SURAH (43) AL-ZUKHRUF (AYA 21 to 40)

أَمْ آتَيْنَاهُمْ كِتَابًا مِنْ قَبْلِهِ فَهُمْ بِهِ مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ {43:21}

[Q43:21] Am aatainaahum Kitaabam min qablihee fahum bihee mustamsikoon. 
[Q43:21] Or have We given them a book before it so that they hold fast to it?

[Q43:21] Pernahkah Kami memberikan mereka sebelum Al-quran ini sebuah Kitab (yang membenarkan dakwaan mereka), lalu mereka berpegang teguh kepada kitab itu?

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(43:21) Or did We bestow upon them a Book before on whose authority they are holding on (to angel-worship)? *21

*21 It means this: "These ignorant people think that whatever is happening in the world has the approval of Allah for it, because it is happening according to His will. THIS ARGUMENT, HOWEVER, IS WRONG. For it is not only shirk which is being committed in the world, but countless other crimes like stealing, robbery, murder, bribery, etc. also are taking place, which nobody likes. Then, can it be said by the same reasoning that all such acts are lawful and good only because Allah is letting them happen in His world, and when He allows them to happen, He must have approved of them also? The means of knowing what Allah likes and what He hates are not the events that are happening in the world, but the Book of Allah, which comes through His Messenger and in which Allah Himself states as to what beliefs, what deeds and what morals He likes and what He dislikes. If these people have a Book, which came before the Qur'an, and which tells that Allah has appointed the angels also as deities beside himself and that they should worship them also, they should cite it." (For further explanation, see Al-An'am: 107 112, 137, 148-149; AI-A'raf: 28; Yunus: 99; Hud: 118-119; Ar-Ra'd: 31; An-Nahl: 9, 35-36, 93; and E.N. 20 of Az-Zumar and E.N. 11 of Ash-Shura).

بَلْ قَالُوا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ مُهْتَدُونَ {43:22}

[Q43:22] Bal qaalooo innaa wajadnaaa aabaaa'anaa 'alaaa ummatinw wa innaa 'alaaa aasaarihim muhtadoon. 
[Q43:22] Nay! They say: We found our fathers on a course, and surely we are guided by their footsteps.

[Q43:22] (Tidak ada sebarang bukti bagi mereka) bahkan mereka (hanyalah) berkata: Sesungguhnya kami telah mendapati datuk nenek kami menurut satu jalan agama dan sesungguhnya kami beroleh petunjuk menurut jejak mereka sahaja.  

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(43:22) Nay; they simply claim: “We found our forefathers on a way, and we continue to find guidance in their footsteps.” *22

*22 That is, "They have no authority of any divine book; the only authority they have is that it has becn the practice since the time of their forefathers: therefore, they have taken the angels as goddesses in imitation of them." 

وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ مُقْتَدُونَ{43:23}

[Q43:23] Wa kazaalika maaa arsalnaa min qablika fee qaryatim min nazeerin illaa qaala mutrafoohaaa innaa wajadnaaa aabaaa'anaa 'alaaa ummatinw wa innaa 'alaaa aasaarihim muqtadoon. 
[Q43:23] And thus, We did not send before you any warner in a town, but those who led easy lives in it said: Surely we found our fathers on a course, and surely we are followers of their footsteps.

[Q43:23] Dan demikianlah halnya (orang-orang yang taqlid buta); Kami tidak mengutus sebelummu (wahai Muhammad) kepada (penduduk) sesebuah negeri, seseorang Rasul pemberi amaran, melainkan orang-orang yang berada dalam kemewahan di negeri itu berkata: Sesungguhnya kami dapati datuk nenek kami menurut satu jalan agama dan sesungguhnya kami hanya mengikut jejak mereka sahaja.  

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(43:23) And thus it is: whenever We sent any warner to a city its affluent ones said: “We found our forefathers on a way and we continue to follow in their footsteps.” *23

*23 Here, the point worth consideration is why the well-to-do people of every community only have resisted the Prophets and upheld the imitation of their forefathers in every age. Why have they alone been in the forefront to oppose the Truth and to endeavor to maintain the established falsehood and to beguile and incite the common people against them? Its basic causes were two: (1) The well to-do and affluent people are so absorbed in making and enjoying the world of their own that they are not inclined to bother themselves about the useless debate (as they assume it to be) between the Truth and falsehood. Their love of ease and mental lethargy renders them so heedless of religion and conservative that they want the established order, no matter whether it is based on truth or falsehood, to retrain in force so that they do not have to take the trouble of thinking about the new order at all for themselves. (2) Their interests become so dependent on the established order that when they get the first glimpse of the order presented by the Prophets they start feeling that if it came, it would not only put an end to their leadership but also would deprive them of the freedom to consume the lawful and commit the unlawful. (For further details, sec AI-An`am: 103; Al-A'raf: 66-70. 75, 88 109, 127; Hud: 27-28; Bani Isra`il: 16; AI-Mu'minun: 24-33, 46; Saba: 34 and the corresponding E.N.'s).

قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِأَهْدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا إِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ كَافِرُونَ {43:24}

[Q43:24] Qaala awa law ji'tukum bi ahdaa mimmaa wajattum 'alaihi aabaaa'akum qaalooo innaa bimaaa ursiltum bihee kaafiroon. 
[Q43:24] (The warner) said: What! Even if I bring to you a better guide than that on which you found your fathers? They said: Surely we are unbelievers in that with which you are sent.

[Q43:24] Rasul itu berkata: Adakah (kamu akan menurut juga mereka) walaupun aku membawa kepada kamu agama yang lebih jelas hidayat petunjuknya daripada jalan agama yang kamu dapati datuk nenek kamu menurutnya? Mereka menjawab: Sesungguhnya kami tetap mengingkari apa yang kamu diutuskan membawanya.

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(43:24) Each Prophet asked them: “Will you do so even if we were to show you a way better than the way of your forefathers?” They answered: “We disbelieve in the religion with which you have been sent.” 

فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ {43:25}

[Q43:25] Fantaqamnaa minhum fanzur kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul mukazzibeen. 
[Q43:25] So We inflicted retribution on them, then see how was the end of the rejecters. 

[Q43:25] Lalu kami balas keingkaran mereka dengan azab yang membinasakan; maka perhatikanlah bagaimana buruknya kesudahan umat-umat yang mendustakan Rasul-rasulnya.

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(43:25) Then We exacted retribution from them. So do consider the end of those who gave the lie (to the Prophets).

SECTION 3

Choice of guide, rests exclusively with ALLAH (SWT)

Abraham’s Tabarra or getting himself aloof from the polytheists---The appointment of a Guide or the distribution of mercy, rests exclusively with ALLAH (SWT).

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّنِي بَرَاءٌ مِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ {43:26}

[Q43:26] Wa iz qaala Ibraaheemu liabeehi wa qawmiheee innane baraaa'um mimmaa ta'budo;
[Q43:26] And when Ibrahim said to his father and his people: Surely I am clear of what you worship,

[Q43:26] Dan (ingatkanlah peristiwa) ketika Nabi Ibrahim berkata kepada bapanya dan kaumnya: Sesungguhnya aku berlepas diri dari apa yang kamu sembah; 

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(43:26) Call to mind when Abraham said to his father and his people: *24 “I totally disown all whom you serve

*24 For details, sec AI-Baqarah 124-133, AI-An'am 74-84, Ibrahim: 3541, Maryam: 41-50, Al-Anbiya': 51-73, Ash-Shu'ara: 69-89, AI-'Ankabut: 1627, As-Saaffat: 83-100 and the corresponding E.N `s. 

إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ {43:27}

[Q43:27] illal lazee fataranee innahoo sa yahdeen. 
[Q43:27] Save Him Who created me, for surely He will guide me.

[Q43:27] Yang lain dari Tuhan yang menciptakan daku, kerana sesungguhnya Dia tetap memberi hidayat petunjuk kepadaku. 

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(43:27) except the One Who created me; and, behold, it is He Who will direct me to the Right Way.” *25

*25 In these words not only did the Prophet Abraham state his creed but also gave the argument for it. The reason for not having any connection with the other deities is that they neither have created nor they give right guidance in any matter, nor they can; and the reason for having a connection only with Allah Almighty is that He alone is the Creator and He alone gives, and can give, the right guidance to mankind. 

وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةً بَاقِيَةً فِي عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ {43:28}

[Q43:28] Wa ja'alahaa Kalimatam baaqiyatan fee 'aqibihee la'al lahum yarji‘oon. 
[Q43:28] And he made it a word to continue in his posterity that they may return.

[Q43:28] Dan Nabi Ibrahim menjadikan kalimah tauhid itu tetap kekal pada keturunannya, supaya mereka kembali (kepada tauhid itu, jika ada yang menyeleweng kepada syirik). 

Kalimah (a word) refers to the doctrine of tawhid (unity).

Refer to Saffat 37:78, 108, 119 and 129; particularly in the commentary of verses 123 to 132.

THIS VERSE INDICATES THAT THE GOSPEL OF TAWHID (UNITY OF ALLAH (SWT)) SHALL BE PRESERVED AND UPHELD BY THE DESCENDANTS OF IBRAHIM ONLY. Refer to the commentary of Baqarah 2:124.

**The gospel of tawhid implies submission to ALLAH (SWT) and His commands. As stated in the commentary of Baqarah 2:124,

**the HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) and his Ahlul Bayt, on account of their highest degree of submission to ALLAH (SWT), are nearest to Him--- a distance of two bows, or even nearer (Najm 53:9).

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(43:28) And Abraham left behind this word *26 to endure among his posterity so that they may return to it. *27

*26 "The same word": the word that none but the Creator is worthy of worship in the world. 
*27 That is, "Whenever they swerve from the right path, this word should be there to guide them so that they return to it again." This event has been mentioned here in order to expose the foolishness of the disbelieving Quraish and to put them to shame, as if to say: "When you have adopted obedience of your ancestors, you have selected the most depraved of them for the purpose instead of the most righteous and illustrious, who were the Prophets Abraham and Ishmael (peace be upon them)." The basis of the leadership of the Quraish in Arabia was that they were the descendants of the Prophets Abraham and Ishmael and were the attendants of the Ka'bah built by them. Therefore, they should have followed them and not their ignorant forefathers who had given up the way of the Prophets and adopted polytheism from the neighboring idol-worshippers. Furthermore, by mentioning this event another error of those people has been pointed out. That is, if the blind imitation of the fore-fathers, without the distinction of good and evil, had been the right thing, the Prophet Abraham should have done so in the first instance. But he had plainly told his father and his people that he could not follow their creed of ignorance in which they had abandoned the Creator and made those imaginary beings their deities, who were not the creator. This shows that the Prophet Abraham did not believe in following the forefathers, but his creed was that before one followed the forefathers one should see whether they were following the right way or not, and if it became known by reason that they were following the wrong way, one should give up their way and adopt the way that was proved right. 

بَلْ مَتَّعْتُ هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَآبَاءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ جَاءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ وَرَسُولٌ مُبِينٌ {43:29}

[Q43:29] Bal matta'tu haaa'ulaaa'i wa aabaaa'ahum hattaa jaaa'a humul haqqu wa Rasoolum mubeen. 
[Q43:29] Nay! I gave them and their fathers to enjoy until there came to them the truth and a Messenger making manifest (the truth).

[Q43:29] (Kebanyakan mereka tidak kembali kepada tauhid dan Aku pula tidak segerakan azab mereka) bahkan Aku memberikan mereka dan datuk nenek mereka menikmati kesenangan hidup, sehingga datanglah kepada mereka kebenaran (Al-Quran) dan seorang Rasul yang menerangkan tauhid.

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(43:29) (Even when they began worshipping others than Allah We did not destroy them) but bestowed sustenance on them and on their forefathers until there came to them the Truth and a Messenger who clearly expounded things to them. *28

*28 Another meaning of the word "rasulum-mubin can be: "A Messenger whose being a Messenger was obvious and apparent: whose lift before and after the Prophet hood clearly testified that he was certainly Allah's Messenger." 

وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ وَإِنَّا بِهِ كَافِرُونَ {43:30}

[Q43:30] Wa lammaa jaaa'ahumul haqqu qaaloo haazaa sihrunw wa innaa bihee kaafiroon. 
[Q43:30] And when there came to them the truth they said: This is magic, and surely we are disbelievers in it.

[Q43:30] Dan ketika kebenaran (Al-Quran) itu disampaikan kepada mereka, berkatalah mereka: Sesungguhnya ini adalah sihir dan sesungguhnya kami tetap mengingkarinya.  

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(43:30) And when the Truth came to them they said: “This is just sorcery *29 and we reject it.”

*29 For explanation, see Surah. Al-Anbiya': 3 and E.N. 5 on it, and E.N. 5 of Surah Suad. 

وَقَالُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنُ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيمٍ {43:31}

[Q43:31] Wa qaaloo law laa nuzzila haazal Quraanu 'alaa rajulim minal qaryataini ‘azeem. 
[Q43:31] And they say: Why was not this Quran revealed to a man of importance in the two towns?

[Q43:31] Dan (kerana mereka mencemuh Nabi Muhammad) mereka berkata: (Kalaulah Al-Quran ini menjadi bukti kenabian seseorang, maka) sepatutnya Al-Quran ini diturunkan kepada seorang besar (yang kaya dan berpengaruh) dari salah sebuah dua bandar yang (terkenal) itu? 

THE PAGANS JUDGED BY THEIR OWN LOW STANDARDS. As the HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) was not a man of the world, amassing worldly possessions, they thought that he should not have been richly endowed with wisdom and authority, for which there were many deserving men of wealth and resources in Makka or Taif. Intellectual and spiritual excellence had no value at all for them.

THE MEN OF THE WORLD, IN ALL AGES, GIVE EXCLUSIVE IMPORTANCE TO WEALTH AND WORLDLY POSITION. In their ignorance, they are unable to ascertain and appreciate the intellectual and spiritual standards of the descendants of Ibrahim selected by ALLAH (SWT) to represent Him on the earth.

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(43:31) They say: “Why was this Qur’an not sent down upon some great man from the two (main) cities?” *30

*30 "THE TWO CITIES": MAKKAH AND TA`IF. What the disbelievers meant was: "Had Allah really willed to send a messenger and intended to send down a book to him, He would have selected a great man from our these central, cities for the purpose. For Allah could not have selected for this great mission a person who was born an orphan, who did not inherit much property, who passed his youth by tending goats, who even at present earned his living through business with his wife's money, and who was neither the chief of a tribe nor the head of a family. Were not there well known chiefs like Walid bin Mughirah and 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah in Makkah, and nobles like `Urwah bin Mas'ud, Habib bin 'Amr, Kinanah bin 'Abd-i -'Amr and Ibn 'Abd Yalil in Ta'if? This was their reasoning in the first instance, they were also not inclined to believe that a man could be a Messenger. But when the Qur'an refuted this misconception by argument and reason and they were told that in the past only men had come as Messengers and a man only could be a Messenger for the guidance of the people, and not another kind of being and the Messenger who came did not descend, suddenly from heavens, but were born in the same ordinary dwellings, walked about in the streets, had children and families and stood in need of food and drink (see AnNahl: 43, Bani Isra'il: 94-95, Yusuf: 109, Al-Furqan: 7, 20; Al-Anbiya: 7-8; Ar-Ra'd: 38), they took this stand, saying: "Well, even if a human being, he should be a big man, who should be wealthy, influential and awe-inspiring and having a large following. How could Muhammad bin `Abdullah (upon whom be Allah's peace) be fit for this appointment?

أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ ۚ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۚ وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا ۗ وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ {43:32}

[Q43:32] Ahum yaqsimoona rahmata Rabbik; Nahnu qasamnaa bainahum ma'eeshatahum fil hayaatid dunyaa wa rafa'naa ba'dahum fawqa ba'din darajaatil liyattakhiza ba'duhum ba'dan sukhriyyaa; wa rahmatu Rabbika khairum mimmaa yajma‘oon. 
[Q43:32] Will they distribute the mercy of your Lord? We distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We have exalted some of them above others in degrees, that some of them may take others in subjection; and the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass.

[Q43:32] (Mengapa pemberian Kami itu mereka ingkarkan?) Adakah mereka berkuasa membahagi-bahagikan (perkara-perkara keruhanian dan keagamaan yang menjadi sebesar-besar) rahmat Tuhanmu (wahai Muhammad, seolah-olah Kami hanya berkuasa dalam perkara kebendaan dan keduniaan sahaja? Mereka tidak ingkarkan): Kami membahagi-bahagikan antara mereka segala keperluan hidup mereka dalam kehidupan dunia ini, (setengahnya Kami jadikan kaya raya dan setengahnya miskin menderita) dan juga Kami telah menjadikan darjat setengah mereka tertinggi dari darjat setengahnya yang lain; (semuanya itu) supaya sebahagian dari mereka senang mendapat kemudahan menjalankan kehidupannya dari (bantuan) setengahnya yang lain dan lagi rahmat Tuhanmu (yang meliputi kebahagiaan dunia dan akhirat) adalah lebih baik dari kebendaan dan keduniaan semata-mata yang mereka kumpulkan. 

ALLAH (SWT) did not appoint any from among the people, who had material possession, to deliver His message to mankind, BUT HE PREFERRED THOSE WHOM HE HIMSELF TAUGHT WISDOM AND PROTECTED FROM MAKING MISTAKES, INTENTIONALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY, AND TO ACT ON HIS BEHALF. If wealth and temporal power had any value HE WOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN them to the disbelievers and hypocrites.

µ  PEOPLE ARE FOOLED BY WORLDLY POSSESSIONS AND JUDGE OTHERS ALSO WITH THE SAME FOOLISH STANDARDS. ALLAH (SWT) IS NOT UNDER ANYBODY’S OBLIGATION. HE BESTOWS HIS BOUNTIES UPON WHOMSOEVER HE PLEASES.

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(43:32) Is it they who distribute the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who have distributed their livelihood among them in the life of this world, and have raised some above others in rank that some of them may harness others to their service. *31 Your Lord’s Mercy is better than all the treasures that they hoard. *32

*31 This is the answer to their objection, which briefly mentions many important things: First, it asks: "Since when have these people become responsible for distributing the mercy of your Lord? Is it for them to decide whom Allah should favour with His mercy and whom He should not? (Here, by Allah's mercy is implied His general mercy from which everyone has a share). 
Second, Allah says: °Prophethood is a great blessing: We have even kept the distribution of the common means of life in the world in Our own hand, and have not entrusted it to anyone else. We create someone beautiful and another ugly, someone with a sweet voice and another with a harsh voice, someone robust and strong and another weak and frail, someone intelligent and another dull, someone with a strong memory and another forgetful, some with healthy limbs and another a cripple, or blind or deaf and dumb, someone in a rich family and another among the poor, someone in an advanced country and another in a backward community. No one can do anything about this destiny concerning birth. One is compelled to be what We have made him. And it is in no one's power to avert the impact one's circumstances of birth have on one's destiny. Then it is We our self Who are distributing provisions, power, honor, fame, wealth, government, etc. among men. No one can degrade the one whom We have blessed with good fortune, and no one can save from ruin the one whom We have afflicted with misfortune. All plans and schemes of man become ineffective against Our decrees. In this universal Divine System, therefore, how can these people decide as to whom should the Master of the unive rse make His Prophet and whom He should not?
Thirdly, "An abiding principle that We have kept in view in this Divine System is that everything should not be given to one and the same person, or everything should not be given to everybody. If you look around carefully, you will see that great differences exist between the people in every respect. We have given one thing to one person but deprived him of another, and given the same to another one. This is based on the wisdom that no human being should become independent of others, but everyone should remain dependent on the other in one way or the other. Now if would be foolish on your part to think that We should have given the Prophet hood also to the same person whom We had blessed with wealth and nobility. Likewise, will you also say that wisdom, knowledge, wealth, beauty, power, authority and all other excellences should be assembled in one and the same person, and the one who has not been given one thing, should not be given anything else?" 
*32 "Your Lord's mercy": the Prophethood. It means: "Your leaders and chiefs whom you regard as big people because of their wealth and dignity and chief ship, arc not worthy of this wealth, which has been given to Muhammad bin 'Abdullah (upon whom be Allah's peace). This wealth is far superior to that and for this the criterion is different. If you think that every noble and rich man is worthy of becoming a prophet, it would only show your own thinking. Why do you expect Allah to be so ignorant and simple?" 

وَلَوْلَا أَنْ يَكُونَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً لَجَعَلْنَا لِمَنْ يَكْفُرُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ سُقُفًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَمَعَارِجَ عَلَيْهَا يَظْهَرُونَ {43:33}

[Q43:33] Wa law laaa any yakoonan naasu ummatanw waahidatal laja'alnaa limany yakfuru bir Rahmaani libu yootihim suqufam min fiddatinw wa ma'aarija 'alaihaa yazharoon, 
[Q43:33] And were it not that all people had been a single nation, We would certainly have assigned to those who disbelieve in the Beneficent ALLAH (SWT) (to make) of silver the roofs of their houses and the stairs by which they ascend.

[Q43:33] Dan kalaulah tidak kerana manusia akan menjadi umat yang satu (dalam kekufuran), nescaya Kami jadikan bagi orang-orang yang kufur ingkar kepada Tuhan Yang Maha Pemurah, bumbung rumah-rumah mereka dari perak dan tangga-tangga yang mereka naik turun di atasnya (dari perak juga), 

So little value is attached in the spiritual world to silver or gold or worldly ranks that they would freely be at the disposal of every one, BUT in that case they all might scramble to sell their spiritual life for worldly gains.

ALL FALSE GLITTER AND ADORNMENTS OF THIS WORLD ARE ILLUSIONS. THEY MORE OFTEN HINDER THAN HELP. POSSESSION OF WORLDLY GAINS IS NOT A PROOF OF AN UNJUST OR A JUST LIFE. ALLAH (SWT) DISTRIBUTES WORLDLY POSSESSIONS IN ORDER TO TEST AND DISTINGUISH ONE FROM ANOTHER.

They are not the real blessings. The pleasure of ALLAH (SWT) is the real reward given to the righteous, the excellence of which is beyond the human imagination.

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(43:33) Were it not that all mankind would become a single community (and follow the same way), We would have provided for all those who disbelieve in the Merciful One silver roofs for their houses, and (silver) stairs on which to go up,

وَلِبُيُوتِهِمْ أَبْوَابًا وَسُرُرًا عَلَيْهَا يَتَّكِئُونَ {43:34}

[Q43:34] Wa libu yootihim abwaabanw wa sururan 'alaihaa yattaki‘oon, 
[Q43:34] And the doors of their houses and the couches on which they recline,

[Q43:34] Dan juga pintu-pintu rumah mereka (dari perak juga) dan kerusi-kerusi panjang yang mereka berbaring di atasnya (dari perak juga),  

HERE IT IS POINTED THAT EVEN THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORLDLY POSITION AND FORTUNES IS DONE BY ALLAH (SWT) JUST TO CREATE RANKS TO TEST ONE WITH THE OTHER. BUT the real blessing is different from what they try to accumulate. Devaluing the accumulation, this verse says that had it not been to avoid the gap between the poor and the rich, ALLAH (SWT) would have assigned all the worldly wealth to the disbelievers.

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(43:34) and (silver) doors to their houses, and couches (of silver) upon which they would recline; *33

*33 That is, "This silver and gold whose possession by somebody is the highest blessing and the very climax of good fortune in your sight, is so base and contemptible a thing in the sight of Allah that had there been no danger of alI human beings being inclined towards unbelief, He would have made every disbeliever's house of gold and silver. Since when has the abundance of this worthless commodity become proof of man's nobility and his piety and his spiritual purity? This kind of wealth is even found in the possession of those foul and wicked people whose filthy characters make the whole society stink. And this you have made the criterion of man's greatness of character. 

وَزُخْرُفًا ۚ وَإِنْ كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۚ وَالْآخِرَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ {43:35}

[Q43:35] Wa zukhrufaa; wa in kullu zaalika lammaa mataa'ul hayaatid dunyaa; wal aakhiratu 'inda Rabbika lilmuttaqeen. 
[Q43:35] And (other) embellishments of gold; and all this is naught but provision of this world's life, and the hereafter is with your Lord only for those who guard (against evil).

[Q43:35] Serta berbagai barang perhiasan (keemasan) dan (ingatlah), segala yang tersebut itu tidak lain hanyalah merupakan kesenangan hidup di dunia dan (sebaliknya) kesenangan hari akhirat di sisi hukum Tuhanmu adalah khas bagi orang-orang yang bertakwa. 

AND WHAT IS WITH ALLAH (SWT), AS THE REWARD FOR THE PIOUS AND RIGHTEOUS, IS MORE THAN WHAT HUMAN IMAGINATION COULD CONCEIVE.

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(43:35) or that they be made of gold. Surely all this is only the enjoyment of the life of the world. But (true prosperity) in the Hereafter with Your Lord is only for the God-fearing.

SECTION 4

It is not easy to cure the natural defects in anyone

As it is not easy to cure natural defects in anyone---The apostle cannot guide anyone who is allow by ALLAH (SWT) to astray.

وَمَنْ يَعْشُ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ {43:36}

[Q43:36] Wa mai ya'shu 'an zikrir Rahmaani nuqaiyid lahoo Shaitaanan fahuwa lahoo qareen. 
[Q43:36] And whoever turns himself away from the remembrance of the Beneficent ALLAH (SWT), We appoint for him a Shaitan, so he becomes his associate.

[Q43:36] Dan sesiapa yang tidak mengindahkan pengajaran (Al-Quran yang diturunkan oleh ALLAH (SwT)) Yang Maha Pemurah, Kami akan adakan baginya Syaitan (yang menghasut dan menyesatkannya), lalu menjadilah Syaitan itu temannya yang tidak renggang daripadanya.

HE WHO GOES BLIND TO THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH (SWT), AS A NATURAL CONSEQUENCE, FALLS AN EASY PREY TO EVIL.

Imam Ali said:

"He who sins now and again, becomes insensitive to the light of truth."

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(43:36) He who is negligent to remember the Merciful One, *34 to him We assign a satan as his boon companion,

*34 "Dhikr of the Merciful": His remembrance as well as His admonition and the Qur'an.

وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ {43:37}

[Q43:37] Wa innahum la yasuddoo nahum 'anis sabeeli wa yahsaboona annahum muhtadoon. 
[Q43:37] And most surely they turn them away from the path, and they think that they are guided aright:

[Q43:37] Dan sesungguhnya Syaitan-syaitan itu tetap menghalangi mereka dari jalan yang benar, sedang mereka menyangka bahawa mereka orang-orang yang mendapat hidayat petunjuk. 

The downward fall of the life of evil is rapid. The evil persuades its victims to believe that they are pursuing good. THEY GO DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE BLINDING DARKNESS OF OBSCURITY FROM WHERE THERE IS NO COMING BACK.

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(43:37) and these satans hinder them from the Right Path, while he still reckons himself to be rightly-guided.

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَنَا قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِينُ {43:38}

[Q43:38] Hattaaa izaa jaaa'anaa qaala yaa laita bainee wa bainaka bu'dal mashriqaini fabi'sal qareen. 
[Q43:38] Until when he comes to Us, he says: O would that between me and you there were the distance of the East and the West; so evil is the associate!

[Q43:38] Sehingga apabila dia (yang terjerumus dalam kesesatan itu) datang kepada Kami (pada hari kiamat), berkatalah dia (kepada Syaitannya): Alangkah baiknya (kalau di dunia dahulu ada sekatan yang memisahkan) antaraku denganmu sejauh timur dengan barat! Kerana (engkau) adalah sejahat-jahat teman. 

At the time of judgment the deceived souls of the followers of Shaytan will cry in agony: "Would that we had never come across the accursed Shaytan. Would that we were separated poles apart."

The distance of two east implies "east and west" which can never meet. The equivalent idiom in English is "poles apart."

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(43:38) But when he comes to Us, he will say (to his satan): “Would that there had been between me and you the distance as between the East and the West. How evil a companion you were!”

وَلَنْ يَنْفَعَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ إِذْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ {43:39}

[Q43:39] Wa lai yanfa'akumul Yawma iz zalamtum annakum fil 'azaabi mushtarikoon. 
[Q43:39] And since you were unjust, it will not profit you this day that you are sharers in the chastisement.

[Q43:39] (Lalu dikatakan kepada mereka): Pada hari ini, setelah nyata bahawa kamu telah menganiaya diri sendiri, (maka apa yang kamu cita-citakan itu) tidak sekali-kali akan memberi faedah kepada kamu, kerana sesungguhnya kamu dan teman-teman kamu itu tetap menderita bersama-sama di dalam azab.  

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(43:39) (He will then be told): “Today it will not benefit you the least that after your wrong-doing you and your satans now share the chastisement.” *35

*35 That is, "In this there is no aspect of consolation for you that the one who misguided you is being punished, for you also are receiving the same punishment for accepting and following the deviation." 

أَفَأَنْتَ تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ أَوْ تَهْدِي الْعُمْيَ وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ {43:40}

[Q43:40] Afa anta tusmi'us summa aw tahdil 'umya wa man kaana fee dalaalim Mubeen. 
[Q43:40] What! Can you then make the deaf to hear or guide the blind and him who is in clear error?

[Q43:40] Maka (mengapa engkau berdukacita wahai Muhammad) adakah engkau berkuasa menjadikan orang-orang yang pekak mendengar atau menunjuk jalan kepada orang-orang yang buta (mata hatinya) dan juga orang-orang yang berada dalam kesesatan yang nyata?

Refer to Rum 30:52 and 53.

As said in VERSE 37 the evildoers go headlong into sin, and sink deeper and deeper until the spiritual faculties of the evildoers are deadened and no outside help can bring them back, BECAUSE they have rejected the divine guidance.

GUIDANCE IS ALLAH (SWT)’S GRACE AND MERCY AND COMES ONLY FROM ALLAH (SWT) AND NOT AT THE WILL OF EVEN THE APOSTLES.

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(43:40) Can you, (O Prophet), then make the deaf hear, or direct to the Right Way the blind or one lost in manifest error? *36

*36 It means to say: "Pay attention to those who are inclined to listen and have not closed their eyes to the realities, and do not consume yourself in showing the way to the blind and making the deaf to hear, nor consume yourself with the grief as to why your near and dear ones are not coming to the right path, and why they are making themselves worthy of Allah's torment."