Surah 42: Consultation (Al-Shura)

حم

H. M.*

*42:1 These initials constitute a significant part of the Quran's miracle (Footnote 40:1).

عسق

`A. S. Q.*

*42:2 This is the only sura where we see the initials `A.S.Q. (`Ayn Seen Qaf), and the total occurrence of these three letters in this sura is 209, 19x11. Also, the letter ``Q'' occurs in this sura 57 times, 19x3. The only other sura where we see the initial ``Q'' is Sura 50, and this letter occurs in that sura also 57 times (See Appendix 1).

كَذٰلِكَ يوحى إِلَيكَ وَإِلَى الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِكَ اللَّهُ العَزيزُ الحَكيمُ

Inspiring you, and those before you, is God, the Almighty, Most Wise.

لَهُ ما فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَما فِى الأَرضِ وَهُوَ العَلِىُّ العَظيمُ

To Him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth, and He is the Most High, the Great.

تَكادُ السَّمٰوٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرنَ مِن فَوقِهِنَّ وَالمَلٰئِكَةُ يُسَبِّحونَ بِحَمدِ رَبِّهِم وَيَستَغفِرونَ لِمَن فِى الأَرضِ أَلا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الغَفورُ الرَّحيمُ

The heavens above them almost shatter, out of reverence for Him, and the angels praise and glorify their Lord, and they ask forgiveness for those on earth. Absolutely, God is the Forgiver, Most Merciful.

وَالَّذينَ اتَّخَذوا مِن دونِهِ أَولِياءَ اللَّهُ حَفيظٌ عَلَيهِم وَما أَنتَ عَلَيهِم بِوَكيلٍ

Those who set up other lords beside Him, God is the One in charge of them; you are not their advocate.

وَكَذٰلِكَ أَوحَينا إِلَيكَ قُرءانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِتُنذِرَ أُمَّ القُرىٰ وَمَن حَولَها وَتُنذِرَ يَومَ الجَمعِ لا رَيبَ فيهِ فَريقٌ فِى الجَنَّةِ وَفَريقٌ فِى السَّعيرِ

We thus reveal to you an Arabic Quran to warn the central community and all around it, and to warn about the Day of Summoning that is inevitable. Some will end up in Heaven, and some in Hell.

وَلَو شاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَهُم أُمَّةً وٰحِدَةً وَلٰكِن يُدخِلُ مَن يَشاءُ فى رَحمَتِهِ وَالظّٰلِمونَ ما لَهُم مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلا نَصيرٍ

Had God willed, He could have made them one community. But He redeems into His mercy whomever He wills. As for the transgressors, they have no master, nor a helper.

أَمِ اتَّخَذوا مِن دونِهِ أَولِياءَ فَاللَّهُ هُوَ الوَلِىُّ وَهُوَ يُحىِ المَوتىٰ وَهُوَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَىءٍ قَديرٌ

Did they find other lords beside Him? God is the only Lord and Master. He is the One who resurrects the dead, and He is the Omnipotent One.

وَمَا اختَلَفتُم فيهِ مِن شَىءٍ فَحُكمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ذٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبّى عَلَيهِ تَوَكَّلتُ وَإِلَيهِ أُنيبُ

If you dispute any part of this message, the judgment for doing this rests with God. Such is God my Lord. In Him I trust, and to Him I submit.

فاطِرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِن أَنفُسِكُم أَزوٰجًا وَمِنَ الأَنعٰمِ أَزوٰجًا يَذرَؤُكُم فيهِ لَيسَ كَمِثلِهِ شَىءٌ وَهُوَ السَّميعُ البَصيرُ

Initiator of the heavens and the earth. He created for you from among yourselves spouses - and also for the animals. He thus provides you with the means to multiply. There is nothing that equals Him. He is the Hearer, the Seer.

لَهُ مَقاليدُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ يَبسُطُ الرِّزقَ لِمَن يَشاءُ وَيَقدِرُ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىءٍ عَليمٌ

To Him belongs absolute control of the heavens and the earth. He is the One who increases the provision for whomever He wills, or reduces it. He is fully aware of all things.

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِنَ الدّينِ ما وَصّىٰ بِهِ نوحًا وَالَّذى أَوحَينا إِلَيكَ وَما وَصَّينا بِهِ إِبرٰهيمَ وَموسىٰ وَعيسىٰ أَن أَقيمُوا الدّينَ وَلا تَتَفَرَّقوا فيهِ كَبُرَ عَلَى المُشرِكينَ ما تَدعوهُم إِلَيهِ اللَّهُ يَجتَبى إِلَيهِ مَن يَشاءُ وَيَهدى إِلَيهِ مَن يُنيبُ

He decreed for you the same religion decreed for Noah, and what we inspired to you, and what we decreed for Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: "You shall uphold this one religion, and do not divide it." The idol worshipers will greatly resent what you invite them to do. God redeems to Himself whomever He wills; He guides to Himself only those who totally submit.

وَما تَفَرَّقوا إِلّا مِن بَعدِ ما جاءَهُمُ العِلمُ بَغيًا بَينَهُم وَلَولا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَت مِن رَبِّكَ إِلىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى لَقُضِىَ بَينَهُم وَإِنَّ الَّذينَ أورِثُوا الكِتٰبَ مِن بَعدِهِم لَفى شَكٍّ مِنهُ مُريبٍ

Ironically, they broke up into sects only after the knowledge had come to them, due to jealousy and resentment among themselves. If it were not for a predetermined decision from your Lord to respite them for a definite interim, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the later generations who inherited the scripture are full of doubts.

فَلِذٰلِكَ فَادعُ وَاستَقِم كَما أُمِرتَ وَلا تَتَّبِع أَهواءَهُم وَقُل ءامَنتُ بِما أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِن كِتٰبٍ وَأُمِرتُ لِأَعدِلَ بَينَكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّنا وَرَبُّكُم لَنا أَعمٰلُنا وَلَكُم أَعمٰلُكُم لا حُجَّةَ بَينَنا وَبَينَكُمُ اللَّهُ يَجمَعُ بَينَنا وَإِلَيهِ المَصيرُ

This is what you shall preach, and steadfastly maintain what you are commanded to do, and do not follow their wishes. And proclaim: "I believe in all the scriptures sent down by God. I was commanded to judge among you equitably. God is our Lord and your Lord. We have our deeds and you have your deeds. There is no argument between us and you. God will gather us all together; to Him is the ultimate destiny."

وَالَّذينَ يُحاجّونَ فِى اللَّهِ مِن بَعدِ مَا استُجيبَ لَهُ حُجَّتُهُم داحِضَةٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِم وَعَلَيهِم غَضَبٌ وَلَهُم عَذابٌ شَديدٌ

Those who argue about God, after receiving His message, their argument is nullified at their Lord. They have incurred condemnation, and have deserved a severe retribution.

اللَّهُ الَّذى أَنزَلَ الكِتٰبَ بِالحَقِّ وَالميزانَ وَما يُدريكَ لَعَلَّ السّاعَةَ قَريبٌ

God is the One who sent down the scripture, to deliver the truth and the law. For all that you know, the Hour (Day of Judgment) may be very close.

يَستَعجِلُ بِهَا الَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ بِها وَالَّذينَ ءامَنوا مُشفِقونَ مِنها وَيَعلَمونَ أَنَّهَا الحَقُّ أَلا إِنَّ الَّذينَ يُمارونَ فِى السّاعَةِ لَفى ضَلٰلٍ بَعيدٍ

Challenging it are those who do not believe in it. As for those who believe, they are concerned about it, and they know that it is the truth. Absolutely, those who deny the Hour have gone far astray.

اللَّهُ لَطيفٌ بِعِبادِهِ يَرزُقُ مَن يَشاءُ وَهُوَ القَوِىُّ العَزيزُ

God is fully aware of all His creatures; He provides for whomever He wills. He is the Powerful, the Almighty.

مَن كانَ يُريدُ حَرثَ الـٔاخِرَةِ نَزِد لَهُ فى حَرثِهِ وَمَن كانَ يُريدُ حَرثَ الدُّنيا نُؤتِهِ مِنها وَما لَهُ فِى الـٔاخِرَةِ مِن نَصيبٍ

Whoever seeks the rewards of the Hereafter, we multiply the rewards for him. And whoever seeks the materials of this world, we give him therefrom, then he receives no share in the Hereafter.

أَم لَهُم شُرَكٰؤُا۟ شَرَعوا لَهُم مِنَ الدّينِ ما لَم يَأذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ وَلَولا كَلِمَةُ الفَصلِ لَقُضِىَ بَينَهُم وَإِنَّ الظّٰلِمينَ لَهُم عَذابٌ أَليمٌ

They follow idols who decree for them religious laws never authorized by God. If it were not for the predetermined decision, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors have incurred a painful retribution.*

*42:21 The Islam of today's Muslim world has been so distorted, it has become a Satanic cult. The Ulama, or religious scholars, have added many extraneous laws, prohibitions, dress codes, dietary regulations, and religious practices never authorized by God. This is one of the main reasons for sending God's Messenger of the Covenant (9:31, 33:67, and Appendix 33).

تَرَى الظّٰلِمينَ مُشفِقينَ مِمّا كَسَبوا وَهُوَ واقِعٌ بِهِم وَالَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ فى رَوضاتِ الجَنّاتِ لَهُم ما يَشاءونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِم ذٰلِكَ هُوَ الفَضلُ الكَبيرُ

You will see the transgressors worried about everything they had committed; everything will come back and haunt them. As for those who believed and led a righteous life, they will be in the gardens of Paradise. They will receive whatever they wish from their Lord. This is the great blessing.

ذٰلِكَ الَّذى يُبَشِّرُ اللَّهُ عِبادَهُ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ قُل لا أَسـَٔلُكُم عَلَيهِ أَجرًا إِلَّا المَوَدَّةَ فِى القُربىٰ وَمَن يَقتَرِف حَسَنَةً نَزِد لَهُ فيها حُسنًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفورٌ شَكورٌ

This is the good news from God to His servants who believe and lead a righteous life. Say, "I do not ask you for any wage. I do ask each of you to take care of your own relatives." Anyone who does a righteous work, we multiply his reward for it. God is Forgiver, Appreciative.

أَم يَقولونَ افتَرىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا فَإِن يَشَإِ اللَّهُ يَختِم عَلىٰ قَلبِكَ وَيَمحُ اللَّهُ البٰطِلَ وَيُحِقُّ الحَقَّ بِكَلِمٰتِهِ إِنَّهُ عَليمٌ بِذاتِ الصُّدورِ

Are they saying, "He (Rashad)* has fabricated lies about God!"? If God willed, He could have sealed your mind, but God erases the falsehood and affirms the truth with His words. He is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.

*42:24 The disbelievers added 2 false statements at the end of Sura 9 to commemorate their idol, the prophet Muhammad. God has revealed overwhelming evidence to erase this blasphemy and establish the truth. By adding the gematrical value of "Rashad Khalifa" (1230), plus the verse number (24), we get 1254, 19x66 (please see Appendices 2 & 24 for the details).

وَهُوَ الَّذى يَقبَلُ التَّوبَةَ عَن عِبادِهِ وَيَعفوا عَنِ السَّيِّـٔاتِ وَيَعلَمُ ما تَفعَلونَ

He is the One who accepts the repentance from His servants, and remits the sins. He is fully aware of everything you do.

وَيَستَجيبُ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَيَزيدُهُم مِن فَضلِهِ وَالكٰفِرونَ لَهُم عَذابٌ شَديدٌ

Responding to Him are those who believe and lead a righteous life. He will shower them with His blessings. As for the disbelievers, they have incurred a severe retribution.

وَلَو بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزقَ لِعِبادِهِ لَبَغَوا فِى الأَرضِ وَلٰكِن يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ ما يَشاءُ إِنَّهُ بِعِبادِهِ خَبيرٌ بَصيرٌ

If God increased the provision for His servants, they would transgress on earth. This is why He sends it precisely measured to whomever He wills. He is fully Cognizant and Seer of His servants.

وَهُوَ الَّذى يُنَزِّلُ الغَيثَ مِن بَعدِ ما قَنَطوا وَيَنشُرُ رَحمَتَهُ وَهُوَ الوَلِىُّ الحَميدُ

He is the One who sends down the rain after they had despaired, and spreads His mercy. He is the only Master, Most Praiseworthy.

وَمِن ءايٰتِهِ خَلقُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ وَما بَثَّ فيهِما مِن دابَّةٍ وَهُوَ عَلىٰ جَمعِهِم إِذا يَشاءُ قَديرٌ

Among His proofs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the creatures He spreads in them. He is able to summon them, when He wills.

وَما أَصٰبَكُم مِن مُصيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَت أَيديكُم وَيَعفوا عَن كَثيرٍ

Anything bad that happens to you is a consequence of your own deeds, and He overlooks many (of your sins).

وَما أَنتُم بِمُعجِزينَ فِى الأَرضِ وَما لَكُم مِن دونِ اللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلا نَصيرٍ

You can never escape, and you have none beside God as a Lord and Master.

وَمِن ءايٰتِهِ الجَوارِ فِى البَحرِ كَالأَعلٰمِ

Among His proofs are the ships that sail the sea with sails like flags.

إِن يَشَأ يُسكِنِ الرّيحَ فَيَظلَلنَ رَواكِدَ عَلىٰ ظَهرِهِ إِنَّ فى ذٰلِكَ لَـٔايٰتٍ لِكُلِّ صَبّارٍ شَكورٍ

If He willed, He could have stilled the winds, leaving them motionless on top of the water. These are proofs for those who are steadfast, appreciative.

أَو يوبِقهُنَّ بِما كَسَبوا وَيَعفُ عَن كَثيرٍ

He can annihilate them, as a consequence of their own works. Instead, He overlooks many (of their sins).

وَيَعلَمَ الَّذينَ يُجٰدِلونَ فى ءايٰتِنا ما لَهُم مِن مَحيصٍ

Those who argue against our proofs will find out that they have no basis.

فَما أوتيتُم مِن شَىءٍ فَمَتٰعُ الحَيوٰةِ الدُّنيا وَما عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيرٌ وَأَبقىٰ لِلَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَلىٰ رَبِّهِم يَتَوَكَّلونَ

Whatever you are given is no more than temporary material of this life. What God possesses is far better and everlasting, for those who believe and trust in their Lord.

وَالَّذينَ يَجتَنِبونَ كَبٰئِرَ الإِثمِ وَالفَوٰحِشَ وَإِذا ما غَضِبوا هُم يَغفِرونَ

They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive.

وَالَّذينَ استَجابوا لِرَبِّهِم وَأَقامُوا الصَّلوٰةَ وَأَمرُهُم شورىٰ بَينَهُم وَمِمّا رَزَقنٰهُم يُنفِقونَ

They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity).

وَالَّذينَ إِذا أَصابَهُمُ البَغىُ هُم يَنتَصِرونَ

When gross injustice befalls them, they stand up for their rights.

وَجَزٰؤُا۟ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِثلُها فَمَن عَفا وَأَصلَحَ فَأَجرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الظّٰلِمينَ

Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by God. He does not love the unjust.

وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعدَ ظُلمِهِ فَأُولٰئِكَ ما عَلَيهِم مِن سَبيلٍ

Certainly, those who stand up for their rights, when injustice befalls them, are not committing any error.

إِنَّمَا السَّبيلُ عَلَى الَّذينَ يَظلِمونَ النّاسَ وَيَبغونَ فِى الأَرضِ بِغَيرِ الحَقِّ أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم عَذابٌ أَليمٌ

The wrong ones are those who treat the people unjustly, and resort to aggression without provocation. These have incurred a painful retribution.

وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذٰلِكَ لَمِن عَزمِ الأُمورِ

Resorting to patience and forgiveness reflects a true strength of character.

وَمَن يُضلِلِ اللَّهُ فَما لَهُ مِن وَلِىٍّ مِن بَعدِهِ وَتَرَى الظّٰلِمينَ لَمّا رَأَوُا العَذابَ يَقولونَ هَل إِلىٰ مَرَدٍّ مِن سَبيلٍ

Whomever God sends astray will never find any other lord, and you will see such transgressors, when they see the retribution, saying, "Can we get another chance?"

وَتَرىٰهُم يُعرَضونَ عَلَيها خٰشِعينَ مِنَ الذُّلِّ يَنظُرونَ مِن طَرفٍ خَفِىٍّ وَقالَ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا إِنَّ الخٰسِرينَ الَّذينَ خَسِروا أَنفُسَهُم وَأَهليهِم يَومَ القِيٰمَةِ أَلا إِنَّ الظّٰلِمينَ فى عَذابٍ مُقيمٍ

You will see them facing it, humiliated and debased, and looking, yet trying to avoid looking. Those who believed will proclaim: "The real losers are those who lost their souls and their families on the Day of Resurrection. The transgressors have deserved an everlasting retribution."

وَما كانَ لَهُم مِن أَولِياءَ يَنصُرونَهُم مِن دونِ اللَّهِ وَمَن يُضلِلِ اللَّهُ فَما لَهُ مِن سَبيلٍ

There will be no allies to help them against God. Whomever God sends astray can never be guided.

استَجيبوا لِرَبِّكُم مِن قَبلِ أَن يَأتِىَ يَومٌ لا مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ ما لَكُم مِن مَلجَإٍ يَومَئِذٍ وَما لَكُم مِن نَكيرٍ

You shall respond to your Lord before a day comes which is decreed inevitable by God. There will be no refuge for you on that day, nor an advocate.

فَإِن أَعرَضوا فَما أَرسَلنٰكَ عَلَيهِم حَفيظًا إِن عَلَيكَ إِلَّا البَلٰغُ وَإِنّا إِذا أَذَقنَا الإِنسٰنَ مِنّا رَحمَةً فَرِحَ بِها وَإِن تُصِبهُم سَيِّئَةٌ بِما قَدَّمَت أَيديهِم فَإِنَّ الإِنسٰنَ كَفورٌ

If they turn away, we did not send you as their guardian. Your sole mission is delivering the message. When we shower the human beings with mercy, they become proud, and when adversity afflicts them, as a consequence of their own deeds, the human beings turn into disbelievers.

لِلَّهِ مُلكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ يَخلُقُ ما يَشاءُ يَهَبُ لِمَن يَشاءُ إِنٰثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشاءُ الذُّكورَ

To God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He creates whatever He wills, granting daughters to whomever He wills, and granting sons to whomever He wills.

أَو يُزَوِّجُهُم ذُكرانًا وَإِنٰثًا وَيَجعَلُ مَن يَشاءُ عَقيمًا إِنَّهُ عَليمٌ قَديرٌ

Or, He may have the males and the females marry each other, then render whomever He wills sterile. He is Omniscient, Omnipotent.

وَما كانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلّا وَحيًا أَو مِن وَرائِ حِجابٍ أَو يُرسِلَ رَسولًا فَيوحِىَ بِإِذنِهِ ما يَشاءُ إِنَّهُ عَلِىٌّ حَكيمٌ

No human being can communicate with God except through inspiration, or from behind a barrier, or by sending a messenger through whom He reveals what He wills. He is the Most High, Most Wise.

وَكَذٰلِكَ أَوحَينا إِلَيكَ روحًا مِن أَمرِنا ما كُنتَ تَدرى مَا الكِتٰبُ وَلَا الإيمٰنُ وَلٰكِن جَعَلنٰهُ نورًا نَهدى بِهِ مَن نَشاءُ مِن عِبادِنا وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهدى إِلىٰ صِرٰطٍ مُستَقيمٍ

Thus, we inspired to you a revelation proclaiming our commandments. You had no idea about the scripture, or faith. Yet, we made this a beacon to guide whomever we choose from among our servants. Surely, you guide in a straight path.

صِرٰطِ اللَّهِ الَّذى لَهُ ما فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَما فِى الأَرضِ أَلا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَصيرُ الأُمورُ

The path of God, to whom belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. Absolutely, all matters are controlled by God.