As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 27, An-Naml or the Ants, verses 59-82. These verses implore us to think if there is any god besides Allah who has created anything in the universe or answers the oppressed or guides us to the Right Way. The disbelievers doubt God’s power of creation but the Qur’an clarifies those matters in which they and the Israelites differ. Lastly, we are shown a sign of the Doomsday, the beast of the doomsday.
Tafseer concerns the beast of the doomsday, mentioned in verse 82.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.Say: “Praise be to Allah and peace be on His servants whom He has chosen to deliver His message. Ask them: “ Who is better? Allah or the deities they associate with Him?”[59] 27:[59]
Is not He (Allah), Who has created the heavens and the earth, sends down rain from the sky and with it brings forth the beautiful gardens not better than the false gods that they worship? It is not in your ability to cause the growth of trees for those gardens. Is there another god besides Allah who could do that? No doubt they are a people who have swerved from justice in ascribing equals to Him.[60] Just think who has made the earth a place for your residence, caused in it the rivers to flow, set mountains upon it and placed a barrier between the two seas? Is there another god besides Allah? Nay, most of them have no knowledge.[61] Just think who answers the oppressed person when he cries out to Him and relieves his affliction, and makes you, O mankind, inheritors of the earth? Is there another god besides Allah? How little do you reflect![62] Just think who guides you in darkness on the land and the sea, and who sends the winds as heralds of good news of His mercy? Is there another god besides Allah? Exalted be Allah above what they associate with Him![63] Just think who originates creation and then repeats its production, and who gives you sustenance from the heavens and the earth? Is there another god besides Allah? Say: “Show us your proof if you are telling the truth!”[64] Say: No one in the heavens or in the earth has the knowledge of the unseen except Allah and their gods do not know when they shall be raised to life again.[65] Their knowledge does not grasp the Hereafter; rather they are in doubt about it; nay, they are blind concerning it![66] 27:[60-66]
The unbelievers say: “What! When we and our fathers have become dust, shall we really be raised from the dead?[67] This promise which is made to us was also made to our forefathers before us; these are nothing but the legends of primitive people.”[68] Say: “Travel through the earth and see what has been the end of the criminals.”[69] O Prophet, do not worry about them nor feel distressed because of their plots.[70] They also say: “When will this promise be fulfilled if what you say be true?”[71] Say: “It may be that a part of what you wish to hasten is near at hand.”[72] The fact is that your Rabb is very gracious to mankind: yet most of them are ungrateful.[73] Indeed your Rabb knows what their breasts conceal and what they reveal.[74] Nor is there any secret in the heaven and the earth which is not recorded in a clear Book.[75] In fact, this Qur’an clarifies for the Children of Israel most of those matters in which they differ.[76] It is certainly a guide and blessing to true believers.[77] Surely your Rabb will decide between them by His judgment, He is the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.[78] Therefore, put your trust in Allah, for you are certainly on the manifest Truth.[79] The fact is that you cannot make the dead hear you, nor can you make the deaf hear the call especially when they turn their backs and pay no heed,[80] nor can you guide the blind people to prevent them from straying; none will listen to you except those who believe in Our revelations and become Muslims.[81] When the time to fulfill Our word comes to pass, We will bring out from the earth a monster that shall speak to them because the people did not believe in Our revelations.[82] 27:[67-82]
Ameen.
Tafseer
Concerning the Beast of the doomsday mentioned in verse 82:
The Beast will be one of the signs of the Last Day to come, before the present World passes away and the new World is brought into being. In symbolic language, it would represent Gross Materialism. It will be the embodiment of fat worldly triumph, which will appeal to a misguided and degenerate world, because such a corrupt world will have no assured belief in the Signs of Allah or in spiritual Light. It will itself be a Sign or Portent, closing the door for repentance. It is not known whether this Beast has any reference to the symbolism in chapter xii of the Book of Revelations, which closes the New Testament. If taklimuhum is read instead of tukallimuhum, it would mean that the Beast would wound them, symbolically, that Materialism would produce its own Nemesis.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.