Divine justice and sound intellect dictate that there is no punishment before clearly knowing the obligations and warning of the negative consequences of not fulfilling them. Anyone, who is entrusted with a task, needs time to be able to perform it. During such time, it will become clear whether he reacts positively or negatively to what he was entrusted. This is the methodology mentioned in the Quran regarding punishing the disbelieving nations. Allah has never destroyed any nation except after clearly stating and conveying the obligations and warning of the negative results of not fulfilling them.
Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the ayat of the Book and a clear Quran. [Q 15:1]
Many a time, those who disbelieve will wish that they were Muslims.[Q 15: 2]
Let them eat and enjoy and be diverted by hope. Indeed, they will come to know their end. [Q 15: 3]
Never a city have We destroyed, but it had a predetermined term.[Q 15:4]
No people can advance their predetermined term, nor can they delay it. [Q 15: 5]
They said, ‘O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! Indeed, you are insane.’ [Q 15:6]
‘Why do you not bring us the angels, if you are of the truthful?’ [Q 15: 7]
We do not cause the angels to come down except for a truthful cause and then they will be given no respite. [Q 15: 8]
Surely, We have revealed the Reminder and We will surely preserve it. [Q 15: 9]
Relationship with the Previous Surah
According to the arrangement of the Mushaf, the written text of the Quran, surah Ibrahim comes before surah al-Hijr. Allah, Exalted be He, concluded surah Ibrahim with the following ayah,
This is a proclamation for people that they may be warned thereby, that they may know that indeed there is only One God and that men of sound understanding may learn lessons. [Surah Ibrahim: 52]
The ayah mentions the purpose of revealing the Quran. Allah revealed it to give news of attaining Allah’s pleasure in this life and the Hereafter to the believers and warning the disbelievers of Allah’s anger in this life and the Hereafter. Then surah al-Hijr begins by explaining the nature of the message of the Quran.
Tafsir
Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the ayat of the Book and a clear Quran. [Q 15:1]
[Alif, Lam, Ra.]
These three Arabic letters are called ‘al-Muqatta, separated letters’. They are among the separated letters found at the beginning of the twenty-nine surah of the Quran. The scholars differ about their meanings. Their opinions can be summarized as follows:
a) These letters have meanings; however, they differ about specifying their meanings whether they are names of Allah, names of the surahs, or that they refer to how long the nation of Muhammad [peace be upon him] will remain, and so on.
b) They are alphabetical letters and do not have meanings.
c) They have meanings, which only Allah knows.
d) Refraining from giving any opinion.
The most correct opinion is (b), i.e. they are alphabetical letters and do not have meanings. This opinion is based on the fact that the Quran was revealed in the Arabic language and its alphabetic letters do not have meanings. Similarly, these separated letters at the beginning of some surahs of the Quran do not have meanings.
The wisdom behind mentioning these letters at the beginning of some surahs, according to those who say that they do not have meanings, is that the separated letters demonstrate the inimitability of the Quran. That is because it has not brought words or letters that are beyond the reach of man. Rather, these letters are some of the letters used in people's speech. However, they cannot bring anything like the Quran.
[These are the ayat of the Book and a clear Quran.]
Praising the Quran and showing its great rank, Allah says that the ayat of the book, the Quran, contain the best meanings and guide to noble aims. The Quran is clear. It conveys meanings, using the best and the clearest proofs. This necessitates that people should submit to its obligations and accept its rulings happily. The Quran is clear in respect of its inimitability, distinguishing the truth from falsehood and differentiating the lawful from the unlawful. Mujahid said, ‘[These are the ayat of the Book.] The book refers to the Torah and the Gospel [Tafsir al-Tabari].’
Then, Allah mentions that the disbelievers would regret disbelieving in Allah in the Hereafter; however, it would be too late and it would not benefit them.
Many a time, those who disbelieve will wish that they were Muslims.[Q 15: 2]
In the Hereafter, the disbelievers will hope that they were Muslims in the worldly life when the facts become clear before them. Thus, they will know that they followed the path of falsehood and that the Muslims followed the right path, Islam. On the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers will regret their disbelief in the Oneness of Allah and His Messengers, hoping that they will be saved for humiliation and punishment.
Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him said, ‘We have been told that on the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers will gather in Hell and some Muslims will be with them therein. They will say to the Muslims, ‘Your belief in Islam has not availed you as you are with us in Hell.’ The Muslims will reply, ‘We have been punished because we did some sins in the worldly life.’ Allah will hear the conversation. Then He will command the angels to bring out of Hell all Muslims. So they will be brought out thereof. Thus, the disbelievers will say, ‘We wish that we were Muslims.’ Then, Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him] recited,[Tafsir al-Tabari], [Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the ayat of the Book and a clear Quran. Many a time, those who disbelieve will wish that they were Muslims.][Q 15: 2]
Ayah [2] gives the believers firmness as it demonstrates that they follow the right path, Islam. It also implies warning to the disbelievers as it indirectly urges them to embrace Islam before it is too late.
Then, Allah commanded Messenger Muhammad not to worry about the disbelievers, who followed the path of misguidance, after it became clear that they would not benefit from the warning.
Let them eat and enjoy and be diverted by hope. Indeed, they will come to know their end. [Q 15: 3]
O Messenger! Let the disbelievers eat in the worldly life and enjoy its pleasures and indulgence in their whims until the appointed time for their death comes. Let them be diverted by false hopes so that they do not obey Allah and be prepared for the Hereafter. Indeed, they will know the evil end of their disbelief.
The disbelievers will know the end of their disobedience to Allah when they die disbelieving in Allah and then suffer from the severe torment of Hell in the Hereafter. They will know then that their enjoyment in the worldly life will not avail them; rather, it will be a cause for increasing their torment and misery.
Allah commanded Messenger Muhammad not to worry about disbelievers and not concern himself with their disbelief after he invited them to Islam using wise methods for a long time, but they insisted on their disbelief.
The ayah mentions eating first to liken the enjoyment of the disbelievers in the worldly life to cattle because they only endeavor to satisfy their bodies’ needs, just like animals.
Verily, hoping to live a long life is incurable illness. When this illness completely affects the heart, it impairs it that its remedy will become very difficult. Hoping to live a long life makes a person eagerly wish to attain pleasures of this life and forget the Hereafter. Abu ad-Darda’, may Allah be pleased with him, stood one day on the stairs of the pulpit of Damascus Mosque. Then, he said, ‘O people of Damascus! Would listen to your brother, who wants to advise you? Those who were before you used to gather a lot of wealth, build magnificent buildings, and hope to live a long life. What they gathered was destroyed, their buildings became their graves, and their hopes proved to be illusion. The tribe of Aad had many people, great wealth, and a lot of horses and men. Who wishes to buy their inheritance for two Dirhams?[Tafsir al-Qurtubi]’
Then, Allah confirms that oppressive nations have a specific time for their destruction and that His rules and norms in destroying the oppressors never change.
Never a city have We destroyed, but it had a predetermined term.[Q 15:4]
A city refers to the inhabitants of any city. A predetermined term means the time that Allah has appointed for the destruction of the oppressors.
Allah did not destroy the oppressive inhabitants of any city but they had a predetermined term for their destruction. Allah, the Omnipotence, knew exactly when their destruction would take place. This implies warning to every oppressor and disbeliever that no matter how long he may live, Allah has appointed time for his punishment, which will take place when Allah wants it to happen without any delay.
No people can advance their predetermined term, nor can they delay it. [Q 15: 5]
The destruction of the disbelievers and oppressors will take place at the time that Allah has appointed. It will come neither earlier nor later. Indeed, the evil consequence of disobeying Allah will inevitably befall the wrongdoers no matter how long it may delay.
Then, the ayat narrate about the mannerlessness of disbelievers with Messenger Muhammad.
They said, ‘O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! Indeed, you are insane.’ [Q 15:6]
‘Why do you not bring us the angels, if you are of the truthful?’ [Q 15: 7]
The disbelievers said to Messenger Muhammad ‘O you to whom the Quran is revealed! Indeed, you are insane because you invite us to follow your religion and stop worshipping our gods. Why do you not bring us the angels to confirm your truthfulness and that Allah has sent you as His Messenger?’
In other words, they said, ‘O Muhammad! If you were truthful about your claim that Allah sent you as His Messenger, it would not be difficult for your Lord to send an angel with you to confirm your truthfulness.’
The conduct of the disbelievers reveals their injustice and ignorance. As for their injustice, their request that Allah should send an angel with Messenger to confirm his truthfulness shows their stubbornness by asking for evidence that Allah has not chosen and has not wanted to be a confirmation of the truthfulness of His Messenger Muhammad. As for their ignorance, the disbelievers do not know what benefit and what harm them. That is because causing the angels to come down from heaven is not in their interests. Allah makes the angels come down to punish the wrongdoers.
Then the following ayah mentions a reply to the disbelievers’ request that will make them speechless.
We do not cause the angels to come down except for a truthful cause and then they will be given no respite. [Q 15: 8]
Allah will not cause the angels to come down from heaven except for a truthful cause that His wisdom necessitates, such as destroying the oppressors, conveying His revelation, or other causes that Allah wants. The suggestion of the disbelievers to send angels with Messenger Muhammad to confirm his truthfulness was not an acceptable cause. Therefore, Allah did not realize their request.
[…and then they shall be given no respite.]
This shows what would happen to the disbelievers if Allah realized their suggestion and sent an angel with Messenger Muhammad to confirm his truthfulness.
If Allah sent an angel with Messenger Muhammad and the disbelievers insisted on their disbelief in Allah and His Messenger, they would be immediately punished without any delay. That is because the rule of Allah dictates that if Allah gives people their request to bring a specific miracle and then they disbelieve, Allah’s punishment will immediately befall them. Thus, sending an angel with Messenger Muhammad would harm the disbelievers and lead to their punishment.
Then the following ayah mentions that Allah is responsible for preserving the Quran and protecting it from any distortion.
Surely, We have revealed the Reminder and We will surely preserve it. [Q 15: 9]
Indeed, Allah revealed the Quran to His Messenger Muhammad. Verily, Allah will preserve it from whatever thing that may negatively affect it, such as distortion, alternation, increase, decrease … etc. Indeed, Allah will protect the Quran.
Someone may ask, ‘Why did the companions of Messenger Muhammad occupy themselves with collecting the Quran and writing it down in a single book though Allah, Exalted be He, said that He would preserve and protect it from any distortion?
Collecting the Quran by the companions of the Messenger is a form of Allah’s preservation of the Quran since He guided them to do so. This collection has helped in persevering the written copy of the Quran for centuries and will preserve it for centuries to come. Moreover, though Muslims have suffered weakness and defeats throughout their history, and sometimes they have been unable to protect themselves and their wealth, this has not affected the holiness of the Quran and preserving it from any distortion or alteration. Furthermore, Muslims’ enemies have been able to fabricate narrations and attributed them to Messenger Muhammad, but they have failed to make the slightest change in the Quran. Finally, preserving the Quran from any distortion is clear evidence that there is a power that exceeds human beings’ power that protects and preserves it. It is Allah, the Able, the All-Powerful.
Learned Lessons from Surah al-Hijr Ayah: 1-9
• The Quran clarifies everything that people need to attain happiness in the worldly life and the Hereafter.
• Warning the disbelievers of the negative results of disbelief in Allah. Their disbelief will make them suffer severe punishment. It will come a time when they wish that they were Muslims.
• The disbelievers are only interested in materialistic enjoyment of the worldly life and occupy themselves with them greatly that they do not care about obeying Allah and thinking about the Hereafter. They are like cattle that are only interested in satisfying their bodily desires.
• Allah, Exalted be He, is just. He does not punish people except after sending them messengers, inviting them to obey Him. Allah will punish them if they refuse to obey His messengers and follow the path of guidance.
• Allah, Exalted be He, recorded everything that will happen in this universe in the Preserved Tablet.
• Messenger Muhammad suffered from the abuse and ridicule of the disbelievers.
• Allah took upon Himself to preserve and protect the Quran from any distortion.
• There is no use in sending angels testifying to the truthfulness of the Messenger of Allah. If the disbelievers insist on their disbelief after sending the angels, they will be immediately punished.
Quran, English Translation of Surah al-Hijr
Quran, Tafsir of ibn Kathir, Surah al-Hijr
Introduction to Tafsir of Surah al-Hijr
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