Surah 37. As-Saffat

But now our Sustainer's word has come true against us [as well]: verily, we are bound to taste [the fruit of our sins].

  - Mohammad Asad

true is the verdict which Our Rabb has passed upon us, we shall indeed taste the punishment of our sins:

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The decree of our Lord has come to pass against us 'all': we will certainly taste 'the punishment'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Now the Word of our Lord hath been fulfilled concerning us. Lo! we are about to taste (the doom).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"So now has been proved true against us the Word of our Lord that we shall indeed (have to) taste (the punishment of our sins): ⁴⁰⁵⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah's decree of justice requires that every soul should taste the consequences of its own sins, and that decree must be fulfilled. No excuses can serve. It is only Allah's mercy that can save.

So then, [if it be true that] we have caused you to err grievously - behold, we ourselves had been lost in grievous error!"¹³

  - Mohammad Asad

For an explanation see {28:62-64} and the corresponding notes.

We misled you, for we ourselves were astray."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

We caused you to deviate, for we ourselves were deviant.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Thus we misled you. Lo! we were (ourselves) astray.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"We led you astray: for truly we were ourselves astray." ⁴⁰⁵⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Further, the misleaders can well urge against those who reproach them for misleading them: "How could you expect anything better from us? You were already warned by Allah's Message that we were astray."

And, verily, on that Day they all will share in their common suffering.

  - Mohammad Asad

So on that Day they shall all be partners in the punishment.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Surely on that Day they will 'all' share in the punishment.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Then lo! this day they (both) are sharers in the doom.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Truly that day they will (all) share in the Penalty.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Verily, thus shall We deal with all who were lost in sin:

  - Mohammad Asad

Thus, shall We deal with the criminals;

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

That is certainly how We deal with the wicked.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! thus deal We with the guilty.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Verily that is how We shall deal with Sinners.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

for, behold, whenever they were told, "There is no deity save God," they would glory in their arrogance

  - Mohammad Asad

for when they were told: "There is no god except Allah," they used to puff themselves up with pride

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

For whenever it was said to them 'in the world', 'There is no god 'worthy of worship' except Allah,' they acted arrogantly

  - Mustafa Khattab

For when it was said unto them, There is no god save Allah, they were scornful

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

For they when they were told that there is no god except Allah would puff themselves up with Pride. ⁴⁰⁵⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Selfish arrogance was the seed of sin and rebellion: ii. 34 (of Satan): xxviii. 39 (of Pharaoh); etc. It is that kind of arrogance which prevents man from mending his life and conduct. When he speaks of ancestral ways, or public opinion, or national honour, he is usually thinking of himself or of a small clique which thrives on injustice. The recognition of Allah, the one true God, as the only standard of life and conduct, the Eternal Reality, cuts out Self, and is therefore disagreeable to Sin. If false gods are imagined, who themselves would have weaknesses that fit in with sin, they give countenance to evils, and it becomes difficult to give them up, unless Allah's grace comes to our assistance.

and would say, "Shall we, then, give up our deities at the bidding of a mad poet?"¹⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "for [or "for the sake of"] a mad poet" - thus alluding to the allegation that the Qur'an is a product of Muhammad's mind (see note [38] on 36:69 ). The reference to "deities" comprises, in this context, everything that man may "worship" in both the literal and the metaphorical senses of this word.

and say: "What! Should we give up our gods for the sake of a mad poet?"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and argued, 'Should we really abandon our gods for a mad poet?'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And said: Shall we forsake our gods for a mad poet?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And say: "What! shall we give up our gods for the sake of a Poet possessed?" ⁴⁰⁵⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Possessed of an evil spirit, or mad. Such was the charge which the Unbelievers sometimes levelled at the holy Prophet in the early stages of his preaching.

Nay, but he [whom you call a mad poet] has brought the truth; and he confirms the truth of [what the earlier of God's] message-bearers [have taught.¹⁵

  - Mohammad Asad

See surah {2}, note [5]. It is to be borne in mind that this refers to the fundamental teachings, which have always been the same in every true religion, and not to the many time-bound laws evident in the earlier religious codes.

Whereas he had come with the truth and had confirmed the message of prior Rasools.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

In fact, he came with the truth, confirming 'earlier' messengers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed those sent (before him).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Nay! He has come with the (very) Truth and he confirms (the Message of) the apostles (before Him). ⁴⁰⁵⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The message of Islam, so far from being "mad" or in any way peculiar, is eminently conformable to reason and the true facts of nature as created by Allah. It is the Truth in the purest sense of the term, and confirms the Message of all true Messengers that ever lived.

Behold, you will indeed taste grievous suffering [in the life to come],

  - Mohammad Asad

Then it will be said: "You are surely going to taste the painful punishment:

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

You will certainly taste the painful torment,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! (now) verily ye taste the painful doom--

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Ye shall indeed taste of the Grievous Penalty

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

although you shall not be requited for aught but what you were wont to do.

  - Mohammad Asad

and this reward is nothing except what you had done.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and will only be rewarded for what you used to do.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ye are requited naught save what ye did--

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought ⁴⁰⁵⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Justice demands that those who sow evil should reap the fruit, but the punishment is due to their own conduct and not to anything external to themselves.

Not so, however, God's true servants:¹⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

But the sincere devotees of Allah

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But not the chosen servants of Allah.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Save single-minded slaves of Allah;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But the sincere (and devoted) servants of Allah

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

[in the hereafter,] theirs shall be a sustenance which they will recognize¹⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "a known sustenance". For a tentative explanation of this phrase, see note [17] on 2:25 .

shall have familiar sustenance

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They will have a known provision:

  - Mustafa Khattab

For them there is a known provision,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

For them is a Sustenance Determined ^{4060 4061}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Sustenance": correlated with the Fruits mentioned below: see next verse.

"Determined": Ma'lum: the reward of the Blessed will not be a chance or a fleeting thing. It will follow a firm Decree of Allah, on principles that can be known and understood.

as the fruits [of their life on earth]; and honoured shall they be

  - Mohammad Asad

- fruits, and shall be honored

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

fruits 'of every type'.¹ And they will be honoured

  - Mustafa Khattab

 This implies all sorts of delicacies, not just fruits.

Fruits. And they will be honored

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Fruits (Delights) and they (shall enjoy) honor and dignity. ⁴⁰⁶²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Fruits": Cf. xxxvi. 57, and n. 4003. The Garden's Delights are figured forth from parallel experiences in our present life, and follow an ascending order: Food and Fruits; Gardens of Bliss, (with all their charm, design, greenery, birds' songs, fountains, etc.); the Home of Happiness and Dignity, with congenial company seated on Thrones; Delicious Drinks from crystal Springs, for social pleasure; and the society of Companions of the opposite sex, with beauty and charm but none of the grossness too often incidental to such companionship in this life.

in gardens of bliss.

  - Mohammad Asad

in the gardens of delight.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

in the Gardens of Bliss,

  - Mustafa Khattab

In the Gardens of delight,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

In Gardens of Felicity.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

facing one another lin love] upon thrones of happiness.¹⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

For my occasional rendering of the plural noun surur as "thrones of happiness", see note [34] on 15:47 .

Reclining face to face upon soft couches,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

facing each other on thrones.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Facing each other implies that no one will have anything in their hearts against others.

On couches facing one another

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Facing each other on Thrones (of dignity):

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A cup will be passed round among them [with a drink] from unsullied springs,

  - Mohammad Asad

they shall be served with goblets filled at a fountain of wine,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

A drink 'of pure wine' will be passed around to them from a flowing stream:

  - Mustafa Khattab

A cup from a gushing spring is brought round for them,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali