O brothers, I have chosen exhortations from a Sūrah that many of us have memorized. However, it’s a must to contemplate over it and to stop and reflect upon it. Indeed, it is Sūrah al-Naba’.
Wherein our Lord ﷻ says: “About what are they asking (one another)? About the great news, that over which they are in disagreement.” (78:1-3) Allāhu Akbar! Those who ascribe partners with their Lord, disbelieve in the prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ, disbelieve in the Qur’ān and its narrations, disbelieve in the resurrection and what will occur on the Day of Judgment, what affair are they asking one another about? Woe to them! They are asking one another regarding a tremendous affair! And they all are in agreement in their disbelief in him (ﷺ) but they differ in regards to their description of him.
From them are those that say that the Prophet is a sorcerer and that the Qur’ān is the speech of a sorcerer. From them are those that say that the Prophet is a soothsayer and that the Qur’ān is the speech of a soothsayer. From them are those that say that the Prophet is a madman. From them are those that say that he took from the non-Arabs before him and that the Qur’ān is from the speech of the non-Arabs that the Prophet ﷺ took from.
And they know that they are liars. “And they belied them (those Ayāt) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their ownselves were convinced thereof.” (27:14) So, they themselves acknowledged that they were liars and that the Qur’ān is true, that the Prophet ﷺ is true, that singling out Allāh in worship is true and that the resurrection is true.
Afterwards, Allāh ﷻ says: “Nay, they will come to know! Nay, again, they will come to know!” (78:4,5)
Allāh ﷻ threatens those deniers, and those that are included in this threat are the ones who disbelieve in the Day of Judgment. He threatens them that on the Day of Judgment they will have certain knowledge, knowledge that they will not be able to reject. They will have knowledge and will not be able to reject it. However, this knowledge will not benefit them. Their belief will not benefit them. Their feeling of regret will not benefit them. Rather, they will come to know that they will be punished and be in the Hell-fire eternally. So, their knowledge and feeling of regret will not benefit them.
And this implies good news for the likes of you from the people of Imān and Tawhīd that they will know on the Day of Judgment that they were upon the truth. And they will know that they attained the grace of Allāh, and from what Allāh ﷻ has promised them on the Day of Judgment. And what a tremendous difference between the denier that will know on the Day of Judgment that he was a denier and that he will receive punishment due to this, and between the one that will know on the Day of Judgment that he believed and that he will receive the promise of Allāh ﷻ of His Mercy and Paradise.
Afterwards, Allāh ﷻ mentions some of His universal signs that proves to every intelligent person that He ﷻ exists and that He ﷻ is Strong and He ﷻ is Able to do all things. And that He ﷻ is the Disposer of mankind’s livelihood in this worldly life and He ﷻ is able to dispose mankind’s affairs on the Day of Judgment. And by this, the believer increases in Imān and certainty.
So, He ﷻ said: “Have We not made the earth a resting place?” (78:6) Have We not made the earth convenient for the people. It is not difficult upon them. Rather, it is stretched out for them. It is not hard, so that they are not able to till or travel upon it. It is not too soft or loose, so that they are not able to benefit from it. Rather, it is firm and strong to their benefit. It consists of hardness. It consists of softness. It consists of every thing that will benefit them. Who is the One that is able to spread the entire earth? The Great and The Magnificent, Indeed, it is Allāh ﷻ.
“And the mountains as pegs?” (78:7) We have placed on the earth towering, unshakeable mountains that keep the earth firm. Neither does it move nor shake. If it wasn’t for the mountains, by the Grace of Allāh, the lives of the people could not be established on the earth. And you have witnessed, O brothers, that if an earthquake occurs in an area, by the Command of Allāh, the earth shakes and trembles and the people are harmed tremendously. And if a volcano erupts, by the command of Allāh, the people would not be able to live in that particular area. The mountains are a bounty from Allāh ﷻ. Most of it is underground and some of it is above it for the people to take heed. Who is the One that is able to create this single massive bulk and arrange it in this matter in the earth so that it is a peg for it? Indeed, it is Allāh ﷻ!
Afterwards, Allāh ﷻ says: “And We created you in pairs.” (78:8) O children of Adam, We have made you in pairs from a male and a female. This one is tall and this one is short. This one is healthy and this one is sick. This one is rich and this one is poor, in order for them to benefit one another. In order for Us to test some of you with others. We have created for you every thing on the earth in pairs. And We have made your affairs in pairs; life and death, affluency and poverty, sleeping and awaking, and all of this is with tremendous wisdom.
“And made your sleep [a means for] rest.” (78:9) And We made your sleep [a means to] envelop you and it relieves you from exhaustion and sorrow. You would find one of you being extremely exhausted. So, he sleeps and it envelops him and so he wakes up fresh and full of energy. One might be sad and distressed. So, he sleeps and it envelops him. And so he becomes relieved from this distress and grief. Where did this sleep come from?! Did you purchase it with your wealth? By Allāh, if a person exchanged all that he owned, if Allāh willed him not to sleep, then he will not sleep. However, Allāh has mercy upon us. So, He created sleep for us and facilitated it for us. Allāh ﷻ is the only One Who is able to do this.
“And have made the night as a covering.” (78:10) We have made the night to envelop the earth through its darkness. As if it is clothed by darkness. So glory be to the Most Generous. Glory be to the Most Strong. Glory be to the Most Able. You see the earth illuminated. Then, when the night comes, the light disappears and darkness appears upon the earth. Glory be to Allāh! Where did the light of the day go? No one knows except Allāh ﷻ! So, the night comes with its darkness and it brings tranquility to the earth and the people can rest.
“And have made the day for livelihood.” (78:11) And We have made the day a time for activities and awakeness, a time of light in order for the people to seek their sustenance, and to exert their efforts to earn a living. Glory be to Allāh! How He made the night calm for the people to rest. And He made the day lively for the people to be awake. Indeed, He ﷻ is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing, the Most Strong and Most-Capable.
Afterwards, Allāh ﷻ says: “And We have built above you seven strong (heavens).” (78:12) So, We have raised the seven strong, expansive and tremendous heavens above you. You see the lowest heaven with your eyes, but you don’t see any pillars holding them up. Rather, it is established by the command of Allāh. You don’t see in it any crookedness, nor any rifts, nor any cracks despite its expansiveness. And by this you come to realize that no one is capable of this except Allāh ﷻ. And this is clear proof of your Lord the Blessed and Most High.
“And have made (therein) a shining lamp.” (78:13) We have made in the heaven a lamp, which is the sun. A light that radiates the day for you. Shining, warming up the earth, if it wasn’t for the sun by the grace of Allāh, the earth and everything in it would rot. However, Allāh made this sun as a shining lamp. It is severe heat. However, it is distant from the earth. So, the only heat that the earth gains is the heat that benefits its people. And Allāh has made the people taste some of its heat in order for them to remember and take heed. Indeed, the Hell-fire complained to its Lord ﷻ, it said: “Some of my parts are devouring each other.” So Allāh permitted it to exhale twice. One breath of exhale in the summer and one breath of exhale in the winter. So, the most severe heat that you experience is from the breath that it exhales. And the coldest that you experience is from the breath that it exhales. Allāh ﷻ has made us taste some of the heat that is more than what is usual in order for us to remember. However, that which is usual is that Allāh ﷻ has distanced the sun from us. So, it is not the original heat that reaches us, but only what benefits us and by this our livelihood is established. So glory be to the All-Wise and All-Knowing. How strong and capable is He! How Generous and Forebearing is He ﷻ!
Afterwards, Allāh ﷻ says: “And have sent down from the rainy clouds abundant water.” (78:14) So, Allāh ﷻ sends down water from filled clouds. This water descends in an amazing fashion. It doesn’t descend upon you as one burst. If it descended upon you in one burst, it would destroy you. It doesn’t descend upon you one drop at a time. If it descended upon you only one drop at a time, you wouldn’t benefit from it. However, it descends in abundance. It descends abundantly and successively and not in a single burst nor one drop at a time. Who is the One regulating it? Who is the One creating it? Who is the One commanding it? Who is the One circulating it? Who is the One making it descend? Indeed, it is Allāh ﷻ! And no one is capable of this except Allāh ﷻ! By Allāh, if the Jinn and mankind were to come together in order to make rain descend from the clouds, they wouldn’t be able to. Indeed, it is only Allāh ﷻ.
“That We may produce therewith grains and vegetations…” (78:15) We produce therewith grains in order for you to gain strength and to live by. And We produce vegetations in order for your animals to gain strength.
“And gardens of thick growth.” (78:16) Thick and tremendous trees entwined with each other. Who is the One who produced it? Who is the One who created it? Who is the One who preserved it? Indeed, it is Allāh ﷻ! These verses, and they are some of our Lord’s universal signs, point to His existence, ability and planning. If Allāh, with certainty, is the One regulating our worldly affairs, then indeed our Lord ﷻ, with certainty, will regulate our affairs of the Hereafter. Therefore, emphasis in regards to this reality comes after these verses.
Allāh ﷻ says: “Verily, the Day of Decision is a fixed time.” (78:17) Indeed, the Day of Judgment is the Day where Allāh separates the polytheists from the monotheists. Where Allāh separates the people of truth from the people of falsehood. Where Allāh separates the people of Sunnah from the people of innovation. This will occur and there is no doubt regarding it. However, it is a time that will not be put forth nor will it be delayed. There is nothing between you and between it except the blowing of the horn from Isrāfīl (عليه السلام) and he has put his lips on it waiting for the command of Allāh in order to blow in it. There is nothing between you and between it except that.
“The Day when the Trumpet will be blown… you will come out of your graves, and you shall come forth in crowds (groups).” (78:18) Every nation will come with its Prophet. And the deniers will come with the deniers. And the ones who believe with the ones who believe. They will come, resurrected and gathered like the day their mothers gave birth to them, barefoot, naked and uncircumcised, both men and women. They won’t look at each other. Indeed, the affair is more tremendous than that. Indeed, it is a Day where… “…every nursing mother will forget her nursling, and every pregnant one will drop her load, and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but severe will be the Torment of Allāh.” (22:2)
“The Day when the Trumpet will be blown and you shall come forth in crowds (groups).” (78:18)
“And the heaven shall be opened, and it will become as gates.” (78:19) On the Day of Judgment, this strong heaven, that if you were to examine it with your eyes, you will not find in it any rifts, will split asunder as if it were gates. And the Most Merciful ﷻ will roll it up.
“And the mountains shall be moved away from their places and they will be as if they were a mirage.” (78:20) On the Day of Judgment, these stong mountains will be grounded until it becomes like wool and then it becomes like the floating particles of dust you see floating against the light. If you open the window and the light enters, you see particles of dust floating. On the Day of Judgment, these mountains will be like floating particles of dust and move away with a horrible movement. The wind will carry it after it was firmly grounded mountains. So, the person from afar will see a mirage. He will assume it is water, but if he comes to it, he will not find anything. Indeed, it is a tremendous Day! On this Day, the conditions will change by the power of Allāh ﷻ in order to shift the people to the Day of Recompense, to the Day that they were promised, where everyone will see what they put forth in the worldly life. He will see it in the Hereafter.
O Noble brothers… On this tremendous Day, the people are divided into the people of wretchedness and they are the people of the Hell fire, and into the people of bliss and they are the people of Paradise. Therefore, our Lord ﷻ says:
“Truly, Hell is a place of ambush.” (78:21) Truly, the Hell fire, whose heat is severe, and whose torment is great, whose bottom is far, is a place of ambush. It lies in wait for its people. And who are its people? Our Lord ﷻ says: “For the transgressors, a place of return.” (78:22) Its people are the transgressors, those that relinquished the Truth and didn’t adhere to it but they followed falsehood. They are the polytheists and disobedient of the monotheists that Allāh ﷻ willed to punish from His Justice.
“They will abide therein for ages.” (78:23) They will remain there for an extremely long time. This is if they are from the polytheists. Indeed, they will remain there forever. Every time a long period of time ends, another one begins. They will not die in it nor be taken out of it. The torment will not be alleviated from them. And they will never get accustomed to its torment! Rather, the torment is renewed upon them every moment! And Allāh’s refuge is sought! If they are from the disobedient monotheists, and Allāh wants to punish them from His Justice, then they will be there for some time. As Allāh ﷻ wills. Then they come out of it. However, the Hell-fire is unbearable. Indeed, mankind cannot bear a single moment in the Hell-fire. A man who lived a life full of bounties in the worldly life will come on the Day of Judgment. He will be dipped once in the Hell-fire. It will be said to him: Have you ever experienced any bounties? He will say: No! I never experienced any bounties. So, if a single dip in the Hell-fire will make him forget about all of the bounties in the worldly life, then what about for the one who enters the Hell-fire and who is enveloped by the fire. And Allāh’s refuge is sought. If the person with the lightest torment is a man who has two pieces of coal under the soles of his feet which makes his brains boil and Allāh’s refuge is sought, then how about an individual who enters into it even if it’s just for a moment? Then how about an individual who remains there for a long time. Allāh’s refuge is sought from His torment.
“Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink.” (78:24) Nothing cool shall they taste therein which is beneficial that will cool their bodies down. If any coolness were to come, then it would be ‘Zamharir’ that would come that they would be punished with, Allāh’s refuge is sought. They will not taste in it any cool drinks that would cool down their insides. Their bodies from the outside will be hot and tormented. And their bodies from the inside will be hot and tormented. If one of them were to ask for help, he would be given water like boiling oil. If it were to come near his face, it will burn his face and it will peel off the flesh of his face. If he were to drink it, it would sever his intestines.
“Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink.” (78:24) “Except boiling water, and fluid intensely cold.” (78:25) “Except boiling water, which is extremely hot water that has reached its limit in its heat. If it is poured over him, it would peel off his skin. If he drinks it, it would sever his intestines. …and fluid that is intensely cold is extremely cold that if it were to be brought close to their faces, it would tear apart their face! If it were to enter into their insides, it would sever their insides. And from this fluid that is intensely cold is the dirty wound discharges of the people of the Hell-fire. The people of the Hell-fire gather in a place and drink from it and Allāh’s refuge is sought. This is the condition of some of them. We seek refuge from Allāh’s torment and from the Hell-fire!
“An exact recompense.” (78:26) They are only being recompensed for their actions. Allāh ﷻ does not oppress them in the least bit. So, this is an exact recompense for their actions in their worldly life. Allāh ﷻ does not oppress the people in the least bit in regards to where they are.
“Indeed, they were not expecting an account.” (78:27) They used to live in the worldly life as if they were not going to be resurrected. They did not expect to be held accountable on the Day of Judgment. So, they lived in the worldly life like animals. They did what they desired. And they did not have Taqwa of Allāh ﷻ.
“And denied Our verses with [emphatic] denial.” (78:28) The Qur’ān came to them filled with warnings but they did not take heed! They hear the Qur’ān prohibiting them from adultery and fornication but they did not refrain. They hear the Qur’ān prohibiting them from lying, but they did not refrain. They hear the Qur’ān prohibiting them from back-biting, but they did not refrain. And from them are those that outrightly deny the Qur’ān and they are from the disbelievers and polytheists.
“And all things We have recorded in a Book.” (78:29) Allāh ﷻ recorded all things before it took place. And it is written after it took place. Before it took place, it was written in the Preserved Tablet. Allāh ﷻ recorded it. The Pen recorded what will happen until the Day of Judgment by the command of Allāh. And it is written after it took place. So, every person has a book where his deeds are recorded! It doesn’t leave out anything minor nor major.
So their recompense is the Hell-fire and they will be addressed: “So taste you (the results of your evil actions); no increase shall We give you, except in torment.” (78:30) There is no relief! There is no death! There is no sleep! Rather, the torment is continuous! And we seek refuge from His torment! And we ask Him to be from those who possess Taqwa! And we ask Him to not make us from the wretched disobedient ones! We seek refuge from this evil affair.
As for the blissful ones, they are the people of obedience and Taqwa, those that believe in Allāh, the Last Day, His torment and fear Him. “Verily, for the Muttaqun, there will be a success.” (78:31) Verily, for the people who possess Taqwa is the greatest success. For them is Paradise. In it, Allāh has prepared for His righteous slaves that which no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and that which has never crossed the mind.
From its bounties are: “Gardens and grapevines.” (78:32) Everyone of the people of Paradise will have personal gardens of trees that he will not share with anyone else. He might have two gardens or he might have more than that. In these personal gardens that will not be shared with anyone, are grapevines, trellis of grapevines they will enjoy. And the people of agriculture acknowledge that trellis of grapevines are what brings joy to the eyes and heart.
And in it is more beauty: “And young full-breasted (mature) maidens of equal age.” (78:33) In it, he will have a spouse or many spouses, youthful, and you won’t find any ugliness in their bodies. Their breasts are propped up. They are neither loose nor sagging. And they are of one age. There are no old women in Paradise.
“And a full cup.” (78:34) With a pure drink, pure wine, pure honey, pure water and pure milk. A full cup. It comes to the individual full. He drinks a pure drink. He doesn’t exhaust himself in trying to attain it. He doesn’t feel any discomfort while drinking it and there are no any negative effects after drinking it. Indeed, it is everlasting bliss! By Allāh, if the people spent their entire lives trying to purchase this bliss, he wouldn’t be in loss. So what is the case, when our Generous Lord ﷻ only requests from us a little and He recompenses us with a lot. By Allāh, Allāh doesn’t destroy anyone except the one who destroyed himself. And it is the truth, that everyone from the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ will enter into Paradise except the one who refuses. Whoever obeys the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, and this is an easy affair for the one whom Allāh has made it easy for, will enter Paradise. Whoever disobeys Muhammad ﷺ, then he has refused to enter Paradise. And he has oppressed himself and Allāh doesn’t oppress the people in the least. O brothers, that which is amazing from us is that we hear the bliss of Paradise and are certained regarding it, and we don’t hasten to work for it. So, one doesn’t repent from his sin nor does he try to perfect his actions. From the most amazing affairs is that one of us hears the likes of these verses while he is upon sin, and the thought of hastening to repent to Allāh doesn’t even cross his mind. He procrastinates in doing righteous deeds and he doesn’t hasten towards Allāh ﷻ to perform them. I ask Allāh to make our hearts alive and to make us from His righteous slaves.
“No ill speech will they hear therein or any falsehood.” (78:35) From the bliss of the people of Paradise is that they will not listen to anything except statements that are righteous. They will not hear any speech that have no benefit in it. They will not hear any lies nor any accusations. If one of them speaks to his companion, he would believe him. If his companion speaks to him, he would believe him. There is nothing in Paradise except truthfulness. There is no doubt that from the affairs that are loathesome to the lives of the people is to gather with chatterboxes that don’t produce any benefit in their speech. And to gather with liars that when they speak to him, they lie to him. And when they speak, he doesn’t believe them.
“A reward from your Lord, an ample calculated gift.” (78:36) This bliss it is only a reward from Allāh. And it is not in accordance to their deeds. Rather, it is a gift and favor from Allāh. A good deed is multiplied tenfold until seven hundred. Allāh multiplies it for whomever He wills.
“(From) the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and whatsoever is in between them, the Most Beneficent, none can dare to speak with Him (on the Day of Resurrection except after His Leave).” (78:37) On the Day of Judgment, you will not hear anything except the low sounds of their footsteps. And no one will be able to speak except by the permission of Allāh ﷻ.
On that Day, Jibrīl (عليه السلام) and all the angels will stand in rows in humility towards Allāh ﷻ. “…they will not speak except for one whom the Most Merciful permits, and he will say what is correct.” (78:38) So, on the Day of Judgment, no one will intercede, regardless of his virtue, except if Allāh ﷻ permits for him to intercede and that He ﷻ is pleased with the one he is interceding for. So, intercession is not sought except from Allāh ﷻ.
The Day where all of these affairs will take place, “That is the True Day;” which there is no doubt. And you know, the signs “so he who wills may take to his Lord a [way of] return.” (78:39) He chooses for himself a recourse. Is he from the wretched due to polytheism and disobedience? Or is he from the blissful due to obedience and Taqwa? Allāh has clarified it for you! And has showed you the two paths. Contemplate O slave of Allāh, which path are you upon!
“Verily, We have warned you of a near torment.” (78:40) Indeed, the torment that is mentioned in regards to the Day of Judgment is near without doubt. And everything that is coming is near. And the reckoning of the people has come near.
the Day when man will see that (the deeds) which his hands have sent forth… on that Day, the individual will see that which his hands have sent forth. And he will remember all of what he sent forth. He will not forget anything. Whereby the successful will be given his book in his right hand. And the wretched will be given his book in his left hand from behind his back.
… and the disbeliever will say: When he sees that Day “Woe to me! Would that I were dust!” (78:40) Woe to me! If only I had not been created! Rather, if only I had remained as dust and I not had been created as a human. Woe to me! On this Day of Judgment. If only I was like the cattle, wherein they will get their retribution over each other. Then, Allāh ﷻ will say to it: Be dust! … and the disbeliever will say: And he will have certain knowledge that he will be tormented severely in the Hell-fire. “Woe to me! Would that I were like (the cattle) dust!” (78:40) So, that I don’t enter the Hell-fire. And that happening is very far-fetched!
O noble brothers, Allāh has clarified for us, and has established for us the proofs, and has warned us, so are we from those that are admonished? Are we from those that benefit? Are we from those that return to our Lord? Will any of us here stand up from our place and make sincere repentance, and abandon our sins, and turn to the Knower of the unseen? Or are we, and Allāh’s refuge is sought, from those whose hearts have hardened that we don’t benefit from admonishments until death comes, on the Day where neither Imān nor repentance will benefit them, when death approaches and the slave is facing death and the soul reaches the throat? Allāh’s refuge is sought from an evil condition. So, I advise myself and my brothers with the Taqwa of Allāh, and to benefit from the admonishments of Allāh, and to return to Allāh, and to perfect our actions. Indeed, this worldly life and whatever is left of it is very short. Allāh knows best when it will end and death doesn’t discriminate between the young and the old. Maymūn ibn Mahrān looked at his gathering one day that is similar to yours. He saw elders whose beards have become grey. So, he said, “O group of elders! The crops haven’t ripened, so what are you waiting for? So, they said, “The harvest.” Then he looked at the youth and he said, “O group of youth! Indeed, the crops have been destroyed before its time of harvest.” So, how many youths have died early in their lives? Upon us is to have Taqwa of Allāh, and to perfect our actions. Indeed, death is near us. And that which is after death is near us. So, we ask Allāh for our affairs to be good. And we seek refuge from our affairs being evil.
So, these are some brief points of reflection from Allāh’s admonishments for us. I ask Allāh to benefit me and you with it. In conclusion, I advise myself and you with the Taqwa of Allāh and to frequently recite the Qur’ān and contemplate over it. Glad tidings for the one who makes the Qur’ān his companion. Allāh is the Most High and knows best. May Allāh send His Peace and Blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad.
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