In this final passage, the surah picks up the legends the pagan Arabs weaved around their worship of angels. It refers to one of the arguments they used to defend their absurd beliefs. It was a futile argument that reflected no attempt to arrive at the truth; it was more an exercise in polemics. They had been told that both they and what they worshipped were bound for hell. The reference here being to their idols that were first intended as representations of angels, but which were later worshipped as deities. They were told that whoever worshipped anything other than God will be in hell together with the thing worshipped. In response, some of them cited the example of Jesus, who was worshipped by some of those who deviated from true Christianity. They asked whether Jesus would also be in hell? This was nothing but idle argument.

They also claimed that they were better guided than the Christians who worshipped Jesus, a human being, while they worshipped the angels, God’s daughters. All this was no more than compounded falsehood. In connection with this, the surah gives an account of Jesus, explaining the truth about him and his message, and the differences that gripped his people both before and after him.

Addressing all those who deviate from the true faith, the surah warns them against the sudden coming of the Last Hour. It moves on to portray a long scene of the Day of Judgement, giving an image of lasting happiness for the God-fearing and one of painful suffering for the guilty. Furthermore, the surah negates their legends concerning the angels, makes it clear that God is free of all that they allege concerning Him and outlines some of His attributes, including His complete ownership of both this life and the life to come. The surah concludes with a directive to the Prophet to be forbearing and to turn away from the unbelievers. They will come to know what is there to be known. This is an implicit warning to those who continue to argue after things have been made very clear.

Whenever the son of Mary is cited as an example, your people raise an outcry, saying: 'Who is better: our deities or he?’ They cite him only to challenge you. They are contentious people. He was but a servant of Ours whom We had favoured and made an example to the Children of Israel. Had it been Our will, We could have made you angels, succeeding one another on earth. He is a portent of the Last Hour. Have no doubt about it, but follow Me: this is a straight path. Let not Satan debar you; for he is your sworn enemy. When Jesus came with clear signs, he said: 7 /w come to you with wisdom, and to make clear to you some of that on which you differ. Therefore, fear God and follow me. God is my Lord and your Lord: so worship Him alone. This is a straight path. Yet are the sects at variance among themselves. Woe, then, to the wrongdoers for the painful suffering that will befall them on a grievous day. (Verses 57-65)

In his biography of the Prophet, Ibn Ishaq gives the following report:

The Prophet sat with al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah in the Sacred Mosque, and they were joined by al-Nadr ibn al-Harith. There were a few other men from the Quraysh. The Prophet spoke to them, but al-Nadr interrupted him. The Prophet argued with him until he silenced him. He then read to them a passage of the Qur’an that included the verse that says: “ You and all that you were wont to worship instead of God are but the fuel of hell: that is what you are destinedfor” (21: 98) The Prophet then left.

Then came 'Abdullah ibn al-Ziba'ri of the Tamim tribe who sat with them. Al-Walid said to him: ‘Al-Nadr was no match for Muhammad. Indeed Muhammad said that both we and the deities we worship will be the fuel of hell.’ Ibn al-Ziba'ri said: ‘Had I been the one who argued with him I would have won. Ask Muhammad whether everyone worshipped other than God will be in hell together with those worshipping him. Well, we worship the angels, and the Jews worship Ezra, while the Christians worship Jesus, son of Mary.’ Al-Walid and those who were in the Mosque admired what Ibn al-Ziba'ri had said and felt that he put forward a winning argument. When this was mentioned to the Prophet, he said: ‘Anyone who likes to be worshipped in place of God will be joined to those who worship him. These people only worship Satan and whoever Satan orders them to worship.’ God then revealed the verse that says: “But those for whom [the decree of] ultimate good has already gone forth from Us will be keptfar away from that hell.” (21: 101) This means that Jesus, Ezra and other rabbis and priests who were sincere in their faith, but were then worshipped as deities by later people will be safe from hell.

Furthermore, concerning the argument about Jesus being worshipped and the admiration of the argument by al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah and others, God revealed the verse that says:

“ Whenever the son ofMary is cited as an example, your people raise an outcry” (Verse 57)

In al-Kashshdf a commentary on the Qur’an, al-Zamakhsharl gives a broadly similar report, without mentioning its source. Both reports show clearly how argumentative the pagan Arabs were. They were exactly as the Qur’an describes them: “ They are contentious people”.

When the surah refers to wrongdoers, it includes those factions that disputed about Jesus together with the pagan Arabs who argued with the Prophet on the basis of what those factions perpetrated. It draws a long, spectacular scene showing what happens to them on the Day of Judgement and adds an image of what happens to the God-fearing who receive His favours in heaven:

What are they waiting for other than the Last Hour, which will come upon them all of a sudden and take them unawares? On that Day, friends will become enemies to one another, except for the God-fearing.

desire. However, what comes over and above desire satisfaction is that it is all pleasant to the eye, adding beauty to gratification: “They will be waited upon with trays and goblets of gold; and there will be found all that the souls may desire and the eyes may delight in? (Verse 71) Yet there is more to this blessed enjoyment: there is something greater and far more honourable. They are honoured by an address from on high:

“ There you shall abide. This is the garden that shall be your own on account of what you used to do. You shall have there fruits in abundance, from which to eat? (verses 71-73)

What fate awaits the evildoers whom we left a little while ago in dispute, blaming one another? “ The evildoers shall abide in the suffering of hell.” 74) It is a permanent, hard and severe suffering that allows no reduction or respite. No ray of hope will ever appear nor any chance of deliverance. They endure it, lost in despair: “It will not be lightened for them; they will remain in utter despair(Verse 75)

This is all their own doing. No one has wronged them: “We never wronged them; it was they who have wronged themselves.” (Verse 76)

An outcry is heard from afar. It is an outcry of utter distress, born in despair: “They will cry, "Malik, if only your Lord would put an end to us!™ (verse 77) It comes from down below, from behind the closed doors of hell. The evildoers are not appealing for help or salvation; they have already despaired of that. All they are asking for is that they should be allowed to perish, their misery end. That is all that they can hope for. When all that one can hope for is to perish, one must be in extreme distress. This cry certainly comes from long-suffering souls and bodies whose endurance has gone beyond all limits. Hence they cry out: “Malik, if only your Lord would put an end to us!"' The answer they are given adds to their despair, caring little for what they feel: “He will answer: "You are here to stay.(Verse 77) No deliverance, no hope, no death, no end; they are there to stay.

This distressing image is followed by an address to those who hate the truth and turn away from guidance. It portrays to all how singular their attitude is:

We have brought the truth to you, but most of you abhor the truth.

If they have resolved on some scheme, We have a scheme of Our own. Or do they think that We do not hear their secret talk and their private counsel? Indeed We do, and Our messengers are with them, recording all. (Verses 78-80)

Now the Qur’an directs the Prophet to say something to them and to leave them to face the destiny which has already been described to them:

Say: If the Lord of Grace had a son, I would be the first to worship him. ’ Limitless in His glory is the Lord of the heavens and earth, the Lord of the Throne: He is far above their false descriptions. Leave them to indulge in idle talk and play until they face the Day they have been promised. (Verses 81-83)

They alleged that the angels whom they worshipped were Gods daughters. Had God had any offspring, the first one to know this and act on the basis of this knowledge was Gods Prophet and messenger.

He was close to Him and was quick to comply with His orders. He would have been the first to offer his respects to His offspring, had He had any as they alleged. He, however, worships none but God. This in itself is evidence confirming that their allegation has no basis. All glory belongs to God who is totally unlike what they allege. “Limitless in His glory is the Lord of the heavens and earth, the Lord of the Throne:

He is far above their false descriptions.” (Verse 82)

When we contemplate the heavens and the earth, looking at their systems and harmony, we feel the greatness and sublimity of the One who controls all this, referred to as, 'the Lord of the Throne? and we realize the absurdity of any such claim. By our nature we know that the Maker of the universe can have no similarity to creatures who procreate. Therefore, attributing sons"and daughters to Him appears to be no more than idle talk and play, which deserve no answer. It only merits a stern warning of what happens on the Day of Resurrection, an image of which has already been given: “Leave them to indulge in idle talk and play until they face the Day they have been promised.” (Verse 83)

The surah continues its glorification of God, the Creator, attributing to Him what is worthy of His Lordship of the heavens and the earth as well as the mighty throne:

It is He alone who is God in heaven and God on earth; He alone is the Wise, the All-Knowing. Blessed is He to whom sovereignty over the heavens and the earth and all that is between them belongs, and with whom the knowledge of the Last Hour rests, and to whom you shall be brought back. Those whom they invoke beside Him have no power of intercession, unlike those who know the truth and bear witness to it. (Verses 84-86)

This statement confirms the unity of Godhead throughout the universe, making it clear that no one shares this with God Almighty who does everything according to His infinite wisdom and perfect knowledge. The Arabic word tabarak, translated here as ‘blessed’, carries connotations of greatness and exaltedness above all their perceptions.

It is He who is 'the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all in between .

He alone knows the timing of the Last Hour and to Him all creation returns. On that day, when all return to Him, none of those whom they allege as His offspring or partners will have the power of intercession for anyone. None can intercede with Him other than one who knows the truth and bears witness to it. A person who testifies to the truth will not intercede on behalf of any who ever stood in opposition to it.