Tafseer (Commentary) of Surah Yaseen (Part 11)
- And the Trumpet will be blown (i.e. the second blowing) and behold! From the graves they will come out quickly to their Lord.
The commentators have stated that this verse speaks about the second sound of the trumpet. When this happens, the graves will open and the dead bodies will rise up and walk quickly to their Lord. While commenting on this verse (v. 51), the great exegete, Imam Qurtubi writes, ‘This is the second blowing of the trumpet. We have already explained in Sura Naml that there are two blowings of the trumpet and not three. This verse gives an evidence for this. Mubarak bin Fadhala has narrated from Hasan that he narrated that the Prophet (S.A) said, ‘There will be a span of forty years between the two blowings of the trumpet. Through the first blowing, Allah will cause every living being to die, and with the second blowing, Allah will cause every dead being to live again’. (Tafseer Al Qurtubi vol.15 pg. 38 Maktaba Rasheediya Queta Pakistan)
Verse 52 goes further to mention what the unbelievers will say when they will come out of their graves. The verse states:
- They will say: “Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of sleep.” (It will be said to them): “This is what the Most Beneficent (Allah) had promised, and the Messengers spoke truth!”
It means that, at that time, they will enquire as to who had raised them and taken them out from their place of sleep. They will be sad that they are out of their graves and will say, ‘Oh! Woe unto us, who has taken us out from our graves’. Here, they will refer to their graves as a place of sleep since they will realize that the punishment that awaits them on the Day of Judgement will be more severe than that which they experienced in their graves. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer vol.5 pg. 286 Dar Al Kitab Al Arabiya)
In response to their query, the angels or the believers will say to them, ‘This is what the Most Gracious (Allah) had promised, and the Messengers have spoken the truth’. They will be told that what they will experience of the resurrection after death, the accounting and the requital, are from among those matters which Allah had promised, and the Messengers were truthful in conveying such information to them.
SuraYaseen continues in verse 53 and states:
- It will be but a single Saihah (shout, etc.), so behold! They will all be brought up before Us!
Here, Allah makes it clear to the unbelievers that the matter of Resurrection is nothing difficult for Him. It is only one shout which will be given by Israfeel (A.S) and with that, everyone will be gathered before Him.
According to the commentators, the ‘shout’ which is mentioned in the verse refers to the statement of Israfeel (A.S) which he will utter to the dead bodies. He will address the bodies and say, ‘O rotten bones; disconnected joints; separated parts and shredded hairs, your Lord has ordered you to gather for the decision of His decree’. Upon this, he will then blow the trumpet, and with it, all will be gathered on the plain of Reckoning’.
It is about this, Allah says in Sura Qaaf, ‘The Day when they will hear the shout in truth; that will be the Day of coming out (from the graves)’. (Sura Qaaf verse 42)(Tafseer Al Qurtubi vol.15 pg. 40, 41; Hashiya As Saawi vol.3 pg. 328; Safwah At Tafaseer vol.13 pg. 56, 57).
SuraYaseen goes further in verse 54 and states:
- This Day (Day of Resurrection), none will be wronged in anything, nor will you be requited anything except that which you used to do.
The verse speaks about the Day of Judgement and tells us that on that Day no soul shall be wronged. No injustice and unfairness will be shown to anyone. Whosoever has done an atom’s weight of good shall see it, and whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil/bad/sin shall also see it. No one will pay for the deeds of another, and no one will receive less than what he deserves of rewards and goodness. On that Day, every person shall be requited for what he did of good or bad.
As mentioned by some commentators, the above statement of the verse will be said to the unbelievers on the Day of Judgement when they see the punishment which has been prepared for them. At that time they will be told, ‘This Day none will be wronged in anything, nor will you be requited anything except that which you used to do’. This will be said to them as a confirmation of what they used to hear about the punishment in the Hereafter, and as a rebuke to them. (Safwah At Tafseer vol.13 pg. 57 Dar Al Quran Al Kareem Beirut 1981)
Having mentioned about the Day of Judgement and the nature of justice which will be done on that Day, Allah goes further in SuraYaseen to mention the states of the fortunate believers and the unfortunate unbelievers. He mentions that which will take place in the Hereafter when each group will go towards that which has been prepared for them of rewards (blessings) or punishments. Some commentators have mentioned that these verses bear statements which will be said to the believers and unbelievers on the Day of Judgement. Narrating these statements is meant to increase one’s certainty and belief in the matters of the Hereafter, and an encouragement to do deeds of goodness and righteousness.
In this regard, Allah says about the believers in verses 55-58:
- Verily, the dwellers of the Paradise, that Day, will be busy in joyful things.
- They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones.
- They will have therein fruits (of all kinds) and all that they ask for.
- (It will be said to them): Salamun (peace be on you), a Word from the Lord (Allah), Most Merciful.
These verses explain the joy and happiness the believers will be in on the Day of Reckoning. Verse 55 mentions that they will be busy with joyful things. They will have happiness of their hearts and happiness of their surroundings. They will be extremely happy and delighted with the bounties which they will receive from Allah. The fruits, foods and drinks of Paradise will bring joy, felicity and bliss to them. They will be so pre-occupied with the pleasures of Paradise that it will make them totally unaffected by the punishments in the fire of Hell. In Paradise, there will be no pain, grief and worry. They will be free from every thought of being punished in the fire of Hell. Their pre-occupation in the joys of Paradise would make them inattentive and oblivious of what will take place with the dwellers of Hell. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer vol.5 pg. 286 Dar Al Kitab Al Arabi; Tafseer Al Bahr Al Muheet vol.9 pg. 75 Dar Al Fikr Beirut 1992)
Verse 56 mentions that while in the eternal bliss of Paradise, the dwellers in Paradise will be with their wives in shade while reclining on thrones. They would be under the shade of the trees in Paradise with their wives (from the world and of Paradise) on raised couches which have been woven with gold and precious stones.
Verse 57 explains that for the people of Paradise, there will be fruits of all kinds and they will have whatever they ask for. Fruits of every type will be made available to them which they will have full access to. Besides this, whatever they desire, they will get it in Paradise. Another verse explains this and states, ‘And in Paradise, there shall be whatever the hearts desire and whatever pleases the eyes’. (Sura Zukhruf verse 71)
While in Paradise, the dwellers will be honoured to receive the greeting of peace from Allah and from the angels. Some commentators of the Holy Quran have stated that Allah will greet the people of Paradise with the greetings of peace via the angels, and will also do so directly. This will be done in recognition of their exalted position and will also be the desire of the people in Paradise. Abdullah bin Abbas (R.A) says, ‘The angels will come to them with greetings from their Lord’. (Tafseer Al Bahr Al Muheet vol.9 pg. 76 Dar Al Fikr Beirut 1992)
It is also narrated that the Prophet (S.A) said, ‘While the people of Paradise will be engrossed in the bounties of Paradise, a light will suddenly shine above them. They will then lift their heads and to their utter amazement they will behold their Lord, the High, who will look down upon them from above. Allah will say to them, ‘Assalaamu Alaikum O people of Paradise’. This is the verse in which it is stated, ‘Salaam, a word from the Lord, Most Merciful’. The Prophet (S.A) then said, ‘Allah will look at them, and they will look at Him. They will not turn their attention to anything from the bounties of Paradise as long as they keep on looking at Him. This will continue until Allah conceals Himself from them, but His light and barakah (blessings) shall remain with them in their homes in Paradise’. (Ibn Majah, Bazaar, Abu Nu’aim, Baihaqi – Tafseer Ibn Katheer vol.5 pg. 287 Dar Al Kitab Al Arabi Beirut)
Having mentioned the state of the fortunate, righteous believers and their state of joy in the bounties of Paradise, SuraYaseen goes further in verses 59-62 to highlight the woeful plight of the unbelievers.
Verses 59-62 state:
- (It will be said): “And O you Al–Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners, disbelievers, wicked evil ones, etc.)! Get you apart this Day (from the believers).
- Did I not ordain for you, O Children of Adam, that you should not worship Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is a plain enemy to you.
- And that you should worship Me. That is a Straight Path.
- And indeed he (Satan) did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did you not, then, understand?
These verses mention the statements which will be said to the unbelievers on the Day of Judgement. These will be said at the time when they will stand for questioning, and the believers will be ordered to go to Paradise. Allah will say to them, ‘O unbelievers and sinners! Separate yourselves and get apart from the believers’. Allah will order them to get apart and stand separate since all will be gathered together on the Day of Hashr (gathering). At that time, Allah will order them to be separate from the believers. When they would separate themselves, Allah will ask them in a rebuking manner, ‘Did I not order you and advised you through My Messengers that you must not obey Satan. You were told that he was your open enemy? Did I not order you to worship Me alone and that you should follow My orders, since this was the right path?’
These are from the statements which will be said to the unbelievers on the Day of Judgement, to reprimand them for having disobeyed Allah and obeyed Satan.
Verse 62 explains that they will further be condemned by Allah for having allowed Satan to misguide them, and having allowed him to take them away from the path of truth. They will be reproached sternly for not using their intelligence and understanding to protect themselves against Satan. Allah will say to them, ‘And indeed Satan did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did you not, then, understand?’
After being reprimanded in this way, Allah will then announce the painful punishment which He has prepared for them.