الموضوع الرئيسي لهذه السورة هو الإيمان وأصوله الأساسية. توحيد الله، والحياة الآخرة، والرسالة المنزَّلة، ودعوة الناس إلى هذه الرسالة، والآداب التي ينبغي أن يتحلى بها الداعي إلى الرسالة الإلهية. وكل ما تتضمنه السورة يخدم شرح هذه الأصول وتقديم الأدلة عليها. تعرض السورة بعضاً من آيات الله الموجودة في الإنسان وفي امتداد الكون، وتحذّر من إنكار تلك الآيات، وتذكّر الناس بمصائر الأمم السابقة التي كذّبت الحق، وتبيّن ما يلقاه أولئك المكذبون يوم القيامة. وتوضح أن الذين يأبون الإقرار بهذه الحقائق أو الاستسلام لله هم وحدهم من الإنس والجن. أما السماوات والأرض والشمس والقمر والملائكة فإنها تخضع لله وتسجد له خاشعة.

The question of faith and its essential principles is the major theme of this surah-. God’s oneness, the life to come, the revealed message as well as advocacy of the message and the manners an advocate of the Divine message should adopt. All that the surah includes serves to explain these fundamental principles and provide evidence supporting them. The surah presents some of God’s signs that are available in man and in the expanse of the universe, warns against denying such signs, and reminds people of the fates suffered by earlier generations that denied the truth and shows what happens to such unbelievers on the Day of Resurrection. It explains that only such unbelievers among men and jinn refuse to acknowledge these truths or to submit themselves to God. By contrast, the heavens, the earth, the sun, the moon and the angels submit themselves and humbly prostrate themselves before God.

فيما يتعلق بحقيقة توحيد الله، نقرأ في أول السورة آياتٍ مثل: {قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ}

Concerning the truth of God’s oneness, we read at the beginning of the surah verses such as: “Say: I am but a human being like yourselves.

أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّ إِلَهَكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ

It has been revealed to me that your God is the One and only God.

فَاسْتَقِيمُوا إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ ۝ (الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ) Wait, let me correct that: the translation should follow the given English text, not reproduce the Qur'an verses from memory. Here is the faithful translation: فَاتَّخِذُوا الطَّرِيقَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ، وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ (الآية ٦) ﴿قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُ أَندَادًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾ (الآية ٩) وَتَحَدَّثَتِ السُّورَةُ عَنْ قَوْمِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ، فَذَكَرَتْ أَنَّ الرُّسُلَ الَّذِينَ أُرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِمْ بَيَّنُوا لَهُمُ الْحَقَّ نَفْسَهُ ﷺ

Therefore, take the straight path to Him and seek His forgiveness. Woe to those who associate partners with Him.” (Verse 6) “Say: Do you indeed disbelieve in Him who has created the earth in two Days? And do you claim others to be His equals? It is He who is the Lord of all the worlds” (Verse 9) Speaking of the people of (Ad and Thamud, the surah tells us that the messengers sent to them explained the same truth to them:

"لَا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ" (الآية 14). وفي وسط السورة يأتي الأمر: "لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ" (الآية 37). وفي الإشارة إلى الحقيقة الأساسية نفسها تقول السورة نحو آخرها: "وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ؟ قَالُوا آذَنَّاكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٍ" (الآية 47).

“ Worship none but God.” (Verse 14) In the middle of the surah we have the commandment: “Do not prostrate yourselves before the sun or the moon; but prostrate yourselves before God.” (Verse 37) Speaking about the same basic truth, the surah says towards its end: “on the Day when He shall call out to them, "Where now are those allegedpartners ofMine?* They will say, "We confess to You that none of us can vouch for them?” (Verse 47)

على مسألة الآخرة تُوجّه السورة تحذيرًا شديدًا لمن لا يؤمن بها: ﴿وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ * الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ﴾ (فصلت: 6-7). وتختم بهذه الآية:

On the question of the life to come the surah issues a stern warning to those who do not believe in it: “ Woe to those who associate partners with Him, and who do not pay the obligatory charity, and who refuse to believe in the life to come” (Verses 6-7) It concludes with this verse:

إِنَّهُمْ فِي شَكٍّ مِّن لِّقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ

“ They are certainly in doubt as to whether they will meet their Lord.

بِالْيَقِينِ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّحِيطٌ» (الآية 54)، وَيَتَجَلَّى حَقُّ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ أَيْضًا فِي الصُّوَرِ الَّتِي تَرْسُمُهَا السُّورَةُ لِمَا يَحْدُثُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ، وَهُوَ مَا يُؤَكِّدُ، بِيَقِينٍ أَعْظَمَ، حَقِيقَةَ مَجِيئِهِ الَّذِي لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ.

Most certainly, He encompasses everything” (Verse 54) The truth of the Day of Judgement is also mentioned in the images the surah portrays of what happens on that day, which confirms, with even greater certainty, the fact of its undoubted coming.

أما مسألة الوحي، فقد ورد فيها الكثير في هذه السورة، حتى يكاد الوحي أن يكون موضوعها الرئيسي. بل إن السورة تفتتح بحديث مفصّل عن هذه المسألة: «حا

As for the question of revelation, there is much about it in this surah, almost to the point of revelation being its main theme. In fact, the surah opens with a detailed discussion of this issue: “Ha.

حم. تَنْزِيلٌ مِنَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ. كِتَابٌ فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ. بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا، فَأَعْرَضَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ. وَقَالُوا: قُلُوبُنَا فِي أَكِنَّةٍ مِمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ، وَفِي آذَانِنَا وَقْرٌ، وَمِنْ بَيْنِنَا وَبَيْنِكَ حِجَابٌ، فَاعْمَلْ إِنَّنَا عَامِلُونَ. قُلْ: إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ. ({فصلت: 1-6}) وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا: لَا تَسْمَعُوا لِهَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ وَالْغَوْا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَغْلِبُونَ. ({فصلت: 26}) ثُمَّ يُعْطَى تَفْصِيلٌ أَوْفَى عَنْ كَيْفِيَّةِ تَلَقِّي الْقُرْآنِ، وَرَدٌّ عَلَى مَا كَانَ الْكُفَّارُ يَزْعُمُونَهُ فِيهِ: ({إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالذِّكْرِ لَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ...}) وَإِنَّهُ لَكِتَابٌ عَزِيزٌ، لَا يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ، تَنْزِيلٌ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ. مَا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ، إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ وَذُو عِقَابٍ أَلِيمٍ. وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَقَالُوا: لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ، أَأَعْجَمِيٌّ وَعَرَبِيٌّ؟ قُلْ: هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ، وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى، أُولَٰئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِنْ مَكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ. ({فصلت: 41-44})

Mim. A revelation from the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful: a book, the verses of which have been clearly spelled out as a discourse in Arabic for people of knowledge. It gives good news as well as a warning. Yet, most of them turn away, so that they do not hear. They say: "Our hearts are veiled from whatever you call us to, and in our ears is deafness, and there is a barrier between us and you. So do you what you will, and so shall we.’ Say: "I am but a human being like yourselves. It has been revealed to me that..” (Verses 1-6) The middle part of the surah mentions how the idolaters received the Qur’an: “The unbelievers say: Do not listen to this Qur'an, but drown it in frivolous talk, so that you may gain the upper hand.” (Verse 26) Then we are given a more detailed account of how the Qur’an was received and a response to what the unbelievers used to assert about it: “ Those who reject this reminder [i.e. the Qur'an] when it comes to them ... It is indeed a sublime book; no falsehood can ever touch it openly or in a stealthy manner. It is bestowed from on high by One who is wise, worthy of praise. Nothing is being said to you that was not said to the messengers sent before your time. Your Lord is the Lord of forgiveness, but He also inflicts painful punishment. Had We willed to make this revelation a discourse in a non-Arabic tongue, they would have said: If only its verses were clearly spelled out! Why [a message in] a non-Arabic tongue and an Arab [messenger]?' Say: ‘This is guidance and healing for all those who believe; but as for the unbelievers: there is deafness in their ears, and they are blind to it.' They are, as it were, being called to from too far away." (Verses 41-44)

في معرض حديث السورة عن منهج الدعوة إلى الله وآداب الداعين، تقول: ﴿وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِمَّنْ دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ﴾ ﴿وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ﴾ ﴿وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ﴾ ﴿وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ﴾ (الآيات ٣٣-٣٦)

In its discussion of the method of advocating the Divine message and the manners adopted by such advocates, the surah says: “ Who speaks better than he who calls people to God, does what is right, and says, ‘I am one of those who have surrendered themselves to God'? Good and evil cannot be equal. Repel evil with what is better, and he who is your enemy will become as close to you as a true friend. Yet none will attain this except those who are patient in adversity; none will attain it except those endowed with truly great fortune. If a prompting from Satan should stir you up, seek refuge with God. He alone is All-Hearing, All-Knowing." (Verses 33-36)

تُعرَض هذه القضايا على خلفية من الصور التي تُحدث أثرًا عميقًا في السامع. وتستمد السورة هذه الصور من كونٍ حافلٍ بالآيات، ومن النفس الإنسانية بتكوينها العجيب. كما تعرض صورًا لمصائر الأمم الكافرة السابقة، ومشاهدَ مؤثرةً من يوم القيامة.

These issues are presented against a backdrop of images that have a profound effect on the listener. The surah draws these images from a universe replete with signs and from the human soul with its remarkable constitution. It also shows images of the fates suffered by earlier communities of unbelievers and intense scenes from the Day of Resurrection.

قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُ أَنْدَادًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ

One of these scenes of the universe is a very detailed image of the original creation of the heavens and the earth: “Say: ‘Do you indeed disbelieve in Him who has created the earth in two Days? And do you claim others to be His equals? It is He who is the Lord of all the worlds.

وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ فِي الْأَرْضِ رَوَاسِيَ شَامِخَاتٍ مِنْ فَوْقِهَا، وَبَارَكَ فِيهَا، وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَا أَقْوَاتَهَا فِي أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ، سَوَاءً لِلسَّائِلِينَ. ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَهِيَ دُخَانٌ، فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ: ائْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا. قَالَتَا:

He it is who placed on the earth firm mountains towering above it, and bestowed His blessings on it, and measured out its varied provisions in four days, ensuring equity for all who seek [such provisions]. Then, He applied His design to the sky, which was but smoke; and said to it and to the earth: ‘Come, both of you, willingly or unwillingly.' They both said:

"أَتَيْنَا طَائِعِينَ". فَقَضَاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِي كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ أَمْرَهَا، وَزَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَحِفْظًا، ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ۔ (الآيات ٩-١٢)

'We do come willingly. ' So He decreed that they become seven heavens in two days, and assigned to each heaven its task. We adorned the sky nearest to the earth with lights, and made them secure. Such is the design of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.” (Verses 9-12)

ونرى أيضاً صوراً لخلق الليل والنهار، والشمس والقمر، وعبادة الملائكة، وعبادة الأرض لربها في خشوع، وكيف تنبض بالحياة: ﴿وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ ۚ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ * فَإِنِ اسْتَكْبَرُوا فَالَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْأَمُونَ * وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنَّكَ تَرَى الْأَرْضَ خَاشِعَةً فَإِذَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِي أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ﴾ [فصلت: 37-39].

We also have images of the creation of the night and day, the sun and moon, the worship offered by the angels and the earth as it humbly worships God and how it springs into life: “Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate yourselves before the sun or the moon; but prostrate yourselves before God, who has created them, if it is Him you really worship. If the unbelievers are too arrogant, those who are with your Lord glorify Him night and day and never grow weary of that. Another of His signs is this: you see the earth lying desolate, but when We send down rain water upon it, it stirs and swells [with life]. He who brings it to life will surely give life to the dead.

وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ. (الآيات ٣٧-٣٩)

He has power over all things. ” (Verses 37-39)

تُكشَفُ النفسُ الإنسانيةُ أمامَ أعيُنِنا كما هي حقًّا: ﴿لَا يَسْأَمُ الْإِنسَانُ مِن دُعَاءِ الْخَيْرِ وَإِن مَّسَّهُ الشَّرُّ فَيَئُوسٌ قَنُوطٌ * وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا مِن بَعْدِ ضَرَّاءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَٰذَا لِي وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّجِعْتُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي إِنَّ لِي عِندَهُ لَلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ فَلَنُنَبِّئَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ * وَإِذَا أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَأَىٰ بِجَانِبِهِ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ فَذُو دُعَاءٍ عَرِيضٍ﴾ (فصلت: ٤٩-٥١).

The human soul is laid bare before our eyes such that we see it as it really is: “Man never tires of asking for good [things], but if evil fortune touches him, he abandons all hope, sinking into despair. Yet whenever We let him taste some of Our grace after hardship has befallen him, he is sure to say, 'This is but my due!* and, 'I do not think that the Last Hour will ever come; but even if I were to be taken back to my Lord, the best reward awaits me with Him. * We shall most certainly give the unbelievers a full account of what they did, and We shall most certainly give them a taste of severe suffering. When we bestow Our blessings on man, he tends to turn aside and stay aloof; but as soon as evil touches him, he turns to prolonged prayer(Verses 49-51)

فيما يتعلق بمصائر الأمم السابقة، تعرض السورة ما حلّ بعاد وثمود: ﴿فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَقَالُوا مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً ۖ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۖ وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ﴾. فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا صَرْصَرًا فِي أَيَّامٍ نَحِسَاتٍ لِنُذِيقَهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَخْزَىٰ ۖ وَهُمْ لَا يُنْصَرُونَ. وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ فَاسْتَحَبُّوا الْعَمَىٰ عَلَى الْهُدَىٰ﴾.

Regarding the fates of earlier communities, the surah presents what happened to the (Ad and Thamud: “As for the ‘Ad, they behaved arrogantly through the land, against all right, and said: 'Who is mightier than usT Did they not realize that God, who created them, was mightier than them? They continued to reject Our revelations. Therefore, We let loose upon them a howling gale raging through several days of misfortune, so as to give them, in the life of this world, a foretaste of humiliating suffering. Yet the suffering in the life to come will be even more humiliating, and they will have none to help them. As for the Thamud, We offered them guidance, but they chose blindness in preference to guidance.

فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ صَاعِقَةُ الْعَذَابِ الْهُونِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ ۝ وَأَنجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ

Therefore, the thunderbolt of humiliating suffering struck them in consequence of what they had wrought. And We saved those who believed and were God-fearing.” (Verses 15-18)

يُحشَرُ أعداءُ اللهِ يومَ القيامةِ إلى النارِ فيُساقون حتى إذا بلغوها شهدَ عليهم سمعُهم وأبصارُهم وجلودُهم بما كانوا يعملون، ويتحدّثون عمّا كانوا يفعلون [في الدنيا]. فيسألون جلودَهم: ﴿لِمَ شَهِدتُّمْ عَلَيْنَا؟﴾ فتُجيبُهم:

Several scenes are presented from the Day of Resurrection. One intensely effective and detailed image shows the unbelievers speaking to their own senses: “On the day when God's enemies will be gathered together before the fire, they will be driven onwards until, when they reach it, their ears, their eyes and their very skins will bear witness against them, speaking of what they used to do [on earth]. They will ask their skins: 'Why did you bear witness against us V To which they will reply:

الَّذِي أَنْطَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، أَنْطَقَنَا، وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ، وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ». (الآيات 19-21) وَتُظْهِرُ صُورَةٌ أُخْرَى، بِوُضُوحٍ تَامٍّ، الغَضَبَ الَّذِي يَشْعُرُ بِهِ الَّذِينَ خُدِعُوا فِي هَذِهِ الحَيَاةِ تُجَاهَ مَنْ أَضَلُّوهُمْ: «وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا: رَبَّنَا أَرِنَا الَّذَيْنِ أَضَلَّانَا مِنَ الجِنِّ وَالإِنْسِ نَجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِنَا لِيَكُونَا مِنَ الأَسْفَلِينَ». (الآية 29)

'God, who gave speech to all things, has made us speak. It is He who created you in the first instance, and to Him you now return.” (Verses 19-21) Another image shows, in full clarity, the anger felt by those who were deceived in this life against those who deluded them: “The unbelievers say: 'Our Lord! Show us those jinn and men who have led us astray. We shall trample them under our feet so that they shall be among the lowest of the low.” (Verse 29)

تُشكّل هذه الصور المتنوعة الكثيرة، التي تُعدّ الخلفية التي تُعرض على أساسها القضايا الرئيسية للإيمان، الجوّ العام للسورة. فمنذ بدايتها حتى نهايتها نجد أنفسنا أمام أقوى المؤثرات وأبلغها تأثيرًا.

This great variety of imagery, forming the background against which the main issues of faith are presented, constitutes the overall ambience of the surah. Right from the very outset until the end we find ourselves before the most striking and powerful of influences.

يمكن تقسيم السورة إلى جزأين، يتكون كل منهما من مقاطع مترابطة ترابطًا وثيقًا. يبدأ الجزء الأول بآيات تتحدث عن القرآن، وطبيعته ونزوله، وموقف الكافرين منه. ويعقب ذلك بيان خلق السماوات والأرض، وقصتي عاد وثمود. ثم يأتي مشهد للكافرين يوم القيامة، وكيف يواجهون شهادة حواسهم. ثم تتحدث عن أولئك الكافرين في هذه الحياة الدنيا، وكيف ضلوا ضلالًا بعيدًا. وتبيّن أن لهم قرناء زيّنوا لهم الأعمال السيئة. ونتيجة لذلك كانوا يوصي بعضهم بعضًا بألا يستمعوا إلى القرآن، بل يحاولون إسكاته لعلهم ينتصرون. ويعقب ذلك صورة تبين مدى غيظهم يوم القيامة على أولئك القرناء الذين أضلّوهم. وفي مقابل ذلك تعرض صورة للذين آمنوا بوحدانية الله واتبعوا الصراط المستقيم، فيستقبلهم الملائكة يطمئنونهم ويبشّرونهم بعظيم ما ينتظرهم.

The surah may be divided into two parts, each consisting of closely interlinked sections. The first part begins with verses speaking about the Qur’an, its nature and revelation, as well as the unbelievers’ attitude to it. This is followed by an account of the creation of the heavens and the earth and the stories of the ‘Ad and Thamud. Then, comes a scene of the unbelievers on the Day of Judgement and how they face the testimony of their own senses. It then speaks about those unbelievers in this present life and how they have gone so astray. It states that they had cronies who made evil things seem fair to them. As a result they used to urge one another not to listen to the Qur’an, but instead to try to silence it so that they might win. This is followed by an image depicting how angry they feel on the Day of Judgement with those cronies who deluded them. A contrasting image shows us those who believed in God’s oneness and followed the straight path. These receive angels who reassure them and give them news of their great prospects.

تُخبرهم الملائكة بأنهم سيكونون أولياءهم وأنصارهم في هذه الحياة الدنيا وفي الآخرة. وينتهي هذا الجزء بالإشارة إلى الرسالة والذين يدعون إليها.

The angels tell them that they will be their friends and guardians in both this present life and in the life to come. This part concludes with a reference to the message and those who advocate it.

يبدأ الجزء الثاني بالحديث عن الآيات التي جعلها الله في الكون: الليل والنهار، والشمس والقمر، والملائكة في عبادتهم، والأرض الهامدة وكيف تهتز وتربو فتمتلئ بالحياة. يتلو ذلك ذكر الذين يجادلون في آيات الله وفي وحيه، ثم الإشارة إلى كتاب الله وأهم صفاته، ثم ذكر موجز لكتاب موسى والخلافات التي نشأت بين قومه بشأنه. وتترك السورة الحكم في كل هذه الخلافات لله، في الوقت الذي يحدده سبحانه. وعند هذا الموضع تضيف السورة ذكر الساعة وأن العلم بها عند الله وحده. وهو سبحانه يعلم الثمرة التي تخرج من الأكمام، وما تحمل كل أنثى وما تضع. كما تعرض السورة صورة للكافرين وكيف يسألون عن تلك الآلهة التي زعموا أنها شركاء لله. وبعد ذلك تعرض السورة النفس البشرية كما هي، وقد نزعت عنها كل أغطيتها.

The second part begins by speaking about the signs God placed in the universe: the night, day, sun, moon, angels in devotion, the desolate earth and how it quickens and becomes full of life. This is followed by a reference to those who dispute Gods signs and His revelations, leading to a reference to Gods book and its main qualities before a brief reference is made to Moses’ book and the disputes that arose among his people concerning it. The surah leaves judgement concerning all these disputes to God, at the time appointed by Him. At this point the surah adds a reference to the Last Hour and that knowledge of it belongs to God alone. He also knows the fruit that will eventually develop from flowers and what offspring will be born to pregnant females. It also shows an image of the unbelievers and how they ask about those deities whom they alleged to be Gods partners. Following this the surah presents the human soul as it is, shedding all its coverings.

مع أنَّ الإنسانَ حريصٌ على حماية نفسه، إلا أنه لا يتخذ أيَّ احتياطٍ ليَقيَ نفسَه عواقبَ إنكارِ الله ورسالاتِه.

Although man is keen to protect himself he takes no precautions to spare himself the results of denying God and His messages.

ختم السورة بوعد من الله بأنه سيُري الناس آياته في الآفاق وفي أنفسهم، لتتاح لهم فرصة مراجعة مواقفهم والاطمئنان إلى إيمانهم: ﴿سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ * أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّحِيطٌ﴾ (فصلت: 53–54)

The surah concludes with a promise by God that He will make His signs within man and in the universe available to people so that they have a chance to review their attitude and be assured of their faith: “ We shall show them Our signs in the wide horizons [of the universe] and within themselves, so that it will become clear to them that this [revelation] is indeed the truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is witness to everything? They are certainly in doubt as to whether they will meet their Lord. Most certainly, He encompasses everything” (Verses 53—54)