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Surah 68. Al-Qalam, Ayah 47

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أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboon a
Or [do they think] that the hidden reality [of all that exists] is within their grasp, so that [in time] they can write it down?26
  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "and that, therefore, they need not listen to divine revelation. For the real significance of the term al-ghayb - of which the above is undoubtedly the earliest instance in the chronology of Qur'anic revelation - see surah {2}, note [3]. Its use in the above context is meant to elucidate and further develop the idea already touched upon in 96:6 - "man becomes grossly overweening whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient". More particularly, the present passage points to the fallacy of the arrogant belief that the solution of all the mysteries of the universe is "just around the corner" and that man-centred science - epitomised in the reference to its being "written down" - can and will teach its adepts how to "conquer nature" and to attain to what they regard as the good life.

Or do they have the knowledge of the unseen and they are writing it down?
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Or do they have access to 'the Record in' the unseen, so they copy it 'for all to see'?
  - Mustafa Khattab
Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof)?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Or that they Unseen is in their hands so that they can write it down? 5628
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. lii. 41, n. 5075. The Unseen is certainly not within their knowledge or control. If it were, they could clearly write it down for their own guidance or the guidance of others. They should listen to the words of inspiration, sent by the Knower of all things.

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