Verse:83 Commentary Commentary

تَؤُزُّهُمْ أَزًّا

"Inciting them with all their incitements" - 19:83.

In Arabic language the words حَضّ - فَزّ - اَزّ - ھَزّ are synonymous, differing only in shade or degree, and mean to urge, incite, instigate. The word اَزّ means to apply strong pressure, to persuade somebody to do something. The sense of this verse is that the Devils instigate the unbelievers to persist in their evil ways by presenting before their eyes the benefits and hiding from them the wickedness of their evil deeds. Verse:84 Commentary إِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَهُمْ عَدًّا

"We are but counting for them a count down." - 19:84

This verse means: "Do not be impatient about their punishment because it is going to befall upon them in any case - and very soon. We have allowed them a fixed term in this world and that term is about to end. Then will come their retribution." نَعُدُّ لَهُمْ means: "We are counting for them, i.e. they do not have control on anything. Their days are numbered and We keep a count of every moment of their life and everything they do."

Once Ma'mun Rashid read Surah Maryam. Upon reading this particular verse, he desired that Ibn Simak, one of the Islamic scholars sitting in that meeting with him, to say something on it. Thereupon Ibn Simak submitted that when our breaths are numbered and their number cannot be enhanced, they will soon come to an end. The same notion is reflected in the following poetic verse:

حیاتک انفاس تعد فکلّمَا مضی نفس منک انتقصت بہ جزء اً

That is, the breaths of your lifer are counted. With every passing breath, your life gets reduced to that extent.

It is said that during one span of twenty-four hours, one breathes twenty-four thousand times. (Qurtubi)

The following stanza explores the same context:

و کیف یفرح بالدّنیاو لذّتھا فتی یُعَدّ علیہ اللفظ و النّفس

That is, how can one be so engrossed and relaxed with the worldly pleasures, while his words and breaths are being counted. (Ruh) Verse:85 Commentary يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ‌ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ وَفْدًا

"The day We will assemble the God-fearing before the Rahman (All-Merciful) as guests." - 19:85.

The word وفد applies to those who are received by rulers and princes with respect and honour. According to some sayings of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم he said, "These men will ride on their mounts which they used in their worldly life." Some say that their own virtuous deeds will take the shape of their mounts. Verse:86 Commentary إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ وِرْ‌دًا

Towards the Jahannam as herds towards water" - 19:86.

وِرد means to go towards water and since only a thirsty man or animal goes towards water, this word has been translated to denote a thirsty person. Verse:87 Commentary مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ عَهْدًا

"Except the one who has taken a covenant with the Rahman (All-Merciful) " - 19:87.

Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has said that عَھد means a declaration of firm belief in the Unity of Allah Ta' ala, while others say that عِھد means committing the Qur' an to memory. In brief only those people will have the permission to intercede with Allah who stand firm by their covenant to adhere to the true faith. (Ruh) Verse:88 Commentary - - - Verse:89 Commentary - - - Verse:90 Commentary Commentary

وَتَخِرُّ‌ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا

"And the mountains to fall down crumbling" - 19:90.

These verses suggest that the earth, the mountains and everything that grows thereon possess a certain degree of knowledge and intelligence though in their case these perceptions are not of the same extent as that bestowed on human beings. This explains the fact that everything in the world glorifies Allah Ta' ala as will be evident from the verse.

وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ

"Arid there is not a single thing that does not extol His purity and praise." - 17:44.

These verses refer to this very perception of these things that to associate anything or being with Allah Ta` ala, specially to assert that He has children is a sin which makes the earth and the mountains quake with fear. Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has said that except humans every created thing is terrified of any suggestion of association with Allah (Ruh, -ul-Ma` ani). Verse:91 Commentary - - - Verse:92 Commentary - - - Verse:93 Commentary - - - Verse:94 Commentary وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا

"And precisely calculated their numbers" - 19:94.

It means that Allah Ta' ala has full knowledge of their doings. Verse:95 Commentary - - - Verse:96 Commentary سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنُ وُدًّا

"For them the Rahman (All-Merciful) will create love." - 19:96.

It means that for those who are steadfast in their faith in Him, Allah creates an environment of friendship and love for each other, which consequently promotes mutual amity and goodwill among the true Muslims. Furthermore, by their conduct and behavior they command the admiration and respect of all those with whom they come into contact. Bukhari, Tirmidhi and others have related on the authority of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم once said that when Allah Ta' ala is pleased with someone He says to Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) ، "I am pleased with so and so and I desire that you too should show favour to him." Jibra'l (علیہ السلام) makes an announcement to this effect in all the skies so that their residents begin to harbor a liking for that person. Then this love descends upon the earth and the people of the earth also begin to love him. The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then quoted this verse. (Ruh ul-Ma' ani).

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنُ وُدًّا

"Surely those who believe and do the righteous deeds, for them the Rahman (All-Merciful) will create love." - 19:96.

Haram bin Hayyan has said that when a person devotes himself wholly towards Allah He fills the hearts of all believers with love for him. (Qurtubi)

When Sayyidna Ibrahim Khalilullah (علیہ السلام) ، planned to go back to Syria, after leaving behind his wife Hajira and his baby son Sayyidna Isma` i1 (علیہ السلام) in the desert enclosed by the barren hills of Makkah in accordance with the command of Allah, he also prayed for both of them with the following words

فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ

"So make hearts of a number of people yearn toward them." - 14:37.

The prayer was granted so that even after the lapse of many millennia people all over the world entertain great love for Makkah and its inhabitants. They visit the place in large numbers, and not only incur heavy expenditure but also endure great hardships while making the journey. Verse:97 Commentary - - - Verse:98 Commentary أَوْ تَسْمَعُ لَهُمْ رِ‌كْزًا

"Or hear from them even a whisper" - 19:98.

The word means a faint, unintelligible sound such as a death-rattle. The meaning of the verse is that there have been many kings who ruled vast empires, exercised unlimited authority and lived in great splendor, but when the wrath of Allah caught upon them for their sinful acts, they were annihilated in such a manner that not even a whisper or a feeble motion is now being heard of them.

Alhamdulillah

The Commentary on

Surah Maryam

Ends here.