http://www.recitequran.com/en/tafsir/en.ibn-kathir/10:1

http://www.recitequran.com/en/tafsir/en.ibn-kathir/10:1

10

YUNUS

JONAH

Ibn Kathir - English

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Verse

1

Page 208

WHICH WAS REVEALED IN MAKKAH

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

﴿ الٓر‌ۚ تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ • أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنۡ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ أَنۡ أَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ قَدَمَ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ رَبِّہِمۡ‌ۗ قَالَ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرُونَ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ ﴾

(1. Alif-Lam-Ra. These are the verses of the Book (the Qur'an) Al-Hakim.) (2. Is it a wonder for mankind that We have sent Our revelation to a man from among themselves (saying): "Warn mankind, and give good news to those who believe that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds'' (But) the disbelievers say: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer!'') The isolated letters in the beginning of this Surah, as well as in others, have been previously discussed at the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah. Allah said:

﴿ تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ ﴾

(These are the verses of the Book (the Qur'an) Al-Hakim.) This indicates that these are verses of the Qur'an, in which the wisdom of judgment is clear.

THE MESSENGER CANNOT BE BUT A HUMAN BEING

Allah rebukes the attitude of the disbelievers with the words

﴿ أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا ﴾

(Is it a wonder for mankind...) They have always found it strange that Allah would send Messengers to them from among mankind. Allah also tells us about other people from previous nations who said,

﴿ أَبَشَرٌ۬ يَہۡدُونَنَا ﴾

(Shall mere men guide us) (64:6) Hud and Salih said to their people:

﴿ أَوَعَجِبۡتُمۡ أَن جَآءَكُمۡ ذِكۡرٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ۬ مِّنكُمۡ ﴾

(Do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you.) (7:63) Allah also told us what the disbelievers from Quraysh said:

﴿ أَجَعَلَ ٱلۡأَلِهَةَ إِلَـٰهً۬ا وَٲحِدًا‌ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىۡءٌ عُجَابٌ۬ ﴾

(Has he made the gods into one God Verily, this is a curious thing!) (38:5) Ad-Dahhak reported Ibn `Abbas that he said: "When Allah sent Muhammad as a Messenger, most of the Arabs denied him and his message and said: Allah is greater than sending a human Messenger like Muhammad. '' Ibn `Abbas said, "So Allah revealed:

﴿ أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا ﴾

(Is it a wonder for mankind...)'' Allah's statement;

﴿ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ قَدَمَ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ رَبِّہِمۡ‌ۗ ﴾

(that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds) Scholars have differed over the meaning of the reward for the good deeds in this Ayah:

﴿ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ قَدَمَ صِدۡقٍ ﴾

(and give good news to those who believe that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said about this Ayah, "Eternal happiness has been written for them.'' Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "It is the good reward for what they have done.'' Mujahid said: "It is their good deeds - their prayers, fasting, charity, and glorification.'' He then said, "And Muhammad will intercede for them.'' Allah said:

﴿ قَالَ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرُونَ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ ﴾

((But) the disbelievers say: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer!'') This means that the disbelievers said this although Allah has sent a Messenger from among themselves to them, a man of their own race as a bearer of good news and as a warner. But they are the liars in saying that.

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ۬ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ‌ۖ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ‌ۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ إِذۡنِهِۦ‌ۚ ذَٲلِڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّڪُمۡ فَٱعۡبُدُوهُ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴾

(3. "Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then rose over (Istawa) the Throne, arranging the affair (of all things). No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after He permits. That is Allah, your Lord; so worship Him (alone). Then, will you not remember)

ALLAH IS THE CREATOR WHO ARRANGES THE AFFAIRS OF THE UNIVERSE

Allah tells us that He is the Lord of the entire existence. He tells us that He created the heavens and the earth in six days. It was said: "Like these days (meaning our worldly days).'' It was also said: "Every day is like a thousand years of what we reckon.'' Later, this will be discussed further.

﴿ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ‌ۖ ﴾

(and then rose over (Istawa) the Throne.)'' The Throne is the greatest of the creatures and is like a ceiling for them. Allah's statement:

﴿ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ‌ۖ ﴾

(arranging the affair (of all things).) means that He controls the affairs of the creatures.

﴿ لَا يَعۡزُبُ عَنۡهُ مِثۡقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ﴾

(Not even the weight of a speck of dust escapes His Knowledge in the heavens or in the earth.) (34:3) No affair distract' Him from other affairs. No matter troubles Him. The persistent requests of His creatures do not annoy Him. He governs big things as He governs small things everywhere, on the mountains, in the oceans, in populated areas, or in wastelands.

﴿ وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزۡقُهَا ﴾

(And no moving creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah.) (11:6)

﴿ وَمَا تَسۡقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعۡلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ۬ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا رَطۡبٍ۬ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ ﴾

(Not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.) (6:59) Ad-Darawardi narrated from Sa`d bin Ishaq bin Ka`b bin `Ujrah that he said: "When this Ayah was revealed,

﴿ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ ﴾

(Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth) they met a great caravan whom they thought should be Arabs. They said to them: `Who are you' They replied: `We are Jinns. We left Al-Madinah because of this Ayah.''' This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim. Allah said:

﴿ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ إِذۡنِهِۦ‌ۚ ﴾

(No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after He permits.) This is similar to what is in the following Ayat:

﴿ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦ‌ۚ ﴾

(Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission) (2:255) and,

﴿ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ ﴾

(And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)(53:26), and;

﴿ وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا لِمَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُۚ ۥ ﴾

(Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits.)(34:23). Allah then said:

﴿ ذَٲلِڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّڪُمۡ فَٱعۡبُدُوهُ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴾

(That is Allah, your Lord; so worship Him (alone). Then, will you not remember) meaning worship Him alone with no partners.

﴿ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴾

(Then will you not remember) meaning "O idolaters, you worship gods with Allah while you know that He alone is the Creator,'' as He said:

﴿ وَلَٮِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَهُمۡ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ ﴾

(And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: "Allah.'')(43:87),

﴿ قُلۡ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ ٱلسَّبۡعِ وَرَبُّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ﴾

﴿ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ‌ۚ قُلۡ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ﴾

("Say: "Who is (the) Lord of the seven heavens, and (the) Lord of the Great Throne They will say: "Allah.'' Say: "Will you not then have Taqwa'') (23:86-87), Similar is mentioned in the Ayah before this Ayah and after it.

﴿ إِلَيۡهِ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۖ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقًّا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ يَبۡدَؤُاْ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ۥ لِيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ لَهُمۡ شَرَابٌ۬ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٍ۬ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡفُرُونَ ﴾

(4. To Him is the return of all of you. The promise of Allah is true. It is He Who begins the creation and then will repeat it, that He may reward with justice those who believed and did deeds of righteousness. But those who disbelieved will have a drink of boiling fluids and painful torment because they used to disbelieve.)

THE RETURN OF EVERYTHING IS TO ALLAH

Allah tells us that the return of the creatures on the Day of Resurrection is to Him. He will not leave anyone of them without bringing everyone into being as He brought them in the beginning. Then Allah states that He is going to bring all the creatures into being.

﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَبۡدَؤُاْ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ۥ وَهُوَ أَهۡوَنُ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۚ ﴾

(And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it (after it has perished); and this is easier for Him.) (30:27),

﴿ لِيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ ﴾

(that He may reward with justice those who believed and did deeds of righteousness.) meaning, the reward will be with justice and complete recompense.

﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ لَهُمۡ شَرَابٌ۬ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٍ۬ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡفُرُونَ ﴾

(But those who disbelieved will have a drink of boiling fluids and painful torment because they used to disbelieve.) meaning, because of their disbelief they will be punished on the Day of Resurrection by different forms of torment, such as fierce hot winds, boiling water, and the shadow of black smoke.

﴿ هَـٰذَا فَلۡيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌ۬ وَغَسَّاقٌ۬ • وَءَاخَرُ مِن شَكۡلِهِۦۤ أَزۡوَٲجٌ ﴾

(This is so! Then let them taste it; a boiling fluid and dirty wound discharges. And other (torments) of similar kind all together!) (38: 57-58)

﴿ هَـٰذِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ ٱلَّتِى يُكَذِّبُ بِہَا ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ • يَطُوفُونَ بَيۡنَہَا وَبَيۡنَ حَمِيمٍ ءَانٍ۬ ﴾

(This is the Hell which the criminals denied. They will go between it (Hell) and the fierce boiling water!) (55:43-44)

﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ ضِيَآءً۬ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ نُورً۬ا وَقَدَّرَهُ ۥ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعۡلَمُواْ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلۡحِسَابَ‌ۚ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ذَٲلِكَ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يَعۡلَمُونَ • إِنَّ فِى ٱخۡتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّہَارِ وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَتَّقُونَ ﴾

(5. It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning. Allah did not create this but in truth. He explains the Ayat in detail for people who have knowledge.) (6. Verily, in the alternation of the night and the day and in all that Allah has created in the heavens and the earth are Ayat for those who have Taqwa.)