Surah Hud ayat 7 Tafsir Quran 11:7

﴿وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِن بَعْدِ الْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ﴾
[ هود: 7]

11:7 And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."

And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days the first of which was Sunday and the last Friday — and His Throne before creating them was upon the water borne by the winds — that He might try you li-yabluwakum is semantically connected to khalaqa ‘He Who created’ in other words He created them and all that is beneficial and good for you in them in order to test you which of you is best in conduct that is which of you is most obedient to God. And if you were to say O Muhammad (s) to them ‘Truly you shall be raised again after death’ those who disbelieve will say ‘This Qur’ān that speaks of resurrection — or this that you are saying — is nothing but manifest clear sorcery’ sihrun a variant reading has sāhirun ‘sorcerer’ in which case the reference is to the Prophet s.

He is it who created the heavens and the earth and brought them into existence in six days* determined by His own unit of time and proclaimed in His calendar; His Throne of supremacy and dominion and of grace and mercy was then set over the water** He created the universe and you people as a part of it in Order to determine which of you performs the better deed and whether his deeds agree with his words and whether his work is imprinted with wisdom and piety! Yet when you O Muhammad say to them that they shall rise again at the Last Day after they had been dead and buried, the infidels shall say: This is nothing but sheer sorcery assumed by him

Allah created the Heavens and the Earth in Six Days Allah, the Exalted, informs of His power over all things, and that He created the heavens and the earth in six days.
He mentions that His Throne was over the water before that, just as Imam Ahmad recorded that `Imran bin Husayn said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«اقْبَلُوا الْبُشْرَى يَا بَنِي تَمِيم»
( Accept the glad tidings, O tribe of Tamim! ) They said, `Verily you have brought us glad tidings and you have given us.' Then he said,
«اقْبَلُوا الْبُشْرَى يَا أَهْلَ الْيَمَن»
( Accept the glad tidings, O people of Yemen! ) They said, `We accept.
Therefore, inform us about the beginning of this matter and how it was.' He said,
«كَانَ اللهُ قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ، وَكَتَبَ فِي اللَّوْحِ الْمَحْفُوظِ ذِكْرَ كُلِّ شَيْء»
( Allah was before everything and His Throne was over the water.
He then wrote in the Preserved Tablet mentioning everything. ) Then a man came to me and said, "O `Imran, your she camel has escaped from her fetter." I then went out after her and I do not know what was said after I left." This Hadith has been recorded in the Two Sahihs of Al-Bukhari and Muslim with a variety of wordings.
In Sahih Muslim, it is recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِنَّ اللهَ قَدَّرَ مَقَادِيرَ الْخَلَائِقِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاء»
( Verily Allah measured the amount of sustenance of the creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and His Throne was over the water. ) Under the explanation of this verse, Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: أَنْفِقْ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْك»
( Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said, `Spend and I will spend on you.' ) And he said,
«يَدُ اللهِ مَلْأَى لَا يَغِيضُهَا نَفَقَةٌ، سَحَّاءُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَار»
( Allah's Hand is full, and it is not diminished by spending throughout the night and the day. ) He also said,
«أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا أَنْفَقَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَغِضْ مَا فِي يَمِينِهِ، وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ، وَبِيَدِهِ الْمِيزَانُ يَخْفِضُ وَيَرْفَع»
( Have you seen what has been spent since the creation of the heavens and the earth Verily it does not diminish what is in His Right Hand (in the slightest ) and His Throne was over the water.
In His Hand is the Scale and he lowers and raises it.) Concerning Allah's statement, لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً ( that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds. ) This means that He created the heavens and the earth for the benefit of His servants, whom He created so that they may worship Him and not associate anything with Him as a partner.
Allah did not create this creation ( of the heavens and the earth ) out of mere frivolity.
This is similar to His statement, وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَآءَ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَـطِلاً ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنَ النَّارِ ( And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire! ) 38: 27 Allah the Exalted, said, أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَـكُمْ عَبَثاً وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لاَ تُرْجَعُونَ - فَتَعَـلَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ ( Did you think that We created you in play (without any purpose ), and that you would not be brought back to Us So Exalted is Allah, the True King: there is no God but He, the Lord of the Supreme Throne!) 23:115-116 Allah, the Exalted, said, وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإِنسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ ( And I (Allah ) created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me ( Alone ).) 51:56 Concerning the statement of Allah, لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ ( that He might try you, ) It means so that He ( Allah ) may test you.
Concerning the statement, أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً ( which of you is the best in deeds. ) It is important to note here that Allah did not say, "Which of you has done the most deeds." Rather, He said, "Best in deeds." A deed cannot be considered a good deed until it is done sincerely for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and it must be in accordance with the legislation of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Whenever a deed lacks one of these conditions, then it is null and void. The Polytheists hasten their Torment by arguing against Resurrection after Death Concerning Allah's statement, وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُمْ مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِن بَعْدِ الْمَوْتِ ( But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up after death." ) Allah, the Exalted, is saying, "O Muhammad, if you were to inform these polytheists that Allah is going to resurrect them after their death, just as He created them originally ( they would still reject )." Even though they know that Allah, the Exalted, is the One Who created the heavens and the earth, just as He said, وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ ( And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: "Allah." )43:87 Allah says, وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ ( And if you were to ask them: "Who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon" They will surely reply: "Allah." ) 29:61 Even after their awareness of this ( Allah's creating ), they still reject the resurrection and the promised return on the Day of Judgement.
Yet, in reference to ability, the resurrection is easier ( for Allah to perform ) than the original creation.
As Allah said, وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ( And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it (after it has perished ); and this is easier for Him.) 30:27 Allah also said, مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلاَ بَعْثُكُمْ إِلاَّ كَنَفْسٍ وَحِدَةٍ ( The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all are only as (the creation and resurrection of ) a single person.) 31:28 Concerning the statement, إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ( This is nothing but obvious magic. ) The polytheists say this due to their disbelief and obstinacy.
They say, "We do not believe your claim that resurrection will occur." They also say, "He ( Muhammad ) only says this ( resurrection of the dead ) because he is bewitched, and he wants you to follow him in what his bewitchment tells him.
Concerning Allah's statement, وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ إِلَى أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ ( And if We delay the torment for them till a determined term, ) Allah, the Exalted, is saying "If We delay the torment and the destruction of these polytheists until an appointed time and a period determined, and We promise them a specific time period ( of life ), they would still say, in rejection and haste; مَا يَحْبِسُهُ ( What keeps it back ) They mean by this, "What delays this torment from overtaking us" Both rejection and doubt are their very nature.
Therefore, they have no escape or refuge from the torment. The Meanings of the Word Ummah The word Ummah is used in the Qur'an and Sunnah with a number of different meanings.
Sometimes when it is used it means a specified period of time.
An example is the statement of Allah, the Exalted, in this verse, إِلَى أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ ( till a determined Ummah (term ),) This is also the meaning in the statement of Allah in Surah Yusuf, وَقَالَ الَّذِى نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ ( Then the man who was released, now after Ummah (some time ) remembered.) 12:45 The word Ummah is also used to refer to the Imam ( leader ) who is followed.
An example of this is in the statement of Allah, إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ( Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah, obedient to Allah, Hanif, and he was not of those who were polytheists. ) 16:120 The word Ummah is also used to mean religion and religious creed.
This is as Allah mentions concerning the polytheists, that they said, إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى ءَاثَـرِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ ( Verily, we found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps.
) 43:23 The word Ummah is also used to mean a group ( of people ).
This is as Allah says, وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ ( And when he arrived at the water (well ) of Madyan, he found there a group of men watering ( their flocks ).) 28:23 Allah also said, وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوتَ ( And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming ): "Worship Allah ( Alone ), and avoid Taghut.") 16:36 Allah also said, وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ فَإِذَا جَآءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ ( And for every Ummah there is a Messenger; when their Messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged. ) 10:47 The meaning of Ummah here is those people who have had a Messenger sent among them.
The meaning of Ummah in this context includes the believers and the disbelievers among them.
This is like what has been recorded in Sahih Muslim,
«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ ثُمَّ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِي إِلَّا دَخَلَ النَّار»
( By He in Whose Hand is my soul! there is no one of this Ummah, whether he be a Jew or Christian, who hears of me and does not believe in me, except that he will enter the Hell- fire. ) In reference to the Ummah of followers, then they are those who believe in the Messengers, as Allah said, كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ ( You (the followers of Prophet Muhammad ) are the best Ummah ever raised up for mankind.) 3:110 In the Sahih the Prophet said,
«فَأَقُولُ: أُمَّتِي أُمَّتِي»
( Then I will say, "My Ummah (followers ), my Ummah!") The word Ummah is also used to mean a sect or party.
An example of this usage is in the statement of Allah, وَمِن قَوْمِ مُوسَى أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ ( And of the people of Musa there is an Ummah who lead (the men ) with truth and established justice therewith.) 7:159 Likewise is His statement, مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ ( A party of the People of the Scripture stand for the right. ) 3:113

(11:7) And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and [before that] His Throne was upon the water *7 that He may test you, who of you is better in conduct *8 If you were to say (O Muhammad): 'All of you will surely be raised after death', then those who disbelieve will certainly say: 'This is nothing but plain sorcery. *9

And it is He who created the meaning

*7).
This is a parenthetical statement which was presumably made in response to some such query: 'If there was a time when the heavens and the earth did not exist, and then they were created - what is it that existed before?' Without explicitly mentioning any such query, an answer is briefly provided.
The answer is: before all the heavens and the earth were created there was water everywhere.
However, we are not in a position to state with certainty the meaning of the word 'water' used in the verse.
Does it mean the 'water' known to us by that name now? Or has it been used metaphorically to refer to matter in its liquid form before it assumed its present form? As for the statement that God's Throne was on water, it means - as far as we have been able to grasp -that God's kingdom was over water.

*8).
God created the earth and the heavens because He wanted to create man.
Furthermore, He created man so as to entrust him with moral responsibility and to invest him with the power of God's vicegerency.
Thereafter, it was to be seen how each human being would acquit himself of that responsibility and how he would make use of the power entrusted to him.
It is possible to imagine that this was not the purpose of creating man and that God had willed man to have the powers that he now has and yet not put him to any test, nor question him about whether he used the powers granted to him appropriately or not.
It is also possible to imagine that man would not be required to render any account to God nor be rewarded or punished for his deeds.
It is also possible to imagine that man.
who has been encumbered with moral responsibility, would simply end in dust.
If all this is true, then we have no alternative but to consider this entire act of creation a senseless ploy, and human life an absolute futility.

*9).
The unbelievers are so downright foolish that they consider the universe no more than the playhouse of some sportive fellow, and regard themselves merely as pranks to amuse him.
They are so elated with this foolish concept that even when they are informed of the true purpose of creation and of their own life in it, they simply laugh it all away.
They also go to the extent of flinging the gibe of sorcerer at the Prophet ( peace be on him ).

 

Allah created the Heavens and the Earth in Six Days Allah, the Exalted, informs of His power over all things, and that He created the heavens and the earth in six days.
He mentions that His Throne was over the water before that, just as Imam Ahmad recorded that `Imran bin Husayn said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «اقْبَلُوا الْبُشْرَى يَا بَنِي تَمِيم» ( Accept the glad tidings, O tribe of Tamim! ) They said, `Verily you have brought us glad tidings and you have given us.' Then he said, «اقْبَلُوا الْبُشْرَى يَا أَهْلَ الْيَمَن» ( Accept the glad tidings, O people of Yemen! ) They said, `We accept.
Therefore, inform us about the beginning of this matter and how it was.' He said, «كَانَ اللهُ قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ، وَكَتَبَ فِي اللَّوْحِ الْمَحْفُوظِ ذِكْرَ كُلِّ شَيْء» ( Allah was before everything and His Throne was over the water.
He then wrote in the Preserved Tablet mentioning everything. ) Then a man came to me and said, "O `Imran, your she camel has escaped from her fetter." I then went out after her and I do not know what was said after I left." This Hadith has been recorded in the Two Sahihs of Al-Bukhari and Muslim with a variety of wordings.
In Sahih Muslim, it is recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ اللهَ قَدَّرَ مَقَادِيرَ الْخَلَائِقِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاء» ( Verily Allah measured the amount of sustenance of the creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and His Throne was over the water. ) Under the explanation of this verse, Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: أَنْفِقْ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْك» ( Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said, `Spend and I will spend on you.' ) And he said, «يَدُ اللهِ مَلْأَى لَا يَغِيضُهَا نَفَقَةٌ، سَحَّاءُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَار» ( Allah's Hand is full, and it is not diminished by spending throughout the night and the day. ) He also said, «أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا أَنْفَقَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَغِضْ مَا فِي يَمِينِهِ، وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ، وَبِيَدِهِ الْمِيزَانُ يَخْفِضُ وَيَرْفَع» ( Have you seen what has been spent since the creation of the heavens and the earth Verily it does not diminish what is in His Right Hand (in the slightest ) and His Throne was over the water.
In His Hand is the Scale and he lowers and raises it.) Concerning Allah's statement, لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً ( that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds. ) This means that He created the heavens and the earth for the benefit of His servants, whom He created so that they may worship Him and not associate anything with Him as a partner.
Allah did not create this creation ( of the heavens and the earth ) out of mere frivolity.
This is similar to His statement, وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَآءَ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَـطِلاً ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنَ النَّارِ ( And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire! ) 38: 27 Allah the Exalted, said, أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَـكُمْ عَبَثاً وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لاَ تُرْجَعُونَ - فَتَعَـلَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ ( Did you think that We created you in play (without any purpose ), and that you would not be brought back to Us So Exalted is Allah, the True King: there is no God but He, the Lord of the Supreme Throne!) 23:115-116 Allah, the Exalted, said, وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإِنسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ ( And I (Allah ) created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me ( Alone ).) 51:56 Concerning the statement of Allah, لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ ( that He might try you, ) It means so that He ( Allah ) may test you.
Concerning the statement, أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً ( which of you is the best in deeds. ) It is important to note here that Allah did not say, "Which of you has done the most deeds." Rather, He said, "Best in deeds." A deed cannot be considered a good deed until it is done sincerely for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and it must be in accordance with the legislation of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Whenever a deed lacks one of these conditions, then it is null and void. The Polytheists hasten their Torment by arguing against Resurrection after Death Concerning Allah's statement, وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُمْ مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِن بَعْدِ الْمَوْتِ ( But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up after death." ) Allah, the Exalted, is saying, "O Muhammad, if you were to inform these polytheists that Allah is going to resurrect them after their death, just as He created them originally ( they would still reject )." Even though they know that Allah, the Exalted, is the One Who created the heavens and the earth, just as He said, وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ ( And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: "Allah." )43:87 Allah says, وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ ( And if you were to ask them: "Who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon" They will surely reply: "Allah." ) 29:61 Even after their awareness of this ( Allah's creating ), they still reject the resurrection and the promised return on the Day of Judgement.
Yet, in reference to ability, the resurrection is easier ( for Allah to perform ) than the original creation.
As Allah said, وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ( And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it (after it has perished ); and this is easier for Him.) 30:27 Allah also said, مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلاَ بَعْثُكُمْ إِلاَّ كَنَفْسٍ وَحِدَةٍ ( The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all are only as (the creation and resurrection of ) a single person.) 31:28 Concerning the statement, إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ( This is nothing but obvious magic. ) The polytheists say this due to their disbelief and obstinacy.
They say, "We do not believe your claim that resurrection will occur." They also say, "He ( Muhammad ) only says this ( resurrection of the dead ) because he is bewitched, and he wants you to follow him in what his bewitchment tells him.
Concerning Allah's statement, وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ إِلَى أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ ( And if We delay the torment for them till a determined term, ) Allah, the Exalted, is saying "If We delay the torment and the destruction of these polytheists until an appointed time and a period determined, and We promise them a specific time period ( of life ), they would still say, in rejection and haste; مَا يَحْبِسُهُ ( What keeps it back ) They mean by this, "What delays this torment from overtaking us" Both rejection and doubt are their very nature.
Therefore, they have no escape or refuge from the torment. The Meanings of the Word Ummah The word Ummah is used in the Qur'an and Sunnah with a number of different meanings.
Sometimes when it is used it means a specified period of time.
An example is the statement of Allah, the Exalted, in this verse, إِلَى أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ ( till a determined Ummah (term ),) This is also the meaning in the statement of Allah in Surah Yusuf, وَقَالَ الَّذِى نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ ( Then the man who was released, now after Ummah (some time ) remembered.) 12:45 The word Ummah is also used to refer to the Imam ( leader ) who is followed.
An example of this is in the statement of Allah, إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ( Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah, obedient to Allah, Hanif, and he was not of those who were polytheists. ) 16:120 The word Ummah is also used to mean religion and religious creed.
This is as Allah mentions concerning the polytheists, that they said, إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى ءَاثَـرِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ ( Verily, we found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps.
) 43:23 The word Ummah is also used to mean a group ( of people ).
This is as Allah says, وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ ( And when he arrived at the water (well ) of Madyan, he found there a group of men watering ( their flocks ).) 28:23 Allah also said, وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوتَ ( And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming ): "Worship Allah ( Alone ), and avoid Taghut.") 16:36 Allah also said, وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ فَإِذَا جَآءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ ( And for every Ummah there is a Messenger; when their Messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged. ) 10:47 The meaning of Ummah here is those people who have had a Messenger sent among them.
The meaning of Ummah in this context includes the believers and the disbelievers among them.
This is like what has been recorded in Sahih Muslim, «وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ ثُمَّ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِي إِلَّا دَخَلَ النَّار» ( By He in Whose Hand is my soul! there is no one of this Ummah, whether he be a Jew or Christian, who hears of me and does not believe in me, except that he will enter the Hell- fire. ) In reference to the Ummah of followers, then they are those who believe in the Messengers, as Allah said, كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ ( You (the followers of Prophet Muhammad ) are the best Ummah ever raised up for mankind.) 3:110 In the Sahih the Prophet said, «فَأَقُولُ: أُمَّتِي أُمَّتِي» ( Then I will say, "My Ummah (followers ), my Ummah!") The word Ummah is also used to mean a sect or party.
An example of this usage is in the statement of Allah, وَمِن قَوْمِ مُوسَى أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ ( And of the people of Musa there is an Ummah who lead (the men ) with truth and established justice therewith.) 7:159 Likewise is His statement, مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ ( A party of the People of the Scripture stand for the right. ) 3:113

( And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days ) six days of the beginning of this world: each day the equivalent of one thousand years, the first day being Sunday and the last Friday ( and His Throne ) before the creation of the heavens and earth ( was upon the water ) and Allah was before the Throne and before water ( that He might try you ) that He may test you in the interval between life and death, ( which of you is best in conduct ) which of you is more sincere in his works. ( Yet if thou (O Muhammad ) sayst) to the people of Mecca: ( Lo! ye will be raised again ) you will be brought back to life again ( after death! those who disbelieve ) the disbelievers of Mecca ( will surely say: This ) which Muhammad ( pbuh ) is saying ( is naught but mere magic ) manifest lies which will never happen.

And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds. But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up after death," those who disbelieve would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious magic."

Page 222 English transliteration