Tafsir Surah Al-Mulk: Ayah 21-25

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Al-Mulk - 67:21

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Then Allah says

أَمَّنْ هَذَا الَّذِي يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُ

Who is it that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision?

Meaning, who is it that can provide for you if Allah cuts off your sustenance There is no one who gives, withholds, creates, provides and helps other than Allah alone, Who has no partner. This proves that they know this, yet they still worship others besides Him.


Thus, Allah says,

بَل لَّجُّوا 

Nay, but they continue

Meaning, they persist in their transgression, lying and misguidance.


فِي عُتُوٍّ وَنُفُورٍ 

To be in pride, and flee

Meaning, they continue in obstinance, arrogance and fleeing away from the truth. They do not listen to it nor do they follow it.



Al-Mulk - 67:22



The Parable of the Disbeliever and the Believer 

Then Allah says,

أَفَمَن يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَى وَجْهِهِ أَهْدَى أَمَّن يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path?

This is a parable which Allah made of the believer and the disbeliever. So the condition of the disbeliever is like one who walks prone on his face. This is like a person walking bent over on his face (with his head down) instead of walking upright. This person does not know where he is going or how. Rather, he is lost, astray and confused. Is this person more guided, or he who walks upright 

(أَمَّن يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا)

Meaning, he who stands erect on a straight path 


(عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ) 

Meaning, this person who walks upright is on a clear path, and he is straight within himself while his path is straight as well.

This is their likeness in this world, and their likeness will be the same in the Hereafter. So the believer will be gathered (on the Day of Judgement) walking upright upon the straight path and the vast and spacious Paradise will be opened up for him. However, the disbeliever will be gathered walking down on his face to the Hellfire.


احْشُرُواْ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَأَزْوَجَهُمْ وَمَا كَانُواْ يَعْبُدُونَ

مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَاهْدُوهُمْ إِلَى صِرَطِ الْجَحِيمِ

Assemble those who did wrong, together with their companions and what they used to worship 

instead of Allah, and lead them on to the way of flaming Fire. 

(37:22,23)

"Companions" here means those like them.


Imam Ahmad recorded from Anas bin Malik that it was said, "O Messenger of Allah! How will the people be gathered on their faces" 

So the Prophet replied,

أَلَيْسَ الَّذِي أَمْشَاهُمْ عَلَى أَرْجُلِهِمْ قَادِرًا عَلَى أَنْ يُمْشِيَهُمْ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِم

"Is not He who made them to walk on their legs able to make them walk on their faces"

This Hadith is also recorded in the Two Sahihs.



Al-Mulk - 67:23



Allah's Power to create and It being an Evidence of the Final Abode 

Allah says

قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي أَنشَأَكُمْ 

Say it is He Who has created you

Meaning, He initiated your creation after you were not even a thing worth mentioning (i.e., nothing).


Then He says, 

وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالاَْبْصَارَ وَالاَْفْيِدَةَ 

And endowed you with hearing and seeing, and hearts

Meaning, intellects and powers of reasoning.


قَلِيلً مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ 

Little thanks you give

Meaning, how little you use these abilities that Allah has blessed you with to obey Him, to act according to His commandments, and avoid His prohibitions



Al-Mulk - 67:24



قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي ذَرَأَكُمْ فِي الاَْرْضِ 

Say: "It is He Who has created you on the earth..." 

Meaning, He has spread and distributed you all throughout the various regions and areas of the earth with your differing languages, colors, shapes, appearances and forms.


وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ 

And to Him shall you be gathered

Meaning, you all will come together after this separation and division. He will gather you all just as He separated you and He will bring you back again just as He originated you.



Al-Mulk - 67:25



Then while informing of the disbelievers who reject the final return, and doubt concerning its real occurrence, Allah said;

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

They say: "When will this promise come to pass if you are telling the truth" 

Meaning, 'when will this gathering after separation that you are informing us of, occur.


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