وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّ۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ هَادِيً۬ا وَنَصِيرً۬ا
And thus have We made for every prophet an enemy from among the criminals. But sufficient is your Lord as a guide and a helper.
Here Allah tells us about the terror of the Day of Resurrection and the tremendous events that will happen, including the splitting of heavens when they are pierced by the clouds, that is the shadow of the magnificent light which dazzles all sight. The angels of heaven will come down on that Day and surround all creatures at the place of gathering, then the Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, will come to pass judgment. Mujahid said, "This is as Allah says:
(Do they then wait for anything other than that Allah should come to them in the shadows of the clouds and the angels)'' (2:210)
(The sovereignty on that Day will be the true (sovereignty) of the Most Gracious,) This is like the Ayah,
(Whose is the kingdom this Day: It is Allah's, the One, the Irresistible!) (40:16) In the Sahih it says:
(Allah, may He be exalted, will fold up the heavens in His Right Hand, and will take the earths in His other Hand, then He will say: "I am the Sovereign, I am the Judge. Where are the kings of the earth Where are the tyrants Where are the arrogants'')
(and it will be a hard Day for the disbelievers.) means it will be very difficult, because it will be the Day of justice and the decisive judgment, as Allah says:
(Truly, that Day will be a hard Day -- Far from easy for the disbelievers) (74:9-10). This is how the disbelievers will be on the Day of Resurrection. As for the believers, Allah says:
(The greatest terror will not grieve them.)
(And (remember) the Day when the wrongdoer will bite at his hands, he will say: "O! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger.'') Here Allah tells us of the regret felt by the wrongdoer who rejected the path of the Messenger and what he brought from Allah of clear truth concerning which there is no doubt, and followed another path. When the Day of Resurrection comes, he will feel regret but his regret will avail him nothing, and he will bite on his hands in sorrow and grief. Whether this Ayah was revealed concerning `Uqbah bin Abi Mu`it or someone else among the doomed, it applies to every wrongdoer, as Allah says:
(On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire) as mentioned in those two Ayat (33:66) Every wrongdoer will feel the ultimate regret on the Day of Resurrection, and will bite at his hands, saying:
(O! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as an intimate friend!) meaning, the one among the propagators of misguidance who diverted him from true guidance and led him to follow the path of misguidance, whether this refers to Umayyah bin Khalaf or his brother Ubayy bin Khalaf, or to someone else.
(He indeed led me astray from the Reminder) means the Qur'an,
(after it had come to me.) means, after it had reached me. Allah says:
(And Shaytan is to man ever a deserter (in the hour of need).) meaning, he leads him away from the truth and diverts him from it, and uses him for the purposes of falsehood and calls him to it.
(30. And the Messenger will say: "O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur'an.'') (31. Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals. But sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper.)
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ جُمۡلَةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ۚ ڪَذَٲلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَۖ وَرَتَّلۡنَـٰهُ تَرۡتِيلاً۬
And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.
Allah tells how His Messenger and Prophet Muhammad will say: "O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur'an.'' The idolaters would not listen to the Qur'an, as Allah says:
(And those who disbelieve say: "Listen not to this Qur'an, and make noise in the midst of it.'') (41:26). When he would recite Qur'an to them, they would talk nonsense or speak about something else, so that they would not hear it. This is a form of forsaking it and rejecting it, and not believing in it is the same as forsaking it, and not pondering its meanings and trying to understand it is the same as forsaking it, and not acting upon it and following its commandments and heeding its prohibitions is the same as forsaking it, and turning away from it in favor of poetry or other words or songs or idle talk or some other way is the same as forsaking it. We ask Allah, the Most Generous, the Bestower of bounty, the One Who is able to do what He wills, to keep us safe from doing that which earns His wrath and to use us to do that which will earn His pleasure of preserving and understanding His Book, following its commandments night and day in the manner which He loves and which pleases Him, for He is Generous and Kind.
(Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals.) means, `just as there is for you, O Muhammad, those people who scorned the Qur'an, so in all the previous nations did Allah make for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals, who called people to their misguidance and disbelief,' as Allah says:
(And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies -- Shayatin among mankind and Jinn) as stated in these two Ayat. (6:112) Allah says here:
(But sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper.) meaning, for the one who follows His Messenger and believes in His Book, Allah will be his Guide and Helper in this world and the Hereafter. Allah says
(a Guide and Helper.) because the idolaters used to try to prevent people from following the Qur'an lest anyone be guided by it. They wanted their way to prevail over the way of the Qur'an. Allah says:
(Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals.)
(32. And those who disbelieve say: "Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once'' Thus, that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.) (33. And no example or parable do they bring, but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) (34. Those who will be gathered to Hell on their faces, such will be in an evil state, and most astray from the path.)
وَلَا يَأۡتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئۡنَـٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَحۡسَنَ تَفۡسِيرًا
And they do not come to you with an argument except that We bring you the truth and the best explanation.
Allah tells how His Messenger and Prophet Muhammad will say: "O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur'an.'' The idolaters would not listen to the Qur'an, as Allah says:
(And those who disbelieve say: "Listen not to this Qur'an, and make noise in the midst of it.'') (41:26). When he would recite Qur'an to them, they would talk nonsense or speak about something else, so that they would not hear it. This is a form of forsaking it and rejecting it, and not believing in it is the same as forsaking it, and not pondering its meanings and trying to understand it is the same as forsaking it, and not acting upon it and following its commandments and heeding its prohibitions is the same as forsaking it, and turning away from it in favor of poetry or other words or songs or idle talk or some other way is the same as forsaking it. We ask Allah, the Most Generous, the Bestower of bounty, the One Who is able to do what He wills, to keep us safe from doing that which earns His wrath and to use us to do that which will earn His pleasure of preserving and understanding His Book, following its commandments night and day in the manner which He loves and which pleases Him, for He is Generous and Kind.
(Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals.) means, `just as there is for you, O Muhammad, those people who scorned the Qur'an, so in all the previous nations did Allah make for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals, who called people to their misguidance and disbelief,' as Allah says:
(And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies -- Shayatin among mankind and Jinn) as stated in these two Ayat. (6:112) Allah says here:
(But sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper.) meaning, for the one who follows His Messenger and believes in His Book, Allah will be his Guide and Helper in this world and the Hereafter. Allah says
(a Guide and Helper.) because the idolaters used to try to prevent people from following the Qur'an lest anyone be guided by it. They wanted their way to prevail over the way of the Qur'an. Allah says:
(Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals.)
(32. And those who disbelieve say: "Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once'' Thus, that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.) (33. And no example or parable do they bring, but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) (34. Those who will be gathered to Hell on their faces, such will be in an evil state, and most astray from the path.)
ٱلَّذِينَ يُحۡشَرُونَ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ شَرٌّ۬ مَّكَانً۬ا وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلاً۬
The ones who are gathered on their faces to Hell – those are the worst in position and farthest astray in [their] way.
Allah tells how His Messenger and Prophet Muhammad will say: "O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur'an.'' The idolaters would not listen to the Qur'an, as Allah says:
(And those who disbelieve say: "Listen not to this Qur'an, and make noise in the midst of it.'') (41:26). When he would recite Qur'an to them, they would talk nonsense or speak about something else, so that they would not hear it. This is a form of forsaking it and rejecting it, and not believing in it is the same as forsaking it, and not pondering its meanings and trying to understand it is the same as forsaking it, and not acting upon it and following its commandments and heeding its prohibitions is the same as forsaking it, and turning away from it in favor of poetry or other words or songs or idle talk or some other way is the same as forsaking it. We ask Allah, the Most Generous, the Bestower of bounty, the One Who is able to do what He wills, to keep us safe from doing that which earns His wrath and to use us to do that which will earn His pleasure of preserving and understanding His Book, following its commandments night and day in the manner which He loves and which pleases Him, for He is Generous and Kind.
(Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals.) means, `just as there is for you, O Muhammad, those people who scorned the Qur'an, so in all the previous nations did Allah make for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals, who called people to their misguidance and disbelief,' as Allah says:
(And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies -- Shayatin among mankind and Jinn) as stated in these two Ayat. (6:112) Allah says here:
(But sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper.) meaning, for the one who follows His Messenger and believes in His Book, Allah will be his Guide and Helper in this world and the Hereafter. Allah says
(a Guide and Helper.) because the idolaters used to try to prevent people from following the Qur'an lest anyone be guided by it. They wanted their way to prevail over the way of the Qur'an. Allah says:
(Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals.)
(32. And those who disbelieve say: "Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once'' Thus, that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.) (33. And no example or parable do they bring, but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) (34. Those who will be gathered to Hell on their faces, such will be in an evil state, and most astray from the path.)
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا مُوسَى ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلۡنَا مَعَهُ ۥۤ أَخَاهُ هَـٰرُونَ وَزِيرً۬ا
And We had certainly given Moses the Scripture and appointed with him his brother Aaron as an assistant.
Allah tells us about the many objections raised by the disbelievers, their stubbornness, and how they spoke of things which were none of their concern. They said:
("Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once'') meaning, why was this Qur'an, which was revealed to him, not sent down all at one time, as the previous Books, the Tawrah, Injil, Zabur and other Divine Books Allah answered them, telling them that it was revealed in stages over twenty-three years, according to events and circumstances, and whatever rulings were needed, in order to strengthen the hearts of the believers, as He says:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts)...) (17:106). Allah says:
(that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.) Qatadah said it means: "We have explained it.'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said it means: "We have given its interpretation.''
(And no example or similitude do they bring,) This means no arguments or doubts,
(but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) They do not say anything in an attempt to oppose the truth, but We respond to them with the truth of that same matter, more clearly and more eloquently than anything they say. Abu `Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Qur'an was sent down all at once to the first heaven on Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power), then it was revealed over twenty years.'' Allah says:
(And no example or similitude do they bring, but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) and:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages) (17:106). Then Allah tells us about the terrible state of the disbelievers when they are raised on the Day of Resurrection and gathered into Hell:
(Those who will be gathered to Hell on their faces, such will be in an evil state, and most astray from the path.) In the Sahih, it is reported from Anas that a man said, "O Messenger of Allah, how will the disbeliever be gathered on his face on the Day of Resurrection'' The Prophet said:
(The One Who caused him to walk on his two feet is able to make him walk on his face on the Day of Resurrection.)
(35. And indeed We gave Musa the Scripture, and placed his brother Harun with him as a helper;) (36. And We said: "Go you both to the people who have denied Our Ayat.'' Then We destroyed them with utter destruction.) (37. And Nuh's people, when they denied the Messengers, We drowned them, and We made them as a sign for mankind. And We have prepared a painful torment for the wrongdoers.) (38. And (also) `Ad and Thamud, and the Dwellers of Ar-Rass, and many generations in between.) (39. And for each We put forward examples, and each We brought to utter ruin.) (40. And indeed they have passed by the town on which was rained the evil rain. Did they not then see it Nay! But they used not to expect any resurrection.)
فَقُلۡنَا ٱذۡهَبَآ إِلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَدَمَّرۡنَـٰهُمۡ تَدۡمِيرً۬ا
And We said, “Go both of you to the people who have denied Our signs.” Then We destroyed them with [complete] destruction.
Allah tells us about the many objections raised by the disbelievers, their stubbornness, and how they spoke of things which were none of their concern. They said:
("Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once'') meaning, why was this Qur'an, which was revealed to him, not sent down all at one time, as the previous Books, the Tawrah, Injil, Zabur and other Divine Books Allah answered them, telling them that it was revealed in stages over twenty-three years, according to events and circumstances, and whatever rulings were needed, in order to strengthen the hearts of the believers, as He says:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts)...) (17:106). Allah says:
(that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.) Qatadah said it means: "We have explained it.'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said it means: "We have given its interpretation.''
(And no example or similitude do they bring,) This means no arguments or doubts,
(but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) They do not say anything in an attempt to oppose the truth, but We respond to them with the truth of that same matter, more clearly and more eloquently than anything they say. Abu `Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Qur'an was sent down all at once to the first heaven on Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power), then it was revealed over twenty years.'' Allah says:
(And no example or similitude do they bring, but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) and:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages) (17:106). Then Allah tells us about the terrible state of the disbelievers when they are raised on the Day of Resurrection and gathered into Hell:
(Those who will be gathered to Hell on their faces, such will be in an evil state, and most astray from the path.) In the Sahih, it is reported from Anas that a man said, "O Messenger of Allah, how will the disbeliever be gathered on his face on the Day of Resurrection'' The Prophet said:
(The One Who caused him to walk on his two feet is able to make him walk on his face on the Day of Resurrection.)
(35. And indeed We gave Musa the Scripture, and placed his brother Harun with him as a helper;) (36. And We said: "Go you both to the people who have denied Our Ayat.'' Then We destroyed them with utter destruction.) (37. And Nuh's people, when they denied the Messengers, We drowned them, and We made them as a sign for mankind. And We have prepared a painful torment for the wrongdoers.) (38. And (also) `Ad and Thamud, and the Dwellers of Ar-Rass, and many generations in between.) (39. And for each We put forward examples, and each We brought to utter ruin.) (40. And indeed they have passed by the town on which was rained the evil rain. Did they not then see it Nay! But they used not to expect any resurrection.)
وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍ۬ لَّمَّا ڪَذَّبُواْ ٱلرُّسُلَ أَغۡرَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ لِلنَّاسِ ءَايَةً۬ۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمً۬ا
And the people of Noah – when they denied the messengers, We drowned them, and We made them for mankind a sign. And We have prepared for the wrongdoers a painful punishment.
Allah tells us about the many objections raised by the disbelievers, their stubbornness, and how they spoke of things which were none of their concern. They said:
("Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once'') meaning, why was this Qur'an, which was revealed to him, not sent down all at one time, as the previous Books, the Tawrah, Injil, Zabur and other Divine Books Allah answered them, telling them that it was revealed in stages over twenty-three years, according to events and circumstances, and whatever rulings were needed, in order to strengthen the hearts of the believers, as He says:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts)...) (17:106). Allah says:
(that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.) Qatadah said it means: "We have explained it.'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said it means: "We have given its interpretation.''
(And no example or similitude do they bring,) This means no arguments or doubts,
(but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) They do not say anything in an attempt to oppose the truth, but We respond to them with the truth of that same matter, more clearly and more eloquently than anything they say. Abu `Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Qur'an was sent down all at once to the first heaven on Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power), then it was revealed over twenty years.'' Allah says:
(And no example or similitude do they bring, but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) and:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages) (17:106). Then Allah tells us about the terrible state of the disbelievers when they are raised on the Day of Resurrection and gathered into Hell:
(Those who will be gathered to Hell on their faces, such will be in an evil state, and most astray from the path.) In the Sahih, it is reported from Anas that a man said, "O Messenger of Allah, how will the disbeliever be gathered on his face on the Day of Resurrection'' The Prophet said:
(The One Who caused him to walk on his two feet is able to make him walk on his face on the Day of Resurrection.)
(35. And indeed We gave Musa the Scripture, and placed his brother Harun with him as a helper;) (36. And We said: "Go you both to the people who have denied Our Ayat.'' Then We destroyed them with utter destruction.) (37. And Nuh's people, when they denied the Messengers, We drowned them, and We made them as a sign for mankind. And We have prepared a painful torment for the wrongdoers.) (38. And (also) `Ad and Thamud, and the Dwellers of Ar-Rass, and many generations in between.) (39. And for each We put forward examples, and each We brought to utter ruin.) (40. And indeed they have passed by the town on which was rained the evil rain. Did they not then see it Nay! But they used not to expect any resurrection.)
وَعَادً۬ا وَثَمُودَاْ وَأَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلرَّسِّ وَقُرُونَۢا بَيۡنَ ذَٲلِكَ كَثِيرً۬ا
And [We destroyed] ‘Aad and Thamūd and the companions of the well and many generations between them.
Allah tells us about the many objections raised by the disbelievers, their stubbornness, and how they spoke of things which were none of their concern. They said:
("Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once'') meaning, why was this Qur'an, which was revealed to him, not sent down all at one time, as the previous Books, the Tawrah, Injil, Zabur and other Divine Books Allah answered them, telling them that it was revealed in stages over twenty-three years, according to events and circumstances, and whatever rulings were needed, in order to strengthen the hearts of the believers, as He says:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts)...) (17:106). Allah says:
(that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.) Qatadah said it means: "We have explained it.'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said it means: "We have given its interpretation.''
(And no example or similitude do they bring,) This means no arguments or doubts,
(but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) They do not say anything in an attempt to oppose the truth, but We respond to them with the truth of that same matter, more clearly and more eloquently than anything they say. Abu `Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Qur'an was sent down all at once to the first heaven on Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power), then it was revealed over twenty years.'' Allah says:
(And no example or similitude do they bring, but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) and:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages) (17:106). Then Allah tells us about the terrible state of the disbelievers when they are raised on the Day of Resurrection and gathered into Hell:
(Those who will be gathered to Hell on their faces, such will be in an evil state, and most astray from the path.) In the Sahih, it is reported from Anas that a man said, "O Messenger of Allah, how will the disbeliever be gathered on his face on the Day of Resurrection'' The Prophet said:
(The One Who caused him to walk on his two feet is able to make him walk on his face on the Day of Resurrection.)
(35. And indeed We gave Musa the Scripture, and placed his brother Harun with him as a helper;) (36. And We said: "Go you both to the people who have denied Our Ayat.'' Then We destroyed them with utter destruction.) (37. And Nuh's people, when they denied the Messengers, We drowned them, and We made them as a sign for mankind. And We have prepared a painful torment for the wrongdoers.) (38. And (also) `Ad and Thamud, and the Dwellers of Ar-Rass, and many generations in between.) (39. And for each We put forward examples, and each We brought to utter ruin.) (40. And indeed they have passed by the town on which was rained the evil rain. Did they not then see it Nay! But they used not to expect any resurrection.)
وَڪُلاًّ۬ ضَرَبۡنَا لَهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَۖ وَڪُلاًّ۬ تَبَّرۡنَا تَتۡبِيرً۬ا
And for each We presented examples [as warnings], and each We destroyed with [total] destruction.
Allah tells us about the many objections raised by the disbelievers, their stubbornness, and how they spoke of things which were none of their concern. They said:
("Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once'') meaning, why was this Qur'an, which was revealed to him, not sent down all at one time, as the previous Books, the Tawrah, Injil, Zabur and other Divine Books Allah answered them, telling them that it was revealed in stages over twenty-three years, according to events and circumstances, and whatever rulings were needed, in order to strengthen the hearts of the believers, as He says:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts)...) (17:106). Allah says:
(that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.) Qatadah said it means: "We have explained it.'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said it means: "We have given its interpretation.''
(And no example or similitude do they bring,) This means no arguments or doubts,
(but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) They do not say anything in an attempt to oppose the truth, but We respond to them with the truth of that same matter, more clearly and more eloquently than anything they say. Abu `Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Qur'an was sent down all at once to the first heaven on Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power), then it was revealed over twenty years.'' Allah says:
(And no example or similitude do they bring, but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) and:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages) (17:106). Then Allah tells us about the terrible state of the disbelievers when they are raised on the Day of Resurrection and gathered into Hell:
(Those who will be gathered to Hell on their faces, such will be in an evil state, and most astray from the path.) In the Sahih, it is reported from Anas that a man said, "O Messenger of Allah, how will the disbeliever be gathered on his face on the Day of Resurrection'' The Prophet said:
(The One Who caused him to walk on his two feet is able to make him walk on his face on the Day of Resurrection.)
(35. And indeed We gave Musa the Scripture, and placed his brother Harun with him as a helper;) (36. And We said: "Go you both to the people who have denied Our Ayat.'' Then We destroyed them with utter destruction.) (37. And Nuh's people, when they denied the Messengers, We drowned them, and We made them as a sign for mankind. And We have prepared a painful torment for the wrongdoers.) (38. And (also) `Ad and Thamud, and the Dwellers of Ar-Rass, and many generations in between.) (39. And for each We put forward examples, and each We brought to utter ruin.) (40. And indeed they have passed by the town on which was rained the evil rain. Did they not then see it Nay! But they used not to expect any resurrection.)
وَلَقَدۡ أَتَوۡاْ عَلَى ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِ ٱلَّتِىٓ أُمۡطِرَتۡ مَطَرَ ٱلسَّوۡءِۚ أَفَلَمۡ يَڪُونُواْ يَرَوۡنَهَاۚ بَلۡ ڪَانُواْ لَا يَرۡجُونَ نُشُورً۬ا
And they have already come upon the town which was showered with a rain of evil. So have they not seen it? But they are not expecting resurrection.
Allah tells us about the many objections raised by the disbelievers, their stubbornness, and how they spoke of things which were none of their concern. They said:
("Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once'') meaning, why was this Qur'an, which was revealed to him, not sent down all at one time, as the previous Books, the Tawrah, Injil, Zabur and other Divine Books Allah answered them, telling them that it was revealed in stages over twenty-three years, according to events and circumstances, and whatever rulings were needed, in order to strengthen the hearts of the believers, as He says:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts)...) (17:106). Allah says:
(that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.) Qatadah said it means: "We have explained it.'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said it means: "We have given its interpretation.''
(And no example or similitude do they bring,) This means no arguments or doubts,
(but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) They do not say anything in an attempt to oppose the truth, but We respond to them with the truth of that same matter, more clearly and more eloquently than anything they say. Abu `Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Qur'an was sent down all at once to the first heaven on Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power), then it was revealed over twenty years.'' Allah says:
(And no example or similitude do they bring, but We reveal to you the truth, and the better explanation thereof.) and:
(And (it is) a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages) (17:106). Then Allah tells us about the terrible state of the disbelievers when they are raised on the Day of Resurrection and gathered into Hell:
(Those who will be gathered to Hell on their faces, such will be in an evil state, and most astray from the path.) In the Sahih, it is reported from Anas that a man said, "O Messenger of Allah, how will the disbeliever be gathered on his face on the Day of Resurrection'' The Prophet said:
(The One Who caused him to walk on his two feet is able to make him walk on his face on the Day of Resurrection.)
(35. And indeed We gave Musa the Scripture, and placed his brother Harun with him as a helper;) (36. And We said: "Go you both to the people who have denied Our Ayat.'' Then We destroyed them with utter destruction.) (37. And Nuh's people, when they denied the Messengers, We drowned them, and We made them as a sign for mankind. And We have prepared a painful torment for the wrongdoers.) (38. And (also) `Ad and Thamud, and the Dwellers of Ar-Rass, and many generations in between.) (39. And for each We put forward examples, and each We brought to utter ruin.) (40. And indeed they have passed by the town on which was rained the evil rain. Did they not then see it Nay! But they used not to expect any resurrection.)