Surah Al-Isra 17:41-52 - Quran Translation Commentary

44. The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise His immaculateness, and there is not a thing that does not praise His immaculateness, but you do not understand their praise^{58. Verily He is Forbearing, Forgiving.⁵⁹}

45. And when you recite the Qur’an, We place between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter a hidden veil;⁶⁰

46. And We place upon their hearts covers lest they should understand it, and in their ears hardness of hearing;⁶¹ and when you make a mention of your one Lord in the Qur’an, they turn away in flight.⁶²

47. We well know what they hear when they turn to hear you and when they parley secretly, when the wrong-doers say: “You follow but a man bewitched.”⁶³

48. See what examples they invent for you, thus they have gone astray and cannot find the (right) path.

49. And they say: “When we are bones and fragments, will we be raised up as a new creation ?”

50. Say:”Be you stones or iron.”

51. ”Or some other created thing that is yet greater (in hardness)⁶⁴ according to your thoughts.” They will say: “Who will bring us back to life ?” Say : “He who created you the first time.” Then they will shake their heads at you, and say: “When will it be ?” Say: “Perhaps it will be soon.

52. The day (when) He will call you, you will answer with His praises, and you will think that you had tarried but for a little while.⁶⁵

Commentary

55. 1ts explanation is given in Surah An’am, Note No.109.

56. Allah has employed various styles and methods in the Qur’an to explain its teachings to the people, arguments have been presented as well as historical events that are instructive, admonitions as well as warnings, realities and similes, but those who are obstinate, they are not influenced by any counsel. They give wrong meaning to the teachings of Qur’an, with the result that their distance from the truth goes on increasing.

57. Presumably if the claim of the polytheists were true that there are many gods in the universe, then all the lesser gods would have rushed to subjugate the God who is the: owner of the Arsh(Throne), and who is in control of the entire universe. And if there would have been a struggle among the gods for power, then how the system of the universe would have run smoothly ? In such an event, this universe would have collapsed in no time. But you have seen that such is not the case. No defect or fault is observed in the system of the universe, which is a clear proof of the fact that the entire universe is being rule by only one God, nor is there another god, nor has anybody any share in the government of the one and only Allah.

58. This is an Unseen reality from which the Qur’an has lifted the veil. It explains that there is nothing in the universe that does not sing the praises of Allah, His Greatness and Immaculateness. It does not mean that everything sings, His praises symbolically but it physically does so, however, it is quite a different thing that we are not able to understand it.

Today modern science has considerably enriched human knowledge. The modern theory about atom is that Electron particles revolve round its nucleus. In other words every particle is in motion, but this motion and revolution is not seen by us. And on account of its not being seen by us, we cannot deny its existence. Then if the divine revelation, which is a source of certain knowledge, informs us that everything in the universe sings praises of Allah, then why should we not believe in it ? Merely on the ground that its denial will be proper as we do not hear this hidden voice? By lifting the veil from the secrets of the universe Qur’an has added considerably to man’s knowledge so that he may find the light of faith from it. Therefore, its denial will be a means of his deprivation.

59. It means that it is the duty of the created ones that they should sing the praises of their Creator. If there are people among the humans who ascribe defects and faults in their Creator and assign partners to Him, then these acts of their are such as would attract Divine wrath on them. But Allah is Forbearing. He tolerates these acts. He is also Forgiving, therefore, He gives them time so that they may repent and be deserving of His mercy.

60. There are people who are so influenced by the worldly glamour that if they hear the Qur’an being recited or if they themselves recite it, their minds do not accept any influence or impression from it, and the reason behind it is this that there is a Divine Law which rules that whoever is not prepared to accept the truth, he will be deprived of the Divine guidance to accept it. This law functions effectively, but the external eyes cannot see it, that is why it is termed as ‘hidden veil’.

61. Its explanation has been given is Surah Al-An’am, Note No.44.

62. That is: Seeing that the Qur’an that you present before the people mentions only one God and there is no mention of the gods invented by them, nor of their share in godhood, they do not like to hear the Qur’an being recited, nay they turn their backs and run away from it.

63. Points to the leaders of the infidels of Makkah, who if they ever try to listen to Qura’n, it is with the idea of opposing it. Accordingly, they used to hold secret consultations among themselves, and when they used to see one of their companions being impressed by the dawah of the Prophet (Sallal Lahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), they used to say that he was following a person who has been charmed and bewitched by some magic, and because of that he was talking like a mad man.

This ayah clarifies that the charge of Prophet’s being bewitched was coined by the infidels, which was totally false. It is also clear from this that the Prophet was immune from any influence of magic, as it is a thing which would disgrace the office of prophethood. Therefore, in some of the narratives the mention of Prophet’s having been bewitched by magic by some Jews in Madina is not acceptable and is rejected as they clash with what is stated in the Qur’an. For further explanation, please refer to Note No.6, Surah Falaq.

And your Lord knows best all those who are in the heavens and the earth. We have exalted some prophets above others, and to David We gave the “Zaboor” (Psalms). Say: “Invoke those whom you assume (to be gods) beside Him, they have no power to relieve you of your distress nor to change your condition.” (Al-Quran)

64. That is: After death a man’s body may decompose and become dust or even if it becomes iron or some other harder metal, it would not at all be difficult for Allah to restore it to life again with its body. A Being who has given life to man for the first time, how would it be difficult for the same Being to raise him again on the Day of Resurrection ?

65. On the Day of Resurrection there will be a call from Allah to the entire mankind to present themselves before Him. The entire mankind will respond to His call. Allah’s praises will be on their lips. This will be the voice of the nature which is conversant only with the praises of her Lord.

The presence of mankind before Allah on the Day of Resurrection has been presented in a symbolic way in the rituals of Hajj. Accordingly during the pilgrimage of the House of Allah the slave says ‘I am present in your presence’ and on his lips these words of praises are constantly there:

‘Innal hamda wan ne’mata Lak’ (Praises and gratefulness for you).

People think that the day of Resurrection is far off , but when they will be revived they will feel that the time that passed between their life in the world and the Doomsday was very short, and that their stay in the world of Barzakh was only for a short time and the Day of Resurrection suddenly occurred.