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 Qaf.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
His companion will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he was in deep error."
The companion of this disbelieving human is the devil who was assigned to him in this worldly life.
[The devil will say], "Our Lord, I did not make him a tyrant, nor did I lead him to what was not for him."
"Rather, he was far astray from the path of guidance."
“He saith: Contend not in My presence, when I had already proffered unto you the warning.” (50:28)
“The sentence that cometh from Me cannot be changed, and I am in no wise a tyrant unto the slaves.” (50:29)
Allah will say to these polytheists, "Do not dispute before Me today."
"For I had already warned you in the worldly life before this dispute of yours."
"With the threat of punishment for whoever disbelieved in Me, disobeyed Me, and opposed My command and prohibition."
"The word that I spoke to you in the worldly life shall not be changed."
“And if We had so willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word from Me concerning evildoers took effect: that I will fill hell with the jinn and mankind together.” (32:13)
"Nor am I one to punish any of My creation for the crime of another."
“On the day when We say unto hell: Art thou filled? and it saith: Can there be more to come?” (50:30)
“The sentence that cometh from Me cannot be changed, and I am in no wise a tyrant unto the slaves.” (50:29)
The day We say to Hell, "Are you full?"—and that is on the Day of Resurrection.
Because of His prior promise that He would fill it with jinn and mankind together.
“On the day when We say unto hell: Art thou filled? and it saith: Can there be more to come?” (50:30)
Until Allah places His foot upon it.
“And the Garden is brought nigh for those who kept from evil, no longer distant.” (50:31)
“(And it is said): This is that which ye were promised. (It is) for every penitent and heedful one,” (50:32)
“Who feareth the Beneficent in secret and cometh with a contrite heart.” (50:33)
Paradise will be brought near for those who feared their Lord.
This is what you were promised, O righteous ones.
For everyone who returns from disobedience to Allah to His obedience.
Repentant for his sins.
Mindful of all the obligatory duties and acts of worship that brought him closer to his Lord.
And mindful of the sins he committed in the past, seeking repentance for them.
Whoever feared Allah in the worldly life before meeting Him.
And came to Allah with a heart repentant for his sins.
"Enter it in peace."
That is the day of eternity.
“There they have all that they desire, and there is more with Us.” (50:35)
Enter this Paradise in safety from anxiety, anger, and torment.
This is what I have described to you, O people.
It is the day people enter Paradise.
Remaining therein forever.
For these righteous ones is whatever they desire in this Paradise.
And We have more for them, which We shall increase for them.
It has been said that the "more" refers to looking upon Allah.
“And how many a generation We destroyed before them, who were mightier than these in prowess so that they overran the lands! Had they any place of refuge (when the judgment came)?” (50:36)
“And how many a generation We destroyed before them, who were mightier than these in prowess so that they overran the lands! Had they any place of refuge (when the judgment came)?” (50:36)
How many generations before these polytheists of Quraysh have We destroyed?
They were mightier in power than Quraysh.
They traversed the lands, traveling through them.
They roamed and penetrated to the furthest reaches of them.
Did they find any escape from destruction when Our command came to them?
Indeed, in Our destruction of the generations before Quraysh.
There is a reminder for whoever possesses a heart.
So he desists from the deeds they used to commit, such as disbelieving in their Lord.
Or he who listens to Our account of these generations We destroyed with his ears.
So he hears the news about them.
How We dealt with them when they disbelieved in their Lord.
While he is understanding of what is being told to him about them.
Witnessing it with his heart.
Neither heedless of it nor distracted.
And what is between them in six days.
“And verily We created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in six Days, and naught of weariness touched Us.” (50:38)
We created the seven heavens and the earth and all the creatures between them in six days.
And no weariness touched Us.
So be patient over what they say, and exalt with the praise of your Lord.
“Therefor (O Muhammad) bear with what they say, and hymn the praise of thy Lord before the rising and before the setting of the sun;” (50:39)
“And in the night-time hymn His praise, and after the (prescribed) prostrations.” (50:40)
So be patient, O Muhammad, over what these Jews say.
And what they fabricate against Allah.
And perform the morning prayer with the praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun.
And the afternoon prayer before sunset.
And during the night, exalt Him—this refers to the night prayer.
And exalt Him with the praise of your Lord after the prostrations of your prayer.
The scholars of Tafsir differed regarding the meaning of this "exaltation."
Some said it refers to the two rak'ahs after the Maghrib prayer.
Others said it refers to the glorification after the obligatory prayers.
Others said it refers to the voluntary prayers following the obligatory ones.
This is the view of Ibn Zayd.
The most correct of these views is the opinion of those who said:
It refers to the two rak'ahs after the Maghrib prayer.
Due to the consensus of the authorities among the scholars of Tafsir.
And were it not for what I mentioned regarding their consensus on it.
I would have held that the correct view is what Ibn Zayd said.
And listen for the day when the Caller calls from a near place.
“The day when they will hear the (Awful) Cry in truth. That is the day of coming forth (from the graves).” (50:42)
That is the day of emergence.
And listen, O Muhammad, for the cry of the Day of Resurrection.
The day our Caller calls out from a near place.
The day the creatures hear the cry of resurrection from the graves.
With the command to respond to Allah for the place of reckoning.
That is the day the people of the graves emerge from their graves.
Indeed, it is We who give life to the dead and cause the living to die.
And to Us is the final destination of them all on the Day of Resurrection.
The day the earth splits open for them, and they emerge from it quickly.
Gathering them all to Us is easy and simple.
We are most knowing of what they say.
And you are not over them a tyrant.
“We are Best Aware of what they say, and thou (O Muhammad) art in no wise a compeller over them. But warn by the Qur'an him who feareth My threat.” (50:45)
“We are Best Aware of what they say, and thou (O Muhammad) art in no wise a compeller over them. But warn by the Qur'an him who feareth My threat.” (50:45)
We, O Muhammad, are most knowing of what these polytheists say in their fabrication against Allah.
And you are not a tyrant over them to compel or force them.
So remind, O Muhammad, by this Qur'an which I have revealed to you.
Whoever fears the threat I have promised to those who disobey Me and oppose My command.