WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.200 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:08.039 A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari. 00:00:08.580 --> 00:00:12.740 Abridged by Dr. ‘Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari. 00:00:14.140 --> 00:00:16.260 Surah al-Zukhruf. 00:00:18.309 --> 00:00:22.750 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:32.939 "Or have I brought you something better than that upon which you found your fathers?" 00:00:33.259 --> 00:00:39.979 “(And the warner) said: What! Even though I bring you better guidance than that ye found your fathers following? They answered: Lo! in what ye bring we are disbelievers.” (43:24) 00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:49.500 “So We requited them. Then see the nature of the consequence for the rejecters!” (43:25) 00:00:50.850 --> 00:00:53.689 Say, O Muhammad, to these polytheists: 00:00:54.170 --> 00:00:57.369 "Or have I brought you, O people, from your Lord, 00:00:57.689 --> 00:01:04.010 something better in terms of the path of truth than the religion and creed upon which you found your fathers?" 00:01:04.650 --> 00:01:06.290 He said this to them. 00:01:06.769 --> 00:01:07.769 They replied: 00:01:08.290 --> 00:01:12.969 "Indeed, we are disbelievers and deniers of that with which you have been sent, O people." 00:01:13.689 --> 00:01:19.129 So We took retribution from these people who denied His messenger by inflicting punishment upon them. 00:01:19.650 --> 00:01:25.329 Observe, O Muhammad, how the end of their affair was when they denied the signs of Allah. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:37.400 “And when Abraham said unto his father and his folk: Lo! I am innocent of what ye worship” (43:26) 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:44.400 “Save Him Who did create me, for He will surely guide me.” (43:27) 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:52.719 “And he made it a word enduring among his seed, that haply they might return.” (43:28) 00:01:54.180 --> 00:02:01.180 And when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship other than Allah, 00:02:01.780 --> 00:02:07.060 except for He who created me, for He will guide me to the true religion, 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:10.539 and He will grant me success in following the path of righteousness." 00:02:11.289 --> 00:02:17.610 And he made his statement, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship, except for He who originated me," 00:02:18.129 --> 00:02:20.610 which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, 00:02:21.330 --> 00:02:23.849 a word remaining among his descendants. 00:02:24.490 --> 00:02:28.210 There has never ceased to be someone among his descendants who says this after him, 00:02:28.729 --> 00:02:30.889 so that they might return to the obedience of their Lord, 00:02:31.449 --> 00:02:34.009 and repent from their disbelief and their sins. 00:02:51.659 --> 00:02:58.539 “And now that the Truth hath come unto them they say: This is mere magic, and lo! we are disbelievers therein.” (43:30) 00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:05.419 “And now that the Truth hath come unto them they say: This is mere magic, and lo! we are disbelievers therein.” (43:30) 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:12.800 Rather, We allowed these polytheists, O Muhammad, and their fathers before them, to enjoy life, 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:15.280 and I did not hasten the punishment for them, 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.280 until this Qur'an came to them, 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:25.280 and a messenger explaining to them with the proofs by which he argues against them that he is a truthful messenger, 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:28.800 and he is Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.960 And when the Qur'an and a messenger from Allah came to them, 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:37.120 they said, "This which this messenger has brought us 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:39.000 is magic, with which he bewitches us, 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:41.280 and we are disbelievers in it." 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.199 We deny that this is from Allah. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:54.639 “And they say: If only this Qur'an had been revealed to some great man of the two towns?” (43:31) 00:03:56.219 --> 00:03:58.379 And these polytheists said: 00:03:58.979 --> 00:04:00.340 "If it were the truth, 00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:05.780 why was this not sent down upon a great man from one of the two cities?" 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:07.659 Meaning Makkah or al-Ta'if. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:09.819 And by "the great man," they meant: 00:04:10.340 --> 00:04:13.259 al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah al-Qurashi in Makkah, 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:17.339 or Habib ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Umayr al-Thaqafi in al-Ta'if. 00:04:45.129 --> 00:04:48.339 Are these the ones who say [this]? 00:04:48.899 --> 00:04:53.420 “And they say: If only this Qur'an had been revealed to some great man of the two towns?” (43:31) 00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:57.579 O Muhammad, do they distribute the mercy of your Lord among His creation? 00:04:58.060 --> 00:05:00.379 Or is it Allah who distributes that, 00:05:00.860 --> 00:05:04.220 giving it to whom He loves and withholding it from whom He wills? 00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:08.579 Rather, We distribute Our mercy among whom We will of Our creation, 00:05:09.139 --> 00:05:14.459 just as We have distributed among them their livelihood in their worldly life from provisions, 00:05:14.660 --> 00:05:17.620 and We have raised some of them above others in status, 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:21.779 so that one might employ the other in his service. 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:26.730 Thus, He, glory be to Him, made them a means for one another in their livelihood. 00:05:27.209 --> 00:05:30.930 And the mercy of your Lord, O Muhammad, by admitting them to Paradise, 00:05:31.250 --> 00:05:35.569 is better than what they accumulate of wealth in this world. 00:05:46.389 --> 00:05:50.509 “And were it not that mankind would have become one community, We might well have appointed, for those who disbelieve in the Beneficent, roofs of silver for their houses and stairs (of silver) whereby to mount,” (43:33) 00:05:50.829 --> 00:05:59.949 “And were it not that mankind would have become one community, We might well have appointed, for those who disbelieve in the Beneficent, roofs of silver for their houses and stairs (of silver) whereby to mount,” (43:33) 00:06:00.269 --> 00:06:04.430 And stairways upon which they ascend. 00:06:04.750 --> 00:06:11.470 “And for their houses doors (of silver) and couches of silver whereon to recline,” (43:34) 00:06:11.990 --> 00:06:21.670 And gold ornaments; yet all of that is but the enjoyment of worldly life. 00:06:22.149 --> 00:06:28.230 “And ornaments of gold. Yet all that would have been but a provision of the life of the world. And the Hereafter with your Lord would have been for those who keep from evil.” (43:35) 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:33.759 And were it not that the people would become one community in disbelief, 00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:38.680 We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful, for their houses, roofs of silver, 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:42.160 and stairways and steps upon which they ascend, 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.079 and We would have made for their houses doors of silver, 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:49.680 and couches of silver upon which they recline, 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:53.000 and We would have made for them, in addition to that, gold. 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.480 And all these things that have been mentioned 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.360 are nothing but the enjoyment of the people of this world. 00:07:01.029 --> 00:07:04.870 But the Hereafter, in the sight of your Lord, is for the righteous, 00:07:05.110 --> 00:07:08.550 those who feared Allah and dreaded His punishment. 00:07:13.459 --> 00:07:16.019 You make Allah the Greatest. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:21.959 Whoever is blinded from the remembrance of the Most Merciful, We appoint for him a devil, 00:07:22.899 --> 00:07:28.540 “And he whose sight is dim to the remembrance of the Beneficent, We assign unto him a devil who becometh his comrade;” (43:36) 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:34.449 “And lo! they surely turn them from the way of Allah, and yet they deem that they are rightly guided;” (43:37) 00:07:34.689 --> 00:07:39.009 and they think that they are guided. 00:07:39.329 --> 00:07:43.170 And whoever turns away from the remembrance of Allah, he does not fear His power. 00:07:43.170 --> 00:07:47.769 And indeed, the devils avert these people from the path of truth, 00:07:47.769 --> 00:07:50.370 and they make misguidance appear attractive to them, 00:07:50.370 --> 00:07:55.170 and the polytheists think that they are upon truth and correctness. 00:07:55.170 --> 00:08:10.430 “Till, when he cometh unto Us, he saith (unto his comrade): Ah, would that between me and thee there were the distance of the two horizons - an evil comrade!” (43:38) 00:08:10.430 --> 00:08:12.829 How wretched a companion! 00:08:12.829 --> 00:08:22.629 “And it profiteth you not this day, because ye did wrong, that ye will be sharers in the doom.” (43:39) 00:08:22.629 --> 00:08:28.139 Until, when he comes to Us, this one who was blinded from the remembrance of the Most Merciful, 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:31.939 and his companion whom We appointed for him from the devils, 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:36.139 one of these two companions says to his other companion, 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:41.539 "I wish that between me and you there was the distance between the East and the West," 00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:45.940 and it is said: the sunrise of winter and the sunrise of summer. 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:48.230 How wretched a companion! 00:08:48.230 --> 00:08:52.629 And it will not benefit you, O you who were blinded from the remembrance of Allah in the world, 00:08:52.629 --> 00:08:57.629 and it will not lighten for you today, because you shared in the punishment of Allah, 00:08:57.629 --> 00:09:02.269 for each one of you has his share of it. 00:09:02.470 --> 00:09:12.470 “Canst thou (Muhammad) make the deaf to hear, or canst thou guide the blind or him who is in error manifest?” (43:40) 00:09:14.169 --> 00:09:21.769 Can you make the deaf hear, or guide the blind and him who is in manifest error, whom Allah has deprived of hearing His proofs which He argues with in this Book, so He has made him deaf to it? 00:09:21.769 --> 00:09:24.169 Or can you guide to the path of guidance? 00:09:25.169 --> 00:09:33.940 Indeed, if We take you away, We will take retribution from them. 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:43.940 “Or (if) We show thee that wherewith We threaten them; for lo! We have complete command of them.” (43:42) 00:09:43.940 --> 00:09:49.940 If We take you away, O Muhammad, from among these polytheists, 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:56.639 if We take you away, O Muhammad, from among these polytheists, 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:58.639 We will take retribution from them, 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:03.639 just as We did that to others among the nations who denied their messengers. 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:08.639 Or We will show you that which We have promised them, O Muhammad, of victory over them, 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:12.639 for We are indeed over them all-powerful to make you victorious over them. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:17.309 “So hold thou fast to that which is inspired in thee. Lo! thou art on a right path.” (43:43) 00:10:17.309 --> 00:10:23.309 Indeed, you are upon a straight path. 00:10:23.309 --> 00:10:31.309 And indeed, it is a reminder for you and your people, and you will be questioned. 00:10:31.309 --> 00:10:37.019 So hold fast, O Muhammad, to that which this Qur'an commands you. 00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:41.019 You are upon a straight path and a sound approach. 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:46.019 And indeed, this Qur'an is an honor for you and your people from Quraysh, 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:51.820 and your Lord will question you and them about what you did with it. 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:56.820 “And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before thee: Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped beside the Beneficent?” (43:45) 00:10:56.820 --> 00:11:08.820 "Have We made, other than the Most Merciful, deities to be worshipped?" 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:13.580 And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you: 00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:18.580 "Did We command them to worship deities other than Allah in what they brought them?" 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:22.580 Or did they come with a command for that from Us? 00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:29.419 “And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, and he said: I am a messenger of the Lord of the Worlds.” (43:46) 00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:35.419 “And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, and he said: I am a messenger of the Lord of the Worlds.” (43:46) 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:41.120 And We certainly sent Musa with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:48.860 So Musa said to them, "Indeed, I am a messenger of the Lord of the worlds to you." 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:59.850 “But when he brought them Our tokens, behold! they laughed at them.” (43:47) 00:11:59.850 --> 00:12:04.850 But when Musa came to Pharaoh and his elite with Our signs and proofs, 00:12:04.850 --> 00:12:09.850 behold, Pharaoh and his people were laughing at the signs and lessons. 00:12:09.850 --> 00:12:15.850 Just as your people are mocking the signs and lessons you have brought them. 00:12:15.850 --> 00:12:21.850 This is a consolation from Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, to His Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:12:21.850 --> 00:12:29.649 “And every token that We showed them was greater than its sister (token), and We grasped them with the torment, that haply they might turn again.” (43:48) 00:12:29.649 --> 00:12:35.649 “And every token that We showed them was greater than its sister (token), and We grasped them with the torment, that haply they might turn again.” (43:48) 00:12:35.649 --> 00:12:40.379 And We did not show Pharaoh and his elite a sign, 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:47.379 but that it was greater in proof and more emphatic than the one that preceded it among the signs. 00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:54.379 And We inflicted the punishment upon them so that they might return from their disbelief in Allah to His oneness and obedience. 00:12:54.379 --> 00:13:04.929 “And they said: O wizard! Entreat thy Lord for us by the pact that He hath made with thee. Lo! we verily will walk aright.” (43:49) 00:13:04.929 --> 00:13:12.929 “But when We eased them of the torment, behold! they broke their word.” (43:50) 00:13:12.929 --> 00:13:16.629 And Pharaoh and his elite said to Musa, 00:13:16.629 --> 00:13:23.629 "O magician, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you, by the covenant He made with you. 00:13:23.629 --> 00:13:28.629 If we believe in you and follow you, the affliction will be removed from us." 00:13:28.629 --> 00:13:34.629 "Indeed, if we follow you, we will be believers in what you have brought us and we will be monotheists of Allah." 00:13:34.629 --> 00:13:43.629 But when We removed the punishment from them, behold, they broke their word after We removed it from them and persisted in their misguidance. 00:13:44.629 --> 00:13:52.399 “And Pharaoh caused a proclamation to be made among his people saying: O my people! Is not mine the sovereignty of Egypt and these rivers flowing under me? Can ye not then discern?” (43:51) 00:13:52.399 --> 00:14:03.399 “And Pharaoh caused a proclamation to be made among his people saying: O my people! Is not mine the sovereignty of Egypt and these rivers flowing under me? Can ye not then discern?” (43:51) 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:25.230 And Pharaoh called out among his people, the Copts, and said, "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me in the gardens? Do you not see, O people, the bliss and good I am in, and the poverty that Musa is in?" 00:14:25.230 --> 00:14:34.220 “I am surely better than this fellow, who is despicable and can hardly make (his meaning) plain!” (43:52) 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:49.149 "Am I not better, O people, than this man who has nothing of kingdom or wealth, along with the defect in his body, and he can hardly speak clearly due to the stutter in his tongue?" 00:14:49.149 --> 00:15:03.789 “Why, then, have armlets of gold not been set upon him, or angels sent along with him?” (43:53) 00:15:03.789 --> 00:15:26.779 "Why, then, have bracelets of gold not been cast upon Musa, if he is truthful that he is a messenger?"—which are the ornaments placed on the hands—"or why have the angels not come with him, linked together, following one another, testifying for him that he is a messenger of Allah to them?" 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:37.360 “Thus he persuaded his people to make light (of Moses), and they obeyed him. Lo! they were a wanton folk.” (43:54) 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:46.360 And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all. 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:52.360 And We made them a precedent and an example for those who came after. 00:15:52.360 --> 00:16:04.029 So Pharaoh fooled a portion of his people, the Copts, with the statement he made to them, so they accepted that from him and obeyed him and denied Musa. 00:16:04.029 --> 00:16:12.029 And they only obeyed because they were a people who had deviated from the obedience of Allah, by their nature, upon their hearts. 00:16:12.029 --> 00:16:19.029 So when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all in the sea. 00:16:19.029 --> 00:16:29.029 And We made those of Pharaoh's people whom We drowned a precedent, preceding into the Fire, like the disbelievers of your people, O Muhammad. 00:16:29.029 --> 00:16:37.029 And the disbelievers of your people have in them a lesson and an admonition, so that those who come after them among the nations may take heed.