Surah 41

Surah 41:53

"We shall show them Our signs in the skies and in themselves, until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient in (regard to) your Lord that He is a witness over everything?"
The Qur'an and the Proofs of its Truth Verses 41:52-54
Show Full Scripture Context (41:52-54) — 3 Verses
Verse 52

قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ كَفَرۡتُم بِهِۦ مَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنۡ هُوَ فِي شِقَاقِۭ بَعِيدٖ

Say: ‘Do you see? If it is from God, and you disbelieve in it – who is farther astray than the one who is in extreme defiance?’

Verse 53

سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا فِي ٱلۡأٓفَاقِ وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّۗ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ شَهِيدٌ

We shall show them Our signs in the skies and in themselves, until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient in (regard to) your Lord that He is a witness over everything?

Verse 54

أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ فِي مِرۡيَةٖ مِّن لِّقَآءِ رَبِّهِمۡۗ أَلَآ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٖ مُّحِيطُۢ

Is it not a fact that they are in doubt about the meeting with their Lord? Is it not a fact that He encompasses everything?

Allah says:

{Say} - 'O Muhammad, to these idolaters who disbelieve in the Qur'an -

{Tell me, if it} - this Qur'an -

{is from Allah, and you disbelieve in it?} means, 'what do you think your position is before the One Who revealed it to His Messenger?' Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"Who is more astray than one who is in opposition far away."

means, he is in a state of disbelief, stubbornness and opposition to the truth, and is following a path that leads far away from guidance. Then Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"We will show them Our signs in the universe, and within themselves,"

meaning, 'We will show them Our evidence and proof that the Qur'an is true and has indeed been sent down from Allah to the Messenger of Allah, through external signs,

{in the universe},' such as conquests and the advent of Islam over various regions and over all other religions. Mujahid, Al-Hasan and As-Suddi said, "And signs within themselves means, the battle of Badr, the conquest of Makkah, and other events which befell them, where Allah granted victory to Muhammad and his Companions, and inflicted a humiliating defeat on falsehood and its followers." It may also be that what is meant here is man and his physical composition. As detailed in the science of anatomy, which indicates the wisdom of the Creator - may He be blessed and exalted - and the different inclinations and opposite natures that people have, good and bad, etc., and the (divine) decrees to which man is subjected, having no power to change and over which he has no control.

Quoted Scripture
"until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur'an) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?"

means, sufficient is Allah as a Witness over the words and deeds of His servants, and He bears witness that Muhammad is telling the truth in what he says, as Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"[But Allah bears witness to that which He has sent down unto you; He has sent it down with His knowledge](quran/4/166)}."

"Lo, Verily, they are in doubt concerning the meeting with their Lord."

means, they doubt that the Hour will come, they do not think about it or strive for it or pay heed to it; on the contrary, they regard it as irrelevant and do not care about it. But it will undoubtedly come to pass. Then Allah states that He is Able to do all things and He encompasses all things, and it is very easy for Him to bring about the Hour:

Quoted Scripture
"Verily, He is surrounding all things!"

means, all of creation is subject to His control, dominion and knowledge; He is controlling all things by His power, so whatever He wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen, and there is no god worthy of worship apart from Him.

This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Fussilat. To Allah be praise and blessings.

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 8, Page 558-560)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.