[34].Surah Saba [Sheba]:Ayat 26

২৬. বলুন, আমাদের পালনকর্তা আমাদেরকে সমবেত করবেন, অতঃপর তিনি আমাদের মধ্যে সঠিকভাবে ফয়সালা করবেন। তিনি ফয়সালাকারী, সর্বজ্ঞ।

Ayat 26. Say (O Muhammad  [SAWW](PBUH) "Our Lord will assemble us all together (on the Day of Resurrection), then He will judge between us with truth. And He is the (Most Trustworthy) All Knowing Judge."

Tafseer of Surah Saba' (Sheba) Ayat 26. Say: "Our Lord will gather us together and will in the end decide the matter between us (and you) in truth and justice: and He is the one to decide, the One Who knows all."Human controversies are vain and inconclusive. If you put your trust in Allah and we put our trust in Allah, we belong to one Brotherhood, and we shall see the perfect Truth finally when the Time comes.

Hazrat Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Among the inmates of Hell, a person who had led the most luxurious life in this world will be brought up on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Fire and will be asked: `O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you happen to get any luxury?' He will reply: `By Allah, no, my Rubb.' And then one of the people of Jannah who had experienced extreme misery in the life of this world will be dipped in Jannah. Then he will be asked: `O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?' He will say: "By Allah, no my Rubb, I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship". [Muslim Book 39, Chapter 11, Hadith # 6738]. 

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Saba Ayat 26. “Our Lord will assemble us all together (on the Day of Resurrection)” This Hadith also induces one to work for the life of the Hereafter, as the amenities of this world which one strives hard to attain, and for which one violates the injunctions of Shari`ah, will be forgotten with a glimpse of the Hell-fire. Therefore, the sensible course is that one should adopt a way of life which is full of true faith and good deeds so that one becomes eligible for the eternal blessings and joys of the life of the Hereafter.

[34].Surah Saba [Sheba]: Ayat 24-25

২৪. বলুন, নভোমন্ডল ও ভূ-মন্ডল থেকে কে তোমাদের কে রিযিক দেয়। বলুন, আল্লাহ। আমরা অথবা তোমরা সৎপথে অথবা স্পষ্ট বিভ্রান্তিতে আছি ও আছ?

২৫. বলুন, আমাদের অপরাধের জন্যে তোমরা জিজ্ঞাসিত হবে না এবং তোমরা যা কিছু কর, সে সম্পর্কে আমরা জিজ্ঞাসিত হব না।

Ayat 24. Say (O Muhammad  [SAWW](PBUH) to these polytheists, pagans, etc.) "Who gives you provision from the heavens and the earth?" Say: "Allah, And verily, (either) we or you are rightly guided or in a plain error."

Ayat 25. Say (O Muhammad  [SAWW](PBUH) to these polytheists, pagans, etc.) "You will not be asked about our sins, nor shall we be asked of what you do."

Tafseer of Surah Saba' (Sheba) Ayat 24 & 25. Say: "Who gives you sustenance, from the heavens and the earth?" Say: "It is Allah. and certain it is that either we or ye are on right guidance or in manifest error!" There are six propositions introduced here with the word "Say", at verses 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 30. They clearly explain the doctrine of Unity (verse 22), the Mercy of Allah (verse 23), man's Personal Responsibility (verse 25), the Final Justice of Allah (verse 26), Allah's Power and Wisdom (verse 27), and the Inevitability of the Judgement, by which the true values will be restored (verse 30).  Right and Wrong, Good and Evil, are incompatible, one with another. In this matter we can make no compromise. It is true that in men there may be various degrees of good or evil mixed together, and we have to tolerate men as our fellow-creatures, with all their faults and shortcomings. But this does not mean that we can worship Allah and Mammon together. Wrong is the negation of Right as light is of darkness. Though there may be apparently varying depths of darkness, this is only due to the imperfection of our vision: it is varying strengths of light as perceived by our relative powers of sight. So we may perceive the Light of Allah in varying degrees according to our spiritual vision. But in simple questions of Right and Wrong, we are faced by the Categorical Imperative. Ayat 25. Say: "Ye shall not be questioned as to our sins, nor shall we be questioned as to what ye do." Therefore do not prosecute us, or bring personal animus to bear on us. We must do our duty in declaring the universal Message, which is for you as much as for us.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah[SAWW](PBUH) said,  "A group of people (both men and women) whose hearts will be like the hearts of birds, will enter Jannah".

[Muslim Book 40, Chapter 11, Hadith # 6808].

It has been interpreted that such people are those who put their trust in Allah; another interpretation is that these people are tender-hearted.

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Saba Ayat 24. “"Who gives you provision from the heavens and the earth?" Say: "Allah." Excellence of trust in Allah and kindness of heart are most valuable qualities because both of them are means to enter Jannah. One should not worry much about one's food and means of subsistence. In fact, people should have the heart like birds who do not collect to keep in reserve anything and go out every morning in search of food and return to their nests fully satiated. This advice is repeated in another Hadith to the effect that when birds leave their nests in the morning they are hungry but when they come back, their stomachs are full and they do not need any more food.

[34].Surah Saba [Sheba]: Ayat 23

২৩. যার জন্যে অনুমতি দেয়া হয়, তার জন্যে ব্যতীত আল্লাহর কাছে কারও সুপারিশ ফলপ্রসূ হবে না। যখন তাদের মন থেকে ভয়-ভীতি দূর হয়ে যাবে, তখন তারা পরস্পরে বলবে, তোমাদের পালনকর্তা কি বললেন? তারা বলবে, তিনি সত্য বলেছেন এবং তিনিই সবার উপরে মহান।

Ayat 23. Intercession with Him profits not, except for him whom Allah permits. Until when fear is banished from their (angels') hearts, they (angels) say: "What is it that your Lord has said?" They say: "The truth. And He is the Most High, the Most Great."

Tafseer of Surah Saba' (Sheba) Ayat 23. "No intercession can avail in His Presence, except for those for whom He has granted permission. So far (is this the case) that, when terror is removed from their hearts (at the Day of Judgment, then) will they say, ´what is it that your Lord commanded? ´ they will say, ´That which is true and just; and He is the Most High Most Great´." Cf. 20:109, where I have explained the two possible modes of interpretation. Each soul is individually and personally responsible. And if there is any intercession, it can only be by Allah's gracious permission. For the Day of Judgement will be a terrible Day, or Day of Wrath (Dies irae) according to the Latin hymn, when the purest souls will be stupefied at the manifestation of Allah's Power. See next note. "Their hearts": the pronoun "their" refers to the angels nearest to Allah. On the Day of Judgement there will be such an irresistible manifestation of Power that even they will be silent for a while, and will scarcely realize what is happening. They will question each other, and only thus will they regain their bearings. Or "their" may refer to those who seek intercession. In their mutual questionings they will realize that Allah's Judgement, as always, is right and just. Does this mean that no sort of intercession is required?

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah[SAWW](PBUH) said, "Everyone of my Ummah will enter Jannah except those who refuse". He was asked: "Who will refuse?'' He  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Whoever obeys me, shall enter Jannah, and whosoever disobeys me, refuses to (enter Jannah)". [Al-Bukhari Book 9, Chapter 92, Hadith # 384]

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Saba Ayat 23. “Intercession with Him profits not, except for him whom Allah permits” The word Ummah here stands for the community which accepted the invitation of the Prophet ( [SAWW](PBUH), that is to say, the people who on his call embraced Islam. Out of this community who follow him faithfully will go to Jannah. 

[34].Surah Saba [Sheba]: Ayat 22

২২. বলুন, তোমরা তাদেরকে আহবান কর, যাদেরকে উপাস্য মনে করতে আল্লাহ ব্যতীত। তারা নভোমন্ডল ও ভূ-মন্ডলের অনু পরিমাণ কোন কিছুর মালিক নয়, এতে তাদের কোন অংশও নেই এবং তাদের কেউ আল্লাহর সহায়কও নয়।

Ayat 22. Say: (O Muhammad  [SAWW](PBUH) to those polytheists, pagans, etc.) "Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides Allah, they possess not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant), either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor there is for Him any supporter from among them.

Tafseer of Surah Saba' (Sheba) Ayat 22. Say: "Call upon other (gods) whom ye fancy, besides Allah. They have no power, - not the weight of an atom, - in the heavens or on earth: No (sort of) share have they therein, nor is any of them a helper to Allah. Other objects of worship, such as Self, or Money, or Power, or things we imagine will bring us luck or prosperity, though they can do nothing of the kind. The False gods have no power whatever either in heaven or on earth, either in influencing our spiritual life or our ordinary worldly life. To suppose that they have some share, or that they can give some help to Allah, even though Allah is Supreme, is both false and blasphemous. Allah is One and Supreme, without sharer, helper, or equal.

Hazrat Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious, said; 'O My slaves, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any man of you, that would not increase My domain a thing. O My slaves, were the first of you, and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any man of you, that would not decrease My domain in a thing.''.

[Muslim Book 032, Chapter 13, Hadith # 6246]. 

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Saba Ayat 22. “besides Allah, they possess not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant), either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor there is for Him any supporter from among them” This Hadith mentions the Power and Majesty of Allah and stresses that one should supplicate Allah for everything that one needs. From guidance to sustenance, the treasures of everything are with Him - the treasures which are unlimited and any withdrawal from them does not make any reduction in them. Similar is the case of His Sovereignty; it is not affected even if the whole universe supports or opposes them. Thus, it is in the interest of man that he should dedicate himself entirely to Allah and beg all his needs from Him and Him Alone.  

[34].Surah Saba [Sheba]: Ayat 21

২১. তাদের উপর শয়তানের কোন ক্ষমতা ছিল না, তবে কে পরকালে বিশ্বাস করে এবং কে তাতে সন্দেহ করে, তা প্রকাশ করাই ছিল আমার উদ্দেশ্য। আপনার পালনকর্তা সব বিষয়ে তত্ত্বাবধায়ক।

Ayat 21. And he (Iblis ­ Satan) had no authority over them, except that Allah might test him, who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is a Hafiz over everything. (All Knower of everything i.e. He keeps record of each and every person as regards deeds, and then He will reward them accordingly).

Tafseer of Surah Saba' (Sheba) Ayat 21. But he had no authority over them, except that Allah might test the man who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt concerning it: and thy Lord doth watch over all things. Might test: the word in the original is might know. It is not that Allah does not know all. Why does He want to test? It is in order to help us subjectively, to train our will, to put us definitely the question, "Will you obey Allah or other than Allah?" (Cf. 3:154 and also 47:31).

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said,  "The religion (of Islam) is easy, and whoever makes the religion a rigour, it will overpower him. So, follow a middle course (in worship); if you can't do this, do something near to it and give glad tidings and seek help (of Allah) at morn and at dusk and some part of night". [Al-Bukhari Book 01, Chapter 02, Hadith # 038]

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Saba Ayat 21.” your Lord is a Hafiz over everything. (All Knower of everything i.e. He keeps record of each and every person as regards deeds, and then He will reward them accordingly). Besides moderation in worship, this Hadith enjoins that such times should be fixed for worship when one is fresh so that one feels pleasure in performing it. But this principle is for optional and voluntary prayers only. Obligatory Salat are to be performed at the prescribed times only.

[34].Surah Saba [Sheba]: Ayat 20

২০. আর তাদের উপর ইবলীস তার অনুমান সত্য হিসেবে প্রতিষ্ঠিত করল। ফলে তাদের মধ্যে মুমিনদের একটি দল ব্যতীত সকলেই তার পথ অনুসরণ করল।

Ayat 20. And indeed Iblis (Satan) did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of true believers (in the Oneness of Allah).

Tafseer of Surah Saba' (Sheba) Ayat 20. And on them did Satan prove true his idea, and they followed him, all but a party that believed. Cf. 17:62, Satan out of arrogance had said, when he asked for respite from the Most High: "I will bring (Adam's) descendants under my sway, all but a few." This was now proved true on the Saba people. He had no power to force them. It was their own will that went wrong and put them into his power.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said,  "May he be miserable, the worshipper of the dinar and dirham, and the worshipper of the striped silk cloak. If he is given anything, he is satisfied; but if not, he is unsatisfied".  [Al-Bukhari Book 04, Chapter 52, Hadith # 137]

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Saba Ayat 20. Indeed Iblis (Satan) did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him” This Hadith expose person who prefers worldly things over life hereafter. "A slave of dinar and dirham and silk cloaks (clothes)" here means a person who prefers these things to the Divine injunctions and commands and strives day and night to amass worldly goods. Instead of worshipping Allah, he worships such things and is thus guilty of worship of others besides Allah, a condition which causes his ruin.

[34].Surah Saba [Sheba]: Ayat 19

১৯. অতঃপর তারা বলল, হে আমাদের পালনকর্তা, আমাদের ভ্রমণের পরিসর বাড়িয়ে দাও। তারা নিজেদের প্রতি জুলুম করেছিল। ফলে আমি তাদেরকে উপাখ্যানে পরিণত করলাম এবং সম্পূর্ণরূপে ছিন্ন-বিচ্ছিন্ন করে দিলাম। নিশ্চয় এতে প্রত্যেক ধৈর্যশীল কৃতজ্ঞের জন্যে নিদর্শনাবলী রয়েছে।

Ayat 19. But they said: "Our Lord! Make the stages between our journey longer," and they wronged themselves, so Allah made them as tales (in the land), and Allah dispersed them all, totally. Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast grateful (person).

Tafseer of Surah Saba' (Sheba) Ayat 19. But they said: "Our Lord! Place longer distances between our journey- stages": but they wronged themselves (therein). At length Allah made them as a tale (that is told), and Allah dispersed them all in scattered fragments. Verily in this are Signs for every (soul that is) patiently constant and grateful. Said, in this and other places in the Qur'an, "language" is used for thought or deed. The Commentators call it the "Language of actual facts" (Zaban Hal) as opposed to the "language of words" (Zaban Qal). The covetous Saba ' people, in order to get more profit from travelers’ supplies by concentrating them on a few stations which they could monopolies, tended to choke off traffic and ruin the big trade. Selfishness often runs counter to true self-interest. It is a historical fact that the great Yemen-Syria route in Arabia declined with the decline of Yemen. There were no doubt physical causes, but supreme above all were the moral causes, the grasping nature of the people, and their departure from the highest standards of righteousness. The people of Saba were given every chance. They had prosperity, skill, trade and commerce, and a healthy and beautiful country. They also had, apparently, great virtues, and as long as they remained true to their virtues, i.e., to the Law of Allah, they remained happy and contented. But when they became covetous and selfish, and became jealous of other people's prosperity instead of rejoicing in it, they fell from grace and declined. It may be that the climate changed, the rainfall became scantier, perhaps on account of the cutting down of hill forests: trade routes changed, on account of the people falling off in the virtues that make men popular: behind all the physical causes was the root-cause, that they began to worship mammon, self, greed, or materialism. They fell into the snare of Satan. They gradually passed out of history, and became only a name in a story. Moral: it is only Allah's Mercy that can give true happiness or prosperity, and happiness or prosperity is only a snare unless used for the highest service of Allah and man.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "There are two blessings in which many people incur loss. (They are) health and free time (for doing good)". [Al-Bukhari Volume 08, Chapter 76, Hadith # 421].

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Saba Ayat 19. “Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast grateful (person)”

1. Al-Ghabn in Arabic means loss. What it really signifies is to sell something of one's own on less than its due price, or to buy something on its double or triple price. In both cases one is a loser. When a person comes to know about such a loss, he repents and feels sorry for it. This loss coupled with regret is called Al-Ghabn. In Ahadith, man has been compared with trader, and health and leisure enjoyed by him with merchandise. One who uses his merchandise with care, gains profit while he who wastes it, that is to say, uses it carelessly, will be a loser on the Day of Resurrection.

2. The majority of people do not take proper care of both these things, with the result that one wastes the time in useless activities and spends the physical strength and energy in the disobedience of Allah. One will have to face severe consequences of it on the Day of Resurrection when he will be brought into account for everything. 

[34].Surah Saba [Sheba]: Ayat 18

১৮. তাদের এবং যেসব জনপদের লোকদের প্রতি আমি অনুগ্রহ করেছিলম সেগুলোর মধ্যবর্তী স্থানে অনেক দৃশ্যমান জনপদ স্থাপন করেছিলাম এবং সেগুলোতে ভ্রমণ নির্ধারিত করেছিলাম। তোমরা এসব জনপদে রাত্রে ও দিনে নিরাপদে ভ্রমণ কর।

Ayat 18. And Allah placed between them and the towns (Yemen and Syria) which Allah had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and Allah made the stages (of journey) between them easy (saying): "Travel in them safely both by night and day"

Tafseer of Surah Saba' (Sheba) Ayat 18. Between them and the Cities on which Allah had poured our blessings, Allah had placed Cities in prominent positions and between them Allah had appointed stages of journey in due proportion: "Travel therein, secure, by night and by day." An instance is now given of the sort of covetousness on the part of the people of Saba, which ruined their prosperity and trade and cut their own throats. The old Frankincense route was the great Highway (Imam Mubin 15:79; Sabil Muqim, 15:76) between Arabia (incl Yemen) and Syria. Through Syria it connected with the great and flourishing Kingdoms of the Euphrates and Tigris valleys on the one hand and Egypt on the other and with the great Roman Empire round the Mediterranean. At the other end, through the Yemen Coast, the road connected, by sea transport, with India, Malaya, and China. The Yemen-Syria road was much frequented, and Mada'in Salih was one of the stations on that route, and afterwards on the Pilgrim route. Syria was the land on which Allah "had poured his blessings", being a rich fertile country, where Abraham PBUH had lived: it includes the Holy Land of Palestine. The route was studded in the days of its prosperity with many stations (cities) close to each other, on which merchants could travel with ease and safety, "by night and by day". The close proximity of stations prevented the inroads of highwaymen.

Hazrat Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) mounted his camel for setting out on a journey, he would recite: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest),'' thrice. Then he  [SAWW](PBUH) would supplicate: "Subhanal-ladhi sakh-khara lana hadha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadh al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-`amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin `alaina safarana hadha, watwi `anna ba’dahu. Allahumma Antas-Sahibu fissafari, wal-Khalifatu fil-ahli. Allahumma inni a`udhu bika min wa`ta'is-safari, wa kaabatil-manzari, wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahli wal-waladi (Far removed from imperfection is the One Who has made this subservient to us, for we have no power to subjugate it, and certainly to our Rubb shall we return. O Allah, we ask You during this journey of ours for righteousness, piety and such deeds as are pleasing to You. O Allah, make easy for us this journey of ours and make the distance short for us. O Allah, You are our Companion during the journey and the Guardian of the family and the property in our absence. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of travelling, unhappiness connected with ghastly scenes and evil turns in property and family).'' When he returned, he recited this supplication making addition of these words: "Ayibuna, ta'ibuna, `abiduna, li-Rabbina hamidun (We are those who return; those who repent; those who worship and those who praise our Rubb).'' [Muslim, Book # 07, Chapter 73, Hadith # 3113] 

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Saba Ayat 18. “Allah made the stages (of journey) between them easy (saying): "Travel in them safely both by night and day" This is a very comprehensive prayer. Man is not safe from dangers during a journey and in his absence; safety of his household may worry him, too. In this prayer, Allah is entreated to ensure the safety of the two in most effective words. And none can harm that person who comes under the Watch and Protection of Allah. This prayer should be recited upon starting on a journey as well as returning from it.