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Surah 23. Al-Muminun

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23:71
وَلَوِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ لَفَسَدَتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ بَلْ أَتَيْنَـٰهُم بِذِكْرِهِمْ فَهُمْ عَن ذِكْرِهِم مُّعْرِضُونَ Walawi ittabaAAa al h aqqu ahw a ahum lafasadati a l ssam a w a tu wa a lar d u waman feehinna bal atayn a hum bi th ikrihim fahum AAan th ikrihim muAAri d oon a
But if the truth41 were in accord with their own likes and dislikes, the heavens and the earth would surely have fallen into ruin, and all that lives in them [would long ago have perished]!42 Nay, [in this divine writ] We have conveyed unto them all that they ought to bear in mind:43 and from this their reminder they [heedlessly] turn away!
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., the reality of all creation.

I.e., if the universe - and, especially, human life - had been as devoid of meaning and purpose as they imagine, nothing could have endured, and everything would have long since perished in chaos.

For this rendering of the term dhikr, see note [13] on 21:10 .

- Had the Truth followed their appetites, the heavens, the earth and everything therein would have been disrupted. Nay! We have given them their reminder, but they are heedless to their reminder.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Had the truth followed their desires,1 the heavens, the earth, and all those in them would have certainly been corrupted. In fact, We have brought them 'the means to' their glory, but they turn away from it.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Their desire that the universe has more than one God. See 21:22.

And if the Truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the earth and whosoever is therein had been corrupted. Nay, We have brought them their Reminder, but from their Reminder they now turn away.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
If the Truth had been in accord with their desires truly the heavens and the earth and all beings therein would have been in confusion and corruption! Nay We have sent them their admonition but they turn away from their admonition. 2919
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah is All-Wise and All-Good, and His architecture of the universe is on a perfect Plan. If these poor, low, selfish, ignorant creatures were to plan it according to their hearts' desires, it would be a dreadful world, full of confusion and corruption.

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23:72
أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ خَرْجًا فَخَرَاجُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ Am tasaluhum kharjan fakhar a ju rabbika khayrun wahuwa khayru a l rr a ziqeen a
Or cost thou [O Muhammad] ask of them any worldly recompense? But [they ought to know that] a recompense from thy Sustainer is best, since He is the best of nroviders!44
  - Mohammad Asad

The terms kharj and kharaj which occur in the above verse are more or less synonymous, both of them denoting "recompense". According to Zamakhshari, however, there is a slight difference between these two expressions, kharj being more restricted in its meaning than kharaj: hence, the first has been rendered as "worldly recompense" and the second as "recompense" without any restrictive definition, implying that a recompense from God is unlimited, relating both.

Or is it that you are asking them for some recompense? But the recompense of your Rabb is the best, for He is the best provider of sustenance.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Or 'is it because' you 'O Prophet' are asking them for tribute? But the reward of your Lord is best, for He is the Best Provider.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Or dost thou ask of them (O Muhammad) any tribute? But! the bounty of thy Lord is better, for He is best of all who make provision.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Or is it that thou askest them for some recompense? But the recompense of thy Lord is best: He is the Best of those who give sustenance. 2920
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is the last of the questions, beginning with xxiii. 68 above, showing the absurdity of the position taken up by the Unbelievers. (1) The Message of Allah is as old as humanity: why do they fight shy of it? (2) They have known their Prophet to be true and righteous: why do they deny him? (3) Is it madness to bring the bitter Truth before them? (4) Does the Prophet ask any worldly reward from them? If not, why do they reject his unselfish efforts for their own good?

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23:73
وَإِنَّكَ لَتَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ Wainnaka latadAAoohum il a s ir at in mustaqeem in
And, verily, thou callest them onto a straight way-
  - Mohammad Asad
As a matter of fact, you (O Muhammad) are calling them to the Straight Way;
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And surely you are calling them to the Straight Path,
  - Mustafa Khattab
And lo! thou summonest them indeed unto a right path.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
But verily thou callest them to the Straight Way;
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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23:74
وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَنِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ لَنَـٰكِبُونَ Wainna alla th eena l a yuminoona bi a l a khirati AAani a l ss ir at i lan a kiboon a
but, behold, those who will not believe in the life to come are bound to deviate from that way.
  - Mohammad Asad
and surely those who do not believe in the hereafter will ever stray from the Straight Way.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
but those who disbelieve in the Hereafter are certainly deviating from that Path.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And lo! those who believe not in the Hereafter are indeed astray from the path.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And verily those who believe not in the Hereafter are deviating from that Way.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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23:75
وَلَوْ رَحِمْنَـٰهُمْ وَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِم مِّن ضُرٍّ لَّلَجُّوا۟ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ Walaw ra h imn a hum wakashafn a m a bihim min d urrin lalajjoo fee t ughy a nihim yaAAmahoon a
And even were We to show them mercy and remove whatever distress might befall them [in this life],45 they would still persist in their overweening arrogance, blindly stumbling to and fro.
  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "as it inevitably befalls all human beings": an oblique allusion to the fact that human life is never free from distress.

If We show them mercy and relieve them of their affliction, they would obstinately persist in their rebellion, blindly wandering to and fro;
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'Even' if We had mercy on them and removed their affliction,1 they would still persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 This refers to famine which affected the pagans of Mecca.

Though We had mercy on them and relieved them of the harm afflicting them, they still would wander blindly on in their contumacy.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
If We had mercy on them and removed the distress which is on them they would obstinately persist in their transgression wandering in distraction to and fro. 2921
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The reference is to a very severe famine felt in Makkah, which was attributed by the Unbelievers to the presence of the holy Prophet among them and his preaching against their gods. As this is a Makkan Sura, the famine referred to must be that described by Ibn Kathir as having occured in the 8th year of the Mission, say about four years before the Hijra. There was also a post-Hijra famine, which is referred to by Bukhari, but that was a later event.

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23:76
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْعَذَابِ فَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمْ وَمَا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ Walaqad akha th n a hum bi a lAAa tha bi fam a istak a noo lirabbihim wam a yata d arraAAoon a
And, indeed, We tested them46 through suffering, but they did not abase themselves before their Sustainer; and they will never humble themselves
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "We took them to task".

for even now, when We have inflicted punishment on them, they have neither submitted to their Rabb nor humbled themselves towards Him.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And We have already seized them with torment, but they never humbled themselves to their Lord, nor did they 'submissively' appeal 'to Him'.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Already have We grasped them with punishment, but they humble not themselves unto their Lord, nor do they pray,
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
We inflicted Punishment on them but they humbled not themselves to their Lord nor do they submissively entreat (Him)! 2922
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Some Commentators understand the battle of Badr to be meant here; if so, this particular verse would be of the Madinah period. But it is better to understand it as referring to the same "distress" as in the preceding verse, or to punishments in general, which obstinate sinners refuse to take as warnings given to them to mend their ways and turn in repentance to Allah.

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23:77
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَابًا ذَا عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ إِذَا هُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ H att a i tha fata h n a AAalayhim b a ban tha AAa tha bin shadeedin i tha hum feehi mublisoon a
until We open before them a gate of [truly] severe suffering [in the life to come]: and then, lo! they will be broken in spirit47
  - Mohammad Asad

Or: "they will despair of all hope".

Until when We open upon them a gate of severe punishment, you will see that they are plunged in utter despair.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
But as soon as We open for them a gate of severe punishment, they will be utterly desperate.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Until, when We open for them the gate of extreme punishment, behold! they are aghast thereat.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Until We open on them a gate leading to a severe Punishment: then Lo! they will be plunged in despair therein! 2923
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vi. 44. If the little trials in the present life will not open their eyes, will great trials do so? Unfortunately they only cause in the wicked a feeling of despair. In the final Punishment after the Judgment, it will be too late for them to repent, and despair will be their only lot.

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23:78
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ Wahuwa alla th ee anshaa lakumu a l ssamAAa wa a lab sa ra wa a lafidata qaleelan m a tashkuroon a
[O MEN! Pay heed to God's messages,] for it is He who has endowed you with hearing, and sight, and minds: [yet] how seldom are you grateful!
  - Mohammad Asad
It is Allah Who has given you ears, eyes and hearts - yet seldom you show gratitude
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
He is the One Who created for you hearing, sight, and intellect. 'Yet' you hardly give any thanks.
  - Mustafa Khattab
He it is Who hath created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye!
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
It is He Who has created for you (the faculties of) hearing sight feeling and understanding little thanks it is ye give! 2924
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As elsewhere, "heart" is to be understood as the seat both of feeling and intelligence. 'All the means by which knowledge can be gathered, judgment formed, and goodness cultivated, are provided for you by Allah. If you were grateful, you would use those in My service, which is expressed in your service to your fellow men. But instead you ignore these gifts, question Allah's Providence, and blaspheme against Him!'

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23:79
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ Wahuwa alla th ee th araakum fee alar d i wailayhi tu h sharoon a
And He it is who has caused you to multiply on earth; and unto Him you shall be gathered.
  - Mohammad Asad
- it is He Who has placed you in the earth and before Him you shall all be assembled on the Day of Judgement.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And He is the One Who has dispersed you 'all' over the earth, and to Him you will 'all' be gathered.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And He it is Who hath sown you broadcast in the earth, and unto Him ye will be gathered.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And He has multiplied you through the earth and to Him shall ye be gathered back.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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23:80
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ وَلَهُ ٱخْتِلَـٰفُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ Wahuwa alla th ee yu h yee wayumeetu walahu ikhtil a fu allayli wa al nnah a ri afal a taAAqiloon a
And He it is who grants life and deals death; and to Him is due the alternation of night and day. Will you not, then, use your reason?
  - Mohammad Asad
It is He Who gives life and cause you to die, and in His control is the alternation of the night and the day: then why don't you understand?
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And He is the One Who gives life and causes death, and to Him belongs the alternation of the day and night. Will you not then understand?
  - Mustafa Khattab
And He it is Who giveth life and causeth death, and His is the difference of night and day. Have ye then no sense?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
It is He Who gives life and death and to Him (is due) the alternation of Night and Day: will ye not then understand? 2925
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The alternation of Night and Day stands here as a symbol for all the beneficent processes of Nature provided by Allah for the comfort and growth of man's outer and inner life.

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23:81
بَلْ قَالُوا۟ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ Bal q a loo mithla m a q a la alawwaloon a
But nay, they speak as the people of olden times did speak:
  - Mohammad Asad
On the contrary they just say what their forefathers said before them,
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
But they 'just' say what their predecessors said.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Nay, but they say the like of that which said the men of old;
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
On the contrary they say things similar to what the ancients said. 2926
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And they are the more culpable, as they have received a later and completer revelation. Why should they now stand on the primitive ideas of their ancestors?

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23:82
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ Q a loo ai tha mitn a wakunn a tur a ban waAAi th a man ainn a lamabAAoothoon a
they say: "What! After we have died and become mere dust and bones, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead?
  - Mohammad Asad
who said: "What! After death when our bodies become dust and bones, could we really be raised to life again?
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They said, 'Once we are dead and reduced to dust and bones, will we really be resurrected?
  - Mustafa Khattab
They say: When we are dead and have become (mere) dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
They say: "What! when we die and become dust and bones could we really be raised up again?
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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23:83
لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا نَحْنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا هَـٰذَا مِن قَبْلُ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ Laqad wuAAidn a na h nu wa a b a on a h atha min qablu in h atha ill a as at eeru alawwaleen a
Indeed, this [very thing] we have been promised - we and our forefathers-long ago! This is nothing but fables of ancient times!"
  - Mohammad Asad
We have heard many such threats and so did our forefathers before us. These are nothing but legends of primitive people."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
We have already been promised this, as well as our forefathers earlier. This is nothing but ancient fables!'
  - Mustafa Khattab
We were already promised this, we and our forefathers. Lo! this is naught but fables of the men of old.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Such things have been promised to us and to our fathers before! They are nothing but tales of the ancients!"
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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23:84
قُل لِّمَنِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ Qul limani alar d u waman feeh a in kuntum taAAlamoon a
Say: "Unto whom belongs the earth and all that lives thereon?48 [Tell me this] if you happen to know [the answer]!"
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "and all who are on it".

Say: "To whom belong the earth and everything therein? Tell me if you know?"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Ask 'them, O Prophet', 'To whom belong the earth and all those on it, if you 'really' know?'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Say: Unto Whom (belongeth) the earth and whosoever is therein, if ye have knowledge?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Say: "To whom belong the earth and all beings therein? (Say) if ye know!"
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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23:85
سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ Sayaqooloona lill a hi qul afal a ta th akkaroon a
[And] they will reply: "Unto God.Say: "Will you not, then, bethink yourselves [of Him]?"
  - Mohammad Asad
They will promptly reply: "to Allah!" Ask them: "Then why you don't use your common sense and believe in Him?"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They will reply, 'To Allah!' Say, 'Why are you not then mindful?'
  - Mustafa Khattab
They will say: Unto Allah. Say: Will ye not then remember?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
They will say "To Allah!" Say: "Yet will ye not receive admonition?" 2927
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If their argument is that such things about a future life cannot be known or proved, they are referred to the things which are actually before them. The tangible things of the earth-can they postulate their order or government except by a Power or Force or Energy outside them? They will admit that there is such a Power or Force or Energy. We call it Allah. Go a step further. We see a sublime Universe in the heavens above, stretching far, far beyond our ken. They will admit its existence and its grandeur. We ask them to entertain a feeling of reverence for the Power behind it, and to understand their own littleness and their dependence upon that Power.

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