The Light of the Holy Qur'an Interpretation of Sura Yusuf

Section 3 : the Divine Mercy Commentary : Verse 21

Ingratitude of Man after enjoying the Divine Mercy Every evil shall be equally punished along with ignominy All false deities shall vanish away on the Day of Judgment and they will disown their devotees.

(21) وَ إِذا أَذَقْنَا النَّاسَ رَحْمَةً مِنْ بَعْدِ ضَرَّاءَ مَسَّتْهُمْ إِذا لَهُمْ مَكْرٌ في‏ آياتِنا قُلِ اللَّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَكْراً إِنَّ رُسُلَنا يَكْتُبُونَ ما تَمْكُرُونَ

  1. " And when We make mankind taste of(Our)mercy after adversity hath touched them, behold! they have a device concerning Our Signs! Say: 'Allah is quicker at devising. Verily, Our messengers record what you devise'. ""

Commentary :

The previous verse alluded to the pretexts of those who used to ask why no new signs were revealed. Here Allah refers to their obstinacy and to the fact that they played dirty tricks after a new verse was revealed instead of appreciating it.

The verse says:

" And when We make mankind taste of(Our)mercy after adversity hath touched them, behold! they have a device concerning Our Signs! ..."

As for the occasion of revelation of this verse, it has been said that there occurred a drought and famine in Mecca. The Almighty(s. w. t.)made it rain for the blessing of His Prophet(p.b.u.h.) . The polytheists claimed, however, that the reason for the rain was because of the idols.(The commentary of As- S afi, Fi- Z alal- il- Qur'an and Fakhr- i- Razi)

One of the measures and tricky devices employed by his enemies was character assassination of the Prophet(p.b.u.h.) , ridiculing the divine verses, and degrading the blessings of Allah. At any rate, man misuses God- given blessings and makes mischief instead of giving thanks and we must know that he who plays dirty tricks, will ultimately be involved with the device and the punishment of Allah. The verse says:

"... Say: 'Allah is quicker at devising. ..."

Then, He warns them not to think that such conspiracies and plans will be forgotten. His messengers,(that is, His angels responsible for recording human actions)will take note of all those plans which disbelievers arrange for extinguishing the light of the truth. And they must prepare themselves for the Judgment and the punishment in the world here- after. The verse says:

"... Verily, Our messengers record what you devise'. ""

Commentary : Verse 22

(22) هُوَ الَّذي يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِ حَتَّى إِذا كُنْتُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَ جَرَيْنَ بِهِمْ بِريحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَ فَرِحُوا بِها جاءَتْها ريحٌ عاصِفٌ وَ جاءَهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَكانٍ وَ ظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ أُحيطَ بِهِمْ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنْجَيْتَنا مِنْ هذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرينَ

  1. " He it is Who enables you to traverse through land and sea; so that you are in the ships, and they sail with them with a favourable wind, and they rejoice thereat. Then there comes upon them a stormy wind and the waves come on them from all sides, and they think that they are encompassed therewith, they call upon Allah, making their faith pure for Him,(saying): 'If You deliver us from this, we shall surely be of the grateful ones'. "

Commentary :

In this verse the Qur'an appeals to the depths of human nature, explaining to them the monotheism which is embedded in their very being, describing to them how man once in great difficulty and danger, tends to forget everything but Allah.

First, He says that He is the One Who enables you to traverse through the land and the sea. And, when you go on board a ship, He makes you eventually get, you and your ship, to your destination with the help of the appropriate winds that gladden every heart. Then when a horrible thunderstorm blows and waves buffet them from all sides, it makes them realize that death is near, and they lose their hopes of survival. The verse says:

" He it is Who enables you to traverse through land and sea; so that you are in the ships, and they sail with them with a favourable wind, and they rejoice thereat. Then there comes upon them a stormy wind and the waves come on them from all sides, and they think that they are encompassed therewith, ..."

At just about that time, they are reminded of Allah and call upon Him sincerely, their thoughts stripped of all sorts of polytheism and idol worship. The verse continues saying:

"... they call upon Allah, making their faith pure for Him, ..."

They start praying at this time, saying that if Allah save them from this plight, they will thank Him while they shall neither oppress others nor turn to others for help save Him. The verse says:

"... (saying): 'If You deliver us from this, we shall surely be of the grateful ones'. "

Although this temporary awakening will often have no remarkable educational effect upon extraordinarily wicked people, yet He completes the process of reasoning to the end to them, and it will serve as their eventual condemnation.

In such incidents, those individuals, who are only slightly polluted, are usually awakened and tend to reform themselves.

Commentary : Verse 23

(23) فَلَمَّا أَنْجاهُمْ إِذا هُمْ يَبْغُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ يا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّما بَغْيُكُمْ عَلى‏ أَنْفُسِكُمْ مَتاعَ الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا ثُمَّ إِلَيْنا مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَنُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِما كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

  1. " But when He delivers them, behold! They rebel in the earth unjustly. O mankind! Your rebellion is against your own selves, an enjoyment of the life of this world. Then to Us is your return, and We shall inform you of what you used to do. "

Commentary :

But such neglectful people usually start bothering others and oppressing them on the earth, as soon as Allah saves them and leads them to safe shores. The verse says:

" But when He delivers them, behold! They rebel in the earth unjustly. ..."

Yet, the Qur'an advises people to know that whatever oppression they commit and whatever sort of deviation they have made from the right path, they themselves will pay its price. The verse says:

"... O mankind! Your rebellion is against your own selves, ..."

The only thing that they may be able to do is to enjoy the life in this world for merely a few days, and finally their eventual return will be towards Allah. It is at that time that they shall be informed of whatever they did in the world. The verse says:

"... an enjoyment of the life of this world. Then to Us is your return, and We shall inform you of what you used to do. "

Commentary : Verse 24

(24) إِنَّما مَثَلُ الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا كَماءٍ أَنْزَلْناهُ مِنَ السَّماءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَباتُ الْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَ الْأَنْعامُ حَتَّى إِذا أَخَذَتِ الْأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَها وَ ازَّيَّنَتْ وَ ظَنَّ أَهْلُها أَنَّهُمْ قادِرُونَ عَلَيْها أَتاها أَمْرُنا لَيْلاً أَوْ نَهاراً فَجَعَلْناها حَصيداً كَأَنْ لَمْ تَغْنَ بِالْأَمْسِ كَذلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآياتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

  1. " The likeness of the life of this world is just as the water which We send down from the sky, and the plants of the earth mingle with it whereof men and cattle eat, till when the earth takes its ornament and is embellished, and its people imagine that they have power over it,(but suddenly)Our command reaches it by night or by day, and We make it stubble, as if it had not flourished the day before! Thus do We explain the Signs in detail for a people who reflect.

Commentary :

In the foregoing verses allusion had been made to the lack of permanence in this worldly life. In this holy verse this grave reality is depicted with an interesting example so that He may remove the curtain of arrogance and negligence from the eyes of those who are neglectful and unjust. The verse says:

" The likeness of the life of this world is just as the water which We send down from the sky, ..."

These life- providing drops fall on cultivable soil, making it possible for various plants to grow, some of which are useful for man, and others that are useful for birds and beasts. The verse continues saying:

"... and the plants of the earth mingle with it whereof men and cattle eat, ..."

These plants, besides the nutritional qualities that they contain for living creatures, cover the earth's surface and decorate it so that the earth finds its utmost beauty in it.

It is at this time that the blossoms decorate the branches and the flowers bloom. Nutritious grains and fruits show up gradually, dramatically depicting the full meaning of the scene of life, thus rendering people's hearts hopeful and their eyes full of joy. This is done to the extent that people on the earth become certain that they can benefit from the blessings of the plants and fruits as well as from their life- inducing grains. The verse says:

"... till when the earth takes its ornament and is embellished, and its people imagine that they have power over it, ..."

All of a sudden, Allah's command reaches them, ordering excessive cold, unexpected heavy rains or strong thunderstorms to overwhelm and eradicate them all as if they never existed. The verse continues saying:

"... (but suddenly)Our command reaches it by night or by day, and We make it stubble, as if it had not flourished the day before! ..."

Towards the end of the verse, in order to emphasize further, Allah declares:

"... Thus do We explain the Signs in detail for a people who reflect.

Commentary : Verse 25

(25) وَ اللَّهُ يَدْعُوا إِلى‏ دارِ السَّلامِ وَ يَهْدي مَنْ يَشاءُ إِلى‏ صِراطٍ مُسْتَقيمٍ

  1. " And Allah doth call mankind to the Abode of Peace and He guides whomever He Pleases unto the Straight path. "

Commentary :

The Arabic appellation/ dar- us- Salam/ is one of the names of Paradise within which nobody bears any grudge against another and where no quarrel, war, and exploitation takes place. The verse says:

" And Allah doth call mankind to the Abode of Peace and He guides whomever He Pleases unto the Straight path. "

The holy word "Peace" is Allah's name, and "the Abode of Peace" signifies the proximity of the divine blessings. It is the place where everyone's words and greetings consist of "peace", and unto whom Allah also sends peace. The Qur'an says: "Peace: a word from a Merciful Lord. "(Yasin, verse 58)

Some Islamic traditions indicate that the way leads to the mastership(wilayat)of Amir- ul- Mu'mineen(a.s.)and the Immaculate Imams, has been stated as the best example for the 'Straight Path'.(Majma'- ul- Bayan)

We must note that the divine call is the symbol of His special favour towards His servants. It embodies the safe passage of man in this world and the Hereafter, the first stage of which is transient while the second stage is permanent.

Incidentally, the Straight Path is one which creates 'peace' for man not only in the Hereafter, but also creates peace for him in this world.