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79: An-Naziat - النازعات
Introduction
This is also an early Makkan Surah, of about the same date as the last, and deals with the theme of Judgement from the point of view of Pride and its Fall. The parable of Phara0h occupies a central place in the argument; for he said "I am your Lord Most High". and perished with his followers.
79:1
[ Original ]
وَالنَّازِعَاتِ غَرْقًا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
By the (angels) who tear out (the souls of the wicked) with violence;
Tafseer Commentary
5916 The beginning of this Surah may be compared with the beginning of S. 77. A translator's task in such passages is extremely difficult. He has to contend, again and again, with verities of a realm beyond man's normal range of experience expressed in elliptical language and he has to render them in another language with words of precision intelligible to readers. It is therefore necessary for him to put in part of the Commentary in the Translation in such cases. (R). The evidence of five things is here invoked in verses 1-5, in order to lead to the conclusion in verse 6 and those following. Or, if we treat verses 3-5 as three stages of the same thing, there are three things to be considered in five stages. What are they? And what is the conclusion? See the following notes.
5917 There is much difference of opinion among the Commentators as to the five things or beings mentioned in these verses. I follow the general opinion in my interpretation, which is that angels are referred to as the agency which in their dealings with mankind show clearly Allah's Justice, Power, and Mercy, which again point to the Judgement to come, as a certainty which none can evade. The first point, referred to in this verse, is that the souls of the wicked are loath to part with their material body at death, but their will will not count: their souls will be wrenched out into another world. Who will then deny Resurrection and Judgement?
79:2
[ Original ]
وَالنَّاشِطَاتِ نَشْطًا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
By those who gently draw out (the souls of the blessed);
Tafseer Commentary
5918 The second point is that in contrast with the wicked, the souls of the blessed will be drawn out gently to their new life. They will be ready for it. In fact death for them will be a release from the grosser incidents of bodily sense. To them the approach of Judgement will be welcome.
79:3
[ Original ]
وَالسَّابِحَاتِ سَبْحًا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And by those who glide along (on errands of mercy),
Tafseer Commentary
5919 At all times are errands of mercy and blessings and errands of justice, which the angels are prompt to execute by order of Allah. There are three features of this, thus giving the third, fourth, and fifth points. (3) Their movement is compared to that of gliding or swimming (sabhan). In 21:33 this verb is applied to the motion of the celestial bodies: they all "swim along, each in its rounded course". Cf. Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice : "There's not an orb which thou behold'st, But in his motion life and angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims". (4) In hurrying on their errands angels press forth as in a race. (5) And thus they promptly execute the orders of their Lord (Cf. 35:1).
79:4
[ Original ]
فَالسَّابِقَاتِ سَبْقًا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Then press forward as in a race,
79:5
[ Original ]
فَالْمُدَبِّرَاتِ أَمْرًا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Then arrange to do (the Commands of their Lord),
79:6
[ Original ]
يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ الرَّاجِفَةُ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
One Day everything that can be in commotion will be in violent commotion,
Tafseer Commentary
5920 The evidence of the wonderful working of the spiritual world having been invoked in the first five verses, the conclusion is now drawn and stated. It is certain that one great Day (to be taken in a spiritual sense as the Day of Account), the whole world as we now see it in our life will be in violent revolution. It will be like an earthquake destroying all landmarks. But that will affect only things subject to change: they will suffer violent convulsions as a preliminary to their disappearance. But Allah and His divine order will not change: his "Face" abideth forever, full of Majesty, Bounty, and Honour (55:27).
79:7
[ Original ]
تَتْبَعُهَا الرَّادِفَةُ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Followed by oft-repeated (Commotions):
Tafseer Commentary
5921 The Commotion will be repeated again and again in the transitory world, to make way for the new world that will then come into being.
79:8
[ Original ]
قُلُوبٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاجِفَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Hearts that Day will be in agitation;
Tafseer Commentary
5922 All hearts will be in agitation: those of the blessed ones to see the beginning of the fulfilment of their Lord's Promise; those of the Rejecters of Allah for fear of His just Judgement.
79:9
[ Original ]
أَبْصَارُهَا خَاشِعَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Cast down will be (their owners') eyes.
Tafseer Commentary
5923 Similarly all eyes will be cast down: those of the blessed ones to see the beginning of the fulfilment of the Rejecters of Allah, in utter humiliation, sorrow, and shame, for their arrogance and insolence in their probationary life.
79:10
[ Original ]
يَقُولُونَ أَإِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِي الْحَافِرَةِ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
They say (now): "What! shall we indeed be returned to (our) former state?
Tafseer Commentary
5924 The Unbelievers say now, in their arrogance, insolence, and mocking defiance: "Surely death here is the end of all things! When we are dead and buried, and our bones are rotten, how can we be restored again?" They add, "If that were so, then we should indeed be in a turn of dreadful luck! Instead of gaining by the Resurrection, we should be in terrible loss (with our rotten bones)!" They mean this in biting mockery. But there will indeed be an Account taken, and they will indeed be in a terrible loss, for they will go to perdition!
79:11
[ Original ]
أَإِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا نَخِرَةً
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
"What! - when we shall have become rotten bones?"
79:12
[ Original ]
قَالُوا تِلْكَ إِذًا كَرَّةٌ خَاسِرَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
They say: "It would, in that case, be a return with loss!"
79:13
[ Original ]
فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ زَجْرَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
But verily, it will be but a single (Compelling) Cry,
Tafseer Commentary
5925 Judgement will be inaugurated with a single compelling Cry. Cf. 37:19. See also 36:29 and 49, where the single mighty Blast seems to refer to the sinners being cut off in this life and plunged into the other world where they will be further judged, and 36:53, where the final Judgement is referred to.
79:14
[ Original ]
فَإِذَا هُمْ بِالسَّاهِرَةِ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
When, behold, they will be in the (full) awakening (to Judgment).
Tafseer Commentary
5926 They will have been more or less dormant before the Great Judgement, as contrasted with the Lesser Judgement (n. 5914 to 78:40, and n. 5822 to 75:22). When the resurrection comes, they will come fully into the new world, the old heaven and earth having then completely passed away, not only for them but absolutely.
79:15
[ Original ]
هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Has the story of Moses reached thee?
Tafseer Commentary
5927 This is just a reference to the story of Moses told more fully in S. 20:9-76. The lessons drawn are: (1) That even to an arrogant blasphemer and rebel against Allah's Law, like Pharaoh, Allah's grace was offered through a major prophet Moses; (2) that this rejection brought about his signal downfall even in this world; and (3) that his humiliation and punishment will be completed in the Hereafter at Judgement.
79:16
[ Original ]
إِذْ نَادَاهُ رَبُّهُ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Behold, thy Lord did call to him in the sacred valley of Tuwa:-
Tafseer Commentary
5928 Cf. 20:12.
79:17
[ Original ]
اذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
"Go thou to Pharaoh for he has indeed transgressed all bounds:
Tafseer Commentary
5929 Cf. 20:24.
79:18
[ Original ]
فَقُلْ هَلْ لَكَ إِلَىٰ أَنْ تَزَكَّىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
"And say to him, 'Wouldst thou that thou shouldst be purified (from sin)?-
79:19
[ Original ]
وَأَهْدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخْشَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
" 'And that I guide thee to thy Lord, so thou shouldst fear Him?' "
Tafseer Commentary
5930 Even for such a one as Pharaoh, intoxicated with his own power and greatness, guidance and grace were offered through Moses.
79:20
[ Original ]
فَأَرَاهُ الْآيَةَ الْكُبْرَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Then did (Moses) show him the Great Sign.
Tafseer Commentary
5931 What was the Great Sign? Some Commentators understand by it the "White Shining Hand": see n. 2550 to 20:22-23. Others think it was the miracle of the rod that became a "snake active in motion": see20:20, n. 2549. These were among the Greater Signs: 20:23. In 17:101 there is a reference to nine clear Signs given to Moses, and these are specified in detail in n. 1091 to 7:133. the fact is, there were many Signs given, "openly self-explained," but Pharaoh and his men "were steeped in arrogance-a people given to sin" (7:133). the pre-eminently Great Sign was therefore the fact of Moses being sent to Pharaoh, which subsequently converted the magicians and the more learned Egyptians to the true God (20:70-73), though Pharaoh and his Chiefs resisted and suffered for their sins. (R).
79:21
[ Original ]
فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
But (Pharaoh) rejected it and disobeyed (guidance);
79:22
[ Original ]
ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Further, he turned his back, striving hard (against Allah..
79:23
[ Original ]
فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Then he collected (his men) and made a proclamation,
79:24
[ Original ]
فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Saying, "I am your Lord, Most High".
79:25
[ Original ]
فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
But Allah did punish him, (and made an) example of him, - in the Hereafter, as in this life.
79:26
[ Original ]
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِمَنْ يَخْشَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Verily in this is an instructive warning for whosoever feareth ((Allah)).
Tafseer Commentary
5933 Cf. 24:44.
79:27
[ Original ]
أَأَنْتُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَمِ السَّمَاءُ ۚ بَنَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
What! Are ye the more difficult to create or the heaven (above)? (Allah) hath constructed it:
Tafseer Commentary
5934 If man grows arrogant or forgets his accountability to Allah, in his ignorance or thoughtlessness, he is reminded that he is only an insignificant speck in Allah's spacious Creation (Cf. 36:81). All the excellence that man acquires is the gift of Allah, Who had bestowed on him a high Destiny if he fulfils the purpose of his creation: 2:30-39. Then follows a nature passage, pointing to the glory of the heavens and the earth, and how they are both made to subserve the life of man.
79:28
[ Original ]
رَفَعَ سَمْكَهَا فَسَوَّاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
On high hath He raised its canopy, and He hath given it order and perfection.
Tafseer Commentary
5935 Cf. 2:29. The mystery of the heavens with their countless stars and the planets obeying the laws of motion, and the sun and moon influencing the temperature and climates of the earth from thousands or millions of miles, illustrate the order and perfection which Allah has given to His Creation. Can man then remain exempt from his responsibility for his deeds, endowed as he is with a will, or deny the Day of Sorting Out, which is the Day of Judgement?
79:29
[ Original ]
وَأَغْطَشَ لَيْلَهَا وَأَخْرَجَ ضُحَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Its night doth He endow with darkness, and its splendour doth He bring out (with light).
Tafseer Commentary
5936 Its of course refers to the starry heaven. Both the Night and the Day have each its own beauty and its utility for man, as has been frequently pointed out in the Qur'an. The night is a period of darkness, but it has also its splendours of light in the moon, or the planets Jupiter or Venus, or stars like Sirius or the Milky Way. These countless lights of night have their own beauty, and by day there is splendour of the sun for us, which in Creation as a whole, is just one of countless stars.
79:30
[ Original ]
وَالْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And the earth, moreover, hath He extended (to a wide expanse);
Tafseer Commentary
5937 Moreover: or, more literally, after that. See n. 4475 to 41:11.
79:31
[ Original ]
أَخْرَجَ مِنْهَا مَاءَهَا وَمَرْعَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
He draweth out therefrom its moisture and its pasture;
Tafseer Commentary
5938 The underground springs and wells as well as rivers and glaciers in northern climates are due to the different levels of highlands not lowlands. They spread the moisture evenly as wanted, and give corn, fruits, and vegetables to man, and pastures and feeding grounds to beasts of the fields. For the wonderful circuit or cycle of water between heaven and earth, see notes n. 3106 (25:49) and n. 3111 (25:53).
79:32
[ Original ]
وَالْجِبَالَ أَرْسَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And the mountains hath He firmly fixed;-
Tafseer Commentary
5939 See n. 2038 to 16:15. the "eternal hills" are the main reservoirs for the storage and gradual distribution of water, the very basis of the life of man and beast.
79:33
[ Original ]
مَتَاعًا لَكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَامِكُمْ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
For use and convenience to you and your cattle.
Tafseer Commentary
5940 This clause I construe to apply to verses 30, 31, and 32 above. Everything on earth as, by Allah's bountiful providence, been arranged to subserve the use and convenience of man and the lower life which depends upon him. The intermediary between Allah's providence and the actual use made for Allah's other gifts is man's own intelligence and initiative, which are also gifts of Allah.
79:34
[ Original ]
فَإِذَا جَاءَتِ الطَّامَّةُ الْكُبْرَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Therefore, when there comes the great, overwhelming (Event),-
Tafseer Commentary
5941 The Judgement, the time for sorting out all things according to their true, intrinsic, and eternal values.
79:35
[ Original ]
يَوْمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا سَعَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
The Day when man shall remember (all) that he strove for,
Tafseer Commentary
5942 The Judgement will be not only for his acts but for his motives, "all he strove for", In this life he may forget his ill-deeds, but in the new conditions he will not only remember them, but the Fire of Punishment will be plainly visible to him, and not only to him, but it will be "for all to see". This will add to the sinner's humiliation.
79:36
[ Original ]
وَبُرِّزَتِ الْجَحِيمُ لِمَنْ يَرَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And Hell-Fire shall be placed in full view for (all) to see,-
Tafseer Commentary
5943 Cf. 26:91.
79:37
[ Original ]
فَأَمَّا مَنْ طَغَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Then, for such as had transgressed all bounds,
79:38
[ Original ]
وَآثَرَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And had preferred the life of this world,
Tafseer Commentary
5944 The abiding Punishment will be for those who had willfully and persistently rebelled against Allah, "transgressing all bounds", and had given themselves up to the vanities and lusts of this lower life. This Punishment will not touch those who had repented and been forgiven, nor those guilty, through human frailty, of minor sins, whose deeds will be weighed in the balance against their good deeds: 101:6-9.
79:39
[ Original ]
فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
The Abode will be Hell-Fire;
79:40
[ Original ]
وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And for such as had entertained the fear of standing before their Lord's (tribunal) and had restrained (their) soul from lower desires,
Tafseer Commentary
5945 The contrast is complete and parallel: the persistent rebels against Allah's Law, who preferred the lower life, are to dwell in the Fire of Punishment, while those who humbly feared the punishment of sin and believing in their Lord's warnings restrained their lower desires, will dwell in the Garden. See last note.
79:41
[ Original ]
فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Their abode will be the Garden.
79:42
[ Original ]
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
They ask thee about the Hour,-'When will be its appointed time?
Tafseer Commentary
5946 Cf. 7:187 and n. 1159. Only Allah can reveal it. But were it known, "heavy were its burden through the heavens and the earth".
79:43
[ Original ]
فِيمَ أَنْتَ مِنْ ذِكْرَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Wherein art thou (concerned) with the declaration thereof?
79:44
[ Original ]
إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ مُنْتَهَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
With thy Lord in the Limit fixed therefor.
Tafseer Commentary
5947 Our time has no sort of comparison with the timeless state in the new spiritual World in which the final Judgement will take place. Nor can its limits- how long it will last-be set except in fhe Will of Almighty Allah, Lord of Supreme Wisdom, Justice, and Goodness: 11:107-108. But it is near, in the sense explained in n. 5914 to 78:40.
79:45
[ Original ]
إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُنْذِرُ مَنْ يَخْشَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Thou art but a Warner for such as fear it.
Tafseer Commentary
5948 The warning is only effective for those who believe in Allah and in the Final Account. Such men immediately turn in repentance to Allah, and it is to lead such men and help them, that Prophets are sent.
79:46
[ Original ]
كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَاهَا
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
The Day they see it, (It will be) as if they had tarried but a single evening, or (at most till) the following morn!
Tafseer Commentary
5949 Cf. 10:45, where the expression used is: "it will be as if they had tarried but an hour of a day." Here the metaphor used is "a single evening, or at most, 'till the following morn". Death is like sleep, and may be compared to the evening of life. In sleep we do not know how the time passes. When we wake up from the sleep of Death at the Resurrection, we shall not know whether it was the following moment or the following hour after we slept, but we shall feel that it is morning, for we shall be conscious of all that goes on, as one awakened in the morning.
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