40. Surah Al-Ghaafir

غافرThe Forgiver · 85 ayahsمعارف القرآن انگلش

Read Surah Al-Ghaafir in the Quran reader
Ayahs 40:37–44

اَسْبَابَ السَّمٰوٰتِ فَاَطَّلِعَ اِلٰۤى اِلٰهِ مُوْسٰى وَ اِنِّیْ لَاَظُنُّهٗ كَاذِبًا١ؕ وَ كَذٰلِكَ زُیِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوْٓءُ عَمَلِهٖ وَ صُدَّ عَنِ السَّبِیْلِ١ؕ وَ مَا كَیْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ اِلَّا فِیْ تَبَابٍ۠ Open ayah 40:37 in the Quran reader

the ways to the heavens, and peek towards the God of Musa. And I do think that he is a liar." And that is how his evil deeds were made attractive to Fir'aun, and (how) he was held back from the way. And the evil design of the Fir'aun was (to end) in nothing but ruin.

وَ قَالَ الَّذِیْۤ اٰمَنَ یٰقَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوْنِ اَهْدِكُمْ سَبِیْلَ الرَّشَادِۚ Open ayah 40:38 in the Quran reader

And said he who had believed, "0 my people, follow me, I will show you the path of guidance.

یٰقَوْمِ اِنَّمَا هٰذِهِ الْحَیٰوةُ الدُّنْیَا مَتَاعٌ١٘ وَّ اِنَّ الْاٰخِرَةَ هِیَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ Open ayah 40:39 in the Quran reader

0 my people, this life of the world is only a (momentary) benefit, while the Hereafter is, indeed, the place of permanent living.

مَنْ عَمِلَ سَیِّئَةً فَلَا یُجْزٰۤى اِلَّا مِثْلَهَا١ۚ وَ مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّنْ ذَكَرٍ اَوْ اُنْثٰى وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَاُولٰٓئِكَ یَدْخُلُوْنَ الْجَنَّةَ یُرْزَقُوْنَ فِیْهَا بِغَیْرِ حِسَابٍ Open ayah 40:40 in the Quran reader

The one who does something evil will not be punished but in its equal proportion, but the one who does a righteous deed, be he male or female, while he is a believer, then, such people will enter the Jannah where they will be provided with bounties beyond reckoning.

وَ یٰقَوْمِ مَا لِیْۤ اَدْعُوْكُمْ اِلَى النَّجٰوةِ وَ تَدْعُوْنَنِیْۤ اِلَى النَّارِؕ Open ayah 40:41 in the Quran reader

And 0 my people, what is wrong with me that I call you to salvation and you call me to the Fire?

تَدْعُوْنَنِیْ لِاَكْفُرَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ اُشْرِكَ بِهٖ مَا لَیْسَ لِیْ بِهٖ عِلْمٌ١٘ وَّ اَنَا اَدْعُوْكُمْ اِلَى الْعَزِیْزِ الْغَفَّارِ Open ayah 40:42 in the Quran reader

You invite me to reject my belief in Allah and ascribe to Him partners about whom I have no knowledge, while I invite you to (Him who is) the Mighty, the Most-Forgiving.

لَا جَرَمَ اَنَّمَا تَدْعُوْنَنِیْۤ اِلَیْهِ لَیْسَ لَهٗ دَعْوَةٌ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ لَا فِی الْاٰخِرَةِ وَ اَنَّ مَرَدَّنَاۤ اِلَى اللّٰهِ وَ اَنَّ الْمُسْرِفِیْنَ هُمْ اَصْحٰبُ النَّارِ Open ayah 40:43 in the Quran reader

It is obvious that those (gods) to whom you are inviting me are not worth calling, neither in this world nor in the world to come, and that we have to return back to Allah, and that the transgressors are indeed the people of the Fire.

فَسَتَذْكُرُوْنَ مَاۤ اَقُوْلُ لَكُمْ١ؕ وَ اُفَوِّضُ اَمْرِیْۤ اِلَى اللّٰهِ١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ بَصِیْرٌۢ بِالْعِبَادِ Open ayah 40:44 in the Quran reader

Soon you will remember what I am saying to you. And I entrust my matter with Allah. Surely, Allah has all (His) servants in sight."

In verse 44, it was said: فَسَتَذْكُرُ‌ونَ مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِ‌ي إِلَى اللَّـهِ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بَصِيرٌ‌ بِالْعِبَادِ (Soon you will remember what I am saying to you. And I entrust my matter with Allah. Surely, Allah has all (His) servants in sight.). This is what the believer from the House of Pharaoh said at the end of his address to his people inviting them to accept the message of truth. Here, it was said that, should they not listen to him within that point of time, there would come a time when the punishment would seize them, and they would remember what he had told them. But, the remembrance of that particular time will be useless. And when by virtue of this lengthy dialogue, advice and invitation, the 'iman or faith of this believer from the House of Pharaoh stood disclosed before these people, he realized that they might bring some harm to him, therefore, he said that he was leaving his case to rest with Allah, for He is the guardian and protector of His servants. Early tafsir authority, Muqatil says: When the people of the Pharaoh, as he had apprehended, went after him, he escaped towards the mountains and they could not catch him.
Ayah 40:45

فَوَقٰىهُ اللّٰهُ سَیِّاٰتِ مَا مَكَرُوْا وَ حَاقَ بِاٰلِ فِرْعَوْنَ سُوْٓءُ الْعَذَابِۚ Open ayah 40:45 in the Quran reader

Then Allah saved him from the evils of what they designed, and the House of the Pharaoh was encircled by an evil punishment.

This has been mentioned in verse 45 in the following words: فَوَقَاهُ اللَّـهُ سَيِّئَاتِ مَا مَكَرُ‌وا وَحَاقَ بِآلِ فِرْ‌عَوْنَ سُوءُ الْعَذَابِ (Then Allah saved him from the evils of what they designed, and the House of the Pharaoh was encircled by an evil punishment.), that is, Allah Ta’ ala saved the believer from the harm the people of Pharaoh planned to bring to him, but they themselves were seized by a severe punishment. First of all, Allah Ta’ ala, in His mercy, saved the believer belonging to the House of Pharaoh right here in this world from the aggressive designs of the people of the Pharaoh against him, the details of which have not been mentioned in the Qur'an. But, the words of the Qur'an seem to say simply that the people of the Pharaoh had made many plans to hurt and kill him, and when the people of Pharaoh were drowned, Allah Ta ala saved this believing servant of Allah along with Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) . As for salvation in the Hereafter, it is fairly obvious.
Ayah 40:46

اَلنَّارُ یُعْرَضُوْنَ عَلَیْهَا غُدُوًّا وَّ عَشِیًّا١ۚ وَ یَوْمَ تَقُوْمُ السَّاعَةُ١۫ اَدْخِلُوْۤا اٰلَ فِرْعَوْنَ اَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ Open ayah 40:46 in the Quran reader

It is the Fire before which they are presented morning and evening. And on the day when the Hour (of final judgment) will take place, (the order will be released,): "Admit the family of the Pharaoh into the most severe punishment."

In the last verse cited here, it was said: النَّارُ‌ يُعْرَ‌ضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا ۖ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْ‌عَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ. (It is the Fire before which they are presented morning and evening. And on the day when the Hour (of final judgment) will take place, (the order will be released): "Admit the family of the Pharaoh into the most severe punishment."- 46). Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn Masud ؓ explained this verse by saying, "Spirits of people from the House of Pharaoh are presented before the Jahannam in the form of black birds, twice every day, morning and evening, and by pointing out to the Jahannam, it is said to them: This is your abode." (Reported by Abd-ur-Razzaq and Ibn Abi Haim - Mazhari) And according to a narration of Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Umar ؓ appearing in the two Sahihs of al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, (the meaning of which is): "When one of you dies (and is in the universe of barzakh, the post-death - pre-resurrection state) he is shown, morning and evening, the place he is to reach after the reckoning of the Day of Judgment. And this place is shown to him every day, and he is told that he has to reach there finally. If this person is from among the people of Jannah, then, Jannah will be shown to him as his place. And if he is from among the people of Jahannam, then, Jahannam will be shown to him as his place." Punishment in graves This verse is a proof of punishment in graves. Uninterrupted reports of ahadith and the consensus (ijma) of the Muslim Ummah confirm it. This humble writer has put together all such material, along with relevant verses from the Qur'an, in a regular treatise entitled: السبر بعذاب القبر As-sabr bi'adhabi-l-qabr. This treatise has been published in Arabic as part of Ahkam-ul-Qur'an.
Ayahs 40:47–51

وَ اِذْ یَتَحَآجُّوْنَ فِی النَّارِ فَیَقُوْلُ الضُّعَفٰٓؤُا لِلَّذِیْنَ اسْتَكْبَرُوْۤا اِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ اَنْتُمْ مُّغْنُوْنَ عَنَّا نَصِیْبًا مِّنَ النَّارِ Open ayah 40:47 in the Quran reader

And (worth remembering is the time) when they (the infidels) will argue with each other in the Fire. So, the weak will say to those who were arrogant, "Surely, we used to be your followers, would you, then, stand for us in (suffering at least a) part of the (punishment of) Fire?"

قَالَ الَّذِیْنَ اسْتَكْبَرُوْۤا اِنَّا كُلٌّ فِیْهَاۤ١ۙ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدْ حَكَمَ بَیْنَ الْعِبَادِ Open ayah 40:48 in the Quran reader

Those who were arrogant will say, 'We all are in it. Allah has already passed the judgment between (His) servants.

وَ قَالَ الَّذِیْنَ فِی النَّارِ لِخَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ ادْعُوْا رَبَّكُمْ یُخَفِّفْ عَنَّا یَوْمًا مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ Open ayah 40:49 in the Quran reader

And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Jahannam, "Pray to your Lord to lighten the punishment for us some day."

قَالُوْۤا اَوَ لَمْ تَكُ تَاْتِیْكُمْ رُسُلُكُمْ بِالْبَیِّنٰتِ١ؕ قَالُوْا بَلٰى١ؕ قَالُوْا فَادْعُوْا١ۚ وَ مَا دُعٰٓؤُا الْكٰفِرِیْنَ اِلَّا فِیْ ضَلٰلٍ۠ Open ayah 40:50 in the Quran reader

They will say, "Had your messengers not been coming to you with open signs?" They will say, "Of course, (they had come)." They (the keepers) will say, "Then, you pray" - and praying of disbelievers (in the Hereafter) is no more than straying off the track.

اِنَّا لَنَنْصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا فِی الْحَیٰوةِ الدُّنْیَا وَ یَوْمَ یَقُوْمُ الْاَشْهَادُۙ Open ayah 40:51 in the Quran reader

Surely, We do help Our messengers and those who believe in the worldly life, as well as on the day in which witnesses will stand (to give their testimony)-

Commentary In the opening statement of verse 51, it was said: إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ‌ رُ‌سُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا (Surely, We do help Our messengers and those who believe in the worldly life, 40:51). This verse carries the promise of Allah Ta’ ala that He would keep helping His messengers and believers, both in the present world and in the Hereafter. It is obvious that this help is intended to be against adversaries and enemies. That it so happened in the case of most prophets (علیہم السلام) ، peace be on them all, is clear enough. But, there were prophets (علیہم السلام) such as, Sayyidna Yahya, Zakariyya and Shu'aib (علیہم السلام) ، who were either martyred by enemies or had to abandon their home country and migrate to some other place - as was the case with Sayyidna Ibrahim علیہ السلام and the last of the prophets, Sayyidna Muhammad al-Mustafa ﷺ . There may be some doubt about that. Ibn Kathir has, with reference to Ibn Jarir, answered this possible doubt by saying that, in this verse, نُصرَت (nusrah: help) means: اِنتِصار (intisar: victory) or subduing of the enemy in retaliation - whether it happens at their hands while they are alive, or after their death. This meaning applies to all prophets and believers without any exception. History bears witness as to how those who killed their prophets (علیہم السلام) were later on subjected to terrible punishments and the disgrace that followed. Upon those who killed Sayyidna Yahya, Zakariyya and Shu'aib (علیہم السلام) ، their enemies were set who showed no mercy while disgracing and killing them. As for Namrud (Nimrod), terrible was the punishment that overtook him. And Allah Ta’ ala set the power of Byzantine against the enemies of Sayyidna 'Isa (علیہ السلام) that defeated and disgraced them. And to him Allah Ta’ ala will give ascendancy over his enemies close to the last day of al-Qiyamah. As for the enemies of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، Allah Ta’ ala had them stand subdued at the hands of Muslims themselves. Their arrogant chiefs were killed. Some were taken prisoners. The rest were rounded up at the time of the conquest of Makkah, but the Holy Prophet ﷺ let them have their freedom. His message spread all over. The faith prevailed. The state of Islam stood established on the entire Arabian Peninsula within the lifetime of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . In the later part of verse 51, it was said: يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ (as well as on the day in which witnesses will stand [ to give their testimony ]. It means the day of Qiyamah (Doomsday). Once they are there, Divine help for prophets and believers will show itself specially.
Ayahs 40:52–56

یَوْمَ لَا یَنْفَعُ الظّٰلِمِیْنَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ وَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَ لَهُمْ سُوْٓءُ الدَّارِ Open ayah 40:52 in the Quran reader

a day when the apology of the unjust will bring them no benefit, and on them shall be the curse, and for them will be the evil abode.

وَ لَقَدْ اٰتَیْنَا مُوْسَى الْهُدٰى وَ اَوْرَثْنَا بَنِیْۤ اِسْرَآءِیْلَ الْكِتٰبَۙ Open ayah 40:53 in the Quran reader

And We gave Guidance to Musa, while We made the children of Isra'il inherit the Book -

هُدًى وَّ ذِكْرٰى لِاُولِی الْاَلْبَابِ Open ayah 40:54 in the Quran reader

as a guide and advice for people of understanding.

فَاصْبِرْ اِنَّ وَعْدَ اللّٰهِ حَقٌّ وَّ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْۢبِكَ وَ سَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ بِالْعَشِیِّ وَ الْاِبْكَارِ Open ayah 40:55 in the Quran reader

So, be patient -- surely the promise of Allah is true - and seek forgiveness for your sins, and proclaim the purity and praise of your Lord in the afternoon and at dawn.

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یُجَادِلُوْنَ فِیْۤ اٰیٰتِ اللّٰهِ بِغَیْرِ سُلْطٰنٍ اَتٰىهُمْ١ۙ اِنْ فِیْ صُدُوْرِهِمْ اِلَّا كِبْرٌ مَّا هُمْ بِبَالِغِیْهِ١ۚ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللّٰهِ١ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِیْعُ الْبَصِیْرُ Open ayah 40:56 in the Quran reader

Surely, those who quarrel in the matter of the verses of Allah without any authority having reached them, there is nothing in their hearts but pride of greatness that they are not (able) to reach. So, seek refuge with Allah. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

In verse 56, it was said: إِن فِي صُدُورِ‌هِمْ إِلَّا كِبْرٌ‌ مَّا هُم بِبَالِغِيهِ (there is nothing in their hearts but pride of greatness that they are not [ able ] to reach). It means that people who quarrel in the matter of the verses of Allah without having any valid argument really look forward to rejecting this faith simply because their hearts are filled with pride and arrogance. They would like to stay ahead in the game and are so dim-witted that they have taken for granted that they have this position of strength as a result of their staunch adherence to their faith, and if they were to surrender this stance by becoming Muslims, they will be left without any power and territory of their own. The Qur'an said: مَّا هُم بِبَالِغِيهِ (they are not [ able ] to reach), that is, these people will never reach the goals of their assumed pride, greatness and state power without embracing Islam. However, had they embraced Islam, honor and greatness would have followed in their footsteps. (Qurtubi)
Ayahs 40:57–60

لَخَلْقُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ اَكْبَرُ مِنْ خَلْقِ النَّاسِ وَ لٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعْلَمُوْنَ Open ayah 40:57 in the Quran reader

Certainly, the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of human beings, but most human beings do not know.

وَ مَا یَسْتَوِی الْاَعْمٰى وَ الْبَصِیْرُ١ۙ۬ وَ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَ لَا الْمُسِیْٓءُ١ؕ قَلِیْلًا مَّا تَتَذَكَّرُوْنَ Open ayah 40:58 in the Quran reader

And the blind one and the sighted one are not equal, and those who believed and did good deeds and the evil ones are not (equal) either. Little you learn!

اِنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَاٰتِیَةٌ لَّا رَیْبَ فِیْهَا وَ لٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یُؤْمِنُوْنَ Open ayah 40:59 in the Quran reader

Certainly, the Hour is bound to come. There is no doubt in it, but most of the people do not believe.

وَ قَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُوْنِیْۤ اَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ١ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِیْ سَیَدْخُلُوْنَ جَهَنَّمَ دٰخِرِیْنَ۠ Open ayah 40:60 in the Quran reader

And your Lord has said, "Call Me, I will respond to you. Definitely those who show arrogance against worshipping Me shall enter Jahannam, disgraced.

The reality of du` a' (supplication) and its merits, levels and conditions of acceptance In the last verse cited in this unit, it was said: وَقَالَ رَ‌بُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُ‌ونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِ‌ينَ And your Lord has said, “ Call Me, I will respond to you. Definitely those who show arrogance against worshipping Me shall enter Jahannam, disgraced. - 40:60. Literally, du'a means to call, and it is frequently used to call for something needed. On occasions, the dhikr of Allah (acts devoted to His remembrance) is also referred to as du'a. This verse confers a special honor on the large community of the followers of the Holy Prophet ﷺ when they were ordered to make dua' with the assurance that it would be answered. And whoever does not make a prayer has been warned of punishment. Qatadah reports from Ka'b Ahbar that earlier this used to be peculiar to prophets, as they were the ones who were ordered by Allah Ta’ ala that they should make dua' and He would answer. Now, it is the distinction of the followers of the Holy Prophet ﷺ (popularly identified as Ummah Muhammadiyyah) that this order was universalized for his entire Ummah. (IbnKathir) Explaining this verse, Sayyidna Nu` man Ibn Bashir ؓ narrated a Hadith that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: اِنَّ الدُّعَآء ھُو العِبَادۃ (Surely, prayer is worship on its own) and then supported it by reciting this verse: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُ‌ونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي ، (Definitely those who show arrogance against worshipping Me shall enter Jahannam, disgraced.) (reported by Imam Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Abu Dawud and others - Ibn Kathir) It appears in Tafsir Mazhari that, if looked at under the rules of Arabic diction (confining of the predicate to the subject), the Hadith: اِنَّ الدُّعَآء ھُو العِبَادۃ ، could mean: 'dua' is the very name of 'ibadah' or worship, that is, every dua' is but ` ibadah. Then, by reversing the same rule (confining the subject to the predicate), it could also mean that every act of ` ibadah is itself nothing but a dua'. Both probabilities exist here. And at this place, the meaning is that dua' (prayer, supplication) and ` ibadah (worship, devotion) are, though separate from each other in terms of the literal sense, yet in terms of substantiation, they are unified, as every dua' is ` ibadah and every ` ibadah is dua'. The reason is that ` ibadah is the name of the attitude of showing one's utter modesty and abasement before someone, and it is all too obvious that showing one's utter helplessness before someone and extending one's hand before him with , the beggar's bowl is a matter of great disgrace - which is the very sense of` ibadah. Similarly, the outcome of every ` ibadah is also to ask Allah Ta’ ala for forgiveness and Jannah and that He blesses us with a perfect state of well being in this world and in the world to come. Therefore, it appears in a Hadith qudsi (a Hadith in which the Holy Prophet ﷺ conveys a saying from Allah that is not included in the Qur'an) that Allah Ta’ ala said: "One who is so engrossed in remembering Me that he does not have even the time to ask for what he needs, I shall give him more than those who ask (by fulfilling his needs without the asking) " (reported by al-Jazri in An-Nihayah) and in a narration appearing in Tirmidhi and Muslim, the words are: من شغلہ القرآن عن ذکری و مسٔلتی اعطیتہ افضل ما اعطی السأیٔلین ("One who is so engrossed in the recitation of the Qur'an that he does not have even the time to ask for what he needs, I shall give him even more than what those who ask ever get" ). This tells us that every ` ibadah brings the same benefit as is the benefit of dua'. And in the Hadith of 'Arafat, it appears that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "In ` Arafat, my du a' and the du a' of prophets before me is (the saying of): لا إله إلا اللہ وحده لا شريک له له الملک وله الحمد وهو علی کل شيئ قدير (la ilaha il-lal-lahu wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shai'in qadir: There is no god but Allah who is one. No one shares His godhead. To Him belongs the kingdom and to Him belongs all praise, and He is powerful over everything) (reported by Ibn Abi Shaibah - Mazhari). Here, عِبَادَہ ('ibadah: worship) and ذِکرُاللہ (dhikrullah: the dhikr or remembrance of Allah) has been called: دُعَا (dua': prayer, supplication). In this verse under study, those who abandon dua' in the sense of ` ibadah the warning of Jahannam given to them is in the eventuality of being too proud, that is, a person who, in his pride, considers himself in no need of making a dua' and actually abandons it, then, this is a sign of kufr (open infidelity), therefore, the warning of Jahannam became due against him. Otherwise, making of dua's, prayers and supplications as such is not fard (obligatory) or wajib (necessary). Leaving it off brings no sin. However, by a consensus of ` ulama', doing so is mustahabb (recommended) and is: اَفضَل (afdal: better, meritworthy) (Mazhari) and in accordance with clarifications in ahadith, it is a source of many a barakah (blessing). Merits of du'a' HADITH: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "There is nothing more deserving of regard by Allah Ta’ ala than dua"' - Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Hakim from Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ . HADITH: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "dua' is the essence of ` ibadah" - Tirmidhi from Sayyidna Anas Ibn Malik ؓ . HADITH: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "Ask Allah Ta’ ala of His grace because Allah Ta’ ala likes being asked, and it is a great act of ` ibadah that one waits for ease while in hardship" - Tirmidhi from Sayyidna Ibn Masud ؓ . HADITH: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "Verily, one who does not pray to Allah in his needs, He becomes angry with him" - Tirmidhi from Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ ، Ibn Hibban and Hakim. In Tafsir Mazhari, after having reported all these narrations, it has been said that the warning of Divine wrath on a person who does not make a dua' is applicable only when this abstention from asking is based on arrogance, and on taking oneself to be need free, as it stands proved from the words of this verse:إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُ‌ونَ (Definitely those who show arrogance against worshipping Me shall enter Jahannam, disgraced. 40:60). HADITH: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "Do not be weary of dua', for nobody dies of making dua"' - Ibn Hibban and Hakim from Sayyidna Anas Ibn Malik ؓ . HADITH: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "dua' is a weapon of the believer, a pillar of the faith, and the light of the heavens and the earth" - Hakim in al-Mustadrak from Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ . HADITH: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "If the gates of dua' are opened for someone (actually) the doors of mercy are. opened for him, and no dua' made before Allah Ta’ ala is appreciated more than that in which one asks of ` afiyah (well-being) from Him" - Tirmidhi and Hakim from Sayyidna Ibn ` Umar ؓ . The word: عافیت ('afiyah) appearing in the Hadith mentioned immediately earlier is a very comprehensive word (usually rendered in English as 'well-being' meaning a state of being healthy and happy, though somewhat outdated in contemporary usage). Apart from a good life, it includes other things like security from unwelcome happenings, trials and calamities as well as a satisfactory fulfillment of all needs in life. Ruling: Making du'a' for committing a sin or for severance of blood relationships is Haram (forbidden) - and, for that matter, such a dua' does not get to be accepted with Allah either - as in a Hadith from Sayyidna Abu Said al-Khudri ؓ . Du'a and the promise of acceptance In this verse, it has been promised that the dua' a servant makes is accepted. But, on occasions, one also sees that a dua' was made and it was not accepted. The answer to this appears in a Hadith of Sayyidna Abu Sa` id al-Khudri ؓ where the Holy Prophet ﷺ has been reported to have said, "Whatever a Muslim prays for before Allah, He would let him have it - subject to the condition that the du'a' made was not for something sinful or for the severance of relationships that Allah has enjoined to be kept intact. As for the acceptance of dua', it takes one of the three forms given here: (1) That one gets exactly what one asked for. (2) That in lieu of what one wanted to have, one was given a certain return or reward of the Hereafter. (3) That one did not, though, get what one wanted, but some hardship or calamity that was due to fall on one stood removed. (Musnad Ahmad - Mazhari) Conditions of the acceptance of dua' As for the present verse, it obviously seems to have no condition, almost to the extent that even being a Muslim is not a condition of dua'. Allah Ta’ ala accepts the dua' of a kafir (disbeliever) as well in this world to the extent that the dua' of Iblis to be allowed to live until the last day of Qiyamah was accepted. For dua', there is no condition of time, nor is there any condition that one must be with taharah (state of purity from pollutants) or wudu (ablution). But, there are trustworthy ahadith that identify a few things that preclude the chances of its acceptance. One must abstain from these. It appears in a Hadith from Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, "...a man having been on a long journey is all disheveled and dust-coated and he stretches his hands upwards for dua' (saying): '0 my Lord! 0 my Lord!' while his food is haram (unlawful), his drink: haram, his dress: haram, and he himself was brought up on the haram - how then, could his du a' become worth accepting?" (Reported by Muslim) Similarly, if we were to say the words of dua' negligently, heedlessly, without paying any attention, the Hadith says something about that too - that such a dua' is also not accepted. (Tirmidhi from Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ .
Ayah 40:61

اَللّٰهُ الَّذِیْ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الَّیْلَ لِتَسْكُنُوْا فِیْهِ وَ النَّهَارَ مُبْصِرًا١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَذُوْ فَضْلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ لٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَشْكُرُوْنَ Open ayah 40:61 in the Quran reader

Allah is the One who made for you the night, so that you may have rest in it, and the day to let you see. Surely, Allah is most kind to the people, but most of the people do not offer gratitude.

Commentary In the verses cited above, after having presented a few manifestations of Allah's blessings and His perfect power, an invitation to belief in the Oneness of Allah has been extended. In the first verse (61), it was said: جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ لِتَسْكُنُوا فِيهِ وَالنَّهَارَ‌ مُبْصِرً‌ا (Allah is the One who made for you the night, so that you may have rest in it, and the day to let you see.). Just imagine how great a blessing it is that all human beings, even animals, have been naturally tuned to a set time for sleep, and that this time has been, in a manner of saying, virtually switched off in perfect synchronization with the need to sleep. In fact, it was made the part of everyone's psyche that this is the time, the time of night, that would bring a sound sleep. Otherwise, had sleep been in one's own control and had everyone been making one's own program to sleep at different hours, as he or she does to set a timetable for business or personal preferences, it would have left all sleepers deprived of the bliss of sleep, nor would it have been convenient for those awake to set their own hours of work right. The reason is that human needs are inter-related. Had sleeping hours been different, jobs of the awake connected with the sleeping would have gone topsy-turvy, and the jobs of the sleeping connected with the awake would have fared no better. Also, if only human beings had a set time for sleep - with wild beasts and animals sleeping at some other time - even then, the system of human engagement with work would have gone haywire.
Ayahs 40:62–64

ذٰلِكُمُ اللّٰهُ رَبُّكُمْ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَیْءٍ١ۘ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ١ۚ٘ فَاَنّٰى تُؤْفَكُوْنَ Open ayah 40:62 in the Quran reader

This is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of everything. There is no god but He. Then, from where are you being reversed (by your selfish desires)?

كَذٰلِكَ یُؤْفَكُ الَّذِیْنَ كَانُوْا بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰهِ یَجْحَدُوْنَ Open ayah 40:63 in the Quran reader

Similarly reversed were those who used to deny Our verses.

اَللّٰهُ الَّذِیْ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْاَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَّ السَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً وَّ صَوَّرَكُمْ فَاَحْسَنَ صُوَرَكُمْ وَ رَزَقَكُمْ مِّنَ الطَّیِّبٰتِ١ؕ ذٰلِكُمُ اللّٰهُ رَبُّكُمْ١ۖۚ فَتَبٰرَكَ اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ Open ayah 40:64 in the Quran reader

Allah is the One who made, for you the earth a place to live, and the sky a roof; and shaped you, and made your shapes so good - and provided you with a lot of good things. That is Allah, your Lord. So, Glorious is Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

In verse 64, it was said: وَصَوَّرَ‌كُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَ‌كُمْ (and shaped you, and made your shapes so good -). Allah Ta’ ala has blessed the human person with the most distinct, superior and better-balanced form and shape out of all animals. He was given reason. He was given such hands and feet that he could get together materials to make things for his needs and comfort. Then, his eating and drinking is different, rather far distinct from common animals. They eat or graze or drink directly with their mouth. He uses hands. Common animals eat singles. Some eat meat, others eat grass or leaves, that too in singles. Contrary to that, man eats by combining different things like meat, vegetables, spices, herbs and fruits. He eats by making his food taste good. His culinary creativity knows no bounds when he would take a single fruit from nature, and turn it into all sorts of delicious eatables like pies, fruit cakes, jams, preserves and chutneys. فَتَبَارَ‌كَ اللَّـهُ رَ‌بُّ الْعَالَمِينَ (Blessed is Allah, the Best Creator).
Ayahs 40:65–72

هُوَ الْحَیُّ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ فَادْعُوْهُ مُخْلِصِیْنَ لَهُ الدِّیْنَ١ؕ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ Open ayah 40:65 in the Quran reader

He is Ever-living. There is no god but He. So worship Him making your submission exclusive for Him. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.

قُلْ اِنِّیْ نُهِیْتُ اَنْ اَعْبُدَ الَّذِیْنَ تَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ لَمَّا جَآءَنِیَ الْبَیِّنٰتُ مِنْ رَّبِّیْ١٘ وَ اُمِرْتُ اَنْ اُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ Open ayah 40:66 in the Quran reader

Say, "I have been ordered not to worship those whom you invoke beside Allah when clear signs from my Lord have (already) come to me, and I have been ordered that I submit to the Lord of the worlds."

هُوَ الَّذِیْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ یُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا اَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُوْنُوْا شُیُوْخًا١ۚ وَ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ یُّتَوَفّٰى مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا اَجَلًا مُّسَمًّى وَّ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُوْنَ Open ayah 40:67 in the Quran reader

He is the One who created you from dust, then from a drop of semen, then from a clot. After that, He takes you out as an infant. Then, (He makes you grow) so that you reach your full maturity, and, thereafter, become old - and some of you die earlier - and so that you reach the appointed term, and so that you understand.

هُوَ الَّذِیْ یُحْیٖ وَ یُمِیْتُ١ۚ فَاِذَا قَضٰۤى اَمْرًا فَاِنَّمَا یَقُوْلُ لَهٗ كُنْ فَیَكُوْنُ۠ Open ayah 40:68 in the Quran reader

He is the One who gives life and brings death, and when He decides to do something, He only says to it: "Be" and it comes to be.

اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِیْنَ یُجَادِلُوْنَ فِیْۤ اٰیٰتِ اللّٰهِ١ؕ اَنّٰى یُصْرَفُوْنَ٤ۖۛۚ Open ayah 40:69 in the Quran reader

Have you not seen those who quarrel in the matter of the verses of Allah? From where are they being turned away (by their selfish desires?)

الَّذِیْنَ كَذَّبُوْا بِالْكِتٰبِ وَ بِمَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا بِهٖ رُسُلَنَا١ۛ۫ فَسَوْفَ یَعْلَمُوْنَۙ Open ayah 40:70 in the Quran reader

those who rejected the Book and what We sent with Our messengers. So, they will soon come to know.

اِذِ الْاَغْلٰلُ فِیْۤ اَعْنَاقِهِمْ وَ السَّلٰسِلُ١ؕ یُسْحَبُوْنَۙ Open ayah 40:71 in the Quran reader

when shackles will be round their necks, and chains. They will be dragged

فِی الْحَمِیْمِ١ۙ۬ ثُمَّ فِی النَّارِ یُسْجَرُوْنَۚ Open ayah 40:72 in the Quran reader

into the hot water after which they will be thrown in the Fire as a fuel.

Commentary In verses 71 and 72, it was said: يُسْحَبُونَ فِي الْحَمِيمِ ثُمَّ فِي النَّارِ‌ يُسْجَرُ‌ونَ (They will be dragged [ 71] into the hot water after which they will be thrown in the Fire as a fuel.). The word: الْحَمِيمِ (al-hameem) is boiling hot water. The verse seems to suggest that the people of Jahannam will first be put into the hameem, then, into the jahim, that is, the Jahannam. Again, it also seems to suggest that the hameem is somewhere outside the Jahannam. The verse: ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْ‌جِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى الْجَحِيمِ (Then, their return is but to the Fire - As-Saffat, 37:68) also appears to be suggesting that the hameem is located somewhere outside the Jahannam. The people of Jahannam will be brought here to drink its water, and will then be returned to Jahannam. Then there are some verses of the Qur'an that suggest that the hameem too is within the jahim or Jahannam as in: هَـٰذِهِ جَهَنَّمُ الَّتِي يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا الْمُجْرِ‌مُونَ يَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ حَمِيمٍ آنٍ (This is the Jahannam (Hell) that the guilty people deny. They will circle around between it and between hot, boiling water - Ar-Rahmn, 55:43-44). Here too, it is explicitly said that the hameem is also within the Jahannam. A little deliberation shows that there is no contradiction between these two things. There will be many strata or sections of Jahannam itself serving as venues of many kinds of punishment. One of these could be that of hameem which could as well be called as being outside the Jahannam because of its separate and distinct location, and since this is also a section of Jahannam itself, therefore, it could also be called the Jahannam. Ibn Kathir has said that the people of Jahannam, shackled in chains, will sometime be dragged into the hameem and at others, in Jahannam.
Ayahs 40:73–74

ثُمَّ قِیْلَ لَهُمْ اَیْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ تُشْرِكُوْنَۙ Open ayah 40:73 in the Quran reader

Then, it will be said to them, "Where are those whom you used to associate (in worship)

مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ١ؕ قَالُوْا ضَلُّوْا عَنَّا بَلْ لَّمْ نَكُنْ نَّدْعُوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ شَیْئًا١ؕ كَذٰلِكَ یُضِلُّ اللّٰهُ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ Open ayah 40:74 in the Quran reader

beside Allah?" They will say, "They are lost to us, rather, we used to invoke nothing at all. This is how Allah makes disbelievers get lost.

In verse 74, it was said: قَالُوا ضَلُّوا عَنَّا (They will say, "They are lost to us,...), that is, once they reach Jahannam, the disbelievers will say that all those idols and shaitans they used to worship have disappeared in the sense that they do not see them around, though, they might as well be lying somewhere in a corner of Jahannam, as their being in Jahannam stands proved from other verses of the Qur'an, for instance: إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ , (Surely, you and whatever you worship other than Allah are the fuel for Jahannam - Al-Anbiya', 21:98)
Ayah 40:75

ذٰلِكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَفْرَحُوْنَ فِی الْاَرْضِ بِغَیْرِ الْحَقِّ وَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَمْرَحُوْنَۚ Open ayah 40:75 in the Quran reader

(It will be said to them,) "This is because you used to rejoice on the earth wrongfully, and because you used to show arrogance.

The word: تَفْرَ‌حُونَ (tafrahun) in verse 75: (This is because you used to rejoice on the earth wrongfully, and because you used to show arrogance.) has been derived from: فَرَح (farah) which means to be happy while the word: تَمْرَ‌حُونَ (tamrahun) is from: مَرَح (marah) which means to exult unduly or to trample over the rights of others by priding on one's wealth and power. Hence, this kind of marah or undue exultation is absolutely blameworthy and Haram (unlawful). As for farah or marah, it can be explained by saying that seeking enjoyment out of sinfulness under the intoxication of wealth coupled with the absence of any thought of there being a God is certainly Haram and impermissible. Meant in this verse is this kind of farah - as it also appears in the story of Qarun (Korah) in the same sense: لَا تَفْرَ‌حْ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِ‌حِينَ ("Do not exult. Surely, Allah does not like the exultant.-a1-Qasas, 28:76). There is another degree of farah - that one takes good things of life as blessings from Allah Ta’ ala, and expresses his or her joy on having these - this is permissible, in fact, is recommended (mustahabb), and desirable. It is about such farah that the Qur'an has said: فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَ‌حُوا (with these they should rejoice Yunus, 10:58). As for marah, it is a cause of punishment absolutely, without any restriction. Therefore, no qualifying words were added to it. But, in the case of farah, the words: بِغَیرِالحَقِ (bi ghayril-haqq: wrongfully) are added. It was thus pointed out that jubilating over the undue and the impermissible was forbidden (Haram) while being pleased with blessings that are rightful and permissible as an expression of gratitude was an act of ` ibadah (worship of Allah) and thawab (reward from Him).