36: Ya Sin (Ya Sin)
Revealed at Makkah
The title of this chapter is taken from the initial letters Yā Sīn which form the first verse, meaning O man or O Perfect man, addressing the Holy Prophet. The chapter declares the truth of the Quran and begins by saying that its revelation will, after initial opposition, give life to a dead humanity. This is illustrated by a parable. Signs in nature are pointed to, indicating that the same law is working in the spiritual world. It goes on to show that acceptors and rejectors of truth will be dealt with distinctly. In the end it draws attention to the Resurrection and life after death, an awareness of which makes a person feel responsible for his actions. Chapters 34 to 39 form one group, belonging most probably to the middle period at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 36:1–36:12): Truth of the Quran
According to the companion Ibn Abbas Yā Sīn means yā insān: “O man”. There is almost a consensus of opinion that the reference in this abbreviation is to the Holy Prophet himself.
36:6
لِتُنۡذِرَ قَوۡمًا مَّاۤ اُنۡذِرَ اٰبَآؤُہُمۡ فَہُمۡ غٰفِلُوۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
that you may warn a people whose fathers were not warned, so they are heedless.
The first warning of the Prophet was for the Makkans, but he was a warner for all nations as well; see 25:1.
36:7
لَقَدۡ حَقَّ الۡقَوۡلُ عَلٰۤی اَکۡثَرِہِمۡ فَہُمۡ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
The word has indeed proved true of most of them, so they do not believe.
The word which proved true is that Truth is always opposed first but it wins in the end.
36:8
اِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا فِیۡۤ اَعۡنَاقِہِمۡ اَغۡلٰلًا فَہِیَ اِلَی الۡاَذۡقَانِ فَہُمۡ مُّقۡمَحُوۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
Surely We have placed on their necks chains reaching up to the chins, so they have their heads raised aloft.
This is a description of the proud attitude of the disbelievers towards the Prophet’s preaching. The chains of pride and stubbornness are really the things which prevent them from listening to and accepting the message of the Prophet.
36:9
وَ جَعَلۡنَا مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ سَدًّا وَّ مِنۡ خَلۡفِہِمۡ سَدًّا فَاَغۡشَیۡنٰہُمۡ فَہُمۡ لَا یُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
And We have set a barrier before them and a barrier behind them, thus We have covered them, so that they do not see.
These were the barriers of their own stubbornness. The barriers before them prevented them from looking forward to the eminence to which they could rise by following the Truth, and those behind them prevented them from looking back to the history of nations destroyed on account of their rejection of the Truth.
36:10
وَ سَوَآءٌ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ءَاَنۡذَرۡتَہُمۡ اَمۡ لَمۡ تُنۡذِرۡہُمۡ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
And it is the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them — they do not believe.
36:11
اِنَّمَا تُنۡذِرُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الذِّکۡرَ وَ خَشِیَ الرَّحۡمٰنَ بِالۡغَیۡبِ ۚ فَبَشِّرۡہُ بِمَغۡفِرَۃٍ وَّ اَجۡرٍ کَرِیۡمٍ ﴿۱۱﴾
You can warn only him who follows the Reminder and fears the Beneficent in secret; so give him good news of forgiveness and a generous reward.
36:12
اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡیِ الۡمَوۡتٰی وَ نَکۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوۡا وَ اٰثَارَہُمۡ ؕؑ وَ کُلَّ شَیۡءٍ اَحۡصَیۡنٰہُ فِیۡۤ اِمَامٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿٪۱۲﴾
Surely We give life to the dead, and We write down what they send on ahead and their footprints, and We record everything in a clear writing.
What they send on ahead are their deeds, and their footprints are the marks they leave behind for others to follow.
Section 2 (Verses 36:13–36:32): Confirmation of the Truth
36:13
وَ اضۡرِبۡ لَہُمۡ مَّثَلًا اَصۡحٰبَ الۡقَرۡیَۃِ ۘ اِذۡ جَآءَہَا الۡمُرۡسَلُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۱۳﴾
And set out to them a parable of the people of the town, when messengers came to it.
36:14
اِذۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِمُ اثۡنَیۡنِ فَکَذَّبُوۡہُمَا فَعَزَّزۡنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوۡۤا اِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡکُمۡ مُّرۡسَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
When We sent to them two, they rejected them both; then We strengthened (them) with a third, so they said: Surely we are sent to you.
This is called a parable in the previous verse; therefore it is an error to name a particular town and three messengers who went together to it. The parable is set forth only to point out the truth of the Holy Prophet. The two messengers sent before are Moses and Jesus, both of whom clearly prophesied the advent of the Holy Prophet, and the third, with whom they are strengthened, is no other than the Holy Prophet himself, the fulfilment of prophecy in whose person without doubt strengthened the truth of previous revelation. The conversion of Arabia and its reclamation from idolatry had been tried both by the followers of Moses and Jesus, and both had failed, and a third messenger was now sent.
36:15
قَالُوۡا مَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُنَا ۙ وَ مَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ ۙ اِنۡ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا تَکۡذِبُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾
They said: You are only mortals like ourselves, nor has the Beneficent revealed anything — you only lie.
Note that the people here deny all revelation. The Arabs rejected previous revelation as well as the revelation of the Holy Prophet.
36:16
قَالُوۡا رَبُّنَا یَعۡلَمُ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡکُمۡ لَمُرۡسَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
They said: Our Lord knows that we are surely sent to you.
36:17
وَ مَا عَلَیۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِیۡنُ ﴿۱۷﴾
And our duty is only to deliver the message clearly.
36:18
قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا تَطَیَّرۡنَا بِکُمۡ ۚ لَئِنۡ لَّمۡ تَنۡتَہُوۡا لَنَرۡجُمَنَّکُمۡ وَ لَیَمَسَّنَّکُمۡ مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۸﴾
They said: Surely we consider you an evil omen. If you do not stop, we will surely stone you, and a painful punishment from us will certainly afflict you.
Distress in one form or other always overtakes a people when a prophet appears among them. See 6:42. It is to this distress that the rejectors of messengers refer.
36:19
قَالُوۡا طَآئِرُکُمۡ مَّعَکُمۡ ؕ اَئِنۡ ذُکِّرۡتُمۡ ؕ بَلۡ اَنۡتُمۡ قَوۡمٌ مُّسۡرِفُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
They said: Your evil fortune is with you. What! If you are reminded! Indeed, you are an extravagant people.
They are told that distress is not due to the Prophet’s advent, but is the result of their own evil deeds, and the Prophet does no more than remind them and warn them of the consequences of their evil deeds.
36:20
وَ جَآءَ مِنۡ اَقۡصَا الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ رَجُلٌ یَّسۡعٰی قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اتَّبِعُوا الۡمُرۡسَلِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۰﴾
And from the remote part of the city a man came running. He said: My people, follow the messengers.
This man represents the believer in the Truth. Every prophet has testimony borne to his truth by one from among the people themselves. Thus the Quran speaks of a believer from among the people of Pharaoh (40:28), and Joseph of Arimathaea believed in and helped Jesus. The Prophet Muhammad had such a follower in Abu Bakr, who was the first to believe, while the others rejected.
36:21
اتَّبِعُوۡا مَنۡ لَّا یَسۡـَٔلُکُمۡ اَجۡرًا وَّ ہُمۡ مُّہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
Follow him who asks of you no reward, and they are on the right course.
36:22
وَ مَا لِیَ لَاۤ اَعۡبُدُ الَّذِیۡ فَطَرَنِیۡ وَ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
And what reason have I that I should not serve Him Who created me and to Whom you will be brought back.
36:23
ءَاَتَّخِذُ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖۤ اٰلِہَۃً اِنۡ یُّرِدۡنِ الرَّحۡمٰنُ بِضُرٍّ لَّا تُغۡنِ عَنِّیۡ شَفَاعَتُہُمۡ شَیۡئًا وَّ لَا یُنۡقِذُوۡنِ ﴿ۚ۲۳﴾
Shall I take besides Him gods whose intercession, if the Beneficent should desire to afflict me with harm, will not avail me in the least, nor can they deliver me?
36:26
قِیۡلَ ادۡخُلِ الۡجَنَّۃَ ؕ قَالَ یٰلَیۡتَ قَوۡمِیۡ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۶﴾
It was said: Enter the Garden. He said: If only my people knew
It is a promise to the believer that he will be successful.
36:27
بِمَا غَفَرَ لِیۡ رَبِّیۡ وَ جَعَلَنِیۡ مِنَ الۡمُکۡرَمِیۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
how my Lord has forgiven me and made me from among the honoured ones!
36:28
وَ مَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہٖ مِنۡ جُنۡدٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ مَا کُنَّا مُنۡزِلِیۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
And We did not send down upon his people after him any army from heaven, nor do We ever send.
Armies are not sent down from above to chastise the wicked, but causes are brought into existence on this very earth.
36:29
اِنۡ کَانَتۡ اِلَّا صَیۡحَۃً وَّاحِدَۃً فَاِذَا ہُمۡ خٰمِدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
It was but a single cry, and lo! they were still.
The single cry signifies only a sudden punishment.
36:30
یٰحَسۡرَۃً عَلَی الۡعِبَادِ ۚؑ مَا یَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا کَانُوۡا بِہٖ یَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ ﴿۳۰﴾
Alas for the servants! Never does a messenger come to them but they mock him.
36:31
اَلَمۡ یَرَوۡا کَمۡ اَہۡلَکۡنَا قَبۡلَہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡقُرُوۡنِ اَنَّہُمۡ اِلَیۡہِمۡ لَا یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۱﴾
Do they not see how many generations We destroyed before them, that they do not return to them?
The words may also mean that many generations were destroyed before them because they did not turn to the messengers.
36:32
وَ اِنۡ کُلٌّ لَّمَّا جَمِیۡعٌ لَّدَیۡنَا مُحۡضَرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۳۲﴾
And all — surely all — will be brought before Us.
Section 3 (Verses 36:33–36:50): Signs of the Truth
36:33
وَ اٰیَۃٌ لَّہُمُ الۡاَرۡضُ الۡمَیۡتَۃُ ۚۖ اَحۡیَیۡنٰہَا وَ اَخۡرَجۡنَا مِنۡہَا حَبًّا فَمِنۡہُ یَاۡکُلُوۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
And a sign to them is the dead earth: We give life to it and bring forth from it grain so they eat of it.
How dead the earth, and particularly Arabia, was at the advent of the Holy Prophet, it is impossible to describe within a footnote. As the physical world shows the working of the Divine law that life is restored to the earth after its death, the same law would work in the spiritual world.
36:34
وَ جَعَلۡنَا فِیۡہَا جَنّٰتٍ مِّنۡ نَّخِیۡلٍ وَّ اَعۡنَابٍ وَّ فَجَّرۡنَا فِیۡہَا مِنَ الۡعُیُوۡنِ ﴿ۙ۳۴﴾
And We make in it gardens of date-palms and grapes and We make springs to flow forth in it,
36:35
لِیَاۡکُلُوۡا مِنۡ ثَمَرِہٖ ۙ وَ مَا عَمِلَتۡہُ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ ؕ اَفَلَا یَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
that they may eat of the fruit thereof, and their hands did not make it. Will they not then give thanks?
36:36
سُبۡحٰنَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ الۡاَزۡوَاجَ کُلَّہَا مِمَّا تُنۡۢبِتُ الۡاَرۡضُ وَ مِنۡ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ وَ مِمَّا لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
Glory be to Him Who created pairs of all things, of what the earth grows, and of their own kind and of what they do not know!
This verse establishes a great scientific truth, that pairs exist in all creation, even in the vegetable kingdom and in things which had not yet come to the knowledge of man. The Arabs certainly did not know this, but modern research corroborates this truth.
36:37
وَ اٰیَۃٌ لَّہُمُ الَّیۡلُ ۚۖ نَسۡلَخُ مِنۡہُ النَّہَارَ فَاِذَا ہُمۡ مُّظۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۷﴾
And a sign to them is the night: We draw forth from it the (light of) day, then lo! they are in darkness;
The night of ignorance must now pass away; for as in the physical world night follows day and day follows night, so in the spiritual world light is followed by the darkness of ignorance and the latter again gives place to light.
36:38
وَ الشَّمۡسُ تَجۡرِیۡ لِمُسۡتَقَرٍّ لَّہَا ؕ ذٰلِکَ تَقۡدِیۡرُ الۡعَزِیۡزِ الۡعَلِیۡمِ ﴿ؕ۳۸﴾
and the sun moves on to its destination. That is the ordinance of the Mighty, the Knower.
36:39
وَ الۡقَمَرَ قَدَّرۡنٰہُ مَنَازِلَ حَتّٰی عَادَ کَالۡعُرۡجُوۡنِ الۡقَدِیۡمِ ﴿۳۹﴾
And the moon, We have ordained for it stages till it becomes again as an old dry palm-branch.
Even such is the case of truth, which seems at first to be insignificant, but soon shines forth like a full moon.
36:40
لَا الشَّمۡسُ یَنۡۢبَغِیۡ لَہَاۤ اَنۡ تُدۡرِکَ الۡقَمَرَ وَ لَا الَّیۡلُ سَابِقُ النَّہَارِ ؕ وَ کُلٌّ فِیۡ فَلَکٍ یَّسۡبَحُوۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
Neither is it for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day. And all float on in an orbit.
Even truth and falsehood have their courses. As night must disappear with the rise of the day, so falsehood must vanish before the light of Truth. The flotation of the heavenly bodies in their orbits is a statement beyond the ken of an Arabian of the 7th century C.E. The Quran is a book for the spiritual guidance of man, but it discloses a large number of scientific truths which were not known to man at the time of the revelation of the Book.
36:41
وَ اٰیَۃٌ لَّہُمۡ اَنَّا حَمَلۡنَا ذُرِّیَّتَہُمۡ فِی الۡفُلۡکِ الۡمَشۡحُوۡنِ ﴿ۙ۴۱﴾
And a sign to them is that We carry their offspring in the laden ship,
36:42
وَ خَلَقۡنَا لَہُمۡ مِّنۡ مِّثۡلِہٖ مَا یَرۡکَبُوۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
and We have created for them (other things) the like of it, on which they ride.
The ships that bear man on the seas are spoken of in v. 41. These were known to man at the time of the revelation of the Quran. But this verse speaks of other ships, like them. These are the aeroplanes of today. They are spoken of as being created by God, because it is through the knowledge and means that God has given man that he is able to acquire mastery of the air and make these ships.
36:43
وَ اِنۡ نَّشَاۡ نُغۡرِقۡہُمۡ فَلَا صَرِیۡخَ لَہُمۡ وَ لَا ہُمۡ یُنۡقَذُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۳﴾
And if We please, We may drown them, then there is no help for them, nor can they be rescued —
This is a warning of the impending punishment. Drowning in the sea signifies their destruction, wherever it may take place. The word chosen to describe the punishment is one which shows the utter helplessness of the sufferers.
36:44
اِلَّا رَحۡمَۃً مِّنَّا وَ مَتَاعًا اِلٰی حِیۡنٍ ﴿۴۴﴾
but by mercy from Us and for enjoyment till a time.
36:45
وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمُ اتَّقُوۡا مَا بَیۡنَ اَیۡدِیۡکُمۡ وَ مَا خَلۡفَکُمۡ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تُرۡحَمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾
And when it is said to them: Guard against what is before you and what is behind you, that mercy may be shown to you.
What is before you signifies the punishment which must overtake them in this life, and what is behind you means the consequences of evil which they would witness in the Hereafter.
36:46
وَ مَا تَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ اٰیَۃٍ مِّنۡ اٰیٰتِ رَبِّہِمۡ اِلَّا کَانُوۡا عَنۡہَا مُعۡرِضِیۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
And no message comes to them of the messages of their Lord but they turn away from it.
36:47
وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ اَنۡفِقُوۡا مِمَّا رَزَقَکُمُ اللّٰہُ ۙ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَنُطۡعِمُ مَنۡ لَّوۡ یَشَآءُ اللّٰہُ اَطۡعَمَہٗۤ ٭ۖ اِنۡ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۴۷﴾
And when it is said to them: Spend (on good works) out of what Allah has given you, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Shall we feed him whom, if Allah please, He could feed? You are in nothing but clear error.
So they turned neither to submission to Allah, nor to sympathy for their fellow-beings.
36:48
وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ مَتٰی ہٰذَا الۡوَعۡدُ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
And they say: When will this promise come to pass, if you are truthful?
36:49
مَا یَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَّا صَیۡحَۃً وَّاحِدَۃً تَاۡخُذُہُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ یَخِصِّمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
They await but a single cry, which will overtake them while they argue.
36:50
فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیۡعُوۡنَ تَوۡصِیَۃً وَّ لَاۤ اِلٰۤی اَہۡلِہِمۡ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿٪۵۰﴾
So they will not be able to make a bequest, nor will they return to their families.
This is a prophetical description of the battle of Badr. The Quraish attacked Madinah to annihilate Islam but the leaders of evil were themselves finished there, and could neither make a bequest, nor did they return to their families.
Section 4 (Verses 36:51–36:67): Reward and Punishment
36:51
وَ نُفِخَ فِی الصُّوۡرِ فَاِذَا ہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَجۡدَاثِ اِلٰی رَبِّہِمۡ یَنۡسِلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۱﴾
And the trumpet is blown, when lo! from their graves they will hasten on to their Lord.
36:52
قَالُوۡا یٰوَیۡلَنَا مَنۡۢ بَعَثَنَا مِنۡ مَّرۡقَدِنَا ٜۘؐ ہٰذَا مَا وَعَدَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ وَ صَدَقَ الۡمُرۡسَلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
They will say: O woe to us! Who has raised us up from our sleeping-place? This is what the Bene-ficent promised and the messengers told the truth.
The grave is called a sleeping-place even for the disbelievers, because, as compared with the severer punishment of hell, the grave would be to them a sleeping-place. It should be noted that the grave signifies the condition after life is ended in this world.
36:53
اِنۡ کَانَتۡ اِلَّا صَیۡحَۃً وَّاحِدَۃً فَاِذَا ہُمۡ جَمِیۡعٌ لَّدَیۡنَا مُحۡضَرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۳﴾
It is but a single cry, when lo! they are all brought before Us.
36:54
فَالۡیَوۡمَ لَا تُظۡلَمُ نَفۡسٌ شَیۡئًا وَّ لَا تُجۡزَوۡنَ اِلَّا مَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۴﴾
So this day no soul is wronged in the least and you are only rewarded for what you did.
36:55
اِنَّ اَصۡحٰبَ الۡجَنَّۃِ الۡیَوۡمَ فِیۡ شُغُلٍ فٰکِہُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۵۵﴾
Surely the owners of the Garden are on that day in a happy occupation.
36:56
ہُمۡ وَ اَزۡوَاجُہُمۡ فِیۡ ظِلٰلٍ عَلَی الۡاَرَآئِکِ مُتَّکِـُٔوۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
They and their wives are in shades, reclining on raised couches.
36:57
لَہُمۡ فِیۡہَا فَاکِہَۃٌ وَّ لَہُمۡ مَّا یَدَّعُوۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۵۷﴾
In it they have fruits and they have whatever they desire.
Here we have another picture of the Muslim paradise. After describing the various blessings, it sums them up in a single word, peace.
36:60
اَلَمۡ اَعۡہَدۡ اِلَیۡکُمۡ یٰبَنِیۡۤ اٰدَمَ اَنۡ لَّا تَعۡبُدُوا الشَّیۡطٰنَ ۚ اِنَّہٗ لَکُمۡ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿ۙ۶۰﴾
Did I not charge you, O children of Adam, not to serve the devil? Surely he is your open enemy.
36:61
وَّ اَنِ اعۡبُدُوۡنِیۡ ؕؔ ہٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٌ ﴿۶۱﴾
And that you serve Me. This is the right way.
36:62
وَ لَقَدۡ اَضَلَّ مِنۡکُمۡ جِبِلًّا کَثِیۡرًا ؕ اَفَلَمۡ تَکُوۡنُوۡا تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۲﴾
And certainly he led astray numerous people from among you. Could you not then understand?
36:63
ہٰذِہٖ جَہَنَّمُ الَّتِیۡ کُنۡتُمۡ تُوۡعَدُوۡنَ ﴿۶۳﴾
This is the hell which you were promised.
36:64
اِصۡلَوۡہَا الۡیَوۡمَ بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَکۡفُرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۴﴾
Enter it this day because you disbelieved.
36:65
اَلۡیَوۡمَ نَخۡتِمُ عَلٰۤی اَفۡوَاہِہِمۡ وَ تُکَلِّمُنَاۤ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ تَشۡہَدُ اَرۡجُلُہُمۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿۶۵﴾
That day We shall seal their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will bear witness as to what they earned.
36:66
وَ لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَطَمَسۡنَا عَلٰۤی اَعۡیُنِہِمۡ فَاسۡتَبَقُوا الصِّرَاطَ فَاَنّٰی یُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۶﴾
And if We pleased, We would put out their eyes, then they would struggle to get ahead to (find) the way, but how should they see?
These are the reprobate. They shut their eyes to the truth with such persistence that their eyes become blind; they no longer see, even if they would.
36:67
وَ لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَمَسَخۡنٰہُمۡ عَلٰی مَکَانَتِہِمۡ فَمَا اسۡتَطَاعُوۡا مُضِیًّا وَّ لَا یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿٪۶۷﴾
And if We pleased, We would transform them in their place so they would be unable to go on or turn back.
The meaning of transforming them in their place is taking away their power and rendering them weak and turning them into an evil plight.
Section 5 (Verses 36:68–36:83): The Resurrection
36:68
وَ مَنۡ نُّعَمِّرۡہُ نُنَکِّسۡہُ فِی الۡخَلۡقِ ؕ اَفَلَا یَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۸﴾
And whomever We grant long life, We cause him to deteriorate in creation. Do they not understand?
It is a general law of nature that every living thing must deteriorate; the application here is to individuals as well as nations.
36:69
وَ مَا عَلَّمۡنٰہُ الشِّعۡرَ وَ مَا یَنۡۢبَغِیۡ لَہٗ ؕ اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا ذِکۡرٌ وَّ قُرۡاٰنٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿ۙ۶۹﴾
And We have not taught him poetry, nor is it befitting for him. This is nothing but a Reminder and a plain Quran,
Its negation as poetry is meant to convey the seriousness of the subjects that the Quran deals with.
36:70
لِّیُنۡذِرَ مَنۡ کَانَ حَیًّا وَّ یَحِقَّ الۡقَوۡلُ عَلَی الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
to warn him who would have life, and (that) the word may prove true against the disbelievers.
36:71
اَوَ لَمۡ یَرَوۡا اَنَّا خَلَقۡنَا لَہُمۡ مِّمَّا عَمِلَتۡ اَیۡدِیۡنَاۤ اَنۡعَامًا فَہُمۡ لَہَا مٰلِکُوۡنَ ﴿۷۱﴾
Do they not see that We have created cattle for them, out of what Our hands have made, so they are their masters?
36:72
وَ ذَلَّلۡنٰہَا لَہُمۡ فَمِنۡہَا رَکُوۡبُہُمۡ وَ مِنۡہَا یَاۡکُلُوۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾
And We have subjected them to them, so some of them they ride, and some they eat.
36:73
وَ لَہُمۡ فِیۡہَا مَنَافِعُ وَ مَشَارِبُ ؕ اَفَلَا یَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۳﴾
And in them they have (other) advantages and drinks. Will they not then give thanks?
36:74
وَ اتَّخَذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ اٰلِہَۃً لَّعَلَّہُمۡ یُنۡصَرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۷۴﴾
And they take gods besides Allah that they may be helped.
36:75
لَا یَسۡتَطِیۡعُوۡنَ نَصۡرَہُمۡ ۙ وَ ہُمۡ لَہُمۡ جُنۡدٌ مُّحۡضَرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۵﴾
They are not able to help them, and they will be a group brought up (for judgment) before them.
The guilty leaders will be brought up for punishment before their followers and they will not be able to help them. Or, the worshippers of false deities will be brought up for punishment in the presence of those deities and they will not be able to help them.
36:76
فَلَا یَحۡزُنۡکَ قَوۡلُہُمۡ ۘ اِنَّا نَعۡلَمُ مَا یُسِرُّوۡنَ وَ مَا یُعۡلِنُوۡنَ ﴿۷۶﴾
So do not let their speech grieve you. Surely We know what they do in secret and what they do openly.
36:77
اَوَ لَمۡ یَرَ الۡاِنۡسَانُ اَنَّا خَلَقۡنٰہُ مِنۡ نُّطۡفَۃٍ فَاِذَا ہُوَ خَصِیۡمٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۷۷﴾
Does not man see that We have created him from the small life-germ? Then lo! he is an open contender.
36:78
وَ ضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلًا وَّ نَسِیَ خَلۡقَہٗ ؕ قَالَ مَنۡ یُّحۡیِ الۡعِظَامَ وَ ہِیَ رَمِیۡمٌ ﴿۷۸﴾
And he strikes out a likeness for Us and forgets his own creation. Says he: Who will give life to the bones, when they are rotten?
Striking out of a likeness signifies the setting up of gods with Allah.
36:79
قُلۡ یُحۡیِیۡہَا الَّذِیۡۤ اَنۡشَاَہَاۤ اَوَّلَ مَرَّۃٍ ؕ وَ ہُوَ بِکُلِّ خَلۡقٍ عَلِیۡمُۨ ﴿ۙ۷۹﴾
Say: He will give life to them, Who brought them into existence at first, and He is Knower of all creation,
36:80
الَّذِیۡ جَعَلَ لَکُمۡ مِّنَ الشَّجَرِ الۡاَخۡضَرِ نَارًا فَاِذَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ مِّنۡہُ تُوۡقِدُوۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾
Who produced fire for you out of the green tree, so that with it you kindle.
Editor’s Note: This may refer to the process of photosynthesis. The green substance in tree leaves, chlorophyll, absorbs sunlight to produce carbohydrates and oxygen from water and carbon dioxide. This process is the basis of supporting physical life on earth. Similarly, light from the sun of Truth, the Holy Prophet (called Yā Sīn), produces a higher life in those who follow him.
36:81
اَوَ لَیۡسَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ بِقٰدِرٍ عَلٰۤی اَنۡ یَّخۡلُقَ مِثۡلَہُمۡ ؕ بَلٰی ٭ وَ ہُوَ الۡخَلّٰقُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۸۱﴾
Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Yes! And He is the Creator (of all), the Knower.
The personal pronoun them refers to people, not to heaven and earth. In the Resurrection, people will be the like of what they are here, not the same earthly bodies. The body may become dust; but what a person does of good or evil is preserved, and it is according to this good or evil that he receives a new body. The idea of Resurrection is carried to perfection in Islam, and the Resurrection is meant to give a new life to all. Ultimately the spirit of man is returned to the Spirit Divine, and that is again and again called the meeting with God.
36:82
اِنَّمَاۤ اَمۡرُہٗۤ اِذَاۤ اَرَادَ شَیۡئًا اَنۡ یَّقُوۡلَ لَہٗ کُنۡ فَیَکُوۡنُ ﴿۸۲﴾
His command, when He intends anything, is only to say to it, Be, and it is.
36:83
فَسُبۡحٰنَ الَّذِیۡ بِیَدِہٖ مَلَکُوۡتُ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ وَّ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿٪۸۳﴾
So glory be to Him in Whose hand is the kingdom of all things, and to Him you will be returned.