30: The Romans (Ar-Rum)
Revealed at Makkah
This chapter is named after its prophecy of the victory of the Romans over the Persians. Disclosing this news, it also prophesies a great Muslim victory over their oppressors. The respective conditions of the two groups will soon be reversed, it adds. It goes on to say that the same Divine power which controls physical nature will bring about the triumph of Islam, and that as Islam appeals to man’s inner nature itself it will be accepted universally. Finally, it states that a great moral transformation will be brought about in Arabia by Islam and the mighty opposition to it will be overthrown. Chapters 29 to 32 form one group revealed near the close of the early period at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 30:1–30:10): A Great Prophecy
30:3
فِیۡۤ اَدۡنَی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ ہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ غَلَبِہِمۡ سَیَغۡلِبُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۳﴾
in a near land, and they, after their defeat, will gain victory
The struggle between Persia and the Roman Empire had existed for a long time. In 602 C.E., Chosroes II of Persia began war with Rome: “His armies plundered Syria and Asia Minor, and in 608 advanced to Chalcedon. In 613 and 614 Damascus and Jerusalem were taken by the General Shahabaraz, and the Holy Cross was carried away in triumph. Soon after, even Egypt was conquered. The Romans could offer but little resistance, as they were torn by internal dissensions and pressed by the Avars and Slavs” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Art. “Chosroes II”). When the news of this conquest reached Makkah, the Quraish were jubilant, as their sympathies were with the fire-worshipping Persians more than with the Christians, who, being the followers of the scriptures, were classed by them with the Muslims. It was in 615 or 616 C.E. that this revelation came to the Prophet, containing two different prophecies, one about the defeat of the victorious Persians, who had reached the very gates of Constantinople, by the Romans, who were by this time quite exhausted, and the other about the defeat of the powerful Makkans by the handful of persecuted Muslims. A time limit was also announced along with these two prophecies, during which they would be brought to fulfilment. The word biḍ‘ occurring in the beginning of the next verse means from three to nine years, according to the best authorities. It was exactly within nine years, in 624 C.E., that the tables were turned against the powerful Persian Empire, the same being the year in which the mighty Quraish suffered a defeat at the hands of the helpless Muslims at Badr. “In 624 he (Heraclius) advanced into northern Media, where he destroyed the great fire-temple of Goudzak” (ibid). In the same year, 313 Muslims, many of whom were raw, inexperienced youths without any arms, routed a strong force of about a thousand of the Quraish warriors, killing all the leaders and dealing a death-blow to the power of the enemy. The successes of the Muslim army, on the one hand, and of the Romans, on the other, continued until the Quraish were utterly crushed by the conquest of Makkah in 630, while “the Persian Empire, from the apparent greatness which it had reached ten years ago, sank into hopeless anarchy” (ibid).
30:4
فِیۡ بِضۡعِ سِنِیۡنَ ۬ؕ لِلّٰہِ الۡاَمۡرُ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدُ ؕ وَ یَوۡمَئِذٍ یَّفۡرَحُ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۴﴾
within nine years. Allah’s is the command before and after. And on that day the believers will rejoice
30:5
بِنَصۡرِ اللّٰہِ ؕ یَنۡصُرُ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ ہُوَ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الرَّحِیۡمُ ۙ﴿۵﴾
in Allah’s help. He helps whom He pleases, and He is the Mighty, the Merciful —
The help of Allah is the help that was over and over again promised to the believers against the idolatrous Makkans. Thus we have here a clear prophecy of the victory of the Muslims over the Makkans within nine years from the pronouncement of the prophecy. It was fulfilled in the battle of Badr.
30:6
وَعۡدَ اللّٰہِ ؕ لَا یُخۡلِفُ اللّٰہُ وَعۡدَہٗ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
(it is) Allah’s promise! Allah will not fail in His promise, but most people do not know.
30:7
یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ظَاہِرًا مِّنَ الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ۚۖ وَ ہُمۡ عَنِ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ہُمۡ غٰفِلُوۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
They know the outward of this world’s life, but of the Hereafter they are heedless.
30:8
اَوَ لَمۡ یَتَفَکَّرُوۡا فِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ ۟ مَا خَلَقَ اللّٰہُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَاۤ اِلَّا بِالۡحَقِّ وَ اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّی ؕ وَ اِنَّ کَثِیۡرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ بِلِقَآیِٔ رَبِّہِمۡ لَکٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
Do they not reflect within themselves? Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them but with truth, and (for) an appointed term. And surely most of the people are deniers of the meeting with their Lord.
30:9
اَوَ لَمۡ یَسِیۡرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَیَنۡظُرُوۡا کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ؕ کَانُوۡۤا اَشَدَّ مِنۡہُمۡ قُوَّۃً وَّ اَثَارُوا الۡاَرۡضَ وَ عَمَرُوۡہَاۤ اَکۡثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوۡہَا وَ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ ؕ فَمَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ لِیَظۡلِمَہُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ کَانُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ یَظۡلِمُوۡنَ ؕ﴿۹﴾
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were stronger than these in prowess, and dug up the earth, and built on it more than these have built. And their messengers came to them with clear arguments. So it was not Allah, Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.
The digging of the earth includes its ploughing for cultivation, its digging for minerals and the making of aqueducts, as also the laying of the foundations of buildings.
30:10
ثُمَّ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَسَآءُوا السُّوۡٓاٰۤی اَنۡ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ وَ کَانُوۡا بِہَا یَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۰﴾
Then evil was the end of those who did evil, because they rejected the messages of Allah and mocked at them.
Section 2 (Verses 30:11–30:19): The Two Parties
30:11
اَللّٰہُ یَبۡدَؤُا الۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ یُعِیۡدُہٗ ثُمَّ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
Allah originates the creation, then reproduces it, then to Him you will be returned.
30:12
وَ یَوۡمَ تَقُوۡمُ السَّاعَۃُ یُبۡلِسُ الۡمُجۡرِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾
And the day when the Hour comes, the guilty will despair.
30:13
وَ لَمۡ یَکُنۡ لَّہُمۡ مِّنۡ شُرَکَآئِہِمۡ شُفَعٰٓؤُا وَ کَانُوۡا بِشُرَکَآئِہِمۡ کٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾
And they will have no intercessors from among their associate-gods, and they will deny their associate-gods.
30:14
وَ یَوۡمَ تَقُوۡمُ السَّاعَۃُ یَوۡمَئِذٍ یَّتَفَرَّقُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
And the day when the Hour comes, that day they will be separated one from the other.
30:15
فَاَمَّا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ فَہُمۡ فِیۡ رَوۡضَۃٍ یُّحۡبَرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾
Then as to those who believed and did good, they will be made happy in a garden.
30:16
وَ اَمَّا الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ لِقَآیِٔ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ فِی الۡعَذَابِ مُحۡضَرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
And as for those who disbelieved and rejected Our messages and the meeting of the Hereafter, they will be brought to punishment.
30:17
فَسُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰہِ حِیۡنَ تُمۡسُوۡنَ وَ حِیۡنَ تُصۡبِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
So glory be to Allah when you enter the evening and when you enter the morning.
30:18
وَ لَہُ الۡحَمۡدُ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ عَشِیًّا وَّ حِیۡنَ تُظۡہِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾
And to Him be praise in the heavens and the earth, and in the afternoon, and when the sun declines.
The five times of prayer are clearly indicated in this and the previous verse, the evening prayer comprising both the prayer at sunset and the later evening prayer. The five times of prayer were observed at Makkah, and places at which the Muslims gathered for prayers are mentioned in reports relating to very early days of the Prophet’s mission.
30:19
یُخۡرِجُ الۡحَیَّ مِنَ الۡمَیِّتِ وَ یُخۡرِجُ الۡمَیِّتَ مِنَ الۡحَیِّ وَ یُحۡیِ الۡاَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِہَا ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ تُخۡرَجُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۹﴾
He brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living, and gives life to the earth after its death. And thus will you be brought forth.
This clearly points to the rising of a great nation from the Arabs, who were spiritually as well as intellectually dead.
Section 3 (Verses 30:20–30:27): Manifestations of Divine Power in Nature
30:20
وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖۤ اَنۡ خَلَقَکُمۡ مِّنۡ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ اِذَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ بَشَرٌ تَنۡتَشِرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
And of His signs is this, that He created you from dust, then lo! you are mortals who disperse.
30:21
وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖۤ اَنۡ خَلَقَ لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ اَزۡوَاجًا لِّتَسۡکُنُوۡۤا اِلَیۡہَا وَ جَعَلَ بَیۡنَکُمۡ مَّوَدَّۃً وَّ رَحۡمَۃً ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ یَّتَفَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
And of His signs is this, that He created mates for you from yourselves that you might find quiet of mind in them, and He put between you love and compassion. Surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.
The close relation between the male and the female (i.e., husband and wife) is expressed here. These words do not imply the act of the physical creation of the female from the male. The Quran explains itself when it refers to the ties of love and compassion, and to the quietness of mind which a married person finds in his spouse. The verse gives us the Islamic ideal of marriage which serves the purpose not only of the increase of the human race but also that of the spiritual advancement of both the man and the woman by referring to the quietness of mind which they find in each other.
30:22
وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖ خَلۡقُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ اخۡتِلَافُ اَلۡسِنَتِکُمۡ وَ اَلۡوَانِکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّلۡعٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colours. Surely there are signs in this for the learned.
30:23
وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖ مَنَامُکُمۡ بِالَّیۡلِ وَ النَّہَارِ وَ ابۡتِغَآؤُکُمۡ مِّنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ یَّسۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
And of His signs is your sleep by night and by day and your seeking of His bounty. Surely there are signs in this for a people who would hear.
30:24
وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖ یُرِیۡکُمُ الۡبَرۡقَ خَوۡفًا وَّ طَمَعًا وَّ یُنَزِّلُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَیُحۡیٖ بِہِ الۡاَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِہَا ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ یَّعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾
And of His signs is this, that He shows you the lightning for fear and for hope, and sends down water from the cloud, then gives life with it to the earth after its death. Surely there are signs in this for a people who understand.
30:25
وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖۤ اَنۡ تَقُوۡمَ السَّمَآءُ وَ الۡاَرۡضُ بِاَمۡرِہٖ ؕ ثُمَّ اِذَا دَعَاکُمۡ دَعۡوَۃً ٭ۖ مِّنَ الۡاَرۡضِ ٭ۖ اِذَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ تَخۡرُجُوۡنَ ﴿۲۵﴾
And of His signs is this, that the heaven and the earth subsist by His command. Then when He calls you, from the earth, you come forth.
30:26
وَ لَہٗ مَنۡ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ کُلٌّ لَّہٗ قٰنِتُوۡنَ ﴿۲۶﴾
And His is whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. All are obedient to Him.
30:27
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ یَبۡدَؤُا الۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ یُعِیۡدُہٗ وَ ہُوَ اَہۡوَنُ عَلَیۡہِ ؕ وَ لَہُ الۡمَثَلُ الۡاَعۡلٰی فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ۚ وَ ہُوَ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ ﴿٪۲۷﴾
And He it is Who originates the creation, then reproduces it, and it is very easy to Him. And His is the most exalted state in the heavens and the earth; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Section 4 (Verses 30:28–30:40): Appeal to Human Nature
30:28
ضَرَبَ لَکُمۡ مَّثَلًا مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ ؕ ہَلۡ لَّکُمۡ مِّنۡ مَّا مَلَکَتۡ اَیۡمَانُکُمۡ مِّنۡ شُرَکَآءَ فِیۡ مَا رَزَقۡنٰکُمۡ فَاَنۡتُمۡ فِیۡہِ سَوَآءٌ تَخَافُوۡنَہُمۡ کَخِیۡفَتِکُمۡ اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نُفَصِّلُ الۡاٰیٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ یَّعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
He sets forth to you a parable about yourselves. Do you have, among those whom your right hands possess, partners in what We have given you, so that you are equal in it, you fearing them as you fear each other? Thus do We make the messages clear for a people who understand.
The owner and the owned are not equal. So the objects which they worshipped from among God’s creation cannot be equal to the Creator, Who is the Intelligent Cause and Controller of all.
30:29
بَلِ اتَّبَعَ الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡۤا اَہۡوَآءَہُمۡ بِغَیۡرِ عِلۡمٍ ۚ فَمَنۡ یَّہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ اَضَلَّ اللّٰہُ ؕ وَ مَا لَہُمۡ مِّنۡ نّٰصِرِیۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
But those who are unjust follow their low desires without any knowledge; so who can guide him whom Allah leaves in error? And they shall have no helpers.
30:30
فَاَقِمۡ وَجۡہَکَ لِلدِّیۡنِ حَنِیۡفًا ؕ فِطۡرَتَ اللّٰہِ الَّتِیۡ فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَیۡہَا ؕ لَا تَبۡدِیۡلَ لِخَلۡقِ اللّٰہِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ الدِّیۡنُ الۡقَیِّمُ ٭ۙ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿٭ۙ۳۰﴾
So set yourself for religion, being upright, the nature made by Allah in which He has created mankind. There is no altering Allah’s creation. That is the right religion — but most people do not know —
Islam according to this verse is the natural religion of mankind, or a religion to the truth of which human nature bears testimony. Its fundamental principles, the Unity and all-comprehensive providence of Allah, the universality of Divine revelation, and the accountability for all actions in a life after death, are recognized by all religions and all nations, and their universal acceptance is a clear evidence that it is the very nature of man that bears testimony to their truth. Islam removes all limitations upon these three fundamental doctrines of the religion of humanity, and gives them as wide a significance as humanity itself. The other fundamental principle of the natural religion of man is mentioned in v. 38.
30:31
مُنِیۡبِیۡنَ اِلَیۡہِ وَ اتَّقُوۡہُ وَ اَقِیۡمُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ لَا تَکُوۡنُوۡا مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۱﴾
turning to Him; and keep your duty to Him, and keep up prayer and do not be of those who set up partners (with Allah),
30:32
مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ فَرَّقُوۡا دِیۡنَہُمۡ وَ کَانُوۡا شِیَعًا ؕ کُلُّ حِزۡبٍۭ بِمَا لَدَیۡہِمۡ فَرِحُوۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
of those who split up their religion and become sects; each faction rejoicing in what it has.
30:33
وَ اِذَا مَسَّ النَّاسَ ضُرٌّ دَعَوۡا رَبَّہُمۡ مُّنِیۡبِیۡنَ اِلَیۡہِ ثُمَّ اِذَاۤ اَذَاقَہُمۡ مِّنۡہُ رَحۡمَۃً اِذَا فَرِیۡقٌ مِّنۡہُمۡ بِرَبِّہِمۡ یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۳﴾
And when harm afflicts people, they call upon their Lord, turning to Him, then when He makes them taste of mercy from Him, lo! some of them begin to set up partners with their Lord,
30:34
لِیَکۡفُرُوۡا بِمَاۤ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ ؕ فَتَمَتَّعُوۡا ٝ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
so as to be ungrateful for what We have given them. So enjoy yourselves a while — you will soon come to know.
30:35
اَمۡ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ سُلۡطٰنًا فَہُوَ یَتَکَلَّمُ بِمَا کَانُوۡا بِہٖ یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
Or, have We sent to them an authority so that it speaks of what they set up as partners with Him?
No prophet can be shown to have received a revelation setting up creatures on an equal or co-operative plane with the Creator. Every such doctrine, besides being against the testimony of human nature and reason, stands condemned because of the absence of any revelation in its support.
30:36
وَ اِذَاۤ اَذَقۡنَا النَّاسَ رَحۡمَۃً فَرِحُوۡا بِہَا ؕ وَ اِنۡ تُصِبۡہُمۡ سَیِّئَۃٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتۡ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ اِذَا ہُمۡ یَقۡنَطُوۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
And when We make people taste of mercy they rejoice in it, and if an evil befall them for what their hands have already done, lo! they despair.
30:37
اَوَ لَمۡ یَرَوۡا اَنَّ اللّٰہَ یَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَقۡدِرُ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
Do they not see that Allah amplifies provision for whom He pleases, and restricts (it also)? Certainly there are signs in this for a people who believe.
30:38
فَاٰتِ ذَاالۡقُرۡبٰی حَقَّہٗ وَ الۡمِسۡکِیۡنَ وَ ابۡنَالسَّبِیۡلِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ خَیۡرٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ یُرِیۡدُوۡنَ وَجۡہَ اللّٰہِ ۫ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
So give to the near of kin his due, and to the needy and the traveller. This is best for those who desire Allah’s pleasure, and these it is who are successful.
Charity to fellow man is the practical outcome of the doctrine of the brotherhood of humanity, which is one of the two principles of the natural religion of mankind.
30:39
وَ مَاۤ اٰتَیۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ رِّبًا لِّیَرۡبُوَا۠ فِیۡۤ اَمۡوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا یَرۡبُوۡا عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اٰتَیۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ زَکٰوۃٍ تُرِیۡدُوۡنَ وَجۡہَ اللّٰہِ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُضۡعِفُوۡنَ ﴿۳۹﴾
And whatever you lay out at usury, so that it may increase through the property of (other) people, it does not increase with Allah; and whatever you give in charity, desiring Allah’s pleasure — these will get manifold.
This verse lays stress upon the doctrine of charity to one’s fellow-man. It says that some people seek to increase their wealth by means of getting interest on money, i.e., they seek an increase of their wealth at the expense of other people’s property; but that a Muslim should seek an increase of his wealth by giving it, for the sake of Allah, to help his fellow-man.
30:40
اَللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَکُمۡ ثُمَّ رَزَقَکُمۡ ثُمَّ یُمِیۡتُکُمۡ ثُمَّ یُحۡیِیۡکُمۡ ؕ ہَلۡ مِنۡ شُرَکَآئِکُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّفۡعَلُ مِنۡ ذٰلِکُمۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ ؕ سُبۡحٰنَہٗ وَ تَعٰلٰی عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿٪۴۰﴾
Allah is He Who created you, then He sustains you, then He causes you to die, then brings you to life. Is there any of your associate-gods who does any of it? Glory be to Him, and supremely exalted is He above what they set up as partners (with Him)!
Section 5 (Verses 30:41–30:53): A Transformation
30:41
ظَہَرَ الۡفَسَادُ فِی الۡبَرِّ وَ الۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا کَسَبَتۡ اَیۡدِی النَّاسِ لِیُذِیۡقَہُمۡ بَعۡضَ الَّذِیۡ عَمِلُوۡا لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what man’s hands have earned, that He may make them taste (the consequences of) some of what they have done, so that they may turn back.
History bears evidence to the truth of these words. Before the advent of the Holy Prophet corruption and darkness prevailed in all countries of the world, affecting the beliefs of people as well as their deeds. Religions had long ceased to have any healthy effect on the lives of their votaries, and their followers had not only ceased to practise virtue, but, worst of all, they had begun to look upon vice as virtue, and many of them attributed indecent and immoral practices to their sages and their gods. Such widespread corruption had never previously existed in the world’s history. J.H. Denison writes in Emotion as the Basis of Civilization: “In the fifth and sixth centuries, the civilized world stood on the verge of chaos. The old emotional cultures that had made civilization possible … had broken down, and nothing had been found adequate to take their place.… It seemed then that the great civilization which it had taken four thousand years to construct was on the verge of disintegration, and that mankind was likely to return to that condition of barbarism where every tribe and sect was against the next and law and order were unknown.… Civilization like a gigantic tree whose foliage had over-reached the world … stood tottering … rotting to the core” (pp. 265–268). And then adds, speaking of Arabia: “It was among these people that the man was born who was to unite the whole known world of the east and south” (p. 269). With the light of Islam, and through the torch of knowledge and civilization lit in Arabia, a new era dawned not only over Arabia, but also over other countries. Europe remained the longest in darkness, and it was only after the torch of knowledge had been lighted in Spain by Muslims that both the Renaissance and the Reformation came.
30:42
قُلۡ سِیۡرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَانۡظُرُوۡا کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ کَانَ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ مُّشۡرِکِیۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
Say: Travel in the earth, then see what was the end of those before! Most of them set up partners (with Allah).
30:43
فَاَقِمۡ وَجۡہَکَ لِلدِّیۡنِ الۡقَیِّمِ مِنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَ یَوۡمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَہٗ مِنَ اللّٰہِ یَوۡمَئِذٍ یَّصَّدَّعُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
Then set yourself to the right religion before the day comes from Allah which cannot be averted: on that day they will be separated.
30:44
مَنۡ کَفَرَ فَعَلَیۡہِ کُفۡرُہٗ ۚ وَ مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِاَنۡفُسِہِمۡ یَمۡہَدُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۴﴾
Whoever disbelieves will be responsible for his disbelief; and whoever does good, such prepare (good) for their own souls,
30:45
لِیَجۡزِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَا یُحِبُّ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾
that He may reward out of His grace those who believe and do good. Surely He does not love the disbelievers.
30:46
وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖۤ اَنۡ یُّرۡسِلَ الرِّیَاحَ مُبَشِّرٰتٍ وَّ لِیُذِیۡقَکُمۡ مِّنۡ رَّحۡمَتِہٖ وَ لِتَجۡرِیَ الۡفُلۡکُ بِاَمۡرِہٖ وَ لِتَبۡتَغُوۡا مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ وَ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
And of His signs is this, that He sends forth the winds bearing good news, and that He may make you taste of His mercy, and that the ships may glide by His command, and that you may seek of His grace, and that you may be grateful.
The verse calls attention to the change that was already coming over the peninsula; this was a clear indication of the mighty transformation that was ultimately to be brought about.
30:47
وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ رُسُلًا اِلٰی قَوۡمِہِمۡ فَجَآءُوۡہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ فَانۡتَقَمۡنَا مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَجۡرَمُوۡا ؕ وَ کَانَ حَقًّا عَلَیۡنَا نَصۡرُ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
And certainly We sent before you messengers to their people, so they came to them with clear arguments, then We punished those who were guilty. And to help believers is ever incumbent on Us.
30:48
اَللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡ یُرۡسِلُ الرِّیٰحَ فَتُثِیۡرُ سَحَابًا فَیَبۡسُطُہٗ فِی السَّمَآءِ کَیۡفَ یَشَآءُ وَ یَجۡعَلُہٗ کِسَفًا فَتَرَی الۡوَدۡقَ یَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ خِلٰلِہٖ ۚ فَاِذَاۤ اَصَابَ بِہٖ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖۤ اِذَا ہُمۡ یَسۡتَبۡشِرُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۴۸﴾
Allah is He Who sends forth the winds, so they raise a cloud, then He spreads it forth in the sky as He pleases, and He breaks it, so that you see the rain coming forth from inside it; then when He causes it to fall upon whom He pleases of His servants, lo! they rejoice —
30:49
وَ اِنۡ کَانُوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ یُّنَزَّلَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ لَمُبۡلِسِیۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
though they were before this, before it was sent down upon them, in sure despair.
30:50
فَانۡظُرۡ اِلٰۤی اٰثٰرِ رَحۡمَتِ اللّٰہِ کَیۡفَ یُحۡیِ الۡاَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِہَا ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِکَ لَمُحۡیِ الۡمَوۡتٰی ۚ وَ ہُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ ﴿۵۰﴾
Look then at the signs of Allah’s mercy, how He gives life to the earth after its death. Surely He is the Giver of life to the dead; and He is Powerful over all things.
30:51
وَ لَئِنۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا رِیۡحًا فَرَاَوۡہُ مُصۡفَرًّا لَّظَلُّوۡا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہٖ یَکۡفُرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۱﴾
And if We send a wind and they see it yellow, they would after that certainly continue to disbelieve.
It, in this verse, refers to the seed-produce, which is meant by the expression “gives life to the earth” in the previous verse; the meaning is, the seed-produce may be rendered yellow or caused to wither away by a blast of the wind. The allusion is to the disasters which would strike a blow at the disbelievers’ plans. It also refers to their persistence in disbelief, in spite of the afflictions which they experience.
30:52
فَاِنَّکَ لَا تُسۡمِعُ الۡمَوۡتٰی وَ لَا تُسۡمِعُ الصُّمَّ الدُّعَآءَ اِذَا وَلَّوۡا مُدۡبِرِیۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
So surely you cannot make the dead to hear, nor can you make the deaf to hear the call, when they turn back retreating.
30:53
وَ مَاۤ اَنۡتَ بِہٰدِ الۡعُمۡیِ عَنۡ ضَلٰلَتِہِمۡ ؕ اِنۡ تُسۡمِعُ اِلَّا مَنۡ یُّؤۡمِنُ بِاٰیٰتِنَا فَہُمۡ مُّسۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۵۳﴾
Nor can you guide the blind out of their error. You can make none to hear but those who believe in Our messages, so they submit.
Section 6 (Verses 30:54–30:60): Overthrow of Opposition
30:54
اَللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَکُمۡ مِّنۡ ضُؔعۡفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ ضُؔعۡفٍ قُوَّۃً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ قُوَّۃٍ ضُؔعۡفًا وَّ شَیۡبَۃً ؕ یَخۡلُقُ مَا یَشَآءُ ۚ وَ ہُوَ الۡعَلِیۡمُ الۡقَدِیۡرُ ﴿۵۴﴾
Allah is He Who created you from a state of weakness, then He gave strength after weakness, then ordained weakness and grey hair after strength. He creates what He pleases, and He is the Knowing, the Powerful.
There is a deeper reference here to the law of the rise, growth and decay of nations.
30:55
وَ یَوۡمَ تَقُوۡمُ السَّاعَۃُ یُقۡسِمُ الۡمُجۡرِمُوۡنَ ۬ۙ مَا لَبِثُوۡا غَیۡرَ سَاعَۃٍ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ کَانُوۡا یُؤۡفَکُوۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾
And the day when the Hour comes, the guilty will swear: They did not remain but an hour. Thus are they ever turned away (from truth).
30:56
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡعِلۡمَ وَ الۡاِیۡمَانَ لَقَدۡ لَبِثۡتُمۡ فِیۡ کِتٰبِ اللّٰہِ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الۡبَعۡثِ ۫ فَہٰذَا یَوۡمُ الۡبَعۡثِ وَ لٰکِنَّکُمۡ کُنۡتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
And those who are given knowledge and faith will say: Certainly you remained according to the ordinance of Allah till the day of Resurrection — so this is the day of Resurrection — but you did not know.
30:57
فَیَوۡمَئِذٍ لَّا یَنۡفَعُ الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا مَعۡذِرَتُہُمۡ وَ لَا ہُمۡ یُسۡتَعۡتَبُوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
So that day their excuse will not benefit those who were unjust, nor will they be granted goodwill.
30:58
وَ لَقَدۡ ضَرَبۡنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِیۡ ہٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنِ مِنۡ کُلِّ مَثَلٍ ؕ وَ لَئِنۡ جِئۡتَہُمۡ بِاٰیَۃٍ لَّیَقُوۡلَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اِنۡ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا مُبۡطِلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۸﴾
And certainly We have set forth for people in this Quran every kind of description. And if you bring them a sign, those who disbelieve would certainly say: You are only deceivers.
30:59
کَذٰلِکَ یَطۡبَعُ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۹﴾
Thus does Allah seal the hearts of those who do not know.
Allah’s sealing the hearts thus really means their own persistence in disbelief and wickedness, as the preceding verse shows.
30:60
فَاصۡبِرۡ اِنَّ وَعۡدَ اللّٰہِ حَقٌّ وَّ لَا یَسۡتَخِفَّنَّکَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُوۡقِنُوۡنَ ﴿٪۶۰﴾
So be patient; surely the promise of Allah is true; and let not those disquiet you who have no certainty.