Conclusion from Al-Tabari’s interpretation | Episode (17-3) | Surah Al-Isra

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:05 A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.

0:08 Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.

0:13 Surah al-Isra'.

0:18 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:22 “Say: Be ye stones or iron” (17:50)

0:26 “Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon;” (17:51)

0:32 They will say, "Who will bring us back to life?"

0:37 “Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon;” (17:51)

0:40 They will shake their heads at you and ask, "When will this be?"

0:46 “Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon;” (17:51)

0:52 Say, O Muhammad, to those who deny the Resurrection:

0:56 "Be, if you are amazed at Allah’s creation of you,

1:00 [be] stones or iron,

1:02 or any created thing that seems even greater in your hearts—if you are able to do so."

1:07 Whether you become dead,

1:09 or become the heavens, the earth, or the mountains,

1:13 or become whatever you wish,

1:15 I will surely bring you to life and resurrect you as a new creation after you have become such things.

1:21 Just as He brought you into existence the first time.

1:24 They will say, "Who will restore us to life as a new creation?"

1:28 Say to them:

1:30 "He will restore you just as you were,"

1:32 He who created you from nothing the first time.

1:36 They will shake their heads at you, nodding up and down in denial and mockery,

1:42 and ask, "When will the Resurrection be?"

1:45 Say to them, O Muhammad, "It may well be soon."

1:51 “A day when He will call you and ye will answer with His praise, and ye will think that ye have tarried but a little while.” (17:52)

1:58 That will be the day your Lord calls you to emerge from your graves.

2:04 You will respond to Allah’s call from your graves by His power and His summoning of you.

2:10 And all praise is due to Allah in every circumstance.

2:13 You will think, when you encounter the Resurrection, due to the terror you witness therein,

2:19 that you had only stayed in the earth for a short while.

2:22 And tell My servants to say that which is best.

2:27 “Tell My bondmen to speak that which is kindlier. Lo! the devil soweth discord among them. Lo! the devil is for man an open foe.” (17:53)

2:32 “Tell My bondmen to speak that which is kindlier. Lo! the devil soweth discord among them. Lo! the devil is for man an open foe.” (17:53)

2:41 And say, O Muhammad, to My servants:

2:44 "Let them speak to one another in the best manner of discourse and address."

2:49 Indeed, Satan sows discord in their speech and corrupts the relations between them.

2:55 Indeed, Satan has always been an enemy to Adam and his descendants.

3:00 He has made his enmity clear to them through the envy he displayed,

3:04 and his deception of him until he caused him to be expelled from Paradise.

3:08 Your Lord is most knowing of you.

3:11 If He wills, He will have mercy on you, or if He wills, He will punish you.

3:18 “Your Lord is Best Aware of you. If He will, He will have mercy on you, or if He will, He will punish you. We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) as a warden over them.” (17:54)

3:49 And your Lord is most knowing of whoever is in the heavens and the earth.

3:54 “And thy Lord is Best Aware of all who are in the heavens and the earth. And we preferred some of the prophets above others, and unto David We gave the Psalms.” (17:55)

4:01 And We gave David the Zabur (Psalms).

4:05 And your Lord, O Muhammad, is most knowing of whoever is in the heavens and the earth.

4:10 And what is best for them.

4:11 He is most knowing of who is worthy of being chosen for revelation.

4:17 And [He is most knowing of] what we do according to the will of Allah.

4:19 He is most knowing of who is worthy of repentance and who is worthy of punishment.

4:24 So let that not weigh heavily upon you.

4:27 For that is My action toward them, to favor some prophets over others,

4:33 by sending some of them to certain peoples,

4:36 and others to all of mankind, and by raising some of them in degrees above others.

4:42 And We gave David the Zabur.

4:46 “Say: Cry unto those (saints and angels) whom ye assume (to be gods) beside Him, yet they have no power to rid you of misfortune nor to change.” (17:56)

5:02 “Those unto whom they cry seek the way of approach to their Lord, which of them shall be the nearest; they hope for His mercy and they fear His doom. Lo! the doom of thy Lord is to be shunned.” (17:57)

5:27 Say, O Muhammad, to the polytheists of your people:

5:31 "Call upon those whom you claimed to be gods besides Allah when some harm befalls you."

5:38 Then see if they are able to avert that from you,

5:42 or transfer it from you to others.

5:45 These whom these polytheists call upon as lords,

5:50 those who call upon them seek a means of approach and nearness to their Lord,

5:55 because they are believers in Him.

5:58 [They seek to see] which of them, through their righteous deeds and diligence in worship, is closer to Him in nearness.

6:04 They hope for His mercy through those actions and fear His punishment.

6:09 Indeed, the punishment of your Lord, O Muhammad, is something to be feared.

6:14 “There is not a township but We shall destroy it ere the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with dire punishment. That is set forth in the Book (of Our decrees).” (17:58)

6:29 That was recorded in the Book.

6:34 There is no town but that We are the destroyers of its people,

6:40 annihilating them completely before the Day of Resurrection,

6:44 or punishing them with various forms of severe torment.

6:48 That was recorded in the Preserved Tablet.

6:52 “Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel - a clear portent save to warn.” (17:59)

7:02 “Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel - a clear portent save to warn.” (17:59)

7:09 “Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel - a clear portent save to warn.” (17:59)

7:14 And nothing prevented Us, O Muhammad, from sending the signs that your people requested,

7:19 except that the nations of the past who denied [the truth] asked for the same as they asked.

7:26 But when what they asked for came to them, they denied their messenger.

7:30 So We did not send the signs to your people,

7:33 because if We had sent the signs and they had denied them,

7:37 We would have hastened their punishment just as We did with the nations before them.

7:42 The people of Thamud, O Muhammad, asked for signs before your people.

7:47 So We gave them what they asked for.

7:49 And We made that she-camel a clear proof for all who saw it.

7:55 But it was through it that they committed their injustice.

7:57 That is because they killed and hamstrung it.

8:00 So their injustice was in hamstringing and killing it.

8:04 And We do not send signs and reminders except to warn the servants.

8:11 “And (it was a warning) when we told thee: Lo! thy Lord encompasseth mankind, and We appointed the sight which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind, and (likewise) the Accursed Tree in the Qur'an. We warn them, but it increaseth them in naught save gross impiety.” (17:60)

8:17 “And (it was a warning) when we told thee: Lo! thy Lord encompasseth mankind, and We appointed the sight which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind, and (likewise) the Accursed Tree in the Qur'an. We warn them, but it increaseth them in naught save gross impiety.” (17:60)

8:25 “And (it was a warning) when we told thee: Lo! thy Lord encompasseth mankind, and We appointed the sight which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind, and (likewise) the Accursed Tree in the Qur'an. We warn them, but it increaseth them in naught save gross impiety.” (17:60)

8:33 “And (it was a warning) when we told thee: Lo! thy Lord encompasseth mankind, and We appointed the sight which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind, and (likewise) the Accursed Tree in the Qur'an. We warn them, but it increaseth them in naught save gross impiety.” (17:60)

8:40 And remember, O Muhammad, when We said to you that your Lord encompasses the people in His power.

8:47 They are in His grasp.

8:49 So do not fear anyone among them.

8:52 And We did not make the vision which We showed you on the night of the Isra' from Makkah to Jerusalem,

8:59 except as a trial for the people,

9:01 [specifically] those who turned back from Islam when they were told of the vision the Prophet saw.

9:07 So they increased in their transgression and error.

9:10 And We did not make the cursed tree mentioned in the Qur'an,

9:14 which is the tree of Zaqqum,

9:16 except as a trial for the people.

9:18 Their trial regarding the tree was

9:21 the statement of Abu Jahl and the polytheists with him:

9:25 "Muhammad tells us that there is a tree growing in the Fire,

9:29 and fire consumes trees,

9:32 so how can it grow therein?"

9:34 And We warn these polytheists with the punishments We threaten them with,

9:39 but Our warning only increases them in their great persistence in disbelief.

9:46 And [remember] when We said to the angels,

9:49 "Prostrate to Adam," so they prostrated, except Iblis.

9:54 They prostrated, except Iblis.

9:57 “And when We said unto the angels: Fall down prostrate before Adam and they fell prostrate all save Iblis, he said: Shall I fall prostrate before that which Thou hast created of clay?” (17:61)

10:01 And remember when We said to the angels,

10:05 "Prostrate to Adam," so they prostrated, except Iblis.

10:09 For he was arrogant and said,

10:11 "Shall I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?"

10:16 “He said: Seest Thou this (creature) whom Thou hast honoured above me, if Thou give me grace until the Day of Resurrection I verily will seize his seed, save but a few.” (17:62)

10:20 "If You respite me until the Day of Resurrection,"

10:24 "If You respite me until the Day of Resurrection,"

10:27 "I will surely bring his descendants under my sway, except for a few."

10:33 Iblis said,

10:36 "Do You see this one whom You have honored above me?

10:39 You commanded me to prostrate to him.

10:41 If You delay my destruction until the Day of Resurrection,

10:45 I will surely dominate them,

10:47 and I will surely uproot them and lead them astray."

10:51 “He said: Go, and whosoever of them followeth thee - lo! hell will be your payment, ample payment.” (17:63)

10:55 “He said: Go, and whosoever of them followeth thee - lo! hell will be your payment, ample payment.” (17:63)

11:09 Allah said to Iblis,

11:11 "Go, for I have granted you respite."

11:14 Whoever follows you from the descendants of Adam, peace be upon him,

11:18 and obeys you,

11:19 then indeed, Hell is your reward and their reward—a full and complete recompense.

11:25 “And excite any of them whom thou canst with thy voice, and urge thy horse and foot against them, and be a partner in their wealth and children, and promise them. Satan promiseth them only to deceive.” (17:64)

11:31 “And excite any of them whom thou canst with thy voice, and urge thy horse and foot against them, and be a partner in their wealth and children, and promise them. Satan promiseth them only to deceive.” (17:64)

11:39 “And excite any of them whom thou canst with thy voice, and urge thy horse and foot against them, and be a partner in their wealth and children, and promise them. Satan promiseth them only to deceive.” (17:64)

11:44 And Satan promises them nothing but delusion.

11:50 And incite and lead astray whoever you can among them with your voice,

11:55 and muster against them your cavalry and your infantry,

11:59 those who urge them on by calling them to your obedience,

12:02 and turning them away from My obedience.

12:04 And share with them in their wealth,

12:06 by spending their wealth in other than the obedience of Allah,

12:10 and by acquiring it through unlawful means.

12:13 And share with them in their children,

12:15 which includes every child whom one disobeys Allah by naming with a name Allah dislikes,

12:21 or by bringing them up in a religion other than that which Allah has approved,

12:25 or by committing adultery with their mother, or by killing and burying them alive.

12:29 And promise your followers among the descendants of Adam victory over those who wish them harm.

12:35 And Satan promises them nothing but delusion,

12:38 because he will not avail them anything against the punishment of Allah when it descends upon them.

12:44 "Indeed, My servants—you have no authority over them."

12:50 And sufficient is your Lord as a Guardian.

12:54 Indeed, My servants who obeyed Me, followed My command, and disobeyed you, O Iblis,

13:01 you have no argument against them.

13:03 And sufficient is your Lord, O Muhammad, as a Protector.

13:07 So submit to His command and convey His messages,

13:10 and do not fear anyone.

13:12 “(O mankind), your Lord is He Who driveth for you the ship upon the sea that ye may seek of His bounty. Lo! He was ever Merciful toward you.” (17:66)

13:26 Your Lord, O people,

13:29 is the One who makes the ships sail for you on the sea,

13:33 so that He may carry you in them to seek of His bounty,

13:36 to reach the places of your trade by riding in them.

13:42 Indeed, Allah has been merciful to you when He made the ships run for you on the sea,

13:47 as a facilitation from Him in seeking His bounty in distant lands.

13:52 “And when harm toucheth you upon the sea, all unto whom ye cry (for succour) fail save Him (alone), but when He bringeth you safe to land, ye turn away, for man was ever thankless.” (17:67)

14:00 “And when harm toucheth you upon the sea, all unto whom ye cry (for succour) fail save Him (alone), but when He bringeth you safe to land, ye turn away, for man was ever thankless.” (17:67)

14:05 And man has been ungrateful.

14:11 And when distress and hardship befall you at sea,

14:15 you lose those whom you call upon besides Allah among the idols,

14:19 and you find no one but Allah to save you.

14:23 But when He saves you and delivers you,

14:26 you turn away from what your Lord called you to—renouncing the idols,

14:31 and singling Him out in worship.

14:33 [This is] out of ingratitude for His favor.

14:35 And man has been one who denies the favors of his Lord.

14:39 “Feel ye then secure that He will not cause a slope of the land to engulf you, or send a sand-storm upon you, and then ye will find that ye have no protector?” (17:68)

14:45 “Feel ye then secure that He will not cause a slope of the land to engulf you, or send a sand-storm upon you, and then ye will find that ye have no protector?” (17:68)

14:52 “Feel ye then secure that He will not cause a slope of the land to engulf you, or send a sand-storm upon you, and then ye will find that ye have no protector?” (17:68)

14:57 Do you then feel secure, O people, from your Lord,

15:00 while you have denied His favor,

15:02 that He will cause the earth to swallow you up in a part of the land,

15:05 or send against you a storm of stones from the sky that will kill you?

15:09 Then you will find no one to defend you against His punishment,

15:14 and nothing to protect you from Him.

15:16 “Or feel ye secure that He will not return you to that (plight) a second time, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you for your thanklessness, and then ye will not find therein that ye have any avenger against Us?” (17:69)

15:23 “Or feel ye secure that He will not return you to that (plight) a second time, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you for your thanklessness, and then ye will not find therein that ye have any avenger against Us?” (17:69)

15:30 So He will drown you because you disbelieved.

15:36 “Or feel ye secure that He will not return you to that (plight) a second time, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you for your thanklessness, and then ye will not find therein that ye have any avenger against Us?” (17:69)

15:42 Or do you feel secure, O people, from your Lord, while you have disbelieved in Him,

15:48 that He will return you to the sea another time,

15:51 “Or feel ye secure that He will not return you to that (plight) a second time, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you for your thanklessness, and then ye will not find therein that ye have any avenger against Us?” (17:69)

15:54 which is the wind that destroys whatever it passes by,

15:57 shattering and crushing it.

15:59 So Allah will drown you with this violent wind because of your disbelief in Him.

16:05 Then you will find no one to follow Us regarding what We have done to you,

16:10 nor any avenger to seek retribution for Our destruction of you.

Conclusion from Al-Tabari’s interpretation | Episode (17-3) | Surah Al-Isra | Verses from (50) to (69)

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