Conclusion from Al-Tabari’s interpretation | Episode (16-4) | Surah An-Nahl

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

0:03 A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.

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

0:12 Surah al-Nahl.

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

0:23 “Allah coineth a similitude: (on the one hand) a (mere) chattel slave, who hath control of nothing, and (on the other hand) one on whom we have bestowed a fair provision from Us, and he spendeth thereof secretly and openly. Are they equal? Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not.” (16:75)

0:31 “Allah coineth a similitude: (on the one hand) a (mere) chattel slave, who hath control of nothing, and (on the other hand) one on whom we have bestowed a fair provision from Us, and he spendeth thereof secretly and openly. Are they equal? Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not.” (16:75)

0:48 All praise is due to Allah, yet most of them do not know.

0:57 Allah presents a parable for you, O people, regarding the disbeliever among His servants and the believer among them.

1:04 As for the parable of the disbeliever, he does not act in obedience to Allah nor does he perform any good.

1:10 He is like a slave owned by another, who possesses nothing and has no power to spend anything.

1:15 As for the believer in Allah, he acts in obedience to Allah and spends his wealth in His cause.

1:22 He is like a free man whom Allah has provided with wealth, so he spends from it both secretly and openly.

1:29 Can the slave who owns nothing and has no power over anything be equal [to the free man]?

1:33 And this free man whom Allah has provided with good provision, so he spends as described?

1:40 Likewise, the disbeliever who acts in disobedience to Allah is not equal to the believer who acts in obedience to Him.

1:48 Perfect praise belongs to Allah alone, exclusively, rather than the idols you call upon besides Him, O people.

1:55 The matter is not as you act, nor is the truth as you say.

1:59 Those idols have no power in their possession for which they should be praised.

2:04 But most of these disbelievers do not know that this is the case.

2:09 In their ignorance, they make them partners with Allah in worship and praise.

2:18 “And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go, he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth a straight path (of conduct)?” (16:76)

2:25 “And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go, he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth a straight path (of conduct)?” (16:76)

2:35 “And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go, he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth a straight path (of conduct)?” (16:76)

2:39 “And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go, he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth a straight path (of conduct)?” (16:76)

2:44 “And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go, he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth a straight path (of conduct)?” (16:76)

2:54 This is a parable Allah strikes for Himself and for the deities worshipped besides Him.

3:00 “And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go, he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth a straight path (of conduct)?” (16:76)

3:06 By this, it is meant that the idol neither hears anything nor speaks.

3:12 It is a burden upon its guardian, its allies, and those who support it.

3:17 Likewise, the idol is a burden upon those who worship it.

3:21 It requires someone to carry it, place it, and serve it.

3:25 It is like the mute who, wherever his guardian directs him, brings no good.

3:30 Likewise, the idol does not comprehend what is said to it.

3:34 Nor does it speak to command or forbid.

3:37 Is this mute equal to one who is articulate and speaks?

3:42 Who commands justice and calls others to it?

3:44 And he, along with his command for justice, is upon a straight path.

3:49 He does not deviate from the truth nor does he depart from it.

3:54 To Allah belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth.

3:58 “And unto Allah belongeth the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and the matter of the Hour (of Doom) is but as a twinkling of the eye, or it is nearer still. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.” (16:77)

4:04 Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

4:12 To Allah, O people, belongs the dominion of all that is hidden from your sight in the heavens and the earth.

4:19 The matter of the Hour is but like a glance of the eye.

4:23 Or it is even closer than the blinking of an eye.

4:26 For that is only because it is said to it, "Be," and it is.

4:31 Indeed, Allah is capable of establishing the Hour in less than the blinking of an eye.

4:37 And He is capable of all things that He wills.

4:40 Nothing that He desires is impossible for Him.

4:45 “And Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers knowing nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and hearts that haply ye might give thanks.” (16:78)

4:55 You knew nothing, and He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts so that you might give thanks.

5:06 And Allah taught you what you did not know.

5:10 After He brought you out of your mothers' wombs, you knew nothing and understood nothing.

5:17 So He gave you hearing with which you hear sounds.

5:21 Through which some of you understand what others are discussing among you.

5:26 And He gave you sight with which you see people, so you recognize one another.

5:32 And hearts with which you know things.

5:36 You preserve them, reflect upon them, and gain understanding through them.

5:40 We did that for you.

5:42 So thank Allah for the blessings He has bestowed upon you, rather than the idols and rivals.

5:51 “Have they not seen the birds obedient in mid-air? None holdeth them save Allah. Lo! herein, verily, are portents for a people who believe.” (16:79)

6:05 Indeed, in that are signs for a people who believe.

6:14 Do you not see, O those who associate partners with Allah?

6:17 The birds are subjected in the atmosphere of the sky, between it and the earth.

6:23 Their flight in the air is only by the power of Allah.

6:26 If He were to withdraw the ability to fly that He gave them,

6:30 They would not be able to rise or ascend.

6:33 Indeed, in Allah’s subjection of the birds,

6:35 And His enabling them to fly in the atmosphere of the sky,

6:39 Are signs and proofs that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner.

6:46 For a people who acknowledge the reality of what their eyes see and their senses perceive.

6:54 “And Allah hath given you in your houses an abode, and hath given you (also), of the hides of cattle, houses which ye find light (to carry) on the day of migration and on the day of pitching camp; and of their wool and their fur and their hair, caparison and comfort for a while.” (16:80)

7:11 “And Allah hath given you in your houses an abode, and hath given you (also), of the hides of cattle, houses which ye find light (to carry) on the day of migration and on the day of pitching camp; and of their wool and their fur and their hair, caparison and comfort for a while.” (16:80)

7:31 And Allah has made for you, O people, your homes a place of rest.

7:36 Where you dwell during your stay in your lands.

7:39 And He made for you, from the hides of livestock, tents of hair, wool, and fur.

7:45 Which you find light to carry and transport on the day of your travel and the day of your stay in your lands.

7:53 And from their wool, fur, and hair, you make household furnishings and goods.

8:00 Allah has made these for you as a provision, to suffice you until the time of your death.

8:09 “And Allah hath given you, of that which He hath created, shelter from the sun; and hath given you places of refuge in the mountains, and hath given you coats to ward off the heat from you, and coats (of armour) to save you from your own foolhardiness. Thus doth He perfect His favour unto you, in order that ye may surrender (unto Him).” (16:81)

8:35 “And Allah hath given you, of that which He hath created, shelter from the sun; and hath given you places of refuge in the mountains, and hath given you coats to ward off the heat from you, and coats (of armour) to save you from your own foolhardiness. Thus doth He perfect His favour unto you, in order that ye may surrender (unto Him).” (16:81)

8:44 And among the blessings of Allah upon you, O people, is that He made for you, from what He created of trees and other things, shade in which you take shelter from the intense heat.

8:55 He made for you places in the mountains to dwell in, and He made for you garments of cotton, linen, and wool, and shirts to protect you from the heat.

9:05 He made for you armor to protect you from weapons reaching you, just as your Lord has given you these things.

9:14 Thus does He complete His favor upon you, that you might submit, so you may humble yourselves to Allah in obedience and devote your worship to Him alone.

9:24 “Then, if they turn away, thy duty (O Muhammad) is but plain conveyance (of the message).” (16:82)

9:35 If these polytheists turn away, O Muhammad, from the truth I have sent you with to them, then there is no blame upon you; for you are only responsible for delivering the message clearly to those who hear it until they understand.

9:52 They recognize the favor of Allah, then they deny it, and most of them are disbelievers.

10:02 These polytheists recognize the favor of Allah upon them by sending Muhammad, peace be upon him.

10:10 Then they deny you and reject your prophethood, and most of your people are deniers of your prophethood despite acknowledging it.

10:20 “And (bethink you of) the day when we raise up of every nation a witness, then there is no leave for disbelievers, nor are they allowed to make amends.” (16:84)

10:41 They recognize the favor of Allah, then they deny it, and they will deny the day We raise from every nation a witness—who is their messenger sent to them—then those who disbelieved will not be permitted to offer excuses, nor will they be asked to repent, nor will they be allowed to return to the world to turn back and repent.

11:08 “And when those who did wrong behold the doom, it will not be made light for them, nor will they be reprieved.” (16:85)

11:18 And when those who denied you, O Muhammad, witness the punishment of Allah, nothing will save them from it, because they will not be permitted to offer excuses to lighten the punishment, nor will they be granted a reprieve from the torment.

11:49 And when those who associated partners with Allah see on the Day of Resurrection the deities and idols they used to worship besides Allah, they will say, "Our Lord, these are our partners whom we associated with You in disbelief."

12:18 And the partners whom we used to call deities besides You will say, "You are liars, O polytheists; we did not call you to worship us."

12:33 “And they proffer unto Allah submission on that day, and all that they used to invent hath failed them.” (16:87)

12:46 And the polytheists will offer submission to Allah on that day, surrendering and humbling themselves to His judgment over them; their deities, their people, and their tribes will be of no avail to them, and they will miss the intercession they hoped for from their deities to save them before Allah.

13:06 “For those who disbelieve and debar (men) from the way of Allah, We add doom to doom because they wrought corruption,” (16:88)

13:23 Those who rejected your prophethood, O Muhammad, and obstructed others from belief in Allah and His Messenger, We will increase them in punishment on the Day of Resurrection in Hell, over and above the punishment they are already in.

13:37 It is said that this increase is scorpions and snakes with fangs like long palm trees, because they used to disobey Allah in the world and command His servants to disobey Him; that was their corruption.

13:52 “And (bethink you of) the day when We raise in every nation a witness against them of their own folk, and We bring thee (Muhammad) as a witness against these. And We reveal the Scripture unto thee as an exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah).” (16:89)

14:25 And on the day We ask their messenger whom We sent to them from among themselves, "What was the response you received, and what did they answer you?" and We will bring you, O Muhammad, as a witness over your Ummah regarding what they answered you and what they did concerning what I sent you with to them.

14:43 And We have sent down to you, O Muhammad, this Qur'an as a clarification for everything people need regarding the knowledge of the lawful and the unlawful, the reward and the punishment, as guidance from misguidance, a mercy for those who believe in it and act upon it, and glad tidings for those who obey Allah and submit to Him in monotheism, giving them glad tidings of His abundant reward in the Hereafter and His great honor.

15:15 Tafsir al-Tabari.

Conclusion from Al-Tabari’s interpretation | Episode (16-4) | Surah An-Nahl | Verses from (75) to (89)

Transcript