Surah 34. Saba, Ayah 9
| أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَىٰ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنْ نَشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ الْأَرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُنِيبٍ |
| Transliteration | : | 'a- fa- lam yaraw 'ilaa maa bayna ayde -him wa- maa khalfa -hum min as- samaa' wa- al- 'ard. 'in nasha' nakhsif bi- -him al- 'ard. 'aw nusqit. calay -him kisaf(an) min as- samaa' 'inna fe dhaalika la- 'aayah li- kull cabd muneb |
| Pickthall | : | Have they not observed what is before them and what is behind them of the sky and the earth? If We will, We can make the earth swallow them, or cause obliteration from the sky to fall on them. Lo ! herein surely is a portent for every slave who turneth (to Allah ) repentant. |
| Asad | : | Are they, then, not aware of how little of the sky and the earth lies open before them, and how much is hidden from them?6 - [or that,] if We so willed. We could cause the earth to swallow them,7 or cause fragments of the sky to fall down upon them?8 In all this, behold, there is a message indeed for every servant [of God] who is wont to turn unto Him [in repentance].9 |
| Malik | : | Do they not see the sky and the earth that surrounds them from front and from behind? If We want, We can cave in the earth to swallow them up or let the fragments of the sky fall upon them. Surely there is a sign in this for every devotee that turns to Allah in repentance. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | See they not what is before them and behind them of the sky and the earth? If We wished We could cause the earth to swallow them up or cause a piece of the sky to fall upon them. Verily in this is a Sign for every devotee that turns to Allah (in repentance). 3796 3797 3798 |
Note - 6Lit., "... not aware of what of the sky and the earth is
between their hands, and what is behind them": an
idiomatic phrase explained in surah {2}, note [247]. In
the present context - as well as in 2:255 - the above
phrase stresses the insignificance of the knowledge
attained to by man, or accessible to him; hence, so the
argument goes, how can anyone be so presumptuous as to
deny the reality of resurrection and life after death,
seeing that it is a phenomenon beyond man's experience,
while, on the other hand, everything within the universe
points to God's unlimited creative power?
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Note - 7I.e.. in an earthquake.
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Note - 8This allusion to unpredictable geological and cosmic
occurrences - earthquakes, the fall of meteors and
meteorites, cosmic rays, and so forth - reinforces the
statement about "how little of the sky and the earth lies
open before them, and how much is hidden from them", and
contrasts man's insignificance with God's omniscience and
almightiness.
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Note - 9See last sentence of 24:31 and the corresponding note
[41].
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Note - 3796The men who walk in spiritual darkness and laugh at a
Hereafter have but to observe the Power of Allah in the
nature around them. He Who created the heavens and the
earth and sustains them can surely make a new Creation!
And the cosmic Laws which are so just and inevitable
should surely give them an idea of the inexorable Justice
that must redress all balance.
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Note - 3797Cf. xvi. 45, and n. 2071. Who are these puny
creatures-sceptics that question the might and majesty of
Allah?
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Note - 3798Cf. xxvi. 187. This was actually a challenge hurled at
Shu'aib and a shower of ashes and cinders came from above
and overwhelmed the challengers!
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Lit., "... not aware of what of the sky and the earth is between their hands, and what is behind them": an idiomatic phrase explained in surah {2}, note [247]. In the present context - as well as in 2:255 - the above phrase stresses the insignificance of the knowledge attained to by man, or accessible to him; hence, so the argument goes, how can anyone be so presumptuous as to deny the reality of resurrection and life after death, seeing that it is a phenomenon beyond man's experience, while, on the other hand, everything within the universe points to God's unlimited creative power? |
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This allusion to unpredictable geological and cosmic occurrences - earthquakes, the fall of meteors and meteorites, cosmic rays, and so forth - reinforces the statement about "how little of the sky and the earth lies open before them, and how much is hidden from them", and contrasts man's insignificance with God's omniscience and almightiness. |
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The men who walk in spiritual darkness and laugh at a Hereafter have but to observe the Power of Allah in the nature around them. He Who created the heavens and the earth and sustains them can surely make a new Creation! And the cosmic Laws which are so just and inevitable should surely give them an idea of the inexorable Justice that must redress all balance. |
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Cf. xvi. 45, and n. 2071. Who are these puny creatures-sceptics that question the might and majesty of Allah? |
