Day 270 · Surah Fussilat Verses 1-20

Fussilat 1–20

The Qur'an is detailed to make it clear yet most people turn away their ears, then the stages of creation of the earth and sky are explained along with the fate of the people of 'Ad and Thamud who rejected the messenger.

The surah opens with separate letters whose meaning was never explained by the Messenger or the companions, so the majority of scholars refer the meaning to Allah.
The Qur'an is in Arabic, detailed to give good news and warning, but many refuse to listen because their hearts are sealed and ears are deaf.
The Prophet Muhammad is confirmed as an ordinary human who receives revelation, with the mission of calling mankind to oneness with Allah and steadfastly repent to Him.
The earth was created in two days then given mountains and sources of life, while the sky which was originally smoke was established as seven heavens in two days and adorned with stars.
The people of 'Ad were destroyed by a cold roaring wind and Thamud by a thunderbolt, while the hearing, sight, and skin of mankind will later testify in Hellfire.

Verse 1 of Surah Fussilat consists of 2 Arabic letters (Hijaiyyah), namely ha and mim. In the Qur'an there are 29 surahs that begin with combinations of letters like this. None knows its meaning except Allah alone. The Messenger did not explain its meaning. Nor did the companions of the Messenger, to whom the Qur'an was first revealed, ever explain its meaning. Therefore, the majority of scholars do not dare to interpret it. They only say: 'Allah knows its meaning.'

Verses 2-11 explain several matters:

The Qur'an is revealed by Allah, the Most Gracious and Merciful. A book in Arabic whose verses are detailed so its content is clear for those who wish to understand it. Among its functions is to give good news and warning. However, the majority of mankind refuses to listen to it. This is evident: since the Qur'an was revealed until now, the majority of mankind refuses to listen to it, because their hearts are sealed and their ears are deaf, creating a psychological barrier between them and the Qur'an.
The Prophet Muhammad is an ordinary human who receives revelation from Allah. The main purpose of his call is to invite mankind to worship Allah, acknowledge His oneness, and repent to Him steadfastly.
The polytheists enter the fire. They do not pay the zakat and do not believe in the Hereafter. As for the believers who do righteous deeds, they receive an ongoing reward from Allah.
Why do people disbelieve in Allah and associate partners with Him? He created the earth in two days and He is the Creator of the universe. He created mountains above it. He blessed it so it is ready to produce various plants and contains water. He established the sources of sustenance for mankind within it for four days, then ascended to the heaven which was still in the form of smoke. All creation obeys and submits to Allah's system.

Verse 12 continues from the previous verse concerning the creation of the earth and sky. Allah established it as seven heavens in two days. He arranged the function of each heaven and adorned the nearest heaven with stars, among which some function to protect the jinn from ascending to higher heavens.

Verses 13-20 explain three matters:

If the Quraysh and other people continue to disbelieve in Allah and associate partners with Him, they will be struck by calamities like those that struck the people of 'Ad and Thamud. The people of 'Ad were arrogant and thought they were the most powerful on earth, yet they were created by Allah. Are they more powerful than Allah their Creator? They continued to reject Allah's revelation and messenger, so Allah sent upon them a harsh and roaring wind for several days in succession so they could taste disgrace in this world, and the punishment of the Hereafter is far heavier and they received no help. Similarly the people of Thamud. Allah sent them a messenger and guidance. Yet they preferred blindness and misguidance to that guidance. So Allah punished them with a painful and disgraceful thunderbolt because of their disbelief and polytheism.
Allah confirms that the believers who are God-conscious are guaranteed safety in this world and the Hereafter.

All people who are enemies of Allah, His messengers, His Books, and Islam will be gathered into Hellfire. Witness to their enmity are their hearing, sight, and skin.

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