16. An-Nahl

The Bee · Meccan · 128 ayahs

سُورَةُ النَّحۡلِ

Reading Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas by Attributed to Ibn 'Abbas

Ayahs 21–30 of 128

أَمْوَٰتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَآءٍۢ ۖ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ

They are, [in fact], dead, not alive, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.

((They are) dead) they are lifeless idols, (not living. And they know not when they) i.e. the idols (will be raised) from the graves and give account; it is also said that this means: the disbelievers do not know when they will give account for their deeds; and it is also said: the angels do not know when they will give account.

An-Nahl 16:21Listen in Qur'an →

إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌۭ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ

Your god is one God. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter - their hearts are disapproving, and they are arrogant.

(Your God is One God) He knows this, not your idols. (But as for those who believe not in the Hereafter) those who do not believe in resurrection after death (their hearts refuse to know) acknowledge Allah's divine Oneness, (for they are proud) too proud to believe.

An-Nahl 16:22Listen in Qur'an →

لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ

Assuredly, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant.

(Assuredly Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden) of hatred, resentful envy, plotting and treachery (and that which they proclaim) of vilification, slander and violent confrontation. (Lo! He loveth not the proud) those who are too proud to believe.

An-Nahl 16:23Listen in Qur'an →

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۙ قَالُوٓا۟ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

And when it is said to them, "What has your Lord sent down?" They say, "Legends of the former peoples,"

(And when it is said unto them) to those who were later killed in the valley of Badr: (What hath your Lord revealed?) What does Muhammad (pbuh) say to you on behalf of your Lord? (they say: (Mere) fables of the men of old) the mere lies and tales of the people of old.

An-Nahl 16:24Listen in Qur'an →

لِيَحْمِلُوٓا۟ أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةًۭ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۙ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ

That they may bear their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.

(That they may bear their burdens) their sins (undiminished on the Day of Resurrection, with somewhat of the burdens) as well as the sins (of those whom they mislead) those whom they drove away from Muhammad (pbuh) and from the Qur'an and faith (without knowledge) or proof. (Ah! evil is that which they bear!) evil are the sins which they bear, i.e. those who were slain at the valley of Badr among the leaders of Quraysh.

An-Nahl 16:25Listen in Qur'an →

قَدْ مَكَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنْيَٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Those before them had already plotted, but Allah came at their building from the foundations, so the roof fell upon them from above them, and the punishment came to them from where they did not perceive.

(Those before them plotted) against their prophets, just as the leaders of Quraysh who were slain in the valley of Badr plotted against Muhammad (pbuh); the reference here is to the tyrant Nimrod who built the tower, (so Allah struck at the foundations of their building) Allah extracted their tower from its foundation, (and then the roof fell down upon them) the tower fell upon him (from above them, and the doom came on them) through this destruction (whence they knew not);

An-Nahl 16:26Listen in Qur'an →

ثُمَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تُشَٰٓقُّونَ فِيهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ إِنَّ ٱلْخِزْىَ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَٱلسُّوٓءَ عَلَى ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and say, "Where are My 'partners' for whom you used to oppose [the believers]?" Those who were given knowledge will say, "Indeed disgrace, this Day, and evil are upon the disbelievers" -

(Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them) chastise and humiliate them (and will say) Allah will say on the Day of Judgement: (Where are My partners) where are the idols which you claimed are My partners, (for whose sake ye opposed (My Guidance)) for whose sake you opposed My guidance and declared enmity towards My prophets? (Those who have been given knowledge) i.e. the angels (will say: Disgrace this day) the chastisement on this Day of Judgement (and evil) the Fire and hardship (are upon the disbelievers),

An-Nahl 16:27Listen in Qur'an →

ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا۟ ٱلسَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوٓءٍۭ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

The ones whom the angels take in death [while] wronging themselves, and [who] then offer submission, [saying], "We were not doing any evil." But, yes! Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what you used to do.

(Whom the angels cause to die) on the Day of Badr (while they are wronging themselves) through disbelief. (Then will they make full submission (saying)) they will answer; it is also said that this means: they resign to Allah, saying: (We used not to do any wrong) we did not worship anything beside Allah nor did we associate partners with Him. (Nay!) Allah will say: nay! (Surely Allah is Knower of what ye used to do) and say and worship beside Allah.

An-Nahl 16:28Listen in Qur'an →

فَٱدْخُلُوٓا۟ أَبْوَٰبَ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ

So enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and how wretched is the residence of the arrogant.

(So enter the gates of hell, to dwell therein for ever) neither to die nor leave it. (Woeful indeed will be the lodging of the arrogant) the abode of the disbelievers is Gehenna.

An-Nahl 16:29Listen in Qur'an →

۞ وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ مَاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا ۗ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌۭ ۚ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

And it will be said to those who feared Allah, "What did your Lord send down?" They will say, "[That which is] good." For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous -

(And it is said unto those who ward off (evil)) disbelief, idolatry and indecencies; the reference here is to 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud and his fellow believers: (What hath your Lord revealed?) what does Muhammad (pbuh) say to you from your Lord? (They say Good) the profession of Allah's divine Oneness and keeping ties of kinship: (For those who do good) for those who profess monotheism (in this world there is a good (reward)) Paradise on the Day of Judgement (and the home of the Hereafter) i.e. Paradise (will be better) than this worldly life and all there is in it. (Pleasant indeed will be the home of those who ward off (evil)) disbelief, idolatry, and indecencies.

An-Nahl 16:30Listen in Qur'an →

Commentary: Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas by Attributed to Ibn 'Abbas. Qur'an text and translation via AlQuran Cloud.