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Ayah
Word by Word
يَوۡمَ
(The) Day
نَطۡوِي
We will fold
ٱلسَّمَآءَ
the heaven
كَطَيِّ
like (the) folding
ٱلسِّجِلِّ
(of) a scroll
لِلۡكُتُبِۚ
for records
كَمَا
As
بَدَأۡنَآ
We began
أَوَّلَ
(the) first
خَلۡقٖ
creation
نُّعِيدُهُۥۚ
We will repeat it
وَعۡدًا
a promise
عَلَيۡنَآۚ
upon Us
إِنَّا
Indeed We
كُنَّا
We are
فَٰعِلِينَ
(the) Doers
يَوۡمَ
(The) Day
نَطۡوِي
We will fold
ٱلسَّمَآءَ
the heaven
كَطَيِّ
like (the) folding
ٱلسِّجِلِّ
(of) a scroll
لِلۡكُتُبِۚ
for records
كَمَا
As
بَدَأۡنَآ
We began
أَوَّلَ
(the) first
خَلۡقٖ
creation
نُّعِيدُهُۥۚ
We will repeat it
وَعۡدًا
a promise
عَلَيۡنَآۚ
upon Us
إِنَّا
Indeed We
كُنَّا
We are
فَٰعِلِينَ
(the) Doers
Translation
The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.1
Footnotes
1 - More literally, "Indeed, We are ever doers" of what We will.
Tafsir
The day (yawma is in the accusative because of an implied preceding udhkur, 'mention') when We shall roll up the sky as the Scribe, [al-sijill being] the name of an angel, rolls up the written scroll, that is, the scroll of the son of Adam when he dies (the laam [of li'l-kitaab] is extra; alternatively, [one may read the verse so that] al-sijill is 'the scroll', and al-kitaab means al-maktoob 'what is written', in which case the laam [of li'lkitaab] has the sense of [the particle] 'alaa, 'over'; a variant reading [for li'l-kitaab] has the plural, li'l-kutub, 'the books'). As We began the first creation, from non-existence, We shall repeat it, after making it non-existent (the kaaf [of ka-maa, 'as'] is semantically connected to nu'eedu, 'We shall repeat [it]', and its [suffixed] pronoun [-hu, 'it'] refers back to awwala, 'the first'; the maa relates to the verbal noun) - a promise binding on Us (wa'dan is in the accusative because [it is the direct object] of an implied preceding wa'adnaa, 'We promised', and [the clause] constitutes a confirmation of the import of the preceding [verse, 103]). Truly We shall do [that], which We have promised.
The Heavens will be rolled up on the Day of Resurrection
Allah says:this will happen on the Day of Resurrection:
يَوْمَ نَطْوِي السَّمَاء كَطَيِّ السِّجِلِّ لِلْكُتُبِ
And (remember) the Day when We shall roll up the heaven like a Sijill for books.
This is like the Ayah:
وَمَا قَدَرُواْ اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالاٌّرْضُ جَمِيعـاً قَبْضَـتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ وَالسَّمَـوَتُ مَطْوِيَّـتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَـنَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified be He, and High be He above all that they associate as partners with Him! (39:67)
Al-Bukhari recorded that Nafi` reported from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah said:
إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبِضُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الاَْرَضِينَ وَتَكُونُ السَّمَوَاتُ بِيَمِينِه
On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will seize the earth and the heavens will be in His Right Hand.
This was recorded by Al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him.
كَطَيِّ السِّجِلِّ لِلْكُتُبِ
like a Sijill rolled up for books.
What is meant by Sijill is book.
As-Suddi said concerning this Ayah:
As-Sijill is an angel who is entrusted with the records; when a person dies, his Book (of deeds) is taken up to As-Sijill, and he rolls it up and puts it away until the Day of Resurrection.
But the correct view as narrated from Ibn Abbas is that;
As-Sijill refers to the record (of deeds).
This was also reported from him by Ali bin Abi Talhah and Al-`Awfi.
This was also stated by Mujahid, Qatadah and others.
This was the view favored by Ibn Jarir, because this usage is well-known in the (Arabic) language.
Based on the above, the meaning is:
the Day when the heaven will be rolled up like a scroll. This is like the Ayah:
فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ
Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the will of Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead. (37:103)
There are many more linguistic examples in this respect.
Allah knows best.
كَمَا بَدَأْنَا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُّعِيدُهُ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ
As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.
means, this will inevitably come to pass on the Day when Allah creates His creation anew. As He created them in the first place, He is surely able to re-create them. This must inevitably come to pass because it is one of the things that Allah has promised, and He does not break His promise. He is able to do that. Because He says:
إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ
(Truly, We shall do it).
Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Abbas said:
The Messenger of Allah stood among us exhorting us, and said:
إِنَّكُمْ مَحْشُورُونَ إِلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حُفَاةً عُرَاةً غُرْلاً
كَمَا بَدَأْنَا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُّعِيدُهُ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ
You will be gathered before Allah barefoot, naked and uncircumcised.
As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.
And he mentioned the entire Hadith.
It was also recorded in the Two Sahihs, and Al-Bukhari mentioned it in his Tafsir of this Ayah
The Earth will be inherited by the Righteous
Allah tells us of His decree for His righteous servants who are the blessed in this world and in the Hereafter, those who will inherit the earth in this world and in the Hereafter.
As Allah says:
إِنَّ الَارْضَ للَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَأءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَالْعَـقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
Verily, the earth is Allah's. He gives it as a heritage to whom He wills of His servants; and the (blessed) end is for those who have Taqwa. (7:128)
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الاٌّشْهَـدُ
Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth. (40:51)
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ ءامَنُواْ مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِى الاْرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِى ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ
Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion which He has chosen for them. (24:55)
Allah tells us that this is recorded in the Books of Divine Laws and Decrees, and that it will inevitably come to pass.
Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ
And indeed We have written in Az-Zabur after Adh-Dhikr,
Al-A`mash said:I asked Sa`id bin Jubayr about the Ayah:
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ
(And indeed We have written in Az-Zabur after Adh-Dhikr, He said:
`Az-Zabur means the Tawrah, the Injil and the Qur'an.'
Mujahid said,
Az-Zabur means the Book.
Ibn Abbas, Ash-Sha`bi, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and others said,
Az-Zabur is that which was revealed to Dawud, and Adh-Dhikr is the Tawrah.
Mujahid said:
Az-Zabur means the Books which came after Adh-Dhikr, and Adh-Dhikr is the Mother of the Book (Umm Al-Kitab) which is with Allah.
This was also the view of Zayd bin Aslam:
It is the First Book.
Ath-Thawri said:
It is Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz.
أَنَّ الاَْرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ
that My righteous servants shall inherit the land.
Mujahid said, narrating from Ibn Abbas,
This means, the land of Paradise.
This was also the view of Abu Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ash-Sha`bi, Qatadah, As-Suddi, Abu Salih, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Ath-Thawri (may Allah have mercy on them).
إِنَّ فِي هَذَا لَبَلَغًا لِّقَوْمٍ عَابِدِينَ
Verily, in this (the Qur'an) there is a plain Message for people who worship Allah.
means, `in this Qur'an which We have revealed to Our servant Muhammad, there is a plain Message which is beneficial and is sufficient for a people who worship Allah.'
This refers to those who worship Allah in the manner which He has prescribed and which He loves and is pleased with, and they would rather obey Allah than follow the Shaytan or their own desires.
Muhammad is a Mercy to the Worlds
Allah says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
And We have sent you not but as a mercy for the `Alamin.
Here Allah tells us that He has made Muhammad a mercy to the `Alamin, i.e., He sent him as a mercy for all of them (peoples), so whoever accepts this mercy and gives thanks for this blessing, will be happy in this world and in the Hereafter. But whoever rejects it and denies it, will lose out in this world and in the Hereafter, as Allah says:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ بَدَّلُواْ نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ كُفْرًا وَأَحَلُّواْ قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ الْبَوَارِ
جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا وَبِيْسَ الْقَرَارُ
Have you not seen those who have changed the blessings of Allah into disbelief, and caused their people to dwell in the house of destruction Hell, in which they will burn, -- and what an evil place to settle in! (14:28-29)
And Allah says, describing the Qur'an:
قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هُدًى وَشِفَأءٌ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُوْمِنُونَ فِى ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى أُوْلَـيِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ
Say:It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness in their ears, and it is blindness for them. They are those who are called from a place far away. (41:44)
Muslim reports in his Sahih:Ibn Abi `Umar told us, Marwan Al-Fazari told us, from Yazid bin Kisan, from Ibn Abi Hazim that Abu Hurayrah said that;
it was said, O Messenger of Allah, pray against the idolators.
He said:
إِنِّي لَمْ أُبْعَثْ لَعَّانًا وَإِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ رَحْمَة
I was not sent as a curse, rather I was sent as a mercy.
This was recorded by Muslim.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Amr bin Abi Qurrah Al-Kindi said:
Hudhayfah was in Al-Mada'in and he was mentioning things that the Messenger of Allah had said.
Hudhayfah came to Salman and Salman said:`O Hudhayfah, the Messenger of Allah (would sometimes be angry and would speak accordingly, and would sometimes be pleased and would speak accordingly. I know that the Messenger of Allah) addressed us and said:
أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي سَبَبْتُهُ سَبَّةً فِي غَضَبِي أَوْ لَعَنْتُهُ لَعْنَةً فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ وَلَدِ ادَمَ أَغْضَبُ كَمَا تَغْضَبُونَ إِنَّمَا بَعَثَنِي اللهُ رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ فَاجْعَلْهَا صَلَةً عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة
Any man of my Ummah whom I have insulted or cursed when I was angry -- for I am a man from among the sons of Adam, and I get angry just as you do. But Allah has sent me as a Mercy to the Worlds, so I will make that (my anger) into blessings for him on the Day of Resurrection.
This was also recorded by Abu Dawud from Ahmad bin Yunus from Za'idah.
It may be asked:what kind of mercy do those who disbelieve in him get?
The answer is what Abu Jafar bin Jarir recorded from Ibn Abbas concerning the Ayah:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
(And We have sent you not but as a mercy for the `Alamin), He said,
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, mercy will be decreed for him in this world and in the Hereafter;
whoever does not believe in Allah and His Messenger, will be protected from that which happened to the nations of earthquakes and stoning.
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