26.

Sura Shuaraa (or The Poets)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The Qur-an is a revealed Scripture. Its verses are true and are clearly
explained. It may be that you (O Muhammad) torment yourself because they
(Pegan of Mecca) could not be brought to believe. If it had been God’s Will
and Plan to force people’s will, He could easily have done that. But His Will
and Plan work differently. They may laugh at God’s Message of righteousness,
but they will soon see the power of Truth which they rejected. They have only
to look around at the physical and moral world around them. They would see
Signs of their Lord all around them. And Lo! Your Lord, He is indeed the
Mighty, the Merciful.

Recall (O Muhammad) when Moses was ordered to go to the wicked

people of Pharaoh. He was afraid as they would definitely call him a liar and
that his heart and tongue might fail him. Further, he was an accused person
before them, as such the might kill him. So, commission my brother Aaron
with me. The request was granted and further told that by no means Pharaoh
could ever harm them. They were ordered to proceed with his Signs and tell
Pharaoh that he was there by the Command of the Lord and Cherisher of the
worlds. Ask him to permit the Children of Israel to leave with him. Pharaoh
said to Moses that was he not cherished by him and that he also committed a
murder? Moses replied in affirmation and said he escaped on that account but
later his Lord imparted knowledge to him and appointed him as one of the
apostles. Pharaoh called Moses as an ungrateful and reproached him with all
his favours. Moses then said to him that was it a favour that he had enslaved
his brethren – the Children of Israel? Pharaoh then asked Moses to describe
his Lord to him. Moses answered: He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth,
east and west, and all that is between them. He is also your Lord and Lord of
your fathers from the beginning; and any other pretensions are false! The
statement of Moses must have pricked Pharaoh who mockingly turned towards
his chiefs and said that certainly this “apostle”, commissioned to them was a
mad man. He then declared that if they took a god other than him then
certainly he would make them prisoners. To make them believe the Truth,
Moses showed the two God-given Signs.

Although inpressed and dazzled by the miraculous exhibition of the

Signs, Pharaoh accused Moses as a master magician. He expressed his
apprehension that Moses was there to raise a revolt, so as to expel them all
from their own country and seize power by his magic craft. It was then finally
decided to test Moses, so called, magic against those of the top experts of the
country. For the purpose, a day was fixed. All assembled for the grand bout –
expert magicians on one side and Moses on the other. Moses invited them to
put out whatever they wanted to do. Then the magicians threw down their
ropes, staffs, etc. (they became hissing serpents, presented a fake frightful
spectacle in the arena). When they had exhausted out their tricks, Moses was
invited to show his craft.
 Moses then casted down his staff. This became a dreadful dragon and
in no time swallowed up what they had faked. Seeing this spectacle sight, the
magicians fell down prostrate and said that they believed in the Lord of the
Worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron. Pharaoh was furious at this and they
declared their belief in Moses without his permission. To him it seemed that
Moses was their Chief magician; and that he would cut off their hands and feet
and crucify them. On this they replied that it mattered little to them as they
would return to their Lord and they were sure He would forgive their sins and
that they were the first believers of Faith.

By inspiration, God told Moses to leave the place in the darkness of the
night with his followers. But they would be safe from any harm. When
Pharaoh detected the escape of the Bani Israel’s he sent out his staff to
organize a formidable pursuing party and to brief the people that the fugitives
were just a few and unarmed. And that they had deeply provoked them by
taking away their ornaments which they had borrowed on a false pretext. On
the other hand they were superior to them in number and equipment. So they
pursued them with a huge army at sunrise. To escape from the chasing army,
they have to cross over the sea. By inspiration God directed Moses to strike
the water with his rod. As done, the sea was into two parts and a firm path
appeared in between. Moses with his followers, crossed over the path. Their
followers were on the path in chase. Lo! all of a sudden the two parts of the
sea joined together and Pharaoh and his party were drowned. Truly in this
story is a Sign of your Lord: Indeed your Lord is He the Exalted in Might,
Most Merciful. But most of them are not believers.

And recite to them the story of Abraham. He patiently argued with his
father and the people about God’s Truth. He asked them what benefit or harm
they got from worshipping the idols. They answered him that they saw their
elders worshipping those idols. Abraham then told them that those were enemy
to him, except the Lord of the Worlds who created, guided, sustains him.
When sick, He is the One who gave him health and when dead, will again give
him life, forgive him his sins on the Day of Judgement. Abraham prayed to his
Lord to bestow wisdom on him and join him with the righteous people. He
further prayed God to put him on the honourable reference among the
posterity; and to make him one of the inheritors of the Gardens of bliss; to
forgive his father, although he was the astray; and not to disgrace him on the
Day of Resurrection, the Day when wealth and sons shall not benefit – except
him who brings to God a sound heart (which is free from disbelief and
aberration) whom You will appreciate and reward. Abraham’s description of
the Day of Judgement is continued as under:

 The Garden shall be brought near to the reverant, –

 The flaming fire (i.e. Hell) shall be exposed to the view of the astray, –
 And it would be said to them: where are they whom you worshipped?”
 “beside God? Can they help you or defend themselves?”
 Then shall they be thrown head long in it – they and all the erring (ones) ,
–
 And the hosts of Iblis, all together.
 They would say while disputing (among themselves):
 “By God! We were indeed in a manifest error” –
 When we held you as equal with the Lord of the Worlds”.
 “And we were not misguided except by the guilty (ones)”
 Accordingly we have none of the intercessors” , –
 “nor a sincere, feeling friend”.
 “would that there be a return for us! Then we would be of the believers”.
 Indeed there is a sign in it, but most of them are not believers.
 And verily your Lord, He is the Al-Mighty, Most Merciful.

The people of Noah also rejected apostles. Their brother Noah said to
them that he was an apostle to them and was worthy to be trusted. So fear God
and obey him (Noah) and that he did not ask for any reward from them as his
reward was with the Lord of the Worlds. He further argued with them that
since as a man he was sincerely interested in them being their brother, and as
an apostle he was extremely conscientious and selfless. He advised them, in
their own interests, to fear God, believe in his mission and reform themselves.
Noohites told him that those who believed in him were the meanest of the
society. Noah’s appeal, however failed in its objective; and warned to desist
from his preachings, else they would stone him to death. Finally, when Noah
was exhausted and dejected with the people, he said to his Lord that they had
rejected him and requested to judge openly between him and them and deliver
him and those of the Believers who were with him. So, God heard Noah’s
plaint. He delivered him and his followers, in the Ark, filled (with pairs of
creatures); and drowned all those who remained behind. Truly, in this is a Sign
of God: But most of people do not understand. Verily, your Lord is He, the
Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

The ’Ad people rejected the apostles. God’s Message was conveyed to
them through Hud, who was their brothern. There was usual repetition rounds
of argument between Hud and the people. Hud said to them that he was an
apostle sent to them who was worthy of their trust. His message was to fear
God, and obey him. For this service, he would not ask for any reward from
them as his reward was with the Lord of the Worlds. Hud said to them that
they were awfully materialists, believed in brute force, felt secured in their
fortresses and resources; and built monuments to exhibit their might, glory and
craft. Hud admonished them to fear God who aided them with knowledge and
technology of which they were proud. The Lord also bestowed on them sons,
cattle, gardens, springs, etc, etc. But Hud was afraid for them to be punished
by the Lord as they were the transgressors. They replied that it would be same
whether he admonished them or not, that it was customary device of the
ancients and they were secured from any pain or penalty. Thus ’Ads rejected
him and God destroyed the disobedient. Verily in this is a Sign: But most of
them do not believe. Truly, your Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most
Merciful.

The Thamud people also rejected the apostles. Their brothern Salih,
admonished them to fear God and obey him as he was a trustworthy apostle to
them from the Lord. That he did not ask for any recompense from them as his
reward was with the Lord of the Worlds. He further questioned them: Would
they think secured amids the things around them, i.e. the gardens, springs,
corn fields, date-palm trees, houses craftly carved from the rocks? No, not at
all; said Salih. As such, they should fear God and obey him and avoid the
people who create disorder on earth and were transgressors. The people
replied to Salih that he was one of the bewitched, a mere human being like
themselves, should bring a Sign in his defence. Salih said to them that a she-
camel was with him as a Sign from his Lord. She to be watered on agreed days
while their flocks on the others. Further, they were advised not to touch the
animal with any wicked intentions, lest the punishment of a momentous day
may seize them. Notwithstanding they hamstrung her, and later they were
regretful for their heinous act of violence to the animal. However, God’s wrath
seized them and the transgressors were destroyed. Verily, in it was a Sign, but
most of them were not believers. Truly your Lord, He is the Al-Mighty, the
Merciful!

The people of Lut rejected the apostles. Their brother Lut said to them
that he was to them a trustworthy apostle and that they should fear God and
obey to him and further he did not ask for any reward from them as his reward
was with the Lord of the Worlds. That they were the only people who go to the
males and forsake your spouses who were for the males. That they were
committing heinous crimes and were the transgressors. The people replied that
Lut should desist from sermonization of that sort or else he would be evicted
from their society. Lut then prayed to his Lord to deliever him and his family
from the divine consequences of what they were doing! Consequently, he and
his family, except an old woman, were delievered from the wrath of God.
They were destroyed by a rain (of brimstone). Indeed, in this is a Sign: but
most people do not understand. Verily your Lord is He, the Exalted in Might,
Most Merciful.

The Companions of the Wood rejected their apostles. Shu’aib said to

them that he was a trustworthy apostle to them for their guidance. Hence fear
God, who created them and the people earlier to them; and obey him. That he
did not ask for any reward from them, as his reward was with the Lord of the
Worlds. Further, they should give full measure, with a straight balance, and
should not give less to people of their things and be not of those who cause
loss to others. Further more, should not move about on the earth as the
mischief-makers. The people’s reply was that he was one of the bewitched
person and they considered him as a liar as he was but a human being like
themselves. They further added that if Shu’aib was truthful, he should cause
pieces of sky to fall over them! Shua’ib replied to them that his God was
conscious of what they did. Thus the people rejected their apostle and they
were seized by the punishment of the “Day of the Cloud” (perhaps a shower of
ashes and cinders accompanying a volcanic eruption accompanied by
earthquake). Verily in it is a sign, but most of them are not believers. And
verily your Lord – He is the Al-Mighty, the Merciful.

Truly, the Qur-an has been Revealed by the Lord of the Worlds. The
Trustworthy spirit (Gabriel) came down with it on his (Prophet’s) heart, in
plain Arabic language, so that he may understand clearly. The reference of this
Book was also in earlier scriptures. Was it not adequate for the learned off-
springs of Israel to know it as true? Even if Qur-an was revealed to a non-Arab
to recite to them, yet they would have not believed in it. Thus God has caused
it (disbelief) to enter the hearts of the disbelievers. They will not believe it
until they witness the grievous Penalty. Then they will request for respite. But
there shall be no respite for them. And your Lord had destroyed none of the
towns but that they received the warners to admonish them, and they rejected
them. And god is not unjust. Evil spirits were intrinsically unfit to the bearer of
the Qur-anic verses. Such a beneficent message can never suit the purposes of
the evil ones, nor would it be in their power to produce it. Infact Good and
Evil are poles asunder, and Evil cannot even hear words of Good, of tender
Pity for sinners and Forgiveness for the penitent! So do not call any other god
with god, or you will be among those under the Penalty. Admonish your
nearest kinsmen, warn them to desist from polytheism whether relatives or
otherwise. Show grace to the believers and ignore those persisted in their
disbelief. Further, tell them clearly that what they were doing were abhorrent
to you (O Muhammad); and that you were not an invigilator over them. Put
your trust on the One Who is Exalted in Might, The Merciful. He sees you
praying – alone and in congregation. Verily He is the all-Hearing, All-
Knowing. Tell the people (O Muhammad) that the evil ones descend on every
sinner addicted to lying and the misguided persons who follow the poets.
Observe them, they wander distractedly in every wilderness (i.e. land). And
that they say what they do not practice themselves! – except those (poets) who
work righteous, believe in their Lord and the mission of the Prophet, were
upright in their expressions and actions, remember God most of the time; their
poems were in praise of God, Prophet and Islam; moderately act if required in
self-vindication and did not transgress. On the other side, the wrong doers will
have to reach the place of their destination – The Hell. It will be brought
nearer to them steadily by what they expressed in their poetry and talk and did
in practice.