38: Sad (Sad)
Revealed at Makkah
The title of this chapter is taken from its initial letter Ṣād which stands for Ṣādiq, meaning here Truthful God. It describes the sufferings of prophets at the hands of their enemies but the Truthful God foretold the discomfiture of the enemy and the final triumph of truth. It relates the accounts of David and Solomon, who faced enmity despite being mighty kings, and then describes the tribulations of Job and his deliverance from them. The chapter ends with a mention of the typical opposition of the devil to the prophet-man. Chapters 34 to 39 form one group, belonging most probably to the middle period at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 38:1–38:14): The Enemy’s Discomfiture
Dhikr means eminence here, as in 2:152. The calling to witness of the Quran possessing eminence indicates that the truth of the Quran will become manifest by the eminence to which it will raise those who follow it.
38:2
بَلِ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا فِیۡ عِزَّۃٍ وَّ شِقَاقٍ ﴿۲﴾
But those who disbelieve are in self-exaltation and opposition.
38:3
کَمۡ اَہۡلَکۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ مِّنۡ قَرۡنٍ فَنَادَوۡا وَّ لَاتَ حِیۡنَ مَنَاصٍ ﴿۳﴾
How many a generation We destroyed before them, then they cried when there was no longer time for escape!
That is, they did not heed the warning, but cried for help when punishment actually overtook them, and there was no escape from it.
38:4
وَ عَجِبُوۡۤا اَنۡ جَآءَہُمۡ مُّنۡذِرٌ مِّنۡہُمۡ ۫ وَ قَالَ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ ہٰذَا سٰحِرٌ کَذَّابٌ ۖ﴿ۚ۴﴾
And they wonder that a warner from among themselves has come to them, and the disbelievers say: This is an enchanter, a liar.
38:5
اَجَعَلَ الۡاٰلِہَۃَ اِلٰـہًا وَّاحِدًا ۚۖ اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَشَیۡءٌ عُجَابٌ ﴿۵﴾
Does he make the gods a single God? Surely this is a strange thing.
38:6
وَ انۡطَلَقَ الۡمَلَاُ مِنۡہُمۡ اَنِ امۡشُوۡا وَ اصۡبِرُوۡا عَلٰۤی اٰلِہَتِکُمۡ ۚۖ اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَشَیۡءٌ یُّرَادُ ۖ﴿ۚ۶﴾
And the chiefs among them say: Go and steadily adhere to your gods; surely this is a thing intended.
By a thing intended is meant that it is a thing which the Prophet intends to bring about but which he cannot, or that the appearance of the Prophet is one of the disasters decreed by fate.
38:7
مَا سَمِعۡنَا بِہٰذَا فِی الۡمِلَّۃِ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ۚۖ اِنۡ ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا اخۡتِلَاقٌ ۖ﴿ۚ۷﴾
We never heard of this in the former faith, this is nothing but a forgery.
38:8
ءَ اُنۡزِلَ عَلَیۡہِ الذِّکۡرُ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِنَا ؕ بَلۡ ہُمۡ فِیۡ شَکٍّ مِّنۡ ذِکۡرِیۡ ۚ بَلۡ لَّمَّا یَذُوۡقُوۡا عَذَابِ ؕ﴿۸﴾
Has the Reminder been revealed to him from among us? Indeed, they are in doubt as to My Reminder. Indeed, they have not yet tasted My punishment.
38:9
اَمۡ عِنۡدَہُمۡ خَزَآئِنُ رَحۡمَۃِ رَبِّکَ الۡعَزِیۡزِ الۡوَہَّابِ ۚ﴿۹﴾
Or, do they have the treasures of the mercy of your Lord, the Mighty, the Great Giver?
38:10
اَمۡ لَہُمۡ مُّلۡکُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَا ۟ فَلۡیَرۡتَقُوۡا فِی الۡاَسۡبَابِ ﴿۱۰﴾
Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them theirs? Then let them rise higher in means.
Their rising higher or ascending in means stands for having recourse to all the means they can think of. As they were powerful in the land and masters of it, they should find the best means to retain their power, and prove the warning of the Prophet to be false. They would not be able to do so.
38:11
جُنۡدٌ مَّا ہُنَالِکَ مَہۡزُوۡمٌ مِّنَ الۡاَحۡزَابِ ﴿۱۱﴾
What an army of the allies is here put to flight!
This is a prophecy relating to the discomfiture and overthrow of the opponents of Islam when they combine all possible forces against it. The Prophet is thus not only enjoined patience under his present sufferings, but he is further told that the opposition against him will assume yet more formidable proportions. He is comforted at the same time with the knowledge that the combined forces of opposition will be utterly routed and overthrown. This happened in the battle known as the battle of the Aḥzāb, or the battle of the Allies; see 33:22.
38:12
کَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَہُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوۡحٍ وَّ عَادٌ وَّ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ذُو الۡاَوۡتَادِ ﴿ۙ۱۲﴾
The people of Noah, and Ād, and Pharaoh, the lord of armies, rejected (prophets) before them,
38:13
وَ ثَمُوۡدُ وَ قَوۡمُ لُوۡطٍ وَّ اَصۡحٰبُ لۡـَٔیۡکَۃِ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ الۡاَحۡزَابُ ﴿۱۳﴾
and Thamūd and the people of Lot and the dwellers of the grove. These were the parties (opposing Truth).
38:14
اِنۡ کُلٌّ اِلَّا کَذَّبَ الرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ عِقَابِ ﴿٪۱۴﴾
Each one rejected the messengers, so just was My retribution.
Section 2 (Verses 38:15–38:26): David’s Enemies
38:15
وَ مَا یَنۡظُرُ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ اِلَّا صَیۡحَۃً وَّاحِدَۃً مَّا لَہَا مِنۡ فَوَاقٍ ﴿۱۵﴾
And these wait but for one cry, in which there is no delay.
38:16
وَ قَالُوۡا رَبَّنَا عَجِّلۡ لَّنَا قِطَّنَا قَبۡلَ یَوۡمِ الۡحِسَابِ ﴿۱۶﴾
And they say: Our Lord, hasten on for us our portion (of punishment) before the day of Reckoning.
It is clearly a demand on the part of disbelievers for punishment in this life; they were again and again told that their doom was coming, and they wanted it to come immediately.
38:17
اِصۡبِرۡ عَلٰی مَا یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ وَ اذۡکُرۡ عَبۡدَنَا دَاوٗدَ ذَا الۡاَیۡدِ ۚ اِنَّہٗۤ اَوَّابٌ ﴿۱۷﴾
Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the possessor of power. He ever turned (to Allah).
38:18
اِنَّا سَخَّرۡنَا الۡجِبَالَ مَعَہٗ یُسَبِّحۡنَ بِالۡعَشِیِّ وَ الۡاِشۡرَاقِ ﴿ۙ۱۸﴾
Truly We made the mountains subject to him, glorifying (Allah) at nightfall and sunrise,
See 34:10 footnote 1.
38:19
وَ الطَّیۡرَ مَحۡشُوۡرَۃً ؕ کُلٌّ لَّہٗۤ اَوَّابٌ ﴿۱۹﴾
and the birds gathered together. All were obedient to him.
38:20
وَ شَدَدۡنَا مُلۡکَہٗ وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ الۡحِکۡمَۃَ وَ فَصۡلَ الۡخِطَابِ ﴿۲۰﴾
And We strengthened his kingdom and We gave him wisdom and a clear judgment.
38:21
وَ ہَلۡ اَتٰىکَ نَبَؤُا الۡخَصۡمِ ۘ اِذۡ تَسَوَّرُوا الۡمِحۡرَابَ ﴿ۙ۲۱﴾
And has the story of the adversaries come to you? When they made an entry into the private chamber by climbing the wall —
38:22
اِذۡ دَخَلُوۡا عَلٰی دَاوٗدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنۡہُمۡ قَالُوۡا لَا تَخَفۡ ۚ خَصۡمٰنِ بَغٰی بَعۡضُنَا عَلٰی بَعۡضٍ فَاحۡکُمۡ بَیۡنَنَا بِالۡحَقِّ وَ لَا تُشۡطِطۡ وَ اہۡدِنَاۤ اِلٰی سَوَآءِ الصِّرَاطِ ﴿۲۲﴾
when they came upon David so he was afraid of them. They said: Do not fear; (we are) two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other, so decide between us with justice, and do not act unjustly, and guide us to the right way.
38:23
اِنَّ ہٰذَاۤ اَخِیۡ ۟ لَہٗ تِسۡعٌ وَّ تِسۡعُوۡنَ نَعۡجَۃً وَّ لِیَ نَعۡجَۃٌ وَّاحِدَۃٌ ۟ فَقَالَ اَکۡفِلۡنِیۡہَا وَ عَزَّنِیۡ فِی الۡخِطَابِ ﴿۲۳﴾
This is my brother. He has ninety-nine ewes and I have a single ewe. Then he said, Make it over to me, and he has prevailed against me in dispute.
38:24
قَالَ لَقَدۡ ظَلَمَکَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعۡجَتِکَ اِلٰی نِعَاجِہٖ ؕ وَ اِنَّ کَثِیۡرًا مِّنَ الۡخُلَطَآءِ لَیَبۡغِیۡ بَعۡضُہُمۡ عَلٰی بَعۡضٍ اِلَّا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَ قَلِیۡلٌ مَّا ہُمۡ ؕ وَ ظَنَّ دَاوٗدُ اَنَّمَا فَتَنّٰہُ فَاسۡتَغۡفَرَ رَبَّہٗ وَ خَرَّ رَاکِعًا وَّ اَنَابَ ﴿ٛ۲۴﴾
He said: Surely he has wronged you in demanding your ewe (to add) to his own ewes. And surely many partners wrong one another except those who believe and do good, and very few are they! And David knew that We had tried him, so he asked his Lord for protection, and he fell down bowing and turned (to God).
The men who thus attacked David by climbing over the wall were his enemies, as the Quran plainly states. They had thought of taking David unawares and putting him to death. But David, though terrified, was ready to meet them, and the two men, finding their plan thus frustrated, made an excuse for coming to him in such an unusual manner. The story of David committing adultery and two angels having come to him thus to remind him of the sin is a puerile falsehood, wherever it may be found. The word “protection” in this verse and the next by no means indicates that David had committed a sin, as the original word (istighfār, ghafr) really signifies the seeking of protection from sin. David sought Divine protection when he saw that his enemies had grown so bold against him. (Editor’s Note: This dispute is also illustrative of the desire of large and powerful organizations to bring small ones under their sway. The Quran here supports the judgment given in favour of the rights of ownership of the weak against the strong.)
38:25
فَغَفَرۡنَا لَہٗ ذٰلِکَ ؕ وَ اِنَّ لَہٗ عِنۡدَنَا لَزُلۡفٰی وَ حُسۡنَ مَاٰبٍ ﴿۲۵﴾
So We gave him this protection, and surely he had a nearness to Us and an excellent destination.
38:26
یٰدَاوٗدُ اِنَّا جَعَلۡنٰکَ خَلِیۡفَۃً فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَاحۡکُمۡ بَیۡنَ النَّاسِ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ لَا تَتَّبِعِ الۡہَوٰی فَیُضِلَّکَ عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ یَضِلُّوۡنَ عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ شَدِیۡدٌۢ بِمَا نَسُوۡا یَوۡمَ الۡحِسَابِ ﴿٪۲۶﴾
O David, surely We have made you a ruler in the land; so judge between people justly, and do not follow desire that it should lead you astray from the path of Allah. Those who go astray from the path of Allah, for them is surely a severe punishment because they forgot the day of Reckoning.
Section 3 (Verses 38:27–38:40): Solomon and his Enemies
38:27
وَ مَا خَلَقۡنَا السَّمَآءَ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَا بَاطِلًا ؕ ذٰلِکَ ظَنُّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ۚ فَوَیۡلٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنَ النَّارِ ﴿ؕ۲۷﴾
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in vain. That is the opinion of those who disbelieve. So woe to those who disbelieve on account of the Fire!
The believer is guided by the principle of the accountability of human actions and of a significance underlying everything that exists in heaven or earth. The disbeliever, on the other hand, makes mischief, as he believes that he will not be any the worse for it, and thus ignores the law of cause and effect, which prevails in the universe.
38:28
اَمۡ نَجۡعَلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ کَالۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ۫ اَمۡ نَجۡعَلُ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ کَالۡفُجَّارِ ﴿۲۸﴾
Shall We treat those who believe and do good like the mischief-makers in the earth? Or shall We make the dutiful like the wicked?
38:29
کِتٰبٌ اَنۡزَلۡنٰہُ اِلَیۡکَ مُبٰرَکٌ لِّیَدَّبَّرُوۡۤا اٰیٰتِہٖ وَ لِیَتَذَکَّرَ اُولُوا الۡاَلۡبَابِ ﴿۲۹﴾
(This is) a Book that We have revealed to you abounding in good, that they may ponder over its verses, and that those who have understanding may be mindful.
38:30
وَ وَہَبۡنَا لِدَاوٗدَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ ؕ نِعۡمَ الۡعَبۡدُ ؕ اِنَّہٗۤ اَوَّابٌ ﴿ؕ۳۰﴾
And We gave to David Solomon. Most excellent the servant! Surely he ever turned (to Allah).
38:31
اِذۡ عُرِضَ عَلَیۡہِ بِالۡعَشِیِّ الصّٰفِنٰتُ الۡجِیَادُ ﴿ۙ۳۱﴾
When well-bred, swift (horses) were brought to him at evening —
38:32
فَقَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اَحۡبَبۡتُ حُبَّ الۡخَیۡرِ عَنۡ ذِکۡرِ رَبِّیۡ ۚ حَتّٰی تَوَارَتۡ بِالۡحِجَابِ ﴿ٝ۳۲﴾
so he said: I love the good things on account of the remembrance of my Lord — until they were hidden behind the veil.
38:33
رُدُّوۡہَا عَلَیَّ ؕ فَطَفِقَ مَسۡحًۢا بِالسُّوۡقِ وَ الۡاَعۡنَاقِ ﴿۳۳﴾
(He said): Bring them back to me. So he began to stroke (their) legs and necks.
38:34
وَ لَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا سُلَیۡمٰنَ وَ اَلۡقَیۡنَا عَلٰی کُرۡسِیِّہٖ جَسَدًا ثُمَّ اَنَابَ ﴿۳۴﴾
And certainly We tried Solomon, and We put on his throne a (mere) body, so he turned (to Allah).
By the mere body that was put on his throne is meant either his son Rehoboam, who lost the allegiance of all except a single tribe of Israel (1 Kings 12:17), or Jeroboam, who led the revolt against the house of David, and, on becoming king of ten tribes, set up image-worship in Dan and Beth-el, the two calves being supposed to be images of Jehovah (1 Kings 12:28), and also began the worship of molten images (1 Kings 14:9). Thus both Rehoboam and Jeroboam answer the description of a body (without real life) thrown on Solomon’s throne. See also 34:14 footnote.
38:35
قَالَ رَبِّ اغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ وَ ہَبۡ لِیۡ مُلۡکًا لَّا یَنۡۢبَغِیۡ لِاَحَدٍ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِیۡ ۚ اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الۡوَہَّابُ ﴿۳۵﴾
He said: My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom which is not fit for anyone after me; surely You are the Great Giver.
The previous verse speaks of the imbecile heir-apparent to Solomon’s throne. Hence we find Solomon praying here for a spiritual kingdom, for that is the only kingdom which is not in danger of being spoiled by an heir. The glory of Solomon’s temporal kingdom was not maintained after his death; nor has a king like Solomon appeared in Israel. By anyone after me is meant anyone in Israel, not the whole world.
38:36
فَسَخَّرۡنَا لَہُ الرِّیۡحَ تَجۡرِیۡ بِاَمۡرِہٖ رُخَآءً حَیۡثُ اَصَابَ ﴿ۙ۳۶﴾
So We made the wind subservient to him, running gently by His command wherever he desired,
The description given here of the devils shows clearly that the designation applies to men of foreign tribes subjected to Solomon’s rule, because it was the latter who were forced into labour by Solomon. The words every builder and diver and others fettered in chains make it clear that the jinn and devils who are related to have been subjected to Solomon were only human beings. See also 34:12 footnote 3.
38:39
ہٰذَا عَطَآؤُنَا فَامۡنُنۡ اَوۡ اَمۡسِکۡ بِغَیۡرِ حِسَابٍ ﴿۳۹﴾
This is Our free gift, so give freely or withhold, without reckoning.
38:40
وَ اِنَّ لَہٗ عِنۡدَنَا لَزُلۡفٰی وَ حُسۡنَ مَاٰبٍ ﴿٪۴۰﴾
And surely he had a nearness to Us and an excellent destination.
Section 4 (Verses 38:41–38:64): Job — Triumph of the Righteous
38:41
وَ اذۡکُرۡ عَبۡدَنَاۤ اَیُّوۡبَ ۘ اِذۡ نَادٰی رَبَّہٗۤ اَنِّیۡ مَسَّنِیَ الشَّیۡطٰنُ بِنُصۡبٍ وَّ عَذَابٍ ﴿ؕ۴۱﴾
And remember Our servant Job. When he cried to his Lord: The devil has afflicted me with toil and torment.
The story of Job is given here as well as in the 21st chapter, being more brief there than here. All that the Quran states about him is that he was a righteous person who suffered some kind of distress, remained patient under trials, and was ultimately delivered from affliction. The toil and torment of which Job complains seem to relate to some journey of his in a desert, where he finds himself in an evil plight, on account of the fatigue of the journey and the thirst which afflicts him. There are many circumstances which point to this conclusion: the use of the word nuṣb, signifying toil or fatigue; his being led to a place where he finds a cool washing-place and a drink; and the mention of the devil (shaiṭān) in connection with his trouble, for shaiṭān al-falā, lit., the devil of the desert, signifies thirst. The mention of this distressing journey of Job contains, no doubt, a hint to the Prophet’s long journey from Makkah to Madinah, which was to be undertaken under particularly distressing circumstances. This journey of Job was undoubtedly undertaken in connection with the delivery of the message with which he was entrusted, just as in the case of the Holy Prophet’s emigration.
38:42
اُرۡکُضۡ بِرِجۡلِکَ ۚ ہٰذَا مُغۡتَسَلٌۢ بَارِدٌ وَّ شَرَابٌ ﴿۴۲﴾
Urge with your foot; here is a cool washing-place and a drink.
The meaning is urge your horse to go further, and the result is that there he finds a place where he is able to refresh himself both with drink and washing. He thought that he was in a waterless desert, and in reply to his prayer he is told to urge his horse or the beast he rode upon to trot further on, where he will find rest. It is a lesson not to despair under difficulties.
38:43
وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗۤ اَہۡلَہٗ وَ مِثۡلَہُمۡ مَّعَہُمۡ رَحۡمَۃً مِّنَّا وَ ذِکۡرٰی لِاُولِی الۡاَلۡبَابِ ﴿۴۳﴾
And We gave him (back) his people and more like them with them, a mercy from Us, and a reminder for those who have understanding.
The giving of his people or his family to him means that he met them again. The more like them with them are his followers. As I have already stated, there is a prophetical reference to the Prophet’s Flight in Job’s journey, and the Prophet again met not only his followers who fled from Makkah, but found also more like them at Madinah, i.e., the Anṣār (‘helpers’) of Madinah.
38:44
وَ خُذۡ بِیَدِکَ ضِغۡثًا فَاضۡرِبۡ بِّہٖ وَ لَا تَحۡنَثۡ ؕ اِنَّا وَجَدۡنٰہُ صَابِرًا ؕ نِعۡمَ الۡعَبۡدُ ؕ اِنَّہٗۤ اَوَّابٌ ﴿۴۴﴾
And take in your hand few worldly goods and earn goodness therewith and do not incline to falsehood. Surely We found him patient; most excellent the servant! Surely he (ever) turned (to Us).
Usually these words are translated thus: “Take in your hand a branch and strike with it and do not break the oath”. To explain these words, a story is added about his wife’s impatience and Job’s oath in that connection, but this story has no basis. The word ḍighth means not only a handful of twigs or shrubs but also a handful of worldly goods. The word ḍarb (strike) carries a number of significances. Job was a rich man and hence he is here told not to be inclined too much to the attainment of worldly riches. They are only needed to the extent of enabling a man to earn goodness thereby.
38:45
وَ اذۡکُرۡ عِبٰدَنَاۤ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَ اِسۡحٰقَ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ اُولِی الۡاَیۡدِیۡ وَ الۡاَبۡصَارِ ﴿۴۵﴾
And remember Our servants Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, possessors of power and insight.
38:46
اِنَّاۤ اَخۡلَصۡنٰہُمۡ بِخَالِصَۃٍ ذِکۡرَی الدَّارِ ﴿ۚ۴۶﴾
We indeed purified them by a pure quality, the keeping in mind of the (final) abode.
38:47
وَ اِنَّہُمۡ عِنۡدَنَا لَمِنَ الۡمُصۡطَفَیۡنَ الۡاَخۡیَارِ ﴿ؕ۴۷﴾
And surely they were with Us, among the elect, the best.
38:48
وَ اذۡکُرۡ اِسۡمٰعِیۡلَ وَ الۡیَسَعَ وَ ذَاالۡکِفۡلِ ؕ وَ کُلٌّ مِّنَ الۡاَخۡیَارِ ﴿ؕ۴۸﴾
And remember Ishmael and Elisha and Dhu-l-Kifl; and they were all of the best.
38:49
ہٰذَا ذِکۡرٌ ؕ وَ اِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ لَحُسۡنَ مَاٰبٍ ﴿ۙ۴۹﴾
This is a reminder. And surely there is an excellent destination for the dutiful:
38:50
جَنّٰتِ عَدۡنٍ مُّفَتَّحَۃً لَّہُمُ الۡاَبۡوَابُ ﴿ۚ۵۰﴾
Gardens of perpetuity — the doors are opened for them.
That is, the doors of these gardens are opened for them in this very life; or, they are always open to them.
38:51
مُتَّکِـِٕیۡنَ فِیۡہَا یَدۡعُوۡنَ فِیۡہَا بِفَاکِہَۃٍ کَثِیۡرَۃٍ وَّ شَرَابٍ ﴿۵۱﴾
Reclining therein, calling therein for many fruits and drink.
38:52
وَ عِنۡدَہُمۡ قٰصِرٰتُ الطَّرۡفِ اَتۡرَابٌ ﴿۵۲﴾
And with them are those modest in gaze, equals in age.
For the modest in gaze, see 37:49 footnote. Here, in addition, they are called equals in age, as showing that their growth begins with the growth of spiritual life in a human being, thus showing that they are the fruits of good deeds, whether done by males or females, who would all have these fruits equally.
38:53
ہٰذَا مَا تُوۡعَدُوۡنَ لِیَوۡمِ الۡحِسَابِ ﴿ؓ۵۳﴾
This is what you are promised for the day of Reckoning.
38:54
اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَرِزۡقُنَا مَا لَہٗ مِنۡ نَّفَادٍ ﴿ۚۖ۵۴﴾
Surely this is Our sustenance; it will never come to an end —
38:55
ہٰذَا ؕ وَ اِنَّ لِلطّٰغِیۡنَ لَشَرَّ مَاٰبٍ ﴿ۙ۵۵﴾
This (is for the good)! And surely there is an evil destination for the inordinate —
38:56
جَہَنَّمَ ۚ یَصۡلَوۡنَہَا ۚ فَبِئۡسَ الۡمِہَادُ ﴿۵۶﴾
hell. They will enter it. And evil is the resting-place.
38:57
ہٰذَا ۙ فَلۡیَذُوۡقُوۡہُ حَمِیۡمٌ وَّ غَسَّاقٌ ﴿ۙ۵۷﴾
This — so let them taste it, boiling and intensely cold (drink),
They will be made to consume intensely hot and intensely cold drink, because they went to the two extremes and did not follow the mean.
38:59
ہٰذَا فَوۡجٌ مُّقۡتَحِمٌ مَّعَکُمۡ ۚ لَا مَرۡحَبًۢا بِہِمۡ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ صَالُوا النَّارِ ﴿۵۹﴾
This is an army rushing headlong with you — no welcome for them! Surely they will burn in fire.
This is the army of blind followers of falsehood.
38:60
قَالُوۡا بَلۡ اَنۡتُمۡ ۟ لَا مَرۡحَبًۢا بِکُمۡ ؕ اَنۡتُمۡ قَدَّمۡتُمُوۡہُ لَنَا ۚ فَبِئۡسَ الۡقَرَارُ ﴿۶۰﴾
They say: Rather (it is) you — no welcome to you! You prepared it for us. And evil is the resting-place.
The speakers here are the blind followers, those addressed being the ringleaders.
38:61
قَالُوۡا رَبَّنَا مَنۡ قَدَّمَ لَنَا ہٰذَا فَزِدۡہُ عَذَابًا ضِعۡفًا فِی النَّارِ ﴿۶۱﴾
They say: Our Lord, whoever prepared it for us, give him more, a double, punishment in the Fire.
38:62
وَ قَالُوۡا مَا لَنَا لَا نَرٰی رِجَالًا کُنَّا نَعُدُّہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَشۡرَارِ ﴿ؕ۶۲﴾
And they say: What is the matter with us? — we do not see men whom we used to count among the wicked.
38:63
اَتَّخَذۡنٰہُمۡ سِخۡرِیًّا اَمۡ زَاغَتۡ عَنۡہُمُ الۡاَبۡصَارُ ﴿۶۳﴾
Did we (only) take them in scorn, or do our eyes miss them?
38:64
اِنَّ ذٰلِکَ لَحَقٌّ تَخَاصُمُ اَہۡلِ النَّارِ ﴿٪۶۴﴾
That surely is the truth — the contending among themselves of the inmates of the Fire.
Section 5 (Verses 38:65–38:88): Opposition to Prophets
38:65
قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا مُنۡذِرٌ ٭ۖ وَّ مَا مِنۡ اِلٰہٍ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ الۡوَاحِدُ الۡقَہَّارُ ﴿ۚ۶۵﴾
Say: I am only a warner; and there is no god but Allah, the One, the Subduer (of all) —
38:66
رَبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَا الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡغَفَّارُ ﴿۶۶﴾
the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the Mighty, the Forgiving.
The message of importance is the Prophet’s message to the whole of humanity, the message which discloses the vast spiritual realm hidden to the ordinary human eye. That those who turn away from it are doomed to perdition is the necessary consequence, and hence the doom of the opponents forms part of this message.
38:69
مَا کَانَ لِیَ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۭ بِالۡمَلَاِ الۡاَعۡلٰۤی اِذۡ یَخۡتَصِمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۹﴾
I have no knowledge of the exalted chiefs when they contend.
The exalted chiefs are the heavenly beings who come first to know of the Divine decree relating to the punishment of the opponents of Truth, referred to in v. 68. It is these opponents that are spoken of here as contending; they carried on a contention against Truth.
38:70
اِنۡ یُّوۡحٰۤی اِلَیَّ اِلَّاۤ اَنَّمَاۤ اَنَا نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۷۰﴾
Only this is revealed to me that I am a plain warner.
38:71
اِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّکَ لِلۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ اِنِّیۡ خَالِقٌۢ بَشَرًا مِّنۡ طِیۡنٍ ﴿۷۱﴾
When your Lord said to the angels: Surely I am going to create a mortal from dust.
The creation of Adam and the submission of the angels typifies the raising of a prophet and the submission to him of the good and the righteous.
38:72
فَاِذَا سَوَّیۡتُہٗ وَ نَفَخۡتُ فِیۡہِ مِنۡ رُّوۡحِیۡ فَقَعُوۡا لَہٗ سٰجِدِیۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾
So when I have made him complete and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down submitting to him.
38:74
اِلَّاۤ اِبۡلِیۡسَ ؕ اِسۡتَکۡبَرَ وَ کَانَ مِنَ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۷۴﴾
but not Iblīs. He was proud and he was one of the disbelievers.
See 2:34.
38:75
قَالَ یٰۤاِبۡلِیۡسُ مَا مَنَعَکَ اَنۡ تَسۡجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقۡتُ بِیَدَیَّ ؕ اَسۡتَکۡبَرۡتَ اَمۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الۡعَالِیۡنَ ﴿۷۵﴾
He said: O Iblīs, what prevented you from submitting to him whom I created with both My hands? Are you proud or are you one of the exalted ones?
38:76
قَالَ اَنَا خَیۡرٌ مِّنۡہُ ؕ خَلَقۡتَنِیۡ مِنۡ نَّارٍ وَّ خَلَقۡتَہٗ مِنۡ طِیۡنٍ ﴿۷۶﴾
He said: I am better than he; You have created me of fire, and him You did create of dust.
The creation from fire is an indication of rebelliousness, of a fiery temper, and the creation from dust signifies submissiveness and meekness; see 7:12.
38:77
قَالَ فَاخۡرُجۡ مِنۡہَا فَاِنَّکَ رَجِیۡمٌ ﴿ۚۖ۷۷﴾
He said: Go forth from here! surely you are driven away:
38:78
وَّ اِنَّ عَلَیۡکَ لَعۡنَتِیۡۤ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الدِّیۡنِ ﴿۷۸﴾
and surely My curse is on you to the day of Judgment.
38:79
قَالَ رَبِّ فَاَنۡظِرۡنِیۡۤ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ یُبۡعَثُوۡنَ ﴿۷۹﴾
He said: My Lord, grant me respite till the day when they are raised.
See 15:36.
38:82
قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِکَ لَاُغۡوِیَنَّہُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۲﴾
He said: Then, by Your Might! I will surely lead them all astray,
38:83
اِلَّا عِبَادَکَ مِنۡہُمُ الۡمُخۡلَصِیۡنَ ﴿۸۳﴾
except Your servants from among them, the purified ones.
38:85
لَاَمۡلَـَٔنَّ جَہَنَّمَ مِنۡکَ وَ مِمَّنۡ تَبِعَکَ مِنۡہُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿۸۵﴾
that I shall fill hell with you and with all those among them who follow you.
38:86
قُلۡ مَاۤ اَسۡـَٔلُکُمۡ عَلَیۡہِ مِنۡ اَجۡرٍ وَّ مَاۤ اَنَا مِنَ الۡمُتَکَلِّفِیۡنَ ﴿۸۶﴾
Say: I ask you no reward for it; nor am I one of the impostors.
38:88
وَ لَتَعۡلَمُنَّ نَبَاَہٗ بَعۡدَ حِیۡنٍ ﴿٪۸۸﴾
And certainly you will come to know about it after a time.