Surah 42:8
Show Full Scripture Context (42:7-8) — 2 Verses
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ قُرۡءَانًا عَرَبِيّٗا لِّتُنذِرَ أُمَّ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَمَنۡ حَوۡلَهَا وَتُنذِرَ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡجَمۡعِ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهِۚ فَرِيقٞ فِي ٱلۡجَنَّةِ وَفَرِيقٞ فِي ٱلسَّعِيرِ
In this way We have inspired you (with) an Arabic Qur’ān, so that you may warn the Mother of Towns and those around it, and so that you may warn of the Day of Gathering – (there is) no doubt about it – (one) group in the Garden, and (another) group in the blazing (Fire).
وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَهُمۡ أُمَّةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ وَلَٰكِن يُدۡخِلُ مَن يَشَآءُ فِي رَحۡمَتِهِۦۚ وَٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ مَا لَهُم مِّن وَلِيّٖ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
If God had (so) pleased, He would indeed will have made them one community. But He causes whomever He pleases to enter into His mercy. The evildoers will have no ally and no helper.
{that you may warn the Mother of the Towns}, i.e., Makkah,
{and all around it,} means, all the lands, east and west. Makkah is called Umm Al-Qura (the Mother of the Towns) because it is nobler than all other lands, as indicated by much evidence that has been discussed elsewhere. Among the most concise and clear proofs of that is the report recorded by Imam Ahmad from 'Abdullah bin 'Adi bin Al-Hamra' Az-Zuhri, who heard the Messenger of Allah say, as he was standing in the market place of Makkah;
«By Allah, you are the best land of Allah, the most beloved land to Allah; were it not for the fact that I was driven out from you, I would never have left you.»
This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah; At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih."
i.e., the Day of Resurrection, when Allah will assemble the first and the last in one plain.
{of which there is no doubt,} means, there is no doubt that it will happen and will most certainly come to pass.
This is like the Ayah:
«or taken away from it.»
The Companions of the Messenger of Allah said, "Why should we strive if it is something that is already cut and dried?" The Messenger of Allah said:
«Strive with your deeds as hard as you can for middle course or close to it, for the person who is destined for Paradise will die doing the deeds of the people of Paradise, regardless of what he did before, and the person who is destined for Hell will die doing the deeds of the people of Hell, regardless of what he did before.»
Then he made a gesture with his fist and said,
«Your Lord has settled the matter of His servants» and he opened his right hand as if throwing something;
«A party in Paradise.»
and he made a similar gesture with his left hand;
«And a party in the blazing Fire.»
This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i; At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih Gharib."
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Nadrah said, "One of the Companions of the Prophet, whose name was Abu Abdullah, was visited by some of his friends, and they found him weeping. They asked him, What has caused you to weep? Didn't the Messenger of Allah say to you,
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 8, Page 564-567)