Surah Al-Qiyamah 75:17
ﳎ ﳏ ﳐ ﳑ
Indeed, upon Us is its collection [in your heart] and [to make possible] its recitation.
Tafsir of Al-Qiyamah 75:17
Tafsir
Mafatih al-Ghayb
Verse range: 75:17
Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection): (17) Indeed, upon Us is its collection...
There are several issues concerning this verse:
Issue 1: The meaning of 'Upon Us' (علينا)
The word 'upon' (على) here denotes obligation. Thus, "Indeed, upon Us is its collection" (إن علينا جمعه) indicates that this is obligatory for God, the Exalted.
- According to our school (Ash'ari): This obligation is based on God's promise (الوعد).
- According to the Mu'tazila: This obligation stems from wisdom (الحكمة). They argue that the purpose of sending revelation (البعثة) cannot be fully realized unless the revelation is preserved and protected from forgetfulness; therefore, preservation becomes obligatory based on wisdom.
Issue 2: The meaning of "its collection" (جمعه) and "its recitation" (قرءانه)
The phrase "Indeed, upon Us is its collection" (إن علينا جمعه) means that We will collect it (the revelation) in your heart and preserve it in your memory.
Regarding the phrase "and its recitation" (وقرءانه), there are two interpretations:
Interpretation A: القرآن means recitation (القراءة). Under this interpretation, there are two possibilities:
- The intended meaning is that Gabriel (عليه السلام) will recite it to you repeatedly until you memorize it.
- The intended meaning is that We will cause you to recite it (سنقرئك يا محمد) until you reach a state where you do not forget it. This aligns with the verse: "We will make you recite, so you will not forget" (Al-A'la: 6).
- In the first possibility, the reciter is Gabriel (عليه السلام).
- In the second possibility, the reciter is the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
Interpretation B: القرآن means collection and composition (الجمع والتأليف). This usage is derived from the saying: "The she-camel did not collect (قرأت) any aborted fetuses," meaning she did not bring them forth together. We have previously discussed this usage when interpreting the root ق ر أ.
- Objection: If this interpretation is adopted, then "collection" (الجمع) and "recitation/composition" (القرآن) become synonymous, leading to redundancy.
- Response: It is possible that "collection" (الجمع) refers to its collection in existence and its external reality, while "recitation/composition" (القرآن) refers to its collection in the mind and its memorization. In this case, the redundancy is avoided.