Surah Mulk.pptx

The content for this presentation on the Tafseer of Surah Al-Mulk is taken from the book 'An Enlightening Commentary into the Holy Quran' which is a translation of Tafsir e Namuna.
Please recite a Fateha for my late father, Syed Abbas Mosavi. JazakAllah.

1. Surah Mulk (Sovereignty) Chapter 67 - Makkan -

2. Overview The blessed Chapter generally treats of the following: 1. Topics regarding the Origin of existence, Divine Attributes, the marvelous system of the Creation of the world of existence and man, and man’s means of gaining knowledge; 2. Topics concerning the Hereafter, torments of the Hell, and the conversations of the people of the Hell on the Day of Resurrection; 3. Warning the disbelievers and wrong doers against being afflicted with torments in this world and the Hereafter.

3. Merit of reciting the Surah Noble Prophet (S) as saying: "One who recites Surah al- Tabarak is like one who wakes up praying in the Night of Ordainment/ Qadr .” Memorizing this Surah has great reward. If memorized, this Surah acts as a protection from the torment of the grave, and it intercedes on behalf of the one who has memorized it on the Day of Judgement .

4. Verses 1 & 2 تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًلا وَهُوَالْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ 1 . Bountiful is He in Whose Hand is the Sovereignty and He is All-Able to do all things . 2 . The Lord who created death and life so that He may test you that which of you is better in deed. And He is the Omnipotent, the Oft-Forgiving.

5. Verse 1 1. Bountiful is He in Whose Hand is the Sovereignty and He is All-Able to do all things. The blessed Chapter opens with the significant issue of Divine Ownership, Sovereignty, and His Everlasting Pure Essence which serves as the key to all the discussions raised in the Chapter wherein it is said that He is Bountiful and Everlasting. He is the One in Whose Hand is the Sovereignty of the world of existence and He is Omnipotent.

6. Verse 2 2. The Lord who created death and life so that He may test you that which of you is better in deed. And He is the Omnipotent, the Oft-Forgiving. The precedence of death over life herein is because of the profound impression made by giving attention to death in performing good deeds . It is mentioned in some Prophetic traditions that "good deeds" connotes perfect intellect, fear of God Almighty, and being fully aware of Divine Commands even if the good deeds happen to be few in terms of number.

7. Verses 3 & 4 الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا مَّا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ مِن تَفَاوُتٍ فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ ثُمَّ ارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ الْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ 3. Who has created the seven heavens one above another and you can see no flaw in the Creation of the Most Gracious. Then, behold again: "Can you see any rifts ?" 4. Then, behold time and again. Your sight will return to you in a state of humbleness and exhaustion.

8. Verse 3 3. Who has created the seven heavens one above another and you can see no flaw in the Creation of the Most Gracious. Then, behold again: "Can you see any rifts?“ Despite all its greatness, the world of creation is based on systematicity , consistency, well-measured constituents, and precise laws such that had any disorder found its way into the world of creation, it would have caused its destruction.

9. Verse 4 4. Then, behold time and again. Your sight will return to you in a state of humbleness and exhaustion. The blessed Qur’anic Verses urges people to observe the world of creation thrice and thereby study the secrets of creation . In other words, they are encouraged to be attentive time and again so that they see for themselves that there is not a single flaw in such marvelous system of creation and thereby gain further acquaintance with the Omnipotence and Omniscience of the Creator of such system and the world of existence.

10. Verse 5 5. And indeed We have adorned the heaven of the world with lamps and We have made such lamps as means of driving away the devils and have prepared for them the blazing torment.

11. Verses 6 to 8 وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ إِذَا أُلْقُوا فِيهَا سَمِعُوا لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِيَ تَفُورُ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ 6 . And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell and worst indeed is that abode. 7. When they are cast therein, they hear a horrible sound out of it while they are perpetually boiled in it. 8. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, the keepers of the Hell will ask them: "Did no warner come unto you?"

12. Verse 6 6. And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell and worst indeed is that abode.

13. Verse 7 7. When they are cast therein, they hear a horrible sound out of it while they are perpetually boiled in it. The blessed Verse 7 briefly treats of such horrible torment saying that upon being cast in the Hell, they hear a fearsome sound while it is perpetually boiling. When they are cast into it with utmost humility and disgrace, they hear a horrible and long cry from the Hell enwrapping them in horror

14. Verse 8 8. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, the keepers of the Hell will ask them: "Did no warner come unto you?" The blessed Verse 8 depicts the intensity of the rage of the Hell, saying that it is almost cleft asunder, like a huge vessel laid on an extraordinarily blazing fire boiling such that it may shatter into pieces at any time or like a person raging and shouting in such manner that he appears to be on the verge of explosion. Thus is the depiction of the Hell, the focal point of Divine Wrath.

15. Verses 9 - 11 قَالُوا بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَاءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّلا فِي ضَلَلالٍ كَبِيرٍ وَقَالُوا لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِي أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ فَاعْتَرَفُوا بِذَنبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِّلأَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ 9 . They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner came unto us, but we belied him and said : 'Allah never sent down anything, you are only in great error." 10. And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intellect, we would not have been amongst the dwellers of the blazing Fire!" 11. Then they will confess to their sins. So, damned are the dwellers of the Fire!

16. Verses 9 - 11 These blessed Verses make references to three confessions made by disbelievers on the Day of Resurrection: 1. They confess that the Prophets came unto them, though they belied them; 2. They confess that they failed to use their intellect and listen to the word of truth; 3. They confess to having committed sins.

17. Verses 9 - 11 These Qur’anic Verses treat of the dire fate of the people of the Hell as well as the main cause of their misfortune saying that God Almighty had provided them with hearing , intelligence , and intellect on the one hand and His Messengers with clear proofs on the other thus they had the opportunity to tread on the path to happiness. However, when man who has the hearing, vision, and intellect, but fails to perceive and think , may not be affected by all the Messengers and Divine Scriptures.

18. The importance of intellect Imam Sadiq (as) as saying: "Whoever possesses intellect has faith and whoever has faith shall enter Paradise ." Thus, Paradise is the abode of the wise . According to a Prophetic tradition, man’s character depends on his intellect and whoever lacks intellect, lacks faith . It is narrated from the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (as ): " Intellect is man’s guide and ignorance entails error."

19. Verses 12 - 14 إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ وَأَسِرُّوا قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ اجْهَرُوا بِهِ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ أَلَلا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ 12. Verily, those who fear their Lord inwardly, theirs shall be forgiveness and a great Reward. 13. Whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, Verily, He is the Omniscient of what is in the breasts. 14. Is not He Who has created All-Aware of the states of His creatures whereas He is the Most Precise, the All-Aware?

20. Verse 12 12. Verily, those who fear their Lord inwardly, theirs shall be forgiveness and a great Reward. The blessed Verse 12, resuming the discussions raised in the preceding Verses regarding the disbelievers and their fate on the Day of Resurrection, is saying that those who fear their Lord inwardly, their sins shall be forgiven and they shall receive a great Reward.

21. Verse 13 13. Whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, Verily, He is the Omniscient of what is in the breasts. The blessed Verse 13 lays further emphasis in this regard, saying that whether you conceal or disclose your intentions, God Almighty is All-Aware of whatever is in the hearts. Some Qur’an exegetes have narrated an occasion of Revelation for the blessed Verse in question on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas to the effect that some of the disbelievers or hypocrites talked evil of the Noble Prophet (S) and Gabriel informed the Noble Prophet ( S) of their slanders. Some of them said unto each other to conceal their words so that Muhammad’s (S) God may not hear them.

22. Verse 14 14. Is not He Who has created All-Aware of the states of His creatures whereas He is the Most Precise, the All-Aware? T he Divine Attribute Latif reflects Divine Omniscience as to the delicacies and secrets of the world of Creation and the Creation of delicate and minute beings. The Attribute implies that God Almighty is All-Aware of innermost secrets concealed in the hearts, the words exchanged at secret sessions, and the sins committed in secret places.

23. Verse 15 هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْلأَرْضَ ذَلُولًلا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ 15. He it is the One Who has made the earth subservient to you. So proceed on the path thereof and eat of His provision and know that toward Him will be the Resurrection .

24. Verse 15

25. Verses 16 - 18 أَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الْلأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُ أَمْ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ 16. Do you feel secure about the torments inflicted by Him, Who is over the heaven, will not cause the earth to sink with you and then it should quake? 17. Or do you feel secure about the torments inflicted by Him, Who is over the heaven , will not send against you a violent whirlwind abounding with gravel? Then you shall know how has My Warning been. 18. And indeed those before them belied Divine Signs, but behold how terrible was My Chastisement.

26. Verse 16 16. Do you feel secure about the torments inflicted by Him, Who is over the heaven, will not cause the earth to sink with you and then it should quake? " Do you feel secure about the torments of the One Who is the Absolute Sovereign in the heavens ? Are you aware that He may command that the earth be torn asunder and swallow you and permanently quake? If He commands, the tranquil earth revolts and turns into a stubborn beast. Then, the earth will quake and clefts appear in the earth swallowing you and your houses and cities. The earth will still quake.”

27. Verse 17 17. Or do you feel secure about the torments inflicted by Him, Who is over the heaven, will not send against you a violent whirlwind abounding with gravel? Then you shall know how has My Warning been. The blessed Verse 17 is saying that there is no need to experience earth quakes, since He may command whirlwinds abounding in gravel to bury you beneath heaps of them. You shall notice before long how Divine Warnings shall be realized. The point may be easily grasped by those who have experienced the sand and hasib winds, namely those moving the heaps of sand.

28. Verse 18 18. And indeed those before them belied Divine Signs, but behold how terrible was My Chastisement.

29. Verse 19 أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّلا الرَّحْمَٰنُ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ 19. Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them in the sky except the Most Gracious Lord. Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.

30. Verse 20 أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي هُوَ جُندٌ لَّكُمْ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ إِنِ الْكَافِرُونَ إِلَّلا فِي غُرُورٍ 20. Who is he besides the Most Gracious that may serve as your host against God Almighty ? The disbelievers are preoccupied with nothing but vanity.

31. Verse 20 The blessed Verse in question makes a reference to the point that the disbelievers may not find any support against God Almighty, asking: “Who may render you assistance against God Almighty? They are not only unable to render you support at the time of afflictions, but if God Almighty wills, He assigns them to cause affliction for you.” Water, wind, dust, and fire are subservient to you and constitute the pillars on which your life rests. Nonetheless, God Almighty assigned them to cause the perdition of the disobedient peoples.

32. Verse 21 أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُ بَل لَّجُّوا فِي عُتُوٍّ وَنُفُورٍ 21. Who may provide for you if He should withhold His provision? However, they continue to be obdurate in their disobedience and evading the truth.

33. Verse 21 T he blessed Verse is saying that if God Almighty withholds His Provision, no one may meet your requirements and provide for you. If he commands the heaven to desist from sending down rain, plants may not grow on the earth, and numerous blights may destroy the cultivated lands and no one may provide you with your daily sustenance. If the spiritual provisions and Divine Revelation be withheld, no one will be able to guide you .

34. Verse 22 أَفَمَن يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ أَهْدَىٰ أَمَّن يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ 22 . Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided or he who walks upright on the Straight Path?

35. Verse 22

36. Verse 23 قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْلأَبْصَارَ وَالْلأَفْئِدَةَ قَلِيلًلا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ 23 . Say it is He Who has created you and endowed you with hearing and seeing and hearts, though little thanks you give.

37. Verse 23 God Almighty provided you with the means of observation and experience (vision ), that of gaining awareness as to the products of other people’s thought (hearing ), and that of reflection on intellectual sciences (heart). Thus, you have been endowed with all the required means of obtaining intellectual and narrational knowledge, though there are few who offer their gratitude for such great Bounties.

38. Verse 24 قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي ذَرَأَكُمْ فِي الْلأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ 24. Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth and to Him you shall return . The blessed Verse is saying that God Almighty Who created you on the earth and from the earth is All-Able to resurrect you. God Almighty disseminates mankind all over the world and He shall resurrect and gather them on the Day of Resurrection.

39. Verses 25 - 27 وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ قُلْ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةً سِيئَتْ وُجُوهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَقِيلَ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِ تَدَّعُونَ 25. They say: "When will this promise come to pass if you are telling the truth?" 26. Say: "The knowledge is with Allah only and I am merely a plain warner. 27. But when they see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will turn ugly and black and it will be said unto them: "This is what you were calling for!"

40. Verses 25 - 26 The knowledge of the unseen falls into two categories: one granted to His chosen believers ("This is of the news of the unseen which We reveal unto you ,") and one which is solely with God Almighty and even His Messengers are unaware of it, instances of which include the specified time of Resurrection as mentioned in the preceding blessed Verse and the supplication including "By the Knowledge which is solely with you."

41. Verse 27 27. But when they see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will turn ugly and black and it will be said unto them: "This is what you were calling for!" The blessed Verse 27 is saying that when they experience the Divine Promises and torments , the faces of the disbelievers turn ugly and black, such that they reflect their sorrows . It will be said unto them that it is what you called for .

42. Verses 28 - 29 28. Say: "If Allah destroys me and those with me or He bestows His Mercy on us, who can save the disbelievers from an excruciating torment?" 29. Say: "He is the Most Gracious, in Him we believe and in Him we put our trust. So you will come to know who it is that is in manifest error."

43. Verse 28 28. Say: "If Allah destroys me and those with me or He bestows His Mercy on us, who can save the disbelievers from an excruciating torment?" According to some traditions, Meccan disbelievers cursed the Noble Prophet (S) and the Muslims and called for his death under the false impression that had he passed away, his Prophetic Call would disappear, but the blessed Verse was revealed to provide them with a reply .

44. Verse 29 29. Say: "He is the Most Gracious, in Him we believe and in Him we put our trust. So you will come to know who it is that is in manifest error." In other words, We believe in God Almighty and have chosen Him as our Guardian. The reason is crystal clear. He is the Most Gracious Lord. His Graciousness enwraps all things everywhere and friends and foes benefit from the Emanation of His Bounties.

45. Verse 30 قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاءٍ مَّعِينٍ 30. Say: "Say unto me! If the water of your land were to sink away, who then can supply you with flowing water?"

46. Verse 30 Flowing water is mentioned herein as an instance of Divine Graciousness. The preceding blessed Verse said: "We put our trust in Him," but the blessed Verse in question is saying that the believers put their trust in God Almighty since if the water sank away into the earth, no one can supply you with flowing water but God Almighty.