Chapter 35 - 40
The Originator (Surah Al-Fatir)
(45 verses in total; revealed in Early Makkah Time – 4th or 5th year of prophethood)
This chapter being out the notion of origination by God before creation takes place – a subtlety that the Qur’an introduce in this junction – relatively early in the revelatory sequence. This chapter continues to share the relationship between God and His creation, specifically human beings.
Key themes in this chapter are as follows:
We are reminded of God’s favor to humanity, something we should not take for granted
Evil acts seem justifiable to evil doers but in the end, it will destroy them
Human being originated from lowly soil, then reproduced with living cells and live a span of time on this earth with provisions as ordained by God
There is ample diversity in God’s creation and within each species and categories of creation – living or in-animate.
God maintains the balance and harmony in nature that none can violate or change
In the Name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
God be praised, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Maker of angels as messengers traveling on wings – two, three, and four. God increases in creation when He wills. God is powerful over all things! (v. 1)
When God bestows His mercy on humankind, there is none who can withhold it and when He withholds such mercy, there is none who can grant such mercy thereafter. God is Grand, Wise!
O humankind, remind yourself how God favored you. Is there a creator besides God who gives you provision from this heaven and earth? There is no God but He. How is it that you delude yourself? (v. 2-3)
If they reject you (Prophet) – then know that prophets before you were also rejected. But God controls all affairs. O humankind, promise of God is ever true! Do not let the life on this earth deceive you and don’t let the Deceiver, the Devil deceive you either about God. The devil is an enemy of yours - treat him as an enemy. He only invites his followers to become companions of those who are in the blazing fire! (v. 4-6)
Those who deny God, for them is a severe consequence; but those who believe and do good, for them is forgiveness and a great reward! (v. 7)
What about those whose wickedness is made fair to them so that they consider their acts as good? This is how God leaves some in error as He wills, while guiding others, as He pleases. Therefore, do not let your (Prophet) soul grieve for such people. God knows exactly what they do! (v. 8)
It is God Who send the wind to raise clouds and then drive clouds to a land dry and in that process give life to the earth after its death – such is also the resurrection (for people)! (v. 9)
Those who desire power should know that power resides wholly with God. Good deeds and good words ascend to God and He honors them. But those who plan evils – for them is severe consequences! Their plan is bound to fail. (v. 10)
God originated you from dust, then reproduces you from life cells and assigns you into two sexes! No female ever bears nor gives birth but with God’s knowledge! No one lives longer or the span of a life is cut short, except according to a Record – a task easy for God! (v. 11)
Two bodies of water are not alike – one sweat and fresh, pleasant to drink, while the other salty, bitter; yet from both you bring out fresh fish and flesh to eat and ornaments to wear. You watch ships cleaving through them so that you may seek God’s bounty and be thankful. (v. 12)
God causes the night to ease into the day and the day to ease into the night. God made the sun and the moon subservient – each following its prescribed path and destination. Such is God, your Cherisher and His is the true Sovereignty!
Those deities that you call besides God, own not even the tiny edge of a date stone. If you call them, they do not hear you, and even if they did, they could not answer you, and on the day of resurrection, they will deny your associating them (with God). See, none can inform you as the All-Aware God can! (v. 13-14)
O humankind! It is you who stands in need of God, while God is Self-Sufficient, the One Praised! If He wills, he can remove you and bring a new creation – it is not difficult for God!
No burdened soul can carry the burden of another, even if he were to prevail upon another to carry his burden, even the closest of kins. You (Prophet) can only caution those who are mindful of God in their private moments, are devoted to God, and maintain purity. Know that whoever purify themselves, they do so for their own good and to God is your eventual coming back. (v. 15-18)
The blind and the seeing are not the same!
Nor is darkness and light!
Nor shade and heat!
Nor the living and the dead!
It is God Who makes you hear, as He wills!
You cannot make those in graves to hear!
You (Prophet) are only a warner! (v. 19-22)
God sent you (Prophet) with truth, good news and warnings! There is no community, but a warner has come forth. If they reject you now, those before you were also rejected, though they came with sound reasoning, psalm and scriptures that enlighten! Afterwards, I (God) seized the deniers – and how was My disapproval if you can understand? (v. 23-26)
Do you not see how God sends down water from the clouds and produces flowers and fruits of various colors, texture, taste, fragrances? The mountains have wide streaks – white, red and other colors as well as intensely black! Humankind, wild beasts, and cattle – all have diversity likewise! It is only those servants of God, having knowledge and awareness, stand in true awe of God. Towards them God is Forgiving, Appreciative! (v. 27-30)
God has made heirs to the scripture those whom He had chosen from among His servants. Some of them took it the wrong way, some of them took the middle course and some of them were at the forefront of goodness - by God’s will and that is the grand grace! They will enter the Garden of Perpetuity, with bracelets of gold and pearls, and dresses made in silk. They will acknowledge, “Praise be to God who has removed our griefs and toils from us. Our God is truly Forgiving, Appreciative! It is out of God’s grace that He gave us lasting residence in such a place where toil and fatigue do not touch us.” (v. 31-35)
As for the disbelievers is the fire of Hell – they will neither be reprieved by death in it, nor will the torment be lightened. This is how We (God) bring retribution to every denier, ungrateful! Therein they will cry out loud, “Our God, do take us out. We will do good deeds, not the ones we used to do before.” “Did God not give you a life long enough to be mindful, if you were to be mindful? (Messengers with) warnings came to you as well. Now taste this (consequently) – there is no helper for those who are wicked!” (v. 36-37)
Only God know the secrets of the heavens and the earth. God even knows what is in your inner consciousness! God is Who made you His agency1 on the earth. So whoever denies (God), only denies himself. Such denials of theirs do not augment their stature with God but His displeasure. Such denials result in nothing but losses! (v. 38-39)
Say, “Have you considered those whom you call on as God’s associates? Show me - what they have created on this earth? Do they have any share in the heavens? Do they have a scripture
that God has given them such that they follow its guidance?” No way! The deniers promise one another nothing but delusion and deception! (v. 40)
It is God who holds the heavens and the earth in positions lest they destroy themselves and if they do, none can save them but God. See how Forbearing and Forgiving God is! (v. 41)
They (deniers) swore by God with their strongest oath – if a warner comes to us, we will be better guided than other communities. But when a warner did come, it only increased their aversion further – acting with arrogance on earth and planning evils. Yet, evil plans come to haunt none but their planners! Can they expect anything other than what happened to their forebearers? You will not find any change in the manner God deals (with such wicked people) – no change whatsoever! (v. 42-43)
Have they not travelled and seen the conditions of those who came before them, they were even more powerful than these? God is such that there is nothing in the heavens or the earth that can thwart Him – God is truly Knowing, Almighty! If God were to punish humankind for what they have done, He would have left none on it2. But God gives them respite until the appointed time comes, which will come as God holds all His creation under His watch! (v. 44-45)
1“Khalifa” – means representative, successors or agent – this this been repeatedly used in the Qur’an regarding human beings
2See 16:61 for a similar statement
