يس
Surah Ya-Sin
Ya Sin · Surah 36 · Meccan · 83 verses
1يسٓ ١Ya Sin.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, most scholars hold this is the surah’s name; some say it is an oath, others one of Allah’s names. A narration from Ibn Abbas says it means “O human being!”2وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ ٢By the wise Qur’an.InsightElmalılı gives three meanings of “hakim”: wise, speaking wisdom, and firmly established. For him, all of them are true of the Qur’an.3إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ٣Lo! thou art of those sent.InsightElmalılı notes that this sentence is strengthened in four ways, including an oath. Such strong emphasis fits because it is said in the face of those who fiercely denied prophethood.4عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطࣲ مُّسۡتَقِيمࣲ ٤On a straight path.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this path is a new road with no crookedness that leads straight to Allah: the way of Islam.5تَنزِيلَ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٥A revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful.InsightElmalılı points out that these two names are mentioned here on purpose: all might belongs to Allah, and His mercy to the believers who know Him is endless.6لِتُنذِرَ قَوۡمࣰا مَّآ أُنذِرَ ءَابَآؤُهُمۡ فَهُمۡ غَٰفِلُونَ ٦That thou mayst warn a folk whose fathers were not warned, so they are heedless.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, warning means telling that this world has a Hereafter and that everyone will finally give account before Allah. Heedlessness is living without knowing this.7لَقَدۡ حَقَّ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ عَلَىٰٓ أَكۡثَرِهِمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٧Already hath the judgment, (for their infidelity) proved true of most of them, for they believe not.InsightMost commentators say the “word” here is Allah’s judgement of punishment against those who stubbornly deny. Elmalılı indicates that this is earned not by mere heedlessness but by resisting the truth knowingly.8إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا فِيٓ أَعۡنَٰقِهِمۡ أَغۡلَٰلࣰا فَهِيَ إِلَى ٱلۡأَذۡقَانِ فَهُم مُّقۡمَحُونَ ٨Lo! We have put on their necks carcans reaching unto the chins, so that they are made stiff-necked.InsightElmalılı explains “aghlal” as bonds that bind the neck and the hands together. It is a striking picture of the captivity a person falls into through his own stubbornness.9وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۢ بَيۡنِ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ سَدࣰّا وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِمۡ سَدࣰّا فَأَغۡشَيۡنَٰهُمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يُبۡصِرُونَ ٩And We have set a bar before them and a bar behind them, and (thus) have covered them so that they see not.InsightIn Elmalılı’s explanation, these barriers depict a veil that closes both the future and the past to those who persist in denial. There is looking, but no seeing.10وَسَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَأَنذَرۡتَهُمۡ أَمۡ لَمۡ تُنذِرۡهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ١٠Whether thou warn them or thou warn them not, it is alike for them, for they believe not.11إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَخَشِيَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِۖ فَبَشِّرۡهُ بِمَغۡفِرَةࣲ وَأَجۡرࣲ كَرِيمٍ ١١Thou warnest only him who followeth the Reminder and feareth the Beneficent in secret. To him bear tidings of forgiveness and a rich reward.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Prophet warns everyone, but the warning benefits only one who reads the Qur’an seriously, listens to advice and reveres the Most Merciful without seeing Him.12إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡيِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَنَكۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُواْ وَءَاثَٰرَهُمۡۚ وَكُلَّ شَيۡءٍ أَحۡصَيۡنَٰهُ فِيٓ إِمَامࣲ مُّبِينࣲ ١٢Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register).InsightElmalılı explains the “traces”: the useful or harmful works a person leaves behind, the knowledge they taught, the books they wrote, the foundations they set up. These keep being written to their account.13وَٱضۡرِبۡ لَهُم مَّثَلًا أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِ إِذۡ جَآءَهَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ ١٣Coin for them a similitude: The people of the city when those sent (from Allah) came unto them.InsightElmalılı sees this story as an example of the great change promised to the Prophet: just as pagan Rome faded before Christianity, so powers would fall before Islam. That is why it fits to call this story “the heart of Ya-Sin”.14إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِمُ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزۡنَا بِثَالِثࣲ فَقَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ إِلَيۡكُم مُّرۡسَلُونَ ١٤When We sent unto them twain, and they denied them both, so We reinforced them with a third, and they said: Lo! we have been sent unto you.InsightElmalılı relates two views: according to Ibn Abbas they were prophets sent by Allah directly; according to Qatada they were disciples sent by Jesus. Either way, the true sender is Allah.15قَالُواْ مَآ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا بَشَرࣱ مِّثۡلُنَا وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ مِن شَيۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا تَكۡذِبُونَ ١٥They said: Ye are but mortals like unto us. The Beneficent hath naught revealed. Ye do but lie.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these people did not deny Allah; what they denied was that a human could be a prophet, and revelation itself.16قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا يَعۡلَمُ إِنَّآ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمُرۡسَلُونَ ١٦They answered: Our Lord knoweth that we are indeed sent unto you.17وَمَا عَلَيۡنَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ ١٧And our duty is but plain conveyance (of the message).18قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا تَطَيَّرۡنَا بِكُمۡۖ لَئِن لَّمۡ تَنتَهُواْ لَنَرۡجُمَنَّكُمۡ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمࣱ ١٨(The people of the city) said: We augur ill of you. If ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and grievous torture will befall you at our hands.19قَالُواْ طَـٰٓئِرُكُم مَّعَكُمۡ أَئِن ذُكِّرۡتُمۚ بَلۡ أَنتُمۡ قَوۡمࣱ مُّسۡرِفُونَ ١٩They said: Your evil augury be with you! Is it because ye are reminded (of the truth)? Nay, but ye are froward folk.20وَجَآءَ مِنۡ أَقۡصَا ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ رَجُلࣱ يَسۡعَىٰ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ٢٠And there came from the uttermost part of the city a man running. He cried: O my people! Follow those who have been sent.InsightElmalılı names him as the heroic believer known as Habib an-Najjar. His coming from the far side of the town shows that the messengers’ call had been heard everywhere in it.21ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَن لَّا يَسۡـَٔلُكُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا وَهُم مُّهۡتَدُونَ ٢١Follow those who ask of you no fee, and who are rightly guided.InsightElmalılı sees a fine argument here: there are two reasons not to follow a guide: he asks for payment, or he cannot be trusted. These ask nothing and are rightly guided, so they deserve to be followed.22وَمَالِيَ لَآ أَعۡبُدُ ٱلَّذِي فَطَرَنِي وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ ٢٢For what cause should I not serve Him Who hath created me, and unto Whom ye will be brought back.InsightElmalılı sees gentle tact in these words: instead of blaming his people, the man speaks of himself: “Worshipping my Creator is my duty.” So he makes them think without offending them.23ءَأَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً إِن يُرِدۡنِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ بِضُرࣲّ لَّا تُغۡنِ عَنِّي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡـࣰٔا وَلَا يُنقِذُونِ ٢٣Shall I take (other) gods in place of Him when, if the Beneficent should wish me any harm, their intercession will avail me naught, nor can they save.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the man says “the Most Merciful who created me with His mercy”: since He creates and protects, nothing else can save or deserve worship.24إِنِّيٓ إِذࣰا لَّفِي ضَلَٰلࣲ مُّبِينٍ ٢٤Then truly I should be in error manifest.InsightElmalılı reads this together with the previous verse: worshipping anyone other than the Most Merciful who created me is a plain mistake.25إِنِّيٓ ءَامَنتُ بِرَبِّكُمۡ فَٱسۡمَعُونِ ٢٥Lo! I have believed in your Lord, so hear me.InsightElmalılı says these words can have several meanings: telling the messengers “Bear witness, I believe in your Lord”, or a last call to his people: “I believe in the One who created you; you too, listen.”26قِيلَ ٱدۡخُلِ ٱلۡجَنَّةَۖ قَالَ يَٰلَيۡتَ قَوۡمِي يَعۡلَمُونَ ٢٦It was said (unto him): Enter paradise. He said: Would that my people knew.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the man was martyred and honoured by entering Paradise directly, as are those martyred in Allah’s way. Even on seeing Paradise, his first thought was his people.27بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ ٱلۡمُكۡرَمِينَ ٢٧With what (munificence) my Lord hath pardoned me and made me of the honoured ones.InsightElmalılı sees a great heart in this wish: the man held no grudge against the people who killed him; he wished they knew his happiness and would repent and believe. This is the spirit of the saints who show mercy even to their enemies.28۞وَمَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ مِن جُندࣲ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا كُنَّا مُنزِلِينَ ٢٨We sent not down against his people after him a host from heaven, nor do We ever send.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, sending an army openly from the sky in such cases is not Allah’s way, nor was it needed. A single sign is enough for His power.29إِن كَانَتۡ إِلَّا صَيۡحَةࣰ وَٰحِدَةࣰ فَإِذَا هُمۡ خَٰمِدُونَ ٢٩It was but one Shout, and lo! they were extinct.InsightElmalılı explains “extinguished” as the dying out of a fiery people who wanted to burn everything. He says it is broader to understand it as the fall of pagan Rome before the call of Jesus, not only the ruin of one town.30يَٰحَسۡرَةً عَلَى ٱلۡعِبَادِۚ مَا يَأۡتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ ٣٠Ah, the anguish for the bondmen! Never came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is not only sorrow for those destroyed; it is a warning for those on the same road and an alarm for the heedless.31أَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ كَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ أَنَّهُمۡ إِلَيۡهِمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ ٣١Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them, which indeed returned not unto them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, those destroyed never return to this world; but all of them, earlier and later, will finally be gathered before Allah. So taking other gods is meaningless.32وَإِن كُلࣱّ لَّمَّا جَمِيعࣱ لَّدَيۡنَا مُحۡضَرُونَ ٣٢But all, without exception, will be brought before Us.33وَءَايَةࣱ لَّهُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ ٱلۡمَيۡتَةُ أَحۡيَيۡنَٰهَا وَأَخۡرَجۡنَا مِنۡهَا حَبࣰّا فَمِنۡهُ يَأۡكُلُونَ ٣٣A token unto them is the dead earth. We revive it, and We bring forth from it grain so that they eat thereof.InsightElmalılı suggests picturing an Arabian desert in the midday heat: the earth seems the very opposite of life, a dead thing. The One who gives it life is surely able to raise the dead.34وَجَعَلۡنَا فِيهَا جَنَّـٰتࣲ مِّن نَّخِيلࣲ وَأَعۡنَٰبࣲ وَفَجَّرۡنَا فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلۡعُيُونِ ٣٤And We have placed therein gardens of the date-palm and grapes, and We have caused springs of water to gush forth therein.InsightElmalılı calls the date palm and the vine the most perfect forms of plant life and the sweetest sources of human delight: the finest examples of life rising from lifeless soil.35لِيَأۡكُلُواْ مِن ثَمَرِهِۦ وَمَا عَمِلَتۡهُ أَيۡدِيهِمۡۚ أَفَلَا يَشۡكُرُونَ ٣٥That they may eat of the fruit thereof, and their hands made it not. Will they not, then, give thanks.InsightElmalılı says the verse can be read two ways: “and of what their hands made”, or “their hands did not make it”. In the second sense, a person may tend the vineyard and water it, but he does not create the fruit.36سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلۡأَزۡوَٰجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمِنۡ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٦Glory be to Him Who created all the sexual pairs, of that which the earth groweth, and of themselves, and of that which they know not.InsightElmalılı says “subhan” means declaring Allah free of every flaw, and is also used in moments of great wonder. Here there is both a warning to the ungrateful and wonder at the order of pairs in creation.37وَءَايَةࣱ لَّهُمُ ٱلَّيۡلُ نَسۡلَخُ مِنۡهُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُم مُّظۡلِمُونَ ٣٧A token unto them is night. We strip it of the day, and lo! they are in darkness.InsightElmalılı says that while the previous verses show power in space, this one points to power in time. “Strip” is like peeling off a skin: the day is pulled away from the night.38وَٱلشَّمۡسُ تَجۡرِي لِمُسۡتَقَرࣲّ لَّهَاۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقۡدِيرُ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡعَلِيمِ ٣٨And the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the sun’s “running” is not only its movement in space but the continuing of all its effects, such as spreading light and heat. All of it moves towards a set measure and end.39وَٱلۡقَمَرَ قَدَّرۡنَٰهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَٱلۡعُرۡجُونِ ٱلۡقَدِيمِ ٣٩And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an old shrivelled palm-leaf.InsightElmalılı explains that the moon does not run steadily like the sun but comes to a new station each day, looking different in each. The Arabs gave each station its own name.40لَا ٱلشَّمۡسُ يَنۢبَغِي لَهَآ أَن تُدۡرِكَ ٱلۡقَمَرَ وَلَا ٱلَّيۡلُ سَابِقُ ٱلنَّهَارِۚ وَكُلࣱّ فِي فَلَكࣲ يَسۡبَحُونَ ٤٠It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit.InsightElmalılı notes the plural “each”: this is said not only of the sun and moon but of all heavenly bodies. None collides with another; their tasks are distributed so beautifully and orderly.41وَءَايَةࣱ لَّهُمۡ أَنَّا حَمَلۡنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلۡمَشۡحُونِ ٤١And a token unto them is that We bear their offspring in the laden ship.InsightElmalılı says the “laden ship” first brings Noah’s ark to mind. But for him there is also a beautiful image here: the mother’s womb is like a ship of rescue carrying the next generation.42وَخَلَقۡنَا لَهُم مِّن مِّثۡلِهِۦ مَا يَرۡكَبُونَ ٤٢And have created for them of the like thereof whereon they ride.43وَإِن نَّشَأۡ نُغۡرِقۡهُمۡ فَلَا صَرِيخَ لَهُمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنقَذُونَ ٤٣And if We will, We drown them, and there is no help for them, neither can they be saved.InsightElmalılı reads this with the previous image: Allah could, if He willed, sink both the offspring in the womb and the passengers in the ship. He is the one who carries and protects them.44إِلَّا رَحۡمَةࣰ مِّنَّا وَمَتَٰعًا إِلَىٰ حِينࣲ ٤٤Unless by mercy from Us and as comfort for a while.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, rescue comes not by a person’s own strength but only by Allah’s mercy and by being granted life until a set time.45وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّقُواْ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيكُمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ ٤٥When it is said unto them: Beware of that which is before you and that which is behind you, that haply ye may find mercy (they are heedless).46وَمَا تَأۡتِيهِم مِّنۡ ءَايَةࣲ مِّنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ إِلَّا كَانُواْ عَنۡهَا مُعۡرِضِينَ ٤٦Never came a token of the tokens of their Lord to them, but they did turn away from it.47وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ أَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَنُطۡعِمُ مَن لَّوۡ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ أَطۡعَمَهُۥٓ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَٰلࣲ مُّبِينࣲ ٤٧And when it is said unto them: Spend of that wherewith Allah hath provided you, those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: Shall we feed those whom Allah, if He willed, would feed? Ye are in naught else than error manifest.InsightElmalılı relates that this verse came down about some freethinkers in Mecca: when urged to give charity, they would say “Allah makes them poor; are we to feed them?” They made fate an excuse for not sharing.48وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ ٤٨And they say: When will this promise be fulfilled, if ye are truthful.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the question is mockery. What awaits them is a single cry, the first blowing of the Trumpet: it seizes them while they quarrel, and they can neither make a will nor return to their families.49مَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا صَيۡحَةࣰ وَٰحِدَةࣰ تَأۡخُذُهُمۡ وَهُمۡ يَخِصِّمُونَ ٤٩They await but one Shout, which will surprise them while they are disputing.50فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ تَوۡصِيَةࣰ وَلَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ ٥٠Then they cannot make bequest, nor can they return to their own folk.51وَنُفِخَ فِي ٱلصُّورِ فَإِذَا هُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ يَنسِلُونَ ٥١And the trumpet is blown and lo! from the graves they hie unto their Lord.52قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَا مَنۢ بَعَثَنَا مِن مَّرۡقَدِنَاۜۗ هَٰذَا مَا وَعَدَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وَصَدَقَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ ٥٢Crying: Woe upon us! Who hath raised us from our place of sleep? This is that which the Beneficent did promise, and the messengers spoke truth.53إِن كَانَتۡ إِلَّا صَيۡحَةࣰ وَٰحِدَةࣰ فَإِذَا هُمۡ جَمِيعࣱ لَّدَيۡنَا مُحۡضَرُونَ ٥٣It is but one Shout, and behold them brought together before Us.54فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ لَا تُظۡلَمُ نَفۡسࣱ شَيۡـࣰٔا وَلَا تُجۡزَوۡنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ٥٤This day no soul is wronged in aught; nor are ye requited aught save what ye used to do.55إِنَّ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ فِي شُغُلࣲ فَٰكِهُونَ ٥٥Lo! those who merit paradise this day are happily employed.InsightElmalılı recalls that entering Paradise is essentially by Allah’s grace, though good deeds are made a means to it. The “fruit” given there also expresses not just pleasure but the harvest of one’s effort.56هُمۡ وَأَزۡوَٰجُهُمۡ فِي ظِلَٰلٍ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرَآئِكِ مُتَّكِـُٔونَ ٥٦They and their wives, in pleasant shade, on thrones reclining.57لَهُمۡ فِيهَا فَٰكِهَةࣱ وَلَهُم مَّا يَدَّعُونَ ٥٧Theirs the fruit (of their good deeds) and theirs (all) that they ask.58سَلَٰمࣱ قَوۡلࣰا مِّن رَّبࣲّ رَّحِيمࣲ ٥٨The word from a Merciful Lord (for them) is: Peace.InsightElmalılı quotes a hadith: while the people of Paradise enjoy its blessings, a light shines above them; they raise their heads and see their Lord honouring them with His sight, and “Peace be upon you” is said. For Elmalılı, this is the greatest blessing.59وَٱمۡتَٰزُواْ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ ٥٩But avaunt ye, O ye guilty, this day.60۞أَلَمۡ أَعۡهَدۡ إِلَيۡكُمۡ يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ أَن لَّا تَعۡبُدُواْ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوࣱّ مُّبِينࣱ ٦٠Did I not charge you, O ye sons of Adam, that ye worship not the devil - Lo! he is your open foe.61وَأَنِ ٱعۡبُدُونِيۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطࣱ مُّسۡتَقِيمࣱ ٦١But that ye worship Me? That was the right path.62وَلَقَدۡ أَضَلَّ مِنكُمۡ جِبِلࣰّا كَثِيرًاۖ أَفَلَمۡ تَكُونُواْ تَعۡقِلُونَ ٦٢Yet he hath led astray of you a great multitude. Had ye then no sense.InsightElmalılı explains “jibill” as communities: Satan corrupted the character of many communities. Reason therefore requires seeing his enmity.63هَٰذِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ ٱلَّتِي كُنتُمۡ تُوعَدُونَ ٦٣This is hell which ye were promised (if ye followed him).64ٱصۡلَوۡهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ ٦٤Burn therein this day for that ye disbelieved.65ٱلۡيَوۡمَ نَخۡتِمُ عَلَىٰٓ أَفۡوَٰهِهِمۡ وَتُكَلِّمُنَآ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَتَشۡهَدُ أَرۡجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ ٦٥This day We seal up their mouths, and their hands speak out to Us and their feet bear witness as to what they used to earn.InsightElmalılı recalls that this is the day described in Surah an-Nur, when tongues, hands and feet bear witness. A person will be told about by his own body.66وَلَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَطَمَسۡنَا عَلَىٰٓ أَعۡيُنِهِمۡ فَٱسۡتَبَقُواْ ٱلصِّرَٰطَ فَأَنَّىٰ يُبۡصِرُونَ ٦٦And had We willed, We verily could have quenched their eyesight so that they should struggle for the way. Then how could they have seen.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is mainly a warning about this world: Allah could blind the ungrateful even now. That He does not is not for lack of power, but because the reckoning is in the Hereafter.67وَلَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَمَسَخۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِهِمۡ فَمَا ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ مُضِيࣰّا وَلَا يَرۡجِعُونَ ٦٧And had We willed, We verily could have fixed them in their place, making them powerless to go forward or turn back.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, if Allah does not will this, it is not because He cannot, but because He leaves the reckoning to the Hereafter. This is a respite granted to people.68وَمَن نُّعَمِّرۡهُ نُنَكِّسۡهُ فِي ٱلۡخَلۡقِۚ أَفَلَا يَعۡقِلُونَ ٦٨He whom we bring unto old age, We reverse him in creation (making him go back to weakness after strength). Have ye then no sense.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, a person who lives long weakens day by day, the reverse of youth, moving towards death. The power that does this can do much more; seeing this, one should take the right path.69وَمَا عَلَّمۡنَٰهُ ٱلشِّعۡرَ وَمَا يَنۢبَغِي لَهُۥٓۚ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ وَقُرۡءَانࣱ مُّبِينࣱ ٦٩And We have not taught him (Muhammad) poetry, nor is it meet for him. This is naught else than a Reminder and a Lecture making plain.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Qur’an is poetry neither in words nor in meaning: it has no metre and no rhyme. Poetry seeks to stir feelings regardless of truth; the Qur’an is advice that tells the truth.70لِّيُنذِرَ مَن كَانَ حَيࣰّا وَيَحِقَّ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ ٧٠To warn whosoever liveth, and that the word may be fulfilled against the disbelievers.InsightElmalılı explains “alive” as one whose mind and feelings are awake: the Qur’an wakes such a person from heedlessness.71أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّا خَلَقۡنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتۡ أَيۡدِينَآ أَنۡعَٰمࣰا فَهُمۡ لَهَا مَٰلِكُونَ ٧١Have they not seen how We have created for them of Our handiwork the cattle, so that they are their owners.InsightElmalılı explains “what Our hands made” as blessings Allah created directly, with no other craft involved, and leaves the subtleties of this reminder to the reader’s taste.72وَذَلَّلۡنَٰهَا لَهُمۡ فَمِنۡهَا رَكُوبُهُمۡ وَمِنۡهَا يَأۡكُلُونَ ٧٢And have subdued them unto them, so that some of them they have for riding, some for food.73وَلَهُمۡ فِيهَا مَنَٰفِعُ وَمَشَارِبُۚ أَفَلَا يَشۡكُرُونَ ٧٣Benefits and (divers) drinks have they from them. Will they not then give thanks.74وَٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةࣰ لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ ٧٤And they have taken (other) gods beside Allah, in order that they may be helped.75لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ نَصۡرَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُمۡ جُندࣱ مُّحۡضَرُونَ ٧٥It is not in their power to help them; but they (the worshippers) are unto them a host in arms.76فَلَا يَحۡزُنكَ قَوۡلُهُمۡۘ إِنَّا نَعۡلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعۡلِنُونَ ٧٦So let not their speech grieve thee (O Muhammad). Lo! We know what they conceal and what proclaim.77أَوَلَمۡ يَرَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰهُ مِن نُّطۡفَةࣲ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمࣱ مُّبِينࣱ ٧٧Hath not man seen that We have created him from a drop of seed? Yet lo! he is an open opponent.InsightElmalılı relates that Ubayy ibn Khalaf came with a decayed bone, crumbled it in his hand and asked: “Do you say Allah will revive this?” The Prophet said “Yes”, and this verse came down.78وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلࣰا وَنَسِيَ خَلۡقَهُۥۖ قَالَ مَن يُحۡيِ ٱلۡعِظَٰمَ وَهِيَ رَمِيمࣱ ٧٨And he hath coined for Us a similitude, and hath forgotten the fact of his creation, saying: Who will revive these bones when they have rotted away.79قُلۡ يُحۡيِيهَا ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةࣲۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلۡقٍ عَلِيمٌ ٧٩Say: He will revive them Who produced them at the first, for He is Knower of every creation.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah knows every being in full detail, every part that scatters and gathers; He knows every kind of creating, the first and the later. That is the whole matter.80ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ ٱلۡأَخۡضَرِ نَارࣰا فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنۡهُ تُوقِدُونَ ٨٠Who hath appointed for you fire from the green tree, and behold! ye kindle from it.InsightElmalılı describes the markh and ‘afar trees known to the Bedouin: both green and full of sap, yet rubbing them together makes fire. The One who brings opposites together can raise the dead.81أَوَلَيۡسَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بِقَٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخۡلُقَ مِثۡلَهُمۚ بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ ٱلۡخَلَّـٰقُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٨١Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Aye, that He is! for He is the All-Wise Creator.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah who created the whole universe is surely able to create again the decayed human beings, and even the like of the whole universe.82إِنَّمَآ أَمۡرُهُۥٓ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيۡـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ٨٢But His command, when He intendeth a thing, is only that He saith unto it: Be! and it is.InsightElmalılı sees this as the shortest expression that Allah’s creating needs no effort and no means: His willing is enough.83فَسُبۡحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِي بِيَدِهِۦ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ ٨٣Therefor Glory be to Him in Whose hand is the dominion over all things! Unto Him ye will be brought back.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, everyone will return to Him in the end: some running, with faith, surrender and contentment; others unwillingly, seized and brought before Him. A person chooses which now.