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Surah 17. Al-Israa

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17:71
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا Yawma nadAAoo kulla on a sin biim a mihim faman ootiya kit a bahu biyameenihi faol a ika yaqraoona kit a bahum wal a yu th lamoona fateel a n
[but] one Day We shall summon all human beings [and judge them] according to the conscious disposition which governed their deeds [in life]:84 whereupon they whose record shall be placed in their right hand85 - it is they who will read their record [with happiness]. Yet none shall be wronged by as much as a hair's breadth:86
  - Mohammad Asad

Thus Razi interprets the phrase nad'u kulla unasin bi-imamihim (lit., "We shall summon all human beings by [mentioning] their leaders" or "guides"). In his opinion, the expression imam (lit., "leader" or "guide") has in this context an abstract connotation, signifying the conscious disposition, good or bad, which governs a person's behaviour and provides the motives for his deeds. This interpretation is most convincing, and particularly so in view of the fundamental hadith quoted in my note [32] on 53:39 .

A symbolic image, often used in the Qur'an, denoting an acknowledgement of righteousness in the spiritual sense, just as the "left hand" indicates its opposite (cf. 69:19 and {25}, as well as 84:7 ).

This last clause obviously applies to both the righteous and the unrighteous. (For my above rendering of fatil, see surah {4}, note [67].)

Just imagine the scene of that Day when We shall call every community with their respective Imams (leaders): then those who will be given their 'book of deeds' in their right hand will read it with pleasure and they will not be wronged in the least.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'Beware of' the Day We will summon every people with their leader.1 So whoever will be given their record in their right hand will read it 'happily' and will not be wronged 'even by the width of' the thread of a date stone.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Other meanings include: with their record of deeds, or their prophet, or their scripture.

On the day when We shall summon ill men with their record, whoso is given his book in his right hand such will read their book and they will not be wronged a shred.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams: those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure) and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least. 2266 2267
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

I have discussed the various meanings of Imam in ii. 124, n. 124. What is the meaning here? The Commentators are divided. Some understand the meaning to be that each People or Group will appear with its Leader, who will bear witness to its virtues or sins: Cf. xvi. 84. Another view is that the Imam is their revelation, their Book. A third is that the Imam is the record of deeds spoken of in the next clause. I prefer the first.

Literally, by the value of a fatil, a small skin in the cleft of a date-stone: this has no value.

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17:72
وَمَن كَانَ فِى هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَعْمَىٰ فَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَعْمَىٰ وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا Waman k a na fee h ath ihi aAAm a fahuwa fee al a khirati aAAm a waa d allu sabeel a n
for whoever is blind [of heart] in this [world] will be blind in the life to come [as well], and still farther astray from the path [of truth].87
  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. {20:124-125}. This passage shows that man's life in the hereafter is not merely conditioned by the manner of his life on earth, but is also an organic extension of the latter, manifested in a natural development and intensification of previously-existing tendencies.

But those who have played blind in this world will be blind in the hereafter, rather worse than blind in finding the Way to Salvation.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
But whoever is blind 'to the truth' in this 'world' will be blind in the Hereafter, and 'even' far more astray from the 'Right' Way.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Whoso is blind here wilt be blind in the Hereafter, and yet further from the road.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
But those who were blind in this world will be blind in the Hereafter and most astray from the Path. 2268
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

On the Judgment Day the children of light will receive and peruse their record, and will render joyful thanks to Allah for His Mercies. What of the children of darkness? They had already been blind in this world's life, and they will not receive the light of Allah's Countenance then. On the contrary they will find that the longer the time they have travelled, the farther away they have gone from the Path. Notice the association of ideas-blindness, not seeing the light, going farther and farther away from the true Path.

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17:73
وَإِن كَادُوا۟ لَيَفْتِنُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ لِتَفْتَرِىَ عَلَيْنَا غَيْرَهُۥ ۖ وَإِذًا لَّٱتَّخَذُوكَ خَلِيلًا Wain k a doo layaftinoonaka AAani alla th ee aw h ayn a ilayka litaftariya AAalayn a ghayrahu wai th an la i ttakha th ooka khaleel a n
AND, behold, they [who have gone astray] endeavour to tempt thee away from all [the truth] with which We have inspired thee, [O Prophet,] with a view to making thee invent something else in Our name - in which case they would surely have made thee their friend!88
  - Mohammad Asad

This relates to an offer of "compromise" made by the pagan Quraysh: they demanded of the Prophet that he give some sort of recognition to their tribal deities and attribute this recognition to God; in return, they promised to recognize him as a prophet and to make him their leader. Naturally, the Prophet rejected this offer.

O Muhammad! These people have tried to entice you from Our revelations, hoping that you might fabricate something in Our name. Had you done that, they would have made you their friend.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They definitely 'thought they' were about to lure you away from what We have revealed to you 'O Prophet', hoping that you would attribute something else to Us falsely- and then they would have certainly taken you as a close friend.1
  - Mustafa Khattab

 The pagans of Mecca tried in vain to dissuade the Prophet (ﷺ) from preaching the message of Islam. In some instances they offered to worship his Allah if he agreed to bow to their idols, and some even offered him riches and positions if he just stopped preaching in the city.

And they indeed strove hard to beguile thee (Muhammad) away from that wherewith We have inspired thee, that thou shouldst invent other than it against Us; and then would they have accepted thee as a friend.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And their purpose was to tempt thee away from that which We had revealed unto thee to substitute in Our name something quite different: (in that case) behold! they would certainly have made thee (their) friend! 2269
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It happens with men of Allah, and it happened with the holy Prophet, that they are tempted by the world with many things which appeal to the world generally, if they would make some small concession in their favour. The "small concession" may hold the key of the position, and neutralise the whole teaching sent by Allah. If the Prophet had accepted wealth and position among the Quraish and "only respected" their idols! The Quraish would have taken him into their inner circle! A dishonest liar like Musailama would have jumped at the opportunity and been hailed as a friend and associate and made much of. But Prophets of Allah are made of sterner stuff. They are given special strength to resist all plausible deception.

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17:74
وَلَوْلَآ أَن ثَبَّتْنَـٰكَ لَقَدْ كِدتَّ تَرْكَنُ إِلَيْهِمْ شَيْـًٔا قَلِيلًا Walawl a an thabbatn a ka laqad kidta tarkanu ilayhim shayan qaleel a n
And had We not made thee firm [in faith], thou might have inclined to them a little89 -
  - Mohammad Asad

The implication is that the Prophet's deep faith made it impossible for him to consider anything of this kind.

Had We not strengthened your faith, you might have made some compromise with them.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Had We not made you steadfast, you probably would have inclined to them a little,
  - Mustafa Khattab
And if We had not made thee wholly firm thou mightest almost have inclined unto them a little.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And had We not given thee strength thou wouldst nearly have inclined to them a little. 2270
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

From a purely human point of view it may seem policy to make a small "concession" to men's weakness in order to fulfil a divine mission. But the divine Messenger is given special strength to resist such temptations.

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17:75
إِذًا لَّأَذَقْنَـٰكَ ضِعْفَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ وَضِعْفَ ٱلْمَمَاتِ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ لَكَ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيرًا I th an laa th aqn a ka d iAAfa al h ay a ti wa d iAAfa almam a ti thumma l a tajidu laka AAalayn a na s eer a n
in which case We would indeed have made thee taste double [chastisement] in life and double [chastisement] after death,90 and thou wouldst have found none to succour thee against Us!
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., "for having gone astray despite the revelation bestowed on thee by God, and for having, by thy example, led thy followers astray as well". The purport of the above passage goes, however, beyond the historical event or events to which it relates: it expresses the idea that any conscious offence against a fundamental truth is an unforgivable sin.

In such a case We would have given you double punishment in this life and in the life hereafter. Then you would have found no helper against Our wrath.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
and then We truly would have made you taste double 'punishment' both in this life and after death, and you would have found no helper against Us.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Then had We made thee taste a double (punishment) of living and a double (punishment) of dying, then hadst thou found no helper against Us.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
In that case We should have made thee taste an equal portion (of punishment) in this life and an equal portion in death: and moreover thou wouldst have found none to help thee against Us! 2271 2272
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If such a thing was possible for a true Messenger of Allah, viz.: a compromise with evil and a dereliction of his mission, he would be no exception to the law of personal responsibility. Indeed, as the power and the responsibility were greater, the punishment would have been greater too. It would have been double,-an exposure in this life and the usual punishment in or after death for a desertion of Truth.

The motive held out by the world for a compromise with Truth is itself fallacious. The motive is that the compromise may bring influence, position, and opportunity, if not wealth and the other good things of life. But these themselves (if attained) would be of no use or help if pitted against the command of Allah.

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17:76
وَإِن كَادُوا۟ لَيَسْتَفِزُّونَكَ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُخْرِجُوكَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَإِذًا لَّا يَلْبَثُونَ خِلَـٰفَكَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا Wain k a doo layastafizzoonaka mina alar d i liyukhrijooka minh a wai th an l a yalbathoona khil a faka ill a qaleel a n
And [since they see that they cannot persuade thee,] they endeavour to estrange thee from the land [of thy birth]91 with a view to driving thee away from it - but, then, after thou wilt have left,92 they themselves will not remain [in it] for more than a little while:93
  - Mohammad Asad

It must be borne in mind that this is a Meccan surah, revealed at a time when the persecution, both physical and moral, which the Prophet and his followers had to suffer at the hands of the pagan Quraysh reached the peak of its intensity.

Lit., "after thee".

This prophecy was fulfilled a little over two years later, in the month of Ramadan, 2 H., when those same leaders of the Quraysh were killed in the battle of Badr.

They almost scare you off the land, to expel you from it. If they do so, they will not be able to stay here much longer after you.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They were about to intimidate you to drive you out of the land 'of Mecca', but then they would not have survived after you 'had left' except for a little while.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And they indeed wished to scare thee from the land that they might drive thee forth from thence, and then they would have stayed (there) but a little after thee.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Their purpose was to scare thee off the land in order to expel thee; but in that case they would not have stayed (therein) after thee except for a little while. 2273
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As happened in the case of the holy Prophet, the enemies try to frighten the Prophet of Allah away from their midst, so that, once away, they could expel him and keep him out. But they are counting without the Plan of Allah. If they persecute the righteous, they dig their own graves!

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17:77
سُنَّةَ مَن قَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَا ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ لِسُنَّتِنَا تَحْوِيلًا Sunnata man qad arsaln a qablaka min rusulin a wal a tajidu lisunnatin a ta h weel a n
[such has been Our] way with all of Our apostles whom We sent before thy time;94 and no change wilt thou find in Our ways.
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., the people who drove them away were invariably punished with destruction.

This has always been Our Sunnah (course of action) with regards to those Rasools whom We sent before you, and you will find no change in Our Sunnah (course of action).
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'This has been' Our way with the messengers We sent before you. And you will never find any change in Our way.
  - Mustafa Khattab
(Such was Our) method in the case of those whom We sent before thee (to mankind), and thou wilt not find for Our method aught of power to change.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
(This was Our) way with the apostles We sent before thee: thou wilt find no change in Our ways. 2274
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This was no new thing in history. Allah protects His own, and the ungodly cannot long enjoy the fruits of their unrighteousness even if their punishment be delayed a little while.

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17:78
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا Aqimi a l ss al a ta lidulooki a l shshamsi il a ghasaqi allayli waqur a na alfajri inna qur a na alfajri k a na mashhood a n
BE CONSTANT in [thy] prayer from the time when the sun has passed its zenith till the darkness of night, and [be ever mindful of its] recitation at dawn:95 for, behold, the recitation [of prayer] at dawn is indeed witnessed [by all that is holy].96
  - Mohammad Asad

As is evidenced by the practice (sunnah) of the Prophet, this verse fully circumscribes the five daily prayers laid down in Islam as obligatory for every adult man and woman: at dawn (fajr), shortly after the sun passes its zenith (zuhr), in the middle of the afternoon ('asr), immediately after sunset (maghrib), and after the night has fully set in ('isha'). Although parts of the Qur'an should be recited in every prayer, the early morning prayer is metonymically singled out as the "recitation (qur'an) at dawn" because the Prophet, under divine inspiration, used to lengthen his recitation while praying at that time, thus stressing the special significance of this particular prayer. (See next note.)

Most of the classical commentators take this to mean "witnessed by the angels of night as well as those of day", since dawn is the time between night and day. Razi, however, is of the opinion that the "witness" to which the Qur'an refers here is the spark of God-given illumination in man's own soul - the heightening of his inner perception at the time when the darkness and stillness of night begins to give way to the life-giving light of day, so that prayer becomes a means of attaining to deeper insight into the realm of spiritual truths and, thus, of achieving communion with all that is holy.

Establish Salah from the decline of the sun till the darkness of the night (Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha) and read at Fajr (dawn); for the reading at Fajr is witnessed (by the angels).
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Observe the prayer from the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and the dawn prayer, for certainly the dawn prayer is witnessed 'by angels'.1
  - Mustafa Khattab

 This verse gives the times of the five daily prayers: the decline of the sun refers to the afternoon and late afternoon prayers, the darkness of night refers to sunset and late evening prayers, then the dawn prayer.

Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn is ever witnessed.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. 2275 2276
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Commentators understand here the command for the five daily canonical prayers, viz.: the four from the declination of the sun from the zenith to the fullest darkness of the night, and the early morning prayer, Fajr, which is usually accompanied by a reading of the holy Qur-an. The four afternoon prayers are: Zuhr, immediately after the sun begins to decline in the afternoon; 'Asr, in the late afternoon; Magrib, immediately after sunset; and Isha, after the glow of sunset has disappeared and the full darkness of the night has set in. There is difference of opinion as to the meaning of particular words and phrases, but none as to the general effect of the passage.

The morning prayer is specially singled out for separate mention, because the morning is a "peaceful hour" and special influences act on the soul awaking from the night's rest. Special testimony is borne to the prayers of this hour by the angelic host.

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17:79
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا Wamina allayli fatahajjad bihi n a filatan laka AAas a an yabAAathaka rabbuka maq a man ma h mood a n
And rise from thy sleep and pray during part of the night [as well], as a free offering from thee,97 and thy Sustainer may well raise thee to a glorious station [in the life to come].
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "as a deed beyond that which is incumbent on thee" (nafilatan laka) - i.e., in addition to the five obligatory prayers. Hence, the above is not an injunction but a recommendation, although the Prophet himself invariably spent the greater part of the night in prayer.

During a part of the night, pray Tahajjud, an additional prayer for you (O Muhammad), very soon your Rabb may exalt you to 'Maqam-e-Mahmood' (a station of great glory).
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And rise at 'the last' part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a station of praise.1
  - Mustafa Khattab

 This refers to the time when the Prophet (ﷺ) will make intercession (shafâ’ah) on the Day of Judgment.

And some part of the night awake for it, a largess for thee. It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a station of Praise and Glory! 2277 2278
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is held to be addressed specially to the holy Prophet who usually prayed more than the five canonical prayers. The Tahajjud was a prayer after midnight, in the small watches of the morning.

To the Prophet was to be assigned in the Hereafter the highest Post of Honour and Glory-the Maqam Mahmud, implying his excellence above all other Prophets. The immediate reference may be to the hope that the Makkan persecution will soon be over and the glorious work in Madinah will begin.

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17:80
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِى مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِى مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَٱجْعَل لِّى مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَـٰنًا نَّصِيرًا Waqul rabbi adkhilnee mudkhala s idqin waakhrijnee mukhraja s idqin wa i jAAal lee min ladunka sul ta nan na s eer a n
And say [in thy prayer]: "O my Sustainer! Cause me to enter [upon whatever I may do] in a manner true and sincere, and cause me to leave [it] in a manner true and sincere, and grant me, out of Thy grace, sustaining strength!"
  - Mohammad Asad
During the prayer say: "Rabb! Make my entrance, the entrance with truth and make my exit, the exit with truth and grant me a supporting authority from your presence;"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And say, 'My Lord! Grant me an honourable entrance and an honourable exit1 and give me a supporting authority from Yourself.'
  - Mustafa Khattab

 This verse was revealed when the Prophet (ﷺ) received the order to emigrate from Mecca to Medina. So here he (ﷺ) is praying to leave Mecca honourably and enter Medina honourably. It can also apply to any worldly activity that a person starts and finishes.

And say: My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming and to go out with a firm outgoing. And give me from Thy presence a sustaining Power.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Say: "O my Lord! let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)." 2279 2280
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The entry and exit here referred to may be interpreted in four senses: (1) entry into death and exit at the resurrection: for the righteous, who have purified their souls by prayer (last verse) and spiritual teaching from the Qur-an (next verse), there is on each occasion a fuller and fuller realisation and enjoyment of truth and honour: for those who are estranged from Allah, the effect is the opposite: the truth becomes bitter and there is ignominy and exposure instead of honour: (2) entry for the holy Prophet into the new life at Madinah, which was still in the womb of futurity, and exit from the life of persecution and the milieu of falsehood, which surrounded him in his native city of Makkah still given up to idolatry: (3) referring to the impending Hijrat again, the prayer may mean, "Let it be from pure motives of truth and spiritual honour, and not from motives of anger against the city of Makkah or its persecutors, or of ambition or worldly power from the city of Madinah, which was ready to lay everything at the Prophet's feet": (4) generally, entry and exit at every stage of life.

All prayer must be for Allah's aid and authority. However much we may plan, our success must depend on His aid. However nobler our motives, we have no right to imperil any lives unless there is authority in the Word of Allah. The Prophet only acts on Allah's commission and inspiration.

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17:81
وَقُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا Waqul j a a al h aqqu wazahaqa alb at ilu inna alb at ila k a na zahooq a n
And say: "The truth has now come [to light], and falsehood has withered away: for, behold, all falsehood is bound to wither away!"
  - Mohammad Asad
and declare, "The Truth has come and falsehood has vanished, for falsehood by its nature is bound to perish."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And declare, 'The truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
And say: Truth hath come and falsehood hath vanished away. Lo! falsehood is ever bound to vanish.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And say: "Truth has (now) arrived and Falsehood perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish." 2281
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

From its nature falsehood must perish, for it is the opposite of Truth, and Truth must ever prevail.

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17:82
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا Wanunazzilu mina alqur a ni m a huwa shif a on wara h matun lilmumineena wal a yazeedu a l thth a limeena ill a khas a r a n
THUS, step by step, We bestow from on high through this Qur'an all that gives health [to the spirit] and is a grace unto those who believe [in Us], the while it only adds to the ruin of evildoers:98
  - Mohammad Asad

By "evildoers" are meant people who, out of self-conceit or an excessive "love of this world", reject out of hand any suggestion of divine guidance - and, with it, any belief in the existence of absolute moral values - and in the end, as the sequence shows, fall prey to spiritual nihilism.

We have revealed the Qur'an which is a healing and a mercy to the believers, while to the wrongdoers it adds nothing but loss.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers, but it only increases the wrongdoers in loss.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And We reveal of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy for believers though it increase the evil-doers in naught save ruin.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
We send down (stage by stage) in the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe: to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss. 2282
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In Allah's revelation there is healing for our broken spirits, hope for our spiritual future, and joy in the forgiveness of our sins. All who work in faith will share in these privileges. It is only the rebels against Allah's Law who will suffer loss. The more they will oppose Truth, the deeper down will they go into the mire-the state of sin and Wrath, which is worse than destruction.

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17:83
وَإِذَآ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَـَٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ ۖ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ كَانَ يَـُٔوسًا Wai tha anAAamn a AAal a alins a ni aAAra d a wana a bij a nibihi wai tha massahu a l shsharru k a na yaoos a n
for [it often happens that] when We bestow Our blessings upon man, he turns away and arrogantly keeps aloof [from any thought of Us]; and when evil fortune touches him, he abandons all hope.99
  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. {11: 9-10} and the corresponding notes.

Man is a strange creature: when We bestow Our favors on man, he turns his back and drifts off to one side (instead of coming to Us) and whenever evil touches him, he gives himself up to despair.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
When We grant people Our favours, they turn away, acting arrogantly. But when touched with evil, they lose all hope.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And when We make life pleasant unto man, he turneth away and is averse; and when ill toucheth him he is in despair.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Yet when We bestow Our favors on man he turns away and becomes remote on his side (instead of coming to Us) and when Evil seizes him he gives himself up to despair! 2283
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Truth saves us from two extremes: when we are happy, we are saved from being puffed up, for we realise that everything comes from Allah; and when we suffer misfortunes, we are not in despair, for we know that Allah is our sure refuge and help.

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17:84
قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَىٰ شَاكِلَتِهِۦ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ سَبِيلًا Qul kullun yaAAmalu AAal a sh a kilatihi farabbukum aAAlamu biman huwa ahd a sabeel a n
Say: "Everyone acts in a manner peculiar to himself - and your Sustainer is fully aware as to who has chosen the best path." 100
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "as to who is best guided on a path".

O Prophet say to them: "Everyone acts according to his own disposition; but only your Rabb knows best who is on the Right Way."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Everyone acts in their own way. But your Lord knows best whose way is rightly guided.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Say: Each one doth according to his rule of conduct, and thy Lord is best aware of him whose way is right.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Say: "Everyone acts according to his own disposition: but your Lord knows best who it is that is best guided on the Way." 2284
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If the wicked go their own ways, there is nothing to discourage us. It is their nature. We must seek and hold fast to true guidance.

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17:85
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا Wayasaloonaka AAani a l rroo h i quli a l rroo h u min amri rabbee wam a ooteetum mina alAAilmi ill a qaleel a n
AND THEY will ask thee about [the nature of] divine inspiration. 101 Say: "This inspiration [comes] at my Sustainer's behest; and [you cannot understand its nature, O men, since] you have been granted very little of [real] knowledge."
  - Mohammad Asad

For this interpretation of the term ruh, see surah {16}, note [2]. Some commentators are of the opinion that it refers here, specifically, to the revelation of the Qur'an; others understand by it the "soul", in particular the soul of man. This latter interpretation is, however, unconvincing inasmuch as the preceding as well as the subsequent verses relate explicitly to the Qur'an and, hence, to the phenomenon of divine revelation.

They put you questions about Ar-Ruh (the Spirit). Tell them: "The Spirit is at my Rabb's command and I am not given any knowledge of it but a little."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They ask you 'O Prophet' about the spirit. Say, 'Its nature is known only to my Lord, and you 'O humanity' have been given but little knowledge.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
They will ask thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration). Say: "The Spirit (cometh) by command of my Lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you (O men!) 2285
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

What is the nature of inspiration? Who brings it? Can it ask its Bringer questions? Can we ask anything which we wish? These are the sort of questions always asked when inspiration is called in question. The answer is given here. Inspiration is one of those high experiences which cannot be explained in the terms of our everyday human experience. It is spiritual. The Spirit (Gabriel) does not come of his own will. He comes by the command of Allah, and reveals what Allah commands him to reveal. Of the sum-total of true divine knowledge what a small part it is that ordinary mortals can understand! They can be only given that which they can understand, however dimly. We are not in a position to ask anything that we wish. If we did so, it would only make us look foolish, for the guidance comes from Allah's Wisdom, not from our worldly knowledge.

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