Al Shawkani Exegesis – Surat Al Ahqaf
(No 46)
Ayah 1-35
Ha, Meem (1).
These two letters are Miracles Of The Glorious Qur’an And Only Allah (SWT) [(Alone) Knows Their Meaning, Sense & Significance].
The revelation of the Book is from Allah , the Exalted in Might, the Wise (2).
The Revelation of the Glorious Qur’an Is From Allah (SWT), The Exalted in Might, The Wise.
We did not create the heavens and earth and what is between them except in truth and [for] a specified term. But those who disbelieve, from that of which they are warned, are turning away (3).
We (SWT) Did Not Create the heavens & the earth & what creation exists in between except in Total Truth & for an Ascribed Time. However, blasphemous disbelievers due to their suspicion & lack of credence are turning their backs from that from which they are forewarned.
Say, [O Muhammad], “Have you considered that which you invoke besides Allah ? Show me what they have created of the earth; or did they have partnership in [creation of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful” (4).
Ask, Oh Muhammad (SAAS) the blasphemous disbelievers, “Have you contemplated upon that which you invoke other than Allah (SWT)? He (SAAS) continued to say,” Show me what they have created from the earth Other than the Creation of Allah (SWT). Or did they have partnership [With Allah (SWT) in the Creation of the Heavens?]. Provide me with a scripture [revealed] before the this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful”.
And who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allah those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they, of their invocation, are unaware (5).
And who is more astray than he / she who invoke deities other than Allah (SWT) who will not respond to Him (SWT) until Judgment Day, & they are unaware of their summoning.
And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship (6).
And upon humankind being gathered on Resurrection Day in the Hereafter, the humankind who were called will end up enemies to each other, being deniers of their worship.
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, “This is obvious magic”(7).
And upon The Ayat of the Glorious Qur’an are recited to them as Clear Evidences, the blasphemous disbelievers describe the recited Ayat as “obvious magic”.
Or do they say, “He has invented it?” Say, “If I have invented it, you will not possess for me [the power of protection] from Allah at all. He is most knowing of that in which you are involved. Sufficient is He as Witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving the Merciful” (8).
Or do the blasphemous disbelievers say, “Muhammad (SAAS) Has Invented the Glorious Qur’an , Reply to them Saying; “If I have invented it, then you Non-Muslims will not be able to have the power of granting me Protection from Allah (SWT). He (SWT) is Knowledgeable of your involvement & He (SWT) Is Sufficient As Witness between me & you, & Allah (SWT) Is The True Forgiving & Merciful”.
Say, “I am not something original among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner” (9).
Tell the blasphemous disbelievers,” I am not amongst the first of the Messengers, neither do I know what will
Say, “Have you considered: if the Qur’an was from Allah , and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant… ?” Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people
(10).
Ask them, Oh Muhammad (SAAS),”Have you contemplated if the Glorious Quran was Delivered from Allah (SWT) & you with your conventional, routine & ritualistic disbelief (blasphemed in the Muslim Messenger & Message), while a witness from the Children of Israel has believed & testified to Islam, while you were dubious & skeptical, being conceited & filled with arrogance. Truly Allah (SWT) leaves the wrongdoers astray.
And those who disbelieve say of those who believe, “If it had [truly] been good, they would not have preceded us to it.” And when they are not guided by it, they will say, “This is an ancient falsehood”(11).
And disbelievers say to those who believe, had the Message of Islam & the Glorious Qur’an been benevolent & righteous, they would not have raced us to it. And upon not finding guidance in Islam they will say, “This is ancient mendacity”.
And before it was the scripture of Moses to lead and as a mercy. And this is a confirming Book in an Arabic tongue to warn those who have wronged and as good tidings to the doers of good (12).
And previously it was the Taura (Scripture of Prophet Mousa, Messenger of the Israelites) & This, the Glorious Qur’an is the Arabic Tongue to warn those who are aberrant & unjust & as glad tidings for the righteous amongst Muslim believers in the Glorious Qur’an. 
Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah ,” and then remained on a right course – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve (13).
Truly, those Muslim Believers who have said, “ Allah (SWT) Is Our Creator” & remained on a Straight Path – then they should not fear concerning themselves, nor should they distress.
Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to do (14).
Those are Muslims Being Companions of Jannat Ul Na’eem, Abiding therein as a Reward from Allah (SWT) for what they used to perpetrate in their worldly lifetime.
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims” (15).
And We (SWT) Have Decreed & Commanded Muslim humankind descent treatment of their parents. His (her) mother carried him (her) with Hardship & Gave Him (her) birth with hardship. And His (her) gestation & weaning period is thirty months.[He (she) grows] until, when he (she) reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he (she) says, “Oh Allah (SWT), Enable me to be Grateful for Your Mercy & Grace which You Have Bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You Will Approve and Make Righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and evidently, I am amongst the Muslims”.
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised (16).
Those being the Muslims from whom We (SWT) Shall Accept the Best of what they had perpetrated in their worldly lifetime & Overlook their misdeeds. Allah (SWT) Elevating them to become Companions of Jannat Ul Na’eem (Paradise).
But one who says to his parents, “Ough to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?” while they call to Allah for help [and to their son], “Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth.” But he says, “This is not but legends of the former people” (17).
However, one who says to his/her parents, “ Qugh to you; do my parents promise me that I shall be exhumed from mother earth when generations of humankind have already passed on into obliviousness “? While simultaneously they Supplicate to Allah (SWT) “ Despair & gloom upon you, Believe, Evidently, the Promise of Allah (SWT) Is Ultimate Truth. Nonetheless, he says, This is nothing but legends of the former people”.
Those are the ones upon whom the word has come into effect, [who will be] among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers (18).
Those are the humankind upon whom the Word Of Allah (SWT) Has Come To Pass before them from the Jinn (Demons) & Humankind. Verily all were obvious losers.
And for all there are degrees [of reward and punishment] for what they have done, and [it is] so that He may fully compensate them for their deeds, and they will not be wronged (19).
And for all human Creation, there are degrees of recompense & chastisement for what they perpetrated (in their worldly lifetime). Consequently, Allah (SWT) May Completely Reward them for their righteous deeds & they will not be oppressed.
And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], “You exhausted your pleasures during your worldly life and enjoyed them, so this Day you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation because you were arrogant upon the earth without right and because you were defiantly disobedient “ (20).
And on the Day, those who disbelieved in Allah (SWT), Islam, Muhammad (SAAS) & the Glorious Qur’an are exposed to the Fire, the Angles of the Hereafter Shall Say, “You blasphemous disbelievers exhausted your pleasures during your worldly lifetime and enjoyed them, so this Day Of Judgment you shall be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation because you were arrogant upon the earth without right and because you were defiantly disobedient, rather than being righteous & virtuous.”
And Mention Oh Prophet Muhammad (SAAS), the people of Prophet Hud & His Forbearance with them warning them from the Al-Ahqaf (the winding sand tracts or sand dunes) between Yemen & Oman (21).
And Oh Muhammad (SAAS) mention to your Muslim followers the story of Prophet Hud & his tolerance with his people, warning them from Al Ahqaf & not to submit to any deity other than Allah (SWT).
They said, “Have you come to delude us away from our gods? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful”(22).
The people of Prophet Hud, responded by saying, “ Are you deceiving us away from our gods? So, guide us with what you promise us, if you happen to be amongst the sincere.
He said, “Knowledge [of its time] is only with Allah , and I convey to you that with which I was sent; but I see you [to be] a people behaving ignorantly” (23).
Prophet Hud Replied, “Knowledge of the Hereafter Is Only With Allah (SWT), relating to you with what I was delivered, however, I observe you being uninformed & behaving ignorantly.
And when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, “This is a cloud bringing us rain!” Rather, it is that for which you were impatient: a wind, within it a painful punishment (24),
And upon seeing it a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, “This is a sky cloud bringing us rain”! Actually, it is that for which you were impatient: a forceful wind within which a painful punishment exists.
Destroying everything by command of its Lord. And they became so that nothing was seen [of them] except their dwellings. Thus do We recompense the criminal people (25).
Destroying all creation by The Command Of Allah (SWT), rendering them unrealizable, except their empty homes. Hence, This Is How We (SWT) Penalize criminal humankind.
And We had certainly established them in such as We have not established you, and We made for them hearing and vision and hearts. But their hearing and vision and hearts availed them not from anything [of the punishment] when they were [continually] rejecting the signs of Allah ; and they were enveloped by what they used to ridicule (26).
And We (SWT) Had Certainly Established them in such as We (SWT) Have Not Established you (Muslims), and We (SWT) Made for them hearing and vision and hearts. But their hearing and vision and hearts did not benefit them from anything [of the punishment] when they were [continually] rejecting the Signs of Allah (SWT); and they were enveloped by what they used to mock & scoff.
And We have already destroyed what surrounds you of [those] cities, and We have diversified the signs [or verses] that perhaps they might return [from disbelief] (27).
And We (SWT) Have already Destroyed what surrounds you of the villages of Aad & Thamud & similar tribes around the Holy Lan of Hijaz in Saudi Arabia, And We (SWT) Varied & Assorted the Ayat of the Glorious Qur’an that maybe the disbelievers may backdown from their disbelief & blasphemy.
And [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur’an. And when they attended it, they said, “Listen quietly.” And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners (29).
And Oh Muhammad (SAAS) Point out & remind the few Jinn who were listening to the Recitation of the Glorious Qur’an. And upon attending the Recitation they, said, “listen noiselessly”. And once the recitation was concluded, they returned to their Jinn as omens.
O our people, respond to the Messenger of Allah and believe in him; Allah will forgive for you your sins and protect you from a painful punishment (30).
The Jinn said, Oh Our fellow Jinn, we heard the recitation of a book (the Glorious Qutan) revealed after Prophet Mousa (The Taura) “Respond to the Final Messenger of Allah (SWT) Muhammad (SAAS) & Believe in him, Allah (SWT) Will Forgive your sins & Direct you to a Straight Path, Allah (SWT) on Judgment Day, Shall Protect humankind from a painful chastisement.
But he who does not respond to the Caller of Allah will not cause failure [to Him] upon earth, and he will not have besides Him any protectors. Those are in manifest error”(32).
But he / she of humankind who do not respond to the Caller To The Submission of Allah (SWT) Will not cause failure to Him (SWT) upon the earth, and he / she will not have besides Him (SWT) any protectors. Those humankind are in visible & obvious error.”
Do they not see that Allah , who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things competent (33).
Does humankind not observe that Allah (SWT), The Creator of The Heavens & The Earth Who Was Not Exhausted & Fatigued in their Creation ? Evidently, He (SWT) Is Eligible & Competent in Granting Life to the dead humankind ? Verily, He (SWT) Is Over All Things Masterful.
And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], “Is this not the truth?” They will say, “Yes, by our Lord.” He will say, “Then taste the punishment because you used to disbelieve” (34).
And on the Day those blasphemous disbelievers are exposed to the Hellfire, the Angles shall ask them, “Is what you see not the Truth?” They will respond by saying, “Evidently & Surely Oh Allah (SWT)”. He (SWT) Will Then Say,” Hence Taste The Torment & Torture Since you humankind were blasphemous disbelievers. 
So be patient, [O Muhammad], as were those of determination among the messengers and do not be impatient for them. It will be – on the Day they see that which they are promised – as tough they had not remained [in the world] except an hour of a day. [This is] notification. And will [any] be destroyed except the defiantly disobedient people? (35).
Thus have Patients, Oh Muhammad (SAAS), like those Messengers Of Determination Among the Messengers (Before You) and do not be impatient for them. It will be – on the Day they see that which they are promised – as though they had not remained [on the earth except an hour of a day. [This is] notification. And no humankind will be destroyed except “the defiantly disobedient people?”.