29: The Spider (Al-Ankabut)
Revealed at Makkah
This chapter is entitled The Spider as v. 41 compares false beliefs with a spider’s web, which shall be swept away by the current of truth. It begins by stating that believers must undergo trials and persecutions, even by their parents, before truth can triumph. These sufferings purify them. Then it relates histories of prophets who underwent suffering. It goes on to refer to the purifying effect of the Quran on the believers. Finally, it warns the opponents of their fate and comforts the believers by stating that their sufferings will change to a state of happiness and their exertions and striving in the cause of truth will be fruitful. Chapters 29 to 32 form one group revealed near the close of the early period at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 29:1–29:13): Trials Purify
29:2
اَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ اَنۡ یُّتۡرَکُوۡۤا اَنۡ یَّقُوۡلُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا وَ ہُمۡ لَا یُفۡتَنُوۡنَ ﴿۲﴾
Do people think that they will be left alone on saying, We believe, and will not be tried?
By the trials spoken of in these verses are meant the persecutions of the believers by the disbelievers. This is made clear in v. 10.
29:3
وَ لَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ فَلَیَعۡلَمَنَّ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡنَ صَدَقُوۡا وَ لَیَعۡلَمَنَّ الۡکٰذِبِیۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
And indeed We tried those before them, so Allah will certainly know those who are true and He will know the liars.
The knowing in this case relates to a knowledge of the event when it takes place, when reward or punishment is meted out to a person for what he does.
29:4
اَمۡ حَسِبَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ السَّیِّاٰتِ اَنۡ یَّسۡبِقُوۡنَا ؕ سَآءَ مَا یَحۡکُمُوۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
Or do they who work evil think that they will escape Us? Evil is it what they judge!
29:5
مَنۡ کَانَ یَرۡجُوۡا لِقَآءَ اللّٰہِ فَاِنَّ اَجَلَ اللّٰہِ لَاٰتٍ ؕ وَ ہُوَ السَّمِیۡعُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۵﴾
Whoever hopes to meet with Allah, the term of Allah is then surely coming. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
29:6
وَ مَنۡ جَاہَدَ فَاِنَّمَا یُجَاہِدُ لِنَفۡسِہٖ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَغَنِیٌّ عَنِ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
And whoever strives hard, strives for himself. Surely Allah is above need of (His) creatures.
As shown under 25:52, the word jihād occurs in Makkan revelation frequently, and carries its proper significance of striving hard in Allah’s way. The suffering of persecutions and tortures at the hands of their enemies for the sake of their faith was no less a jihād for the Muslims at Makkah than their fighting in defence of Islam at Madinah.
29:7
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَنُکَفِّرَنَّ عَنۡہُمۡ سَیِّاٰتِہِمۡ وَ لَنَجۡزِیَنَّہُمۡ اَحۡسَنَ الَّذِیۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
And those who believe and do good, We shall certainly do away with their afflictions and reward them for the best of what they did.
These words may signify either doing away with their afflictions or trials, or doing away with their evil deeds. I prefer the first because it is of the trials and afflictions of the believers that these verses speak. If the second significance is adopted, it would mean that the evil deeds which the believers did before they accepted the Truth would be effaced, because the course of their lives was now changed.
29:8
وَ وَصَّیۡنَا الۡاِنۡسَانَ بِوَالِدَیۡہِ حُسۡنًا ؕ وَ اِنۡ جَاہَدٰکَ لِتُشۡرِکَ بِیۡ مَا لَیۡسَ لَکَ بِہٖ عِلۡمٌ فَلَا تُطِعۡہُمَا ؕ اِلَیَّ مَرۡجِعُکُمۡ فَاُنَبِّئُکُمۡ بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
And We have enjoined on man goodness to his parents. But if they strive to make you set up partners with Me, of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, so I will inform you of what you did.
This verse, while signifying the importance of obedience to parents, warns against attaching over-importance even to filial duty. It shows that when an important duty clashes with a still higher one, the former is to be sacrificed for the latter.
29:9
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَنُدۡخِلَنَّہُمۡ فِی الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
And those who believe and do good, We shall surely make them enter among the righteous.
29:10
وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ یَّقُوۡلُ اٰمَنَّا بِاللّٰہِ فَاِذَاۤ اُوۡذِیَ فِی اللّٰہِ جَعَلَ فِتۡنَۃَ النَّاسِ کَعَذَابِ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ لَئِنۡ جَآءَ نَصۡرٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکَ لَیَقُوۡلُنَّ اِنَّا کُنَّا مَعَکُمۡ ؕ اَوَ لَیۡسَ اللّٰہُ بِاَعۡلَمَ بِمَا فِیۡ صُدُوۡرِ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
And among people is he who says: We believe in Allah; but when he is persecuted for the sake of Allah, he thinks the persecution of people to be as the punishment of Allah. And if help comes from your Lord, they will say: Surely we were with you. Is not Allah the Best Knower of what is in the hearts of mankind?
The meaning is that those who are weak in faith consider the persecution by the disbelievers, which was necessary to strengthen and purify their faith, as if it were a punishment from Allah for their change of faith. The latter part of the verse is a prophecy as to what the weak in faith will say when they see the help of Allah coming to the Muslims.
29:11
وَ لَیَعۡلَمَنَّ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ لَیَعۡلَمَنَّ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
And certainly Allah will know those who believe, and He will know the hypocrites.
29:12
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّبِعُوۡا سَبِیۡلَنَا وَ لۡنَحۡمِلۡ خَطٰیٰکُمۡ ؕ وَ مَا ہُمۡ بِحٰمِلِیۡنَ مِنۡ خَطٰیٰہُمۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ لَکٰذِبُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾
And those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Follow our path and we will bear your wrongs. And they can never bear any of their wrongs at all. Surely they are liars.
29:13
وَ لَیَحۡمِلُنَّ اَثۡقَالَہُمۡ وَ اَثۡقَالًا مَّعَ اَثۡقَالِہِمۡ ۫ وَ لَیُسۡـَٔلُنَّ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ عَمَّا کَانُوۡا یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۳﴾
And they will certainly bear their own burdens, and other burdens besides their own burdens; and they will certainly be questioned on the day of Resurrection as to what they forged.
The Quran does not anywhere say that the burden of one shall be taken away by another. Each one is responsible for what he does. The “other burdens” are really their own burdens in misleading others, and thus the two burdens spoken of here are the burden of one’s own wrongdoing and the burden of misleading others.
Section 2 (Verses 29:14–29:22): Noah and Abraham
29:14
وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ فَلَبِثَ فِیۡہِمۡ اَلۡفَ سَنَۃٍ اِلَّا خَمۡسِیۡنَ عَامًا ؕ فَاَخَذَہُمُ الطُّوۡفَانُ وَ ہُمۡ ظٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
And We indeed sent Noah to his people, so he remained among them a thousand years save fifty years. And the deluge overtook them, and they were wrongdoers.
The Bible gives 950 years to be the age of Noah. It is not improbable that the span of man’s life may have been greater in his earlier history than at present, and Noah may have attained an extraordinary age among his compatriots. But there are indications that the reference here is to the abiding for 950 years of the law preached by Noah, his place then being taken by Abraham, as the mention of Abraham immediately afterwards shows.
29:15
فَاَنۡجَیۡنٰہُ وَ اَصۡحٰبَ السَّفِیۡنَۃِ وَ جَعَلۡنٰہَاۤ اٰیَۃً لِّلۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾
So We delivered him and the inmates of the ark, and made it a sign to the nations.
29:16
وَ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ اِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِہِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ وَ اتَّقُوۡہُ ؕ ذٰلِکُمۡ خَیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
And (We sent) Abraham, when he said to his people: Serve Allah and keep your duty to Him. That is better for you, if you know.
29:17
اِنَّمَا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ اَوۡثَانًا وَّ تَخۡلُقُوۡنَ اِفۡکًا ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ لَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ لَکُمۡ رِزۡقًا فَابۡتَغُوۡا عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ الرِّزۡقَ وَ اعۡبُدُوۡہُ وَ اشۡکُرُوۡا لَہٗ ؕ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
You only worship idols besides Allah and you invent a lie. Surely they whom you serve besides Allah control no sustenance for you; so seek sustenance from Allah and serve Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be brought back.
29:18
وَ اِنۡ تُکَذِّبُوۡا فَقَدۡ کَذَّبَ اُمَمٌ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ ؕ وَ مَا عَلَی الرَّسُوۡلِ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِیۡنُ ﴿۱۸﴾
And if you reject, nations before you did indeed reject (the Truth). And the duty of the Messenger is only to deliver the message clearly.
29:19
اَوَ لَمۡ یَرَوۡا کَیۡفَ یُبۡدِئُ اللّٰہُ الۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ یُعِیۡدُہٗ ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِکَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ یَسِیۡرٌ ﴿۱۹﴾
Do they not see how Allah originates the creation, then reproduces it? Surely that is easy to Allah.
The law of creation and destruction of things, which is constantly working in nature, finds an expression in the lives of nations: a nation is brought into existence, then it is swept away and a new nation raised in its place. It is to this law that the verse refers as a warning to the idolatrous Makkans that the time had now come when their place would be taken by another nation. This is made clear in the verses that follow. It should be noted that verses 18–23 are parenthetical, being an address to the opponents of the Holy Prophet. The Quran frequently adopts this method of warning in the middle of another narration, for its object is not to relate a story, but to warn those who opposed the spread of Truth as revealed to the Holy Prophet.
29:20
قُلۡ سِیۡرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَانۡظُرُوۡا کَیۡفَ بَدَاَ الۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ اللّٰہُ یُنۡشِیُٔ النَّشۡاَۃَ الۡاٰخِرَۃَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ ﴿ۚ۲۰﴾
Say: Travel in the earth then see how He makes the first creation, then Allah creates the latter creation. Surely Allah is Powerful over all things.
Elsewhere, the words travel in the earth are always followed by then see what was the end of the rejectors, instead of which we have here how He makes the first creation, then Allah creates the latter creation. This shows that what is meant here is the disappearance of one nation to give place to another. (Editor’s Note: There may also be a hint here that by travelling in the earth one can find evidence of evolution, as Charles Darwin discovered by his travels.)
29:21
یُعَذِّبُ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَرۡحَمُ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ۚ وَ اِلَیۡہِ تُقۡلَبُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
He punishes whom He pleases and has mercy on whom He pleases, and to Him you will be turned back.
29:22
وَ مَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ بِمُعۡجِزِیۡنَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لَا فِی السَّمَآءِ ۫ وَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ وَّلِیٍّ وَّ لَا نَصِیۡرٍ ﴿٪۲۲﴾
And you cannot escape in the earth nor in the heaven, and you have no protector or helper besides Allah.
Section 3 (Verses 29:23–29:30): Abraham and Lot
29:23
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ وَ لِقَآئِہٖۤ اُولٰٓئِکَ یَئِسُوۡا مِنۡ رَّحۡمَتِیۡ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۳﴾
And those who disbelieve in the messages of Allah and the meeting with Him, they despair of My mercy, and for them is a painful punishment.
29:24
فَمَا کَانَ جَوَابَ قَوۡمِہٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ قَالُوا اقۡتُلُوۡہُ اَوۡ حَرِّقُوۡہُ فَاَنۡجٰىہُ اللّٰہُ مِنَ النَّارِ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾
But the answer of his people was only that they said: Kill him or burn him! But Allah delivered him from the fire. Surely there are signs in this for a people who believe.
As in 21:69, so here, it is not stated that Abraham was actually cast into the fire. On the other hand, the plan was either to kill or to burn him, and therefore the fire may only stand for the opposition which these plans involved.
29:25
وَ قَالَ اِنَّمَا اتَّخَذۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ اَوۡثَانًا ۙ مَّوَدَّۃَ بَیۡنِکُمۡ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ۚ ثُمَّ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ یَکۡفُرُ بَعۡضُکُمۡ بِبَعۡضٍ وَّ یَلۡعَنُ بَعۡضُکُمۡ بَعۡضًا ۫ وَّ مَاۡوٰىکُمُ النَّارُ وَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ نّٰصِرِیۡنَ ﴿٭ۙ۲۵﴾
And he said: You have only taken idols besides Allah by way of friendship between you in this world’s life, then on the day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another; and your abode is the Fire, and you will have no helpers.
29:26
فَاٰمَنَ لَہٗ لُوۡطٌ ۘ وَ قَالَ اِنِّیۡ مُہَاجِرٌ اِلٰی رَبِّیۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ ﴿۲۶﴾
So Lot believed in him. And he said: I am fleeing to my Lord. Surely He is the Mighty, the Wise.
The words I am fleeing to my Lord indicate his flight to another country to where he was commanded to flee by his Lord. This is more clearly stated in 19:48: “And I withdraw from you,” being followed by the statement in 19:49: “So when he withdrew from them”. This makes it further clear that his deliverance from the fire was brought about by his flight to another country.
29:27
وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗۤ اِسۡحٰقَ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ وَ جَعَلۡنَا فِیۡ ذُرِّیَّتِہِ النُّبُوَّۃَ وَ الۡکِتٰبَ وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ اَجۡرَہٗ فِی الدُّنۡیَا ۚ وَ اِنَّہٗ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ لَمِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
And We granted him Isaac and Jacob, and ordained prophethood and the Book among his offspring. And We gave him his reward in this world, and in the Hereafter he will surely be among the righteous.
29:28
وَ لُوۡطًا اِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِہٖۤ اِنَّکُمۡ لَتَاۡتُوۡنَ الۡفَاحِشَۃَ ۫ مَا سَبَقَکُمۡ بِہَا مِنۡ اَحَدٍ مِّنَ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
And (We sent) Lot, when he said to his people: Surely you commit foul deeds which none of the nations has done before you.
29:29
اَئِنَّکُمۡ لَتَاۡتُوۡنَ الرِّجَالَ وَ تَقۡطَعُوۡنَ السَّبِیۡلَ ۬ۙ وَ تَاۡتُوۡنَ فِیۡ نَادِیۡکُمُ الۡمُنۡکَرَ ؕ فَمَا کَانَ جَوَابَ قَوۡمِہٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ قَالُوا ائۡتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللّٰہِ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
Do you come to males and commit robbery on the highway, and commit evil deeds in your assemblies? But the answer of his people was only that they said: Bring on us Allah’s punishment, if you are truthful.
Three sins are ascribed to Lot’s people — homosexuality, highway robbery, and openly committing evil deeds in their assemblies. Therefore it is a mistake to explain all incidents in connection with Lot’s story only with reference to homosexuality as the sole evil of which they were guilty.
29:30
قَالَ رَبِّ انۡصُرۡنِیۡ عَلَی الۡقَوۡمِ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿٪۳۰﴾
He said: My Lord, help me against the mischievous people.
Section 4 (Verses 29:31–29:44): Opposition to Truth ever a Failure
29:31
وَ لَمَّا جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَاۤ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ بِالۡبُشۡرٰی ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا مُہۡلِکُوۡۤا اَہۡلِ ہٰذِہِ الۡقَرۡیَۃِ ۚ اِنَّ اَہۡلَہَا کَانُوۡا ظٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۳۱﴾
And when Our messengers came to Abraham with good news, they said: We are going to destroy the people of this town, for its people are wrongdoers.
29:32
قَالَ اِنَّ فِیۡہَا لُوۡطًا ؕ قَالُوۡا نَحۡنُ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَنۡ فِیۡہَا ٝ۫ لَنُنَجِّیَنَّہٗ وَ اَہۡلَہٗۤ اِلَّا امۡرَاَتَہٗ ٭۫ کَانَتۡ مِنَ الۡغٰبِرِیۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
He said: Surely in it is Lot. They said: We know well who is in it; we shall certainly deliver him and his followers, except his wife; she is of those who remain behind.
29:33
وَ لَمَّاۤ اَنۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَا لُوۡطًا سِیۡٓءَ بِہِمۡ وَ ضَاقَ بِہِمۡ ذَرۡعًا وَّ قَالُوۡا لَا تَخَفۡ وَ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ ۟ اِنَّا مُنَجُّوۡکَ وَ اَہۡلَکَ اِلَّا امۡرَاَتَکَ کَانَتۡ مِنَ الۡغٰبِرِیۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was grieved on account of them, and he lacked strength to protect them. And they said: Do not fear, nor grieve; surely we will deliver you and your followers, except your wife — she is of those who remain behind.
29:34
اِنَّا مُنۡزِلُوۡنَ عَلٰۤی اَہۡلِ ہٰذِہِ الۡقَرۡیَۃِ رِجۡزًا مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَفۡسُقُوۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
Surely We are going to bring down upon the people of this town a punishment from heaven, because they transgressed.
29:35
وَ لَقَدۡ تَّرَکۡنَا مِنۡہَاۤ اٰیَۃًۢ بَیِّنَۃً لِّقَوۡمٍ یَّعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
And certainly We have left a clear sign of it for a people who understand.
Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities destroyed, are in the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea, on the road from Arabia: “And it is on a road that still abides” (15:76).
29:36
وَ اِلٰی مَدۡیَنَ اَخَاہُمۡ شُعَیۡبًا ۙ فَقَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ وَ ارۡجُوا الۡیَوۡمَ الۡاٰخِرَ وَ لَا تَعۡثَوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
And to Midian (We sent) their brother Shuaib, so he said: My people, serve Allah and fear the Last Day, and do not act corruptly, making mischief, in the land.
29:37
فَکَذَّبُوۡہُ فَاَخَذَتۡہُمُ الرَّجۡفَۃُ فَاَصۡبَحُوۡا فِیۡ دَارِہِمۡ جٰثِمِیۡنَ ﴿۫۳۷﴾
But they rejected him, so a severe earthquake overtook them and they lay prostrate in their abodes.
29:38
وَ عَادًا وَّ ثَمُوۡدَا۠ وَ قَدۡ تَّبَیَّنَ لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ مَّسٰکِنِہِمۡ ۟ وَ زَیَّنَ لَہُمُ الشَّیۡطٰنُ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ فَصَدَّہُمۡ عَنِ السَّبِیۡلِ وَ کَانُوۡا مُسۡتَبۡصِرِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۸﴾
And Ād and Thamūd! And some of their dwellings are indeed apparent to you. And the devil made their deeds seem good to them, so he kept them back from the path, and they could see clearly.
29:39
وَ قَارُوۡنَ وَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ ہَامٰنَ ۟ وَ لَقَدۡ جَآءَہُمۡ مُّوۡسٰی بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ فَاسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا کَانُوۡا سٰبِقِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۳۹﴾
And Korah and Pharaoh and Hāmān! And certainly Moses came to them with clear arguments, but they behaved haughtily in the land; and they could not outstrip (Us).
29:40
فَکُلًّا اَخَذۡنَا بِذَنۡۢبِہٖ ۚ فَمِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ حَاصِبًا ۚ وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ اَخَذَتۡہُ الصَّیۡحَۃُ ۚ وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ خَسَفۡنَا بِہِ الۡاَرۡضَ ۚ وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ اَغۡرَقۡنَا ۚ وَ مَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ لِیَظۡلِمَہُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ کَانُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ یَظۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
So each one We punished for his sin. On some of them We sent a violent storm, and some of them the rumbling overtook, and some of them We caused the earth to swallow, and some of them We drowned. And it was not Allah, Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.
For these punishments, in order, see 7:72, 78, 84; 28:81; 2:50; 7:64.
29:41
مَثَلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّخَذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ اَوۡلِیَآءَ کَمَثَلِ الۡعَنۡکَبُوۡتِ ۖۚ اِتَّخَذَتۡ بَیۡتًا ؕ وَ اِنَّ اَوۡہَنَ الۡبُیُوۡتِ لَبَیۡتُ الۡعَنۡکَبُوۡتِ ۘ لَوۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
The parable of those who take guardians besides Allah is as the parable of the spider that makes for itself a house; and surely the frailest of houses is the spider’s house — if only they knew!
A trust in false deities, which stands for all false beliefs, is here compared with a spider’s web to express the nature of its extreme frailty. It may prosper for a time, but no sooner is the light of criticism and research brought to bear upon it than it vanishes and leaves no trace behind. This also refers to the plans of the Holy Prophet’s opponents, which were destined to be brought to naught by reason of their inability to withstand the overwhelming advance of Truth.
29:42
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَعۡلَمُ مَا یَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ ؕ وَ ہُوَ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ ﴿۴۲﴾
Surely Allah knows whatever they call upon besides Him. And He is the Mighty, the Wise.
29:43
وَ تِلۡکَ الۡاَمۡثَالُ نَضۡرِبُہَا لِلنَّاسِ ۚ وَ مَا یَعۡقِلُہَاۤ اِلَّا الۡعٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
And these parables, We set them forth for people, and none understand them but the learned.
29:44
خَلَقَ اللّٰہُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ بِالۡحَقِّ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیَۃً لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿٪۴۴﴾
Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth. Surely there is a sign in this for the believers.
Section 5 (Verses 29:45–29:51): The Quran is a Purifier
29:45
اُتۡلُ مَاۤ اُوۡحِیَ اِلَیۡکَ مِنَ الۡکِتٰبِ وَ اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوۃَ ؕ اِنَّ الصَّلٰوۃَ تَنۡہٰی عَنِ الۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَ الۡمُنۡکَرِ ؕ وَ لَذِکۡرُ اللّٰہِ اَکۡبَرُ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تَصۡنَعُوۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾
Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and keep up prayer. Surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil; and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest (force). And Allah knows what you do.
This verse invites the followers of all religions to accept the Quran on account of its purifying effect upon life, as the previous scriptures had ceased to effect deliverance from the bondage of sin. The verse also lays down the right principle for getting rid of the bondage of sin in the words the remembrance of Allah is the greatest, i.e., the most powerful and effective restraint upon sin. It is a living belief in the Divine power, knowledge, and goodness that restrains people from walking in the ways of His displeasure. The recitation of the Book, the keeping up of prayer, and the remembrance of Allah are really identical; for the Quran is recited in prayers, and the Quran is the best means of the remembrance of Allah. The Quran is pre-eminently a Book that manifests the glory, greatness, grandeur, goodness, love, purity, power, and knowledge of the Supreme Being. While, as generally understood, by the remembrance of Allah is meant His glorification and praise in prayer, it is also here meant Allah’s remembrance of man or His raising him to a place of eminence. Thus the significance would be that through prayer to God, not only is man freed from the bondage of sin, but (which is greater than this) he is raised to a place of higher eminence.
29:46
وَ لَا تُجَادِلُوۡۤا اَہۡلَ الۡکِتٰبِ اِلَّا بِالَّتِیۡ ہِیَ اَحۡسَنُ ٭ۖ اِلَّا الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا مِنۡہُمۡ وَ قُوۡلُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا بِالَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡنَا وَ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡکُمۡ وَ اِلٰـہُنَا وَ اِلٰـہُکُمۡ وَاحِدٌ وَّ نَحۡنُ لَہٗ مُسۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
And do not argue with the People of the Book except by what is best, save such of them as act unjustly. But say: We believe in what has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him we submit.
The Quran here explains that it is the broad principles of religion that should demand paramount consideration. The fundamental principle of religion is that God exists and that He reveals Himself to man, and it is common to all revealed religions. The only difference is that a Muslim’s is a purer monotheism, a conception of the Divine Being which gives the most perfect attributes to Him while declaring Him to be free from all imperfections and weaknesses, a conception which cannot reasonably be criticized by anyone who admits a belief in a Supreme Being. A Muslim’s conception of Divine revelation is wider than that of the follower of any other religion, recognizing, as it does, that Divine revelation is granted in all ages and to all nations. A Muslim, therefore, admits the truth of all the prophets and revelations, and the follower of any other religion has nothing to lose but everything to gain by accepting Islam.
29:47
وَ کَذٰلِکَ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ ؕ فَالَّذِیۡنَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمُ الۡکِتٰبَ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِہٖ ۚ وَ مِنۡ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ مَنۡ یُّؤۡمِنُ بِہٖ ؕ وَ مَا یَجۡحَدُ بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
And thus have We revealed the Book to you. So those whom We have given the Book believe in it, and some of these (also) believe in it; and none deny Our messages except the disbelievers.
And thus have We revealed the Book; that is, by confirming the truth of all previous revelation.
29:48
وَ مَا کُنۡتَ تَتۡلُوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ مِنۡ کِتٰبٍ وَّ لَا تَخُطُّہٗ بِیَمِیۡنِکَ اِذًا لَّارۡتَابَ الۡمُبۡطِلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
And you did not recite before it any book, nor did you transcribe one with your right hand, for then could the liars have doubted.
The broad principles of religion and the beautiful moral and spiritual truths which find expression in the Quran could not have been collected, if such a collection by human exertion were possible, except by one who had knowledge of all the previous scriptures; but the Holy Prophet had not read even a single book. He could neither read nor write, and his inability to do either is thus a confirmation of his truth. Leaving aside all the principles and truths, if we consider the broad principles that Islam taught with regard to the truth of Divine revelation in all ages and to all nations, a truth never taught or recognized before the Holy Prophet, it is remarkable that such a broad truth should have been preached by one who had never read the scriptures of any religion and who lived in a country which was almost cut off from all communication with other countries. See also 7:157 footnote 1.
29:49
بَلۡ ہُوَ اٰیٰتٌۢ بَیِّنٰتٌ فِیۡ صُدُوۡرِ الَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡعِلۡمَ ؕ وَ مَا یَجۡحَدُ بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ اِلَّا الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
Rather, it is clear messages in the hearts of those who are granted knowledge. And none deny Our messages except the wrongdoers.
The Quran contains not only truths which are met with in previous scriptures, but also others which are not to be found in any scripture, and which are only in the hearts of the learned ones, or those that may ever be conceived by the learned ones.
29:50
وَ قَالُوۡا لَوۡ لَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ عَلَیۡہِ اٰیٰتٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہٖ ؕ قُلۡ اِنَّمَا الۡاٰیٰتُ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۵۰﴾
And they say: Why are not signs sent down upon him from his Lord? Say: Signs are with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.
The Prophet is a warner, and gives warning in due time that the signs are with Allah, Whose power to send these signs they deny. Read also in this connection verses 53–55, which uphold the coming of the punishment, leaving no doubt as to the meaning of signs being with Allah.
29:51
اَوَ لَمۡ یَکۡفِہِمۡ اَنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ یُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَرَحۡمَۃً وَّ ذِکۡرٰی لِقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿٪۵۱﴾
Is it not enough for them that We have revealed to you the Book which is recited to them? Surely there is mercy in this and a reminder for a people who believe.
This is another reply to those who demanded signs. The Quran is a mercy, if they would only accept it. They could see how the believers had benefited by it; how a wonderful transformation had been wrought in their lives. Indeed, this was direct evidence of the truth of the Holy Word, for to effect a pure transformation in the lives of those who would follow it was its avowed object, while the overthrow of its enemies was only an indirect testimony.
Section 6 (Verses 29:52–29:63): Warning and Consolation
29:52
قُلۡ کَفٰی بِاللّٰہِ بَیۡنِیۡ وَ بَیۡنَکُمۡ شَہِیۡدًا ۚ یَعۡلَمُ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِالۡبَاطِلِ وَ کَفَرُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ ۙ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
Say: Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you — He knows what is in the heavens and the earth. And those who believe in falsehood and disbelieve in Allah, these it is that are the losers.
29:53
وَ یَسۡتَعۡجِلُوۡنَکَ بِالۡعَذَابِ ؕ وَ لَوۡ لَاۤ اَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّی لَّجَآءَہُمُ الۡعَذَابُ ؕ وَ لَیَاۡتِیَنَّہُمۡ بَغۡتَۃً وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۳﴾
And they ask you to hasten on the punishment. And if a time had not been fixed, the punishment would certainly have come to them. And certainly it will come to them all of a sudden, while they do not perceive.
29:54
یَسۡتَعۡجِلُوۡنَکَ بِالۡعَذَابِ ؕ وَ اِنَّ جَہَنَّمَ لَمُحِیۡطَۃٌۢ بِالۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۴﴾
They ask you to hasten on the punishment, and surely hell encompasses the disbelievers —
29:55
یَوۡمَ یَغۡشٰہُمُ الۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ فَوۡقِہِمۡ وَ مِنۡ تَحۡتِ اَرۡجُلِہِمۡ وَ یَقُوۡلُ ذُوۡقُوۡا مَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾
The day when the punishment will cover them from above them, and from beneath their feet! And He will say: Taste what you did.
The expression used is simply to indicate the all-encompassing nature of the punishment, which will not leave them a way to escape. Compare 6:65.
29:56
یٰعِبَادِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنَّ اَرۡضِیۡ وَاسِعَۃٌ فَاِیَّایَ فَاعۡبُدُوۡنِ ﴿۵۶﴾
O My servants who believe, surely My earth is vast, so serve Me only.
This is to comfort the Muslims against the severe persecutions by their enemies. If they are persecuted at Makkah, they will find a refuge elsewhere.
29:57
کُلُّ نَفۡسٍ ذَآئِقَۃُ الۡمَوۡتِ ۟ ثُمَّ اِلَیۡنَا تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
Every soul must taste of death; then to Us you will be returned.
29:58
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡجَنَّۃِ غُرَفًا تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہَا الۡاَنۡہٰرُ خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَا ؕ نِعۡمَ اَجۡرُ الۡعٰمِلِیۡنَ ﴿٭ۖ۵۸﴾
And those who believe and do good, We shall certainly give them an abode in high places in the Garden in which rivers flow, abiding in it. Excellent the reward of the workers,
29:59
الَّذِیۡنَ صَبَرُوۡا وَ عَلٰی رَبِّہِمۡ یَتَوَکَّلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۹﴾
who are patient, and on their Lord they rely!
29:60
وَ کَاَیِّنۡ مِّنۡ دَآبَّۃٍ لَّا تَحۡمِلُ رِزۡقَہَا ٭ۖ اَللّٰہُ یَرۡزُقُہَا وَ اِیَّاکُمۡ ۫ۖ وَ ہُوَ السَّمِیۡعُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۶۰﴾
And how many a living creature does not carry its sustenance! Allah sustains it and yourselves. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
This is a consolation to the Muslims that the giving up of their concerns and business at Makkah will not lead to their ruin. (Editor’s Note: This verse also points out that, as in nature sustenance for all creatures is provided for by God, so it is a duty of man to ensure that all creatures continue to receive their sustenance for their survival.)
29:61
وَ لَئِنۡ سَاَلۡتَہُمۡ مَّنۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ وَ سَخَّرَ الشَّمۡسَ وَ الۡقَمَرَ لَیَقُوۡلُنَّ اللّٰہُ ۚ فَاَنّٰی یُؤۡفَکُوۡنَ ﴿۶۱﴾
And if you ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth and made the sun and the moon subservient, they would say: Allah. How are they then turned away (from truth)!
29:62
اَللّٰہُ یَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ وَ یَقۡدِرُ لَہٗ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ بِکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۶۲﴾
Allah amplifies provision for whom He pleases of His servants, and restricts (it) for him (also). Surely Allah is Knower of all things.
29:63
وَ لَئِنۡ سَاَلۡتَہُمۡ مَّنۡ نَّزَّلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَاَحۡیَا بِہِ الۡاَرۡضَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَوۡتِہَا لَیَقُوۡلُنَّ اللّٰہُ ؕ قُلِ الۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ ؕ بَلۡ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ لَا یَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿٪۶۳﴾
And if you ask them, Who is it that sends down water from the clouds, then gives life with it to the earth after its death, they will say: Allah. Say: Praise be to Allah! But most of them do not understand.
Most of them did not understand that the dead earth was now about to be raised to life.
Section 7 (Verses 29:64–29:69): Triumph of the Faithful
29:64
وَ مَا ہٰذِہِ الۡحَیٰوۃُ الدُّنۡیَاۤ اِلَّا لَہۡوٌ وَّ لَعِبٌ ؕ وَ اِنَّ الدَّارَ الۡاٰخِرَۃَ لَہِیَ الۡحَیَوَانُ ۘ لَوۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۴﴾
And this world’s life is but an idle sport and play. And the home of the Hereafter, that surely is the Life, if only they knew!
29:65
فَاِذَا رَکِبُوۡا فِی الۡفُلۡکِ دَعَوُا اللّٰہَ مُخۡلِصِیۡنَ لَہُ الدِّیۡنَ ۬ۚ فَلَمَّا نَجّٰہُمۡ اِلَی الۡبَرِّ اِذَا ہُمۡ یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۵﴾
So when they ride in the ships, they call upon Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience; but when He brings them safe to the land, then they set up partners (with Him),
29:66
لِیَکۡفُرُوۡا بِمَاۤ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ ۚۙ وَ لِیَتَمَتَّعُوۡا ٝ فَسَوۡفَ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۶﴾
so as to be ungrateful for what We have given them, and that they may enjoy. But they shall soon know.
29:67
اَوَ لَمۡ یَرَوۡا اَنَّا جَعَلۡنَا حَرَمًا اٰمِنًا وَّ یُتَخَطَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنۡ حَوۡلِہِمۡ ؕ اَفَبِالۡبَاطِلِ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ وَ بِنِعۡمَۃِ اللّٰہِ یَکۡفُرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
Do they not see that We have made a sacred territory secure, while people are carried off by force from around them? Will they still believe in falsehood and disbelieve in the favour of Allah?
The ḥaram (“sacred territory”) includes the city of Makkah and several miles of territory around it. War is forbidden within these limits. The reference in people are carried off by force is to the great insecurity of life and property in Arabia, while no one dared violate the sacredness of Makkah.
29:68
وَ مَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ افۡتَرٰی عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا اَوۡ کَذَّبَ بِالۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَہٗ ؕ اَلَیۡسَ فِیۡ جَہَنَّمَ مَثۡوًی لِّلۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۶۸﴾
And who is more unjust than one who forges a lie about Allah, or calls the Truth a lie when it has come to him? Is there not an abode in hell for the disbelievers?
29:69
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ جَاہَدُوۡا فِیۡنَا لَنَہۡدِیَنَّہُمۡ سُبُلَنَا ؕ وَ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَمَعَ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿٪۶۹﴾
And those who strive hard for Us, We shall certainly guide them in Our ways. And Allah is surely with the doers of good.