Surah As-Sajda (32) — Ayah 22

(Ayah 22) ➊ {وَ مَنْ اَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذُكِّرَ بِاٰيٰتِ رَبِّهٖ …:} This is an interrogative of denial: “Who is more unjust than this?” meaning there is none; he is the greatest wrongdoer who, when reminded with the signs of his Lord, then turned away from them. {’’ ثُمَّ ‘‘} (Then) means that it is very far-fetched and astonishing that even after being reminded with the signs of Allah, he turned away from them. The signs (indications) with which a person is admonished are of several kinds: first, universal signs, which are scattered throughout the universe, such as the sun, moon, stars, day and night, wind, rain, sea, ships, and the vegetation of the earth, etc. Second, those that are present within the human self itself, i.e., his structure, the amazing powers and abilities placed within him, and the astonishing automatic system of his organs. Regarding both of these, Allah Almighty has said: «{ سَنُرِيْهِمْ اٰيٰتِنَا فِي الْاٰفَاقِ وَ فِيْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ حَتّٰى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ اَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ }» [ حٰمٓ السجدۃ:۵۳] “Soon We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.” Third, those historical events from which the same result always emerges: that whichever nation rebelled against Allah, denied His messengers and His signs, Allah destroyed and ruined them. In Surah Ibrahim, Ayah (5): «{ وَ ذَكِّرْهُمْ بِاَيّٰىمِ اللّٰهِ }» and Surah Yusuf, Ayah (111): «{ لَقَدْ كَانَ فِيْ قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّاُولِي الْاَلْبَابِ }», admonition and lesson are meant through such events. Fourth, those that come in the form of trials and calamities before every person and every nation, so that they may turn back, which are mentioned in the previous verse. The fifth type are those signs of Allah which Allah sent down upon His prophets for the guidance of mankind. In these signs as well, attention is drawn to reflection upon the previous four types of signs, and an invitation is given to act upon Allah, His messengers, and His commands.

➋ In { اِنَّا مِنَ الْمُجْرِمِيْنَ مُنْتَقِمُوْنَ: ’’ الْمُجْرِمِيْنَ ‘‘}, the “al” is for specification, so the translation is “from these criminals,” meaning, indeed, We will take retribution from those criminals who, after being reminded with the signs of Allah, turned away from them, with the lesser punishment in this world and the greater punishment in the Hereafter.