Al Islam

2846. The tabernacle which Moses set up in the wilderness, in the form of a canopy under which the Israelites worshipped, or the Ka‘bah; or the sky, the last reference being more appropriate and relevant.

It is characteristic of the Qur’an that when it has to make a firm declaration and impart emphasis and certainty to that declaration it swears by, or cites as witnesses, certain beings or objects or natural laws or phenomena. In the first few verses the Surah swears by certain things intimately connected with Moses—the counterpart of the Holy Prophet. It was on Tur that the revelation was vouchsafed to Moses which embodied his Law and the prophecies which spoke about the appearance of a great Divine Prophet from among the brethren of the Israelites (Deut. 18:‌18 & 33:2). Evidently, the Holy Prophet was the Divine Messenger spoken of in the prophecy. His advent is likened in the Qur’an to the advent of Moses (73:16). The Surah then cites, as evidence, the "Inscribed Book" (the Bible or the Qur’an, preferably the latter), which stands as a standing and incontrovertible testimony to the truth of the claims of the Holy Prophet. "The Frequented House"—the Ka‘bah—more than anything else, shows that the religion of which it forms the citadel and the centre is God’s Final Dispensation. Here, long centuries ago, a holy man of God, the Patriarch Abraham, assisted by his son, Ishmael, while raising its foundations, had prayed to God that the place might become a haven of safety and security and might constitute the centre from where God’s Unity and Oneness might be proclaimed and preached. The reference in the words "the Elevated Roof," being to heaven, the verse (v.6) signifies that the disbelievers are so unwise as not to see this simple fact that whereas the Holy Prophet continuously receives Divine help and his cause continues to progress and prosper, failure dogs their footsteps and all their designs and plans against him prove abortive. (close)

3934. Commentary:

'The Elevated Roof' may also refer to the tabernacle which Moses set up in the wilderness in the form of a canopy under which the Israelites worshipped. Or it may refer to the Ka‘bah or to the sky or heaven the last reference being more appropriate and relevant. (close)

a. 81:7. (close)

2847. The words, "the Swollen Sea," may refer to the Red Sea where Pharaoh and his mighty hosts were drowned while pursuing the Israelites, or to the battlefield of Badr where all the great leaders of the Quraish were killed, as it was known as Al-Bahr, i.e. the sea (Nihayah). (close)

a. 81:7. (close)

3935. Important Words:

المسجور (swollen) is derived from سجر. They say سجر الماء النھر i.e. the water filled the stream. سجر التنور (sajjara) means, he filled the oven with firewood and heated it. سجر الماء means, he made the water to flow forth whithersoever it would. مسجور means, filled; kindled; still or quiet, or still and full at the same time; empty (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

It is the characteristic of the Quran that when it has to make a firm declaration and impart emphasis and certainty to that declaration it swears by, or cites as witnesses, certain beings or objects or natural laws or phenomena. In the first few verses the Surah swears by certain things intimately connected with Moses—the counterpart of the Holy Prophet. It was on the Tur that the revelation was vouchsafed to Moses which embodied his Law and the prophecies which spoke about the appearance of a great Divine Prophet from among the brethren of the Israelites. That Prophet was to be the like of Moses and was to shine forth from mount Paran and to come with ten thousand saints, holding in his right hand a fiery law (Deut. 18:‌18 & 33:‌2). Evidently, the Holy Prophet was the Divine Messenger spoken of in the prophecy. His advent is likened in the Quran to the advent of Moses (73:16). He shined forth from mount Paran, holding the Quran in his right hand and entered Mecca at the head of ten thousand saintly warriors. The Surah then cites, as evidence, the "Inscribed Book" which is the Bible or the Quran, preferably the latter, and which stands as a standing and incontrovertible testimony to the truth of the claims of the Holy Prophet. "The Frequented House"—the Ka‘bah,—more than anything else, shows that the religion of which it forms the citadel and the centre is God’s Final Dispensation. The site where the Ka‘bah stands was a dry barren waste where no sign of human or animal life was visible. Here, long centuries ago, a holy man of God—the Patriarch Abraham, aided and assisted by his son, Ishmael, while raising its foundations, had prayed that the place may become a haven of safety and security and may constitute the centre from where God’s Unity and Oneness may be proclaimed and preached. It was "this barren waste that didst not bear and didst not travail with child"which gave birth to the greatest son of man, as was spoken of old (Isa. 54:‌1). Here it was (as was foretold) that "the glory of God rose and shone; the multitudes of camels came, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, all came from Sheba and brought gold and incense and shewed forth the praises of the Lord" (Isa. 60:‌1-6).

The reference in the words "the Elevated Roof," being to heaven, the verse (v.6) signifies that the disbelievers are so unwise as not to see this simple fact that whereas the Prophet continuously receives Divine help and his cause progresses and prospers, failure dogs their footsteps and all their designs and plans against the Prophet prove abortive. In the words"the Swollen Sea," the reference may be to the Mediterranean Sea where Pharaoh and his mighty hosts were drowned while pursuing the Israelites or they may refer to the battlefield of Badr where all the great leaders of the Quraish were killed, as it was known as البحر i.e. the sea (Nihayah). The words may also apply to the Quran which like a fathomless sea of spiritual knowledge continues to throw out treasures of divine knowledge. "Why do not the disbelievers," the verse purports to say, "take a lesson from these patent facts and realize that opposition to God’s Messengers does not pay and will end in their ruin?" (close)

b. 51:6. (close)

a. 51:6. (close)

3936. Commentary:

All the facts mentioned in the preceding six verses show that if disbelievers do not give up their evil ways and opposition to the Holy Prophet, Divine punishment would descend upon them and would break them to pieces. "The punishment of thy Lord," may also refer to the punishment of the Day of Resurrection. (close)

2848. On that day all the heavenly forces will operate in favour of the Holy Prophet. So did it happen on the Day of Badr. (close)

3937. Commentary:

The verse may signify that on that day all the heavenly forces will operate in favour of the Holy Prophet. So did it happen on the Day of Badr. (close)

c. 18:48; 78:21; 81:4. (close)

2849. On the day of retribution the leaders of disbelievers will meet with a terrible end. They will be blown away like chaff before the wind. Or, the verse may signify that the great Empires of the time will be broken and shattered. This and the preceding verse make a subtle allusion to the new order of things before which the old, decrepit and decayed systems will he swept away. These verses may equally apply to the Day of Judgment. (close)

a. 18:48; 78:21; 81:4. (close)

3938. Commentary:

The verse means that on the day of retribution the leaders of disbelievers will meet with a terrible end. They will be blown away like chaff before the wind. Or it may signify that the Iranian and Byzantine Empires will be broken and shattered. This and the preceding verse make a subtle allusion to the new order of things before which the old decrepit and decayed systems would be swept away. These verses may also apply to the Day of Judgement. (close)

2850. The verse depicts the disbelievers’ condition after their guilt will have been fully established and the time for repentance will have passed. (close)

b. 18:54; 21:40; 38:86. (close)

3939. Commentary:

The dead bodies of leaders of the Quraish who were killed in the Battle of Badr were thrown into a pit and the Holy Prophet went up to its edge and, addressing the dead bodies, is reported to have said "Did you find the promise of punishment of your Lord true? What God had promised me has been fulfilled" (Bukhari & Tabari). The verse is equally applicable to the punishment which will be meted out to disbelievers on the Resurrection Day. (close)

c. 51:15; 55:44. (close)