Tafsir of As-Saffat 37:19-32

Surah As-Saffat 37:21

ﲼ ﲽ ﲾ ﲿ ﳀ ﳁ ﳂ

[They will be told], "This is the Day of Judgement which you used to deny."

Tafsir

Tafhim al-Quran

Verse range: 37:19-32

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12

That is, "When the time comes for this, it will not be difficult to reestablish the whole world. Just a single shout will be enough to make the people to wake up. Here, the word "shout" or "cry" is very meaningful. It depicts the Resurrection as though the people who had died since the beginning of the creation till the last Day, were lying asleep, and a sudden command to them to "wake up" will cause them to rise up all at once."

13

It may be that this is said by the believers, or by the angels; or it may be, as it were, the common expression of the conditions prevailing in the plain of Resurrection or it may as well be another reaction of the people themselves. That is, they may be saying in their hearts. "In the world, you lived in a way as if no Day of Judgment would ever come. Now you have come to your doom! This is the same Day that you used to deny ! "

14

"The unjust people" does not only imply those who committed injustices in the world, but as a Qur'anic term Zalim implies every such person, who might have adopted the way of rebellion and disobedience against Allah. "

15

The word "azwaj"in the original might also imply their wives, who were their associates in this rebellion, and also all those people who were rebellious and disobedient like them. Moreover it may also mean that the culprits of different categories will be gathered together in separate groups.

16

"Gods" here implies two kinds of the gods: (1) Those men and satans who themselves desired that the people should worship them instead of Allah; and (2) those idols and trees and stones, etc., which have actually been worshiped in the world. The first kind of the gods will be included among the culprits themselves and will be led to Hell for punishment; the other kind of them will be thrown into Hell along with their worshipers so that they constantly feel ashamed of and continue to regret their follies. Besides, there is also a third kind of the gods, who have been worshiped in the world, but without their own consent and knowledge; they rather forbade the people to worship anyone but Allah, e.g. the angels, prophets and saints. Obviously, this kind of the gods will not be included among the gods who will be driven to Hell along with their worshipers.

17

The first sentence will be addressed to the culprits, and the second to the common spectators, who will be watching the scene of the culprits' departure for Hell. This sentence itself tells of the general conditions at the time. It tells how the haughty and stubborn culprits of the world will be moving towards Hell meekly and without showing any resistance. Somewhere some kind will be seen being pushed about, and no one from among his courtiers will come forward to rescue "his majesty"; somewhere some conqueror of the world and some dictator will be moving away in humiliation and disgrace, and his brave army itself will deliver him for the punishment; somewhere some saint or some holy father will be seen being thrown into Hell, and no one of his disciples will bother to save him froth disgrace; somewhere some leader will be trudging helplessly towards Hell, and those who used to glorify and applaud him in the world, will turn away their eyes from him. So much so that the (over who was ever prepared to sacrifice everything for the beloved in the world, will feel least concerned to save him from his plight. By depicting this scene Allah wants to impress how the relationships of man with man, which are based on rebellion against Allah in the world, will break in the Hereafter, and how the pride of those who are involved in arrogance and conceit here, will be ruined.

18

The word yamin in Arabic is used for several meanings. It may mean use of the force, or well-wishing, or swearing of an oath. Accordingly, the verse would mean: (1) "You compelled us into following error and deviation"; or (2) "you deceived us by posing as our well-wishers"; or (3) "you swore oaths to satisfy us that what you were presenting was the very truth."

19

For explanation, see E.N's 51, 52, 53 of Surah Saba.