RationalWiki:Annotated Qur'an/Ya Sin

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Annotated Qur'an
Sura 36: Ya Sin
Word-by-word translation
Alternate translations and related tafsirs
Alternate translations
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Qur'an 36:1[edit]

Ya, Seen.

Qur'an 36:1 Notes[edit]

Nobody knows the meaning of these specific letters with any certainty, and they they were crucial enough in Allah's message to include as their own verse.

Qur'an 36:2[edit]

By the Wise Quran.

Qur'an 36:2 Notes[edit]

This book is far from wise.

Qur'an 36:3[edit]

You are one of the messengers.

Qur'an 36:3 Notes[edit]

Is this second person "You" addressed to Muhammad or just anybody reading this book?

Qur'an 36:4[edit]

On a straight path.

Qur'an 36:4 Notes[edit]

How straight can this path be with how ambiguous it really is.

Qur'an 36:5[edit]

The revelation of the Almighty, the Merciful.

Qur'an 36:5 Notes[edit]

He claims to be Almighty while not demonstrating his existence beyond a reasonable doubt, though divine hiddenness is probably intentional to test gullibility faith. He also claims to be the Merciful while mercilessly dooming people to burn in Hell before they even have a chance to exist by sealing their fates, and this is according to this supposedly Wise Quran.

Qur'an 36:6[edit]

To warn a people whose ancestors were not warned, and so they are unaware.

Qur'an 36:6 Notes[edit]

What chance did those ancestors have if they were never warned?

Qur'an 36:7[edit]

The Word was realized against most of them, for they do not believe.

Qur'an 36:7 Notes[edit]

This is who's fault again?

Qur'an 36:8[edit]

We placed shackles around their necks, up to their chins, so they are stiff-necked.

Qur'an 36:8 Notes[edit]

What a loving and merciful being

Qur'an 36:9[edit]

And We placed a barrier in front of them, and a barrier behind them, and We have enshrouded them, so they cannot see.

Qur'an 36:9 Notes[edit]

Is this meant to be literal or metaphorical?

Qur'an 36:10[edit]

It is the same for them, whether you warn them, or do not warn them—they will not believe.

Qur'an 36:10 Notes[edit]

That is because this very loving and merciful god placed those barriers and enshrouded them so that they could not see.

Qur'an 36:11[edit]

You warn only him who follows the Message, and fears the Most Gracious inwardly. So give him good news of forgiveness, and a generous reward.

Qur'an 36:11 Notes[edit]

Good news, in this case, means that only *most* people will burn in Hell forever while a select few get spared.

Qur'an 36:12[edit]

It is We who revive the dead; and We write down what they have forwarded, and their traces. We have tallied all things in a Clear Record.

Qur'an 36:12 Notes[edit]

Can we see this clear record or any clear evidence that you were the one who did any of those things for that matter?

Qur'an 36:13[edit]

And cite for them the parable of the landlords of the town—when the messengers came to it.

Qur'an 36:13 Notes[edit]

As the book specifies that this is a parable, it could very well be entirely fictional.

Qur'an 36:14[edit]

We sent them two messengers, but they denied them both, so We reinforced them with a third. They said, “We are messengers to you.”

Qur'an 36:14 Notes[edit]

If two people fail to convince a society of absurd claims, surely a third person making the same absurd claims would not be enough to convince people that these absurd claims have any truth to them.

Qur'an 36:15[edit]

They said, “You are nothing but humans like us, and the Gracious did not send down anything; you are only lying.”

Qur'an 36:15 Notes[edit]

They were correct.

Qur'an 36:16[edit]

They said, “Our Lord knows that we are messengers to you.

Qur'an 36:16 Notes[edit]

The problem is that nobody else has the evidence.

Qur'an 36:17[edit]

And our only duty is clear communication.”

Qur'an 36:17 Notes[edit]

In this respect, you have failed at communicating clearly.

Qur'an 36:18[edit]

They said, “We see an evil omen in you; if you do not give up, we will stone you, and a painful punishment from us will befall you.”

Qur'an 36:18 Notes[edit]

Did they actually demonstrate anything to them beyond a reasonable doubt?

Qur'an 36:19[edit]

They said, “Your evil omen is upon you. Is it because you were reminded? But you are an extravagant people.”

Qur'an 36:19 Notes[edit]

Of course, just like these other parables, the arrogant disbelievers have to be well off. Islam's birth in a society with corrupt elites and mostly poor believers are no coincidence.

Qur'an 36:20[edit]

Then a man came running from the remotest part of the city. He said, “O my people, follow the messengers.

Qur'an 36:20 Notes[edit]

A fourth person corroborating their claims suddenly meets the minimum quota for a tall tale to be believable.

Qur'an 36:21[edit]

Follow those who ask you of no wage, and are themselves guided.

Qur'an 36:21 Notes[edit]

Let them prove that they are, indeed, guided by a being who actually cares about them.

Qur'an 36:22[edit]

“And why should I not worship Him Who created me, and to Whom you will be returned?

Qur'an 36:22 Notes[edit]

Let them prove that this same God is indeed the one who created anybody or anything. This may or may not be separate from the proof that anybody will be returned to this mysterious god.

Qur'an 36:23[edit]

Shall I take other gods instead of Him? If the Merciful desires harm for me, their intercession will not avail me at all, nor will they save me.

Qur'an 36:23 Notes[edit]

What of those who take no gods whatsoever? Atheists existed even in ancient times.

Qur'an 36:24[edit]

In that case, I would be completely lost.

Qur'an 36:24 Notes[edit]

As if people are not completely lost as it is.

Qur'an 36:25[edit]

I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me.”

Qur'an 36:25 Notes[edit]

Belief in this one specific deity is apparently trustworthiness now.

Qur'an 36:26[edit]

It was said, “Enter Paradise.” He said, “If only my people knew.

Qur'an 36:26 Notes[edit]

It was said by whom? Can anyone verify this?

Qur'an 36:27[edit]

How my Lord has forgiven me, and made me one of the honored.”

Qur'an 36:27 Notes[edit]

What horrid crimes did you commit that even need forgiving?

Qur'an 36:28[edit]

After him, We sent down no hosts from heaven to his people; nor would We ever send any down.

Qur'an 36:28 Notes[edit]

The last warning was just as unbelievable as the rest.

Qur'an 36:29[edit]

It was just one Cry, and they were stilled.

Qur'an 36:29 Notes[edit]

Cruel punishment strikes again.

Qur'an 36:30[edit]

Alas for the servants. No messenger ever came to them, but they ridiculed him.

Qur'an 36:30 Notes[edit]

They may have ridiculed him because they saw him as a fictitious being like those other gods in other religions.

Qur'an 36:31[edit]

Have they not considered how many generations We destroyed before them; and that unto them they will not return?

Qur'an 36:31 Notes[edit]

Have they any reason to believe that this specific god and no others were responsible for the destruction of those towns? Have they any evidence that those towns were destroyed by a conscious agent, let along a specific god?

Qur'an 36:32[edit]

All of them, every single one of them, will be arraigned before Us.

Qur'an 36:32 Notes[edit]

Citation needed

Qur'an 36:33[edit]

And there is a sign for them in the dead land: We give it life, and produce from it grains from which they eat.

Qur'an 36:33 Notes[edit]

What does this verse specifically reference? In order for something to be a sign, it needs to be clearly visible.

Qur'an 36:34[edit]

And We place in it gardens of palm-trees and vines, and cause springs to gush out of it.

Qur'an 36:34 Notes[edit]

Prove that this specific god did it.

Qur'an 36:35[edit]

That they may eat from its fruits, although their hands did not make it. Will they not be appreciative?

Qur'an 36:35 Notes[edit]

They will be appreciative of anyone whom they can demonstrate to have brought them any of it. People do not disbelieve because they are arrogant, as this book claims frequently. People disbelieve because they are simply unconvinced that a conscious entity decided to do anything nice to them in providing these fruits to them.

Qur'an 36:36[edit]

Glory be to Him who created all the pairs; of what the earth produces, and of their own selves, and of what they do not know.

Qur'an 36:36 Notes[edit]

Glory be to Him who can be demonstrated to do any of that and not those who claim credit without proper evidence of any of it.

Qur'an 36:37[edit]

Another sign for them is the night: We strip the day out of it—and they are in darkness.

Qur'an 36:37 Notes[edit]

The day... is literally stripped out of the night? The day is contained within a distinct entity known as the night only for some conscious being to strip it out of the night each and every time? The scientific community has had no idea about this.

Qur'an 36:38[edit]

And the sun runs towards its destination. Such is the design of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

Qur'an 36:38 Notes[edit]

Surely, this means that the sun specifically follows an orbit around a distant point and does not simply run around the earth?

Qur'an 36:39[edit]

And the moon: We have disposed it in phases, until it returns like the old twig.

Qur'an 36:39 Notes[edit]

The moon's phases are a direct result of sunlight hitting it at different angles from our perspective.

Qur'an 36:40[edit]

The sun is not to overtake the moon, nor is the night to outpace the day. Each floats in an orbit.

Qur'an 36:40 Notes[edit]

What, then, are eclipses? Also, how can the night possibly outpace the day when they are not their own distinct entities in the first place? What kind of cosmology did Muhammad seriously believe applied to the (hopefully round and not flat) earth?

Qur'an 36:41[edit]

Another sign for them is that We carried their offspring in the laden Ark.

Qur'an 36:41 Notes[edit]

Is that the same impossible ark that survived an impossible flood?

Qur'an 36:42[edit]

And We created for them the like of it, in which they ride.

Qur'an 36:42 Notes[edit]

God sure loves creating boats through humans and having the humans handle the planning and design phases of boat construction. Muhammad knows that people build boats all the time, right?

Qur'an 36:43[edit]

If We will, We can drown them—with no screaming to be heard from them, nor will they be saved.

Qur'an 36:43 Notes[edit]

Just a casual reminder that God can destroy people on a whim because he apparently owns every single human alive, apparently

Qur'an 36:44[edit]

Except by a mercy from Us, and enjoyment for a while.

Qur'an 36:44 Notes[edit]

Mercy should be the default for a Merciful God.

Qur'an 36:45[edit]

Yet when it is said to them, “Beware of what lies before you, and what lies behind you, that you may receive mercy.”

Qur'an 36:45 Notes[edit]

God should be merciful enough to not put strings on his mercy.

Qur'an 36:46[edit]

Yet never came to them a sign of their Lord’s signs, but they turned away from it.

Qur'an 36:46 Notes[edit]

God made the sign look so ambiguous that they had no idea that it was actually from the secret sovereign of the universe.

Qur'an 36:47[edit]

And when it is said to them, “Spend of what God has provided for you,” those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Shall we feed someone whom God could feed, if He so willed? You must be deeply misguided.”

Qur'an 36:47 Notes[edit]

What exactly did God provide and how can anyone demonstrate that God was the one who provided it?

Qur'an 36:48[edit]

And they say, “When will this promise be, if you are truthful?”

Qur'an 36:48 Notes[edit]

God apparently hates this question enough to sometimes destroy entire nations whenever any number of people in said nation ask it.

Qur'an 36:49[edit]

All they can expect is a single blast, which will seize them while they feud.

Qur'an 36:49 Notes[edit]

What evidence do they have so that they can expect this?

Qur'an 36:50[edit]

They will not be able to make a will, nor will they return to their families.

Qur'an 36:50 Notes[edit]

This cruelty could only come from the Merciful himself.

Qur'an 36:51[edit]

The Trumpet will be blown, then behold, they will rush from the tombs to their Lord.

Qur'an 36:51 Notes[edit]

Why do these threats get so many verses? Why are these threats repeated so often in this book?

Qur'an 36:52[edit]

They will say, “Woe to us! Who resurrected us from our resting-place?” This is what the Most Gracious had promised, and the messengers have spoken the truth.”

Qur'an 36:52 Notes[edit]

Will they say that though?

Qur'an 36:53[edit]

It will be but a single scream; and behold, they will all be brought before Us.

Qur'an 36:53 Notes[edit]

They might be terrified for an outlandish reason. Before dying, they heard the most ridiculous warning in their lives. They had no rational reason to take this warning, especially since many of them would risk angering the gods in which they already believed. They did nothing wrong in this situation. They would still be punished eternally for refusing to believe a truly unbelievable claim.

Qur'an 36:54[edit]

On that Day, no soul will be wronged in the least, and you will be recompensed only for what you used to do.

Qur'an 36:54 Notes[edit]

People who lived finite lives could never have done enough to deserve infinite torment in Jahannam. Of course, when the only judge is the person who created these finite sinners specifically to burn in an infinite hell and promises to fill that infinite hell with both humans and jinn, nobody can hold him to his word and prevent him from wronging most of his human and jinn creations.

Qur'an 36:55[edit]

The inhabitants of Paradise, on that Day, will be happily busy.

Qur'an 36:55 Notes[edit]

How happy can they be knowing that many more people, at any given moment, are in the worst state of agony possible. How happy can they be if their beloved family members are down there? How happy can they be? Perhaps some sadists will enjoy that, as the cosmic tyrant behind this entire operation does not require people to have the slightest ounce of compassion and critical thinking for Jannah.

Qur'an 36:56[edit]

They and their spouses, in shades, reclining on couches.

Qur'an 36:56 Notes[edit]

What of those dwellers in Paradise whose spouses went to Hell? What of those couples who lived long, fulfilling lives with each other and love each other dearly only to be separated in the afterlife? The spouse in heaven would not only know that the other spouse is in hell but be treated to a view of that spouse writhing in agony, with the horrified shrieks to boot. Will the spouse in heaven still have any feelings for the spouse in hell? Will the spouse in heaven forget that the love of their life ever existed or suddenly turn to hating here without feeling any pain for the many years together in life?

Qur'an 36:57[edit]

They will have therein fruits. They will have whatever they call for.

Qur'an 36:57 Notes[edit]

I would call for my family, friends, and loved ones to all be with me in heaven if I ever make it to heaven. Otherwise, that soul making it to heaven would not be remotely the same person currently writing this annotation.

Qur'an 36:58[edit]

Peace—a saying from a Most Merciful Lord.

Qur'an 36:58 Notes[edit]

Most Merciful my left foot! How could any Most Merciful Lord possibly withhold mercy from any being whatsoever and even create a hell of any kind?

Qur'an 36:59[edit]

But step aside today, you criminals.

Qur'an 36:59 Notes[edit]

Silence! The Most Merciful Lord is talking now!

Qur'an 36:60[edit]

Did I not covenant with you, O Children of Adam, that you shall not serve the devil? That he is your sworn enemy?

Qur'an 36:60 Notes[edit]

The vast majority of people to have ever existed whatsoever have no recollection of ever making such a covenant. Covenants made under duress do not count. Covenants made without all relevant parties being entirely aware that they are entering a covenant do not count. The fact that many people go their entire lives not knowing anything of any religion with such a covenant disproves this verse.

Qur'an 36:61[edit]

And that you shall serve Me? This is a straight path.

Qur'an 36:61 Notes[edit]

The annotation of the previous verse applies here.

Qur'an 36:62[edit]

He has misled a great multitude of you. Did you not understand?

Qur'an 36:62 Notes[edit]

God has indeed misled a great multitude of people. This only makes him far more evil than this aforementioned devil could ever be. God proudly proclaimed that he misled a great multitude of people to infinite torture. How is any part of that fair, merciful, just, or loving?

Qur'an 36:63[edit]

This is Hellfire, which you were promised.

Qur'an 36:63 Notes[edit]

Any god who promises eternal Hellfire to anyone is an evil god.

Qur'an 36:64[edit]

Roast in it today, because you persistently disbelieved.

Qur'an 36:64 Notes[edit]

After several verses talking about God's cruelty, he decides to blame the victims of his atrocious nature just to rub it in their scorched faces.

Qur'an 36:65[edit]

On this Day, We will seal their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify to everything they had done.

Qur'an 36:65 Notes[edit]

They could have done nothing but help people in life and still have their limbs testify against them if God wanted to set them up to fail.

Qur'an 36:66[edit]

If We will, We can blind their eyes as they rush towards the path—but how will they see?

Qur'an 36:66 Notes[edit]

As this book is a fan of constant obvious reminders, let this annotation remind the reader that God is saying this and not Satan.

Qur'an 36:67[edit]

And if We will, We can cripple them in their place; so they can neither move forward, nor go back.

Qur'an 36:67 Notes[edit]

What a loving being indeed

Qur'an 36:68[edit]

Whomever We grant old age, We reverse his development. Do they not understand?

Qur'an 36:68 Notes[edit]

They do not understand how this being can be so actively malicious eternally.

Qur'an 36:69[edit]

We did not teach him poetry, nor is it proper for him. It is only a reminder, and a Clear Quran.

Qur'an 36:69 Notes[edit]

This allegedly miraculous Clear Quran is far from clear, but it paints a clear picture of a maximally sadistic god of evil.

Qur'an 36:70[edit]

That he may warn whoever is alive, and prove the Word against the faithless.

Qur'an 36:70 Notes[edit]

It is not, however, clear in establishing that the ultimate threat named Allah can even exist.

Qur'an 36:71[edit]

Have they not seen that We created for them, of Our Handiwork, livestock that they own?

Qur'an 36:71 Notes[edit]

They have not seen what this supposedly obvious God does whatsoever because this very same God is the one who kept them from believing and doomed them to infinite punishment against their will.

Qur'an 36:72[edit]

And We subdued them for them. Some they ride, and some they eat.

Qur'an 36:72 Notes[edit]

And several animals can brutally maim the humans trying to approach them for any reason. Even many domesticated animals today were only domesticated after decades of selective breeding and training to make them more docile around humans and more physically desirable for their ability to do hard work or provide nutritious meat.

Qur'an 36:73[edit]

And they have in them other benefits, and drinks. Will they not give thanks?

Qur'an 36:73 Notes[edit]

They will only thank those who can be demonstrated to earn these thanks. God leaves no signs that this is his handiwork and not the handiwork of any other god, let alone the unguided natural processes for which far more evidence actually exists.

Qur'an 36:74[edit]

Yet they have taken to themselves gods other than God, that perhaps they may be helped.

Qur'an 36:74 Notes[edit]

Or... many people have taken no gods at all because none of them have sufficiently demonstrated themselves to exist...

Qur'an 36:75[edit]

They cannot help them, although they are arrayed as troops for them.

Qur'an 36:75 Notes[edit]

I can think of another benefit from these animals: Monkeys with typewriters can produce books far better than the Quran in every way.

Qur'an 36:76[edit]

So let their words not sadden you. We know what they conceal, and what they reveal.

Qur'an 36:76 Notes[edit]

They should have other reasons to not let words sadden them.

Qur'an 36:77[edit]

Does the human being not consider that We created him from a seed? Yet he becomes a fierce adversary.

Qur'an 36:77 Notes[edit]

The human being certainly has the capacity to believe unevidenced claims, though not all of them believe the specific unevidenced claim that a specific deity created them and happens to be the same deity sending revelations to a man named Muhammed in the middle of Arabia several centuries ago.

Qur'an 36:78[edit]

And he produces arguments against Us, and he forgets his own creation. He says, “Who will revive the bones when they have decayed?”

Qur'an 36:78 Notes[edit]

How do they know that anyone will revive decayed bones? They don't forget their own creation. Rather, they don't have solid evidence to specifically attribute that event to the same god who chose to communicate to humanity through an illiterate man in antiquity who had to play a long game of telephone before the message could be penned by literate men and also showed symptoms of epilepsy when receiving these revelations. God produced these arguments against himself by choosing such a roundabout way to reveal a message which he claims to be completely inerrant and perfectly preserved. God is also the one who placed ample evidence that this whole message is falsified from start to finish.

Qur'an 36:79[edit]

Say, “He who initiated them in the first instance will revive them. He has knowledge of every creation.”

Qur'an 36:79 Notes[edit]

Say that and be unprepared for the obvious questions to follow.

Qur'an 36:80[edit]

He who produced fuel for you from the green trees, with which you kindle a fire.

Qur'an 36:80 Notes[edit]

Why should anyone believe that anybody intentionally made tree matter combustible intentionally for this exact reason? What, then, of the many forest fires that have ended many lives throughout history?

Qur'an 36:81[edit]

Is not He who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like of them? Certainly. He is the Supreme All-Knowing Creator.

Qur'an 36:81 Notes[edit]

Prove that this mysterious God was indeed the one who did that and not any other god ever.

Qur'an 36:82[edit]

His command, when He wills a thing, is to say to it, “Be,” and it comes to be.

Qur'an 36:82 Notes[edit]

Prove that this is true of a being who actually exists and is actually responsible for the many things for which this God claims credit.

Qur'an 36:83[edit]

So glory be to Him in whose hand is the dominion of everything, and to Him you will be returned.

Qur'an 36:83 Notes[edit]

How does a message made specifically for God to all of humanity get this long without actually proving that this God even exists to most of them?