Note: The statement in 46:1 is an oath of God consisting of Arabic letters ‘Ha’ and ‘Meem’ known as Quranic initials at the very beginning of the surah affirms subsequent statements. However, the quranic initials being signs of this book have multiple roles including the lower level physical proofs of the numerical structure of Quran, and the total occurrence of these letters ‘Ha’ and ‘Meem’ in the Arabic text of 7 surahs 40 through 46 is a multiple of 19 => 292 (Ha) + 1855 (Meem) = 2147 = 19 x 113.
Source: H.M. count obtained from https://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/vp/fact31.pdf
- A revelation of the scripture is from God – the Almighty, the Wise (46:2). We have not created the heavens and the earth, and what is between them except with the truth and for an appointed term, and those who have disbelieved are turning away from what they had been warned (46:3).
Note: By taking oath God has confirmed that He has revealed the scripture, and has created the heavens and the earth as well as what is between them for an appointed term, while the disbelievers fail to reflect to the warning.
- Say, “Have you seen what you call other than God? Show Me what they have created of the earth, or is there a share for them in the heavens? Bring Me a scripture from before this, or a trace of knowledge, if you have been truthful ones.” (46:4). And who is more astray than whoever calls other than God one who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they are unaware of their call (46:5). And when the people are gathered, they will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship 46:6).
Note: Those who have disbelieved call on other than God, those are powerless and are not able to respond to their calls even they wait until a day of the Resurrection, while on a day of the Resurrection they will be their enemies and deniers of their worshiping; thus, they are losers on a day of the Judgment.
- And when our clear revelations are recited to them, said those who have disbelieved in the truth when it has come to them: “This is a clear magic!” (46:7). Or they say, “He has fabricated it.” Say, “If I had fabricated it, then you do not possess for me anything against God. He is a Knower of what you plunge into it. He has sufficed as a Witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (46:8). Say, “I have not been an exception from the messengers, and I do not know what will be done with me nor with you. I do not follow except what is revealed to me and I am not but a clarifying warner.” (46:9).
Note: The majority people deny the truth from God when it comes to them through His messengers and become disbelievers considering it either magic or man-made fabrication, while the role of all messengers is the same just being warners. The commandment of not to make any distinction between any of God’s messengers is further clarified including Muhammad. Hence, the teachings that we see around us focusing on His messengers instead of His messages or giving higher rank to any of His messengers are the teachings against the Quran.
- Say, “Have you seen if it has been from God and you have disbelieved in it, and a witness from the Children of Israel has testified upon the like of it, then he has believed, while you have been arrogant? Indeed, God does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (46:10). And said those who have disbelieved to those who have believed: “If it had been good, they would not have preceded us to it.” And since they are not guided with it, then they will say: “This is an ancient lie!” (46:11). And from before it, the scripture of Moses was a guide and mercy, and this is a scripture confirming in an Arabic language to warn those who have done wrong and a good news for the good-doers (46:12).
Note: There are enough evidences to believe that the Quran is from God but the arrogant never see them. Thus, the rejecters rejected it saying that there is no good in it except old fabrication. However, it is a guide and a mercy in Arabic language like the scripture of Musa to warn the wrong-doers and to give good news to the good-doers. Hence, the basic teaching in any divine scripture is warning and guidance. This is another instance which indicates that prophet Muhammad was a messenger like prophet Musa and this is a fact as Musa preceded Muhammad.
- Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is God;’ then they have stood firm, then there is no fear on them, nor do they grieve (46:13). Those are companions of Paradise, dwellers in it, as a reward for what they had been doing (46:14).
Note: Just believing in God is not enough to be eligible for a reward from God without being steadfast while steadfastness is one of the traits of believers that qualifies them to enter Paradise as a reward for their devotion, i.e., for doing good works being only loyal to God.
- AAnd We have enjoined [upon] the human being goodness toward his parents. His mother has carried him with hardship and has given birth to him with hardship, and bearing of him as well as weaning of him is thirty months. Until when he has reached his maturity and has reached forty years, he says: “My Lord, enable me that I can appreciate Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I can do righteousness that pleases You, and make righteous for me in my offspring; indeed, I have turned to You and indeed, I am among the submitters.” (46:15). Those are the ones from whom We accept the best of what they have done, and We overlook their evil deeds among the companions of Paradise – the promise of truth which they had been promised (46:16).
Note: God has made it requirement for all of us to honor our parents. We are not just to take care of our parents but we should also follow their feet steps if they are righteous. There is opportunity for our forgiveness if we repent for the mistakes that we made in the past and submit to God at the age of 40 when we are not only physically strong but also mentally matured to take responsibility as well as to distinguish between right and wrong to lead a righteous life. God has confirmed that He will accept their good works and will overlook their past sins, and they will be among the dwellers of Paradise but there is no mention of what will happen if anyone dies or gets killed before the age of 40 in any of the above two verses.
- And the one who said to his parents, “Fie to you! Do you both promise me that I will be brought forth, when the generations have passed away from before me?” while they both implore God, “Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, God’s promise is truth.” But he says, “This is not but tales of the forefathers!”(46:17). Those are the ones against whom the word has become deserved among communities certainly passed away from before them, from the jinn and the humans. Indeed, they had been losers (46:18).
Note: There are those among us who will neither repent nor submit to God at the age of 40 nor will they follow the feet steps of their righteous parents, but disbelieve in the resurrection saying that this is nothing but the tales from the past are the losers from both of humans and jinns.
- And for all are ranks from what they have done, so that He may pay them back for their deeds, and they will not be wronged (46:19). And on the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire: “You exhausted your good things in your life of the world, and you enjoyed them. So today you will be recompensed a punishment of humiliation for that you had been arrogant in the earth without right, and for that you had been defiantly disobedient.” (46:20).
Note: Everyone will attain status according to their works while the disbelievers will be recompensed with a painful retribution on the promised day for their arrogance on the earth without justification as well as for their disobedience.
- And remember the brother of ‘Aad when he had warned his people at the dunes – and certainly, there had passed away the warners before him and after him – “That you do not worship except God. Indeed, I fear for you a punishment of a tremendous Day.” (46:21). They said, “Have you come to us to turn us away from our gods? Then bring us what you threaten us, if you have been truthful.” (46:22). He said, “The knowledge is only with God, and I convey to you what I have been sent with, but I see you are an ignorant people.” (46:23). Then when they saw it as a cloud approaching towards their valleys, they said, “This cloud is bringing us rain.” No, it is what you had asked to be hastened; a wind wherein there is a painful punishment (46:24). Destroying everything by the command of its Lord. Then they became such that nothing was seen except their homes. Thus do We recompense the criminal people (46:25). And certainly, We had established them in what We have not established you in, and provided them with hearing, vision, and hearts. But their hearing, nor their vision, nor their hearts availed them in anything since they had been rejecting God’s revelations, and encompassed them what they had been mocking (46:26).
Note: The key message that all messengers delivered is “You shall not worship except God. I fear for you the retribution on the promised day.” Hud, the brother of `Ãd did the same but his people asked him to bring the retribution that he threatened with. Although they were established with hearing, vision and hearts but that did not work for them because of their ignorance, and were destroyed by the painful wind and the destruction was such that nothing was seen except their homes. Such was the consequence of those who rejected God’s revelations in the past that may serve as a warning for us to make our utmost efforts to follow God’s revelations, i.e., the Quran in our case. It is also noteworthy that the people of Ad were famous for tall building in the city of Iram, which was discovered in 1992 after 4800 years of the destruction and disappearance of the city of Iram in Umman with the help of the Challenger spaceship equipped with SIR-B radars that could see under the sand.
- And certainly, We had destroyed what is around you of the towns, and We displayed the signs that they may return (46:27). Then why did not help them those whom they had taken other than God for nearness as gods? Nay, they went astray from them, and that was their falsehood and what they had been inventing (46:28).
Note: Many towns were destroyed when they failed to see the signs given to them. However, those signs did not work for them as they had taken gods other than God as an approach of worship, which was falsehood and innovation.
- And when We directed towards you a party of the jinn—they are listening to the Qur’an. Then when they attended it, they said, ‘Listen silently!’ Then when it had been concluded, they turned back to their people as warners (46:29). They said, “O our people! Indeed, we heard a scripture—it had been sent down after Moses, confirming that which was before it; it guides to the truth and to a straight path.” (46:30). O our people! Respond to the caller of God and believe in Him; He forgives for you of your sins and protects you from a painful punishment (46:31). And whoever does not respond to the caller of God, then he is not an escaper in the earth, and there is not for him besides Him any protectors. Those are in obvious straying (46:32). Do they not see that God—Who created the heavens and the earth and did not tire of their creation—is Able to give life to the dead? Yes indeed! Indeed, He is Powerful over every thing (46:33). And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire: “Is not this the truth?” They said, “Yes indeed, by our Lord!” He said, “Then taste the punishment for what you had been disbelieving.” (46:34).
Note: Prophet Muhammad was a messenger like prophet Musa, who delivered the Quran confirming the previous scripture and containing guidance to the truth and the right path. A number of jinns was directed to listen to it, who warned their fellow jinns to believe in God to protect them from the painful retribution as there is no any protector other than Him. God has created the heavens and the earth with the least effort as He possesses infinite power and is able to do all things. However, the disbelievers who do not respond to God’s caller will taste the retribution for what they used to disbelieve.
- So be patient just as the possessors of determination among the messengers were patient, and do not seek to hasten for them. As if they—the Day they see what they are promised—had not remained except for an hour of a day. This is a proclamation. Will there then be destroyed except the disobedient people? (46:35).
Note: The prophet is commanded to possess strength like messengers before him and to be patient to see the retribution that will come to the disbelievers. The day they see it, they will realize that they have lasted one hour of the day on the earth indicating the end of the world. However, what has been confirmed is none but the wicked people were destroyed.
Conclusion
The surah al-Ahqaaf (The Dunes) begins with a statement of God’s oath consisting of two Quranic initials Ha and Meem, and the true believers can only realize how awesome the God’s oath is! This oath affirms that the Quran is from God – the Almighty, the Wise, while the creation of the heavens and the earth for an appointed term. But the disbelievers fail to reflect to the warning. However, the quranic initials are also the lower level physical proofs of the numerical structure of Quran, and the total occurrence of these letters ‘Ha’ and ‘Meem’ in the Arabic text of 7 surahs: 40 through 46 is a multiple of 19 => 292 (Ha) + 1855 (Meem) = 2147 = 19 x 113.
There are 35 verses in the surah and the most significant aspects that are covered in the surah under oath are: (1) creation of heavens and earth for an appointed term, (2) disbelievers fail to reflect that the heavens and the earth will exist for an appointed term, (3) the disbelievers call on other than God are in far astray, (4) disbelievers deny the truth from God, (5) consequence of rejecters of Quran, (6) prophet Muhammad was a messenger like prophet Musa, (7) Paradise is to be granted to a steadfast, while they are believing in God, (8) commandment of honoring parents (9) compensation of repenting and submitting to God at the age of 40, (10) Consequence of those who do not follow their righteous parents, (11) fair judgment on a day of the Judgment, (12) destruction of the people of dunes by storm, (13) taking anything as god other than God is falsehood and invention, (14) Quran is the guidance for both human and jinn being, (15) Prophet is enjoined to be patient to see the retribution of the disbelievers.
There is a concept around us in light of the verse 46:15 that those who die or get killed before the age of forty will go to Heaven as the Quran sets the age of responsibility at 40. If the person nourishes his soul while believing in God will go to High Heaven otherwise he will go to Lower Heaven. But it is a mystery to many that what will happen to the people who have committed horrendous crimes but die or get killed or hanged because of justice before the age of 40, while the Quran teaches us that God forgives lesser offenses but not the greater ones. The logic that is given to clarify it that God knows who deserve Paradise or Hell, and He terminates our life on earth, so such criminals will not die or get killed before the age of 40. However, we should not hasten if we are not clear in any matter but should be patient and implore God to increase our knowledge to understand it better on our way.
Quran has confirmed that taking anything as god other than God as means of nearness is falsehood and innovation, and those who call on other than God are in far astray. It contains warnings for the transgressors and guidance for the righteous, while it is a guidance for both humans and jinns. It is a guide and a mercy in Arabic language like the scripture of Musa to warn the transgressors as well as to give good news to the righteous which indicates that prophet Muhammad was a messenger like prophet Musa. There are enough evidences to believe that the Quran is from God but the arrogant never see them except old fabrication. Hence, the focus on His messengers instead of message or to give higher rank to any of His messengers is the violation of teaching in the Quran, and we wish we will not be among them who violate His laws and teaching to avoid the painful retribution on the promised day.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (7/15/2016).