In the light of the
Qur’aan, the Sunnah and the statements of the Companions and the scholars,
compilation of a commentary of aayah number 37 to 40 of Soorah Yaaseen.
Surah
Yaaseen is the 36th chapter of the Qur’an. It was entirely revealed
in Makkah except the 12th verse which was revealed in Madina. Just
like all the Makkan Surahs aim to lay the foundation of Faith & Tawheed so
does Surah Yaaseen. It starts with the letters Yaa & Seen, known as Huroof
Muqataat (the disjointed letters).
Virtues
of Surah Yaaseen
Surah
Yaaseen is most popularly read by Muslims due to its virtues but none of these
virtues have been narrated through authentic chains of narration. Either the
narrations are weak, strange or fabricated. Therefore none of these should be
considered.
“Whoever enters a graveyard and
recites Soorah YaaSeen, Allaah will reduce his sins that day and he will have
good deeds for every letter from it.”[1]
Commentary
In
the verses beginning verse 33 Allah(subhanao’tala) talks about the different
signs that are surrounding us. How Allah(subhanao’tala) revives the dead earth
& brings forward from it grain & fruits from for us to eat. This is a
clear sign for those who reflect, that if Allah(subhanao’tala) can revive that
dead land that shows no signs then He can also bring the dead back to life.
“Indeed,
He who has given it life to the earth is the Giver of Life to the dead.”[2]
Then
the Surah mentions Allah(subhanao’tala) signs in the palmtrees &
grapevines. One can truly reflect by looking at the diversity in Allahs
creation. Both producing dates & grapes something that the human hand
cannot create.
Then
the Surah talks about how Allah(subhanao’tala) has created everything in pairs.
Whether human beings, plants, fruits, crops or animals. If we only reflect on
these plans, creations & diversities of Allah(subhanao’tala) it will only
strengthen our Imaan’s further & make those who disbelieve to think.
“And of His signs is that He
created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them;
and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a
people who give thought.”[3]
Commentary
Verse
37
Another sign for them is the night:
We strip the daylight from it, and they are plunged in darkness[4]
Among
the signs of the might & power of Allah(subhanao’tala) are the night &
day, & the sun and moon.[5] In
verse 37, Allah(subhanao’tala) talks about how we are experiencing the daylight
caused by the Sun & then the very same day is plunged into darkness.
“And a sign for them is the night. We withdraw there
from the day.”[6]
In
Tafsir Ibn Kathir, they have used the word withdraw. The day withdraws meaning
that the day is taken away, it goes away & the night which is one of the
signs of Allah(subhanao’tala) appears leaving the people in darkness[7].
“He brings the night as a cover over the day,
seeking it rapidly.”[8]
In
this Verse the term ‘Naslakh’ means to peel off. With the gradual removal of
the day the night appears. The day is gradually taken away so that humans &
other living creatures have enough time finding suitable place of rest[9].
As the earth is rotating on its axis that part of the earth that faces the sun
experiences the day, as the rotation of the earth changes that very part of the
earth is stripped off the day so as to plunge it into darkness. Thus, the way
Allah(subhanao’tala) has worded this verse accurately describes the reality.[10]
Verse
38
The
sun also runs its set course: that is laid down by the will of the Almighty,
the All-Knowing.[11]
Then Verse 38 mentions the magnanimous creation of
Allah(subhanao’tala), the Sun. Previously, it was held that the sun stays in
its position but turns around its axis, but
it has recently been confirmed that it moves in a single direction in the great
universal space[12]. The term Mustaqarr means
‘settling place’ and the sun has an appointed place & time where its course
will end. Modern astronomy
confirms that the solar system is indeed moving in space towards a point
situated in the constellation of Hercules (alpha lyrae) whose exact location
has been precisely calculated and given the name “the solar apex.[13]
Wherever the sun is it
keeps on moving day & night, never slowing down or stopping, it is always
beneath the throne. Another view that one can deduce from this verse is that
the suns appointed time will come to an end on the day of resurrection, when
the sun will halt & be rolled up.[14]
This is verily the
decree of the Almighty & All knowing Allah(subhanao’tala) which if He allows to happen cannot be
stopped & if he doesn’t allow to happen you cannot make it happen. He has
set the planets in motion & only He knows about their movements & when
they are supposed to seize or stop.
“[He is] the cleaver of
daybreak and has made the night for rest and the sun and moon for calculation.
That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.[15]”
The Sun is not only the sign of Allah(subhanao’tala)
but also a blessing for the humanity. It allows us to calculate the days &
the time.
Verse 39
And for the moon We have determined phases until it
finally becomes like an old date stalk.
One can see the magnanimity of Allah(subhanao’tala)
in the creation of the Moon. We can calculate the passing of the months by way
of the size & day of the moon. In the beginning it is a hair line crescent,
increases in size in the middle of the month until it again decreases in size
like an old date stalk & disappears at the end of the month. The humans
have a similar cycle, they are born weak, then they gain strength & beauty
& then again become weak in their old age.
Just as night & day are known by the sun, the
passing of the months is known by the moon.
“They ask you about the
crescent moons. Say: "These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for
mankind and for the pilgrimage”[16]
Verse 40
Neither the sun can overtake the
moon, nor can the night outrun the day. Each floats in its own orbit.[17]
When the sun is shining the night cannot overtake
the day until it gradually moves away. In the same manner the sun cannot
suddenly appear at night causing it to be day. The word night
is used here & not moon because the moon does not bring about the night.
Mujahid said,
"Each of them has a limit which it does not transgress or fall short of.
When the time of one comes, the other goes away, and when the time for one to
prevail comes, the time of the other ceases.''
He also said, that there is no gap between night and
day; each of them follows the other with no interval, because they have been
subjugated and are both constantly pursuing one another.[18]
The Sun & moon both swim in their own orbits. We
cannot use the word float for that would mean that they don’t use their own
motion or movement whereas both orbit & revolve on their own axis. Every
planet & star has its own orbit that it follows accurately.
Conclusion
Verily, man is in no need of Angels or God himself
descending on the earth. We are surrounded by the creations of Allah(subhanao’tala),
& each one of his creation is a sign. We need to reflect on how everything
has been created following a set pattern & with precise measurement. May it
be the Sun or its orbit, the Moon & its sizes, the earth & how its
produce comes forth or how the night overtakes the day plunging us into
darkness. If only we can contemplate on these 4 verses, it will only strengthen
us in the faith we have in Allah (subhanao’tala) & will be a source of
Imaan for those who don’t believe.
“Indeed, in the
creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the
day are signs for those of understanding.”[19]
[1] (Daeef Al Jami as Sagheer, no 5606)
[2] (www.Quran.com)
[3] (www.Quran.com (. )
[4] (Qutb)
[5] (Kathir)
[6] (Kathir, www.qtafsir.com)
[7] (Kathir, www.qtafsir.com)
[8] (www.Quran.com (. )
[9] (Philips)
[10] (Qutb)
[11] (Qutb)
[12] (Qutb)
[13] (Philips)
[14] (Kathir, www.qtafsir.com)
[15] (www.Quran.com (. )
[16] (Ibn Kathir)
[17] (Qutb)
[18] (Kathir, www.qtafsir.com)
[19] (www.Quran.com (. )
