English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

These noble verses contain many of Allah’s great attributes: the perfection of His divinity, His complete freedom from need, and every creature’s need of Him. All in the heavens and earth glorify Him; all dominion and praise belong to Him, and His power encompasses everything.

The dominion — all sovereignty and ownership belong to Allah.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah created His servants and made among them believers and disbelievers. Their belief and disbelief occur by His decree after He gave them ability and will by which they act, and Allah sees all that they do.

All-Seeing — Allah sees everything His servants do.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah created the heavens and earth in truth and wisdom, formed people in excellent forms, and to Him is the return on the Day of Resurrection, when He will repay them for belief or disbelief and ask about His blessings.

In truth — created with wisdom and a purposeful end.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah knows everything in the heavens and earth, outward and hidden. He knows what people conceal and reveal and every good or corrupt intention within the hearts, so the wise person should guard the inner self from blameworthy character and cultivate noble character.

What is within the breasts — the intentions and secrets held in hearts.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah recounts the earlier nations as a warning. When their messengers came with the truth, they denied and resisted them, so they tasted the evil consequence of their affair in this world, and a painful punishment awaits them in the Hereafter.

The evil consequence of their affair — the worldly outcome of their rejection.

English Tafsir (Ibn Kathir):

Since the Al-Sa‘di tafsir entry for this verse was not available from the KSU source retrieved for this course, we use Ibn Kathir from KSU instead.

Their punishment was because their messengers came with clear proofs, but they regarded it as unlikely that human beings could be messengers and guides. They rejected the truth and turned away; Allah had no need of them, and He is Self-Sufficient and Praiseworthy.

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir on KSU (Surah 64, Ayah 6)

With clear proofs — evident arguments and signs brought by the messengers.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The disbelievers falsely claim that they will never be resurrected. Allah commands His Messenger to swear by his Lord that they will surely be raised and informed of their deeds; what is impossible for created beings is easy for Allah.

You will surely be resurrected — an emphatic affirmation of the resurrection.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

After mentioning denial of resurrection, Allah commands the faith that saves from ruin: belief in Allah, His Messenger, and His Book, which He calls a light by which people are guided through darkness. True faith requires certainty and acting upon it.

The Light — the Book Allah sent down, guiding through darkness.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

On the Day Allah gathers the first and the last, the difference between people becomes manifest: some are raised to lofty bliss and others lowered to punishment. This is the Day of Mutual Loss and Gain; whoever believes fully and does righteous deeds has sins erased and enters gardens forever. That is the great success.

The Day of Mutual Loss and Gain — the Day when the true disparity between people is made manifest.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Those who disbelieve and deny Allah’s signs despite the proofs are the companions of the Fire, remaining there. It is a destination containing misery, hardship, wretchedness, and punishment.

Wretched is the destination — the Fire contains misery, hardship, and punishment.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Every calamity—whether in oneself, wealth, children, loved ones, or otherwise—occurs by Allah’s decree and wisdom. Whoever believes it is from Allah, accepts His decree, and submits to Him, Allah guides and steadies the heart with tranquility and patience.

He guides his heart — granting steadiness, tranquility, and patience in calamity.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Obeying Allah and His Messenger by carrying out commands and avoiding prohibitions is the foundation of happiness and success. If people turn away, the Messenger’s duty is only clear conveyance; guidance and reckoning belong to Allah.

The clear conveyance — the Messenger clearly delivers what he was sent with.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah alone deserves worship; every deity besides Him is false. Believers should rely on Allah in every affair, trusting His sufficiency. The stronger a servant’s faith becomes, the stronger that reliance becomes.

Let them rely — believers depend upon Allah in every affair.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah warns believers that some spouses and children can become enemies by drawing them toward what harms their religion. Love must not lead to obedience in what Allah forbids; yet believers are also commanded to pardon, overlook, and forgive, for recompense is of the same kind as the deed.

So beware of them — do not let love of family lead to what harms one’s religion.

English Tafsir (Ibn Kathir):

Since the Al-Sa‘di page on KSU contains no recorded tafsir text for this verse, we use Ibn Kathir from KSU instead.

Wealth and children are a test and trial from Allah by which it becomes clear who obeys Him and who disobeys Him; with Allah on the Day of Resurrection is a tremendous reward.

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir on KSU (Surah 64, Ayah 15)

A trial — wealth and children are a test of obedience.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah commands people to fear Him by obeying His commands and avoiding His prohibitions, within their ability; to listen, obey, and spend from the prescribed expenditures. Whoever is protected from the soul’s stinginess is successful, attaining what is sought and escaping what is feared.

The stinginess of his soul — the inward greed that resists beneficial spending and obedience.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

A good loan to Allah is every expenditure from lawful wealth when a person seeks Allah’s pleasure and places it where it belongs. Allah multiplies such spending many times and forgives sins through charity and good deeds; He is Appreciative and Forbearing.

A good loan — lawful spending sincerely for Allah and placed where it belongs.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah knows the unseen hidden from His servants and the witnessed creation. He is the Almighty whom none can overcome, and the All-Wise in His creation and command, placing all things in their proper places.

The unseen and the witnessed — what is hidden from people and what they observe.

Summary of the Meanings:

All dominion and praise belong to Allah. He created the heavens, the earth, and humanity in truth, knows what is hidden and open, and sees every deed.

Resurrection is certain. On the Day of Gathering the true disparity between people appears: faith and righteous deeds lead to forgiveness and everlasting gardens, while disbelief and denial lead to the Fire.

Believers are taught to meet calamity with faith, obey Allah and His Messenger, rely upon Allah, guard their religion amid family and wealth, spend sincerely, and resist the soul’s stinginess.