This sūrah is the dual counterpart of the previous sūrah: Qāf. It can be distinctly divided into the following six sections:
Section 1 (1-14)
By referring to the diverse manifestations of the winds and the clouds, people who make fun of the Day of Reward and Punishment by mockingly questioning about its time of arrival are severely reprimanded for their behaviour. They are warned that the doom that shall descend upon them if they deny the Prophet (sws) as well as the Day of Reckoning about which they are being warned both are certain to come. Only those who have lost their senses are daring to doubt their certainty. Those who are seeking to hasten them shall be told that this was what they had sought to hasten.
Section II (15-19)
In contrast with the disbelievers, a mention is made of the reward the righteous shall receive, who had spent their lives while remaining fearful of the Day, who slept but little at night and in the early hours of dawn caught their Lord’s forgiveness and in whose wealth the deprived had a share.
Section III (20-23)
The signs in the heavens and the earth, as well as in the human soul, which testify to the Day of Judgement are alluded to and a claim is made by the Qur’ān that just as it is very easy for a person to utter a word, creating mankind a second time is as easy for the Almighty.
Section IV (24-37)
Evidences from history, which further substantiate the imminence of the Day of Judgement, are presented by referring to the tales of Abraham (sws) and Lot (sws). The same Angels who had brought glad tidings for Abraham (sws), that he who be blessed with a son, had unleashed a storming wind and showered stones on the people who had denied the Prophet Lot (sws), and had saved those who had professed faith in him. These events bear witness historically that the Creator of this Universe takes account of what nations do: the people of Lot (sws) were punished in retribution of their own misdeeds. There is a lesson for those who are fearful of the Almighty in this episode, for the remains of their cities have been preserved by Him.
Section V (38-46)
A brief mention is made of the tales of the Pharoah and the people of Aad and Thamud, and the folks of Noah who were caught in the ruthless law of retribution of nations when they rejected the message of their respective prophets. They were totally destroyed by the Almighty who just ordered the winds and the clouds to unleash their terror on them.
Section VI (47-60)
In this concluding section, the whole theme of the sūrah has been summed up: It is not difficult for the Almighty, who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and who has created everything in pairs, to create this world a second time: If the Day of Reckoning is certain to come then people should turn to the Almighty and seek His nearness. The Prophet (sws) is assured that all the other prophets before him received no different a treatment at the hands of their people. He is advised to leave these rebellious people to themselves and to remind only those who are paying heed to the Message of Allah. He is further consoled by the Almighty that men and jinns have been created by Him, only to worship Him. He has not imposed any responsibility on them to feed others nor does He Himself seek sustenance from them. Indeed, He Himself is the Provider of all, Lord of Might and Power. He shall sustain and provide all those who, irrespective of the circumstances, set out to befittingly worship Him. He shall help them in their endeavours as well and no one would be able to harm them. As far as the wrongdoers are concerned, they shall get in this world what has been ordained for them. Inspite of all their outcries to the Almighty to hasten the Day of Judgement, they shall be given the respite needed so that the truth is unveiled to them in its ultimate form after which they can have no excuse to deny. Finally, when this period is over, as deemed by the Almighty, they shall encounter the Day about which they are being warned.
(Translated from Islahi’s “Tadabbur-i-Qur’ān”)---Shehzad Saleem