“The evil consequences of what they had done became apparent to them, and they were overwhelmed by the very punishment they used to ridicule. * It will be said, ‘Today We shall abandon you, just as you forgot your meeting with this Day of yours. Your abode is the Fire, and you will have no helpers. * That is because you took Allah’s verses in ridicule, and worldly life deceived you.’ So today they will not be brought out of it, nor will they be allowed to make amends. * All praise, then, belongs to Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, and Lord of all worlds. * To Him belongs all grandeur in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.”
“The evil consequences of what they had done became apparent to them”—that is, on the Day of Resurrection, the punishments for their deeds will become manifest to them. “And they were overwhelmed”—that is, the punishment “they used to ridicule” descended upon them: the punishment whose occurrence, and the one who brought warning of it, they had ridiculed in this world.
“It will be said, ‘Today We shall abandon you’”—that is, We shall leave you in the punishment—“just as you forgot your meeting with this Day of yours,” for recompense is of the same nature as the deed. “Your abode is the Fire”—that is, it is your dwelling and final destination—“and you will have no helpers” to save you from Allah’s punishment or ward off His chastisement.
“That is”—the punishment that has befallen you is “because you took Allah’s verses in ridicule,” even though they called for earnest commitment and should have been received with joy, gladness, and delight.
“And worldly life deceived you” with its adornments, pleasures, and desires. You became content with it, labored for its sake, and abandoned preparation for the everlasting abode.
“So today they will not be brought out of it, nor will they be allowed to make amends”—that is, they will neither be granted respite nor returned to this world to perform righteous deeds.
“All praise, then, belongs to Allah,” as befits His majesty and the greatness of His dominion, “Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, and Lord of all worlds.” That is, He deserves praise for His lordship over every creature: He created them, nurtured them, and bestowed upon them blessings both manifest and hidden.
“To Him belongs all grandeur in the heavens and the earth”—that is, to Him belong majesty, greatness, and glory.
Praise encompasses extolling Allah for His attributes of perfection, loving Him, and honoring Him. ⦗779⦘ Grandeur encompasses His greatness and majesty. Worship rests upon two pillars: love for Allah and humility before Him. Both arise from knowledge of Allah’s praiseworthy attributes, majesty, and grandeur.
“He is the Almighty,” who subdues all things, “the All-Wise,” who places all things in their proper places. He legislates nothing except for a wise purpose and benefit, and He creates nothing except for a useful purpose and benefit.
This completes the commentary on Surah al-Jāthiya. To Allah belong all praise, blessing, and grace.
Commentary on Surah al-Ahqāf
Meccan