- [I swear by] Alif. Laam. Meem (29:1).
Note: The statement in 29:1 is an oath of God consisting of Arabic letters ‘Alif’ ‘Laam’ and ‘Meem’ known as the Quranic initials at the very beginning of the surah, which affirms subsequent statements. However, the qur’anic initials are also the lower level physical proofs of the numerical structure of Quran, and the total occurrence of these letters ‘Alif’ ‘Laam’ and ‘Meem’ in the Arabic text of 6 surahs: 2, 3, 29, 30, 31 and 32 is a multiple of 19 => 19874 (19x1046) as shown in the table below:
Note: Data obtained from the updated count of Quranic initials published in the submission.org, while the Quranic initials have multiple roles being (1) elements of God’s statements of oath, (2) the factual evidence for occurring at certain frequencies in the Arabic text of the respective surah(s) that the Quran is from God and (3) are signs that hint to predict when the world will end based on the survival of the revealed Quran as coded in them.
- Have the people thought that they will be left because they say, “We have believed,” while they are not tested? (29:2). And certainly, We had tested those who were from before of them; then surely, God will make known those who have been truthful, and surely, He will make known the liars (29:3). Or had those who commit the evil deeds thought that they escape Us? It has been evil what they decide (29:4). Whoever has been hoping for the meeting of God, then a term of God is surely coming. And He is the Hearer, the Knower. (29:5). And whoever has striven, then he only strives for himself. Indeed, God is surely Self-Sufficient from all creation (29:6). And those who have believed and have done the righteous deeds, We will surely remove from them their evil deeds, and We will surely recompense them the best of what they have been doing (29:7).
Note: By taking oath God has confirmed that the test is mandated for all generations of people to expose the liars and the truthful. The appointed time for the meeting with God is surely coming and there is no escape from Him for those who committed evil deeds, while for those who strived in the cause of God, He will reward them best for their righteous deeds.
- And We have enjoined the human being goodness with his parents; and if they both have striven against you that you associate partners with Me, what you have not any knowledge of it, then do not obey them both. To Me is your return, then I will inform you of what you have been doing (29:8). And those who have believed and have done righteous deeds, We will surely admit them among the righteous (29:9).
Note: We must avoid idol worshipping even if our parents force us to do that when we do not have thorough knowledge about its consequence. The believers who have done righteous works will admit with the righteous.
- And among the people, whoever says, “We have believed in God,” then when he has been harmed in the cause of God, he has considered the oppression of the people as the punishment of God. And surely if a victory has come from your Lord, they will surely say, “Indeed, we have been with you.” Is not God best aware of what is in the breasts of all creation? (29:10). And surely, God will make known those who have believed, and surely, He will make known the hypocrites (29:11). And those who have disbelieved said to those who have believed, “Follow our way, and let us bear your sins,” while they are not bearers of anything of their sins. Indeed, they are surely liars (29:12). And surely they will bear their burdens and burdens along with their burdens, and surely they will be asked on the Day of the Resurrection about what they had been inventing (29:13).
Note: The hypocrites consider any affliction in the cause of God to be His retribution instead of test while they are only with Him when they have a blessing from Him. The disbelievers make efforts to divert others saying that we will carry your sins if you follow us. They will carry their sins as well as the sins of those who followed them, and will be punished for their invention.
- And certainly, We had sent Noah to his people, so he stayed among them a thousand years less fifty years. Then the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers (29:14). Then We had saved him and the companions of the ship, and We made it a sign for all creation (29:15). And Abraham, when he said to his people, “Worship God and fear Him. That is better for you if you had been knowing.”(29:16). You only worship idols other than God, and you create falsehood. Indeed, those whom you worship other than God do not possess any provision for you; so seek the provision with God, and worship Him, and be grateful to Him. To Him you are returned (29:17).
Note: Noah stayed with his people for longer time but still they were wicked, eventually the flood overtook them. Abraham said to his people to worship God and to fear Him as the worshiping of idols is nothing but falsehood and invention. He also said to them to seek provision from God and to appreciate Him as well as their return to Him, while the idols do not possess any provision.
- And if you deny, then certainly had denied the communities from before of you; while it is not upon the messenger except the conveyance of the clarifying message (29:18).
Note: God has addressed the contemporary people informing that the denial of His revelations found in all generations of people, while the sole mission of all messengers was to deliver the divine message.
- Have they not seen how God initiates the creation, then He repeats it? Indeed, that is easy for God (29:19). Say, “Travel in the earth, then see how He had initiated the creation. Then God creates the final creation. Indeed, God is Powerful over all things.” (29:20). He punishes whomever He wills, and He shows mercy to whomever He wills. And to Him you are turned back (29:21). And you are not escaping ones in the earth nor in the heaven, nor is there for you any protector or helper other than God (29:22). And those who have disbelieved in God’s revelations and His meeting, those have despaired of My mercy; and those, for them is a painful punishment (29:23).
Note: The disbelievers of God’s revelations should find proofs in the creation and recreation around them if they could reflect, while they will be returned to Him and there is no escape for them. On a day of the Judgment they will have no protectors or helpers and will have a painful retribution being deprived of His mercy.
- Then there has not been any response from his people except that they said, “Kill him, or burn him.” But God had saved him from the fire. Indeed, in that are surely signs for a people who believe (29:24). And he said, “You have only taken idols other than God out of love between yourselves in the life of the world. Then on the Day of the Resurrection, each of you will deny with the other and each of you will curse the other, while your abode is the Fire, and for you there are no helpers.” (29:25). Then Lot had believed with him and said, “Indeed, I am an emigrant to my Lord. Indeed, He is the Almighty, the Wise.” (29:26). And We had granted to him Isaac and Jacob, and We had placed in his descendants the prophethood and the scripture; and We had given him his reward in the world, and indeed, in the Hereafter he is surely among the righteous (29:27).
Note: The response of the people of Abraham was to kill and burn him when he said to them to worship God instead of idols but God saved him. He also said to them that you took idols other than God out of love between yourselves but on a day of the Judgment you will deny and curse one another while just Lot believed him. God granted Abraham Isaac and Jacob as well as gave prophethood and scripture in his descendants, and he has been rewarded in the world, while in the Hereafter he will surely be with the righteous.
- And Lot, when he said to his people, “Indeed, you surely commit the immorality; there has not preceded you with it anyone among all creation.” (29:28). Do you indeed approach the men, and cut off the highway, and commit vice in your gathering?” Then there has not been any response from his people except that they said, “Bring us the punishment of God, if you had been of the truthful ones.” (29:29). He said, “My Lord, grant me victory over the corrupting people.” (29:30). And when Our messengers had come to Abraham with the good news, they said, “Indeed, we are going to destroy the people of this town; indeed, its people have been wrongdoers.” (29:31). He said, “Indeed, in it is Lot.” They said, “We know best of whoever is in it. Surely, We will save him and his family, except his wife; she has been among those who remain behind.” (29:32). And when Our messengers had come to Lot, he was distressed on account of them and lacked capability for them, while they said, “Do not fear, nor grieve. Indeed, we are savers of you and your family—except your wife; she has been of those who remain behind.” (29:33). Indeed, we are bringing down upon the people of this town a punishment from the sky because they have been defiantly disobedient (29:34). And certainly We have left from it a clear sign for a people who reflect (29:35).
Note: The people of Lot (Sodom) were destroyed except him and his family but not his wife with the punishment from the sky for practicing homosexuality and highway robbery.
- And to Midian their brother Shuaib, so he said, “O my people, worship God and expect the Last Day, and do not act wickedly in the earth as corrupters.” (29:36). But they had denied him, so the earthquake took them, then they became in their home fallen prone (29:37).
Note: The people of Shuaib (Madyan) were destroyed with the earthquake for rejecting him when he said to them to worship God and expect the Last Day.
- And Aad and Thamud, and certainly there has become evident to you from their dwellings, while Satan had made fair-seeming to them their deeds, then had diverted them from the path, even though they had been possessors of vision (29:38).
Note: Also Aad and Thamud were destroyed as the Satan had made fair-seeming to them their works and had diverted them from the right path.
- And Qarun, and Pharaoh, and Haman. And certainly, Moses had come to them with the clear signs, then they had been arrogant in the land, and they had not been foremost ones (29:39).
Note: The people of Pharaoh were destroyed as they became arrogant when Moses went to them with the clear signs.
- So each We had seized with his sin; so of them was whomever We sent upon him a violent storm, and of them was whomever the awful cry seized him, and of them was whomever We caused the earth to swallow with him, and of them was whomever We drowned. And God had not been wronging them, but they had been wronging themselves (29:40).
Note: The destruction of the people of the previous generations is the warning for the people of the subsequent generations. Hence, the Quran contains warnings for the disbelievers and guidance for the believers. Since the messengers deliver the warnings as well, they are often referred to warners in the Quran.
- An allegory of those who have taken protectors other than God is like the allegory of the spider, she has taken a house. And indeed, the weakest of the houses is surely the house of the spider, if they have been knowing (29:41). Indeed, God knows what they call upon of any thing other than Him, and He is the Almighty, the Wise (29:42). And that of the examples, We set it forth for the people, and none understands it except the knowledgeable (29:43). God has created the heavens and the earth with the truth. Indeed, in that is surely a sign for the believers (29:44).
Note: Taking protectors other than God is like the weakest house of the spider and calling upon beside God is nothing for not contributing anything to the souls, while God has created the heavens and the earth with proofs for the believers.
- Recite what has been revealed to you of the scripture, and establish the salat prayer; indeed, the salat prayer prevents from the immorality and the evil deed, and surely the remembering of God is greatest. And God knows what you do (29:45).
Note: This commandment is for the prophet but those who have believed in God and Quran should study the Quran while they should give the topmost priority to practice the salat prayer to remember God and to keep them away from the evil as well.
- And do not argue with the people of the scripture except with that which is best, except those who have done wrong from them; and say, “We have believed in that which has been sent down to us and has been sent down to you, and our god and your god is One, and we to Him are submitters.” (29:46). And thus We have sent down to you the scripture. So those whom We have given the scripture believe in it, and of these is whoever believes in it. And none deny Our revelations except the disbelievers (29:47). And you have not been reciting any scripture from before of it, nor do you write it with your hand; then the falsifiers would surely have doubted (29:48). Nay, it is clear revelations in the chests of those who have been given the knowledge, and none reject Our revelations except the wrongdoers (29:49). And they said, “Why has not been sent down signs to him from his Lord?” Say, “The signs are only with God, and I am only a clarifying warner.” (29:50). And does it not suffice them that We have sent down to you the scripture being recited to them? Indeed, in that is surely a mercy and a reminder for a people who believe (29:51). Say, “It has sufficed with God between of me and between of you as a Witness. He knows what is in the heavens and the earth. And those who have believed in the falsehood and have disbelieved in God, those – they are the losers.” (29:52).
Note: Here is an example for us how we should argue with the people of the scripture and also there is a hint in it how the authenticity of the Quran has been maintained. It has been confirmed that it is clear in the chests of those who are given knowledge and none reject it except the wicked. The disbelievers wished to see the miracle to believe in Quran while the Quran itself is the miracle as there are a mercy and a reminder in it for the people to believe. However, the believers in falsehood and the disbelievers in God are the great losers on a Day of the Judgment.
- They ask you to hasten of the punishment. And if it were not for an appointed term, surely there would have come to them the punishment; and surely it will come to them all of a sudden, while they do not perceive (29:53). They ask you to hasten of the punishment, and indeed, Hell is surely surrounding the disbelievers (29:54). On a day the punishment will cover them from above of them and from beneath their feet; and He will say, “Taste what you had been doing.” (29:55). O My servants those who have believed, indeed My earth is spacious; so Me alone, therefore worship Me (29:56).
Note: The disbelievers wanted to see the retribution but they would see it if its time could not be set to come. It will come as set by God when they have to taste the painful retribution for their disbelief while the believers who worship God alone will be saved.
- Every person will be tasting of the death, then to us you will be returned (29:57). And those who have believed and have done the righteous deeds that we will surely settle them in lofty mansions of the Paradise underneath of them the rivers will flow, as dwellers therein forever. It has been excellent a reward of the workers (29:58). Those who have been patient and upon their Lord they put trust (29:59).
Note: Our return to God has been confirmed through death. The righteous will be rewarded and Paradise is their abode wherein they will live forever if they had been patient and had put their trust upon their Lord.
- There is many a creature that does not carry its provision, God provides for it, as well as for you. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient (29:60). And if you ask them, “Who created the heavens and the earth, and put the sun and the moon in service,” they will say, “God.” Why then did they deviate? (29:61). God increases the provision for whomever He chooses of His servants and withholds it. Indeed, God is Knower of everything (29:62). And surely, if you had asked them, “Who has sent down water from the sky, then has given life to the earth with it after its death,” they would say, “God.” Say, “All praise belongs to God, but most of them do not understand.” (29:63).
Note: We must work for our provision but should not worry too much about it as God provides for all creatures. Since He provides for all, and has created the heavens and the earth and put the sun and the moon in service, and sends down water from the sky and gives life to the land after its death, then we should not have any trace of doubt in our hearts that God is able to do and aware of all things. Thus, these should be sufficient proofs for us so that we do not deviate from His path.
- This is not the life of the world except an amusement and play, while the abode of the Hereafter is the real life, if only they had done to know (29:64). Then when they have embarked in the ship, they call God being sincere to Him in the religion. Then when He has delivered them to the shore, after they associate partners (with Him) (29:65). Let them deny what we have given them, and let them enjoy, but they will come to know (29:66). Do they not see that we have made a secure sanctuary while all around them the people are in constant danger? Do they then believe in falsehood and disbelieve in a favor of God? (29:67). Who is more evil than whoever has invented a lie about God, or has denied in the truth when it has come to him? Has there not been in Hell an abode for the disbelievers? (29:68).
Note: The Hereafter is our real life, then we should use our worldly life to prepare ourselves for the Hereafter instead of just taking it to be a place of our play and amusement. The retaliation of the disbelievers is Hell wherein they will suffer the painful retribution because of their setting up partners with God, rejecting God’s revelations, believing in falsehood and disbelieving in God’s favor. Thus, the disbelievers are those who deny the truth when it comes to them.
- And those who strive for us, surely, we will guide them to our paths. And God is surely with the good-doers (29:69).
Note: Those who strive in the cause of God, He will guide them to His path as well as He will be with them on a Day of the Judgment.
Conclusion
The surah begins with a statement of God’s oath consisting of Arabic letters ‘Alif’ ‘Laam’ and ‘Meem’ known as the Quranic initials at the very beginning of the sura, which affirms that the test is mandated for all generations of people to expose the liars and the truthful. The appointed time for the meeting with God is surely coming and there is no escape from God for those who committed evil works while for those who strived in the cause of God will be generously rewarded for their righteous works. However, the qur’anic initials are also the lower level physical proofs of the numerical structure of Quran, and the total occurrence of these letters ‘Alif’ ‘Laam’ and ‘Meem’ in the Arabic text of 6 suras: 2, 3, 29, 30, 31 and 32 is a multiple of 19 =>8944 (Alif with Hamza) + 6494 (Laam) + 4436 (Meem) = 19874 19 x 1046)
There are 69 verses in sura al-`Ankabuut (The Spider) and the most significant aspects that are covered in the sura under oath are: (1) test to expose liars and truthful, (2) avoid setting up partners with God, (3) exposes hypocrites and disbelievers, (4) a short history of Noah and Abraham, (5) disbelievers will be deprived of God’s mercy, (6) God saved and rewarded Abraham, (7) destruction of wicked people of previous generations, (8) allegory of spider’s house for those who take protectors other than God (9) importance of studying and practicing salat, (10) Quran is clear in the chests of the blessed ones, (11) retribution will come according to appointed term, (12) compensation for righteous works, (13) God provides for all creatures, (14) Hell is a just place for the disbelievers, and (15) God is with the good-doers.
God has warned us citing an allegory of the spider’s house for those who take protectors other than God as well as mentioning of calling upon anything beside God is nothing for not contributing anything to the growth of their souls, while God has created the heavens and the earth with proofs for them to reflect to base their firm beliefs and perfect their practices on truth instead of falsehood.
The Hereafter is the real life for both the disbelievers and the believers. For the disbelievers their retaliation is Hell, the worst place wherein they will suffer the painful retribution because of their associating partners with God, rejecting God’s revelations, believing in falsehood and disbelieving in God’s favor, while for the believers who need God’s guidance to ensure the best place therein, buying His guidance with the expense of striving in the cause of Him, which is accepted from them as the advance payment for His Paradise.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (7/22/2016).