In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Dr. Aqil Ibn Salim al-Shammari abridged it.
Surah al-Anbiya'
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“Their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind, while they turn away in heedlessness.” (21:1)
The reckoning of Allah for people regarding the deeds they performed in their worldly life has drawn near.
While in this world, they remain in a state of heedlessness and negligence regarding what Allah will do with them on the Day of Resurrection.
They turned away from that and abandoned any reflection upon it.
“Never cometh there unto them a new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it while they play,” (21:2)
Whatever Allah brings down of this Qur'an as a revelation for the people.
He reminds them of it and exhorts them.
“Never cometh there unto them a new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it while they play,” (21:2)
They do not take heed from it, nor do they reflect upon His promise and His warning.
Their hearts are diverted from the truth.
“With hearts preoccupied. And they confer in secret. The wrong-doers say: Is this other than a mortal like you? Will ye then succumb to magic when ye see (it)?” (21:3)
“With hearts preoccupied. And they confer in secret. The wrong-doers say: Is this other than a mortal like you? Will ye then succumb to magic when ye see (it)?” (21:3)
Their hearts are heedless of it.
They do not contemplate His wisdom, nor do they reflect upon the proofs that Allah has deposited within it against them.
They began to whisper among themselves, saying:
Is this the one who claims to be a messenger sent to you by Allah?
Except for a human being like yourselves, in your form and your creation.
Do you accept sorcery and believe in it, even while you know full well that it is sorcery?
By this, they mean the Qur'an.
“He saith: My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and the earth. He is the Hearer, the Knower.” (21:4)
And He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Muhammad said to those who were speaking, "Do you approach sorcery while you are seeing?"
My Lord knows every word spoken in the heavens and on the earth.
Nothing of it is hidden from Him.
He is the All-Hearing of all that, and of the falsehoods they utter.
He who is All-Knowing of my sincerity and the truth of that to which I call you.
“Nay, say they, (these are but) muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as those of old (who were Allah's messengers) were sent (with portents).” (21:5)
“Nay, say they, (these are but) muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as those of old (who were Allah's messengers) were sent (with portents).” (21:5)
In fact, some of them even suggested that it was merely the terrifying imagery of a dream he had seen while sleeping.
Some of them said it is a fabrication and a lie that he invented and concocted of his own accord.
And some of them said, "Nay, rather, Muhammad is a poet."
Let Muhammad come to us with proof and evidence for the truth of what he says and claims, if he is indeed truthful.
Just as it was brought by the messengers who came before.
“Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before them (though We sent them portents): would they then believe?” (21:6)
None of the people of the towns that We destroyed for their denial before them had ever believed.
When our Messenger came to them with a miraculous sign.
Will these people who deny Muhammad, peace be upon him, believe if a sign were to come to them?
Nor did the nations of old, who preceded them, believe before them.
“And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men, whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not?” (21:7)
So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know.
And We have not sent, O Muhammad, any messenger before you to any of the nations that passed away before your Ummah.
We sent none before you but men to whom We revealed Our commands and prohibitions, just as We revealed them to those who came before.
There are no angels, so what is it that they denied regarding Our sending you to them?
You are but a man like the messengers who came before you.
For if you reject the command of the Messenger, [you are like] those who were before Muhammad, peace be upon him.
So ask the People of the Scripture, from the Torah and the Gospel, about what they used to tell you regarding them.
“We gave them not bodies that would not eat food, nor were they immortals.” (21:8)
And We did not make the messengers whom We sent before you, O Muhammad, angels who do not eat food.
Yet We made them bodies that eat food, just like you.
Nor were they lords who neither die nor perish.
Yet they were human beings with physical bodies, and so they passed away.
“Then we fulfilled the promise unto them. So we delivered them and whom We would, and We destroyed the prodigals.” (21:9)
Then we believed in our Messenger, whom the nations before us had rejected, and we fulfilled the promise that He made to us.
from destruction due to their persistence in disbelief in their Lord, even after the sign they had requested had come to them.
We saved the messengers and destroyed those who transgressed against their own souls through their disbelief in their Lord.
“Now We have revealed unto you a Scripture wherein is your Reminder. Have ye then no sense?” (21:10)
“Now We have revealed unto you a Scripture wherein is your Reminder. Have ye then no sense?” (21:10)
“How many a community that dealt unjustly have We shattered, and raised up after them another folk!” (21:11)
“And, when they felt Our might, behold them fleeing from it!” (21:12)
How many a generation have We destroyed that was unjust due to its disbelief in Allah and its rejection of His messengers.
And after We destroyed those wrongdoers, We brought forth other people in their stead.
But when they witnessed Our punishment descending upon them, they immediately fled in haste.
“(But it was said unto them): Flee not, but return to that (existence) which emasculated you and to your dwellings, that ye may be questioned.” (21:13)
Do not flee; return to the comforts of the life and the homes you have been granted.
May you attain deep insight and understanding regarding this matter.
It has been said that perhaps you might ask for something of your worldly affairs by way of mockery and derision.
“They cried: Alas for us! we were wrong-doers.” (21:14)
“And this their crying ceased not till We made them as reaped corn, extinct.” (21:15)
He said: "These are the people upon whom Allah has brought down His punishment."
Woe to us, for we were indeed wrongdoers by disbelieving in our Lord.
Their cry did not cease until Allah’s punishment came upon them.
Woe to us, for we were indeed wrongdoers, until Allah caused them to be slain.
He mowed them down with the sword just as one harvests crops.
They are doomed, their spark having been extinguished.
They became like cooling embers, just as a fire dies down and is extinguished.
“We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play.” (21:16)
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and whatever is between them in vain.
...except as a proof against you, O people.
So, know that the One who ordained and created it is not resembled by anything.
And that worship is not valid for anyone or anything other than Him.
And He did not create that in vain or for sport.
“If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence - if We ever did.” (21:17)
Had We intended to take a consort or a child, We would have taken it from Our own presence.
However, we do not do that.
It is neither appropriate for us to do so, nor is it fitting.
For it is not befitting that Allah should have a child or a consort.
However, We send down the truth from Ourselves.
It is the Book of Allah and His revelation.
upon disbelief in Him and its people, and thus He destroys him.
It is like a man striking another man on the head with a blow that reaches the brain.
And he had no life after that.
And so he is ruined and brought to nothing.
Woe unto you for describing your Lord with attributes other than those that befit Him.
And it is said to you that He has taken a wife and a child.
And your fabrication against Him.
To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on the earth.
“Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary;” (21:19)
And they do not grow weary.
“They glorify (Him) night and day; they flag not.” (21:20)
And how could it be permissible for Allah to take for Himself a diversion?
To Him belongs the dominion of all who are in the heavens and on the earth.
And those who are with Him from among His creation.
They do not disdain to worship Him.
And they do not grow weary from their long service to him.
Those angels who are with Him glorify their Lord night and day.
They never cease in their glorification of Him.
“Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead?” (21:21)
“If there were therein gods beside Allah, then verily both (the heavens and the earth) had been disordered. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from all that they ascribe (unto Him).” (21:22)
“If there were therein gods beside Allah, then verily both (the heavens and the earth) had been disordered. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from all that they ascribe (unto Him).” (21:22)
These polytheists have taken gods from the earth.
They revive the dead and resurrect the creation.
For it is Allah alone who gives life and causes death.
Had there been any deities in the heavens and the earth worthy of worship other than Allah
The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth would have surely been corrupted.
Thus, it is an act of declaring Allah transcendent and absolving Him of any imperfection.
Among the lies that these polytheists fabricate against Him.
He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.
No one may question the Lord of the Throne regarding what He does with His creation.
Through His disposal of whatever He wills regarding life and death.
And the granting of honor and the bringing of humiliation.
And all those in the heavens and the earth are His servants.
They are held accountable for their actions.
And they shall be held accountable for their deeds.
“Or have they chosen other gods beside Him? say: Bring your proof (of their godhead). This is the Reminder of those with me and those before me, but most of them know not the Truth and so they are averse.” (21:24)
Say, "Produce your proof."
“Or have they chosen other gods beside Him? say: Bring your proof (of their godhead). This is the Reminder of those with me and those before me, but most of them know not the Truth and so they are averse.” (21:24)
“Or have they chosen other gods beside Him? say: Bring your proof (of their godhead). This is the Reminder of those with me and those before me, but most of them know not the Truth and so they are averse.” (21:24)
These polytheists have taken, besides Allah, deities that can neither bring benefit nor cause harm.
Say, O Muhammad, to them:
Produce your proof.
If you claim that you are justified in what you are saying.
This Qur'an is a report of those who were with me.
Regarding the reward they receive from Allah for their faith in Him.
And what punishment awaits them from Allah for their disobedience toward Him.
And the accounts of the nations that preceded me among the early generations.
In fact, most of these polytheists turn away from the truth simply because they are ignorant of it.
“And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspired him, (saying): There is no Allah save Me (Allah), so worship Me.” (21:25)
“And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspired him, (saying): There is no Allah save Me (Allah), so worship Me.” (21:25)
And We have not sent, O Muhammad, any messenger before you to any of the nations.
We have not sent any messenger before you, but We revealed to him that there is no deity in the heavens or on the earth worthy of worship except Me.
Therefore, dedicate your worship sincerely to Me alone, and single Me out in My divinity.
“And they say: The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son. Be He Glorified! Nay, but (those whom they call sons) are honoured slaves;” (21:26)
Rather, they are honored servants.
“They speak not until He hath spoken, and they act by His command.” (21:27)
And those who disbelieve in their Lord said
Allah the Most Merciful has taken, from among His angels, offspring.
The angels are not as these disbelievers describe them.
But they are honored servants. Allah has honored them.
They do not speak except with what their Lord commands them.
They do not perform any action except by it.
He knows what is before them and what is behind them.
“He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe of Him.” (21:28)
“He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe of Him.” (21:28)
He knows what is before His angels, what they have not yet reached, and what they are about to say and do.
And what has passed from the times they left behind them.
All of that is accumulated for them and against them.
And the angels do not intercede except for those whom Allah has approved.
They are cautious, out of fear of Allah and apprehension of His punishment befalling them.
The summary from the Tafsir of Al-Tabari.