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-Insan.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“Hath there come upon man (ever) any period of time in which he was a thing unremembered?” (76:1)
“Hath there come upon man (ever) any period of time in which he was a thing unremembered?” (76:1)
He was not a thing of any prominence, loftiness, or nobility.
He was merely cohesive clay and altered black mud.
“Lo! We create man from a drop of thickened fluid to test him; so We make him hearing, knowing.” (76:2)
So We made him hearing and seeing.
We have guided him to the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful.
We created the offspring of Adam from a mixture of fluids.
From the sperm of the man and the ovum of the woman.
We test him, and We have made him possessor of hearing with which he hears.
And possessor of sight with which he sees.
This is a favor from Allah to His servants.
And a mercy from Him toward them.
And a proof for Him against them.
We have clarified for him the path to Paradise and made his way known.
Whether he shows gratitude or ingratitude.
“Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers manacles and carcans and a raging fire.” (76:4)
We have prepared for those who deny Our favor and disobey Our command.
Chains with which they are bound tightly in Hell.
And their hands are shackled with fetters to their necks.
And a fire that is stoked and blazes against them.
“Lo! the righteous shall drink of a cup whereof the mixture is of Kafur,” (76:5)
“A spring wherefrom the slaves of Allah drink, making it gush forth abundantly,” (76:6)
Indeed, those who were righteous by obeying their Lord in performing His obligations and avoiding His prohibitions.
Shall drink from a cup whose mixture is camphor, in the pleasantness of its scent.
From a spring from which the servants of Allah drink, whom He admits into Paradise.
They cause that spring from which they drink to gush forth however and wherever they wish.
From their dwellings and palaces, they cause it to flow.
“(Because) they perform the vow and fear a day whereof the evil is wide-spreading,” (76:7)
“And feed with food the needy wretch, the orphan and the prisoner, for love of Him,” (76:8)
“(Saying): We feed you, for the sake of Allah only. We wish for no reward nor thanks from you;” (76:9)
Indeed, the righteous who drink from a cup whose mixture is camphor.
Were righteous in fulfilling the vows they used to make in obedience to Allah.
And they fear the punishment of Allah by failing to fulfill the righteousness they vowed to Him.
On a day whose evil is widespread, extended, long, and pervasive.
And these righteous ones used to feed food, despite their love for it and their desire for it.
To those in need who have been humbled by poverty.
And the orphan whose father has died and who possesses nothing.
And the captive from the people of the house of war, taken by force through victory.
Or from the people of the Qiblah, taken and imprisoned for a just cause.
They say, "We only feed you seeking the pleasure of Allah and proximity to Him."
"We desire from you, O people, neither reward nor thanks for our feeding you."
“Lo! we fear from our Lord a day of frowning and of fate.” (76:10)
“Therefor Allah hath warded off from them the evil of that day, and hath made them find brightness and joy;” (76:11)
And He rewarded them for their patience with a garden and silk.
“Reclining therein upon couches, they will find there neither (heat of) a sun nor bitter cold.” (76:13)
"We do not feed you food seeking from you any compensation for our feeding you, nor thanks."
"Rather, we feed you out of hope that our Lord will protect us from His punishment."
On a day of intense terror and grave significance.
Faces will be contorted on that day due to the severity of its hardships.
The affliction of its people will be long and severe.
So Allah protected them from the evil of that grim, calamitous day which they used to fear in the world.
Because of what they used to do in the world.
And He granted them radiance in their faces and joy in their hearts.
And Allah rewarded them for their patience in the world in His obedience.
And for acting in a way that pleases Him, with a garden and silk.
Reclining in Paradise on couches within canopied pavilions.
They will not see therein a sun to harm them with its heat.
Nor a bitter cold to harm them with its chill.
Its shade will be close over them, and its fruits will be made easy to reach.
“Goblets of silver are brought round for them, and beakers (as) of glass” (76:15)
Vessels of silver, which they have measured with precise measurement.
“There are they watered with a cup whereof the mixture is of Zanjabil,” (76:17)
A spring therein called Salsabil.
The shade of its trees will be brought near to them.
And the harvesting of its fruits will be made easy for them.
However they wish—sitting, standing, or reclining.
And there will circulate among these righteous ones vessels of silver, clear as glass.
They possess the whiteness of silver and the clarity of glass.
And along with the vessels, there will circulate large jars containing the drink.
They have measured those vessels that are circulated among them according to the measure of their thirst.
Neither exceeding nor falling short of that.
And these righteous people will be given to drink in Paradise a cup whose mixture is ginger.
A spring in Paradise described by its smoothness in the throat.
And in the state of its flow and its submission to the people of Paradise, they direct it wherever they wish.
“There wait on them immortal youths, whom, when thou seest, thou wouldst take for scattered pearls.” (76:19)
“When thou seest, thou wilt see there bliss and high estate.” (76:20)
“Their raiment will be fine green silk and gold embroidery. Bracelets of silver will they wear. Their Lord will slake their thirst with a pure drink.” (76:21)
“Their raiment will be fine green silk and gold embroidery. Bracelets of silver will they wear. Their Lord will slake their thirst with a pure drink.” (76:21)
“(And it will be said unto them): Lo! this is a reward for you. Your endeavour (upon earth) hath found acceptance.” (76:22)
And there will circulate among these righteous ones youths who do not die.
Remaining in one state, never changing with old age, gray hair, or death.
If you were to see, O Muhammad, these youths, whether gathered or dispersed.
You would think them, in their beauty, the purity of their faces, and their abundance, to be scattered pearls.
And if you look with your sight, O Muhammad, and cast your gaze.
Upon what has been given to these righteous ones in Paradise of honor.
You will see bliss and, along with that bliss, a great kingdom.
Upon these righteous ones will be garments of fine green silk.
And over them will be that which is thick of silk.
Their Lord will adorn them with bracelets, and their Lord will give these righteous ones a pure drink.
And part of its purity is that it does not become impure urine.
Rather, it becomes a perspiration from their bodies like the scent of musk.
It will be said to these righteous ones at that time:
"Indeed, this which We have given you of honor..."
"...was for you a reward for the righteous deeds you used to do in the world."
"And your work therein was appreciated."
Your Lord praised you for it and was pleased with it for you.
“So submit patiently to thy Lord's command, and obey not of them any guilty one or disbeliever.” (76:24)
“Remember the name of thy Lord at morn and evening.” (76:25)
“And worship Him (a portion) of the night. And glorify Him through the livelong night.” (76:26)
Indeed, it is We who have sent down to you, O Muhammad, this Qur'an in stages.
As a trial and a test from Us.
So be patient for the sake of your Lord regarding the obligations He has tested you with and the conveying of His messages.
And for fulfilling what He has bound you to fulfill in the revelation He has inspired to you.
And do not obey, in the disobedience of Allah, any sinner who seeks, by committing his sins.
Or by denying His favors and blessings.
And remember, O Muhammad, the name of your Lord, and call upon Him by it in the morning, in the dawn prayer.
And in the evening, in the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers.
And during the night, prostrate to Him in your prayer, and glorify Him for most of the night.
“Lo! these love fleeting life, and put behind them (the remembrance of) a grievous day.” (76:27)
“We, even We, created them, and strengthened their frame. And when We will, We can replace them, bringing others like them in their stead.” (76:28)
“We, even We, created them, and strengthened their frame. And when We will, We can replace them, bringing others like them in their stead.” (76:28)
Indeed, these polytheists who associate partners with Allah love the world and remaining in it.
Its adornment amazes them, and they cast behind their backs the work for the Hereafter.
And they have nothing therein that would save them from the punishment of Allah on that day.
We created these polytheists who associate partners with Allah, who oppose His command and His prohibition.
And We strengthened their constitution, and if We willed, We could destroy them.
And bring others like them from the creation who are different from them in their deeds.
Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take a way to his Lord.
“Yet ye will not, unless Allah willeth. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.” (76:30)
“He maketh whom He will to enter His mercy, and for evil-doers hath prepared a painful doom.” (76:31)
Indeed, this Surah is a reminder for whoever remembers, takes heed, and reflects.
So whoever wills, O people, let him take a way to the pleasure of his Lord.
By acting in obedience to Him and adhering to His command and His prohibition.
And you do not will to take the way to your Lord, O people.
Unless Allah wills that for you, for the matter belongs to Him, not to you.
Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise; therefore, no one among you will escape what has already been decreed in His knowledge regarding your management.
Your Lord admits whom He wills of you into His mercy, so He forgives him his sins and admits him into His Paradise.
And those who wronged themselves and died in their state of polytheism.
He has prepared for them in the Hereafter a painful, agonizing punishment, which is the punishment of Hell.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.