76:1هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ حِينٌ مِّنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْئًا مَّذْكُورًا
Has there been a period of time for man when he was not anything worthy of mention?
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 76:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:1]
The literal meaning of this verse is that the physical world existed long before man was ever heard of or mentioned.
Dahr means "time from the beginning of the world to its end".
According to the followers of the Ahl ul Bayt when it is accepted by the Muslim scholars that Ali has been crowned with surah ad Dahr (tajdar hal ata) it is obvious that the question is an assertion that at no time the world was, is and will be without the existence of Ali ibn abi Talib. Refer to the commentary of Bani Israil: 1 for "There is no god save Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet with Ali as his right hand" written in celestial light in the heaven, witnessed by the Holy Prophet.
76:2إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا
Indeed We created man from the drop of a mixed fluid so that We may put him to test, so We endowed with hearing and sight.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 76:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:2]
The female ovum has to be fertilised with the male sperm for the birth of a new being having life in animality. Man as an animal has a very humble origin. Then he is given faculties of receiving instructions and intellectual and spiritual insight.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Ibtila means trial. It has been used in the Quran in the sense that Allah provides opportunities to man to develop the faculties of intellect, reason and power to distinguish between good and evil, given to him by Allah, because through His prophet of highest spiritual standing he has been shown the right path. The divine guidance has been made available to man so that he may exercise his free will and choose either good or evil for which he is responsible and accountable.
76:3إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا
Indeed We have guided him to the way, be he grateful or ungrateful.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 76:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:3] (see commentary for verse 2)
76:4إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ سَلَاسِلَ وَأَغْلَالًا وَسَعِيرًا
Indeed for the faithless We have prepared chains, iron collars, and a blaze.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 76:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:4]
Sins bind the sinner in a chain of causes and effects, due to which he loses his free will to repent, amend and follow the right guidance and ultimately destroys himself in the blazing fire of punishment. On the other hand the righteous who have surrendered their free will to the will of Allah and followed His right guidance will have wholesome, agreeable and refreshing drinks which do not cause intoxication. Camphor is cool and refreshing.
Some commentators say that kafur is the name of a spring in paradise.
76:5إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِن كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا
Indeed the pious will drink from a cup seasoned with Kafur,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 76:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:5] (see commentary for verse 4)
76:6عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ اللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًا
a spring where Allah’s servants will drink, making it gush forth as they please.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 76:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:6] (see commentary for verse 4)
76:7يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا
They fulfill their vows and fear a day whose ill will be widespread.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 76:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:7]
Almost all the well known Muslim scholars agree that these verses were revealed when the following events took place:
One morning Fatimah Zahra found out that both her sons were ill. Then the Holy Prophet came to see them and advised Ali and Fatimah to make a promise to Allah that they would observe fasts for three consecutive days if their sons got well. Soon they returned to normal health. So Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, Husayn and Fizza fasted three successive days. Each day a different person came at the time of breaking the fast and knocked at the door. The man who came on the first day said:
"O Ahl ul Bayt of the messenger of Allah, I am a poor man. l am hungry Give me something to eat."
All that was there to eat was given away to him. All of them used water to break their fasts and went to sleep without food.
The man who came on the second day said:
"O Ahl ul Bayt of the messenger of Allah, my parents are dead. I am a destitute. Will you satisfy my hunger?"
All that was there to eat was given away to him. All of them used water to break their fasts and went to sleep without food.
The man who came the third day said:
"O Ahl ul Bayt of the messenger of Allah, I am a just-now-freed slave. Give me some food."
All that was there to eat was given away to him. All of them used water to break their fasts and went to sleep without food.
After completion of three fasts when Hasan and Husayn became well again, Fatimah offered prayers of thankfulness to Allah; and then the Holy Prophet informed her that Jibrail had brought these verses in their praise.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
If in hubbihi (for the love of Him) in verse 8 the pronoun "Him" refers to Allah the phrase would be adverbial modifying yatimuna; and if it refers to ta-am (food) then the phrase would be adjectival qualifying food, meaning: inspite of the food being wanted for themselves-in view of verse 92 of Ali Imran this interpretation is preferable. However both the interpretations are valid and convey the same significance..
Verses 9 and 10 express the true motives of pious and unpretentious charity spoken by the Ahl ul Bayt to guide mankind that service in the way of Allah should be selfless and without the expectation of reward or thankfulness.
Light of beauty and bliss is reserved for the Ahl ul Bayt. Those who love them (Shura: 23) and follow their teachings will also earn the bliss according to the degree of their submission, obedience and love. They shall be kept safe from the evil of the day of judgement. Refer to the commentary of Hajj: 22.
76:8وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
For the love of Him, they feed the needy, the orphan and the prisoner,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 76:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:8] (see commentary for verse 7)
76:9إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا
[saying,] ‘We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We desire no reward from you, nor thanks.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 76:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:9] (see commentary for verse 7)
76:10إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا
Indeed we fear a frowning and fateful day from our Lord.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:10] (see commentary for verse 7)
76:11فَوَقَاهُمُ اللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّاهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا
So Allah saved them from that day’s ills and graced them with freshness [on this faces] and joy [in their hearts].
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:11] (see commentary for verse 7)
76:12وَجَزَاهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا
He rewarded them for their patience with a garden and [garments of] silk,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:12]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The heavenly bliss here and in other places has been described to give an idea to man in his own imagery. In fact man will reach the height of his dignity in paradise with reference to his nearness to Allah. See commentary of Rad: 15.
76:13مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْسًا وَلَا زَمْهَرِيرًا
reclining therein on couches, without facing any [scorching] sun, or [biting] cold.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:13] (see commentary for verse 12)
76:14وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَالُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلًا
Its shades will be close over them and its clusters [of fruits] will be hanging low.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:14] (see commentary for verse 12)
76:15وَيُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِآنِيَةٍ مِّن فِضَّةٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا
They will be served around with vessels of silver and goblets of crystal
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:15] (see commentary for verse 12)
76:16قَوَارِيرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيرًا
—crystal of silver— [from] which they will dispense in a precise measure.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:16] (see commentary for verse 12)
76:17وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا
They will be served therein with a cup of a drink seasoned with Zanjabeel,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:17] (see commentary for verse 12)
76:18عَيْنًا فِيهَا تُسَمَّى سَلْسَبِيلًا
from a spring in it named Salsabeel.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:18] (see commentary for verse 12)
76:19وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَّنثُورًا
They will be waited upon by immortal youths, whom, were you to see them, you will suppose them to be scattered pearls.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:19] (see commentary for verse 12)
76:20وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا وَمُلْكًا كَبِيرًا
As you look on, you will see there bliss and a great kingdom.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:20]
The kingdom or authority given to the Ahl ul Bayt in the heaven, the life of hereafter, cannot be assessed or imagined by the human beings in the light of their wisdom or knowledge they possess in this world.
76:21عَالِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ وَحُلُّوا أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ وَسَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُورًا
Upon them will be cloaks of green silk and brocade and they will be adorned with bracelets of silver. Their Lord will give them to drink a pure drink.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:21]
76:22إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَاءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم مَّشْكُورًا
[They will be told]: ‘This is your reward, and your efforts have been well-appreciated.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:22]
The address is to the Ahl ul Bayt.
76:23إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ تَنزِيلًا
Indeed We have sent down to you the Quran in a gradual descent.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:23]
This verse refers to the gradual revelation described in the "Genuineness of the Holy Quran" and the commentary of Baqarah: 2.
76:24فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا
So submit patiently to the judgement of your Lord and do not obey any sinner or ingrate from among them,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:24]
76:25وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
and celebrate the Name of your Lord morning and evening,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:25]
76:26وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا
and worship Him for a watch of the night and glorify Him the night long.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:26]
Worship of Allah is best done at night, when the soul, free from worldly occupations, is alone with its Lord.
76:27إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ يُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَاءَهُمْ يَوْمًا ثَقِيلًا
Indeed they love this transitory life, and disregard a heavy day that is ahead of them.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:27]
Refer to the commentary of Qiyamah: 20 and 21.
76:28نَّحْنُ خَلَقْنَاهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَا أَسْرَهُمْ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَا أَمْثَالَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا
We created them and strengthened their joints, and We will replace them with others like them whenever We like.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:28]
Allah has not only created man but also given him strength to withstand the temptations of evil and stand firmly on the path of goodness.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This verse may refer to the change of form mentioned in Waqi-ah: 61 and 62; or substitution with another generation as stated in verse 38 of Muhammad.
76:29إِنَّ هَذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا
This is indeed a reminder. So let anyone who wishes take the way toward his Lord.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:29]
The whole surah is an acknowledgement of the unique excellences of the Ahl ul Bayt who always took the way unto their Lord and desired not (anything) save what Allah desired because He had purified them with a thorough purification (Ahzab: 33).
Refer to verses 54 to 56 of Muddaththir.
76:30وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
But you will not wish unless it is willed by Allah. Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all-wise.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:30] (see commentary for verse 29)
76:31يُدْخِلُ مَن يَشَاءُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ وَالظَّالِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
He admits whomever He wishes into His mercy, and He has prepared a painful punishment for the wrongdoers.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 76:31] (see commentary for verse 29)
