Exhaustive Academic Study Notes: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Juz Amma)
Study Guide: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Juz Amma - Part 30)
Introductory Background Information on the Publisher and Translator
Work Origin: This is an explanation of the last 37 Suras of the Noble Qur'an by the renowned scholar Ibn Kathir.
Tafsir Methodology: Recognized as one of the best explanations, Ibn Kathir utilized a rigorous hierarchy:
Qur'an by the Qur'an itself.
By the Sunnah.
By the Companions.
By language.
Lastly by the opinion of the scholars of Sunnah.
Translator Information: Sameh Strauch, born in Liverpool (1983), studied at Madinah University.
Surat An-Naba' (The Tidings - 78)
The Themes of Resurrection: Unbelievers question the "Awful Tidings."
Qatadah and Ibn Zaid identify these as the resurrection after death.
Mujahid suggests it refers to the Qur'an, though resurrection is the preferred view.
Proofs of Divine Power: Allah cites creation to prove He can resurrect humans:
Earth as an Expanse: Flattened and manageable.
Mountains as Pegs: To stabilize the earth against convulsions.
Pairs: Creation of male and female for comfort and propagation.
Sleep and Night: Sleep as repose from toil; night as a "cloak" or garment of darkness.
Heavens: "Seven Strong" (the seven heavens).
Rain and Growth: Rain (al-mu'sirat) produces grains for livestock and plants for human consumption.
The Day of Decision: A fixed time (Qur'an 11:104).
Trumpet sounded: Mankind comes forth in multitudes.
The trumpet interval: Abu Hurairah reports forty (units undetermined) between blows.
Re-creation: Man is reconstructed from the coccyx (tail bone).
Punishment in Hell:
Hell lurks in ambush for the rebellious.
Duration: Ahqab (ages). Opinions vary: 80 years per huqub (where 1 day = 1,000 earthly years) to an endless period (Sa'id Ibn Qatadah).
Drink: Hamim (boiling water) and a paralyzing cold (composed of sweat and tears of inhabitants) according to Abul 'Aaliyah.
The Dutiful in Paradise: Achievement includes gardens, vineyards, and kawa'ib (beautiful companions).
Full Cup: Continually refilled with pure beverages.
The Final Warning: The Day is real. Unbelievers will cry, "Would that I were dust!"
Interpretation: Desiring to have remained in the grave or wishing they were animals whom Allah ordered to become dust after judgment.
Surat An-Nazi'at (Those Who Drag Forth - 79)
Angels of Death:
Those who drag forth: Angels removing souls of unbelievers with violence.
Those who do so with gentleness: Angels removing souls of believers with ease.
Stages of Resurrection:
First Trumpet: Earth and mountains shake.
Second Trumpet: Follows the first.
Sahirah: The face of the earth after being leveled.
Story of Musa (Moses):
Called in the Holy Vale of Tuwa.
Sent to Fir'aoun (Pharoah), who was a rebellious tyrant.
Fir'aoun's defiance: Mocked miracles, gathered people, and claimed, "I am your Rabb; the Highest."
Outcome: Allah seized him as an example for the former and latter generations.
Cosmological Argument: Creation of the heaven (vast edifice) is greater than man. Allah then spread the earth and provided water/pasture for livelihood.
The Great Disaster: The Day of Resurrection.
Outcome: Hell for rebels who chose this world; Garden for those who feared standing before their Lord and restrained lust.
Knowledge of the Hour: Belongs solely to Allah. Muhammad is but a warner.
Surat 'Abasa (He Frowned - 80)
Occasion of Revelation: The Prophet was busy calling a Quraish noble to Islam when the blind man, 'Abdullah Ibn Umm Maktum, interrupted him. The Prophet frowned and turned away.
Correction: Allah corrected the Prophet, stating that the weak/poor seeking guidance are equal to or more deserving than the self-sufficient rich.
Humanity's Ungratefulness: Man is rebuked despite being created from a mere drop of sperm. Allah makes the path smooth (including physical delivery from the womb).
Provision: List of blessings: grain, grapes, plants, olives, dates, dense gardens, and abb (pasture for animals).
As-Saakhkhah (The Deatening Cry):
On this Day, humans flee from siblings, parents, spouses, and children due to overwhelming concern for their own souls.
Facial states: Bright/laughing (believers) vs. dust-stained/darkened (disbelievers).
Surat At-Takwir (The Folding Up - 81)
Cataclysmic Events:
Sun kuwwirat: Folded up/darkened.
Stars fall/scatter.
Mountains pass away.
She-camels (Pick of the bunch) neglected due to terror.
Seas overflow/kindled with fire.
Souls united with their likes (believers with believers, etc.).
The Buried Child (Maw'udah): Female infants buried alive by pagans will be asked for what crime they were killed.
Messenger Characteristics:
Jibril: Honourable, powerful, ranked high, obeyed among angels, and trustworthy.
Muhammad: Not possessed, saw Jibril on the clear horizon (600 wings).
Human Will: Guidance is for those who will to walk straight, though this is ultimately subject to Allah's will.
Surat Al-Infitar (The Cleaving - 82)
Resurrection Conditions: Heaven cleft asunder, stars scattered, seas burst, and graves inverted.
The Deceived Human: Allah asks what beguiled man from His generosity when He championed man's creation and proportion.
Guardians: Honourable angels writing down deeds.
Outcome: Abrar in Delight; Fujjar in Blaze (without absence).
Day of Recompense: A day where no person has power for another; judgment is solely Allah's.
Surat Al-Mutaffifin (Those Who Deal in Fraud - 83)
Commercial Injustice: Woe to those who demand full measure for themselves but give less to others.
Records of the Wicked: Located in Sijjin (a register inscribed in a narrow place below the seventh earth).
Sins' Effect: Ran (stain/cover) on hearts caused by accumulated sins, making them blind to truth.
The Hijab of the Heart: Disbelievers will be veiled from seeing Allah on that Day.
Records of the Pious: Located in 'Illiyyun (high place/seventh heaven).
Bliss of the Pious: Rec1ining on couches (ara'ik), recognized by radience.
Drink: Pure, sealed rahiq with a scent/seal of musk, mixed with tasnim (highest drink).
The Turning Table: In life, sinners laughed at believers; on the Last Day, believers laugh at disbelievers while looking at Allah.
Surat Al-Inshiqaq (The Splitting Asunder - 84)
Heaven's Obedience: The heaven listens and obeys the command to split.
The Meeting: Man is returning to his Rabb and will meet his deeds.
Account Delivery:
Right hand: Easy reckoning, return to people in joy.
Behind the back (left hand): Invoking destruction, entering Fire.
The Moon and Time: Oaths by the Shafaq (reddening horizon), the night, and the full moon.
The Stages of Life: Traveling from stage to stage (birth to death, or state to state in the afterlife).
Surat Al-Buruj (The Big Stars - 85)
The Ditch (Al-Ukhdud): A historical story of believers (Christians of Najran or others) thrown into a fire ditch for refusing to renounce faith.
The patient mother: A baby spoke to encourage his mother to stay firm in the fire.
Allah's Grip: His retribution is severe. He is Al-Ghafur (Oft-Forgiving) and Al-Wadud (All-Loving).
Historical Examples: The hosts of Fir'aoun and Thamud were destroyed for denial.
The Preserved Tablet: The Qur'an is in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh, protected from change.
Surat At-Tariq (The Night-Comer - 86)
At-Tariq: The piercing/brilliant star.
Human Creation: Created from a pouring fluid originating between the sulb (backbone) and tara'ib (ribs).
Judgment: All secrets will be examined; man will have no power or helper.
Qur'anic Nature: It is the "Word that separates" truth from falsehood, not a thing for amusement.
Surat Al-A'la (The All-High - 87)
The Creator: Who creates, proportions, measures, and guides.
The Prophet's Memory: Allah ensures the Prophet will not forget the revelation except what Allah wills (abrogation).
The Reminder: Profit is for those who fear; wretched ones avoid it and suffer the Fire.
Scriptures of Old: The message of purified success was in the scrolls of Ibrahim and Musa.
Surat Al-Ghashiyah (The Overwhelming - 88)
Wretched Faces: Humiliated, laboring, weary.
Food: Daree' (poisonous thomy plant) which neither nourishes nor alleviates hunger.
Joyful Faces: Satisfied with their efforts.
Surroundings: High gardens, running springs, raised couches (surur), and spread carpets.
Signs in Nature: The camel's anatomy, the heaven's height, the mountains' roots, and the earth's expanse.
Prophetic Duty: To remind, not to play the role of a dictator over hearts.
Surat Al-Fajr (The Dawn - 89)
Oaths: The dawn, the ten nights (first ten of Dhul Hijjah), the even/odd, and the night.
The Fall of Nations:
'Ad (descendants of Iram): Tall, powerful builders of lofty pillars.
Thamud: Hewed rocks in the valley.
Fir'aoun: "Owner of stakes/armies."
Trials: Success is not a sign of honor, nor is poverty a sign of humiliation; they are both tests of gratitude and patience.
Judgment: The earth ground to powder, Allah "comes" with angels in rows, Hell brought by 70,000 angels.
The Soul at Rest: "O you soul at rest! Come back to your Rabb…"
Surat Al-Balad (The City - 90)
Makkah: Allah swears by the city where the Prophet resides.
Kabad: Man is created in toil and struggle.
The Two Ways: Allah showed man the paths of good and evil.
Al-'Aqabah (The Uphill Path):
Freeing a slave.
Feeding Orphans/Poor during famine.
Faith and recommending patience/compassion.
Surat Ash-Shams (The Sun - 91)
The Soul's Nature: Allah proportioned the soul and inspired it with transgression and piety.
Success and Failure: Success is purifying the soul; failure is corrupting it.
The She-Camel of Thamud: Qidar Ibn Salif killed the miraculous camel despite Salih's warning; the tribe was destroyed for their collective allegiance to the act.
Surat Al-Lail (The Night - 92)
Diverse Efforts: Some give/fear; some are miserly/self-sufficient.
Divine Facilitation: Allah makes the path of ease smooth for the charitable and the path of evil smooth for the miserly.
Abü Bakr: Traditionally associated with verses 17-21 for spending wealth purely for Allah's countenance.
Surat Ad-Duha (The Forenoon - 93)
Healing: Revealed after revelation had ceased for a time, causing the Prophet distress and the pagans to mock him.
Blessings Counted: Prophet was found an orphan (given refuge), unaware (guided), and poor (made rich).
Obligations: Do not oppress orphans, do not repulse beggars, and proclaim Allah's grace.
Surat Al-Inshirah (The Opening Forth - 94)
Relief: "With hardship there is relief." (Repeated for emphasis).
Spiritual Expansion: Allah opened the Prophet's breast (attributed to the Night of Isra').
Duty: After finishing worldly affairs, stand up in worship.
Surat At-Tin (The Fig - 95)
Geographic Sanctity:
Fig/Olive (Jerusalem - 'Eesa).
Mount Sinai (Musa).
City of Security (Makkah - Muhammad).
Human Stature: Created in the best form, but reduced to the lowest of the low (Fire/Despair) if without faith.
Surat Al-'Alaq (The Clot - 96)
The First Revelation: "Read! In the Name of your Rabb."
Story of Hira': Jibril embracd the Prophet three times.
Abu Jahl: Threatened the Prophet during prayer; Allah warned He would catch him by his "lying, sinful forelock."
Surat Al-Qadr (The Night of Decree - 97)
Timing: The Qur'an was sent to the lowest heaven on this night in Ramadan.
Value: Better than a thousand months (approx. 83 years) of worship without this night.
Nature: Peace until dawn.
Surat Al-Bayyinah (The Clear Evidence - 98)
Necessity: People of the Book and polytheists would not leave their ways until a Clear Proof (Muhammad) arrived.
True Religion: Worshipping Allah sincerely, establishing prayer, and paying Zakah.
Surat Az-Zalzalah (The Earthquake - 99)
Earth's Testimony: The earth will declare what happened upon it.
Atom's Weight: No deed, however tiny, will be excluded from the sight of the doer.
Surahs 100 - 114 (Brief Summary of Topics)
Al-'Adiyat: Oaths by charging horses; man's love of wealth.
Al-Qari'ah: Men like moths, mountains like carded wool; the heavy/light balance.
At-Takathur: Piling up wealth diverts man until the grave.
Al-'Asr: All in loss except those of faith, good deeds, truth, and patience.
Al-Humazah: Woe to the backbiter who counts pearls; punishment in Al-Hutamah.
Al-Fil: Destruction of Abraha's army by birds (ababil) with stones of hard clay.
Quraish: Grace of safety and sustenance; command to worship the Rabb of the House.
Al-Ma'un: Characteristics of those who deny the Din: neglect prayer and small kindnesses.
Al-Kawthar: The river in Paradise; command to sacrifice; enemy will be eut off.
Al-Kafirun: Total disavowal of polytheism; "To you your religion, to me mine."
An-Nasr: Victory of Makkah; people entering Islam in crowds; sign of the Prophet's approaching death.
Al-Masad: Curse upon Abu Lahab and his wife (Arwa) for persecuting the Prophet.
Al-Ikhlas: Purity of faith; Allah is One, As-Samad, neither begets nor is begotten.
Al-Falaq/An-Nas: Oaths for protection from sorcery (the blowers in knots), envy, and the whisperings of Satan.