Alim - Islamic software for Quran and Hadith
Back arrow Back
Bookmark iconBookmarks
Bookmark iconTranslation settings
Bookmark iconArabic font settings
Bookmark iconEnglish font settings
Bookmark iconReset global font settings
  • Al-Qur'anKids Qur'anAl Qur'an RecitersAl Qur'an VideosAl Qur'an TranslationsAl Qur'an Compare TranslationAl Qur'an TafsirAl-Quran Surah InformationAppendix
  • Hadith CollectionAl-Muwatta HadithFiqh-us-SunnahSahih Bukhari HadithSahih Muslim HadithNawawi HadithAl-TirmidhiHadith QudsiSunan of Abu Dawood HadithSunan an-Nasai HadithSunan Ibn Majah Hadith
  • Islamic HistoryAbout IslamKhalifa Abu BakrKhalifa Umar bin al-KhattabKhalifa Uthman ibn AffanKhalifa Ali bin Abu TalibProphet CompanionsStories of ProphetsHistory TimelineIslam PostersIslamic Terms DictionaryProphet's Last SermonPilgrimage
  • Duas CollectionQur'anic DuasMasnoon (Prophetic) DuasRamadan Days
  • Discussions
  • Search
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
What's new Donate Contact Us Alim Mobile App
mobile app svg

Surah 40. Ghafir

Home ➜
Al-Qur'an ➜
Previous Next
Your browser does not support the audio element.

Qur'an

Translation

Home ➜
Al-Qur'an ➜
Alim - Islamic software for Quran and Hadith
Loding surahs.
Loding juz list.
Loding page list.

Your search did not yield any results.

Print
40:66
قُلْ إِنِّى نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَمَّا جَآءَنِىَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ مِن رَّبِّى وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ Qul innee nuheetu an aAAbuda alla th eena tadAAoona min dooni All a hi lamm a j a aniya albayyin a tu min rabbee waomirtu an oslima lirabbi alAA a lameen a
Say: "Since all evidence of the truth has come to me from my Sustainer, I am forbidden to worship [any of] those beings whom you invoke instead of God; and I am bidden to surrender myself to the Sustainer of all the worlds."
  - Mohammad Asad
O Prophet, tell them: "I have been forbidden to invoke those whom you invoke besides Allah. How can I do this when clear revelations have come to me from my Rabb, and I have been commanded to submit myself to the Rabb of the worlds."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Say, 'O Prophet,' 'I have been forbidden to worship those 'idols' you worship besides Allah, since clear proofs have come to me from my Lord. And I have been commanded to 'fully' submit to the Lord of all worlds.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Say (O Muhammad): I am forbidden to worship those unto whom ye cry beside Allah since there have come unto me clear proofs from my Lord, and I am commanded to surrender to the Lord of the Worlds.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Say: "I have been forbidden to invoke those whom ye invoke besides Allah seeing that the Clear Signs have come to me from my Lord: and I have been commanded to bow (in Islam) to the Lord of the Worlds." 4443
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

All objects of worship besides Allah are mere delusions. To any one who sees this clearly, through Allah's Self-revelations, the only possible course is to give up everything else, which his own inner experience as well as outer Revelation tell him is false or of a temporary nature, and to bring his own will and actions into complete unison with Allah's Will: for that is the meaning of Islam, bowing to the Will of Allah. When we bow to the Real and Everlasting, we are automatically saved from falling victims to the False and Evanescent.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:67
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا۟ شُيُوخًا ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَجَلًا مُّسَمًّى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ Huwa alla th ee khalaqakum min tur a bin thumma min nu t fatin thumma min AAalaqatin thumma yukhrijukum t iflan thumma litablughoo ashuddakum thumma litakoonoo shuyookhan waminkum man yutawaff a min qablu walitablughoo ajalan musamman walaAAallakum taAAqiloon a
It is He who creates you out of dust,48 and then out of a drop of sperm, and then out of a germ-cell; and then He brings you forth as children; and then [He ordains] that you reach maturity, and then, that you grow old - though some of you [He causes to] die earlier-: and [all this He ordains] so that you might reach a term set [by Him],49 and that you might [learn to] use your reason.
  - Mohammad Asad

See note [4] on 23:12 .

Or: "a term known [only to Him]" - cf. 6:2 and the corresponding note [2].

It is He Who has created you from dust, then from a sperm, then from a leechlike mass, then He delivers you from the womb of your mother as a child, then He makes you grow to reach the age of full strength, then He makes you grow to reach an old age - though some of you die earlier - so that you may complete your appointed term and grow in wisdom.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
He is the One Who created you1 from dust, then from a sperm-drop,2 then 'developed you into' a clinging clot 'of blood',3 then He brings you forth as infants, so that you may reach your prime, and become old- though some of you 'may' die sooner- reaching an appointed time, so perhaps you may understand 'Allah's power'.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Your father, Adam.

 Nuṭfah refers to the union of male and female gametes (sperm and egg) which results in the zygote after fertilization.

 ’Alaqah, meaning the embryo resembles a leech.

He it is Who created you from dust, then from a drop (of seed) then from a clot, then bringeth you forth as a child, then (ordaineth) that ye attain full strength and afterward that ye become old men though some among you die before and that ye reach an appointed term, that haply ye may understand.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop then from a leech-like clot; then does He get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old though of you there are some who die before; and lets you reach a Term appointed: in order that ye may learn wisdom. 4444
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. this passage with xxii. 5 and notes 2773 and 2774. The various stages of man's physical life are: (1) first, simple matter (dust); (2) the sperm-drop in the father; (3) the fertilised ovum in the mother's womb; (4) out into the light, as a human child; (5) youth and full maturity; (6) decay; and (7) death. In some cases the later stages are curtailed or cut off; but in any case, a Term appointed is reached, so that the higher purpose of Allah's Will and Plan may be fulfilled in each given case, that man "may understand."

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:68
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ Huwa alla th ee yu h yee wayumeetu fai tha qa da amran fainnam a yaqoolu lahu kun fayakoon u
It is He who grants life and deals death; and when He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it, "Be" - and it is.
  - Mohammad Asad
It is He Who gives you life and causes you to die. It is He Who when He decides to do something, needs only to say: "Be," and it is.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
He is the One Who gives life and causes death. When He decrees a matter, He simply tells it, 'Be!' And it is!
  - Mustafa Khattab
He it is who quickeneth and giveth death. When He ordaineth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
It is He Who gives Life and Death; and when He decides upon an affair He says to it "Be" and it is. 4445
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The keys of life and death are in Allah's hands. But He is not dependent on time or place or instruments or materials. All that He has to do is to say "Be", and it comes into existence. Cf. xvi. 40, and n. 2066; xxxvi. 82, and n. 4029. Conversely, His Will or Command is sufficient to annihilate Existence into Non-Existence (Life into Death) or determine the limits or conditions of Existence or Non-Existence.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:69
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ أَنَّىٰ يُصْرَفُونَ Alam tara il a alla th eena yuj a diloona fee a y a ti All a hi ann a yu s rafoon a
ART THOU NOT aware of how far they who call God's messages in question have lost sight of the truth?50
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "how they are turned away" - i.e., from the truth: in this case, from all the observable evidence of God's almightiness and creative activity.

Do you not see how those who argue about the revelations of Allah turn away from the Right Way?
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Have you not seen how those who dispute Allah's signs are turned away?
  - Mustafa Khattab
Hast thou not seen those who wrangle concerning the revelations of Allah, how they are turned away?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Seest thou not those that dispute concerning the signs of Allah? How are they turned away (from Reality)? 4446
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Those who dispute about the Signs of Allah which are clear to all who care to see, are merely in the mists of Unreality: Cf. x. 32.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:70
ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَبِمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا بِهِۦ رُسُلَنَا ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ Alla th eena ka thth aboo bi a lkit a bi wabim a arsaln a bihi rusulan a fasawfa yaAAlamoon a
they who give the lie to this divine writ and [thus] to all [the messages] with which We sent forth Our apostles [of oldl?51 But in time they will come to know [how blind they have been: they will know it on Judgment Day],
  - Mohammad Asad

Since, as the Qur'an so often points out, the fundamental truths set forth in all divine revelations are the same, a rejection of the last of them amounts to a rejection of all the preceding ones.

Those who have denied the Book and the Message which We have sent through Our Rasools shall soon come to know the truth when they will be cast into the fire of hell:
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'They are' the ones who reject this Book and all 'scriptures' We sent Our messengers with. So they will know 'the consequences'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Those who deny the Scripture and that wherewith we send Our messengers. But they will come to know,
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Those who reject the Book and the (revelations) with which We sent Our apostles: But soon shall they know 4447
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"The Book" may refer to the Holy Qur-an or to the fundamental, Revelation the "Mother of the Book" (xiii. 39), while the Books revealed to the messengers are the definite Revelations that came down to men from time to time.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:71
إِذِ ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلُ فِىٓ أَعْنَـٰقِهِمْ وَٱلسَّلَـٰسِلُ يُسْحَبُونَ I th i alaghl a lu fee aAAn a qihim wa al ssal a silu yus h aboon a
when they shall have to carry the shackles and chains [of their own making] around their necks,52 and are dragged
  - Mohammad Asad

For an explanation of the allegory of "shackles" and "chains", see note [13] on 13:5 , note [44] on the last but one sentence of 34:33 , and notes [6] and [7] on 36:8 .

when, with yokes and chains around their necks, they shall be dragged
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
when shackles will be around their necks and chains 'on their legs'. They will be dragged
  - Mustafa Khattab
When carcans are about their necks and chains. They are dragged
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
When the yokes (shall be) round their necks and the chains; they shall be dragged along 4448
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The rejection of Allah's Message, however brought, carries its own penalty. The yoke of slavery to Sin and Evil is fastened more and more firmly round the rejecter's neck, because there is no one to safeguard his freedom, and the chains of superstitions and the ugly consequences of evil restrict his freedom and the limited faculty of choice which was given by Allah to man. This process receives its climax at the Hour of Judgment.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:72
فِى ٱلْحَمِيمِ ثُمَّ فِى ٱلنَّارِ يُسْجَرُونَ Fee al h ameemi thumma fee a l nn a ri yusjaroon a
into burning despair, and in the end become fuel for the fire [of hell].53
  - Mohammad Asad

Thus Mujahid (as quoted by Tabari) explains the verb yusjarun. As regards my rendering of hamim as "burning despair", see surah {6}, note [62].

through scalding fluid and burned in the fire of hell.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
through boiling water, then burned in the Fire 'as fuel'.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Through boiling waters; then they are thrust into the Fire.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
In the boiling fetid fluid then in the Fire shall they be burned; 4449
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The sinner gets dragged further and further in the disgusting consequences of his evil actions, until the fire of destruction closes in upon him.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:73
ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ Thumma qeela lahum ayna m a kuntum tushrikoon a
And then they will be asked: "Where now are those [powers] to which you were wont to ascribe divinity
  - Mohammad Asad
Then they shall be asked: "Where are those gods whom you invoked in worship
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Then they will be asked, 'Where are those 'idols' you used to associate
  - Mustafa Khattab
Then it is said unto them: Where are (all) that ye used to make partners (in the Sovereignty)
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Then shall it be said to them: "Where are the (deities) to which ye gave part-worship
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:74
مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنَّا بَل لَّمْ نَكُن نَّدْعُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ شَيْـًٔا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ Min dooni All a hi q a loo d alloo AAann a bal lam nakun nadAAoo min qablu shayan ka tha lika yu d illu All a hu alk a fireen a
side by side with God?" They will answer: "They have forsaken us - or, rather, what we were wont to invoke aforetime did not exist at all!"54 [And they will be told:] "It is thus that God lets the deniers of the truth go astray: 55
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "we have not been invoking aforetime any [real] thing": thus realizing, belatedly, the intrinsic nothingness of all those imaginary powers and values - including the belief in man's alleged self-sufficiency and greatness - to which they paid homage in life.

I.e., by allowing them to pursue illusions and foolish fancies in consequence of their unwillingness to acknowledge the self-evident truth of God's existence and uniqueness and of man's utter dependence on Him. For a discussion of the problem of God's "letting" a sinner go astray, see note [4] on 14:4 .

besides Allah?" They will answer: "They have forsaken us, now we have come to know that those to whom we used to invoke, were in fact nothing." Thus Allah confounds the disbelievers.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
with Allah?' They will cry, 'They have 'all' failed us. In fact, we did not invoke anything 'real' before.' This is how Allah leaves the disbelievers to stray.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Beside Allah? They say: They have failed us: but we used not to pray to anything before. Thus doth Allah send astray the disbelievers (in His guidance).
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"In derogation of Allah?" They will reply: "They have left us in the lurch: nay we invoked not of old anything (that had real existence)." Thus does Allah leave the Unbelievers to stray. 4450
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

All falsehoods will vanish: Cf. vii. 36. The only Reality will be fully manifest even to those to whom Evil was made to seem alluring in the lower life. They will feel in their inmost souls that they had been pursuing mere shadows, things of no real existence. This was the result of their rejecting the Light and the Grace of Allah: they got entangled in the mazes of error.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:75
ذَٰلِكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَمْرَحُونَ Tha likum bim a kuntum tafra h oona fee alar d i bighayri al h aqqi wabim a kuntum tamra h oon a
this is an outcome of your having arrogantly exulted on earth without any [concern for what is] right, and of your having been so full of self-conceit!
  - Mohammad Asad
It will be said: "You have met this fate because during your life on earth, you took delight in things other than the truth and you led a wanton life.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'They will be told,' 'This 'punishment' is for being prideful on earth unjustly and for acting arrogantly.
  - Mustafa Khattab
(And it is said unto them): This is because ye exulted in the earth without right, and because ye were petulant.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"That was because ye were wont to rejoice on the earth in things other than the Truth and that ye were wont to be insolent. 4451
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah does not withdraw His grace from any unless (1) they actively and deliberately take a delight in things that are vain or false, and (2) they insolently reject the things that are truer-in other words, unless men are deliberately false to their own lights, as illuminated by the Light of Allah.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:76
ٱدْخُلُوٓا۟ أَبْوَٰبَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ Odkhuloo abw a ba jahannama kh a lideena feeh a fabisa mathw a almutakabbireen a
Enter [now] the gates of hell, therein to abide: and how vile an abode for all who are given to false pride!"
  - Mohammad Asad
Now enter the gates of hell to live therein forever. What an evil abode will be for the arrogant!"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Enter the gates of Hell, to stay there forever. What an evil home for the arrogant!'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Enter ye the gates of hell, to dwell therein. Evil is the habitation of the scornful.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Enter ye the gates of Hell to dwell therein: and evil is (this) abode of the arrogant!" 4452
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxxix. 72.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:77
فَٱصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۚ فَإِمَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِلَيْنَا يُرْجَعُونَ Fa i s bir inna waAAda All a hi h aqqun faimm a nuriyannaka baAA d a alla th ee naAAiduhum aw natawaffayannaka failayn a yurjaAAoon a
HENCE, remain thou patient in adversity - for, verily, God's promise always comes true. And whether We show thee [in this world] something of what We hold in store for those [deniers of the truth], or whether We cause thee to die [ere that retribution takes place - know that, in the end], it is unto Us that they will be brought back.56
  - Mohammad Asad

See the almost identical passage in 10:46 , as well as the corresponding notes [66] and [67].

So be patient, O Prophet, Allah's promise is true. Whether We let you witness the evil consequences with which they are being threatened, or We recall you before We smite them, in any case, they shall all return to Us.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
So be patient 'O Prophet'. Surely Allah's promise is true. Whether We show you some of what We threaten them with, or cause you to die 'before that', to Us they will 'all' be returned.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Then have patience (O Muhammad). Lo! the promise of Allah is true. And whether we let thee see a part of that which We promise them, or (whether) We cause thee to die, still unto us they will be brought back.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
So persevere in patience! For the Promise of Allah is true: and whether We show thee (in this life) some part of what We promise them or We take thy soul (to Our Mercy) (Before that) (in any case) it is to Us that they shall (all) return. 4453
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. x. 46, and n. 1438. As the eventual justice and readjustment of values must take place, when every soul retums to the Judgment-Seat of Allah, it makes no difference if good and evil meet their deserts in this very life or not. Cf. also xiii. 40.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:78
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ مِنْهُم مَّن قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن لَّمْ نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْكَ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ قُضِىَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ Walaqad arsaln a rusulan min qablika minhum man qa s a s n a AAalayka waminhum man lam naq s u s AAalayka wam a k a na lirasoolin an yatiya bi a yatin ill a bii th ni All a hi fai tha j a a amru All a hi qu d iya bi a l h aqqi wakhasira hun a lika almub t iloon a
And, indeed, [O Muhammad,] We sent forth apostles before thy time, some of them We have mentioned to thee,57 and some of them We have not mentioned to thee. And it was not given to any apostle to bring forth a miracle other than by God's leave.58 Yet when God's will becomes manifest,59 judgment will [already] have been passed in all justice, and lost will be, then and there, all who tried to reduce to nothing [whatever they could not understand].60
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., in the Qur'an.

See 6:109 - "Miracles are in the power of God alone" - and the corresponding note [94]. Both passages (6:109 and the present one) relate to the futile demand of Muhammad's opponents to be shown a miracle in proof of the divine origin of the Qur'an - the implication being that it is not God's will to convince the deniers of the truth by means of what is commonly regarded as miracles ".

Lit., "when God's command comes", i.e., whether it be in this world or on the Day of Judgment: a reference to the retribution spoken of in verse {77} above.

I.e., in this case, divine revelation as such. For the above rendering of al-mubtilun, see note [47] on the last sentence of 29:48 .

O Prophet, We have sent many Rasools before you; of them there are some whose stories We have relayed to you and others whose stories We have not relayed to you. It was not possible for any of those Rasools to bring a sign except by the leave of Allah. Then when the command of Allah came, the matter was decided with justice, and it was the wrongdoers who suffered the loss.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
We already sent messengers before you. We have told you the stories of some of them, while others We have not. It was not for any messenger to bring a sign without Allah's permission. But when Allah's decree comes, judgment will be passed with fairness, and the people of falsehood will then be in 'total' loss.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Verily We sent messengers before thee, among them those of whom We have told thee, and some of whom We have not told thee; and it was not given to any messenger that he should bring a portent cave by Allah's leave, but when Allah's commandment cometh (the cause) is judged aright, and the followers of vanity will then be lost.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
We did aforetime send apostles before thee: of them there are some whose story We have related to thee and some whose story We have not related to thee. It was not (possible) for any apostle to bring a Sign except by the leave of Allah: but when the Command of Allah issued the matter was decided in truth and justice and there perished there and then those who stood on Falsehoods. 4454 4455
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. iv. 164. Allah sent Messengers of His Truth to every people. There are some whose names are known to us through the holy Qur-an, but there are a large number whose names are not made known to us through that medium. We must recognise the Truth wherever we find it.

The Signs of Allah are everywhere, and can be seen by the discerning eye at all times. But if any extraordinary Signs are demanded by cynics or Unbelievers, they will not be granted merely because they are demanded. It is Allah's Will that issues them, not merely the desire of human beings, even if he be a Messenger of Allah. But when an extraordinary Sign does issue by the Command of Allah, it means that the cup of the iniquitous is full; that their case is decided, and their time of respite is past; and that Justice takes the place of Mercy, and evil is blotted out.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:79
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمَ لِتَرْكَبُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ All a hu alla th ee jaAAala lakumu alanAA a ma litarkaboo minh a waminh a takuloon a
It is God who [at all times works wonders for you 61 thus, He] provides for you [all manner of] livestock, so that on some of them you may ride, and from some derive your food,
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., by providing in a wondrous manner the means of man's subsistence, and by endowing him with the miracle of a creative intellect which enables him to make fruitful use of so many natural phenomena. (This passage connects with the statement implied in verse {78} that "miracles are in the power of God alone": see note [58].)

It is Allah Who has provided you with cattle, that you may use some for riding and some for food;
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
It is Allah Who made cattle for you so that you may ride some and eat others.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Allah it is Who hath appointed for you cattle, that ye may ride on some of them, and eat of some--
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
It is Allah Who made cattle for you that ye may use some for riding and some for food; 4456
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xvi. 5-8. The fact that beasts, which in their wild state are so noxious, are, when domesticated, so useful to man, is itself one of the great and standing Signs of Allah's care for man. The great usefulness of cattle is very instructive. They serve for riding, and many of them for food; further, they are used for the plough, and they produce milk, or wool, or hair; and from their carcases man derives bones and horns for many industrial uses; but passing on to higher aspects of life, they further social, moral, and spiritual uses as draught-animals, in that transport serves one of the fundamental purposes of civilisation, being in this respect like ships for international commerce: xxx. 46, and n. 3565. It is by means of human intercourse through transport that we can carry out the highest needs of our culture, "any need there may be in our hearts", i.e., in our inner being.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
40:80
وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـٰفِعُ وَلِتَبْلُغُوا۟ عَلَيْهَا حَاجَةً فِى صُدُورِكُمْ وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى ٱلْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُونَ Walakum feeh a man a fiAAu walitablughoo AAalayh a ha jatan fee s udoorikum waAAalayh a waAAal a alfulki tu h maloon a
and find [yet other] benefits in them;62 and that through them you may attain to the fulfilment of [many] a heartfelt need:63 for on them, as on ships, you are borne [through life].
  - Mohammad Asad

The "other benefits" are both concrete and abstract in their nature: concrete benefits like wool, skins, etc., and abstract ones like beauty (cf. {16:6-8}, as well as Solomon's reverence for the God-created beauty of horses expressed in {38:31-33}) or the all-time companionship of man and dog symbolized in the legend of the Men of the Cave ( 18:18 and {22}).

Lit., "a need in your bosoms" [or "hearts"]: i.e., a genuine need.

and there are also other advantages in them for you; they take you where you wish to go carrying you on their backs as ships carry you by the sea.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Also, you find in them 'other' benefits.1 And by means of them you may reach destinations you desire. And you are carried upon 'some of' them and upon ships.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., milk, wool, and hide.

(Many) benefits ye have from them and that ye may satisfy by their means a need that is in your breasts, and may be borne upon them as upon the ship.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And there are (other) advantages in them for you (besides); that ye may through them attain to any need (there may be) in your hearts; and on them and on ships ye are carried.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Previous Next

Tafsir

Ghafir

Loading tafsir.

Comments for Surah 40

Loading Comments.

Your Notes

Please wait...

Grammar

Ghafir

Scroll to top arrow

Do you want to resume from last visited ayah?

Do you want to resume tafsir of surah

Alim logo

Related Islamic Resources

Loading...

Resources

Insights

  • Funeral Services
  • Arabic Playhouse
  • Collaborations
  • Alim Mobile App
  • Get Involved
  • Ad Plans
  • Blog Pricing
  • Blogs
  • Insight of the Day
  • Hadith of the Day
  • Infographics
  • References
  • FAQ
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us