The Prophets (Sūrah Al-Anbiyā)
Themes of the Sūrah:
It focuses on the uniformity of messengership by
reminding of the conditions of the messengers and
their uniform call to worship Allah alone.
۲۲
Explanation:
1 People’s being taken to account for their actions
on the Day of Judgment has come close, but they
are turning away from the afterlife in their unmind-
fulness, due to their being preoccupied with the
world.
2 And no part of the Qur’ān which is newly re-
vealed comes to them except that they listen to it
without benefiting, but rather playful listening,
without caring about its contents.
3 They listened to it whilst their hearts were
unmindful of it. And those who are wrongdoers
through disbelief hid their private talk when they
said: “Is this one who claims to be a messenger but
a man like you, without any distinction from you?
What he has brought is magic. So will you follow
him knowing that he is a man like you and what he
has brought is magic?”
4 The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “My
Lord knows the speech you concealed, for He
knows everything said by anyone in the heavens
and the earth. He is Hearing of the sayings of His
servants and Knowing of their actions, for which
He shall reward them”.
5 But they were unsure of what Muhammad
(peace be upon him) brought. At times they said:
Al-Anbiyā 322 Part 17
“Confused dreams which have no meaning”. And
at times they said: “No, but in fact he made it up without any basis”. And sometimes they said: “He is a magician. If he
is true in his claim, he should bring us a miracle like the former messengers, as they brought miracles like the staff of
Moses and the camel of Salih”.
6 Before these who are making a request, no town which ever made a request for divine signs. to be revealed and was
then granted them as per their request ever believed. In fact, they denied them so I destroyed them. So will these people
believe?
7 And I did not send before you, O Messenger, except men amongst humans to whom I would send revelation. I did not
send them as angels, so ask the People of the Book before you if you do not know this.
8 And I did not make the messengers I used to send as bodies which did not eat food. In fact, they used to eat as others
eat, and they were not to remain in the world without dying.
9 Then I fulfilled what I promised My messengers, as I saved them and whomever I wanted amongst the believers from
being destroyed. And I destroyed those who overstepped the limit through disbelief in Allah and committing disobedi-
ence.
10 I have revealed to you the Qur’ān in which lies your honour and pride, if you believe it and act according to its con-
tents. Do you not understand this, so that you hasten towards believing it and practicing what it contains?
Beneficial Points:
1. The Day of Judgment is near, making it necessary to prepare for it.
2. The Qur’ān is revealed anew according to incidents and occurrences.
3. The preoccupation of the hearts in futile things diverts them from the truth.
4. Falsehood is unable to counter the truth through proof.
5. Allah’s knowledge encompasses every saying and action of His servants.
6. The idolaters’ differing in their stance towards the Prophet (peace be upon him) shows their disarray and confusion.
7. Proof and miracles are of no benefit to stubborn opponents.
8. Allah is with His messengers and those who believe, by aiding and helping them against the enemies.
9. The Qur’ān is an honour for one who believes in it and practices it.
11 There are many towns which I destroyed due to
their injustice through disbelief, and I created other
۲۳ people after them.
12 Then when those who were destroyed saw My
destructive punishment, they began to run from
their towns to flee destruction.
13 They were being called mockingly: “Do not
flee, but return to your enjoyment of luxuries which
you were in and to your homes, so that you can be
questioned somewhat regarding your worldly pos-
sessions”.
14 These wrongdoers who confessed to their sins
said: “Woe and destruction for us. We were wrong-
doers due to our disbelief in Allah”.
15 So they continued confessing to their sins and
praying for their own destruction until I made them
like harvested crops, dead without any movement.
16 And I did not create the heavens and the earth
and whatever is in between as a plaything or in
vain, but rather I created them to show My power.
17 If I wanted to take a wife or child, I would have
done so on My own part. But I did not do this as I
am pure of this.
18 But rather, I throw the truth I reveal to My mes-
sengers upon the falsehood of the disbelievers, and
it destroys it, and then their falsehood goes and fin-
ishes. And for you, O you who say Allah has taken
a wife or son, is destruction, due to your describing
Him with what is inappropriate for Him.
As taking a wife or child would indicate neediness,
Allah clearly stated He is the Owner of the Uni-
verse, saying:
Al-Anbiyā 323 Part 17 19 And for Him alone is the kingdom of the heav-
ens and the kingdom of earth. And the angels with Him neither scorn worshipping Him nor do they tire of it.
20 They constantly glorify Him without tiring of it.
21 But the idolaters took Allahs besides Allah which cannot revive the dead, so how do they worship something unable
to do this?
22 If there were numerous Allahs in the heavens and the earth, they would have been ruined, due to the Allahs disputing
in the kingdom. But the reality is not like this. So Allah, Lord of the Throne, is pure of the lie the idolaters describe Him
with, namely that He has partners.
23 And Allah is alone in His kingdom and decree. Nobody can ask Him what He has decreed and ordered, whilst He will
ask His servants about their actions and will reward them accordingly.
24 But they took other Allahs besides Allah. Say, O Messenger, to these idolaters: “Bring your proof for their being wor-
thy of worship. This book which has been revealed to me and the books revealed upon the messengers contain no proof
for you”. But rather most of the idolaters only take support from ignorance and blind following, so they turn away from
accepting the truth.
Beneficial Points:
1. Oppression is a cause of destruction for individuals and communities.
2. Allah has not created anything in vain, because He is exalted from doing anything vain.
3. The victory of truth and the defeat of falsehood are a divine custom.
4. The angels have been inherently designed and created to obey Allah.
5. The belief of idolatry has been broken through the proof of mutual negation.
