Chapter 14 - 62
Abraham (Surah Ibrahim)
(52 verses in total; Middle Makkan Period)
This chapter contains tales of various prophets including Abraham, Noah and various tribes after Noah while drawing attention to God’s blessings that is given freely to all but in return people deny and do evils, except the messengers and their small contingent of followers.
Key themes in this chapter are as follows:
· Faith and goodness are light while disbelief and evil are darkness – a theme also embedded in the intention when one does ritual ablution to prepare for daily worship
· A repeated statement that the Qur’an has been revealed in Arabic to make sure the people of Prophet’s contemporaries can understand the message, just like previous messengers were also given scripture in their native language
· A conversation among the people in hellfire where they will question each other, blame each other and the Satan will deny that he had any power over anyone who followed him
· The tenderness of Prophet Abraham and his deep desire for the wellbeing of his future generations are eloquently captured in many of sincere and long supplications in this chapter as well as other subsequent chapters
· The terrifying and totally unknown transformation of the earth and the heavens at the onset of resurrection is briefly mentioned with a cautionary note for the disbelievers to amend their ways before such options are taken away
In the name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Alif, Lam, Raa!
A book that We (God) have revealed to you so that you can bring mankind out of darkness, by the grace of their Sustainer God, into the light – the way to God Almighty, the Praised One! God – Who owns all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth. Unfortunates are the disbelievers who will face severe chastisement, who love this world’s life more than the Hereafter and who refuse to follow God’s path, making it crooked instead – they are too far into error.
We sent no messenger except with the language of his people so that he can make the message clear to them. Subsequently, God leaves in error whom God wills and guides whom God wills. God is the Mighty, the Wise! (v. 1-4)
We indeed sent Moses with our messages, “Bring your people out of darkness into the light and remind them of the days of God. In this (narrative) are lessons for all who are patient and grateful. (Recall) when Moses said to his people, “Remember God’s favor to you when He saved you from the people of Pharaoh who subjected you to terrible oppression, killed your sons and spared your women. When your Sustainer God made it known, ‘if you are thankful, I will increase (My blessings) and if you act ungratefully, then My chastisement is indeed severe!’”
Moses (further said), “If you are (still) ungrateful – you and those who are on this earth, (know that) God is Self-Sufficient, Praised!” (v. 5-8)
Has the narrative reached you – of those before you - the people of Noah, Ad and Thamud, and those after them? None knows them but God. Their messengers came with reasoned arguments, but they thrust their hands over their mouth and said, “We deny your mission and we are in serious doubt about which you invite us to.”
Their messengers responded, “Is there a doubt about God – the Originator of the heavens and the earth? God invites you to forgive your faults, and to give you time to correct yourselves till a time already appointed.” They said, “You are none, but a mortal like us. You wish to move us away from what our forefathers used to worship. Bring us a clear proof!”
Their messengers said, “(Yes), we are nothing but mortals like yourselves, but God grants blessings on servants as God pleases. It is not up to us to bring a clear proof, but with God’s permission. Therefore, on God let the believers rely! And why should we not rely on God, when God had guided us in our path? We shall be patient in the face of your persecution. On God should the reliant rely!”
The disbelievers said to their messengers, “We will expel you from our land unless you revert back to our creed.” Then their Sustainer God revealed to them, “We shall destroy those who do wrong and establish you in the land after them. This (reward) is for such who stand in awe of My Presence and fear My Threat.” (v. 9-14)
They (disbelievers) sought victory (over believers) and every stubborn tyrant fails. Evil consequences (hell) wait for them, and he is given to drink filthy boiling water. He drinks a little but is not able to swallow. Death comes to him from every angle, but he will not die. Before him waits a dire chastisement.
The parable of those who disbelieve in their Sustainer God is this – their works are like ashes on which wind blows on a stormy day. They have no power over anything they have earned. This is straying too far! (v. 15-18)
Do you not see that God created the universe and the earth with truth and purpose? If God pleases, God will remove you and bring in a new creation which is not a matter outside of God’s capability.
They will come to God all together. The weak among them will plead with the ones who were arrogant (powerful), “We were your followers. So, can you avail us in any way you can against God’s chastisement?” They will reply, “Had God guided us, we would have guided you. Now it is the same whether we are anxious or patient, there is no escape for us.”
Satan (the Devil) will say, once the matter has been settled, “God surely promised you a promise of truth. I too made a promise to you but had failed you. I had no power over you when I called you (to evils) and you followed me. Therefore, do not blame me but blame yourselves. I cannot help you nor can you help me. I disavow your associating me as a partner (to God) before.” For those who deny (and do evil), there is a severe torment! (v. 19-22)
Those who believe and do good will enter the Garden of peace and plenty (in which flows the rivers) -they will reside therein with the grace of their Sustainer God. Their mutual greetings will be – Peace (salamun)!
Do you not see how God sets forth a parable – a good word is like a good tree with deep roots and high branches, providing fruits every season with the grace of its Sustainer God? God sets forth such parable so that people can be mindful.
(On the other hand) the parable of an evil word is that of a harmful tree that has been pulled from the earth’s surface – such a tree has no permanence.
God assures those who believe with word of assurance in this life and the Hereafter, and He leaves the corrupt in their errors. God does what He wills!
Do you not see those who return God’s blessings with ungratefulness and make their community live in a state of destruction; hell is where they burn and find an evil place to settle in? They set up equals with God and lead people away from God’s path.
Tell them, “Enjoy yourselves. Surely your journey ends in the fire. Tell My servants who believe to establish worship, spend generously from what we have given them of provision – openly and in secret – until the arrival of the day when there would be neither bargaining nor befriending.” (v. 23-31)
It is God Who created the heavens and the earth, pours down water from the clouds, brings forth fruits for sustenance for you, makes ships pliable to you as these run their courses in open seas by God’s command, and God has made the rivers useful to you. He has made for your benefit the sun and the moon, with constant willfulness and the days and the nights are made to meet your needs (as well). God gives you something from all that you ask of God. If you were to count God’s blessings, you could not number them all. Indeed, mankind is unjust and ungrateful! (v. 32-34)
(Recall) when Abraham supplicated, “My Sustainer God, make this city secure and save me and my children from worshipping idols. Surely, many had been led astray by these (idols). Therefore, whoever follows me is of me and whoever disobeys me, then (I am reminded) that You are Forgiving, and Merciful! O our Sustainer God, I am leaving behind a part of my offspring in this valley that is devoid of cultivation (fruits) near Your Sacred House. May they maintain their worship (of You) and may the hearts of some people incline towards them and provide them with provisions so that they may be grateful. Our Sustainer God, you know what we hide and what we say. Nothing is hidden from God either on this earth or in the heavens. Praise to be God Who has blessed me, in my old age, with Ishmael and Isaac. Indeed, my Sustainer God hears all supplications. O my Sustainer God, may you help me keep up my prayers and from my offspring too, and accept my worship. O our Sustainer God, may you grant me protection, and to my parents, and to the believers too on the Day of Accountability.” (v. 35-41)
Do not think that God is unaware of the conducts of the unjust? God only gives them respite till the day when the eyes will stare, transfixed (in disbelief), (they) running forward with heads raised high, their gaze never turning to them, and their hearts vacant!
(Continue to) warn people of the day when chastisement will finally come to them – the unjust deniers will then say, “O our Sustainer God, give us reprieve for a near term – we will certainly respond to Your call and follow the messengers.” (It will be said), “Did you not swear earlier that there will be no such ends for you? You settled yourselves into the likes of those who wronged themselves while it was made clear to you how We (God) dealt with such people. We showed you by examples.”
They planned their (mighty) plans – with which mountains could be moved, but all their plans are with God. Do not think that God will fail in God’s promise to the messengers. God is Mighty, the Lord of Retribution! (v. 42-47)
On the day, when the earth will be changed for a different earth and so will be the heavens, they will appear before God – the One, the Supreme! You will see the guilty bound together in fetters, their garments made of pitch and their faces covered with fire – so that God can compensate every soul for what it had earned. God is swift in reckoning!
This scripture is a (grand) proclamation for humankind – that they may be cautioned thereby - that they may know that God is but One, and that people of intellect may pay attention! (v. 48-52)
