35:1الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَى وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
All praise belongs to Allah, originator of the heavens and the earth, maker of the angels [His] messengers, possessing wings, two, three or four [of them]. He adds to the creation whatever He wishes. Indeed Allah has power over all things.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:1]
Refer to the commentary of Saba: 1; and for the praise of Allah refer to Al Fatihah: 2.
Allah is the creator or the originator of the primal cause which began the genetic process of the creation of the universe and its every progressive functioning in innumerable forms, and in countless ways. As man's knowledge of the processes of nature advances, he sees how complex is the working of the creation itself. The origin of life and the spiritual forces are yet beyond the ken of experimental sciences, but man has become so conscious of the proximate causes that he has forgotten the primal cause, the cause of causes, the ultimate hand of Allah in creation. For Allah, the creation of anything is only a matter of His will. As He wills anything to originate, it simultaneously exists. See Baqarah: 117, Nahl: 40, Maryam: 35, Ya Sin: 82 and Mumin: 68.
Angels are spiritual beings through whom the will or the orders or the decrees of Allah are executed or announced. Angels can take any shape or form, except the forms of base animals. The messenger angel Jibrail took the form of a man when he appeared to the virgin Maryam to announce the joyful news that Isa would be born of her (Maryam: 17; Ali Imran: 42 to 47) For the messenger spirit see Shu-ara: 193 and Qadr: 4.
The creative process in the universe has never stopped at any time. It is continuously in progress together with the bestowal of Allah's grace and mercy upon His creation.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
(i) The word malak is derived from malaka (to possess), and not from alak (conveying the message). The angel as such is not the message, but the carrier of the message.
(ii) It refers to the multi-functional aspects of the increase as per Allah's will. This supports the theory of the ever-expanding growth and development of the universe.
35:2مَّا يَفْتَحِ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحْمَةٍ فَلَا مُمْسِكَ لَهَا وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلَا مُرْسِلَ لَهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Whatever mercy Allah unfolds for the people, no one can withhold it; and whatever He withholds no one can release it except Him, and He is the All-mighty, the All-wise.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:2]
Allah's will is always done and no power can ever stop or withhold His decree. If Allah wills to reward or punish any individual or people none can stop it.
35:3يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَأَنَّى تُؤْفَكُونَ
O mankind! Remember Allah’s blessing upon you! Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the sky and the earth? There is no god except Him. So where do you stray?
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:3] The primal cause of the whole creation is Allah. By questioning whether man finds any other creator besides Allah, he is exhorted to turn only to Allah and not to become involved in delusion about any false deities.
Sustenance is as necessary for the soul as for the body. The sustenance from heaven is Allah's guidance which is essential for the salvation of the soul. The provision from the earth is the terrestrial food for the body. Thus it is Allah alone who provides everyone with both spiritual and physical sustenance.
The truth that there is no god but Allah is so obvious, that it is amazing how anyone with common sense fails to recognise this fact.
35:4وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ
If they impugn you, certainly [other] apostles were impugned before you, and all matters are returned to Allah.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:4]
No prophet of Allah received full attention and cooperation in this world, but all suffered rejection, ridicule and persecution at the hands of disbelievers. Notwithstanding this fact, none of them became discouraged because they had sure knowledge of the eventual return of every person and every affair to Allah.
35:5يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ
O mankind! Allah’s promise is indeed true. So do not let the life of the world deceive you, nor let the Deceiver deceive you concerning Allah.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:5]
Man is exhorted to remember that he has come from Allah and will return to Allah, whereupon he will be required to render an account of the life he spent in this world. Man should constantly remind himself that in the life of the next realm, he will receive either the reward or punishment which he himself has earned from his good or bad actions while in this world. Allah has promised man mercy on account of his good actions and punishment on account of the bad, and His promise is true.
Man should not be deluded by the deceptive instigation of satanic thoughts to commit sins, while counting on Allah's mercy for forgiveness, or believing erroneously that he will have time to repent. Death may come at any time. See Luqman : 33. Through the seductive temptations of the vanities of this world, man is made to forget the hereafter, and Shaytan may make him spiritually blind, gradually deluding him until his thoughts and life style become evil. Man should constantly be on his guard, turning away from evil, seeking the pardon of Allah, and effecting amendments immediately as and wherever necessary.
35:6إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ
Satan is indeed your enemy, so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his confederates so that they may be among the inmates of the Blaze.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:6]
Shaytan is evil personified. Hence every evil should be treated as our enemy and shunned. Shaytan spreads his snare everywhere because he wants man to share his damnation.
35:7الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
There is a severe punishment for the faithless; but for those who have faith and do righteous deeds, there will be forgiveness and a great reward.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:7]
To reject belief in Allah, is to reject everything good which He has created. Those who are not true and sincere in their faith and righteous in their living, shall have the consequent evil return for their disbelief. Those who are true and sincere in their faith and conscientious in its practice, shall receive Allah's grace and a great reward.
35:8أَفَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَنًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ فَلَا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
Is someone the evil of whose conduct is presented as decorous to him, so he regards it as good.... Indeed Allah leads astray whomever He wishes, and guides whomever He wishes. So do not fret yourself to death regretting for them. Indeed Allah knows best what they do.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:8]
Man is exhorted to guard against his own rebellious self, and not allow it to stray from the right path.
35:9وَاللَّهُ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ الرِّيَاحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَسُقْنَاهُ إِلَى بَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ فَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا كَذَلِكَ النُّشُورُ
It is Allah who sends the winds and they raise a cloud; then We drive it toward a dead land and with it revive the earth after its death. Likewise will be the resurrection [of the dead].
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:9]
To prove how the dead will be resurrected, Allah gives the example of the dried unpromising soil which to all intents and purposes seems to be dead. This same soil is once again quickened by rain and made productive.
The same will be the process of the resurrection.
35:10مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَكْرُ أُولَئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ
Whoever seeks honour [should know that] honour entirely belongs to Allah. To Him ascends the good word, and He elevates righteous conduct; as for those who devise evil schemes, there is a severe punishment for them, and their plotting shall come to naught.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:10]
Refer to Ibrahim: 24. Those who wish for honour and reward in this world, as in the next, should turn only to Allah. Every good word and action is certainly exalted and never lost. All goodness by its nature rises up to achieve Allah's pleasure and grace, whereas every evil is marked for the punishment it deserves (see Zilzal: 7 and 8).
Allah's plan always succeeds while all contrary plans are doomed to failure.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
(a) Allah alone is the one who can give honour as He pleases (see Ali Imran: 26).
(b) Any doctrine, idea or discourse in conformity with what is said in Ibrahim: 24 and good deeds in concord with good words, increases the momentum of the ascent.
Some temporal rulers and wealthy people mistakenly believe that worldly power, possessions and position are great honours granted to them by Allah. The Quran asserts the opposite. The real honour granted by Allah is that which is permanent and not worldly, because worldly gains are merely a trial.
35:11وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَى وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِ وَمَا يُعَمَّرُ مِن مُّعَمَّرٍ وَلَا يُنقَصُ مِنْ عُمُرِهِ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
Allah created you from dust, then from a drop of [seminal] fluid, then He made you mates. No female conceives or delivers except with His knowledge, and no elderly person advances in years, nor is anything diminished of his life, but it is [recorded] in a Book. That is indeed easy for Allah.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:11]
This verse refers to the lowly physical origin of man. Refer to the commentary of An-am: 2; Araf: 12; Kahf: 37; Hajj: 5; Rum: 20 and Muminun: 12 to 16 to know that man's physical body is but dust; created by a drop of semen. The sexual relationship shows that no individual among mankind is independent. Absolute glory, power, authority, knowledge and life belong only to Allah. Human beings reflect these divine attributes by His grace, which He may withdraw at any time through His independent will. It is Allah who grants a lengthy life or cuts it short, and this is not difficult for Him, but easy.
Man cannot know hidden things which are known only to Allah.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
These verses assert that whatever Allah has created is not purposeless or futile.
35:12وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْبَحْرَانِ هَذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَائِغٌ شَرَابُهُ وَهَذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ وَمِن كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Not alike are the two seas: this one sweet and agreeable, pleasant to drink, and that one briny and bitter, and from each you eat fresh meat and obtain ornaments, which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through them, that you may seek of His bounty, and so that you may give thanks.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:12]
Man is required to differentiate between good and evil, as these two opposites can never be combined in one person. There is an indirect hint, or even a taunt here, for those who profess belief, and yet love those who disbelieve. Taking guidance from this verse no one could compare the holy Ahl ul Bayt, who have been thoroughly purified by Allah (Ahzab: 33), to the others who have been polluted by a sinful and corrupt life. Many of those others, even after embracing Islam outwardly, were not believers, because faith had not entered their hearts. (Hujurat: 14).
35:13يُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ
He makes the night pass into the day and makes the day pass into the night, and He has disposed the sun and the moon, each moving for a specified term. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs all sovereignty. As for those whom you invoke besides Him, they do not control so much as the husk of a date stone.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:13]
Refer to the commentary of Rad: 2; Anbiya: 33; Hajj: 61 and Ya Sin: 38.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The act of creation is constant and the continuation has a beginning and an end.
35:14إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ
If you invoke them they will not hear your invocation, and even if they heard they cannot respond to you, and on the Day of Resurrection they will forswear your polytheism, and none can inform you like the One who is all-aware.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:14]
35:15يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ
O mankind! You are the ones who stand in need of Allah, and Allah—He is the All-sufficient, the All-laudable.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:15]
Even for his or her own sustenance every man or woman undoubtedly depends upon Allah's provision. Refer to Furqan: 77.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This is the permanent tie between the creature and the creator.
35:16إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ
If He wishes, He will take you away, and bring about a new creation;
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:16]
35:17وَمَا ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ
and that is not a hard thing for Allah.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:17]
35:18وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَى حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَمَن تَزَكَّى فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّى لِنَفْسِهِ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ
No bearer shall bear another’s burden, and should someone heavily burdened call [another] to carry it, nothing of it will be carried [by anyone] even if he should be a near relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord in secret and maintain the prayer. Whoever purifies himself, purifies only for his own sake, and to Allah is the return.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:18]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
There is no contradiction between this verse and Ankabut: 12 and 13, which assert that no one shall bear the burden of another, rather his own burden may be increased on account of his having misled others. Every wrongdoer shall be fully responsible for his own misdeeds, and unable to use any scapegoat. Some Christian critics misinterpret this clear moral principle to mean that a sinner cannot bear the sins of others, but a sinless person may bear them. This concept contains no logic whatsoever. A sinless person can intercede and remove the burden but does not shoulder the sins.
35:19وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ
The blind one and the seer are not equal,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:19]
Refer to Baqarah: 48, 123, 254; An-am: 165; Bani Israil: 15.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This is the refutation of the doctrine of the subjective value of good and bad, which even now a section of the Indian school of philosophy maintains.
35:20وَلَا الظُّلُمَاتُ وَلَا النُّورُ
nor darkness and light;
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:20]
35:21وَلَا الظِّلُّ وَلَا الْحَرُورُ
nor shade and torrid heat;
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:21]
35:22وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْأَحْيَاءُ وَلَا الْأَمْوَاتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسْمِعُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَّن فِي الْقُبُورِ
nor are the living equal to the dead. Indeed Allah makes whomever He wishes to hear, and you cannot make those who are in the graves hear you.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:22]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
It is a figurative expression indicating that those who are alive to the message are not like those who are indifferent to it.
35:23إِنْ أَنتَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ
You are but a warner.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:23]
35:24إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ
Indeed We have sent you with the truth as a bearer of good news and as a warner; and there is not a nation but a warner has passed in it.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:24]
35:25وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَبِالزُّبُرِ وَبِالْكِتَابِ الْمُنِيرِ
If they impugn you, those before them have impugned [likewise]: their apostles brought them manifest proofs, [holy] writs, and illuminating scriptures.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:25]
See Anam: 34; Yunus: 47 and Nahl: 36.
The previous prophets also suffered rejection. See verse 4 above.
35:26ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
Then I seized the faithless. So how was My rebuttal!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:26]
35:27أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ ثَمَرَاتٍ مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهَا وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ
Have you not regarded that Allah sends down water from the sky, with which We produce fruits of diverse hues. And in the mountains are stripes, white and red, of diverse hues, and [others] pitch black?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:27]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Universal grace produces various effects in various receptacles.
35:28وَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ
And of humans and beasts and cattle there are likewise diverse hues. Only those of Allah’s servants having knowledge fear Him. Indeed Allah is all-mighty, all-forgiving.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:28] (see commentary for verse 27)
35:29إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ
Indeed those who recite the Book of Allah and maintain the prayer, and spend secretly and openly out of what We have provided them, expect a commerce that will never go bankrupt,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:29]
35:30لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
so that He may pay them their full reward and enhance them out of His bounty. Indeed He is all-forgiving, all-appreciative.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:30]
35:31وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ هُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِعِبَادِهِ لَخَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ
That which We have revealed to you of the Book is the truth, confirming what was [revealed] before it. Indeed Allah is all-aware, all-seeing about His servants.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:31]
35:32ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْكَبِيرُ
Then We made those whom We chose from Our servants heirs to the Book. Yet some of them are those who wrong themselves, and some of them are average, and some of them are those who take the lead in all the good works by Allah’s will. That is the greatest grace [of Allah]!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:32]
The opening words say that Allah has bequeathed the holy book, the Quran, to His chosen servants. The chosen servants of Allah could be only those who are rightly guided by their knowledge of the word of Allah. The correct knowledge could be only that which has been given by Allah Himself. Thus it would mean those who are described in the Quran as rasikhunafil ilm, firmly rooted in knowledge (see commentary of Ali Imran : 7, 33, 34; Nisa: 54 and 162; Anam : 89; Bani Israil: 107; Mayram: 58 to 63 an Ankabut: 49). Verses 77 to 79 of Waqi-ah say that the knowledge of the Quran is given to the thoroughly purified only and verse 33 of Ahzab clearly defines the thoroughly purified, who are none but the Ahl ul Bayt of the Holy Prophet (see commentary of Ahzab: 33). It is to be noted that the honour of being chosen by Allah applies to the whole group, that is, to all the holy Imams of the Ahl ul Bayt to whom the Quran was entrusted This inference is in complete harmony with the well-known declaration of the Holy Prophet commonly known as hadith al thaqalayn (see page 6).
According to the interpretation of Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir and Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq the reference in this verse is to the progeny of Ali and Fatimah, which is the progeny of the Holy Prophet.
(i) There are those who do not recognise Allah's chosen Imam of the age. They are those "who make their souls suffer."
(ii) There are those who although recognise the Imam of the age but are not fully aware of the laws ordained by Allah and its proper application in day to day life.
(iii) The Imams of the Ahl ul Bayt are Allah's chosen guides who live a godly life governed by perfect knowledge and practical application of all the Quranic injunctions. By their inherent example they stand as guides to humanity, constantly calling the people towards truth and godliness, and forbidding evil in every form.
In a tradition related from the Holy Prophet, those in the third category, the foremost in goodness would enter paradise without any demand of their account. Those in the second category, following, the middle course, would have to render account, and then they will be admitted to paradise. Those in the third category, who make their souls suffer will also be admitted to paradise, but later. This tradition was transmitted through Abu Durda.
(Minhaj al Sadiqin and Umdat al Bayan).
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Some are unjust to themselves, some are the foremost in all that is good, by Allah's permission.
From this it is obvious that the last book of Allah is inherited in the same lineage, but only by those of the third category who have been identified as the Ahl ul Bayt in Ahzab: 33, and further identified in Ali Imran : 61 and confirmed by Waqi-ah: 77 to 79.
35:33جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
Gardens of Eden, which they will enter, adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearl, and their garments therein will be of silk.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:33]
35:34وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا الْحَزَنَ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
They will say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, who has removed all grief from us. Indeed Our Lord is all-forgiving, all-appreciative,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:34]
A state of perfect peace of mind and tranquillity is indicated for the people of paradise. They will experience no fear or grief whatsoever.
35:35الَّذِي أَحَلَّنَا دَارَ الْمُقَامَةِ مِن فَضْلِهِ لَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا لُغُوبٌ
who has settled us in the everlasting abode by His grace. In it we are untouched by toil, and untouched by fatigue.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:35]
The bliss in paradise shall be universal, continuous and perpetual. Even the fatigue which can be connected to rejoicing will be absent.
35:36وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُم مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي كُلَّ كَفُورٍ
As for the faithless, there is for them the fire of hell: they will neither be done away with so that they may die, nor shall its punishment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every ingrate.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:36]
35:37وَهُمْ يَصْطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ أَوَلَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُم مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَن تَذَكَّرَ وَجَاءَكُمُ النَّذِيرُ فَذُوقُوا فَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ
They shall cry therein for help: ‘Our Lord! Bring us out, so that we may act righteously—differently from what we used to do!’ ‘Did We not give you a lifelong enough that one who is heedful might take admonition? And [moreover] the warner had [also] come to you. Now taste [the consequence of your deeds], for the wrongdoers have no helper.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:37]
Allah has allowed mankind respite for repentance in this world, because in the next world no repentance will be of any avail. One should hasten to repent for sins and amend one's life duly before being overtaken by death. See An-am: 27 and 28; Araf: 53; Muminun: 106 and 107 and Munafiqun: 10 and 11.
35:38إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَالِمُ غَيْبِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
Indeed Allah is the knower of the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. Indeed, He knows well what is in the breasts.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:38]
Allah's knowledge pervades and encompasses everything in His creation. He has prior knowledge of every thing, action, feeling, motive and plan,-manifest or hidden. His knowledge is original and complete.
Allah is the knower of whatsoever is in the heavens, all that is in the earth, and everything that is in between. Man comprehends only that which his senses communicate to him, therefore the hidden worlds are outside the limit of his knowledge.
35:39هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَمَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا مَقْتًا وَلَا يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
It is He who made you successors on the earth. So whoever is faithless, his unfaith is to his own detriment. The unfaith of the faithless does not increase them with their Lord [in anything] except disfavour, and their unfaith increases the faithless in nothing except loss.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:39]
35:40قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ شُرَكَاءَكُمُ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ أَمْ آتَيْنَاهُمْ كِتَابًا فَهُمْ عَلَى بَيِّنَتٍ مِّنْهُ بَلْ إِن يَعِدُ الظَّالِمُونَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًا إِلَّا غُرُورًا
Say, ‘Tell me about your ‘partners’ whom you invoke besides Allah? Show me what [part] of the earth have they created. Have they any share in the heavens?’ Have We given them a scripture so that they stand on a manifest proof from it? No, the wrongdoers do not promise one another [anything] except delusion.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:40]
35:41إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا وَلَئِن زَالَتَا إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّن بَعْدِهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
Indeed Allah sustains the heavens and the earth lest they should fall apart, and if they were to fall apart, there is none who can sustain them except Him. Indeed He is all-forbearing, all-forgiving.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:41]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This is a clear assertion that dimensional creation whether terrestrial or celestial, is not existing by itself, but is the outcome of a cohesive power, unexplainable in dimensional terms.
35:42وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لَئِن جَاءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ لَّيَكُونُنَّ أَهْدَى مِنْ إِحْدَى الْأُمَمِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ مَّا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّا نُفُورًا
They had sworn by Allah with solemn oaths that if a warner were to come to them, they would be better guided than any of the nations. But when a warner came to them, it only increased their distance [from the truth],
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:42]
35:43اسْتِكْبَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ السَّيِّئِ وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ الْأَوَّلِينَ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا
due to their domineering [conduct] in the land and their devising of evil schemes; and evil schemes beset only their authors. So do they await anything except the precedent of the ancients? Yet you will never find any change in Allah’s precedent, and you will never find any revision in Allah’s precedent.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:43]
The ancient people who rebelled against the truth and lived beyond the control of faith in Allah, were given respite. First they were shown mercy and given the opportunity to amend their beliefs and ways, then Allah sent His prophets to admonish them and exhort them to good in thought and deed. Finally, after rejecting all the opportunities of Allah's grace and mercy to come on the right path, they were justly requited with the punishment that they themselves had earned. The people are asked indirectly whether they would like to follow in the footsteps of the ancient people, or, would they repent for their past actions, asking Allah's forgiveness, and doing good in the future.
35:44أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُ مِن شَيْءٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا
Have they not travelled over the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? They were more powerful than them, and Allah is not to be frustrated by anything in the heavens or on the earth. Indeed, He is all-knowing, all-powerful.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:44]
35:45وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا مَا تَرَكَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَابَّةٍ وَلَكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ بَصِيرًا
Were Allah to take humans to task because of what they have earned, He would not leave any living being on its back. But He respites them until a specified time, and when their time comes, [He retributes them in accordance with their works], for Allah has been watching His servants.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:45]
If Allah had dealt with all the sinners on earth with His strict justice, everyone would have long since perished. It is only His mercy that allows mankind time to repent and mend their ways. That is why the holy Ahl ul Bayt have taught us to be continuously praying:
"O Lord, show us Your mercy, do not let us face Your justice."
No one given such respite by Allah could ever then escape His eternal awareness and all-encompassing knowledge.
While men make hasty decisions against apparent evils in the course of their struggle for existence, Allah in His total all-pervading awareness, remains far exalted above such action.
