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Heedlessness

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Heedlessness

ٱلْغَفْلَة

Heedlessness, known in Arabic as *al-Ghaflah*, describes a profound spiritual state of unawareness, negligence, or forgetfulness of Allah (God) and the ultimate realities of existence, particularly the afterlife. It's not merely a momentary lapse, but a deeper spiritual malady where one becomes absorbed in worldly desires, neglecting their true purpose and Creator. The Quran repeatedly warns believers to be vigilant, urging them to remember their Lord and [not be among the heedless]. Those who fall into *Ghaflah* often become [satisfied with the life of this world and feel secure therein, and are heedless of Our signs]. This spiritual blindness can lead to a sealing of the heart, making it difficult to perceive truth and guidance, as the Quran states, [it is those who are the heedless] whose hearts, hearing, and vision Allah has sealed. Recognizing and actively combatting *Ghaflah* through *dhikr* (remembrance) and reflection is central to Islamic spirituality, as it is a state that prevents true spiritual growth and can lead to eternal regret when [their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away].

Quran 10 verses

وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِى نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ ٱلْجَهْرِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْغَٰفِلِينَ

Wazkur Rabbaka fee nafsika tadarru'anw wa kheefatanw wa doonal jahri minal qawli bilghuduwwi wal aasali wa laa takum minal ghaafileen

And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless.

اور اپنے پروردگار کو دل ہی دل میں عاجزی اور خوف سے اور پست آواز سے صبح وشام یاد کرتے رہو اور (دیکھنا) غافل نہ ہونا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary That the Holy Qur'an should be listened to and that due etiquette should be observed when doing so was the subject in previous verses. Described in the present two verses, as held by the majority of commentators, is the injunction to remember Allah, in an absolute sense, as well as its at...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And remember your Lord within yourself that is secretly humbly submissively and fearfully in awe of Him and louder than speaking in secret more quietly than speaking out loud that is a middle way between the two at morning and evening at the beginning of the day and at its end. And do not be among t...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Remembering Allah in the Mornings and Afternoons Allah ordains that He be remembered more often in the mornings and the afternoons. Just as He ordered that He be worshipped during these two times when He said, وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ (And glorify the p...

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا وَرَضُوا۟ بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱطْمَأَنُّوا۟ بِهَا وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ ءَايَٰتِنَا غَٰفِلُونَ

Innal lazeena laa yarjoona liqaaa'anaa wa radoo bilhayaatid dunyaa watma annoo bihaa wallazeena hum 'an Aayaatinaa ghaafiloon

Indeed, those who do not expect the meeting with Us and are satisfied with the life of this world and feel secure therein and those who are heedless of Our signs

جن لوگوں کو ہم سے ملنے کی توقع نہیں اور دنیا کی زندگی سے خوش اور اسی پر مطئمن ہو بیٹھے اور ہماری نشانیوں سے غافل ہو رہے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary In the previous verses, by mentioning the heavens and the earth and the Moon and the Sun, prominent manifestations of Allah's perfect power and wisdom, the belief in the Oneness of Allah and the Hereafter was proved eloquently. The first three of the present verses tell us that, despite s...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Truly those who do not expect to encounter Us through resurrection and are content with the life of this world instead of the life the Hereafter since they reject the truth of it and feel reassured feel secure in it and those who are heedless of Our signs of the proofs of Our Oneness neglecting to p...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Abode of Those Who deny the Hour is Hell-Fire Allah describes the state of the wretched who disbelieved in the meeting with Allah on the Day of Resurrection and did not look forward to it, who were well-pleased with the life of this world and at rest in it. Al-Hasan said: "They adorned it and pr...

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْغَٰفِلُونَ

Ulaaa'ikal lazeena taba'al laahu 'alaa quloobihim wa sam'ihim wa absaarihim wa ulaaa'ika humul ghaafiloon

Those are the ones over whose hearts and hearing and vision Allah has sealed, and it is those who are the heedless.

یہی لوگ ہیں جن کے دلوں پر اور کانوں پر اور آنکھوں پر خدا نے مہر لگا رکھی ہے۔ اور یہی غفلت میں پڑے ہوئے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary From the first verse (106) comes the religious ruling about a person who has been compelled to utter a word of infidelity (kufr) under the threat that he would be killed if he did not do that. If he feels that, in all likelihood, the people threatening him have full capability of doing ju...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They are the ones on whose hearts God has set a seal and on their hearing and their sight as well and it is they who are heedless of what punishment is being prepared for them.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah's Wrath against the Apostate, except for the One Who is forced into Disbelief Allah tells us that He is angry with them who willingly disbelieve in Him after clearly believing in Him, who open their hearts to disbelief finding peace in that, because they understood the faith yet they still tur...

وَٱصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُۥ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُۥ فُرُطًا

Wasbir nafsaka ma'al lazeena yad'oona Rabbahum bilghadaati wal'ashiyyi yureedoona Wajhahoo wa laa ta'du 'aynaaka 'anhum tureedu zeenatal hayaatid dunyaa wa laa tuti' man aghfalnaa qalbahoo 'an zikrinaa wattaba'a hawaahu wa kaana amruhoo furutaa

And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.

اور جو لوگ صبح و شام اپنے پروردگار کو پکارتے اور اس کی خوشنودی کے طالب ہیں۔ ان کے ساتھ صبر کرتے رہو۔ اور تمہاری نگاہیں ان میں (گزر کر اور طرف) نہ دوڑیں کہ تم آرائشِ زندگانی دنیا کے خواستگار ہوجاؤ۔ اور جس شخص کے دل کو ہم نے اپنی یاد سے غافل کردیا ہے اور وہ اپنی خواہش کی پیروی کرتا ہے اور اس کا کام حد سے بڑھ گیا ہے اس کا کہا نہ ماننا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Da'wah and Tabligh admit of no discrimination Some events have been mentioned in the background of the revelation of the verse: وَاصْبِرْ‌ نَفْسَكَ (And keep yourself content - 28). It is possible that all of them became the cause of this instruction. Al-Baghawi reports that ` Uyainah ibn...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And restrain yourself detain yourself along with those who call upon their Lord at morning and evening desiring through their worship His Countenance exalted be He and not any of the transient things of this world — and these are the poor; and do not let your eyes overlook turn away from them — thes...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Command to recite the Qur'an and to patiently keep Company with the Believers Commanding His Messenger to recite His Holy Book and convey it to mankind, Allah says, لاَ مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـتِهِ (None can change His Words,) meaning, no one can alter them, distort them or misinterpret them. وَلَن ت...

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ

Iqtaraba linnaasi hisaa buhum wa hum fee ghaflatim mu'ridoon

[The time of] their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away.

لوگوں کا حساب (اعمال کا وقت) نزدیک آپہنچا ہے اور وہ غفلت میں (پڑے اس سے) منہ پھیر رہے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Importance of Surah Al-Anbiya' Sayyidna Abdullah Ibn Mas’ ud ؓ has said that four Surah viz Al-Kahf, Maryam, Taha and Al-Anbiya' are among the earlier revelations which I value a lot and keep them close to my heart. (Qurtubi) اقْتَرَ‌بَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ (The reckoning of the people h...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Nigh has drawn for mankind the people of Mecca the deniers of the Resurrection their reckoning on the Day of Resurrection yet they are heedless of it disregardful of the preparation required for it by way of embracing faith.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah The Virtues of Surat Al-Anbiya' Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdur-Rahman bin Yazid said that `Abdullah said, "Banu Isra'il, Al-Kahf, Maryam, Ta Ha and Al-Anbiya' - they are among the earliest and most beautiful Surahs and they are my treasure." بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ ...

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَكَ مَا كَانَ يَنۢبَغِى لَنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ مِن دُونِكَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَلَٰكِن مَّتَّعْتَهُمْ وَءَابَآءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَسُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بُورًا

Qaaloo Subhaanaka maa kaana yambaghee lanaaa an nattakhiza min doonika min awliyaaa'a wa laakim matta'tahum wa aabaaa'ahum hattaa nasuz zikra wa kaanoo qawmam booraa

They will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any allies. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined."

وہ کہیں گے تو پاک ہے ہمیں یہ بات شایان نہ تھی کہ تیرے سوا اوروں کو دوست بناتے۔ لیکن تو نے ہی ان کو اور ان کے باپ دادا کو برتنے کو نعمتیں دیں یہاں تک کہ وہ تیری یاد کو بھول گئے۔ اور یہ ہلاک ہونے والے لوگ تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The Second Objection was that if the Holy Prophet ﷺ was a prophet, he should not have been eating and drinking like common people; instead he should have been free from eating and drinking like angels. And if this was not so, he should have at least enough wealth and gardens to take care of his day ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They will say ‘Glory be to You — exalted be You above what does not befit You! It was not it would not have been right for us to take any guardians besides You that is other than You min awliyā’a the first direct object the min being extra added to emphasise the negation; the preceding min dūnika ‘b...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The gods of the Idolators will disown Them on the Day of Resurrection Allah tells us about what will happen on the Day of Resurrection, when those whom the idolators used to worship instead of Allah, angels and others, will rebuke them. Allah says: وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ا...

أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا

Am tahsabu annna aksarahum yasma'oona aw ya''qiloon; in hum illaa kal an'aami bal hum adallu sabeelan

Or do you think that most of them hear or reason? They are not except like livestock. Rather, they are [even] more astray in [their] way.

یا تم یہ خیال کرتے ہو کہ ان میں اکثر سنتے یا سمجھتے ہیں (نہیں) یہ تو چوپایوں کی طرح ہیں بلکہ ان سے بھی زیادہ گمراہ ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Following forbidden things - a type of idolatry أَرَ‌أَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ (Tell me about the one who has taken his desire as his god - 25:43). The one who practises forbidden things which are against the tenets of Islam to satisfy his personal desires is described in this verse as...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Or do you suppose that most of them listen listening so as to understand or comprehend? what you say to them? They are but as the cattle — nay but they are further astray from the way further from these cattle upon the path of misguidance for at least they cattle yield to the person who looks after ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): How the Disbelievers mocked the Messenger Allah tells us how the disbelievers mocked the Messenger when they saw him. This is like the Ayah, وَإِذَا رَآكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلاَّ هُزُواً (And when the disbelievers see you, they take you not except for mockery) (21:36), which me...

ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى غَمْرَةٍ سَاهُونَ

Allazeena hum fee ghamratin saahoon

Who are within a flood [of confusion] and heedless.

جو بےخبری میں بھولے ہوئے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: قُتِلَ الْخَرَّ‌اصُونَ (Death upon those who make conjectures - 51:10). The expression kharrasun is the plural of kharras which means one who estimates or say things by conjecture. In this context the word refers to those stubborn and obstinate infidels who, without any reason or evidence, say disco...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: who are in a stupor in ignorance that has stupefied them heedless oblivious of the matter of the Hereafter.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Affirming the News of the Resurrection The Commander of the faithful, `Ali bin Abi Talib may Allah be pleased with him, ascended the Minbar in Kufah and declared, "Any Ayah...

وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَأَنسَىٰهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَٰسِقُونَ

Wa laa takoonoo kallazeena nasul laaha fa ansaahum anfusahum; ulaaa'ika humul faasiqoon

And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient.

اور ان لوگوں جیسے نہ ہونا جنہوں نے خدا کو بھلا دیا تو خدا نے انہیں ایسا کردیا کہ خود اپنے تئیں بھول گئے۔ یہ بدکردار لوگ ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ He made them forget their own selves....59:19) It means they did not forget Allah but themselves, because they are unaware of their own loss and gain.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And do not be like those who forget God those who neglect obedience to Him so that He makes them forget their own souls to forget to send ahead good deeds for its sake. Those — they are the immoral.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Command to have Taqwa and to prepare for the Day of Resurrection Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Mundhir bin Jarir narrated that his father said, "While we were in the company of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the early hours of the morning, some people came there who were barefooted, naked, wearing st...

ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ

Al lazeena hum 'an salaatihim sahoon

[But] who are heedless of their prayer -

جو نماز کی طرف سے غافل رہتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The love of the world causes nations to lose faith and consign Allah to oblivion This Surah denounces some of the evil actions of the pagans and the hypocrites, and it holds out a threat of destruction to those who commit them. If these evil actions are committed by believers, who do not reject the ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: those who are heedless of their prayers neglectful delaying them from their appointed times
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Allah says, "O Muhammad! Have you seen the one who denies the Din" Here the word Din means the Hereafter, the Recompense and the Final Reward. فَذَلِكَ الَّذِى يَدُعُّ الْي...

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