Explore Surah 41: Fussilat (Explained in Detail) with English translation and commentary. Uncover its guidance on the Quran’s clarity, faith, patience, and the fate of deniers.
Surah 41: Fussilat (Explained in Detail)
Introduction
Surah 41, called Fussilat (Explained in Detail), is a Makkan surah with 54 verses. It gets its name from verse 3, where Allah says the Quran’s verses are explained in detail. This surah focuses on the truth of the Quran, the Oneness of Allah, and the certainty of the Day of Judgment.
The surah addresses the stubborn attitude of the Quraysh and other disbelievers who refused to listen to the Quran and instead made noise to block its message. It recalls the stories of earlier nations like ‘Ād and Thamūd who rejected their prophets and were destroyed. The surah shows clear signs of Allah in creation – the heavens, the earth, the alternation of night and day, and rain that revives the dead land – to make people reflect.
It also encourages believers to be patient, to respond to evil with good, and to remain firm in their faith so that angels will greet them with the good news of Paradise. The surah ends by reminding that Allah will show His signs both in the world around us and within ourselves until it becomes clear to everyone that the Quran is the truth. 0 0 0
Surah 41: Fussilat (Explained in Detail): Text
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1. Ḥā Mīm.
2. This is a revelation from the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
3. A Book whose verses are explained in detail – a Quran in Arabic – for a people who know.
4. A giver of good news and a warner, but most of them turn away, so they do not listen.
5. They say, “Our hearts are covered against what you call us to, our ears are deaf to it, and between us and you is a barrier. So, do what you will, and we will do what we will.”
6. Say, “I am only a human being like you. It is revealed to me that your God is only One God. So remain steadfast on the straight path towards Him, and seek His forgiveness. And woe to those who associate others with Him.”
7. Those who do not give the obligatory charity, and they deny the Hereafter.
8. Surely, those who believe and do good deeds will have an unfailing reward.
9. Say, “Do you really disbelieve in the One who created the earth in two periods, and you set up equals to Him? That is the Lord of all the worlds.”
10. He placed firm mountains upon it, blessed it, and measured its sustenance in four periods – equally for those who ask.
11. Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth, “Come, willingly or unwillingly.” They both said, “We come willingly.”
12. So He completed them as seven heavens in two periods, and He revealed to each heaven its command. And We adorned the lowest heaven with lights and as protection. That is the decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.
13. But if they turn away, say, “I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt that struck the people of ‘Ād and Thamūd.”
14. When the messengers came to them from before them and behind them, saying, “Worship none but Allah,” they said, “If our Lord had willed, He would have sent down angels. So we surely disbelieve in what you are sent with.”
15. As for ‘Ād, they behaved arrogantly in the land without any right, and they said, “Who is stronger than us in power?” Did they not see that Allah, who created them, is stronger than them in power? Yet they denied Our signs.
16. So We sent upon them a furious wind during days of misfortune, so that We might make them taste the punishment of disgrace in this worldly life. But the punishment of the Hereafter will be more disgraceful, and they will not be helped.
17. And as for Thamūd, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance. So the thunderbolt of humiliation seized them because of what they used to earn.
18. And We saved those who believed and were mindful of Allah.
19. And on the Day when the enemies of Allah will be gathered towards the Fire, they will be driven together in ranks.
20. Until when they come to it, their hearing, their sight, and their skins will testify against them about what they used to do.
21. They will say to their skins, “Why did you testify against us?” They will reply, “Allah, who made everything speak, has made us speak. He created you the first time, and to Him you will be returned.”
22. You were not hiding yourselves so that your hearing, sight, and skins would not testify against you, but you thought that Allah did not know much of what you did.
23. And that assumption you held about your Lord has brought you to ruin, and you have become among the losers.
24. So if they are patient, the Fire will still be their home. And if they seek to please Him, they will not be allowed to please Him.
25. And We appointed for them companions who made what was before them and what was behind them seem fair to them. So the decree was justified against them, just as it was against earlier nations of jinn and humans who passed away before them. Surely they were losers.
26. Those who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to this Quran, and make noise during it, so that you may overpower it.”
27. But We will certainly make those who disbelieve taste a severe punishment, and We will surely repay them for the worst of what they used to do.
28. That is the reward of the enemies of Allah – the Fire – for them is its eternal home, as a recompense for rejecting Our signs.
29. And those who disbelieve will say, “Our Lord, show us those of the jinn and humans who misled us, so that we may place them under our feet, so that they may be among the lowest.”
30. Indeed, those who say, “Our Lord is Allah,” and then remain steadfast – the angels will descend upon them, saying, “Do not fear, and do not grieve, but rejoice in the Paradise that you have been promised.
31. We are your supporters in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you ask for –
32. A welcome from the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”
33. And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, does righteous deeds, and says, “I am of those who submit to Allah”?
34. Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with what is better, and then the one between whom and you there was enmity will become as if he were a close friend.
35. But none will be granted it except those who are patient, and none will be granted it except one with a great share of good.
36. And if a whisper from Satan provokes you, then seek refuge with Allah. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
37. Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon, but prostrate to Allah, who created them, if it is truly Him you worship.
38. But if they act arrogantly, then those who are near your Lord glorify Him night and day, and they never get tired.
39. And among His signs is that you see the earth still, but when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells. Surely the One who gives it life is the One who will give life to the dead. Indeed, He has power over all things.
40. Those who distort Our verses are not hidden from Us. So is the one who is cast into the Fire better, or the one who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what you will – He is Seeing of what you do.
41. Indeed, those who disbelieved in the Reminder when it came to them – and it is surely a mighty Book –
42. Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it. It is a revelation from the One who is All-Wise, Worthy of Praise.
43. Nothing is said to you except what was already said to the messengers before you. Indeed, your Lord is the Possessor of forgiveness, but also the Possessor of painful punishment.
44. And if We had made it a Quran in a non-Arabic language, they would have said, “Why are its verses not explained in detail? What! A non-Arabic (scripture) and an Arab (messenger)?” Say, “It is, for those who believe, guidance and a healing. But those who disbelieve – in their ears is deafness, and it is a blindness for them. It is as if they are being called from a far place.”
45. And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture, but disputes arose about it. And had it not been for a word already given by your Lord, the matter would have been settled between them. But they are in grave doubt about it.
46. Whoever does good, it is for himself, and whoever does evil, it is against himself. And your Lord is not unjust to His servants.
47. To Him is referred the knowledge of the Hour (Judgment Day). No fruits come out of their coverings, and no female conceives or gives birth except with His knowledge. And on the Day He calls them, “Where are My partners?” they will say, “We declare to You, none of us bears witness to them.”
48. And those they used to call upon before will disappear from them, and they will know that they have no escape.
49. Man does not tire of praying for good, but if harm touches him, he becomes hopeless and desperate.
50. And if We let him taste mercy from Us after hardship has touched him, he will surely say, “This is my own due, and I do not think the Hour will be established. And if I am returned to my Lord, indeed for me there will be the best with Him.” But We will surely inform those who disbelieve of what they did, and We will surely make them taste a harsh punishment.
51. And when We favour man, he turns away and distances himself, but when evil touches him, he is full of lengthy prayers.
52. Say, “Have you considered: if this is from Allah and you disbelieve in it, who would be more astray than one who is in far-off opposition?”
53. We will show them Our signs in the horizons and in themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is a witness over all things?
54. Indeed, they are in doubt about the meeting with their Lord. Surely, He encompasses all things. 0 0 0
Also Read: Surah 36: Ya-Sin
Fussilat: Comments
Surah Fussilat is both a warning and a comfort. For the disbelievers, it warns that rejecting the truth will lead to destruction, as happened to past nations. For the believers, it is a source of hope – showing that steadfastness, patience, and good character are keys to Allah’s mercy.
The surah teaches that guidance and misguidance both have consequences. Those who reject the truth will one day face their own hearing, sight, and skin testifying against them. It also shows that true da’wah (calling to Allah) is not just speaking, but also doing righteous deeds and living with humility.
One of the most beautiful messages in this surah is the advice to repel evil with what is better. This transforms enemies into close friends, but it requires patience and a generous heart.
In the end, the surah assures that Allah’s signs are everywhere – in the sky, in the earth, and even within our own lives – and that those who reflect sincerely will see the truth without doubt. It leaves no excuse for disbelief and no limit to hope for those who turn back to Allah. 0 0 0
Frequently Asked Questions on Surah 41: Fussilat
Q1. What is Surah Fussilat about?
Ans: Surah Fussilat is about the clarity of the Quran, the call to pure faith, the patience of believers, and the consequences of denying the truth.
Q2. Why is Surah 41 called Surah Fussilat?
Ans: Surah 41 is called Surah Fussilat because the word “Fussilat” means “explained in detail,” referring to how the Quran explains guidance clearly.
Q3. How many verses are there in Surah Fussilat?
Ans: Surah Fussilat has 54 verses, making it a medium-length chapter of the Quran.
Q4. Is Surah Fussilat Meccan or Medinan?
Ans: Surah Fussilat is a Meccan Surah, revealed before the Prophet Muhammad’s migration to Madinah, focusing on faith, revelation, and patience.
Q5. What is the central theme of Surah Fussilat?
Ans: The central theme of Surah Fussilat is the explanation of the Quran’s message, Allah’s power in creation, and the contrast between believers and disbelievers.
Q6. What lessons can we learn from Surah Fussilat?
Ans: Surah Fussilat teaches lessons of patience, sincerity in faith, reflection on creation, and the certainty of the Day of Judgment.
Q7. How does Surah Fussilat describe the Quran?
Ans: Surah Fussilat describes the Quran as a book clearly explained, full of wisdom and guidance for those who seek the truth.
Q8. Which prophets are referenced in Surah Fussilat?
Ans: Surah Fussilat indirectly refers to past prophets and their struggles as examples of patience, although it focuses more on the universal message of the Quran.
Q9. What warning does Surah Fussilat give to disbelievers?
Ans: Surah Fussilat warns disbelievers about rejecting divine signs, reminding them of the fate of earlier nations that turned away from the truth.
Q10. What is the connection between Surah Fussilat and creation?
Ans: Surah Fussilat highlights creation as a sign of Allah’s power, urging people to reflect on the heavens, the earth, and natural order.
Q11. How does Surah Fussilat speak about the Hereafter?
Ans: Surah Fussilat emphasizes the certainty of the Hereafter, describing the reward of believers and the punishment of those who deny faith.
Q12. Why is Surah Fussilat important for Muslims today?
Ans: Surah Fussilat is important because it strengthens faith, reminds Muslims of divine justice, and calls for patience in the face of challenges.
Q13. What does Surah Fussilat teach about patience?
Ans: Surah Fussilat encourages believers to remain patient when mocked or opposed, showing that truth always prevails in the end.
Q14. How does Surah Fussilat describe the enemies of faith?
Ans: Surah Fussilat describes the enemies of faith as those who cover their ears and hearts against the Quran, refusing to listen to the truth.
Q15. What makes Surah Fussilat unique among other Surahs?
Ans: Surah Fussilat is unique because it presents the Quran as a book fully explained, combining reflection on creation with reminders of divine justice. 0 0 0
