Juz 26: Al-Aḥqāf to Adh-Dhāriyāt 30
Section 2 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
2. Surah Al-Ahqaf: Core Messages and Divine Signs | Verses: Al-Ahqaf 46:1-9
Surah Al-Ahqaf begins with the disconnected letters "Ḥā Mīm," marking it as the last of the seven "Ḥawāmīm" surahs. The name "Al-Ahqaf" refers to the sand dunes where the Prophet Hud (peace be upon him) warned his people, the 'Ad. This Makkan surah of 35 verses, divided into four sections, establishes fundamental Islamic beliefs and addresses the objections of the polytheists.
The surah opens with a declaration of divine authorship:
حم تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
“Ḥā Mīm. The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.”
Immediately following this declaration, Allah presents the evidence of His creation:
مَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَمَّا أُنذِرُوا مُعْرِضُونَ
“We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them but with truth, and for a specified term. But those who disbelieve are turning away from what they were warned of.”
This verse establishes three crucial realities: first, Allah created everything with purpose and truth (bil-haqq); second, this creation exists for a determined period (ajal musamma); and third, disbelievers ignore these fundamental truths despite clear warnings. The temporality of creation emphasizes that just as the universe has a beginning, it will also have an end, refuting those who deny resurrection.
Allah then challenges the polytheists to consider the logical implications of their beliefs:
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ اِئْتُونِي بِكِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَٰذَا أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
“Say, "Have you considered what you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth; or do they have a share in [ownership of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful.”
This powerful challenge exposes the absence of evidence for polytheistic beliefs, demanding proof of either their deities' creative power or scriptural support for their worship.
The surah then addresses a common objection of the disbelievers, who claimed the Quran was fabricated:
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ إِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهُ فَلَا تَمْلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ كَفَىٰ بِهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Or do they say, "He has fabricated it"? Say, "If I have fabricated it, then you have no power to help me against Allah at all. He knows best what you utter concerning it. Sufficient is He as a witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is instructed to respond with a logical argument: if he had fabricated revelation, he would face divine punishment, and no one could protect him from Allah's wrath. This reasoning establishes the gravity of claim to prophethood, highlighting that no sane person would falsely claim divine revelation knowing the severe consequences.
This opening section of Surah Al-Ahqaf establishes a foundation of logical arguments for tawhid (divine oneness), the reality of resurrection, and the authenticity of revelation – the three fundamental principles of Islamic belief that characterize Makkan surahs.