaum yang mendustakan ayat-ayat keterangan Kami; maka (kesudahannya) Kami binasakan kaum itu sehancur-hancurnya. 

(see commentary for verse 35)

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(25:36) then We said to them, "Go to the people who have treated Our Revelations as false." *49 So We annihilated those people utterly.

*49 "Revelations": The Divine teachings which had reached them through Prophets Jacob and Joseph, and which had been preached to them by the righteous people of Israel for centuries

وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ لَمَّا كَذَّبُوا الرُّسُلَ أَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ آيَةً ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا {25:37}

[Q25:37] Wa qawma Noohil lammaa kazzabur Rusula aghraqnaahum wa ja'alnaahum linnaasi Aayatanw wa a'tadnaa lizzaalimeena 'azaaban aleemaa 
[Q25:37] And the people of Nuh, when they rejected the messengers, We drowned them, and made them a sign for men, and We have prepared a painful punishment for the unjust;

[Q25:37] Dan (demikian juga) kaum Nabi Nuh, ketika mereka mendustakan Rasul-rasul Kami, Kami tenggelamkan mereka dan Kami jadikan mereka satu tanda (yang menjadi contoh) bagi umat manusia dan Kami sediakan bagi sesiapa yang zalim; azab seksa yang tidak terperi sakitnya.

For NUH AND HIS PEOPLE see commentary of Araf 7:59 to 64; Yunus 10:71 to 73; Hud 11:25 to 49; Anbiya 21:76 and 77; Muminun 23:23 to 30.

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(25:37) The same was the case with the people of Noah when they charged the Messenger with imposture: *50 We drowned them and made them a sign of warning for entire mankind, and We have prepared a painful chastisement for the unjust. *51

*50 They did not charge only Prophet Noah with imposture because he was a man, but, in fact, charged all the Prophets with imposture because they were aII human beings. 
*51 That is, a painful chastisement in the Hereafter. 

وَعَادًا وَثَمُودَ وَأَصْحَابَ الرَّسِّ وَقُرُونًا بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ كَثِيرًا {25:38}

[Q25:38] Wa 'Aadanw Samooda wa As haabar Rassi wa quroonam baina zaalika kaseeraa. 
[Q25:38] And Ad and Samood and the dwellers of the Rass and many generations between them.

[Q25:38] Dan (demikian juga Kami telah binasakan) Aad dan Thamud serta Ashabur-Rassi dan banyak lagi dalam zaman-zaman di antara masa yang tersebut itu.

For the PEOPLE OF AD see commentary of Araf 7:65 to 72; Hud 11:50 to 60; Ibrahim 14:9. For the PEOPLE OF THAMUD see commentary of Araf 7:73 to 79; Hud 11:61 to 68; Ibrahim 14:9; Hijr 15:80 to 84.

v  Commentators have given various accounts of the companions of al Rass. The root meaning of rass is an old well or shallow water-pit. They were people who disobeyed their prophet and were destroyed.

Imam Ali bin Musa ar Ridha reported on the authority of Imam Husayn bin Ali that a man from Banu Tamim came to Ali and asked him as to who were the people of al Rass.

Imam Ali said:

"You have asked a question no one has yet investigated; and there is no one except me who can give you the answer because there is no verse in the Quran but I know when, where and why it was revealed. The treasures of knowledge ALLAH (SWT) has given me are inexhaustible, but there are very few who want to know. The seekers of truth and wisdom shall miss me when they will not find me among them to know that which is unknown to any scholar.

The people of al Rass worshipped the pine tree which Yafas, son of Nuh, planted beside a spring called Dushab, particularly created by ALLAH (SWT) for Nuh, after the great flood.

After Sulayman, son of Dawud, there were twelve towns, between Adharbayjan and Arminia on the river known as Rass, in which these people lived. The names of the twelve towns were (i) Aban (ii) Adhur (iii) Day (iv) Bahman (v) Isfandar (vi) Farwardin (vii) Ardi Bahist (vii) Khurdad (ix) Mardad (x) Tir (xi) Mihr (xii) Shahryur. Isfandar was the largest town in which was the pine tree the people worshipped.

Tarkuz son of Ghayur son of Yarishk son of Sazan son of Nimrud son of Kanan was their king. It was strictly prohibited to use the water of the spring for any purpose because if it dried, they presumed, their ALLAH (SWT) would die.

An Israelite prophet, a descendant of prophet Yaqub, was sent to show the right path of ALLAH (SWT) to them, but they did not give up the worship of the pine tree. At last ALLAH (SWT) made the tree dead. The people, in a fury of revenge, buried the prophet alive in a well. Then the wrath of ALLAH (SWT) seized them. All perished. No one survived." (Manhaj al Sadiqin and Umdah al Bayan)

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(25:38) Likewise were destroyed the `Ad and the Thamud and the people of the Rass, *52 and many a generation in between.

*52 There is no definite knowledge about "the people of the Raas''. Different commentators have said different things about them, but nothing is convincing. The only thing that may be said about them is that they were a people who had killed their Prophet by throwing him into or hanging him down a "Rass" (an old or dry well).

وَكُلًّا ضَرَبْنَا لَهُ الْأَمْثَالَ ۖ وَكُلًّا تَبَّرْنَا تَتْبِيرًا {25:39}

[Q25:39] Wa kullandarabnaa lahul amsaala wa kullan tabbarnaa tatbeera. 
[Q25:39] And to every one We gave examples and every one did We destroy with utter destruction.

[Q25:39] Dan masing-masing, telah Kami berikan kepadanya contoh tauladan yang mendatangkan iktibar dan masing-masing telah Kami hancurkan sehancur-hancurnya. 

(see commentary for verse 38)

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(25:39) We admonished each one of them by citing the examples (of those who were destroyed before them) and ultimately annihilated all of them.

وَلَقَدْ أَتَوْا عَلَى الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي أُمْطِرَتْ مَطَرَ السَّوْءِ ۚ أَفَلَمْ يَكُونُوا يَرَوْنَهَا ۚ بَلْ كَانُوا لَا يَرْجُونَ نُشُورًا {25:40}

[Q25:40] Wa laqad ataw 'alal qaryatil lateee umtirat mataras saw'; afalam yakoonoo yarawnahaa; bal kaanoo laa yarjoona Nushooraa. 
[Q25:40] And certainly they have (often) passed by the town on which was rained an evil rain; did they not then see it? Nay! They did not hope to be raised again.

[Q25:40] Dan demi sesungguhnya, mereka (yang menentangmu wahai Muhammad) telah melalui bandar yang telah dihujani (dengan) azab yang buruk, maka (mengapa mereka masih berdegil), tidakkah mereka selalu dapat menyaksikannya? (Mereka tidak fikirkan yang demikian itu satu balasan kufur) bahkan mereka adalah orang-orang yang tidak ingatkan adanya kebangkitan hidup semula (untuk menerima balasan).

This refers to LUT'S STORY AND THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM. See commentary of Araf 7:80 to 84; Hijr 11:57 to 77 and Anbiya 21:74, 75.

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(25:40) Surely, these people have passed by that habitation on which was rained an evil rain: *53 have they not seen its ruins? But they do not expect another life in the Hereafter. *54

*53 The habitation referred to was that of the people of Prophet Lot, which was destroyed by a rain of stones. The people of Hijaz while traveling to Palestine and Syria, passed by its ruins and heard the horrible tales of its destruction. 
*54 As the disbelievers did not believe in the Hereafter, they looked at these ancient ruins as mere spectators and did not take any warning from them. Incidentally, this is the difference between the observation of a disbeliever and of a Believer in the Hereafter: the former looks at such things as a mere spectator or at the most as an archaeologist whereas the latter learns moral lessons from the same and obtains an insight into the realities beyond this worldly life.