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 Yunus.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea.
“And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts pursued them in rebellion and transgression, till, when the (fate of) drowning overtook him, he exclaimed: I believe that there is no Allah save Him in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender (unto Him).” (10:90)
“And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts pursued them in rebellion and transgression, till, when the (fate of) drowning overtook him, he exclaimed: I believe that there is no Allah save Him in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender (unto Him).” (10:90)
He said, "I believe."
“And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts pursued them in rebellion and transgression, till, when the (fate of) drowning overtook him, he exclaimed: I believe that there is no Allah save Him in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender (unto Him).” (10:90)
[I believe in the God of] the Children of Israel, and I am of the Muslims.
We led the Children of Israel across the sea until they had crossed it.
Then Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them, out of tyranny and aggression against Musa and Harun.
And against those who were with them from their people.
And in transgression against them.
So We drowned him.
“And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts pursued them in rebellion and transgression, till, when the (fate of) drowning overtook him, he exclaimed: I believe that there is no Allah save Him in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender (unto Him).” (10:90)
“And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts pursued them in rebellion and transgression, till, when the (fate of) drowning overtook him, he exclaimed: I believe that there is no Allah save Him in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender (unto Him).” (10:90)
[I believe in the God of] the Children of Israel, and I am of the Muslims.
"Now? While you had disobeyed before and were of the corrupters?"
“But this day We save thee in thy body that thou mayst be a portent for those after thee. Lo! most of mankind are heedless of Our portents.” (10:92)
“But this day We save thee in thy body that thou mayst be a portent for those after thee. Lo! most of mankind are heedless of Our portents.” (10:92)
Now you acknowledge servitude to Allah?
And you submit to Him in humility?
Yet you disobeyed Him before His punishment descended upon you.
And you were of those who spread corruption in the land.
Those who turned others away from His path.
So today We will save you in your body.
That is, We will place your body on a high place on the earth.
So that those who denied your destruction may see you as a corpse.
And you shall be a lesson for those who come after you, that they may take heed from you.
And refrain from disobeying Allah and disbelieving in Him.
Yet many of the people are heedless of Our signs and proofs.
Which demonstrate that worship and divinity belong exclusively to Us.
They do not reflect upon them, nor do they take heed from them.
“And We verily did allot unto the Children of Israel a fixed abode, and did provide them with good things; and they differed not until the knowledge came unto them. Lo! thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they used to differ.” (10:93)
And We provided them with good things.
Yet they did not differ until knowledge came to them.
Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
And We settled the Children of Israel in a blessed dwelling.
For Allah established them in the Levant and the Holy Land (Bayt al-Maqdis).
And provided them with lawful sustenance.
Yet those of the Children of Israel upon whom We bestowed this favor differed.
Until there came to them that which they already knew.
This is because, before the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was sent, they were.
Unanimous regarding the prophethood of Muhammad, acknowledging him and his mission.
But when that which they recognized came to them, some disbelieved in him, while others believed.
Indeed, your Lord, O Muhammad, will judge between those of the Children of Israel who differed regarding you on the Day of Resurrection.
Concerning the matters of my affair in this world over which they differed.
By admitting those among them who denied you into the Fire.
And those among them who believed in you into Paradise.
“And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before thee. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers.” (10:94)
So ask those who read the Scripture before you.
“And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before thee. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers.” (10:94)
“And be not thou of those who deny the revelations of Allah, for then wert thou of the losers.” (10:95)
If you, O Muhammad, are in doubt regarding the truth of what We have revealed to you.
Then ask those who read the Torah and the Gospel.
From among those of them who are truthful and believe in you.
I swear that the certain truth has come to you in the report that you are indeed a messenger of Allah.
And that these Jews and Christians know that.
So do not be among those who doubt the validity and truth of this.
And do not be, O Muhammad, among those who denied the signs and proofs of Allah.
For then you would be among those who have squandered their share.
And traded the mercy of Allah and His pleasure for His wrath and punishment.
“Lo! those for whom the word of thy Lord (concerning sinners) hath effect will not believe,” (10:96)
“Though every token come unto them, till they see the painful doom.” (10:97)
Indeed, those upon whom the curse of Allah has become due, O Muhammad.
Do not believe in the signs of Allah, nor do they acknowledge the oneness of their Lord.
Even if every admonition came to them, they would not witness it until they see the painful punishment.
“If only there had been a community (of all those that were destroyed of old) that believed and profited by its belief as did the folk of Jonah! When they believed We drew off from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the world and gave them comfort for a while.” (10:98)
“If only there had been a community (of all those that were destroyed of old) that believed and profited by its belief as did the folk of Jonah! When they believed We drew off from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the world and gave them comfort for a while.” (10:98)
No town ever believed upon seeing the punishment and the descent of Allah’s wrath upon it.
So that its belief benefited it at that time, except for the people of Yunus.
For their belief did benefit them after the punishment had descended and the wrath had befallen them.
When they believed in His messenger, their faith benefited them at that time.
[After] the descent of the punishment and the arrival of the wrath upon them.
When they believed in their messenger and acknowledged what he brought them after the punishment had overshadowed them.
We removed from them the punishment of disgrace and humiliation in their worldly life.
And We let them enjoy their lives in this world until their appointed time of death.
“And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou (Muhammad) compel men until they are believers?” (10:99)
And had your Lord willed, O Muhammad, all those on earth would have believed in you.
And they would have affirmed what you call them to regarding the oneness of Allah and the sincerity of worshiping Him alone.
But He does not will that, because it has already been decreed by Allah.
That none shall believe in you except those for whom happiness has been preordained.
And none shall follow you except those whom your Lord has willed to believe, not by your forcing them.
Do you, then, compel the people so that they become believers in what you have brought them from your Lord?
“It is not for any soul to believe save by the permission of Allah. He hath set uncleanness upon those who have no sense.” (10:100)
And no soul has any way to believe in you, O Muhammad, except by My permission for it to do so.
So do not exhaust yourself in seeking their guidance.
Indeed, Allah guides whom He wills of His creation to believe in you.
And He places the punishment upon those who do not understand the signs and admonitions of Allah.
“Say: Behold what is in the heavens and the earth! But revelations and warnings avail not folk who will not believe.” (10:101)
“Say: Behold what is in the heavens and the earth! But revelations and warnings avail not folk who will not believe.” (10:101)
Say, O Muhammad, to these polytheists:
"Observe, O people, what is in the heavens of signs."
From its sun and its moon.
And the alternation of its night and day.
And what is in the earth of its mountains, its vegetation, and the sustenance of its inhabitants.
But what do the signs and lessons avail a people for whom misery has already been decreed by Allah?
And for whom it has been ordained in the Preserved Tablet (Umm al-Kitab) that they are among the people of the Fire.
They will not believe in any of that, nor will they affirm it.
“What expect they save the like of the days of those who passed away before them? Say: Expect then! I am with you among the expectant.” (10:102)
“What expect they save the like of the days of those who passed away before them? Say: Expect then! I am with you among the expectant.” (10:102)
So do these polytheists await, O Muhammad, anything but a day when they will witness the punishment of Allah?
Like the days of their predecessors who passed away before them.
Say to them, O Muhammad: "Then wait for the punishment of Allah upon you."
"I am among those who wait for your destruction and ruin through the punishment that will befall you from Allah."
“Then shall We save Our messengers and the believers, in like manner (as of old). It is incumbent upon Us to save believers.” (10:103)
Wait for days like those of the people who passed away before you, through the punishment of Allah.
Then We will save there Our messenger, Muhammad, peace be upon him.
And those who believed in him and followed him in his religion.
Just as We did with the messengers of the past, whom We saved along with the believers who were with them.
And We destroyed their nations; likewise, We will save you and save the believers in you—this is a binding duty upon Us, without doubt.
“Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! If ye are in doubt of my religion, then (know that) I worship not those whom ye worship instead of Allah, but I worship Allah Who causeth you to die, and I have been commanded to be of the believers.” (10:104)
“Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! If ye are in doubt of my religion, then (know that) I worship not those whom ye worship instead of Allah, but I worship Allah Who causeth you to die, and I have been commanded to be of the believers.” (10:104)
“Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! If ye are in doubt of my religion, then (know that) I worship not those whom ye worship instead of Allah, but I worship Allah Who causeth you to die, and I have been commanded to be of the believers.” (10:104)
“Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! If ye are in doubt of my religion, then (know that) I worship not those whom ye worship instead of Allah, but I worship Allah Who causeth you to die, and I have been commanded to be of the believers.” (10:104)
Say, O Muhammad:
“Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! If ye are in doubt of my religion, then (know that) I worship not those whom ye worship instead of Allah, but I worship Allah Who causeth you to die, and I have been commanded to be of the believers.” (10:104)
"For I do not worship those whom you worship besides Allah, from among the gods and idols."
"But I worship Allah, who takes your souls."
"And He is the One who commanded me to be among those who believe in what has come to me from Him."
“And, (O Muhammad) set thy purpose resolutely for religion, as a man by nature upright, and be not of those who ascribe partners (to Allah).” (10:105)
"And do not invoke, besides Allah, that which neither benefits you nor harms you."
“And cry not, beside Allah, unto that which cannot profit thee nor hurt thee, for if thou didst so then wert thou of the wrong-doers.” (10:106)
"And direct your face toward the religion of Islam, being upright in it."
"And do not be among those who associate gods and rivals with their Lord in worship."
"For then you would be among the losers."
Do not invoke, O Muhammad, besides your Worshipped One and Creator, anything that does not benefit you.
Nor harms you in your religion or your worldly life.
For if you were to do that, and invoked them besides Allah.
Then you would be among the polytheists who wrong their own souls.
And if Allah touches you, O Muhammad, with adversity.
Then there is no remover of it except your Lord, who inflicted it upon you.
And if your Lord intends for you any ease or blessing.
Then no one can prevent His bounty from reaching you.
Your Lord, O Muhammad, inflicts ease and trial upon whom He wills, which causes Him to intervene between you [and your desires].
Your Lord, O Muhammad, inflicts ease and trial upon whom He wills and chooses among His servants.
And He is the Forgiving of the sins of those among His servants who repent and turn to Him.
The Merciful to those among them who believe in Him and obey Him.
And whoever goes astray, he only goes astray to his own detriment.
“Say: O mankind! Now hath the Truth from your Lord come unto you. So whosoever is guided, is guided only for (the good of) his soul, and whosoever erreth erreth only against it. And I am not a warder over you.” (10:108)
Say, O Muhammad, to the people:
"O mankind, the Book of Allah has come to you."
"In it is the clarification of everything that people need regarding the affairs of their religion."
So whoever is upright and follows the path of truth.
He only follows the straight path for his own benefit.
For it is his own soul that he seeks to benefit by that action.
And whoever deviates from the truth and opposes His religion.
He only harms his own soul.
And I am not a guardian over you to set you straight.
Your affair is only with Allah.
And I am only a messenger who delivers.
I deliver to you that with which I have been sent to you.
And follow what is revealed to you.
“And (O Muhammad) follow that which is inspired in thee, and forbear until Allah give judgment. And He is the Best of Judges.” (10:109)
And He is the best of judges.
And follow, O Muhammad, the revelation of Allah that He reveals to you.
And be patient regarding the harm and adversity that befalls you for the sake of Allah from the polytheists of your people.
Until Allah judges between them and you with a decisive action.
And He is the best of judges.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.