In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammar.
Surah Sad.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Sad.
By the Qur’an, full of reminder.
“Nay, but those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism.” (38:2)
Sad.
By the Qur’an, full of reminder.
This is an oath by which Allah swears by the Qur’an.
Which contains a reminder for you.
Rather, those who disbelieve in Allah among the polytheists of Quraysh.
Are in a state of arrogance, opposition to Muhammad, and hostility.
How many generations have We destroyed before them, and they called out, but it was not the time for escape.
We have destroyed many before these polytheists.
We destroyed the nations that existed before them.
For they followed their path in denying their messengers.
They cried out to their Lord and sought refuge in repentance when the punishment of Allah descended upon them.
But that was not the time for fleeing or escaping the torment.
“And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come unto them, and the disbelievers say: This is a wizard, a charlatan.” (38:4)
“And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come unto them, and the disbelievers say: This is a wizard, a charlatan.” (38:4)
“Maketh he the gods One Allah? Lo! that is an astounding thing.” (38:5)
“Maketh he the gods One Allah? Lo! that is an astounding thing.” (38:5)
These polytheists of Quraysh were astonished.
That a warner had come to them, warning them of Allah’s punishment for their disbelief.
And the deniers of Allah’s oneness said:
"This"—meaning Muhammad, peace be upon him—"is a lying sorcerer."
"Has he made all the deities into one God?"
"He hears all our prayers; this is truly a strange thing."
And the prominent among them went forth, saying, "Go on and remain steadfast to your gods."
“The chiefs among them go about, exhorting: Go and be staunch to your gods! Lo! this is a thing designed.” (38:6)
The nobles of these disbelievers from Quraysh departed.
Saying, "Proceed and remain steadfast to your religion and the worship of your gods."
"Indeed, this message that Muhammad speaks and calls us to,"
"The statement of 'There is no god but Allah,'"
"Is something Muhammad desires from us."
"He seeks through it to exalt himself over us."
"And for us to be his followers in it."
"We have not heard of this in the latest religion."
“We have not heard of this in later religion. This is naught but an invention.” (38:7)
"We have not heard of this which Muhammad calls us to,"
"Of disavowing all deities,"
"And of this Book which he has brought,"
"In the Christian religion."
It was also said: "We have not heard of this in our religion or the religion of Quraysh."
"This Qur’an is nothing but a lie that Muhammad has fabricated and invented."
“Hath the reminder been unto him (alone) among us? Nay, but they are in doubt concerning My reminder; nay but they have not yet tasted My doom.” (38:8)
“Hath the reminder been unto him (alone) among us? Nay, but they are in doubt concerning My reminder; nay but they have not yet tasted My doom.” (38:8)
Rather, they have not yet tasted the punishment.
"Has the reminder been sent down to Muhammad from among us, and he is singled out for it?"
It is not that these polytheists lack knowledge that Muhammad is truthful.
But they are in doubt regarding Our revelation to him.
Rather, Our punishment has not yet descended upon them, so they have not tasted the consequence of their denial of Muhammad.
If they had tasted the punishment for that,
They would have known the reality of what they are denying.
“Or are theirs the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower?” (38:9)
“Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them theirs? Then let them ascend by ropes!” (38:10)
Let them ascend through the means.
“A defeated host are (all) the factions that are there.” (38:11)
They are an army at Badr, defeated there, like the confederates—Iblis and his followers.
Allah destroyed them for their sins.
“The folk of Noah before them denied (their messenger) and (so did the tribe of) A'ad, and Pharaoh firmly planted,” (38:12)
“And (the tribe of) Thamud, and the folk of Lot, and the dwellers in the wood: these were the factions.” (38:13)
Those are the confederates.
“Not one of them but did deny the messengers, therefor My doom was justified,” (38:14)
Before these polytheists of Quraysh, there denied:
The people of Nuh, ‘Ad, and Pharaoh, the lord of the stakes.
Whether those stakes were for torturing people,
Or for the games he used to play with them.
And Thamud, the people of Lut, and the companions of the thicket—the dense trees of acacia and lotus.
These gathered groups,
And the confederates who banded together in disobedience to Allah and disbelief in Him.
All of these nations did nothing but deny the messengers of Allah.
So the punishment of Allah became due upon them.
“These wait for but one Shout, there will be no second thereto.” (38:15)
These polytheists of Quraysh are not waiting,
For anything but a single blast, which is the first blowing of the Trumpet.
That blast will have no pause or cessation.
“They say: Our Lord! Hasten on for us our fate before the Day of Reckoning.” (38:16)
And these polytheists said:
"Our Lord, hasten for us our record before the Day of Resurrection."
“Bear with what they say, and remember Our bondman David, lord of might, Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (toward Allah).” (38:17)
Be patient, O Muhammad, regarding what the polytheists of your people say to you that you dislike.
For We will test you with hardships.
Then We will grant you superiority over those who denied you.
And remember Our Sunnah regarding the messengers before you.
Among them was Our servant Dawud, who possessed strength and great power in the cause of Allah.
Indeed, Dawud was one who frequently returned to what pleases Allah, one who is ever-turning in repentance.
We subjected the mountains to him, praising Allah in the evening and at sunrise.
And the birds, gathered together; all were obedient to him.
We subjected the mountains to praise Allah with Dawud in the evening.
That is from the time of ‘Asr until nightfall, and at sunrise.
That is in the early morning, the time of Duha.
And We subjected the birds, praising with him, gathered for him.
All the birds were obedient to him, returning to his command and authority.
It is mentioned that he, peace be upon him, would praise Allah, and the mountains would respond to him.
And the birds would gather to him and praise with him.
He informed us that He strengthened the kingdom of Dawud.
It is possible that this strengthening was through armies and majesty.
And We gave him prophethood.
And sound judgment in legal rulings, discourse, and sermons.