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Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:81-83

Surah Al-Mu'minoon 23:83

ﲔ ﲕ ﲖ ﲗ ﲘ ﲙ ﲚ ﲛ ﲜ ﲝ ﲞ ﲟ

We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before; this is not but legends of the former peoples."

Tafsir

Mafatih al-Ghayb

Verse range: 23:81-83

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The Believers (Al-Mu'minun): Verses 81-83

It is known that after the Almighty clarified the proofs for Tawhid (Oneness of God), He followed it by mentioning the Ma'ad (Resurrection).

**{Nay, they say the like of what the former people said.}** (23:81)

This means they deny the Resurrection despite the clarity of the proofs. By saying this, the verse indicates that their denial stems from blindly following their predecessors, which points to the corruption of following tradition (Taqlid).

Then, He recounts their doubt from two perspectives:

  1. Their saying: {When we die and become dust and bones, shall we indeed be resurrected?} (23:82). This is the well-known doubt.
  2. Their saying: {Indeed, we and our fathers have been promised this before.} (23:83). It is as if they are saying: Just as this promise was made by the Prophet (PBUH), it was also made long ago by the Prophets. Yet, despite the long passage of time, it has not occurred. Thus, they assumed that the repetition (of past events) would occur in the worldly abode (Dunya).

Then they said, since this is the case, {this is but tales of the former ones} (23:83). Asatir (tales) is the plural of satar (line/writing), meaning what the former people wrote that has no reality. The plural usturah is more common for this meaning.

**{Say: "To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you know?"}** (23:84) **{They will say: "To Allah." Say: "Will you not then remember?"}** (23:85) **{Say: "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the Great Throne?"}** (23:86) **{They will say: "To Allah." Say: "Will you not then fear?"}** (23:87) **{Say: "In whose hand is the dominion (Malakut) of all things, and who gives refuge while no refuge can be given against Him, if you know?"}** (23:88) **{They will say: "To Allah." Say: "Then how are you deluded?"}** (23:89) **{Nay, We have brought them the Truth, and indeed, they are liars.}** (23:90)

(End of excerpt translation)