The Dawn
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)
The International Conference of Hajj was organized as a consultative meeting to resolve issues of the communities world over. (See 3:97) But look at how the Arabs of that time, who did not have the guidance of revelation, have changed the crowd.
وَٱلۡفَجۡرِ١
89:1. What happens at dawn on the opening days of the Hajj?
وَلَيَالٍ عَشۡرٖ٢
89:2. Notice what happens in the ten nights.
There are just extravaganzas and celebrations.
وَٱلشَّفۡعِ وَٱلۡوَتۡرِ٣
89:3. And all kinds of inappropriate activities take place there. Gambling also intensifies.
وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا يَسۡرِ٤
89:4. This celebration culminates on the last tenth night. The next morning, they gather for the Hajj.
Apart from that, all illegal activities continue there. The wealthy of Quraishees pour money and celebrate the day as a great joyful day. They don’t care about the people living in the neighboring towns who are suffering due to a lack of food.
هَلۡ فِي ذَٰلِكَ قَسَمٞ لِّذِي حِجۡرٍ٥
89:5. Does anyone think about the situation of these people who act blindly?
If they think a little, can they not understand that the same devastation that befell the earlier communities will happen to them,?
أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ٦
89:6. For example “Aadhu” community. Do they not notice what happened to it?
إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَادِ٧
89:7. “Irama” community lived with all facilities (26: 132-134) They were experts in architecture. They lived by building very tall monuments and mansions. (26: 128)
ٱلَّتِي لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا فِي ٱلۡبِلَٰدِ٨
89:8. It was once the richest country in the world.
وَثَمُودَ ٱلَّذِينَ جَابُواْ ٱلصَّخۡرَ بِٱلۡوَادِ٩
89:9. Is it alone? You may have received the historical news of the "Samoodhu community”! They carved out the great mountains and built strong mansions and forts (7:74 & 15:82).
وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ ذِي ٱلۡأَوۡتَادِ١٠
89:10. Have they considered the fate of the kingdom of the mighty Fir’aun?
ٱلَّذِينَ طَغَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡبِلَٰدِ١١
89:11. They all acted against the guidance of Rabbu.
فَأَكۡثَرُواْ فِيهَا ٱلۡفَسَادَ١٢
89:12. So there was inequality and chaos in the country and they deteriorated.
فَصَبَّ عَلَيۡهِمۡ رَبُّكَ سَوۡطَ عَذَابٍ١٣
89:13. What was their situation then? The law of "consequences for human deeds" created by Rabbu, your Creator and Sustainer, has caused them various kinds of destruction. In which they all perished.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِٱلۡمِرۡصَادِ١٤
89:14. Because the "consequences for human deeds" that Rabbu has ordained are to be followed by everyone. No one's action can escape it. So the same thing happened to them.
To that extent (at that time) the Arab people were immersed in inappropriate activities. What happens is that when man abandons Our guidance, he loses the ability to think and act on anything. So the distinction between lawful and unlawful disappears from him.
What is the law of transition? They will tell the prescribed rule that the consequences of the actions of an individual or a society will occur. If this greatness disappears from his eyes, he will think that everything that happens is normal. He will also feel that he is not responsible for those consequences. Then everything becomes the work of Rabbu. Notice what happens, if such a misconception develops.
فَأَمَّا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ إِذَا مَا ٱبۡتَلَىٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَأَكۡرَمَهُۥ وَنَعَّمَهُۥ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّيٓ أَكۡرَمَنِ١٥
89:15. If a man gets facilities from Rabbu, he will not think on whose labor that those blessings came. But he would think that these are all the blessings of Rabbu and He gives to whomever He wills.
What this means is that there is no principle or regulation in Rabbu’s plan of action and that Rabbu is the one who does what He wishes to do daily. If the opportunities for comfort in his life are diminished, he will not think about the root cause of this situation He would never think that such a situation has arisen as a result of his wrongdoings. On the contrary,
وَأَمَّآ إِذَا مَا ٱبۡتَلَىٰهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيۡهِ رِزۡقَهُۥ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّيٓ أَهَٰنَنِ١٦
89:16. When the opportunities in his life diminished, he would lament that Rabbu has unjustly trivialized him and put him under the bitter test.
Let them know that this is a completely wrong view. Rabbu never wants to disgrace or destroy anyone. (See 8:53) The reason being this suffering is the wrong social structure that you have created.
كَلَّاۖ بَل لَّا تُكۡرِمُونَ ٱلۡيَتِيمَ١٧
89:17. You have no idea how to deal with the grievances of the underprivileged. You have no grace towards poor ordinary people who are members of your community.
Rather, you consider those who have wealth and power to be dignified.
وَلَا تَحَٰٓضُّونَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ١٨
89:18. When one's business or occupation is affected, the affluent do not reach out to help them recover. At least not making arrangements for it. Rather you think, “What is there for us to do? Leave him to suffer somehow.”
وَتَأۡكُلُونَ ٱلتُّرَاثَ أَكۡلٗا لَّمّٗا١٩
89:19. Not only this, but you are also seizing the property that comes through the lineage.
وَتُحِبُّونَ ٱلۡمَالَ حُبّٗا جَمّٗا٢٠
89:20. It is not enough that you are doing various tricks to come to you by stealing other people's property.
Just as the water in the upper lands goes downwards, you steal everyone's property. Thus, small investments are swallowed up by all big investments. Then, over time, wealth and power go to very few. So they are drowning in a flood of joy. Such a social system cannot last in this world. That is why they have to face such a disgrace. All of this is caused by the wrong social system they have created. Rabbu is not responsible for this. Rabbu’s plan is to have consequences according to everyone’s actions. So Inform the community leaders that such a misguided system would not last long in the world.
كَلَّآۖ إِذَا دُكَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ دَكّٗا دَكّٗا٢١
89:21. No. Inform them that the period of setting right the inequality in the community is near.
وَجَآءَ رَبُّكَ وَٱلۡمَلَكُ صَفّٗا صَفّٗا٢٢
89:22. Also, inform them that the time is near when the regime of your Rabbu and the Universal forces of nature work together and brighten your society.
That is, instead of wealth being mounted by a few people, democracy will emerge and people from all walks of life will move to a system of governance that works for a balanced economy.
And what the hell is all about? Hell is the torment of those who are currently abusing wealth and power and oppressing the poor and simple people. That is, people may not at present understand who is responsible for these injustices and atrocities. So they may be immersed in such a power struggle. But if the poor common people come to know as to who is responsible for their disgrace, they will raise the slogans against the rich. Then the situation will get out of hand.
وَجِاْيٓءَ يَوۡمَئِذِۢ بِجَهَنَّمَۚ يَوۡمَئِذٖ يَتَذَكَّرُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ٢٣
89:23. These rich and powerful will realize their mistakes while experiencing such hellish torments. What is the use of realizing then?
يَقُولُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي قَدَّمۡتُ لِحَيَاتِي٢٤
89:24. Then he would lament, “If I had known such a situation would occur to me, I would have engaged in good deeds in advance. I wish I had a better life too!”
فَيَوۡمَئِذٖ لَّا يُعَذِّبُ عَذَابَهُۥٓ أَحَدٞ٢٥
89:25. There can be no more severe punishment than the punishment given by Rabbu.
وَلَا يُوثِقُ وَثَاقَهُۥٓ أَحَدٞ٢٦
89:26. And their imprisonment in this world will be more severe.
يَٰٓأَيَّتُهَا ٱلنَّفۡسُ ٱلۡمُطۡمَئِنَّةُ٢٧
89:27. O Wanderers in search of a safe life with peace of mind!
Peace of mind comes only by following Rabbu's guidance. (13:28). That is, if a straight path is found and equilibrium is created in it, society will continue to move forward. (91: 9)
ٱرۡجِعِيٓ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةٗ مَّرۡضِيَّةٗ٢٨
89:28. 'Your deeds shall be in harmony with the ordinances of Rabbu. Only then will the happy life you desire be available from Rabbu. That society will be formed to ensure that.
فَٱدۡخُلِي فِي عِبَٰدِي٢٩
89:29. O Social Reformer! You cannot live alone in these comforts. It can only be obtained through a joint lifestyle. So keep in touch with those who are obedient to Rabbu.
وَٱدۡخُلِي جَنَّتِي٣٠
89:30. Thus enter into Paradise which will result by following the guidance of Allah (9: 111).
Thus, for them, this worldly life and the life hereafter will be heavenly
Chapter No. 90. Soorah: Baladh (The Town)