Surah 15. Al-Hijr

Alif-Lãm-Ra. These are the verses of the Book; the clear Quran.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Alif Lam Ra. These are the Ayats of Revelation of a Qur'an that makes things clear. ^{1932 1933 1934}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For these letters, see Appendix 1.

Cf. x. 1. and n. 1382.

Note how appropriately the different phrases in which the Qur-an is characterised bring out its different aspects as a Revelation. Let us just consider the phrases used at the beginning of the six A.L.M. Suras of which this is the last in order of arrangement. In x.1 we read, "Ayats (or verses or Signs) of the Book of Wisdom", the theme being the wonders of Allah's creation, and its relation to His Revelation. In xi. 1 we read, "a Book, with verses basic or fundamental, further explained in detail": the theme is Allah's Justice and punishment, to preserve the fundamental scheme of His Laws. In xii. 1 we read, "The Symbols verses of the Perspicuous Book"; the wonderful unfolding of Allah's Plan is explained in Joseph's story. In xiii. 1 we read, "The Signs (or verses) of the Book": the contrasts in the modes of Allah's Revelation and its reception by man are pointed out, but not illustrated by detailed examples as in Joseph's perspicuous story. In xiv. 1 we read, "A Book revealed to lead out of darkness into light": the theme being Abraham's prayer for man to be rescued from the darkness of false worship into the light of Unity. Here,in xv.1 we read, "Ayats (or verses) of Revelation,-of a Qur-an that makes things clear (or perspicuous)": the theme being an explanation of evil, and how Allah's Truth is protected from it.

'The day will come when' the disbelievers will certainly wish they had submitted 'to Allah'.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 lit., had been Muslims.

Again and again will those who disbelieve wish that they had bowed (to Allah's Will) in Islam. ¹⁹³⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The time must inevitably come when those who allow themselves to be deceived by falsehood or deliberately break Allah's Law will find themselves in a terrible plight. They will then wish, ardently and again and again, that they had sought Allah's Will and walked in the light of Truth. That time may be early or late,-in this life, or at death, or at the Day of Judgment, but it must come. Man's own highest interest requires that he should awake to the Reality before it is too late for repentance.

'So' let them eat and enjoy themselves and be diverted by 'false' hope, for they will soon know.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Leave them alone to enjoy (the good things of this life) and to please themselves: let (false) Hope amuse them: soon will knowledge (undeceive them). ^{1936 1937}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Literally, "to eat", Cf. v. 66 and n. 776.

The foolish and the wicked set great store by the pleasures of this world. In their pride they think they have all knowledge. In the fulness of knowledge they will see how wrong they were. Meanwhile those who have received the Light should not for a single moment wonder at the apparent prosperity of the ungodly in this world. They should leave them alone, confident in the goodness and justice of Allah.

We have never destroyed a society without a destined term.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Never did We destroy a population that had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand. ¹⁹³⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Kitabun ma'lum: literally, "a writing known". There are many shades of meaning implied, (1) For every people, as for every individual, there is a definite Term assigned: their faculty of choice gives them the opportunity of moulding their will according to Allah's Will, and thus identifying themselves with Allah's Universal Law. During that Term they will be given plenty of rope; after that Term is past, there will be no opportunity for repentance. (2) Neither the righteous nor the ungodly can hasten or delay the doom: Allah's Will must prevail, and He is All-Wise. (3) The destruction of a people is not an arbitrary punishment from Allah: the people bring it on themselves by their own choice; for the fixed Law or Decree of Allah is always made known to them beforehand, and in many ways.

No people can advance their doom, nor can they delay it.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Neither can a people anticipate its Term nor delay it. ¹⁹³⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vii. 34. Also see the last note.

They say, 'O you to whom the Reminder¹ is revealed! You must be insane!

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., the Quran.

They say: "O thou to whom the Message is being revealed! Truly thou art mad (or possessed)! ¹⁹⁴⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Al-Mustafa was accused by the ungodly of being mad or possessed, because he spoke of higher things than they knew, and acted from motives purer and nobler than they could understand. So, in a minor degree, is the lot of all the righteous in the presence of an ungodly world. Their motives, actions, words, hopes, and aspirations are unintelligible to their fellows, and they are accused of being mad or out of their senses. But they know that they are on the right path, and it is the ungodly who are really acting against their own best interests.

Why do you not bring us the angels, if what you say is true?'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Why bringest thou not angels to us if it be that thou hast the Truth?" ¹⁹⁴¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vi. 8-9, and notes 840, 841. On the part of the unbelievers, this is a mere taunt. They neither believe in Allah nor in angels nor in revelation nor in any but material things. It is ridiculous to suppose that they could be taken seriously.

We do not send the angels down except for a just cause, and then 'the end of' the disbelievers will not be delayed.

  - Mustafa Khattab

We send not the angels down except for just cause: if they came (to the ungodly) behold! no respite would they have! ^{1942 1943}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Angels are not sent down to satisfy the whim or curiosity of the unbelievers. They are sent to bring inspiration to Allah's messengers and to execute Allah's decrees.

If the angels were to appear before the ungodly, it would mean that they came to execute just punishment, and then there would be no hope of respite possible for the ungodly.

It is certainly We Who have revealed the Reminder, and it is certainly We Who will preserve it.

  - Mustafa Khattab

We have without doubt sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption). ¹⁹⁴⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The purity of the text of the Qur-an through fourteen centuries is a foretaste of the eternal care with which Allah's Truth is guarded through all ages. All corruptions, inventions, and accretions pass away, but Allah's pure and holy Truth will never suffer eclipse even though the whole world mocked at it and were bent on destroying it.

Indeed, We sent messengers before you 'O Prophet' among the groups of early peoples,

  - Mustafa Khattab

We did send apostles before thee amongst the religious sects of old: ¹⁹⁴⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Shiya'un, plural of Shi'atun = a sect, a religious division. Mankind sees fragments of Truth at a time, and is apt to fall into fragments and divisions. All true messengers of Allah come to reconcile these fragments or divisions, for they preach the true Gospel of Unity. So came Al-Mustafa to bring back to Unity the many jarring sects among the Jews, Christians, and Pagans. His mission was held up to ridicule, but so was the mission of his predecessors. Mockery itself should not discourage the preachers of Truth.