English Translation and Tafsir of Surah Al-Muzammil Ayah 10-19
73:10 And be patient with what they say and keep away from them graciously.
73:11 And leave Me with the deniers, the prosperous ones, and respite them a little.
73:12 Verily, with Us are fetters and a flaming fire,
73:13 and food that chokes and a painful torment.
73:14 On a day, the earth and the mountains will quake and the mountains will become, as a heap of sand, crumbling.
73:15 Verily, We have sent you a Messenger as a witness over you, just as We sent to Pharaoh a Messenger.
73:16 But Pharaoh disobeyed the Messenger, so We seized him with a terrible seizure.
73:17 Then, how can you guard yourselves against a day that shall make the children grey-headed?
73:18 The sky shall be split thereby; His promise shall be fulfilled.
73:19 Verily, this is a Reminder, so let whoever wills take a way to his Lord.
Relationship with the Previous Part
The previous part mentions some instructions to Messenger Muhammad. Then, the disbelievers are warned of severe punishment in this part if they insist on disbelieving in the Oneness of Allah and following the path of misguidance. It also refers to some signs and horrors of the Day of Judgment.
Tafsir
73:10 And be patient with what they say and keep away from them graciously.
O noble Messenger Muhammad, rely on Allah alone concerning all your affairs. And be patient with what the disbelievers say about you and Islam. Their statements are lies. Keep away from the disbelievers graciously without any dispute or argument. Do not meet evil with evil; rather, keep away from them without saying evil words to them.
Imam Fakhar Ar-Razi wrote, ‘Allah says to His beloved Messenger Muhammad, ‘ You have taken Me as your Guardian. Thus, be patient with what the disbelievers say and leave their matter to Me. As I am your Guardian, I shall set right all your affairs better than setting them right by yourself. You should know that the duties of the slaves of Allah are limited to two matters. First, how they deal with the commands of Allah. Second how they deal with their fellow human beings. The first matter is more important than the second one. The first part of surah Al-Muzamil mentions what relates to the first matter. Then, what is related to the second matter is mentioned. Allah, Exalted be He, has gathered all that is needed concerning this matter in these two words. Man either mixes with people or stays away from them. If he mixes with them, he should be patient with their abuse and alienation. If he wishes that he will attain good things and comfort from their sides, he will not attain them. Thus, he will suffer sadness and melancholy. Thus, it becomes clear that mixing with people needs great patience. On the other hand, staying away from people is gracious desertion. Thus, it becomes clear that one should have each of these matters. Gracious desertion is to stay away from people by one’s heart and desire and disagreeing with their deeds while being polite, pretending to be inattentive, refraining from requital.’
73:11 And leave Me with the deniers, the prosperous ones, and respite them a little.
O noble Messenger Muhammad, leave Me with the deniers and the prosperous ones, who disbelieve in the Oneness of Allah. I shall take care of them and take revenge on them on your behalf. Do not concern yourself about their affairs as they are wealthy and prosperous in the life of this world. Leave them a little and give them respite until the time of their death comes. Surely, they will reap the evil fruits of their disbelief in the Oneness of Allah and abusing you and the believers.
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, ‘This ayah was revealed, [73:11 And leave Me with the deniers, the prosperous ones, and respite them a little.] Then, a little while after its revelation, the battle of Badr took place.’ The great leaders among the disbelievers were killed at the battle of Badr, and Allah, Exalted be He, took revenge on them.
73:12 Verily, with Us are fetters and a flaming fire,
73:13 and food that chokes and a painful torment.
Verily, with Allah are fetters and a flaming fire. And with Him food that chokes and a painful torment. Indeed, Allah has prepared strong fetters for disbelievers by which they will be tied up and a flaming fire wherein they will be thrown. Their food in Hell will be food that chokes as it sticks to the throat. Thus, it will not go into the stomach or get out of their mouths. In addition, it is bitter and horrible.
Indeed, Allah, Exalted be He, has warned the disbelievers of the severe punishment awaiting them in Hell on the Day of Judgment if they insist on disbelieving in His Oneness and following the path of misguidance.
73:14 On a day, the earth and the mountains will quake and the mountains will become, as a heap of sand, crumbling.
The severe punishment will befall the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment. On that day, the earth and the mountains will quake. The mountains will become like a heap of crumbling sand after they were strong huge rocks.
73:15 Verily, We have sent you a Messenger as a witness over you, just as We sent to Pharaoh a Messenger.
73:16 But Pharaoh disobeyed the Messenger, so We seized him with a terrible seizure.
After warning the disbelievers of the severe punishment awaiting them on the Day of Judgment, they are warned by referring to the terrible punishment that befell the former disbelievers in the life of this world.
O people, Allah has sent you a Messenger as a witness over you, just as He sent to Pharaoh a Messenger.
Allah sent Messenger Muhammad to invite people to worship Allah alone and he will be a witness over them that he truthfully conveyed the message of Allah to people on Day of Judgment. Allah also sent Messenger Moses to Pharaoh to invite him to worship Allah alone and follow the path of guidance. However, Pharaoh disobeyed Messenger Moses and refused to worship Allah alone. Thus, Allah punished him severely and a terrible torment befell him and the disbelievers among his people.
Messenger Moses is mentioned specifically because his story and the story of Pharaoh were well-known among the people of Makkah.
In sum, if the disbelievers insist on disbelieving in the Oneness of Allah severe punishment will befall them just as it befell the former disbelievers.
73:17 Then, how can you guard yourselves against a day that shall make the children grey-headed?
O disbelievers, how can you guard yourselves against the punishment of the Day of Judgment that shall make the children grey-headed because of its great horrors if you die as disbelievers?
73:18 The sky shall be split thereby; His promise shall be fulfilled.
The sky will split because of the great terrors of the Day of Judgment. Verily, the promise of Allah that the Day of Judgment will take place shall be fulfilled.
The intended meaning is to warn the disbelievers so that they stop disbelieving in the Oneness of Allah when they know that nothing and no one can protect them against the punishment of Allah.
Indeed, the horrors of the Day of Judgment are great. The children’s hear will turn grey, the sky will split, and the mountains will become dust. The Day of Judgment will certainly occur and no one can protect the disbelievers against the punishment of Allah.
73:19 Verily, this is a Reminder, so let whoever wills take a way to his Lord.
‘Verily, this is…’ refers to the warnings and admonitions mentioned in the aforementioned ayat in the surah.
The warnings and admonitions are for reminder and exhortation. Thus, let whoever wills take a way to his Lord, Allah, by believing in His Oneness, obeying His commands, avoiding His prohibitions, and performing righteous deeds for His sake. This is the only right way to be saved from the severe punishment of the Day of Judgment.
The ayah says ‘let whoever wills…’ the intended meaning is not to give a choice; rather, the intended meaning is to urge and exhort to follow the path of guidance that leads to attain the pleasure of Allah.
Learned Lessons from Surah Al-Muzamil Ayah 10-19
• The believer should be patient when it comes to complying with the commands of Allah and avoiding His prohibitions.
• Gracious desertion is to avoid unfavorable things and situations without reproach.
• Allah, Exalted be He, sent Muhammad as His Prophet and Messenger, just as He sent Moses as His Prophet and Messenger.
• The Day of Judgment will certainly take place at the time that Allah has appointed for its occurrence.
• Allah, Exalted be He, warns the disbelievers of His severe punishment if they insist on disbelieving in His Oneness and following the path of misguidance.
• The punishment of the Day of Judgment is severe. Fetters, flaming fire, food that causes choking, and painful torment are prepared for the disbelievers.
• On the Day of Judgment, the earth and the mountains will quake, and the mountains will become heaps of crumbling sand.
• The Day of Judgment is terrible. On that day, the hair of the children will turn grey because of its horrors.
• The Quran contains reminders and admonitions for people, but only those who are endowed with sound understanding benefit from them.
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