Exegesis of Surat al-Tur, verses (9-16), and other selected verses, and what is derived from them.
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The Shaykh : We ended previously with the saying of Allah the Exalted: [At-Tur 52:9-11]
This phrase, or rather this single word:[At-Tur 52:9] is connected to His saying: [At-Tur 52:7] meaning: that the punishment occurs on that day, the day the sky churns with churning, and the mountains move with moving, so woe on that day to the deniers.
His saying:[At-Tur 52:9] One might think that the verbal noun here, "churning," is merely for emphasis, but it is not so; rather, it is to indicate the magnification of this scene. "Churning" means: turmoil, meaning: that the sky will be in turmoil, split, open up, and differ from what it is today, as He the Exalted said: [Al-Infitar 82:1-5] No human can imagine or know the reality of that day, but we know the meaning by what Allah informed us about it, whereas the reality is something beyond what we imagine now.
[At-Tur 52:10] And this verse indicates that the saying of Allah Blessed and Exalted in Surat al-Naml: [An-Naml 27:88] then this verse is the same as this verse in al-Tur in terms of meaning, so His saying Blessed and Exalted: [An-Naml 27:88] means: the Day of Resurrection, without doubt. And whoever interprets it as being in this world, and that it is evidence that the earth rotates, has distorted the words from their places and said about Allah what he does not know.
And interpreting the Qur'an is not an easy matter, because interpreting the Qur'an means that you are testifying that Allah intended such and such by it, so there must be evidence, either from the Qur'an itself, or from the Sunnah, or from the interpretation of the Companions. As for a person turning the Qur'an to the meaning he sees with his mind or his opinion, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2951Da'if (Darussalam) .
And the important point is that this interpretation, meaning that His saying:[An-Naml 27:88] is intended to be in this world, is an invalid interpretation; it is not permissible to rely on it or to depend on it. As for whether the earth rotates or not? That is known from another evidence, either by observing reality, or by the Qur'an, or by the Sunnah. It is never permissible for us to attribute to the Qur'an meanings it does not indicate, in order to support a theory or a real matter, but the wording does not indicate it, because this is a very serious matter.
Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tur 52:11] "Woe" is a word of warning and threat, and although it has been narrated that it is a valley in Hellfire, the correct view is that it is a word of threat and warning. [At-Tur 52:11] the deniers of Allah and His Messengers, the rejecters of what the evidence has established, for they will find on that day of punishment and disgrace what does not even cross their minds.
[At-Tur 52:11-12] those who are in this world in deep involvement, meaning: in false speech, playing, meaning: they do not speak seriously and do not act seriously, but all their deeds are play and idle talk. Therefore, you find that there is no blessing in their lifetimes; nights and days pass over them and they benefit nothing.
This is also connected to what came before, and "they are driven" means: they are pushed with violence and intensity, , because, refuge sought in Allah, the fire is presented to them as if it were a mirage, meaning: as if it were a pool of a river, and they are in the most extreme thirst, so they go to it quickly, wanting to drink from it so that their thirst is removed, but when they reach it, lo! it is the fire, refuge sought in Allah. So it is as if, and Allah knows best, they stop so that they do not fall into it, then they are called to it, meaning: they are pushed with violence and intensity, and they fall into it. May Allah protect us and you from its fire.
[At-Tur 52:13-14] They used to say in this world: there is no resurrection, no recompense, no punishment, and no fire, but rather wombs that push out and an earth that swallows, and there is no resurrection. So it is said: [At-Tur 52:14] In this world they deny it and say: there is no fire, no resurrection, and no recompense. So they are rebuked for this denial on the Day of Resurrection. And how severe is their regret when they are rebuked for a matter they could have abandoned, but now they have no way to do so. They say: [Al-An'am 6:27] Allah the Exalted said: [Al-An'am 6:28] meaning: even if they were returned to this world, they would return and deny, and they would not be upright in the command of Allah. But they say this as a wish, and the common people say: "Wishing is the capital of the bankrupt".
[At-Tur 52:15] meaning: Is this which you see today magic, as you used to say that in this world, where they say: what the Messengers brought is magic, and they describe the Messenger as a sorcerer. So it is said: [At-Tur 52:15] meaning: you do not see with the eye of insight, but you are blind to the truth, refuge sought in Allah.
[At-Tur 52:16] Enter it, meaning: be burned by it. The command here is for humiliation, like His saying the Exalted: [Ad-Dukhan 44:49-50] So look at how the angels mock them, humiliate them, disgrace them -refuge sought in Allah- and insult them. [At-Tur 52:16] meaning: that patience and its absence are the same for you, and the meaning of this is: that it will not be relieved for you, whether you are patient or not. Whereas in this world, if a person is afflicted with something and is patient, it is relieved for him, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
[At-Tur 52:16] meaning: you are not recompensed except for what you did, so you are not wronged in anything.
Then Allah the Exalted mentioned the recompense of the believers, and He said:[At-Tur 52:17-19] to the end of the verses, and the discussion of them will come later, if Allah wills. As for now, we proceed to the questions.
(9) On the Day the heaven will sway with circular motion (10) And the mountains will pass on, departing - (11) Then woe, that Day, to the deniers,
يَوْمَ تَمُورُ السَّمَاءُ مَوْراً * وَتَسِيرُ الْجِبَالُ سَيْراً * فَوَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَThis phrase, or rather this single word:
On the Day the heaven will sway
يَوْمَ تَمُورُ السَّمَاءُIndeed, the punishment of your Lord will occur.
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ لَوَاقِعٌHis saying:
On the Day the heaven will sway with circular motion
يَوْمَ تَمُورُ السَّمَاءُ مَوْراً(1) When the sky breaks apart (2) And when the stars fall, scattering, (3) And when the seas are erupted (4) And when the [contents of] graves are scattered, (5) A soul will [then] know what it has put forth and kept back.
إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انفَطَرَتْ * وَإِذَا الْكَوَاكِبُ انتَثَرَتْ * وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ فُجِّرَتْ * وَإِذَا الْقُبُورُ بُعْثِرَتْ * عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ وَأَخَّرَتْAnd the mountains will pass on, departing -
وَتَسِيرُ الْجِبَالُ سَيْراًAnd you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Acquainted with that which you do.
وَتَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِ صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَAnd you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds
وَتَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِAnd interpreting the Qur'an is not an easy matter, because interpreting the Qur'an means that you are testifying that Allah intended such and such by it, so there must be evidence, either from the Qur'an itself, or from the Sunnah, or from the interpretation of the Companions. As for a person turning the Qur'an to the meaning he sees with his mind or his opinion, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
And whoever says (something) about the Qur'an according to his (own) opinion, then let him take his seat in the Fire.
من قال في القرآن برأيه فليتبوأ مقعده من النارAnd the important point is that this interpretation, meaning that His saying:
And you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds
وَتَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِAllah the Exalted said:
Then woe, that Day, to the deniers,
فَوَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَThen woe, that Day, to the deniers,
فَوَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ(11) Then woe, that Day, to the deniers, (12) Who are in [empty] discourse amusing themselves.
فَوَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ * الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي خَوْضٍ يَلْعَبُونَOn the Day they will be driven into the Fire of Hell with a violent driving.
يَوْمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلَى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعّاًinto the Fire of Hell, driven in
إِلَى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعّاً(13) The Day they are thrust toward the fire of Hell with a [violent] thrust, [its angels will say], (14) "This is the Fire which you used to deny.
يَوْمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلَى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعّاً هَذِهِ النَّارُ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ"This is the Fire which you used to deny.
هَذِهِ النَّارُ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَOh, would that we could be returned [to life on earth] and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers."
يَا لَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلا نُكَذِّبَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَBut what they concealed before has [now] appeared to them. And even if they were returned, they would return to that which they were forbidden; and indeed, they are liars.
بَلْ بَدَا لَهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يُخْفُونَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلَوْ رُدُّوا لَعَادُوا لِمَا نُهُوا عَنْهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَThen is this magic, or do you not see?
أَفَسِحْرٌ هَذَا أَمْ أَنْتُمْ لا تُبْصِرُونَThen is this magic, or do you not see?
أَفَسِحْرٌ هَذَا أَمْ أَنْتُمْ لا تُبْصِرُونَ[Enter to] burn therein; then be patient or impatient - it is all the same for you. You are only being recompensed [for] what you used to do."
اصْلَوْهَا فَاصْبِرُوا أَوْ لا تَصْبِرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ(49) [It will be said], "Taste! Indeed, you are the honored, the noble! (50) Indeed, this is what you used to dispute."
ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْكَرِيمُ * إِنَّ هَذَا مَا كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تَمْتَرُون[Enter to] burn therein; then be patient or impatient - it is all the same for you
اصْلَوْهَا فَاصْبِرُوا أَوْ لا تَصْبِرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْكُمْAnd know that victory is with patience, and that relief is with distress, and that with hardship there is ease.
واعلم أن النصر مع الصبر، وأن الفرج مع الكرب، وأن مع العسر يسراًYou are only being recompensed [for] what you used to do."
إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَThen Allah the Exalted mentioned the recompense of the believers, and He said: