34: The Saba (Al-Saba)
Revealed at Makkah
The title of this chapter is the name of a city (v.15), Saba, in Yaman which was destroyed by a flood. The chapter begins by asserting the truth of the judgment, which takes place not only in the life after death but is witnessed in this life as well. Prosperous nations are destroyed when they fall into evil ways, and this judgment will overtake the Quraish as well. It then prophesies a victory for the Muslims in an encounter with their enemies, whose leaders and followers will blame each other and their deities will be unable to help them. In the end it tells us that truth will prosper and falsehood will vanish before it. Chapters 34 to 39 form one group, belonging most probably to the middle period at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 34:1–34:9): Judgment is Certain
34:1
اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ لَہٗ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لَہُ الۡحَمۡدُ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ؕ وَ ہُوَ الۡحَکِیۡمُ الۡخَبِیۡرُ ﴿۱﴾
Praise be to Allah, Whose is whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and to Him be praise in the Hereafter! And He is the Wise, the Aware.
34:2
یَعۡلَمُ مَا یَلِجُ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا یَخۡرُجُ مِنۡہَا وَ مَا یَنۡزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ مَا یَعۡرُجُ فِیۡہَا ؕ وَ ہُوَ الرَّحِیۡمُ الۡغَفُوۡرُ ﴿۲﴾
He knows what goes down into the earth and what comes out of it, and what comes down from heaven and what goes up to it. And He is the Merciful, the Forgiving.
34:3
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَا تَاۡتِیۡنَا السَّاعَۃُ ؕ قُلۡ بَلٰی وَ رَبِّیۡ لَتَاۡتِیَنَّکُمۡ ۙ عٰلِمِ الۡغَیۡبِ ۚ لَا یَعۡزُبُ عَنۡہُ مِثۡقَالُ ذَرَّۃٍ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ لَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لَاۤ اَصۡغَرُ مِنۡ ذٰلِکَ وَ لَاۤ اَکۡبَرُ اِلَّا فِیۡ کِتٰبٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ٭ۙ﴿۳﴾
And those who disbelieve say: The Hour will never come to us. Say: Indeed, by my Lord, the Knower of the unseen, it will certainly come to you! Not an atom’s weight escapes Him in the heavens or in the earth, nor is there less than that nor greater, but (all) is in a clear book,
The verse states the immutable law that every deed is followed by a consequence, and nothing should be looked upon as too small to produce an effect. The two verses that follow are an illustration of this law; good meets with a good reward and evil with an evil punishment.
34:4
لِّیَجۡزِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَۃٌ وَّ رِزۡقٌ کَرِیۡمٌ ﴿۴﴾
that He may reward those who believe and do good. For them is forgiveness and an honourable sustenance.
34:5
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ سَعَوۡ فِیۡۤ اٰیٰتِنَا مُعٰجِزِیۡنَ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ مِّنۡ رِّجۡزٍ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۵﴾
And those who strive hard in opposing Our Messages, for them is a painful punishment of an evil kind.
34:6
وَ یَرَی الَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡعِلۡمَ الَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡکَ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ ہُوَ الۡحَقَّ ۙ وَ یَہۡدِیۡۤ اِلٰی صِرَاطِ الۡعَزِیۡزِ الۡحَمِیۡدِ ﴿۶﴾
And those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed to you from your Lord, is the Truth and it guides into the path of the Mighty, the Praised.
34:7
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ہَلۡ نَدُلُّکُمۡ عَلٰی رَجُلٍ یُّنَبِّئُکُمۡ اِذَا مُزِّقۡتُمۡ کُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ۙ اِنَّکُمۡ لَفِیۡ خَلۡقٍ جَدِیۡدٍ ۚ﴿۷﴾
And those who disbelieve say: Shall we show you a man who informs you that, when you are scattered the utmost scattering, you will then be in a new creation?
34:8
اَفۡتَرٰی عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا اَمۡ بِہٖ جِنَّۃٌ ؕ بَلِ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِالۡاٰخِرَۃِ فِی الۡعَذَابِ وَ الضَّلٰلِ الۡبَعِیۡدِ ﴿۸﴾
Has he forged a lie against Allah or is there madness in him? No, those who do not believe in the Hereafter are in torment and in far error.
34:9
اَفَلَمۡ یَرَوۡا اِلٰی مَا بَیۡنَ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ مَا خَلۡفَہُمۡ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ اِنۡ نَّشَاۡ نَخۡسِفۡ بِہِمُ الۡاَرۡضَ اَوۡ نُسۡقِطۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ کِسَفًا مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیَۃً لِّکُلِّ عَبۡدٍ مُّنِیۡبٍ ٪﴿۹﴾
Do they not see what is before them and what is behind them of the heaven and the earth? If We please, We can make them low in the land or bring down upon them a portion of heaven. Surely there is a sign in this for every servant turning (to Allah).
This is the ever-recurring argument of the Quran. The disbelievers deny the last Resurrection, the life after death, the sublime principle of the accountability of human actions, which forms the only basis of high morals, and they are told that, as a proof of the truth of the Resurrection, they will be brought low in this very life for standing in the way of the advancement of Truth. It is compared with the coming of a portion from heaven because they would not be able to avert it.
Section 2 (Verses 34:10–34:21): Favours followed by Retribution
34:10
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا دَاوٗدَ مِنَّا فَضۡلًا ؕ یٰجِبَالُ اَوِّبِیۡ مَعَہٗ وَ الطَّیۡرَ ۚ وَ اَلَنَّا لَہُ الۡحَدِیۡدَ ﴿ۙ۱۰﴾
And certainly We gave David abundance from Us: O mountains, repeat praises with him, and the birds, and We made iron pliant to him,
By the mountains repeating praises of Allah, some understand the praising of Allah in the sense in which all inanimate objects are spoken of in the Quran as glorifying God, while others think that the mountains’ echoing of David’s loud praises is meant. But the mention of birds, the attendants of a victorious army (see 16:79), and iron along with it shows that the reference is to the conquests of David; and the singing of praises by the mountains therefore carries the significance of those residing on mountains yielding to David.
34:11
اَنِ اعۡمَلۡ سٰبِغٰتٍ وَّ قَدِّرۡ فِی السَّرۡدِ وَ اعۡمَلُوۡا صَالِحًا ؕ اِنِّیۡ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِیۡرٌ ﴿۱۱﴾
saying: Make ample (coats of mail), and assign a time to the making of coats of mail and (O people) do good. Surely I am Seer of what you do.
David is enjoined to prepare himself and his army for severe battles, hence the necessity of coats of mail to save life. Some think that the commandment signifies that David should not take anything from the treasury for his own livelihood, and that he should earn his livelihood by an industry, such as the making of coats of mail. According to one interpretation, assigning a time indicates that David is commanded not to employ his whole time in such occupations, for the real object is to do good.
34:12
وَ لِسُلَیۡمٰنَ الرِّیۡحَ غُدُوُّہَا شَہۡرٌ وَّ رَوَاحُہَا شَہۡرٌ ۚ وَ اَسَلۡنَا لَہٗ عَیۡنَ الۡقِطۡرِ ؕ وَ مِنَ الۡجِنِّ مَنۡ یَّعۡمَلُ بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡہِ بِاِذۡنِ رَبِّہٖ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّزِغۡ مِنۡہُمۡ عَنۡ اَمۡرِنَا نُذِقۡہُ مِنۡ عَذَابِ السَّعِیۡرِ ﴿۱۲﴾
And (We made) the wind (subservient) to Solomon; it made a month’s journey in the morning and a month’s journey in the evening; and We made a fountain of molten brass to flow for him. And some of the jinn worked before him by the command of his Lord. And whoever turned aside from Our command from among them, We made him taste of the punishment of burning.
See 21:81. The significance is that Solomon’s ships were made to traverse a month’s journey in a day by favourable winds. For Solomon’s navy, see 1 Kings 9:26. But it should be noted that rīḥ (“wind”) means also power or dominance or conquest, and therefore the meaning may be that Solomon’s kingdom was so large that it was a month’s journey to the East and a month’s journey to the West.
34:13
یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ لَہٗ مَا یَشَآءُ مِنۡ مَّحَارِیۡبَ وَ تَمَاثِیۡلَ وَ جِفَانٍ کَالۡجَوَابِ وَ قُدُوۡرٍ رّٰسِیٰتٍ ؕ اِعۡمَلُوۡۤا اٰلَ دَاوٗدَ شُکۡرًا ؕ وَ قَلِیۡلٌ مِّنۡ عِبَادِیَ الشَّکُوۡرُ ﴿۱۳﴾
They made for him what he pleased, of synagogues and images, and bowls (large) as watering-troughs and fixed cooking-pots. Give thanks, O people of David! And very few of My servants are grateful.
For the graving of cherubims on the walls, see 2 Chronicles, 3:7; for the casting of oxen, 2 Chronicles, 4:3; for the making of lavers, pots, basins, etc., 2 Chronicles, 4:11, 14.
34:14
فَلَمَّا قَضَیۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ الۡمَوۡتَ مَا دَلَّہُمۡ عَلٰی مَوۡتِہٖۤ اِلَّا دَآبَّۃُ الۡاَرۡضِ تَاۡکُلُ مِنۡسَاَتَہٗ ۚ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَیَّنَتِ الۡجِنُّ اَنۡ لَّوۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ الۡغَیۡبَ مَا لَبِثُوۡا فِی الۡعَذَابِ الۡمُہِیۡنِ ﴿ؕ۱۴﴾
But when We decreed death for him, nothing showed them his death but a creature of the earth that ate away his staff. So when it fell down, the jinn saw clearly that, if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating torment.
The reference in the creature of the earth that ate away his staff is to his son’s weak rule, under whom the kingdom of Solomon went to pieces. It appears that Solomon’s successor, Rehoboam, led a life of luxury and ease, and instead of acting on the advice of the older men, he yielded to the pleasure-seeking wishes of his companions (1 Kings 12:13), and it is to his luxurious habits and easy mode of life that the Quran refers when it calls him a creature of the earth. The eating away of his staff signifies the disruption of the kingdom. The jinn, as already remarked, mean the rebellious tribes who had been reduced to subjection by Solomon, and who remained in subjection to the Israelites for a time, until the kingdom was shattered. This instance, as well as the one following, contains a warning for the Muslims as to the result of falling into luxury and ease, by which, however, they benefited little; the ultimate fate of the respective kingdoms of the Umayyads and Abbasides was the same as that of Solomon’s kingdom. See also 38:34.
34:15
لَقَدۡ کَانَ لِسَبَاٍ فِیۡ مَسۡکَنِہِمۡ اٰیَۃٌ ۚ جَنَّتٰنِ عَنۡ یَّمِیۡنٍ وَّ شِمَالٍ ۬ؕ کُلُوۡا مِنۡ رِّزۡقِ رَبِّکُمۡ وَ اشۡکُرُوۡا لَہٗ ؕ بَلۡدَۃٌ طَیِّبَۃٌ وَّ رَبٌّ غَفُوۡرٌ ﴿۱۵﴾
Certainly there was a sign for Saba in their abode — two gardens on the right and the left. Eat of the sustenance of your Lord and give thanks to Him. A good land and a Forgiving Lord!
Saba’ was a city in Yaman, about three days’ journey from San‘a. Note that it is usual to speak of two gardens, for large cultivated areas were bounded by a garden on each side.
34:16
فَاَعۡرَضُوۡا فَاَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ سَیۡلَ الۡعَرِمِ وَ بَدَّلۡنٰہُمۡ بِجَنَّتَیۡہِمۡ جَنَّتَیۡنِ ذَوَاتَیۡ اُکُلٍ خَمۡطٍ وَّ اَثۡلٍ وَّ شَیۡءٍ مِّنۡ سِدۡرٍ قَلِیۡلٍ ﴿۱۶﴾
But they turned aside, so We sent upon them a violent torrent, and in place of their two gardens We gave them two gardens yielding bitter fruit and (growing) tamarisk and a few lote-trees.
The bursting of the dyke of this city and its destruction by a flood are historically known facts, and took place in about the first or second century C.E.
34:17
ذٰلِکَ جَزَیۡنٰہُمۡ بِمَا کَفَرُوۡا ؕ وَ ہَلۡ نُجٰزِیۡۤ اِلَّا الۡکَفُوۡرَ ﴿۱۷﴾
With this We recompensed them because they were ungrateful; and We punish none but the ungrateful.
34:18
وَ جَعَلۡنَا بَیۡنَہُمۡ وَ بَیۡنَ الۡقُرَی الَّتِیۡ بٰرَکۡنَا فِیۡہَا قُرًی ظَاہِرَۃً وَّ قَدَّرۡنَا فِیۡہَا السَّیۡرَ ؕ سِیۡرُوۡا فِیۡہَا لَیَالِیَ وَ اَیَّامًا اٰمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾
And We made, between them and the towns which We had blessed, (other) towns within sight, and We determined the journey between them (to be easy): Travel through them nights and days, secure.
The cities were so close to each other that one could be seen from the other, or they were conspicuous from the road. It is an indication of the great prosperity of the country. The blessed towns are the towns of Syria, with which they carried on trade.
34:19
فَقَالُوۡا رَبَّنَا بٰعِدۡ بَیۡنَ اَسۡفَارِنَا وَ ظَلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ فَجَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ اَحَادِیۡثَ وَ مَزَّقۡنٰہُمۡ کُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّکُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَکُوۡرٍ ﴿۱۹﴾
But (it was as if) they said: Our Lord, make longer stages between our journeys. And they wronged themselves; so We made them stories and scattered them a total scattering. Surely there are signs in this for every patient, grateful one.
It is not necessary that they should have thus prayed in words. It is a description of their actual condition, i.e., they were not grateful for the blessings and fell into evil ways, which resulted in punishment overtaking them.
34:20
وَ لَقَدۡ صَدَّقَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ اِبۡلِیۡسُ ظَنَّہٗ فَاتَّبَعُوۡہُ اِلَّا فَرِیۡقًا مِّنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
And the devil indeed found true his conjecture about them, so they follow him, except a group of the believers.
34:21
وَ مَا کَانَ لَہٗ عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ سُلۡطٰنٍ اِلَّا لِنَعۡلَمَ مَنۡ یُّؤۡمِنُ بِالۡاٰخِرَۃِ مِمَّنۡ ہُوَ مِنۡہَا فِیۡ شَکٍّ ؕ وَ رَبُّکَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ حَفِیۡظٌ ﴿٪۲۱﴾
And he has no authority over them, but that We may know him who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is the Preserver of all things.
Section 3 (Verses 34:22–34:30): A Victory for the Muslims
34:22
قُلِ ادۡعُوا الَّذِیۡنَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ۚ لَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّۃٍ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ لَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا لَہُمۡ فِیۡہِمَا مِنۡ شِرۡکٍ وَّ مَا لَہٗ مِنۡہُمۡ مِّنۡ ظَہِیۡرٍ ﴿۲۲﴾
Say: Call upon those whom you assert (as gods) besides Allah; they do not control the weight of an atom in the heavens or in the earth, nor have they any partnership in either, nor has He a helper among them.
It refers to the helplessness of the supposed gods to assist their votaries when distress overtakes them.
34:23
وَ لَا تَنۡفَعُ الشَّفَاعَۃُ عِنۡدَہٗۤ اِلَّا لِمَنۡ اَذِنَ لَہٗ ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا فُزِّعَ عَنۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ قَالُوۡا مَاذَا ۙ قَالَ رَبُّکُمۡ ؕ قَالُوا الۡحَقَّ ۚ وَ ہُوَ الۡعَلِیُّ الۡکَبِیۡرُ ﴿۲۳﴾
And intercession does not avail with Him, except of one whom He permits. Until when fear is removed from their hearts, they say: What is it that your Lord said? They say: The Truth. And He is the Most High, the Great.
34:24
قُلۡ مَنۡ یَّرۡزُقُکُمۡ مِّنَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ قُلِ اللّٰہُ ۙ وَ اِنَّاۤ اَوۡ اِیَّاکُمۡ لَعَلٰی ہُدًی اَوۡ فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۲۴﴾
Say: Who gives you sustenance from the heavens and the earth? Say: Allah. And surely we or you are on a right way or in manifest error.
The meaning is that as surely as you are in manifest error, so surely are we on a right way.
34:25
قُلۡ لَّا تُسۡـَٔلُوۡنَ عَمَّاۤ اَجۡرَمۡنَا وَ لَا نُسۡـَٔلُ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۵﴾
Say: You will not be asked of what we are guilty, nor shall we be asked of what you do.
34:26
قُلۡ یَجۡمَعُ بَیۡنَنَا رَبُّنَا ثُمَّ یَفۡتَحُ بَیۡنَنَا بِالۡحَقِّ ؕ وَ ہُوَ الۡفَتَّاحُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۲۶﴾
Say: Our Lord will gather us together, then He will judge between us with truth. And He is the Best Judge, the Knower.
This is a prophecy which was fulfilled in the first decisive battle which clearly decided the issue between the Muslims and their opponents. The question in v. 29 — when will this promise be fulfilled? — makes it quite clear.
34:27
قُلۡ اَرُوۡنِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَلۡحَقۡتُمۡ بِہٖ شُرَکَآءَ کَلَّا ؕ بَلۡ ہُوَ اللّٰہُ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ ﴿۲۷﴾
Say: Show me those whom you join with Him as partners. By no means (can you)! Indeed, He is Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
34:28
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ اِلَّا کَآفَّۃً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِیۡرًا وَّ نَذِیۡرًا وَّ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
And We have not sent you but as a bearer of good news and as a warner to all mankind, but most people do not know.
The Prophet is repeatedly spoken of as having been sent as a messenger to all people, in the earliest as well as the later revelations. He is called “A warner to the nations” (25:1), “A mercy to the nations” (21:107), and so on. In one place, his being sent to people is qualified by the word jamī‘-an (7:158), which means all. Here it is qualified by the word kāffah, which means all without an exception.
34:29
وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ مَتٰی ہٰذَا الۡوَعۡدُ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
And they say: When will this promise be (fulfilled), if you are truthful?
34:30
قُلۡ لَّکُمۡ مِّیۡعَادُ یَوۡمٍ لَّا تَسۡتَاۡخِرُوۡنَ عَنۡہُ سَاعَۃً وَّ لَا تَسۡتَقۡدِمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۳۰﴾
Say: You have the appointment of a day which you cannot postpone by an hour, nor bring it forward.
The first encounter between the Muslims and their enemies took place in the battle of Badr, after the first year of the Flight had passed away. Elsewhere the same question is answered by the words: “Maybe somewhat of what you seek to hasten has drawn near to you” (27:72).
Section 4 (Verses 34:31–34:36): The Leaders of Evil
34:31
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَنۡ نُّؤۡمِنَ بِہٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنِ وَ لَا بِالَّذِیۡ بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡہِ ؕ وَ لَوۡ تَرٰۤی اِذِ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ مَوۡقُوۡفُوۡنَ عِنۡدَ رَبِّہِمۡ ۚۖ یَرۡجِعُ بَعۡضُہُمۡ اِلٰی بَعۡضِۣ الۡقَوۡلَ ۚ یَقُوۡلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ لَکُنَّا مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
And those who disbelieve say: We do not believe in this Quran, nor in what is before it. And if you could see when the wrongdoers are made to stand before their Lord, throwing back the blame to one another! Those who were considered weak say to those who were proud: If it were not for you, we would have been believers.
34:32
قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُوۡۤا اَنَحۡنُ صَدَدۡنٰکُمۡ عَنِ الۡہُدٰی بَعۡدَ اِذۡ جَآءَکُمۡ بَلۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مُّجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
Those who were proud say to those who were considered weak: Did we turn you away from the guidance after it had come to you? But you (yourselves) were guilty.
34:33
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا بَلۡ مَکۡرُ الَّیۡلِ وَ النَّہَارِ اِذۡ تَاۡمُرُوۡنَنَاۤ اَنۡ نَّکۡفُرَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ نَجۡعَلَ لَہٗۤ اَنۡدَادًا ؕ وَ اَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَۃَ لَمَّا رَاَوُا الۡعَذَابَ ؕ وَ جَعَلۡنَا الۡاَغۡلٰلَ فِیۡۤ اَعۡنَاقِ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ؕ ہَلۡ یُجۡزَوۡنَ اِلَّا مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
And those who were considered weak say to those who were proud: But (it was your) planning by night and day when you told us to disbelieve in Allah and to set up likes with Him. And they will manifest regret when they see the punishment. And We put chains on the necks of those who disbelieve. They will not be recompensed but for what they did.
34:34
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا فِیۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ مِّنۡ نَّذِیۡرٍ اِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوۡہَاۤ ۙ اِنَّا بِمَاۤ اُرۡسِلۡتُمۡ بِہٖ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
And We never sent a warner to a town but those who led easy lives in it said: We are disbelievers in that with which you are sent.
34:35
وَ قَالُوۡا نَحۡنُ اَکۡثَرُ اَمۡوَالًا وَّ اَوۡلَادًا ۙ وَّ مَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِیۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
And they say: We have more wealth and children, and we cannot be punished.
34:36
قُلۡ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ یَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَقۡدِرُ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۳۶﴾
Say: Surely my Lord amplifies provision for whom He pleases, and restricts (it also), but most people do not know.
This expression is always used to signify that Allah will give ample means of subsistence to the weaker party and strengthen them against the wealthy transgressors.
Section 5 (Verses 34:37–34:45): Wealth does not Stand for Greatness
34:37
وَ مَاۤ اَمۡوَالُکُمۡ وَ لَاۤ اَوۡلَادُکُمۡ بِالَّتِیۡ تُقَرِّبُکُمۡ عِنۡدَنَا زُلۡفٰۤی اِلَّا مَنۡ اٰمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا ۫ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمۡ جَزَآءُ الضِّعۡفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوۡا وَ ہُمۡ فِی الۡغُرُفٰتِ اٰمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
And it is not your wealth, nor your children, that bring you near to Us in rank; but whoever believes and does good, for such is a double reward for what they do, and they are secure in the highest places.
Not only in the highest places in paradise, but also in the highest places in this life — a truth which finds abundant illustration in the lives of the early Muslims.
34:38
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَسۡعَوۡنَ فِیۡۤ اٰیٰتِنَا مُعٰجِزِیۡنَ اُولٰٓئِکَ فِی الۡعَذَابِ مُحۡضَرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
And those who strive in opposing Our messages, they will be brought to the punishment.
34:39
قُلۡ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ یَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ وَ یَقۡدِرُ لَہٗ ؕ وَ مَاۤ اَنۡفَقۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ فَہُوَ یُخۡلِفُہٗ ۚ وَ ہُوَ خَیۡرُ الرّٰزِقِیۡنَ ﴿۳۹﴾
Say: Surely my Lord amplifies provision for whom He pleases of His servants, and restricts (it) for him (also). And whatsoever you spend, He increases it in reward, and He is the Best of providers.
The words “increases it” (yukhlifu-hu) signify that Allah gives him such a great reward as to leave behind what he had spent in His way.
34:40
وَ یَوۡمَ یَحۡشُرُہُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ثُمَّ یَقُوۡلُ لِلۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ اَہٰۤؤُلَآءِ اِیَّاکُمۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
And on the day when He will gather them all together, then will He say to the angels: Did these worship you?
34:41
قَالُوۡا سُبۡحٰنَکَ اَنۡتَ وَلِیُّنَا مِنۡ دُوۡنِہِمۡ ۚ بَلۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ الۡجِنَّ ۚ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ بِہِمۡ مُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
They will say: Glory be to You! You are our Protecting Friend, not they; rather, they worshipped the jinn; most of them were believers in them.
Compare this with the last section, and it will be clear that the very persons mentioned there as the proud ones are spoken of here as the jinn.
34:42
فَالۡیَوۡمَ لَا یَمۡلِکُ بَعۡضُکُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ نَّفۡعًا وَّ لَا ضَرًّا ؕ وَ نَقُوۡلُ لِلَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ذُوۡقُوۡا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّتِیۡ کُنۡتُمۡ بِہَا تُکَذِّبُوۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
So on that day you will not control benefit nor harm for one another. And We will say to those who were wrongdoers: Taste the punishment of the Fire, which you called a lie.
34:43
وَ اِذَا تُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتُنَا بَیِّنٰتٍ قَالُوۡا مَا ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا رَجُلٌ یُّرِیۡدُ اَنۡ یَّصُدَّکُمۡ عَمَّا کَانَ یَعۡبُدُ اٰبَآؤُکُمۡ ۚ وَ قَالُوۡا مَا ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اِفۡکٌ مُّفۡتَرًی ؕ وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَہُمۡ ۙ اِنۡ ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا سِحۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۴۳﴾
And when Our clear messages are recited to them, they say: This is only a man who desires to turn you away from what your fathers worshipped. And they say: This is nothing but a forged lie! And those who disbelieve say of the Truth when it comes to them: This is only clear enchantment!
34:44
وَ مَاۤ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ مِّنۡ کُتُبٍ یَّدۡرُسُوۡنَہَا وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِمۡ قَبۡلَکَ مِنۡ نَّذِیۡرٍ ﴿ؕ۴۴﴾
And We have not given them any Books which they read, nor did We send to them before you a warner.
That is, no Book was ever given nor any warner ever raised that taught the worship of others besides the One God; or the meaning may be that, whereas warners appeared all about Arabia, Makkah had not yet seen one.
34:45
وَ کَذَّبَ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ۙ وَ مَا بَلَغُوۡا مِعۡشَارَ مَاۤ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ فَکَذَّبُوۡا رُسُلِیۡ ۟ فَکَیۡفَ کَانَ نَکِیۡرِ ﴿٪۴۵﴾
And those before them rejected (the truth), and these have not yet attained a tenth of what We gave them, but they rejected My messengers. How (terrible) was then My disapproval!
That is, in power or in material prosperity the Quraish could not stand comparison with many of the early nations.
Section 6 (Verses 34:46–34:54): Truth will Prosper
34:46
قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَعِظُکُمۡ بِوَاحِدَۃٍ ۚ اَنۡ تَقُوۡمُوۡا لِلّٰہِ مَثۡنٰی وَ فُرَادٰی ثُمَّ تَتَفَکَّرُوۡا ۟ مَا بِصَاحِبِکُمۡ مِّنۡ جِنَّۃٍ ؕ اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا نَذِیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡ عَذَابٍ شَدِیۡدٍ ﴿۴۶﴾
Say: I exhort you only to one thing, that you rise up for Allah’s sake by twos and singly; then ponder! There is no madness in your companion. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment.
34:47
قُلۡ مَا سَاَلۡتُکُمۡ مِّنۡ اَجۡرٍ فَہُوَ لَکُمۡ ؕ اِنۡ اَجۡرِیَ اِلَّا عَلَی اللّٰہِ ۚ وَ ہُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ شَہِیۡدٌ ﴿۴۷﴾
Say: Whatever reward I ask of you, that is only for yourselves. My reward is only with Allah, and He is a Witness over all things.
34:48
قُلۡ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ یَقۡذِفُ بِالۡحَقِّ ۚ عَلَّامُ الۡغُیُوۡبِ ﴿۴۸﴾
Say: Surely my Lord casts the Truth, the great Knower of the unseen.
34:49
قُلۡ جَآءَ الۡحَقُّ وَ مَا یُبۡدِئُ الۡبَاطِلُ وَ مَا یُعِیۡدُ ﴿۴۹﴾
Say: The Truth has come, and falsehood neither originates, nor reproduces.
The Truth may stand for Unity and falsehood for polytheism, the significance being that idol-worship will never again find access to Makkah. Compare 17:81: “Say: The Truth has come and falsehood vanished. Surely falsehood is ever bound to vanish”.
34:50
قُلۡ اِنۡ ضَلَلۡتُ فَاِنَّمَاۤ اَضِلُّ عَلٰی نَفۡسِیۡ ۚ وَ اِنِ اہۡتَدَیۡتُ فَبِمَا یُوۡحِیۡۤ اِلَیَّ رَبِّیۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ سَمِیۡعٌ قَرِیۡبٌ ﴿۵۰﴾
Say: If I go astray, only to my own loss do I go astray; and if I go aright, it is because of what my Lord reveals to me. Surely He is Hearing, Near.
34:51
وَ لَوۡ تَرٰۤی اِذۡ فَزِعُوۡا فَلَا فَوۡتَ وَ اُخِذُوۡا مِنۡ مَّکَانٍ قَرِیۡبٍ ﴿ۙ۵۱﴾
And if only you could see when they become terrified, but (then) there will be no escape and they will be seized from a near place;
In this world, they were seized upon at Badr and again at Makkah.
34:52
وَّ قَالُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا بِہٖ ۚ وَ اَنّٰی لَہُمُ التَّنَاوُشُ مِنۡ مَّکَانٍۭ بَعِیۡدٍ ﴿ۚۖ۵۲﴾
and they will say: We believe in it. And how can they attain (to faith) from a distant place?
For death shall then have removed them into the other world.
34:53
وَّ قَدۡ کَفَرُوۡا بِہٖ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ۚ وَ یَقۡذِفُوۡنَ بِالۡغَیۡبِ مِنۡ مَّکَانٍۭ بَعِیۡدٍ ﴿۵۳﴾
And they indeed disbelieved in it before, and they utter conjectures with regard to the unseen from a distant place.
Their conjectures that the Prophet will not be successful have no value, as they have no access to the unseen.
34:54
وَ حِیۡلَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ وَ بَیۡنَ مَا یَشۡتَہُوۡنَ کَمَا فُعِلَ بِاَشۡیَاعِہِمۡ مِّنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا فِیۡ شَکٍّ مُّرِیۡبٍ ﴿٪۵۴﴾
And a barrier is placed between them and what they desire, as was done with their partisans before. Surely they are in a disquieting doubt.
Indeed, no punishment is greater than failure to attain what a person desires most eagerly. This is the hell of this life.