67. Al-Mulkالملك

The Sovereignty · Meccan · 30 ayahs · 2 rukus

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

تَبٰرَكَ الَّذِیْ بِیَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ ؗ— وَهُوَ عَلٰی كُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرُ ۟ۙتَبٰرَكَ الَّذِىۡ بِيَدِهِ الۡمُلۡكُ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرُۙ‏

Blessed is He in whose hand is the Kingdom: He has power over all things;

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

١لَّذِیْ خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَیٰوةَ لِیَبْلُوَكُمْ اَیُّكُمْ اَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ؕ— وَهُوَ الْعَزِیْزُ الْغَفُوْرُ ۟ۙاۨلَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ الۡمَوۡتَ وَالۡحَيٰوةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ اَيُّكُمۡ اَحۡسَنُ عَمَلًا ؕ وَهُوَ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡغَفُوۡرُۙ‏

He created death and life so that He might test you, and find out which of you is best in conduct. He is the Mighty, the Most Forgiving One.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

الَّذِیْ خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمٰوٰتٍ طِبَاقًا ؕ— مَا تَرٰی فِیْ خَلْقِ الرَّحْمٰنِ مِنْ تَفٰوُتٍ ؕ— فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ ۙ— هَلْ تَرٰی مِنْ فُطُوْرٍ ۟الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمٰوٰتٍ طِبَاقًا‌ ؕ مَا تَرٰى فِىۡ خَلۡقِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ مِنۡ تَفٰوُتٍ‌ ؕ فَارۡجِعِ الۡبَصَرَۙ هَلۡ تَرٰى مِنۡ فُطُوۡرٍ

He created seven heavens one above the other in layers. You will not find any flaw in the creation of the Gracious One. Then look once again: can you see any flaw?

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

ثُمَّ ارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَیْنِ یَنْقَلِبْ اِلَیْكَ الْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَّهُوَ حَسِیْرٌ ۟ثُمَّ ارۡجِعِ الۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنۡقَلِبۡ اِلَيۡكَ الۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَّهُوَ حَسِيۡرٌ‏

Then look again and again. Your gaze will come back to you confused and exhausted.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 67:1–4

A study of the present world reveals a certain contradiction. The whole universe (except for human beings) is running quite perfectly and in the most well-organised manner. It has no defect in it anywhere. On the contrary, one finds many defects in human life. This is because the nature of man’s creation is different. Man in this world is living under testing conditions. A test essentially demands freedom of action. This freedom of action has given the opportunity to human beings to create disturbance and imbalance in the world.

The transgression rampant in the human world is the price of human freedom. If such conditions did not exist, how could divine approval be given to those worthy persons who did not transgress, in spite of having opportunities to transgress and who abstained from arrogance in spite of having the power to be arrogant?

وَلَقَدْ زَیَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنْیَا بِمَصَابِیْحَ وَجَعَلْنٰهَا رُجُوْمًا لِّلشَّیٰطِیْنِ وَاَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِیْرِ ۟وَلَـقَدۡ زَيَّـنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَابِيۡحَ وَجَعَلۡنٰهَا رُجُوۡمًا لِّلشَّيٰطِيۡنِ‌ وَاَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ السَّعِيۡرِ

We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and We have made them for driving away devils. For them We have prepared the punishment of the blazing Fire.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

وَلِلَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ؕ— وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِیْرُ ۟وَلِلَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا بِرَبِّهِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ‌ؕ وَبِئۡسَ الۡمَصِيۡرُ

Those who are bent on blaspheming against their Lord will have the punishment of Hell: an evil destination.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

اِذَاۤ اُلْقُوْا فِیْهَا سَمِعُوْا لَهَا شَهِیْقًا وَّهِیَ تَفُوْرُ ۟ۙاِذَاۤ اُلۡقُوۡا فِيۡهَا سَمِعُوۡا لَهَا شَهِيۡقًا وَّهِىَ تَفُوۡرُۙ

When they are cast into it, they will hear its roaring as it boils up,

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

تَكَادُ تَمَیَّزُ مِنَ الْغَیْظِ ؕ— كُلَّمَاۤ اُلْقِیَ فِیْهَا فَوْجٌ سَاَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَاۤ اَلَمْ یَاْتِكُمْ نَذِیْرٌ ۟تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ الۡغَيۡظِ‌ؕ كُلَّمَاۤ اُلۡقِىَ فِيۡهَا فَوۡجٌ سَاَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَـتُهَاۤ اَلَمۡ يَاۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيۡرٌ‏

as though bursting with rage. Each time a group is cast into it, its keepers will ask them, ‘Did no warner come to you?’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

قَالُوْا بَلٰی قَدْ جَآءَنَا نَذِیْرٌ ۙ۬— فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللّٰهُ مِنْ شَیْءٍ ۖۚ— اِنْ اَنْتُمْ اِلَّا فِیْ ضَلٰلٍ كَبِیْرٍ ۟قَالُوۡا بَلٰى قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيۡرٌ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَقُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللّٰهُ مِنۡ شَىۡءٍ ۖۚ اِنۡ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا فِىۡ ضَلٰلٍ كَبِيۡرٍ

They will say, ‘Of course, a warner did come to us, but we belied him and we said, “God has revealed nothing; you are in gross error”.’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

وَقَالُوْا لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ اَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِیْۤ اَصْحٰبِ السَّعِیْرِ ۟وَقَالُوۡا لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ اَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىۡۤ اَصۡحٰبِ السَّعِيۡرِ‏

They will say, ‘If we had only listened or understood, we should not now be among the inmates of Hell,’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

فَاعْتَرَفُوْا بِذَنْۢبِهِمْ ۚ— فَسُحْقًا لِّاَصْحٰبِ السَّعِیْرِ ۟فَاعۡتَرَفُوۡا بِذَنۡۢبِهِمۡ‌ۚ فَسُحۡقًا لِّاَصۡحٰبِ السَّعِيۡرِ

and thus they will confess their sin; far from God’s mercy are the inmates of Hell.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 67:5–11

At various places in the Quran, the picture of hell has been drawn. Though this hell is not observable today by man, it can be seen indirectly and imagined through the meaningfulness of the universe. The fact is that if there were to be no reckoning of the evil people brought to account in the Hereafter, the entire meaningfulness of the universe would become inexplicable.

The punishment of the Hereafter not being visible in the present world is precisely in accordance with God’s plan. It is the intention of God to select such persons as are convinced of His greatness and who obey Him without actually having seen Him. And the assessment of such people cannot be properly made unless the fate awaiting everybody in the Hereafter is kept out of their sight, so that whatever a man does here, he does out of free will and not under any compulsion.

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَیْبِ لَهُمْ مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَّاَجْرٌ كَبِیْرٌ ۟اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُمۡ بِالۡغَيۡبِ لَهُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةٌ وَّاَجۡرٌ كَبِيۡرٌ‏

As for those who fear their Lord in the unseen will have forgiveness and a rich reward.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

وَاَسِرُّوْا قَوْلَكُمْ اَوِ اجْهَرُوْا بِهٖ ؕ— اِنَّهٗ عَلِیْمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوْرِ ۟وَاَسِرُّوۡا قَوۡلَـكُمۡ اَوِ اجۡهَرُوۡا بِهٖؕ اِنَّهٗ عَلِيۡمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوۡرِ

Whether you speak in secret or aloud, He knows what is in every heart.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

اَلَا یَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ ؕ— وَهُوَ اللَّطِیْفُ الْخَبِیْرُ ۟۠اَلَا يَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ خَلَقَؕ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيۡفُ الۡخَبِيۡرُ

How could He who created not know His own creation, when He alone is the Most Subtle in His wisdom and the All Aware?

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 67:12–14

Everything on earth is extremely well-balanced. It is this balance which has made the earth habitable for human beings. Should the slightest disturbance ever occur in this balance, man’s life would be destroyed. We should be grateful to God for the balanced world provided to us and seek His gracious help against any destructive conditions that may develop as a result of the world’s equilibrium being upset.

هُوَ الَّذِیْ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْاَرْضَ ذَلُوْلًا فَامْشُوْا فِیْ مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوْا مِنْ رِّزْقِهٖ ؕ— وَاِلَیْهِ النُّشُوْرُ ۟هُوَ الَّذِىۡ جَعَلَ لَـكُمُ الۡاَرۡضَ ذَلُوۡلًا فَامۡشُوۡا فِىۡ مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوۡا مِنۡ رِّزۡقِهٖ‌ؕ وَاِلَيۡهِ النُّشُوۡرُ

It is He who has made the earth subservient to you, so traverse its regions and eat its provisions. To Him you shall all be resurrected.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

ءَاَمِنْتُمْ مَّنْ فِی السَّمَآءِ اَنْ یَّخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الْاَرْضَ فَاِذَا هِیَ تَمُوْرُ ۟ۙءَاَمِنۡتُمۡ مَّنۡ فِىۡ السَّمَآءِ اَنۡ يَّخۡسِفَ بِكُمُ الۡاَرۡضَ فَاِذَا هِىَ تَمُوۡرُۙ‏

Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to sink beneath you and then begin to quake?

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

اَمْ اَمِنْتُمْ مَّنْ فِی السَّمَآءِ اَنْ یُّرْسِلَ عَلَیْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ؕ— فَسَتَعْلَمُوْنَ كَیْفَ نَذِیْرِ ۟اَمۡ اَمِنۡتُمۡ مَّنۡ فِى السَّمَآءِ اَنۡ يُّرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَاصِبًا‌ ؕ فَسَتَعۡلَمُوۡنَ كَيۡفَ نَذِيۡرِ

Do you feel secure that the One in heaven will not send against you a whirlwind to pelt you with stones, so that you will know how [true] My warning was?

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِیْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَیْفَ كَانَ نَكِیْرِ ۟وَلَـقَدۡ كَذَّبَ الَّذِيۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيۡرِ

Those who went before them belied [the truth]: then how great was My rejection of them.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

اَوَلَمْ یَرَوْا اِلَی الطَّیْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صٰٓفّٰتٍ وَّیَقْبِضْنَ ؔؕۘ— مَا یُمْسِكُهُنَّ اِلَّا الرَّحْمٰنُ ؕ— اِنَّهٗ بِكُلِّ شَیْءٍ بَصِیْرٌ ۟اَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡا اِلَى الطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صٰٓفّٰتٍ وَّيَقۡبِضۡنَؕؔ ۘ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ اِلَّا الرَّحۡمٰنُ‌ؕ اِنَّهٗ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍۢ بَصِيۡرٌ

Do they not see the birds above them spreading and closing their wings? None save the Merciful sustains them. Surely, He observes all things.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

اَمَّنْ هٰذَا الَّذِیْ هُوَ جُنْدٌ لَّكُمْ یَنْصُرُكُمْ مِّنْ دُوْنِ الرَّحْمٰنِ ؕ— اِنِ الْكٰفِرُوْنَ اِلَّا فِیْ غُرُوْرٍ ۟ۚاَمَّنۡ هٰذَا الَّذِىۡ هُوَ جُنۡدٌ لَّكُمۡ يَنۡصُرُكُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ‌ؕ اِنِ الۡكٰفِرُوۡنَ اِلَّا فِىۡ غُرُوۡرٍ‌ۚ

Who is there to defend you like an army, besides the Lord of Mercy? Those who deny the truth are in deception.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

اَمَّنْ هٰذَا الَّذِیْ یَرْزُقُكُمْ اِنْ اَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهٗ ۚ— بَلْ لَّجُّوْا فِیْ عُتُوٍّ وَّنُفُوْرٍ ۟اَمَّنۡ هٰذَا الَّذِىۡ يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ اِنۡ اَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهٗ‌ ۚ بَلۡ لَّجُّوۡا فِىۡ عُتُوٍّ وَّنُفُوۡرٍ

Who can provide for you, if He withholds His provision? Yet they obstinately persist in rebellion and avoidance of the truth.

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 67:15–21

Birds flying in the air, the emergence of man’s sustenance from the soil and similar events are most wonderful. If one gives serious consideration to such things, one will become caught up in the realisation of God. But man is so forgetful that he indulges in arrogance in a world in which the natural phenomena visible all around him ought to teach him the lesson of obedience to God.

اَفَمَنْ یَّمْشِیْ مُكِبًّا عَلٰی وَجْهِهٖۤ اَهْدٰۤی اَمَّنْ یَّمْشِیْ سَوِیًّا عَلٰی صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِیْمٍ ۟اَفَمَنۡ يَّمۡشِىۡ مُكِبًّا عَلٰى وَجۡهِهٖۤ اَهۡدٰٓى اَمَّنۡ يَّمۡشِىۡ سَوِيًّا عَلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيۡمٍ

Is he who walks grovelling upon his face better guided, or he who walks upright upon a straight path?

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِیْۤ اَنْشَاَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْاَبْصَارَ وَالْاَفْـِٕدَةَ ؕ— قَلِیْلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُوْنَ ۟قُلۡ هُوَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَنۡشَاَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَـكُمُ السَّمۡعَ وَالۡاَبۡصَارَ وَ الۡاَفۡــئِدَةَ ‌ ؕ قَلِيۡلًا مَّا تَشۡكُرُوۡنَ

Say, ‘It is He who brought you into being, and made ears and eyes and hearts for you, yet you are seldom grateful.’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِیْ ذَرَاَكُمْ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَاِلَیْهِ تُحْشَرُوْنَ ۟قُلۡ هُوَ الَّذِىۡ ذَرَاَكُمۡ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ وَاِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُوۡنَ

Say, ‘It is He who has scattered you on the earth; and it is to Him that you shall all be gathered [on the Day of Resurrection].’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 67:22–24

Man has been granted the powers of hearing, seeing and thinking. Some individuals are so constituted that whatever they hear they follow, whatever they see they accept at face value, and whatever comes into their minds they uncritically retain. This type of person is like an animal which goes ahead with its head down, toeing a fixed line.

Quite another type of person is one who investigates whatever he hears, who tries to understand more accurately whatever he sees, and who discovers the Truth by coming out of his personal shell. This second type of person is one who straightens himself up and walks on a straight path—the qualities of hearing, observation and sensitivity have been given to man so that he may recognise the truth and not be as ignorant or unaware as a blind or deaf person.

وَیَقُوْلُوْنَ مَتٰی هٰذَا الْوَعْدُ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِیْنَ ۟وَيَقُوۡلُوۡنَ مَتٰى هٰذَا الۡوَعۡدُ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِيۡنَ‏

They ask, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

قُلْ اِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ ۪— وَاِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا نَذِیْرٌ مُّبِیْنٌ ۟قُلۡ اِنَّمَا الۡعِلۡمُ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِۖ وَاِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا نَذِيۡرٌ مُّبِيۡنٌ‏

Say, ‘God alone has knowledge of that; and I am only a plain warner.’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

فَلَمَّا رَاَوْهُ زُلْفَةً سِیْٓـَٔتْ وُجُوْهُ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا وَقِیْلَ هٰذَا الَّذِیْ كُنْتُمْ بِهٖ تَدَّعُوْنَ ۟فَلَمَّا رَاَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةً سِیْٓـئَتۡ وُجُوۡهُ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا وَقِيۡلَ هٰذَا الَّذِىۡ كُنۡتُمۡ بِهٖ تَدَّعُوۡنَ‏

But when they see it drawing near, the faces of those who deny the truth will turn gloomy and they will be told, ‘This is what you were calling for.’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

قُلْ اَرَءَیْتُمْ اِنْ اَهْلَكَنِیَ اللّٰهُ وَمَنْ مَّعِیَ اَوْ رَحِمَنَا ۙ— فَمَنْ یُّجِیْرُ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ اَلِیْمٍ ۟قُلۡ اَرَءَيۡتُمۡ اِنۡ اَهۡلَـكَنِىَ اللّٰهُ وَمَنۡ مَّعِىَ اَوۡ رَحِمَنَا ۙ فَمَنۡ يُّجِيۡرُ الۡكٰفِرِيۡنَ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ اَلِيۡمٍ

Say, ‘Have you thought: if God destroys me and those who are with me, or treats us mercifully, then who will protect those who deny the truth from a painful chastisement?’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمٰنُ اٰمَنَّا بِهٖ وَعَلَیْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۚ— فَسَتَعْلَمُوْنَ مَنْ هُوَ فِیْ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیْنٍ ۟قُلۡ هُوَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ اٰمَنَّا بِهٖ وَعَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡنَا‌ۚ فَسَتَعۡلَمُوۡنَ مَنۡ هُوَ فِىۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِيۡنٍ

Say, ‘He is the Most Gracious: we believe in Him and we put our trust in Him. You will soon come to know who is in evident error.’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

قُلْ اَرَءَیْتُمْ اِنْ اَصْبَحَ مَآؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَنْ یَّاْتِیْكُمْ بِمَآءٍ مَّعِیْنٍ ۟۠قُلۡ اَرَءَيۡتُمۡ اِنۡ اَصۡبَحَ مَآؤُكُمۡ غَوۡرًا فَمَنۡ يَّاۡتِيۡكُمۡ بِمَآءٍ مَّعِيۡنٍ

Say, ‘Have you considered if your water were to sink into the ground, who could then bring you flowing water?’

— Tazkirul Quran (En)

Tafseer of 67:25–30

When the addressee is not convinced by reasoning, the preacher repeats his utterances of firm faith and thus stirs his inner self into awakening. Even if there is the slightest sensitivity in a man, these last utterances are enough to make him feel the urge to reform himself. But one whose conscience has been completely blunted, can never be awakened by any device.