43: Gold (Az-Zukhruf)
Revealed at Makkah
This chapter is named Gold from its mention in v. 35, where it is stated that it is not gold and silver and the like but righteous deeds that are acceptable to God. Chapters 40 to 46 form one group; see the introductory note to chapter 40. The chapter opens by declaring that the revelation of the Quran has come as a favour from the Merciful God, despite people’s wrongdoing. Then, after condemning polytheism, it answers the objection as to why an influential or wealthy man was not chosen as God’s messenger instead of the Prophet Muhammad. It goes on to state that those who deny the revelation will, in the end, regret their deeds, and even the powerful Pharaoh was destroyed when he refused to listen to Moses. Then the objection of the idolaters is answered as to why Muslims accept Jesus when he is also taken as god by his followers. Lastly, the chapter contrasts the fate of the believers and the disbelievers.
Section 1 (Verses 43:1–43:15): Revelation is a Divine Favour
43:3
اِنَّا جَعَلۡنٰہُ قُرۡءٰنًا عَرَبِیًّا لَّعَلَّکُمۡ تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ۚ﴿۳﴾
Surely We have made it an Arabic Quran that you may understand.
43:4
وَ اِنَّہٗ فِیۡۤ اُمِّ الۡکِتٰبِ لَدَیۡنَا لَعَلِیٌّ حَکِیۡمٌ ؕ﴿۴﴾
And it is in the Original of the Book with Us, truly elevated, full of wisdom.
The term Umm al-Kitāb literally signifies mother or original of the Book, and the opening chapter of the Quran is also known by this name, because, in its essence, it contains the whole of the Quran. But here it signifies the original source — the knowledge of God — from which the Quran comes, and the meaning is that the Quran cannot be destroyed because it exists in Divine Knowledge. The words, in fact, contain a prophecy, uttered at a time when the Prophet was alone and helpless, that the Quran will be exalted in the world, for that is its position in Divine Knowledge. The same term Umm al-Kitāb in 3:7 and 13:39 signifies the basis of the book.
43:5
اَفَنَضۡرِبُ عَنۡکُمُ الذِّکۡرَ صَفۡحًا اَنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ قَوۡمًا مُّسۡرِفِیۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
Shall We then turn away the Reminder from you altogether because you are a people committing excesses?
Allah would not refrain from admonishing a people who commit excesses.
43:6
وَ کَمۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مِنۡ نَّبِیٍّ فِی الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
And how many a prophet did We send among the ancients!
43:7
وَ مَا یَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ نَّبِیٍّ اِلَّا کَانُوۡا بِہٖ یَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
And no prophet came to them but they mocked him.
43:8
فَاَہۡلَکۡنَاۤ اَشَدَّ مِنۡہُمۡ بَطۡشًا وَّ مَضٰی مَثَلُ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
Then We destroyed those stronger than these in prowess, and the example of the ancients has gone before.
43:9
وَ لَئِنۡ سَاَلۡتَہُمۡ مَّنۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ لَیَقُوۡلُنَّ خَلَقَہُنَّ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿ۙ۹﴾
And if you ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth, they would say: The Mighty, the Knowing One, has created them,
43:10
الَّذِیۡ جَعَلَ لَکُمُ الۡاَرۡضَ مَہۡدًا وَّ جَعَلَ لَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّکُمۡ تَہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۱۰﴾
Who made the earth a resting-place for you, and made in it ways for you that you might go aright.
43:11
وَ الَّذِیۡ نَزَّلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءًۢ بِقَدَرٍ ۚ فَاَنۡشَرۡنَا بِہٖ بَلۡدَۃً مَّیۡتًا ۚ کَذٰلِکَ تُخۡرَجُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
And Who sends down water from the cloud according to a measure, then We raise to life by it a dead land; even so will you be brought forth.
As rain descending from heaven quickens a dead earth, so Divine revelation would regenerate or raise to life people who, sunk in ignorance and superstitions, were spiritually, morally, and intellectually a dead people.
43:12
وَ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ الۡاَزۡوَاجَ کُلَّہَا وَ جَعَلَ لَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡفُلۡکِ وَ الۡاَنۡعَامِ مَا تَرۡکَبُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۲﴾
And Who created pairs of all things, and made for you ships and cattle on which you ride,
43:13
لِتَسۡتَوٗا عَلٰی ظُہُوۡرِہٖ ثُمَّ تَذۡکُرُوۡا نِعۡمَۃَ رَبِّکُمۡ اِذَا اسۡتَوَیۡتُمۡ عَلَیۡہِ وَ تَقُوۡلُوۡا سُبۡحٰنَ الَّذِیۡ سَخَّرَ لَنَا ہٰذَا وَ مَا کُنَّا لَہٗ مُقۡرِنِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾
that you may sit firmly on their backs, then remember the favour of your Lord, when you are firmly seated on them, and say: Glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it,
43:15
وَ جَعَلُوۡا لَہٗ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ جُزۡءًا ؕ اِنَّ الۡاِنۡسَانَ لَکَفُوۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿ؕ٪۱۵﴾
And they assign to Him some of His servants (as His offspring). Man, to be sure, is clearly ungrateful.
This refers to the Christian doctrine of assigning a son to God, and in the next verse to the idolatrous doctrine of ascribing daughters to God.
Section 2 (Verses 43:16–43:25): Polytheism Condemned
43:16
اَمِ اتَّخَذَ مِمَّا یَخۡلُقُ بَنٰتٍ وَّ اَصۡفٰکُمۡ بِالۡبَنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
Or has He taken daughters to Himself of what He creates and chosen you to have sons?
This subject is also dealt with in 16:57–58 and 37:149–153. In the latter place there is clear mention of their calling the angels daughters of God. Similar words occur in v. 19. The next verse shows how untrue they were to themselves, as they ascribed daughters to God but disliked daughters for themselves.
43:17
وَ اِذَا بُشِّرَ اَحَدُہُمۡ بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحۡمٰنِ مَثَلًا ظَلَّ وَجۡہُہٗ مُسۡوَدًّا وَّ ہُوَ کَظِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۷﴾
And when one of them is given news (of the birth) of that the like of which he ascribes to the Beneficent, his face becomes black and he is full of rage.
43:18
اَوَ مَنۡ یُّنَشَّؤُا فِی الۡحِلۡیَۃِ وَ ہُوَ فِی الۡخِصَامِ غَیۡرُ مُبِیۡنٍ ﴿۱۸﴾
Is one decked with ornaments and unable to make plain speech in disputes (a partner with God)?
The reference in this verse is to the idols which were bedecked with ornaments. The inability of the idols to speak is adduced by Abraham as an argument against their divinity (21:63), and the same inability of the idols to answer the prayers of their devotees is advanced as an argument against the divinity of the golden calf (20:89). It should be borne in mind that the two doctrines, taking the angels as daughters of God and worship of female divinities, were connected with each other in the Arab mind.
43:19
وَ جَعَلُوا الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃَ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ عِبٰدُ الرَّحۡمٰنِ اِنَاثًا ؕ اَشَہِدُوۡا خَلۡقَہُمۡ ؕ سَتُکۡتَبُ شَہَادَتُہُمۡ وَ یُسۡـَٔلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
And they consider the angels, who are the servants of the Beneficent, to be females. Did they witness their creation? Their evidence will be recorded and they will be questioned.
43:20
وَ قَالُوۡا لَوۡ شَآءَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ مَا عَبَدۡنٰہُمۡ ؕ مَا لَہُمۡ بِذٰلِکَ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ ٭ اِنۡ ہُمۡ اِلَّا یَخۡرُصُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۲۰﴾
And they say: If the Beneficent had pleased, we would not have worshipped them. They have no knowledge of this; they only lie.
43:21
اَمۡ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ کِتٰبًا مِّنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ فَہُمۡ بِہٖ مُسۡتَمۡسِکُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
Or have We given them a Book before it so that they hold fast to it?
43:22
بَلۡ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا وَجَدۡنَاۤ اٰبَآءَنَا عَلٰۤی اُمَّۃٍ وَّ اِنَّا عَلٰۤی اٰثٰرِہِمۡ مُّہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
Rather, they say: We found our fathers on a course, and surely we are guided by their footsteps.
43:23
وَ کَذٰلِکَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ فِیۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ مِّنۡ نَّذِیۡرٍ اِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوۡہَاۤ ۙ اِنَّا وَجَدۡنَاۤ اٰبَآءَنَا عَلٰۤی اُمَّۃٍ وَّ اِنَّا عَلٰۤی اٰثٰرِہِمۡ مُّقۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
And thus, We did not send before you a warner in a town, but its wealthy ones said: Surely we found our fathers following a religion, and we follow their footsteps.
43:24
قٰلَ اَوَ لَوۡ جِئۡتُکُمۡ بِاَہۡدٰی مِمَّا وَجَدۡتُّمۡ عَلَیۡہِ اٰبَآءَکُمۡ ؕ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا بِمَاۤ اُرۡسِلۡتُمۡ بِہٖ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾
(The warner) said: And even if I bring to you a better guide than that which you found your fathers following? They said: We surely disbelieve in what you are sent with.
43:25
فَانۡتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ فَانۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الۡمُکَذِّبِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۵﴾
So We exacted retribution from them, then see what was the end of the rejectors!
Section 3 (Verses 43:26–43:35): Allah’s Choice of a Prophet
43:26
وَ اِذۡ قَالَ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمُ لِاَبِیۡہِ وَ قَوۡمِہٖۤ اِنَّنِیۡ بَرَآءٌ مِّمَّا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۶﴾
And when Abraham said to his sire and his people: I am clear of what you worship,
43:27
اِلَّا الَّذِیۡ فَطَرَنِیۡ فَاِنَّہٗ سَیَہۡدِیۡنِ ﴿۲۷﴾
except Him Who created me, for surely He will guide me.
43:28
وَ جَعَلَہَا کَلِمَۃًۢ بَاقِیَۃً فِیۡ عَقِبِہٖ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
And he made it a word to continue in his posterity that they might return (to it).
This shows that the Arabs possessed enduring traditions that their great ancestor Abraham was a preacher of Unity.
43:29
بَلۡ مَتَّعۡتُ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ وَ اٰبَآءَہُمۡ حَتّٰی جَآءَہُمُ الۡحَقُّ وَ رَسُوۡلٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۲۹﴾
But I let these and their fathers enjoy till the Truth came to them and a Messenger making manifest.
43:30
وَ لَمَّا جَآءَہُمُ الۡحَقُّ قَالُوۡا ہٰذَا سِحۡرٌ وَّ اِنَّا بِہٖ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۰﴾
And when the Truth came to them they said: This is enchantment, and surely we are disbelievers in it.
43:31
وَ قَالُوۡا لَوۡ لَا نُزِّلَ ہٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنُ عَلٰی رَجُلٍ مِّنَ الۡقَرۡیَتَیۡنِ عَظِیۡمٍ ﴿۳۱﴾
And they say: Why was not this Quran revealed to a man of importance in the two towns?
The two towns referred to are Makkah and Ta’if. They would not follow any but an important man of the world, a man possessing much wealth or high rank. Moral greatness possessed no value in their eyes.
43:32
اَہُمۡ یَقۡسِمُوۡنَ رَحۡمَتَ رَبِّکَ ؕ نَحۡنُ قَسَمۡنَا بَیۡنَہُمۡ مَّعِیۡشَتَہُمۡ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ رَفَعۡنَا بَعۡضَہُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٍ دَرَجٰتٍ لِّیَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُہُمۡ بَعۡضًا سُخۡرِیًّا ؕ وَ رَحۡمَتُ رَبِّکَ خَیۡرٌ مِّمَّا یَجۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
Do they apportion the mercy of your Lord? We portion out among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We exalt some of them above others in rank, that some of them may take others in service. And the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass.
Human society is based on differences in rank. It is only through this difference that society can be organized and developed into a State, whether it be under modern socialism or capitalism. From these differences in the external conditions of people, the conclusion is drawn that differences must exist in the spiritual sphere too, and some people are chosen to guide others. Allah’s choice for prophethood does not, however, depend on wealth, but on internal worth.
43:33
وَ لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡ یَّکُوۡنَ النَّاسُ اُمَّۃً وَّاحِدَۃً لَّجَعَلۡنَا لِمَنۡ یَّکۡفُرُ بِالرَّحۡمٰنِ لِبُیُوۡتِہِمۡ سُقُفًا مِّنۡ فِضَّۃٍ وَّ مَعَارِجَ عَلَیۡہَا یَظۡہَرُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۳﴾
And if it were not that all people would become one (disbelieving) community, We would provide for those who disbelieve in the Beneficent, roofs of silver for their houses and stairs (of silver) by which they ascend,
43:34
وَ لِبُیُوۡتِہِمۡ اَبۡوَابًا وَّ سُرُرًا عَلَیۡہَا یَتَّکِـُٔوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۴﴾
and (of silver) the doors of their houses and the couches on which they recline,
43:35
وَ زُخۡرُفًا ؕ وَ اِنۡ کُلُّ ذٰلِکَ لَمَّا مَتَاعُ الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ؕ وَ الۡاٰخِرَۃُ عِنۡدَ رَبِّکَ لِلۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿٪۳۵﴾
and of gold. And all this is only a provision of this world’s life; and the Hereafter is, with your Lord, only for the dutiful.
Gold and silver have no value in the sight of Allah, and He would grant these things to disbelievers to any extent they desire, if it were not that most people would be misled by these worldly temptations. The verse undoubtedly draws a picture of the modern condition of the world, where man’s whole energy is devoted to the acquisition of material gains and more material gains, and people are shutting their eyes altogether to the moral values of life, with the result that the world today stands on the brink of an abyss of utter destruction.
Section 4 (Verses 43:36–43:45): Opposition to Truth is Punished
43:36
وَ مَنۡ یَّعۡشُ عَنۡ ذِکۡرِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ نُقَیِّضۡ لَہٗ شَیۡطٰنًا فَہُوَ لَہٗ قَرِیۡنٌ ﴿۳۶﴾
And whoever turns himself away from the remembrance of the Beneficent, We appoint for him a devil, so he is his associate.
As v. 37 shows, the devil here is the evil companion who leads man to evil.
43:37
وَ اِنَّہُمۡ لَیَصُدُّوۡنَہُمۡ عَنِ السَّبِیۡلِ وَ یَحۡسَبُوۡنَ اَنَّہُمۡ مُّہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
And surely they hinder them from the (right) path, and they think that they are guided aright.
43:38
حَتّٰۤی اِذَا جَآءَنَا قَالَ یٰلَیۡتَ بَیۡنِیۡ وَ بَیۡنَکَ بُعۡدَ الۡمَشۡرِقَیۡنِ فَبِئۡسَ الۡقَرِیۡنُ ﴿۳۸﴾
Until when he comes to Us, he says: If only between me and you there were the distance of the East and the West! And evil is the associate!
43:39
وَ لَنۡ یَّنۡفَعَکُمُ الۡیَوۡمَ اِذۡ ظَّلَمۡتُمۡ اَنَّکُمۡ فِی الۡعَذَابِ مُشۡتَرِکُوۡنَ ﴿۳۹﴾
And as you did wrong, it will not benefit you at all this day that you are sharers in the punishment.
43:40
اَفَاَنۡتَ تُسۡمِعُ الصُّمَّ اَوۡ تَہۡدِی الۡعُمۡیَ وَ مَنۡ کَانَ فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۴۰﴾
Can you then make the deaf to hear or guide the blind and him who is in clear error?
43:41
فَاِمَّا نَذۡہَبَنَّ بِکَ فَاِنَّا مِنۡہُمۡ مُّنۡتَقِمُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۱﴾
So if We take you away, still We shall exact retribution from them,
43:42
اَوۡ نُرِیَنَّکَ الَّذِیۡ وَعَدۡنٰہُمۡ فَاِنَّا عَلَیۡہِمۡ مُّقۡتَدِرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
or We shall show you what We promise them — surely We are Powerful over them.
V. 41 describes the general law of the punishment of the wicked; even if the Prophet dies, the wicked will meet their doom. But the general statement should not give rise to any misconception, so we are immediately told that the Prophet would see the discomfiture of his enemies with his own eyes.
43:43
فَاسۡتَمۡسِکۡ بِالَّذِیۡۤ اُوۡحِیَ اِلَیۡکَ ۚ اِنَّکَ عَلٰی صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٍ ﴿۴۳﴾
So hold fast to what has been revealed to you; surely you are on the right path.
43:44
وَ اِنَّہٗ لَذِکۡرٌ لَّکَ وَ لِقَوۡمِکَ ۚ وَ سَوۡفَ تُسۡـَٔلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
And surely it is a reminder for you and your people, and you will be questioned.
43:45
وَ سۡـَٔلۡ مَنۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ مِنۡ رُّسُلِنَاۤ اَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ اٰلِـہَۃً یُّعۡبَدُوۡنَ ﴿٪۴۵﴾
And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you: Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Beneficent?
Section 5 (Verses 43:46–43:56): Pharaoh’s Opposition to Moses
43:46
وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوۡسٰی بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَا۠ئِہٖ فَقَالَ اِنِّیۡ رَسُوۡلُ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
And truly We sent Moses with Our messages to Pharaoh and his chiefs, so he said: I am the messenger of the Lord of the worlds.
43:47
فَلَمَّا جَآءَہُمۡ بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ اِذَا ہُمۡ مِّنۡہَا یَضۡحَکُوۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
But when he brought them Our signs, lo! they laughed at them.
43:48
وَ مَا نُرِیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ اٰیَۃٍ اِلَّا ہِیَ اَکۡبَرُ مِنۡ اُخۡتِہَا ۫ وَ اَخَذۡنٰہُمۡ بِالۡعَذَابِ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
And We did not show them a sign but it was greater than its fellow, and We seized them with punishment that they might turn.
Each sign was greater than the one which preceded it.
43:49
وَ قَالُوۡا یٰۤاَیُّہَ السّٰحِرُ ادۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّکَ بِمَا عَہِدَ عِنۡدَکَ ۚ اِنَّنَا لَمُہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
And they said: O enchanter, call on your Lord for us, as He has made the covenant with you; we shall surely follow guidance.
Every time a sign was shown, Pharaoh entreated Moses to pray for the removal of the punishment, promising that he would not in that case oppose him.
43:50
فَلَمَّا کَشَفۡنَا عَنۡہُمُ الۡعَذَابَ اِذَا ہُمۡ یَنۡکُثُوۡنَ ﴿۵۰﴾
But when We removed from them the punishment, lo! they broke the pledge.
43:51
وَ نَادٰی فِرۡعَوۡنُ فِیۡ قَوۡمِہٖ قَالَ یٰقَوۡمِ اَلَیۡسَ لِیۡ مُلۡکُ مِصۡرَ وَ ہٰذِہِ الۡاَنۡہٰرُ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِیۡ ۚ اَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۵۱﴾
And Pharaoh proclaimed amongst his people, saying: My people, is not the kingdom of Egypt mine and these rivers flowing beneath me? Do you not see?
43:52
اَمۡ اَنَا خَیۡرٌ مِّنۡ ہٰذَا الَّذِیۡ ہُوَ مَہِیۡنٌ ۬ۙ وَّ لَا یَکَادُ یُبِیۡنُ ﴿۵۲﴾
Rather I am better than this (fellow) who is contemptible, and can hardly express himself clearly.
43:53
فَلَوۡ لَاۤ اُلۡقِیَ عَلَیۡہِ اَسۡوِرَۃٌ مِّنۡ ذَہَبٍ اَوۡ جَآءَ مَعَہُ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ مُقۡتَرِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۳﴾
Why, then, have bracelets of gold not been bestowed on him, or angels come along with him in procession?
Pharaoh’s suggestion is that if Moses were true he should have possessed much wealth like a king or he should have come with angels, as a king comes with his armies.
43:54
فَاسۡتَخَفَّ قَوۡمَہٗ فَاَطَاعُوۡہُ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا فٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿۵۴﴾
So he incited his people to levity and they obeyed him. Surely they were a transgressing people.
43:55
فَلَمَّاۤ اٰسَفُوۡنَا انۡتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ فَاَغۡرَقۡنٰہُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۵﴾
Then when they displeased Us, We exacted retribution from them, so We drowned them all together.
43:56
فَجَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ سَلَفًا وَّ مَثَلًا لِّلۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿٪۵۶﴾
And We made them a thing past and an example for later generations.
Section 6 (Verses 43:57–43:67): Jesus as Prophet
43:57
وَ لَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابۡنُ مَرۡیَمَ مَثَلًا اِذَا قَوۡمُکَ مِنۡہُ یَصِدُّوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
And when the son of Mary is mentioned as an example, lo! your people raise a clamour at it.
43:58
وَ قَالُوۡۤاءَ اٰلِہَتُنَا خَیۡرٌ اَمۡ ہُوَ ؕ مَا ضَرَبُوۡہُ لَکَ اِلَّا جَدَلًا ؕ بَلۡ ہُمۡ قَوۡمٌ خَصِمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۸﴾
And they say: Are our gods better, or is he? They set it forth to you only by way of disputation. Indeed, they are a contentious people.
The Quran in many places condemns the doctrine of attributing children to the Almighty. But when the case of Jesus was cited, the disbelievers objected to the respect shown to him, while their own idols were condemned: “Are our gods better, or is he?” Why should not the same honour be shown to their national gods as was shown to the god of another nation?
43:59
اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا عَبۡدٌ اَنۡعَمۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ وَ جَعَلۡنٰہُ مَثَلًا لِّبَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ ﴿ؕ۵۹﴾
He was only a servant on whom We bestowed favour and We made him an example for the Children of Israel;
This verse contains the answer to the above objection. Jesus was not honoured because the Christians took him for God or Son of God, which was in fact their own error, but because he was a righteous servant of Allah on whom He had bestowed favours. He was also an example of virtue for the Israelites to whom he was sent as a prophet. On the other hand, the idols whom the Arabs took for gods were mere stones and could do no good to their worshippers. Moreover, the idol-worshippers represented even their great men as sunk in immorality.
43:60
وَ لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡکُمۡ مَّلٰٓئِکَۃً فِی الۡاَرۡضِ یَخۡلُفُوۡنَ ﴿۶۰﴾
and if We pleased, We could appoint among you angels to be (Our) representatives in the land.
43:61
وَ اِنَّہٗ لَعِلۡمٌ لِّلسَّاعَۃِ فَلَا تَمۡتَرُنَّ بِہَا وَ اتَّبِعُوۡنِ ؕ ہٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٌ ﴿۶۱﴾
And this (revelation) is surely knowledge of the Hour, so have no doubt about it and follow me. This is the right path.
The Hour signifies here the departure of prophethood from the house of Israel. Such is the clear significance of the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33, Mark 12:1, and Luke 20:9, which ends thus: “Therefore I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you, and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it” (Matthew 21:43). Prophethood had long remained in the house of Israel, and, as history shows, Jesus was the last prophet of the Mosaic dispensation. The Quran is here called the knowledge of the Hour in the sense that its revelation was a clear indication that prophethood was now being taken away from the house of Israel and given to another people, as Jesus himself had said. Some take the pronoun hu as referring to Jesus and translate these words as “he is the knowledge of the Hour”, but even then the meaning would be that Jesus was sent to give people the knowledge that he was the last prophet of the Israelite dispensation.
43:62
وَ لَا یَصُدَّنَّکُمُ الشَّیۡطٰنُ ۚ اِنَّہٗ لَکُمۡ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۶۲﴾
And do not let the devil hinder you; surely he is your open enemy.
43:63
وَ لَمَّا جَآءَ عِیۡسٰی بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ قَالَ قَدۡ جِئۡتُکُمۡ بِالۡحِکۡمَۃِ وَ لِاُبَیِّنَ لَکُمۡ بَعۡضَ الَّذِیۡ تَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَ فِیۡہِ ۚ فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَ اَطِیۡعُوۡنِ ﴿۶۳﴾
And when Jesus came with clear arguments, he said: I have come to you indeed with wisdom, and to make clear to you some of what you differ about. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.
43:64
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ ہُوَ رَبِّیۡ وَ رَبُّکُمۡ فَاعۡبُدُوۡہُ ؕ ہٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٌ ﴿۶۴﴾
Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him. This is the right path.
43:65
فَاخۡتَلَفَ الۡاَحۡزَابُ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِہِمۡ ۚ فَوَیۡلٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا مِنۡ عَذَابِ یَوۡمٍ اَلِیۡمٍ ﴿۶۵﴾
But factions among them differed, so woe to those who did wrong for the punishment of a painful day!
43:66
ہَلۡ یَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَّا السَّاعَۃَ اَنۡ تَاۡتِیَہُمۡ بَغۡتَۃً وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۶﴾
Do they wait only for the Hour, that it should come on them all of a sudden, while they do not perceive?
The Hour here signifies the doom of the Quraish.
43:67
اَلۡاَخِلَّآءُ یَوۡمَئِذٍۭ بَعۡضُہُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ اِلَّا الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ٪۶۷﴾
Friends on that day will be foes to one another, except those who keep their duty.
Section 7 (Verses 43:68–43:89): The Two Parties
43:68
یٰعِبَادِ لَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡکُمُ الۡیَوۡمَ وَ لَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ تَحۡزَنُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۶۸﴾
O My servants, there is no fear for you this day, nor will you grieve —
43:69
اَلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِاٰیٰتِنَا وَ کَانُوۡا مُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۶۹﴾
those who believed in Our messages and submitted (to Us).
43:70
اُدۡخُلُوا الۡجَنَّۃَ اَنۡتُمۡ وَ اَزۡوَاجُکُمۡ تُحۡبَرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
Enter the Garden, you and your wives, being made happy.
It is with their wives that the faithful are told to enter paradise.
43:71
یُطَافُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ بِصِحَافٍ مِّنۡ ذَہَبٍ وَّ اَکۡوَابٍ ۚ وَ فِیۡہَا مَا تَشۡتَہِیۡہِ الۡاَنۡفُسُ وَ تَلَذُّ الۡاَعۡیُنُ ۚ وَ اَنۡتُمۡ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۷۱﴾
Round about them are made to go golden bowls and drinking-cups, and therein is what (their) souls yearn for and the eyes delight in, and in it you will abide.
43:72
وَ تِلۡکَ الۡجَنَّۃُ الَّتِیۡۤ اُوۡرِثۡتُمُوۡہَا بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾
And this is the Garden which you are made to inherit on account of what you did.
43:73
لَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا فَاکِہَۃٌ کَثِیۡرَۃٌ مِّنۡہَا تَاۡکُلُوۡنَ ﴿۷۳﴾
You shall have in it abundant fruit, of which to eat.
43:74
اِنَّ الۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ فِیۡ عَذَابِ جَہَنَّمَ خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۷۴﴾
Surely the guilty will abide in the punishment of hell.
43:75
لَا یُفَتَّرُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ فِیۡہِ مُبۡلِسُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۷۵﴾
It is not abated for them and in it they will despair.
43:76
وَ مَا ظَلَمۡنٰہُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ کَانُوۡا ہُمُ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۶﴾
And We did not wrong them but they were themselves the wrongdoers.
43:77
وَ نَادَوۡا یٰمٰلِکُ لِیَقۡضِ عَلَیۡنَا رَبُّکَ ؕ قَالَ اِنَّکُمۡ مّٰکِثُوۡنَ ﴿۷۷﴾
And they cry: O Mālik, let your Lord make an end of us. He will say: You shall stay (here).
Mālik means literally master. Here it signifies the angel appointed over those in hell.
43:78
لَقَدۡ جِئۡنٰکُمۡ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَکُمۡ لِلۡحَقِّ کٰرِہُوۡنَ ﴿۷۸﴾
Certainly We bring the Truth to you, but most of you dislike the Truth.
43:79
اَمۡ اَبۡرَمُوۡۤا اَمۡرًا فَاِنَّا مُبۡرِمُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۷۹﴾
Or have they settled a matter? But it is We Who settle (matters).
The disbelievers are told that they should not think that they have settled the matter of the Holy Prophet by their plans to kill him, for it is Allah Who really settles all matters.
43:80
اَمۡ یَحۡسَبُوۡنَ اَنَّا لَا نَسۡمَعُ سِرَّہُمۡ وَ نَجۡوٰىہُمۡ ؕ بَلٰی وَ رُسُلُنَا لَدَیۡہِمۡ یَکۡتُبُوۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾
Or do they think that We do not hear their secrets and their private counsels? Yes indeed, and Our messengers with them write down.
43:81
قُلۡ اِنۡ کَانَ لِلرَّحۡمٰنِ وَلَدٌ ٭ۖ فَاَنَا اَوَّلُ الۡعٰبِدِیۡنَ ﴿۸۱﴾
Say: The Beneficent has no son; so I am the foremost of those who serve (God).
This verse is commonly translated as meaning that if God had a son, the Prophet would be the foremost of those who serve that son. While the Arabic word in (occurring after “say”) means if, it is also used to indicate negation. See, for instance, 10:68. The word “Beneficent” (Raḥmān) itself negatives the very idea on which the doctrine of sonship is based; see 19:88–93. Even if in is taken as meaning if, the verse would mean that when a man serves God he may metaphorically be called a son of God, and therefore the Holy Prophet, being the foremost of those who serve, would be a son in that sense, but he refused to be called son of God because such metaphorical words had given rise to grievous errors.
43:82
سُبۡحٰنَ رَبِّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ رَبِّ الۡعَرۡشِ عَمَّا یَصِفُوۡنَ ﴿۸۲﴾
Glory be to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne of Power, from what they describe!
43:83
فَذَرۡہُمۡ یَخُوۡضُوۡا وَ یَلۡعَبُوۡا حَتّٰی یُلٰقُوۡا یَوۡمَہُمُ الَّذِیۡ یُوۡعَدُوۡنَ ﴿۸۳﴾
So let them talk and sport until they meet their day which they are promised.
43:84
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ فِی السَّمَآءِ اِلٰہٌ وَّ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اِلٰہٌ ؕ وَ ہُوَ الۡحَکِیۡمُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۸۴﴾
And He it is Who is God in the heavens and God in the earth. And He is the Wise, the Knowing.
43:85
وَ تَبٰرَکَ الَّذِیۡ لَہٗ مُلۡکُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَا ۚ وَ عِنۡدَہٗ عِلۡمُ السَّاعَۃِ ۚ وَ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۸۵﴾
And blessed is He Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; and with Him is the knowledge of the Hour, and to Him you will be returned.
43:86
وَ لَا یَمۡلِکُ الَّذِیۡنَ یَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہِ الشَّفَاعَۃَ اِلَّا مَنۡ شَہِدَ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ ہُمۡ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۸۶﴾
And those whom they call upon besides Him do not control intercession, but he who bears witness to the Truth and they know (him).
The bearer of witness to the Truth is no other than the Holy Prophet, and they knew well that he was the most truthful of people.
43:87
وَ لَئِنۡ سَاَلۡتَہُمۡ مَّنۡ خَلَقَہُمۡ لَیَقُوۡلُنَّ اللّٰہُ فَاَنّٰی یُؤۡفَکُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۷﴾
And if you were to ask them who created them, they would say: Allah. How are they then turned away (from truth)!
43:88
وَ قِیۡلِہٖ یٰرَبِّ اِنَّ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ قَوۡمٌ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿ۘ۸۸﴾
And his cry — O my Lord, these are a people who do not believe!
After years of hard work among them and after being subjected to every kind of persecution, the Holy Prophet still prays to Allah not to inflict punishment upon his opponents. He, however, unburdens his mind in the cry: “O my Lord, these are a people who do not believe”. An unparalleled example of heroic fortitude under trials and loving sympathy for fellow-men!
43:89
فَاصۡفَحۡ عَنۡہُمۡ وَ قُلۡ سَلٰمٌ ؕ فَسَوۡفَ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۸۹﴾
So turn away from them and say, Peace! They will soon come to know.
Turning away from them and saying “Peace!” are clear prophecies of the emigration. The early Makkan revelation contains undeniable prophecies of all the important later events in the life of the Holy Prophet.