Surah An-Naba , 78

Surah An-Naba

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Whereof do they question one another? (1) (It is) of the awful tidings, (2) Concerning which they are in disagreement. (3) Nay, but they will come to know! (4) Nay, again, but they will come to know! (5) Have We not made the earth an expanse, (6) And the high hills bulwarks? (7) And We have created you in pairs, (8) And have appointed your sleep for repose, (9) And have appointed the night as a cloak, (10) And have appointed the day for livelihood. (11) And We have built above you seven strong (heavens), (12) And have appointed a dazzling lamp, (13) ....

Translation by Pickthal 

Recitation by  qari, young Brother  Hasan bin Abdullah al-Awad,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CLOT7qsFAY

Every community to which a messenger has come and claimed a divine commission, has the right to question his credentials and examine his assertions, and judge him accordingly. Let us then ask: What did Muhammad proclaim? He said that God existed, and he advanced powerful and unprecedented arguments and evidence for that. He said that there is only one God, the Creator of all that is in the heaven and the earth, and that all creatures, regardless of their state or status, submit totally to His power and will. He further asserted the inevitability of the Day of Judgment and the accountability of every responsible adult, and declared that: " Whoever does an atom's weight of good shall see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil shall see it also " [ al- Zalzalah : 7-8 ]

Why should anyone rejects these tenets or denounce Muhammad for proclaiming them? Has anyone come with anything better?

This surah says to the Makkan unbelievers:  If you are not convinced of  what Muhammad is saying, look at the physical world around you and reflect upon its creation. It asks: " We not made the earth an expanse, (6) And the high hills bulwarks? (7) And We have created you in pairs," (8)

For the last fourteen centuries, human society has, besides Islam, seen many religions and ideologies, and should be able to judge their veracity and record fairly. The fact of the matter is that, under such scrutiny, Islam stand out above all the rest. In other words, one would be hard put to deny that Muhammad's mission is a true representative of the old as well as the new authentic divine revelation, and that othe r creeds are man-made. to believe in Muhammad is to believe also in Moses, Jesus, Noah, and Abraham..

The surah consists of four parts. The first one is a description of the physical world and of man himself, ending with verse 16. The second is a brief description of the Day of Judgment: " Lo! the Day of Decision is a fixed time, (17) A day when the trumpet is blown and ye come in multitudes, "(18) . The numerous references in the Qur'an to the resurrection are intended to counteract man's love for life and worldly things.

The third section describes the punishment awaiting the wrong-doers: " Lo! hell lurketh in ambush, (21) A home for the rebellious. (22) They will abide therein for ages." (23)

The fourth section, and final, part describes the rich rewards awaiting the good and the righteous: " Lo! for the duteous is achievement - (31) Gardens enclosed and vineyards, (32) And maidens of companions;" (33) 

The believers shall also experience true happiness and their faces shall glow with contentment, in the company of the angels, praising and glorifying their Lord. Their happiness will be complete as they settle down in rosy gardens, surrounded by exquisite young female companions. The surah asserts: " That is the True Day. So whoso will should seek recourse unto his Lord." (39)

On that momentous Day, those concious of God will be successful, while the cynics will have nothing to show for their life here and will regret their actions when it would be too late. The surah warns: "  Lo! We warn you of a doom at hand, a day whereon a man will look on that which his own hands have sent before, and the disbeliever will cry: "Would that I were dust!" (40)

We leave Muhammad's detractors with the following questions:

What did he gain for himself by proclaiming his message? 

Was his crime that he was ardent in promoting it and pursuing its goals?

Was he wrong to confront the corrupt and the tyrants of his time?

Muhammad al-Ghazali, [ 1917-1996 ]
an excerpt from  "A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "




Reflection and commentary by Shaykh Nouman Ali khan,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQGLZ4O5JNo





Shaykh Zarabozo's reflection on 'The Quran' ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn_Sv2ifSbw&feature=related




Shaykh Zarabozo's reflection on Surah an-Naba,
Part 1 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HohHoAqQGDE
Part 2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4TOM4cRQSQ&feature=relmfu
Part 3 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNE7i5sbJoE&feature=relmfu
Part 4 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qma6LZkDrJs&feature=relmfu
Part 5 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6SgN9hNyE8&feature=relmfu
Part 6 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6SgN9hNyE8&feature=relmfu
Part 7 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDJOws_ZKv8&feature=relmfu




' Light ' ,
http://drnikisahak.blogspot.com/search/label/Light...