10: Jonah (Yunus)
Revealed at Makkah
This chapter makes a brief reference to the Prophet Jonah (v. 98), which gives it its title, to indicate that as the people of Jonah benefited by his warning, so would the Arabs ultimately believe in the Prophet Muhammad. While this chapter asserts the truth of revelation, it also lays stress on the merciful dealing of God with mankind. It tells us that He does not send punishment quickly and that evidence of His mercy is also found in nature. It also refers to the histories of Noah and Moses. This chapter was revealed during the last four years of the Makkan period of the Holy Prophet’s life.
Section 1 (Verses 10:1–10:10): Truth of Revelation
10:1
الٓرٰ ۟ تِلۡکَ اٰیٰتُ الۡکِتٰبِ الۡحَکِیۡمِ ﴿۱﴾
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. I, Allah, am the Seer. These are the verses of the Book, full of wisdom.
Alif, lām, rā are the three letters which stand at the head of this chapter and chapters 11, 12, 14 and 15, while chapter 13 has alif, lām, mīm, rā. The abbreviation is of the same form as alif, lām, mīm (see 2:1 footnote), except that rā stands for Rā’i, meaning the Seer, or arā, meaning I see. Chapters 10 to 16 all belong to the last four years of the Holy Prophet’s life at Makkah, and deal with the truth of prophethood with more or less reference to the histories of the earlier prophets, four of them being named after a prophet.
10:2
اَکَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا اَنۡ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلٰی رَجُلٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ اَنۡ اَنۡذِرِ النَّاسَ وَ بَشِّرِ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَنَّ لَہُمۡ قَدَمَ صِدۡقٍ عِنۡدَ رَبِّہِمۡ ؕؔ قَالَ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَسٰحِرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۲﴾
Is it a wonder to the people that We have revealed to a man from among themselves: Warn the people and give good news to those who believe that for them is advancement in excellence with their Lord? The disbelievers say: This is surely an obvious enchanter.
The words “advancement in excellence” may also be translated as a footing of firmness.
10:3
اِنَّ رَبَّکُمُ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ فِیۡ سِتَّۃِ اَیَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسۡتَوٰی عَلَی الۡعَرۡشِ یُدَبِّرُ الۡاَمۡرَ ؕ مَا مِنۡ شَفِیۡعٍ اِلَّا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ اِذۡنِہٖ ؕ ذٰلِکُمُ اللّٰہُ رَبُّکُمۡ فَاعۡبُدُوۡہُ ؕ اَفَلَا تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
Surely your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, and He is established on the Throne of Power regulating the Affair. There is no intercessor except after His per-mission. This is Allah, your Lord, therefore serve Him. Will you not be mindful?
For creation in six periods and the Throne of Power, see footnotes under 7:54. In regulating the Affair, there is a further reference to the spiritual evolution of man, as stated more clearly elsewhere: “He orders (or regulates) the Affair from the heaven to the earth” (32:5). For intercession, see 2:255 footnote 1.
10:4
اِلَیۡہِ مَرۡجِعُکُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ وَعۡدَ اللّٰہِ حَقًّا ؕ اِنَّہٗ یَبۡدَؤُا الۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ یُعِیۡدُہٗ لِیَجۡزِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ بِالۡقِسۡطِ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَہُمۡ شَرَابٌ مِّنۡ حَمِیۡمٍ وَّ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌۢ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡفُرُوۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
To Him is your return, of all (of you). It is the promise of Allah (made) in truth. Surely He produces the first creation, then He reproduces it, that He may reward with equity those who believe and do good. And as for those who disbelieve, for them is a drink of hot water and a painful punishment because they disbelieved.
10:5
ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ جَعَلَ الشَّمۡسَ ضِیَآءً وَّ الۡقَمَرَ نُوۡرًا وَّ قَدَّرَہٗ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعۡلَمُوۡا عَدَدَ السِّنِیۡنَ وَ الۡحِسَابَ ؕ مَا خَلَقَ اللّٰہُ ذٰلِکَ اِلَّا بِالۡحَقِّ ۚ یُفَصِّلُ الۡاٰیٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ یَّعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
He it is Who made the sun a shining brightness, and the moon a light, and ordained for it stages that you might know the computation of years and the reckoning. Allah did not create this but with truth. He makes the signs clear for a people who know.
The moon is here called nūr because its light is borrowed, as contrasted with the sun which is called here ḍiyā’.
10:6
اِنَّ فِی اخۡتِلَافِ الَّیۡلِ وَ النَّہَارِ وَ مَا خَلَقَ اللّٰہُ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ یَّتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
Surely in the alternation of the night and the day, and what Allah has created in the heavens and the earth, there are signs for a people who keep their duty.
The whole of creation is, despite its variety, subject to one law, and clearly bears witness to the unity of its Maker. And just as the visible universe is subject to law, there is also a law working in the spiritual world.
10:7
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَرۡجُوۡنَ لِقَآءَنَا وَ رَضُوۡا بِالۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ اطۡمَاَنُّوۡا بِہَا وَ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ عَنۡ اٰیٰتِنَا غٰفِلُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۷﴾
Those who do not expect the meeting with Us, and are pleased with this world’s life and are satisfied with it, and those who are heedless of Our messages —
10:8
اُولٰٓئِکَ مَاۡوٰىہُمُ النَّارُ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
these, their abode is the Fire because of what they earned.
10:9
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ یَہۡدِیۡہِمۡ رَبُّہُمۡ بِاِیۡمَانِہِمۡ ۚ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہِمُ الۡاَنۡہٰرُ فِیۡ جَنّٰتِ النَّعِیۡمِ ﴿۹﴾
Those who believe and do good, their Lord guides them by their faith; rivers will flow beneath them in Gardens of bliss.
The light of faith, which is even in this life a guiding principle of man’s actions, will assume a more palpable form in the life after death. Compare 57:12, where it is called the light running, or gleaming, before them.
10:10
دَعۡوٰىہُمۡ فِیۡہَا سُبۡحٰنَکَ اللّٰہُمَّ وَ تَحِیَّتُہُمۡ فِیۡہَا سَلٰمٌ ۚ وَ اٰخِرُ دَعۡوٰىہُمۡ اَنِ الۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۱۰﴾
Their cry therein will be, Glory be to You, O Allah! and their greeting, Peace! And the last of their cry will be: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!
This is the Muslim paradise, and this description is sufficient to belie the allegation that the Muslim concept of paradise is characterized by sensuality.
Section 2 (Verses 10:11–10:20): Punishment of Rejection
10:11
وَ لَوۡ یُعَجِّلُ اللّٰہُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسۡتِعۡجَالَہُمۡ بِالۡخَیۡرِ لَقُضِیَ اِلَیۡہِمۡ اَجَلُہُمۡ ؕ فَنَذَرُ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَرۡجُوۡنَ لِقَآءَنَا فِیۡ طُغۡیَانِہِمۡ یَعۡمَہُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
And if Allah were to hasten for people the (consequences of) evil, as they would hasten on the good, their doom would certainly have been decreed for them. But We leave those alone, who have no hope of meeting with Us, in their inordinacy, blindly wandering on.
People desire and pray for good things to be hastened on to them, and they are hastened on, but in His merciful dealing God does not hasten on the consequences of evil, so that people may repent and escape those consequences.
10:12
وَ اِذَا مَسَّ الۡاِنۡسَانَ الضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنۡۢبِہٖۤ اَوۡ قَاعِدًا اَوۡ قَآئِمًا ۚ فَلَمَّا کَشَفۡنَا عَنۡہُ ضُرَّہٗ مَرَّ کَاَنۡ لَّمۡ یَدۡعُنَاۤ اِلٰی ضُرٍّ مَّسَّہٗ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ زُیِّنَ لِلۡمُسۡرِفِیۡنَ مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾
And when affliction touches man, he calls on Us, whether lying on his side or sitting or standing; but, when We remove his affliction from him, he passes on as though he had never called on Us on account of an affliction that touched him. Thus what they do is made to seem good to the extravagant.
10:13
وَ لَقَدۡ اَہۡلَکۡنَا الۡقُرُوۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوۡا ۙ وَ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ وَ مَا کَانُوۡا لِیُؤۡمِنُوۡا ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡقَوۡمَ الۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾
And certainly We destroyed generations before you when they did wrong, and their messengers came to them with clear arguments, yet they would not believe. Thus do We recompense the guilty people.
10:14
ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنٰکُمۡ خَلٰٓئِفَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ لِنَنۡظُرَ کَیۡفَ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
Then We made you rulers in the land after them, so that We might see how you act.
10:15
وَ اِذَا تُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیَاتُنَا بَیِّنٰتٍ ۙ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَرۡجُوۡنَ لِقَآءَنَا ائۡتِ بِقُرۡاٰنٍ غَیۡرِ ہٰذَاۤ اَوۡ بَدِّلۡہُ ؕ قُلۡ مَا یَکُوۡنُ لِیۡۤ اَنۡ اُبَدِّلَہٗ مِنۡ تِلۡقَآیِٔ نَفۡسِیۡ ۚ اِنۡ اَتَّبِعُ اِلَّا مَا یُوۡحٰۤی اِلَیَّ ۚ اِنِّیۡۤ اَخَافُ اِنۡ عَصَیۡتُ رَبِّیۡ عَذَابَ یَوۡمٍ عَظِیۡمٍ ﴿۱۵﴾
And when Our clear messages are recited to them, those who have no hope of meeting with Us say: Bring a Quran other than this or change it. Say: It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I follow only what is revealed to me. Indeed I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a terrible day.
They desire a revelation which should not condemn their evil ways and their idol-worship, nor contain any threats of their coming doom.
10:16
قُلۡ لَّوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ مَا تَلَوۡتُہٗ عَلَیۡکُمۡ وَ لَاۤ اَدۡرٰىکُمۡ بِہٖ ۫ۖ فَقَدۡ لَبِثۡتُ فِیۡکُمۡ عُمُرًا مِّنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ ؕ اَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
Say: If Allah had desired, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. I have lived among you a lifetime before it. Do you not then understand?
The Holy Prophet’s truthfulness and honesty before he received the Divine revelation were undisputed, and he had earned such renown for these qualities that he was known as al-Amīn, i.e. the Faithful one, or the Truthful one. If, as they admitted, he had never told a lie in his lifetime, even for the sake of a personal advantage, how could he, now that he had passed the age of youth, speak falsely, and that to his own detriment? He was not the gainer, but a sufferer thereby, on account of the persecution which his preaching had brought about for him. Moreover, a man who had so long refrained from showing any interest in their lives and their modes of worship, and had all but lived the silent life of a recluse among them, could not, of his own accord, be imagined to have suddenly changed the course of his life.
10:17
فَمَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ افۡتَرٰی عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا اَوۡ کَذَّبَ بِاٰیٰتِہٖ ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَا یُفۡلِحُ الۡمُجۡرِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or calls His messages a lie? Surely the guilty never succeed.
10:18
وَ یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مَا لَا یَضُرُّہُمۡ وَ لَا یَنۡفَعُہُمۡ وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ شُفَعَآؤُنَا عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ ؕ قُلۡ اَتُنَبِّـُٔوۡنَ اللّٰہَ بِمَا لَا یَعۡلَمُ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ لَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ سُبۡحٰنَہٗ وَ تَعٰلٰی عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾
And they serve besides Allah that which can neither harm them nor benefit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah. Say: Would you inform Allah of what He does not know in the heavens and the earth? Glory be to Him, and supremely exalted is He above what they set up as partners (with Him)!
10:19
وَ مَا کَانَ النَّاسُ اِلَّاۤ اُمَّۃً وَّاحِدَۃً فَاخۡتَلَفُوۡا ؕ وَ لَوۡ لَا کَلِمَۃٌ سَبَقَتۡ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ لَقُضِیَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ فِیۡمَا فِیۡہِ یَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
And (all) people are but a single nation, then they disagree. And if a word had not already gone forth from your Lord, the matter would have certainly been decided between them regarding that in which they disagree.
The word that had gone forth is referred to in many places: “And they say: When will this promise come to pass, if you are truthful? Say: Maybe something of what you seek to hasten has drawn near to you” (27:71–72). And again: “Say: You have the appointment of a day which you cannot postpone by an hour, nor bring it forward” (34:30).
10:20
وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ لَوۡ لَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ عَلَیۡہِ اٰیَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہٖ ۚ فَقُلۡ اِنَّمَا الۡغَیۡبُ لِلّٰہِ فَانۡتَظِرُوۡا ۚ اِنِّیۡ مَعَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡمُنۡتَظِرِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۰﴾
And they say: Why is not a sign sent to him from his Lord? Say: The unseen is only for Allah, so wait; I too am waiting along with you.
It is clear from the context that their demand is for the punishment with which they are threatened, because they would recognize no other sign; they are told to wait for the sign which would undoubtedly come.
Section 3 (Verses 10:21–10:30): Merciful Dealing
10:21
وَ اِذَاۤ اَذَقۡنَا النَّاسَ رَحۡمَۃً مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتۡہُمۡ اِذَا لَہُمۡ مَّکۡرٌ فِیۡۤ اٰیَاتِنَا ؕ قُلِ اللّٰہُ اَسۡرَعُ مَکۡرًا ؕ اِنَّ رُسُلَنَا یَکۡتُبُوۡنَ مَا تَمۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
And when We make people taste of mercy after an affliction touches them, lo! they devise plans against Our messages. Say: Allah is quicker to plan. Surely Our messengers write down what you plan.
10:22
ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ یُسَیِّرُکُمۡ فِی الۡبَرِّ وَ الۡبَحۡرِ ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا کُنۡتُمۡ فِی الۡفُلۡکِ ۚ وَ جَرَیۡنَ بِہِمۡ بِرِیۡحٍ طَیِّبَۃٍ وَّ فَرِحُوۡا بِہَا جَآءَتۡہَا رِیۡحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَّ جَآءَہُمُ الۡمَوۡجُ مِنۡ کُلِّ مَکَانٍ وَّ ظَنُّوۡۤا اَنَّہُمۡ اُحِیۡطَ بِہِمۡ ۙ دَعَوُا اللّٰہَ مُخۡلِصِیۡنَ لَہُ الدِّیۡنَ ۬ۚ لَئِنۡ اَنۡجَیۡتَنَا مِنۡ ہٰذِہٖ لَنَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الشّٰکِرِیۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
He it is Who makes you travel by land and sea; until, when you are in the ships, and they sail on with them in a pleasant breeze, and they rejoice at it, a violent wind overtakes them and waves surge in on them from all sides, and they think they are surrounded. Then they pray to Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience: If You deliver us from this, we will certainly be from among the grateful ones.
10:23
فَلَمَّاۤ اَنۡجٰہُمۡ اِذَا ہُمۡ یَبۡغُوۡنَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ بِغَیۡرِ الۡحَقِّ ؕ یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اِنَّمَا بَغۡیُکُمۡ عَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ ۙ مَّتَاعَ الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ۫ ثُمَّ اِلَیۡنَا مَرۡجِعُکُمۡ فَنُنَبِّئُکُمۡ بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
But when He delivers them, lo! they are unjustly rebellious in the earth. O people, your rebellion is against yourselves — a provision (only) of this world’s life. Then to Us is your return, so We shall inform you of what you did.
10:24
اِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا کَمَآءٍ اَنۡزَلۡنٰہُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ فَاخۡتَلَطَ بِہٖ نَبَاتُ الۡاَرۡضِ مِمَّا یَاۡکُلُ النَّاسُ وَ الۡاَنۡعَامُ ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَاۤ اَخَذَتِ الۡاَرۡضُ زُخۡرُفَہَا وَ ازَّیَّنَتۡ وَ ظَنَّ اَہۡلُہَاۤ اَنَّہُمۡ قٰدِرُوۡنَ عَلَیۡہَاۤ ۙ اَتٰہَاۤ اَمۡرُنَا لَیۡلًا اَوۡ نَہَارًا فَجَعَلۡنٰہَا حَصِیۡدًا کَاَنۡ لَّمۡ تَغۡنَ بِالۡاَمۡسِ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نُفَصِّلُ الۡاٰیٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ یَّتَفَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾
The likeness of this world’s life is only as water which We send down from the clouds, then the vegetation of the earth, of which people and cattle eat, grows luxuriantly thereby; until when the earth puts on its golden attire and it becomes adorned, and its people think that they are masters of it, Our command comes to it, by night or by day, so We render it as reaped seed-produce, as though it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We make clear the messages for a people who reflect.
10:25
وَ اللّٰہُ یَدۡعُوۡۤا اِلٰی دَارِ السَّلٰمِ ؕ وَ یَہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ اِلٰی صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٍ ﴿۲۵﴾
And Allah invites to the abode of peace, and guides whom He pleases to the right path.
This is another description of the Muslim paradise, which is called dar al-salām, or the abode of peace. The word salām in dar al-salām is from the same root as Islām. Islam, in fact, makes even this world an abode of peace for a true Muslim; he makes his peace with his Lord, and he lives at peace with his fellow beings. The peace of the next life is, in fact, a continuation of the peace of mind which a Muslim finds in this very life.
10:26
لِلَّذِیۡنَ اَحۡسَنُوا الۡحُسۡنٰی وَ زِیَادَۃٌ ؕ وَ لَا یَرۡہَقُ وُجُوۡہَہُمۡ قَتَرٌ وَّ لَا ذِلَّۃٌ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡجَنَّۃِ ۚ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۶﴾
For those who do good is good (reward) and more (than this). Neither darkness nor disgrace will cover their faces. These are the owners of the Garden; in it they will abide.
Throughout the Quran the reward of virtue is spoken of as being much more than actual recompense, while evil is either spoken of as being forgiven or as being punished only with a like punishment. See 42:25–26 and 6:160.
10:27
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَسَبُوا السَّیِّاٰتِ جَزَآءُ سَیِّئَۃٍۭ بِمِثۡلِہَا ۙ وَ تَرۡہَقُہُمۡ ذِلَّۃٌ ؕ مَا لَہُمۡ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ عَاصِمٍ ۚ کَاَنَّمَاۤ اُغۡشِیَتۡ وُجُوۡہُہُمۡ قِطَعًا مِّنَ الَّیۡلِ مُظۡلِمًا ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ ۚ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
And those who earn evil, the punishment of an evil is the like of it, and humiliation will cover them — they will have none to protect them from Allah — as if their faces had been covered with slices of the dense darkness of night. These are the companions of the Fire; in it they will abide.
10:28
وَ یَوۡمَ نَحۡشُرُہُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ثُمَّ نَقُوۡلُ لِلَّذِیۡنَ اَشۡرَکُوۡا مَکَانَکُمۡ اَنۡتُمۡ وَ شُرَکَآؤُکُمۡ ۚ فَزَیَّلۡنَا بَیۡنَہُمۡ وَ قَالَ شُرَکَآؤُہُمۡ مَّا کُنۡتُمۡ اِیَّانَا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
And on the day when We gather them all together, then We shall say to those who set up partners (with Allah): Stay where you are, you and your associate-gods. Then We shall separate them from one another, and their associate-gods will say: It was not us that you served.
10:29
فَکَفٰی بِاللّٰہِ شَہِیۡدًۢا بَیۡنَنَا وَ بَیۡنَکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنَّا عَنۡ عِبَادَتِکُمۡ لَغٰفِلِیۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
So Allah is sufficient as a witness between us and you that we were quite unaware of your serving (us).
10:30
ہُنَالِکَ تَبۡلُوۡا کُلُّ نَفۡسٍ مَّاۤ اَسۡلَفَتۡ وَ رُدُّوۡۤا اِلَی اللّٰہِ مَوۡلٰىہُمُ الۡحَقِّ وَ ضَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۳۰﴾
There will every soul become acquainted with what it did before, and they will be brought back to Allah, their true Patron, and what they devised will escape from them.
Section 4 (Verses 10:31–10:40): Uniqueness of Divine Gifts
10:31
قُلۡ مَنۡ یَّرۡزُقُکُمۡ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ اَمَّنۡ یَّمۡلِکُ السَّمۡعَ وَ الۡاَبۡصَارَ وَ مَنۡ یُّخۡرِجُ الۡحَیَّ مِنَ الۡمَیِّتِ وَ یُخۡرِجُ الۡمَیِّتَ مِنَ الۡحَیِّ وَ مَنۡ یُّدَبِّرُ الۡاَمۡرَ ؕ فَسَیَقُوۡلُوۡنَ اللّٰہُ ۚ فَقُلۡ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
Say: Who gives you sustenance from the heaven and the earth, or who controls the hearing and the sight, and who brings forth the living from the dead, and brings forth the dead from the living? And who regulates the affair? They will say: Allah. Say then: Will you not then guard against evil?
10:32
فَذٰلِکُمُ اللّٰہُ رَبُّکُمُ الۡحَقُّ ۚ فَمَا ذَا بَعۡدَ الۡحَقِّ اِلَّا الضَّلٰلُ ۚۖ فَاَنّٰی تُصۡرَفُوۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
Such then is Allah, your true Lord. And what is there after the truth but error? How then are you turned away (from truth)!
10:33
کَذٰلِکَ حَقَّتۡ کَلِمَتُ رَبِّکَ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ فَسَقُوۡۤا اَنَّہُمۡ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
Thus does the word of your Lord prove true against those who transgress that they do not believe.
The word refers to the fact that their disbelief is a result of their transgression.
10:34
قُلۡ ہَلۡ مِنۡ شُرَکَآئِکُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّبۡدَؤُا الۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ یُعِیۡدُہٗ ؕ قُلِ اللّٰہُ یَبۡدَؤُا الۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ یُعِیۡدُہٗ فَاَنّٰی تُؤۡفَکُوۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
Say: Is there anyone among your associate-gods who produces the first creation, then reproduces it? Say: Allah produces the first creation, then He reproduces it. How are you then turned away (from truth)!
10:35
قُلۡ ہَلۡ مِنۡ شُرَکَآئِکُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّہۡدِیۡۤ اِلَی الۡحَقِّ ؕ قُلِ اللّٰہُ یَہۡدِیۡ لِلۡحَقِّ ؕ اَفَمَنۡ یَّہۡدِیۡۤ اِلَی الۡحَقِّ اَحَقُّ اَنۡ یُّتَّبَعَ اَمَّنۡ لَّا یَہِدِّیۡۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ یُّہۡدٰی ۚ فَمَا لَکُمۡ ۟ کَیۡفَ تَحۡکُمُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
Say: Is there any of your associate-gods who guides to the Truth? Say: Allah guides to the Truth. Is He then Who guides to the Truth more worthy to be followed, or he who cannot find the way unless he is guided? What is the matter with you? How do you judge?
10:36
وَ مَا یَتَّبِعُ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ اِلَّا ظَنًّا ؕ اِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا یُغۡنِیۡ مِنَ الۡحَقِّ شَیۡئًا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلِیۡمٌۢ بِمَا یَفۡعَلُوۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
And most of them follow only conjecture. Surely conjecture will not avail at all against the Truth. Truly Allah is Knower of what they do.
10:37
وَ مَا کَانَ ہٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنُ اَنۡ یُّفۡتَرٰی مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ لٰکِنۡ تَصۡدِیۡقَ الَّذِیۡ بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡہِ وَ تَفۡصِیۡلَ الۡکِتٰبِ لَا رَیۡبَ فِیۡہِ مِنۡ رَّبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۟۳۷﴾
And this Quran is not such as could be forged by those besides Allah, but it is a verification of what is before it and a clear explanation of the Book, there is no doubt in it, from the Lord of the worlds.
The Quran explains in clear words many of the most important principles of religion which are left ambiguous or obscure in the previous books. For instance, the Bible is obscure on the important principle of resurrection or life after death. Similarly the attributes of the Divine Being are not explained in clear words and the result is the doctrine of the divinity of Jesus Christ. The Quran fully explains all such points and finally settles all these questions.
10:38
اَمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ افۡتَرٰىہُ ؕ قُلۡ فَاۡتُوۡا بِسُوۡرَۃٍ مِّثۡلِہٖ وَ ادۡعُوۡا مَنِ اسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
Or say they: He has forged it? Say: Then bring a chapter like it, and call upon whom you can besides Allah, if you are truthful.
10:39
بَلۡ کَذَّبُوۡا بِمَا لَمۡ یُحِیۡطُوۡا بِعِلۡمِہٖ وَ لَمَّا یَاۡتِہِمۡ تَاۡوِیۡلُہٗ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ کَذَّبَ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ فَانۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۳۹﴾
But they reject that whose knowledge they cannot encompass and whose final sequel has not yet come to them. Even thus did those before them reject; then see what was the end of the wrongdoers.
The final sequel is the consequence of the rejection of the Truth.
10:40
وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ یُّؤۡمِنُ بِہٖ وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُ بِہٖ ؕ وَ رَبُّکَ اَعۡلَمُ بِالۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿٪۴۰﴾
And some of them believe in it, and some of them do not believe in it. And your Lord best knows the mischief-makers.
Section 5 (Verses 10:41–10:53): The Guilty and their Punishment
10:41
وَ اِنۡ کَذَّبُوۡکَ فَقُلۡ لِّیۡ عَمَلِیۡ وَ لَکُمۡ عَمَلُکُمۡ ۚ اَنۡتُمۡ بَرِیۡٓـــُٔوۡنَ مِمَّاۤ اَعۡمَلُ وَ اَنَا بَرِیۡٓءٌ مِّمَّا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
And if they reject you, say: My work is for me and your work for you. You are clear of what I do and I am clear of what you do.
10:42
وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّسۡتَمِعُوۡنَ اِلَیۡکَ ؕ اَفَاَنۡتَ تُسۡمِعُ الصُّمَّ وَ لَوۡ کَانُوۡا لَا یَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
And some of them listen to you. But can you make the deaf to hear, though they will not understand?
10:43
وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّنۡظُرُ اِلَیۡکَ ؕ اَفَاَنۡتَ تَہۡدِی الۡعُمۡیَ وَ لَوۡ کَانُوۡا لَا یُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
And some of them look at you. But can you show the way to the blind, though they will not see?
Compare 7:179: “They have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear.”
10:44
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَظۡلِمُ النَّاسَ شَیۡئًا وَّ لٰکِنَّ النَّاسَ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ یَظۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
Surely Allah does not wrong people in the least, but people wrong themselves.
10:45
وَ یَوۡمَ یَحۡشُرُہُمۡ کَاَنۡ لَّمۡ یَلۡبَثُوۡۤا اِلَّا سَاعَۃً مِّنَ النَّہَارِ یَتَعَارَفُوۡنَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ ؕ قَدۡ خَسِرَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِلِقَآءِ اللّٰہِ وَ مَا کَانُوۡا مُہۡتَدِیۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾
And on the day when He will gather them, as though they had not stayed but an hour of the day, they will recognize one another. They perish indeed who reject the meeting with Allah, and they do not follow the right way.
10:46
وَ اِمَّا نُرِیَنَّکَ بَعۡضَ الَّذِیۡ نَعِدُہُمۡ اَوۡ نَتَوَفَّیَنَّکَ فَاِلَیۡنَا مَرۡجِعُہُمۡ ثُمَّ اللّٰہُ شَہِیۡدٌ عَلٰی مَا یَفۡعَلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
And if We show you something of what We promise them, or cause you to die (before that), yet to Us is their return, and Allah is Witness to what they do.
The significance of the words “to Us is their return” is that those who are warned will be dealt with by Allah as they deserve, and the warning will prove true. It is no concern of theirs whether the Prophet lives to punish them with his own hands or that punishment is executed by Allah in some other way.
10:47
وَ لِکُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ رَّسُوۡلٌ ۚ فَاِذَا جَآءَ رَسُوۡلُہُمۡ قُضِیَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ بِالۡقِسۡطِ وَ ہُمۡ لَا یُظۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
And for every nation there is a messenger. So when their messenger comes, the matter is decided between them with justice, and they are not wronged.
Compare 35:24: “And there is not a people but a warner has gone among them”. Humanity will always be under the deepest obligation to the Holy Prophet for this broad humanitarian principle. By “between them” must be understood the messenger and those who charge him with falsehood.
10:48
وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ مَتٰی ہٰذَا الۡوَعۡدُ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
And they say: When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?
10:49
قُلۡ لَّاۤ اَمۡلِکُ لِنَفۡسِیۡ ضَرًّا وَّ لَا نَفۡعًا اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ اللّٰہُ ؕ لِکُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ اَجَلٌ ؕ اِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُہُمۡ فَلَا یَسۡتَاۡخِرُوۡنَ سَاعَۃً وَّ لَا یَسۡتَقۡدِمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
Say: I do not control for myself any harm, or any benefit, except what Allah pleases. Every nation has a term. When their term comes, they cannot postpone it an hour, nor bring it forward.
These are not the words which a pretender would utter but are those of an honest man who, without assuming any personal pretensions, preaches truth in all sincerity. The Holy Prophet is repeatedly made to disclaim any control of good and evil, so that he offers no low temptation to his followers. Truth must be accepted for its own sake, not for any hope of worldly gain or fear of worldly loss.
10:50
قُلۡ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ اَتٰىکُمۡ عَذَابُہٗ بَیَاتًا اَوۡ نَہَارًا مَّاذَا یَسۡتَعۡجِلُ مِنۡہُ الۡمُجۡرِمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۰﴾
Say: Do you see if His punishment comes to you by night or by day? What (part) of it would the guilty hasten?
The coming of the doom by night or by day signifies its coming at a time when people are engaged in their revelries or occupied with their business transactions, so as to be utterly inattentive to the real values of life.
10:51
اَثُمَّ اِذَا مَا وَقَعَ اٰمَنۡتُمۡ بِہٖ ؕ آٰلۡـٰٔنَ وَ قَدۡ کُنۡتُمۡ بِہٖ تَسۡتَعۡجِلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۱﴾
And when it comes to pass, will you believe in it? What! now! and you hastened it on.
10:52
ثُمَّ قِیۡلَ لِلَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ذُوۡقُوۡا عَذَابَ الۡخُلۡدِ ۚ ہَلۡ تُجۡزَوۡنَ اِلَّا بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
Then will it be said to those who were unjust: Taste abiding punishment; you are not recompensed except for what you earned.
10:53
وَ یَسۡتَنۡۢبِئُوۡنَکَ اَحَقٌّ ہُوَ ؕؔ قُلۡ اِیۡ وَ رَبِّیۡۤ اِنَّہٗ لَحَقٌّ ۚؕؔ وَ مَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ بِمُعۡجِزِیۡنَ ﴿٪۵۳﴾
And they ask you: Is that true? Say: Yes, by my Lord! it is surely the Truth, and you will not escape.
Section 6 (Verses 10:54–10:60): Mercy takes Precedence over Punishment
10:54
وَ لَوۡ اَنَّ لِکُلِّ نَفۡسٍ ظَلَمَتۡ مَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ لَافۡتَدَتۡ بِہٖ ؕ وَ اَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَۃَ لَمَّا رَاَوُا الۡعَذَابَ ۚ وَ قُضِیَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ بِالۡقِسۡطِ وَ ہُمۡ لَا یُظۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۴﴾
And if every soul that has done wrong had all that is in the earth, it would offer it for ransom. And they will manifest regret when they see the punishment. And it will be decided between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.
10:55
اَلَاۤ اِنَّ لِلّٰہِ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ وَعۡدَ اللّٰہِ حَقٌّ وَّ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾
Now surely whatever is in the heavens and the earth is Allah’s. Now surely Allah’s promise is true, but most of them do not know.
10:56
ہُوَ یُحۡیٖ وَ یُمِیۡتُ وَ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
He gives life and causes death, and to Him you will be returned.
10:57
یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡکُمۡ مَّوۡعِظَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ وَ شِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِی الصُّدُوۡرِ ۬ۙ وَ ہُدًی وَّ رَحۡمَۃٌ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
O people, an admonition has indeed come to you from your Lord and a healing for what is in the hearts; and a guidance and a mercy for the believers.
They demanded punishment again and again, but they are told that Allah has sent to them that in which they will find a healing and a guidance and a mercy for them, viz. the Quran. Compare 29:51, where, in answer to a demand for a sign which should destroy them, the disbelievers are told: “Is it not enough for them that We have revealed to you (O Prophet) the Book which is recited to them? Surely there is mercy in this and a reminder for a people who believe”.
10:58
قُلۡ بِفَضۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ بِرَحۡمَتِہٖ فَبِذٰلِکَ فَلۡیَفۡرَحُوۡا ؕ ہُوَ خَیۡرٌ مِّمَّا یَجۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿۵۸﴾
Say: In the grace of Allah and in His mercy, in that they should rejoice. It is better than what they hoard.
10:59
قُلۡ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ مَّاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ رِّزۡقٍ فَجَعَلۡتُمۡ مِّنۡہُ حَرَامًا وَّ حَلٰلًا ؕ قُلۡ آٰللّٰہُ اَذِنَ لَکُمۡ اَمۡ عَلَی اللّٰہِ تَفۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۹﴾
Say: Do you see the sustenance that Allah has sent down for you, then you make (a part) of it unlawful and (a part) lawful. Say: Has Allah commanded you or do you forge a lie against Allah?
Just as Allah gave them the means of their physical sustenance, He has also sent His grace and mercy for their spiritual welfare through revelation. Yet they deprive themselves of the spiritual sustenance as if it were unlawful. Or the reference may be to their declaring certain things to be unlawful for them out of reverence for their idols.
10:60
وَ مَا ظَنُّ الَّذِیۡنَ یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ الۡکَذِبَ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَذُوۡ فَضۡلٍ عَلَی النَّاسِ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ لَا یَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۶۰﴾
And what do those think who forge lies against Allah of the day of Resurrection? Surely Allah is Bountiful to people, but most of them do not give thanks.
Section 7 (Verses 10:61–10:70): Good News for the Faithful
10:61
وَ مَا تَکُوۡنُ فِیۡ شَاۡنٍ وَّ مَا تَتۡلُوۡا مِنۡہُ مِنۡ قُرۡاٰنٍ وَّ لَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ مِنۡ عَمَلٍ اِلَّا کُنَّا عَلَیۡکُمۡ شُہُوۡدًا اِذۡ تُفِیۡضُوۡنَ فِیۡہِ ؕ وَ مَا یَعۡزُبُ عَنۡ رَّبِّکَ مِنۡ مِّثۡقَالِ ذَرَّۃٍ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لَا فِی السَّمَآءِ وَ لَاۤ اَصۡغَرَ مِنۡ ذٰلِکَ وَ لَاۤ اَکۡبَرَ اِلَّا فِیۡ کِتٰبٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۶۱﴾
And you are not (engaged) in any matter nor you recite concerning it any portion of the Quran, and you do no work, but We are witness of you when you are engaged in it. And not the weight of an atom in the earth or in the heaven is hidden from your Lord, nor anything less than that nor greater, but it is (all) in a clear book.
The clear book mentioned here is not, of course, a collection of written or printed sheets bound together. It is the book of the Divine law which makes every deed, good or evil, great or small, bring its recompense.
10:62
اَلَاۤ اِنَّ اَوۡلِیَآءَ اللّٰہِ لَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وَ لَا ہُمۡ یَحۡزَنُوۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۶۲﴾
Now surely the friends of Allah, they have no fear nor do they grieve —
The friends of Allah are those who help the Divine cause and invite people to faith in God. They attain to that spiritual height where fear and grief are unknown. There is also a prophecy of the ultimate triumph of Truth, for when a man attains his object, all his fear is gone and he no more grieves for the sacrifices he has made.
10:64
لَہُمُ الۡبُشۡرٰی فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ؕ لَا تَبۡدِیۡلَ لِکَلِمٰتِ اللّٰہِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ ہُوَ الۡفَوۡزُ الۡعَظِیۡمُ ﴿ؕ۶۴﴾
For them is good news in this world’s life and in the Hereafter. There is no changing the words of Allah. That is the mighty achievement.
The Holy Prophet said: “There has remained nothing of prophethood except mubashsharāt.” Asked what is meant by mubashsharāt, he replied, “Good visions” (Bukhari, 92:5). Elsewhere good visions are said to be a part of prophethood (Bukhari 92:4), which shows that, as the prophets were informed of the triumph of Truth, so will their followers be given this good news in their visions. The upholders of the Divine cause, we are told, will not only be successful, they will also receive the good news of their ultimate triumph in good visions.
10:65
وَ لَا یَحۡزُنۡکَ قَوۡلُہُمۡ ۘ اِنَّ الۡعِزَّۃَ لِلّٰہِ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ ہُوَ السَّمِیۡعُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۶۵﴾
And do not let their speech grieve you. Surely might belongs wholly to Allah. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
10:66
اَلَاۤ اِنَّ لِلّٰہِ مَنۡ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَنۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ وَ مَا یَتَّبِعُ الَّذِیۡنَ یَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ شُرَکَآءَ ؕ اِنۡ یَّـتَّبِعُوۡنَ اِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَ اِنۡ ہُمۡ اِلَّا یَخۡرُصُوۡنَ ﴿۶۶﴾
Now, surely, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is Allah’s. And what do follow those who call on associate-gods besides Allah? They follow nothing but conjecture, and they only lie.
10:67
ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ جَعَلَ لَکُمُ الَّیۡلَ لِتَسۡکُنُوۡا فِیۡہِ وَ النَّہَارَ مُبۡصِرًا ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ یَّسۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
He it is Who made for you the night that you might rest therein and the day giving light. Surely there are signs in this for a people who hear.
10:68
قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللّٰہُ وَلَدًا سُبۡحٰنَہٗ ؕ ہُوَ الۡغَنِیُّ ؕ لَہٗ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ اِنۡ عِنۡدَکُمۡ مِّنۡ سُلۡطٰنٍۭ بِہٰذَا ؕ اَتَقُوۡلُوۡنَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۸﴾
They say: Allah has taken a son (to Himself). Glory be to Him! He is the Self-sufficient. His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. You have no authority for this. Do you say against Allah what you do not know?
10:69
قُلۡ اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ الۡکَذِبَ لَا یُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۶۹﴾
Say: Those who forge a lie against Allah will not succeed.
10:70
مَتَاعٌ فِی الدُّنۡیَا ثُمَّ اِلَیۡنَا مَرۡجِعُہُمۡ ثُمَّ نُذِیۡقُہُمُ الۡعَذَابَ الشَّدِیۡدَ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡفُرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۷۰﴾
A little enjoyment in this world, then to Us is their return, then We shall make them taste severe punishment because they disbelieved.
Section 8 (Verses 10:71–10:82): Noah and Moses
10:71
وَ اتۡلُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ نَبَاَ نُوۡحٍ ۘ اِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِہٖ یٰقَوۡمِ اِنۡ کَانَ کَبُرَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ مَّقَامِیۡ وَ تَذۡکِیۡرِیۡ بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ فَعَلَی اللّٰہِ تَوَکَّلۡتُ فَاَجۡمِعُوۡۤا اَمۡرَکُمۡ وَ شُرَکَآءَکُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا یَکُنۡ اَمۡرُکُمۡ عَلَیۡکُمۡ غُمَّۃً ثُمَّ اقۡضُوۡۤا اِلَیَّ وَ لَا تُنۡظِرُوۡنِ ﴿۷۱﴾
And recite to them the story of Noah, when he said to his people: My people, if my staying (here) and my reminding (you) by the messages of Allah is hard on you, on Allah do I rely; so decide upon your course of action and (gather) your associates. Then do not let your course of action be dubious to you, so have it executed against me and give me no respite.
The challenge of Noah to his opponents was, in fact, being reproduced now as a challenge to the opponents of the Holy Prophet. And these opponents did, in fact, decide upon their course of action in their great council hall, perhaps a year or two later, and surrounded the Prophet’s house in accordance with that decision. But the Prophet escaped unnoticed from among them and they were unable to lay their hands on him.
10:72
فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّیۡتُمۡ فَمَا سَاَلۡتُکُمۡ مِّنۡ اَجۡرٍ ؕ اِنۡ اَجۡرِیَ اِلَّا عَلَی اللّٰہِ ۙوَ اُمِرۡتُ اَنۡ اَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾
But if you turn back, I ask for no reward from you. My reward is only with Allah, and I am commanded to be of those who submit.
10:73
فَکَذَّبُوۡہُ فَنَجَّیۡنٰہُ وَ مَنۡ مَّعَہٗ فِی الۡفُلۡکِ وَ جَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ خَلٰٓئِفَ وَ اَغۡرَقۡنَا الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا ۚ فَانۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الۡمُنۡذَرِیۡنَ ﴿۷۳﴾
But they rejected him, so We delivered him and those with him in the ark, and We made them rulers and drowned those who rejected Our messages. See, then, what was the end of those who were warned.
10:74
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہٖ رُسُلًا اِلٰی قَوۡمِہِمۡ فَجَآءُوۡہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ فَمَا کَانُوۡا لِیُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِمَا کَذَّبُوۡا بِہٖ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نَطۡبَعُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِ الۡمُعۡتَدِیۡنَ ﴿۷۴﴾
Then after him We sent messengers to their people. They came to them with clear arguments, but they would not believe what they had rejected before. Thus do We seal the hearts of those who exceed the limits.
They do not ponder over the truth, but, having rejected once, go on opposing its progress without reflecting on it. This condition is described as the sealing of the heart, because the heart ceases to reflect.
10:75
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ مُّوۡسٰی وَ ہٰرُوۡنَ اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَا۠ئِہٖ بِاٰیٰتِنَا فَاسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا وَ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا مُّجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۵﴾
Then after them We sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our signs, but they were arrogant, and they were a guilty people.
10:76
فَلَمَّا جَآءَہُمُ الۡحَقُّ مِنۡ عِنۡدِنَا قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَسِحۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۷۶﴾
So when the truth came to them from Us, they said: This is surely clear enchantment!
10:77
قَالَ مُوۡسٰۤی اَتَقُوۡلُوۡنَ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَکُمۡ ؕ اَسِحۡرٌ ہٰذَا ؕ وَ لَا یُفۡلِحُ السّٰحِرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۷﴾
Moses said: Do you say (this) of the truth when it has come to you? Is it enchantment? And the enchanters never succeed.
10:78
قَالُوۡۤا اَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَلۡفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ اٰبَآءَنَا وَ تَکُوۡنَ لَکُمَا الۡکِبۡرِیَآءُ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ وَ مَا نَحۡنُ لَکُمَا بِمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۷۸﴾
They said: Have you come to us to turn us away from what we found our fathers following, and (that) greatness in the land may be for you two? And we are not going to believe in you.
10:79
وَ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ائۡتُوۡنِیۡ بِکُلِّ سٰحِرٍ عَلِیۡمٍ ﴿۷۹﴾
And Pharaoh said: Bring to me every skilful enchanter.
10:80
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ السَّحَرَۃُ قَالَ لَہُمۡ مُّوۡسٰۤی اَلۡقُوۡا مَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ مُّلۡقُوۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾
So when the enchanters came, Moses said to them: Throw down what you are going to throw.
10:81
فَلَمَّاۤ اَلۡقَوۡا قَالَ مُوۡسٰی مَا جِئۡتُمۡ بِہِ ۙ السِّحۡرُ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ سَیُبۡطِلُہٗ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُصۡلِحُ عَمَلَ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۸۱﴾
So when they had thrown down, Moses said: What you have brought is deception. Surely Allah will make it null. Surely Allah does not allow the work of mischief-makers to thrive.
10:82
وَ یُحِقُّ اللّٰہُ الۡحَقَّ بِکَلِمٰتِہٖ وَ لَوۡ کَرِہَ الۡمُجۡرِمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۸۲﴾
And Allah will establish the truth by His words, though the guilty dislike (it).
Section 9 (Verses 10:83–10:92): End of Opposition to Moses
10:83
فَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ لِمُوۡسٰۤی اِلَّا ذُرِّیَّۃٌ مِّنۡ قَوۡمِہٖ عَلٰی خَوۡفٍ مِّنۡ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَا۠ئِہِمۡ اَنۡ یَّفۡتِنَہُمۡ ؕ وَ اِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لَعَالٍ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ۚ وَ اِنَّہٗ لَمِنَ الۡمُسۡرِفِیۡنَ ﴿۸۳﴾
But, on account of the fear of Pharaoh and their chiefs persecuting them, none believed in Moses except a few of his people. And Pharaoh was truly high-handed in the land; and surely he was one committing excesses.
The Israelites believed in Moses as the verses that follow show. By his people, therefore, are meant Pharaoh’s wife (66:11) and a believer (40:28).
10:84
وَ قَالَ مُوۡسٰی یٰقَوۡمِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ اٰمَنۡتُمۡ بِاللّٰہِ فَعَلَیۡہِ تَوَکَّلُوۡۤا اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مُّسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۸۴﴾
And Moses said: My people, if you believe in Allah, then rely on Him if you submit (to Him).
10:85
فَقَالُوۡا عَلَی اللّٰہِ تَوَکَّلۡنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا فِتۡنَۃً لِّلۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۵﴾
They said: On Allah we rely; our Lord, do not make us a trial for the unjust people.
10:86
وَ نَجِّنَا بِرَحۡمَتِکَ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۸۶﴾
And deliver us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people.
10:87
وَ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلٰی مُوۡسٰی وَ اَخِیۡہِ اَنۡ تَبَوَّاٰ لِقَوۡمِکُمَا بِمِصۡرَ بُیُوۡتًا وَّ اجۡعَلُوۡا بُیُوۡتَکُمۡ قِبۡلَۃً وَّ اَقِیۡمُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ ؕ وَ بَشِّرِ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۸۷﴾
And We revealed to Moses and his brother: Take for your people houses to abide in Egypt and make your houses places of worship and keep up prayer. And give good news to the believers.
The qiblah is that facing which one prays, and therefore it indicates a place of worship. The Israelites were obliged to pray in their houses because they did not enjoy full religious liberty in Egypt and had no public places of worship.
10:88
وَ قَالَ مُوۡسٰی رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّکَ اٰتَیۡتَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَاَہٗ زِیۡنَۃً وَّ اَمۡوَالًا فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ۙ رَبَّنَا لِیُضِلُّوۡا عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِکَ ۚ رَبَّنَا اطۡمِسۡ عَلٰۤی اَمۡوَالِہِمۡ وَ اشۡدُدۡ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ فَلَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡا حَتّٰی یَرَوُا الۡعَذَابَ الۡاَلِیۡمَ ﴿۸۸﴾
And Moses said: Our Lord, surely You have given Pharaoh and his chiefs finery and riches in this world’s life, our Lord, that they may lead (people) astray from Your way. Our Lord, destroy their riches and harden their hearts, so that they do not believe till they see the painful punishment.
The significance is not that God had granted them riches to mislead people, but that this was the end for which they used their riches.
10:89
قَالَ قَدۡ اُجِیۡبَتۡ دَّعۡوَتُکُمَا فَاسۡتَقِیۡمَا وَ لَا تَتَّبِعٰٓنِّ سَبِیۡلَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۸۹﴾
He said: Your prayer is accepted; so continue in the right way and do not follow the path of those who do not know.
10:90
وَ جٰوَزۡنَا بِبَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ الۡبَحۡرَ فَاَتۡبَعَہُمۡ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَ جُنُوۡدُہٗ بَغۡیًا وَّ عَدۡوًا ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَاۤ اَدۡرَکَہُ الۡغَرَقُ ۙ قَالَ اٰمَنۡتُ اَنَّہٗ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا الَّذِیۡۤ اٰمَنَتۡ بِہٖ بَنُوۡۤا اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ وَ اَنَا مِنَ الۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۹۰﴾
And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea. Then Pharaoh and his armies followed them for oppression and tyranny, till, when drowning overtook him, he said: I believe that there is no god but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who submit.
In the agonies of death, even pronounced atheists have sometimes recognized the existence of God.
10:91
آٰلۡـٰٔنَ وَ قَدۡ عَصَیۡتَ قَبۡلُ وَ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۹۱﴾
What! Now! And indeed before (this) you disobeyed and you were a mischief-maker!
10:92
فَالۡیَوۡمَ نُنَجِّیۡکَ بِبَدَنِکَ لِتَکُوۡنَ لِمَنۡ خَلۡفَکَ اٰیَۃً ؕ وَ اِنَّ کَثِیۡرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ عَنۡ اٰیٰتِنَا لَغٰفِلُوۡنَ ﴿٪۹۲﴾
But this day We shall save you in your body that you may be a sign to those after you. And surely most of the people are heedless of Our signs.
That the body was really cast ashore, though the Bible does not mention it, is clear from the fact that the body of Rameses II, who is regarded as the Pharaoh of Moses, has been discovered as preserved among the mummies in Egypt. This is another instance of the insufficiency of the Bible narrative and of the truth of the Quranic statement where it supplements the Bible. The discovery now made could not have been known to the Holy Prophet; it was not known to any person in the world till very recently.
Section 10 (Verses 10:93–10:103): Those who Heed Warning will Benefit
10:93
وَ لَقَدۡ بَوَّاۡنَا بَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ مُبَوَّاَ صِدۡقٍ وَّ رَزَقۡنٰہُمۡ مِّنَ الطَّیِّبٰتِ ۚ فَمَا اخۡتَلَفُوۡا حَتّٰی جَآءَہُمُ الۡعِلۡمُ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ یَقۡضِیۡ بَیۡنَہُمۡ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ فِیۡمَا کَانُوۡا فِیۡہِ یَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَ ﴿۹۳﴾
And certainly We lodged the Children of Israel in a goodly abode and provided them with good things. Then they did not differ till the knowledge came to them. Surely your Lord will judge between them on the day of Resurrection in that in which they differed.
This may be a prophetical announcement as to the Jewish attitude towards the Prophet Muhammad later on when he fled to Madinah.
10:94
فَاِنۡ کُنۡتَ فِیۡ شَکٍّ مِّمَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ فَسۡـَٔلِ الَّذِیۡنَ یَقۡرَءُوۡنَ الۡکِتٰبَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ ۚ لَقَدۡ جَآءَکَ الۡحَقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ فَلَا تَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡمُمۡتَرِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۴﴾
But if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to you, ask those who read the Book before you. Certainly the Truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be one of the doubters,
The person addressed in the Quran in the singular form is not always the Prophet but often the reader, as here. Nor do the words revealed to you (in the singular) show that the Prophet is meant, for the Quran is in many places spoken of as being revealed to all the people (see 2:136, 21:10). Verse 104 makes it clear that the reader is addressed: “Say: O people, if you are in doubt as to my religion”. Throughout the Quran the Holy Prophet appears as having the greatest certainty about the word which was revealed to him, so much so that he never entertained the slightest doubt about the truth of the promises of future success and triumph. In the very next verse the words are, nor be of those who reject the messages of Allah, which shows clearly that it is the Prophet’s opponents who are addressed here. The words “ask those who read the Book before you” mean: ask them whether previous revelation does not contain clear prophecies of the advent of such a Prophet.
10:95
وَ لَا تَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ فَتَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ ﴿۹۵﴾
nor be of those who reject the messages of Allah, (for) then you will be from among the losers.
10:96
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ حَقَّتۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ کَلِمَتُ رَبِّکَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۶﴾
Surely those against whom the word of your Lord has proved true will not believe,
10:97
وَ لَوۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ کُلُّ اٰیَۃٍ حَتّٰی یَرَوُا الۡعَذَابَ الۡاَلِیۡمَ ﴿۹۷﴾
though every sign should come to them, till they see the painful punishment.
10:98
فَلَوۡ لَا کَانَتۡ قَرۡیَۃٌ اٰمَنَتۡ فَنَفَعَہَاۤ اِیۡمَانُہَاۤ اِلَّا قَوۡمَ یُوۡنُسَ ؕ لَمَّاۤ اٰمَنُوۡا کَشَفۡنَا عَنۡہُمۡ عَذَابَ الۡخِزۡیِ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ مَتَّعۡنٰہُمۡ اِلٰی حِیۡنٍ ﴿۹۸﴾
And why was there not a town which believed, so that their belief should have benefited them, but the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in this world’s life, and We gave them provision for a while.
Jonah bears a resemblance to the Holy Prophet in that his people benefited by the warning, as did the Arabs by the warning of the Prophet, though after much opposition. Jonah is thus the type of a prophet whose people were dealt with mercifully.
10:99
وَ لَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّکَ لَاٰمَنَ مَنۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ کُلُّہُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ اَفَاَنۡتَ تُکۡرِہُ النَّاسَ حَتّٰی یَکُوۡنُوۡا مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۹۹﴾
And if your Lord had pleased, all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of them. Will you then force people till they are believers?
Compare 2:256: “There is no compulsion in religion”. The reference is to the great zeal of the Holy Prophet and his over-exerting himself in preaching the Truth: “Then perhaps you will kill yourself with grief, sorrowing after them, if they do not believe in this announcement” (18:6). (Editor’s Note: The Quran tells us here that it is in the natural order of things that while some people believe, others do not, and no human being can or should apply compulsion to others in this regard.)
10:100
وَ مَا کَانَ لِنَفۡسٍ اَنۡ تُؤۡمِنَ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ یَجۡعَلُ الرِّجۡسَ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۰﴾
And it is not for any soul to believe except by Allah’s permission. And He casts uncleanness on those who will not understand.
Those who refuse to understand the truth will find uncleanness cast on them. The word rijs (“uncleanness”) also means punishment, and the meaning, in that case, is that those who care not for the warning must receive the punishment.
10:101
قُلِ انۡظُرُوۡا مَاذَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ وَ مَا تُغۡنِی الۡاٰیٰتُ وَ النُّذُرُ عَنۡ قَوۡمٍ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۱﴾
Say: Look at what is in the heavens and the earth! And signs and warners do not avail a people who do not believe.
10:102
فَہَلۡ یَنۡتَظِرُوۡنَ اِلَّا مِثۡلَ اَیَّامِ الَّذِیۡنَ خَلَوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ؕ قُلۡ فَانۡتَظِرُوۡۤا اِنِّیۡ مَعَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡمُنۡتَظِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۲﴾
What do they wait for, then, but the like of the days of those who passed away before them? Say: Wait then; I too am waiting along with you.
10:103
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّیۡ رُسُلَنَا وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا کَذٰلِکَ ۚ حَقًّا عَلَیۡنَا نُنۡجِ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۳﴾٪
Then We deliver Our messengers and those who believe — even so (now); it is binding on Us to deliver the believers.
Section 11 (Verses 10:104–10:109): Divine Judgment
10:104
قُلۡ یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ فِیۡ شَکٍّ مِّنۡ دِیۡنِیۡ فَلَاۤ اَعۡبُدُ الَّذِیۡنَ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ لٰکِنۡ اَعۡبُدُ اللّٰہَ الَّذِیۡ یَتَوَفّٰىکُمۡ ۚۖ وَ اُمِرۡتُ اَنۡ اَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۴﴾ۙ
Say: O people, if you are in doubt as to my religion, (know that) I do not serve those whom you serve besides Allah, but I serve Allah, Who causes you to die; and I am commanded to be one of the believers,
10:105
وَ اَنۡ اَقِمۡ وَجۡہَکَ لِلدِّیۡنِ حَنِیۡفًا ۚ وَ لَا تَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۵﴾
and that you set yourself for the religion, being upright; and do not be of those who set up partners (with Allah).
10:106
وَ لَا تَدۡعُ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مَا لَا یَنۡفَعُکَ وَ لَا یَضُرُّکَ ۚ فَاِنۡ فَعَلۡتَ فَاِنَّکَ اِذًا مِّنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۶﴾
Nor call besides Allah on that which can neither benefit you nor harm you; for if you do, you shall then be of the unjust.
10:107
وَ اِنۡ یَّمۡسَسۡکَ اللّٰہُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا کَاشِفَ لَہٗۤ اِلَّا ہُوَ ۚ وَ اِنۡ یُّرِدۡکَ بِخَیۡرٍ فَلَا رَآدَّ لِفَضۡلِہٖ ؕ یُصِیۡبُ بِہٖ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ ؕ وَ ہُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِیۡمُ ﴿۱۰۷﴾
And if Allah afflicts you with harm, there is none to remove it but He; and if He intends good to you, there is none to repel His grace. He brings it to whom He pleases of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
10:108
قُلۡ یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَکُمُ الۡحَقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ ۚ فَمَنِ اہۡتَدٰی فَاِنَّمَا یَہۡتَدِیۡ لِنَفۡسِہٖ ۚ وَ مَنۡ ضَلَّ فَاِنَّمَا یَضِلُّ عَلَیۡہَا ۚ وَ مَاۤ اَنَا عَلَیۡکُمۡ بِوَکِیۡلٍ ﴿۱۰۸﴾ؕ
Say: O people, the Truth has indeed come to you from your Lord; so whoever goes aright, goes aright only for the good of his own soul; and whoever goes astray, goes astray only to its detriment. And I am not a custodian over you.
10:109
وَ اتَّبِعۡ مَا یُوۡحٰۤی اِلَیۡکَ وَ اصۡبِرۡ حَتّٰی یَحۡکُمَ اللّٰہُ ۚۖ وَ ہُوَ خَیۡرُ الۡحٰکِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۹﴾٪
And follow what is revealed to you and be patient till Allah give judgment, and He is the Best of the judges.