Overview

(Verses 31 - 36)

A Frightening Threat

Having stated this fundamental truth of God's eternity while everything else perishes and its correlate making clear that He controls all the affairs of all His creatures, the surah begins a new section that starts with a threat that sends fear into all hearts. This is a prelude to the discussion of the Day of Judgement that follows later in the surah:

We shall attend to you two huge communities [of jinn and mankind]. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny? Jinn and mankind, if you can pass beyond the regions of heaven and earth, then do so. You cannot pass beyond them without authority. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny? A flash of fire will be sent against you, and molten brass, and you will be left without support. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny? (Verses 31-36)

"We shall attend to you two huge communities [of jinn and mankind]." (Verse 31) What a frightening threat that neither man nor jinn can face. Indeed firm mountains, stars and galaxies tremble to hear it. God Almighty, in all His power and majesty, says that He will attend to the reckoning of these two humble creatures, man and jinn, giving His statement an air of warning! It is unimaginably terrible!

A more literal translation of the threat would say: "We shall be free to attend to you two..." God - limitless is He in His glory - is not preoccupied with something so as to need to free Himself of what preoccupies Him. This is merely an expression intended to make it easier for us to understand, and to deliver the warning in a stunning and crushing way. This entire universe was originated and put in place with a single word, 'Be', and once the word was uttered the whole universe came into existence. Likewise, its total disappearance needs nothing more than the command to be issued once, in less than the twinkling of an eye. What can happen, then, to these two communities of creatures, man and jinn, when God attends fully to them alone, administering their punishment? Under the shadow of this fearful threat, they are both asked: "Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?" (Verse 32)

The surah continues with this frightening tone, challenging both man and jinn to pass beyond their own world: "Jinn and mankind if you can pass beyond the regions of heaven and earth, then do so." (Verse 33) How, and where to? "You cannot pass beyond them without authority." (Verse 33) No authority can be given except by the One who has it. Once more, they are faced with the question: "Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?" (Verse 34) Do they have, within themselves, anything that amounts to a lie to say, or even a word to utter? Nonetheless the onslaught continues to the end, adding further threats and revealing their miserable end: "A flash of fire will be sent against you, and molten brass, and you will be left without support. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?" (Verses 35-36) The horror painted in this image is beyond the scope of human imagination, or any creature's imagination for that matter. It is a unique image. Although there are a few images akin to it in the Qur'an, none are exactly similar to this one: "Leave Me alone with those who deny the truth and enjoy lift's blessings." (73: 11) "Leave Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone." (74: 11) The fact remains that this present verse, and the warning it implies, is far more frightful: "We shall attend to you two huge communities [of jinn and mankind]." (Verse 31)