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Tafsir of Ya seen 36:62

Surah Ya seen 36:62

ﱺ ﱻ ﱼ ﱽ ﱾ ﱿ ﲀ ﲁ ﲂ

And he had already led astray from among you much of creation, so did you not use reason?

Tafsir

Mafatih al-Ghayb

Verse range: 36:62

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Surah Ya-Sin (36): Verse 62

**"And certainly has He led astray many among you."**

There are several issues concerning this verse:

Issue 1: The Linguistic Variations of the Word *Jabal* (Mountain/Group)

There are six established pronunciations (linguistic variations) for the word Jabal (which appears in the context of the preceding verses, likely referring to a group or multitude):

  1. With a kasra (i-vowel) on the Jīm and Bā’, and a shadda (doubling) on the Lām.
  2. With a ḍamma (u-vowel) on both the Jīm and Bā’, and a shadda on the Lām.
  3. With a kasra on both, and a light Lām (without shadda).
  4. With a ḍamma on both, and a light Lām.
  5. With a sukūn (vowel cessation) on the Bā’, and a light Lām while the Jīm has a ḍamma.
  6. With a sukūn on the Bā’, and a light Lām while the Jīm has a kasra.

Issue 2: The Meaning of *Jabal* (Group/Multitude)

The root letters Jīm, Bā’, and Lām inherently carry the meaning of gathering or assembling.

  • A mountain (Jabal) involves the gathering of many physical bodies.
  • Mud mixed with water (Jabal al-ṭīn) involves the gathering of particles of water and earth.
  • A ewe (shāh) is described as lajbā’ if it has an abundance of collected milk.

Some argue against this derivation, suggesting that the related term al-Baljah implies separation, as al-Ablaj is the opposite of al-Maqrūn (joined/connected).

However, we argue that Baljah refers to the gathering of empty spaces that can accommodate inhabitants. Thus, al-Baljah and al-Balda (city/town) share a meaning. A city (Balad) is named so because of the gathering of people, not their separation.

Therefore, Jabal signifies a great assembly or multitude, to the extent that some say a gathering of less than ten thousand cannot be called a Jabal, although this specific number is not definitively established.

Issue 3: How Does Misguidance Occur?

Misguidance (Iḍlāl) occurs in two ways:

  1. Turning away from the objective and diverting from it: Satan commands some people to abandon the worship of God and worship others instead. This is direct turning away (Tawliyah).
  2. If direct abandonment is not possible: Satan commands them to worship God for a purpose other than God, such as seeking prestige or status. This is diversion (Ṣadd). This diversion ultimately leads to the first type (Tawliyah), because if their desired worldly goal were achieved, they would abandon God and turn entirely to that other thing.

Then, the consequence for the people of misguidance is clarified by the Almighty's saying:

**"This is the Hellfire which you were promised."** (36:62)