Understanding Surah Ya-Sin: Meaning and Significance
Surah Ya-Sin: An Explanation
Ya-Sin. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.]
- By the Qur’an, full of wisdom (i.e. full of laws, evidences, and proofs),
- Truly, you (O Muhammad ) are one of the Messengers,
- On a Straight Path (i.e. on Allah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism).
- (This is) a Revelation sent down by the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful,
- In order that you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are heedless.
- Indeed the Word (of punishment) has proved true against most of them, so they will not believe.
- Verily! We have put on their necks iron collars reaching to chins, so that their heads are forced up.
- And We have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see.
- It is the same to them whether you warn them or you warn them not, they will not believe.
- You can only warn him who follows the Reminder (the Qur’an), and fears the Most Beneficent (Allah) unseen. Bear you to such one the glad tidings of forgiveness, and a generous reward (i.e. Paradise).
- Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them), and their traces [their footsteps and walking on the earth with their legs to the mosques for the five compulsory congregational prayers, Jihad (holy fighting in Allah’s Cause) and all other good and evil they did, and that which they leave behind], and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book.
The Story of the Town Dwellers
- And put forward to them a similitude; the (story of the) dwellers of the town, [It is said that the town was Antioch (Antakiya)], when there came Messengers to them.
- When We sent to them two Messengers, they belied them both, so We reinforced them with a third, and they said: “Verily! We have been sent to you as Messengers.”
- They (people of the town) said: “You are only human beings like ourselves, and the Most Beneficent (Allah) has revealed nothing, you are only telling lies.”
- The Messengers said: “Our Lord knows that we have been sent as Messengers to you,
- “And our duty is only to convey plainly (the Message).”
- They (people) said: “For us, we see an evil omen from you, if you cease not, we will surely stone you, and a painful torment will touch you from us.”
- They (Messengers) said: “Your evil omens be with you! (Do you call it “evil omen”) because you are admonished? Nay, but you are a people Musrifun (transgressing all bounds by committing all kinds of great sins, and by disobeying Allah).
- And there came running from the farthest part of the town, a man, saying: “O my people! Obey the Messengers;
- “Obey those who ask no wages of you (for themselves), and who are rightly guided.
- “And why should I not worship Him (Allah Alone) Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned.
- “Shall I take besides Him aliha (gods), if the Most Beneficent (Allah) intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use for me whatsoever, nor can they save me?
- “Then verily, I should be in plain error.
- Verily! I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!”
- It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): “Enter Paradise.” He said: “Would that my people knew!
- “That my Lord (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones!”
- And We sent not against his people after him a host from heaven, nor do We send (such a thing).
- It was but one Saihah (shout, etc.) and lo! They (all) were silent (dead-destroyed).
- Alas for mankind! There never came a Messenger to them but they used to mock at him.