52: The Mountain (At-Tur)
Revealed at Makkah
The name of this chapter is taken from the first verse where the mention of The Mountain is an indication of a similarity between the Holy Prophet Muhammad and Moses. The chapter tells us that while punishment must befall the Holy Prophet’s opponents as it did the opponents of Moses, the faithful will be rewarded with success. It ends with a clear mention of the doom of the opponents in this very life. This chapter belongs to the early period at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 52:1–52:28): Success of the Faithful
Verses 1–6 draw attention to parallels in the revelations of Moses and the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The mount in the one case is Mt. Sinai, and in the other the mount Hira, the Book stands for the Torah in the one case and the Quran in the other; the House that is frequented and the elevated canopy refer, on the one hand, to the tabernacle raised by Moses for the Israelites as a sacred place, where they worshipped God and offered sacrifices, and on the other to the Sacred House at Makkah, which was to be the centre of the Muslims of all nations, all countries, and all ages, and where they were to offer sacrifices. The swollen sea represents the sea which brought destruction to Pharaoh and his armies, while the Holy Prophet’s enemies are told in the next verse that the punishment of their Lord would as surely overtake them on land as it overtook the enemies of Moses in the swollen sea. The whole passage draws attention to the close similarity of the revelations of Moses and the Holy Prophet, and warns the disbelievers that their power will be brought to naught, as it was in the case of Pharaoh.
52:9
یَّوۡمَ تَمُوۡرُ السَّمَآءُ مَوۡرًا ۙ﴿۹﴾
on the day when the heaven will be in a state of commotion,
The great transformation that was to be brought about by the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the sweeping away of the old order of superstition, ignorance and vice, and its replacement by light, learning and righteousness, the overthrow of a wicked generation and the ushering in of a new era, is here represented as the commotion of the heaven and the passing away of the mountains; see 20:105.
52:13
یَوۡمَ یُدَعُّوۡنَ اِلٰی نَارِ جَہَنَّمَ دَعًّا ﴿ؕ۱۳﴾
The day when they are driven to hell-fire with violence.
52:14
ہٰذِہِ النَّارُ الَّتِیۡ کُنۡتُمۡ بِہَا تُکَذِّبُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
This is the Fire, which you used to deny.
52:16
اِصۡلَوۡہَا فَاصۡبِرُوۡۤا اَوۡ لَا تَصۡبِرُوۡا ۚ سَوَآءٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّمَا تُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
Burn in it; then bear (it) patiently, or do not bear (it), it is the same to you. You are recompensed only for what you did.
52:17
اِنَّ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ فِیۡ جَنّٰتٍ وَّ نَعِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۱۷﴾
The dutiful will be surely in Gardens and bliss,
52:18
فٰکِہِیۡنَ بِمَاۤ اٰتٰہُمۡ رَبُّہُمۡ ۚ وَ وَقٰہُمۡ رَبُّہُمۡ عَذَابَ الۡجَحِیۡمِ ﴿۱۸﴾
rejoicing because of what their Lord has given them; and their Lord saved them from the punishment of the burning Fire.
52:19
کُلُوۡا وَ اشۡرَبُوۡا ہَنِیۡٓـًٔۢا بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۹﴾
Eat and drink with pleasure for what you did,
52:20
مُتَّکِئِیۡنَ عَلٰی سُرُرٍ مَّصۡفُوۡفَۃٍ ۚ وَ زَوَّجۡنٰہُمۡ بِحُوۡرٍ عِیۡنٍ ﴿۲۰﴾
reclining on thrones set in lines, and We shall join them to pure, beautiful ones.
Two points here must be borne in mind. Firstly, paradise is a place for faithful women as well as for faithful men, and hence the Quran often speaks of the faithful as being in paradise with their wives; see 13:23, 36:56, 40:8 and 43:70. Secondly, the blessings of paradise are alike for women and men, there being not the least difference in this respect between the two sexes; see 4:124, 9:72 and 57:12. As to what is meant by “pure, beautiful ones” (in Arabic ḥūr and ‘īn), wherever blessings of paradise are spoken of, these are nothing but physical manifestations of the spiritual blessings which the doers of good enjoy in this life too. The gardens, trees, rivers, milk, honey, fruits and numerous other blessings spoken of as being met with in paradise are not things of this life. See further 32:17 footnote. Thus the “pure, beautiful ones” are not actually the beautiful women of this life but these are heavenly blessings which the righteous women shall have along with the righteous men, for v. 17 plainly says that those who keep their duty will find these blessings. These blessings are described in words which apply to women because the reward spoken of here is one having special reference to the purity of character and the beautiful deeds of the righteous, and it is womanhood which stands for a symbol of purity and beauty. Moreover, note that in Arabic ṣāliḥāt and ṭayyibāt signify good deeds and pure things as well as good women and pure women.
52:21
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ اتَّبَعَتۡہُمۡ ذُرِّیَّتُہُمۡ بِاِیۡمَانٍ اَلۡحَقۡنَا بِہِمۡ ذُرِّیَّتَہُمۡ وَ مَاۤ اَلَتۡنٰہُمۡ مِّنۡ عَمَلِہِمۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ ؕ کُلُّ امۡرِیًٔۢ بِمَا کَسَبَ رَہِیۡنٌ ﴿۲۱﴾
And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in faith — We unite with them their offspring and We shall not deprive them of any of their work. Every man is pledged for what he does.
Those who have done great deeds of sacrifice are united with their offspring because even their children follow their footsteps and do the deeds their fathers did, reaping the benefit of those deeds. Note the clear doctrine of man’s responsibility for his actions: “Every man is pledged for what he does”.
52:22
وَ اَمۡدَدۡنٰہُمۡ بِفَاکِہَۃٍ وَّ لَحۡمٍ مِّمَّا یَشۡتَہُوۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
And We shall aid them with fruit and flesh, as they desire.
52:23
یَتَنَازَعُوۡنَ فِیۡہَا کَاۡسًا لَّا لَغۡوٌ فِیۡہَا وَ لَا تَاۡثِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۳﴾
They pass therein from one to another a cup, in which there is neither idle talk, nor sin.
This cup is therefore entirely of a different nature from what is known in this life.
52:24
وَ یَطُوۡفُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ غِلۡمَانٌ لَّہُمۡ کَاَنَّہُمۡ لُؤۡلُؤٌ مَّکۡنُوۡنٌ ﴿۲۴﴾
And round them go boys of theirs as if they were hidden pearls.
These boys may either be the offspring of the faithful mentioned in v. 21, or heavenly blessings of the nature discussed in v. 20 footnote.
52:25
وَ اَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُہُمۡ عَلٰی بَعۡضٍ یَّتَسَآءَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۵﴾
And they will advance to each other, questioning —
52:26
قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا کُنَّا قَبۡلُ فِیۡۤ اَہۡلِنَا مُشۡفِقِیۡنَ ﴿۲۶﴾
saying: Surely we feared before on account of our families.
This clearly shows that righteous women will be in paradise along with righteous men. The difference of sex counts for nothing in the sight of Allah.
52:27
فَمَنَّ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡنَا وَ وَقٰىنَا عَذَابَ السَّمُوۡمِ ﴿۲۷﴾
But Allah has been gracious to us and He has saved us from the punishment of the hot wind.
52:28
اِنَّا کُنَّا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ نَدۡعُوۡہُ ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡبَرُّ الرَّحِیۡمُ ﴿٪۲۸﴾
Surely we called upon Him before. Surely He is the Benign, the Merciful.
Section 2 (Verses 52:29–52:49): Opponents are Doomed
52:29
فَذَکِّرۡ فَمَاۤ اَنۡتَ بِنِعۡمَتِ رَبِّکَ بِکَاہِنٍ وَّ لَا مَجۡنُوۡنٍ ﴿ؕ۲۹﴾
So remind for, by the grace of your Lord, you are no soothsayer, nor madman.
52:30
اَمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ شَاعِرٌ نَّتَرَبَّصُ بِہٖ رَیۡبَ الۡمَنُوۡنِ ﴿۳۰﴾
Or say they: A poet — we wait for him the evil accidents of time.
52:31
قُلۡ تَرَبَّصُوۡا فَاِنِّیۡ مَعَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡمُتَرَبِّصِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۱﴾
Say: Wait, I too am waiting along with you.
52:32
اَمۡ تَاۡمُرُہُمۡ اَحۡلَامُہُمۡ بِہٰذَاۤ اَمۡ ہُمۡ قَوۡمٌ طَاغُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۳۲﴾
Or do their understandings tell them this? Or are they an inordinate people?
52:33
اَمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ تَقَوَّلَہٗ ۚ بَلۡ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۳۳﴾
Or say they: He has forged it. Indeed, they have no faith.
52:34
فَلۡیَاۡتُوۡا بِحَدِیۡثٍ مِّثۡلِہٖۤ اِنۡ کَانُوۡا صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۴﴾
Then let them bring a saying like it, if they are truthful.
So early did the Quran challenge its opponents to produce the like of it. See 2:23 footnote, as to the uniqueness of the Holy Quran.
52:35
اَمۡ خُلِقُوۡا مِنۡ غَیۡرِ شَیۡءٍ اَمۡ ہُمُ الۡخٰلِقُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۵﴾
Or were they created without a (creative) agency? Or are they the creators?
Or without a cause, or without a purpose.
52:36
اَمۡ خَلَقُوا السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ ۚ بَلۡ لَّا یُوۡقِنُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۶﴾
Or did they create the heavens and the earth? No, they are sure of nothing.
52:37
اَمۡ عِنۡدَہُمۡ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّکَ اَمۡ ہُمُ الۡمُصَۜیۡطِرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳۷﴾
Or do they possess the treasures of your Lord with them? Or do they have absolute authority?
Their authority or power in the land would soon be brought to naught.
52:38
اَمۡ لَہُمۡ سُلَّمٌ یَّسۡتَمِعُوۡنَ فِیۡہِ ۚ فَلۡیَاۡتِ مُسۡتَمِعُہُمۡ بِسُلۡطٰنٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿ؕ۳۸﴾
Or do they have the means by which they listen? Then let their listener bring a clear authority.
The Arab astrologers and diviners pretended that they could listen to the secrets of the future, but their conjectures about the future failed to make any impression, as they did not turn out true. See also 15:17, 37:8, 67:5 and 72:8. From what is said further on in v. 41, and elsewhere, challenging them to put down their pretended knowledge of the unseen in writing, a challenge repeatedly given but never accepted, it is clear that the diviners themselves knew that what they said was no more than mere conjecture.
52:40
اَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُہُمۡ اَجۡرًا فَہُمۡ مِّنۡ مَّغۡرَمٍ مُّثۡقَلُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۴۰﴾
Or do you ask a reward from them so that they are over-burdened by a debt?
52:41
اَمۡ عِنۡدَہُمُ الۡغَیۡبُ فَہُمۡ یَکۡتُبُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۴۱﴾
Or do they possess the unseen, so they write (it) down?
Here we have a clear proof that from the very beginning the Quran was written down as it was revealed. This chapter is one of the very early revelations, and here we find the opponents challenged to write down prophecies relating to the future, the suggestion clearly being that the prophecies of the Quran relating to the future were handed over to them in a written form.
52:42
اَمۡ یُرِیۡدُوۡنَ کَیۡدًا ؕ فَالَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ہُمُ الۡمَکِیۡدُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۴۲﴾
Or do they intend a plot? But those who disbelieve will be the trapped ones in the plot.
Mark the clear language in which their vanquishment and the overthrow of their power is spoken of.
52:43
اَمۡ لَہُمۡ اِلٰہٌ غَیۡرُ اللّٰہِ ؕ سُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰہِ عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
Or do they have a god other than Allah? Glory be to Allah from what they set up as partners (with Him)!
52:44
وَ اِنۡ یَّرَوۡا کِسۡفًا مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ سَاقِطًا یَّقُوۡلُوۡا سَحَابٌ مَّرۡکُوۡمٌ ﴿۴۴﴾
And if they were to see a portion of the heaven coming down, they would say: Piled-up clouds!
By a portion of the heaven coming down upon them is meant a punishment from heaven, which they repeatedly demanded. See 17:92 and 26:187.
52:45
فَذَرۡہُمۡ حَتّٰی یُلٰقُوۡا یَوۡمَہُمُ الَّذِیۡ فِیۡہِ یُصۡعَقُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۵﴾
Leave them then till they meet that day of theirs in which they are struck with punishment,
52:46
یَوۡمَ لَا یُغۡنِیۡ عَنۡہُمۡ کَیۡدُہُمۡ شَیۡئًا وَّ لَا ہُمۡ یُنۡصَرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۴۶﴾
the day when their struggle will not avail them at all, nor will they be helped.
Mark the clearness and force with which the prophecy is continued. The reference to war and their vanquishment in it is made clearer here.
52:47
وَ اِنَّ لِلَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا عَذَابًا دُوۡنَ ذٰلِکَ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
And surely for those who do wrong there is a punishment besides that, but most of them do not know.
The two kinds of punishment with which the opponents were threatened are spoken of distinctly in this verse, namely, a punishment which was to overtake them in this very life in the form of famines and the wars which were to result in the complete overthrow of their power, and a punishment in the form of spiritual torment in another life.
52:48
وَ اصۡبِرۡ لِحُکۡمِ رَبِّکَ فَاِنَّکَ بِاَعۡیُنِنَا وَ سَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّکَ حِیۡنَ تَقُوۡمُ ﴿ۙ۴۸﴾
And wait patiently for the judgment of your Lord, for surely you are before Our eyes, and celebrate the praise of your Lord, when you rise,
The judgment of the Lord signifies the punishment of the wicked. The Prophet is not to have any fear, for he is spoken of as being before Our eyes.
52:49
وَ مِنَ الَّیۡلِ فَسَبِّحۡہُ وَ اِدۡبَارَ النُّجُوۡمِ ﴿٪۴۹﴾
and in the night, glorify Him too, and at the setting of the stars.