Al-Ahqaf (ٱلْأَحْقَاف)

Al-Ahqaf (الأحقاف, al-aḥqāf) contains thirty-five verses and four Rukus. It is the 46th Quranic Surah and is the last one to start with ‘Hāʼ Mīm.’ It is located in Juz 26. The word ‘Ahqaf’ may be translated into ‘Dunes,’ ‘Winding Sand Tracts,’ or ‘Wind-Curved Sandhills.’ Verse 10 of this surah is believed to be Madni, with the rest being revealed in Makkah. Verses 29-32 mention an event when some jinns came and heard some Quranic recitation. According to historians, such an incident took place when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was on the journey back from Ta’if and going to Mecca. From there, we may derive that the surah was revealed around the 10th or 11th year of the Prophethood. This surah discusses the signs of Allah and his oneness in nature and all creation, the consequences of denying the true religion, stories of past nations, and proof of divine revelation. 

٤٦ - ٱلْأَحْقَاف

46 - Al-Ahqaf

حٰـمۗ۝۱ۚ
Hameem

English

Ahmed Ali

HA MIM.

1

جزء

٢٦

تَنْزِيْلُ الْكِتٰبِ مِنَ اللہِ الْعَزِيْزِ الْحَكِيْمِ۝۲
Tanzeelu alkitabi mina Allahi alAAazeezi alhakeemi

English

Ahmed Ali

The revelation of this Book is from God, the mighty and all-wise.

2

مَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَہُمَاۗ اِلَّا بِالْحَـقِّ وَاَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى۝۰ۭ وَالَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا عَمَّاۗ اُنْذِرُوْا مُعْرِضُوْنَ۝۳
Ma khalaqna alssamawati waalarda wama baynahuma illa bialhaqqi waajalin musamman waallatheena kafaroo AAamma onthiroo muAAridoona

English

Ahmed Ali

We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them but with a purpose for an appointed time. Yet the unbelievers turn away from the warning.

3

قُلْ اَرَءَيْتُمْ مَّا تَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللہِ اَرُوْنِيْ مَاذَا خَلَقُوْا مِنَ الْاَرْضِ اَمْ لَــہُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ۝۰ۭ اِيْتُوْنِيْ بِكِتٰبٍ مِّنْ قَبْلِ ھٰذَاۗ اَوْ اَثٰرَۃٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِيْنَ۝۴
Qul araaytum ma tadAAoona min dooni Allahi aroonee matha khalaqoo mina alardi am lahum shirkun fee alssamawati eetoonee bikitabin min qabli hatha aw atharatin min AAilmin in kuntum sadiqeena

English

Ahmed Ali

Say: "Have you thought of those you invoke apart from God? Show me what they have created of the earth, or, do they have a share in the heavens? Bring me an earlier Book than this, or inherited knowledge, if you are truthful."

4

وَمَنْ اَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ يَّدْعُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِ اللہِ مَنْ لَّا يَسْتَجِيْبُ لَہٗۗ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَۃِ وَہُمْ عَنْ دُعَاۗىِٕہِمْ غٰفِلُوْنَ۝۵
Waman adallu mimman yadAAoo min dooni Allahi man la yastajeebu lahu ila yawmi alqiyamati wahum AAan duAAaihim ghafiloona

English

Ahmed Ali

Who is more astray than he who calls on those, apart from God, who cannot answer their prayers till the Day of Resurrection, and are even unaware of being called.

5

وَاِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوْا لَہُمْ اَعْدَاۗءً وَّ كَانُوْا بِعِبَادَتِہِمْ كٰفِرِيْنَ۝۶
Waitha hushira alnnasu kanoo lahum aAAdaan wakanoo biAAibadatihim kafireena

English

Ahmed Ali

When all men are gathered together (on that Day) they will become their enemies and deny their worship.

6

وَاِذَا تُتْلٰى عَلَيْہِمْ اٰيٰتُنَا بَيِّنٰتٍ قَالَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاۗءَہُمْ۝۰ۙ ھٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِيْنٌ۝۷ۭ
Waitha tutla AAalayhim ayatuna bayyinatin qala allatheena kafaroo lilhaqqi lamma jaahum hatha sihrun mubeenun

English

Ahmed Ali

When Our clear revelations are read out to them, the infidels say of the truth, when it has come to them: "This is pure magic."

7

اَمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ افْتَرٰىہُ۝۰ۭ قُلْ اِنِ افْتَرَيْتُہٗ فَلَا تَمْلِكُوْنَ لِيْ مِنَ اللہِ شَيْـــــًٔا۝۰ۭ ہُوَاَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيْضُوْنَ فِيْہِ۝۰ۭ كَفٰى بِہٖ شَہِيْدًۢا بَيْنِيْ وَبَيْنَكُمْ۝۰ۭ وَہُوَالْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ۝۸
Am yaqooloona iftarahu qul ini iftaraytuhu fala tamlikoona lee mina Allahi shayan huwa aAAlamu bima tufeedoona feehi kafa bihi shaheedan baynee wabaynakum wahuwa alghafooru alrraheemu

English

Ahmed Ali

Do they say: "He has fabricated it?" Tell them: "If I have fabricated it, you have no power to save me from God. He knows what you are busy with concerning this. He is sufficient as witness between you and me; yet He is forgiving, ever-merciful."

8

قُلْ مَا كُنْتُ بِدْعًا مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ وَمَاۗ اَدْرِيْ مَا يُفْعَلُ بِيْ وَلَا بِكُمْ۝۰ۭ اِنْ اَتَّبِعُ اِلَّا مَا يُوْحٰۗى اِلَيَّ وَمَاۗ اَنَا اِلَّا نَذِيْرٌ مُّبِيْنٌ۝۹
Qul ma kuntu bidAAan mina alrrusuli wama adree ma yufAAalu bee wala bikum in attabiAAu illa ma yooha ilayya wama ana illa natheerun mubeenun

English

Ahmed Ali

Say: "I am not a new Messenger to come, nor do I know what is to be done to me or you. I only follow what is revealed to me. My duty is only to warn you clearly."

9

قُلْ اَرَءَيْتُمْ اِنْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللہِ وَكَفَرْتُمْ بِہٖ وَشَہِدَ شَاہِدٌ مِّنْۢ بَنِيْۗ اِسْرَاۗءِيْلَ عَلٰي مِثْلِہٖ فَاٰمَنَ وَاسْـتَكْبَرْتُمْ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ لَا يَہْدِي الْــقَوْمَ الظّٰلِـمِيْنَ۝۱۰ۧ
Qul araaytum in kana min AAindi Allahi wakafartum bihi washahida shahidun min banee israeela AAala mithlihi faamana waistakbartum inna Allaha la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena

English

Ahmed Ali

Tell them: "Think (of the consequence) if this is from God and you deny it when a witness from the people of Israel had testified to the like of it and come to believe, while you spurn it?" Assuredly God does not guide a wicked people.

10

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Ahqaf

There are quite a few topics in this surah, including warning for disbelievers. There are warnings for those who do not accept the Holy Quran. Allah clearly denies the allegations of the nonbelievers that the Quran is a forgery or a book of sorcery (verses 8 and 9). He openly challenges the nonbelievers and asks them to bring a book or any piece of knowledge they may have that rivals the Quran. On the other hand, Allah promises rewards for Muslims who believe in the word of Allah. Another major message here is that Muslims should deal with their parents with kindness (verse 15). It is also recommended that we obey our parents as long as their commands are not against the teachings of Islam. 

The name of the surah, denoting sand dunes, is taken from its mention of the ‘Ad tribe. These were the people who lived among the sand dunes and were very proud of their physical strength plus worldly achievements. They had also gone astray, worshipping idols and rejecting the message from Prophet Hud (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). The verses mention the warnings given to this tribe while also using them as an example of what happens when people reject Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) message. With the example of this tribe, these verses show how prophets faced difficulties in the past. It’s a reassurance for the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), who also faced a range of obstacles and oppression while trying to guide the Quraysh and other people in Mecca.

There are several parallels drawn between the people of ‘Ad and the Quraysh of Makkah. Both people displayed arrogance, pride, and rigidness when they were presented with the Truth. The destruction of ‘Ad presents a lesson to those who think that they are free from any accountability. They also followed their forefathers blindly and refused to consider any other way of living. 

Summary Of the Main Topics Covered in Surah Al-Ahqaf:

  • Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has the power to do anything for us, while idols and false gods cannot even help themselves.

  • People will get rewards for treating their parents kindly and compassionately. Neglect or rudeness will make them eligible for punishment.

  • Idols cannot save anyone from Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) wrath or punishment

  • The Quran was also revealed as guidance and warning for the jinns as well as the humans. A group of jinns came to listen to the recitation of their Quran and returned to their people as warners themselves.

  • The people who do believe in the Truth will be rewarded. They will have no need to fear or grieve but be happy in the Hereafter. 

  • Nonbelievers will get their part of happiness, luxury, and strength in this world, but their arrogance will only earn them eternal punishment in the Hereafter. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Ahqaf

We can find quite a few virtues and benefits while studying Surah Al-Ahqaf. Unfortunately, most of the virtues people speak of do not have a strong Hadith source. Still, there are several sayings from knowledgeable people regarding various benefits linked to the recitation of Surah Al-Ahqaf. For one, Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq reportedly stated that anyone who recites this surah daily will stay safe from dangers in both worlds. The same benefit may also apply when a Muslim recites Surah Al-Ahqaf on Fridays. 

One weak source states that the Prophet (ﷺ) said that the reward of this surah’s recitation is 10 times greater than the creatures on Earth. Along with the reward, this surah’s reciters may get the same number of sins forgiven. Some more (weak) sources highlight the lessons presented in Surah Al-Ahqaf. The gist is that its reciters may get great honor, become influential speakers, and be able to sway people with their words. Other benefits include a better memory and protection from harm. Of course, all these benefits will only take place if Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) wills and allows it.