Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 33–40

40. Ghafir · The Forgiver

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يَوْمَ تُوَلُّونَ مُدْبِرِينَ مَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍۢ ۗ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْ هَادٍۢ

40:33a day when you will turn back [to flee], not having anyone to protect you from Allah, and whomever Allah leads astray has no guide.

وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ يُوسُفُ مِن قَبْلُ بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَمَا زِلْتُمْ فِى شَكٍّۢ مِّمَّا جَآءَكُم بِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا هَلَكَ قُلْتُمْ لَن يَبْعَثَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ رَسُولًۭا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌۭ مُّرْتَابٌ

40:34Certainly Joseph brought you manifest proofs earlier, but you continued to remain in doubt concerning what he had brought you. When he died, you said, ‘‘Allah will never send any apostle after him.’’ That is how Allah leads astray those who are unrestrained and skeptical.1

ٱلَّذِينَ يُجَٰدِلُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَٰنٍ أَتَىٰهُمْ ۖ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعِندَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ قَلْبِ مُتَكَبِّرٍۢ جَبَّارٍۢ

40:35Those who dispute the signs of Allah without any authority that may have come to them—[that is] greatly outrageous to Allah and to those who have faith. That is how Allah seals the heart of every arrogant tyrant.’2

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَٰهَٰمَٰنُ ٱبْنِ لِى صَرْحًۭا لَّعَلِّىٓ أَبْلُغُ ٱلْأَسْبَٰبَ

40:36Pharaoh said, ‘O Haman! Build me a tower so that I may reach the routes*

أَسْبَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُۥ كَٰذِبًۭا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَصُدَّ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۚ وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلَّا فِى تَبَابٍۢ

40:37—the routes of the heavens—and take a look at the God of Moses, and indeed I consider him a liar.’ The evil of his conduct was thus presented as decorous to Pharaoh, and he was kept from the way [of Allah]. Pharaoh’s stratagems only led him into ruin.

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱتَّبِعُونِ أَهْدِكُمْ سَبِيلَ ٱلرَّشَادِ

40:38And he who had faith said, ‘O my people! Follow me; I will guide you to the way of rectitude.

يَٰقَوْمِ إِنَّمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا مَتَٰعٌۭ وَإِنَّ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ هِىَ دَارُ ٱلْقَرَارِ

40:39O my people! This life of the world is only a [passing] enjoyment, and indeed the Hereafter is the abiding home.

مَنْ عَمِلَ سَيِّئَةًۭ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰٓ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ يُرْزَقُونَ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍۢ

40:40Whoever commits a misdeed shall not be requited except with its like, but whoever acts righteously, whether male or female, should he be faithful—such shall enter paradise, and they will be provided therein without any reckoning.3

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 36

1.Firon did not want to search out the God of Moosa (a.s.). He knew that the God of Moosa (a.s.) was his God too and He could not be seen on the roof of his palace but he wanted to keep his people in false hopes. He was desirous of everlasting kingship. Otherwise he would at least have courage to say that Moosa’s (a.s.) God could not be located without the help of a ladder. Then on what basis had he claimed divinity? Does this ignorant and helpless man has a right to become God?

Verse 40

2.This beneficence is found in Islam in this connection that faith is enough for deliverance or is deed required? Some people have given more importance to faith and make people independent from deed. Some people have given more stability to deeds and have permitted infidels and polytheists into heaven. The blessed ayat has contradicted both and said that deeds and faith both are necessary for deliverance and heaven. Infidels will be given reward for their good deeds but they cannot enter heaven and for this reason the world is called the heaven of infidels so that no question arises for the reward on the day of resurrection and believers will also be punished for their bad deeds. But due to the effect of belief they will be allowed to enter the garden eventually. The best judgment of faith and deeds is that faith is the source of entering the garden and deeds are the sources to save oneself from hell.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    It is a fact that Yusuf (a.s.) had not come to these people but he had come to their forefathers however due to the similarity of character both are referred to as a single group. The word Yusuf is ‘excess’ in Iberian language. His mother had named him so that one more son should be born. The death of Yusuf (a.s.) occurred at the age of 110 years.

  2. 2

    Jabbar - is that which joins two broken things also one who repairs. It is also used for unjust and a tyrant person. Thus with regard to the Lord of the worlds this word is used for the previous meaning and for unjust in the second meaning.

  3. Benefit

    The 36th ayat proves that the believer of the people of Firon was successful in his plan and be got the plan of killing of Moosa (a.s.) postponed. Now Firon started a new political mischief. That people should be involved in construction of buildings and people would for the time being not be able to bring faith in the God of Moon (a.s.).

  4. 3

    This word proves that belief is in any case necessary for Paradise; only good deeds are not sufficient. Just as faith alone is not sufficient, deeds are also required.

  5. *

    Misleha - It indicates the similarity of the world and the hereafter. And the word of countless (Behisab) indicates that countmg is necessary for those who are afraid that the wealth will be spent. The treasure of the Lord of the worlds is never going to be exhausted.