Surah 45. Al-Jathiya

Ha-Mim.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ha Mim. ⁴⁷³⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See Introduction to S. xi.

The revelation of this Book is from Allah- the Almighty, All-Wise.

  - Mustafa Khattab

The revelation of the Book is from Allah the Exalted in power Full of Wisdom. ⁴⁷³⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This verse is the same as xl. 2, except that "wisdom" is here substituted in the last line for "knowledge". This is appropriate, as in this Sura we are dealing with the folly of those who reject Allah and His Signs, while S. xl. dealt with the individual soul's witness to Faith and Virtue.

Surely in 'the creation of' the heavens and the earth are signs for the believers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Verily in the heavens and the earth are Signs for those who believe. ⁴⁷³⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Verses 3-5 deal with some of the points in the noble argument in ii. 164, but again there are differences on account of the different context. Note that here the argument is divided into three parts, one in each verse. (1) In verse 3 we are dealing with big Signs external to ourselves, some of which are far beyond our personal experiences: for them we require Faith: they are Signs "for those who believe." For the other two see the next two notes.

And in your own creation, and whatever living beings He dispersed, are signs for people of sure faith.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And in the creation of yourselves and the fact that animals are scattered (through the earth) are Signs for those of assured Faith. ⁴⁷³⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(2) These Signs are in our own nature and in the animals we meet with every day; here we have certainty within human limits: these are "for those of assured Faith".

And 'in' the alternation of the day and the night, the provision¹ sent down from the skies by Allah- reviving the earth after its death- and the shifting of the winds, are signs for people of understanding.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., rain.

And in the alternation of Night and Day and the fact that Allah sends down Sustenance from the sky and revives therewith the earth after its death and the change of the winds are Signs for those that are wise. ^{4739 4740}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(3) These are our daily experiences from external things, but they affect us and our lives intimately: here are questions of deductions "for those that are wise."

"Sustenance" is almost equivalent here to "rain". And "rain" itself, and its revival of a dead earth, refer symbolically to Revelation and its putting new life into a dead soul. Similarly the alternation of Night and Day, and the change of the winds, besides being Signs as wonderful phenomena of Nature, refer to spiritual ignorance and knowledge, rest and activity, and the constant beneficent changes that are going on in the world, making for the spread of the blessing of Allah's Revelation.

These are Allah's revelations which We recite to you 'O Prophet' in truth. So what message will they believe in after 'denying' Allah and His revelations?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Such are the Signs of Allah which We rehearse to thee in truth: then in what exposition will they believe after (rejecting) Allah and His Signs? ⁴⁷⁴¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If there are any to whom the Signs from Nature, from within their own heart and conscience, and from the voice of Revelation, are not enough to convince them, what possible kind of exposition will they accept?

Woe to every sinful liar.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Woe to each sinful Dealer in Falsehoods: ⁴⁷⁴²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A soul so dead, as described in the last note, is indeed wretched. It will resort to falsehoods, in worship, in conduct, and in its attitude towards Allah. It will be obstinate, and pretend to be 'above such things'. It will hear the most beautiful Message but not profit by it. The loss or punishment is its own, and grievous it is!

They hear Allah's revelations recited to them, then persist 'in denial' arrogantly as if they did not hear them. So give them good news of a painful punishment.

  - Mustafa Khattab

He hears the Signs of Allah rehearsed to him yet is obstinate and lofty as if he had not heard them: then announce to him a Penalty Grievous!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And whenever they learn anything of Our revelations, they make a mockery of it. It is they who will suffer a humiliating punishment.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And when he learns something of Our Signs he takes them in jest: for such there will be a humiliating Penalty. ⁴⁷⁴³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Note that in each of the verses 8-11 the Penalty is characterised by a certain description, which accords with the crime. (1) In verse 8, the man is arrogant about the Signs of Allah's love and care all around him, and his Penalty is "grievous". (2) In verse 9, he ridicules Allah's Signs, and his Penalty is "humiliating": he makes himself a ridiculous fool, (3) and (4) are described in the two following notes.

Awaiting them is Hell. Their 'worldly' gains will not be of any benefit to them whatsoever, nor will those protectors they have taken besides Allah. And they will suffer a tremendous punishment.

  - Mustafa Khattab

In front of them is Hell: and of no profit to them is anything they may have earned nor any protectors they may have taken to themselves besides Allah: for them is a tremendous Penalty. ⁴⁷⁴⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(3) In verse 10 the sinner has piled up the good things of this life, and thinks he has got plenty of helpers and protectors, but all these things are of no use. On the contrary, his Penalty will be "tremendous", to correspond with the great pains which he has taken to multiply the gods of his worship.

This 'Quran' is 'true' guidance. And those who deny their Lord's revelations will suffer the 'worst' torment of agonizing pain.

  - Mustafa Khattab

This is (true) Guidance: and for those who reject the Signs of their Lord is a grievous Penalty of abomination. ⁴⁷⁴⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(4) In verse 11, he has flouted and rejected the specific guidance that came to him from the Word of Allah, or from the admonition of a prophet of Allah. His Penalty is a penalty of abomination: he earns unspeakable horror and abomination from all the Righteous, and is an unclean object in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Allah is the One Who has subjected the sea for you so that ships may sail upon it by His command, and that you may seek His bounty, and that perhaps you will be grateful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

It is Allah Who has subjected the sea to you that ships may sail through it by His command that ye may seek of His Bounty and that ye may be grateful. ⁴⁷⁴⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xvi. 14 and notes thereon, especially n. 2037. The one encircling ocean of our globe is one of the most significant facts in our physical geography. Its salt water is an agent of global sanitation. The salubrious effects of sea-air, with its ozone, are well known to everyone who has recouped his health by its means. Thanks to ships, the sea unites rather than divides: communications are, and have always been, more active between sea-coast towns than further inland. They thus further human intercourse, and help us to seek the "Bounty of Allah", not only in a commercial but in an intellectual and spiritual sense. All this is through "Allah's command" i.e., by His beneficent ordering of the universe, and we should be grateful.

He 'also' subjected for you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth- all by His grace. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And He has subjected to you as from Him all that is in the heavens and on earth: behold in that are Signs indeed for those who reflect. ⁴⁷⁴⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxxi. 20, and n. 3605. The sea was only one example of Allah's cherishing care in making all things in nature available for the use of man, through the genius and faculties which He has given to man. Man should never forget that it is all "as from Him", i.e., from Allah.

'O Prophet!' Tell the believers to forgive those who do not fear Allah's days 'of torment', so that He will reward each group for what they used to commit.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Tell those who believe to forgive those who do not look forward to the Days of Allah: it is for Him to recompense (for good or ill) each People according to what they have earned. ^{4748 4749 4750}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xiv: 5.

Allah will give due recompense for good or evil according to His own full Knowledge and righteous Plan, and in His own good time.

"People" here may be taken to be a group of common characteristics, e.g., the righteous in contrast with the unrighteous, the oppressed in contrast with the oppressors, and so on.

Whoever does good, it is to their own benefit. And whoever does evil, it is to their own loss. Then to your Lord you will 'all' be returned.

  - Mustafa Khattab

If anyone does a righteous deed it is to his own benefit; if he does evil it works against (His own soul). In the end will ye (all) be brought back to your Lord. ⁴⁷⁵¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Ordinarily good and evil come to their own even in this world; but in any case there is the final Judgment before Allah.