14. Ibrahim

(They all) the leaders and the lowly among people (come forth unto their Lord) they emerge from the graves by Allah's command. (Then those who were despised) the lowly among people (say unto those who were scornful) towards faith, i.e. the leaders: (We were unto you a following) we obeyed your commands, (can ye then avert from us) bear on behalf of us (aught of Allah's doom? They say) i.e. the leaders: (Had Allah guided us) to His religion, (we should have guided you) we would have invited you to His religion. (Whether we rage) for being tormented (or patiently endure) or keep silent (is (now) all one for us: we have no place of refuge) or helper.

(And Satan) Iblis (says, when the matter hath been decided) when the people of Paradise enter Paradise and the people of hell enter hell; he says to the people of hell when they are in hell: (Lo! Allah promised you a promise of truth) He promised you that Paradise, hell, the Resurrection, the Reckoning, the Scale and the Bridge over hell are all true; (and I promised you) that there is no Paradise, hell, the Resurrection, the Reckoning, the Scale or the Bridge over hell, (then failed you) I lied to you. (And I had no power) proof, reason or power (over you save that I called unto you) to obey me (and ye obeyed me. So blame me not) for calling you, (but blame yourselves) for answering me. (I cannot help you) save you from the chastisement of hell, (nor can ye help me) nor can you save me from entering hell. (Lo! I disbelieved in that which ye before) before you associated it with me; it is also said that this means: I disbelieve today in that which you associate with me; he says: I disassociate myself from you and from your religion and from your response to me before this, i.e. in the worldly life (ascribed to me) you associated with me. (Lo! For wrong-doers) for the disbelievers (is a painful doom) a severe torment that will extend to their hearts.

(And those who believed) in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an (and did good works) acts of obedience such none knows them except Allah (are made to enter Gardens beneath which) beneath its trees and habitations (rivers) of wine, water, honey and milk (flow, therein abiding by permission of their Lord) by the command of their Lord, (their greeting) their favour (therein) in Paradise: (Peace!) when they meet therein, they greet one another.

(Seest thou you not) have you not been informed, O Muhammad, (how Allah coineth a similitude: A goodly saying) He says: how Allah has exposited the description of a goodly saying which is " there is no god save Allah " , (as a goodly tree) which is the believer, (its root set firm) He says: the heart of the sincere believer is firm by means of " there is no god save Allah " , (its branches reaching into heaven) He says: due to it the works of a sincere believer are accepted,

(Giving its fruit at every season) He says: the sincere believer performs goodness and acts of obedience to Allah at all times (by permission of its Lord?) He says: by command of its Lord; it is also said: the trait of a goodly saying insofar as its benefit and praise are concerned is like a goodly tree-the palm-tree-whose fruits are goodly. And the same goes for the believer. He says: the origin of the tree is firmly grounded in the soil by means of its roots, and so is the believer: he is firm by means of proof and argument. (Its branches reaching into heaven) He says: the branches of the palm-trees are raised towards the sky, and so are the works of the believer raised to heaven. (Giving its fruit at every season) He says: it yields fruits every six months by the will of its Lord, and so is the believer, he performs acts of goodness or obedience at all times. (Allah coineth the similitudes) thus Allah explains His divine Oneness by coining similes (for mankind in order that they may reflect) so that people may take heed and desire to profess His divine Oneness.

(And the similitude of a bad saying) associating partners with Allah (is as a bad tree) this refers to the idolater. He says: idolatry is blameworthy and no aspect of it is praiseworthy, just as the idolater is censored and there is nothing praiseworthy about him; it is also said that the bad tree refers to the colocynth which is bitter and useless, and so is the idolater: useless and censored, (uprooted from upon the earth, possessing no stability) it has no firmness on the face of the earth; and so is the idolater: he does not have any proof to cling to, just as the colocynth does not have roots which keep it firmly grounded. Moreover, while a person is an idolater none of his works are accepted.

(Allah confirmeth those who believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an; it is also said that this means: those who believed were on the day of the Covenant with a good disposition of the soul, and these are the felicitous people, (by a firm saying) the testification that there is no god but Allah (in the life of the world) so that they do not go back on it (and in the Hereafter) i.e. in the grave when asked about it, (and Allah sendeth wrong-doers) the idolaters (astray) from the testification of there is no god but Allah in the life of this world, so that they do not say it with a good disposition of the soul, nor in the grave nor when they come out of it. These are the people destined for damnation. (And Allah doeth what He will) whether it is sending astray or holding people firm; it is also said: (And Allah doeth what He will) about turning away Munkar and Nakir.

(Hast thou not seen) have you not been informed, O Muhammad, about (those who gave the grace of Allah in exchange) they changed the gift of Allah who bestowed upon them the Scripture and the messengers and instead opted (for thanklessness) disbelief in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an. These are the Banu Umayyah and the Banu'l-Mughirah who fed the army of the unbelievers on the Day of Badr, (and led their people down to) they let the people of Mecca camp at (the Abode of Loss) the abode of destruction, i.e. the place of Badr; it is also said that the Abode of Loss refers to Gehenna,

Allah then said: ((Even to) hell? They are exposed thereto) they will enter it on the Day of Judgement. (A hapless end!) their abode and destination is Gehenna.

(And they set up rivals to Allah) they ascribed to Allah co-equals from among idols which they worshipped (that they may mislead (men) from His way) from His religion and obedience. (Say) O Muhammad, to the people of Mecca: (Enjoy life (while ye may)) in your state of disbelief (for lo! your journey's end will be the Fire) on the Day of Judgement.