Surah Qaf Tafsir The Letter Qaf |
Written by Nuraz |
Salaam (WRWB). Surah Qaf is one of the many surahs that touch light about the Day of Judgement. But it also introduces and provides the interesting truths of our recording, and our intentions behind all of our acts in this world. To summarize this all in one word, is “The Resurrection.”
Surah Qaf literally means, “The Letter Qaf.” Surah Qaf is a surah that is Makki, and has 45 ayats. It is the 50th Chapter of the Quran.
The surah had been revealed at a time in which the Prophet (PBUH) was spreading the message of the Afterlife. It is a Makki Surah. Which is what this surah talks about. Before we get into the Surah itself, you have to reflect on the topic of the Akhirah.
In case you didn’t know there are 2 lives we believe in, the first life being the dunya (our time spent on this Earth) and the akhirah (the time spent after we die). One big misunderstanding of the akhirah is that the start is not the Day of Judgement, rather it is from the time we are in the grave.
This surah discusses warnings and reminders of the afterlife, and Allah (SWT)’s power and gives you a description about how the Day of Judgement is like. It’s essentially a wake up call to those who are disbelieving in the past or present.
So now let us dive closer into the Surah.
قٓۚ وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ ٱلۡمَجِيدِ
Meaning - Qaf. By the honored Qur’an… (50:1)
بَلۡ عَجِبُوٓاْ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٞ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَقَالَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا شَيۡءٌ عَجِيبٌ
Meaning - But they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say, “This is an amazing thing. (50:2)
أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗاۖ ذَٰلِكَ رَجۡعُۢ بَعِيدٞ
Meaning - When we have died and have become dust, [we will return to life]? That is a distant return.” (50:3)
These ayats relay a preview of the people of the Quraysh. The same people who the Prophet (PBUH) was raised in, yet he was one of the biggest enemies of this tribe at that time. These people won’t be focused on life in the distance, the afterlife. As we all know, it is the most important of the two.
Another side note within these ayats is the letter Qaf stretched signified means that Qaf will appear a lot in the surah. Just like the “Noon” in Surah Qalam or “Saad” in Surah Sad.
Allah (SWT) sheds bad light onto these people as he mentions in the next ayats,
قَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا مَا تَنقُصُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ مِنۡهُمۡۖ وَعِندَنَا كِتَٰبٌ حَفِيظُۢ
Meaning - We know what the earth diminishes from them, and with Us is a retaining record. (50:4)
بَلۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ فَهُمۡ فِيٓ أَمۡرٖ مَّرِيجٍ
Meaning - But they denied the truth when it came to them, so they are in a confused condition. (50:5)
The confused people shouldn’t always be assumed to be the Quareysh or the disbelievers at the time of the Prophet (PBUH), they can be us. So treat this as a warning from Allah (SWT). These people are often ignorant of kind and always neglect the true statement of Allah’s powers.
The next section of the surah discusses the nature of Allah (SWT). And you might be asking me why nature? As we already know nature is a creation of Allah (SWT), and so he refers to that here saying how vast and perfect his creations are showing his power.
أَفَلَمۡ يَنظُرُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ كَيۡفَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّـٰهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجٖ
Meaning - Have they not looked at the heaven above them – how We structured it and adorned it and [how] it has no rifts? (50:6)
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَدَدۡنَٰهَا وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ وَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوۡجِۭ بَهِيجٖ
Meaning - And the earth – We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, (50:7)
تَبۡصِرَةٗ وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِكُلِّ عَبۡدٖ مُّنِيبٖ
Meaning - Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah]. (50:8)
وَنَزَّلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ مُّبَٰرَكٗا فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٖ وَحَبَّ ٱلۡحَصِيدِ
Meaning - And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky and made grow thereby gardens and grain from the harvest (50:9)
وَٱلنَّخۡلَ بَاسِقَٰتٖ لَّهَا طَلۡعٞ نَّضِيدٞ
Meaning - And lofty palm trees having fruit arranged in layers (50:10)
These ayats like Allah (SWT) mentions are a warning, and only shows you the perfection of Allah (SWT), no dim gaps or cracks, simply perfection, look at the nature outside and see the way that it is built. As one of the purposes of nature whether it’s the mountains, the sky or the heavens. The ayat later further indicated a loophole, closing this section off with the ultimate fate of the Day of Resurrection.
رِّزۡقٗا لِّلۡعِبَادِۖ وَأَحۡيَيۡنَا بِهِۦ بَلۡدَةٗ مَّيۡتٗاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡخُرُوجُ
Meaning - As provision for the servants, and We have given life thereby to a dead land. Thus is the resurrection. (50:11)
In the section after, Allah (SWT) talks about the sinful nations of the past. He mentions,
كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحٖ وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ
Meaning - The people of Noah denied before them, and the companions of the well and Thamud. (50:12)
وَعَادٞ وَفِرۡعَوۡنُ وَإِخۡوَٰنُ لُوطٖ
Meaning - And ‘Aad and Pharaoh and the brothers of Lot. (50:13)
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡأَيۡكَةِ وَقَوۡمُ تُبَّعٖۚ كُلّٞ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ
Meaning - And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubba’. All denied the messengers, so my threat was justly fulfilled. (50:14)
These ayats are self explanatory, it's a warning to those people (us) who read this message from the future. A signal to end up like these people.
Allah (SWT) as we know is Al-Baseer and As-Samee, “all seeing”, “all hearing.” Therefore he critiques those who still disbelief and live in the careless way they do.
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفۡسُهُۥۖ وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِيدِ
Meaning - And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein. (50:16)
إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٞ
Meaning - When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. (50:17)
مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٞ
Meaning - Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record]. (50:18)
وَجَآءَتۡ سَكۡرَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنۡهُ تَحِيدُ
Meaning - And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid. (50:19)
These ayats come as drastic as they are. Firstly Allah (SWT) describes himself being closer to as than anyone ever. More closer than ourselves as a matter of fact. A jugular vein simply is the major veins in your throat. That scorchy sort of solid line you feel is a jugular vein. Thick and has multiple veins leading to the mouth and chest.
And he mentions two angels left and right. Raqeeb and Atiid reside on your shoulders, writing the deeds you commit bad (left) and good (right), "receiving" everything that you do. As each word we say is observed and is collected by pen from a book of your life that is to return to Allah (SWT). Imagine a voice record (voice memo) being recorded in the minute that won’t stop until you pass.
As these ayats should remind of the power and closeness Allah (SWT) is to us, showing he can see what’s unseen for others. When you're alone or together or deceased, Allah (SWT) is always watching and we cannot sneak or get away with anything we do whatsoever.
Those books then are collected and revealed on the Day of Resurrection as Allah (SWT) touches on this aspect in the next few ayats, giving us a reminder of this difficult day.
وَنُفِخَ فِي ٱلصُّورِۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡوَعِيدِ
Meaning - And the Horn will be blown. That is the Day of [carrying out] the threat. (50:20)
وَجَآءَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسٖ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقٞ وَشَهِيدٞ
Meaning - And every soul will come, with it a driver and a witness. (50:21)
لَّقَدۡ كُنتَ فِي غَفۡلَةٖ مِّنۡ هَٰذَا فَكَشَفۡنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ حَدِيدٞ
Meaning - [It will be said], “You were certainly in unmindfulness of this, and We have removed from you your cover, so your sight, this Day, is sharp.” (50:22)
Imagine that book that the two angels had recorded open and come alive once Israfil (AS) blows the horn marking the beginning of the Day of Judgement. Each soul receives a fair judgement; good or bad, based on the witness and driver's statement. Exposing one like a naked fruit, all hiding and coverings being lifted on this day.
وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ هَٰذَا مَا لَدَيَّ عَتِيدٌ
Meaning - And his companion, [the angel], will say, “This [record] is what is with me, prepared.” (50:23)
أَلۡقِيَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٖ
Meaning - [Allah will say], “Throw into Hell every obstinate disbeliever. (50:24)
مَّنَّاعٖ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٖ مُّرِيبٍ
Meaning - Preventer of good, aggressor, and doubter. (50:25)
ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَأَلۡقِيَاهُ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلشَّدِيدِ
Meaning - Who made [as equal] with Allah another deity; then threw him into severe punishment.” (50:26)
The book has been unleashed. Exposing the wrong, giving justice to the righteous. Allah (SWT) emphasizes the disbelievers, giving the truth and giving them a taste of the Hellfire depending on their results and judgement of their book that has been recorded for their lifetime.
He characterizes these people as sinful people, aggressive people: those who think pridefully of himself, possess pride, and treat others with disrespect and torment, and doubters, those who doubt the message of the Quran. The true disbelievers who fell for the Shaytaan. As Allah (SWT) gives both the believers and disbelievers what they had been promised. Hellfire and Paradise.
۞قَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطۡغَيۡتُهُۥ وَلَٰكِن كَانَ فِي ضَلَٰلِۭ بَعِيدٖ
Meaning - His [devil] companion will say, “Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error.” (50:27)
قَالَ لَا تَخۡتَصِمُواْ لَدَيَّ وَقَدۡ قَدَّمۡتُ إِلَيۡكُم بِٱلۡوَعِيدِ
Meaning - [Allah] will say, “Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the warning. (50:28)
مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ لَدَيَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّـٰمٖ لِّلۡعَبِيدِ
Meaning - The word will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants.” (50:29)
يَوۡمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمۡتَلَأۡتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلۡ مِن مَّزِيدٖ
Meaning - On the Day We will say to Hell, “Have you been filled?” and it will say, “Are there some more,” (50:30)
وَأُزۡلِفَتِ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ غَيۡرَ بَعِيدٍ
Meaning - And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far. (50:31)
هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٖ
Meaning - [It will be said], “This is what you were promised – for every returner [to Allah] and keeper [of His covenant] (50:32)
مَّنۡ خَشِيَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَجَآءَ بِقَلۡبٖ مُّنِيبٍ
Meaning - Who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance]. (50:33)
ٱدۡخُلُوهَا بِسَلَٰمٖۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡخُلُودِ
Meaning - Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity.” (50:34)
لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيۡنَا مَزِيدٞ
Meaning - They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more. (50:35)
These ayats talk about the interconnectedness between the disbelievers of the Shayateen. These disbelievers reluctantly fall for this trap listening to the Waswaas of the Shayateen instead of obeying Allah (SWT)’s commands, failing this worldly test as it is a deadly trap. With the contrast of the people of Paradise, those believers who had strived, passing the test being rewarded. As this is the ultimate fate of every soul on the Day of Judgement. A fulfillment of the “promise” as Allah (SWT) indicates in these ayats.
Unlike the people of Hellfire, the people of Paradise will enter with peace and enjoyment, being fulfilled eternally (forever), being granted whatever wish they deserve in the heavenly gardens of Paradise, accompanied by the lush trees and endless rivers. Which gives us two perspectives, two outcomes of the Day of Judgement. Two ends of the book.
وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّن قَرۡنٍ هُمۡ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُم بَطۡشٗا فَنَقَّبُواْ فِي ٱلۡبِلَٰدِ هَلۡ مِن مَّحِيصٍ
Meaning - And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape? (50:36)
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكۡرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُۥ قَلۡبٌ أَوۡ أَلۡقَى ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٞ
Meaning - Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind]. (50:37)
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٖ
Meaning - And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness. (50:38)
These ayats refer to the Quaryesh like it had been addressed in the beginning of the surah, hence a “generation” before them. Showing how the Quaryesh tribe were people who were wrong. And in the next ayat it ties back to us, giving us a rhetorical question whether we want to end up like them and the rest of the disbelievers or head to the straight path. This is paired up alongside the other ayat where Allah (SWT) shows the divine creation of the Heavens and Earth being made in just 6 days.
We know this is the Quareysh because of the next ayat, as Allah (SWT) mentions,
فَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ قَبۡلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمۡسِ وَقَبۡلَ ٱلۡغُرُوبِ
Meaning - So be patient, [O Muhammad], over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting. (50:39)
Allah (SWT) concludes this surah by sharing details of the Day of Resurrection capping of the bottle of the warning, a call to action for the believer and a warning for those who deny the message.
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَسَبِّحۡهُ وَأَدۡبَٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ
Meaning - And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration. (50:40)
وَٱسۡتَمِعۡ يَوۡمَ يُنَادِ ٱلۡمُنَادِ مِن مَّكَانٖ قَرِيبٖ
Meaning - And listen on the Day when the Caller will call out from a place that is near. (50:41)
يَوۡمَ يَسۡمَعُونَ ٱلصَّيۡحَةَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡخُرُوجِ
Meaning - The Day they will hear the blast [of the Horn] in truth. That is the Day of Emergence [from the graves]. (50:42)
إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡيِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيۡنَا ٱلۡمَصِيرُ
Meaning - Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination. (50:43)
يَوۡمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ عَنۡهُمۡ سِرَاعٗاۚ ذَٰلِكَ حَشۡرٌ عَلَيۡنَا يَسِيرٞ
Meaning - On the Day the earth breaks away from them [and they emerge] rapidly; that is a gathering easy for Us. (50:44)
نَّحۡنُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِجَبَّارٖۖ فَذَكِّرۡ بِٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ
Meaning - We are most knowing of what they say, and you are not over them a tyrant. But reminded by the Qur’an whoever fears My threat. (50:45)
A couple of notes regarding these ayats. The “caller” is indirectly mentioning Israfil which as we know he blows the trumpet. Because we are by then in our graves the sound of the horn will come by close to us, opening the doors of a new life from the Day of Judgement. As Allah (SWT) says he gives life (Hayyat) and death (Mawt), as we return to Allah (SWT), a full circle.
And everything we had left on Earth, our property, our wealth, our life will all be gone. And the Quran is meant to be a reminder for all, and will only be turned to for those who believe it to be called in action for this threat.
To recap this Surah in a couple of details it is,
→ A surah that talks about the Day of Judgement, previewing the bad and the good
→ Shows how Allah (SWT) knows everything we do and his power in his creation
→ Shows Allah (SWT)’s attributes and divine creations
→ How the disbelievers were punished and will be punished, serving a warning for those currently standing
So let us remember the Day of Judgement with serious intentions, and use this Surah as a warning, Salaam (WRWB).