Surat Fussilat (فُصّلَت), also known as Ha Mim Al-Sajda (حٰمٓ السجدة), is one of the seven surahs that begin with the letters Ha Mim (حٰمٓ). All of these surahs were revealed in Mecca and emphasize the clarity of Allah’s final message to mankind, the Quran, as well as the responsibility of Muslims to convey it to humanity. This Surah engages in a profound dialogue with those who disbelieve, addressing their doubts and misconceptions with clear evidence and logical rebuttals. It highlights Allah’s magnificent creations as undeniable signs of His supreme power and authority.

The Surah starts by emphasizing the Quran’s clarity and Allah’s choice of Arabic as the language for conveying His final message to humanity.

حمٓ (١) تَنزِيلٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (٢) كِتَـٰبٌ۬ فُصِّلَتۡ ءَايَـٰتُهُ ۥ قُرۡءَانًا عَرَبِيًّ۬ا لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَعۡلَمُونَ (٣) بَشِيرً۬ا وَنَذِيرً۬ا فَأَعۡرَضَ أَڪۡثَرُهُمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ (٤)

 “Ha-Mim. (1) A revelation from Al-Rahman, the Merciful.  (2) A Book whose verses are explained in detail — an Arabic Quran for people who know.  (3)  A bearer of good news and warning, yet most of them turn away, so they do not listen” (41:1-4)

The above Ayah and others refute any argument that the Quran is difficult to understand.   Allah also pointed out that the Quran is Arabic, and this implies two meanings: it is in the Arabic language, and it is eloquent and easy to understand. The word Arabic (عربى) is often used as the antonym of the word “Agamie” (أعجمى), which means unclear and hard to understand. This second meaning, that Arabic means clear and easy to understand, is supported by Ayat 44 in the Surah, which emphasizes the clarity of the Quran:

وَلَوۡ جَعَلۡنَـٰهُ قُرۡءَانًا أَعۡجَمِيًّ۬ا لَّقَالُواْ لَوۡلَا فُصِّلَتۡ ءَايَـٰتُهُ ۥۤ‌ۖ ءَا۠عۡجَمِىٌّ۬ وَعَرَبِىٌّ۬‌ۗ قُلۡ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هُدً۬ى وَشِفَآءٌ۬‌ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمۡ وَقۡرٌ۬ وَهُوَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ عَمًى‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يُنَادَوۡنَ مِن مَّكَانِۭ بَعِيدٍ۬ (٤٤)

“Had We revealed it as an “Agamie” Quran, they would have certainly argued, “If only its verses were made clear.  Whether it is “Agamie” or Arabic (عربى), it is a guide and a healing to the believers. As for those who disbelieve, there is deafness in their ears, and it is blindness for them. It is as if they are being called from a faraway place.” (41: 44)

In this Ayah, Allah emphasizes that the Quran is the source of guidance and healing to believers.  But for the disbelievers, they will not understand it because they do not listen to it; their hearts are blind as they have condemned themselves by saying:

وَقَالُواْ قُلُوبُنَا فِىٓ أَڪِنَّةٍ۬ مِّمَّا تَدۡعُونَآ إِلَيۡهِ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِنَا وَقۡرٌ۬ وَمِنۢ بَيۡنِنَا وَبَيۡنِكَ حِجَابٌ۬ فَٱعۡمَلۡ إِنَّنَا عَـٰمِلُونَ (٥)

They say, “Our hearts are veiled against what you are calling us to, there is deafness in our ears, and there is a barrier between us and you. So do ˹whatever you want˺ and so shall we!” (41:5)

Also, disbelievers actively encouraged others not to listen to the Quran and disturbed those who wanted to listen by making noise during its recitation:

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَا تَسۡمَعُواْ لِهَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ وَٱلۡغَوۡاْ فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَغۡلِبُونَ (٢٦) فَلَنُذِيقَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَذَابً۬ا شَدِيدً۬ا وَلَنَجۡزِيَنَّہُمۡ أَسۡوَأَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ (٢٧)

Those who disbelieved said, “Do not listen to this Quran and make noise during its recitation, so that you may overcome.” (26) Therefore, We will certainly make them taste a severe punishment and We will certainly recompense them for the worst of what they used to do. (41:26-27)

 Allah’s punishment only befalls those who receive His guidance but refuse to see the guidance and prefer to be blind to it. Allah says:

وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيۡنَـٰهُمۡ فَٱسۡتَحَبُّواْ ٱلۡعَمَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡهُدَىٰ فَأَخَذَتۡہُمۡ صَـٰعِقَةُ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡهُونِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ (١٧) وَنَجَّيۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَكَانُواْ يَتَّقُونَ (١٨)

And as for Thamud, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance, so they were seized by thunderbolt of humiliating punishment because of what they used to earn. (17) And We saved those who believed and had the Taqwa of Allah. (41:17-18)

 Those who reject Allah’s guidance do not only blind themselves to Allah’s signs but also discourage others from listening to them and attempt to distort the message of Allah:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلۡحِدُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا لَا يَخۡفَوۡنَ عَلَيۡنَآ‌ۗ أَفَمَن يُلۡقَىٰ فِى ٱلنَّارِ خَيۡرٌ أَم مَّن يَأۡتِىٓ ءَامِنً۬ا يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۚ ٱعۡمَلُواْ مَا شِئۡتُمۡ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ (٤٠)

Indeed, those who distort Our Ayat are not hidden from Us. So, who is better, the one who is thrown into the Fire, or the one who comes secure on the Day of Judgement? Do whatever you wish. Indeed, He (Allah) is seeing whatever you do. (41:40)

However, Allah will not allow their distortions to lead others astray because He guaranteed that His final message, the Quran, will never be distorted:

لَّا يَأۡتِيهِ ٱلۡبَـٰطِلُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَلَا مِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦ‌ۖ تَنزِيلٌ۬ مِّنۡ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ۬ (٤٢)

Falsehood cannot approach it from its front nor from behind; [it is] a revelation from the All-Wise and Praiseworthy. (41:42)

 We note from these verses that the disbelievers whom Allah condemns are not merely passive but are committed to their disbelief by preventing others from listening to the Quran and by trying to distort its verses. With all these transgressions, they surely deserve Allah’s punishment.  But on the day of Judgment, when Allah presents them with records of their deeds, they will deny everything and insist that the only way for Allah to be just with them is for them to admit their transgressions. In a hadith that is narrated by Anis and reported in Muslim, the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم  من مخاطبة العبد ربه يقول: يارب ألم تجرني من الظلم؟ قال: يقول: بلى قال: فيقول: فإني أجيز على نفسي إلا شاهدا مني قال: فيقول: كفى بنفسك اليوم عليك شهيدا وبالكرام الكاتبين شهودا قال: فيختم على فيه فيقال لأركانه: انطقي قال: فتنطق بأعماله ثم يخلى بينه وبين الكلام قال: فيقول: بعدا لكنّ وسحقا فعنكنّ كنت أناضل) رواه مسلم

The disbeliever will say to Allah, ‘My Lord, did You not protect me from injustice?’ Allah says, ‘Yes.’ The disbeliever will say, ‘I do not accept any testimony except from myself.’ Allah says, ‘Today, you are sufficient as a witness against yourself for what honorable scribes (the recording angels) witnessed.’ Allah will order his mouth to be sealed, and asks his limbs to speak,’ and they will speak of his deeds. Then, the man will be allowed to speak, and he will say to his limbs, ‘Woe to you! I was only defending you. ” (Muslim)

Allah presented the scene of what will happen to confirm the guilt of the disbelievers as follows:

وَيَوۡمَ يُحۡشَرُ أَعۡدَآءُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَهُمۡ يُوزَعُونَ (١٩) حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا مَا جَآءُوهَا شَہِدَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ سَمۡعُهُمۡ وَأَبۡصَـٰرُهُمۡ وَجُلُودُهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ (٢٠) وَقَالُواْ لِجُلُودِهِمۡ لِمَ شَهِدتُّمۡ عَلَيۡنَا‌ۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَنطَقَنَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنطَقَ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمۡ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ۬ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ (٢١) وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَتِرُونَ أَن يَشۡہَدَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ سَمۡعُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَبۡصَـٰرُكُمۡ وَلَا جُلُودُكُمۡ وَلَـٰكِن ظَنَنتُمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَعۡلَمُ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ (٢٢)

On the Day that the enemies of Allah will be mustered towards the fire. So, they will be kept under control. (19) when they come close to it, their ears, eyes and skins will testify against them about what they used to do. (20) And they will say to their skins, “Why did you testify against us?” and their skins will reply, “We were made to speak by Allah who has made everything to speak. He who created you in the first time and to Him you are [now] brought back, (21) you could not hide yourselves from your ears, eyes and skins to prevent them from testifying against you. But you thought that Allah does not know much of what you do.” (41:19-22)

 These Ayat should inspire research into how a person experiences pain. One might make the following hypothesis: the limbs of a person destined for Hell will not feel pain, as they would otherwise suffer for actions they did not willingly commit. They were compelled to act against Allah’s commands by the person for whom Allah had subjugated them. If the limbs do not feel pain, it may suggest that the actual experience of pain is created by the brain. However, this hypothesis requires data for validation.

When Allah speaks of believers who will be rewarded with paradise, they are always associated with righteous deeds. Conversely, disbelievers who will be punished by Hell are consistently linked with actively promoting their disbelief. This raises the question: what will happen to believers who do not perform righteous deeds and disbelievers who do not commit evil deeds? It appears that Allah will make the decision regarding them on the Day of Judgment, as suggested in the following verse in Surah Al-Hajj.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـِٔينَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ وَٱلۡمَجُوسَ وَٱلَّذِينَ أَشۡرَڪُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفۡصِلُ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَہِيدٌ (١٧)

“As for those who have believed and those who were Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and those who ascribe partners to Allah – Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgement. Surely, Allah is witness to everything.” (Al-Hajj 22:17)

To refute the claims of the disbelievers regarding the truthfulness of the Quran, Allah provides details about the creation of the heavens and the earth as proof that the Quran is a revelation from the Creator Himself:

قُلۡ أَٮِٕنَّكُمۡ لَتَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِى يَوۡمَيۡنِ وَتَجۡعَلُونَ لَهُ ۥۤ أَندَادً۬ا‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٩) وَجَعَلَ فِيہَا رَوَٲسِىَ مِن فَوۡقِهَا وَبَـٰرَكَ فِيہَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيہَآ أَقۡوَٲتَہَا فِىٓ أَرۡبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ۬ سَوَآءً۬ لِّلسَّآٮِٕلِينَ (١٠) ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌ۬ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلۡأَرۡضِ ٱئۡتِيَا طَوۡعًا أَوۡ كَرۡهً۬ا قَالَتَآ أَتَيۡنَا طَآٮِٕعِينَ (١١) فَقَضَٮٰهُنَّ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَاتٍ۬ فِى يَوۡمَيۡنِ وَأَوۡحَىٰ فِى كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ أَمۡرَهَا‌ۚ وَزَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَحِفۡظً۬ا‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ تَقۡدِيرُ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡعَلِيمِ (١٢)

Say, “Do you really disbelieve in the One who created the earth in two days and ascribe to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds.” (9) He placed on the earth firm mountains, and He put blessings in it and ordained therein its sustenance in four days, equal for (all) who ask. (10) Then He turned to the sky when it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, “Come (into being) both of you, willingly or unwillingly.” They said, “We come willingly.” (11) And He decreed that they become seven heavens within two days and imparted in each heaven its command. And We decorated the closest sky (to the earth) with lamps and as protection. Such is the ordaining of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. (41:9-12)

 These verses should refute any claim that population growth is the cause of food shortages. Allah has clearly affirmed that He has placed all the necessary provisions on Earth for everyone. The issue is not a lack of available resources, but rather the unequal distribution of these resources. Some people commit injustices by encroaching on the rights and resources of others.

Several scientific references and studies confirm that food shortages are more related to distribution and access rather than actual scarcity of resources.

1. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, global food production is currently sufficient to feed the world population. The world produces enough calories to feed 10 billion people, more than the current global population of around 8 billion. However, despite this, millions still face hunger due to issues like inequality, and distribution problems. [FAO. (2019). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.]
2. A report by the World Food Programme (WFP) highlights that hunger is not typically due to the unavailability of food but rather the inability of people to access it. The causes include economic inequality, poor infrastructure, political conflict, and market failures. For example, many regions have plenty of food, but it is not accessible to those in need due to logistical, political, or economic barriers. [Reference: World Food Programme (WFP). (2020). Hunger and Famine: The Root Causes.]

 While no one witnessed the creation of the heaven and earth, Allah points out a physical phenomenon that people can observe, how Allah brings life to barren land:

وَمِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦۤ أَنَّكَ تَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ خَـٰشِعَةً۬ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡہَا ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱهۡتَزَّتۡ وَرَبَتۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحۡيَاهَا لَمُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰٓ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ (٣٩)

“And among His signs is that you see the earth barren, but when We send down water upon it, it shakes and swells. Verily, He who gives it life is indeed He who gives life to the dead. Surely, He has the power to do everything.” (41:39)

 This Ayah should inspire research into how the delicate stems and roots emerging from a seed penetrate compacted soil. Based on this Ayah, one could make the hypothesis that when rain falls on the earth, it creates microearthquakes that cause microcracks, enabling the delicate stems and roots to penetrate the soil through these microcracks. However, this hypothesis requires data for validation.

Allah affirms that the Quran will keep revealing signs to all mankind, leaving no excuse for any disbeliever to deny the Quran as a message from the Creator. Allah says:

سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلۡأَفَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ‌ۗ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَہِيدٌ (٥٣)

“We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Quran) is the truth. Is it not sufficient that your Lord is a Witness over all things?” (41: 53)

But it should be noted that the Quran will not deliver itself. It is up to the Muslims to deliver it to others. However, to deliver it, Muslims must possess superior moral character by being kind, tolerant and being patient as they demonstrate their belief by their good deeds. Allah says:

وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلاً۬ مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ (٣٣)

“And who is better in speech than he who invites to Allah, and does righteous deeds, and says: “I am one of the Muslims.” (41:33)

 وَلَا تَسۡتَوِى ٱلۡحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ‌ۚ ٱدۡفَعۡ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيۡنَكَ وَبَيۡنَهُ ۥ عَدَٲوَةٌ۬ كَأَنَّهُ ۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ۬ (٣٤)

The good deed and the evil deed are not equal. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then verily; he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as he was a close friend. (41: 34)

وَمَا يُلَقَّٮٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَمَا يُلَقَّٮٰهَآ إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ۬ (٣٥)

But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient – and none is granted it except the owner of the great fortune in this world.” (41: 33-35)

 Muslims need to be alert to the insinuations of Satan, He wants them to get angry, take revenge, and respond to evil with evil, forgetting Allah’s command to repel evil with good (ٱدۡفَعۡ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ).  Allah gives us advice on how to get rid of the insinuations of Satan:

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ نَزۡغٌ۬ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ (٣٦)

“And if a whisper from the devil reaches you then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed. He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” (41:36)