ق
Surah Qaf
The Letter "Qaf" · Surah 50 · Meccan · 45 verses
1قٓۚ وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ ٱلۡمَجِيدِ ١Qaf. By the Glorious Qur’an.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this surah’s opening closely resembles Surah Sad: both begin with a letter and an oath by the Qur’an, and address the disbelievers’ astonishment.2بَلۡ عَجِبُوٓاْ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرࣱ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَقَالَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا شَيۡءٌ عَجِيبٌ ٢Nay, but they marvel that a warner of their own hath come unto them; and the disbelievers say: This is a strange thing.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the disbelievers were astonished that a human from among them should be a prophet.3أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابࣰاۖ ذَٰلِكَ رَجۡعُۢ بَعِيدࣱ ٣When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be brought back again)? That would be a far return.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they considered resurrection after death a return far from reason or custom.4قَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا مَا تَنقُصُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ مِنۡهُمۡۖ وَعِندَنَا كِتَٰبٌ حَفِيظُۢ ٤We know that which the earth taketh of them, and with Us is a recording Book.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, thinking resurrection far comes from ignorance, since man’s reality and parts cannot be fully known; but Allah knows them all.5بَلۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ فَهُمۡ فِيٓ أَمۡرࣲ مَّرِيجٍ ٥Nay, but they have denied the truth when it came unto them, therefor they are now in troubled case.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they denied the knowledge of Allah who created them, His Book and His Prophet as soon as they came, and fell into confusion.6أَفَلَمۡ يَنظُرُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ كَيۡفَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّـٰهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجࣲ ٦Have they not then observed the sky above them, how We have constructed it and beautified it, and how there are no rifts therein.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this heaven is the lower sky, appearing to our eyes with the bodies and dimensions we can see above our horizon.7وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَدَدۡنَٰهَا وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ وَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوۡجِۭ بَهِيجࣲ ٧And the earth have We spread out, and have flung firm hills therein, and have caused of every lovely kind to grow thereon.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the earth is spread like the carpet of that building; while the sky appears as a sphere, the earth stretches beneath it to the horizon.8تَبۡصِرَةࣰ وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِكُلِّ عَبۡدࣲ مُّنِيبࣲ ٨A vision and a reminder for every penitent slave.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, all this is to open the eyes of and give a lesson to every servant who gives his heart to his Lord and turns to the truth in reflection.9وَنَزَّلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءࣰ مُّبَٰرَكࣰا فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتࣲ وَحَبَّ ٱلۡحَصِيدِ ٩And We send down from the sky blessed water whereby We give growth unto gardens and the grain of crops.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this water’s good, blessing and benefit are great; through it is shown how the pairs are made to grow.10وَٱلنَّخۡلَ بَاسِقَٰتࣲ لَّهَا طَلۡعࣱ نَّضِيدࣱ ١٠And lofty date-palms with ranged clusters.InsightElmalılı explains “basiqat” as tall, straight or laden: spathes stacked one upon another, full of fruit.11رِّزۡقࣰا لِّلۡعِبَادِۖ وَأَحۡيَيۡنَا بِهِۦ بَلۡدَةࣰ مَّيۡتࣰاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡخُرُوجُ ١١Provision (made) for men; and therewith We quicken a dead land. Even so will be the resurrection of the dead.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, life is given to dry soil that had ceased to grow; emergence from the grave will be the same.12كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحࣲ وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ ١٢The folk of Noah denied (the truth) before them, and (so did) the dwellers at Ar-Rass and (the tribe of) Thamud.13وَعَادࣱ وَفِرۡعَوۡنُ وَإِخۡوَٰنُ لُوطࣲ ١٣And (the tribe of) A’ad, and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Lot’s people are called his “brothers” because of a bond of kinship by marriage.14وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡأَيۡكَةِ وَقَوۡمُ تُبَّعࣲۚ كُلࣱّ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ ١٤And the dwellers in the wood, and the folk of Tubb’a: every one denied their messengers, therefor My threat took effect.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the people of Tubba‘ are the Himyarites; each denied the messengers sent to call them to new life.15أَفَعَيِينَا بِٱلۡخَلۡقِ ٱلۡأَوَّلِۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ فِي لَبۡسࣲ مِّنۡ خَلۡقࣲ جَدِيدࣲ ١٥Were We then worn out by the first creation? Yet they are in doubt about a new creation.16وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفۡسُهُۥۖ وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِيدِ ١٦We verily created man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this both recalls the first creation and, in speaking of nearness, warns against confusing Creator and created.17إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدࣱ ١٧When the two Receivers receive (him), seated on the right hand and on the left.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there are two angels recording everything each person says and does.18مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدࣱ ١٨He uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, whatever comes out of his mouth, good or evil, beside him is a watcher ready, observing what he does and says.19وَجَآءَتۡ سَكۡرَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنۡهُ تَحِيدُ ١٩And the agony of death cometh in truth. (And it is said unto him): This is that which thou wast wont to shun.InsightElmalılı explains “sakrah” as an intensity that takes away the mind; death coming with the truth is its coming by Allah’s command.20وَنُفِخَ فِي ٱلصُّورِۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡوَعِيدِ ٢٠And the trumpet is blown. This is the threatened Day.21وَجَآءَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسࣲ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقࣱ وَشَهِيدࣱ ٢١And every soul cometh, along with it a driver and a witness.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there are two kinds of angels: one charged with driving the soul to the gathering, the other with witnessing its deeds.22لَّقَدۡ كُنتَ فِي غَفۡلَةࣲ مِّنۡ هَٰذَا فَكَشَفۡنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ حَدِيدࣱ ٢٢(And unto the evil-doer it is said): Thou wast in heedlessness of this. Now We have removed from thee thy covering, and piercing is thy sight this day.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this address is made to everyone because everyone has some degree of heedlessness about the Hereafter.23وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ هَٰذَا مَا لَدَيَّ عَتِيدٌ ٢٣And (unto the evil-doer) his comrade saith: This is that which I have ready (as testimony).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the driving angel beside him brings him before Allah and says: “Here is what is with me, ready.”24أَلۡقِيَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدࣲ ٢٤(And it is said): Do ye twain hurl to hell each rebel ingrate.25مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدࣲ مُّرِيبٍ ٢٥Hinderer of good, transgressor, doubter.26ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَأَلۡقِيَاهُ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلشَّدِيدِ ٢٦Who setteth up another god along with Allah. Do ye twain hurl him to the dreadful doom.27۞قَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطۡغَيۡتُهُۥ وَلَٰكِن كَانَ فِي ضَلَٰلِۭ بَعِيدࣲ ٢٧His comrade saith: Our Lord! I did not cause him to rebel, but he was (himself) far gone in error.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this companion is the devil who beset the disbeliever in the world and is driven with him in the Hereafter, answering his complaint “This one led me astray.”28قَالَ لَا تَخۡتَصِمُواْ لَدَيَّ وَقَدۡ قَدَّمۡتُ إِلَيۡكُم بِٱلۡوَعِيدِ ٢٨He saith: Contend not in My presence, when I had already proffered unto you the warning.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah had warned them in the world, in the time for deeds, through books and prophets.29مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ لَدَيَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّـٰمࣲ لِّلۡعَبِيدِ ٢٩The sentence that cometh from Me cannot be changed, and I am in no wise a tyrant unto the slaves.30يَوۡمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمۡتَلَأۡتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلۡ مِن مَّزِيدࣲ ٣٠On the day when We say unto hell: Art thou filled? and it saith: Can there be more to come.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this scene conveys the terror of that day.31وَأُزۡلِفَتِ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ غَيۡرَ بَعِيدٍ ٣١And the Garden is brought nigh for those who kept from evil, no longer distant.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this qualifier is to refute openly those who thought the resurrection far.32هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظࣲ ٣٢(And it is said): This is that which ye were promised. (It is) for every penitent and heedful one.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, most commentators say this relates what will be said in the Hereafter: “This is what you were promised.”33مَّنۡ خَشِيَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَجَآءَ بِقَلۡبࣲ مُّنِيبٍ ٣٣Who feareth the Beneficent in secret and cometh with a contrite heart.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is one who believed in the Most Merciful before coming before Him and before the veils lifted, tasting His mercy and feeling the dread of His punishment.34ٱدۡخُلُوهَا بِسَلَٰمࣲۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡخُلُودِ ٣٤Enter it in peace. This is the day of immortality.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this day of entering is the day eternal abiding is decreed; it is the eternity the Qur’an constantly speaks of.35لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيۡنَا مَزِيدࣱ ٣٥There they have all that they desire, and there is more with Us.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, whatever they ask is there; and with Allah is more, things that never crossed their minds or entered their wishes.36وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّن قَرۡنٍ هُمۡ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُم بَطۡشࣰا فَنَقَّبُواْ فِي ٱلۡبِلَٰدِ هَلۡ مِن مَّحِيصٍ ٣٦And how many a generation We destroyed before them, who were mightier than these in prowess so that they overran the lands! Had they any place of refuge (when the judgment came).37إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكۡرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُۥ قَلۡبٌ أَوۡ أَلۡقَى ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدࣱ ٣٧Lo! therein verily is a reminder for him who hath a heart, or giveth ear with full intelligence.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, in what this surah says is a lesson for one with a conscience to feel, or one who listens attentively.38وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامࣲ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبࣲ ٣٨And verily We created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in six Days, and naught of weariness touched Us.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this refutes the claim that Allah needed to rest on the seventh day.39فَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ قَبۡلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمۡسِ وَقَبۡلَ ٱلۡغُرُوبِ ٣٩Therefor (O Muhammad) bear with what they say, and hymn the praise of thy Lord before the rising and before the setting of the sun.40وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَسَبِّحۡهُ وَأَدۡبَٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ ٤٠And in the night-time hymn His praise, and after the (prescribed) prostrations.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is glorifying after the prayers; glorification is made after every prayer.41وَٱسۡتَمِعۡ يَوۡمَ يُنَادِ ٱلۡمُنَادِ مِن مَّكَانࣲ قَرِيبࣲ ٤١And listen on the day when the crier crieth from a near place.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the caller is Israfil or Gabriel: “O decayed bones, severed joints, scattered hair! Allah calls you to be gathered.”42يَوۡمَ يَسۡمَعُونَ ٱلصَّيۡحَةَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡخُرُوجِ ٤٢The day when they will hear the (Awful) Cry in truth. That is the day of coming forth (from the graves).InsightElmalılı relates from al-Baydawi: “the Day of Emergence” is one of the names of the Resurrection; it is also used for the day of ‘Id.43إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡيِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيۡنَا ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ٤٣Lo! We it is Who quicken and give death, and unto Us is the journeying.44يَوۡمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ عَنۡهُمۡ سِرَاعࣰاۚ ذَٰلِكَ حَشۡرٌ عَلَيۡنَا يَسِيرࣱ ٤٤On the day when the earth splitteth asunder from them, hastening forth (they come). That is a gathering easy for Us (to make).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the repetition of “the Day” is to convey its terror.45نَّحۡنُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِجَبَّارࣲۖ فَذَكِّرۡ بِٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ ٤٥We are Best Aware of what they say, and thou (O Muhammad) art in no wise a compeller over them. But warn by the Qur’an him who feareth My threat.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is so they may guard themselves for that day and strive to come with a returning heart and enter the eternal home in peace.