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-Shammari.
Surah al-Naba'.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
About what are they asking one another?
About the Great News.
“Concerning which they are in disagreement.” (78:3)
No! They will soon come to know.
Then no! They will soon come to know.
O Muhammad, about what are these polytheists from Quraysh asking one another regarding Allah and His Messenger?
They are asking about the Great News,
concerning which they have become divided into two factions:
a faction that believes in it,
and a faction that denies it.
No, the matter is not as these polytheists claim.
These disbelievers will soon know what Allah will do to them on the Day of Resurrection.
Again, the matter is not as they claim,
in their assertion that Allah will not resurrect them after their death.
They will know that the truth is other than what they said when they meet Allah,
and are brought to account for the evil deeds they committed.
“Have We not made the earth an expanse,” (78:6)
And the mountains as stakes.
And We created you in pairs.
And We made your sleep a rest.
And We made the night a covering.
And We made the day for livelihood.
Have We not made the earth a resting place for you to spread out?
And the mountains as stakes for the earth, so that it does not shake beneath you?
And We created you as males and females,
tall and short,
or of varying degrees of beauty and ugliness.
And We made your sleep a comfort for you.
And We made the night a veil, its darkness covering you,
just as a garment covers the one who wears it.
And We made the day a light for you,
so that you may spread out in it for your livelihood,
and conduct the affairs of your worldly life,
and seek the bounty of Allah therein.
“And We have built above you seven strong (heavens),” (78:12)
And We made a burning lamp.
“And have sent down from the rainy clouds abundant water,” (78:14)
“Thereby to produce grain and plant,” (78:15)
And gardens of thick foliage.
And We built above you a structure,
which are the seven firm heavens,
perfect in creation,
with no cracks or fissures in them,
and which the passing of nights and days does not wear out.
And We made a radiant, luminous lamp.
And We sent down from the rain-clouds,
which are those clouds heavy and saturated with water,
water pouring forth, following one another.
To bring forth with it grain,
and 'grain' refers to everything contained within the husks of crops that are harvested,
and vegetation, which is the fodder, grasses, and crops that are grazed.
And to bring forth with that rain gardens dense and intertwined.
And the heaven is opened, so it becomes gateways.
“And the hills are set in motion and become as a mirage.” (78:20)
Indeed, the Day when Allah judges between His creation,
taking retribution for some from others,
was a set time for those who denied the Resurrection.
The Day the Trumpet is blown,
and the Trumpet is a horn into which one blows.
The Trumpet is a horn into which one blows, and they will come forth in groups and throngs; the sky will be split asunder and cracked, becoming pathways, whereas before it was firm with no cracks or fissures.
The mountains will be removed, uprooted from their foundations, becoming scattered dust to the eye of the beholder, like a mirage that one sees from afar and thinks is water, while in reality, it is nothing but dust.
Indeed, Hell is a place of ambush, a destination for the transgressors, in which they will remain for ages.
They will not taste therein any coolness or drink, except for scalding water and foul pus, a fitting recompense.
Indeed, Hell is a place of waiting, watching for those who pass by it, lying in wait for the transgressors who transgressed in the world and exceeded the limits of Allah.
It is a dwelling and a place of return to which they go back, and a final destination where they will reside.
Indeed, these transgressors in the world will remain in Hell, dwelling therein for ages.
They will not taste therein any coolness to soothe the heat of the blaze for them, except for the fluid from the freezing cold of Hell,
which is combined with its intense cold, nor any drink to quench the intense thirst they suffer, except for the scalding water.
This punishment, with which these disbelievers are punished in the Hereafter, is what their Lord has inflicted upon them as a recompense for the evil deeds and words they committed in the world.
Indeed, they did not expect a reckoning, and they denied Our signs with a persistent denial, and everything We have recorded in a book.
“So taste (of that which ye have earned). No increase do We give you save of torment.” (78:30)
Indeed, these disbelievers in the world did not fear that Allah would hold them accountable in the Hereafter for His blessings upon them,
and His kindness toward them, and their poor gratitude to Him for that.
And these disbelievers denied Our proofs and evidence with a persistent denial.
And everything We have enumerated, recording its number, extent, and measure, so that the knowledge of nothing escapes Us.
It will be said to these disbelievers in Hell when they drink the scalding water and foul pus:
"Taste, O people, the punishment of Allah which you used to deny in the world."
"We will not increase you in anything but punishment upon the punishment you are already in."
“There hear they never vain discourse, nor lying -” (78:35)
“Requital from thy Lord - a gift in payment -” (78:36)
Indeed, for the righteous is a place of safety from the Fire to Paradise, and a triumph in what they sought.
Gardens of date palms, grapevines, and trees enclosed by walls surrounding them.
And companions of equal age.
And a cup filled to the brim, served continuously to those who drink from it due to its abundance and fullness.
They will not hear in Paradise any vain speech, nor will they accuse one another of lying.
This is a grace from Allah upon them as a reward,
and a reckoning for their deeds for the sake of Allah in the world.
“Lord of the heavens and the earth, and (all) that is between them, the Beneficent; with Whom none can converse.” (78:37)
“On the day when the angels and the Spirit stand arrayed, they speak not, saving him whom the Beneficent alloweth and who speaketh right.” (78:38)
“On the day when the angels and the Spirit stand arrayed, they speak not, saving him whom the Beneficent alloweth and who speaketh right.” (78:38)
“That is the True Day. So whoso will should seek recourse unto his Lord.” (78:39)
A reward from your Lord, the Lord of the seven heavens and the earth and all the creation between them,
the Most Gracious, whom none of His creation will be able to address on the Day of Resurrection,
except for those whom He permits, and who speaks what is correct.
“On the day when the angels and the Spirit stand arrayed, they speak not, saving him whom the Beneficent alloweth and who speaketh right.” (78:38)
And the Spirit is a creation from among the creations of Allah.
They will not speak except for those whom the Most Gracious permits to speak, and who speaks what is correct.
That Day is the Day of Resurrection,
and it is a reality that will come to pass, about which there is no doubt.
So whoever among His servants wills, let him take a path of return to his Lord by believing in this true Day and preparing for it.
“Lo! We warn you of a doom at hand, a day whereon a man will look on that which his own hands have sent before, and the disbeliever will cry: "Would that I were dust!"” (78:40)
Indeed, We have warned you, O people, of a punishment that is near to you and approaching.
That is the Day when a person, the believer, will see what his hands have put forth of good that he earned in the world,
or the evil that preceded from him.
He will hope for the reward of Allah for his righteous deeds and fear His punishment for his evil ones.
And the disbeliever will say on that day, wishing for what he encounters of the punishment of Allah which He prepared for those who disbelieved in Him:
"Oh, I wish I were dust," like the animals that were turned into dust.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.