Chapter 46 - 64
Sand Dunes (Surah Al-Ahqaf)
(35 verses in total; Late Makkan, 2 years before Hijrah)
This chapter briefly mentioned another encounter with the Jinn but mostly focus on the interaction of the Prophet with his tribesmen who continue to deny God and the message that was being revealed.
Key themes in this chapter are as follows:
· Heavens and the earth exist for a purpose and for a term, like our individual lives
· The Day of Resurrection will unfold the truth which may be obscured in this life, especially for those who deny God and disregards the afterlife
· The Qur’an affirms previous scripture such as the Torah
· The Prophet is advised to be patient and not to call for the dooms of the disbelievers in haste, something that God will determine when appropriate
In the name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Ha Meem!
The revelation of this scripture (the Qur’an) is from God – the Magnificent, the Wise! We did not create the heavens, the earth and all that is contained among them except in truth with a purpose and for a designated term! Those who disbelieve turn away from what they are being cautioned about. (v. 1-3)
Ask them (Prophet), “What is your assessment of those whom you call upon besides God? Can you show me what of the earth they have created or what share they have of the heavens? Is there a scripture before this or any remnants of information that corroborate what you assert – if you speak the truth? Who is more misguided than the ones who invoke deities other than God – deities that answer them not even to the Day of Resurrection and are even unaware of such invocations?” (v. 4-5)
When people are gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), these deities will become their enemies and will deny their worships! Yet, when Our messages are conveyed with them with full clarity, those who deny say of this truth that are presented to them, “This is a clear sorcery.”, or they say, “He had made this up.” Say (Prophet), “If I have fabricated it, then you can’t protect me from God, while God knows what you say in response. God is adequate as a witness between you and me. God is the Forgiving, the Merciful!” (v. 6-8)
Say, “I am no different than other messengers and I am not a fortune teller for myself or for you. I follow nothing but what has been revealed to me and I am a warner – plain and simple!” Say, “What if this (Qur’an) is from God and you deny it, while a witness from the Children of Israel attest to its similarity (to their Torah) and believe in it? But you are full of false pride! God does not guide arrogant and unjust people.” (v. 9-10)
The disbelievers say of the believers, “If it (the Qur’an) has been a source of good, these people would not have been the first to attain before us.” But they (disbelievers) are not guided by this because they say, “This message is an old lie.” Yet, before this was the Scripture of Moses – a guide and a source of mercy! This (Qur’an) is a confirmation in the Arabic language to warn those who do evil and to encourage those who do good. Indeed, those who say, “Our Sustainer is God” and commit to the right way of life, for them there is no fear, nor any grief – they will inherit the Garden where they will reside as a reward for their pursuits. (v. 11-14)
We (God) have obligated humankind to be good to their parents. Their mothers bear them with difficulty and with difficulty do they give birth to them. Tending them and weaning of them takes thirty months. Once they attain maturity and reaches the age of forty, they say, “Our Sustainer God, inspire us to give thanks for Your blessings on us and our parents, that we may do good that will please You and bless us with respect to our offspring. We do incline towards You and we are among those who submit to you (muslim).” It is these people from whom We accept the goodness of what they do and forgive their evils – they are the inheritors of the Garden. A true promise, made to them as a promise! (v. 15-16)
There are those who say to their parents, “Shame on you! Do you threaten me that I will be brought out of the grave while generations before me passed away?” Their parents call on God for aid – “We feel sorry for you! Believe – indeed the promise of God is true.” But they reply, “This is nothing but stories from the old!” These are the ones against whom the “word” proves to be true – from the communities of humankind and jinn who have since passed away. They certainly lost their opportunity. For all there are levels of accomplishments, according to their conducts such that God may reward them for their deeds, and none will be wronged.
(Reflect on) the day when the disbelievers will be placed before the fire and addressed thus, “You wasted the blessings of life that was given to you on earth and instead enjoyed irresponsibly. Today your recompense is humiliating punishment in return for your undue arrogance and continued transgression.” (v. 17-20)
Remind them of A’d and their prophet (Hud) who warned them in the plains of sand dunes1, including other prophets had come before and after him, saying, “Worship none but God. I fear for you for a day of grave consequences.” They retorted, “Are you here to tell us that we should disavow our gods? Why don't you bring to us the consequences that you threaten with, if you really speak the truth?” Hud replied, “The knowledge of such consequences is with God alone. I only convey what I am sent with, and I plainly can see that you are acting as ignorant people.” Finally, they saw it – a stream of clouds moving towards their valley, and they thought, “It is a cloud that will bring us rain.” No, it is the consequence that you were urging on – a hurricane that delivered terrible punishment – destroying everything with the command from God, so that at dawn you could see nothing but fallen dwellings. This is how We reward people for their persistent transgression! We certainly empowered them in a manner that we did not empower you and We gifted them with hearings, sights and hearts but their ears, eyes and hearts could not save them since they rejected God’s guidance. The very thing that they mocked at descended and encircled them! (v. 21-26)
We did destroy towns in and around where you live, and We repeat various messages that you may finally turn to God. How is it that those deities that they set up besides God on the excuse that these bring them closer to God did not help them? These indeed failed them – a lie that they made up on their own! (v. 27-28)
(Be cognizant that) We directed a party of jinn who heard of the Qur’an when they came to its recital; they said, “let’s be quiet and listen.” Once it was completed, they went back to their community as warner and said, “Our people, we heard this scripture revealed after Moses, attesting to previous scriptures, guiding to the truth and directing to the right path. Let’s respond to this caller of God and establish faith in God. God will forgive your sins and protect you from difficult consequences. Those who do not respond to the caller to God can neither escape on this earth nor have protections besides God. They are clearly in the wrong!” (v. 29-32)
Do they not realize that God – Who created the heavens and the earth without suffering any fatigue from such creations – is fully capable of giving life to the dead? Yes, God is Powerful over all things! (Visualize) the day when the deniers will be placed in front of the fire and asked, “Is this real?” They will say, “By God, yes!” God will say, “Then face the consequence of your denials.” (v. 33-34)
So be patient and persistent (Prophet), as those who are resolute among the messengers2 are also patient and steadfast, and there is no need to seek to hasten their dooms. The day when the promised (consequence) will appear before them, they will think that they only lived on earth for an hour of a day! Continue to deliver. Shall any be destroyed except the transgressing people? (v. 35)
1Historians consider this plain inhabited by the people of A’d to be areas of Taif or Hadramaut outside of Makkah
2Traditionally prophets such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad have been considered to be resolute based on Biblical and Qur’anic narratives
