In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful.
The Abridgment of Tafsir al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-An'am.
In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful.
“Unto Him belongeth whatsoever resteth in the night and the day. He is the Hearer, the Knower.” (6:13)
"And He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing."
And to Him belongs the kingdom and ownership of everything,
For there is nothing in Allah's creation except that it rests and exists within the night and the day.
"And He is the All-Hearing" regarding what these polytheists utter about Him in their false claims that He has a partner,
"The All-Knowing" of what they conceal within themselves and what they manifest through their physical faculties;
Nothing of that is hidden from Him.
“Say: Shall I choose for a protecting friend other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who feedeth and is never fed? Say: I am ordered to be the first to surrender (unto Him). And be not thou (O Muhammad) of the idolaters.” (6:14)
“Say: Shall I choose for a protecting friend other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who feedeth and is never fed? Say: I am ordered to be the first to surrender (unto Him). And be not thou (O Muhammad) of the idolaters.” (6:14)
“Say: Shall I choose for a protecting friend other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who feedeth and is never fed? Say: I am ordered to be the first to surrender (unto Him). And be not thou (O Muhammad) of the idolaters.” (6:14)
"And do not ever be among the polytheists."
"Say, 'Indeed, I fear, if I were to disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.'"
Say, O Muhammad, to these polytheists:
"Shall I seek help and support against afflictions and misfortunes from any entity other than Allah?
He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth, their Initiator, and their Creator.
And He provides sustenance to His creation, while He is not fed."
Say, O Muhammad: "Indeed, my Lord has commanded me to be the first to submit to Him in total worship,
And to humble myself before His commands and prohibitions."
And it was said to me: "Do not ever be among those who associate partners with Allah—
Those who set up false deities and equals as partners alongside Him."
And say, O Muhammad: "Indeed, I fear—if I were to worship idols—the punishment of a Day whose terror is immense,
Namely, the Day of Resurrection."
“He from whom (such retribution) is averted on that day, (Allah) hath in truth had mercy on him. That will be the signal triumph.” (6:16)
"And that is the manifest triumph."
Whoever among His creation has His punishment averted from him on that Day, He has surely shown him mercy.
And if Allah averts punishment from a person on the Day of Resurrection,
That is true deliverance from destruction,
And the ultimate success that is plainly evident to anyone who witnesses it—a success marked by attaining one's need and fulfilling one's quest.
"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him."
“If Allah touch thee with affliction, there is none that can relieve therefrom save Him, and if He touch thee with good fortune (there is none that can impair it); for He is Able to do all things.” (6:17)
O Muhammad, if Allah afflicts you with hardship in your worldly life and severity in your living,
None can lift that from you except Allah.
"And if He touches you with good" in terms of ease of living and abundance of provision,
“If Allah touch thee with affliction, there is none that can relieve therefrom save Him, and if He touch thee with good fortune (there is none that can impair it); for He is Able to do all things.” (6:17)
He is fully Capable of benefiting or harming you, and nothing He wills can ever frustrate Him.
Allah is the Omnipotent Overlord over His servants, Humbling them and Exalted above them;
Allah is the All-Wise in His supremacy over His servants and in all His divine management,
The All-Aware of the benefits and harms of all things,
From Whom neither the ultimate outcomes nor the immediate beginnings of affairs are hidden.
Say to them yet again: "I do not bear witness."
“Say (O Muhammad): What thing is of most weight in testimony? Say: Allah is Witness between me and you. And this Qur'an hath been inspired in me, that I may warn therewith you and whomsoever it may reach. Do ye in sooth bear witness that there are gods beside Allah? Say: I bear no such witness. Say: He is only One Allah. Lo! I am innocent of that which ye associate (with Him).” (6:19)
Say, O Muhammad, to these polytheists:
"What thing is greatest and grandest as a testimony?"
Say: "Allah, Whose testimony cannot be affected by what may affect the testimony of His creation—
Such as inattention, error, mistake, or falsehood."
Then say to them: "The One Who is the greatest of all things in testimony is the Witness between me and you
As to who among us is truthful and who is falsehood-bound.
And this Qur'an has been revealed to me that I may warn you thereby of His punishment,
And that I may warn thereby whomever it reaches among mankind beyond you."
"Do you truly bear witness, O polytheists, that there are other deities alongside Allah?"
Say, O Muhammad: "I do not bear witness as you bear witness that there are other deities alongside Allah."
Say: "He is only One God,
Having no partner in the worship that His creation is obligated to render unto Him;
And indeed, I am free from every partner you invoke alongside Allah and worship with Him."
"Those to whom We gave the Scripture recognize him as they recognize their own sons."
"Those who have lost their souls, they will not believe."
Those to whom We gave the Torah and the Gospel recognize that He is only One God,
And that Muhammad is a sent Prophet whom they find written down in their presence in the Torah and the Gospel.
They are the ones who have ruined their own souls and cast them into the Fire of Hell
By denying Muhammad—refusing to accept that he is a messenger sent by Allah—
Even though they are fully aware of the reality of that truth.
Thus, through their self-destruction, they do not believe.
It has been said that every servant has an abode in Paradise and an abode in the Fire;
So when the Day of Resurrection arrives, Allah grants the people of Paradise the abodes of the people of the Fire in Paradise,
And He assigns to the people of the Fire the abodes of the people of Paradise in the Fire.
That is the utter ruin of the losers among them and their self-inflicted injustice.
"And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or denies His verses? Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed."
And who is more egregious in transgression than one who fabricates false statements against Allah,
Or denies His proofs and evidence that He granted His messengers to demonstrate the truth of their prophethood?
Indeed, those who speak falsehood against Allah and fabricate lies against Him will never succeed.
“And on the day We gather them together We shall say unto those who ascribed partners (unto Allah): Where are (now) those partners of your make-believe?” (6:22)
“Then will they have no contention save that they will say: By Allah, our Lord, we never were idolaters.” (6:23)
On the Day when We gather these fabricators together on the Day of Resurrection,
We shall then say to those who associated partners with Allah: "Where are your partners whom you used to claim were deities for you besides Allah, out of fabrication and falsehood?
Bring them forth if you are truthful!"
Then their defense upon Our testing them will be nothing other than saying: "By Allah, our Lord, we never invoked a partner with You, nor did we invoke anyone besides You!"
And all that they used to fabricate will stray and vanish from them.
Consider, O Muhammad, and learn how these polytheists lied against themselves when meeting Allah,
And how their equals and idols departed from them!
They disowned them and took a different path from them because those idols perished,
And then they were called to account for the false statements they used to fabricate against Allah.
Thus, their false deities failed them, and those who worshipped them were punished for their fabrication.
"And among them are those who listen to you,"
"But We have placed covers over their hearts, lest they understand it, and in their ears a deafness."
"And if they were to see every sign, they would not believe in it."
“Of them are some who listen unto thee, but We have placed upon their hearts veils, lest they should understand, and in their ears a deafness. If they saw every token they would not believe therein; to the point that, when they come unto thee to argue with thee, the disbelievers say: This is naught else than fables of the men of old.” (6:25)
“Of them are some who listen unto thee, but We have placed upon their hearts veils, lest they should understand, and in their ears a deafness. If they saw every token they would not believe therein; to the point that, when they come unto thee to argue with thee, the disbelievers say: This is naught else than fables of the men of old.” (6:25)
And among these people who equate others with their Lord from your folk, O Muhammad,
Is he who listens to the Qur'an from you,
Yet does not understand what you say nor ponder it,
Because Allah has placed coverings over his heart,
And has placed heaviness and deafness in their ears against understanding what you recite to them.
And even if these people were to see every proof and sign demonstrating Allah's oneness, they would not believe it;
Until, when they come to you after witnessing the signs, they argue with you.
Those who deny Allah's signs say:
"This is nothing but the fables written by the ancients."
“And they forbid (men) from it and avoid it, and they ruin none save themselves, though they perceive not.” (6:26)
“And they forbid (men) from it and avoid it, and they ruin none save themselves, though they perceive not.” (6:26)
They forbid others from listening to the Revelation
And from following Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him),
Keeping people distant from you and from following you.
Yet they destroy none by their barring from Allah's path except themselves,
Because by doing so, they earn for themselves Allah's wrath,
Unaware of the destruction and ruin they are incurring upon themselves.
“If thou couldst see when they are set before the Fire and say: Oh, would that we might return! Then would we not deny the revelations of our Lord but we would be of the believers!” (6:27)
And if you could but see, O Muhammad, those who set up equals to their Lord,
Denying your prophethood,
When they are detained before the Fire! These polytheists will say:
"Oh, would that we were returned to the worldly life, so that we might repent and return to obedience to Allah,
And not deny the proofs of our Lord, nor reject them,
But be among those who believe in Allah, His proofs, and His messengers,
Following His commands and prohibitions!"
“Nay, but that hath become clear unto them which before they used to hide. And if they were sent back they would return unto that which they are forbidden. Lo! they are liars.” (6:28)
“Nay, but that hath become clear unto them which before they used to hide. And if they were sent back they would return unto that which they are forbidden. Lo! they are liars.” (6:28)
These people who set up equals to their Lord did not intend true sorrow or genuine regret for abandoning faith in you;
Rather, they were overcome with dread regarding the imminent divine punishment descending upon them
For their sins that they used to hide from the eyes of people previously in the worldly life.
Even if they were returned to the world and granted respite, they would surely revert to the very same deeds they used to commit—
Namely, denying Allah's signs and disbelieving in Him.
Indeed, they are liars in what they say,
For they only said it out of fear of punishment, not out of faith in Allah.
“And they say: There is naught save our life of the world, and we shall not be raised (again).” (6:29)
"And they say, 'There is nothing except our worldly life, and we will not be resurrected after death.'"
Thus, in their denial, they care not what sins and transgressions they commit,
Because they neither hope for reward nor fear punishment.
“If thou couldst see when they are set before their Lord! He will say: Is not this real? They will say: Yea, verily, by our Lord! He will say: Taste now the retribution for that ye used to disbelieve.” (6:30)
They will say: "Yes, by our Lord!" He will say: "Then taste the punishment because you used to disbelieve."
If you could but see, O Muhammad, these people
When they are detained on the Day of Resurrection for Allah's judgment and decree concerning them,
And it is said to them: "Is not this resurrection and gathering after death—which you used to deny in the world—the truth?"
They will answer and say: "Yes, by Allah, it is indeed the truth!"
So Allah will say to them: "Then taste the punishment for your denial of it in the worldly life!"
“They indeed are losers who deny their meeting with Allah until, when the Hour cometh on them suddenly, they cry: Alas for us, that we neglected it! They bear upon their backs their burdens. Ah, evil is that which they bear!” (6:31)
They have indeed perished—those who denied the Resurrection—
Until, when the Hour comes upon them suddenly, without prior knowledge of its unexpected arrival,
They will say: "Oh, how great is our regret for what we neglected therein!"
And these people who denied the meeting with Allah
Will carry their sins and burdens upon their backs;
Ah, evil indeed is the burden of sin they bear due to their disbelief in their Lord!
“Naught is the life of the world save a pastime and a sport. Better far is the abode of the Hereafter for those who keep their duty (to Allah). Have ye then no sense?” (6:32)
"And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah."
"Will you not then understand?"
The worldly pleasures brought close to you
And presented before you in this abode of yours, O people, are nothing
Except amusement and play,
Because in a short while, it will all vanish;
So do not be deceived by it.
Working in obedience to Him and preparing for the Home of the Hereafter
Is far better for those who fear Allah,
Guarding against His displeasure by obeying Him and avoiding disobedience to Him.
Do these deniers of the Resurrection not comprehend the reality of what We inform them?
“We know well how their talk grieveth thee, though in truth they deny not thee (Muhammad) but evil-doers flout the revelations of Allah.” (6:33)
“We know well how their talk grieveth thee, though in truth they deny not thee (Muhammad) but evil-doers flout the revelations of Allah.” (6:33)
"We know well, O Muhammad, that what the polytheists say grieves you."
Namely, their statement regarding him that he is a liar.
Yet they do not truly accuse you of lying regarding the divine revelation you brought them;
Rather, they know its authenticity,
But they willfully reject the truth despite their knowledge,
Calling you a liar out of stubbornness and envy.
Indeed, the polytheists willfully deny Allah's proofs, the verses of His Book, and His Messenger,
Refusing to acknowledge the truth of it all.
“Messengers indeed have been denied before thee, and they were patient under the denial and the persecution till Our succour reached them. There is none to alter the decisions of Allah. Already there hath reached thee (somewhat) of the tidings of the messengers (We sent before).” (6:34)
“Messengers indeed have been denied before thee, and they were patient under the denial and the persecution till Our succour reached them. There is none to alter the decisions of Allah. Already there hath reached thee (somewhat) of the tidings of the messengers (We sent before).” (6:34)
If these polytheists among your people call you a liar, O Muhammad,
Messengers before you were likewise denied and subjected to harm by their peoples,
Yet they patiently endured their people's denial of them,
And that did not turn them back from proceeding upon Allah's command,
Until Allah judged between them and their rejecters.
"And none can change the words of Allah."
And His words refer to what Allah revealed to His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Regarding His promise to grant him victory over those who oppose him.
"And there has already come to you, O Muhammad, news of the messengers before you and news of their nations,
And what I did to them when they rejected My signs and persisted in their transgression and error."
"And if their aversion is difficult for you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth or a ladder into the sky to bring them a sign, do so."
"And if Allah had willed, He could have gathered them upon guidance; so do not ever be among the ignorant."
If the aversion of these polytheists from you weighs heavily upon you, O Muhammad,
And causes you distress,
Then if you are able to make a tunnel in the earth—like the burrow of a jerboa,
Which is one of its underground holes—
And go through it, or find a ladder by which to ascend into the sky,
To bring them a sign and clear proof validating your truthfulness,
Then do so!
Had I willed to gather them all upon uprightness in religion
So that your community would be a single unified one,
I would have gathered them upon that;
But I did not do so in accordance with My prior knowledge and decisive decree concerning them.
So do not ever be among those who do not know that if Allah had willed, He would have gathered all His creation upon guidance,
And that whoever disbelieves in Him does so only according to Allah's prior knowledge regarding him.
For once you know the truth of this,
You will no longer be grieved by the turning away of those polytheists who turn away from the truth to which you call them,
Nor by the denial of those among them who call you a liar.