This Sura, as remarked in the Introduction to the last Sura, deals with the Question of Maad or the Final End of Things, from various points of view. In the last Sura, we saw that Revelation was linked up with Life and Conduct, and Time (looking backwards and forwards) figured forth the frailty of this Life. In this Sura the Time theme and its mystery are brought into relation with human history in the foreground and the evolution of the world in all its aspects in the background. The corruption introduced by man is cleared away by Allah, Whose Universal Plan points to the Hereafter. We shall see that the next two Suras (31 and 32) present the theme in other aspects. All four are introduced with the Abbreviated Letters A. L. M., which (without being dogmatic) I have suggested as symbolical of the Past, Present, and Future.
The chronology of this Sura is significant. It was revealed about the 7th or the 6th year before the Hijrat, corresponding to 615-16 of the Christian era, when the tide of Persian conquest over the Roman Empire was running strong. The Christian Empire of Rome had lost Jerusalem to the Persians, and Christianity had been humbled in the dust. At that time it seemed outside the bounds of human possibility, even to one intimately acquainted with the inner resources and conditions of the Persian and Roman armies and empires, that the tables would be turned and the position reversed within the space of eight or nine years. The pro-Persian Pagan Quraish rejoiced exceedingly, and redoubled their taunts and persecution against the Holy Prophet, whose Message was a renewal of the Message of Christ preached in Jerusalem. Then was this passage (Sura 30, verses 1-6) revealed, clearly foreshadowing the final defeat of Persia as a prelude to the destruction of the Persian Empire. There is no doubt about the prophecy and its fulfilment. For the exulting Pagans of Mecca laid a heavy wager against the fulfilment of the prophecy with Hadhrat Abu Bakr, and they lost it on its fulfilment.
But the rise and fall even of such mighty empires as the Persian and Roman Empires, were but small events on the checkerboard of Time, compared to a mightier movement that was taking birth in the promulgation of Islam. In the seventh or sixth year before the Hijrat, and for a year or two after the Hijrat, Islam was struggling in the world like the still small voice in the conscience of humanity. It was scarcely heeded, and when it sought to insist upon its divine claim, it was insulted, assaulted, persecuted, boycotted, and (as it seemed) suppressed. The agony of Taif (two years before the Hijrat) and the murder plot on the eve of the Hijrat were yet to come. But the purpose of Allah is not to be thwarted. Badr (A.H. 2=A.D. 624), rightly called the critical Day of Decision, began to redress the balance of outward events in early Islam, in the same year in which Issus began to redress the balance of outward events in Perso-Roman relations. Mightier events were yet to come. A new inner World was being created through Islam. This spiritual Revolution was of infinitely greater moment in world history. The toppling down of priestcraft and false worship, the restoration of simplicity in faith and life, the rehabilitation of this life as the first step to the understanding of the Hereafter, the displacement of superstition and hairsplitting theology by a spirit of rational enquiry and knowledge, and the recognition of the divine as covering not merely an isolated thing called "Religion" but the whole way of Life, Thought, and Feeling, -- this was and is the true Message of Islam and its mission. Its struggle -- its fight -- continues, but it is not without effect, as may be seen in the march of centuries in world history.
Summary.-The ebb and flow of worldly power -- as symbolized in the conflict of the Persian and Roman Empires -- are but outward events: The deeper meaning is in the working of Allah's Universe -- how Good and Evil reach their final End. (Verses 1 to 19 and commentary C.180).
The changes and changing variety in Allah's Creation, physical, moral, and spiritual, yet point to Unity in Nature and Religion: Man should not break away from that Unity, but glorify Him, the One, for there is none like unto Him. (Verses 20 to 40 and commentary C.181).
The hands of men have wrought corruption and mischief: But Allah purifies the moral world as He does the world of physical nature, strengthening the weak and pulling down the mighty in due season: Wait therefore in patience and constancy, and be not depressed. (Verses 41 to 60 and commentary C.182).
C.180-(Verses 1 to 19)-Great Empires rise and fall, conquer and are conquered, as happened to Rome and Persia: But the true Decision is with Allah, Who will make the righteous rejoice. Men may see but the outward crust of things, but in truth the End of things is all-in-all. In His own good time He will separate good from evil: Praise and glory to Him forever!
30:1 SURA 30. Rum, or The Roman Empire. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. A. L. M.
30:2 The Roman Empire has been defeated --
30:3 In a land close by; but they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious --
30:4 Within a few years. With Allah is the Decision, in the Past and in the Future: On that Day shall the Believers rejoice --
30:5 With the help of Allah. He helps whom He will, and He is Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
30:6 (It is) the promise of Allah. Never does Allah depart from His promise: But most men understand not.
30:7 They know but the outer (things) in the life of this world: But of the End of things they are heedless.
30:8 Do they not reflect in their own minds? Not for just ends and for a term appointed, did Allah create the heavens and the earth, and all between them: Yet are there truly many among men who deny the meeting with their Lord (at the Resurrection)!
30:9 Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the End of those before them? They were superior to them in strength: They tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have done: There came to them their apostles with Clear (Signs), (which they rejected to their own destruction): It was not Allah who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls.
30:10 In the long run evil in the extreme will be the End of those who do evil, for that they rejected the Signs of Allah, and held them up to ridicule.
30:11 Section 2. It is Allah Who begins (the process of) creation; then repeats it; then shall ye be brought back to Him.
30:12 On the Day that the Hour will be established, the guilty will be struck dumb with despair.
30:13 No intercessor will they have among their "Partners", and they will (themselves) reject their "Partners".
30:14 On the Day that the Hour will be established, that Day shall (all men) be sorted out.
30:15 Then those who have believed and worked righteous deeds, shall be made happy in a Mead of Delight.
30:16 And those who have rejected Faith and falsely denied Our Signs and the meeting of the Hereafter, -- such shall be brought forth to Punishment.
30:17 So (give) glory to Allah, when ye reach eventide and when ye rise in the morning;
30:18 Yea, to Him be praise, in the heavens and on earth; and in the late afternoon and when the day begins to decline.
30:19 It is He Who brings out the living from the dead, and brings out the dead from the living, and Who gives life to the earth after it is dead: And thus shall ye be brought out (from the dead).
C.181-(Verses 20 to 40)-Allah's Signs are many, and so are His mysteries: Yet each does point to His Unity, Goodness, Power, and Mercy. There is none like unto Him. His teaching is one, and men that split up His standard Religion are but following their own lusts. Ungrateful are they to give part worship to others, when all worship and praise and glory are due to Him and Him alone, in Whom we have our life and being!
30:20 Section 3. Among His Signs is this, that He created you from dust; and then, -- behold, ye are men scattered (far and wide)!
30:21 And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): Verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.
30:22 And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors: Verily in that are Signs for those who know.
30:23 And among His Signs is the sleep that ye take by night and by day, and the quest that ye (make for livelihood) out of His Bounty: Verily in that are Signs for those who hearken.
30:24 And among His Signs, He shows you the lightning by way both of fear and of hope, and He sends down rain from the sky and with it gives life to the earth after it is dead: Verily in that are Signs for those who are wise.
30:25 And among His Signs is this, That heaven and earth stand by His Command: Then when He calls you, by a single call, from the earth, behold, ye (straightway) come forth.
30:26 To Him belongs every being that is in the heavens and on earth: All are devoutly obedient to Him.
30:27 It is He Who begins (the process of) creation; then repeats it; and for Him it is most easy. To Him belongs the loftiest similitude (we can think of) in the heavens and the earth: For He is Exalted in Might, Full of Wisdom.
30:28 Section 4. He does propound to you a similitude from your own (experience): Do ye have partners among those whom your right hands possess, to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you? Do ye fear them as ye fear each other? Thus do We explain the Signs in detail to a people that understand.
30:29 Nay, the wrongdoers (merely) follow their own lusts, being devoid of knowledge. But who will guide those Whom Allah leaves astray? To them there will be no helpers.
30:30 So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the Faith: (Establish) Allah's handiwork according to the pattern on which he has made mankind: No change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: That is the standard Religion: But most among mankind understand not.
30:31 Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him: Establish regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah, --
30:32 Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects, -- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!
30:33 When trouble touches men, they cry to their Lord, turning back to Him in repentance: But when He gives them a taste of Mercy as from Himself, behold, some of them pay part worship to other gods besides their Lord, --
30:34 (As if) to show their ingratitude for the favors We have bestowed on them! Then enjoy (your brief day); but soon will ye know (your folly).
30:35 Or have We sent down authority to them, which points out to them the things to which they pay part worship?
30:36 When We give men a taste of Mercy, they exult thereat: And when some evil afflicts them because of what their (own) hands have sent forth, behold, they are in despair!
30:37 See they not that Allah enlarges the provision and restricts it, to whomsoever He pleases? Verily in that are Signs for those who believe.
30:38 So give what is due to kindred, the needy, and the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek the Countenance, of Allah, and it is they who will prosper.
30:39 That which ye lay out for increase through the property of (other) people, will have no increase with Allah: But that which ye lay out for charity, seeking the Countenance of Allah, (will increase): It is these who will get a recompense multiplied.
30:40 It is Allah Who has created you: Further, He has provided for your sustenance; then He will cause you to die; and again He will give you life. Are there any of your (false) "Partners" who can do any single one of these things? Glory to Him! And High is He above the partners they attribute (to Him)!
C.182-(Verses 41 to 60)-The result of Evil is Evil. So mischief spreads, but Allah will restore the balance in the End. He did create all things pure, and will purge and purify, as He does the physical world with Winds. Destruction awaits those that break His Harmony and Law: It will come when least expected. Let the righteous wait and endure with constancy, for Evil is shaky, with no faith in itself and no roots, and is doomed to perish utterly.
30:41 Section 5. Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: In order that they may turn back (from Evil).
30:42 Say: "Travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before (you): Most of them worshipped others besides Allah."
30:43 But set thou thy face to the right Religion, before there comes from Allah the Day which there is no chance of averting: On that Day shall men be divided (in two).
30:44 Those who reject Faith will suffer from that rejection: And those who work righteousness will spread their couch (of repose) for themselves (in heaven):
30:45 That He may reward those who believe and work righteous deeds, out of His Bounty. For He loves not those who reject Faith.
30:46 Among His Signs is this, that He sends the Winds, as heralds of Glad Tidings, giving you a taste of His (Grace and) Mercy, -- that the ships may sail (majestically) by His Command and that ye may seek of His Bounty: In order that ye may be grateful.
30:47 We did indeed send, before thee, apostles to their (respective) peoples, and they came to them with Clear Signs: Then, to those who transgressed, We meted out Retribution: And it was due from us to aid those who believed.
30:48 It is Allah Who sends the Winds, and they raise the Clouds: Then does He spread them in the sky as He wills, and break them into fragments, until thou seest raindrops issue from the midst thereof: Then when he has made them reach such of His servants as He wills, behold, they do rejoice! --
30:49 Even though, before they received (the rain) -- just before this -- they were dumb with despair!
30:50 Then contemplate (O man!) the memorials of Allah's Mercy! -- How He gives life to the earth after its death: Verily the Same will give life to the men who are dead: For He has power over all things.
30:51 And if We (but) send a Wind from which they see (their tilth) turn yellow, -- behold, they become, thereafter, Ungrateful (Unbelievers)!
30:52 So verily thou canst not make the dead to hear, nor canst thou make the deaf to hear the call, when they show their backs and turn away.
30:53 Nor canst thou lead back the blind from their straying: Only those wilt thou make to hear, who believe in Our Signs and submit (their wills in Islam).
30:54 Section 6. It is Allah Who created you in a state of (helpless) weakness, then gave (you) strength after weakness, then, after strength, gave (you) weakness and a hoary head: He creates as He wills, and it is He Who has all knowledge and power.
30:55 On the Day that the Hour (of reckoning) will be established, the transgressors will swear that they tarried not but an hour: Thus were they used to being deluded!
30:56 But those endued with knowledge and faith will say: Indeed ye did tarry, within Allah's Decree, to the Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection: But ye -- ye were not aware!
30:57 So on that Day no excuse of theirs will avail the Transgressors, nor will they be invited (then) to seek grace (by repentance).
30:58 Verily We have propounded for men, in this Koran. Every kind of Parable: But if thou bring to them any Sign, the Unbelievers are sure to say, "Ye do nothing but talk vanities."
30:59 Thus does Allah seal up the hearts of those who understand not.
30:60 So patiently persevere: For verily the promise of Allah is true: Nor let those shake thy firmness, who have (themselves) no certainty of faith.
