57. Al-Hadidالحديد

The Iron · Medinan · 29 ayahs · 4 rukus

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

سَبَّحَ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ۚ— وَهُوَ الْعَزِیْزُ الْحَكِیْمُ ۟سَبَّحَ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ‌ۚ وَهُوَ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡحَكِيۡمُ

Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies God—He is the Mighty, the Wise One.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

لَهٗ مُلْكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ۚ— یُحْیٖ وَیُمِیْتُ ۚ— وَهُوَ عَلٰی كُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ ۟لَهٗ مُلۡكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ‌ۚ يُحۡىٖ وَيُمِيۡتُ‌ۚ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرٌ

He has sovereign control over the heavens and the earth. He gives life and brings death. He has power over all things.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

هُوَ الْاَوَّلُ وَالْاٰخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۚ— وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَیْءٍ عَلِیْمٌ ۟هُوَ الۡاَوَّلُ وَالۡاٰخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالۡبَاطِنُ‌ۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيۡمٌ

He is the First and the Last, the Outward and the Inward. He has knowledge of all things.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

هُوَ الَّذِیْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ فِیْ سِتَّةِ اَیَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوٰی عَلَی الْعَرْشِ ؕ— یَعْلَمُ مَا یَلِجُ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَمَا یَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا یَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ وَمَا یَعْرُجُ فِیْهَا ؕ— وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ اَیْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ ؕ— وَاللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِیْرٌ ۟هُوَ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضَ فِىۡ سِتَّةِ اَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسۡتَوٰى عَلَى الۡعَرۡشِ‌ؕ يَعۡلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ وَمَا يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهَا وَمَا يَنۡزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعۡرُجُ فِيۡهَاؕ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمۡ اَيۡنَ مَا كُنۡتُمۡ‌ؕ وَاللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِيۡرٌ

It was He who created the heavens and earth in six Days [periods] and then ascended the throne. He knows what enters the earth and what comes out of it; what descends from the sky and what ascends to it. He is with you wherever you are; He sees all that you do;

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

لَهٗ مُلْكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ؕ— وَاِلَی اللّٰهِ تُرْجَعُ الْاُمُوْرُ ۟لَهٗ مُلۡكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ‌ؕ وَاِلَى اللّٰهِ تُرۡجَعُ الۡاُمُوۡرُ

He has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. All affairs will return to God.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

یُوْلِجُ الَّیْلَ فِی النَّهَارِ وَیُوْلِجُ النَّهَارَ فِی الَّیْلِ ؕ— وَهُوَ عَلِیْمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوْرِ ۟يُوۡلِجُ الَّيۡلَ فِى النَّهَارِ وَيُوۡلِجُ النَّهَارَ فِى الَّيۡلِ‌ؕ وَهُوَ عَلِيۡمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوۡرِ

He causes the night to pass into the day and the day to pass into the night. And He knows all that is in the hearts of men.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

اٰمِنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُوْلِهٖ وَاَنْفِقُوْا مِمَّا جَعَلَكُمْ مُّسْتَخْلَفِیْنَ فِیْهِ ؕ— فَالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مِنْكُمْ وَاَنْفَقُوْا لَهُمْ اَجْرٌ كَبِیْرٌ ۟اٰمِنُوۡا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُوۡلِهٖ وَاَنۡفِقُوۡا مِمَّا جَعَلَـكُمۡ مُّسۡتَخۡلَفِيۡنَ فِيۡهِ‌ؕ فَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مِنۡكُمۡ وَاَنۡفَقُوۡا لَهُمۡ اَجۡرٌ كَبِيۡرٌ

Have faith in God and His Messenger and spend in charity from that of which He has made you trustees: those of you who believe and give alms shall be richly rewarded.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:1–7

The universe, in its silent language, sings the praises of and describes the attributes of its Creator. In the Quran, those same attributes have been put into words. When a thing comes into being here, it has manifestly been brought into existence by the Supreme Being. Its end itself announces its termination by the Supreme Being. The fact is the universe is the vehicle of God’s praises, while the Quran is their verbal recitation.

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ ۚ— وَالرَّسُوْلُ یَدْعُوْكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوْا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ اَخَذَ مِیْثَاقَكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِیْنَ ۟وَمَا لَـكُمۡ لَا تُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاللّٰهِ‌ۚ وَالرَّسُوۡلُ يَدۡعُوۡكُمۡ لِتُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِرَبِّكُمۡ وَقَدۡ اَخَذَ مِيۡثَاقَكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِيۡنَ

What could be your reason for not believing in God, when the Messenger calls on you to have faith in your Lord and He has already made a covenant with you, if indeed you are true believers?

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

هُوَ الَّذِیْ یُنَزِّلُ عَلٰی عَبْدِهٖۤ اٰیٰتٍۢ بَیِّنٰتٍ لِّیُخْرِجَكُمْ مِّنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَی النُّوْرِ ؕ— وَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوْفٌ رَّحِیْمٌ ۟هُوَ الَّذِىۡ يُنَزِّلُ عَلٰى عَبۡدِهٖۤ اٰيٰتٍۭ بَيِّنٰتٍ لِّيُخۡرِجَكُمۡ مِّنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَى النُّوۡرِ‌ؕ وَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِكُمۡ لَرَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ

It is He who sends down to His Servant clear revelations, so that He may lead you out of darkness into light. God is indeed compassionate and merciful to you.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

وَمَا لَكُمْ اَلَّا تُنْفِقُوْا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ وَلِلّٰهِ مِیْرَاثُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ؕ— لَا یَسْتَوِیْ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ اَنْفَقَ مِنْ قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَقٰتَلَ ؕ— اُولٰٓىِٕكَ اَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ الَّذِیْنَ اَنْفَقُوْا مِنْ بَعْدُ وَقٰتَلُوْاؕ— وَكُلًّا وَّعَدَ اللّٰهُ الْحُسْنٰی ؕ— وَاللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِیْرٌ ۟۠وَ مَا لَـكُمۡ اَلَّا تُنۡفِقُوۡا فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ وَلِلّٰهِ مِيۡـرَاثُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ‌ؕ لَا يَسۡتَوِىۡ مِنۡكُمۡ مَّنۡ اَنۡفَقَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِ الۡفَتۡحِ وَقَاتَلَ‌ ؕ اُولٰٓئِكَ اَعۡظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَنۡفَقُوۡا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدُ وَقَاتَلُوۡا‌ ؕ وَكُلًّا وَّعَدَ اللّٰهُ الۡحُسۡنٰى‌ؕ وَاللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ خَبِيۡرٌ

Why should you not spend for the cause of God, when God alone holds the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Those of you who spent and fought before the victory will be higher in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. Yet God has promised you all a good reward. He is aware of all that you do.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:8–10

When the call of Islam is given, it is based on clear reasoning in its preliminary stages. The second stage is marked by victory in its immediate surroundings. In the first stage, only those who have the capacity to see the inherent greatness of a thing solely on the level of reasoning are courageous enough to make sacrifices for Islam. But when Islam has already been crowned by success, every individual is able to see its greatness and everybody feels proud of coming forward and offering his life and property for its sake.

One who spends for the cause of Islam in the early stages has to do it without thought of reward, while in the latter stage, whatever a man spends is redoubled in this world itself, as a reward in various forms. That explains why, in the eyes of God, each group has a different status.

مَنْ ذَا الَّذِیْ یُقْرِضُ اللّٰهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَیُضٰعِفَهٗ لَهٗ وَلَهٗۤ اَجْرٌ كَرِیْمٌ ۟ۚمَنۡ ذَا الَّذِىۡ يُقۡرِضُ اللّٰهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضٰعِفَهٗ لَهٗ وَلَهٗۤ اَجۡرٌ كَرِيۡمٌ

Who will offer God a generous loan? He will double it for him and give him a rich reward.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

یَوْمَ تَرَی الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنٰتِ یَسْعٰی نُوْرُهُمْ بَیْنَ اَیْدِیْهِمْ وَبِاَیْمَانِهِمْ بُشْرٰىكُمُ الْیَوْمَ جَنّٰتٌ تَجْرِیْ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْاَنْهٰرُ خٰلِدِیْنَ فِیْهَا ؕ— ذٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِیْمُ ۟ۚيَوۡمَ تَرَى الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ وَالۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ يَسۡعٰى نُوۡرُهُمۡ بَيۡنَ اَيۡدِيۡهِمۡ وَبِاَيۡمَانِهِمۡ بُشۡرٰٮكُمُ الۡيَوۡمَ جَنّٰتٌ تَجۡرِىۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِهَا الۡاَنۡهٰرُ خٰلِدِيۡنَ فِيۡهَا‌ؕ ذٰلِكَ هُوَ الۡفَوۡزُ الۡعَظِيۡمُ‌ۚ‏

On the Day, you [Prophet] shall see the faithful, both men and women, with their light streaming out before them and on their right hands, [and you shall hear a voice saying to them:] ‘Glad tidings for you today! You shall enter gardens with rivers flowing through them wherein you shall forever dwell. That is the supreme triumph.’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

یَوْمَ یَقُوْلُ الْمُنٰفِقُوْنَ وَالْمُنٰفِقٰتُ لِلَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا انْظُرُوْنَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِنْ نُّوْرِكُمْ ۚ— قِیْلَ ارْجِعُوْا وَرَآءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُوْا نُوْرًا ؕ— فَضُرِبَ بَیْنَهُمْ بِسُوْرٍ لَّهٗ بَابٌ ؕ— بَاطِنُهٗ فِیْهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهٗ مِنْ قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ ۟ؕيَوۡمَ يَقُوۡلُ الۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ وَالۡمُنٰفِقٰتُ لِلَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوا انْظُرُوۡنَا نَقۡتَبِسۡ مِنۡ نُّوۡرِكُمۡ‌ۚ قِيۡلَ ارۡجِعُوۡا وَرَآءَكُمۡ فَالۡتَمِسُوۡا نُوۡرًاؕ فَضُرِبَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ بِسُوۡرٍ لَّهٗ بَابٌؕ بَاطِنُهٗ فِيۡهِ الرَّحۡمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهٗ مِنۡ قِبَلِهِ الۡعَذَابُؕ

On that Day, the hypocrites, both men and women, will say to the faithful, ‘Wait a while for us, so that we may have some of your light.’ They will be told, ‘Turn back and look for a light elsewhere.’ A wall will then be raised between them. It will have a gate on the inside of which will be grace and mercy and on the outside of which will be punishment.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

یُنَادُوْنَهُمْ اَلَمْ نَكُنْ مَّعَكُمْ ؕ— قَالُوْا بَلٰی وَلٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنْتُمْ اَنْفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَارْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ الْاَمَانِیُّ حَتّٰی جَآءَ اَمْرُ اللّٰهِ وَغَرَّكُمْ بِاللّٰهِ الْغَرُوْرُ ۟يُنَادُوۡنَهُمۡ اَلَمۡ نَكُنۡ مَّعَكُمۡ‌ؕ قَالُوۡا بَلٰى وَلٰـكِنَّكُمۡ فَتَنۡتُمۡ اَنۡفُسَكُمۡ وَ تَرَبَّصۡتُمۡ وَارۡتَبۡتُمۡ وَغَرَّتۡكُمُ الۡاَمَانِىُّ حَتّٰى جَآءَ اَمۡرُ اللّٰهِ وَ غَرَّكُمۡ بِاللّٰهِ الۡغَرُوۡرُ

The hypocrites will call out to the faithful: ‘Were we not on your side?’ They will reply, ‘Yes, but you gave in to temptation, you wavered and doubted and were deceived by your wishful thinking until God’s will was done; then the Deceiver [Satan] misled you about God.’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

فَالْیَوْمَ لَا یُؤْخَذُ مِنْكُمْ فِدْیَةٌ وَّلَا مِنَ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا ؕ— مَاْوٰىكُمُ النَّارُ ؕ— هِیَ مَوْلٰىكُمْ ؕ— وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِیْرُ ۟فَالۡيَوۡمَ لَا يُؤۡخَذُ مِنۡكُمۡ فِدۡيَةٌ وَّلَا مِنَ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا‌ؕ مَاۡوٰٮكُمُ النَّارُ‌ؕ هِىَ مَوۡلٰٮكُمۡ‌ؕ وَبِئۡسَ الۡمَصِيۡرُ

So this Day no ransom can be taken from you nor from those who were bent on denying the truth. Your home is the fire; that is your companion, and a hapless journey’s end.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:11–15

While Islam was still unfamiliar, accepting it meant putting oneself through a great trial. At that time, the truth of Islam was veiled in doubt. Spending for Islam at that time was like giving a loan to somebody with flimsy hopes of getting any return. The atmosphere was pervaded by doubt and hesitation.

As compared to the promises of God, the benefits right before people appear more certain to them. Under these circumstances, surrendering one’s life and property for the cause of Islam requires a very strong decision-making ability. At such a time, only one who has the capacity to recognise the reality of things through wisdom and insight, has the courage to progress in the right direction.

For those who prove to have this insight in the world, it will become easy on the Day of Judgement; by making use of their insight, they will be able to pass more easily through the difficult stages there. The insight which had become their guide in this world will, by the grace of God, serve as a guide also in the Hereafter.

اَلَمْ یَاْنِ لِلَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوْبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ ۙ— وَلَا یَكُوْنُوْا كَالَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَیْهِمُ الْاَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوْبُهُمْ ؕ— وَكَثِیْرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فٰسِقُوْنَ ۟اَلَمۡ يَاۡنِ لِلَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَنۡ تَخۡشَعَ قُلُوۡبُهُمۡ لِذِكۡرِ اللّٰهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الۡحَـقِّۙ وَلَا يَكُوۡنُوۡا كَالَّذِيۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡكِتٰبَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيۡهِمُ الۡاَمَدُ فَقَسَتۡ قُلُوۡبُهُمۡ‌ؕ وَكَثِيۡرٌ مِّنۡهُمۡ فٰسِقُوۡنَ

Has the time not come for the faithful when their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of God and of the revelation of truth, so that they should not become like those who were given the Book before them, whose hearts with the passage of time became hardened and many of whom were disobedient?

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

اِعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ یُحْیِ الْاَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ؕ— قَدْ بَیَّنَّا لَكُمُ الْاٰیٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُوْنَ ۟اِعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحۡىِ الۡاَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا‌ؕ قَدۡ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الۡاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ

Remember that God brings the earth back to life after its death. We have made Our signs clear to you, so that you may fully understand.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:16–17

When these verses were revealed, though Islam had not yet become a substantial power, it nevertheless had the full force of arguments and warnings behind it. Under these circumstances, one who did not feel the force of arguments and was not moved by Divine warnings is shown, by this, that he was suffering from a lack of awareness. Just as the earth becomes fresh and green when it receives water, so also should the individual awaken from his moral torpor when he hears clear arguments. How strange it is if he does not.

اِنَّ الْمُصَّدِّقِیْنَ وَالْمُصَّدِّقٰتِ وَاَقْرَضُوا اللّٰهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا یُّضٰعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ اَجْرٌ كَرِیْمٌ ۟اِنَّ الۡمُصَّدِّقِيۡنَ وَالۡمُصَّدِّقٰتِ وَاَقۡرَضُوا اللّٰهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنًا يُّضٰعَفُ لَهُمۡ وَلَهُمۡ اَجۡرٌ كَرِيۡمٌ

Alms-givers, both men and women, who give a generous loan to God, shall have it multiplied and shall have an honourable reward.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

وَالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَرُسُلِهٖۤ اُولٰٓىِٕكَ هُمُ الصِّدِّیْقُوْنَ ۖۗ— وَالشُّهَدَآءُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ ؕ— لَهُمْ اَجْرُهُمْ وَنُوْرُهُمْ ؕ— وَالَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا وَكَذَّبُوْا بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ اُولٰٓىِٕكَ اَصْحٰبُ الْجَحِیْمِ ۟۠وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِاللّٰهِ وَرُسُلِهٖۤ اُولٰٓئِكَ هُمُ الصِّدِّيۡقُوۡنَۖ وَالشُّهَدَآءُ عِنۡدَ رَبِّهِمۡؕ لَهُمۡ اَجۡرُهُمۡ وَنُوۡرُهُمۡ‌ؕ وَ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا وَكَذَّبُوۡا بِاٰيٰتِنَاۤ اُولٰٓئِكَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡجَحِيۡمِ

Those who believe in God and His messengers are the truthful ones and the witnesses in the sight of their Lord. They shall have their reward and their light. But those who are bent on denying the truth and reject Our signs shall be destined for Hell.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:18–19

To give one’s possessions to others and to spend on the requirements of religion are very great deeds. Those who spend like this, whether men or women, have proved their steadfastness in faith. In an atmosphere of doubt about the Truth, they were able to see the Truth. Such action on their part will become a beacon for them in the Hereafter. They will be treated as accepters of God’s signs. They will be given the status of God’s witnesses, i.e. presenters of the report of the deeds of the people in the Court of the Hereafter.

اِعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّمَا الْحَیٰوةُ الدُّنْیَا لَعِبٌ وَّلَهْوٌ وَّزِیْنَةٌ وَّتَفَاخُرٌ بَیْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِی الْاَمْوَالِ وَالْاَوْلَادِ ؕ— كَمَثَلِ غَیْثٍ اَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهٗ ثُمَّ یَهِیْجُ فَتَرٰىهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ یَكُوْنُ حُطَامًا ؕ— وَفِی الْاٰخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِیْدٌ ۙ— وَّمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ ؕ— وَمَا الْحَیٰوةُ الدُّنْیَاۤ اِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُوْرِ ۟اِعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّمَا الۡحَيٰوةُ الدُّنۡيَا لَعِبٌ وَّلَهۡوٌ وَّزِيۡنَةٌ وَّتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيۡنَكُمۡ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى الۡاَمۡوَالِ وَالۡاَوۡلَادِ‌ؕ كَمَثَلِ غَيۡثٍ اَعۡجَبَ الۡكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهٗ ثُمَّ يَهِيۡجُ فَتَرٰٮهُ مُصۡفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُوۡنُ حُطٰمًا‌ؕ وَفِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيۡدٌ ۙ وَّمَغۡفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَرِضۡوَانٌ‌ؕ وَمَا الۡحَيٰوةُ الدُّنۡيَاۤ اِلَّا مَتَاعُ الۡغُرُوۡرِ

Never forget that the life of this world is only a game and a passing delight, a show, and mutual boasting and trying to outrival each other in riches and children. It is like the growth of vegetation after the rain, which delights the planter, but which then withers away, turns yellow and becomes worthless stubble. In the life to come there will be a terrible punishment, or God’s forgiveness and approval: the life of this world is nothing but means of deception.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

سَابِقُوْۤا اِلٰی مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَآءِ وَالْاَرْضِ ۙ— اُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَرُسُلِهٖ ؕ— ذٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللّٰهِ یُؤْتِیْهِ مَنْ یَّشَآءُ ؕ— وَاللّٰهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِیْمِ ۟سَابِقُوۡۤا اِلٰى مَغۡفِرَةٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكُمۡ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرۡضُهَا كَعَرۡضِ السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِۙ اُعِدَّتۡ لِلَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِاللّٰهِ وَرُسُلِهٖ‌ؕ ذٰلِكَ فَضۡلُ اللّٰهِ يُؤۡتِيۡهِ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ‌ؕ وَاللّٰهُ ذُو الۡفَضۡلِ الۡعَظِيۡمِ

Vie with one another for your Lord’s forgiveness and for a Paradise as vast as heaven and earth, which has been made ready for those who believe in God and His messengers. Such is God’s grace. He bestows it upon whoever He pleases. There is no limit to God’s bounty.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:20–21

God has created examples of the Hereafter in this world. One of these examples is that of a field. When, after receiving water, the crops ripen, their greenery looks very attractive for a few days. But soon hot winds blow and they begin to wither away. Then, the crops are reaped and threshed.

Similarly, the glamour of this world is also temporary. It lasts but a few days. After coming into possession of it, man becomes misled. He starts thinking that it is his everything. But, afterwards, when he is taken back to God, it will be evident to him that the glories of the world were valueless.

مَاۤ اَصَابَ مِنْ مُّصِیْبَةٍ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَلَا فِیْۤ اَنْفُسِكُمْ اِلَّا فِیْ كِتٰبٍ مِّنْ قَبْلِ اَنْ نَّبْرَاَهَا ؕ— اِنَّ ذٰلِكَ عَلَی اللّٰهِ یَسِیْرٌ ۟ۚۖمَاۤ اَصَابَ مِنۡ مُّصِيۡبَةٍ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ وَلَا فِىۡۤ اَنۡفُسِكُمۡ اِلَّا فِىۡ كِتٰبٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ نَّبۡـرَاَهَا ؕ اِنَّ ذٰ لِكَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ يَسِيۡرٌۚ

No misfortune can affect the earth or your own selves without its first having been recorded in a book, before We bring it into being. That is easy for God to do;

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

لِّكَیْلَا تَاْسَوْا عَلٰی مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوْا بِمَاۤ اٰتٰىكُمْ ؕ— وَاللّٰهُ لَا یُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُوْرِ ۟ۙلِّـكَيۡلَا تَاۡسَوۡا عَلٰى مَا فَاتَكُمۡ وَلَا تَفۡرَحُوۡا بِمَاۤ اٰتٰٮكُمۡ‌ؕ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٍ فَخُوۡرِۙ‏

so that you may not grieve for what has escaped you, nor be exultant over what you have gained. God loves neither the conceited nor the boastful,

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

١لَّذِیْنَ یَبْخَلُوْنَ وَیَاْمُرُوْنَ النَّاسَ بِالْبُخْلِ ؕ— وَمَنْ یَّتَوَلَّ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ هُوَ الْغَنِیُّ الْحَمِیْدُ ۟اۨلَّذِيۡنَ يَبۡخَلُوۡنَ وَيَاۡمُرُوۡنَ النَّاسَ بِالۡبُخۡلِ‌ؕ وَمَنۡ يَّتَوَلَّ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ هُوَ الۡغَنِىُّ الۡحَمِيۡدُ

nor those who, being miserly themselves, urge others to be miserly. He who turns his back should remember that God alone is self-sufficient and worthy of all praise.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:22–24

The receiving of things in the world or the losing of them is purely for the purpose of putting man to the test. Almighty God has settled in advance what shape man’s test-paper should take. A man should pay real attention not to what he has received or what has been taken away from him, but to how he reacted on each of these occasions. The correct and required reaction is that a man should not be disheartened if he suffers some loss, nor should he develop feelings of pride and vanity if he gains something.

لَقَدْ اَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَیِّنٰتِ وَاَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتٰبَ وَالْمِیْزَانَ لِیَقُوْمَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ ۚ— وَاَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِیْدَ فِیْهِ بَاْسٌ شَدِیْدٌ وَّمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِیَعْلَمَ اللّٰهُ مَنْ یَّنْصُرُهٗ وَرُسُلَهٗ بِالْغَیْبِ ؕ— اِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَوِیٌّ عَزِیْزٌ ۟۠لَـقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالۡبَيِّنٰتِ وَاَنۡزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ الۡكِتٰبَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ لِيَقُوۡمَ النَّاسُ بِالۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ وَاَنۡزَلۡنَا الۡحَـدِيۡدَ فِيۡهِ بَاۡسٌ شَدِيۡدٌ وَّمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَـعۡلَمَ اللّٰهُ مَنۡ يَّنۡصُرُهٗ وَ رُسُلَهٗ بِالۡغَيۡبِ‌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيۡزٌ

We sent Our messengers with evidence and, with them, We sent down the Book and the Scales of Justice, so that men might act in all fairness. We sent down iron with its great inherent strength and its many benefits for mankind, so that God might know who would stand up for God, though unseen, and His messengers. God is powerful, and almighty.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:25

Two things are required in religion. One is the following of religion and the other is the support of religion. The balance—or the Scales of Justice—is a symbol of the following of religion by its adherents. Just as man measures excess or shortage by means of a balance, similarly, God’s book is also a balance for Truth. People should test their actions against the standard of God’s book and find out how far they are right and how far they are wrong.

Similarly, iron is the symbolic representation of the support for religion. Whenever, any problem about religion arises, a man should prove as strong as iron. He should defend religion with the strength of iron.

وَلَقَدْ اَرْسَلْنَا نُوْحًا وَّاِبْرٰهِیْمَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِیْ ذُرِّیَّتِهِمَا النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتٰبَ فَمِنْهُمْ مُّهْتَدٍ ۚ— وَكَثِیْرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فٰسِقُوْنَ ۟وَلَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا وَّ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ وَجَعَلۡنَا فِىۡ ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا النُّبُوَّةَ وَالۡـكِتٰبَ‌ فَمِنۡهُمۡ مُّهۡتَدٍ‌ۚ وَكَثِيۡرٌ مِّنۡهُمۡ فٰسِقُوۡنَ

We sent forth Noah and Abraham and bestowed upon their offspring prophethood and the Book. Some of them were rightly guided, but many others were transgressors.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

ثُمَّ قَفَّیْنَا عَلٰۤی اٰثَارِهِمْ بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّیْنَا بِعِیْسَی ابْنِ مَرْیَمَ وَاٰتَیْنٰهُ الْاِنْجِیْلَ ۙ۬— وَجَعَلْنَا فِیْ قُلُوْبِ الَّذِیْنَ اتَّبَعُوْهُ رَاْفَةً وَّرَحْمَةً ؕ— وَرَهْبَانِیَّةَ ١بْتَدَعُوْهَا مَا كَتَبْنٰهَا عَلَیْهِمْ اِلَّا ابْتِغَآءَ رِضْوَانِ اللّٰهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَایَتِهَا ۚ— فَاٰتَیْنَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مِنْهُمْ اَجْرَهُمْ ۚ— وَكَثِیْرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فٰسِقُوْنَ ۟ثُمَّ قَفَّيۡنَا عَلٰٓى اٰثَارِهِمۡ بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيۡنَا بِعِيۡسَى ابۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ وَاٰتَيۡنٰهُ الۡاِنۡجِيۡلَ وَجَعَلۡنَا فِىۡ قُلُوۡبِ الَّذِيۡنَ اتَّبَعُوۡهُ رَاۡفَةً وَّرَحۡمَةً  ؕ وَرَهۡبَانِيَّةَ اۨبۡتَدَعُوۡهَا مَا كَتَبۡنٰهَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ اِلَّا ابۡتِغَآءَ رِضۡوَانِ اللّٰهِ فَمَا رَعَوۡهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا‌ ۚ فَاٰتَيۡنَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مِنۡهُمۡ اَجۡرَهُمۡ‌ۚ وَكَثِيۡرٌ مِّنۡهُمۡ فٰسِقُوۡنَ

Then, in their wake, We followed them up with [others of] Our messengers and after them Jesus, son of Mary. We gave him the Gospel and imbued the hearts of those who followed him with compassion and mercy. But We did not prescribe monasticism for them: that was their own innovation by which they sought to please God. But then, they did not observe it in the way that it should have been observed. So We rewarded only those who were truly faithful, for many of them were disobedient.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:26–27

All the prophets who came here on behalf of God brought the same religion. But successive generations, introduced innovations in the name of the prophet. An example of this is found in the followers of Jesus. Jesus was entrusted only with the task of conveying the Truth. His prophetic responsibilities did not include fighting. So, he laid more emphasis on missionary ethics, such as are based entirely on affection and compassion. He advised his followers to be affectionate and compassionate towards others. But after Jesus his followers could not fully appreciate this point. By temperament they tended towards renunciation. For the purpose of missionary work, they were only advised not to be engrossed in purely worldly considerations, but they went to the extreme of renouncing the world.

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَاٰمِنُوْا بِرَسُوْلِهٖ یُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَیْنِ مِنْ رَّحْمَتِهٖ وَیَجْعَلْ لَّكُمْ نُوْرًا تَمْشُوْنَ بِهٖ وَیَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ؕ— وَاللّٰهُ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ ۟ۚۙيٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَاٰمِنُوۡا بِرَسُوۡلِهٖ يُؤۡتِكُمۡ كِفۡلَيۡنِ مِنۡ رَّحۡمَتِهٖ وَيَجۡعَلْ لَّـكُمۡ نُوۡرًا تَمۡشُوۡنَ بِهٖ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَـكُمۡ‌ؕ وَاللّٰهُ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ

Believers, fear God and believe in His messenger. He will show you mercy in double measure and will provide a light for you to walk in. God will grant you forgiveness. He is forgiving and merciful.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

لِّئَلَّا یَعْلَمَ اَهْلُ الْكِتٰبِ اَلَّا یَقْدِرُوْنَ عَلٰی شَیْءٍ مِّنْ فَضْلِ اللّٰهِ وَاَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِیَدِ اللّٰهِ یُؤْتِیْهِ مَنْ یَّشَآءُ ؕ— وَاللّٰهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِیْمِ ۟۠لِّـئَلَّا يَعۡلَمَ اَهۡلُ الۡكِتٰبِ اَلَّا يَقۡدِرُوۡنَ عَلٰى شَىۡءٍ مِّنۡ فَضۡلِ اللّٰهِ‌ وَاَنَّ الۡفَضۡلَ بِيَدِ اللّٰهِ يُؤۡتِيۡهِ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ‌ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ ذُوۡ الۡفَضۡلِ الۡعَظِيۡمِ

The People of the Book should know that they have no power whatsoever over God’s grace. His grace is entirely in His hand and He bestows it upon whoever He wills. God is truly infinite in His bounty.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 57:28–29

‘Believers,’ here refer to those who embraced the faith of Jesus. Those who had faith in the previous prophet and now, having discovered the Truth in the call of the Last of the Prophets, adopt his faith, are entitled to a double reward. Similarly, if those who are Muslims by birth study Islam afresh, and with renewed Islamic consciousness, become believers or Muslims, they too will be entitled to a double reward in the eyes of God.