Surah 40. Ghafir

We certainly help Our messengers and the believers, 'both' in this worldly life and on the Day the witnesses will stand forth 'for testimony'-

  - Mustafa Khattab

We will without doubt help Our apostles and those who believe (both) in this world's life and on the Day when the Witnesses will stand forth ⁴⁴²⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Day of Judgment is described as "the Day when Witnesses will stand forth". This description implies two things: (1) that there man will be judged justly; his past actions and his faculties and opportunities will be witnesses as to the use he made of them (xxiv. 24); in fact he will himself be a witness against himself (vi. 130); and the prophets and just men will bear witness to the fact that they preached and warned men (xxxix. 69; ii. 133).

the Day the wrongdoers' excuses will be of no benefit to them. They will be condemned, and will have the worst outcome.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., the Hellfire.

The Day when no profit will it be to Wrongdoers to present their excuses but they will (only) have the Curse and the Home of Misery. ⁴⁴²⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

After the testimony mentioned in the last note, there will be no room for excuses, and if any were made, they could serve no purpose, unlike the state of matters in this world, where there is much make-believe, and Falsehood often masquerades as Truth and is accepted as such even by those who should know better.

And indeed, We gave Moses 'true' guidance, and made the Children of Israel inherit the Scripture-

  - Mustafa Khattab

We did aforetime give Moses the (Book of) Guidance and We gave the Book in inheritance to the Children of Israel ⁴⁴²⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Moses was given a Revelation, and it was given in heritage to the Children of Israel, to preserve it, guide their conduct by it, and hold aloft its Message: but they failed in all these particulars.

a guide and a reminder to people of reason.

  - Mustafa Khattab

A Guide and a Message to men of understanding.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

So be patient 'O Prophet', 'for' Allah's promise is certainly true. Seek forgiveness for your shortcomings.¹ And glorify the praises of your Lord morning and evening.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Like other prophets, Muḥammad (ﷺ) was infallible of sin. The verse here refers to misjudgments, such as the Prophet’s response to the blind man (80:1-10), Jonah’s departure from his city without Allah’s permission (21:87-88), and David’s suspicions of the two men who scaled the wall of his sanctuary (38:21-25). If the Prophet (ﷺ) himself is urged to seek forgiveness, then the believers are even more in need of praying for Allah’s forgiveness.

Patiently then persevere: for the Promise of Allah is true: and ask forgiveness for thy fault and celebrate the Praises of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning. ^{4427 4428 4429}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Israelites corrupted or lost their Book; they disobeyed Allah's Law; and failed to proclaim and exemplify Allah's Message. That is why the new Revelation came to the holy Prophet. If, in the beginning, it was rejected and persecuted, there was no cause for discouragement; on the contrary, there was all the greater need for patience and perseverance.

Every mortal according to his nature and degree of spiritual enlightenment falls short of the perfect standard of Allah (xvi. 61), and should therefore ask Allah for forgiveness. What is merit in an ordinary man may be a human shortcoming in one nearest to Allah: see xxxviii. 24-25, and notes 4175-76. Prophets have a further responsibility for their People or their Ummat, and they ask in a representative capacity.

Cf. iii. 41. Evening and morning are the best times for contemplation and prayer. But the phrase "evening and morning" may mean "at all times".

Surely those who dispute Allah's signs- with no proof given to them- have nothing in their hearts but greed for dominance, which they will never attain. So seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Those who dispute about the Signs of Allah without any authority bestowed on them there is nothing in their breasts but (the quest of) greatness which they shall never attain to: seek refuge then in Allah: it is He Who hears and sees (all things). ⁴⁴³⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Disputes are actuated by nothing but the desire for self-glory and self- aggrandizement. Their desire is not likely to receive fruition, but others should take warning from it.

The creation of the heavens and the earth is certainly greater than the re-creation of humankind, but most people do not know.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most men understand not. ⁴⁴³¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The heavens and the earth include mankind and all other creatures and millions of stars. Man is himself but a tiny part of creation. Why should he be so ego-centric? The whole is greater than a tiny part of it. And Allah Who created the whole of the Worlds is able to do much more wonderful things than can enter the imagination of man. Why should man be arrogant and doubt the Resurrection, and take upon himself to doubt the possibility of Allah's Revelation? It is only because he has made himself blind. See next verse.

Those blind 'to the truth' and those who can see are not equal, nor are those who believe and do good 'equal' to those who do evil. Yet you are hardly mindful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Not equal are the blind and those who (clearly) see: nor are (equal) those who believe and work deeds of righteousness and those who do evil. Little do ye learn by admonition! ⁴⁴³²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The man of Faith who backs his faith by righteous conduct is like the man of clear vision, who sees things in their true perspective and walks with firm steps in the Way of Allah. The man who does evil is like a blind man: the Light of Allah is all around him, but he is blind, and he can see nothing. He has rejected Faith and cannot even learn by other people's admonition.

The Hour is certainly coming, there is no doubt about it. But most people do not believe.

  - Mustafa Khattab

The Hour will certainly come: therein is no doubt: yet most men believe not. ⁴⁴³³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"The Hour" is the crown and consummation of man's life on this earth,-the gateway to the Hereafter.

Your Lord has proclaimed, 'Call upon Me, I will respond to you. Surely those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell, fully humbled.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): But those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell in humiliation!" ⁴⁴³⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As this life is not the end of all things, and we are to have its fulfilment in the Hereafter: we have only to pray to the Lord of the Present and the Hereafter, and He will hear us, forgive us, guide us, and make our Path smooth. But Pride will have its fall,-and its humiliating Punishment: Cf. xxxvii. 18.

It is Allah Who has made the night for you to rest in and the day bright. Surely Allah is ever Bountiful to humanity, but most people are ungrateful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

It is Allah Who has made the Night for you that ye may rest therein and the Day as that which helps (you) to see. Verily Allah is Full of Grace and Bounty to men: yet most men give no thanks. ⁴⁴³⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The succession of Day and Night in our physical life is frequently appealed to, as a symbol to draw our attention to the Mercy and Bounty of Allah. If we viewed these things aright, we should serve Allah and seek Light from Him and Rest from Him, and celebrate His praises with gratitude.

That is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things. There is no god 'worthy of worship' except Him. How can you then be deluded 'from the truth'?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Such is Allah your Lord the Creator of all things there is no god but He: then how ye are deluded away from the Truth! ⁴⁴³⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If we worship false gods, i.e., go after vanities, what is it that deludes us and leads us astray? What could it be but our rank ingratitude and failure to use the understanding which Allah has given us?

This is how those who used to reject Allah's signs were 'also' deluded.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Thus are deluded those who are wont to reject the Signs of Allah. ⁴⁴³⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See the last two notes. If men are deluded by Falsehoods, it is because they reject Revelation and refuse to learn from the Signs of Allah all around them.

It is Allah Who made the earth a place of settlement for you and the sky a canopy. He shaped you 'in the womb', perfecting your form. And He has provided you with what is good and lawful. That is Allah- your Lord. So Blessed is Allah, Lord of all worlds.

  - Mustafa Khattab

It is Allah Who has made for you the earth as a resting place and the sky as a canopy and has given you shapes and made your shapes beautiful and has provided for you Sustenance of things pure and good such is Allah your Lord. So Glory to Allah the Lord of the Worlds! ^{4438 4439 4440 4441}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The argument in the last two verses was from man's personal experiences of his physical life. In this and the next verse a parallel argument is addressed to man on a much higher plane: 'look at the spacious earth and the canopy of the sky; look at the special position you occupy above other animals that you know, in shape and form, and moral and spiritual capacities; consider your refinements in food and fruits and the higher spiritual Sustenance of which your physical food is a type; would you not indeed say that the Lord is good, and would you not glorify His holy name?'

A resting place: I understand this to imply a temporary place of rest or sojourn, a period of probation, to be followed by the eternal Home.

Cf. vii. 1 1 and n. 996. The shape and form refer to the physical form as well as to the inborn moral and spiritual capacities of man. As regards physical form, Cf. Milton's description of Adam and Eve, "Two of far noble shape, erect and tall" (Paradise Lost, iv. 288). As regards moral and spiritual capacities, they are typified by the breathing of Allah's spirit into man: xv. 29.

"Sustenance": all that is necessary for growth and development, physical, moral, and spiritual. Cf. n. 2105 to xvi. 73.

He is the Ever-Living. There is no god 'worthy of worship' except Him. So call upon Him with sincere devotion, 'saying,' 'All praise is for Allah- Lord of all worlds.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

He is the living (One): There is no god but He: Call upon Him giving Him sincere devotion. Praise be to Allah Lord of the Worlds! ⁴⁴⁴²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The real, self-subsisting Life is only in Him: Cf. ii. 255, and n. 296.