As-Sajdah 32:3 - Linguistic Miracle

Yet they say he invented it to cause corruption. Rather, it is the absolute truth from your Rabb; so you may warn a people of binding consequences to whom no warner came before you, so they may seek to become guided.

Despite what came before in the last verse, these people accuse Muhammad ﷺ of

inventing the Qurʾān to cause corruption. The word used here is iftirāʾ which at its root was used for crafting or forming something with the specific intention of causing harm.¹¹⁹ How can the one who is your Rabb; who wants to take care of you, guide you and rectify your lives for good, want to cause corruption and harm? Is this not a necessary action on part of Allah that He sends down a book for your benefit? Yet you accuse Muhammad ﷺ of inventing it?

Ḥaqq is translated as truth. At its root, it means something that is solid, strong and

upright. Truth is something that stands tall and remains firm regardless of what is said and transpires. It is not affected by the opinions of people or even by their rejection of it. Truth stands tall. It remains firm, solid and independent. Allah uses the definite article with the word ḥaqq which creates two meanings. 1. It is the only and sole truth. There is nothing truthful or correct besides it. 2. It is the absolute truth. It is absolutely and perfectly strong, firm and solid. It is firmness of the kind that has no weakness or softness. It stands tall in a way nothing else can. It is firm and solid in a way that nothing else is. Given these qualities, it also means that it will also stand any test, any accusation and challenge thrown at it since it is absolutely firm and solid.

Notice how the surah transitions from Rabb of ʿĀlamīn to Your Rabb in this verse. When Allah mentions the guidance of the entire nation, he says He is rabb of the ʿālamīn and when Allah is defending His prophet ﷺ from accusations thrown at him, He says Your rabb to the Prophet ﷺ .

I translated li tunzira as ‘so you may warn of binding consequences.’ I kept true to the root meaning which was used for blood money or oaths that one binds himself to. The blood money becomes a binding consequence for committing a crime that necessitates it and when you make an oath, you are bound to it and if you break it, there will be consequences.¹²⁰ Simply put, li tunzira means that actions have consequences. You cannot just have your way in life. What you do will have consequences, good and bad. Allah describes this as the purpose of His prophet’s ﷺ mission. His mission is to convey to people that actions have consequences. If you do good, you will receive good and if you do evil, you shall pay the price. The prophet ﷺ serves as a warner to people who do evil that your actions will bear bad consequences for you.

No warner came before you- The word nadhīr is translated as warner. The Qurʾān uses two forms of this word; nadhīr and mundhir. Nadhīr is stronger than mundhir and this is the word Allah uses in this verse. The Arabs did not need a mundhir, but rather a nadhīr, who would strongly, firmly and patiently warn them of the consequences of their actions. The pattern of the word nadhīr implies something that remains constant and stable. The prophet’s ﷺ role is to constantly and consistently warn people. He is to remain a constant source of guidance and warning. His mission is not to simply give a sermon and be done with it. Rather, his mission is to act as a warner; constantly and consistently, at all times and places. A heavy burden indeed.

So they may seek to become guided - So they may desire to do those actions that have

good consequences for them; not bad and so they may desire to take the path to their Rabb who wants to be kind and loving to them. Who wants to rectify and correct their lives.

¹¹⁹ Al-Muʿjam al-Ishtiqāqī al-Muʾaṣṣal li-Alfāẓ al-Qurʾān al-Karīm, vol. 3, p. 1648
¹²⁰ Al-Muʿjam al-Ishtiqāqī al-Muʾaṣṣal li-Alfāẓ al-Qurʾān al-Karīm, vol. 4, p. 2172