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Welcome
Friends: Ahlan
wa sahlan!
Yusuf
Ali’s explanation of this
Chapter.
Muhammad
Asad’s explanation of this
Chapter.
Laleh
Bakhtiar’s explanation of this
Chapter.
سورة
التكاثر
'The
Accumulation/ Proliferation’
From
Introduction of Yusuf Ali:
“This
probably early Makkan Surah gives a warning against acquisitiveness,
i.e. the passion for piling up quantities or numbers, whether in the
good things of this world, or in manpower or in other forms of
megalomania, which leave no time or opportunity for pursuing the
higher things of life.”
From
Introduction of Muhammad Asad:
“THIS
early Meccan surah is one of the most powerful, prophetic passages of
the Qur'an, illuminating man's unbounded greed in general, and, more
particularly, the tendencies which have come to dominate all human
societies in our technological age.“
COMMENTS:
The
word 'al takaathur' appears twice in the Qur'an, here
and in HQ 57:20, where the accumulation/ proliferation is about
BOTH material wealth and progeny. These two are considered the main
attractions and distractions in life (HQ
63:9). Indeed, progeny is what earlier explanations of the
Qur'an emphasize in these verses; 'clan-size' is quite important in
most societies.
1. The
first two Verses state a fact, that 'You (Listeners) had been
distracted by the 'Accumulation/ Proliferation/ Increase' (of wealth
and progeny), until you visited the graves.'
Indeed..
we know how life is, and how distracting it is to be constantly
attempting to increase our wealth and our 'clan,' or to prove to
ourselves or others that both are up to par. Indeed, all our
distractions are related to either of these interests.
Note
that our 'distraction' ends when we die, and that the time we spend
in our graves is so short, it is considered a 'visit,' and we shall
come to know that!
2. The
rest of the Chapter informs and warns us of that, as Verses 3-4
assert that 'Nay, you shall indeed come to know..'
In
fact, Verse 5 seems to indicate that, had we possessed the knowledge
of Certitude, we would have indeed seen/ envisioned the Scalding/
JaHeem (seen it with our knowledge).
But
evidently, we SHALL indeed see it, in time (thumma), with the
(actual) eye of Certitude (not the mind's eye).
And
in time, we shall indeed be questioned (!) with regard to (all) the
pleasures and well-being (of Life: What we'd been given in life,
versus what we did with it).
Quite
troubling verses, which show us the extent of our responsibility.
Peace
unto all!
___________
