Chapter 29 - 44
The Spider (Surah Al-Ankabut)
(69 verses in total; revealed in Makkah, beginning of Middle Makkan Period)
This chapter lays out some of the fundamental truths about human life and human conditions and continues with stories of various prophet as backdrops to connect these truths with.
Key themes in this chapter are as follows:
It is not enough to claim that we believe but God will put us through trials to validate our belief
Those who lack faith and are hypocritical start blaming God or others when difficulties arrive to test them
Meeting with God is certain, but the timing is according to God’s decree already in place
Corrupt people cannot escape God – they will be taken to account eventually, sometime in this life and for sure in the life to come
Faith in God and good works will always be rewarded – in this life and magnified in the life to come
Our struggles and our pursuits (jihad) for truth and justice is for our own benefits – God is not in need of them
God’s creative power is demonstrated through origination (first creation) and then through reproductions until one die, and then comes the second creation (resurrection)
The heavens and the earth contain truth about God but it requires genuine inquiry and reflections to understand and acknowledge
Practice of daily worship and devotion (salat) is an affirmation of faith, ensure God’s remembrance and a sure way to protect against evil and corruptions
In the name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Alif, Lam, Mim!
Does humankind think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and they will not be tried? Indeed, We (God) had tried people before, so that God will know with certainty those who are truthful and those who are liars. (v. 1-3)
Or, do those who commit evils and spread corruptions, think they will escape God? Even their sense of judgment is corrupted! (v. 4)
Those who aspire to meet God, the appointment with God is surely approaching! God is all Hearing, all Knowing! (v. 5)
Whoever strives hard (jahada)1, stives for oneself, whereas God is above any need from His creation! Whoever believe and do good, God will remove their afflictions and reward them for the best of what they do. (v. 6-7)
We (God) have commanded humankind to show kindness to their parents. But do not follow them if they were to associate other deities to God that you have no knowledge of. To Me is your return, and I will then inform of you of what you did! Those who believe and do good, We (God) will certainly count them as righteous (swalihin)! (v. 8-9)
There are those among people who say, “We believe in God”, but when persecution and opposition fall on them for the sake of God, they consider such difficulties as chastisement from God, whereas if help were to come their way, they say, “We are with you (Prophet).” Is not God fully aware of what is in the hearts of humankind? God certainly knows who a believer is and who is a hypocrite (munafiqin). (v. 10-11)
Those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Follow our path and we will take care of your misdeeds.” But they can never carry the burden of wrong of others. They are liars. They will certainly carry the burden of their own wrongs and the burden of others, as they will be questioned on the day of resurrection as to their fabrications and misconducts. (v. 12-13)
We (God) sent Noah to his people, and he stayed with them for a thousand years, less fifty. The great flood overtook them, as they were unjust to themselves. We delivered Noah and his inmates on the Ark and made them a reminder for people of the world. (v. 14-15)
(We also sent) Abraham when he said to his people, “Serve God and act responsibly regarding God. That is better for you if you only knew. You worship deities other than God and that is a pure fabrication. Those you worship besides God have no power to provide for you. Therefore, seek provisions from God, worship God and be grateful to God. To God is your eventual return! But if you deny, people before you had done so as well, whereas the duty of the messenger is to deliver clear warnings!” (v. 16-18)
Do they not see how God originates (yubdi’u) the creation and then reproduces (yu’idu) it? It is indeed easy for God! (v. 19)
Say, “Travel on earth and see for yourself how God makes the first creation and then readies it for the next creation. God is ever powerful over all things! God brings to account whom God pleases, and God shows mercy to whom God pleases. To God do you all return, with no escape on this earth or in heavens and besides God, you have no other helper or protector.” (v. 20-22)
Those who disbelieve in God and deny the appointment with God, they despair of My mercy and will face severe consequences. (v. 23)
The response of his community was nothing other than this, “Slay him or burn him.” But God protected him from the fire. In this outcome is evidence for those who wish to believe. (v. 24)
Abraham said, “You take these deities besides God hoping for friendship in this life. But on the Day of Resurrection some of you will deny others, some of you will curse others and will end up in the fire, with no help from anyone!” But Lot believed in him and said, “I flee to my Cherisher God Who is Mighty, and Wise!” (v. 25-26)
We (God) granted Abraham Isaac and Jacob, made them prophets, and gave scriptures to his offspring. We rewarded him in this life and in the life to come he will be counted among the righteous. (v. 27)
(We sent) Lot who said to his people, “You commit indecency that no other nations before you have done. You lust after men, compel them, and commit evils in your gatherings.” His people had no other answers than to say, “Bring on God’s punishment, if you speak the truth.” Lot prayed, “My God, help me against these corrupt people.” (v. 28-30)
Our angels came to Abraham with good news and then said, “We are going to destroy this town (of Lot); its people are engrossed in unjust practices.” Abraham said, “But Lot is among them.” They said, “We know well who is in there. We will provide safe passage to Lot and his followers except for his wife, she will remain behind.” (v. 31-32)
The angels then came to Lot who became concerned about them as he lacked power to protect them. They said, “Do not be afraid or grieve. We are here to deliver you and your followers but not your wife who chose to be with others. We are going to bring down torment from heavens on the people of this town, since they have become corrupt.” (v. 33-34)
We left a clear marker of this for people who wish to ponder!2 (v. 35)
(We sent to) Midian, their own brother Shu’aib who said, “My people, worship God, be mindful of the life to come and do not act corruptly on earth, with unjust practices.” But they rejected him, and a severe earthquake overtook them. When morning came, they were in their own homes lifeless! (v. 36-37)
Ad and Thamud – their places of habitation are known to you. The Devil made their evil practices seem enticing to them and he kept them back from the (right) path, while they could have seen (what they were doing)! Korah, Pharaoh and Haman – Moses came to them with sound arguments, but they behaved with arrogance on earth. They could never escape Us (God)! Each one – We brought them to account for their sins. There is the one who We subjected to a violent storm, another who was overtaken by sudden blast (volcanic eruption), another We let the earth swallow up (earthquake), and another We drowned (in sea). It was not God who wronged them, but they wronged themselves! (v. 38-40)
The simile of those who take others besides God as their deity and patron is like the spider – yes, it makes a net for itself but its house is the frailest of all dwellings – only if they could realize! God indeed knows whom they call upon besides God – God is Mighty, and Wise! These similes – We set for humankind, but only the learned will comprehend. (v. 41-43)
God created the heavens and the earth with truth! For the believers, there is evidence in them. (v. 44)
Recite what has been revealed to you in the scripture and be constant in worship. Surely such worship (salat) protects from indecent acts and evil deeds and gives remembrance of God which is of great importance. God is constantly aware of what you are doing!3 (v. 45)
Reason with those who have been given scriptures before using sound arguments and common decency and to those who act corruptly among them, say, “We truly believe in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to you. Our God and your God is but One! We truly submit to God!” (v. 46)
This is how We reveal this book to you (Prophet) – those who were given the book before, believe in it4 and some of the current recipients believe in it too – none refuses to acknowledge Our messages except the ungrateful! See, you never recited a book before this nor have you ever written one with your right hand in which case the deniers could have a reason to doubt. (v. 47-48)
On the contrary, it is a clear message in the hearts of those who are gifted with knowledge. None denies Our message except who commits evil. (v. 49)
They demand, “Why aren’t any miracles sent to him by his God? Reply, “Miracles are with God alone and I am but a human warner!” Why, is it not sufficient that God had revealed to you the scripture and it is being recited to them? In it there is mercy and a reminder for those who truly believe! (v. 50-51)
Say (Prophet), “God is sufficient as a witness between me and you – God knows what is in the heavens and on earth. Those who believe in false deities and deny God, they are in a state of constant decay. (v. 52)
They challenge you to bring on the chastisement. It would have already overwhelmed them, had it not for the fact that God has set a time for it. It certainly will come suddenly, while they are unaware! Again, they challenge you to bring on the chastisement. Surely, Hell will overwhelm the deniers when the chastisement descends on them from above and approach them from beneath their feet and it will be said, “Taste the consequence of what you did.” (v. 53-55)
My Believing Servants, My earth is expansive – serve Me alone! Every soul will taste death and then to Us you will be brought back. (v. 56-57)
Those who believe and do good, God will give them residence in lofty Gardens full of running springs to be content with – excellent regards for the doers (of good)! – they are patient, and they rely on God!5 (v. 58-59)
How many creations of God neither carry nor store their provision? God provides for them all and you. God is all Hearing, all Knowing! (v. 60)
If you were to ask them, “Who created the heavens and the earth, and who made the sun and the moon follow orders?”, they will say. “God.” See how they turn around! God amplifies provision for some and constrains for others as God wills – God is fully aware of all things! If you were to ask them, “Who is it that sends down water from the clouds to bring life back on earth after its demise?”, they will say, “God.” Say, “Praise be to God!” Most of them are confused! (v. 61-63)
The life of this world is amusement and diversions, while the true living is in the Hereafter -only if they knew! (v. 64)
See when they ride a ship, they call on God with sincere submission. But when God brings them to shore in safety, they start associating deities with God – this is how they demonstrate ungratefulness for what God had given them. They wish to enjoy – but soon they will find out. Do they not see how God had secured the precinct (of Kabah) while people are being driven away by force around it? Would they still believe in falsehood and deny the blessings of God? Who is more unfair that the one who fabricate lies against God or say to the truth, that it is a lie when such truth is presented to them? Can there be any residence but Hell for such deniers? (v. 65-68)
Those who pursue diligently (jahadu) after Us (for God and goodness), We will guide them in Our Path. God is always with those who do good (muhsinin)! (v. 69)
1“Jihad” means striving hard for goodness, not holy war as commonly misrepresented in the media
2Verse 15:73-76 later provides even more details and definitive marker – “it is on a roadside that still exists” by the Dead Sea, on a road from Arabia.
3This verse has been traditionally integrated in Friday sermons (Khutbah) as a weekly reminder on the importance for formal daily worships (salat)
4Refers to the readers of the Bible and the Torah who were contemporary to the Prophet in Arabia
5These verses (56-59) are subtle encouragements for the persecuted followers of the Prophet to seek refuge in other places -such as early immigrants to Ethiopia under Christian King Negus
