- (I swear by) Yaa Seen (36:1). And the Quran, the wise (36:2).
Note: The statements in 36:1 and 36:2 is an oath of God consisting of a set of Quranic initial, Yaa Seen and the Wise Quran while the Wise is an attribute of God Himself assigned to the Quran at the beginning of the surah, affirms subsequent statements. This kind of oath is also found in 44:1-2 – (I swear by) Ha. Meem and the clarifying scripture. However, the quranic initials are also the lower level physical proofs of the numerical system of Quran and the total occurrences of the letters ‘Yaa’ and ‘Seen’ in the Arabic text of the entire surah is a multiple of 19 => 237 (Yaa) + 48 (Seen) = 285 (19x15) as shown in the table below:
Note: The letter “Yaa” is written in the Quran in two forms; one is obvious and the other is subtle. The subtle form of the letter may be confusing to those who are not thoroughly familiar with the Arabic language. A good example is the word “Araany” which is mentioned twice in 12:36. The letter “Yaa” is used twice in this word, the first “Yaa” is subtle and the second is obvious. Surah 36 does not contain a single “Yaa” of the subtle type. This is a remarkable phenomenon, and one that does not normally occur in a long surah like Surah 36.
- Indeed, you are surely one of the sent ones (36:3). Upon a straight path (36:4). A revelation of the Almighty, the Merciful (36:5). That you may warn a people, not had been warned their forefathers; so they are heedless ones (36:6).
Note: God has confirmed by taking oath referring to 2 items: (1) the quranic initials Yaa. Seen and (2) the wise Quran that you (prophet) are one of the sent ones on a path to straight that the Quran, a revelation of the Almighty, the Merciful to warn a people but their parents were not warned while they are heedless. Even these verses including the verses of statements of God’s oath can be mathematically confirmed if the surah number, which is 36 and the relevant verses which are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 => 36 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 57 (19 x 3) is an explicit proof to give our attention to the piece of information that messenger sent with divine message and mission. The Arabic phrase, lamina al-mur’saleen is a clue that both the prophet who delivered the Quran and the messenger who delivered the mathematical coding of the Quran are addressed in 36:3. The mathematical confirmation also indicates that there is a reference of the messenger of covenant who has been sent with a reminder of the mathematical coding of the Quran. Thus, the Quran serves as reminder for two messages: (1) literary instruction in the Arabic text of the Quran and (2) its mathematical coding as embedded in its Arabic text delivered by two messengers.
- Certainly, there has come true the word upon most of them; so they do not believe.
(36:7). Indeed, We have placed shackles in their necks, so they are up to the chins, so they are ones with heads forced upward (36:8). And We have placed a barrier from their front, and a barrier from their back, so We have covered them, so they do not see (36:9). And alike it is upon them whether you have warned them or you have not warned them; they do not believe (36:10). Only you warn him who has followed the reminder and has feared the Gracious in the unseen; so give him good news of forgiveness and an honorable reward (36:11). Indeed, We give life to the dead, and We write what they have sent forward and their footprints; and everything, We have numbered it in an apparent ledger (36:12).
Note: Most people will not see the warnings in the reminder (Quran) and deserve the retribution as if they are forced in direction with the shackles around their necks and have been placed barrier in front of them and behind them. It is the same whether they are warned or not, they do not follow the reminder. But those who follow the reminder and reverence the Most Gracious have deserved forgiveness and honorable reward from Him. The dead will be resurrected and are made accountable for what they had done based on their precise record.
- And set forth for them an example—the companions of the town, when there had come to it the sent ones (36:13). When We had sent to them two, so they denied both of them, so We had supported with a third one, so they said, “Indeed, we to you are sent ones (36:14).” • They said, “You are not but a human like us, and the Gracious has not sent down anything; you are not but lying.” (36:15). They said, “Our Lord knows that indeed, we to you are surely sent ones.” (36:16). And not upon us is except the conveyance, the clarifying one (36:17). They said, “Indeed, we have seen an evil omen from you; surely if you have not refrained, surely we will definitely stone you, and surely there will definitely touch you from us a painful punishment.” (36:18). They said, “Your evil omen is with yourselves. Is it because you have been reminded? Nay! You are a transgressing people.” (36:19).
Note: God has sent messengers from time to time to guide humanity. But most people of the generation have rejected messengers when they are sent with the reminder from Him supported by divine proof, and the reminder has made them wicked, instead of being it a warning and good news for them.
- And there had come a man running from the farthest end of the city; he said, “O my people, follow the sent ones!” (36:20). Follow whoever do not ask of you a reward, and they are guided ones (36:21). And what is for me that I do not worship the One Who has created me, and to Him you are returned? (36:22). Shall I take gods other than Him? If the Gracious intends for me any harm, their intercession will not avail me anything, nor do they save me (36:23). Indeed, I then am surely in a faraway straying (36:24). Indeed, I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me! (36:25).
Note: While many people had rejected the messengers but a person had believed them and asked his people to accept them as they were rightly guided and advocated to worship the One who has created us. He also advised them not to accept any gods besides God as there is no intercession between us and God, and He can only benefit or harm us. Even the statement of the person can be mathematically confirmed if the surah number, which is 36 and the relevant verses which are 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 => 36 + 20 + 21 + 22 + 23 + 24 + 25 = 171 (19 x 9) is an explicit proof that the person was rightly guided based on what he had believed as well as what he had asked to listen to his people to be guided.
- He had been told, “Enter Paradise.” He said, “O, I wish my people would know, (36:26). Of what my Lord has forgiven for me, and has made me among the honored ones.” (36:27). And We had not sent down upon his people from after him any hosts from the heaven, nor were We senders (36:28). It had not been except a single blast, so behold, they were extinguished ones (36:29).
Note: When he was told to enter Paradise he wished that if my people knew that it would be good for them. Thus, who believed and listened to the messengers was forgiven and made him honorable. However, what happened after him was not his concern, and God has dealt with the people according to His will and wisdom.
- O regret upon the servants! No messenger comes to them except that they had been mocking at him (36:30). Have they not seen how many of the generations We had destroyed from before them, that they to them do not return? (36:31).And indeed, all of them together are ones to be brought before Us (36:32).
Note: People disregard warnings sent with His messenger even failing to make any reflection on the consequences of the previous generations included in the warnings.
- And a sign for them is the dead earth; We have given life to it, and We have brought forth from it grain, so from it they eat (36:33). And We have placed in it gardens of date palms and grapevines, and We have caused to gush forth in it from the springs (36:34). That they may eat of its fruit, and what their hands have not made it; will they not then be grateful? (36:35). Glory be to the One Who has created the pairs, all of them, from what the earth grows, and from themselves, and from what they do not know (36:36). And a sign for them is the night; We strip from it the daylight, so behold, they are darkened ones (36:37). And the sun runs to a destination for it; that is the decree of the Almighty, the Knower (36:38). And the moon, We have decreed it into phases, until it has returned like the old dried date-stalk (36:39). Neither the sun is it designed for it that it catches up with the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day; and all in an orbit are floating (36:40).
Note: Signs of God in the nature are very simple and visible to all of us to reflect so that we can believe in Him and make efforts to have reward from Him when we will meet Him.
- And a sign for them is that We have carried their offspring in the laden ark (36:41). And We have created for them from its like what they ride (36:42). And if We had willed, We drowned them, so there was no screamer-responder for them, nor were they saved (36:43). Except as a mercy from Us and an enjoyment for a time (36:44). And when it had been said to them, “Beware of what is from your front and what is from your back so that you may receive mercy.” (36:45). And there does not come to them any sign from the signs of their Lord except that they had been turning away from it (36:46). And when it had been said to them, ‘Spend from what God has provided you,’ those who had disbelieved said to those who had believed, “Shall we feed him whom if God had willed, He would have fed him? You are not except in a faraway straying.” (36:47). And they say, “When is this promise, if you had been truthful ones?” (36:48). They do not wait for except a single blast; it will seize them while they are disputing (36:49). So they will not be able to make a will, nor to their people do they return (36:50). And it has been blown into the trumpet, so behold, they from the graves towards their Lord are hastening (36:51). They had said, “Woe to us! Who resurrected us from our resting place? This is what the Gracious had promised and those who have been sent had told truth” (36:52). It had not been except a single blast, so behold, they all together are ones to be brought before Us (36:53). So this Day, no soul is wronged in anything, nor are you recompensed except for what you had been doing (36:54).
Note: The past events should be lesson for us to reflect on God’s teachings found in the reminder to avoid our wickedness. Those who are eagerly waiting to see whether there is any promise day, will not even get a chance to make their will or return to their people as it will come to them suddenly. The people will be resurrected and brought before God. They will be requited whatever they used to do, and will realize that how truthful of His promise was!
- Indeed, the companions of Paradise this Day are in an enjoyment, amused ones (36:55). They and their spouses are in shades, upon the couches reclining ones (36:56). For them therein is fruit, and for them is whatever they wish (36:57). Peace — a word from a Merciful Lord (36:58).
Note: The dwellers of Paradise will enjoy peace and happiness being greeted with “Peace” by the Merciful Lord.
- And stand apart this Day, O you the criminals! (36:59). Did I not covenant to you, “O Children of Adam, that you do not worship Satan. Indeed, he is for you an open enemy, (36:60). And that you worship Me? This is a straight path.” (36:61). And certainly, he has misled a great multitude from you; did you not then use intelligence? (36:62). This is Hell which you had been promised (36:63). Burn in it this Day because of what you had been disbelieving! (36:64). This Day We seal upon their mouths, and their hands speak to Us, and their feet bear witness because of what they had been earning (36:65).
Note: The guilty ones will be in Hell where they will burn as they had worshiped the devil instead of worshiping of God, which was the straight path for them. Their mouths will be sealed while their hands will speak and their feet will bear witness of what they had done to achieve.
- And if We had willed, surely We wiped over their eyes, so they raced to the path, then how do they see? (36:66). And if We had willed, surely We transformed them in their places, then they were not able to move forward, nor did they return (36:67). And whomever We grant him long life, We reverse him in the creation. Will they not then understand? (36:68). And We have not taught him poetry, nor does it befit him. It is not except a reminder and a clarifying Quran (36:69). That it may warn whoever had been alive, and the word may be justified upon the disbelievers (36:70). Do they not then see that We have created for them from what Our hands have made livestock, then they are owners of them?(36:71). And We have subdued them for them; so from them is their ride, and from them they eat (36:72). And for them in them are benefits and drinks. Will they not then appreciate?” (36:73).
Note: God has given us strength, wisdom, free will, provision, means of transportation as well as reminder and clarifying Quran to justify between right and wrong that we can be thankful to Him.
- And they have taken gods other than God that they may be helped (36:74). They cannot help them, while they are brought forward as soldiers against them (36:75). So let not their speech sadden you. Indeed, We know what they conceal and what they declare (36:76). Does the human being not then see that We have created him from a semen-drop, then behold, he is a clear adversary? (36:77). And he has set forth for Us an example and he forgot his creation! He said, “Who gives life to the bones while they are decayed?” (36:78). Say, “He will give them life Who had created them the first time; and He is a Knower of every creation.” (36:79). The One Who has made for you fire from the green tree, so behold, you kindle from it (36:80). Had the One Who created the heavens and the earth not been able upon that He create the like of them? Yes, indeed; and He is the Creator, the Knower (36:81). His command is only when He has intended a thing that He say to it, ‘Be,’ so it is (36:82). So glory be to the One Who in His hand is sovereignty of everything, and to Him you are returned. (36:83).
Note: Those who accepted other gods besides God considering them to be helpful for them will be their enemies. God knows what we conceal and what we declare as well as He has created us. God’s signs in His creations and is able to create anything with a least effort makes Him sovereign over all things, and our return to Him has been confirmed. Thus, He has eliminated any of our idea of intercession.
Conclusion
Surah Yaa Seen is one of the initialed surahs consisting of 83 verses and its title is according to the initials prefixed to it. The most significant aspects that are covered in it are: (1) oath of God, (2) there is hint that the prophet has delivered the Quran and the messenger of covenant has delivered its mathematical coding being two different messages, (3) messenger sent with divine message and mission, (4) our life does not end with our death, (5) a people of a city who rejected three messengers, (6) three messengers to a city but only one believer, (7) the righteous are invited to enter Paradise at the time of death, (8) people make it their business to ridicule messengers, (9) signs of God in the nature as well as in the historical events, (10) what is promised to the dwellers of Paradise and Hell, (11) Quran is a reminder from God and (12) God is the Creator and the Knower.
The surah begins with a multiple statement of God’s oath consisting of Yaa Seen and the wise Quran, and the true believers can only realize how awesome the God’s oath is! The oath affirms that the Most Merciful Almighty has revealed the wise Quran through His messenger to warn people whose parents were not warned. But most people will not see the warnings in the reminder (Quran) as they are forced in direction with shackles around their necks and have been placed barrier in front of them and behind them while those who follow the reminder and reverence the Most Gracious have deserved forgiveness and generous reward from Him. Our life is not ended with our death as the dead will be resurrected and are made accountable for what they had done based on their precise record.
God has sent messengers from time to time to guide the humanity. But what we see is most people of that generation have rejected messengers when they are sent with the reminder from Him supported by divine proof, even the reminder has made them wicked as they failed to reflect to warnings and good news for them in the reminder. Here is an example of people of a city who rejected the messengers but a person listened to them. When he was told to enter Paradise he wished that if my people knew that it would be good for them. Thus, who believed and listened to the messengers was forgiven and made him honorable. However, what happened after him was not his concern, and God has dealt with the people according to His will and wisdom.
Signs of God are found both in the nature as well as in the historical events as mentioned in the reminder. If we could reflect on them, and His teachings would be a lesson for us, we could avoid our wickedness to see the retribution of the promise day. However, the people will be resurrected and brought before God, and they will be requited whatever they used to do, and will realize that how truthful of His promise was!
The dwellers of Paradise will enjoy peace and happiness being greeted with “Peace” by the Most Gracious while the guilty ones will be in Hell where they will burn as they worshiped the devil instead of worshiping of God which was the straight path for them. Their mouths will be sealed while their hands will speak and their feet will bear witness about everything they had done. If God willed, they could be stopped to do that but they were allowed to exercise their free will, and the promise day is designed for equitable judgment for all.
The prophet was not taught anything other than Quran, which is full of His teachings found in His creations so that we can be thankful to Him. Those who accepted other gods besides God considering them to be helpful for them will be their enemies. God knows what we conceal and what we declare as well as He has created us. God’s signs in His creations as well as His abilities to create anything with a least effort makes Him sovereign over all things, and our return to Him has been confirmed without needing any intercessor.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (6/10/2016).