Chapter 23 - 89
Believers (Surah Al-Mu’minun)
(118 verses in total, perhaps the last Surah revealed in Makkah)
In the name of Allah, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
The believers have attained success!
Humble and mindful1 – in their devotion to God
Avoid lies and frivolity
Act with purity2
Guard their chastity
Except with their spouses and those in possession
Where they are not to be blamed
Keep their trust and covenants
Do not fail in their ritual worships (salat)
These are the true inheritors
Of Ferdous (Paradise)
To reside in it! (v. 1-11)
We have created humankind (1) from an extract of clay3 (original creation – living cells), (2) then We reproduce it as a human-cell (zygote -sexual reproduction)4 secured in place (womb), (3) then We transform it to a lump5 that coalesce together (growing embryo), (4) then We differentiate the lump into specialized tissue6, (5) then We create bones7 and (6) then shape and clothe the bones with flesh8. Then We cause it to become a distinct creation9. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators!
Then you will die and will be raised on the Day of Resurrection! We have created seven pathways above you10. We are never unmindful of creation!11 (v. 12-17)
We (God) send down water from cloud in due measure and store them on earth, but We are fully capable of taking the water away from you. With the water We cause gardens of palm and grapes to grow for you where you find fruits in abundance to eat. There is a tree that grows on Mt. Sinai that produces oil and seasoning for you to enjoy. There are benefits in cattle for you – We make a drink for you from their bellies, you have many other benefits, including meat from them that you eat and are carried on their backs and on ships as well! (v. 18-22)
We sent Noah to his people, and he said, “O my people, serve Allah, besides Him there in no other deity. Why don’t you act responsibly and be mindful of God? The leaders among the disbelievers in his community said, “He is nobody but a simple person from among yourselves – he wishes to gain power over you. If Allah had wished, He would have sent an angel. We have never heard of what he says among our forefathers. He is just a mad man and let’s tolerate him for some time.” Noah said, “My Sustainer God, help me for they call me a liar!” We revealed to Noah: Prepare the Ark under our observation and guidance and when Our command comes and water starts to gush forth from the valley, load up pairs of every kind and your people, except those against whom Our decree has already been pronounced. Do not plead with me regarding those who are corrupt – they will drown. Once you are firmly settled on the Ark and those with you, say, “Praise to be God, Who delivered us from corrupt people. My Sustainer God, give us a blessed landing! You are the Best of those who brings people to safe landing! (v. 23-29)
Indeed, in these there are lessons for people. We (God) sure try people (to ascertain). After these, We raised another generation and send a messenger from among them who said, “Serve Allah. You have no other deity besides God. Will you be mindful?” But the leaders among the people, who were given plenty to enjoy in this life but denied and called the meeting in Afterlife a lie, said, “He is just a mortal like yourself, eating and drinking just like you do. If you follow a mortal like him, you will be a loser. Does he assert that once you are dead and become bones and dust that you will be resurrected? Such assertions are far-fetched. There is nothing but this life of this world; we live, we die and we will not be raised again. He is nothing but a man who is fabricating lies regarding Allah. We are not going to believe him.” (v. 30-38)
He (the Messenger) said, “My Sustainer God! Help me because they are calling me a liar!” (God) replied, “In a short while they will be regretful.” Soon the blast overtook them as deserved, and they were swept away as scum – ah, away with unjust people! After them We raised another generation, but none can hasten their demise or postpone it. We sent messengers one after another. But whenever a messenger came to them, they labelled them as liars. So We followed them as generations after generations and reduced them into stories – ah, away with disbelieving people! (v. 39-44)
Then we sent Moses (Musa) and his brother Aaron (Harun) with our messages and a clear authority to Pharaoh and his chiefs who behaved with pride; they were arrogant people. They said, “Shall we believe these two who are mortals like ourselves while their own people are in servitude to us?” This is how people of Pharaoh denied them and became of those who are destroyed, while We gave Moses the scripture with the hope that they will find the right path. (v. 45-49)
We made Jesus, son of Mary and his mother a sign and We gave them refuge on the hillside filled with meadows and springs.12 (v. 50)
O Messengers! Eat of the good things and do good. I am fully aware of what you do. Your communities are but one community and I am your Cherisher God! Be mindful of Me and act responsibly! But they divided their affairs according to scriptures they had with them and took pride in it. So (Prophet), leave them alone in their ignorance (sectarian divide) for a while. Do they think that their wealth and their family that We provide them with advance them to goodness? No, they fail to perceive. It is those who live in awe of their Sustainer God, those who believe in the messages from their Cherisher God, who do not assign partners to God and who give what they are blessed with while their hearts are inclined to God on account for their journeying back to God – it is they who are advancing towards good things and are at the forefront of achieving their objectives. (v. 51-61)
We (God) not lay a burden on a soul except to its ability and We have a book with Us that affirms the truth so that they are not treated unjustly! (v. 62)
No, their hearts are filled with ignorance about this (message) and they have other (evil) deeds besides what they do (that you see) until We seize them with due punishment, those who lead easy life among them, and then they cry out for relief. But do not cry for relief on this day since no help will be rendered from Us, because My Message was offered to you time and again, but you used to turn away with pride and mock it at night. (v. 62-67)
Do they not ponder on these Words? Do they have (new) information that was not given to their previous generations? Do they not recognize their Messenger that pushes them to denial? They say, “There is madness in him.” No, he has brough them the truth but the majority of them dislike the truth. If the truth were to follow their whimsical desires, then the heavens and the earth and everything in between will become unlivable. Indeed, We have brought them their Reminder but most of them turn away from such reminders. You (Prophet) do not seek from them any compensation. Compensation from your Sustainer God is the best and He is the best of all providers. You indeed call them to the Straight Path! (v. 68-73)
Surely those who deny the Afterlife are off the right path. Even if We (God) show them mercy and remove their distress, they would still persist in their denial, blindly wandering about. But We have already bound them with their evil consequences, but they did not submit to God nor showed humility. If We now open the flood gate of punishment, they will plunge into total despair! (v. 74-77)
It is God Who gave you ears, eyes, and a heart – yet you give very little thanks! It is God Who multiplied you on this earth and to God you will all be gathered back. It is God Who gave you life and will cause your death. It is God’s to alternate the day and the night. Do you not understand? (v. 78-80)
But they speak like the way their former generations used to speak. They say, “When we die and become reduced to dust and bones, are we going to be resurrected? We are being told as such and so were our previous generations. These are nothing but fables from the past!” Ask them, “Who owns this earth, and all is inhabitants, if you really know?” They reply, “It is Allah!” Then ask them, “How come you do not pay attention?” Ask, “Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens and the Owner of the Mighty Throne?”, they will say, “It is Allah!” Ask them then, “When will you become mindful of your responsibilities?” Ask again, “Who possess the kingdom of the heavens and the earth? Who protects (all) but is not protected against, if you really know?”, they will again say, “It is Allah!” Ask them then, “How are then deluded?” No, We have brought them the truth but they are in denial! (v. 78-90)
Allah has not taken to Himself a son, nor is there any god with Him – in that event, each of these gods would have taken away what each has created and try to overpower one another. Allah is pure from any such assertions! God is the Knower of what is unseen and what is seen! He is above any such partnership! (v. 91-92)
Say, “My Cherisher God, would you show me what they are warned about? My Sustainer God, keep me away from unjust people.” Sure, We (God) are fully capable of showing you what We had warned them about.13
Repel evil with good! We (God) know what they assert! Say, “My Protector God, I seek refuge in You from the evils of the Devil. My Sustainer God, I seek refuge in You, lest they influence me!” (v. 93-98)
When death approaches one of these deniers, he says, “My God, send me back so that I can do good that I did not do.” No way – what they say is nothing but wishful thinking. A barrier is placed before them, only to be removed at the time of resurrection when the trumpet will be blown. Then no ties of relationships will remain among them, and they will not even ask of one another! (v. 99-101)
Whose good deeds weigh heavy on the balance will have success, whereas those whose good deeds are light they have destroyed their souls, finding themselves in Hell to reside. The fire will scorch their faces, as they grimace in pain. (They will be asked,) “Were not My messages conveyed to you? But you used to reject them.” They will say, “Our Sustainer God, our misguidance confounded us and we lost our way. Do take us out of this and if we do not correct ourselves, then we will truly be in the wrong.” God will say, “Get lost in it and do not speak to Me. Remember, there was a group among My servants who used to say, ‘Our Sustainer God, we believe! Do forgive us and have mercy on us – You are the best of those who show mercy!’ But you used to make fun of them such that you became unmindful of Me. You even laughed at them.” (v. 102-110)
Now, I have rewarded them on this day because of their patience and constancy and they are the high achievers. God will ask, “How many years did you live on earth?” They will reply, “We lived only for a day or part of a day. Perhaps those who keep account could tell.” God will say, “You did stay but for a little time. You did not think much of it. You thought that We created you for no purpose and you will not come back to Us!” (v. 111-115)
Let Allah to exalted – the true Owner! There is no god but God – the Sustainer of the Throne of Grace! Whoever invokes a deity other than Allah and brings no proof for such assertion, his reckoning is with his Sustainer God. The disbelievers will never succeed! (v. 116-117)
Say,” My Sustainer God, forgive (us) and show (us) mercy – You are the most Merciful of all!” (v. 118)
1 “Khashi’un” has generally been translated as full of fear or fearfulness but I have opted to translate as being mindful and humble
2 Traditionally has been translated as paying zakat (wealth tax or alms) but the actual rendering is closer to maintaining purity in our conduct (which includes how we deal with wealth and resources)
3 Tin (طِينٍ) refers to clay or dust, other places also mention shaped mud, dried vessel of clay, etc. (15:26,28; 32:8; 77:20; 55:14; 6:2; 7:12; 17:61; 32:7; 38:71)
4 Nutfat (نُطْفَةً) has historically been translated also as a tiny drop, drop of fluid, sperm, a blood clot, etc., but I have opted to translate as zygote which comes from the union of egg and sperm – still a tiny drop of fluid or blood clot before cell divisions
5 Alaqat (ٱلْعَلَقَةَ) a lump – embryonic development with rapid cell divisions, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryo
6 Tissue (مُضْغَةً) – specialized and differentiated cells and structures
7 Bones (عِظَـٰمًا) – bony structure to form rudimentary skeletal frame
8 Flesh (لَحْمًا) – layering and shaping the body with bones, organs, and skin
9 Distinct creation (خَلْقًا ءَاخَرَ) – until this point the creature in question is a living being but not distinct as a human being until the human soul (nafs) is placed in it and further inspired by God’s spirit (ruh) – that is perhaps the meaning of this last part of verse 14 (see also 35:11, 40:67, 75:37-39, 15:29) for further details
10 May refer to the seven objects in our solar system or other celestial systems that we are unaware of or could relate to the diversity of our spiritual growth (see also 71:15, 14:12, 65:12, 67:3-4)
11 This is a constant theme in the Qur’an that God is intimately aware of and in control of His creation – living beings, physical or inanimate objects in the universes (see also 2:74, 85, 140, 149, 3:99, 6:132, 11:123, 27:93)
12 Perhaps referring to the place where Jesus was born as in the Qur’an (19:22-26). This may also refer to the 12-year exile that Jesus, Mary, and her husband Joseph spent away from their community, according to Biblical stories. Some have speculated this to mean the hiding place of Jesus after he escaped dying on the cross – how long he lived or where he died after the incidence of the cross is not well documented. Christian theology asserts that he died on the cross and was buried in Bethlehem. The Qur’anic narrative affirms that he did not die on the cross and was elevated to God without giving more specific details. There is a Hadith referred to by Ibn Kathir that says Jesus lived to be 120 years, i.e., lived a long life after the cross incident.
13 Perhaps Isra and Miraj was an answer to the Prophet’s prayer! His eventual victory over evil and disbelief is another proof!
