Surah 85

Surah 85:19

"No! But those who disbelieve persist in calling (it) a lie."
The Reward of the Righteous Verses 85:11-22
Show Full Scripture Context (85:11-22) — 12 Verses
Verse 11

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٞ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ

Surely those who believe and do righteous deeds – for them (there are) Gardens through which rivers flow. That is the great triumph!

Verse 12

إِنَّ بَطۡشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ

Surely your Lord’s attack is harsh indeed.

Verse 13

إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ يُبۡدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ

Surely He – He brings about (the creation) and restores (it).

Verse 14

وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلۡوَدُودُ

He is the Forgiving, the Loving,

Verse 15

ذُو ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡمَجِيدُ

Holder of the throne, the Glorious,

Verse 16

فَعَّالٞ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ

Doer of what He intends.

Verse 17

هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلۡجُنُودِ

Has the story of the forces come to you,

Verse 18

فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَثَمُودَ

of Pharaoh and Thamūd?

Verse 19

بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي تَكۡذِيبٖ

No! But those who disbelieve persist in calling (it) a lie.

Verse 20

وَٱللَّهُ مِن وَرَآئِهِم مُّحِيطُۢ

Yet God surrounds them from behind.

Verse 21

بَلۡ هُوَ قُرۡءَانٞ مَّجِيدٞ

Yes! It is a glorious Qur’ān,

Verse 22

فِي لَوۡحٖ مَّحۡفُوظِۭ

in a guarded Tablet.

no matter what the sin may be. Ibn ‘Abbas and others have said about the name Al-Wadud, “It means Al-Habib (the Loving).”

{Owner of the Throne,} meaning, the Owner of the Mighty Throne that is above all of the creation. Then He says,

{Al-Majid (the Glorious).} This word has been recited in two different ways: either with a Dhammah over its last letter (Al-Majidu), which is an attribute of the Lord, or with a Kasrah under its last letter (Al-Majid), which is a description of the Throne. Nevertheless, both meanings are correct.

{Doer of what He intends.} meaning, whatever He wants He does it, and there is no one who can counter His ruling. He is not asked about what He does due to His greatness, His power, His wisdom and His justice. This is as we have related previously from Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, that it was said to him during the illness of (his) death, “Has a doctor seen you?” He replied, “Yes.” They said, “What did he say to you?” He replied, “He said, 'I am the Doer of whatever I intend.'”
Concerning Allah’s statement,

Quoted Scripture
"Has the story reached you of the hosts. Of Fir'awn and Thamud?"

meaning, has the news reached you of what Allah caused to befall them of torment, and that He sent down upon them the punishment that no one was able to ward off from them? This is the affirmation of His statement,

Quoted Scripture
"Verily, the punishment of your Lord is severe and painful."

meaning, when He seizes the wrongdoer, He seizes him with a severe and painful punishment. It is the seizing punishment of One Most Mighty, and Most Powerful. Then Allah says,

Quoted Scripture
"Nay! The disbelievers (persisted) in denying."

meaning, they are in doubt, suspicion, disbelief and rebellion.

Quoted Scripture
"And Allah encompasses them from behind!"

meaning, He has power over them, and is able to compel them. They cannot escape Him or evade Him.

{Nay! This is a Glorious Qur'an.} meaning, magnificent and noble.

{In Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz!} meaning, among the most high gathering, guarded from any increase, decrease, distortion, or change.

This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Buruj, and all praise and blessings are due to Allah.

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.