Surah 37. As-Saffat

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Verses [Section]: 1-21[1], 22-74 [2], 75-113 [3], 114-138 [4], 139-182 [5]

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Quran Text of Verse 22-74اُحْشُرُواGatherالَّذِیْنَthose whoظَلَمُوْاwrongedوَ اَزْوَاجَهُمْand their kindsوَ مَاand whatكَانُوْاthey used (to)یَعْبُدُوْنَۙworship مِنْBesidesدُوْنِBesidesاللّٰهِAllahفَاهْدُوْهُمْthen lead themاِلٰیtoصِرَاطِ(the) Pathالْجَحِیْمِ (of) the Hellfire وَ قِفُوْهُمْAnd stop themاِنَّهُمْindeed theyمَّسْـُٔوْلُوْنَۙ(are) to be questioned 37. As-Saffat Page 447مَاWhatلَكُمْ(is) for youلَا(Why) notتَنَاصَرُوْنَ you help one another بَلْNayهُمُtheyالْیَوْمَ(on) that Dayمُسْتَسْلِمُوْنَ (will) surrender وَ اَقْبَلَAnd will approachبَعْضُهُمْsome of themعَلٰیtoبَعْضٍothersیَّتَسَآءَلُوْنَ questioning one another قَالُوْۤاThey will sayاِنَّكُمْIndeed youكُنْتُمْ[you] used (to)تَاْتُوْنَنَاcome (to) usعَنِfromالْیَمِیْنِ the right قَالُوْاThey will sayبَلْNayلَّمْnotتَكُوْنُوْاyou wereمُؤْمِنِیْنَۚbelievers وَ مَاAnd notكَانَwasلَنَاfor usعَلَیْكُمْover youمِّنْanyسُلْطٰنٍ ۚauthorityبَلْNayكُنْتُمْyou wereقَوْمًاa peopleطٰغِیْنَ transgressing فَحَقَّSo has been proved trueعَلَیْنَاagainst usقَوْلُ(the) Wordرَبِّنَاۤ ۖۗ(of) our Lordاِنَّاindeed weلَذَآىِٕقُوْنَ (will) certainly taste فَاَغْوَیْنٰكُمْSo we led you astrayاِنَّاindeed weكُنَّاwereغٰوِیْنَ astray فَاِنَّهُمْThen indeed theyیَوْمَىِٕذٍthat Dayفِیinالْعَذَابِthe punishmentمُشْتَرِكُوْنَ (will be) sharers اِنَّاIndeed WeكَذٰلِكَthusنَفْعَلُWe dealبِالْمُجْرِمِیْنَ with the criminals اِنَّهُمْIndeed theyكَانُوْۤاwereاِذَاwhenقِیْلَit was saidلَهُمْto themلَاۤ(There is) noاِلٰهَgodاِلَّاexceptاللّٰهُ ۙAllahیَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَۙwere arrogant وَ یَقُوْلُوْنَAnd they sayاَىِٕنَّاAre weلَتَارِكُوْۤاto leaveاٰلِهَتِنَاour godsلِشَاعِرٍfor a poetمَّجْنُوْنٍؕmad بَلْNayجَآءَhe has broughtبِالْحَقِّthe truthوَ صَدَّقَand confirmedالْمُرْسَلِیْنَ the Messengers اِنَّكُمْIndeed youلَذَآىِٕقُوا(will) surely tasteالْعَذَابِthe punishmentالْاَلِیْمِۚpainful وَ مَاAnd notتُجْزَوْنَyou will be recompensedاِلَّاexceptمَاwhatكُنْتُمْyou used (to)تَعْمَلُوْنَۙdo اِلَّاExceptعِبَادَ(the) slavesاللّٰهِ(of) Allahالْمُخْلَصِیْنَ the chosen ones اُولٰٓىِٕكَThoseلَهُمْfor themرِزْقٌ(will be) a provisionمَّعْلُوْمٌۙdetermined فَوَاكِهُ ۚFruitsوَ هُمْand theyمُّكْرَمُوْنَۙ(will) be honored فِیْInجَنّٰتِGardensالنَّعِیْمِۙ(of) Delight عَلٰیOnسُرُرٍthronesمُّتَقٰبِلِیْنَ facing each other یُطَافُWill be circulatedعَلَیْهِمْamong themبِكَاْسٍa cupمِّنْfromمَّعِیْنٍۭۙa flowing spring بَیْضَآءَWhiteلَذَّةٍdeliciousلِّلشّٰرِبِیْنَۚۖfor the drinkers لَاNotفِیْهَاin itغَوْلٌ(is) bad effectوَّ لَاand notهُمْtheyعَنْهَاfrom itیُنْزَفُوْنَ will be intoxicated وَ عِنْدَهُمْAnd with themقٰصِرٰتُ(will be) companions of modest gazeالطَّرْفِ(will be) companions of modest gazeعِیْنٌۙ(having) beautiful eyes كَاَنَّهُنَّAs if they wereبَیْضٌeggsمَّكْنُوْنٌ well protected فَاَقْبَلَAnd (will) approachبَعْضُهُمْsome of themعَلٰیtoبَعْضٍothersیَّتَسَآءَلُوْنَ questioning one another قَالَWill sayقَآىِٕلٌa speakerمِّنْهُمْamong themاِنِّیْIndeed Iكَانَhadلِیْfor meقَرِیْنٌۙa companion 37. As-Saffat Page 448یَّقُوْلُWho (would) sayاَىِٕنَّكَAre you indeedلَمِنَsurely ofالْمُصَدِّقِیْنَ those who believe ءَاِذَاIs (it) whenمِتْنَاwe have diedوَ كُنَّاand becomeتُرَابًاdustوَّ عِظَامًاand bonesءَاِنَّاwill weلَمَدِیْنُوْنَ surely be brought to Judgment قَالَHe (will) sayهَلْWillاَنْتُمْyouمُّطَّلِعُوْنَ be looking فَاطَّلَعَThen he (will) lookفَرَاٰهُand see himفِیْinسَوَآءِ(the) midstالْجَحِیْمِ (of) the Hellfire قَالَHe (will) sayتَاللّٰهِBy Allahاِنْverilyكِدْتَّyou almostلَتُرْدِیْنِۙruined me وَ لَوْ لَاAnd if notنِعْمَةُ(for the) Graceرَبِّیْ(of) my Lordلَكُنْتُcertainly I (would) have beenمِنَamongالْمُحْضَرِیْنَ those brought اَفَمَاThen are notنَحْنُweبِمَیِّتِیْنَۙ(to) die اِلَّاExceptمَوْتَتَنَاour deathالْاُوْلٰیthe firstوَ مَاand notنَحْنُweبِمُعَذَّبِیْنَ will be punished اِنَّIndeedهٰذَاthisلَهُوَsurelyالْفَوْزُ(is) the attainmentالْعَظِیْمُ great لِمِثْلِFor (the) likeهٰذَا(of) thisفَلْیَعْمَلِlet workالْعٰمِلُوْنَ the workers اَذٰلِكَIs thatخَیْرٌbetterنُّزُلًا(as) hospitalityاَمْorشَجَرَةُ(the) treeالزَّقُّوْمِ (of) Zaqqum اِنَّاIndeed Weجَعَلْنٰهَا[We] have made itفِتْنَةًa trialلِّلظّٰلِمِیْنَ for the wrongdoers اِنَّهَاIndeed itشَجَرَةٌ(is) a treeتَخْرُجُthat growsفِیْۤinاَصْلِ(the) bottomالْجَحِیْمِۙ(of) the Hellfire طَلْعُهَاIts emerging fruitكَاَنَّهٗ(is) as if itرُءُوْسُ(was) headsالشَّیٰطِیْنِ (of) the devils فَاِنَّهُمْAnd indeed theyلَاٰكِلُوْنَ(will) surely eatمِنْهَاfrom itفَمَالِـُٔوْنَand fillمِنْهَاwith itالْبُطُوْنَؕ(their) bellies ثُمَّThenاِنَّindeedلَهُمْfor themعَلَیْهَاin itلَشَوْبًا(is) a mixtureمِّنْofحَمِیْمٍۚboiling water ثُمَّThenاِنَّindeedمَرْجِعَهُمْtheir returnلَاۡاِلَی(will) surely be toالْجَحِیْمِ the Hellfire اِنَّهُمْIndeed theyاَلْفَوْاfoundاٰبَآءَهُمْtheir fathersضَآلِّیْنَۙastray فَهُمْSo theyعَلٰۤیonاٰثٰرِهِمْtheir footstepsیُهْرَعُوْنَ they hastened وَ لَقَدْAnd verilyضَلَّwent astrayقَبْلَهُمْbefore themاَكْثَرُmostالْاَوَّلِیْنَۙ(of) the former (people) وَ لَقَدْAnd verilyاَرْسَلْنَاWe sentفِیْهِمْamong themمُّنْذِرِیْنَ warners فَانْظُرْThen seeكَیْفَhowكَانَwasعَاقِبَةُ(the) endالْمُنْذَرِیْنَۙ(of) those who were warned اِلَّاExceptعِبَادَ(the) slavesاللّٰهِ(of) Allahالْمُخْلَصِیْنَ۠the chosen ones

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Translation of Verse 22-74

22. Gather together the wrongdoers and their mates and those whom they worshipped,

23. Besides Allah, and lead them to the path to Hell ; ²⁰

24. And stop them, they are to be questioned.²¹

25. What has come over you that you do not help one another?²²

26. Nay, but this day they have become completely submissive.²³

27. And some of them will get near to others, mutually questioning. ²⁴

28. They will say: “Verily you used to come to us from the right hand side.” ²⁵

29. They will answer: “Nay , but you were not to be believers.”

30. “We had no power over you, you (yourselves) were wayward people. ²⁶

31. “Now the word of Our Lord has been fulfilled concerning us .²⁷ verily, we will have to taste (our punishment).

32. “So we misled you, we ourselves were misled.” ²⁸

33. Thus on that day they will all share Our punishment.²⁹

34. Verily thus We will deal with the guilty.³⁰

35. They were such people that when it was said to them that there was no god except Allah, they became arrogant,

36. And used to say: “Are we to renounce our gods for the sake of a mad poet?”³¹

37. Nay, but he has brought the Truth, and confirmed those who were sent before him. ³²

38. Verily (now) you will taste the painful punishment.

39. You are not requited except for what you did,³³

40. Except the sincere slaves of Allah;³⁴

41. For them there is fixed sustenance,³⁵

42. Fruits.³⁶ And they will be honoured,³⁷

43. In the blissful Gardens,

44. On thrones, facing one another;³⁸

45. A cup from the gushing fountain will be brought round to them,

46. White, delicious to the drinkers,

47. There will be no harm in it, nor will it affect the reason.39

48. And with them will be those of modest gaze and lovely big eyes, ⁴⁰

49. As if they are hidden eggs.⁴¹

50. Then they will turn towards one another and will inquire about (the welfare of) one another.

51. One of them will say: “I had a friend,

52. “Who used to say:” Are you one of those who confirm the Resurrection?⁴²

53. “When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, shall we be brought to judgment?”

54. He will say: “Do you want to look down.”⁴³

55. He will look down and see his friend in the midst of the Hell.⁴⁴

56. He will say: (to him): “By Allah! You almost ruined me ! ”

57. “ But for the grace of Allah I should surely have been of those brought up. ⁴⁵

58. “Is it not that we shall not die ⁴⁶

59. “Except our first death,⁴⁷ and that we shall not be punished?”⁴⁸

60. Surely this is the supreme achievement .⁴⁹

61. For such (achievement) let the activists strive.⁵⁰

62. Is this a better hospitality or the Zaqqum tree?⁵¹

63. We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers. ⁵²

64. Verily it is a tree that springs from the nethermost part of the Hell. ⁵³

65. Its fruits are like devil’s heads.⁵⁴

66. And verily they will eat from that and fill in their bellies. ⁵⁵

67. Then verily they will get boiling water for drinking. ⁵⁶

68. And afterwards their return will surely be to the (fire of) Hell. ⁵⁷

69. They found their fathers astray.

70. And they are following their footsteps only. ⁵⁸

71. And verily before them, most of the ancients had gone astray. ⁵⁹

72. And verily We had sent among them warners !

73. So see what was the fate of those who were warned,

74. Except the selected sincere slaves of Allah.⁶⁰

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Commentary

20. This will be a command to the angels to gather the wrongdoing leaders and guides, and also their companions and followers, and also those idols whom they used to worship beside Allah, and then to carry them to the Hell.

21. When they will reach near the Hell, Allah will command the angels to stop and let the wrong-doers be questioned before being thrown into the Hell. What they will be asked has been mentioned in the following ayah.

22. That is: In the world you were helpers of one another and had been displaying unity as a religious group; now what has happened to you that you are showing great disregard for one another, and do not help each other in such a difficult situation. They will not be able to answer this question, which will express their helplessness.

23. In the world they were disobedient to Allah, but today they have surrendered themselves to Allah. Now whatever command is given them they obey. Where is the pride of their freedom?

24. That is: They will blame one another, leaders will blame their followers and the public their leaders, religious guides will blame their followers, and the followers their guides, and satans will blame their disciples and the disciples their teachers.

25. In Arabic the idiom right hand side means the path of good. It means that we had come as your well wishers but actually you became our ill-wishers; you led us the green path and we were deceived by your glib talk and had to see this consequence.

26. They will reply to the misguiders that you were also not for accepting faith, if you were to accept faith, we had no power to prevent you from doing that; you yourselves are responsible for your own straying.

27. That is: His command that the followers of Satan will have to undergo the punishment in Hell.

28. They will admit that they were themselves misled, and when they were misled they could mislead their followers too, but why should the followers fall a prey to their misleading?

29. That is: Leaders, people and the religious guides and their followers were responsible for their own straying, therefore, they will all have to share the punishment. The people are also not innocent: why did they follow the misguided leaders and the religious guides. Since they chose to go after them, they will have also to fall in the same pit in which they fell.

30. Hints at the disbelievers of Makkah that they will also be punished as guilty persons in the Hell.

31. They used to call Allah’s messenger as a mad poet.

32. The Prophet of the Quran had brought the Truth and his teachings were not different from the teachings of other prophets who had come earlier and there was no reason for them to deny it. He had even declared that these prophets were also true messengers. His teachings were also harmonious with their teachings. He had fulfilled all the conditions which were mentioned in the prophecies mentioned by these prophets.

33. No injustice will be done to you. You will be given just rewards or punishment for your deeds or misdeeds.

34. By special or sincere slaves are meant those slaves whom Allah had chosen for worship and devotion. No trick of Satan worked on them, and with Allah’s guidance they were reserved for Allah’s service only. Such people will be safe from any kind of punishment on the Day of Judgment. Not only this, but as is mentioned further, they will be blessed with invaluable rewards.

It should be noted that this promise of rewards has not been made for the so-called Muslims but for those who will in reality prove to be Allah’s special slaves by virtue of their faith and acts.

35. They will not have to worry about their sustenance and provision therefore, but they will be contented that their provision is fixed and they will always be getting it.

36. Fruits has been mentioned here as an example, otherwise at other places other nice things have been mentioned. In the Paradise it will not be necessary to eat food to keep alive, for the people will get such bodies that will have no defects. Their eating and drinking will be for enjoyment only. That is why fruits have been specifically mentioned.

37. They will not get merely things to eat and drink, but they will also receive utmost respect and honour.

38. In the Paradise, there will be royal thrones for sitting, and the people of Paradise will be sitting opposite one another in such a way as if these meetings are for camaraderie and social get together.

39. The drink (wine) in the Paradise will be quite different from that of the world. It will neither cause any headache nor any other aches in the body, nor will it affect the function of the intellect. It will be free from every kind of defect, and will be pure, clean and most tasteful to drink. This drink of the Paradise has been termed as wine because it would give a kind of pleasure and taste compared to which any worldly wine is nothing. Although their names are common, but in their nature and effects there is a lot of difference between the two.

40. That is: In their company will be such wives as would keep their gaze low on account of modesty. The word used here is’ Een’ which means having big eyes, which is a sign of beauty.

41. Their white complexion and their being hidden and secure has been likened to those eggs, which the birds hide under their wings. The Arab poets of the jahiliyah period like Umraul Qais used the simile of eggs for beautiful veiled virgins in the words ‘baidhati khidri.’

42. That is: Do you also believe in the Doomsday and the life in the second world?

43. Before he would complete his sentence, Allah will ask him whether he would like to see him, and that if he wanted to have a glimpse of him, he could have it.

44. As soon as that person would look down into the Hell, he will observe his friend in the midst of Hell.

It is learnt that if the people of Paradise want to see the people of the Hell they would be able to see them easily. For this viewing it would not be necessary to provide binoculars, etc.

45. That man of Paradise will thank Allah that through His grace he was not tempted by his friend and like him was not thrown into the Hell. This event which will take place in the future has been narrated by Allah in order that everybody should be wary of his friend or comrade and if his friend is a denier of the Hereafter, he should not be misled by him.

46. Then this man of Paradise will address those present and ask whether it was not a fact they would have everlasting life in the Paradise and that they would never encounter death. Thus in this style of questioning he will express his own belief.

47. The death that came to us in the world was the last death.

48. Paradise is the everlasting reward of Allah, therefore, the question of any punishment and distress in the Paradise does not arise.

49. An achievement greater than this cannot even be imagined.

50. The statement of the man of paradise is finished in the above lines. Now this is the encouragement from Allah for the people that they should try to achieve this triumph and try to win the Paradise by their faith and good deeds.

51. Zaqqum is the name of a tree which bears very repulsive and bitter fruits. This tree is found in the Tahama region of Arabia. The very bitter and poisonous fruit which will be available for eating in the Hell can be likened to the fruit of the Zaqqum tree.

52. The tree of Zaqqum is a means of trial for the wrongdoers. Ordinarily this very thought of such a tree should make them tremble, but instead they would ridicule the idea that there can grow a tree in the fire of the Hell.

53. It is not at all difficult for the might of Allah to have a tree grow in the Hell fire, and the clarification that has been given in these ayat about that helps in strengthening our belief and faith about its authenticity. The tree that grows in the nethermost regions of the Hell can well be imagined to be how devastating will be its effect and what a terrible punishment it would be to eat it !

54. People have not seen Satan, but his terrible concept is there in their minds. Taking help of this concept, the fruits of this tree have been likened to the heads of satans, which is very terrible. The fruits will be very ugly and terrible to look at.

55. When the people of Hell will feel hungry, they will have to feed on Zaqqum fruits, utterly bitter and repulsive. In reality these will be the fruits of their misdeeds to eat.

56. After eating fruits of the Zaqqum tree, they will get boiling water for drinking.

57. The Hell will be a very wide place. Its various regions will be reserved for various punishments. The ‘guilty’ will get the horrible food and drink in one part of the Hell and thereafter they will have to return to that part of the Hell which is known as ‘Jahim’ and which has great burning fire.

58. This statement is made in connection with the polytheists of Makkah, that is: inspite of the fact that their forefathers were misled and were astray, they followed their footsteps quickly and unhesitatingly. Following the customs of the forefathers is sort of a madness in which man does not use his intellect.

59. The reason for the straying of men is that they think that the religion and culture which are being followed from the ancient days are the right ones, and they want to remain attached to the same. Religious factions have sprung up because of this, although in the past too many people were astray. Neither they had the testimony of truth with them, nor do these people have it. The light of truth is gained by argument and convincing proof, and not by blind following.

60. For explanation, please see Note No.34.