Ash-Shuraa: 47

Ayah

Word by Word

ٱسۡتَجِيبُواْ

Respond

لِرَبِّكُم

to your Lord

مِّن

before

قَبۡلِ

before

أَن

[that]

يَأۡتِيَ

comes

يَوۡمٞ

a Day

لَّا

(there is) no

مَرَدَّ

averting

لَهُۥ

for it

مِنَ

from

ٱللَّهِۚ

Allah

مَا

Not

لَكُم

(is) for you

مِّن

any

مَّلۡجَإٖ

refuge

يَوۡمَئِذٖ

(on) that Day

وَمَا

and not

لَكُم

for you

مِّن

any

نَّكِيرٖ

denial

Translation

Hearken ye to your Lord, before there come a Day which there will be no putting back, because of (the Ordainment of) Allah! that Day there will be for you no place of refuge nor will there be for you any room for denial (of your sins)!

Tafsir

Forgiving or exacting Revenge on Wrongdoers

Allah says,

وَجَزَاء سَيِّيَةٍ سَيِّيَةٌ مِّثۡلُهَا

The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof.

This is like the Ayat:

فَمَنِ اعۡتَدَى عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَاعۡتَدُواۡ عَلَيۡهِ بِمِثۡلِ مَا اعۡتَدَى عَلَيۡكُمۡ

Then whoever transgresses the prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him. (2:194)

and,

وَإِنۡ عَاقَبۡتُمۡ فَعَاقِبُواۡ بِمِثۡلِ مَا عُوقِبۡتُمۡ بِهِ

And if you punish, then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. (16:126)

Justice, has been prescribed, in the form of the prescribed laws of equality in punishment (Al-Qisas), but the better way, which means forgiving, is recommended, as Allah says:

وَالۡجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُ

and wounds equal for equal. But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him expiation. (5:45)

Allah says here:

فَمَنۡ عَفَا وَأَصۡلَحَ فَأَجۡرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ

but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah.

means, that will not be wasted with Allah. As it is said in a Sahih Hadith:

وَمَا زَادَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَبۡدًا بِعَفۡوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا

Allah does not increase the person who forgives except in honor.

إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ

Verily, He likes not the wrongdoers.

means, the aggressors, i.e., those who initiate the evil actions.

وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعۡدَ ظُلۡمِهِ فَأُوۡلَيِكَ مَا عَلَيۡهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ

And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.

means, there is no sin on him for taking revenge against the one who wronged him

إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ

The way,

means, the burden of sin,

عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَظۡلِمُونَ النَّاسَ وَيَبۡغُونَ فِي الاَۡرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ الۡحَقِّ

is only against those who oppress men and rebel in the earth without justification;

means, those who initiate wrongful actions against others, as it is said in the Sahih Hadith:

الۡمُسۡتَبَّانِ مَا قَالَا فَعَلَى الۡبَادِىءِ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡتَدِ الۡمَظۡلُوم

When two persons indulge in abusing each other, the one who initiated the wrongful action is to blame, unless the one who was wronged oversteps the mark in retaliation.

أُوۡلَيِكَ لَهُم عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

for such there will be a painful torment.

means, intense and agonizing.

It was reported that Muhammad bin Wasi said, I came to Makkah and there was a security out post over the trench whose guards took me to Marwan bin Al-Muhallab, who was the governor of Basrah. He said,

`What do you need?, O Abu Abdullah,'

I said, `If you can do it, I need you to be like the brother of Banu `Adiy.'

He said, `Who is the brother of Banu `Adiy?'

He said, Al-Ala' bin Ziyad; he once appointed a friend of his to a position of authority, and he wrote to him:If you can, only go to sleep after you make sure that there is nothing on your back (i.e., you do not owe anything to anyone), your stomach is empty and your hands are untainted by the blood or wealth of the Muslims. If you do that, then there will be no way (of blame) against you --

إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَظۡلِمُونَ النَّاسَ وَيَبۡغُونَ فِي الاَۡرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ الۡحَقِّ

أُوۡلَيِكَ لَهُم عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

The way is only against those who oppress men and rebel in the earth without justification; for such there will be a painful torment.'

Marwan said, `He spoke the truth, by Allah, and gave sincere advice.' Then he said, `What do you need, O Abu `Abdullah?'

I said, `I need you to let me join my family.'

He said, `Yes (I will do that).'

This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.

When Allah condemned wrongdoing and the people who do it, and prescribed Al-Qisas, He encouraged forgiveness

وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ

And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives,

meaning, whoever bears the insult with patience and conceals the evil action,

إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَمِنۡ عَزۡمِ الاُۡمُورِ

that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah.

Sa`id bin Jubayr said,

This means, one of the things enjoined by Allah,

i.e., good actions for which there will be a great reward and much praise

The State of the Wrongdoers on the Day of Resurrection

Allah says,

وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن وَلِيٍّ مِّن بَعۡدِهِ

And whomsoever Allah sends astray, for him there is no protector after Him.

Allah tells us that whatever He wills happens and whatever He does not will does not happen, and no one can make it happen. Whomever He guides, none can lead astray, and whomever He leads astray, none can guide, as He says:

وَمَن يُضۡلِلۡ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرۡشِدًا

but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no protecting to lead him. (18:17)

Then Allah tells us about the wrongdoers, i.e., the idolators who associate others in worship with Allah:

...

وَتَرَى الظَّالِمِينَ

And you will see the wrongdoers,

...

لَمَّا رَأَوُا الۡعَذَابَ

when they behold the torment,

i.e., on the Day of Resurrection, they will wish that they could go back to this world.

...

يَقُولُونَ هَلۡ إِلَى مَرَدٍّ مِّن سَبِيلٍ

they will say:Is there any way of return?

This is like the Ayah:

وَلَوۡ تَرَى إِذۡ وُقِفُواۡ عَلَى النَّارِ فَقَالُواۡ يلَيۡتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلَا نُكَذِّبَ بِـَايَـتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ

بَلۡ بَدَا لَهُمۡ مَّا كَانُواۡ يُخۡفُونَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَلَوۡ رُدُّواۡ لَعَـدُواۡ لِمَا نُهُواۡ عَنۡهُ وَإِنَّهُمۡ لَكَـذِبُونَ

If you could but see when they will be held over the (Hell) Fire! They will say:Would that we were but sent back! Then we would not deny the Ayat of our Lord, and we would be of the believers!

Nay, it has become manifest to them what they had been concealing before. But if they were returned, they would certainly revert to that which they were forbidden. And indeed they are liars. (6:27-28)

وَتَرَاهُمۡ يُعۡرَضُونَ عَلَيۡهَا

And you will see them brought forward to it,

means, to the Fire.

خَاشِعِينَ مِنَ الذُّلِّ

made humble by disgrace,

means, in a befitting manner, because of their previous disobedience towards Allah.

يَنظُرُونَ مِن طَرۡفٍ خَفِيٍّ

(and) looking with stealthy glance.

Mujahid said, In a humiliated manner.

That is, they will steal glances at it, because they will be afraid of it. But the thing that they are afraid of will undoubtedly happen, and worse than that -- may Allah save us from that.

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ امَنُوا

And those who believe will say,

means, on the Day of Resurrection they will say:

إِنَّ الۡخَاسِرِينَ

Verily, the losers...

means, the greatest losers.

الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَأَهۡلِيهِمۡ يَوۡمَ الۡقِيَامَةِ

are they who lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection.

means, they will be taken to the Fire and deprived of any pleasures in the Hereafter. They will lose themselves, and they will be separated from their loved ones, companions, families and relatives, and they will lose them.

أَلَا إِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ فِي عَذَابٍ مُّقِيمٍ

Verily, the wrongdoers will be in a lasting torment.

means, everlasting and eternal, with no way out and no escape

وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنۡ أَوۡلِيَاء يَنصُرُونَهُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ

And they will have no protectors to help them other than Allah.

means, no one to save them from the punishment and torment which they are suffering.

وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن سَبِيلٍ

And he whom Allah sends astray, for him there is no way.

means, no salvation

Encouragement to obey Allah before the Day of Resurrection

When Allah tells us about the horrors and terrifying events of the Day of Resurrection, He warns us about it and commands us to prepare for it:

اسۡتَجِيبُوا لِرَبِّكُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَ يَوۡمٌ لاَّ مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ

Answer the Call of your Lord before there comes from Allah a Day which cannot be averted.

means, once He issues the command, it will come to pass within the blinking of an eye, and no one will be able to avert it or prevent it.

مَا لَكُم مِّن مَّلۡجَأٍ يَوۡمَيِذٍ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّكِيرٍ

You will have no refuge on that Day nor there will be for you any denying.

means, you will have no stronghold in which to take refuge, no place in which to hide from Allah, for He will encompass you with His knowledge and power, and you will have no refuge from Him except with Him.

يَقُولُ الاِنسَـنُ يَوۡمَيِذٍ أَيۡنَ الۡمَفَرُّ

كَلَّ لَا وَزَرَ

إِلَى رَبِّكَ يَوۡمَيِذٍ الۡمُسۡتَقَرُّ

On that Day man will say:Where (is the refuge) to flee'?'

No! There is no refuge!

Unto your Lord will be the place of rest that Day. (75:10-12

فَإِنۡ أَعۡرَضُوا

But if they turn away, (refers to the idolators),

فَمَا أَرۡسَلۡنَاكَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ حَفِيظًا

We have not sent you as a Hafiz over them.

means, `you have no power over them.'

And Allah says elsewhere:

لَّيۡسَ عَلَيۡكَ هُدَاهُمۡ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهۡدِى مَن يَشَأءُ

Not upon you is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills. (2:272)

فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيۡكَ الۡبَلَـغُ وَعَلَيۡنَا الۡحِسَابُ

your duty is only to convey (the Message) and on Us is the reckoning. (13:40)

And Allah says here:

إِنۡ عَلَيۡكَ إِلاَّ الۡبَلَغُ

Your duty is to convey.

meaning, `all that We require you to do is to convey the Message of Allah to them.'

وَإِنَّا إِذَا أَذَقۡنَا الاۡإِنسَانَ مِنَّا رَحۡمَةً فَرِحَ بِهَا

And verily, when We cause man to taste of mercy from Us, he rejoices there at;

means, when a time of ease and comfort comes to him, he is happy about it.

وَإِن تُصِبۡهُمۡ

but when befalls them, (means mankind).

سَيِّيَةٌ

some evil,

means, drought, punishment, tribulation or difficulty,

بِمَا قَدَّمَتۡ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ

because of the deeds which their hands have sent forth,

فَإِنَّ الاۡإِنسَانَ كَفُورٌ

then verily, man (becomes) ingrate!

means, he forgets the previous times of ease and blessings and acknowledges nothing but the present moment. If times of ease come to him, he becomes arrogant and transgresses, but if any difficulty befalls him, he loses hope and is filled with despair.

This is like what the Messenger of Allah said to the women:

يَا مَعۡشَرَ النِّسَاءِ تَصَدَّقۡنَ فَإِنِّي رَأَيۡتُكُنَّ أَكۡثَرَ أَهۡلِ النَّار

O women, give in charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hell.

A woman asked, Why is that, O Messenger of Allah

He said:

لاِأَنَّكُنَّ تُكۡثِرۡنَ الشِّكَايَةَ وَتَكۡفُرۡنَ الۡعَشِيرَ لَوۡ أَحۡسَنۡتَ إِلى إِحۡدَاهُنَّ الدَّهۡرَ ثُمَّ تَرَكۡتَ يَوۡمًا قَالَتۡ مَا رَأَيۡتُ مِنۡكَ خَيۡرًا قَط

Because you complain too much, and you are ungrateful to (your) husbands. If one of you were to be treated kindly for an entire lifetime, then that kindness was lacking for one day, she would say,

`I have never seen anything good from you!'

This is the case with most women, except for those whom Allah guides and who are among the people who believe and do righteous deeds.

As the Prophet said, the believer is the one who:

إِنۡ أَصَابَتۡهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيۡرًا لَهُ وَإِنۡ أَصَابَتۡهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيۡرًا لَهُ وَلَيۡسَ ذَلِكَ لاَِحَدٍ إِلاَّ لِلۡمُوۡمِن

if something good happens to him, he is thankful, and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him. This does not happen to anyone except the believer.