Surah Zukhruf ayat 4 Tafsir Quran 43:4

﴿وَإِنَّهُ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ﴾
[ الزخرف: 4]

43:4 And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom.

And it is indeed fixed in the Mother Book the source of all the scriptures namely the Preserved Tablet which is with Us ladaynā substitutes for fī ummi’l-kitābi ‘in the Mother Book’ and it is indeed exalted above all the scriptures that came before it wise containing excellent wisdoms.

And it is a transcript reflecting the grandeur of the archetypal Book in the heavens realm as held by Us in high esteem and a source of wisdom

Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful حـم - تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَـبِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ ( Ha-Mim.
By the manifest Book. ) means, plain and clear in both wording and meaning, because it was revealed in the language of the Arabs, which is the most eloquent language for communication among people.
Allah says: إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـهُ ( Verily, We have made it ) meaning, revealed it, قُرْءَاناً عَرَبِيّاً ( a Qur'an in Arabic ) meaning, in the language of the Arabs, eloquent and clear; لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ( that you may be able to understand. ) means, that you may understand it and ponder its meanings.
This is like the Ayah: بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِينٍ ( In the plain Arabic language. ) ( 26:195 ) وَإِنَّهُ فِى أُمِّ الْكِتَـبِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ ( And verily, it is in the Mother of the Book with Us, indeed exalted, full of wisdom. ) This explains the high status of the Qur'an among the hosts on high ( the angels ), so that the people of earth will respect it, venerate it and obey it. وَأَنَّهُ ( And verily, it ) means, the Qur'an, فِى أُمِّ الْكِتَـبِ ( is in the Mother of the Book ) meaning, Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz ( the Preserved Tablet ).
This was the view of Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid. لَدَيْنَآ ( with Us, ) means, in Our presence.
This was the view of Qatadah and others. لَّعَلِّى ( indeed exalted ) means, occupying a position of honor and virtue.
This was the view of Qatadah. حَكِيمٌ ( full of wisdom. ) means, clear, with no confusion or deviation.
All of this indicates its noble status and virtue, as Allah says elsewhere: إِنَّهُ لَقُرْءَانٌ كَرِيمٌ - فِى كِتَـبٍ مَّكْنُونٍ - لاَّ يَمَسُّهُ إِلاَّ الْمُطَهَّرُونَ - تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ( That (this ) is indeed an honorable recitation.
In a Book well-guarded.
Which none can touch but the pure.
A revelation from the Lord of the all that exists.) ( 56:77-80 ) كَلاَّ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُ فَى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍ بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍ كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ ( Nay, indeed it is an admonition.
So whoever wills, let him pay attention to it.
(It is ) in Records held ( greatly ) in honor, exalted, purified, in the hands of scribes ( angels ), honorable and obedient.) ( 80:11-16 ) أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكْرَ صَفْحاً أَن كُنتُمْ قَوْماً مُّسْرِفِينَ ( Shall We then take away the Reminder (this Qur'an ) from you, because you are a people excessive.) means, `do you think that We will forgive you and not punish you, when you do not do as you have been commanded' This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Abu Salih, Mujahid and As-Suddi, and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir. أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكْرَ صَفْحاً ( Shall We then take away the Reminder (this Qur'an ) from you,) Qatadah said, "By Allah, if this Qur'an had been taken away when the first generations of this Ummah rejected it, they would have been doomed, but Allah by His mercy persisted in sending it and calling them to it for twenty years, or for as long as He willed." What Qatadah said is very good, and his point is that Allah, by His grace and mercy towards His creation, did not stop calling them to the truth and to the wise Reminder, i.e., the Qur'an, even though they were heedless and turned away from it.
Indeed, He sent it so that those who were decreed to be guided might be guided by it, and so that proof might be established against those who were decreed to be. ( In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. ) Consolation to the Prophet for the Disbelief of Quraysh Then Allah consoles His Prophet for the disbelief of his people, and commands him to bear it with patience. وَكَمْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن نَّبِيٍّ فِى الاٌّوَّلِينَ ( And how many a Prophet have We sent amongst the men of old. ) meaning, among the sects ( communities ) of old. وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّنْ نَّبِىٍّ إِلاَّ كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ ( And never came there a Prophet to them but they used to mock at him. ) means, they disbelieved him and mock at him. فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشاً ( Then We destroyed men stronger than these ) means, `We destroyed those who disbelieved in the Messengers, and they were stronger in power than these who disbelieve in you, O Muhammad.' This is like the Ayah: أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُواْ أَكْـثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً ( Have they not traveled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them They were more in number than them and mightier in strength ) ( 40:82 ).
And there are many similar Ayat. وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ ( and the example of the ancients has passed away.
) Mujahid said, "The way of their life." Qatadah said, "Their punishment." Others said, "Their lesson," i.e., `We made them a lesson for those disbelievers who came after them, that they would suffer the same end as them,' as in the Ayah at the end of this Surah: فَجَعَلْنَـهُمْ سَلَفاً وَمَثَلاً لِّلاٌّخِرِينَ ( And We made them a precedent, and an example to later generations. ) ( 43:56 ); سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِ ( this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants ) ( 40:85 ). وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلاً ( and you will not find any change in the way of Allah. ) ( 33:62 )

(43:4) Indeed it is transcribed in the Original Book with Us; *2 sublime and full of wisdom. *3

And indeed it is, in the Mother meaning

*2) " Umm al-Kitab ": the " Original Book ": the Book from which alI the Books sent down to the Prophets have been derived.
In Surah AI-Waqi`ah the same thing has been described as Kitab-um-Maknun ( the hidden and preserved Book ) and in Surah AI-Buruj 22 as Lauh-i Mahfuz ( the Preserved Tablet ), that is, the Tablet whose writing cannot be effaced, which is secure from every kind of interference.
By saying that the Qur'an is inscribed in Umm al-Kitab, attention has been drawn to an important truth.
Different Books had been revealed by Allah in different ages to different Prophets for the guidance of different nations in different languages, but aII these Books invited mankind to one and the same Faith: they regarded one and the same thing as the Truth; they presented one and the same criterion of good and evil; they propounded the same principles of morality and civilization; in short, they brought one and the same Din ( Religion ).
The reason was that their source and origin was the same, only words were different; they had the same meaning and theme which is inscribed in a Source Book with Allah, and whenever there was a need, He raised a Prophet and sent down the same meaning and subject-matter clothed in a particular diction according to the environment and occasion.
Had Allah willed to raise the Prophet Muhammad ( upon whom be His peace ) in another nation instead of the Arabs, He would have sent down the same Qur'an in the language of that nation.
In it the meaning and content would have been expressed according to the environments and conditions of the people and land; the words would have been different and the language also different but the teaching and guidance the same basically, and it would be the same Qur'an though not the Arabic Qur'an.
This same thing has been expressed in Surah Ash-Shu`ara, thus: " This ( Book ) has been revealed by the Lord of the worlds.
The trustworthy Spirit has come down with it upon your heart so that you may become one of those who are ( appointed by God ) to warn ( the people ) in plain Arabic language; and this is also contained in the scriptures of the former peoples. " ( vv.
192-196 ).
( For explanation, see Ash-Shu`ara: 192196 and the E.N.'s on it ).

*3) This sentence is related both to Kitab-i mubin and to Umm al-Kitab.
Thus, it is in praise of boththe Qur'an and the Original Book from which the Qur'an has been derived.
This praise is meant to impress the fact that if a person dces not recognize the true worth of this Book and dces not benefit from its wise teachings because of his own folly, it would be his own misfortune.
If someone tried to degrade it and found fault with it, it would be his own meanness.
It cannot become worthless on account of someone's lack of appreciation of it, and its wisdom cannot be eclipsed by anyone's throwing dust at it.
This is by itself a glorious Book, which stands exalted by its matchless teaching, miraculous eloquence, faultless wisdom and the sublime personality of its great Author.
Therefore, none can succeed in minimizing its value and worth.
In verse 44 below the Quraish in particular and the Arabs in general have been told that the revelation of the Book for which they are showing such lack of appreciation had provided them a unique opportunity of honour, which if they lost, would subject them to a severe accountability before God.
( Please see E.N.
39 below ).

 

Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful حـم - تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَـبِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ ( Ha-Mim.
By the manifest Book. ) means, plain and clear in both wording and meaning, because it was revealed in the language of the Arabs, which is the most eloquent language for communication among people.
Allah says: إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـهُ ( Verily, We have made it ) meaning, revealed it, قُرْءَاناً عَرَبِيّاً ( a Qur'an in Arabic ) meaning, in the language of the Arabs, eloquent and clear; لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ( that you may be able to understand. ) means, that you may understand it and ponder its meanings.
This is like the Ayah: بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِينٍ ( In the plain Arabic language. ) ( 26:195 ) وَإِنَّهُ فِى أُمِّ الْكِتَـبِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ ( And verily, it is in the Mother of the Book with Us, indeed exalted, full of wisdom. ) This explains the high status of the Qur'an among the hosts on high ( the angels ), so that the people of earth will respect it, venerate it and obey it. وَأَنَّهُ ( And verily, it ) means, the Qur'an, فِى أُمِّ الْكِتَـبِ ( is in the Mother of the Book ) meaning, Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz ( the Preserved Tablet ).
This was the view of Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid. لَدَيْنَآ ( with Us, ) means, in Our presence.
This was the view of Qatadah and others. لَّعَلِّى ( indeed exalted ) means, occupying a position of honor and virtue.
This was the view of Qatadah. حَكِيمٌ ( full of wisdom. ) means, clear, with no confusion or deviation.
All of this indicates its noble status and virtue, as Allah says elsewhere: إِنَّهُ لَقُرْءَانٌ كَرِيمٌ - فِى كِتَـبٍ مَّكْنُونٍ - لاَّ يَمَسُّهُ إِلاَّ الْمُطَهَّرُونَ - تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ( That (this ) is indeed an honorable recitation.
In a Book well-guarded.
Which none can touch but the pure.
A revelation from the Lord of the all that exists.) ( 56:77-80 ) كَلاَّ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُ فَى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍ بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍ كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ ( Nay, indeed it is an admonition.
So whoever wills, let him pay attention to it.
(It is ) in Records held ( greatly ) in honor, exalted, purified, in the hands of scribes ( angels ), honorable and obedient.) ( 80:11-16 ) أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكْرَ صَفْحاً أَن كُنتُمْ قَوْماً مُّسْرِفِينَ ( Shall We then take away the Reminder (this Qur'an ) from you, because you are a people excessive.) means, `do you think that We will forgive you and not punish you, when you do not do as you have been commanded' This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Abu Salih, Mujahid and As-Suddi, and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir. أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكْرَ صَفْحاً ( Shall We then take away the Reminder (this Qur'an ) from you,) Qatadah said, "By Allah, if this Qur'an had been taken away when the first generations of this Ummah rejected it, they would have been doomed, but Allah by His mercy persisted in sending it and calling them to it for twenty years, or for as long as He willed." What Qatadah said is very good, and his point is that Allah, by His grace and mercy towards His creation, did not stop calling them to the truth and to the wise Reminder, i.e., the Qur'an, even though they were heedless and turned away from it.
Indeed, He sent it so that those who were decreed to be guided might be guided by it, and so that proof might be established against those who were decreed to be. ( In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. ) Consolation to the Prophet for the Disbelief of Quraysh Then Allah consoles His Prophet for the disbelief of his people, and commands him to bear it with patience. وَكَمْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن نَّبِيٍّ فِى الاٌّوَّلِينَ ( And how many a Prophet have We sent amongst the men of old. ) meaning, among the sects ( communities ) of old. وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّنْ نَّبِىٍّ إِلاَّ كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ ( And never came there a Prophet to them but they used to mock at him. ) means, they disbelieved him and mock at him. فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشاً ( Then We destroyed men stronger than these ) means, `We destroyed those who disbelieved in the Messengers, and they were stronger in power than these who disbelieve in you, O Muhammad.' This is like the Ayah: أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُواْ أَكْـثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً ( Have they not traveled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them They were more in number than them and mightier in strength ) ( 40:82 ).
And there are many similar Ayat. وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ ( and the example of the ancients has passed away.
) Mujahid said, "The way of their life." Qatadah said, "Their punishment." Others said, "Their lesson," i.e., `We made them a lesson for those disbelievers who came after them, that they would suffer the same end as them,' as in the Ayah at the end of this Surah: فَجَعَلْنَـهُمْ سَلَفاً وَمَثَلاً لِّلاٌّخِرِينَ ( And We made them a precedent, and an example to later generations. ) ( 43:56 ); سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِ ( this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants ) ( 40:85 ). وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلاً ( and you will not find any change in the way of Allah. ) ( 33:62 )

( And lo! in the Source of Decrees ) in the Guarded Tablet, ( which We possess ) where it is written, ( it ) i.e. the Qur’an ( is indeed sublime ) exalted, noble and glorious, ( decisive ) in explaining the lawful and the unlawful,

And Verily, it (this Quran) is in the Mother of the Book (i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), before Us, indeed Exalted, full of Wisdom.

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