Surah 40. Ghafir

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.

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: "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.

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.

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."

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

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.

Have you not seen how those who dispute Allah's signs are turned away?

  - Mustafa Khattab

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.

'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 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.