Ya-Sin Explained

Number:36
Number-3:036
Yā`Sīn
Name-Ar:يٰسٓ
Name-En:Yāʾ Sīn
Prev Sura:Quran 35
Next Sura:Quran 37
Classification:Meccan
Juz:22 to 23
Verses:83
Muqattaat:Yā Sīn

Yā Sīn[1] (also Yaseen; Arabic: يٰسٓ, ; the letters 'Yā'' and 'Sīn') is the 36th chapter of the Quran. It has 83 verses . It is regarded an earlier "Meccan surah". Some scholars maintain that verse 12 is from the Medinan period.[2] While the surah begins in Juz' 22, most of it is in Juz' 23.

The surah begins with the eponymous (muqatta'at) Arabic letters: Arabic: يس .[3] The meaning of the letters, while being primarily unknown, is debated amongst Muslim religious academics. One of the interpretations is "O human being!" referring to Muhammad since the verses that follow are translated as "By the Qur'an, full of Wisdom, Thou art indeed one of the messengers".[4] Tafsir al-Jalalayn, a Sunni beginners exegesis, concludes, "God knows best what He means by these [letters]."[5]

The focuses on establishing the Qur'an as a divine source, and it warns of the fate of those who mock God's revelations and are stubborn. The tells of the punishments that plagued past generations of nonbelievers as a warning to present and future generations. Additionally, the surah reiterates God's sovereignty as exemplified by his creations through signs from nature.

The surah ends with arguments in favor of the existence of resurrection and God's sovereign power.

Summary

Heart of the Quran

It has been proposed that is the "heart of the Quran".[7] The meaning of "the heart" has been the basis of much scholarly discussion. The eloquence of this is traditionally regarded as representative of the miraculous nature of the Qur'an.[8] It presents the essential themes of the Qur'an, such as the sovereignty of God, the unlimited power of God as exemplified by his creations, Paradise, the ultimate punishment of nonbelievers, resurrection, the struggle of believers against polytheists and nonbelievers, and the reassurance that the believers are on the right path, among others.[9] presents the message of the Qur'an in an efficient and powerful manner, with its quick and rhythmic verses. This asserts that Muhammad was not a poet, rather he was the greatest and the Last Messenger of Allah (the "Seal of the Prophets").

Virtues

It is reported in Sunan al-Darimi that Muhammad said, "Whoever recites in the early morning, his needs for that day will be fulfilled."[10] [11] Although it is graded as weak, a similar suspended narration from Ibn Abbas states, "Whoever recites in the morning, there will be ease for him until the evening, and whoever recites at night, there will be ease for him until the morning." It has been graded as either authentic or good .[12] [13]

Sections and themes

See also: People of Ya-Sin. There are three main themes of : the oneness of God ;, that Muhammad is a messenger sent by God to guide his creations through divine revelation; and the reality of, the Last Judgment.[14] 36:70 "This is a revelation, an illuminating Qur'an to warn anyone who is truly alive, so that God's verdict may be passed against the disbelievers."[15] The repeatedly warns of the consequences of not believing in the legitimacy or the revelation of Muhammad, and encourages believers to remain steadfast and resist the mockery, oppression, and ridicule they receive from polytheists and nonbelievers.[16] The arguments arise in three forms: a historical parable, a reflection on the order in the universe, and lastly a discussion of resurrection and human accountability.[16]

The chapter begins with an affirmation of the legitimacy of Muhammad.[14] For example, verses 2–6, "By the wise Qur'an, you [Muhammad] are truly one of the messengers sent of a straight path, with a revelation from the Almighty, the Lord of Mercy, to warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, and so they are unaware."[17] The first passage, verses 1–12, focuses primarily with promoting the Qur'an as guidance and establishing that it is God's sovereign choice who will believe and who will not. It is stated that regardless of a warning, the nonbelievers cannot be swayed to believe. 36:10 "It is all the same to them whether you warn them or not: they will not believe."[17]

then proceeds to tell the tale of the messengers that were sent to warn nonbelievers, but who were rejected.[14] Although the messengers proclaimed to be legitimate, they were accused of being ordinary men by the nonbelievers. 36:15–,17 "They said, 'Truly, we are messengers to you,' but they answered, 'You are only men like ourselves. The Lord of Mercy has sent nothing; you are just lying."[18] However, a man from amongst these people beseeched them to believe in the messengers. Then there came running, from the farthest part of the City, a man, saying, 'O my people! Obey the messengers: Obey those who ask no reward of you (for themselves), and who have themselves received Guidance.'. Upon his death, the man entered Paradise, and lamented the fate of the nonbelievers. 36:26 "He was told, 'Enter the Garden,' so he said, 'If only my people knew how my Lord has forgiven me and set me among the highly honored."[19] This is meant to warn the nonbelievers of the consequences of their denial. Verse 36:30 goes on to state: "Alas for human beings! Whenever a messenger comes to them they ridicule him."[20] Ultimately, it is God's will who will be blind and who will see.[14]

The following passage addresses the signs of God's supremacy over nature.[14] This is presented by the sign of revived land, the sign of day and night, the sign of the arc and the flood, and the sign of the sudden blast that arrives on the day of judgement. 36:33–37 The sign of revived land follows:

The disbelievers do not recognize God's power in the natural world, although he is the one Creator.[14]

The further addresses what will happen to those who reject the right path presented by Muhammad and refuse to believe in God. On the last day, the day of reckoning, the nonbelievers will be held accountable for their actions and will be punished accordingly.[14] God warned the nonbelievers of Satan, and yet Satan led them astray. 36:60–63 "Children of Adam, did I not command you not to serve Satan, for he was your sworn enemy, but to serve Me? This is the straight path. He has led great numbers of you astray. Did you not use your reason? So this is the fire that you were warned against."[21] Although God warned them against following Satan, the nonbelievers were deaf, and so now they will suffer the consequences of their ill judgements. 36:63 "So this is the Fire that you were warned against. Enter it today, because you went on ignoring [my commands]."[21]

The proceeds to address the clear nature of the revelation and assure that Muhammad is a legitimate prophet.[14] 36:69 states, "We have not taught the Prophet poetry, nor could he ever have been a poet."[15] concludes by reaffirming God's sovereignty and absolute power. 36:82_83 "When He wills something to be, His way is to say, 'Be'—and it is! So glory be to Him in whose Hand lies control over all things. It is to Him that you will all be brought back."[15] It is to God, the one Creator who holds everything in his hands, that everything returns. The closing passage carries an essential message of the Qur'an.

Notes and References

  1. [George Sale]
  2. [Joseph E. B. Lumbard]
  3. The Qur'an. A new translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press. 2004.
  4. What is the meaning of the word Yasin? https://questionsonislam.com/question/what-meaning-word-yasin
  5. Tafsir al-Jalalayn. Translated by Firas Hamza. Royal Al al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. Amman, 2007.
  6. Book: Wherry . Elwood Morris . Elwood Morris Wherry . A Complete Index to Sale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes . 1896 . Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co . London.
  7. Shirazi, Ayatullah Dastghaib. Heart of the Qur'an: A Commentary to Sura al Yasin. Ansariyan Publications. Qum, The Islamic Republic of Iran.
  8. Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda. Tafsir Surah Ya-Sin. Jangda. Ramadhaan 1432 A.H.
  9. Surah Yaseen. Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project.
  10. Book: Zakariyyā, Muḥammad. Stories of Sahabah: Revised Translation of Urdu Book. 1983. Kutab Khana Faizie. 87. en.
  11. Book: Al-Darimi. Al-Darimi. Sunan al-Darimi 3461.
  12. Book: Al-Darimi. Al-Darimi. Sunan al-Darimi 3462.
  13. Book: Ali Zai, Zubair. Zubair Ali Zai. Al-Hadith. 1. 24.
  14. Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda. Tafsir Surah yā sīn. Ramadhaan 1432 A.H. http://www.linguisticmiracle.com/yasin
  15. The Qur'an. A new translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press. 2004. Pg. 284
  16. Book: al-Ghazali, Shaykh Muhammad. A thematic commentary of the Qur'an. 2001.
  17. The Qur'an. A new translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press. 2004. Pg. 281
  18. The Qur'an. A new translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press. 2004. Pg.281
  19. The Qur'an. A new translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press. 2004. Pg. 282
  20. The Qur'an. A new translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press. 2004. Pg.282
  21. The Qur'an. A new translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press. 2004. Pg. 283