سبأ

See 1:1.

Commentary:

See. 1:1.

1:1.

Commentary:

Five chapters of the Quran i.e. 1st, 6th, 18th, 35th and the present one, begin with the words "All praise is due to Allah."All these chapters, expressly or by implication, deal with the subject of the Lordship, Almightiness and Majesty of God. The preceding several chapters embodied prophecies about the rise, progress and the ultimate victory of Islam over false faiths. In the present Surah, however, the Muslims are warned that they should be on their guard against falling into bad ways. God being the Lord of all the worlds, He has no relation with any particular people and so if they followed evil ways as did the Israelites in the time of Solomon, all their power and glory will vanish and like the Israelites they will fall a victim to misery, degradation and ruin.

The words "His is praise in the Hereafter" refer to the time when Islam again will become triumphant after its decline. A detailed reference to this has been made in 32:6.

Five Chapters of the Qur’an, i.e. 1st, 6th, 18th, 35th and the present one, begin with the words 'All praise is due to Allah.' All these Chapters, expressly or by implication, deal with the subject of the Lordship, Almightiness and Majesty of God.

57:5.

Commentary:

This verse consists of four clauses. The first clause, "whatever goes into the earth" corresponds to the third clause, viz. "whatever descends from the heaven;" and the second clause, "and whatever comes forth from it," corresponds to the fourth clause, "whatever ascends into it." The allusion in this verse is to the subject dealt with in 32:6. The verse signifies that it is God alone Who knows what kind of teaching is needed in a particular age. Similarly, it is He Who knows when to take back to heaven the teaching which had descended from it, after it has been corrupted by the people, just as He takes water back to heaven in the form of vapours after it becomes corrupt, and sends it down in a purified form in the shape of rain. The words "whatever comes forth from it, and whatever descends from the heaven" may refer to the Word of God which is cast away by the people and is corrupted by them and then is taken up to heaven so that it may descend on earth in a purified state.

The words, "whatever goes into the earth and whatever comes forth from it," may also signify that whatever man shall sow, so shall he reap. Good actions produce good results and bad deeds lead to evil consequences.

The verse may also signify that God is aware of every phenomenon and every event, including the rise and fall of nations and peoples.

57:5.

The words, 'His is all praise in the Hereafter' refer to the time when Islam again will become triumphant after its temporary decline. The allusion in this verse is to the subject dealt with in 32:6. It signifies that it is God alone Who knows what kind of teaching is needed in a particular age. Similarly, it is He who knows when to take back to heaven the teaching which had descended from it, after it has been corrupted by the people, just as He takes water back to heaven in the form of vapours after it becomes corrupt, and sends it down in a purified form in the shape of rain. The words, 'whatever goes into the earth and whatever comes forth from it,' may also signify that whatever man shall sow, so shall he reap. Good actions produce good results and bad deeds lead to evil consequences. The verse may also be taken as signifying that God is aware of every phenomenon and every event, including the rise and fall of nations.

10:62.

Commentary:

The reference in the word "Hour" is to the hour of the triumph of Islam and the defeat and discomfiture of disbelief.

The subject of the preceding verse is further elaborated and developed in the present one, viz. that no action good or bad goes unrewarded. The disbelievers are thus warned that their opposition to Islam and their persecution of Muslims will not go unpunished.

10:62.

The subject of the preceding verse is further elaborated and developed in the present one, viz. that no action good or bad goes unrequited. The disbelievers are thus warned that their opposition to Islam and their persecution of Muslims will not go unpunished.

10:5; 30:46.

Commentary:

This and the next verse constitute a further elaboration of the subject of the preceding verses, viz. the immutable law of cause and effect.

"Forgiveness" in the verse corresponds to the Divine attribute "Forgiving" and "honourable provision" corresponds to "Merciful" in v. 3. The words "forgiveness" and "honourable provision" have been placed in order of precedence, for مغفرة (forgiveness) always precedes رحیمیة (mercifulness).

10:5; 30:46.

22:5; 34: 39.

22:52; 34:39.

13:20; 22: 55; 35:32; 47:3; 56:96.

13:20; 22:55; 35:32; 56:96.

Important Words:

مزقتم (you are broken up) is derived from مزق which means, lie scattered or dispersed. مزق الثوب means, he tore the cloth in many places. مزق عرضه means, he rent or marred his honour or reputation. They say مزقھم کل مـمزق i.e. he dispersed them to all parts of the country. He (God) destroyed them thoroughly and completely (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

In verse 4 disbelievers were warned that the time of the triumph of Islam and their own destruction was fast approaching. The word used in that verse to convey this warning was الساعة (the Hour). In the verse under comment the disbelievers are shown as vainly seeking to divert the subject of their defeat by pretending to take the word الساعة (the Hour) in the sense of the Day of Resurrection when they shall be broken up into pieces and not in the sense in which it has been used in v. 4. viz. the day of their defeat and destruction in this world. The verse may also mean that disbelievers accuse the Holy Prophet of seeking to create a community of his own by causing discord and disharmony in their ranks, and implies the answer that these people who brag so much of their unity were never a united people. Their talk of unity is an empty talk and their charge that the Holy Prophet seeks to create disunity among them is altogether fake and unfounded.

17:11; 27:5.

17:11; 27:5.

6:66; 17:69; 67:17-18.

Commentary:

The verse under comment continues the theme of the preceding verses and purports to say that there are evident signs in the heavens and the earth which constitute an unmistakable evidence of the fast approaching triumph of Islam and the downfall and disgrace of disbelievers. The words "We will make the earth sink with them" refer to the signs of the earth; and the words "or cause to fall upon them a portion of the heaven" allude to heavenly signs. Undoubtedly, the manner in which the forces of darkness and disbelief were put to rout in their combat against Islam showed that the victory of Islam was due solely to Divine help and succour which came to Muslims in the nick of time.

6:66; 17:69; 67:17, 18.

Mountain tribes. For a similar expression see 12:83.