15:1الٓر تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ وَقُرْآنٍ مُّبِينٍ
Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the signs of the Book and a manifest Quran.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 15:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:1]
For Alif, Lam, Ra huruf muqatti-at) see commentary of al Baqarah: I; and al Baqarah: 2 for "the Quran which makes things clear."
The Quran rightly asserts that it contains in itself the light of knowledge and wisdom which can enlighten the seeker of knowledge not only about every aspect of all creation that has been created but also about the absolute unity, omnipotent authority and glorious divinity of the Creator-Lord of the worlds-provided he turns to the "Ahl ul Bayt" for guidance as he has been directed by the Holy Prophet through hadith al thaqalayn (see page 6); and by the Quran itself in Ali Imran : 7; Nisa: 162; Nahl : 43; Anbiya: 7; Ankabut: 49; Fatir: 32; and YaSin: 12.
According to hadith al thaqalayn those who refer to the Quran for guidance by bypassing the Ahl ul Bayt shall surely go astray.
15:2رُّبَمَا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ كَانُوا مُسْلِمِينَ
Much will the faithless wish that they had been Muslims.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 15:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:2]
Every time when a fresh torment afflicts the disbelievers in the hereafter, they will wish that they had been Muslims.
Allah asks the Holy Prophet to leave the disbelievers alone to satisfy their lust for worldly enjoyments without grieving much over their condition (as "the mercy unto the worlds" the Holy Prophet was often worried about the well-being of the people in this world as well as in the hereafter). Although the respite appears pleasant and intoxicating but a dreadful severe chastisement is awaiting them. They were sunk deep in infidelity and wickedness. They would never see the light of true guidance.
Imam Ali said:
"It breaks my heart when I see your lust for riches and your unbridled covetousness to enjoy the pleasures of this world."
The Holy Prophet said:
"When perfection is attained by a man he remembers death and all his desires recede to the background; and when misfortune afflicts him all his desires come to the front and (the thought of) death disappears from his mind."
15:3ذَرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُوا وَيَتَمَتَّعُوا وَيُلْهِهِمُ الْأَمَلُ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ
Leave them to eat and enjoy and to be diverted by longings. Soon they will know.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 15:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:3] (see commentary for verse 2)
15:4وَمَا أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٌ مَّعْلُومٌ
We did not destroy any town but that it had a known term.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 15:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:4]
For every people, as for every individual, there is a definite period of life or existence. They have a free choice to mould their will according to Allah's will in order to identify themselves with His universal law. During that period they are given plenty of rope but after the respite is past there will be no escape. No one can hasten or delay the doom. The destruction of a people is not an arbitrary punishment from Allah. They bring it on themselves by their own choice. The law or decree of Allah is always made known to them before hand, and in many ways. See commentary of Ali Imran: 145; Araf: 34 and Yunus: 49.
15:5مَّا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ
No nation can advance its time nor can it defer it.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 15:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:5] (see commentary for verse 4)
15:6وَقَالُوا يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِي نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الذِّكْرُ إِنَّكَ لَمَجْنُونٌ
They said, ‘O you, to whom the Reminder has been sent down, you are indeed crazy.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 15:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:6]
As the Holy Prophet spoke of higher, purer and nobler things than the obstinate pagans would agree to appreciate, adopt and act upon, so there was nothing they could do except making false accusations.
See commentary of An-am: 8 and 9 for bringing angles or showing miracles. The disbelievers believe neither in Allah nor in angels nor in revelation nor in anything good save material things. Angels are not sent down to satisfy the whim or curiosity of the disbelievers. They are sent to bring Allah's commands to His messengers and to execute His decrees, and when they are commanded to inflict just punishment, then the respite given to the ungodly is over.
15:7لَّوْ مَا تَأْتِينَا بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ
Why do you not bring us the angels should you be truthful?!’
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 15:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:7] (see commentary for verse 6)
15:8مَا نُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَمَا كَانُوا إِذًا مُّنظَرِينَ
We do not send down the angels except with due reason, and then they will not be granted any respite.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 15:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:8] (see commentary for verse 6)
15:9إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
Indeed We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed We will preserve it.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 15:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:9]
Allah has taken the work of guarding the Quran. Allah's pure and holy truth will never suffer tahrif (alteration). See Aqa Mahdi Puya's essay "The genuineness of the holy Quran."
The heavenly scriptures revealed prior to the Quran had been profusely tampered with. Some were restyled and disguised and some were consigned to oblivion. See "The Tawrat" and "The Injil" on pages 374 to 376. Therefore, the Almighty Allah decisively willed to keep His final book of wisdom free from permutation. For this purpose He selected the Ahl ul Bayt. The Quran and the Ahl ul Bayt are the two equal and correlative choices of Allah. Together they constitute guidance, wisdom and mercy from the Lord of the worlds unto mankind. See hadith al thaqalayn on page 6 and commentary of al Baqarah: 2.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This verse gives answer to the accusation the disbelievers have made in verse 6 of this surah. When the Quran is kept safe in its original purity the Holy Prophet is also protected from all types of ungodly influences. The Ahl ul Bayt are not only the custodians of the book of Allah but also they keep the true character of the Holy Prophet safe from distortion by the false traditions fabricated by some of his companions in order to bring him on the level of their heroes.
15:10وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ فِي شِيَعِ الْأَوَّلِينَ
Certainly We sent [apostles] before you to former communities,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:10]
Shiya' is the plural of shi-ah, derived from mushaya-at which means to follow. Shi-ahs of Ali means those who follow Ali as their guide appointed by the Holy Prophet under the command of Allah. See commentary of Ma-idah: 67.
The Holy Prophet said:
"O Ali, you and your followers will be in paradise." (Sawa-iq al Muhriqah). In this verse shiya-il awwalin means the ancient nations.
15:11وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
and there did not come to them any apostle but that they used to deride him.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:11]
15:12كَذَلِكَ نَسْلُكُهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
That is how We let it pass through the hearts of the guilty:
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:12]
15:13لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
they do not believe in it, and the precedent of the ancients has already passed.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:13]
15:14وَلَوْ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَابًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَظَلُّوا فِيهِ يَعْرُجُونَ
Were We to open for them a gate of the sky, so that they could go on ascending through it,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:14]
15:15لَقَالُوا إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصَارُنَا بَلْ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَّسْحُورُونَ
they would surely say, ‘Indeed a spell has been cast on our eyes; indeed, we are a bewitched lot.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:15]
15:16وَلَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا فِي السَّمَاءِ بُرُوجًا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَ
Certainly We have appointed houses in the sky and adorned them for the onlookers,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:16]
In the countless stars in the universe there is a marvellous order, beauty and harmony, on a scale which man is appreciating more and more as his knowledge is increasing. The first distinct belt is the Zodiac, which marks the position of the sun with reference to the movement of various constellation of stars of the solar system. Its twelve divisions are called the signs of the Zodiac. Through them we can mark off the seasons in our solar year, and express in definite laws the most important facts in meteorology, agriculture, seasonal winds, and tides. All these are vitally important and affect our physical life on the earth. The most important lesson we draw from them is that the author of the wonderful order and beauty is One, and He alone is entitled to our worship.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The Zodiac belt is the lowest heaven. The heavens above it are more spiritual than physical. Celestial factors effect the terrestrial events. Some of the determinative occurrences of the celestial realm manifest themselves before they produce an effect upon the terrestrial world. Those who delve in occult sciences rely upon these manifestations to foretell the future. Such attempts are not reliable because the radiating celestial bodies (shihabun mubin or shahab thaqib) prevent them from reading the actual consequences. The shooting star or flaming fire, most probably, is the continuous radiation from the celestial bodies which pierces into the terrestrial hemisphere. It may mean that the conjunctions of radiations from different celestial sources neutralise the effect of each other and it becomes immeasurable and incomprehensible to those who try to foretell the future.
Spiritually speaking, order, beauty, harmony, light and truth are repugnant to evil. Therefore the bliss of the heavens are denied to the forces of evil. It is reserved only for the virtuous. The crooked nature of evil try to gain access by fraud or stealth but a flaming fire stops them from even hearing the sound of harmony ringing in the land of eternal bliss.
Qummi in his commentary says that when the Holy Prophet was born a mass of shooting stars was seen in the sky. A Jew named Joseph came to Makka and asked the Quraysh if a male child was born in their tribe. They did not know, but when he told them that it was written in Pentateuch that when the last prophet of Allah would be born the devilish forces will be driven away from the heaven by the shooting stars and their access to the higher regions would be blocked for ever, they made inquiries and found out that in the night before a son was born to Abdullah bin Abd al Muttalib. In the same night the palace of Kisra in Persia was cracked and the fire burning in the temple for a thousand years was extinguished .
15:17وَحَفِظْنَاهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ رَّجِيمٍ
and We have guarded them from every outcast Satan,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:17] (see commentary for verse 16)
15:18إِلَّا مَنِ اسْتَرَقَ السَّمْعَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ مُّبِينٌ
except someone who may eavesdrop, whereat there pursues him a manifest flame.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:18] (see commentary for verse 16)
15:19وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْزُونٍ
And We spread out the earth, and cast in it firm mountains, and We grew in it every kind of balanced thing,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:19]
15:20وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ وَمَن لَّسْتُمْ لَهُ بِرَازِقِينَ
and made in it [various] means of livelihood for you and for those whom you do not provide for.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:20]
15:21وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا عِندَنَا خَزَائِنُهُ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٍ مَّعْلُومٍ
There is not a thing but that its sources are with Us, and We do not send it down except in a known measure.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:21]
15:22وَأَرْسَلْنَا الرِّيَاحَ لَوَاقِحَ فَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَسْقَيْنَاكُمُوهُ وَمَا أَنتُمْ لَهُ بِخَازِنِينَ
And We send the fertilizing winds and send down water from the sky providing it for you to drink and you are not maintainers of its resources.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:22]
15:23وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ نُحْيِي وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحْنُ الْوَارِثُونَ
Indeed it is We who give life and bring death and We are the inheritors.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:23]
15:24وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ
Certainly We know the predecessors among you and certainly We know the successors,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:24]
For "those who always hastened forward to fight in the cause of Allah and those who used to lag behind" see commentary of Ali Imran: 121, 122, 128, 140 to 142, 144, 151 to 156, 159 and 166 to 168 and al Bara-at: 25 to 27.
15:25وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ إِنَّهُ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ
and indeed it is your Lord who will resurrect them. Indeed, He is all-wise, all-knowing.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:25]
15:26وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ
Certainly We created man out of a dry clay [drawn] from an aging mud,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:26]
15:27وَالْجَانَّ خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ مِن نَّارِ السَّمُومِ
and We created the jinn earlier, out of a piercing fire.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:27]
15:28وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِّن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ
When your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed I am going to create a human out of a dry clay [drawn] from an aging mud.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:28]
Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah: 30 to 38 for creation of Adam, Allah's order to the angels to fall down unto him prostrate and the refusal of Iblis. According to Abdullah Yusuf Ali the name Iblis has in it the root-idea of desperateness and rebellion.
15:29فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ
So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My spirit, then fall down in prostration before him.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:29] (see commentary for verse 28)
15:30فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ
Thereat the angels prostrated, all of them together,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:30] (see commentary for verse 28)
15:31إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى أَن يَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ
but not Iblis: he refused to be among those who prostrated.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:31] (see commentary for verse 28)
15:32قَالَ يَاإِبْلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ
He said, ‘O Iblis! What kept you from being among those who have prostrated?’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:32]
15:33قَالَ لَمْ أَكُن لِّأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ
Said he, ‘I will not prostrate before a human whom You have created out of a dry clay [drawn] from an aging mud.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:33]
Iblis argues that Adam was made of clay while he was made of fire, but he ignored the fact that Adam had the spirit (ruh) of Allah breathed into him. Adam was superior to all created beings at that time on account of reasons mentioned in the commentary of al Baqarah: 30 to 38. Because of his refusal to fall down unto Adam (and that which he represented) prostrate, Iblis was cursed and damned.
15:34قَالَ فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌ
He said, ‘Begone hence, for you are indeed an outcast,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:34] (see commentary for verse 33)
15:35وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ اللَّعْنَةَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
and indeed the curse shall lie on you until the Day of Retribution.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:35]
15:36قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرْنِي إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
He said, ‘My Lord! Respite me till the day they will be resurrected.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:36]
15:37قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنظَرِينَ
Said He, ‘You are indeed among the reprieved
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:37]
Respite was granted to Iblis till the day the trumpet will be blown which will annihilate all living beings including Iblis before the day of judgement.
15:38إِلَى يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ
until the day of the known time.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:38] (see commentary for verse 37)
15:39قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
He said, ‘My Lord! As You have consigned me to perversity, I will surely glamorize [evil] for them on the earth, and I will surely pervert them, all
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:39]
These verses say that a very large number of people succumb to the temptations of Iblis except a handful of sincere and purified servants of Allah. We know that the thoroughly purified servants of Allah are only the Ahl ul Bayt (Ahzab: 33). The Holy Prophet and his Ahl ul Bayt are the mukhlisin. Though they were sent in this world in the progeny of Adam, they are altogether a separate class of beings created of light and endowed with special divine attributes, therefore the other children of Adam, whom he deceives without effort, cannot be compared to them. From cradle to grave the mukhlisin remained free from every kind of sin, pollution or shortcomings. They were the perfect models of godliness who always manifested divine attributes for the guidance of mankind in every age (see an-amta alayhim in al Fatihah: 7). Being the thoroughly purified souls, free from any evil influence, they were beyond the reach of devilish allurements. When a soul attains such excellence Allah takes it under His mercy and grace which protect it under all circumstances.
The fate of the unjust who fall prey to his plotting has been described in his own words in verse 22 of Ibrahim.
15:40إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ
except Your dedicated servants among them.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:40] (see commentary for verse 39)
15:41قَالَ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ عَلَيَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ
He said, ‘This is the path [leading] straight to Me.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:41]
The path of those mukhlisin, mentioned in the preceding verse, on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings (Al Fatihah: 7) leads to Allah direct.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Any other recitation other than alayya (unto Me) is wrong. There is no tahrif in the Quran. See my essay "The genuineness of the Holy Quran.''
15:42إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ
Indeed, as for My servants you do not have any authority over them, except the perverse who follow you,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:42]
Iblis has no power over Allah's servants, mentioned in verses 40 and 41. Those who follow him from among the misled people are the deviators, mentioned in verse 22 of Ibrahim who will abide for ever in hell, which has seven gates, and a separate gate shall be assigned to every group of disbelievers.
According to Imam Ali the seven gates are the seven stages of hell, one over the other:
(i) Jahannam-Ya Sin: 63 (Hell)
(ii) Sa-ir-Shura: 7 (Blazing fire)
(iii) Saqar-Qamar: 48 (Scorching fire)
(iv) Jahim-Infitar: 14 (Burning fire)
(v) Laza-Ma-arij: 15 (Flaming fire)
(vi) Hutamah-Humazah :4 (Crushing fire)
(vii) Hawiyah-Qari-ah: 9 (Abyss)
According to Nisa: 145 the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the fire-the abyss (hawiyah).
15:43وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
and indeed hell is the tryst of them all.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:43] (see commentary for verse 42)
15:44لَهَا سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَابٍ لِّكُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَّقْسُومٌ
It has seven gates, and to each gate belongs a separate portion of them.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:44] (see commentary for verse 42)
15:45إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
Indeed the Godwary will be amid gardens and springs.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:45]
15:46ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ آمِنِينَ
‘‘Enter it in peace and safety!’’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:46]
15:47وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ إِخْوَانًا عَلَى سُرُرٍ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ
We will remove whatever rancour there is in their breasts; [intimate like] brothers, [they will be reclining] on couches, facing one another.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:47]
15:48لَا يَمَسُّهُمْ فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَمَا هُم مِّنْهَا بِمُخْرَجِينَ
Therein neither weariness shall touch them, nor will they [ever] be expelled from it.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:48]
15:49نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Inform my servants that I am indeed the All-forgiving, the All-merciful,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:49]
15:50وَأَنَّ عَذَابِي هُوَ الْعَذَابُ الْأَلِيمُ
and that My punishment is a painful punishment.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:50]
15:51وَنَبِّئْهُمْ عَن ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
And inform them about the guests of Abraham,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:51]
Refer to the commentary of Araf: 80 to 84 and Hud: 69 to 83 for the events pertaining to prophet Lut.
15:52إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمْ وَجِلُونَ
when they entered into his presence and said, ‘Peace!’ He said, ‘We are indeed afraid of you.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:52] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:53قَالُوا لَا تَوْجَلْ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ
They said, ‘Do not be afraid. Indeed we give you the good news of a wise son.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:53] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:54قَالَ أَبَشَّرْتُمُونِي عَلَى أَن مَّسَّنِيَ الْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ
He said, ‘Do you give me good news though old age has befallen me? What is the good news that you bring me?’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:54] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:55قَالُوا بَشَّرْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْقَانِطِينَ
They said, ‘We bring you good news in truth; so do not be despondent.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:55] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:56قَالَ وَمَن يَقْنَطُ مِن رَّحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلَّا الضَّالُّونَ
He said, ‘Who despairs of his Lord’s mercy except the astray?!’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:56] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:57قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ
He said, ‘O messengers, what is now your errand?’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:57] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:58قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَى قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ
They said, ‘We have been sent toward a guilty people,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:58] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:59إِلَّا آلَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
[who shall perish] except the family of Lot. We will indeed deliver all of them,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:59] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:60إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ قَدَّرْنَا إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ
except his wife, [who], We have ordained, will indeed be among those who remain behind.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:60] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:61فَلَمَّا جَاءَ آلَ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلُونَ
So when the messengers came to Lot’s family,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:61] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:62قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ
he said, ‘You are indeed strangers [to me].’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:62] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:63قَالُوا بَلْ جِئْنَاكَ بِمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ
They said, ‘Indeed, we bring you what they used to doubt.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:63] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:64وَأَتَيْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ
We bring you the truth, and indeed, we speak truly.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:64] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:65فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ وَاتَّبِعْ أَدْبَارَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَامْضُوا حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ
Take your family in a watch of the night; and follow in their rear, and none of you should turn round, and proceed as you are bidden.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:65] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:66وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ الْأَمْرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَؤُلَاءِ مَقْطُوعٌ مُّصْبِحِينَ
We apprised him of the matter that these will be rooted out by dawn.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:66] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:67وَجَاءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
The people of the city came, rejoicing.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:67] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:68قَالَ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ ضَيْفِي فَلَا تَفْضَحُونِ
He said, ‘These are indeed my guests. Do not bring dishonour on me.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:68] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:69وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ
Be wary of Allah and do not humiliate me.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:69] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:70قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
They said, ‘Did we not forbid you from [defending ] strangers?’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:70] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:71قَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ
He said, ‘These are my daughters, [marry them] if you should do anything.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:71] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:72لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
By your life, they were bewildered in their drunkenness.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:72] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:73فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُشْرِقِينَ
So the Cry seized them at sunrise,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:73] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:74فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ
and We made its topmost part its nethermost, and rained on them stones of shale.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:74] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:75إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ
There are indeed signs in that for the percipient.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:75] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:76وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُّقِيمٍ
Indeed it is on a standing road,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:76] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:77إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
and there is indeed a sign in that for the faithful.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:77] (see commentary for verse 51)
15:78وَإِن كَانَ أَصْحَابُ الْأَيْكَةِ لَظَالِمِينَ
Indeed the inhabitants of Aykah were [also] wrongdoers.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:78]
Refer to the commentary of Araf: 85 to 93 for the people of Madian and prophet Shu-ayb. Aykah means thicket, forest. The dwellers of the aykah were the people of prophet Shu-ayb.
15:79فَانتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمَا لَبِإِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ
So We took vengeance on them, and indeed the two of them are on an open highway.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:79] (see commentary for verse 78)
15:80وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أَصْحَابُ الْحِجْرِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
Certainly the inhabitants of Hijr denied the apostles.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:80]
Refer to the commentary of Araf: 73 to 79 for the people of Thamud and prophet Salih. The dwellers of hijr were the Thamud the people of Salih. They lived in houses that had been hewed out in the mountains.
Jabl Hijr is about 150 miles from Madina. The rocky tract of land known by this name lies in the north of Arabia on the highway to Syria.
15:81وَآتَيْنَاهُمْ آيَاتِنَا فَكَانُوا عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ
We had given them Our signs but they disregarded them.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:81] (see commentary for verse 80)
15:82وَكَانُوا يَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا آمِنِينَ
They used to hew out dwellings from mountains feeling secure.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:82] (see commentary for verse 80)
15:83فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُصْبِحِينَ
So the Cry seized them at dawn,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:83] (see commentary for verse 80)
15:84فَمَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
and what they used to earn did not avail them.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:84] (see commentary for verse 80)
15:85وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَآتِيَةٌ فَاصْفَحِ الصَّفْحَ الْجَمِيلَ
We did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them except with consummate wisdom, and indeed the Hour is bound to come. So forbear with a graceful forbearance.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:85]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Bil haqq, with reference to the creation of the heavens and the earth and that which is between them, means "with a purpose". See also Al Imran: 190; Muminun: 115; Rum: 27 and Sad 27 to know that the purpose of creation is the life of hereafter, because if there is no life of the hereafter the creation becomes meaningless. To say that life of this world is an end in itself is atheism. A vain and meaningless act is unworthy of an absolute, perfect and all-wise supreme being. After mentioning the punishment inflicted on the people of Lut and Thamud in this world the reference to the purpose of creation and the life of hereafter is a conclusion to warn the enemies of the Holy Prophet that the pleasures and comforts of the life of this world they were enjoying should be taken as a respite. A severe punishment is awaiting for them in the life of hereafter because the hour of judgement is surely to come. So the Holy Prophet should turn away from the disbelievers with a gracious pardoning and leave the matter to Allah who knows what to do with them.
When the enemy is overpowered "the mercy unto the world" overlooks their mischief with gracious forgiveness. There is no conflict between this verse and the verses dealing with jihad.
15:86إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ
Indeed your Lord is the All-creator, the All-knowing.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:86] (see commentary for verse 85)
15:87وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنَ الْعَظِيمَ
Certainly We have given you [the surah of] the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Quran.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:87]
Refer to the commentary of al Fatihah on pages 9 to 11.
The seven oft-repeated verses of al Fatihah sum up the whole teaching of the glorious Quran, and constitute the most precious gift to a Muslim.
15:88لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَى مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Do not extend your glance toward what We have provided to certain groups of them, and do not grieve for them, and lower your wing to the faithful,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:88]
The people are addressed through the Holy Prophet not to turn their eyes towards the material blessings which Allah has given to some groups of the disbelievers to enjoy in this world, and not to be sad for their ultimate end; and they are advised to make themselves more accessible to the believers. It may be that some people have worldly goods which worldly men envy. The "man of God" seeks nearness to Allah and desires His pleasure only, but in his human love and sympathy may feel concerned about the false and callous attitude of the ignorant people. The metaphor "lower your wing" is from a bird who lowers her wings in tender gentleness for her little ones.
The Holy Prophet said:
"If any one ever considers anything better than the Quran, he has given (undue) importance to an insignificant thing more than that which Allah has made great."
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Real happiness lies in spiritual and intellectual pursuits and achievements. When such enduring bounties have been bestowed on a true believer he should not turn his eyes towards temporary sensual pleasures the disbelievers enjoy.
15:89وَقُلْ إِنِّي أَنَا النَّذِيرُ الْمُبِينُ
and say, ‘I am indeed a manifest warner [of punishment from God],’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:89]
Mubin implies both openness and clarity-freedom from ambiguity. The message of the Holy Prophet was clear and unambiguous. There was no compromise with evil.
15:90كَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَى الْمُقْتَسِمِينَ
like that We sent down upon those who split into bands,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:90]
These verses refer to the Jews and Christians who took out of the scriptures what suited them and ignored or rejected the rest See Al Baqarah: 85 and 101.
15:91الَّذِينَ جَعَلُوا الْقُرْآنَ عِضِينَ
who represented the Quran as magic.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:91] (see commentary for verse 90)
15:92فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْأَلَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
By your Lord, We will question them all
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:92]
15:93عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
concerning what they used to do.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:93]
15:94فَاصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
So proclaim what you have been commanded, and turn away from the polytheists.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:94]
15:95إِنَّا كَفَيْنَاكَ الْمُسْتَهْزِئِينَ
Indeed We will suffice you against the deriders
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:95]
The pagans of Makka, who set up other gods besides Allah, used to mock at the Holy Prophet whenever he preached "unity of Allah" and asked them to abandon polytheism. yet he continued his divine mission undeterred. Then they became violent Even their fierce and furious hostility could not stop him because Allah was with him and Allah was sufficient for him against the hostile terrorists.
15:96الَّذِينَ يَجْعَلُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ
—those who set up another deity besides Allah. Soon they will know!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:96] (see commentary for verse 95)
15:97وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ
Certainly We know that you become upset because of what they say.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:97]
15:98فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ
So celebrate the praise of your Lord and be among those who prostrate,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:98]
15:99وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ
and worship your Lord until certainty comes to you.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 15:99]
Imam Ali said:
"There is nothing greater in certainty than death."
