Surah Al-Qasas: Verses (74 - 75)

Tafsir of Verses 74-75

When the Almighty first censured the polytheists' path, then demonstrated the proof of Monotheism, He returned to censuring their path once more and explained their state in the Hereafter, saying:

{And the Day He will call to them and say:}

This refers to the Day of Resurrection. He will say: {“Where are My partners whom you used to claim?”}

The meaning is: Where are those whom you claimed possessed divinity to save you? Or, where is your claim that "we draw near to God through them as a means of closeness" (zulfā)? They will be confronted with this statement, knowing full well that there is no god but God, which will only increase their distress.

{And We will draw forth from every nation a witness,}

This means We will single out one individual to testify against them.

Some commentators say these witnesses are the Prophets, testifying that they delivered the proofs to their people and exerted the utmost effort in clarifying them, thus establishing that the fault lay with the people themselves, which will increase their sorrow.

Others say they are the witnesses who testify against people in every era, and the Prophets are included within this group. This latter view is closer to the meaning because God generalized the drawing forth of a witness from every nation and every group. This includes periods where no Prophet was present, such as the intervals between Prophets (fatarāt) and the times following the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

At that moment, they will realize that the truth belongs to God and His Messengers.

{And lost to them will be}—meaning completely absent, like a lost object—{what they used to invent} of falsehood and lies.

Verses 76-80 (Start of Qārūn's Story)

{Indeed, Qārūn was from the people of Moses, but he oppressed them. And We gave him of the treasures such that the keys thereof would burden a company of strong men. [Mention] when his people said to him, "Do not exult. Indeed, God does not like the exultant.}

{But seek, through what God has given you, the Home of the Hereafter, and do not forget your portion of [this] worldly life. And be good, just as God has been good to you. And seek not corruption in the land. Indeed, God does not like the corrupters.}

{He said, "I was only given this because of knowledge I possess." Did he not know that God had destroyed before him of the generations those who were greater than him in strength and greater in accumulation? And the criminals will not be questioned about their sins.}