Ash-Shura (ٱلشُّورىٰ)

Surah Ash-Shura, the 42nd chapter of the Quran, takes its name from the word 'shura', meaning consultation, in verse 38. This surah is in the 25th juz (para) and contains 53 verses with 5 ruku. It is a Makki surah and was revealed to the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) as the 62nd surah. This surah is a guiding light emphasizing the importance of counseling and making decisions accordingly. 

Revealed in Mecca during the early years of Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) mission, Surah Ash-Shura (الشُّورَى) serves as a source of guidance and comfort for believers facing persecution. It reaffirms the core principles of Islam, emphasizing the oneness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ and the universality of the message conveyed through previous prophets. This surah is part of seven surahs of the Quran that start with 'Ha-Meem.' It unfolds the reasons why the Quran was sent down and why the Holy Prophet (ﷺ)  was sent as a messenger.

٤٢ - ٱلشُّورىٰ

42 - Ash-Shura

حٰـمۗ۝۱ۚ
Hameem

English

Ahmed Ali

HA MIM.

1

عۗسۗقۗ۝۲
AAaynseenqaf

English

Ahmed Ali

'Am Sin Qaf.

2

كَذٰلِكَ يُوْحِيْۗ اِلَيْكَ وَاِلَى الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ۝۰ۙ اللہُ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ۝۳
Kathalika yoohee ilayka waila allatheena min qablika Allahu alAAazeezu alhakeemu

English

Ahmed Ali

So has God, all-mighty and all-wise, been revealing to you and to others before you.

3

لَہٗ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِي الْاَرْضِ۝۰ۭ وَہُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ۝۴
Lahu ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi wahuwa alAAaliyyu alAAatheemu

English

Ahmed Ali

Whatever is in the heavens and the earth, belongs to Him. He is all-high and supreme.

4

تَكَادُ السَّمٰوٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْ فَوْقِہِنَّ وَالْمَلٰۗىِٕكَۃُ يُسَبِّحُوْنَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّہِمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ لِمَنْ فِي الْاَرْضِ۝۰ۭ اَلَاۗ اِنَّ اللہَ ہُوَالْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ۝۵
Takadu alssamawatu yatafattarna min fawqihinna waalmalaikatu yusabbihoona bihamdi rabbihim wayastaghfiroona liman fee alardi ala inna Allaha huwa alghafooru alrraheemu

English

Ahmed Ali

The skies are near to bursting asunder above them (for awe of Him), and the angels sing the praises of their Lord, imploring forgiveness for the dwellers of the earth. Is it not that God is forgiving and merciful?

5

وَالَّذِيْنَ اتَّخَذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِہٖۗ اَوْلِيَاۗءَ اللہُ حَفِيْــظٌ عَلَيْہِمْ۝۰ۡۖ وَمَاۗ اَنْتَ عَلَيْہِمْ بِوَكِيْلٍ۝۶
Waallatheena ittakhathoo min doonihi awliyaa Allahu hafeethun AAalayhim wama anta AAalayhim biwakeelin

English

Ahmed Ali

Those who have taken protectors other than Him, are watched over by God. It is not for you to be their guardian.

6

وَكَذٰلِكَ اَوْحَيْنَاۗ اِلَيْكَ قُرْاٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّتُنْذِرَ اُمَّ الْقُرٰى وَمَنْ حَوْلَہَا وَتُنْذِرَ يَوْمَ الْجَمْعِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيْہِ۝۰ۭ فَرِيْقٌ فِي الْجَنَّۃِ وَفَرِيْقٌ فِي السَّعِيْرِ۝۷
Wakathalika awhayna ilayka quranan AAarabiyyan litunthira omma alqura waman hawlaha watunthira yawma aljamAAi la rayba feehi fareequn fee aljannati wafareequn fee alssaAAeeri

English

Ahmed Ali

We have, therefore, revealed to you the eloquent Qur'an that you may warn the people of the Metropolis, and those who live around it, of the Day of Gathering, of which there is no doubt, (when mankind would be assembled) some in Heaven, some in Hell.

7

وَلَوْ شَاۗءَ اللہُ لَجَعَلَہُمْ اُمَّۃً وَّاحِدَۃً وَّلٰكِنْ يُّدْخِلُ مَنْ يَّشَاۗءُ فِيْ رَحْمَتِہٖ۝۰ۭ وَالظّٰلِمُوْنَ مَا لَہُمْ مِّنْ وَّلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيْرٍ۝۸
Walaw shaa Allahu lajaAAalahum ommatan wahidatan walakin yudkhilu man yashao fee rahmatihi waalththalimoona ma lahum min waliyyin wala naseerin

English

Ahmed Ali

If God had pleased He would have made them one community of belief; but He admits whom He please to His grace; yet the sinners have neither friend nor helper.

8

اَمِ اتَّخَذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِہٖۗ اَوْلِيَاۗءَ۝۰ۚ فَاللہُ ہُوَالْوَلِيُّ وَہُوَ يُـحْيِ الْمَوْتٰى۝۰ۡوَہُوَ عَلٰي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ۝۹ۧ
Ami ittakhathoo min doonihi awliyaa faAllahu huwa alwaliyyu wahuwa yuhyee almawta wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

Have they taken others beside Him as protectors? It is God who protects; it is He who gives life to the dead, for He has power over everything.

9

وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيْہِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُہٗۗ اِلَى اؘ۝۰ۭ ذٰلِكُمُ اللہُ رَبِّيْ عَلَيْہِ تَوَكَّلْتُ۝۰ۤۖ وَاِلَيْہِ اُنِيْبُ۝۱۰
Wama ikhtalaftum feehi min shayin fahukmuhu ila Allahi thalikumu Allahu rabbee AAalayhi tawakkaltu wailayhi oneebu

English

Ahmed Ali

In whatever matter you disagree the ultimate judgement rests with God. This is God, my Lord; in Him have I placed my trust, if to Him I turn.

10

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Ash-Shura (ٱلشُّورىٰ)

As a guidance, Surah Ash-Shura emerges as an inspiration with a profound wisdom sent by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎. It strengthens the concept of Tawheed, as Allah is the only power in the entire universe. Furthermore, this surah makes it clear to the readers that the right way to make decisions is through consultation. 

Tawheed

Tawheed is the core theme of Islam, and Surah Ash-Shura emphasizes it. Allah has dominancy over everything, be it rocks or living beings. There is no one who can be compared to Him. Verse 4 defines Allah's control over everything. He says, "To Him only belongs all whatever is in the heavens and all whatever is in the earth; and He is the Supreme, the Greatest." 

Throughout the surah, polytheism is criticized by giving examples of how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ has the absolute power to control anything. Just like in verse 33, Allah says, "If He wills, He can calm the winds so the ships remain still on the sea surface; indeed, in this are signs for every greatly enduring, grateful person." 

Angels and Prophets

Disbelievers at the time had many misconceptions about angels. Some even considered them deities. This surah dispels these misconceptions and sheds light on the role of angels and mentions them as the creation of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ rather than being deities. In verse 5, The all-powerful Lord clears the air by saying, "The heavens nearly split apart from above – and the angels say the Purity of their Lord while praising Him, and seek forgiveness for those on earth; pay heed! Indeed, Allah only is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."

Not only that, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ beautifully pointed out that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was a messenger sent down. "And this is how We sent the divine revelation to you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – a life-giving thing, by Our command; neither did you know the Book nor the detailed commands of religion, but We have made this Qur'an a light by which We guide whomever We will from Our bondmen, and indeed you surely do guide to the Straight Path."  (42:52)

Consultation

The name of this surah was derived from the word 'shura' in verse 38. This surah poses importance on the value of consultation as the decisions made after properly discussing everything are better. Verse 38 says, "And those who obeyed the command of their Lord and kept the prayer established; and whose affairs are with mutual consultation; and who spend in Our cause from what We have bestowed upon them." 

Divine Justice & Decree

Throughout the surah, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ demonstrates His omnipotence. He is a fair judge, and His decree is the final decision made for anyone. He possesses the power to punish or forgive someone. In verse 25, Allah reveals that to Him belongs all the power; if He wills, He forgives, and if He wills, He punishes. "And it is He Who accepts repentance from His bondmen, and pardons sins, and knows all your deeds."

He is one true ruler, deciding whether you get a reward in this world or in hereafter. His command is inevitable. A human should blindly trust Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ in all matters. He has the knowledge, power, and supremacy to do whatever He wills. In verse 47, The Almighty advises, "Obey your Lord before the advent of a Day from Allah‎, which cannot be averted; you will not have any refuge on that day, nor will you be able to deny." 

Benefits and Virtues of Surah Ash-Shura (ٱلشُّورىٰ)

Reciting Surah Ash-Shura (الشُّورَى) is a source of forgiveness from Allah Almighty. By virtue of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎, whoever keeps reading this surah will be in the safe shield, and no harm can touch him except for what Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ has pre-determined. People usually recite this surah as a source of protection from calamity whenever they're travelling. On the day of resurrection, this surah will be a cause of Allah's forgiveness and blessing. 

Surah Ash-Shura encourages Muslims to place their trust in Allah and practice patience (sabr) even in difficult times. Reciting this surah reminds us that Allah has the power over every creation. He is the Lord of fate and destiny, and if we place our trust in Him and be patient, our affairs will be sorted to our benefit. Reciting any part of the Quran brings blessings and rewards. Abu Umama said he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say, "Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite It." (Sahih Muslim, Book 6 Hadith 302). Thus, reciting surah Ash-Shura, which is a part of the Quran, will ensure that the Quran acts as an intermediary for us on the day of Judgment.