Tafsir Surah Al-Mulk (2)

Theme: Creation of Death, Life, The Heavens and Stars

[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks?

Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued.

Notes:

1) Allah is telling the amazingness of His creation (in this ayat, the heavens (sky)). He asked us to find any break or inconsistency in the sky. (in the coming surah we will learn that the perfect sky will break and open in the day of judgement). If one tries to find any imperfection of the sky, he will certainly be despaired.

2) Allah has created nature to serve us in dunya, while Allah created us to serve Him.

And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.

Notes:

1) 'We' here does not signifies plurality, but to signify the royalness of Allah. Just like when the king or queen says 'We'.

2) Allah has created stars for 3 purposes:

- Decorations of the nearest heavens [67:5]

- For navigations. "And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided." [16:16]

- Burning the devils [67:5]

The devils used to go to the nearest heaven to eavesdrop the conversation between Allah and the angels about the future and fate of human. The devils will steal this information and whisper it to magicians and fortunetellers. Allah will send burning stars to burn them.

3) the word "dunya" (world) has two meanings: - near - worthless. This world is called dunya because that is what it is - nearest to us before we are headed to the hereafter, and worthless because life 'here' is nothing compared to life 'there'. Verily this worldly life is just adornment and amusements which will end [57:20]

Theme: The description of Hell and Its Dwellers

And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination.

Notes:

1) Kafir comes from the root "ka fa ra" which literally means to cover. A kafir knows the truth but covers/conceals it.

2) The differences between "rabb" and "ilaah":

- Rabb: to educate, the master, lord. to create something out of nothing and provides His creation. In other context, rabbulusrah = father. because a man start a family 'out of nothing' and provide his family.

- Ilaah: worthy of worship. Allah is al-ilaah, means the ONE who is worthy of worship

In this world, Allah provides his creations ample sources for living, regardless if they are Muslims or not. Allah is warning the disbelievers of His punishment in the hereafter.

When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up

It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, "Did there not come to you a warner?"

Notes:

1) Allah is describing the behavior of the hellfire towards the disbelievers in these 2 ayats. "syaheeq" means to inhale, the opposite of "zafeer" (to exhale).

The hellfire is described to have feelings, like human. When the hellfire sees the disbelievers from far, it exhales (zafeer) with fury and disgust. "When the Hellfire sees them from a distant place, they will hear its fury and roaring" [25:12]. And when the disbelievers are thrown ("ulqu" means to be pushed) into the hellfire, the hellfire will inhale (syaheeq) the disbelievers, as in sucking them inside while the hellfire boils up (tafuur). And everytime a person is thrown in, the keepers will ask them "Did not there not come to you a warner?"

They will say," Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, ' Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.' "

And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze."

And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze.

Notes:

1) And they (the disbelievers) will admit that they did received a warner but denied it. They will repent but it is all too late, Allah will not accept their repentance.

They will even ask Allah to bring them to life again and promised to be a better person. "Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return [to evil], we would indeed be wrongdoers." [23:106]. But on that day, everything will be too late, and Allah knows best that they will not do the things they promised. "He will say, "Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me." [23:108]

Question: How about the people who lives in a very remote place where they never heard about Islam. Are they counted as disbelievers?

Answer by Syeikh Reda Bedeir: We are accountable of things that are we have control with only (things that we can choose). If no warner has come to these people, then they are not accountable for it. Wallahualam.