29. Al-‘Ankabut/The Spider

I/We begin by the Blessed Name of Allah

The Immensely Merciful to all, The Infinitely Compassionate to everyone.

29:01
a. Alif. Lam. Mim.

29:02
a. Do the people think they can get away with just uttering the word:
b. ‘We believe,’
c. and they will not be tested?

29:03
a. And certainly, WE did put to the test those before them,
b. and will be putting people to the test now and always, too.
c. So Allah will surely make known those who are sincere believers,
d. and, HE will also make known those who are liars.

29:04
a. Or, do those who do sinful deeds reckon that they can escape US?
b. No. Never!
c. How wrong do they judge!

29:05
a. As for those who look forward with hope and awe to the meeting with Allah should hold
firm -
b. for the appointed time by Allah is definitely coming.
c. And, HE is The All-Listening, The All-Knowing.

29:06
a. So whoever strives in the Cause of Allah is striving only for the benefit of oneself,
b. for Allah is All-Sufficient and is not in need of anyone in the universe.

29:07
a. As for those who believe and practice righteousness,
b. WE will definitely absolve them of their evil deeds,
c. and WE will certainly reward them for the best of what they used to do in the worldly life.

29:08
a. And WE have enjoined upon every person to be good to his parents in matters of love, respect, and care,

b. and yet should they urge you to ascribe with ME any partner in worship, anything of which you have no knowledge,
c. then do not obey both or either of them,
d. It is to ME that you will all be brought back upon Resurrection for accountability.
e. then I will apprise you of what you have been doing in worldly life and hold you to account for it.

29:09
a. As for those who believe and practice righteousness,
b. WE will surely admit them among the righteous into Paradise.
29:10
a. And among people, there are also some who say:
b. ‘We believe in Allah!’
c. Yet when they suffer for striving in the Cause of Allah,
d. they consider that suffering at the hands of people to be as Allah’s Punishment.
e. Then if a victory comes to you from your Rabb -The Lord, and it is no longer risky to be counted as one of you, they would say:
f. ‘Surely we have always been with you!’
g. Does not Allah Know Best what is in the hearts of the people of the world?

29:11
a. They are claiming to be believers.
b. Let them know that Allah will certainly verify by requiring them to go through trial those who truly believe;
b. and, for sure, HE will also verify who are hypocrites.

29:12
a. And HE also knows those who disbelieve when they say to those who believe:
b. ‘If you follow our way of religious ethics and social life, then we will bear the burden of
your sins.’
c. But they cannot bear any burden of their own sins.
d. Undoubtedly, they are all liars indeed!

29:13
a. They will indeed have to bear their own burdens, and others’ burdens together with their
own burdens,
b. and they will be questioned about their false assertions against Allah during the Time of
Final Judgment.

29:14
a. Indeed, WE assigned Noah to his people, and
b. he remained among them for a thousand years less fifty years,
c. and then, even after all his advocacy, the Flood seized them, while they persisted in wrongdoing.

29:15
a. But WE saved him, together with those who were with him in the Ark,
b. and, WE made this an exemplary lesson for all people of the world.

29:16
a. Likewise, Abraham - when he said to his people:
b. ‘Submit to Allah in worship, and

c. fear the consequences of HIS disobedience.
d. This would be better for you if only you knew the consequences!

29:17
a. You are worshiping entities apart from Allah, and
b. thus you are creating falsehood.
c. Those entities that you worship apart from Allah do not have it in their power to provide you with livelihood and sustenance.
d. So seek your provisions - livelihood and sustenance - from Allah,
e. and submit to HIM in worship,
f. and stay gratified to HIM.
g. To HIM you are to be brought back upon Resurrection for accountability and awards.

29:18
a. But if you belie and deny my Mission, then communities before you also belied and denied their Messengers, and, then suffered the consequences.
b. And the Messenger is not required to do more than just to convey HIS Message fully and
clearly.

29:19
a. Do they not consider how Allah brings about the creation, and then repeats it?
b. This is, indeed, easy for Allah to do.

29:20
a. Say:
b. ‘Go about the world and observe/study how HE brings/brought about the creation,
c. and, then, after its extinction, Allah will bring about the next creation in the realm of the Hereafter.
d. Indeed, Allah Manifests Sovereignty over all existence.

29:21
a. HE punishes whoever HE Wills,
b. and has compassion on whoever HE Wills -
c. and to HIM you all are to be returned upon the Resurrection.

29:22
a. And you can never be beyond HIS reach whether on the earth or in the sky,
b. and you have no protector and no helper other than Allah.

29:23
a. And those who deny and belie Allah’s Messages, and the meeting with HIM –
b. it is they who have no hope of MY Mercy,
c. and, it is they, for whom will be a painful punishment.

29:24
a. And the only response of his - Abraham’s – people was to say:
b. ‘Kill him!
c. Or burn him alive!’
d. However, Allah saved him from the fire - by ordering it ‘to be cool and safe for Abraham.’
e. Surely in this are obvious lessons for people who want to believe.

29:25
a. And he - Abraham said to them:
b. ‘You have chosen to worship entities apart from Allah merely in a bond of mutual friendship in the life of this world.
c. But, then, during the Time of Final Judgment, you are going to disown each other, and curse each other, and
d. your destiny will be the Fire, and
e. where you will have no helpers against Allah’s Judgment.

29:26
a. Lot then believed him, and said:
b. ‘I am going to emigrate for the sake of my Rabb - The Lord.
c. Surely HE - HE is The Almighty, The All-Wise.’

29:27
a. And WE also granted him – Abraham – a son Isaac and a grandson Jacob, and
b. WE conferred upon his descendants the Prophethood and the Scripture.
c. And WE rewarded him in this world by making him a ‘Leader for People,’
d. and, in the Hereafter too, he will certainly be among the righteous.

29:28
a. Likewise, WE assigned Lot when he said to his people:
b. ‘You practice an outrageous immorality that no one else before you ever committed in the
whole world.

29:29
a. ‘How come you lust after males, and thus obstruct nature’s way, and commit the blatant evil in your social gatherings?’
b. But the only response from his people was nothing but to say mockingly:
c. ‘Bring down upon us Allah’s punishment for our conduct, if you are really of the honest.
d. Thus, Lot had no choice but to seek Allah’s support for their punishment.

29:30
a. He submitted in supplication:
b. O ‘My Rabb - The Lord!
c. Help me against the People of Perversion.’

29:31
a. And when OUR angelic-messengers brought Abraham the good news of a second son Isaac after Ishmael, and a grandson Jacob, they also said:
b. ‘We are going to destroy the inhabitants of this township of Sodom and Gomorrah in response to Lot’s call to his Rabb - The Lord.
c. Its people have been truly unfair’ to themselves by being sinful and perverted.

29:32
a. He said:
b. ‘But Lot is in there!’
c. They answered:
d. ‘We know better who is in there.
e. We are certainly going to save him and his family, except for his wife.
f. She will indeed be of those who remain behind for the punishment.

29:33
a. Then, when OUR angelic-messengers came to Lot,
b. he became distressed about them and felt himself powerless to protect them from his wicked people.
c. Looking at his worried expression they comforted him and said:
d. ‘Do not fear and do not grieve.
e. We are going to save you and your family, except for your wife.
f. She will be of those who remain behind’ for the punishment.

29:34
a. Indeed, we are going to bring down upon the inhabitants of this township - a horror from the sky,
b. for they have been going beyond all moral limits by behaving wickedly.

29:35
a. And certainly WE have left some remnants of that township.
b. And WE made of it a clear lesson for a people who understand.

29:36
a. And to the land of Midian WE assigned their brethren Sho`ayb.
b. And he said:
c. ‘O My People!
d. Submit to Allah in worship,
e. and look forward with fear and awe to the Last Hour,
f. and do not behave wickedly in the land, spreading corruption.’

29:37
a. But they belied and denied him.
b. So the earthquake seized them.
c. Thus they were leveled lifeless to the ground in their very homes.

29:38
a. And WE also destroyed the People of ‘Ad and of Thamud -
b. it is clear to you from their archaeological remains/dwellings.
c. It so happened because Satan made their evil deeds appear enticing to them,
d. and kept them all away from the Path of Allah – even though they were intelligent people.

29:39
a. And WE did the same thing to Korah and Pharaoh and Haman – all with a common denominator of false pride, arrogance and disbelief.
b. While Moses had come to them with Clear Miracles and arguments,
c. but they belied him and acted arrogantly in the land of Egypt.
d. Yet they could not escape OUR Might.

29:40
a. So WE seized each one for his sinful conduct:
- WE sent a violent torrent of stones against some of them - the like of `Ad and Lot, and
- another of them was struck by stunning thunder – the like of Thamud, and
- WE made the earth to cave in on another of them – the like of Korah, and
- WE drowned still some of them in the sea - the like of People of Noah, Pharaoh, and Haman.

b. It was not Allah WHO was unfair to them,
c. rather it was they who were unfair to themselves.

29:41
a. The likeness of those who take protectors other than Allah is the likeness of the she-spider:
b. it makes a house for itself of delicate webs,
c. but, undoubtedly, the spider’s house is the weakest of houses - if only they can understand.

29:42
a. Allah certainly Knows whatever entities they call upon instead of HIM,
b. And HE is the Almighty, the All-Wise.

29:43
a. These are the examples - WE emphasize for benefit of the people,
b. yet no one truly understands them except those who have knowledge.

29:44
a. Allah created - without a precedent - the celestial realm and the terrestrial world in truth.
b. Indeed, in this is a Sign for the believers.

29:45
a. O The Prophet!
b. Recite of the Book of Qur’an that is being revealed onto you,
c. and establish the Salat /Prayers.
d. For sure, the Salat/Prayers prevents from obscenity and wrongdoing.
e. Yet the Remembrance of Allah – Salat in this context - is indeed greater of all types of worship and devotion.
f. And Allah is Well-Aware of whatever you do.

29:46
a. And do not argue with Followers of the Former Scriptures except with what is better – unless it be those of them who are unfair.
b. And tell them:
c. ‘We believe in that which has been sent down to us – The Qur’an - as well as that which had been sent down to you – the Torah, the Psalms, and the Injeel/Bible,
d. for our Elah/Allah and your Elah/Allah is One and the same One and Only God.
e. And to HIM we submit’ in reverence, worship, and awe: we are Muslims!

29:47
a. And likewise, WE have now sent down the Book of Qur’an onto you, O The Prophet.
b. Some of those to whom WE had given the Scripture earlier and are faithful, believe in it -
the Qur’an,
c. as also among these other people some believe in it.
d. And no one would deliberately deny OUR Messages, but the defiant disbelievers.

29:48
a. O The Prophet!
b. You were never accustomed to reading - i.e., you were never taught to read - any book/
Book before this Qur’an was revealed onto you,
c. or to write with own your right or left hand to be literate in the general sense.

d. Otherwise, the perpetrators of falsehood would indeed have had some reason to doubt its Divine descent.

29:49
a. Rather, this - The Qur’an - is a clear Message to the hearts of those with true knowledge.
b. And no one disputes OUR Messages except the unjust/wicked.

29:50
a. And yet they say:
b. Why have no miracles been sent down to him - Muhammad - from his Rabb - The Lord, otherwise we would have believed.
c. Say:
d. ‘The display of miracles are only with Allah.
e. And I am only assigned as a Plain Warner.’

29:51
a. Is it not enough of a miracle for them that WE have sent down to you this Book of Qur’an
to be recited/read out to them?
b. Indeed, in this is a mercy – its teachings, and a reminder to a people who want to believe.

29:52
a. Say:
b. ‘Allah is a Sufficient Witness between me and you.
c. HE Knows whatever is within the celestial realm and the terrestrial world.
d. As for those who believe in falsehood, and thus disbelieve in Allah -
e. it is they who are going to be the real losers.

29:53
a. And they are asking you to hurry the punishment for their falsehood and disbelief.
b. And were it not for an appointed time, their punishment would have already come upon them.
c. But it will definitely come upon them suddenly when they would least expect it.

29:54
a. They are asking you to hurry the punishment for their falsehood and disbelief
b. Tell them:
c. Indeed, the Hell will definitely surround the disbelievers.

29:55
a. The Time when the punishment will cover them - from above them and from below their very feet - from all directions.
b. And a voice will say:
c. ‘Taste now the consequences of what you used to do’ in the Worldly life.

29:56
a. O MY Servants who believe!
b. Indeed, MY earth is vast and spacious:
c. so submit to ME in worship!

29:57
a. Every person will experience death.
b. And then you are to be brought back to US.

29:58
a. As for those who believe and practice righteousness -
b. WE shall certainly settle them in the exalted mansions of Paradise, beneath which rivers/
streams flow, there to remain forever.
c. Excellent is the reward for those who strive for righteousness.

29:59
a. They are the ones who are steadfast and endure patiently in a hostile environment to their belief,
b. and they trust their Rabb - The Lord.

29:60
a. How many creatures do not store their provision,
b. yet Allah provides for them all and for you, too.
c. And HE is The All-Listening, The All-Knowing.

29:61
a. And if you were to ask them:
b. ‘Who created the celestial realm and the terrestrial world and regulated the sun and the moon?’
c. They are sure to say:
d. It is ‘Allah!’
e. So why are they so confused?

29:62
a. Allah expands the life provision for whoever HE Wants of HIS servants and restricts it for whoever HE Wants.
b. Surely Allah is All-Aware of everything.

29:63
a. And if you were to ask them:
b. ‘Who sends down water from the sky, and revives to life with it the earth after it had been lifeless?’
c. They are sure to say:
d. It is ‘Allah!’
e. Say:
f. ‘Praise be to Allah!’
g. Yet most of them do not understand.

29:64
a. And the life in this world is nothing but amusement and diversion.
b. But surely the Home of the Hereafter - is actually the Real Life, if only they knew.
29:65
a. And, whenever, they board a ship and find themselves in danger, they would call upon Allah for help and rescue, sincerely devoting their faith exclusively to HIM;
b. but once HE brings them safely back to the land/shore,
c. they would begin to ascribe partners to HIM in unity, divinity, and worship.

29:66
a. So that they show ingratitude for all that WE have given them,
b. and they enjoy themselves with the material things of their worldly life.

c. Soon they are going to know the truth!

29:67
a. Do they not see that WE have established a Secure Sanctuary - Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Holy Makkah for them, while all around them the people are being plundered.
b. Will they still continue to believe in falsehood, and thus ungratefully deny Allah’s Blessings?

29:68
a. And who can be more unfair than the one who fabricates falsehood against Allah,
b. or denies and belies the Truth when it comes to him?
c. Is not in Hell a suitable dwelling place for the disbelievers?
d. Yes indeed!

29:69
a. But those who strive themselves in OUR Cause diligently,
b. WE will indeed guide them along OUR Paths – the Straight Path.
c. And, definitely, Allah is always with those who strive to seek excellence in piety and righteousness.