بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Whatever program we initiate in our life, will be as per the Pre-Directed Guidelines of Allah, the Most Benevolent and the Most Merciful. (6:162)
نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ١
68:1. With the tip of the pen, it is possible to change the destiny of an authoritarian regime that acts on a symbol of “Crescent”.
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونٖ٢
68:2. But those who reject the guidance of Rabbu think that you are a madman. Do you miss the blessings of Allah because they think so?
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونٖ٣
68:3. And there will be no deficiency in your fieldwork. You will get all the benefits from Allah.
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٖ٤
68:4. If they had paid a little attention, they would have known to what extent one who strives for higher ideals would be worthy of higher qualities. We declare ourselves that You possess high qualities.
فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ٥
68:5. So you will soon see whose situation is going to be bad. They will also come to know about it.
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ٦
68:6. Then you will see who are the ones subjected to pains and trials.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ٧
68:7. Your Rabbu knows the truth about those who go astray. That is, the benefits and consequences will depend on what one does. At the same time, He knows those who are on the right track and who they are.
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ٨
68:8. So do not follow those who go astray by saying that all guidance advice is a lie.
وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ٩
68:9. And if you make some concessions in the matter of guidance and allow their religious rituals, they are ready to come with you and join.
The reason may be that there are thousands of ways to be misguided. But guidance is the only way shown by Rabbu. They can come forward to give up some of their evil deeds if they want to. But how to give up some of the straight paths that you are following?
وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافٖ مَّهِينٍ١٠
68:10. And how can one live with those who are accustomed to vile deeds? How to trust their promises to be true? So do not follow such people.
هَمَّازٖ مَّشَّآءِۢ بِنَمِيمٖ١١
68:11. But they say politely that they would come and join you. When they turn back from you, they are plotting against you.
مَّنَّاعٖ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ١٢
68:12. They never like to do good deeds. But they rush to the side of evil activities.
عُتُلِّۢ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ١٣
68:13. They are all hard-hearted. They are so much worst in character.
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٖ وَبَنِينَ١٤
68:14. Despite being so bad, they are leaders who oppress society because they have material wealth and manpower.
إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ١٥
68:15. If such people hear about the evidence of the destruction of those who lived in the past, they claim that they are all myths.
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ١٦
68:16. Such arrogant people are sure to face defeat soon.
إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ١٧
68:17. Little do they know that this would be the fate of those who had previously lived in affluence. (See 18: 32-44) They are confident that they can enjoy themselves forever.
وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ١٨
68:18. They never help the poor suffering people or wipe away their misery according to the counsel of Rabbu.
Let us give an example of the destruction that will befall them
فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفٞ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ١٩
68:19. When they are immersed in the imaginary world, the hot air that blew around according to the canon of Rabbu destroys their gardens.
فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ٢٠
68:20. Thus their gardens were turned to ashes.
فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ٢١
68:21. When they awoke from their sleep, they assembled and discussed the harvesting.
أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ٢٢
68:22. They said, “All of you go out at dawn and plunder whatever is found in the garden.”
فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ٢٣
68:23. Thus, they planned secretly among themselves.
أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينٞ٢٤
68:24. And they said, “See that no poor man enters the garden.”
وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٖ قَٰدِرِينَ٢٥
68:25. So they were determined to go out into the garden early in the morning.
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ٢٦
68:26. But when they saw that the garden was desolate, they said, “It is as if we had come to another garden by the wayside.” To that extent, it had been destroyed.
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ٢٧
68:27. Then, they looked around and said, “No. These are our gardens. They have been destroyed like this and losing all our blessings!”
قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ٢٨
68:28. “You must have all acted according to Rabbu’s instruction. That is the consequence of not acting on them,” said one of the mediators.
قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ٢٩
68:29. Then they said, “We have been unjust.” But they regretted that Rabbu's plan of action was too pure.
فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ٣٠
68:30. Thus some of them looked and charged against each other.
قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ٣١
68:31. Some of them, “All these are the harms that have befallen us. Our limit is the result of transgression.”
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ٣٢
68:32. And they said, “O, our Rabbu! Realizing our mistakes, we come forward to correct ourselves. We firmly believe that our Rabbu will provide us with better facilities than this.”
Dear Intellectuals! Do not think that this is a story. Do not ask how the garden was destroyed. Gardens are said to be the epitome of a prosperous country. The leaders and the rich in that country did not take care of the poor common people and they could not live happily forever. It is a fact of life in the world that the oppressed boil over and ruins everything. With this example in mind, everyone should come forward to live in better unity. This is what Qur’an emphasizes by quoting the example.
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ٣٣
68:33. This is how societies in the world perish. If they know these facts, they will be able to escape the great suffering that will eventually befall them.
These are the conditions of those who refuse to accept the guidance of Rabbu and engage in unjust acts in the country.
إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ٣٤
68:34. On the contrary, the nations that follow His guidance will develop like a paradise which will be with all facilities of livelihood.
أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ٣٥
68:35. Thus Muslims protect the welfare of people from all walks of life. How can they indulge in criminal activities?
مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ٣٦
68:36. What has happened to you? Why do you decide to go astray by deviating from the right path even after stating the facts of what happened and the facts that are going to happen?
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبٞ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ٣٧
68:37. There is no historical record that those who went astray lived with lasting happiness! What lesson do you study?
إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ٣٨
68:38. Is there any Scriptural evidence that what you say is true?
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ٣٩
68:39. Does it say that no harm will come to you even if you go astray and that you will act as you wish until the Day of Resurrection? Do you have any evidence of that?
سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ٤٠
68:40. O, Reformist! Ask them who is the one who dares to face the destruction for which they are thus determined.
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ٤١
68:41. Is there anyone who supports him in this matter? If they are truthful in their argument let them also come forward.
يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقٖ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ٤٢
68:42. When they find their arrogance in them stumble, they will understand what is true. Then some of them will say in nostalgia that they should have obeyed the command of Rabbu. But that would be a thing of the past. So, they can never avoid destruction.
خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةٞۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ٤٣
68:43. Then, they will bow their heads in shame because of the misery that befell them. Before this, they were instructed to act in complete obedience to the guidance of Rabbu. But they were indifferent then.
فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ٤٤
68:44. O, Reformist! Leave those who lie Our guidance and past historical evidence to their course. The consequences of the evil deeds they are doing will gradually occur without their knowledge.
وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ٤٥
68:45. And Rabbu's plan is to give them opportunities to change. So, there will be ill effects in the small level before giving them severe punishment. (See 16:61) This plan of Rabbu is very sure. So, no one can escape from this.
أَمۡ تَسَۡٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ٤٦
68:46. Do you ask for any fees from them to convey these warning messages and the guidance of Rabbu? Why do they run just as the debtors run in fear? (See 52:40)
أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ٤٧
68:47. Have they received any secret messages that any of the destructions which you warn about often, will never come? Did they write it down?
فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومٞ٤٨
68:48. O, Reformist! You need not be frustrated with their objectionable speeches. Be firm and active in the way We have shown to you. Do not think of migrating hastily just as Reformist Yunus Nabi, belonging to fishermen folk did. So, he got no benefit. Only suffering he had to face. So, he had to seek Our help again. (See 21:87, 37:39)
لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومٞ٤٩
68:49. Had his Rabbu not helped him at the right time, he would have been thrown into the abyss with great reproach. He could do nothing. (37: 146)
فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ٥٠
68:50. Thus Rabbu saved him from that misery because he realized his mistake and corrected himself. His name has been included in the list of “Able Personalities”.
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونٞ٥١
68:51. And those who avoid the guidance of Allah and desire to live against it will call you a madman or a poet. They stare at you and try to scare you. These are also their vain desires.
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ٥
68:52. All the advice in this Quran is for the benefit of all the people of the world. It is their misfortune that they do not accept this!
Chapter: 69. Soorah: Al-Haqqqa (Certain to Happen)