15. Surah Al Hijr
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضَ
وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا
إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ...
15: 85. We created not the heavens, the earth, and all between them, but for just ends.
C2005. Allah's Creation is all for a true, just, and righteous purpose. Cf. 10:5.
It is not for mere whim or sport. 21:16.
...وَإِنَّ السَّاعَةَ لآتِيَةٌ فَاصْفَحِ الصَّفْحَ الْجَمِيلَ ﴿٨٥﴾
And the Hour is surely coming (when this will be manifest). So overlook (any human faults) with gracious forgiveness.
C2006. The Hour will not be long delayed when the true Design and Pattern of Life will be manifest. We must not be impatient, if there appear to be, to our limited vision, apparent injustices. We must bear and forbear, and as far as our own personal feelings are concerned, we must overlook other people's faults with "a gracious forgiveness".
C.122 (The running Commentary, in Rhythmic Prose)
(15:85-99)
But Allah's Creation doth bear witness
To Allah's Design and Mercy. His Plan
Is sure. His gift of the glorious Quran
Is more than any worldly goods can be.
So, while we denounce Sin openly,
Let us be gentle and kind, and adore
And serve our Lord all our lives.
إِنَّ
رَبَّكَ هُوَ
الْخَلاَّقُ
الْعَلِيمُ ﴿٨٦﴾
15: 86. For verily it is thy Lord Who is the Master-Creator, knowing all things.
C2007. Khallaq: the emphatic intensive form, as meaning the Creator, Who is perfect in His skill and knowledge, and Whose creation answers perfectly to His design. Therefore no one should think that anything has gone wrong in Allah's creation.
What may seem out of joint is merely the result of our short-sighted standards. It often happens that what appears to us to be evil or imperfect or unjust is a reflection of our own imperfect minds.
See the next two verses and notes.
وَلَقَدْ
آتَيْنَاكَ
سَبْعًا مِّنَ
الْمَثَانِي
وَالْقُرْآنَ
الْعَظِيمَ ﴿٨٧﴾
15: 87. And We have bestowed upon thee the Seven Oft-Repeated (verses) and the Grand Qur'án.
C2008. The Seven Oft-repeated Verses are usually understood to be the Opening Surah, the Fatihah. They sum up the whole teaching of the Quran.
What can be a more precious gift to a Muslim than the glorious Quran or any Surah of it?
Worldly wealth, honour, possessions, or anything else, sinks into insignificance in comparison with it.
Other versions:
15: 85
Asad And We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them without truth; but, behold, the Hour is indeed yet to come. Hence, forgive [men’s failings] with fair forbearance:
Pickthall We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save with truth, and lo! the Hour is surely coming. So forgive, O Muhammad, with a gracious forgiveness.
Yuksel The End of the World and Seven Pairs
15:85 We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is in between except with the truth. The moment is coming, so overlook their faults gracefully.*
Transliteration Wa ma_ khalaqnas sama_wati wal arda wa ma_ bainahuma_ illa_ bil haqq(i), wa innas sa_'ata la a_tiyatun fa-sfahis safhal jamil(a).
[Ali’s notes: 2005 Allah's Creation is all for a true, just, and righteous purpose. Cf. x. 5. It is not for mere whim or sport. xxi. 16. (15.85)
2006 The Hour will not be long delayed when the true Design and Pattern of Life will be manifest. We must not be impatient, if there appear to be, to our limited vision, apparent injustices. We must bear and forbear, and as far as our own personal feelings are concerned, we must overlook other people's faults with "a gracious forgiveness". (15.85)
[[ Yuksel’s Notes - 015:085-88 The Quran contains some interesting hints regarding the end of the world. See 20:15; 72:27. ]]
15: 86
Asad Verily, they Sustainer is the well-knowing Creator of all things!
Pickthall Lo! Thy Lord! He is the All Wise Creator.
Yuksel 15:86 Your Lord is the Creator, the Knower.
15:87 We have given you seven of the pairs and the great Quran.*
Transliteration Inna rabbaka huwal khalla_qul 'alim(u).
15: 87
Pickthall We have given thee seven of the oft repeated (verses) and the great Quran.
Yuksel 15:87 We have given you seven of the pairs and the great Quran.*
Transliteration Wa laqad a_taina_ka sab'am minal masa_ni wal qur'a_nal 'azim(a).
[[ Yuksel’s Notes - 015:085-88 The Quran contains some interesting hints regarding the end of the world. See 20:15; 72:27.
015:087 The meaning of saban minal mathani (seven from pairs) has been interpreted by the majority of scholars as "oft-repeated seven," implying the most repeated chapter of the Quran, the seven-versed first chapter. However, if the first chapter of the Quran is part of the Quran, it surely is the part of the "great Quran." If the arrangement of the words were different, "we gave you the great Quran and seven from pairs," then, such an interpretation could be more plausible, since a part of the whole can be repeated after the whole for the purpose of emphasis.
If the "great Quran" is the entire Quran, which is the most reasonable understanding, then the "seven pairs" or "fourteen" (of something) might have implications beyond the Quran. There is a hint in the verse: it might refer to the life span of Muhammad's people and its relation to the end of the world.]]