Allah is Able

 

The Noble Quran English Translation and Tafsir of Surah Al-Mulk Ayah 19-22  

67:19 Have they not seen the birds above them spreading their wings, and folding them? None holds them but the All-Merciful. Verily, He is All-Seeing of everything. 

67:20 Yet, who is this that can be a host for you to help you apart from the All-Merciful? The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion. 

67:21 Yet, who is this that can provide for you if He withholds His provision? No, but they persist in insolence and aversion.

67:22 Is he who walks, lowering down his face, better guided than he who walks upright on a straight path?

Relationship with the Previous Part

The previous part mentions some proofs of Allah’s perfect ability. Then, this part mentions more proofs. Allah causes the birds to fly in the sky and there is none, who holds them to prevent them from falling, but Allah, the Able. Allah also provides people with sustenance. If He withholds His provision from people, none can provide for them. 

Tafsir

67:19 Have they not seen the birds above them spreading their wings, and folding them? None holds them but the All-Merciful. Verily, He is All-Seeing of everything. 

Are the disbelievers unmindful that their eyes cannot see the birds that fly above them? They spread and fold their wings when they fly in the sky. None holds them when they fly and protect them from falling, but Allah, the Able. Verily, Allah is All-Seeing of everything. He fully knows all affairs of the creatures and manages them perfectly and wisely.

Then, Allah, Exalted be He, draws the disbelievers' attention to His perfect power and severe punishment when He wants to punish the evildoers and disobedient. No one can protect them against Allah’s punishment.

67:20 Yet, who is this that can be a host for you to help you apart from the All-Merciful? The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion. 

The host refers to the helpers and supporters, whom a person calls when he needs their assistance and support.

O disbelievers, tell me, after your heedlessness and inability to think wisely, who can be your host, helper, and supporter to ward off any harm that may befall you apart from Allah, the All-Merciful? 

O disbelievers, tell me, can you find anyone, who can support you if Allah’s severe punishment befalls you or any adversity befalls you? 

Indeed, you will not find anyone, who can help and support you other than Allah, the All-Able, the All-Merciful. You are in nothing but delusion and ignorance. Satan has deceived you that you believe that your false gods can help and support you when you need them.

67:21 Yet, who is this that can provide for you if He withholds His provision? No, but they persist in insolence and aversion.

O disbelievers, tell me, who is that can provide for you if Allah withholds His provision from you? Who can provide for you if Allah prevents means that are necessary for your life, such as destroying your crops or preventing rainfall? No one can provide you with the sustenance necessary for your life, but Allah. 

No, but they persist in insolence and aversion.

Do the disbelievers benefit from the admonition they have received? No, they do not benefit or learn from them; rather, they persist in insolence and aversion. Instead of following the right path, the disbelievers continue following the path of arrogance and haughtiness that will surely cause them to go away from the right path, which will lead them to destruction and loss. 

67:22 Is he who walks, lowering down his face, better guided than he who walks upright on a straight path?

This ayah illustrates the condition of the followers of the right path and the followers of the path of misguidance.

O people, is a person who walks, lowering down his face that he cannot see what is before his eyes, and what is on his right or left side, better guided than a person who walks upright on a straight path? 

O people, consider the condition of the believer and the disbeliever. The condition of the disbeliever is similar to a person who walks, lowering his face so that he cannot see his path. He cannot see his path and cannot know whether it is the right or wrong path. He will also stumble to his feet because he does not know what is on his way. He will be confused throughout his journey and go astray. On the other hand, the condition of the believer is similar to a person who walks upright and can see the straight path that is before him. In the life of this world, he follows the path of guidance that pleases Allah, and he will walk on a straight path in the Hereafter, which will lead him to Paradise, where he will enjoy lasting happiness. 

Abdul Allah Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘[67:22 Is he who walks, lowering down his face, better guided than he who walks upright on a straight path?] Is a person who follows the path of misguidance better guided or he who follows the path of guidance.’ 

 No reply is required to the interrogation; rather, the intended meaning is that every listener intuitively knows that the person who walks upright and follows a straight path is better guided than the person who is not so.

Learned Lessons from Surah Al-Mulk Ayah 19-22

• One of the miraculous proofs of Allah’s perfect ability in the universe is that the birds fly in the sky. They spread and fold their wings in midair to keep flying high and they do not fall when they fold their wings, which demonstrates that Allah is Able. 

• Allah is the All-Merciful and the All-Seeing. He bestows His mercy on His obedient slaves and nothing of their conditions, deeds, and statements is hidden from Him, Exalted be He.

• No helper, nor Sustainer for people, believers, and disbelievers, but Allah. However, the disbelievers are deceived by Satan and follow in his footsteps. Therefore, they persist in wrongdoings, arrogance, and aversion to the truth. 

• The example of the disbeliever regarding his following the path of misguidance is similar to a person who walks, lowering his face. He cannot see what is in front of him, or what is to his right or his left hand. He is susceptible to stumbling and falling on his face. 

• The example of the believer regarding his following the right path is similar to a person who walks upright and clearly can see his way. He will walk safely.

The Noble Quran English Translation of Surah Al-Mulk

English Translation of Tafsir Ibn Kathir Surah Al-Mulk

The Noble Quran English Translation and Tafsir of Surah Al-Mulk 6-11 Punishing the Disobedient and the Disbelievers

The Noble Quran Surah Yusuf English Translation and Tafsir 

Warning and Threat to the Wrongdoers

 

The Noble Quran English Translation and Tafsir of Surah Al-Mulk Ayah 16-18 

67:16 Do you feel secure that He Who is in the heaven will cause the earth to swallow you? Behold, it shakes. 

67:17 Or do you feel secure that He Who in the heaven will send against you a squall of stones? Then, you will know how My warning is.  

67:18 And verily, those who before them denied. Then, how terrible was My reproach? 

Relationship with the Previous Part

Some proofs confirming Allah’s infinite knowledge and perfect ability are mentioned in the previous part. Then, this part mentions more proofs of Allah’s perfect ability to warn the disbelievers and show them that Allah is Able to destroy them by causing the earth to sink beneath them or sending them a squall of stones. It also refers to the fact that Allah destroyed the former nations when they insisted on disbelieving in Allah’s Oneness and His Messengers.

Tafsir

67:16 Do you feel secure that He Who is in the heaven will cause the earth to swallow you? Behold, it shakes. 

O disbelievers, do you feel secure that He Who is in the heaven, Allah, will cause the earth to swallow you? Allah has made the earth level so that you can live and move on it easily, and He is able to cause it to shake, sink, and then swallow you. You will not find anyone, who can protect you from Allah’s punishment.

The interrogation is for warning and to inform that Allah is Able to destroy the disbelievers, who worship other gods besides Him, Exalted be He. However, Allah is the All-Most Merciful. He is forbearing and gives people chances to repent of their sins, worship Him alone, and perform righteous deeds for His sake. Had Allah willed, He could destroy the disobedient and disbelievers, but He gives them opportunities to repent of their sins and seek His forgiveness. 

67:17 Or do you feel secure that He Who in the heaven will send against you a squall of stones? Then, you will know how My warning is.  

O disbelievers, do you feel secure that He Who is in the heaven, Allah, will send against you a squall of stones? When you see Allah’s severe punishment befall you, you will surely know how terrible the warning of Allah is. Thus, beware of His punishment. It will certainly befall those who insist on disbelieving in His Oneness and disobey His commands.

Allah is the All-Mighty and the All-Powerful. If Allah wants, He will send strong wind against the disbelievers that is accompanied by stones and pebbles so that they will be destroyed. 

Indeed, the condition of the disbelievers is strange. They know that Allah’s punishment will befall them, but they keep on disbelieving in His Oneness and do not repent of their sins. 

67:18 And verily, those who before them denied. Then, how terrible was My reproach? 

This is a reminder of what happened to the former disbelievers. 

Verily, the disbelievers, who were before the disbelievers of Makkah, such as the People of Prophet Noah and Lot, disbelieved in Allah’s Oneness and His Messengers. Then, Allah’s warning to them was terrible and then He destroyed them. 

Learned Lessons from Surah Al-Mulk Ayah 16-18

• Allah is Able. He can make the earth swallow the disbelievers just as He made the earth sink beneath the former disbelievers.

• Allah is Able. He can send strong wind accompanied by stones and pebbles against the disbelievers to destroy them if they insist on disbelieving in His Oneness.

• Warning the disbelievers of the evil consequences of disobeying Allah’s commands.

• The punishment that befell the former disbelievers is a lesson to those who are endowed with sound reason. They will learn from it and not follow in their footsteps. 

• Allah’s punishment is severe and it will certainly befall the disbelievers and the wrongdoers. 

The Noble Quran English Translation of Surah Al-Mulk

English Translation of Tafsir Ibn Kathir Surah Al-Mulk

Introduction to English Translation and Tafsir of Surah Al-Mulk

The Noble Quran Surah Jonah English Translation and Tafsir 

 

Promise of Allah’s Forgiveness to the Believers

 

The Noble Quran English Translation and Tafsir of Surah Al-Mulk Ayah 12-15 

67:12 Surely those who fear their Lord, though unseen, for them is forgiveness and a great reward.

67:13 And conceal your speech or proclaim it, He is the All-Knowing of what is in the breasts.

67:14 Shall He not know who created? And He is the Most Kind, the All-Aware. 

67:15 He is the One Who has made the earth subservient for you - so walk through its tracts and eat of His provision, and to Him is the Resurrection. 

Relationship with the Previous Part

In the previous part, the disbelievers are warned of Allah’s severe punishment in Hell on the Day of Judgment if they insist on disbelieving in His Oneness and His Messengers. Then, this part mentions the great forgiveness and reward that Allah has prepared for the believers in His Oneness and His Messengers and performing righteous deeds for His sake. This agrees with the typical style of the Quran, which mentions something, then mentions its opposite to make the contrast clear. It also mentions that Allah is the only Creator, who created the earth and made it subservient for people to live easily and comfortably on it.

Tafsir

67:12 Surely those who fear their Lord, though unseen, for them is forgiveness and a great reward.

Allah has prepared for those who fear Him by obeying His commands and avoiding His prohibitions, though they do not see Him, forgiveness, and a great reward. They fear Allah in secret and public so that they avoid disobeying His commands and perform righteous deeds for His sake because they know that Allah sees them even if they do not see Him. Allah, the Generous, will forgive their sins, reward them immensely, and make them enter Paradise where they will enjoy lasting happiness. 

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] said, ‘Seven people, Allah will shad them under His Shade on a day when there will be no shade but His Shade. A just ruler; a young man, who grows up worshipping Allah; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two persons, who love one another for Allah’s sake; they meet and leave one another in such a state; a man, whom a noble and beautiful woman, tries to seduce him, but he says, ‘I fear Allah.’ A man, who secretly gives charity that his left hand does not know what his right hand spends. And a man, who remembers Allah in seclusion, and his eyes weep because he fears Allah.’ 

67:13 And conceal your speech or proclaim it, He is the All-Knowing of what is in the breasts.   

O people, whether you conceal your speech or proclaim it, Allah is the All-Knowing of what you hide in your breasts. Nothing is hidden from Allah. Allah knows your statements, your deeds, and your inner-self speech. Thus, beware lest you should disobey Allah in secret or public. Both are the same for Allah’s perfect knowledge. 

The secret is first mentioned in the ayah because a person usually begins thinking about something secretly, and then he may keep it secret or proclaim it. Moreover, the secret is mentioned first to warn of disobeying Allah in secret, as He knows it just as He knows the public.

67:14 Shall He not know who created? And He is the Most Kind, the All-Aware. 

Shall Allah, the Creator, not know His creatures? Allah created man and He knows best about him. Allah knows all matters, great or small, and apparent or hidden. Nothing is hidden from Allah, the All-Knowing. Allah is the Most Kind and the All-Aware. He manages the affairs of His creatures kindly and wisely. 

67:15 He is the One Who has made the earth subservient for you - so walk through its tracts and eat of His provision, and to Him is the Resurrection. 

Allah, Exalted be He, has made the earth subservient for people. He has made it level so that they can live and move easily and comfortably on it. Allah has created high and firm mountains on the earth so that it will not shake. Allah has also caused rivers to flow on the earth and made paths so that its inhabitants can move easily on it. 

O people, walk through the earth’s tracts and paths and go wherever you want to seek livelihood and eat of the provision that Allah has provided for you. You will live on the earth for a specific time, but at the end of your life, you will return to Allah, your Creator, when He will resurrect you for reckoning on the Day of resurrection. Thus, beware of disobeying Allah’s commands in secret or public. Allah will justly recompense you for your deeds, good or evil.

People are heedless of the blessing of living easily and comfortably on the earth because they are accustomed to it. Therefore, they forget Allah’s great blessing by making the earth subservient for them and providing them with all subsistence that they need for their life. Thus, the Quran reminds people of this blessing and invites us to appreciate it by worshipping Allah alone, obeying His commands, and seeking lawful means to attain livelihood after complete dependence on Allah, Exalted be He.

It should be noted that no matter how diligently people seek livelihood on earth, they cannot achieve any positive result to have it except by Allah’s help. Therefore, they must put their trust in Allah first, and then do their best to attain the prevision that is preordained for them. 

Ayah [15] is evidence of Allah’s perfect ability and blessings on people, that seeking means to achieve desired goals does not contradict depending on Allah to acquire them. It also proves that it is recommended to practice trade. 

Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased  with him, reported that Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him] said, ‘If you put your trust in Allah as you should rely on Him, He will provide for you like the birds that go out hungry in the morning, and return satisfied in the evening.’ 

In sum, the intended meaning is warning to the disbelievers. They should know that Allah knows their secret and public and nothing of their affairs is hidden from Him. They should also know that Allah is the Giver of all blessings that they enjoy in the life of this world. Thus, they must worship Him alone and fear the evil end of disobeying His commands on the Day of Resurrection when all creatures will return to Allah for reckoning.

Furthermore, Muslims should do their best to benefit from all resources that Allah has given them to achieve independence from other nations whether in their food, clothing, and all their needs. As much as they fail to benefit from the earth’s resources, as much as they will depend on other nations. 

Learned Lessons from Surah Al-Mulk Ayah 12-15  

• Fearing Allah’s punishment and doing one’s best to resist Satan’s temptations is obligatory. Those who fear Allah in secret and public though they do not see Him will have forgiveness and a great reward from Allah by entering Paradise and enjoying lasting happiness therein.

• Allah knows the secret and the public. He knows what people hide in their breasts and nothing of their affairs is hidden from Him, Exalted be He. Thus, they should beware of disobeying Him whether in secret or public.

• Allah is the Creator of all creatures; therefore, He knows all their affairs. 

• Allah has made all that on earth subservient for man. Thus, he should do his best to benefit from all resources available on it to satisfy all his needs. 

• People will return to Allah for reckoning on the Day of Resurrection and He will justly recompense them for their deeds, good or evil. 

The Noble Quran English Translation of Surah Al-Mulk

English Translation of Tafsir Ibn Kathir Surah Al-Mulk

The Noble Quran Surah Yusuf English Translation and Tafsir

Introduction to English Translation and Tafsir of Surah Al-Mulk

 

Punishing the Disobedient and the Disbelievers

 

The Noble Quran English Translation and Tafsir of Surah Al-Mulk 6-11 

67:6 And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, the wretched end. 

67:7 When they are cast therein, they will hear it roaring as it boils. 

67:8 Almost bursting with rage, whenever a group is cast therein, its keepers ask them, ‘Did not a warner come to you?’

67:9 They say, ‘Yes, verily, a warner came to us, but we denied and said, ‘Allah has not revealed anything. You are not but in great error.’’

67:10 And they say, ‘Had we listened or reasoned, we would not have been of the dwellers of the Blaze.’

67:11 Thus they confess their sins, so away with the dwellers of the Blaze.

Relationship with the Previous Part

The previous part mentions the severe punishment that is prepared for the devils in the life of this world and the Hereafter. Then, this part mentions that severe punishment that is awaiting the disobedient and the disbelievers in the Hereafter. It also refers to some attributes of Hell and some of its horrors.

Tafsir 

67:6 And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, the wretched end. 

Those who disbelieve in Allah’s Oneness and His Messengers, whether belonging to the jinn or men, in the life of this world, will suffer the painful torment of Hell on the Day of Judgment. What a wretched end Hell will be for the disbelievers!  

67:7 When they are cast therein, they will hear it roaring as it boils. 

When the disbelievers are cast into Hell, just as firewood is cast into the fire, they will hear it roaring as it boils. Its sound will be extremely horrible, which is similar to the braying of a donkey or an extremely angry person. 

67:8 Almost bursting with rage, whenever a group is cast therein, its keepers ask them, ‘Did not a warner come to you?’

Whenever a group of the disbelievers is cast into Hell, it will be extremely enraged that it will almost burst and split. The keepers of Hell will ask the disbelievers and say, ‘Did not a warner, who warned you of the severe punishment of Allah on the Day of Judgment, come to you when you were alive in the worldly life? Did not Allah’s Messengers warn you of the evil end of disbelieving Allah’s Oneness and His Messengers?’ The interrogation is for criticism and reproach. 

67:9 They say, ‘Yes, verily, a warner came to us, but we denied and said, ‘Allah has not revealed anything. You are not but in great error.’’

The disbelievers will reply to the wrathful question of the keepers of Hell. They will say, ‘Yes, verily, a warner, who warned us of the severe punishment of Allah in Hell in the Hereafter, came to us in the worldly life. He commanded us to worship Allah alone and avoid worshipping false gods besides Him, but we denied the warner and said to him that Allah did not reveal anything to you. You are not but in great error. You do not know the right path; rather, you are misguided.’ 

67:10 And they say, ‘Had we listened or reasoned, we would not have been of the dwellers of the Blaze.’

Then, the surah mentions another scene of the disbelievers in Hell. It portrays the deep regret they will express for the evil end and the severe punishment that they experience in Hell. 

The disbelievers will say, ‘Had we listened to the Messengers of Allah, who warned us of the severe punishment of Allah on the Day of Judgment if we insisted on disbelieving in Allah’s Oneness and His Messengers in the worldly life, we would not have been of the dwellers of the blazing fire of Hell. Had we reasoned what the Messengers of Allah told us of the evil end of disbelieving in Allah’s Oneness and following the path of misguidance, we would not have been of the dwellers of Hell, where we suffer lasting torment.’ Listening is mentioned first in the ayah because one usually hears something, then he reasons it and tries to understand it. Furthermore, listening in the ayah does not mean the mechanical process of hearing by the ear; rather, it refers to listening with the intention to think about something and try to understand it. 

67:11 Thus they confess their sins, so away with the dwellers of the Blaze.

When the matter is decided and the disbelievers are cast into Hell, they will be certain that they can never escape from the severe torment of Hell. At that moment, they will confess their sins, but alas! Regret and confessing of their sins will not avail them. Only belief in Allah’s Oneness and righteous deeds that are done for Allah’s sake will be beneficial on the Day of Judgment.

Regretfully, the disbelievers will confess the sins that they did in the worldly life. They will acknowledge that Allah sent them warners, who warned them of the evil end of disbelieving in Allah’s Oneness. They will admit that Allah has not wronged them; rather, they wronged themselves by disbelieving in Allah’s Oneness and following the path of misguidance. 

So away with the dwellers of the Blaze.

So away with the dwellers of the blazing fire of Hell. So away with the disbelievers, who insist on following the path of destruction.  

Learned Lessons from Surah Al-Mulk Ayah 6-11

• For the disbelievers in Allah and His Messengers will be Hell, where they will suffer severe and lasting punishment.

• Hell will be extremely enraged when the disbelievers are cast therein. It will be boiling and produce a terrible sound whenever the disbelievers are thrown into it out of great rage. 

• The keepers of Hell criticizingly, will ask the disbelievers and say, ‘Did not a warner, who warned you of Allah’s severe punishment come to you in the worldly life?’

• On the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers will reap the evil fruit of their disbelief in Allah’s Oneness. They will confess that Allah sent them Messengers, who warned them of His punishment if they insisted on following the path of misguidance. 

• On the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers will admit that they did not use properly the faculty of hearing and reason in the worldly life. They will acknowledge that they did not listen to the invitation of the Messengers of Allah with the intention of understanding them; rather, they were arrogant to even try to comprehend what the Messengers of Allah said to them. 

The Noble Quran English Translation of Surah Al-Mulk

English Translation of Tafsir Ibn Kathir Surah Al-Mulk

The Noble Quran English Translation and Tafsir of Surah Al-Mulk 1-5

The Noble Quran Surah Yusuf English Translation and Tafsir