Surah Qaaf 50
سُورَةُ قٓ“The letter Qaaf”45 Ayat
قٓ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ٱلْمَجِيدِ
Qaf. By the honored Qur'an...
بَلْ عَجِبُوٓا أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَقَالَ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا شَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ
But they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say, "This is an amazing thing.
أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا ذَٰلِكَ رَجْعٌ بَعِيدٌ
When we have died and have become dust, [we will return to life]? That is a distant return."
قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا تَنقُصُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مِنْهُمْ وَعِندَنَا كِتَٰبٌ حَفِيظٌ
We know what the earth diminishes of them, and with Us is a retaining record.
بَلْ كَذَّبُوا بِٱلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ فَهُمْ فِىٓ أَمْرٍ مَّرِيجٍ
But they denied the truth when it came to them, so they are in a confused condition.
أَفَلَمْ يَنظُرُوٓا إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوْقَهُمْ كَيْفَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّٰهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجٍ
Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and [how] it has no rifts?
وَٱلْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَٰهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ بَهِيجٍ
And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind,
تَبْصِرَةً وَذِكْرَىٰ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِيبٍ
Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].
وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً مُّبَٰرَكًا فَأَنبَتْنَا بِهِ جَنَّٰتٍ وَحَبَّ ٱلْحَصِيدِ
And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky and made grow thereby gardens and grain from the harvest
وَٱلنَّخْلَ بَاسِقَٰتٍ لَّهَا طَلْعٌ نَّضِيدٌ
And lofty palm trees having fruit arranged in layers -
رِّزْقًا لِّلْعِبَادِ وَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِ بَلْدَةً مَّيْتًا كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْخُرُوجُ
As provision for the servants, and We have given life thereby to a dead land. Thus is the resurrection.
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ
The people of Noah denied before them, and the companions of the well and Thamud
وَعَادٌ وَفِرْعَوْنُ وَإِخْوَٰنُ لُوطٍ
And 'Aad and Pharaoh and the brothers of Lot
وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ
And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubba'. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.
أَفَعَيِينَا بِٱلْخَلْقِ ٱلْأَوَّلِ بَلْ هُمْ فِى لَبْسٍ مِّنْ خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ
Did We fail in the first creation? But they are in confusion over a new creation.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ ٱلْوَرِيدِ
And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein
إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ
When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left.
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ
Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].
وَجَآءَتْ سَكْرَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ بِٱلْحَقِّ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ
And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid.
وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْوَعِيدِ
And the Horn will be blown. That is the Day of [carrying out] the threat.
وَجَآءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ
And every soul will come, with it a driver and a witness.
لَّقَدْ كُنتَ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَٰذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ
[It will be said], "You were certainly in unmindfulness of this, and We have removed from you your cover, so your sight, this Day, is sharp."
وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُ هَٰذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيدٌ
And his companion, [the angel], will say, "This [record] is what is with me, prepared."
أَلْقِيَا فِى جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ
[Allah will say], "Throw into Hell every obstinate disbeliever,
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ مُّرِيبٍ
Preventer of good, aggressor, and doubter,
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَأَلْقِيَاهُ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلشَّدِيدِ
Who made [as equal] with Allah another deity; then throw him into the severe punishment."
قَالَ قَرِينُهُ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطْغَيْتُهُ وَلَٰكِن كَانَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍ بَعِيدٍ
His [devil] companion will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error."
قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا لَدَىَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِٱلْوَعِيدِ
[Allah] will say, "Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the warning.
مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا بِظَلَّٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
The word will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants."
يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍ
On the Day We will say to Hell, "Have you been filled?" and it will say, "Are there some more,"
وَأُزْلِفَتِ ٱلْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ
And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far,
هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ
[It will be said], "This is what you were promised - for every returner [to Allah] and keeper [of His covenant]
مَّنْ خَشِىَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَجَآءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُّنِيبٍ
Who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].
ٱدْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَٰمٍ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْخُلُودِ
Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity."
لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ
They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more.
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوا فِى ٱلْبِلَٰدِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ
And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?
إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى ٱلسَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ
Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍ
And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness.
فَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ ٱلْغُرُوبِ
So be patient, [O Muhammad], over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting,
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ
And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration.
وَٱسْتَمِعْ يَوْمَ يُنَادِ ٱلْمُنَادِ مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ
And listen on the Day when the Caller will call out from a place that is near -
يَوْمَ يَسْمَعُونَ ٱلصَّيْحَةَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْخُرُوجِ
The Day they will hear the blast [of the Horn] in truth. That is the Day of Emergence [from the graves].
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِ وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيْنَا ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination
يَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلْأَرْضُ عَنْهُمْ سِرَاعًا ذَٰلِكَ حَشْرٌ عَلَيْنَا يَسِيرٌ
On the Day the earth breaks away from them [and they emerge] rapidly; that is a gathering easy for Us.
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِجَبَّارٍ فَذَكِّرْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ 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.
The Beginning of Muffasal Section of the Qur'an
This Surah is the first Surah in the Mufassal section of the Qur'an, according to the correct view. It is said that the Mufassal starts with Surat Al-Hujurat. Some common people say that the Mufassal starts with Surah 'Amma An-Naba, (chapter 78), however, this is not true because none of the respected scholars ever supported this opinion.
Aws (bin Hudhayfah) said; "I asked the Companions of Allah's Messenger ﷺ how they divided the Qur'an. They said; 'Three, five, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, and the Mufassal section as one.'"
This was recorded by Ibn Majah and Imam Ahmad.
If one counts forty-eight Surahs, the next Surah will be Surah Qaf. The details are as follows: The [first] three Surahs are Al-Baqarah (chapter 2), Al 'Imran (3), then An-Nisa' (4). The five are Al-Ma'idah (5), Al-An'am (6), Al-A'raf (7), Al-Anfal (8) and Bara'ah (or At-Tawbah)(9). The seven next Surahs are Surah Yunus (10), Hud (11), Yusuf (12), Ar-Ra'd (13), Ibrahim (14), Al-Hijr (15) and An-Nahl (16). The nine next Surahs are, Subhan (or Al-Isra' (17)], Al-Kahf (18), Maryam (19), Ta Ha (20), Al-Anbiya' (21), Al-Hajj (22), Al-Mu'minun (23), An-Nur (24) and Al-Furqan (25). The next eleven Surahs are Surat Ash-Shu'ara (26), An-Naml (27), Al-Qasas (28), Al-'Ankabut (29), Ar-Rum (30), Luqman (31), Alif Lam Mim As-Sajdah (32), Al-Ahzab (33), Saba' (34), Fatir (35) and Ya Sin (36). The next thirteen are Surat As-Saffat (37), Sad (38), Az-Zumar (39), Ghafir (40), Ha Mim As-Sajdah (or Fussilat)(41), Ash-Shura (42), Az-Zukhruf (43), Ad-Dukhan (44), Al-Jathiyah (45), Al-Ahqaf (46), Al-Qital (or Muhammad)(47), Al-Fath (48) and Al-Hujurat (49).
After that comes the Mufassal section, according to the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all.
Therefore, Surah Qaf (chapter 50) is the first of the Mufassal, just as we stated, and all praise is due to Allah and all favors are from Him.
The Virtues of Surah Qaf
Imam Ahmad recorded that 'Umar bin Al-Khattab asked Abu Waqid Al-Laythi, "What did the Prophet ﷺ recite during the 'Id Prayer?" Abu Waqid said, "Surah Qaf and Surat Iqtarabat [i.e. Surat Al-Qamar (54)]." Muslim and the Four Collectors of the Sunan collected this Hadith.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Umm Hisham bint Harithah said, "For around two years, or a year and a part of another year, our oven and the oven of the Prophet ﷺ was one and the same. I memorized Surah,
ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ
(Qaf. By the Glorious Qur'an.) from the tongue of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who used to recite it every Friday while standing on the Minbar delivering the Friday sermon to the people." Muslim collected this Hadith.
Abu Dawud also recorded that the daughter of Al-Harith bin An-Nu'man said, "I only memorized Surah Qaf from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who used to recite it in every Friday Khutbah. Our oven and the oven of the Messenger ﷺ was one and the same." Muslim and An-Nasa'i collected this Hadith.
Therefore, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite this Surah during large gatherings such as the 'Ids and during Friday sermons. He did so because this Surah contains news of the beginning of creation, Resurrection, the Return, Standing (before Allah), the Reckoning, Paradise, the Fire, Allah's reward and punishment, lessons of encouragement, and lessons of discouragement. Allah knows best.
Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — the surah's virtues, naming and revelation context.