Chapter 69 - 26
The Undeniable Truth (Surah Al-Haqq)
(52 verses in total; revealed in Makkah)
This chapter makes clear the truth about life to come – a life that will reflect the consequences of our actions in this life. The natural order of our earth and the heavenly bodies around us will be altered to initiate the resurrection.
The key themes in this chapter are as follows:
· Communities have been served by Messengers before Prophet Mohammad – those who denied were destroyed in this life and will have consequences more severe in the afterlife
· The initiation of resurrection will start with a blow from the cosmic trumpet that will destroy the earth and alter the nature of our known world – God and angels will become manifest to people
· Treatment of people who believed and did good will be different than people who denied and did evil
· This Qur’an is a message from God and not the creation of an unsound mind, as alleged by the distractors and deniers – from the contemporaries of the Prophet and even in our current generations
In the Name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
The undeniable truth!
What is this undeniable truth?
What will make you realize what this undeniable truth is? (v. 1-3)
Both Thamud and A’d denied the calamity, a crushing blow. As for Thamud, they were destroyed by a deafening blast, whereas A’d were destroyed by a roaring, violent wind that God made to prevail over them seven nights and eight days continuously. If you were to see them aftermath, you would see bodies prostrate as if they were trunks of hollowed palm trees. Can you see a remnant of them (today)? (v. 4-8)
Pharaoh, those before him and the ruined cities – people there disobeyed the messengers sent by their Cherisher God. So, God seized them with an ever-tightening grip.
We (God) certainly carried you in the ship when the water rose high – that We might make it a reminder for you and the mindful may take lessons. (v. 9-12)
The trumpet will blow with a single blast - the earth and mountains will be blown away and crushed with a single blow – this would be the great event! Heaven will be torn apart, appearing frail. Angels will be on all sides and above, eight of them will carry the Throne of your Cherisher God! (v. 13-17)
On that you will be fully exposed – no secret of yours will remain hidden. Those who will be given their books of record on their right hand, will say, “Wow! Read my book. I knew that I would come face to face with my account.”
They will begin a pleasant life
In a Garden high
With fruits near at hand
Eat and drink as you please
A recompense for your work in previous life! (v. 18-24)
Those who will be given their books of record on their left hand will lament, “I wish my book was not given to me. I wish I did not have to face my account. How I wish that death put an end to me. My wealth can’t save me. My power is gone from me.”
Take him!
Put a collar on him!
Throw him in the blaze!
Tie him with a chain seventy cubits long!
Because he did not believe in God, the Great! He did not encourage feeding the poor! Now on this day he will have no true friends, nor any food except filth that the wrongdoers eat. (v. 25-37)
So, I (God) swear by what you see and what you do not! It is, surely, the word from a noble messenger and not the words of a poet or a soothsayer – how little you believe and how little you reflect! It is a revelation from the Cherisher of the Universe!
Had he (Prophet) fabricated any sayings contrary to Ours’, We (God) would have seized him by his right hand and cut off his heart’s artery. Not any of you, in that case, could have saved him from Us. (v. 38-47)
It is truly a reminder for those who act responsibly. We know that some of you are deniers - such denial will be a source of great grief for those who are disbelievers, but it is the truth.
Therefore, glorify and exalt the name of your Cherisher God, the Great! (v. 48-52)
