Sura al-Furqan
25
Introduction of Surah
al-Furqan is the 25th sura of the Qur’an, which means ‘The Criterion’, deriving its name from the 1st verse, referring to the Holy Qur’an as ‘The Distinguisher between Good and Evil’ or ‘The Final Proof of the Truth’. This sura belongs to the Meccan period and comprises 77 verses, 872 words, 3,733 letters, and 6 segments. It is the 42nd sura in chronological order, revealed after Sura Ya-Sin.
The major theme described in this chapter is the shortsightedness and foolishness of polytheists and disbelievers. The pagans claimed the Holy Qur’an was fabricated. This sura refutes these claims and ex-presses God Almighty’s power and majesty. The chapter continues by beautifully detailing the qualities of the righteous servants of God Almighty. These qualities include humility, nobility, sincere devotion, ev-erlasting hope for God’s Mercy, fear of His punishment, spending in moderation, refraining from idolatry and adultery, maintaining human dignity, avoiding falsehood, seeking righteous company, and ensuring complete submission to the Lord Almighty. These are certain traits of righteous servants of Allah Almighty described in this chapter.
This chapter also describes accounts of Prophet Musa, Prophet Harun, Prophet Nuh, and other Mes-sengers (peace be upon them). This chapter describes the events related to the people of ‘Ad, and their rejection of God Almighty’s Oneness, and as a result of which, were destroyed as a nation. This chapter further describes the account of the people of Thamud, who were also destroyed because of their refusal to submit to the Lord Almighty’s divinity and Oneness. Finally, the chapter describes the account of the people of the water pit.
This chapter goes on to describe the refusal of the polytheists of Mecca to accept the Messengership of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) because he was a human being who interacted normally with the people of Quraysh. The Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) walked in the markets of Mecca like any ordinary citizen of the city, owned no great wealth or treasure, and was not accompanied by an angel while he frequented the city. The polytheists of Quraysh could not fathom that a Messenger of God Almighty would lead such a common life amongst them. The chapter also addressed another concern of the polytheists of Mecca who could not understand why the Holy Qur’an was not revealed all at once, and why it was revealed gradually over a period of years.
The chapter further speaks about the great signs of God Almighty, which include the sun and its shade; the alternation of day and night; the winds; the rain; animals; human beings; the advent of life and death; and fresh salty water. These are all signs of God Almighty’s power and majesty. The sura concludes by describing the reward for those who are righteous. This reward is Paradise, in which God Almighty has promised the righteous an eternal life, and guaranteed peace and serenity.
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In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the All-Merciful
25:2. He (is the One) Who owns the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, Who did not take a son, Who has no partner in (His) Kingdom and Who created everything and then designed it with precisely programmed measure.
الذي له ملك السماوات والأرض ولم يتخذ ولدا ولم يكن له شريك في الملك وخلق كل شيء فقدره تقديرا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 2)
25:3. Yet they have taken gods besides Him, who do not create anything and have themselves been created, and who have no control over their own harm or benefit, and have no control over (their own) death, life or resurrection.
واتخذوا من دونه آلهة لا يخلقون شيئا وهم يخلقون ولا يملكون لأنفسهم ضرا ولا نفعا ولا يملكون موتا ولا حياة ولا نشورا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 3)
25:4. The disbelievers say: ‘This is nothing but a lie which he has fabricated, and other people have helped him in (forging) it.’ So they have indeed come out with wrongdoing and falsehood.
وقال الذين كفروا إن هذا إلا إفك افتراه وأعانه عليه قوم آخرون فقد جاؤوا ظلما وزورا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 4)
25:7. And they say: ‘What is the matter with this Messenger that he eats food and goes around in the markets? Why has an angel not been sent down to him to be a warner along with him?
وقالوا مال هذا الرسول يأكل الطعام ويمشي في الأسواق لولا أنزل إليه ملك فيكون معه نذيرا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 7)
25:8. Or (why is not) a treasure thrown to him, or (why does) he (not) have a garden from which he may eat?’ And the wrongdoers say: ‘You are just following a bewitched man (who is deprived of reason).’
أو يلقى إليه كنز أو تكون له جنة يأكل منها وقال الظالمون إن تتبعون إلا رجلا مسحورا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 8)
25:17. On the Day when He shall gather them along with what they used to worship besides Allah, He will say: ‘Were it you (i.e. the false gods) who led these servants of Mine astray, or did they stray from the way (on their own)?’
ويوم يحشرهم وما يعبدون من دون الله فيقول أأنتم أضللتم عبادي هؤلاء أم هم ضلوا السبيل
(al-Furqan, 25 : 17)
25:18. They will say: ‘Glory be to You. It was not right for us to take any guardians besides You! But You made them and their fathers enjoy (the comforts of the world) until they forgot the Reminder. And they were a ruined people.’
قالوا سبحانك ما كان ينبغي لنا أن نتخذ من دونك من أولياء ولكن متعتهم وآباءهم حتى نسوا الذكر وكانوا قوما بورا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 18)
25:19. (The idolators will be told:) ‘They (the false gods) have denied your claims. So you shall neither be able to avert (the punishment) nor find (any) help.’ And whoever among you commits wrong, We shall make him taste a terrible punishment.
فقد كذبوكم بما تقولون فما تستطيعون صرفا ولا نصرا ومن يظلم منكم نذقه عذابا كبيرا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 19)
25:20. We never sent any messengers before you who did not eat food and walk in marketplaces. And We have made some of you a means of trial for others (to see) if you can be patient. And your Lord is All-Seeing.
وما أرسلنا قبلك من المرسلين إلا إنهم ليأكلون الطعام ويمشون في الأسواق وجعلنا بعضكم لبعض فتنة أتصبرون وكان ربك بصيرا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 20)
25:21. And those who do not hope for Our meeting say: ‘Why have not the angels been sent down upon us? Or why do we not see our Lord?’ Indeed, they are full of arrogance within themselves and have become highly defiant.
وقال الذين لا يرجون لقاءنا لولا أنزل علينا الملائكة أو نرى ربنا لقد استكبروا في أنفسهم وعتو عتوا كبيرا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 21)
25:32. And the disbelievers say: ‘Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?’ Thus (We have sent the Qur’an down in intervals) so that We may keep strengthening your heart with it. We have recited it (to you gradually) in a measured pace.
وقال الذين كفروا لولا نزل عليه القرآن جملة واحدة كذلك لنثبت به فؤادك ورتلناه ترتيلا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 32)
25:37. And the people of Nuh (Noah), We drowned them when they denied the messengers and made them a sign for humankind. And We have prepared for the wrongdoers a painful punishment.
وقوم نوح لما كذبوا الرسل أغرقناهم وجعلناهم للناس آية وأعتدنا للظالمين عذابا أليما
(al-Furqan, 25 : 37)
25:40. Indeed, they must have passed by the town (of Sodom), which had been showered with a terrible rain (of stones). Have they not seen it? Yet they did not hope to be resurrected.
ولقد أتوا على القرية التي أمطرت مطر السوء أفلم يكونوا يرونها بل كانوا لا يرجون نشورا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 40)
25:42. Indeed, he was about to lead us astray from our gods if we had not stood firmly by them. And soon they will realise when they see the punishment who is further astray from the (right) path.
إن كاد ليضلنا عن آلهتنا لولا أن صبرنا عليها وسوف يعلمون حين يرون العذاب من أضل سبيلا
(al-Furqan, 25 : 42)
25:59. He (is the One) Who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six periods, then He established (His authority) on the Throne (as befitting His Majesty). The Most-Compassionate (Lord), so ask about Him, someone who is well aware (of Him).
* The expression used in the verse ‘sitta ayyam’ denotes six stages or periods of creation and not six days in general sense because here the subject is the creation of the earth and all the heavenly bodies, galaxies, stars, planets and space when night and day did not exist.
