Category: Al-‘Ahqaf

Ha-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings].

The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

We created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them to manifest the truth and to last for an appointed term. Yet the disbelievers give no heed to Our warning.
Meaning:-
Manifest: to make clear or obvious to the eye or mind or the understanding; show plainly

Say, [O Muhammad], “Have you considered that which you invoke besides Allah ? Show me what they have created of the earth; or did they have partnership in [creation of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful.”
Meaning:-
Invokes: call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration.

And who could be more astray than the one who invokes those deities besides Allah who cannot answer him till the Day of Resurrection – which, in fact, are not even aware that they are being invoked?
Meaning:-
Deity: God; Supreme Being, like a god or goddess, Fake God.
Invokes:pray to, call on.

And when mankind are gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), they (false deities) will become enemies for them and will deny their worshipping.
Meaning:-
Deity: God; Supreme Being, like a god or goddess, Fake God.

And when Our Clear Verses are recited to them, the disbelievers say of the truth (this Quran), when it reaches them: “This is plain magic!”

Do they say that the Prophet has fabricated it himself? O Prophet, tell them: “If I have fabricated it myself, then there is nothing that you can do to protect me from the wrath of Allah. He knows fully well what you say about it. Enough is He as a witness between me and you. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”
Meaning:-
Fabricated: falsify, fake, invent or concoct (something), typically with deceitful intent.
Wrath: extreme anger

Say (O Muhammad):”I am not a new thing among the Messengers (of Allah) (i.e. I am not the first Messenger) nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am but a plain warner.”

Say: “Tell me! If this (Quran) is from Allah, and you deny it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel (‘Abdullah bin Salam) testifies that this Quran is from Allah [like the Taurat (Torah)], so he believed (embraced Islam) while you are too proud (to believe).” Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, disbelievers and wrong-doing).
Meaning:-
Polytheist: belief in more than one god or in many gods.

The unbelievers say about the believers: “Had there been any good to believe in, this Qur’an, they would not have believed in it before us.” And since they reject its guidance, they say: “This is an ancient falsehood.”
Meaning:-
Ancient: of long ago, early, a very old
Falsehood: lie, untruth.

And before it was the scripture of Moses to lead and as a mercy. And this is a confirming Book (the Quran) in an Arabic language to warn those who have wronged and as good news to the doers of good.
Meaning:-
Doer: the person who does something.

Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah ,” and then remained on a right course – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

They shall dwell in paradise forever as a reward for their good deeds.
Meaning:-
Dwell: a house, or other place of residence.

We have commanded people to treat his parents with kindness. With much trouble his mother bore him, and much pain did she give him birth. His bearing and his weaning took thirty months. When he reaches the age of full strength and becomes forty years old, he says: “My Lord! Grant me the grace that I may thank you for the favors which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good deeds that will please You, and grant me good children. Surely I turn to You in repentance and surely I am of those who are Muslims.”
Meaning:-
Weaning: to cause a baby to stop feeding on its mother’s milk and to start eating
Bestow: an honor, right, an honor, to present as a gift

Such are the people from whom We shall accept the best of their deeds and overlook their misdeeds. They shall be among the residents of paradise: true is the promise that has been made to them in this life.

But those who rebukes his parents and say: “Uff (as if to say, do not bothering me)! Do you threaten me with a resurrection, whereas many a generations have passed before me and none has come back from among them?” And they both cry for Allah’s help and say: “Woe to you! Be a good believer. Surely the promise of Allah is true.” But he replies: “This is nothing but tales of the ancients.”
Meaning:-
Rebukes: express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.
Woe: great sorrow or distress.
Ancient: of long ago, early, very old; aged:

These are they against whom the word has proved true among nations of the jinn and the men that have already passed away before them; surely they are losers.

And for all there are degrees [of reward and punishment] for what they have done, and [it is] so that He may fully compensate them for their deeds, and they will not be wronged.

And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], “You exhausted your pleasures during your worldly life and enjoyed them, so this Day you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation because you were arrogant upon the earth without right and because you were defiantly disobedient.”
Meaning:-
Arrogant: self-important, proud in an unpleasant, revealing an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities.

Tell them (O Muhammad) the story of ‘Ad’s brethren, the Prophet Hud, when he warned his people, the residents of Ahqaf (the curved sand-hills in the southern part of Arabian Peninsula) – in fact Warners came to them before him and after him – saying: “Worship none but Allah. Surely I fear for you the punishment of a mighty Day.”

They replied: “Have you come to turn us away from our gods? Bring us the torment that you threaten us with, if you are telling the truth.”
Meaning:-
Torment: great mental suffering and unhappiness, or great physical pain

The Prophet Hud said: “The Knowledge of when it is going to come is only with Allah. I am only conveying the Message with which I have been sent, however, I can see that you are ignorant people.”
Meaning:-
Ignorant: without knowledge of, unaware of, unfamiliar with, unacquainted with, uninformed about.

Then when they saw the torment in the shape of a cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: “This cloud will bring us rain.” – “Nay! It is what you were asking for, a fierce wind bringing you a woeful torment.
Meaning:-
Torment: great mental suffering and unhappiness, or great physical pain
Fierce: powerful, strong, violent, forceful;
Woeful: tragic, sad, tear-jerking, miserable.

It is going to destroy everything by the command of its Lord. Consequently by the morning, there was nothing to be seen except the ruins of their houses. Thus did We reward those guilty people.

We had established them much better than We have established you, O Qureysh of Makkah, and endowed them with the faculties of hearing, seeing, and intellect. Yet their faculties of hearing, sight and intellect avail them nothing since they denied the revelations of Allah; and they were completely hemmed in by the same thing that they used to mock at.
Meaning:-
Qureysh: Quresh were a powerful merchant tribe that controlled Mecca
Endow: favor, bless, grace, gift;
Faculty: power, capability, capacity,
hemmed: Caught, caught up, cornered, held up, trapped,
mock: to laugh at someone, often by copying them in a funny but unkind way, make fun of

We have destroyed the towns which were once flourished around you – and We repeatedly sent them Our revelations (verses) so that they may turn to the Right Way.
Meaning:-
Flourish: to grow or develop successfully:

Then Why did not those whom they worshipped besides Allah helped them who they regarded as a means of attaining nearness to Him? But those deities utterly forsake them, because those were nothing but their lies and their false inventions.
Meaning:-
Deities: fake gods, God; Supreme Being, like a god or goddess,

And [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur’an. And when they attended it, they said, “Listen quietly.” And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners.

They said: “O our people! Verily! We have heard a Book (this Quran) sent down after Musa (Moses), confirming what came before it, it guides to the truth and to a Straight Path (i.e. Islam).

O our people, answer the one (Muhammad) who is calling you towards Allah and believe in him! Allah will forgive you your sins and save you from a painful punishment.

He that does not answer the one who is calling towards Allah, shall neither escape in the earth, nor shall have any to protect from Him. Surely such people are in manifest error.”
Meaning:-
Manifest: to make clear or obvious to the eye or mind or the understanding; show plainly

Do they not see that Allah , who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things

On the Day when the unbelievers will be brought before the fire, Allah will ask: “Is this not real?” “Yes, by our Lord!” They will answer. “Well, then taste the punishment now,” Will He reply, “in consequence of your disbelieve.”

So be patient, [O Muhammad], as were those of determination among the messengers and do not be impatient for them. It will be – on the Day they see that which they are promised – as though they had not remained [in the world] except an hour of a day. [This is] notification. And will [any] be destroyed except the defiantly disobedient people?