Audio summary of explanation of the verse by different scholars
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/9568d085-a7a9-48fa-a91c-34b9110f8868/audio
وَمَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدۡرِهِۦ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ جَمِیعࣰا قَبۡضَتُهُۥ یَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِیَـٰمَةِ وَٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتُ مَطۡوِیَّـٰتُۢ بِیَمِینِهِۦۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا یُشۡرِكُونَ﴿ ٦٧ ﴾
• Abdul Haleem:
These people have no grasp of God’s true measure. On the Day of Resurrection, the whole earth will be in His grip. The heavens will be rolled up in His right hand- Glory be to Him! He is far above the partners they ascribe to Him!-
• ابوالاعلی مودودی:
اِن لوگوں نے اللہ کی قدر ہی نہ کی جیسا کہ اس کی قدر کرنے کا حق ہے۔ [1] (اس کی قدرتِ کاملہ کا حال تو یہ ہے کہ)قیامت کے روز پُوری زمین اُس کی مٹھی میں ہوگی اور آسمان اس کے دستِ راست میں لپٹے ہوئے ہوں گے۔ [2] پاک اور بالاتر ہے وہ اس شرک سے جو یہ لوگ کرتے ہیں۔ [3]
Az-Zumar, Ayah 67
Proceed to know the the summary of the verse by different scholars
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1. Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Imam Ibn Kathir, d. 1373 CE)
Ibn Kathir emphasizes Allah’s infinite greatness and the failure of disbelievers to recognize His true worth. He explains:
- “They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal”: This refers to the polytheists’ and disbelievers’ lack of understanding of Allah’s majesty and power. They associate partners with Him, underestimating His sovereignty and attributing divine qualities to insignificant beings.
- “The earth entirely will be [within] His grip”: On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will hold the entire earth in His grasp, demonstrating His absolute control over creation. The imagery of the earth being in His “grip” and the heavens “folded in His right hand” is figurative, illustrating Allah’s limitless power and authority.
- Hadith Support: Ibn Kathir cites a hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim, narrated by Ibn Umar, where the Prophet (ﷺ) recited this verse during a sermon and said: “Allah will grasp the earth with one finger, and the heavens will be in His Right Hand, then He will say, ‘I am the King.’” Another narration from Abu Hurairah states: “Allah will grasp the earth and roll up the heavens in His Right Hand, then He will say: ‘I am the King, where are the kings of the earth?’” These narrations underscore Allah’s dominion over all creation.
- Rejection of Shirk: The phrase “Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him” condemns shirk (polytheism), affirming Allah’s transcendence and uniqueness.
2. Tafsir al-Jalalayn (Imam Jalaluddin al-Mahalli and Jalaluddin as-Suyuti, 15th Century)
Tafsir al-Jalalayn provides a concise yet profound explanation:
- Failure to Esteem Allah: The phrase “They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal” means the disbelievers do not exalt Allah as He deserves, particularly by associating partners with Him, which diminishes His oneness and glory.
- Cosmic Imagery: The statement that the earth will be in Allah’s “grip” refers to the seven earths being under His complete possession and control on the Day of Resurrection. The heavens being “folded in His right hand” signifies Allah’s ability to gather and manage the vast heavens effortlessly, using His power alone.
- Exaltation of Allah: The closing words, “Glory be to Him! And exalted be He above what they associate!”, emphasize Allah’s purity and transcendence over the false deities or partners ascribed to Him by polytheists.
3. Tafsir al-Tabari (Imam Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, d. 923 CE)
Al-Tabari’s tafsir focuses on the verse’s vivid imagery and theological implications:
- Underestimation of Allah: The disbelievers fail to recognize Allah’s true greatness (“They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal”). Al-Tabari explains that this refers to their ignorance of Allah’s boundless power and their audacity to equate created beings with the Creator through shirk.
- Figurative Language: The imagery of the earth in Allah’s “grip” and the heavens “folded in His right hand” is metaphorical, illustrating Allah’s absolute dominion. Al-Tabari cites narrations, such as those from Abdullah ibn Umar, where the Prophet (ﷺ) described Allah rolling the heavens and earth like a child rolls a ball, proclaiming His sole kingship.
- Prophetic Narration: Al-Tabari references traditions from Musnad Ahmad, Bukhari, and Muslim, where the Prophet (ﷺ) explained that Allah will hold the heavens and earths (planets) in His grasp, demonstrating His sovereignty over all worldly rulers and false gods.
- Rejection of Polytheism: The verse concludes by glorifying Allah and distancing Him from the partners ascribed to Him, reinforcing tawhid (monotheism).
4. Tafsir al-Qurtubi (Imam al-Qurtubi, d. 1273 CE)
Al-Qurtubi’s tafsir delves into the verse’s theological and eschatological dimensions:
- Human Ignorance: The phrase “They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal” highlights the disbelievers’ failure to comprehend Allah’s infinite power and majesty. Al-Qurtubi notes that this ignorance leads them to worship idols or other beings, which are powerless compared to Allah.
- Eschatological Power: The imagery of the earth in Allah’s grip and the heavens folded in His right hand signifies Allah’s ability to control the entire universe effortlessly. Al-Qurtubi explains that this is a figurative expression, as Allah is beyond physical attributes, but it conveys His supreme authority over creation.
- Hadith Context: Like other mufassireen, al-Qurtubi references the hadith where the Prophet (ﷺ) recited this verse and described Allah grasping the earth and heavens, proclaiming, “I am the King.” This emphasizes that all worldly power is insignificant before Allah’s dominion.
- Tawhid and Transcendence: The verse’s conclusion, “Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him”, serves as a reminder of Allah’s oneness and His transcendence above all false deities.
5. Tafsir Tafheem-ul-Quran (Maulana Abul Ala Maududi, d. 1979)
Maududi’s tafsir provides a modern yet rooted explanation:
- Ignorance of Allah’s Glory: The disbelievers’ failure to recognize Allah’s true worth (“They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal”) stems from their lack of reflection on His greatness. Maududi notes that they worship insignificant beings, ignoring the Lord of the Universe.
- Metaphorical Imagery: The description of the earth in Allah’s grasp and the heavens folded in His right hand is a metaphor to emphasize Allah’s absolute control. Maududi compares this to a person effortlessly holding a small ball or rolling up a handkerchief, illustrating how the vast universe is insignificant before Allah’s power.
- Prophetic Narration: Maududi cites the same hadith from Bukhari, Muslim, and others, where the Prophet (ﷺ) explained that Allah will hold the heavens and earths, proclaiming His sole kingship and challenging the worldly kings.
- Condemnation of Shirk: The verse’s final statement glorifies Allah and rejects the partners ascribed to Him, reinforcing the centrality of tawhid in Islam.
6. An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur’an (Contemporary Shia Tafsir, Al-Islam.org)
This tafsir, rooted in Shia scholarship, offers a theological perspective:
- Failure to Know Allah: The phrase “They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal” indicates that polytheism and disbelief arise from a lack of true knowledge of Allah. The commentary explains that recognizing Allah’s boundless existence, as the Creator and Sustainer of all, prevents one from turning to false deities.
- Monotheism and Gratitude: The verse is contextualized with the preceding verses, which urge worship of Allah alone and gratitude for His bounties. The imagery of the earth and heavens in Allah’s control underscores His omnipotence, making polytheism illogical.
- Rejection of Duality: The tafsir notes that the verse implicitly rejects the possibility of multiple boundless beings, as only Allah possesses infinite power. The heavens and earth being in His “hand” is a metaphor for His complete authority.
- Exaltation of Allah: The closing words affirm Allah’s purity and transcendence, distancing Him from the idols or partners ascribed by polytheists.
Common Themes Across Tafsirs
- Allah’s Infinite Power: All mufassireen emphasize that the verse illustrates Allah’s supreme authority over creation, using vivid imagery to convey the ease with which He controls the universe.
- Figurative Language: The expressions “grip” and “right hand” are universally understood as metaphors, as Allah is transcendent and free from physical attributes.
- Rejection of Shirk: The verse condemns polytheism, affirming tawhid and Allah’s exclusivity as the sole deity worthy of worship.
- Prophetic Narration: Most tafsirs cite hadiths from Bukhari, Muslim, and other sources, where the Prophet (ﷺ) described Allah grasping the earth and heavens, proclaiming His kingship.
- Eschatological Context: The verse is tied to the Day of Resurrection, where Allah’s dominion will be fully manifest, humbling those who underestimated Him.
Additional Notes
- Context in Surah Az-Zumar: Verse 67 appears in a passage (verses 64–70) that emphasizes tawhid, the consequences of shirk, and the events of the Day of Resurrection. It serves as a powerful reminder of Allah’s greatness and a warning to those who associate partners with Him.
- Cultural Relevance: The imagery of the earth and heavens in Allah’s grasp would have been particularly striking to the Arab audience, who were familiar with the vastness of the desert and sky, yet are told that these are insignificant before Allah.
- Practical Application: Some sources, like Darul Iftaa New York, note that reciting this verse (along with others) is recommended for protection during travel, though this is not directly derived from the tafsir but from later scholarly practices.
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Summary Compiled by deepseek
Here is a detailed explanation of Surah Az-Zumar (39:67) from various renowned Mufassireen (Quranic commentators), synthesized from the provided search results:
1. General Meaning of the Verse
Arabic Text:
وَمَا قَدَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدۡرِهِۦ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ جَمِيعٗا قَبۡضَتُهُۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ مَطۡوِيَّـٰتُۢ بِيَمِينِهِۦۚ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ
Translation:
“They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.”
2. Tafsir by Ibn Kathir
- Theme: The verse critiques the disbelievers’ failure to recognize Allah’s true majesty.
- Key Points:
- The idolators did not venerate Allah properly, attributing partners to Him despite His absolute power.
- On Judgment Day, the earth and heavens will be under Allah’s complete control, symbolized by the imagery of the earth in His “grip” and heavens “folded” in His right hand. This demonstrates His unmatched sovereignty.
- Ibn Kathir cites a Hadith where the Prophet (ﷺ) affirmed this imagery, saying Allah will “rotate the heavens and earths like a child plays with a ball” and declare His kingship .
3. Tafsir by Abul Ala Maududi
- Theme: Figurative depiction of Allah’s dominance.
- Key Points:
- The verse uses metaphors to convey Allah’s absolute authority. Just as a person easily holds a ball or folds a cloth, Allah effortlessly controls the universe.
- The disbelievers’ inability to grasp this reality stems from their spiritual blindness and polytheism.
- Maududi references a Hadith where the Prophet (ﷺ) trembled while reciting this verse, emphasizing its gravity .
4. Tafsir by Al-Jalalayn
- Theme: Literal vs. metaphorical interpretation.
- Key Points:
- The “grip” and “right hand” are not literal but signify Allah’s total possession and power over creation.
- The phrase “Glory be to Him” negates any anthropomorphism, affirming His transcendence above human attributes .
5. Tafsir by Mufti Muhammad Shafi (Ma’arif-ul-Quran)
- Theme: Rejection of shirk (associating partners with Allah).
- Key Points:
- The verse condemns polytheists who equate created beings with Allah.
- The imagery of Judgment Day serves as a warning: Allah’s power will be fully manifest, humiliating those who denied His unity .
6. Additional Insights from Other Mufassireen
- As-Suddi: The verse was revealed about Quraysh, who failed to honor Allah despite witnessing His signs .
- Ibn Abbas: True “appraisal” of Allah means believing in His omnipotence; disbelievers rejected this .
- Metaphorical View (Later Scholars): Some interpret “grip” and “right hand” as symbols of control, not physical attributes, to avoid anthropomorphism .
7. Practical Implications
- Protection During Travel: Some scholars recommend reciting this verse (with Surah Hud 41) for safety, based on debated Hadiths .
- Theological Lesson: The verse reinforces tawheed (monotheism) and warns against underestimating Allah’s grandeur .
Conclusion
This verse powerfully contrasts human limitations with Allah’s infinite power, using vivid imagery to humble disbelievers and affirm divine supremacy. The Mufassireen unanimously stress its themes of tawheed, divine justice, and the folly of shirk. For further study, refer to the cited sources .
Messages from Quran 