Chapter 38 - 38
Saad (Surah Al-Saad)
(88 verses in total; revealed in Early Makkah Time – 4th or 5th year of prophethood)
This early but longer chapter continues from chapter before it to unfold the reality of afterlife and beings to assert the unity of faith by bring other prophets into the conversation and starts the narrative about how God chose Adam (and Eve) – humanity – to be endowed with knowledge and free choice and assert its rightful place on earth but with responsibility and accountability.
Key themes in this early but longer chapter are as follows:
The Arabs found the claim of a single God as opposed to their polytheistic gods somewhat bewildering – the central message of the Qur’an and all prophets
Like every human being and every prophet, David, Solomon and later Job are mentioned as prophets who underwent trials and were tested by God
First occurrence of the clear statement that nothing that exist but have a purpose
An explanation of how the Satan defied God and became removed from nearness of God and an enemy of mankind
The Prophet is encouraged to convey with vigor but have patience.
In the Name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Saad!
The Qur’an and its reminding! Those who deny – do so with arrogance and hostility. Yet, how many generations have We (God) removed, and they cried out (for help) – when there was no longer the option for deliverance. These people think it is wonderous that someone from among themselves has come to warn them; they say, “This is a lying enchantment. He makes all gods into a Single God? What a strange claim!” (v. 1-5)
The leaders among them say, “Stay away and follow you own gods, which is what you should do. We have never heard of such a thing in previous creeds. This is nothing but a forgery. Is he the only one among us to receive such a reminder?” (v. 6-8)
Really? They doubt My Reminder? Are they waiting for My punishment? Do they own the treasure of mercy from their God, The Mighty, the Great Giver? Is the kingdom of the heavens, the earth and everything in between theirs? Let them rise then, but the forces of such allies have been routed (before) – The people of Noah, Ad and Pharaoh were hosts who denied before as did Thamud, the people of Lot and the forest dwellers. They all rejected the messengers and consequently faced My Retribution. (v. 8-14)
They wait for nothing except for the single blast which will not be delayed. They mock, “God, bring on our portion (of the chastisement) before this day of reckoning.” (O Prophet) be
patient with what they say and remember Our servant David whom We gave power, and he was always leaning (towards God). We made the mountains subservient to him, praising God at sunset and sunrise. The birds gathered in flocks, being subservient to him. We made his kingdom a stronghold, gave him wisdom and effective speech. (v. 15-20)
Has the story of the two litigants come to you? They climbed into his private chamber. When they came upon him, David was afraid. They said, “No need to fear. We are in dispute as to a wrong done by one to the other. Decide between us with justice, don’t be unjust and guide us to the right way. This is my brother who has ninety-nine ewes while I have one. He demanded that I hand over my ewe to him and he prevailed over me with his speech.” David said, “He is indeed unjust in demanding your ewe to add to his. There are many partners who does injustice to one another, except a few who believe and do good.” (v. 21-24)
David then realized that he has been tried by Us (God); so, he sought God’s forgiveness, bowed down kneeling and repented.1 So We granted him forgiveness, and a nearness to Us, an excellent place to come to.
“O David, surely, We made you a ruler on this earth. Judge between people justly and do not follow your desire, lest it leads you away from God’s path. Those who strays from God’s path will face severe consequences as they become oblivious to the day of Reckoning!” (v. 24-26)
We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is in-between without purpose. Only the disbeliever asserts otherwise and will face the fire for their denials. Shall We treat those who believe and do good like those who spread corruptions on earth? Shall We render those who acts responsibly with regards to God and others same as those who are wicked and respects no boundaries?
This is a book We have revealed to you – with abundant good – that they may reflect on its verses and people with genuine interest may pay attention and understand! (v. 27-29)
We gave David Solomon – an excellent servant, always leaning towards God. When well-bred and swift horses were paraded before him in the evening, he thought – my love of fine things are due to my remembrance of God – until the horses went out of sight and he said, “Bring them back to me”, and started to strike their necks and legs. (v. 30-33)
We tried Solomon (in this instance) and when We placed an emaciated body on his throne so that he turned (to God) and prayed, “My Cherisher God, forgive me and grant me a reign (kingdom) that is superior to anyone after me. You are a Great Giver!” So, We gave him power over wind, running gently by his command as he desired, and the devil – every builder and diver, and other fettered in chains – as Our generous gift, to give freely or to withhold, without constraints.2
His reward is nearness to Us and that is an excellent resort! (v. 34-40)
Remember Our servant Job when he cried to his God, “The devil has afflicted me with weariness and suffering3. “Let your feet urge (your ride) – here is cool water to wash with and to drink!” We restored for him his family and kins and more like them – as a show of mercy from Us and to remind those who wish to understand.
“Take in your hands few worldly goods, earn goodness with them and do not incline to falsehood4.” We found him to be patient – Most excellent of a servant – always leaning towards God. (v. 41-44)
Remember Our servants – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – men of character and vision. We increased them in faith through devotion and mindfulness of their ultimate destiny (back to Us); with Us they were truly chosen and the best!
Remember also Ishmael, Elisha and Dhul-I-Kifl – truly among the best!
This is the lesson – for the responsible ones, there is an excellent home to come to – a garden of perpetuity with gates wide-open for them, comfortably seated and requesting fruits and drinks in abundance, in the company of spouses suitable in age and likeness. This is Our provision for you – never to end! (v. 45-55)
This is how it is, whereas there is an evil place to go to for the wicked – Hell, where they will enter – what an evil place to reside! Let them taste in it boiling, dark and foul drinks and other sorts of similar (deprivations). (It will be said,) “An army of (the likes of) you are heading – no welcome for them – into the fire to face their consequences.” They (the followers to ringleaders) will say, “No, no welcome for you! You cause this consequence of ours – (to come to) this evil place! Our God, whoever made us to come here, give him more, a double punishment in this fire.” They (the ringleaders) will say, “What is wrong with us? Why don’t we see the people that we thought were bad? We used to make fun of them. How do our eyes miss them?” This is the truth – how they will contend with one another as inmates of the fire! (v. 56-65)
Say, “I am simply a warner; there is no God but God, the One, the All Powerful! The Cherisher of the heavens and the earth and what is in-between, the Almighty, the Most Forgiving!” Say: “It is a message of profound importance from which you turn away. I am not privy to the contention among the heavenly agents5 – only what is revealed to me, and I am a plain warner!” (v. 66-70)
When your Cherisher God said to the angels, “I am going to create a mortal from clay. Once I have completed its make and breathed into it My essence (ruh), bow down to it.” The angels – all of them – did so except Iblis6. He displayed pride and became a disbeliever. God asked Iblis, “What prevented you from submitting to the one that I had created with My own hands? Are you arrogant or you think of yourself as high and mighty? Iblis replied, “I am better than it. You created it with clay whereas I am created of fire.” God said, “Exit from this place and this position; you are forsaken. My rejection will be with you till the Day of Judgment.” Iblis replied, “Let me be free till the day when these are resurrected.” God said, “yes, you are left free until that day whose time is already established.” Iblis said, “By my power, I will lead them all astray, except those of your creatures who are pure.” God said, “The truth is – and I only speak the truth – I will fill hell with you and with those who among these will follow you.” (v. 71-85)
Say (Prophet)
“I ask for no rewards, and I make no false claim.
It is a reminder to all nations!
you will all come to know for sure in due time.” (v. 86-88)
1Islamic tradition requires all believers to bow down on the instance of such narratives in the Qur’an
2Some commentators used the phrase without accountability or reckoning in this instance which seems odd, since everybody is accountable to God, even prophets.
3See the Book of Job iii in Old Testament to understand the extent of his weariness and sufferings
4The usual textual rendering is “Take in your hand a small bunch of grass, strike with it (who?) so as not to break your oath.” Which I find untenable…
52:30 (explore more…)
6Devil – commonly referred to, in Christianity, as the fallen angel or Lucifer. Islamic tradition says he was a Jinn but elevated to angelic status by God before his downfall as Iblis (devil)
