Surah 57: Al-Hadid
The Holy Qur’an with English Translation and Short Commentary
[a]In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
[a] 1:1.
Whatever is in the heavens and the earth [b]glorifies[2981] Allah; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
[b] 17:45; 24:42; 61:2; 62:2; 64:2.
[2981] Sabaha Fi Hawa’ijihi means, he busied himself in earning his subsistence or in his affairs. Sabh signifies doing one’s work or doing it with utmost effort and quickly, and the expression Subhanallah denotes quickness in betaking oneself to God and agility in serving or obeying Him. In view of the root-meaning of this word, the Infinitive Noun Tasbih from Sabbaha means, declaring God to be far from every imperfection or defect or betaking oneself quickly to God’s service and to be prompt in obeying Him saying Subhanallah (Lane). The verse thus means that everything in the universe is doing its allotted task punctually and regularly, and by making use of the faculties and powers bestowed upon it by God is fulfilling the object of its creation in such a wonderful manner that one is irresistibly drawn to the conclusion that the Designer and Architect of the universe is, indeed, Mighty and Wise and that the whole world collectively and every created thing individually and in its own limited sphere, bears testimony to the undeniable truth that God’s handiwork is absolutely free from every flaw, defect or imperfection in all its multifarious and multitudinous aspects. This is the significance of Tasbih.
His is the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth; He gives life and [c]He causes death,[2982] and He has power over all things.
[c] 3:157; 7:159; 44:9.
[2982] The process of construction and destruction is in operation simultaneously every moment in everything in the universe.
He is the First[2983] and the Last,[2984] and the Manifest[2985] and the Hidden,[2986] and He has full knowledge of all things.
[2983] God is the First Cause of all things.
[2984] He is the Last and Final Cause.
[2985] He is manifest in His works; or is more manifest than anything else.
[2986] There is nothing hidden from God; or whereas He comprehends everything He Himself is Incomprehensible.
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth [a]in six periods, then He settled Himself on the Throne. He knows what enters the earth and [b]what comes out of it, and what comes down from heaven and what goes up into it.[2987] And He is with you wheresoever you may be. And Allah sees all that you do.
[a] 7:55; 11:8; 25:60; 32:5.
[b] 34:3.
[2987] The meaning is that God alone knows when a particular Divine Teaching is needed for a particular people; also when to take it back to heaven, i.e. to abrogate it, when it is corrupted and ceases to fulfil the spiritual needs of the people to whom it is given. And He alone knows when to reveal a new Teaching.
His is the [c]Kingdom of the heavens and the earth; and to Allah are all affairs returned for final judgment.
[c] 2:108; 7:159.
[d]He causes the night to pass into the day and causes the day to pass into the night; and He knows well all that is in the breasts.
[d] 22:62; 31:30; 35:14.
Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend in the way of Allah out of that to which He has made you heirs. And those of you who believe and spend will have a great reward.
Why is it that you believe not in Allah, while the Messenger calls you to believe in your Lord, and He has already taken a covenant[2988] from you, if indeed you are believers?
[2988] "The covenant" spoken of in the verse signifies the faith in God implanted in human nature and the longing to achieve His nearness.
He it is Who [a]sends down clear Signs to His servant, that He [b]may bring you out of every kind of darkness into light. And, verily, Allah is Compassionate and Merciful to you.
[a] 22:17; 24:35; 58:6.
[b] 14:6; 33:44.
And why is it that you spend not in the way of Allah, while to Allah belongs the heritage[2989] of the heavens and the earth? Those of you who spent and fought before the Victory[2990] are not equal to those who did so later. They are greater in rank than those who spent and fought [c]afterwards. And to all has Allah promised good. And Allah is Well-Aware of what you do.
[2989] Man will have to leave behind in this world all his material possessions, which in truth belong to God.
[2990] Fall of Mecca or the Treaty of Hudaibiyah.
[c] 4:96; 9:20.
[d]Who is he who will lend to Allah a goodly loan? So He will increase it manifold for him, and he will have a noble reward.
[d] 2:246; 64:18; 73:21.