Surah 77: Al-Mursalat
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.
By those who are sent forth with goodness,[4499]
[4499] Important Words:
واو (by). For the philosophy and significance of oaths in the Holy Qur’an see 37:2 & 91:2.
عرفا (goodness) is derived from عرف (‘arafa) which means, he knew it or he knew it by means of any of the five senses, also by mental perception. عرف (‘urfun) means, acknowledgment or confession; goodness or a good action or quality; gentleness; beneficence, a benefit or bounty; common parlance or usage. They say جاء القوم عرفا عرفا i.e. the people came one after another (Lane).
Commentary:
The things, agencies or beings mentioned in this and the following four verses have been taken by various authorities to refer to winds; angels; God’s Messengers and their followers; and particularly and very appropriately, to the Companions of the Holy Prophet. As referring to the Companions of the Holy Prophet the verse would mean that in the beginning of Islam the Companions of the Prophet spread the Message of truth slowly and gently; as referring to Divine Messengers it means that they appear one after the other with the Message of truth which they spread with love.
Then they push on with a forceful pushing,[4500]
[4500] Important Words:
عصفاً (forceful pushing). عصف means, he was quick or swift. عصفت الریح means, the wind blew violently or vehemently. عصف الزرع means, he cut the corn from its stalks or before its maturity. عصف means, straw or broken straw (Lane).
Commentary:
In view of the different meanings of عصف the verse may be taken to mean that after the initial difficulties in the preaching had been overcome, the Companions of the Holy Prophet were able to proceed much faster and carry on the Message in the Holy Qur’an with great vigour; or that, with the help of the teaching in the Holy Qur’an, they scattered before them falsehood and the forces of evil as broken straw is carried before the wind.
And by those who spread the truth, a good spreading,[4501]
[4501] Commentary:
The verse means that they proclaimed and spread the Message of truth far and wide, or scattered the seeds of goodness everywhere.
And then they distinguish fully between good and evil.[4502]
[4502] Commentary:
With the dissemination of the Message in the Holy Qur’an, truth became distinct from falsehood and good men from bad men.
Then they carry the exhortation far and wide[4503]
[4503] Commentary:
Divine Messengers, or the Companions of the Holy Prophet, spread the Divine Message in order to warn people and also to establish the fact that they had conveyed the Message and thus had discharged the duty entrusted to them.
To excuse some and warn others.
[a]Verily, that which you are promised must come to pass.[4504]
[4504] Commentary:
The promised event is either the final triumph of truth over falsehood, or the Resurrection.
[a] 51:6; 52:8.
So when the stars are made to lose their light[b],[4505]
[4505] Important Words:
طمست (are made to lose their light). طمس means, it became effaced or obliterated. طمس النجم means, the star lost or became deprived of its light. طمس الغیم النجوم means, the clouds concealed or covered the stars. (Lane & Aqrab). See also 10:89.
Commentary:
The verse means: When the religious divines become corrupt and cease to provide guidance to the masses, or when diverse calamities are about to befall people. The Arabs regarded the disappearance of stars as a sign of impending calamities.
[b] 82:3.
And when the heaven is rent asunder,[4506]
[4506] Commentary:
The verse means, when a new revelation begins to be sent down, or when great calamities and miseries befall the world.
And when the mountains are blown away[a],[4507]
[4507] Commentary:
The purport of the verse is: When great changes take place, or when powerful and influential men are brought low; or when old and time-honoured institutions are destroyed, root and branch. In short, when the whole corrupt order changes. For جبال see 14:47.
[a] 78:21; 81:4.
And when the Messengers are made to appear at the appointed time—[4508]
[4508] Commentary:
The meaning is: When prophecies concerning the second advent of various Messengers will be fulfilled with the appearance in the world of a great heavenly Reformer who will come in the power and spirit of such Messengers, clad, as it were, in the mantles of all of them.