Surah 26. Ash-Shuara

Said they: "Indeed, if thou desist not, O Noah, thou wilt surely be stoned to death!"⁵¹

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "thou wilt surely be among those who are stoned [to death]".

They said: "O Nuh! If you do not stop, you shall be stoned to death."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They threatened, 'If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be stoned 'to death'.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

They said: If thou cease not, O Noah, thou wilt surely be among those stoned (to death).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

They said: "If thou desist not O Noah! thou shalt be stoned (to death)." ³¹⁹¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Two other cases occur to me where prophets of Allah were threatened with death by stoning: one was Abraham (xix. 46), and the other was Shu'aib (xi. 91). In neither case did the threats deter them from carrying out their mission. On the contrary the threats recoiled on those who threatened. So also did it happen in the case of Noah and the holy Prophet.

[Whereupon] he prayed: "O my Sustainer! Behold, my people have given me the lie:

  - Mohammad Asad

Nuh prayed: "O Rabb! My people have disobeyed me.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Noah prayed, 'My Lord! My people have truly rejected me.

  - Mustafa Khattab

He said: My Lord! Lo! my own folk deny me.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

He said: "O my Lord! truly my people have rejected me.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

hence, lay Thou wide open the truth between me and them,⁵² and save me and those of the believers who are with me!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Or: "decide Thou with a [clear] decision between me and them". My choice of the primary significance of iftah ("lay open", i.e., the truth) has been explained in note [72] on the last sentence of 7:89

Decide the case between me and them openly. Deliver me and the believers who are with me."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So judge between me and them decisively, and save me and the believers with me.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Therefor judge Thou between us, a (conclusive) judgment, and save me and those believers who are with me.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Judge thou then between me and them openly and deliver me and those of the Believers who are with me."

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And so We saved him and those [who were] with him in the fully-laden ark,

  - Mohammad Asad

So We granted his prayer, delivered him and those with him in the laden ark,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So We saved him and those with him in the fully loaded Ark.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

So we delivered him and those with him in the Ark filled (with all creatures). ³¹⁹²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The story of Noah's Flood is told in xi. 36-48. Here the point emphasised is Noah's patience and constancy against threats, and the triumph and preservation of Allah's Truth even though the world was raging against it.

and then We caused those who stayed behind to drown.⁵³

  - Mohammad Asad

The story of Noah and his people, as well as of the Deluge, is given in greater detail in {11:25-48}.

and drowned the rest in the flood.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then afterwards We drowned the rest.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Then afterward We drowned the others.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Thereafter We drowned those who remained behind.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men],⁵⁴ even though most of them will not believe [in it].

  - Mohammad Asad

For the message specifically alluded to here, see verses {111-115}, as well as note [50] above.

Surely in this story there is a great lesson, but most of these people do not learn a lesson and become believers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Surely in this is a sign. Yet most of them would not believe.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe. ³¹⁹³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Ibis and the following verse run like a refrain throughout this Sura, and give the key-note to the subject-matter: how the Message of Allah is preached, how it is rejected in all ages, and how it triumphs at last, through the Mercy of Allah. See xxvi. 8-9, 68-69, 103-104, here (121-122), 139-140, 158-159, 174-175, and 190-191.

But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone-is almighty, a dispenser of grace!

  - Mohammad Asad

The fact is that your Rabb is the Mighty as well as the Merciful.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And your Lord is certainly the Almighty, Most Merciful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And lo, thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And verily thy Lord is He the Exalted in Might Most Merciful.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

[AND the tribe of] Ad gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers

  - Mohammad Asad

The people of 'Ad, too, disbelieved their Rasools.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The people of 'Âd rejected the messengers

  - Mustafa Khattab

(The tribe of) Aad denied the messengers (of Allah),

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

The `Ad (people) rejected the apostles. ³¹⁹⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 1040 to vii. 65 for the 'Ad people and their location. Here the emphasis is on the fact that they were materialists believing in brute force, and felt secure in their fortresses and resources, but were found quite helpless when Allah's Message came and they rejected it.

when their brother Hud⁵⁵ said unto them: "Will you not be conscious of God?

  - Mohammad Asad

See 7:65 and the corresponding note [48].

Remember when their brother Hud asked them: "Have you no fear of Allah?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

when their brother Hûd said to them, 'Will you not fear 'Allah'?

  - Mustafa Khattab

When their brother Hud said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Behold their brother Hud said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:

  - Mohammad Asad

Rest assured that I am a trustworthy Rasool of Allah towards you.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"I am to you an apostle worthy of all trust. ³¹⁹⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 3187 to xxvi. 107 above.

be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!.

  - Mohammad Asad

So fear Allah and obey me.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So fear Allah, and obey me.

  - Mustafa Khattab

So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"So fear Allah and obey me.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.

  - Mohammad Asad

I do not ask you any reward for my services, for my reward will be given by the Rabb of the Worlds.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

I do not ask you for any reward for this 'message'. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Will you, in your wanton folly, build [idolatrous] altars on every height,⁵⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

The noun ayah, which primarily denotes "a sign" or "a token", evidently refers here to the ancient Semitic custom of worshipping the tribal gods on hilltops, which were crowned to this end by sacrificial altars or monuments, each of them devoted to a particular deity: hence my rendering of ayah, in this particular context, as "altars" (in the plural).

Are you erecting a monument on every high place for fun?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

'Why' do you build a landmark on every high place in vanity,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Build ye on every high place a monument for vain delight?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Do ye build a landmark on every high place to amuse yourselves? ³¹⁹⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Any merely material civilisation prides itself on show and parade. Its votaries scatter monuments for all sorts of things in conspicuous places-monuments which commemorate deeds and events which are forgotten in a few generations! Cf. Shelley's poem on Ozymandias: "I am Ozymandias, King of Kings! Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair! .... Boundless and bare the lonely and level sands stretch far away!"

and make for yourselves mighty castles, [hoping] that you might become immortal?⁵⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

The meaning could be either "hoping that you might live in them forever", or "that you might gain immortal renown for having built them".

Are you building strong fortresses as if you are going to live here forever?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and construct castles, as if you are going to live forever,

  - Mustafa Khattab

And seek ye out strongholds, that haply ye may last for ever?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"And do ye get for yourselves fine buildings in the hope of living therein (forever)?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And will you [always], whenever you lay hand [on others], lay hand [on them] cruelly, without any restraint?⁵⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

The term jabbar, when applied to man, as a rule denotes one who is haughty, overbearing, exorbitant and cruel, and does not submit to any moral restraints in his dealings with those who are weaker than himself. Sometimes (as, e.g., in 11:59 or 14:15 ) this term is used to describe a person's negative ethical attitude, and in that case it may be rendered as "enemy of the truth". In the present instance, however, stress is laid on the tyrannical behaviour of the tribe of 'Ad, evidently relating to their warlike conflicts with other people: and in this sense it expresses a Qur'anic prohibition, valid for all times, of all unnecessary cruelty in warfare, coupled with the positive, clearly-implied injuction to subordinate every act of war - as well as the decision to wage war as such - to moral considerations and restraints.

Whenever you lay your hands on anyone, you act like cruel tyrants.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and act so viciously when you attack 'others'?

  - Mustafa Khattab

And if ye seize by force, seize ye as tyrants?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"And when ye exert your strong hand do ye do it like men of absolute power? ³¹⁹⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Without any responsibility or consideration for those who come within your power?"

"Be, then, conscious of God and pay heed unto me:

  - Mohammad Asad

Have fear of Allah and obey me.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So fear Allah, and obey me.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Rather keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Now fear Allah and obey me. ³¹⁹⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 3188 above.

and [thus] be conscious of Him who has [so] amply provided you with all [the good] that you might think of ⁵⁹ -

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "with all that you know" or "that you are [or "might be"] aware of".

Fear the One Who has given you all the things that you know.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Fear the One Who has provided you with 'the good' things you know:

  - Mustafa Khattab

Keep your duty toward Him who hath aided you with (the good things) that ye know,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Yea fear Him Who has bestowed on you freely all that ye know. ³¹⁹⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The gifts are described generally, immaterial and material. "All that ye know" includes not only material things, but knowledge and the faculties by which knowledge may be used for human well-being, all that makes life beautiful and refined. "Cattle" means wealth generally, and "sons" means population and man-power. "Gardens and Springs" are things that contribute to the delight and pleasure of man.

amply provided you with flocks, and children,

  - Mohammad Asad

He has given you flocks and children,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He provided you with cattle, and children,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Hath aided you with cattle and sons.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Freely has He bestowed on you cattle and sons

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and gardens, and springs -:

  - Mohammad Asad

gardens and fountains.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and gardens, and springs.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And gardens and watersprings.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And Gardens and Springs.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

for, verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome day!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Truly I fear for you the torment of a dreadful Day."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

I truly fear for you the torment of a tremendous day.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! I fear for you the retribution of an awful day.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Truly I fear for you the Penalty of a Great Day." ³²⁰⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"But you have misused all those gifts, and you will suffer the inevitable penalties for your misuse and or your ingratitude. "