21: The Prophets (Al-Anbiya)
Revealed at Makkah
This chapter deals with the deliverance of the prophets, hence its title, and the ultimate triumph of their cause. It tells us that judgment on the opponents is approaching and the truth must triumph now as always. Then it draws attention to the truth of revelation, after which it speaks of God’s merciful dealing with people as this is how the Holy Prophet’s opponents would be dealt with. Next, examples of a number of prophets are cited who were delivered from their enemies. At the end we are told that the righteous will be made to inherit the land. This chapter was revealed in the early period at Makkah, about or before the fifth year of the Holy Prophet’s mission.
Section 1 (Verses 21:1–21:10): Judgment Approaches
21:1
اِقۡتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُہُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ فِیۡ غَفۡلَۃٍ مُّعۡرِضُوۡنَ ۚ﴿۱﴾
Their reckoning draws near to people, and they turn away in heedlessness.
21:2
مَا یَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ ذِکۡرٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ مُّحۡدَثٍ اِلَّا اسۡتَمَعُوۡہُ وَ ہُمۡ یَلۡعَبُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۲﴾
No new Reminder comes to them from their Lord but they hear it while they play,
21:3
لَاہِیَۃً قُلُوۡبُہُمۡ ؕ وَ اَسَرُّوا النَّجۡوَی ٭ۖ الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ٭ۖ ہَلۡ ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُکُمۡ ۚ اَفَتَاۡتُوۡنَ السِّحۡرَ وَ اَنۡتُمۡ تُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
their hearts trifling. And they — the wrongdoers — counsel in secret: He is nothing but a mortal like yourselves; will you then yield to enchantment while you see?
21:4
قٰلَ رَبِّیۡ یَعۡلَمُ الۡقَوۡلَ فِی السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ۫ وَ ہُوَ السَّمِیۡعُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۴﴾
He said: My Lord knows (every) utterance in the heaven and the earth, and He is the Hearer, the Knower.
21:5
بَلۡ قَالُوۡۤا اَضۡغَاثُ اَحۡلَامٍۭ بَلِ افۡتَرٰىہُ بَلۡ ہُوَ شَاعِرٌ ۚۖ فَلۡیَاۡتِنَا بِاٰیَۃٍ کَمَاۤ اُرۡسِلَ الۡاَوَّلُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
Indeed, say they: Confused dreams! Rather, he has forged it! Rather, he is a poet! so let him bring us a sign such as the former (prophets) were sent (with).
The Quraish were quite puzzled, and hostile critics of the Quran are still puzzled, what they could liken the Quran to. They first call it siḥr, i.e., skilful eloquence, because, despite their opposition to it, it had an attraction for them. But then there are prophecies which mere eloquence cannot produce, so they call it confused dreams or medleys of dreams. Then they think that there is a settled purpose in it, by reason of its asserting the Prophet’s triumph and the discomfiture of his powerful enemies, so they call it an intentional forgery; and lastly, as if to devise one word combining all these, they call him a poet. Then they demand a sign like one given to the former prophets, meaning their destruction, because the Quran had repeatedly called their attention to the fate of those who had rejected the truth before them.
21:6
مَاۤ اٰمَنَتۡ قَبۡلَہُمۡ مِّنۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ اَہۡلَکۡنٰہَا ۚ اَفَہُمۡ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
Not a town believed before them which We destroyed: will they then believe?
They are told in reply that persistence in wickedness and disbelief has always been punished with destruction.
21:7
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا قَبۡلَکَ اِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوۡحِیۡۤ اِلَیۡہِمۡ فَسۡـَٔلُوۡۤا اَہۡلَ الذِّکۡرِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
And We did not send before you any but men to whom We sent revelation; so ask the followers of the Reminder if you do not know.
21:8
وَ مَا جَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ جَسَدًا لَّا یَاۡکُلُوۡنَ الطَّعَامَ وَ مَا کَانُوۡا خٰلِدِیۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
Nor did We give them bodies not eating food, nor did they live forever.
Thus every prophet had a mortal body needing food for its support, and every one of them tasted of death. Therefore Jesus also must have had a body which stood in need of food and must have tasted of death. The idea that he is alive is clearly opposed to this verse.
21:9
ثُمَّ صَدَقۡنٰہُمُ الۡوَعۡدَ فَاَنۡجَیۡنٰہُمۡ وَ مَنۡ نَّشَآءُ وَ اَہۡلَکۡنَا الۡمُسۡرِفِیۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
Then We made Our promise good to them; so We delivered them and whom We pleased, and We destroyed the extravagant.
21:10
لَقَدۡ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکُمۡ کِتٰبًا فِیۡہِ ذِکۡرُکُمۡ ؕ اَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۰﴾
Certainly We have revealed to you a Book which will give you eminence. Do you not then understand?
Whenever the opponents demand that the threatened punishment should come, the reply always is that the Quran is a blessing and a mercy for them. The same truth is expressed here. They are told that the Quran has been revealed to make them a great and eminent nation in the world. Dhikr means eminence, fame, renown, honour as well as reminder. Also see 2:152 footnote.
Section 2 (Verses 21:11–21:29): Truth has Always Triumphed
21:11
وَ کَمۡ قَصَمۡنَا مِنۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ کَانَتۡ ظَالِمَۃً وَّ اَنۡشَاۡنَا بَعۡدَہَا قَوۡمًا اٰخَرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
And how many a town which was unjust did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people!
21:12
فَلَمَّاۤ اَحَسُّوۡا بَاۡسَنَاۤ اِذَا ہُمۡ مِّنۡہَا یَرۡکُضُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۱۲﴾
So when they felt Our might, lo! they began to flee from it.
21:13
لَا تَرۡکُضُوۡا وَ ارۡجِعُوۡۤا اِلٰی مَاۤ اُتۡرِفۡتُمۡ فِیۡہِ وَ مَسٰکِنِکُمۡ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تُسۡـَٔلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾
Do not flee and return to the easy lives which you led, and to your dwellings, that you may be questioned.
21:14
قَالُوۡا یٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ اِنَّا کُنَّا ظٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
They said: O woe to us! Surely we were unjust.
21:15
فَمَا زَالَتۡ تِّلۡکَ دَعۡوٰىہُمۡ حَتّٰی جَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ حَصِیۡدًا خٰمِدِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾
And this cry of theirs did not cease till We made them cut off, extinct.
21:16
وَ مَا خَلَقۡنَا السَّمَآءَ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَا لٰعِبِیۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and all that is between them for sport.
They were made to witness signs of the truth of the Prophet and they are now told to bear in mind that these signs were not in vain. In nature every cause has an effect and every end is achieved by means. Life must be taken seriously, not as a jest.
21:17
لَوۡ اَرَدۡنَاۤ اَنۡ نَّتَّخِذَ لَہۡوًا لَّاتَّخَذۡنٰہُ مِنۡ لَّدُنَّاۤ ٭ۖ اِنۡ کُنَّا فٰعِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
If We had wished to take a pastime, We would have taken it from before Ourselves; by no means would We do (so).
21:18
بَلۡ نَقۡذِفُ بِالۡحَقِّ عَلَی الۡبَاطِلِ فَیَدۡمَغُہٗ فَاِذَا ہُوَ زَاہِقٌ ؕ وَ لَکُمُ الۡوَیۡلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾
Indeed, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, so it knocks out its brains, and lo! it vanishes. And woe to you for what you describe!
Mark the deep conviction of the Prophet as to the ultimate triumph of Truth in the world. Truth had dawned on his mind in full resplendence. The forces of darkness and falsehood, which were uppermost in Arabia when these words were uttered, were brought to naught in his lifetime and, however powerful they may appear to be, they cannot even today make a stand before the onward march of Truth.
21:19
وَ لَہٗ مَنۡ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ وَ مَنۡ عِنۡدَہٗ لَا یَسۡتَکۡبِرُوۡنَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِہٖ وَ لَا یَسۡتَحۡسِرُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۱۹﴾
And to Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who are with Him are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they weary.
21:20
یُسَبِّحُوۡنَ الَّیۡلَ وَ النَّہَارَ لَا یَفۡتُرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
They glorify (Him) night and day — they do not tire.
21:21
اَمِ اتَّخَذُوۡۤا اٰلِہَۃً مِّنَ الۡاَرۡضِ ہُمۡ یُنۡشِرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
Or have they taken gods from the earth who give life?
21:22
لَوۡ کَانَ فِیۡہِمَاۤ اٰلِہَۃٌ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ لَفَسَدَتَا ۚ فَسُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰہِ رَبِّ الۡعَرۡشِ عَمَّا یَصِفُوۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
If there were in them gods besides Allah, they would both have been in disorder. So glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Throne, being above what they describe!
There is order in the universe because one law pervades the whole of it, and one law clearly points to one Author and Maintainer of that law. Note that here Allah is spoken of as Rabb al-‘Arsh, the nourisher to perfection or Lord of the Throne, so that the Throne itself is sustained by God, and it is not God Who is sustained by the Throne.
21:23
لَا یُسۡـَٔلُ عَمَّا یَفۡعَلُ وَ ہُمۡ یُسۡـَٔلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
He cannot be questioned as to what He does, and they will be questioned.
21:24
اَمِ اتَّخَذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖۤ اٰلِہَۃً ؕ قُلۡ ہَاتُوۡا بُرۡہَانَکُمۡ ۚ ہٰذَا ذِکۡرُ مَنۡ مَّعِیَ وَ ذِکۡرُ مَنۡ قَبۡلِیۡ ؕ بَلۡ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ۙ الۡحَقَّ فَہُمۡ مُّعۡرِضُوۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾
Or, have they taken gods besides Him? Say: Bring your proof. This is the reminder of those with me and the reminder of those before me. But most of them do not know the Truth, so they turn away.
The great and fundamental truth of the Unity of Allah is common to all religions; no prophet ever taught polytheism.
21:25
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ مِنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا نُوۡحِیۡۤ اِلَیۡہِ اَنَّہٗ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعۡبُدُوۡنِ ﴿۲۵﴾
And We sent no messenger before you but We revealed to him that there is no God but Me, so serve Me.
21:26
وَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ وَلَدًا سُبۡحٰنَہٗ ؕ بَلۡ عِبَادٌ مُّکۡرَمُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۶﴾
And they say: The Beneficent has taken to Himself a son. Glory be to Him! No, they are honoured servants —
Refuting the doctrine that Jesus is the son of God, it is added that they are honoured servants. The words draw attention to the fact that others besides Jesus were spoken of as the sons of God, but that the title signified nothing more than that they were honoured servants, and that therefore Jesus was the son of God exactly in the same sense.
21:27
لَا یَسۡبِقُوۡنَہٗ بِالۡقَوۡلِ وَ ہُمۡ بِاَمۡرِہٖ یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
They do not speak before He speaks, and according to His command they act.
This verse affords a conclusive testimony for the sinlessness of prophets. In the first place they do not speak till Allah has spoken, i.e., they speak according to what He has taught them, not speaking of their own accord. And secondly, when they act, they act according to His commandment. Thus both their words and deeds are in accordance with Divine will, and therefore sin or disobedience of God cannot be attributed to them. The context shows clearly that the verse speaks of prophets, and not of angels.
21:28
یَعۡلَمُ مَا بَیۡنَ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ مَا خَلۡفَہُمۡ وَ لَا یَشۡفَعُوۡنَ ۙ اِلَّا لِمَنِ ارۡتَضٰی وَ ہُمۡ مِّنۡ خَشۡیَتِہٖ مُشۡفِقُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for him whom He approves, and for fear of Him they tremble.
21:29
وَ مَنۡ یَّقُلۡ مِنۡہُمۡ اِنِّیۡۤ اِلٰہٌ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ فَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِیۡہِ جَہَنَّمَ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۹﴾
And whoever of them should say, I am a god besides Him, such a one We recompense with hell. Thus We reward the unjust.
Section 3 (Verses 21:30–21:41): Truth of Revelation
21:30
اَوَ لَمۡ یَرَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اَنَّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ کَانَتَا رَتۡقًا فَفَتَقۡنٰہُمَا ؕ وَ جَعَلۡنَا مِنَ الۡمَآءِ کُلَّ شَیۡءٍ حَیٍّ ؕ اَفَلَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۳۰﴾
Do not those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were closed up, so We split them apart. And We made from water everything living. Will they not then believe?
The heavens and the earth may stand here for the whole universe, or for the solar system in particular, which has developed out of a nebular mass, and the separation may refer to the starry creation or to the throwing off of the planets of the solar system, and the great symmetry of its arrangement and the motions of the various bodies. There is a reference to the orbits of the various planets further on in v. 33. But there may also be a deeper allusion in the closing up of the heavens and the earth to the cessation of Divine revelation for a time before the advent of the Holy Prophet, which was marked by the absence of a prophet in the world for six hundred years and the prevalence of corruption all over the world. The opening up of the heavens and the earth would in this case signify the coming of revelation, which brought life to the world. In physical nature too, rain opens up the earth.
21:31
وَ جَعَلۡنَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ رَوَاسِیَ اَنۡ تَمِیۡدَ بِہِمۡ ۪ وَ جَعَلۡنَا فِیۡہَا فِجَاجًا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّہُمۡ یَہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
And We made firm mountains in the earth in case it should quake with them, and We made in it wide ways that they might follow a right direction.
See 16:15 and footnote. The first part of the verse may also be translated as We made firm mountains in the earth that they might be a source of benefit to you. Compare 79:32–33. In the latter part there may be a deeper reference to the ways pointed out by prophets among every nation.
21:32
وَ جَعَلۡنَا السَّمَآءَ سَقۡفًا مَّحۡفُوۡظًا ۚۖ وَّ ہُمۡ عَنۡ اٰیٰتِہَا مُعۡرِضُوۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
And We have made the heaven a guarded canopy; yet they turn away from its signs.
Arabia had its spiritualists, astrologers and diviners who pretended to have access to the secrets of heaven; see 67:5. They are told that they cannot have any such access. Or, the meaning is that revelation from God (called here heaven) is guarded against all attacks.
21:33
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ الَّیۡلَ وَ النَّہَارَ وَ الشَّمۡسَ وَ الۡقَمَرَ ؕ کُلٌّ فِیۡ فَلَکٍ یَّسۡبَحُوۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
And He it is Who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon. All float in orbits.
21:34
وَ مَا جَعَلۡنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکَ الۡخُلۡدَ ؕ اَفَا۠ئِنۡ مِّتَّ فَہُمُ الۡخٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
And We did not grant living forever to any mortal before you. If you die, will they live forever?
21:35
کُلُّ نَفۡسٍ ذَآئِقَۃُ الۡمَوۡتِ ؕ وَ نَبۡلُوۡکُمۡ بِالشَّرِّ وَ الۡخَیۡرِ فِتۡنَۃً ؕ وَ اِلَیۡنَا تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
Every soul must taste of death. And We test you by evil and good by way of trial. And to Us you are returned.
They were afflicted with small evils, and the removal of these again brought to them a turn of good events. All this was by way of trial; the greater punishment, which was to bring about the final overthrow of their power, was yet in store for them.
21:36
وَ اِذَا رَاٰکَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اِنۡ یَّتَّخِذُوۡنَکَ اِلَّا ہُزُوًا ؕ اَہٰذَا الَّذِیۡ یَذۡکُرُ اٰلِہَتَکُمۡ ۚ وَ ہُمۡ بِذِکۡرِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ ہُمۡ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
And when those who disbelieve see you, they treat you only with mockery: Is this he who speaks of your gods? And they deny when the Beneficent God is mentioned.
The Arabs would not call Allah by the name al-Raḥmān (see also 17:110 and 25:60); hence the Beneficent God is here spoken of in contrast with the idols.
21:37
خُلِقَ الۡاِنۡسَانُ مِنۡ عَجَلٍ ؕ سَاُورِیۡکُمۡ اٰیٰتِیۡ فَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِلُوۡنِ ﴿۳۷﴾
Man is created of haste. Soon will I show you My signs, so ask Me not to hasten them.
So prominent is the characteristic of haste in man that he may be said to have been created, as it were, of haste.
21:38
وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ مَتٰی ہٰذَا الۡوَعۡدُ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
And they say: When will this promise come to pass, if you are truthful?
The particular sign which they again and again demanded was that a destructive punishment like that which overtook former people should overtake them.
21:39
لَوۡ یَعۡلَمُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا حِیۡنَ لَا یَکُفُّوۡنَ عَنۡ وُّجُوۡہِہِمُ النَّارَ وَ لَا عَنۡ ظُہُوۡرِہِمۡ وَ لَا ہُمۡ یُنۡصَرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۹﴾
If those who disbelieve only knew the time when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor from their backs, and they will not be helped!
21:40
بَلۡ تَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ بَغۡتَۃً فَتَبۡہَتُہُمۡ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیۡعُوۡنَ رَدَّہَا وَ لَا ہُمۡ یُنۡظَرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
Indeed, it will come to them all of a sudden and stun them, so they will not have the power to avert it, nor will they be given respite.
21:41
وَ لَقَدِ اسۡتُہۡزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکَ فَحَاقَ بِالَّذِیۡنَ سَخِرُوۡا مِنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا بِہٖ یَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ ﴿٪۴۱﴾
And messengers before you were indeed mocked, but that which they mocked at befell those of them who scoffed.
The rejectors of truth have always scoffed at the idea of being punished. This and the two preceding verses assert in the most forcible words that Truth will finally triumph.
Section 4 (Verses 21:42–21:50): Allah Deals with People Mercifully
21:42
قُلۡ مَنۡ یَّکۡلَؤُکُمۡ بِالَّیۡلِ وَ النَّہَارِ مِنَ الرَّحۡمٰنِ ؕ بَلۡ ہُمۡ عَنۡ ذِکۡرِ رَبِّہِمۡ مُّعۡرِضُوۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
Say: Who guards you by night and by day from the Beneficent? But they turn away at the mention of their Lord.
That is, if Allah were not Beneficent to you and guarded you, there is none who could guard you. Or if He, despite His beneficence, were to punish you because of your persistence in evil to such a degree as to call for the wrath of even a Beneficent Master, there would be none to guard you against that punishment.
21:43
اَمۡ لَہُمۡ اٰلِہَۃٌ تَمۡنَعُہُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِنَا ؕ لَا یَسۡتَطِیۡعُوۡنَ نَصۡرَ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ وَ لَا ہُمۡ مِّنَّا یُصۡحَبُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
Or, have they gods who can defend them against Us? They cannot help themselves, nor can they be defended from Us.
21:44
بَلۡ مَتَّعۡنَا ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ وَ اٰبَآءَہُمۡ حَتّٰی طَالَ عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡعُمُرُ ؕ اَفَلَا یَرَوۡنَ اَنَّا نَاۡتِی الۡاَرۡضَ نَنۡقُصُہَا مِنۡ اَطۡرَافِہَا ؕ اَفَہُمُ الۡغٰلِبُوۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
Indeed, We gave provision to these and their fathers, until life was prolonged to them. Do they not see then that We are visiting the land, curtailing it of its sides? Can they then prevail?
21:45
قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اُنۡذِرُکُمۡ بِالۡوَحۡیِ ۫ۖ وَ لَا یَسۡمَعُ الصُّمُّ الدُّعَآءَ اِذَا مَا یُنۡذَرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾
Say: I warn you only by revelation; and the deaf do not hear the call when they are warned.
21:46
وَ لَئِنۡ مَّسَّتۡہُمۡ نَفۡحَۃٌ مِّنۡ عَذَابِ رَبِّکَ لَیَقُوۡلُنَّ یٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ اِنَّا کُنَّا ظٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
And if a blast of the punishment of your Lord were to touch them, they would say: O woe to us! Surely we were unjust.
21:47
وَ نَضَعُ الۡمَوَازِیۡنَ الۡقِسۡطَ لِیَوۡمِ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ فَلَا تُظۡلَمُ نَفۡسٌ شَیۡئًا ؕ وَ اِنۡ کَانَ مِثۡقَالَ حَبَّۃٍ مِّنۡ خَرۡدَلٍ اَتَیۡنَا بِہَا ؕ وَ کَفٰی بِنَا حٰسِبِیۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
And We will set up a just balance on the day of Resurrection, so no soul will be wronged in the least. And if there were the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We to take account.
21:48
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا مُوۡسٰی وَ ہٰرُوۡنَ الۡفُرۡقَانَ وَ ضِیَآءً وَّ ذِکۡرًا لِّلۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۸﴾
And certainly We gave Moses and Aaron the criterion and a light and a reminder for those who guard against evil,
The criterion given to Moses was that he was delivered from the hands of a most powerful enemy. The last verse of the section predicts that a similar sign would be shown in the case of the Prophet Muhammad.
21:49
الَّذِیۡنَ یَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّہُمۡ بِالۡغَیۡبِ وَ ہُمۡ مِّنَ السَّاعَۃِ مُشۡفِقُوۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
who fear their Lord in secret and they are fearful of the Hour.
21:50
وَ ہٰذَا ذِکۡرٌ مُّبٰرَکٌ اَنۡزَلۡنٰہُ ؕ اَفَاَنۡتُمۡ لَہٗ مُنۡکِرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۵۰﴾
And this is a blessed Reminder, which We have revealed. Will you then deny it?
Section 5 (Verses 21:51–21:75): Abraham is Delivered
21:51
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَاۤ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ رُشۡدَہٗ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ کُنَّا بِہٖ عٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۵۱﴾
And certainly We gave Abraham his rectitude before, and We knew him well.
21:52
اِذۡ قَالَ لِاَبِیۡہِ وَ قَوۡمِہٖ مَا ہٰذِہِ التَّمَاثِیۡلُ الَّتِیۡۤ اَنۡتُمۡ لَہَا عٰکِفُوۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
When he said to his sire and his people: What are these images to whose worship you are devoted?
21:53
قَالُوۡا وَجَدۡنَاۤ اٰبَآءَنَا لَہَا عٰبِدِیۡنَ ﴿۵۳﴾
They said: We found our fathers worshipping them.
21:54
قَالَ لَقَدۡ کُنۡتُمۡ اَنۡتُمۡ وَ اٰبَآؤُکُمۡ فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۵۴﴾
He said: Certainly you have been, you and your fathers, in manifest error.
21:55
قَالُوۡۤا اَجِئۡتَنَا بِالۡحَقِّ اَمۡ اَنۡتَ مِنَ اللّٰعِبِیۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾
They said: Have you brought us the truth, or are you a jester?
21:56
قَالَ بَلۡ رَّبُّکُمۡ رَبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ الَّذِیۡ فَطَرَہُنَّ ۫ۖ وَ اَنَا عَلٰی ذٰلِکُمۡ مِّنَ الشّٰہِدِیۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
He said: Indeed, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them; and I am one of the bearers of witness to this.
21:57
وَ تَاللّٰہِ لَاَکِیۡدَنَّ اَصۡنَامَکُمۡ بَعۡدَ اَنۡ تُوَلُّوۡا مُدۡبِرِیۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
And, by Allah! I will certainly plan against your idols after you go away, turning your backs.
21:58
فَجَعَلَہُمۡ جُذٰذًا اِلَّا کَبِیۡرًا لَّہُمۡ لَعَلَّہُمۡ اِلَیۡہِ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۵۸﴾
So he broke them into pieces, except the chief of them, that perhaps they might return to it.
The story of Abraham’s breaking the idols is related in Jewish Rabbinical literature.
21:59
قَالُوۡا مَنۡ فَعَلَ ہٰذَا بِاٰلِہَتِنَاۤ اِنَّہٗ لَمِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۵۹﴾
They said: Who has done this to our gods? Surely he is one of the wrongdoers.
21:60
قَالُوۡا سَمِعۡنَا فَتًی یَّذۡکُرُہُمۡ یُقَالُ لَہٗۤ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمُ ﴿ؕ۶۰﴾
(Some) said: We heard a youth, who is called Abraham, speak of them.
21:61
قَالُوۡا فَاۡتُوۡا بِہٖ عَلٰۤی اَعۡیُنِ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَشۡہَدُوۡنَ ﴿۶۱﴾
They said: Then bring him before the people’s eyes, perhaps they may bear witness.
21:62
قَالُوۡۤا ءَاَنۡتَ فَعَلۡتَ ہٰذَا بِاٰلِہَتِنَا یٰۤـاِبۡرٰہِیۡمُ ﴿ؕ۶۲﴾
They said: Have you done this to our gods, Abraham?
21:63
قَالَ بَلۡ فَعَلَہٗ ٭ۖ کَبِیۡرُہُمۡ ہٰذَا فَسۡـَٔلُوۡہُمۡ اِنۡ کَانُوۡا یَنۡطِقُوۡنَ ﴿۶۳﴾
He said: Surely (someone) has done it. The chief of them is this; so ask them, if they can speak.
These words do not mean “No, he has done it, this chief of them”. There is a pause after the words “has done it” and the statement “the chief of them is this” is an independent statement. Thus the first words mean some doer has done it. The particle bal occurring before these words often denotes and or surely. The idols were taken as gods yet they were not able to help themselves. They were shattered to pieces, yet they could do no harm to their shatterer. Nor could they even tell their votaries who was responsible for this. It should be further noted that Abraham never tried to conceal what he had done. In fact, before breaking the idols he had warned the people that he would plan against their idols; see v. 57. The object of sparing the chief idol was, as made clear in v. 58, that perhaps they might return to it. The chief was yet safe, they should have argued within themselves, why not pray to him to find out who broke the others. This is hinted at in v. 64, where they are made to confess their own wrongdoing in worshipping things which could do them no good or harm (v. 66).
21:64
فَرَجَعُوۡۤا اِلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ فَقَالُوۡۤا اِنَّکُمۡ اَنۡتُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۴﴾
Then they turned to themselves and said: Surely you yourselves are wrongdoers;
21:65
ثُمَّ نُکِسُوۡا عَلٰی رُءُوۡسِہِمۡ ۚ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتَ مَا ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ یَنۡطِقُوۡنَ ﴿۶۵﴾
then they were made to hang down their heads: You know indeed that they do not speak.
They were made to hang down their heads on account of shame, for their deities proved so helpless as to be unable to name even the person who did them injury.
21:66
قَالَ اَفَتَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مَا لَا یَنۡفَعُکُمۡ شَیۡئًا وَّ لَا یَضُرُّکُمۡ ﴿ؕ۶۶﴾
He said: Do you then serve besides Allah what does you no good, nor harms you?
21:67
اُفٍّ لَّکُمۡ وَ لِمَا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
Enough of you and what you serve besides Allah! Have you no sense?
21:68
قَالُوۡا حَرِّقُوۡہُ وَ انۡصُرُوۡۤا اٰلِہَتَکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ فٰعِلِیۡنَ ﴿۶۸﴾
They said: Burn him, and help your gods, if you are going to do (anything).
21:69
قُلۡنَا یٰنَارُ کُوۡنِیۡ بَرۡدًا وَّ سَلٰمًا عَلٰۤی اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ ﴿ۙ۶۹﴾
We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham:
The fire was turned into coolness and peace for Abraham. The Quran does not state anywhere that Abraham was actually cast into a fire. His opponents had no doubt decided to burn him, as stated here, or to kill him or burn him (29:24). But here in v. 70 as well as in 37:98, we are told in clear words that they intended a plan against him, but We made them the greater losers (v. 70), or We brought them low (37:98). This shows that their plan was ineffective. According to 29:24, Allah delivered him from the fire, before being thrown into or after being thrown into it, it does not say. V. 71 states that the delivery was brought about by means of a journey to another land. It was thus a flight to another place like the Holy Prophet’s Flight to Madinah, and in the history of Abraham there is a deeper reference to the history of the Prophet himself.
21:70
وَ اَرَادُوۡا بِہٖ کَیۡدًا فَجَعَلۡنٰہُمُ الۡاَخۡسَرِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۷۰﴾
And they intended a plan against him, but We made them the greater losers.
21:71
وَ نَجَّیۡنٰہُ وَ لُوۡطًا اِلَی الۡاَرۡضِ الَّتِیۡ بٰرَکۡنَا فِیۡہَا لِلۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۱﴾
And We delivered him and Lot (directing them) to the land which We had blessed for the nations.
21:72
وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗۤ اِسۡحٰقَ ؕ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ نَافِلَۃً ؕ وَ کُلًّا جَعَلۡنَا صٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾
And We gave him Isaac; and Jacob, a son’s son. And We made (them) all good.
21:73
وَ جَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ اَئِمَّۃً یَّہۡدُوۡنَ بِاَمۡرِنَا وَ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِمۡ فِعۡلَ الۡخَیۡرٰتِ وَ اِقَامَ الصَّلٰوۃِ وَ اِیۡتَآءَ الزَّکٰوۃِ ۚ وَ کَانُوۡا لَنَا عٰبِدِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۙ۷۳﴾
And We made them leaders who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of charity, and Us (alone) they served;
21:74
وَ لُوۡطًا اٰتَیۡنٰہُ حُکۡمًا وَّ عِلۡمًا وَّ نَجَّیۡنٰہُ مِنَ الۡقَرۡیَۃِ الَّتِیۡ کَانَتۡ تَّعۡمَلُ الۡخَبٰٓئِثَ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمَ سَوۡءٍ فٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۷۴﴾
and to Lot We gave wisdom and knowledge, and We delivered him from the town which committed wicked deeds. Surely they were an evil people, transgressors;
21:75
وَ اَدۡخَلۡنٰہُ فِیۡ رَحۡمَتِنَا ؕ اِنَّہٗ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿٪۷۵﴾
and We admitted him to Our mercy; surely he was from among the righteous.
Section 6 (Verses 21:76–21:93): Allah Always Delivers Prophets
21:76
وَ نُوۡحًا اِذۡ نَادٰی مِنۡ قَبۡلُ فَاسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَہٗ فَنَجَّیۡنٰہُ وَ اَہۡلَہٗ مِنَ الۡکَرۡبِ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿ۚ۷۶﴾
And Noah, when he cried before (this), so We answered him, and delivered him and his people from the great calamity.
21:77
وَ نَصَرۡنٰہُ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمَ سَوۡءٍ فَاَغۡرَقۡنٰہُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿۷۷﴾
And We helped him against the people who rejected Our messages. Surely they were an evil people, so We drowned them all.
21:78
وَ دَاوٗدَ وَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ اِذۡ یَحۡکُمٰنِ فِی الۡحَرۡثِ اِذۡ نَفَشَتۡ فِیۡہِ غَنَمُ الۡقَوۡمِ ۚ وَ کُنَّا لِحُکۡمِہِمۡ شٰہِدِیۡنَ ﴿٭ۙ۷۸﴾
And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field, when the people’s sheep strayed into it by night, and We were bearers of witness to their judgment.
21:79
فَفَہَّمۡنٰہَا سُلَیۡمٰنَ ۚ وَ کُلًّا اٰتَیۡنَا حُکۡمًا وَّ عِلۡمًا ۫ وَّ سَخَّرۡنَا مَعَ دَاوٗدَ الۡجِبَالَ یُسَبِّحۡنَ وَ الطَّیۡرَ ؕ وَ کُنَّا فٰعِلِیۡنَ ﴿۷۹﴾
So We made Solomon to understand it. And to each (of them) We gave wisdom and knowledge. And We made the mountains, declaring (Our) glory, and the birds, subservient to David. And We were the Doers.
Elsewhere it is stated that everything that exists in the heavens or the earth is made subservient to man (45:13); and on various occasions it is mentioned that the rivers, the sea, the sun and the moon, night and day, etc., are made subservient to man (16:12, 16:14, 13:2, etc.). This explains the meaning of making mountains and birds subservient to David. A thing is said to be made subservient to a man when he can use it to his advantage. Note further that everything in the heavens and the earth declares the glory of Allah (17:44). But see 34:10, where a similar statement occurs and may refer to the conquests of David.
21:80
وَ عَلَّمۡنٰہُ صَنۡعَۃَ لَبُوۡسٍ لَّکُمۡ لِتُحۡصِنَکُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَاۡسِکُمۡ ۚ فَہَلۡ اَنۡتُمۡ شٰکِرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾
And We taught him the making of coats of mail for you, to protect you in your wars; will you then be grateful?
21:81
وَ لِسُلَیۡمٰنَ الرِّیۡحَ عَاصِفَۃً تَجۡرِیۡ بِاَمۡرِہٖۤ اِلَی الۡاَرۡضِ الَّتِیۡ بٰرَکۡنَا فِیۡہَا ؕ وَ کُنَّا بِکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ عٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۸۱﴾
And to Solomon (We subdued) the wind blowing violent, pursuing its course by His command to the land which We had blessed, and We are ever Knower of all things.
Solomon’s fleet did him an important service, and this is what is meant by the wind being made subservient to Solomon. Also compare 14:32: “And He has made the ships subservient to you, to run their course in the sea by His command”.
21:82
وَ مِنَ الشَّیٰطِیۡنِ مَنۡ یَّغُوۡصُوۡنَ لَہٗ وَ یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ عَمَلًا دُوۡنَ ذٰلِکَ ۚ وَ کُنَّا لَہُمۡ حٰفِظِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۲﴾
And of the devils there were those who dived for him and did other work besides that, and We kept guard over them;
Elsewhere we have: “And the devils, every builder and diver, and others fettered in chains” (38:37–38). Solomon employed foreigners, whom he had subdued, to do the work of divers and builders. The word shaiṭān (or devil) signifies one who is excessively proud, rebellious or audacious. See further 38:38.
21:83
وَ اَیُّوۡبَ اِذۡ نَادٰی رَبَّہٗۤ اَنِّیۡ مَسَّنِیَ الضُّرُّ وَ اَنۡتَ اَرۡحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۸۳﴾
and Job, when he cried to his Lord: Distress has afflicted me, and You are the most Merciful of those who show mercy!
21:84
فَاسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَہٗ فَکَشَفۡنَا مَا بِہٖ مِنۡ ضُرٍّ وَّ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ اَہۡلَہٗ وَ مِثۡلَہُمۡ مَّعَہُمۡ رَحۡمَۃً مِّنۡ عِنۡدِنَا وَ ذِکۡرٰی لِلۡعٰبِدِیۡنَ ﴿۸۴﴾
So We responded to him and removed the distress he had, and We gave him (back) his people and more like them with them, a mercy from Us and a reminder to the worshippers.
Job is again mentioned after Solomon in greater detail in 38:41–44. There also he is spoken of as being given his people (ahl) and more like them with them. There, however, we have clear indications that the distress spoken of here relates to some journey which he undertook in connection with his mission. As a result of this journey he lost, or was separated from, his people. It seems that he had to flee to some place of safety, and he ultimately found not only his own people but others like them, i.e., he had other believers in him in his place of refuge. The story of Job as given in the Quran is really a prophetical statement relating to the Prophet’s own Flight from Makkah to Madinah, where he met with not only his Makkan followers but also believers in Madinah in about the same number.
21:85
وَ اِسۡمٰعِیۡلَ وَ اِدۡرِیۡسَ وَ ذَاالۡکِفۡلِ ؕ کُلٌّ مِّنَ الصّٰبِرِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۸۵﴾
And Ishmael and Idrīs and Dhu-l-Kifl; all were from among the patient ones;
The commentators differ in identifying Dhu-l-Kifl with one of the Biblical prophets, Zacharias, Elias, or Joshua. A more sound suggestion is that he is Ezekiel. This prophet is mentioned only once again, as here without any reference to his history, in 38:48. (Editor’s Note: Dhu-l-Kifl may stand for Dhu-l-Kipl, as the letter p is represented by f in Arabic, there being no p in the Arabic alphabet. Dhu-l-Kipl would mean he who belongs to Kapila, this being the name of the town in ancient India to which Buddha belonged. According to the clear teachings of the Quran, prophets and messengers of God were sent to every nation: “And there is not a people but a warner has gone among them” — 35:24; see also 10:47, 4:164 and 40:78. Buddha’s life and teachings, and his great following, lead us to infer that he was a messenger of God in Quranic terms.)
21:86
وَ اَدۡخَلۡنٰہُمۡ فِیۡ رَحۡمَتِنَا ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۸۶﴾
and We admitted them to Our mercy; surely they were from among the good ones.
21:87
وَ ذَاالنُّوۡنِ اِذۡ ذَّہَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ اَنۡ لَّنۡ نَّقۡدِرَ عَلَیۡہِ فَنَادٰی فِی الظُّلُمٰتِ اَنۡ لَّاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡتَ سُبۡحٰنَکَ ٭ۖ اِنِّیۡ کُنۡتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۸۷﴾
And Dhu-l-Nūn, when he went away in anger, and he thought that We would not constrain him, so he called out among afflictions: There is no God but You, glory be to You! Surely I am a sufferer of loss.
Dhu-l-Nūn is another name for Jonah, the Arabic equivalent of the latter being Yūnus, by which name the prophet is mentioned in 6:86, 10:98 and 37:139. Nūn means a big fish, and Dhu-l-Nūn therefore means lord of the fish. In a very early revelation, Jonah is spoken of as the companion of the fish (68:48). Both these titles seem to be taken from the incident of the fish; see 37:142.
21:88
فَاسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَہٗ ۙ وَ نَجَّیۡنٰہُ مِنَ الۡغَمِّ ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ نُــۨۡجِی الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۸۸﴾
So We responded to him and delivered him from grief. And thus do We deliver the believers.
21:89
وَ زَکَرِیَّاۤ اِذۡ نَادٰی رَبَّہٗ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرۡنِیۡ فَرۡدًا وَّ اَنۡتَ خَیۡرُ الۡوٰرِثِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۸۹﴾
And Zacharias, when he cried to his Lord: My Lord, do not leave me alone and You are the Best of inheritors!
That is, One Who will remain after all have perished.
21:90
فَاسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَہٗ ۫ وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗ یَحۡیٰی وَ اَصۡلَحۡنَا لَہٗ زَوۡجَہٗ ؕاِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا یُسٰرِعُوۡنَ فِی الۡخَیۡرٰتِ وَ یَدۡعُوۡنَنَا رَغَبًا وَّ رَہَبًا ؕوَ کَانُوۡا لَنَا خٰشِعِیۡنَ ﴿۹۰﴾
So We responded to him and gave him John and made his wife fit for him. Surely they used to hasten in (doing) good deeds and called upon Us, hoping and fearing; and they were humble before Us.
By fitness is meant fitness to bear a child, because she was thought to be barren.
21:91
وَ الَّتِیۡۤ اَحۡصَنَتۡ فَرۡجَہَا فَنَفَخۡنَا فِیۡہَا مِنۡ رُّوۡحِنَا وَ جَعَلۡنٰہَا وَ ابۡنَہَاۤ اٰیَۃً لِّلۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۹۱﴾
And she who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her of Our inspiration, and made her and her son a sign for the nations.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is meant here. Nothing is said about immaculate conception here. The guarding of chastity does not preclude the lawful union of husband and wife.
21:92
اِنَّ ہٰذِہٖۤ اُمَّتُکُمۡ اُمَّۃً وَّاحِدَۃً ۫ۖ وَّ اَنَا رَبُّکُمۡ فَاعۡبُدُوۡنِ ﴿۹۲﴾
Surely this your community is a single community, and I am your Lord, so serve Me.
The basic principle of all religions taught by the prophets has been one and the same in all ages and all countries, that Allah is the Lord of all and He alone must be served. Therefore all prophets are here declared to be one community; they all led people to virtue through service to God. But, as the next verse shows, their followers broke off this unity.
21:93
وَ تَقَطَّعُوۡۤا اَمۡرَہُمۡ بَیۡنَہُمۡ ؕ کُلٌّ اِلَیۡنَا رٰجِعُوۡنَ ﴿٪۹۳﴾
And they split apart their unity: to Us will all return.
Section 7 (Verses 21:94–21:112): The Righteous will Inherit the Land
21:94
فَمَنۡ یَّعۡمَلۡ مِنَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَ ہُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ فَلَا کُفۡرَانَ لِسَعۡیِہٖ ۚ وَ اِنَّا لَہٗ کٰتِبُوۡنَ ﴿۹۴﴾
So whoever does good deeds and is a believer, there is no rejection of his effort, and We surely write (it) down for him.
21:95
وَ حَرٰمٌ عَلٰی قَرۡیَۃٍ اَہۡلَکۡنٰہَاۤ اَنَّہُمۡ لَا یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۹۵﴾
And it is forbidden to a town which We destroy: they shall not return.
The verse reveals the great truth that those who are made to taste of death are not sent back into this world.
21:96
حَتّٰۤی اِذَا فُتِحَتۡ یَاۡجُوۡجُ وَ مَاۡجُوۡجُ وَ ہُمۡ مِّنۡ کُلِّ حَدَبٍ یَّنۡسِلُوۡنَ ﴿۹۶﴾
Even when Gog and Magog are let loose and they sally forth from every elevated place.
The previous verse contains a prohibition against the return to life of those who are dead, or the rise of nations that are once destroyed. This one points out that even Gog and Magog, despite their predominance in the whole world, will follow the same law. The word ḥattā can mean even as well as until.
21:97
وَ اقۡتَرَبَ الۡوَعۡدُ الۡحَقُّ فَاِذَا ہِیَ شَاخِصَۃٌ اَبۡصَارُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ؕ یٰوَیۡلَنَا قَدۡ کُنَّا فِیۡ غَفۡلَۃٍ مِّنۡ ہٰذَا بَلۡ کُنَّا ظٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۹۷﴾
And the True Promise draws near, then the eyes of those who disbelieve will be fixedly open: O woe to us! Surely we were heedless of this; indeed, we were unjust.
The True Promise that draws near with the domination of Gog and Magog is the promise of the ultimate triumph of Truth: “He it is Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth that He may make it prevail over all religions” (9:33). This is also referred to in 18:99, after speaking of the great conflict of Gog and Magog, in the words then We shall gather them all together. Thus the time when Gog and Magog overcome the whole world is also the time when Truth will gain ground and prevail over the whole earth. Materialism would first spread over the whole world, but would prove a failure. Then would spiritual Truth shine and people would feel that they had not only been heedless to it, but even unjust in trying to suppress it.
21:98
اِنَّکُمۡ وَ مَا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ حَصَبُ جَہَنَّمَ ؕ اَنۡتُمۡ لَہَا وٰرِدُوۡنَ ﴿۹۸﴾
Surely you and what you worship besides Allah are fuel of hell; to it you will come.
Compare 18:100: “And We shall bring forth hell, exposed to view, on that day before the disbelievers”.
21:99
لَوۡ کَانَ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ اٰلِہَۃً مَّا وَرَدُوۡہَا ؕ وَ کُلٌّ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۹۹﴾
If these had been gods, they would not have come to it. And all will abide in it.
21:100
لَہُمۡ فِیۡہَا زَفِیۡرٌ وَّ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا لَا یَسۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۰﴾
For them therein is groaning and in it they do not hear.
Those who turn a deaf ear to the Truth here shall be raised deaf in the life after death, and therefore they do not hear.
21:101
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ سَبَقَتۡ لَہُمۡ مِّنَّا الۡحُسۡنٰۤی ۙ اُولٰٓئِکَ عَنۡہَا مُبۡعَدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۱﴾ۙ
Those for whom the good (end) has already gone forth from Us, they will be kept far off from it —
This verse totally refutes the false idea that even the righteous will first go to hell. They will not even hear its faintest sound, as the next verse states.
21:102
لَا یَسۡمَعُوۡنَ حَسِیۡسَہَا ۚ وَ ہُمۡ فِیۡ مَا اشۡتَہَتۡ اَنۡفُسُہُمۡ خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۲﴾ۚ
They will not hear the faintest sound of it and they will abide in that which their souls desire.
It is the bliss of communion with God which the souls of the righteous long for, so it is that bliss in which they shall live in the Hereafter.
21:103
لَا یَحۡزُنُہُمُ الۡفَزَعُ الۡاَکۡبَرُ وَ تَتَلَقّٰہُمُ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ ؕ ہٰذَا یَوۡمُکُمُ الَّذِیۡ کُنۡتُمۡ تُوۡعَدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۳﴾
The great Terror will not grieve them, and the angels will meet them: This is your day which you were promised.
21:104
یَوۡمَ نَطۡوِی السَّمَآءَ کَطَیِّ السِّجِلِّ لِلۡکُتُبِ ؕ کَمَا بَدَاۡنَاۤ اَوَّلَ خَلۡقٍ نُّعِیۡدُہٗ ؕ وَعۡدًا عَلَیۡنَا ؕ اِنَّا کُنَّا فٰعِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۴﴾
The day when We roll up heaven like the rolling up of the scroll of writings. As We began the first creation, We shall reproduce it. A promise (binding) on Us. We shall bring it about.
The rolling up of the heaven like a written scroll means that the old order will be swept away altogether, just as when a writing is finished, it is rolled up. This no doubt happened in Arabia at the appearance of the Holy Prophet. But then follows the statement: As We began the first creation, We shall reproduce it. The sweeping away of the old order no doubt meant that a new order would be created. This is the first creation referred to here — the bringing about of a new order at the Prophet’s appearance. And then we are told that the new order will be reproduced again. This reproduction is in reference to what has been earlier stated — that Gog and Magog will dominate the whole world. The spiritual resuscitation to which Islam gave rise would thus receive a set-back by the predominance of a material outlook of the world through the prevalence of Gog and Magog, but this set-back, we are here told, would be only temporary, and a spiritual awakening like the first spiritual awakening would then be brought about in the whole world. This statement is followed by the words: A Promise binding on Us. The promise of the ultimate triumph of Truth in the whole world is of frequent occurrence in the Quran in earlier as well as in later revelation, and the temporary set-back indicated here is also frequently mentioned, and on one occasion at least it is made fully clear that it will be a set-back extending over a thousand years (32:5).
21:105
وَ لَقَدۡ کَتَبۡنَا فِی الزَّبُوۡرِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ الذِّکۡرِ اَنَّ الۡاَرۡضَ یَرِثُہَا عِبَادِیَ الصّٰلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۵﴾
And certainly We wrote in the Book after the reminder that My righteous servants will inherit the land.
The Quran had repeatedly warned the disbelievers that Islam would be made triumphant in the land, and the righteous servants who were made to suffer persecution would one day be masters of the land. But as already noted, it is of the whole world that the Quran is speaking and we are here told that Truth will ultimately triumph in the whole world, which would thus be inherited by the righteous. This is made clear in v. 107.
21:106
اِنَّ فِیۡ ہٰذَا لَبَلٰغًا لِّقَوۡمٍ عٰبِدِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۶﴾ؕ
Surely in this is a message for a people who serve (Us).
21:107
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ اِلَّا رَحۡمَۃً لِّلۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۷﴾
And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the nations.
While the words no doubt contain a reference to the merciful dealing with the Prophet’s opponents, the real significance is that the Prophet’s advent will prove a mercy not only to the Arabs by making them a foremost nation in the world, but to the whole of humanity. The Prophet’s being a mercy to the nations of the world, is to show that ultimately all nations will be received into the Divine mercy which was manifested through him. Already the teachings of the Quran have not only benefited its followers, but even those who still reject its message, for, despite their rejection of it, they have accepted many of its principles.
21:108
قُلۡ اِنَّمَا یُوۡحٰۤی اِلَیَّ اَنَّمَاۤ اِلٰـہُکُمۡ اِلٰہٌ وَّاحِدٌ ۚ فَہَلۡ اَنۡتُمۡ مُّسۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۸﴾
Say: It is only revealed to me that your God is one God: will you then submit?
21:109
فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَقُلۡ اٰذَنۡتُکُمۡ عَلٰی سَوَآءٍ ؕ وَ اِنۡ اَدۡرِیۡۤ اَقَرِیۡبٌ اَمۡ بَعِیۡدٌ مَّا تُوۡعَدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۹﴾
But if they turn back, say: I have warned you in fairness, and I do not know whether what you are promised is near or far.
21:110
اِنَّہٗ یَعۡلَمُ الۡجَہۡرَ مِنَ الۡقَوۡلِ وَ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تَکۡتُمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۰﴾
Surely He knows what is spoken openly and He knows what you hide.
21:111
وَ اِنۡ اَدۡرِیۡ لَعَلَّہٗ فِتۡنَۃٌ لَّکُمۡ وَ مَتَاعٌ اِلٰی حِیۡنٍ ﴿۱۱۱﴾
And I do not know if this may be a trial for you and a provision till a time.
21:112
قٰلَ رَبِّ احۡکُمۡ بِالۡحَقِّ ؕ وَ رَبُّنَا الرَّحۡمٰنُ الۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلٰی مَا تَصِفُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۲﴾٪
He said: My Lord, judge with truth. And our Lord is the Beneficent, Whose help is sought against what you ascribe (to Him).