Surah Qaf 50:16-29 - Quran Translation Commentary

20. ‘Vasvasah’ (whispering) means a low voice and it indicates those thoughts which come to man’s mind and heart. Allah knows even that which comes to man’s mind and heart.

21. Allah is not far from man. Rather HE is very near to him in every way. So much so that HE is nearer even than his jugular vein. Allah’s knowledge has a total grip on man. When it is so why does man not fear HIM and from where does he get the idea (whisper) that he is not accountable to Allah?!

This ayah also points out that when Allah knows even the ideas entering man’s heart and mind it is also not at all difficult for HIM, on the Day of Resurrection, to bring forth the deeds as well as the secret thoughts of each and every person and to reckon the accounts.

22. Means those two angels who are always with every man. One sits on his or her right and the other on left. They pick up each and every word of man. Picking up means recording and preserving that record.

23. When man utters anything the angel overseeing him records it instantaneously. Nothing remains unrecorded. How do these two angels coordinate their functions and how exactly do they sit etc. has not been mentioned either in the Quran or in the Hadith. Hence the general description given by the Quran should be considered sufficient. As regards noting of each and every word, it is no more an astonishment for the modern man who is well aware of machines like tape recorders. Rather these inventions are a testimony to the truth of the holy Quran.

This ayat mentions recording of words. Surah Infitar mentions recording of deeds :-

“Overseers are appointed for you. Revered writers who know each and every deed of yours”.(Infitar: 10-12) And in Surah Zilzaal:

“Then whosoever has done an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whosoever has done an atom’s weight of evil, will see it.” (Zilzal: 7-8)

It becomes quite clear from these statements of the holy Quran that every word, deed and movement of everybody is being preserved (recorded) in such a way that, on the Day of Qiyamah, he will see with his own eyes even the minutest of his acts, be it good or bad. In other words the entire life of everyone is being filmed in this world and he will see this movietone on the Day of Resurrection. And that film will be so perfect in comparison with any man made film that it will be unique.

If man keeps this truth in mind his life will be very wellguarded. Before uttering any word he will think whether or not it will put him in the dock and prior to doing any work he will worry as to whether it will be regarded as good or as evil.

24. At the time of death man becomes almost unconscious. But Truth dawns upon his soul. If he was a disbeliever he is told that here is the Truth which you were trying to evade during your life. In other words, death is a preamble to Resurrection. At the moment of death man is able to see angels as well as the hidden world.

25. This is the picturization of Qiyamah, At the second blow of the trumpet all dead men will become alive and come out of their graves. At that time they will be told that this is the Day about which you were threatened; in your worldly life.

26. There will be two angels with every person. One will be driving him toward the Field of Gathering and the other will accompany him as a witness to whatever he did in the world.

27. This thing will be told to everybody who was heedless about Resurrection. This heedlessness had drawn a veil over his eyes which will be removed on the Day. Consequently his eyesight will be sharp enough to see the events of the Day of Resurrection.

We are hereby informed that the eyesight of those who are aware of the Day of Resurrection is sharp in this world also and they are able to observe the events of the Resurrection in the light of the holy Quran.

28. Companion (Qareen) means the angel who was appointed to oversee the fellow. Recording his deeds he will say: this record is ready, here it is.

29. This order will be issued to those two angels who will bring the criminals to the Court of Allah, that is, the Saaiq (the driver) and the Shaheed (the witness).

30. Five qualities of a disbeliever have been described here: he is an enemy and opponent of the Truth, he prevents others also from accepting the Truth and from doing good deeds, he breaks religious and moral limits, he spreads doubts and suspicions about Islam and he worships gairullaah (other than Allah) which is polytheism, an unpardonable sin. These are some of the habits of the unbeliever. Other habits are also mentioned elsewhere.

31. In this ayah “Qareen” (companion) indicates Satan who had been a friend of this fellow in the world.

It becomes clear from the manner of description that when this fellow will be ordered to be thrown into a severe torment he will hold the devil responsible for his rebellion. Contradicting him, the devil will say that I did not apply any force on him to follow me but he him-self had gone deep into waywardness. Hence he is the real culprit.

32. This disputation is of no use. I had cautioned you through My messengers in the world, that if you will indulge in disbelief you will have to taste its severe punishment in the Hereafter.

33. That is: My decision is final and inalterable that I will fill the Hell with Satan and his followers.

34. This eternal torment of Hell destined for these disbelievers will not be unjust. It will be only to meet the demands of justice and Truth. Those people who dare object to the Divine decision, seeing the mention of such severe punishments, begin to think that (God forbid). Allah is unjust. In their view it is justice that Allah should not differentiate between HIS faithful servants and rebellious creatures; that HE should, instead of punishing the rebels. reward them with HIS bounties or should not establish the Court in Hereafter at all. But both these desires of them are unjust and totally incorrect. The worldly governments award both life sentences as well as order execution to their rebels and for hardcore criminals and such punishments are being considered just. How do they then term the eternal severe punishments to be given to Allah’s rebels as harsh? Regarding the idea of not establishing the COURT at all, it only means that the existence of this world and of man therein is totally absurd and meaningless. If man has to become nil and nothing after death then there is no aim of this shorts-panned worldly life. It becomes absolutely aimless and fruitless.

It is also undeniable that injustice is being committed to either grab someone’s right or to fulfill some kind of unlawful desire. But no such idea can be entertained in case of Allah. HE is needless. HE does not require anything. Why then HE should do injustice to His slaves?!