Qurani app iconQuraniQuran, hadith, fiqh, prayer, and audio in one place
Browse

Tafsir of Fatir 35:38

Surah Fatir 35:38

ﳆ ﳇ ﳈ ﳉ ﳊ ﳋ ﳌ ﳍ ﳎ ﳏ ﳐ

Indeed, Allah is Knower of the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and earth. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.

Tafsir

Mafatih al-Ghayb

Verse range: 35:38

Open in Qurani

Surah Fatir (35): 38

إن الله عالم... (Indeed, Allah is Knower...)

This statement serves to affirm their perpetual suffering in punishment. This is because when Allah Almighty said:

{And the recompense of a bad deed is its like, and whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is upon Allah} (Qur'an 42:40), implying no addition to the punishment.

If someone were to argue: "The disbeliever only disbelieved for a limited number of days, so his punishment should not extend beyond a similar number of days," then Allah Almighty responded by saying: "Indeed, Allah is Knower of the unseen of the heavens..." (referring to the continuation of the verse), meaning nothing in the chests (hearts) is hidden from Him. Allah knew that the disbeliever harbored a deep-seated disbelief such that if he were to live forever, he would never obey or worship Allah.

Regarding His saying, {بذات الصدور} (the secrets of the breasts/chests), there is an issue we have mentioned before and will reiterate:

Someone might ask: The breasts (hearts) are the location of beliefs and assumptions. How could Allah name beliefs as "the essence/substance of the breasts" (dhāt al-ṣudūr)?

This question is supported by the usage of phrases like "an earth possessing trees" (arḍ dhāt ashjār) or "possessing fruit" (dhāt janī) when those things are present in it. Similarly, since belief is in the breast, it is described as possessing belief.

The answer is: Because the consideration of the breast is based on what it contains, what is inside it takes the place of the resident or owner. Just as one does not say, "The house is the essence of Zayd" (al-dār dhāt Zayd), but rather it is correct to say, "Zayd possesses a house and wealth" (Zayd dhū dār wa māl), even though he resides within it.

{هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا مَقْتًا وَلَا يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ إِلَّا خَسَارًا}

**It is He who has made you successors (Khalā'if) on the earth. So whoever disbelieves, his disbelief is against him. And the disbelief of the disbelievers increases them not in anything except hatred with their Lord. And the disbelief of the disbelievers increases them not except in loss.** (35:39)

Summary of the Verse:

  1. Successorship: Allah is the One who appointed you as successors on the earth (replacing previous generations).
  2. Consequence of Disbelief: Whoever disbelieves, the consequence of that disbelief falls solely upon him.
  3. Increased Hatred: The disbelief of the disbelievers only increases the Lord's displeasure/hatred toward them.
  4. Increased Loss: Their disbelief only results in greater loss for themselves.