Surat Ibrahim was revealed in Mecca.  Its theme is that a good word leads people to the greatest blessing which is belief and all the blessings that comes with it and a bad word leads people to disbelief that is manifested by all forms of darkness and leads to the miserable consequence in the hereafter.

The Surat constantly contrasts belief with disbelief, light with darkness and good words with evil ones.  The opening of the Surat illustrating this contrast:

الر كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ (1)

“Alif, Lam, Ra; (This is) a Book that We have sent down to you in order that you lead the people, with the will of their Lord, out of (all sorts of) darkness into the light, leading them to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.” (14:1)

Note: In the Arabic language the words light and darkness have singular and plural forms. The singular form of light is “Nour” (نور) and the plural is “Anwaar” (انوار).  The singular form for darkness is “Zulmah” (ظلمة) and the plural “Zulumat” (ظلمات).   In all the Ayat in the Quran, the word light always comes as singular “Nour” (نور) to confirm that truth has only one form and the word darkness comes as plural “Zulumat” (ظلمات) to show that falsehood has many forms.  It is interesting that in English the word light comes as singular and plural (light and lights) but the word darkness comes mainly as singular and it is rarely used as plural. This reflects the power of the Arabic language in expressing the key concepts through the richness of its words.

The main purpose of all Allah’s revelations to mankind is to lead them out of darkness to the light.  Allah says regarding the revelation to Prophet Musa (Moses):

وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنۡ أَخۡرِجۡ قَوۡمَكَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَذَڪِّرۡهُم بِأَيَّٮٰمِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ۬ شَكُورٍ۬ (٥)

“Surely, We sent Musa (Moses) with Our signs (saying to him), “Bring your people out of (all sorts of) darkness to the light, and remind them of the Days of Allah. Surely in that are signs for everyone (who is) patient and thankful.” (14:5).

In the Ayat, the Days of Allah are those days on which Allah had perished those who were unjust (الظالمين) and saved those who were righteous (الصالحين).  Thus, the days of Allah were a blessing endowed upon the believers (نعمة على المؤمنين) and an affliction for the disbelievers (نقمةً على الكافرين).  A believer should learn great lessons from these days and learn to be patient and thankful to Allah for the blessing of belief.

As commanded by Allah, Prophet Musa went about conveying Allah’s message to his people and constantly reminding them of Allah’s blessings and highlighting that the path of Allah always leads to success even though it may include temporary trials and tribulations:

وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِ ٱذۡڪُرُواْ نِعۡمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ إِذۡ أَنجَٮٰكُم مِّنۡ ءَالِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ يَسُومُونَكُمۡ سُوٓءَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبۡنَآءَكُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡيُونَ نِسَآءَڪُمۡ‌ۚ وَفِى ذَٲلِڪُم بَلَآءٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّڪُمۡ عَظِيمٌ۬ (٦)

 “And Musa said to his people, “Remember Allah’s favor upon you as He delivered you from Pharaoh’s people (who were) afflicting a grievous torment on you, slaughtering your sons, and sparing alive your women.  In that there was a tremendous trial from your Lord.” (14:6).

Prophet Musa also warned his people of the danger of denying the blessings of Allah upon them because this is a manifestation of their disbelief:

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِن تَكۡفُرُوٓاْ أَنتُمۡ وَمَن فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ (٨)

“And Musa (Moses) said: “If you and all on the earth together disbelieve (are ungrateful), Allah is indeed free of all needs, worthy of every praise.” (14:8).

He also informed them that Allah has no need for people’s gratitude. But their gratitude is only for their own benefits as Allah said:

وَإِذۡ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمۡ لَٮِٕن شَڪَرۡتُمۡ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمۡ‌ۖ وَلَٮِٕن ڪَفَرۡتُمۡ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ۬ (٧)

“And (remember) when your Lord declared: “If you give thanks (for my blessings) I shall certainly give you more, and if you disbelieve (are ungrateful), My punishment is indeed severe.” (14:7)

 The Surat summarized the key elements of the message delivered by all Allah’s Messengers and the response of those who reject them. The main elements of the divine message are:

1. Allah is the creator of the Universe and thus they should believe in Him and worship none but Him.
2. If they worship Allah, He will forgive their sins.
3. Everyone will be held accountable for their actions on the designated time of the Day of Judgment.

The disbelievers’ main justifications for rejecting Allah’s messengers are:

1. The messengers are merely people like them.
2. The messengers are coming with something different from what their fathers believed in.
3. The messengers need to bring them a clear miracle.

قَالَتۡ رُسُلُهُمۡ أَفِى ٱللَّهِ شَكٌّ۬ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ يَدۡعُوكُمۡ لِيَغۡفِرَ لَڪُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَيُؤَخِّرَڪُمۡ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّ۬ى‌ۚ قَالُوٓاْ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ۬ مِّثۡلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعۡبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأۡتُونَا بِسُلۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ (١٠)

“Their Messengers said: “Is there any doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you that He may forgive you of your sins and give you respite for a term appointed.” They said: “You are no more than human beings like us! You wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring us clear proof (of what you say).” (14:10)

قَالَتۡ لَهُمۡ رُسُلُهُمۡ إِن نَّحۡنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ۬ مِّثۡلُڪُمۡ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦ‌ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأۡتِيَكُم بِسُلۡطَـٰنٍ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلۡيَتَوَڪَّلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ (١١)

“Their Messengers said to them: “We are no more than human beings like you, but Allah bestows His Grace to whom He wills of His slaves. It is not ours to bring you an authority (proof) except by the Permission of Allah. And in Allah (Alone) let the believers put their trust.” (14:11)

The disbelievers began their transgression by threatening the messengers that they will exile them by force from their land unless they return to disbelief.  At this point Allah issues His final warning that He will destroy the transgressors and give their land to the believers.

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ لِرُسُلِهِمۡ لَنُخۡرِجَنَّڪُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِنَآ أَوۡ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا‌ۖ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَيۡہِمۡ رَبُّہُمۡ لَنُہۡلِكَنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (١٣) وَلَنُسۡڪِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامِى وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ (١٤)

“And those who disbelieved said to their Messengers: “We shall certainly expel you from our land unless you return to our religion.” So, their Lord revealed to them: ” We shall destroy the transgressors. (13) “And We shall certainly make you dwell in the land after them. This (message) is for the one who fears standing before Me and also fears My warning.” (14:13-14)

 Here the Messengers sought Allah’s help to destroy the disbelievers and the Surat describes what will happen to them:

وَٱسۡتَفۡتَحُواْ وَخَابَ ڪُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ۬ (١٥) مِّن وَرَآٮِٕهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ وَيُسۡقَىٰ مِن مَّآءٍ۬ صَدِيدٍ۬ (١٦) يَتَجَرَّعُهُ ۥ وَلَا يَڪَادُ يُسِيغُهُ ۥ وَيَأۡتِيهِ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ مِن ڪُلِّ مَكَانٍ۬ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ۬‌ۖ وَمِن وَرَآٮِٕهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ۬ (١٧)

“And they (the Messengers) sought victory and decision (from Allah), and thus every obstinate, tyrant failed. (15) Hell is pursuing him, and he will be made to drink festering water. (16) Which he will sip unwillingly, and will find a great difficulty swallowing, and death will come to him from every side, yet he will not die and in front of him there is still a great torment.” (14:15-17)

 The Surat gives a clear verdict regarding what will happen to any good deed that the disbelievers may have done:

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡ‌ۖ أَعۡمَـٰلُهُمۡ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشۡتَدَّتۡ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى يَوۡمٍ عَاصِفٍ۬‌ۖ لَّا يَقۡدِرُونَ مِمَّا ڪَسَبُواْ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ٱلۡبَعِيدُ (١٨)

“The parable of those who disbelieved in their Lord is that their deeds are like ashes blown away on a stormy day, they shall not be able to gain anything of what they have earned. That is the extreme failure.” (14: 18)

 The Surat moves to give us a future scene from Hell and this scene is the blame game between the followers and those who led them to disbelief.

وَبَرَزُواْ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعً۬ا فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَـٰٓؤُاْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُوٓاْ إِنَّا ڪُنَّا لَكُمۡ تَبَعً۬ا فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّغۡنُونَ عَنَّا مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىۡءٍ۬‌ۚ قَالُواْ لَوۡ هَدَٮٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيۡنَـٰڪُمۡ‌ۖ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡنَآ أَجَزِعۡنَآ أَمۡ صَبَرۡنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ۬ (٢١)

“And they all shall appear before Allah.  Then the weak will say to the arrogant (chiefs): “We were following you; can you relieve us a little from Allah’s punishment?” They will say: “Had Allah guided us, we would have guided you. It makes no difference to us whether we rage, or endure, we have no way out.” (14:21)

The disbelievers will also be blaming Satan (Iblis) that He was the one who deceived them.  Here Satan stood and gave a clear sermon to wash his hand from any responsibility and makes it clear that they should only blame themselves:

وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِىَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَڪُمۡ وَعۡدَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمۡ فَأَخۡلَفۡتُڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوۡتُكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَجَبۡتُمۡ لِى‌ۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِى وَلُومُوٓاْ أَنفُسَڪُم‌ۖ مَّآ أَنَا۟ بِمُصۡرِخِڪُمۡ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصۡرِخِىَّ‌ۖ إِنِّى ڪَفَرۡتُ بِمَآ أَشۡرَڪۡتُمُونِ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬ (٢٢)

And Satan will say when the matter has been decided: “Surely, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So do not blame me but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I reject your associating me as a partner with Allah (by obeying me). Indeed, there is a painful torment for the wrong doers.”  (14:22)

The revealed words that the messengers transmit to the people are intended to bring them from all forms of darkness to the light and the words that the disbelievers use to resist the messengers are intended to keep people in all forms of darkness.  In both cases it is the word but there are differences in the outcome between the good word and the evil one.   Allah highlights the importance of every word that people utter by saying:

أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً۬ كَلِمَةً۬ طَيِّبَةً۬ كَشَجَرَةٍ۬ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصۡلُهَا ثَابِتٌ۬ وَفَرۡعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ (٢٤) تُؤۡتِىٓ أُڪُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينِۭ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهَا‌ۗ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَڪَّرُونَ (٢٥)

“Have you not considered how Allah has set forth a parable?  A good word is like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky. (24) It always produces its fruit by the will of its Lord, and Allah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may learn a lesson.” (14:24-25)

 وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ۬ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجۡتُثَّتۡ مِن فَوۡقِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ۬ (٢٦)

And the parable of a bad word is like a bad tree uprooted from the face of the earth, it has no firm root.” (14: 26)

 These Ayat teach us that we should be aware of the impact of the words we utter to assess whether they are good or bad.  Every person whether man or women utters about 20,000 words per day that we often do not give attention to most of them although each word can have major impact on us and on others.  With a good word you form a family and with a bad word you break a family.  With a good word you build the confidence in a person leading to success and with a bad word you destroy the confidence in a person leading to failure.

Since no matter how righteous people are, they cannot be assured that all what they utter is proper whether in this life or the hereafter, they will need external help from Allah to keep their words pure, and here Allah’s promise comes:

يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَفِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ‌ۖ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ‌ۚ وَيَفۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ (٢٧)

Allah will reinforce those who believe with the firm word in this life and in the Hereafter. And Allah will lead the wrong doers, the unjust, astray, and Allah does what He wills.” (14:27)

An important component of our good words is the Dua that we make. Therefore, we note that while the Surat is named after Prophet Ibrahim, it does not give details about his life other than his words of supplication and gratitude to Allah:

وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدَ ءَامِنً۬ا وَٱجۡنُبۡنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعۡبُدَ ٱلۡأَصۡنَامَ (٣٥) رَبِّ إِنَّہُنَّ أَضۡلَلۡنَ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ۖ فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُ ۥ مِنِّى‌ۖ وَمَنۡ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ (٣٦)

رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسۡكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيۡرِ ذِى زَرۡعٍ عِندَ بَيۡتِكَ ٱلۡمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجۡعَلۡ أَفۡـِٔدَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَہۡوِىٓ إِلَيۡہِمۡ وَٱرۡزُقۡهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَشۡكُرُونَ (٣٧) رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ تَعۡلَمُ مَا نُخۡفِى وَمَا نُعۡلِنُ‌ۗ وَمَا يَخۡفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىۡءٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ (٣٨)

ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلۡكِبَرِ إِسۡمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَـٰقَ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ (٣٩)

رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى‌ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلۡ دُعَآءِ (٤٠) رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لِى وَلِوَٲلِدَىَّ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَوۡمَ يَقُومُ ٱلۡحِسَابُ (٤١)

And (recall) when Ibrahim said: “My Lord, make this city (Makkah) peaceful, and keep me and my children away from worshipping idols. (35)

“My Lord, they have misled many people. But who so follows me, they are surely of me. And as for the one who disobeys me, still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (36)

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my children in an arid valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka’bah); in order, our Lord, that they establish Salat, so make the hearts of people incline towards them and provide them with fruits so that they be grateful. (37)

“Our Lord, surely You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in heaven is hidden from Allah (38) “All the praises and thanks are to Allah, who despite my old age blessed me with Ismail (Ishmael) and Ishaq (Isaac). Verily! My Lord is the One who listens to the prayers. (39)

“My Lord, make me steadfast in Salat and my offspring, as well. And our Lord, accept my Dua. (40)

“Our Lord, forgive me and my parents, and all believers on the Day when the reckoning will take place.” (14:35-41)

While good words always lead to good results of belief and blessings from Allah, bad words, particularly those that lead people to disbelief and ingratitude will surely lead to an evil outcome to those who promote them and those who follow them, as Allah says:

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ بَدَّلُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ كُفۡرً۬ا وَأَحَلُّواْ قَوۡمَهُمۡ دَارَ ٱلۡبَوَارِ (٢٨) جَهَنَّمَ يَصۡلَوۡنَهَا‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡقَرَارُ (٢٩) وَجَعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ أَندَادً۬ا لِّيُضِلُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ۗ قُلۡ تَمَتَّعُواْ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَڪُمۡ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ (٣٠)

Have you not seen those who have changed the Blessings of Allah into disbelief, and caused their people to dwell in the house of destruction? (28) Hell, in which they will burn, – and what an evil place to settle in! (29) They set up rivals to Allah, to mislead others from His Path! Say: “Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!” (14:28-30)

Allah re-emphasizes the importance of showing the fruits of belief and translating it into actions:

قُل لِّعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ يُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ سِرًّ۬ا وَعَلَانِيَةً۬ مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِىَ يَوۡمٌ۬ لَّا بَيۡعٌ۬ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَـٰلٌ (٣١)

Say to My slaves who have believed that they should perform the prayers and spend in charity out of the sustenance We have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a Day on which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending. (14:31)

The Surat continues by reminding people with several of Allah’s blessings to soften their hearts to believing the messengers:

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَأَخۡرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ رِزۡقً۬ا لَّكُمۡ‌ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡفُلۡكَ لِتَجۡرِىَ فِى ٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِأَمۡرِهِۦ‌ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرَ (٣٢) وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ دَآٮِٕبَيۡنِ‌ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّہَارَ (٣٣) وَءَاتَٮٰكُم مِّن ڪُلِّ مَا سَأَلۡتُمُوهُ‌ۚ وَإِن تَعُدُّواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحۡصُوهَآ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَظَلُومٌ۬ ڪَفَّارٌ۬ (٣٤)

“Allah is He Who has created the heavens and the earth and sends down water (rain) from the sky, and thereby brought forth fruits as provision for you; and He has made the ships to be of service to you, that they may sail through the sea by His Command; and He has made rivers (also) to be of service to you. (32) And He subjugated for you the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses; and He subjugated for you the day and the night. (33) And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you consider a single Blessing of Allah, you never will be able to properly count it. Indeed, man is unjust and ungrateful (14:32-34).

The Surat concludes with a scene of the people on the day of Judgement so people will have a chance to heed the message of the messengers and learn from the fate of past nations.

وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَـٰفِلاً عَمَّا يَعۡمَلُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ‌ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمۡ لِيَوۡمٍ۬ تَشۡخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ (٤٢) مُهۡطِعِينَ مُقۡنِعِى رُءُوسِہِمۡ لَا يَرۡتَدُّ إِلَيۡہِمۡ طَرۡفُهُمۡ‌ۖ وَأَفۡـِٔدَتُہُمۡ هَوَآءٌ۬ (٤٣) وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوۡمَ يَأۡتِيہِمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ۬ قَرِيبٍ۬ نُّجِبۡ دَعۡوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ‌ۗ أَوَلَمۡ تَڪُونُوٓاْ أَقۡسَمۡتُم مِّن قَبۡلُ مَا لَڪُم مِّن زَوَالٍ۬ (٤٤)

 وَسَكَنتُمۡ فِى مَسَـٰڪِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَڪُمۡ كَيۡفَ فَعَلۡنَا بِهِمۡ وَضَرَبۡنَا لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ (٤٥) وَقَدۡ مَكَرُواْ مَڪۡرَهُمۡ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَڪۡرُهُمۡ وَإِن كَانَ مَڪۡرُهُمۡ لِتَزُولَ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ (٤٦)

فَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِفَ وَعۡدِهِۦ رُسُلَهُ ۥۤ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ۬ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍ۬ (٤٧) يَوۡمَ تُبَدَّلُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ غَيۡرَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتُ‌ۖ وَبَرَزُواْ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡوَٲحِدِ ٱلۡقَهَّارِ (٤٨) وَتَرَى ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ مُّقَرَّنِينَ فِى ٱلۡأَصۡفَادِ (٤٩) سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ۬ وَتَغۡشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ (٥٠) لِيَجۡزِىَ ٱللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفۡسٍ۬ مَّا كَسَبَتۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ (٥١)

“Never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers are doing, He only gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will remain staring in horror. (42) They shall be rushing with their heads upraised, their gaze shall not return towards them, and their hearts shall be hollow (because of extreme fear). (43)

And warn the people of the Day when punishment will come upon them; and the wrong doers will say: “Our Lord, give us respite for a little while, and we will answer Your call and follow the messengers.” (It will be said): “Is it not that you had sworn oaths earlier that you would not leave (the world for the Hereafter). (44) “And you dwelt in the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, and it was clear to you how We had dealt with them. And We put forth for you many examples.” (45)

Indeed, they planned their plot, and whatever was their plot, it was before Allah, though their plot was such as to remove the mountains. (46) So, never think that Allah will fail to keep His Promise to His Messengers. Certainly, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution. (47) The day on which the earth will be turned into another earth and so will be the heavens, and they (all creatures) will appear before Allah, the One, the All-Dominant. (48) And you will see the guilty on that day tied together in chains. (49) Their garments will be of pitch, and fire will cover their faces. (50) So that Allah may repay everyone in full whatever he earned. Truly, Allah is Swift at reckoning.” (14:42-51)

The Surat ends with a clear reminder on the purpose of Allah’s message to mankind:

هَـٰذَا بَلَـٰغٌ۬ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُواْ بِهِۦ وَلِيَعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ۬ وَٲحِدٌ۬ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ (٥٢)

This is a message for mankind in order that they be warned and so that they know that He is only One God, and that the people of understanding may heed the advice. (Ibrahim 14:52)

 

 Additional Comments on the Arabic Language

 Linguists suggest that the oldest spoken language is the Proto-Semitic language, and it is the source of all languages.  The Arabic language is the only language that preserved almost all feature of the Proto-Semitic language and thus it is the considered the oldest language in comparison to all others.  The age of the Arabic language is 8000 years while the Hebrew language age is only 4000 years, and the Chinese language is about 3,000 years old. The Arabic language is unique because it has many unique features such as:

1. The Arabic language has more roots than any other language, it has 16,000 roots while the Hebrew language has 2,500 roots, the Saxon language has 1000 roots, and Latin has only 700 roots.
2. The Arabic language is very rich with synonymous, as an example the word lion has about 10 synonymous.

(اسد, ليث, ضرغام, هزبر, عمرو, سبع, عترس, قشعم, أسامة, قسورة غضنفر, ورد, ضيغم)

3. The Arabic language is rich in derivatives as example the word good in English, has only one derivative which is goodness, but the equivalent word in Arabic (جيد) that sounds similar to “good” has many derivates such as (جيد يجيد اجادة جواد جودة جود)
4. The Arabic language can express the thought with minimum words, as example in English you say: “I shall not go” while in Arabic you only use two words لن اذهب
5. The Arabic language is known to be a language of the fifth level because even a single letter can have a meaning. As example when a child touches something hot, he will say (اح) and the letter (ح) is used in words related to heat such as (حر حرارة حريق حمى حميم)