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 Yasin.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Yasin.
By the Qur'an, full of wisdom.
Indeed, you are among the messengers.
Upon a straight path.
A revelation of the Almighty, the Merciful.
Yasin.
By the Qur'an, perfected in its rulings and laws.
Indeed, O Muhammad, you are among the messengers sent with Allah’s revelation to His servants.
Upon a path of guidance, free from any crookedness.
And that is Islam.
Sent down by the Almighty in His retribution.
The Merciful to those who repent to Him.
“That thou mayst warn a folk whose fathers were not warned, so they are heedless.” (36:6)
“Already hath the judgment, (for their infidelity) proved true of most of them, for they believe not.” (36:7)
So that you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned before them.
For they are heedless of what Allah will do to His enemies who associate partners with Him.
By inflicting His punishment and power upon them.
The decree of punishment has indeed become binding upon most of them.
Because Allah has ordained in the Mother of the Book that they will not believe in Allah.
Nor will they believe in His Messenger.
“Lo! We have put on their necks carcans reaching unto the chins, so that they are made stiff-necked.” (36:8)
“And We have set a bar before them and a bar behind them, and (thus) have covered them so that they see not.” (36:9)
We have placed shackles upon the necks of these disbelievers, reaching up to their chins.
So they cannot extend their hands toward any good.
They are shackled away from every good deed.
And We have placed a barrier before these polytheists.
And a barrier behind them.
And We have covered their sight with a veil.
So they do not see the guidance, nor do they benefit from it.
“Whether thou warn them or thou warn them not, it is alike for them, for they believe not.” (36:10)
It is all the same, O Muhammad, for those against whom the decree has been justified.
Whether you choose one of two things regarding them.
To warn them or to refrain from warning them.
For they will not believe.
Because Allah has already decreed that for them.
“Thou warnest only him who followeth the Reminder and feareth the Beneficent in secret. To him bear tidings of forgiveness and a rich reward.” (36:11)
“Thou warnest only him who followeth the Reminder and feareth the Beneficent in secret. To him bear tidings of forgiveness and a rich reward.” (36:11)
Your warning, O Muhammad, only benefits those who believe in the Qur'an.
And fear Allah, even when He is unseen by the eyes of the beholders.
So give glad tidings, O Muhammad, to such a person of forgiveness from Allah for his sins.
And a generous reward in the Hereafter.
And that is Paradise.
“Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register.” (36:12)
“Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register.” (36:12)
Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life from among Our creation.
And We record what they have sent forth in the world of good and evil.
And the traces of their footsteps.
And everything that exists, We have enumerated and recorded in the clear Mother of the Book.
Which clarifies the reality of everything recorded within it.
“Coin for them a similitude: The people of the city when those sent (from Allah) came unto them;” (36:13)
“When We sent unto them twain, and they denied them both, so We reinforced them with a third, and they said: Lo! we have been sent unto you.” (36:14)
“When We sent unto them twain, and they denied them both, so We reinforced them with a third, and they said: Lo! we have been sent unto you.” (36:14)
Present, O Muhammad, to the polytheists of your people the example of the people of the town.
It is mentioned that it was Antioch, when the messengers came to it.
When We sent two messengers to them to call them to Allah, but they denied them.
So We strengthened them with a third, and supported them through him.
The three messengers said, "Indeed, we are messengers sent to you, O people."
To dedicate worship to Allah alone.
“They said: Ye are but mortals like unto us. The Beneficent hath naught revealed. Ye do but lie!” (36:15)
“They said: Ye are but mortals like unto us. The Beneficent hath naught revealed. Ye do but lie!” (36:15)
“They answered: Our Lord knoweth that we are indeed sent unto you,” (36:16)
“And our duty is but plain conveyance (of the message).” (36:17)
The people of the town said.
"You are nothing, O people, but human beings like us."
"And the Most Gracious has not sent down any message or book to you."
"Nor has He commanded you to do anything regarding us."
“They said: Ye are but mortals like unto us. The Beneficent hath naught revealed. Ye do but lie!” (36:15)
The messengers said, "Our Lord knows that we are indeed messengers sent to you regarding what we have called you to."
"And we are truthful."
"And our duty is only to convey to you the message of Allah with which we were sent."
A clear conveyance that proves to you that we have delivered it to you.
“(The people of the city) said: We augur ill of you. If ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and grievous torture will befall you at our hands.” (36:18)
“(The people of the city) said: We augur ill of you. If ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and grievous torture will befall you at our hands.” (36:18)
The people of the town said to the messengers.
"Indeed, we consider you an evil omen."
"If any affliction befalls us, it is because of you."
"If you do not desist from what you have mentioned—that you were sent to us to renounce our gods."
"And to forbid our worship."
"We will surely stone you."
"And you will surely suffer a painful punishment from us."
They said, "Your omen is with you."
"Is it because you were reminded?"
"Rather, you are a people who have exceeded all bounds."
The messengers said to the people of the town.
"Your deeds, your provisions, and your share of good and evil are with you."
"All of that is upon your own necks."
"And that is not due to any evil omen from us."
"Is it because we reminded you of Allah that you take us as an evil omen?"
"Rather, you are a people who transgress against Allah."
"Sins and iniquities have overwhelmed you."
“And there came from the uttermost part of the city a man running. He cried: O my people! Follow those who have been sent!” (36:20)
“Follow those who ask of you no fee, and who are rightly guided.” (36:21)
And there came from the farthest end of the city of these people to whom these messengers were sent.
A man running toward them.
This was because the people of the city had resolved to kill these messengers.
And this man heard of that.
His home was at the farthest end of the city.
And he was a believer.
The man said.
"O my people, follow the messengers whom Allah has sent to you."
"Follow those who do not ask you for your wealth for the guidance they have brought you."
"And they are upon a straight path of truth."
"So be guided, O people, by their guidance."
“For what cause should I not serve Him Who hath created me, and unto Whom ye will be brought back?” (36:22)
"Should I take other than Him as gods? If the Most Gracious intends any harm for me, they cannot help me at all."
"Their intercession will not avail me, nor can they save me."
“Then truly I should be in error manifest.” (36:24)
“Lo! I have believed in your Lord, so hear me!” (36:25)
"And why should I not worship the Lord who created me?"
"And to Him you will all return."
"Should I worship gods other than Allah, if the Most Gracious touches me with harm or distress?"
"They would not avail me anything by being intercessors for me."
"Nor would they save me from that harm if it touches me."
"Indeed, if I were to take gods other than Allah with such characteristics."
"Then I would be in clear error, for anyone who reflects upon it."
“Lo! I have believed in your Lord, so hear me!” (36:25)
This believer said this statement to his people to teach them his faith in Allah.
And it is said that he addressed the messengers with it.
It is mentioned that when he said this, they rushed upon him and killed him.
“It was said (unto him): Enter paradise. He said: Would that my people knew” (36:26)
“With what (munificence) my Lord hath pardoned me and made me of the honoured ones!” (36:27)
Allah said to him when they killed him, "Enter Paradise."
So when he entered it and witnessed what Allah had honored him with.
“It was said (unto him): Enter paradise. He said: Would that my people knew” (36:26)
That the reason for which my sins were forgiven.
And He made me among those whom Allah honored by admitting them into His Paradise.
Was my faith in Allah and my patience for His sake.
So that they might believe in Allah and become deserving of Paradise.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.