Surah 62: Al-Jumu'ah

The Holy Qur’an with English Translation and Commentary (Five Volume Commentary)

[a]In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

[a] See 1:1.

Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth glorifies Allah,[b] the Sovereign, the Holy, the Mighty, the Wise.[4234]

[b] See 61:2.

[4234] Commentary:

The verse speaks of four Divine attributes which specially concern the fourfold mission of the Holy Prophet, mentioned in the next verse.

He it is Who has raised among the Unlettered people a Messenger from among themselves[c] who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom, although they were before, in manifest misguidance;[4235]

[c] 3:165; 7:158; 9:128.

[4235] Commentary:

For الأمیین see 3:76 & 7:158.

The divine mission of the Holy Prophet consisted in the performance of the fourfold sacred duty referred to in the verse under comment. This was the noble task which was to be entrusted to that great Prophet for whose appearance among the unlettered Arabs the Patriarch Abraham had prayed several thousand years in advance, when in company with his son, Ishmael, he was raising the foundations of the Ka‘bah (2:130).

In fact, no Reformer can truly succeed in his mission unless he prepares, by his noble and purifying example, a community of sincere, devoted and righteous followers, whom he teaches the ideals and principles of his Message and their philosophy, significance and importance, and then sends them out to preach that Message to other people. The training he imparts to them refines their intellect, and the philosophy of his teaching engenders in them certainty of faith, and his noble example creates in them purity of heart and refines character. It is to this basic fact of religion that the verse under comment refers.

And among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.[4236]

[4236] Commentary:

The verse signifies that the Message of the Holy Prophet was meant not only for the Arabs among whom he was raised but for all non-Arabs as well, and not only for his contemporaries but also for the coming generations till the end of time. Or the meaning may be that the Holy Prophet will be raised among another people who have not yet joined his immediate followers. The reference in the verse and in a well-known saying of the Holy Prophet is to the Second Advent of the Holy Prophet in the person of the Promised Messiah in the latter days. Says Abu Hurairah: "One day we were sitting with the Holy Prophet when Surah Jumu‘ah was revealed. I asked the Holy Prophet, "Who are the people to whom the words And among others from among them who have not yet joined them, refer. Salman the Persian was sitting among us. Upon my repeatedly asking him the same question, the Prophet put his hand on Salman and said, “If Faith were to go up to the Pleiades, a man from these would surely find it” (Bukhari). This hadith shows that the verse applies to a man of Persian descent. Now, the Promised Messiah, the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, was of Persian descent. Other sayings of the Holy Prophet speak of the appearance of the Messiah at a time when there would remain nothing of the Holy Qur’an but its words and of Islam but its name i.e. the true spirit of Islamic teaching will be lost (Baihaqi). Thus the Holy Qur’an and Hadith both seem to agree that the present verse refers to the Second Advent of the Holy Prophet in the person of the Promised Messiah.

That is Allah’s grace; He bestows it on whom He pleases; and Allah is the Lord of immense grace.[4237]

[4237] Commentary:

The verse refers to the good fortune of the people among whom the Holy Prophet will be raised for the second time in the person of one of his followers—the Promised Messiah.

The likeness of those who were entrusted with the law of Torah, but did not carry out its commandments, is as the likeness of an ass carrying a load of books. Evil is the likeness of the people who reject the Signs of Allah. And Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.[4238]

[4238] Important Words:

أسفار (books) is the plural of سفر (sifrun) which is derived from سفر (safara). They say سفر الکتاب i.e. he wrote the book means, a book; a large book; a writing (Lane).

Commentary:

The verse contains an implied warning to Muslims not to reject the Promised Messiah like the Jews before them who had rejected the Holy Prophet.

Say, ‘O ye who are Jews, if you claim you are the friends of Allah to the exclusion of all other people, then wish for Death, if indeed you are truthful[a].’[4239]

[a] 2:95.

[4239] Commentary:

The verse shows that the Promised Messiah will challenge the Muslim ulema who will reject his claim to مباھله i.e. a prayer contest in which Divine curse is invoked against those who forge lies against God (3:62).

[b]But they will never wish for it, because of that which their hands have sent on before them. And Allah knows well those who do wrong.[4240]

[b] 2:96.

[4240] Commentary:

The reference in the verse seems to be to those Muslim ulema whom the Promised Messiah will invite to Mubahalah. Being convinced of the falsity of their position the ulema will refuse to accept the challenge.

Say, ‘The Death from which you flee will surely overtake you.[a] Then will you be returned unto Him Who knows the unseen and the seen, and He will inform you of what you had been doing.’

[a] 2:97; 4:79; 33:17.

O ye who believe! when the call is made for Prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off all business. That is better for you, if you only knew.[4241]

[4241] Commentary:

In the previous verses mention was made of the Jews who rejected the Holy Prophet’s Message and who profaned their Sabbath and consequently incurred God’s displeasure. In the present verse, however, Muslims have been enjoined to be particularly careful about the obligatory Friday Prayer. Every people has a Sabbath and the Muslim Sabbath is Friday. As soon as call for Prayer is made all business is to cease and the Faithful should attend the mosque to listen to the Imam’s sermon (khutbah), which usually deals with some topical subject concerning the moral and social needs of the community and how to fulfil them.

As the Surah seems particularly to deal with the time of the Promised Messiah, the call for Friday Prayer may also signify his clarion call to Muslims to listen to his Message.

And when the Prayer is finished, then disperse in the land and seek of Allah’s grace, and remember Allah much, that you may prosper[b].[4242]

[b] 3:192; 4:104; 8:46.

[4242] Commentary:

Unlike Jewish or Christian Sabbath, the Muslim Sabbath is not a day of rest. Before the Friday Prayer and after it Muslims are exhorted to follow their daily avocations. The words "of Allah’s grace," have generally been understood to mean "doing business and earning one’s livelihood."

But when they see some merchandise or amusement, they break up for it, and leave thee standing. Say, ‘That which is with Allah is better than amusement and merchandise, and Allah is the Best Provider.’[4243]

[4243] Commentary:

It is apparent from v. 3, that the Surah, particularly deals with the time of the Promised Messiah whose advent has been referred to as the advent of the Holy Prophet himself. The verse under comment shows that in the Messiah’s time trade and commerce will engross people’s attention and they will have little time to give to God Whom they will consign to complete oblivion. To add to man’s forgetfulness of God, there will be all sorts of amusements, sports and pastimes to divert his attention from God. Muslims have been admonished in the verse not to neglect their spiritual well-being in the pursuit of material gains and sensuous pleasures.