Surah Qaaf (50): Read Online and Download - English Translation

Linkage with the preceding Surah

This Surah mostly contains subjects relating to the Day of Judgment, Resurrection, the Reckoning, Paradise, the Fire, Allah's reward and punishment etc. Thus this Surah is linked with Surah Al-Hujurat because the concluding part of the latter Surah dealt with these subjects.

Characteristics and Virtues of Surah Qaf

It is reported in Muslim, as cited in Qurtubi, that Umm Hisham Bint Harithah Ibn Nu` man ؓ ، said: "For around two years, or a year and a part of another year, we shared one single oven with the Holy Prophet ﷺ . I memorized Surah Qaf from the Holy Prophet ﷺ who used to recite it every Friday while standing on the pulpit delivering the Friday sermon to the people."

Sayyidna ` Umar Ibn-ul-Khattab ؓ asked Abu Waqid Al-Laithi: "What did the Holy Prophet ﷺ recite during the ` Id prayers?" He replied: "Surah Qaf and Surah Qamar." Sayyidna Jabir ؓ reports that the Holy Prophet ﷺ used to recite Surah Qaf often in the Morning Prayer. (Despite that this Surah is rather long,) the prayer was felt light (Qurtubi). It was the special trait of the recitation of the Holy Prophet ﷺ that praying behind him caused no stress, even when he recited the long Surahs.

Is it Possible to Observe the Heaven?

أَفَلَمْ يَنظُرُ‌وا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ (Did they not, then, look to the sky above them? - 50:6). Apparently this sentence indicates that it is possible to see the sky, while the general impression is that the blue colour that we see above is the colour of the atmosphere, and not that of the heaven. However, there is no proof for non-existence of the sky, nor of the presumption that the colour of the heaven is not blue. Besides, the word nazar (seeing) used in the verse could mean perceiving through reason, that is, thinking, pondering etc. (Bayan-ul-Qur’ an)

Removal of a Doubt relating to Resurrection

قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا تَنقُصُ الْأَرْ‌ضُ مِنْهُمْ (We know very well how much of them is diminished by the earth,... 50:4). The disbelievers wondered at the idea that when they are dead and reduced to broken bones and particles of dust and scattered all over the world, whether it is possible that, on the Day of Resurrection, they will be raised up again. They thought that it was impossible when they are dead, disintegrated, with their organs torn apart that they will be brought back to their original shape and bodies. The verse refutes the disbelievers' objection: Allah says that He knows that which the earth takes of them, meaning He knows what the earth consumes of their dead bodies; where and how the bodies disintegrated, what they turned into and how they have become. Man's knowledge is limited and narrow in scope which should not be compared to Allah's vast, unlimited and encompassing knowledge - even the particles of objects which the earth disintegrates are well preserved in Allah's infinite knowledge. And a little reflection may reveal that even the body of a living person is composed of innumerable particles that have been joined together by Allah from different places. Whatever a person intakes in the form of food or medicine is derived from different parts of the earth, and all this forms part of his body. Then why should it be difficult for Him if He recollects all these parts after they are disintegrated? Not only this, he had a perfect and full knowledge of every man's destiny even before creating him as to what transformation will come about in every moment of his life and what phases he will go through after his death. All this is precisely recorded in the Preserved Tablet.

It is astonishing indeed that the disbelievers wonder at Him whose knowledge is so perfect, full, complete and encompassing and whose power is so infinite and discount the possibility of Resurrection!

This interpretation of 'diminishing by earth' is reported from Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas, Mujahid and majority of the interpreters (Al-Bahr-ul-Muhit).

فِي أَمْرٍ‌ مَّرِ‌يجٍ (so they are in a confused state... 5). The word Mar, (translated above as 'confused' ) means something mixed up with different elements. Such a thing generally becomes corrupt or spoiled. Therefore, Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ ، translates the word marij as "corrupt". Sayyidna Dahhak, Qatadah, Hasan Basri رحمۃ اللہ علیہم and others interpret the word marij to mean "in disarray, in a confused state". This is the state of those who deny the prophethood of the Holy Prophet ﷺ : whatever they say and utter is no more than confusion. They are not even consistent in their claims. Sometimes they call the Holy Prophet ﷺ a sorcerer, at other times a poet; and yet at other times they refer to him as a soothsayer or an astrologer. They were so confused that they could not extricate themselves from their perplexity.

After mentioning the confused state of the infidels, Allah draws man's attention to His infinite power which He demonstrated by creating what is bigger than that which they wondered about and whose possibility they discounted. Referring to the heaven, the Qur'an says: وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُ‌وجٍ (...and it has no cracks...50:6). Lexically, the word furuj is the plural of farj which means a crack, or an opening. This and the following few verses draw attention to the marvels of Allah's creation, the wonderful design in the universe, and to the flawless celestial firmament. If this was made by man there would have been patches, cracks, clefts or rifts. But no one can find any sort of patchwork or stitching in the sky. This, however, does not negate the existence of doors in the heaven. A door is not referred to as a crack:

Consoling the Holy Prophet ﷺ

كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَأَصْحَابُ الرَّ‌سِّ وَثَمُودُ (It [ resurrection ] was rejected prior to them by the people of Nuh, and the people of Rass - 50:12). It was mentioned in the preceding verses that the infidels rejected the Prophethood of Sayyidna Muhammad ﷺ and the Hereafter. This obviously perturbed and upset him. In this verse Allah comforts him by narrating the stories of the previous prophets and their communities. Every community in the past persecuted their respective prophets. This was the behavior pattern of all disbelieving nations against their prophets throughout history. Thus the Holy Prophet ﷺ is consoled that he should not be disheartened by this behavior. The story of the people of Nuh (علیہ السلام) is repeated several times in the Qur'an in that the Holy Prophet Nuh (علیہ السلام) preached to his people for 950 years but in response they not only rejected him but also subjected him to various hardships.

Who are people of Rass?

Lexically, the word rass in Arabic has several meanings. Most prominently it refers to a well that has not been built by bricks or stones. People of Rass were the remnants of Thamud who had remained alive after the punishment. Dahhak ؓ and other commentators narrate their story that follows. When the people of Salih (علیہ السلام) were destroyed by Allah's punishment, a remnant [ about 4000] of them escaped it, because they had reposed faith in him and obeyed him. They left their original place and took shelter in Hadramaut (a city in Yemen). Holy Prophet Salih (علیہ السلام) was with them. They went to a well and stayed there. Salih passed away here; therefore this place is called Hadara Maut [ death overcame ] and the people settled there permanently.

Later their descendants took to idol-worship, to whom a prophet was sent to preach and reform, but they killed him. The community was annihilated by Divine punishment. Their well, on which their lives depended, was rendered useless; and their buildings and dwellings were desolated. The Qur'an has described it in the following words, فَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُ‌وشِهَا وَبِئْرٍ‌ "So, there they are, fallen down on heir roofs, and Chow many a deserted well ane well-built castle!" (22:45). For discerning eyes the abandoned well and desolate lofty palaces are sufficient to judge and decide on the consequences of one's deeds.

Thamud

These are the people of the Prophet Salih (علیہ السلام) whose story has been repeated several times in the Qur'an.

` Ad

The nation of ` Ad was proverbial in their size, physical strength and power as well as the strength that came to them in the wake of their children. Holy Prophet Hud (علیہ السلام) was sent to them. Eventually, they were annihilated by the Divine punishment of a wind storm.

Fir'aun

This is the title of the Egyptian king (The Pharaoh) notorious for his tyranny.

Brothers of Lut

It means the community of the Prophet Lut (علیہ السلام) whose story is narrated several times in the Qur'an.

Dwellers of Aikah

Aikah means a dense bush; wood; forest; jungle, These people resided in such a place. Holy Prophet Shu'aib (علیہ السلام) was sent to this nation. They disobeyed him and were destroyed by Divine punishment.

People of Tubba'

Tubba' was the title of the king of Yemen. The necessary explanation has been given in volume seven in Surah Ad-Dukhan under [ 44:37].