Introduction
God has created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days, and has established Himself on the Throne to dispose all affairs as well as to test the human being who is better in his deed found in 7 verses across 7 suras of the Quran as shown in the table below, even reflecting to the mathematical confirmation of the event as the sum of the relevant verse and sura numbers is a multiple of 19 => 361 (19x19):
Note: Six days are symbolic to understand the complexity between the creation of the seven heavens, which took two days and the appropriation of provision for every creature on earth belonging to the lowest heaven that took four days.
In addition, there are 7 verses in the Quran, which explain the creation of the seven layered heavens and the other 2 verses explain that these seven layered heavens glorify Him being Lord of the seven heavens. Out of seven heavens, the lower heaven has been adorned with lamps and guards to make it an outer boundary for the devils while the earth that has been made habitable for us and many other creatures belongs to the lower heaven. God has completed the sevens heavens in two days, while He has precisely calculated provision for every creature in the earth in four days being the total is six days for the creation of the heavens and the earth, which is usually known as the universe while in the Quran God has designated it His Throne/Kingdom that we may better reflect to appreciate Him.
Details of the sura
Surah Al-Mulk and its English counterpart is the Kingdom is a hint that God is our Lord being sovereign over His Kingdom and we must do whatever we need to do according to His teachings to please Him and to have His mercy. However, here are details in the English translation to reflect the word for word translation in the translation having subtitles including short notes to understand the messages in the surah:
God is the One who is sovereign over His Kingdom
- Blessed is the One, in His hand is the Kingdom and He has power over everything (67:1). He is the One who has created the death and the life that He may test you which of you is best in deed, and He is the Almighty, the Forgiving (67:2).
Note: God is sovereign over His Kingdom and has created death and life to test us that who is better in his deed among us.
God’s Kingdom is composed of seven heavens
- He is the One who has created seven layered heavens. You do not see any flaw in creation of the Gracious. So turn the vision, do you see any flaw? (67:3). Then turn the vision over and over; the vision will turn to you humbled while it is fatigued (67:4). And certainly, we have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and we have made it a guard for the devils, and we have prepared for them punishment of the Hell (67:5).
Note: God has created His Kingdom consisting of seven layered heavens in which there is no imperfection anywhere while He has adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and has made it outer boundary for the devils and has prepared for them a punishment of the Hell.
Hell is a punishment for the deniers of warner
- And for those who have disbelieved in their Lord, is a punishment of Hell, and there has been the miserable destination (67:6). When they have been thrown in it, they have heard from it an inhaling while it boils up (67:7). It is about to burst from the rage. Every time a group has been thrown in it, its guards ask them, “Did not come to you a warner?” (67:8). They said, “Yes, certainly there had come to us a warner, but we had denied and we said that God has not sent down anything. You are not but in far astray.” (67:9). And they said, “If we had heard or we could understand, we would not have been with the dwellers of the Blazing fire!” (67:10). Then they have confessed of their sins, so are faraway belonging to the dwellers of the Blazing fire (67:11).
Note: Here is a description of consequences for those who have disbelieved in their Lord and have denied a warner sent with His revelations that they will suffer in Hell while they would admit that if they had listened to a warner and could understand, then they would not be faraway belonging to the dwellers of the Blazing fire for their sin.
Forgiveness and reward for the God fearing
- Indeed, those who fear their Lord in the unseen, for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (67:12).
Note: God has promised forgiveness and a great reward for those who fear Him even we do not see Him.
God is Knower of the breasts
- Whether conceal your uttering or proclaim with it; indeed, He is Knower of the breasts (67:13). Does He not know Who has created? And He is the Sublime, the Cognizant (67:14).
Note: God has created us and He knows what is in our breasts whether we keep it secret or we declare it that we cannot hide anything from Him.
Our provision on earth and return to God
- He is the One who has made the earth resource for you, so you shall roam its paths, and shall eat from His provision, while to Him is the return (67:15).
Note: God has provided for us in the earth that we need to explore to enjoy as long as we have been on it and after that our return to Him that there is no way we can escape from Him.
Preparation for a promised day or a disaster
- Have you been secure from the One in the heaven that He will not cause the earth to swallow with you is when it will shake? (67:16). Or have you been secure from the One in the heaven that He will not send upon you a violent storm? Then you will know how was My warning? (67:17). And had denied of those who were of their before, then how has been My punishment (67:18). Do they not see towards the birds above themselves spreading (their wings) and folding? None folds them except the Gracious. Indeed, He is Seer of everything (67:19).
Note: God warns us to prepare ourselves for the difficult times, may come to us any time in any form from Him pointing to the holding of birds in the sky that we may reflect.
The Gracious is our Helper and Provider
- Who is this, the one, he is an army for you can help you against the Gracious? The disbelievers are not but in delusion (67:20). Who is this, the one to provide you, if He has withheld His provisions? Nay, they have persisted in pride and aversion (67:21). Does he then whoever walk fallen upon his face better guided, or does he whoever walk on an even path? (67:22).
Note: There is none to protect us against the Gracious while the disbelievers are in delusion. He provides for us and if He withholds it none can give us.
God has given us wisdom to appreciate Him
- Say, “He is the One who has produced you, and has made for you the hearing, the vision, and the understanding. Little is what you appreciative.” (67:23). Say, “He is the One who has multiplied you in the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.” (67:24).
Note: God has produced us and has given has given us hearing, vision and understanding to Him while He has multiplied us and will gather us.
Prophet had no knowledge of the Promised Day
- And they say: “When is this promise, if you have been the truthful?” (67:25). Say, “The knowledge is only with God, and I am only a warner, a clarifier.” (67:26). Then when they have seen it approaching, has been distressed faces of those who disbelieved, and it has been said, ”This is that which you have done to mock with it.” (67:27).
Note: Prophet was a clear warner who had no knowledge of the promised day or the gathering followed by the end of the world, which is only known to God meaning that Muhammad was not a God’s messenger to unveil its time as He has will keep it almost hidden found in (20:15). However, the faces of the disbelievers will be distressed when they see it is approaching but they had mocked it before.
God, the Gracious is a Protector of the believers
- Say, “Have you seen if God has destroyed me and whoever with me, or has mercy upon us, then whoever can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?” (67:28). Say, “He is the Gracious; we have believed in Him and upon Him we have put trust. So you will know whoever he is in a clear astray.” (67:29).
Note: God is sovereign over His Kingdom and He protects those who have believed in Him and have put trust upon Him while the disbelievers are in clear astray and they do not have any protector. Then we may think of which is better for us to have a Protector or not to have a Protector.
God is the One who provides us for sustenance
- Say, “Have you seen, if has become your water sunken, then whoever could bring you flowing water?” (67:30).
Note: God supports our living in the earth that we may appreciate Him through which He has guided us.
Summary
- Surah Al-Mulk teaches us that God has created the Kingdom composed of seven layered heavens.
- There is no imperfection in His Kingdom and He is sovereign over all things of His Kingdom.
- He has created the death and the living for us to test us that whoever is better in deed among us.
- He has adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and has made it guard for the devils.
- Those who have disbelieved in their Lord, there is a miserable punishment for them in Hell.
- When a group has been thrown in it, its guards would ask them, “Did not come to you a warner?”
- They would reply, “Yes indeed, but we had denied him and said God has not revealed anything.”
- They would also say, “If we had listened to a warner or could understand, we would not have been with the dwellers of the Blazing fire, and thus, they will admit their sins.
- But for those who have feared God, He has promised forgiveness and a great reward for them.
- He has created us and He knows what is in our breasts whether we keep it secret or we declare it.
- He has provided for us in the earth that we explore it to support us and after that our return to Him.
- He warns us to prepare ourselves for the difficult times, which may come to us any time in any form from Him pointing to the holding of birds in the sky that we may reflect.
- There is none to protect us against the Gracious while the disbelievers are in delusion.
- God has produced us and has given us hearing, vision and understanding that we can appreciate Him while He has multiplied us and will gather us before Him to give us exact compensation.
- Prophet was not given any knowledge about the time of the promised day or the end of the world, while its knowledge is with God means Muhammad was not the messenger to unveil its time.
- God protects the believers who put trust upon Him while the disbelievers have no protector.
- He supports our living in the earth that we may appreciate Him through which He has guided us.
God has given us hearing, vision and understanding that we can use them to reflect that He has created the Kingdom of seven layered heavens and He is sovereign over it, while He only protects those who have believed in Him and have put their trust upon Him as well as appreciate Him through which He has guided them. Thus, the disbelievers are in clear astray, would be in Hell not for doing their part, but they will admit that if they had listened to a warner and had followed what was sent with him, they would not have been with the dwellers of the Blazing fire. So, if we do our part for ourselves to have a Protector upholding God’s revelations, we do not have to be with the dwellers of the Blazing fire, a miserable destination like the disbelievers who have not done their part to have a protector.
Peaceful Friday, salaam an d God bless.
Tafazzal (04/30/2021).