Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 11–15

42. Ash-Shura · Consultation

Makkan53 verses

فَاطِرُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ۖ يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌۭ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ

42:11The originator of the heavens and the earth, He made for you mates from your own selves, and mates of the cattle, by which means He multiplies you. Nothing is like Him, and He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing.1

لَهُۥ مَقَالِيدُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۭ

42:12To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth: He expands the provision for whomever He wishes, and tightens it [for whomever He wishes]. Indeed He has knowledge of all things.’

۞ شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِۦ نُوحًۭا وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِۦٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰٓ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ كَبُرَ عَلَى ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۚ ٱللَّهُ يَجْتَبِىٓ إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِىٓ إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ

42:13He has prescribed for you the religion which He had enjoined upon Noah and which We have [also] revealed to you, and which We had enjoined upon Abraham, Moses and Jesus, declaring, ‘Maintain the religion, and do not be divided in it.’ Hard on the polytheists is that to which you summon them. Allah chooses for it whomever He wishes, and He guides to it whomever returns penitently [to Him].2

وَمَا تَفَرَّقُوٓا۟ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌۭ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى لَّقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُورِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ لَفِى شَكٍّۢ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍۢ

42:14They did not divide [into sects] except after the knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves; and were it not for a prior decree of your Lord [granting them reprieve] until a specified time, decision would have been made between them. Indeed those who were made heirs to the Book after them are in grave doubt concerning it.

فَلِذَٰلِكَ فَٱدْعُ ۖ وَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَقُلْ ءَامَنتُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن كِتَٰبٍۢ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَنَآ أَعْمَٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَٰلُكُمْ ۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

42:15So summon to this [unity of religion], and be steadfast, just as you have been commanded, and do not follow their desires, and say, ‘I believe in whatever Book Allah has sent down. I have been commanded to do justice among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. Our deeds belong to us and your deeds belong to you. There is no quarrel between us and you. Allah will bring us together and toward Him is the destination.’3

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 13

1.Islam is the final stage and everyone has to reach it and it is also the basic principle for which there is decision regarding punishment and reward. After that there are different ways to reach that destination. These ways are interpreted by religious laws and they are five in all. Religion of Nuh, Ibrahim, Moosa, Isa (a.s.) and religion of Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.s.). The philosophy of mutual differentia of Law is according to changing conditions of the world otherwise law would be lifeless. The clear meaning is that Islam is the name of the harbour that changes with the tides. Otherwise the basic principle of Islam cannot change and the day of Resurrection also does not change. Only Prophethood progressed from Adam (a.s,) on the basis of enhancement and according to the conditions of the world. There were amendments in the laws. Laws of Nuh (a.s.) were different from Shariat of Prophet (s.a.). The spirit of the laws are same but method is different. Now, this is a hidden wisdom of Allah that He has interpreted the four religious as testament and guidance and one is settled as a revelation of which we estimate the difference of Prophet’s status and laws of Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.s.).

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. Benefit

    ‘Laisa ka mithlehi Shayy’ is the first step of recognition (There is nothing like Allah). And all the deviation results through comparisons when the divine matters are taken in analogy for creatures.

  2. 1

    Human population has spread from making of pairs. If all were of same gender man would have become extinct. This shows that there is no survival of Universe in uniformity of gender. The secret of continuity of Universe lies in the differences of race and colour etc.

  3. 2

    It is a beautiful indication that selection is on the basis of His hidden wisdom and deriving of guidance is upto the man, One who refers to Him will achieve guidance, But there is no possibility of choosing it for himself.

  4. 3

    It is such a strict law that the divine personalities have trembled before it. It is easy to act on Allah’s command and become steadfast in following the Shariah but to be steadfast with determination ordered by Allah and to spend ones life on this is not an easy matter.

    Benefit: The 15th ayat mentions five rules that are for the progress of man and in the end it invites the opponents towards reconciliation and reminds them of the final consequences.