Wednesday, November 11, 2020

SURAH YA-SIN, THE HEART OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

 

Surah Ya-Sin was revealed in Makkah. It is number 36 having 83 Ayahs. It may be divided in four parts: each dealing with a distinct aspect. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Everything has a heart (center), and Ya-Sin is the heart of the Qur’an.” The Infallible Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Whoever recites Surah Ya-Sin on a day before sunsets, during the whole day he will be protected and sustained (affluently); and whoever recites it at night before sleeping, one thousand angels will be protecting him from any accursed Shaitan and any impediment.” It must be noted that reciting should follow pondering over the contents and practicing it as far as possible.

Initially, we are discussing ‘the Resurrection’ covering Ayah 77 to 83. Ayah 77 and 78 says, “Has not man seen that We created him of a sperm-drop? Yet behold! He is an open disputant. And he has struck for Us a similitude and forgotten his creation; he says: “Who shall quicken the bones when they are decayed?” Allah is reminding man’s status in creation from a drop, which over a period in the womb, passes through six stages: sperm, clot, lump of flesh, sense, and movement. After birth and development becoming an adult, he forgets his creation and became a disputant of his Creator. The Divine reply comes in Ayah 79 saying, “Say: ‘He will enliven them Who created them for the first time, and He knows all creation.” Resurrection needs two things: The Power of Allah in recreation, and His cognizance to the people’s needs. Even if the bones are scattered, it can be collected as a magnet collects pieces of iron in the dust! Allah mentions about His Power to gather the opposites like Arabian special trees called ‘Markh’ and ‘Afar’ when placed one over the other, a spark comes out which could be used for making fire. This was expressed in Ayah 80,” He Who had made for you fire from the green tree and behold! From it you kindle fire.”

After the first two parables of sperm and green tree, the next significant subject is the creation of heavens. Ayah 81 says, “Is not He, Who created the heavens and the earth, able to create the like of them? Yes, (He can!) And He is the Creator (Omnipotent), the Knower.”  It is a question for the vigilant consciences and alert wisdom to look at the splendid sky with all its wonderful planets and fixed stars and the numerous systems and galaxies. The One Who can create such extra-ordinary things, how is it possible that He will not be able to enliven the dead? The Glorious Qur’an emphasizes the two great Attributes of Allah (s.w.t.) viz. the Attributes of Creativity and His Infinite Knowledge.

Ayah 82 and 83 says, “His Command, when He intends anything, only to say to it ‘Be’, so it is. So, glory be to Him, in Whose hand is the domination of everything, and Unto Whom you shall be returned.” The phrase ‘kun’ (Be) is not a phrase that states by utterance, because neither has He utterance nor is He in need of expression but the purpose is His Will of Creation of something and the use of the word ‘kun’ (Be) is because there is no other shorter, smaller and quicker word than this. As soon as His intention comes to something, that thing comes into being. There are only two stages in the deeds of Allah: the stage of Will and the stage of Creation. The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali said, “When He intends to create something He says ‘Be’ and there it is, but not through a voice that strikes the ears. His speech is an act of His Creation. His like never existed before this. If it had been created, it would have been the second god.”

The unconditional sovereignty and ownership of everything is in the hand of Allah (s.w.t.), the Omnipotent, and, giving life to the dead and quickening the rotten bones and their scattered dust will not bring any difficulty for Him, certainly all of us will return to Him, and the Resurrection is true.

Sources: Tafsir-e-Namouna, the Urdu translation of the Glorious Qur’an by Ayatullah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

                  An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Glorious Qur’an

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