Overview - Surah 50: Qaf (Qaf)
The Surah emphasizes the theme of resurrection and the ultimate success of those who have faith in Allah and His Prophets.
Sections:
- Nature points out to the Resurrection.
- Allah is closer to us than our life-vein. The death, the end of the world, and the Resurrection.
- The Final judgment.
The Surah takes its name from the first Ayat, ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ "Qaf. By the honored Qur'an..." (50:1).
There are 45 Ayat in this Surah.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 45 |
| Total Words * | 373 |
| Root Words * | 153 |
| Makki / Madani | Makki |
| Chronological Order* | 34th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 5th year of Prophethood |
| Events during/before this Surah*
Physical beating and torture of some Muslims - 1st Migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, Public Invitation to Islam - Persecution of Muslims; antagonism - ridicule - derision - accusation - abuse and false propaganda., Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam
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| Events during/after still to occur*
2nd Migration to Abyssinia,Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 1,Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 2,Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 3,Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey,1st Pledge of Aqabah,2nd Pledge of Aqabah,,Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah,Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr,Battle of Uhud,,Battle of Ahzab - Expedition of Banu Quraydhah,Treaty of Hudaiybiyah - Letters to Kings and Rulers,,Conquest of Makkah - Battle of Hunain,Hajj led by Abu Bakr - Expedition of Tabuk,Farewell Hajj by Prophet - Death of Prophet - End of Divine Revelation
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
Nuh, Lut
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| Surah Index
‘Aad, God (wills no wrong to His creation) , Angels, Date palms, Dates, Death, Disbelievers (bear what they say in patience) , Earth, Earth (condition of at the time of resurrection) , Earth (creation of) (in six days), Hell, Judgement, Judgement (Day) , Judgement (Day) (riven asunder), Knowledge (obligation upon man to obtain and impart) , Lot, Madyan, Mountains, Noah, Pharaoh, Prayer (prostration) , Prayer (times of day of) , Qur’an, Resurrection (Day) , Resurrection (of soul) , Thamud, Tubba, Weather (rain)
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Theme 1: Ressurection
Authentic traditions show that the Prophet used to recite this Surah generally in the Prayer on the Eid days. A woman named Umm Hisham bin Harithah, who was a neighbour of the Prophet, says that she was able to commit Surah Qaf to memory only because she often heard it from the Prophet in the Friday sermons. According to some other traditions he often recited it in the dawn (Fajr) Prayer. This makes it abundantly clear that this was an important Surah in the sight of the Prophet. That is why he made sure that its contents reached as many people as possible over and over again.
The reason for this importance can be easily understood by a careful study of the Surah. The theme of the entire Surah is the Hereafter. When the Prophet started preaching his message in Makkah what surprised the people most was the news that people would be resurrected after death, and they would have to render an account of their deeds. They said that “that was impossible”; human mind could not believe that would happen. After all, how could it be possible that when the body had disintegrated into dust the scattered particles would be reassembled after hundreds of thousands of years to make up the same body once again and raised up as a living body. God in response sent down this discourse. In it, on the one hand, arguments have been given for the possibility and occurrence of the Hereafter in a brief way, in short sentences, and, on the other, the people have been warned, as if to say: “Whether you express wonder and surprise, or you regard it as something remote from reason, or deny it altogether, in any case it cannot change the truth. The absolute, unalterable truth is that God knows the whereabouts of each and every particle of your body that has scattered away in the earth, and knows where and in what state it is. God’s one signal is enough to make all the scattered particles gather together again and to make you rise up once again as you had been made in the first instance. Likewise, this idea that you have been created and left free to yourselves in the world and that you have not been made answerable to anyone, is no more than a misunderstanding. The fact is that not only is God Himself directly aware of each act and word of yours, even of the ideas that pass in your mind, but His angels also are attached to each one of you, who are preserving the record of whatever you do and utter. When the time comes, you will come out of your graves at one call just as young shoots of vegetable sprout up from the earth on the first shower of the rain. Then this heedlessness which obstructs your vision will be removed and you will see with your own eyes all that you are denying today. At that time you will realise that you had not been created to be irresponsible in this world but accountable to all your deeds. The meting out of the rewards and punishments, the Hell and Heaven, which you regard as impossible and imaginary things, will at that time become visible realities for you. In consequence of your enmity and opposition to the Truth you will be cast into the same Hell which you regard as remote from reason today and the ones who fear the Merciful God and return to the path of righteousness, will be admitted to the same Paradise at whose mention you now express wonder and surprise.
- There is a mention of the word 'Qur'an' in the begining and end of the Surah
ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ "Qaf. By the honored Qur'an..." (50:1)
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ ۖ وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِجَبَّارٍ ۖ فَذَكِّرْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ "We are most knowing of what they say, and you are not over them a tyrant. But remind by the Qur'an whoever fears My threat." (50:45) - Giving life to the dead after death is mentioned in the begining and the end (50:3) (50:43)
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
- The Prophet would recite this Surah in the two Eid salahs along with Surah al-Qamar [Saheeh Muslim]
- Hisham bint Harithah memorised this Surah due to the frequency of the Prophet mentioning it in the Jummah Khutbah.
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = * | ||
- وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ، بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَزْمٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ هِشَامٍ بِنْتِ حَارِثَةَ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ، قَالَتْ لَقَدْ كَانَ تَنُّورُنَا وَتَنُّورُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَاحِدًا سَنَتَيْنِ أَوْ سَنَةً وَبَعْضَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا أَخَذْتُ { ق وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ} إِلاَّ عَنْ لِسَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَؤُهَا كُلَّ يَوْمِ جُمُعَةٍ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ إِذَا خَطَبَ النَّاسَ
Umm Hisham bin Harithah bin An-Nu'man said, "Our oven and the oven of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were the same for two years, or for one year and part of a year. And I only learned "Surah Qaf. By the Glorious Quran" from the tongue of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who used to recited it every Friday from the Minbar, when he addresses the people." Sahih Muslim no. 1894
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حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ ضَمْرَةَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْمَازِنِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، سَأَلَ أَبَا وَاقِدٍ اللَّيْثِيَّ مَا كَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الأَضْحَى وَالْفِطْرِ فَقَالَ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِيهِمَا بِـ { ق وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ} وَ { اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ}
'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that (his father) 'Umar b. Khattab asked Abu Waqid al-Laithi what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite on 'Id-ul-Adha and 'Id-ul-Fitr. He said: He used to recite in them:" Qaf. By the Glorious Qur'an" (Surah Qaf)," The Hour drew near, and the moon was rent asunder" (Surah al-Qamar)" Sahih Muslim no. 1936
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حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، وَابْنُ، عُيَيْنَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ عِلاَقَةَ، عَنْ قُطْبَةَ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْفَجْرِ { وَالنَّخْلَ بَاسِقَاتٍ لَهَا طَلْعٌ نَضِيدٌ}
Qutba b. Malik reported that he had heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting in the morning prayer this: " And the tall palm trees having flower spikes piled one above another" (Al-Qur'an (50:10). Sahih Muslim no.921
- Life after death is a reality and there is nothing strange about it.
- Allah has assigned two angels to each person for noting down each single word that he utters.
- Every disbeliever will be thrown into hell and hell shall be asked, "Are you full." Hell will answer, "Are there some more?"
- Admonish people with The Qur'an and bear with them in patience.
Tafsir Zone
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Sayyid Qutb Overview (Verses 19 - 29) As Life Draws to an End That was the page of life, which is followed in man's book by the page of approaching death: "The stupor of death brings with it the fill truth: This is what you tried to escape." (Verse 19) There is nothing man tries to escape more than death. He even tries to banish the thought of death from his mind. Yet how can he do so when death is a seeker that never stops. It continues its steady march, and never misses its appointed time. The mere mention of 'the stupor of death' sends a shiver into brave hearts. Yet as the scene is shown, it is said to him: "This is what you tried to escape." The mere sound makes him shudder when he is still full of life. How about if it is said when he is in the throes of death? It is authentically reported that when death was approaching the Prophet, he wiped sweat off his face and said: "All glory be to God! Death has its stupor!" [Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.] He said this, even though he had chosen to be in God's company, longing to see Him. So how about ordinary mortals? The surah now speaks about the shock of resurrection and the fearsome reckoning: The trumpet will be blown: 'This is the day [you were] warned of' Every soul will come attended by one who will drive it on and another to bear witness. 'Of this you have been unmindful, but We have lifted your veil and sharp is your sight today' And his companion will say: 'Here is what Thrive recorded—Cast into hell every hardened unbeliever, everyone who hindered good was a sinful aggressor, fomenter of doubt, who set up another deity alongside God. Cast him into severe suffering.' His companion will say: 'Our Lord! I did not make him transgress. He had already gone far astray' God will say: Do not argue in My presence, fir I had forewarned you. My word will not be altered; but never do I do the least wrong to My creatures.' (Verses 20-29) It is sufficient to put this scene before our eyes, for thereafter we will spend the rest of our lives in awe and anticipation. The Prophet is quoted as saying: "'How can I feel happy when I know that the one assigned to blow the Trumpet has lifted it to his mouth, lowering his forehead and awaiting permission.' The people listening asked him: 'What should we say, Messenger of God?' He replied: 'Say: We seek none other than God; He is the best protector.' They all said it." [Related by al-Tirmidh.] "Every soul will come attended by one who will drive it on and another to bear witness." (Verse 21) It is the soul, every single one, that is held to account, and it is the one who receives the outcome. It comes with two assigned to it: one driving it on and the other to bear witness. These may be the ones who recorded everything a person does throughout life, which is more probable, but they may also be different entities. The scene is akin to that of taking someone to trial, but this trial is before the Almighty. In this extremely difficult situation, the person is told: "Of this you have been unmindful, but We have lifted your veil and sharp is your sight today." (Verse 22) There is nothing to blur your eyesight now You can see clearly. This is the appointed time you ignored, the position you have not reckoned with, the end you did not expect. You can look all around you for your sight is now sharp indeed. At this point, his companion, which is most probably a reference to the witness who recorded all his actions, comes forward and says: "Here is what I have recorded." (Verse 23) The surah says nothing about examining the record. Instead, it states the divine verdict as it is given to the two angels: the one leading the person and the witness. They are told: "Cast into hell every hardened unbeliever, everyone who hindered good was a sinful aggressor, fomenter of doubt, who set up another deity alongside God. Cast him into severe suffering." (Verses 24-26) These descriptions make the situation even more critical, for they show that the Almighty is displeased. They are all negative descriptions that deserve increased punishment. They are followed by His repeating the order, which needs no emphasis anyway: "Cast him into severe suffering," indicating the unbeliever's position in hell. This scares his companion who, thinking that his long association with the condemned person may reflect on him, hastens to dissociate himself from his doings: "His companion will say: 'Our Lord, I did not make him transgress. He had already gone far astray.'" (Verse 27) The reference here may be to a different companion who submitted the records. This may be the devil who, throughout his life, tried to tempt him away from the truth. Now he tries to shirk his responsibility, asserting that the man was already far astray and, as such, accepted the tempting offer to go even further astray. There are other instances in the Qur'an that tell us that the evil companion disowns the human one. Yet the first possibility we mentioned is also probable. The companion referred to in this verse could be the same angel who kept the record, but the hardship of the situation on the Day of Judgement makes him hasten to state his own innocence even when he is truly innocent. He simply wants to prove that despite his long association with this miserable creature, he had no influence on his deeds. When an innocent person hastens to prove his truth-telling, this reveals much about the difficulty of the situation. A final order is now issued to stop all argument: "God will say: Do not argue in My presence, for I had forewarned you. My word will not be altered; but never do I do the least wrong to My creatures." (Verses 28-29) The occasion is not one for contention. Warnings were issued earlier, stating the nature of requital for every action. Everything has been recorded, and it is on the basis of this record that requital and reward are determined. No one is unjustly dealt with, for the one who looks into people's cases and determines their fate is the faultless arbiter. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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- Surah 50. Qaf - Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDrJDIXMNbs&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN&index=50
- Surah 50. Qaf Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26E8Qp3LF3c&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM&index=50
- Surah 50. Qaf Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD7U7keI5BQ&index=50&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe
- Idris Akbar Surah Qaf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYpY1T-JQ34
- Surah 50. Qaf Surah 50. Qaf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVDP4Gcwvhw&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=50
