Chapter 42 - 57
Mutual Counsel (Surah Al-Shura)
(53 verses in total; revealed in middle Makkan period)
This chapter continues to amplify God’s presence in this world of ours and urges people to reflect, amend, be grateful to God and do good, instead of continued denial and evils.
Key themes in this chapter are as follows:
· The heavens are agitated due to the misconducts of human beings while the angels who are with God continue to seek forgiveness and mercy from God for people
· The Qur’an in Arabic revealed to allow people in the cities around and including Makkah to seek guidance and become faithful for their own good
· All prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus – prior to Prophet Mohammad – have preached the same faith and the same code of good conducts
· While this earth may be alluring and causes distraction from acknowledging God, the Hereafter will offer better habitation and blessing than this life, if we believe and do good
· Successful people in this life and in the Hereafter are those who believe in God; rely, worship and respond to God; share their fortunes and blessings with others; defend themselves if wronged; don’t succumb to anger; avoid greater sins; prefer to forgive rather than seek revenge; build community cohesion through mutual agreement and consultation
In the name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Ha Meem. Ayn Seen Qaf. (v. 1-2)
This is how God – the Almighty, the Wise - reveals to you and to those who came before you! All that is in the heavens and all that is on earth belongs to God – the High, the Great! The heavens above them are about to break to pieces (for their misconduct), while angels exult God and ask for forgiveness for those who inhabit the earth. Now God is the Forgiving, the Merciful!<sup>1</sup> (v. 3-5)
Those who seek protectors other than God, God is aware of them, while you (Prophet) have no responsibility for them. This is how We revealed the Arabic Qur’an to you that you may guide the people of this Central City and those around it. Warn about the Day of Gathering<sup>2</sup> about which there is no doubt – a party in the Garden while another party in the blazing Fire! (v. 6-7)
If God had willed, all of humankind could have been a single nation but God admits to mercy as God wills, whereas those who are unjust will have neither protection nor help. Have they taken protectors besides God? But God is the Only Protector - Giver of life to the dead and Ever Powerful over all things! (v. 8-9)
Whatever you may differ, the final judgment is with God! (Say) this is God, my Sustainer - on Whom I rely, Whom I turn to – the Originator of the heavens and the earth. God has made mates for you from amongst yourselves and so for animals that you (all) may reproduce and multiply. There is none like God. God is All Hearing, All Seeing! The treasures of the heavens and the earth belong to God – amplifying provisions for some and constraining for others as God pleases - Knower of all things! (v.10-12)
Regarding faith, God had laid down the same faith on Noah, what is being revealed to you and what was assigned to Abraham, Moses and Jesus – to establish true faith and not to create division. It is difficult for the polytheist to accept what you invite them to; yet God chooses whom God pleases and guides to God’s presence whom God wills. They did become partisans however, out of envy and rivalry, only after knowledge came to them. It is only because of a commitment that had done forth from God for an appointed time that the matters had not been settled among them yet. Indeed, those who inherited the scriptures now are in deep and enduring doubt about it. Therefore, continue to invite, be committed since you are guided, ignore what they desire, and say, “I believe in what God had revealed of the Scripture and I am commanded to do justice among you all. God is our Sustainer as well as yours. We will face the consequence of our deeds, and you will face the consequence of your deeds. There is no dispute between you and us. God will gather us together - to God is our eventual destination!” (v.13-15)
Those who argue about God after having acknowledged God, their plea will not be accepted from their Sustainer, and they will face anger and severe torments. It is God Who revealed the Scripture with truth and justice. What will make you realize that the Hour of Judgment may already be close at hand! It is those who deny it want to hasten it while those who believe in it are fearful of it, because they recognize it as a reality. Those who dispute about the Hour of Judgment have deviated far from truth. But God is Loving to the creation and continues to provide whom God pleases! God is Mighty, God is Majestic! (v.16-19)
Whoever desires the harvest of the Afterlife, God increases such provision, while those who desire the harvest of this life, We too give him such harvest but reserve nothing for the Afterlife! Do they assert partners and ascribe religions to them that God had not sanctioned? Were it not for the decree of final judgment, the matter would have already been settled among them. Those who do evil and are unjust will have severe consequences. Such people are fearful of what they have done, and such consequence will surely fall on them, while those who believe and do good, they will reside in the sanctuary of the Garden – where they will have what they wish for from their God, an enormous grace and blessing! Such is the good news that God gives to the servants who believe and do good. Say (Prophet), “I ask of younothing in return except the love of kinship!” Whoever does good, We reward them with more good in them. God is indeed Forgiving, Appreciative! (v. 20-23)
Do they say, “He (Prophet) had forged a lie against God?” God will secure your heart, as God obliterate falsehood and secure the truth, by God’s will. God knows the secrets concealed in your chest. It is God Who accepts repentance from the creation and pardons bad deeds with full awareness of your conducts. God answers those who believe and do good and gives more out of generosity. But for the deniers, the torment will be severe! (v. 24-26)
If God were to amplify provisions beyond it’s due measure for the servants, there will be chaos on earth, but God sends down in measure as appropriate and as God wills. Regarding the servants, God is Ever Aware, Observant! It is God Who sends down rain as a sign of expanding mercy after they have lost hopes. God is the Protector, Worthy of Praise! One of the signs of God’s presence is the existence of the heavens and the earth and all living creatures in them. God is fully capable of gathering them which God will do! (v. 27-29)
Whatever misfortunes touch you, it is due to your own doing, while God forgives much! You cannot escape (God) in this earth – you have no help or protection besides God. One of God’s signs is the (navigation) of ships on the high sea – see how God makes the wind still, when God wills, and the ships lie on their bottom motionless. Here is the presence of God for every patient and grateful one! Or God can cause them to parish for their own misconduct, but God forgives much! This is a message for those who dispute God’s messages – they should know that there is no escape from God! (v. 30-35)
Whatever of material things you are given, these are of this world, while what God has is better and more durable – reserved for those who (1) have faith, (2) rely on God, (3) avoid great sins and indecencies, (4) don’t give into anger but forgives, (5) respond to God’s call, (6) establish worship of God, (7) manage their affairs with mutual consultation, (8) share with others from their income and provisions that God had provided, and (9) when faced with grave injustice defend themselves! (v. 36-39)
The compensation for evil is an evil comparable but those who forgive and those who make amends, God will reward them. God does not love the unjust! Those who defend themselves after being oppressed cannot be blamed. Blamed are those who oppress fellow human beings and cause great mischief without just cause – they will face severe consequences! But those who exercise patience, persevere and forgive – that is an exemplary character! (v. 40-43)
Those whom God allows to go astray, there will be no guidance after God. If you could only visualize the unfortunate transgressors when they face the impending chastisement, they will lament – “Is there a way to go back?” You will see them humbled, as they are brought before it, giving a fearful look while those who believed will affirm – “the real losers are those who lose themselves and their followers on the Day of Resurrection.” Yes indeed – the unjust will find themselves in lasting torment and they will have no support besides God. Whoever persist in error and God leaves them in that state, will not find a way! (v. 44-46)
Listen and align yourself with your Sustainer before God bring about a Day that cannot be averted. It is a Day where you will have no refuge (besides God) and can make no denials (of you conducts) (v. 47)
If they do not listen (O Prophet), We have not sent you as their guardian. Your job is only to deliver (the message). It is in human character that when We show them grace from Us, they rejoice but when they face the evil consequences of what their own misdeeds, they become ungrateful! (v. 48)
God’s is the kingdom of the heavens, and the earth! God creates as God wills – granting male or a female or both or none, as God pleases. God Knows and God is Powerful! It is not appropriate for a mortal that God should speak directly but through revelations, or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal by God’s permission. God is Elevated, God is Wise! This is why We had revealed to you a Spirit by Our Command – before this you did not know what a scripture was or the nature of faith. We make this divine light a guide for whoever We please of Our servants. Indeed you (Prophet) guide to the right path – the path towards God, Who owns all that are in heavens and all that are on earth. In the end, all affairs go back to God for resolution! (v. 49-53)
1The Qur’an contains numerous names and attributes of God – popular estimate is that 99 of God’s names have been revealed in the Qur’an – six of such names are in these first few verses of this chapter.
2Resurrection and the Day of Final Judgment has been given different names based on various attributes of that Day – the Hour, the Day of Accountability, The Day of Rising, the Day of Separation, the Day of Great Calamity, the Day of Calling, the Day of Witnesses, ….
