Surah 50: Qaf - Overview

Introduction

We now come to a group of seven Makkan Surahs (50-56), dealing with God's revelation through nature, through history, and through the mouths of the Prophets, and pointing to the Hereafter. We saw that the last group of three (47-49) deal with the external and internal relations of the Ummah when formed. In the present group, our attention is more particularly directed to aspects eschatological--the Future before us when this life is done.

This particular Surah belongs to the early Makkan period. After an appeal to nature and to the fate of wicked peoples in history, it removes as it were the veil (verse 22) from the Future after death.

Summary

1- Skeptics can look up to the heavens above and to Nature around them, as well as to the fate of sin in the history of the past; will they doubt God's Revelation when the veil is lifted? (50:1-29)

News of the Hereafter [50:1-29] The Prophet's credentials are the Revelation He brings. Let them not wonder at the Message or at the News of the Hereafter. They have but to look at the starry heavens and at Nature around them to see God's goodness and His power to bring life out of the dead, and to punish all wrong. Every deed, word, and thought are in the eternal Record. Death will open your eyes and make you see Realities. Then will every action bear its due fruit, and no soul can shift its responsibility on to another.

2- A vision of the Day of Recompense and the Day of Reality (50:30-45)

Rays from God's Presence [50:30-45] As Goodness has possibilities unlimited, so has Evil in the opposite direction. To those who bring a heart unsullied and to God devoted, will be Peace, Security, and Eternal Life--the Rays from God's own Presence. Adore ye God and pay no heed to whispers of Doubt and Evil: these must vanish at Judgment, when Truth and Justice reign supreme.