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Section/Ruku 2
[Verses 32 to 56]: The warning: 1. Translation: 33 And the night when it departs! 34 And the dawn when it shines!— 35 Surely it is one of the gravest (misfortunes). 37 To him among you who will go forward or will remain behind.a 38 Every soul is held in pledge for what it earns, 39 Except the people of the right hand. 40 In Gardens, they ask one another, 42 What has brought you into hell? 43 They will say: We were not of those who prayed; 44 Nor did we feed the poor;a 45 And we indulged in vain talk with vain talkers; 46 And we called the day of Judgment a lie; 47 Till the inevitable overtook us. 48 So the intercession of intercessors will not avail them. 49 What is then the matter with them, that they turn away from the Reminder. 50 As if they were frightened asses, 52 Nay, everyone of them desires that he should be given pages spread outa — 53 By no means! But they fear not the Hereafter. 54 Nay, it is surely a Reminder. 55 So whoever pleases may mind it. 56 And they will not mind unless Allah please.a He is Worthy that duty should be kept to Him and Worthy to forgive.b 2.
Commentary: 44a. Note the reply to v. 42 — What has brought you into hell? It is neglect of two chief duties: we did not pray and we did not feed the poor. These are thus the two pillars of faith, service of God and service of humanity. [Back to verse 44] 52a. Everyone of them would have a revelation granted to him direct from heaven. To this they gave expression repeatedly: Why does not Allah speak to us? (2:118). [Back to verse 52] 56a. In the Qur’an God does not compel men to adopt one way or another. He points out the right course from the wrong and leaves it to the choice of the individual: So whoever pleases may mind it (v. 55); We have truly shown him the way; he may be thankful or unthankful (76:3). Similar verses abound in the Holy Qur’an. What, then, does the statement, and they will not mind unless Allah please, mean? This statement is subject to the Divine laws already explained. Allah is pleased to guide those in the right way and to make those "mind" who open their hearts to receive it. Note how clearly the verses preceding it depict the peculiar condition of those who do not even listen to the Reminder: What is then the matter with them, that they turn away from the Reminder, as if they were frightened asses, fleeing from a lion? (vv. 49– 51). For a similar statement occurring in 76:30, see 76:30a. [Back to verse 56] 56b. God is Worthy that duty of Him should be observed and therefore whoever fails to observe that duty must suffer. But God is not a hard taskmaster; if man fails to observe his duty, God in His unbounded love comes to his help and covers his faults with His vast forgiveness. The epithet here used — Worthy to forgive — indicates that forgiveness is in His nature; even if man does not ask for forgiveness, He forgives. [Back to verse 56]
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