Overview - Surah 50: Qaf (Qaf)
The Surah emphasizes the theme of resurrection and the ultimate success of those who have faith in Allah and His Prophets.
Sections:
- Nature points out to the Resurrection.
- Allah is closer to us than our life-vein. The death, the end of the world, and the Resurrection.
- The Final judgment.
The Surah takes its name from the first Ayat, ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ "Qaf. By the honored Qur'an..." (50:1).
There are 45 Ayat in this Surah.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 45 |
| Total Words * | 373 |
| Root Words * | 153 |
| Unique Root Words * | 3 |
| Makki / Madani | Makki |
| Chronological Order* | 34th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 5th year of Prophethood |
| Events during/before this Surah*
Physical beating and torture of some Muslims - 1st Migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, Public Invitation to Islam - Persecution of Muslims; antagonism - ridicule - derision - accusation - abuse and false propaganda., Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam
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| Events during/after still to occur*
2nd Migration to Abyssinia,Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 1,Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 2,Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 3,Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey,1st Pledge of Aqabah,2nd Pledge of Aqabah,,Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah,Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr,Battle of Uhud,,Battle of Ahzab - Expedition of Banu Quraydhah,Treaty of Hudaiybiyah - Letters to Kings and Rulers,,Conquest of Makkah - Battle of Hunain,Hajj led by Abu Bakr - Expedition of Tabuk,Farewell Hajj by Prophet - Death of Prophet - End of Divine Revelation
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
Nuh, Lut
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| Surah Index
‘Aad, God (wills no wrong to His creation) , Angels, Date palms, Dates, Death, Disbelievers (bear what they say in patience) , Earth, Earth (condition of at the time of resurrection) , Earth (creation of) (in six days), Hell, Judgement, Judgement (Day) , Judgement (Day) (riven asunder), Knowledge (obligation upon man to obtain and impart) , Lot, Madyan, Mountains, Noah, Pharaoh, Prayer (prostration) , Prayer (times of day of) , Qur’an, Resurrection (Day) , Resurrection (of soul) , Thamud, Tubba, Weather (rain)
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Theme 1: Ressurection
Authentic traditions show that the Prophet used to recite this Surah generally in the Prayer on the Eid days. A woman named Umm Hisham bin Harithah, who was a neighbour of the Prophet, says that she was able to commit Surah Qaf to memory only because she often heard it from the Prophet in the Friday sermons. According to some other traditions he often recited it in the dawn (Fajr) Prayer. This makes it abundantly clear that this was an important Surah in the sight of the Prophet. That is why he made sure that its contents reached as many people as possible over and over again.
The reason for this importance can be easily understood by a careful study of the Surah. The theme of the entire Surah is the Hereafter. When the Prophet started preaching his message in Makkah what surprised the people most was the news that people would be resurrected after death, and they would have to render an account of their deeds. They said that “that was impossible”; human mind could not believe that would happen. After all, how could it be possible that when the body had disintegrated into dust the scattered particles would be reassembled after hundreds of thousands of years to make up the same body once again and raised up as a living body. God in response sent down this discourse. In it, on the one hand, arguments have been given for the possibility and occurrence of the Hereafter in a brief way, in short sentences, and, on the other, the people have been warned, as if to say: “Whether you express wonder and surprise, or you regard it as something remote from reason, or deny it altogether, in any case it cannot change the truth. The absolute, unalterable truth is that God knows the whereabouts of each and every particle of your body that has scattered away in the earth, and knows where and in what state it is. God’s one signal is enough to make all the scattered particles gather together again and to make you rise up once again as you had been made in the first instance. Likewise, this idea that you have been created and left free to yourselves in the world and that you have not been made answerable to anyone, is no more than a misunderstanding. The fact is that not only is God Himself directly aware of each act and word of yours, even of the ideas that pass in your mind, but His angels also are attached to each one of you, who are preserving the record of whatever you do and utter. When the time comes, you will come out of your graves at one call just as young shoots of vegetable sprout up from the earth on the first shower of the rain. Then this heedlessness which obstructs your vision will be removed and you will see with your own eyes all that you are denying today. At that time you will realise that you had not been created to be irresponsible in this world but accountable to all your deeds. The meting out of the rewards and punishments, the Hell and Heaven, which you regard as impossible and imaginary things, will at that time become visible realities for you. In consequence of your enmity and opposition to the Truth you will be cast into the same Hell which you regard as remote from reason today and the ones who fear the Merciful God and return to the path of righteousness, will be admitted to the same Paradise at whose mention you now express wonder and surprise.
- There is a mention of the word 'Qur'an' in the begining and end of the Surah
ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ "Qaf. By the honored Qur'an..." (50:1)
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ ۖ وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِجَبَّارٍ ۖ فَذَكِّرْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ "We are most knowing of what they say, and you are not over them a tyrant. But remind by the Qur'an whoever fears My threat." (50:45) - Giving life to the dead after death is mentioned in the begining and the end (50:3) (50:43)
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
18th Century
18th Century
17th Century
17th Century
1075AH (1697CE)
1075AH (1697CE)
- The Prophet would recite this Surah in the two Eid salahs along with Surah al-Qamar [Saheeh Muslim]
- Hisham bint Harithah memorised this Surah due to the frequency of the Prophet mentioning it in the Jummah Khutbah.
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = 3* | ||
| # | Root Word | Frequency in Surah | Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | ق و ل | 10 | 1722 |
| 2. | ي و م | 9 | 405 |
| 3. | ك و ن | 6 | 1390 |
| 4. | ل ق ي | 6 | 146 |
| 5. | ك ل ل | 6 | 377 |
| 6. | ج ي أ | 5 | 278 |
| 7. | و ع د | 5 | 151 |
| 8. | م و ت | 4 | 165 |
| 9. | أ ر ض | 4 | 461 |
| 10. | ح ق ق | 4 | 287 |
| Root Word | Frequency in Surah |
Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|
| ق و ل | 10 | 1722 |
| ي و م | 9 | 405 |
| ك و ن | 6 | 1390 |
| ل ق ي | 6 | 146 |
| ك ل ل | 6 | 377 |
| ج ي أ | 5 | 278 |
| و ع د | 5 | 151 |
| م و ت | 4 | 165 |
| أ ر ض | 4 | 461 |
| ح ق ق | 4 | 287 |
- وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ، بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَزْمٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ هِشَامٍ بِنْتِ حَارِثَةَ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ، قَالَتْ لَقَدْ كَانَ تَنُّورُنَا وَتَنُّورُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَاحِدًا سَنَتَيْنِ أَوْ سَنَةً وَبَعْضَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا أَخَذْتُ { ق وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ} إِلاَّ عَنْ لِسَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَؤُهَا كُلَّ يَوْمِ جُمُعَةٍ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ إِذَا خَطَبَ النَّاسَ
Umm Hisham bin Harithah bin An-Nu'man said, "Our oven and the oven of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were the same for two years, or for one year and part of a year. And I only learned "Surah Qaf. By the Glorious Quran" from the tongue of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who used to recited it every Friday from the Minbar, when he addresses the people." Sahih Muslim no. 1894
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حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ ضَمْرَةَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْمَازِنِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، سَأَلَ أَبَا وَاقِدٍ اللَّيْثِيَّ مَا كَانَ يَقْرَأُ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الأَضْحَى وَالْفِطْرِ فَقَالَ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِيهِمَا بِـ { ق وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ} وَ { اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ}
'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that (his father) 'Umar b. Khattab asked Abu Waqid al-Laithi what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite on 'Id-ul-Adha and 'Id-ul-Fitr. He said: He used to recite in them:" Qaf. By the Glorious Qur'an" (Surah Qaf)," The Hour drew near, and the moon was rent asunder" (Surah al-Qamar)" Sahih Muslim no. 1936
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حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، وَابْنُ، عُيَيْنَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ عِلاَقَةَ، عَنْ قُطْبَةَ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْفَجْرِ { وَالنَّخْلَ بَاسِقَاتٍ لَهَا طَلْعٌ نَضِيدٌ}
Qutba b. Malik reported that he had heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting in the morning prayer this: " And the tall palm trees having flower spikes piled one above another" (Al-Qur'an (50:10). Sahih Muslim no.921
- Life after death is a reality and there is nothing strange about it.
- Allah has assigned two angels to each person for noting down each single word that he utters.
- Every disbeliever will be thrown into hell and hell shall be asked, "Are you full." Hell will answer, "Are there some more?"
- Admonish people with The Qur'an and bear with them in patience.
Tafsir Zone
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Sayyid Qutb Overview (Verses 36 - 45) An Easy Resurrection The final part of the surah sounds like the final beat of a tune, as it repeats its strongest notes to an even faster time. It includes a glimpse of history and the fate of earlier unbelievers, an image from the open book of the universe and a new scene from the Day of Judgement, all coupled with a serious and inspiring directive: How many a generation, far greater in power, have We destroyed before these [unbelievers]? They wandered through the lands seeking a place of refuge. In this there is a reminder for everyone who has an alert heart, or one who attentively listens and sees. We have indeed created the heavens and the earth and all that is in between in six days. No weariness could ever touch Us. Bear, then, with patience whatever they may say, and extol your Lord's limitless glory before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and in the night, too, extol His glory, and at the end of every prayer. And listen out for the day when the caller will call from a nearby place, the day when they will in truth hear the mighty blast; that is the day when they will come out [of their graves]. It is We who grant life and deal death; and to Us all shall return. On the day when the earth will be rent asunder all around them, letting them rush out. That gathering will be easy for Us. We are fully aware of what they say. You are not one to use coercion with them. Therefore, remind, with the Qur'an, those who fear My warning. (Verses 36 45) Although all these points have come under discussion earlier in the surah, they are repeated in conclusion with a new rhythm and added effect. They are noted here with more emphasis and greater speed. Thus they carry here a different effect from that produced by their more detailed discussion earlier. This is characteristic of the Qur'anic style. The surah stated earlier: "Long before these unbelievers Noah's people also disbelieved, as did the people of al-Russ, Thamud, ('Ad, Pharaoh, Lot's brethren, the dwellers of the wooded dales and the people of Tubba`: They all disbelieved their messengers, and therefore My warnings came true." (Verses 12-14) Here at the end the surah says: "How many a generation, far greater in power, have We destroyed before these [unbeliever& they wandered through the lands seeking a place of refuge." (Verse 36) It is a reference to the same fact, but in its new image it looks different. Then the surah adds the turn of time as generations followed generations, wandering through the lands. However, they remain within God's grasp from which no one can escape. A further comment is added to give it a more serious effect: "In this there is a reminder for everyone who has an alert heart, or one who attentively listens and sees." (Verse 37) There is indeed a reminder in the fate suffered by earlier communities for anyone with a heart to consider. A person who is not reminded by this is one whose heart is dead, or who has always been without a feeling heart. Indeed, in order to have due admonition, it is sufficient that a person should listen attentively. The story will undoubtedly have its telling effect. This is certain, because the human soul is very sensitive to the fate suffered by earlier peoples. Even the slightest degree of sensitivity is enough to bring back memories and inspiring images of such situations. Earlier, the surah opened pages from the book of the universe, stating: "Do they not look at the sky above them: how We have built it and adorned it, leaving no flaws in it. We spread out the earth and set upon it firm mountains, and caused every kind of delectable plants to grow on it." (Verses 6-7) Now at the end of the surah, it says: "We have indeed created the heavens and the earth and all that is in between in six days. No weariness could ever touch Us." (Verse 38) Thus it adds here a further touch, making it clear that the creation of everything in the universe, including the heavens and the earth, presented no difficulty for God. Compared with this, bringing the dead back to life is only a small matter. A comment is then added, providing further shades and inspiration: "Bear, then, with patience whatever they may so and extol your Lord's limitless glory before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and in the night, too, extol His glory, and at the end of every prayer." (Verses 39-40) The rising and setting of the sun, and the spreading of the night after sunset, are all phenomena closely interlinked with the heavens and the earth. The surah delineates the bond between them, the glorification and praising of God and the prostrating of ourselves before Him. Within the same context, the surah also gives the instruction to bear patiently with whatever the unbelievers deny about resurrection and their refusal to believe in God's ability to bring creatures back to life. Thus a new aura of God's glorification, worship and patience is given to the same points repeated here. As this is all linked to aspects of the universe, these feelings are enhanced within a believer's heart whenever he looks at the skies or the earth, at every sunrise and approach of night, and whenever he prostrates himself before God. A further touch is added to this portrait of the universe. The Prophet is instructed to have patience and to perform all this glorification and worship while remaining on the alert, expecting the great event that may come at any moment of the night or day. Only those who are totally oblivious of the truth will pay no attention to it. It is the event that provides the central theme of the surah: "And listen out for the day when the caller will call from a nearby place, the day when they will in truth hear the mighty blast; that is the day when they will come out [of their graves]. It is We who grant life and deal death; and to Us all shall return. On the day when the earth will be rent asunder all around them, letting them rush out. That gathering will be easy for Us." (Verses 41-44) Having drawn this bustling and inspirational scene, the surah states the truth which they deny and argue about: "It is We who grant lift and deal death; and to Us all shall return." (Verse 43) " That gathering will be easy for Us." (Verse 44) This is the most suitable time to state this truth. The surah finally reassures the Prophet so that he is not troubled by the unbelievers' denials of this truth and the arguments they make in disputing it: "We are fully aware of what they say. You are not one to use coercion with them. Therefore, remind, with the Qur'an, those who fear My warning." (Verse 45) It is sufficient for you to reassure yourselves that "We are fully aware of what they say." This is indeed an implicit warning of the consequences of this knowledge, which are bound to be terrible for them. "You are not one to use coercion with them." You cannot force them to believe in God. You have no power over them. That power belongs to God alone. "Therefore, remind, with the Qur'an, those who fear My warning." (Verse 45) The Qur'an shakes people's hearts. No heart that is alert and sensitive will ever reject the truths presented in the Qur'an in its unique, remarkable style. When a surah like this is presented, the matter does not require any mighty being to force people into submission to faith. The Qur'an has far greater power than all tyrants could possess. A surah like this can easily produce on people's hearts an effect far more powerful than their whips. Whatever God says is the absolute truth. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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- Surah 50. Qaf - Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDrJDIXMNbs&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN&index=50
- Surah 50. Qaf Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26E8Qp3LF3c&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM&index=50
- Surah 50. Qaf Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD7U7keI5BQ&index=50&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe
- Idris Akbar Surah Qaf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYpY1T-JQ34
- Surah 50. Qaf Surah 50. Qaf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVDP4Gcwvhw&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=50
