15: The Rock (Al-Hijr)
Revealed at Madinah
This chapter is named The Rock after the Dwellers of the Rock mentioned in v. 80, whose fate is a warning to those who sought to kill the Holy Prophet. The chapter begins with the grand promise that the Quran shall forever be guarded against all corruption and all attempts to annihilate it (v. 9). It goes on to declare that evil-doers cannot inflict any injury on the chosen ones of God and that the devil’s opposition has always failed. Then it gives examples of how opponents of previous prophets were destroyed. This chapter was revealed at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 15:1–15:15): The Quran is Guarded
15:1
الٓرٰ ۟ تِلۡکَ اٰیٰتُ الۡکِتٰبِ وَ قُرۡاٰنٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۱﴾
I, Allah, am the Seer. These are the verses of the Book and (of) a Quran that makes clear.
15:2
رُبَمَا یَوَدُّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَوۡ کَانُوۡا مُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۲﴾
Often will those who disbelieve wish that they were Muslims.
The passage does not refer only to life after death. The opponents, who thought Islam would soon be annihilated, must no doubt have felt after in life, when the truth of Islam became manifest, that it would have been much better for them if they had accepted Islam at the first call of the Prophet.
15:3
ذَرۡہُمۡ یَاۡکُلُوۡا وَ یَتَمَتَّعُوۡا وَ یُلۡہِہِمُ الۡاَمَلُ فَسَوۡفَ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
Leave them to eat and enjoy themselves, and let (false) hope beguile them, for they will soon know.
15:4
وَ مَاۤ اَہۡلَکۡنَا مِنۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ اِلَّا وَ لَہَا کِتَابٌ مَّعۡلُوۡمٌ ﴿۴﴾
And never did We destroy a town but it had a decree made known.
15:5
مَا تَسۡبِقُ مِنۡ اُمَّۃٍ اَجَلَہَا وَ مَا یَسۡتَاۡخِرُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
No people can hasten on their doom, nor postpone it.
15:6
وَ قَالُوۡا یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡ نُزِّلَ عَلَیۡہِ الذِّکۡرُ اِنَّکَ لَمَجۡنُوۡنٌ ؕ﴿۶﴾
And they say: You, to whom the Reminder is revealed, you are indeed mad.
15:7
لَوۡ مَا تَاۡتِیۡنَا بِالۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
Why do you not bring the angels to us, if you are truthful?
The words if you are truthful clearly show that the coming of angels is demanded in relation to the fulfilment of prophecies. In the next verse they are told that the angels will be sent, in accordance with the requirements of truth and justice, when they are required to execute the judgment of the doom of the opponents.
15:8
مَا نُنَزِّلُ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃَ اِلَّا بِالۡحَقِّ وَ مَا کَانُوۡۤا اِذًا مُّنۡظَرِیۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
We do not send angels but with truth, and then they would not be given respite.
15:9
اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا الذِّکۡرَ وَ اِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
Surely We have revealed the Reminder, and surely We are its Guardian.
This is one of the most wonderful prophecies, whose fulfilment is, and will ever remain, a standing testimony to the truth of the Holy Quran, that the Quran will for all time be preserved safe against all attempts to destroy it and from every kind of corruption. The fulfilment of this prophecy is so evident a fact that a hostile writer like Sir William Muir admitted that “there is probably in the world no other work which has remained twelve centuries with so pure a text” (The Life of Mahomet, 1861, ch. 1). In the whole length and breadth of the Islamic world there does not exist a single copy with any variation from the recognized text, and thus not only was the Quran preserved from destruction against a powerful enemy, but it has also been preserved from corruption.
15:10
وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ فِیۡ شِیَعِ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
And certainly We sent (messengers) before you among the sects of old.
15:11
وَ مَا یَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا کَانُوۡا بِہٖ یَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
And never did a messenger come to them but they mocked him.
15:12
کَذٰلِکَ نَسۡلُکُہٗ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِ الۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۲﴾
Thus do We make it enter the hearts of the guilty —
Thus refers to the mockery mentioned in the previous verse. Due to their mockery, it enters their hearts not to believe in the Divine message.
15:13
لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِہٖ وَ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ سُنَّۃُ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾
they do not believe in it; and the example of the ancients has gone before.
15:14
وَ لَوۡ فَتَحۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ بَابًا مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ فَظَلُّوۡا فِیۡہِ یَعۡرُجُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۴﴾
And even if We open to them a gate of heaven, and they keep on ascending into it,
15:15
لَقَالُوۡۤا اِنَّمَا سُکِّرَتۡ اَبۡصَارُنَا بَلۡ نَحۡنُ قَوۡمٌ مَّسۡحُوۡرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۵﴾
they would say: Only our eyes have been covered over, rather we are a people under enchantment.
Verses 14–15 speak of the hardness of their hearts. They were determined to reject the truth and did not pay any attention to the clearest evidence.
Section 2 (Verses 15:16–15:25): Forces of Evil will be Destroyed
15:16
وَ لَقَدۡ جَعَلۡنَا فِی السَّمَآءِ بُرُوۡجًا وَّ زَیَّنّٰہَا لِلنّٰظِرِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۶﴾
And certainly We have made strongholds in the heaven, and We have made it attractive for the onlookers,
15:17
وَ حَفِظۡنٰہَا مِنۡ کُلِّ شَیۡطٰنٍ رَّجِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۱۷﴾
and We guard it against every accursed devil,
15:18
اِلَّا مَنِ اسۡتَرَقَ السَّمۡعَ فَاَتۡبَعَہٗ شِہَابٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۸﴾
but he who steals a hearing; so there follows him a visible flame.
The three verses 16–18 speak of the soothsayers and the diviners, who were among the opponents of the Holy Prophet; they pretended to receive communications from on high. We are here told that they were really driven from the Divine presence, and therefore could not have any access to that source of purity. In speaking of the divinations as being followed by a visible flame, it is indicated that they meet with failure and disappointment. The description of spiritual truths in words relating to physical laws prevailing in the world is of common occurrence in the Quran.
15:19
وَ الۡاَرۡضَ مَدَدۡنٰہَا وَ اَلۡقَیۡنَا فِیۡہَا رَوَاسِیَ وَ اَنۡۢبَتۡنَا فِیۡہَا مِنۡ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ مَّوۡزُوۡنٍ ﴿۱۹﴾
And the earth — We have spread it out and made in it firm mountains and caused to grow in it of every suitable thing.
15:20
وَ جَعَلۡنَا لَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا مَعَایِشَ وَ مَنۡ لَّسۡتُمۡ لَہٗ بِرٰزِقِیۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
And We have made in it means of subsistence for you and for those (creatures) for whom you do not provide.
15:21
وَ اِنۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ اِلَّا عِنۡدَنَا خَزَآئِنُہٗ ۫ وَ مَا نُنَزِّلُہٗۤ اِلَّا بِقَدَرٍ مَّعۡلُوۡمٍ ﴿۲۱﴾
And there is not a thing but with Us are the treasures of it, and We do not send it down but in a known measure.
15:22
وَ اَرۡسَلۡنَا الرِّیٰحَ لَوَاقِحَ فَاَنۡزَلۡنَا مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَاَسۡقَیۡنٰکُمُوۡہُ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ لَہٗ بِخٰزِنِیۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
And We send the winds fertilizing, then send down water from the clouds, so We give it to you to drink; nor is it you who store it up.
The fertilizing winds represent the signs of the progress of Islam before its final triumph, which is indicated by the rain from the clouds.
15:23
وَ اِنَّا لَنَحۡنُ نُحۡیٖ وَ نُمِیۡتُ وَ نَحۡنُ الۡوٰرِثُوۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
And surely it is We, Who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritors.
One who inherits is the one who remains after another has perished. The announcement made here is a prophecy that the true worshippers of Allah will be heirs in the land while the others will perish.
15:24
وَ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا الۡمُسۡتَقۡدِمِیۡنَ مِنۡکُمۡ وَ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا الۡمُسۡتَاۡخِرِیۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾
And certainly We know those among you who go forward and We certainly know those who lag behind.
15:25
وَ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ ہُوَ یَحۡشُرُہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ حَکِیۡمٌ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿٪۲۵﴾
And surely your Lord will gather them together. He indeed is Wise, Knowing.
One meaning is that those who are foremost in accepting truth and those who lag behind in accepting it will all be gathered together, i.e., ultimately those who now lag behind will be brought over to the right course.
Section 3 (Verses 15:26–15:44): The Devil’s Opposition to the Righteous
15:26
وَ لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا الۡاِنۡسَانَ مِنۡ صَلۡصَالٍ مِّنۡ حَمَاٍ مَّسۡنُوۡنٍ ﴿ۚ۲۶﴾
And surely We created man of sounding clay, of black mud fashioned into shape.
15:27
وَ الۡجَآنَّ خَلَقۡنٰہُ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ مِنۡ نَّارِ السَّمُوۡمِ ﴿۲۷﴾
And the jinn, We created before of intensely hot fire.
See also 7:12 footnote. Man’s creation from dust also refers to his low and humble origin and his temperate nature, as opposed to another kind of creation of a fiery nature, which is called the jinn or the devil. The two words, jinn and devil, are frequently applied to men of a fiery temperament or rebellious nature who lead others to evil. These descriptions of the creation of men and jinn are allegorical, referring respectively to the nature of those who are submissive to Divine laws and those who rebel against them, and the allegory is carried on further in what is stated of the rebellion of the devil against Adam. The two descriptions of the origin of man, his being made from clay that gives sound and of mud that is fashioned into shape, refer to the two great characteristics which give man a superiority over other animals, namely, his use of language and the perfection of his make.
15:28
وَ اِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّکَ لِلۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ اِنِّیۡ خَالِقٌۢ بَشَرًا مِّنۡ صَلۡصَالٍ مِّنۡ حَمَاٍ مَّسۡنُوۡنٍ ﴿۲۸﴾
And when your Lord said to the angels: I am going to create a mortal of sounding clay, of black mud fashioned into shape.
15:29
فَاِذَا سَوَّیۡتُہٗ وَ نَفَخۡتُ فِیۡہِ مِنۡ رُّوۡحِیۡ فَقَعُوۡا لَہٗ سٰجِدِیۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
So when I have made him complete and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down making submission to him.
This shows that man is made complete when the Divine spirit is breathed into him. The Divine spirit (Arabic: rūḥ) does not mean here the animal soul in man, but the spirit of Allah that gives him perfection.
15:30
فَسَجَدَ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ کُلُّہُمۡ اَجۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۰﴾
So the angels submitted, all of them together —
15:31
اِلَّاۤ اِبۡلِیۡسَ ؕ اَبٰۤی اَنۡ یَّکُوۡنَ مَعَ السّٰجِدِیۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
but not Iblīs. He refused to be with those who submitted.
15:32
قَالَ یٰۤـاِبۡلِیۡسُ مَا لَکَ اَلَّا تَکُوۡنَ مَعَ السّٰجِدِیۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
He said: O Iblīs, what is the reason that you are not with those who submit?
15:33
قَالَ لَمۡ اَکُنۡ لِّاَسۡجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقۡتَہٗ مِنۡ صَلۡصَالٍ مِّنۡ حَمَاٍ مَّسۡنُوۡنٍ ﴿۳۳﴾
He said: I am not going to submit to a mortal, whom You have created of sounding clay, of black mud fashioned into shape.
15:34
قَالَ فَاخۡرُجۡ مِنۡہَا فَاِنَّکَ رَجِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۳۴﴾
He said: Then go forth, for surely you are driven away,
15:35
وَّ اِنَّ عَلَیۡکَ اللَّعۡنَۃَ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الدِّیۡنِ ﴿۳۵﴾
and surely on you is a curse till the day of Judgment.
15:36
قَالَ رَبِّ فَاَنۡظِرۡنِیۡۤ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ یُبۡعَثُوۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
He said: My Lord, grant me respite till the day when they are raised.
When a man is raised to life spiritually, the suggestions and the promptings of the devil cease to affect him. But until he finds spiritual life, evil suggestions mislead him now and then. This is the “time made known” in v. 38.
15:39
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَاۤ اَغۡوَیۡتَنِیۡ لَاُزَیِّنَنَّ لَہُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لَاُغۡوِیَنَّہُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۹﴾
He said: My Lord, as You have judged me to be in error, I shall certainly make (evil) seem good to them on earth, and I shall cause them all to deviate,
The meaning is clearly “as You have judged me to be in error” and not caused me to be in error.
15:40
اِلَّا عِبَادَکَ مِنۡہُمُ الۡمُخۡلَصِیۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
except Your servants from among them, the purified ones.
15:42
اِنَّ عِبَادِیۡ لَیۡسَ لَکَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ سُلۡطٰنٌ اِلَّا مَنِ اتَّبَعَکَ مِنَ الۡغٰوِیۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
As regards My servants, you have no authority over them except such of the deviators as follow you.
In a broad sense all people are servants of Allah. That the devil has no authority over them is clear from 14:22, where the devil says to his followers: “I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you obeyed me.”
15:43
وَ اِنَّ جَہَنَّمَ لَمَوۡعِدُہُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿۟ۙ۴۳﴾
And surely hell is the promised place for them all —
15:44
لَہَا سَبۡعَۃُ اَبۡوَابٍ ؕ لِکُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ جُزۡءٌ مَّقۡسُوۡمٌ ﴿٪۴۴﴾
it has seven gates. For each gate is an appointed portion of them.
The seven gates mean the seven ways which lead into it, according to which there are seven different names of hell in the Quran. However, the numeral seven in Arabic often stands for a large number, so that the meaning may be that there are many gates or many ways leading to it.
Section 4 (Verses 15:45–15:60): Mercy for the Righteous — Abraham
15:45
اِنَّ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ فِیۡ جَنّٰتٍ وَّ عُیُوۡنٍ ﴿ؕ۴۵﴾
Surely those who keep their duty are in Gardens and fountains.
15:47
وَ نَزَعۡنَا مَا فِیۡ صُدُوۡرِہِمۡ مِّنۡ غِلٍّ اِخۡوَانًا عَلٰی سُرُرٍ مُّتَقٰبِلِیۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
And We shall remove whatever of bitterness is in their hearts — as brothers, on thrones, facing each other.
15:48
لَا یَمَسُّہُمۡ فِیۡہَا نَصَبٌ وَّ مَا ہُمۡ مِّنۡہَا بِمُخۡرَجِیۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
Toil does not afflict them therein, nor will they be ejected from there.
Such is the Muslim paradise. There is absolute peace of mind, perfect security from any inclination to evil or any other danger (v. 46); there is a brotherhood in which no one conceals any rancour in his heart for his brother, nor has anyone a complaint against another (v. 47); and lastly, there is neither toil nor fatigue, nor is one to be ever deprived of that state of perfect bliss (v. 48). This verse further establishes that those who are once made to enter paradise are not sent back to this world; and that therefore the garden in which Adam was at first placed was not the paradise of heavenly life, for in that case he would not have been ejected from it.
15:49
نَبِّیٔۡ عِبَادِیۡۤ اَنِّیۡۤ اَنَا الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِیۡمُ ﴿ۙ۴۹﴾
Inform My servants that I am the Forgiving, the Merciful,
15:50
وَ اَنَّ عَذَابِیۡ ہُوَ الۡعَذَابُ الۡاَلِیۡمُ ﴿۵۰﴾
and that My punishment — that is the painful punishment.
15:52
اِذۡ دَخَلُوۡا عَلَیۡہِ فَقَالُوۡا سَلٰمًا ؕ قَالَ اِنَّا مِنۡکُمۡ وَجِلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
When they came to him, they said, Peace! He said: We are afraid of you.
15:53
قَالُوۡا لَا تَوۡجَلۡ اِنَّا نُبَشِّرُکَ بِغُلٰمٍ عَلِیۡمٍ ﴿۵۳﴾
They said: Do not be afraid, we give you good news of a boy, possessing knowledge.
15:54
قَالَ اَبَشَّرۡتُمُوۡنِیۡ عَلٰۤی اَنۡ مَّسَّنِیَ الۡکِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۴﴾
He said: Do you give me good news when old age has come upon me? Of what then do you give me good news?
15:55
قَالُوۡا بَشَّرۡنٰکَ بِالۡحَقِّ فَلَا تَکُنۡ مِّنَ الۡقٰنِطِیۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾
They said: We give you good news with truth, so do not be from among the despairing ones.
15:56
قَالَ وَ مَنۡ یَّقۡنَطُ مِنۡ رَّحۡمَۃِ رَبِّہٖۤ اِلَّا الضَّآلُّوۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
He said: And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except those in error?
15:57
قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُکُمۡ اَیُّہَا الۡمُرۡسَلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
He said: What is your business, then, messengers?
15:58
قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّاۤ اُرۡسِلۡنَاۤ اِلٰی قَوۡمٍ مُّجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۸﴾
They said: We have been sent to a guilty people,
15:59
اِلَّاۤ اٰلَ لُوۡطٍ ؕ اِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوۡہُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۹﴾
except Lot’s followers. We shall deliver them all,
15:60
اِلَّا امۡرَاَتَہٗ قَدَّرۡنَاۤ ۙ اِنَّہَا لَمِنَ الۡغٰبِرِیۡنَ ﴿٪۶۰﴾
except his wife: We ordained that she shall surely be among those who remain behind.
Section 5 (Verses 15:61–15:79): Lot and Shuaib
15:61
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ اٰلَ لُوۡطِۣ الۡمُرۡسَلُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۱﴾
So when the messengers came to Lot’s followers,
15:63
قَالُوۡا بَلۡ جِئۡنٰکَ بِمَا کَانُوۡا فِیۡہِ یَمۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۳﴾
They said: Indeed, we have come to you with that about which they disputed.
15:64
وَ اَتَیۡنٰکَ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ اِنَّا لَصٰدِقُوۡنَ ﴿۶۴﴾
And we have come to you with the truth, and we are surely truthful.
15:65
فَاَسۡرِ بِاَہۡلِکَ بِقِطۡعٍ مِّنَ الَّیۡلِ وَ اتَّبِعۡ اَدۡبَارَہُمۡ وَ لَا یَلۡتَفِتۡ مِنۡکُمۡ اَحَدٌ وَّ امۡضُوۡا حَیۡثُ تُؤۡمَرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۵﴾
So travel with your followers for a part of the night, yourself following behind them; and let not anyone of you turn round, and go where you are commanded.
15:66
وَ قَضَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِ ذٰلِکَ الۡاَمۡرَ اَنَّ دَابِرَ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ مَقۡطُوۡعٌ مُّصۡبِحِیۡنَ ﴿۶۶﴾
And We made known to him this decree, that the roots of these should be cut off in the morning.
15:67
وَ جَآءَ اَہۡلُ الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ یَسۡتَبۡشِرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
And the people of the town came rejoicing.
15:68
قَالَ اِنَّ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ ضَیۡفِیۡ فَلَا تَفۡضَحُوۡنِ ﴿ۙ۶۸﴾
He said: These are my guests, so do not disgrace me,
15:70
قَالُوۡۤا اَوَ لَمۡ نَنۡہَکَ عَنِ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
They said: Did we not forbid you from (entertaining) people?
15:71
قَالَ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ بَنٰتِیۡۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ فٰعِلِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۷۱﴾
He said: These are my daughters, if you are going to do anything.
See 11:78 footnote.
15:72
لَعَمۡرُکَ اِنَّہُمۡ لَفِیۡ سَکۡرَتِہِمۡ یَعۡمَہُوۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾
By your life! they blindly wandered on in their frenzy.
15:74
فَجَعَلۡنَا عَالِیَہَا سَافِلَہَا وَ اَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ حِجَارَۃً مِّنۡ سِجِّیۡلٍ ﴿ؕ۷۴﴾
thus We turned it upside down, and rained upon them stones, as decreed.
15:75
اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّلۡمُتَوَسِّمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۵﴾
Surely in this are signs for those who take a lesson.
15:77
اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیَۃً لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۷۷﴾
Surely in this is a sign for the believers.
15:78
وَ اِنۡ کَانَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡاَیۡکَۃِ لَظٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۷۸﴾
And the dwellers of the grove were indeed wrongdoers:
The dwellers of the grove were Shuaib’s people.
15:79
فَانۡتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ ۘ وَ اِنَّہُمَا لَبِاِمَامٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿ؕ٪۷۹﴾
So We inflicted retribution on them. And they are both on an open high road.
By both are meant the cities of the people of Lot as well as those of Shuaib’s people. The road alluded to is the road followed by caravans from the Hijaz to Syria.
Section 6 (Verses 15:80–15:99): Dwellers of the Rock and a Warning
15:80
وَ لَقَدۡ کَذَّبَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡحِجۡرِ الۡمُرۡسَلِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۰﴾
And the dwellers of the Rock indeed rejected the messengers;
The dwellers of the Rock are the people of Thamūd; see 7:73 note 1.
15:81
وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ اٰیٰتِنَا فَکَانُوۡا عَنۡہَا مُعۡرِضِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۱﴾
and We gave them Our messages, but they turned away from them;
15:82
وَ کَانُوۡا یَنۡحِتُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡجِبَالِ بُیُوۡتًا اٰمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۸۲﴾
and they carved houses in the mountains, in security.
15:84
فَمَاۤ اَغۡنٰی عَنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۸۴﴾
and what they earned did not avail them.
15:85
وَ مَا خَلَقۡنَا السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَاۤ اِلَّا بِالۡحَقِّ ؕ وَ اِنَّ السَّاعَۃَ لَاٰتِیَۃٌ فَاصۡفَحِ الصَّفۡحَ الۡجَمِیۡلَ ﴿۸۵﴾
And We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them but with truth. And the Hour is surely coming, so turn away with kindly forgiveness.
Just one of many instances of the Holy Prophet’s forgiveness was at the conquest of Makkah, when, having captured the city which had most tyrannically driven him out with his followers, and whose people were guilty of shedding the innocent blood of the Muslims, he forgave all.
15:86
اِنَّ رَبَّکَ ہُوَ الۡخَلّٰقُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۸۶﴾
Surely your Lord — He is the Creator, the Knower.
15:87
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنٰکَ سَبۡعًا مِّنَ الۡمَثَانِیۡ وَ الۡقُرۡاٰنَ الۡعَظِیۡمَ ﴿۸۷﴾
And certainly We have given you seven oft-repeated (verses) and the grand Quran.
The Holy Prophet is reported to have said that the “seven oft-repeated verses” were the seven verses of the Fātiḥah, the first chapter of the Quran. (Bukhari, 65:1). According to the same hadith, the Fātiḥah is called the grand Quran. It is so called because it contains the essence of the whole of the Quran.
15:88
لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَیۡنَیۡکَ اِلٰی مَا مَتَّعۡنَا بِہٖۤ اَزۡوَاجًا مِّنۡہُمۡ وَ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وَ اخۡفِضۡ جَنَاحَکَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۸۸﴾
Do not strain your eyes (with desire) at what We have given certain classes of them to enjoy, nor grieve for them, and make yourself gentle to the believers.
The riches and embellishments of this life had no temptation for the Holy Prophet. The unequalled simplicity of his life from the time that he married a rich widow to the time that he ruled Arabia may be guessed from the last scene of his life, when he ordered the last penny in his house to be given to the poor. The verse, moreover, draws a picture of the utmost kindness and gentleness which he showed to his followers. The straining of the eyes signifies looking desirously.
15:92
فَوَ رَبِّکَ لَنَسۡـَٔلَنَّہُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۲﴾
So, by your Lord! We shall question them all,
15:94
فَاصۡدَعۡ بِمَا تُؤۡمَرُ وَ اَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ﴿۹۴﴾
Therefore declare openly what you are commanded, and turn away from those who set up partners (with Allah).
15:95
اِنَّا کَفَیۡنٰکَ الۡمُسۡتَہۡزِءِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۵﴾
Surely We are sufficient for you against the scoffers —
15:96
الَّذِیۡنَ یَجۡعَلُوۡنَ مَعَ اللّٰہِ اِلٰہًا اٰخَرَ ۚ فَسَوۡفَ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۹۶﴾
those who set up another god with Allah; so they will come to know.
15:97
وَ لَقَدۡ نَعۡلَمُ اَنَّکَ یَضِیۡقُ صَدۡرُکَ بِمَا یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۷﴾
And We know indeed that your heart is distressed at what they say;
15:98
فَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّکَ وَ کُنۡ مِّنَ السّٰجِدِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۸﴾
so celebrate the praise of your Lord, and be of those who prostrate (before Him).
15:99
وَ اعۡبُدۡ رَبَّکَ حَتّٰی یَاۡتِیَکَ الۡیَقِیۡنُ ﴿٪۹۹﴾
And serve your Lord, until there comes to you what is certain.
What is certain is here generally taken to mean death (Bukhari, 65.15:5), because it is the one thing which is certain to come to every creature.