الملك

See 1:1.

Commentary:

See 1:1.

25:2-3.

Commentary:

The Surah was revealed at Mecca when Islam was yet in its infancy and its enemies were straining every nerve to nip it in the bud. It opens with the mention of Divine attributes which are expressive of God’s Power, Might and Majesty, and, appropriately the verse under comment implies a prophecy that the poor, persecuted and helpless Muslims would soon be granted the kingdom, not only of Arabia but of vast lands beyond its confines.

5:49; 6:166; 11:8; 18:8.

Commentary:

The law of life and death works in all nature. Every living creature is subject to decay and death. Nations, like individuals, are subject to this inexorable law. The implication of the verse seems to be that with the advent of Islam God’s decree has come into operation, that is to say that some nations will receive new life and others will decay and fall. This will show that God is Mighty. The linking together of the attribute "Most Forgiving" with the attribute "Mighty" may imply that when Islam will triumph the enemies of the new Faith will be at the mercy of the Holy Prophet who will forgive them. The prophecy was fulfilled in the Fall of Mecca.

"Death", as in vv. 2:29 and 53:45, has been mentioned in this verse before "life." The reason seems to be that death or non-existence, is the state before life, or perhaps because "death" is more important and is of greater significance than "life," because, it opens to man the portals of everlasting life and unending spiritual progress, while his life on earth is only a temporary sojourn and a preparation for a permanent and everlasting life beyond the grave.

65:13; 67:4; 71:16.

Important Words:

طباقاً (in grades) is derived from طبق. They say أطبق الثوب i.e. he folded together the piece of cloth. طبق means, a thing that is the equal of another thing in its measure so that it covers the whole extent of the latter like the lid; a layer of the earth; a fold; a generation; any of the stages of heaven. السماوات طباق means, the heavens are composed of stages, one above another (Lane & Aqrab).

تفاوت (incongruity) is derived from فات . They say تفاوت الشیئان i.e. the two things were distinct or were different. تفاوت means, defect, fault, or imperfection; incongruity or discordance (Lane & Aqrab).

فطور (flaw) is derived from فطر. They say فطرہ i.e. God created it or brought it into existence for the first time, it not having existed before. انفطر means, it became split, rent or cleft. فطور means, cleft; flaw; disorder (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

Wonderful indeed is God’s creation. The solar system of which our earth is but a small member is vast, varied and orderly and yet this system is but one of hundreds of millions of systems, some of which are incalculably larger than it, yet the countless millions of suns and stars are so arranged and distributed in relation to one another as to produce everywhere harmony and beauty. The order that covers and pervades the universe is obvious to the ordinary naked eye, and is spread far beyond the range of disciplined vision, assisted by all the instruments and appliances which science and art have been able to invent (Flint).

Important Words:

خاسئا (confused) is derived from خسأ which means, he was or became vile, despised and hated. خاسأ الرجل الکلب means, the man drove away the dog. خسأ البصر means, the eyesight became dazzled or confused and dim. خاسیء when applied to a dog or a swine means, driven away and repelled, and when applied to a man means, contemptible, despicable, vile or confused; and when applied to the eyesight means, dazzled or confused and dim (Lane).

15:17; 37:7; 41:13; 50:7.

15:18; 37:11.

Commentary:

For a detailed note on the subject, briefly stated in this verse, see 15:17-19.

The word السماء (heaven) may also signify the spiritual firmament and مصابیح (lamps) Divinely inspired teachers and Reformers and شیاطن may mean satanic people.

Commentary:

When Divine Reformers appear in the world to remove distortions and interpolations that find their way into heavenly teachings, those who reject Divine Reformers deserve and get God’s punishment. This is mentioned by implication also in the preceding verse.

11:107; 21:101; 25:13.

Important Words:

شھیق (roaring) signifies the ending or final part of the crying or braying of an ass. It also signifies a high sound; a cry of distress (Lane). See also 11:107.

6:131; 39:72; 40:51.

25:28.

Important Words:

سحقا (be far away) is derived from سحق which means, it was or became distant or remote. سحقه means, he bruised or powdered or pulverized it; he destroyed it. سحیق means, powdered, pulverized; distant, remote. سحق means, remoteness, curse; destruction (Lane & Aqrab).

21:50; 55:47; 79:41-42.

2:78; 6:4; 11:6; 20:8.

2:23; 20:54.

Commentary:

Journeying in the earth is recommended again and again in the Quran, because leaving one’s home and travelling to other lands and countries helps to add to one’s knowledge and experience.

The verse also recommends making full use of mountains, which may also signify entertaining high ambitions and lofty aspirations, as the word منکب which also means a lofty place, suggests.

6:66; 16:46; 17:69; 34:10.

Commentary:

It is because punishment is generally spoken of in the Quran as coming down from heaven that God is referred to, here and in the next verse, as being in heaven; otherwise God is here, there and everywhere. "He is in the heaven and He is in the earth and He is where man is, even nearer to him that his jugular vein" (43:85; 50:17 & 57:4).