41: Ha Mim (Ha Mim)
Revealed at Makkah
This chapter bears the name of its initial letters Ḥā Mīm and is also known as Ḥā Mīm Sajdah. It is also called Fuṣṣilat, meaning something made plain, from the occurrence of this word in v. 3. Chapters 40 to 46 form one group; see the introductory note to chapter 40. This chapter opens with an invitation to the truth, followed by a warning against its rejection and a mention of the evidence of man’s own faculties against the rejection of truth. Then it shows that believers are strengthened by inspiration and that revelation gives life to those who are spiritually dead. Finally, it is stated that if warnings and arguments are not heeded, the doom is inevitable and the truth will spread gradually.
Section 1 (Verses 41:1–41:8): Invitation to the Truth
41:3
کِتٰبٌ فُصِّلَتۡ اٰیٰتُہٗ قُرۡاٰنًا عَرَبِیًّا لِّقَوۡمٍ یَّعۡلَمُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۳﴾
A Book of which the verses are made plain, an Arabic Quran for a people who know —
41:4
بَشِیۡرًا وَّ نَذِیۡرًا ۚ فَاَعۡرَضَ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ فَہُمۡ لَا یَسۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
good news and a warning. But most of them turn away, so they do not hear.
41:5
وَ قَالُوۡا قُلُوۡبُنَا فِیۡۤ اَکِنَّۃٍ مِّمَّا تَدۡعُوۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِ وَ فِیۡۤ اٰذَانِنَا وَقۡرٌ وَّ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِنَا وَ بَیۡنِکَ حِجَابٌ فَاعۡمَلۡ اِنَّنَا عٰمِلُوۡنَ ؓ﴿۵﴾
And they say: Our hearts are under coverings from that to which you call us, and there is a deafness in our ears, and there is a veil between us and you, so act, we too are acting.
The coverings of the hearts, the deafness of the ears and the hanging of the veils are used simply to indicate their own determined rejection of the Truth. They resolved neither to open their hearts, in case the Truth should enter them, nor to lend their ears so that they might even hear the preaching of the Prophet.
41:6
قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُکُمۡ یُوۡحٰۤی اِلَیَّ اَنَّمَاۤ اِلٰـہُکُمۡ اِلٰہٌ وَّاحِدٌ فَاسۡتَقِیۡمُوۡۤا اِلَیۡہِ وَ اسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡہُ ؕ وَ وَیۡلٌ لِّلۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ۙ﴿۶﴾
Say: I am only a mortal like you. It is revealed to me that your God is one God, so keep in the straight path to Him, and ask His protection. And woe to those who set up partners (with Allah),
41:7
الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡتُوۡنَ الزَّکٰوۃَ وَ ہُمۡ بِالۡاٰخِرَۃِ ہُمۡ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
who do not give the due charity, and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter!
41:8
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَہُمۡ اَجۡرٌ غَیۡرُ مَمۡنُوۡنٍ ٪﴿۸﴾
Those who believe and do good, for them is surely a reward never to be cut off.
Section 2 (Verses 41:9–41:18): The Warning
41:9
قُلۡ اَئِنَّکُمۡ لَتَکۡفُرُوۡنَ بِالَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ الۡاَرۡضَ فِیۡ یَوۡمَیۡنِ وَ تَجۡعَلُوۡنَ لَہٗۤ اَنۡدَادًا ؕ ذٰلِکَ رَبُّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ۚ﴿۹﴾
Say: Do you indeed disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two periods, and do you set up equals with Him? That is the Lord of the worlds.
41:10
وَ جَعَلَ فِیۡہَا رَوَاسِیَ مِنۡ فَوۡقِہَا وَ بٰرَکَ فِیۡہَا وَ قَدَّرَ فِیۡہَاۤ اَقۡوَاتَہَا فِیۡۤ اَرۡبَعَۃِ اَیَّامٍ ؕ سَوَآءً لِّلسَّآئِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
And He made in it mountains above its surface, and He placed blessings in it and ordained in it its foods, in four periods; alike for (all) seekers.
For the creation of the heavens and the earth in six periods of time, see 7:54; the word yaum (period) here does not mean a day of 24 hours but in fact stands for a stage in growth. The making of the earth in two periods and the making on it of the mountains, rivers and of plant and animal life in four periods is really one continuous process, of six stages in all: (1) the throwing off of the cosmic matter called the earth; (2) the cooling of its surface; (3) the making of the mountains; (4) blessing it by waters and making in it rivers; (5–6) the ordaining of foods, being, in the first place, the growth of plant life and, in the second, the growth of animal life, culminating in the creation of man. Even the earlier commentators note that the creation in six yaum does not refer to six days as the time actually taken in making the heavens and the earth, which is still going on.
41:11
ثُمَّ اسۡتَوٰۤی اِلَی السَّمَآءِ وَ ہِیَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَہَا وَ لِلۡاَرۡضِ ائۡتِیَا طَوۡعًا اَوۡ کَرۡہًا ؕ قَالَتَاۤ اَتَیۡنَا طَآئِعِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
Then He directed Himself to the heaven and it was a vapour, so He said to it and to the earth: Come both, willingly or unwillingly. They both said: We come willingly.
Heaven is here plainly spoken of as being originally dukhān, meaning smoke, vapour or gaseous matter. The command to creation to come willingly or unwillingly is a reference to the Divine laws working in nature. Everything created, whether in the heavens or the earth, is subject to law. The existence of one law throughout the universe is clear evidence of the existence of One God, the Maker of that law.
41:12
فَقَضٰہُنَّ سَبۡعَ سَمٰوَاتٍ فِیۡ یَوۡمَیۡنِ وَ اَوۡحٰی فِیۡ کُلِّ سَمَآءٍ اَمۡرَہَا ؕ وَ زَیَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنۡیَا بِمَصَابِیۡحَ ٭ۖ وَ حِفۡظًا ؕ ذٰلِکَ تَقۡدِیۡرُ الۡعَزِیۡزِ الۡعَلِیۡمِ ﴿۱۲﴾
So He ordained them seven heavens in two periods, and revealed in every heaven its affair. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights, and (made it) to guard. That is the decree of the Mighty, the Knowing.
As in the case of the earth, we are told that the heavenly bodies, too, were created in two stages. The creation of heavenly bodies is thus subject to the same law. For the seven heavens, see 2:29. The words, and revealed in every heaven its affair, show that everything created in nature serves a purpose.
41:13
فَاِنۡ اَعۡرَضُوۡا فَقُلۡ اَنۡذَرۡتُکُمۡ صٰعِقَۃً مِّثۡلَ صٰعِقَۃِ عَادٍ وَّ ثَمُوۡدَ ﴿ؕ۱۳﴾
But if they turn away, then say: I warn you of a scourge like the scourge of Ād and Thamūd.
41:14
اِذۡ جَآءَتۡہُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ مِنۡ خَلۡفِہِمۡ اَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوۡۤا اِلَّا اللّٰہَ ؕ قَالُوۡا لَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّنَا لَاَنۡزَلَ مَلٰٓئِکَۃً فَاِنَّا بِمَاۤ اُرۡسِلۡتُمۡ بِہٖ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
When messengers came to them from before them and behind them, saying, Serve nothing but Allah, they said: If our Lord had pleased, He would have sent down angels. So we are disbelievers in that with which you are sent.
The coming of the prophets from before and behind signifies their impressing the truth of their message upon their people in every possible way. Some understand the coming of the prophets from near and from far.
41:15
فَاَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ بِغَیۡرِ الۡحَقِّ وَ قَالُوۡا مَنۡ اَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّۃً ؕ اَوَ لَمۡ یَرَوۡا اَنَّ اللّٰہَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَہُمۡ ہُوَ اَشَدُّ مِنۡہُمۡ قُوَّۃً ؕ وَ کَانُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا یَجۡحَدُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾
Then as to Ād, they were unjustly proud in the land, and said: Who is mightier in power than we? Do they not see that Allah Who created them is mightier in power than they? And they denied Our messages.
41:16
فَاَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ رِیۡحًا صَرۡصَرًا فِیۡۤ اَیَّامٍ نَّحِسَاتٍ لِّنُذِیۡقَہُمۡ عَذَابَ الۡخِزۡیِ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ؕ وَ لَعَذَابُ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ اَخۡزٰی وَ ہُمۡ لَا یُنۡصَرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
So We sent on them a furious wind in unlucky days that We might make them taste the punishment of disgrace in this world’s life. And the punishment of the Hereafter is truly more disgracing, and they will not be helped.
41:17
وَ اَمَّا ثَمُوۡدُ فَہَدَیۡنٰہُمۡ فَاسۡتَحَبُّوا الۡعَمٰی عَلَی الۡہُدٰی فَاَخَذَتۡہُمۡ صٰعِقَۃُ الۡعَذَابِ الۡہُوۡنِ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡسِبُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۱۷﴾
And as for Thamūd, We showed them the right way, but they preferred blindness to guidance, so the scourge of a humiliating punishment overtook them for what they had earned.
41:18
وَ نَجَّیۡنَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ کَانُوۡا یَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۸﴾
And We delivered those who believed and kept their duty.
Section 3 (Verses 41:19–41:25): Man’s Evidence against Himself
41:19
وَ یَوۡمَ یُحۡشَرُ اَعۡدَآءُ اللّٰہِ اِلَی النَّارِ فَہُمۡ یُوۡزَعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
And the day when the enemies of Allah are gathered to the Fire, they will be formed into groups.
41:20
حَتّٰۤی اِذَا مَا جَآءُوۡہَا شَہِدَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ سَمۡعُہُمۡ وَ اَبۡصَارُہُمۡ وَ جُلُوۡدُہُمۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
Until, when they come to it, their ears and their eyes and their skins will bear witness against them as to what they did.
The bearing of witness by the ears and the eyes and the skin shows the truth of the law that the consequences of evil deeds will become manifest. (Editor’s Note: Modern science has shown that, in this very life, parts of a person’s body and samples taken from it can disclose information about, or bear witness against, the deeds that he committed.)
41:21
وَ قَالُوۡا لِجُلُوۡدِہِمۡ لِمَ شَہِدۡتُّمۡ عَلَیۡنَا ؕ قَالُوۡۤا اَنۡطَقَنَا اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡۤ اَنۡطَقَ کُلَّ شَیۡءٍ وَّ ہُوَ خَلَقَکُمۡ اَوَّلَ مَرَّۃٍ وَّ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
And they will say to their skins: Why do you bear witness against us? They will say: Allah Who makes everything speak has made us speak, and He created you at first, and to Him you are returned.
41:22
وَ مَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَسۡتَتِرُوۡنَ اَنۡ یَّشۡہَدَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ سَمۡعُکُمۡ وَ لَاۤ اَبۡصَارُکُمۡ وَ لَا جُلُوۡدُکُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ ظَنَنۡتُمۡ اَنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَعۡلَمُ کَثِیۡرًا مِّمَّا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
And you did not cover yourselves that your ears and your eyes and your skins should not bear witness against you, but you thought that Allah did not know much of what you did.
41:23
وَ ذٰلِکُمۡ ظَنُّکُمُ الَّذِیۡ ظَنَنۡتُمۡ بِرَبِّکُمۡ اَرۡدٰىکُمۡ فَاَصۡبَحۡتُمۡ مِّنَ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
And that, your (evil) thought which you entertained about your Lord, ruined you, so have you become losers.
41:24
فَاِنۡ یَّصۡبِرُوۡا فَالنَّارُ مَثۡوًی لَّہُمۡ ۚ وَ اِنۡ یَّسۡتَعۡتِبُوۡا فَمَا ہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡمُعۡتَبِیۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾
Then if they are patient, the Fire is their abode. And if they ask for goodwill, they are not among those who are granted goodwill.
God’s goodwill can be gained in this life, and for those who waste that opportunity here the only way to that goodwill is to go through the ordeal of Fire.
41:25
وَ قَیَّضۡنَا لَہُمۡ قُرَنَآءَ فَزَیَّنُوۡا لَہُمۡ مَّا بَیۡنَ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ مَا خَلۡفَہُمۡ وَ حَقَّ عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡقَوۡلُ فِیۡۤ اُمَمٍ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ مِّنَ الۡجِنِّ وَ الۡاِنۡسِ ۚ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا خٰسِرِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۵﴾
And We have appointed for them comrades, so they make seem good to them what is before them and what is behind them, and the word proved true against them among the nations of jinn and people that have passed away before them: they are surely losers.
These comrades are wicked companions.
Section 4 (Verses 41:26–41:32): Believers Strengthened
41:26
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَا تَسۡمَعُوۡا لِہٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنِ وَ الۡغَوۡا فِیۡہِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَغۡلِبُوۡنَ ﴿۲۶﴾
And those who disbelieve say: Do not listen to this Quran but make noise therein, perhaps you may overcome.
41:27
فَلَنُذِیۡقَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا عَذَابًا شَدِیۡدًا ۙ وَّ لَنَجۡزِیَنَّہُمۡ اَسۡوَاَ الَّذِیۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
So We shall certainly make those who disbelieve taste a severe punishment, and We shall certainly recompense them for the worst of what they did.
41:28
ذٰلِکَ جَزَآءُ اَعۡدَآءِ اللّٰہِ النَّارُ ۚ لَہُمۡ فِیۡہَا دَارُ الۡخُلۡدِ ؕ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا کَانُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا یَجۡحَدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
That is the reward of Allah’s enemies — the Fire. They shall have in it the home to abide — a recompense for their denying Our messages.
41:29
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا رَبَّنَاۤ اَرِنَا الَّذَیۡنِ اَضَلّٰنَا مِنَ الۡجِنِّ وَ الۡاِنۡسِ نَجۡعَلۡہُمَا تَحۡتَ اَقۡدَامِنَا لِیَکُوۡنَا مِنَ الۡاَسۡفَلِیۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
And those who disbelieve will say: Our Lord, show us those who led us astray from among jinn and people that we may trample them under our feet, so that they may be among the lowest.
41:30
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ قَالُوۡا رَبُّنَا اللّٰہُ ثُمَّ اسۡتَقَامُوۡا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ اَلَّا تَخَافُوۡا وَ لَا تَحۡزَنُوۡا وَ اَبۡشِرُوۡا بِالۡجَنَّۃِ الَّتِیۡ کُنۡتُمۡ تُوۡعَدُوۡنَ ﴿۳۰﴾
Those who say, Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them saying: Do not fear, nor grieve, and receive good news of the Garden which you were promised.
41:31
نَحۡنُ اَوۡلِیٰٓؤُکُمۡ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ۚ وَ لَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا مَا تَشۡتَہِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسُکُمۡ وَ لَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا مَا تَدَّعُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۱﴾
We are your friends in this world’s life and in the Hereafter, and you have in it what your souls desire and you have in it what you ask for.
Verses 30 and 31 show that it is in this life that the angels descend upon the faithful, giving them the joyful news that they should not have any fear. In fact, it is here, when the faithful are persecuted and oppressed, and when the powers of evil seem to have the upper hand, that such assurances are most needed, and it is here that the angels give them comfort and strength to bear hardships, and thus they ultimately overcome the forces of evil.
Section 5 (Verses 41:33–41:44): Effect of the Revelation
41:33
وَ مَنۡ اَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلًا مِّمَّنۡ دَعَاۤ اِلَی اللّٰہِ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَّ قَالَ اِنَّنِیۡ مِنَ الۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah and does good, and says: I am surely one of those who submit?
41:34
وَ لَا تَسۡتَوِی الۡحَسَنَۃُ وَ لَا السَّیِّئَۃُ ؕ اِدۡفَعۡ بِالَّتِیۡ ہِیَ اَحۡسَنُ فَاِذَا الَّذِیۡ بَیۡنَکَ وَ بَیۡنَہٗ عَدَاوَۃٌ کَاَنَّہٗ وَلِیٌّ حَمِیۡمٌ ﴿۳۴﴾
And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel (evil) with what is best, when lo! he between whom and you is enmity would be as if he were a warm friend.
Editor’s Note: Verses 33–35 show that Muslims should preach Islam by means of speech and not force, by setting an example themselves of doing good deeds, and by responding to evil with good. This approach requires patience and is a great good fortune (v. 35). Thus do you win over your enemy.
41:35
وَ مَا یُلَقّٰہَاۤ اِلَّا الَّذِیۡنَ صَبَرُوۡا ۚ وَ مَا یُلَقّٰہَاۤ اِلَّا ذُوۡحَظٍّ عَظِیۡمٍ ﴿۳۵﴾
And none is granted it but those who are patient, and none is granted it but the owner of a mighty good fortune.
41:36
وَ اِمَّا یَنۡزَغَنَّکَ مِنَ الشَّیۡطٰنِ نَزۡغٌ فَاسۡتَعِذۡ بِاللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ السَّمِیۡعُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۳۶﴾
And if a false imputation from the devil afflict you, seek refuge in Allah. Surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
The previous verses teach the repelling of evil with good. This verse suggests another remedy for evil. The Prophet is here told that, if his work is interfered with by evildoers or if false imputations are made against him, he should seek refuge in Allah, and Divine help, which always comes to the righteous, will make truth triumphant.
41:37
وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہِ الَّیۡلُ وَ النَّہَارُ وَ الشَّمۡسُ وَ الۡقَمَرُ ؕ لَا تَسۡجُدُوۡا لِلشَّمۡسِ وَ لَا لِلۡقَمَرِ وَ اسۡجُدُوۡا لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَہُنَّ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ اِیَّاہُ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
And of His signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not adore the sun nor the moon, but adore Allah Who created them, if He it is that you serve.
41:38
فَاِنِ اسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا فَالَّذِیۡنَ عِنۡدَ رَبِّکَ یُسَبِّحُوۡنَ لَہٗ بِالَّیۡلِ وَ النَّہَارِ وَ ہُمۡ لَا یَسۡـَٔمُوۡنَ ﴿ٛ۳۸﴾
But if they are proud, yet those with your Lord glorify Him night and day, and they do not tire.
41:39
وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖۤ اَنَّکَ تَرَی الۡاَرۡضَ خَاشِعَۃً فَاِذَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡہَا الۡمَآءَ اہۡتَزَّتۡ وَ رَبَتۡ ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِیۡۤ اَحۡیَاہَا لَمُحۡیِ الۡمَوۡتٰی ؕ اِنَّہٗ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ ﴿۳۹﴾
And of His signs is this, that you see the earth still, but when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells. He Who gives it life is surely the Giver of life to the dead. Surely He is Powerful over all things.
The still earth signifies land dried up and without vegetation; its stirring indicates its moving with life and its swelling the producing of vegetation. This is entirely metaphorical, indicating that when Divine revelation comes it gives a new life to people. The effect of rain upon earth is likened to the effect of the Quran upon the hearts of people. Dead here are the spiritually dead.
41:40
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ یُلۡحِدُوۡنَ فِیۡۤ اٰیٰتِنَا لَا یَخۡفَوۡنَ عَلَیۡنَا ؕ اَفَمَنۡ یُّلۡقٰی فِی النَّارِ خَیۡرٌ اَمۡ مَّنۡ یَّاۡتِیۡۤ اٰمِنًا یَّوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ؕ اِعۡمَلُوۡا مَا شِئۡتُمۡ ۙ اِنَّہٗ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِیۡرٌ ﴿۴۰﴾
Those who distort Our messages are not hidden from Us. Is he then who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes safe on the day of Resurrection? Do what you like, surely He is Seer of what you do.
41:41
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا بِالذِّکۡرِ لَمَّا جَآءَہُمۡ ۚ وَ اِنَّہٗ لَکِتٰبٌ عَزِیۡزٌ ﴿ۙ۴۱﴾
Those who disbelieve in the Reminder when it comes to them, and surely it is an Invincible Book:
41:42
لَّا یَاۡتِیۡہِ الۡبَاطِلُ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِ یَدَیۡہِ وَ لَا مِنۡ خَلۡفِہٖ ؕ تَنۡزِیۡلٌ مِّنۡ حَکِیۡمٍ حَمِیۡدٍ ﴿۴۲﴾
falsehood cannot come at it from before or behind it — a revelation from the Wise, the Praised One.
41:43
مَا یُقَالُ لَکَ اِلَّا مَا قَدۡ قِیۡلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ لَذُوۡ مَغۡفِرَۃٍ وَّ ذُوۡ عِقَابٍ اَلِیۡمٍ ﴿۴۳﴾
Nothing is said to you but what was said to messengers before you. Surely your Lord is the Lord of forgiveness and the Lord of painful retribution.
41:44
وَ لَوۡ جَعَلۡنٰہُ قُرۡاٰنًا اَعۡجَمِیًّا لَّقَالُوۡا لَوۡ لَا فُصِّلَتۡ اٰیٰتُہٗ ؕ ءَؔاَعۡجَمِیٌّ وَّ عَرَبِیٌّ ؕ قُلۡ ہُوَ لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا ہُدًی وَّ شِفَآءٌ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ فِیۡۤ اٰذَانِہِمۡ وَقۡرٌ وَّ ہُوَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ عَمًی ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ یُنَادَوۡنَ مِنۡ مَّکَانٍۭ بَعِیۡدٍ ﴿٪۴۴﴾
And if We had made it a Quran in a foreign tongue, they would have said: Why have not its messages been made clear? What! a foreign (tongue) and an Arab! Say: It is to those who believe a guidance and a healing, and those who do not believe, there is a deafness in their ears and it is obscure to them. These are called to from a place afar.
There seems to be a reference here to the prophecies which spoke of the coming of an Ishmaelite or an Arab prophet. The reference to Moses in the next verse confirms this, because Moses spoke plainly of a prophet like himself appearing from among the brethren of the Israelites, who are the Ishmaelites.
Section 6 (Verses 41:45–41:54): Gradual Spread of Truth
41:45
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا مُوۡسَی الۡکِتٰبَ فَاخۡتُلِفَ فِیۡہِ ؕ وَ لَوۡ لَا کَلِمَۃٌ سَبَقَتۡ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ لَقُضِیَ بَیۡنَہُمۡ ؕ وَ اِنَّہُمۡ لَفِیۡ شَکٍّ مِّنۡہُ مُرِیۡبٍ ﴿۴۵﴾
And indeed We gave Moses the Book, but differences arose concerning it. And if a word had not already gone forth from your Lord, judgment would have been given between them. And surely they are in a disquieting doubt about it.
41:46
مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِنَفۡسِہٖ وَ مَنۡ اَسَآءَ فَعَلَیۡہَا ؕ وَ مَا رَبُّکَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلۡعَبِیۡدِ ﴿۴۶﴾
Whoever does good, it is for the good of his own soul; and whoever does evil, it is to its detriment. And your Lord is not in the least unjust to the servants.
41:47
اِلَیۡہِ یُرَدُّ عِلۡمُ السَّاعَۃِ ؕ وَ مَا تَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ ثَمَرٰتٍ مِّنۡ اَکۡمَامِہَا وَ مَا تَحۡمِلُ مِنۡ اُنۡثٰی وَ لَا تَضَعُ اِلَّا بِعِلۡمِہٖ ؕ وَ یَوۡمَ یُنَادِیۡہِمۡ اَیۡنَ شُرَکَآءِیۡ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اٰذَنّٰکَ ۙ مَا مِنَّا مِنۡ شَہِیۡدٍ ﴿ۚ۴۷﴾
To Him is referred the knowledge of the Hour. And no fruit comes forth from its coverings, nor does a female bear or give birth but with His knowledge. And on the day when He calls out to them: Where are My partners, they will say: We declare to You, not one of us can bear witness.
41:48
وَ ضَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَ ظَنُّوۡا مَا لَہُمۡ مِّنۡ مَّحِیۡصٍ ﴿۴۸﴾
And those whom they called upon before will fail them, and they will know that they cannot escape.
41:49
لَا یَسۡـَٔمُ الۡاِنۡسَانُ مِنۡ دُعَآءِ الۡخَیۡرِ ۫ وَ اِنۡ مَّسَّہُ الشَّرُّ فَیَـُٔوۡسٌ قَنُوۡطٌ ﴿۴۹﴾
Man does not tire of praying for good, but, if evil touches him, he is despairing, hopeless.
41:50
وَ لَئِنۡ اَذَقۡنٰہُ رَحۡمَۃً مِّنَّا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتۡہُ لَیَقُوۡلَنَّ ہٰذَا لِیۡ ۙ وَ مَاۤ اَظُنُّ السَّاعَۃَ قَآئِمَۃً ۙ وَّ لَئِنۡ رُّجِعۡتُ اِلٰی رَبِّیۡۤ اِنَّ لِیۡ عِنۡدَہٗ لَلۡحُسۡنٰی ۚ فَلَنُنَبِّئَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا بِمَا عَمِلُوۡا ۫ وَ لَنُذِیۡقَنَّہُمۡ مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ غَلِیۡظٍ ﴿۵۰﴾
And if We make him taste mercy from Us after distress has touched him, he says: This is due to me, and I do not think that the Hour will ever come; and if I am sent back to my Lord, I shall have sure good with Him. So We shall certainly inform those who disbelieve of what they do, and We shall make them taste of hard punishment.
The words indicate man’s ungratefulness for Divine blessings. He does not recognize Divine goodness in those gifts, but says “this is due to me”, i.e., I have obtained it by my own exertion and I deserve it. And then he denies the Judgment.
41:51
وَ اِذَاۤ اَنۡعَمۡنَا عَلَی الۡاِنۡسَانِ اَعۡرَضَ وَ نَاٰ بِجَانِبِہٖ ۚ وَ اِذَا مَسَّہُ الشَّرُّ فَذُوۡ دُعَآءٍ عَرِیۡضٍ ﴿۵۱﴾
And when We show favour to man, he turns away and withdraws himself; but when evil touches him, he is full of lengthy supplications.
41:52
قُلۡ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ کَانَ مِنۡ عِنۡدِ اللّٰہِ ثُمَّ کَفَرۡتُمۡ بِہٖ مَنۡ اَضَلُّ مِمَّنۡ ہُوَ فِیۡ شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِیۡدٍ ﴿۵۲﴾
Say: Do you see, if it is from Allah, then you disbelieve in it, who is in greater error than he who is in opposition far away?
41:53
سَنُرِیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتِنَا فِی الۡاٰفَاقِ وَ فِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ حَتّٰی یَتَبَیَّنَ لَہُمۡ اَنَّہُ الۡحَقُّ ؕ اَوَ لَمۡ یَکۡفِ بِرَبِّکَ اَنَّہٗ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ شَہِیۡدٌ ﴿۵۳﴾
We will soon show them Our signs in farthest regions and among their own people, until it is quite clear to them that it is the Truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is a Witness over all things?
The word āfāq means borders or extremeties of the earth, or its remote sides, and the great message conveyed here is that Islam will spread to the most distant regions of the earth, the words their own people denoting the Arabs. What is stated here is that Islam will quickly spread, not only in Arabia but in the remote regions of the earth, and this prophecy is contained in a chapter revealed early at Makkah, when Muslims were being severely persecuted and the message of Islam had apparently little hope of finding acceptance anywhere. If the prophecy is so clear, its fulfilment is clearer still. Within twenty years of its birth, Islam spread through the whole of Arabia, and within a hundred years, it reached the farthest regions of the earth, both in the East and the West. Both the prophecy and its fulfilment are thus two of the most amazing facts of history.
41:54
اَلَاۤ اِنَّہُمۡ فِیۡ مِرۡیَۃٍ مِّنۡ لِّقَآءِ رَبِّہِمۡ ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّہٗ بِکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ مُّحِیۡطٌ ﴿٪۵۴﴾
Now surely they are in doubt as to the meeting with their Lord. Now surely He encompasses all things.