Chapter 21 - 74
Prophets (Surah Al-Anbiya)
(112 verses in total; Late Makkan)
This lengthy chapter narrates various prophets and their communities with a central message that all prophets came to build a unified community of believers and doers of good, but people differed and created disunity and divisions among themselves. This chapter also makes the monumental assertion that Prophet Mohammad had been sent as a mercy to mankind!
Key themes in this chapter are as follows:
·Prophets are mere human beings subject to the same physical needs and demands as any other human beings but endowed with knowledge, wisdom and character that makes them worthy
The inherent truth, justice and purposefulness of creation will demand that every society, city, nations follow the same truth, justice and purposefulness, absence of which will call for its doom as God had already ordained
The very presence of the earth and the heavens and their construct to support life should be evidence enough for people to people and act with a sense of purpose
The day of resurrection will be terrifying for the disbelievers and face the consequences of evil and disbelief while the believers will be protected from its terror and rewarded with the promised residence in the garden of peace and plenty
In the name of Allah, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Humankind is ever approaching its reckoning, yet people turn away in negligence! Not a new revelation come to them from their Cherisher God, but they listen to it playfully and with frivolous hearts. They, the evil and the unjust, counsel in secret and say, “He (Prophet) is a mortal just like yourselves – are you going to be spellbound by him, while you can see plainly?” (v. 1-3)
He (Prophet) said to them, “My Sustainer God knows of every word that is spoken in the heaven and the earth! God is the Hearer, the Knower!” Some say, “It is just dreams”, while others say, “No, he made it up”, yet others say, “he is but a poet. Let him bring evidence like what others (prophets) were sent with.” (v. 4-5)
But not a town that We (God) had brought to judgement before believed; so will these believe now? Before you We had never sent anyone other than a human being to receive revelations. Ask the followers of previous Reminders1 if you do not know. We had neither given the former prophets bodies that did not need to be fed nor to exist (without food)! Finally, We fulfilled our promise to them – We saved them and those who met Our criteria while We destroyed those who showed no restraints! (v. 6-9)
Now We have revealed another Book2 to you (people) to remind you (again) – will you not then use reasoning to understand? (v. 10)
How many towns have We condemned that were unjust – but We raised another generation after them. When they saw Our presence, they sought to escape – “Escape not but go back to your dwelling and ease of living (if you can) – you will be questioned!” They finally regret and said, “Indeed we committed injustice”, but their despair would not cease until they were destroyed, made extinct!3 (v. 11-15)
We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is in-between for playfulness; had We desired such a pastime, We could have done so with what was already with Us. We will never do so. We send the truth against falsehood and lo! it destroys falsehood and makes it disappear. Shameful is the how you describe (God)! To God belongs all that is in heavens and on earth and those who are with God are neither too arrogant to serve God, nor too weary. They glorify God tirelessly, day and night. (v. 16-20)
Have they found gods from this earth that produce life? If there were gods on earth beside Allah, they both (earth and the heavens) would have been in disarray. Therefore, glorify Allah, the Master of All Power! God is pure from all that they describe! God cannot be questioned for what God does but they (people and their gods) will be questioned! (v. 21-23)
Have they taken gods for worship besides God? Ask them, “Bring your proof! This is a reminder for those who are with me and a reminder for those went before me.”4 Most of them are ignorant of the truth and hence gone astray. We have never sent messengers before except that We revealed to them – there is no god but Me, therefore, serve Me! (v. 24-25)
They assert, “The God of Mercy has taken a son.” May God be glorified! No, these are honorable servants who speak not before God speaks and they act according to what they are commanded. God knows their past and their future and they cannot intercede for anyone except as God approves. They themselves are always in awe of God! If any of them should say, “I am god.”, for such We give the reward of Hell - this is how the reward for the unjust is determined. (v. 26-29)
Do those who are in denial not know that the heavens and the earth were undifferentiated5 until we separated them6 and We made every living thing from water! When will they accept? We placed mountains firm on the earth lest it may shake beneath them. We have placed wide valleys as tracts to guide them. We have configured the sky as a protective shield; yet they turn a blind eye to the evidence. It is God Who created the night, the day, the sun and the moon – each follows its course. We have never assigned perpetual existence to any mortal before your time. Therefore, if you were to die, will they live forever? (v. 30-34)
Every soul will succumb to death! We test each of you by way of evil and good – as trials and then to Us is your coming back! (v. 35)
The disbelievers when they see you, they treat you with mockery, “Is this the person who speak about your gods?” When the mention is made of the God of Mercy, they do nothing but deny. Humankind is ingrained with impatience. Soon I (God) will show you My evidence – so do not entreat Me to hasten them! (v36-37)
They ask, “When will this promise (of consequences) come to pass, if you (Prophet) speak the truth?” If these disbelievers only knew that once the promise comes to pass, they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces and from their backs – nor help will be available at that time! Aye, it will come upon them suddenly, confounding them utterly and they will not be able to stop it or escape from it. Messenger before you (Prophet) were similarly made fun of until the very thing they made fun of came upon them, those who mocked! (v. 38-41)
Say (Prophet), “Who can protect you day and night from the Beneficent God?” Yet they turn away at the mere mention of their God. Is it that they have gods who can defend them against Us? But these gods can’t even help themselves, let alone defending others from Us. See – We give livelihood to them and their parents, and they feel assured of a long life. Do they not see that We visit the land, constraining it from all sides? How will they prevail? Tell them, “I only caution you through revelations. Are you deaf that you do not hear the warning?” However, even if a slight breath of God’s punishment were to land on you, you would say, “Shame on us! We truly were unjust.” We will set up a precise balance to judge on the Day of Resurrection so that no one is treated unjustly in the least. Even if your action weigh as little as a grain, We will note it. We are sufficient to take accounts! (v. 42-47)
We gave Moses and Aaron a scripture and laws for differentiation 7, a light for guidance8and a reminder9 for those who - acts responsibly10, are mindful of their Sustainer God in their private moments and are keenly aware of the coming Hour!11 This is the blessed Reminder that We had revealed – will you then remain averse?12 (v. 48-50)
Indeed long ago We gave Abraham, whom We knew well the right guidance. He said to his father and his people, “What are these statues and images that you show your devotion to?” They replied, “We found our forefathers worshipping these.” He said, “You and your forefathers are clearly misguided!” They demanded, “Are you bringing the truth to us or just making fun of us?” (v. 51-55)
He said, “No, your Sustainer God is the God of the Universe and the Earth, Who created them. I am here to profess this to you. By Allah, I will plan against your gods after you depart.” Then he broke all the idols to pieces but kept the chief idol intact so that they might come back to it. (When they came back,) they said, “Who has done this to our gods? He is certainly a worst offender!” Some people replied, “We heard a youth, named Abraham, talk (against) our gods.” They said, “Let us bring him in front of the people who can bear witness.” (v. 52-61)
They asked, “O Abraham, have you done this to our gods?” Abraham said, “Surely someone had done it. Here is the chief god, ask him, if he can speak.” (This confounded them) as they turn to themselves and blamed each other— “You have brought this to yourselves.” In their moment of shame13, they asked (Abraham), “You know that these do not speak.” He said,” Do you then serve these gods, but not Allah - which can do no good nor any harm? Shame on you and all those that you worship beside God. Have you lost your reasoning?” (v. 62-67)
(In desperation and anger) they said, “Burn him, if we are going to do anything and save our gods.” We (God) said, “O fire, be a source of coolness and peace for Abraham.” They plotted against him and We in turn made them the loser. We protected him and Lot (his nephew) and directed them to a land which We had blessed for all people. (v. 68-71)
We gave him (Abraham) Isaac and then Jacob as an additional gift – made them all good people. We made them leaders who guided by Our instruction, and We revealed to them the means of doing good, practicing worship, and giving in mandatory charity14 - they were our true servants! (v. 72-73)
We blessed Lot with wisdom and knowledge and saved him from the town where people practiced obscenities. Surely they did evil and transgressed! We brought him into Our mercy as he was a righteous person! Noah did plead with us in the long past. We did answer him and saved him and his followers from a great disaster. We aided him against people who denied Our messages. Surely these were evil people and as such We drowned them all. (v. 74-77)
(Remember) David and Solomon when they decided on a matter related to the pasture where a farmer’s sheep strayed into during the night. We witnessed their judgment and made Solomon understand it (better). To each We gifted knowledge and wisdom. We made the mountains and the birds hymn Our Praises with David – it is We Who did thus. We taught him how to make body protection for you against the violence of others – will you be grateful then? For Solomon, We let the strong winds follow his command to lands that We had blessed – We are aware of all that happens! There were the evil jinn’s that dived for him and did other tasks as well and We guarded them (for him)! (v. 78-82)
(Remember of) Job when he cried to his Sustainer God, “I am afflicted with distress, but You are the God of Mercy and the Endower of Mercy!” We responded, removed his difficulties and multiplied his family and followers – as a show of mercy from Us and as a reminder for the believers. (v. 83-84)
(How about) Ishmael, Idris and Dhul-Kifl15 – they were patient. We brought them into Our Mercy – they were good people! Dhul-Nunn (the man with the whale, Jonah) who left in anger, thinking that God will not confine him but called out once he found himself in distress of deep darkness, “There is no god but You! You are the most glorious! I have done wrong by myself!” So We responded and delivered him from his distress. This is how We safeguard the believers. (v. 85-88)
(Listen to) Zacharias when you pleaded with his Sustainer God, “My Sustainer, do not let me be childless, though You are the best to inherit!” We responded and gave him John by making his wife fit for pregnancy with him. These people used to compete to do good and worshipped God – hoping and being weary, always humble before Us! (v. 89-90)
(Think of) her (Mary) who maintained her chastity and We breathed into her Our Spirit, thereby making her and her son evidence (of God) for all people! (v. 91)
Such is your community (of all prophets) – a unified community! I am your Sustainer God – therefore, serve Me alone! They have destroyed this unity but to Us all will return! (v. 92-93)
Whoever do good and are also believers, their effort will not be lost. We document such faith and conduct for them. It is not possible for a town that we had destroyed that they return until We let loose God and Magog as they descend from every hilltop and the True Promise16 come to fruition. Only then the eyes of the disbelievers will be fixated with a stare – “Shame to us! We were truly heedless! Aye, we did wrong ourselves!” You and those that you worshipped, besides God, will become the fuel of Hell. You are bound to come to this! If the gods were true, they would not come to it but now, you are in it. There is the groaning and misery for them in hell, but they (idols) will hear none of it! (v. 94-100)
As for those for whom salvation has already been prescribed from Us, they will remain far from it. They will not even hear a whisper of it and their abode will be as they desired for themselves. The great terror (of resurrection) will not terrorize them, and the angel will mee them saying, “This is your day – a day promised!” (v. 101-103)
It is the Day when We will roll up the heavens like a writer rolls up its scroll. As We created the first creation, so will We begin the resurrection. It is a commitment binding us and We shall bring this about! (v. 104)
It is written by Us in the scripture as We had reminded – good people will inherit the earth! It is a message for those who wish to serve (God)! We have not sent you (Prophet) except as a mercy to humankind! (v. 105-107)
Say, “It has been revealed to me that your god is but One God! Will you not submit?” If they do not accept, say to them, “I have warned you with fairness to you all. It is not within my knowledge about the promise (Day of Judgment) – if it is near or far off. God knows what is spoken openly and what you confide in secret. I do not know if your current condition is a trial or a temporary enjoyment till the time comes.” He (Prophet) said, “My Sustainer God, You judge in truth. My God is the God of Mercy, Whose help I seek against your allegations!” (v. 108-112)
1 Another name for scriptures – after all, all scriptures are meant to remind what we already know.
2 Qur’an frequently use “book” or “reminder” as another name for scriptures.
3 Examples of Egyptian pyramids, Mayan ruins, Petra’s in Jordan, the Great wall of China, etc. are constant reminders that exist in every continent.
4 People who were given scriptures before such as the Bible, the Torah, and other books of religious significance, such as for Hindus, Buddhists and others.
5 In gaseous form.
6 Into distinct bodies of stars, planets, moons, etc.
7 “forquan” – a word used in many instances for the Qur’an, the Torah and the Bible as an attribute of such divine scriptures – to book and a set of rules/laws that differentiate good from evil.
8 “Dhiya’an meaning lamp” symbolizing the sun has also been used for scripture – as the source of spiritual light that guides our soul to goodness and to God.
9 “zikran” – a word that has been used repeatedly for the Qur’an – since it serves as a reminder of what is already ingrained in our soul and psyche but also a reminder of what came before the Qur’an – namely the Bible, the Torah and others book of revelations and religious scriptures that exist different parts of the world.
10 “muttaquin” – a word used more often to designate people of faith and good action – those who act responsibly.
11 The hour of death and the Day of Judgement.
12 “munkirun” – has been translated as denial in most of the translated Qur’an – both classical and modern translators; I have opted to use the notion of avoidance and negligence as opposed to outright denial (“kazibun” or “kafirun”) since it is more akin to the condition of today’s religious people – Muslims, Christians, Jews alike – who claim faith, perhaps accept the scriptures but are unwilling to follow the guidance in their daily life, other than occasions such as marriage, birth and death.
13 Literally - head bowed low.
14 “zakat” is distinct from regular charity as it has been made obligatory as a wealth-based charity (roughly 2.5% of one’s wealth after all expenses each year), whereas charity is encouraged for everyone at any time.
15 Perhaps this is Prophet Ezekiel – see Encyclopedia of Islam under Dhul-Kifl.
16 Wad’ul haqqu.
