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Surah 46. Al-Ahqaf

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46:16
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱلصِّدْقِ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ Ol a ika alla th eena nataqabbalu AAanhum a h sana m a AAamiloo wanataj a wazu AAan sayyi a tihim fee a s ha bi aljannati waAAda a l ss idqi alla th ee k a noo yooAAadoon a
It is [such as] these from whom We shall accept the best that they ever did,20 and bad deeds We shall overlook: [they will find themselves] among those who are destined for paradise, in fulfilment of the true promise which they were given [in this world].
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., "whom We shall reward in accordance with the best that they ever did": cf. 29:7 .

Such are the people from whom We shall accept the best of their deeds and overlook their misdeeds. They shall be among the residents of paradise: true is the promise that has been made to them in this life.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
It is from these 'people' that We will accept the good they did, and overlook their misdeeds- along with the residents of Paradise, 'in fulfilment of' the true promise they have been given.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Those are they from whom We accept the best of what they do, and overlook their evil deeds. (They are) among the owners of the Garden. This is the true promise which they were promised (in the world).
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Such are they from whom We shall accept the best of their deeds and pass by their ill deeds: (they shall be) among the Companions of the Garden: a promise of truth which was made to them (in this life). 4792
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxix. 7 and n. 3429.

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46:17
وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ Wa a lla th ee q a la liw a lidayhi offin lakum a ataAAid a ninee an okhraja waqad khalati alquroonu min qablee wahum a yastagheeth a ni All a ha waylaka a min inna waAAda All a hi h aqqun fayaqoolu m a h atha ill a as at eeru alawwaleen a
But [there is many a one] who says to his parents [whenever they try to imbue him with faith in God]: "Fie upon both of you! Do you promise me that I shall be brought forth [from the dead], although [so many] generations have passed away before me?"21 And [while] they both pray for God's help [and say], "Alas for thee! For, behold, God's promise always comes true!" - he but answers, "All this is nothing but fables of ancient times!"
  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "without any indication that anyone has been or will be resurrected". This parabolical "dialogue" is not only meant to illustrate the ever-recurring - and perhaps natural - conflict between older and younger generations, but also points to the transmission of religious ideas as the most important function of parenthood, and thus, in a wider sense, as the basic element of all social continuity.

But those who rebukes his parents and say: "Uff (as if to say, do not bothering me)! Do you threaten me with a resurrection, whereas many a generations have passed before me and none has come back from among them?" And they both cry for Allah's help and say: "Woe to you! Be a good believer. Surely the promise of Allah is true." But he replies: "This is nothing but tales of the ancients."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
But some scold their parents, 'Enough with you! Are you warning me that I will be brought forth 'from the grave', while many generations had already perished before me 'for good'?' The parents cry to Allah for help, 'and warn their child,' 'Pity you. Have faith! Surely Allah's promise is true.' But the deniers insist, 'This is nothing but ancient fables.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
And whoso saith unto his parents: Fie upon you both! Do ye threaten me that I shall be brought forth (again) when generations before me have passed away? And they twain cry unto Allah for help (and say): Woe unto thee! Believe! Lo! the promise of Allah is true. But he saith: This is naught save fables of the men of old:
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
But (there is one) who says to his parents "Fie on you! Do ye hold out the promise to me that I shall be raised up even though generations have passed before me (without rising again)? " And they two seek Allah's aid (and rebuke the son): "Woe to thee! have Faith! For the promise of Allah is true." But he says "This is nothing but tales of the ancients!" 4793
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A godly man often has an ungodly son, who flouts all that the father held sacred, and looks upon his father himself as old-fashioned and unworthy of respect or regard. The contrast in an individual family may be matched by the contrast in the passing and the rising generations of mankind. All this happens as a passing phase in the nominal evolution of mankind, and there is nothing in this to be despondent about. What we have to do is for the mature generations to bring up their successors in godly ways, and for the younger generations to realise that age and experience count for something, especially in the understanding of spiritual matters and other matters of the highest moment to man.

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46:18
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ فِىٓ أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ Ol a ika alla th eena h aqqa AAalayhimu alqawlu fee umamin qad khalat min qablihim mina aljinni wa a linsi innahum k a noo kh a sireen a
It is [such as] these upon whom the sentence [of doom] will fall due, together with the [other sinful] communities of invisible beings22 and humans that have passed away before their time. Verily, they will be lost:
  - Mohammad Asad

See Appendix III.

Such are the people against whom the verdict of torment has proved true and they will be among the prior people of the jinns and the men that have passed away before them. Indeed they will be the losers.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
These are the ones against whom the fate of earlier communities of jinn and humans has been justified, 'for' they were truly losers.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Such are those on whom the Word concerning nations of the Jinn and mankind which have passed away before them hath effect. Lo! they are the losers.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Such are they against whom is proved the Sentence among the previous generations of Jinns and men that have passed away; for they will be (utterly) lost. 4794
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xli. 25 and n. 4494, Each individual, each generation, and each people is responsible for its own good deeds or misdeeds. The law of actions and their fruits applies: you cannot blame one for another. The only remedy lies in seeking for Allah's Grace and Mercy, not only for ourselves but for others in brotherly or fatherly love. This verse is in balanced contrast to verse 16 above.

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46:19
وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَـٰتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا۟ ۖ وَلِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ Walikullin daraj a tun mimm a AAamiloo waliyuwaffiyahum aAAm a lahum wahum l a yu th lamoon a
for, [in the life to come,] all shall have their degrees in accordance with whatever [good or evil] they did: and so,23 He will repay them in full for their doings, and none shall be wronged.
  - Mohammad Asad

The particle li prefixed to the subsequent verb is evidently what the grammarians call a lam al-'aqibah: i.e., not an indication of intent ("so that") but simply of a causal sequence, which is best rendered as "and", "and so", or "hence".

All will be assigned in ranks, according to their deeds, so that He may reward them fully for what they have done and they shall not be wronged.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Each 'of the two groups' will be ranked according to what they have done so He may fully reward all. And none will be wronged.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And for all there will be ranks from what they do, that He may pay them for their deeds! and they will not be wronged.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And to all are (assigned) degrees according to the deeds which they (have done) and in order that (Allah) may recompense their deeds and no injustice be done to them. 4795
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There is fine grading in the Hereafter. Every deed, good or bad, is judged and weighed to the minutest degree, with its motives, intentions, results, and relevant circumstances. It is not a mere rough classification. The fruits of evil will be exactly according to the degree of evil. But, as stated in other passages (e.g., xxviii. 84), the reward of good deeds will be far beyond their merits, on account of the Mercy and unbounded Bounty of Allah.

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46:20
وَيَوْمَ يُعْرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَذْهَبْتُمْ طَيِّبَـٰتِكُمْ فِى حَيَاتِكُمُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِهَا فَٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَفْسُقُونَ Wayawma yuAAra d u alla th eena kafaroo AAal a a l nn a ri a th habtum t ayyib a tikum fee h ay a tikumu a l dduny a wa i stamtaAAtum bih a fa a lyawma tujzawna AAa tha ba alhooni bim a kuntum tastakbiroona fee alar d i bighayri al h aqqi wabim a kuntum tafsuqoon a
And on the Day when those who were bent on denying the truth will be brought within sight of the fire, [they will be told:] "You have exhausted your [share of] good things in your worldly life, having enjoyed them [without any thought of the hereafter]: and so today you shall be requited with the suffering of humiliation for having gloried on earth in your arrogance,24 offending against all that is right, and for all your iniquitous doings!"
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., for having arrogantly, without any objective justification, asserted that there is no life after death.

On that Day when the disbelievers will be brought before the fire, they will be told: "You squandered away your good things in your earthly life and you enjoyed them for a while. Today you shall be recompensed with a punishment of humiliation because you behaved with arrogance for which you had no right during your life on earth and because of the transgressions you committed."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'Watch for' the Day 'when' the disbelievers will be exposed to the Fire. 'They will be told,' 'You 'already' exhausted your 'share of' pleasures during your worldly life, and 'fully' enjoyed them. So Today you will be rewarded with the torment of disgrace for your arrogance throughout the land with no right, and for your rebelliousness.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
And on the day when those who disbelieve are exposed to the Fire (it will be said): Ye squandered your good things in the life of the world and sought comfort therein. Now this day ye are rewarded with the doom of ignominy because ye were disdainful in the land without a right and because ye used to transgress.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And on the Day that the Unbelievers will be placed before the Fire (it will be said to them): "Ye received your good things in the life of the world and ye took your pleasure out of them: but today shall ye be recompensed with a Penalty of humiliation: for that ye were arrogant on earth without just cause and that ye (ever) transgressed." 4796 4797
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Squandered your good things" implies (in Arabic) grabbing at them, being greedy of them, seeking them as fleeting pleasures rather than the more serious things of life, sacrificing the spiritual for the material.

They will be told: 'You took your choice, and you must pay the price. You did wrong in a rebellious spirit, and prided yourselves on your wrong-doing, not occasionally, but of set purpose and constantly. Now you will be humbled in the dust, as a fitting punishment.'

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46:21
وَٱذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنذَرَ قَوْمَهُۥ بِٱلْأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ Wa o th kur akh a AA a din i th an th ara qawmahu bi a la h q a fi waqad khalati a l nnu th uru min bayni yadayhi wamin khalfihi all a taAAbudoo ill a All a ha innee akh a fu AAalaykum AAa tha ba yawmin AAa th eem in
AND REMEMBER that brother of [the tribe of] 'Ad,25 how - seeing that [other] warnings had already come and gone within his own knowledge as well as in times beyond his ken26 - he warned his people [who lived] among those sand-dunes: "Worship none but God! Verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome day!"
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., the Prophet Hud (see surah {7}, note [48]). The mention of Hud and the tribe of 'Ad connects with the last sentence of the preceding verse, inasmuch as this tribe "transgressed all bounds of equity all over their lands" ( 89:11 ).

Lit., "from between his hands and from behind him". This idiomatic phrase (explained in note [247] on 2:255 ) is evidently an allusion to the many warning messages, in Hud's own time as well as in the almost forgotten past, which ought to have made - but did not make - the tribe of 'Ad conscious of how far astray they had gone. We have here a subtle, parenthetic reminder that, apart from the revelations which He bestows upon His prophets, God offers His guidance to man through the many signs and warnings apparent in all nature as well as in the changing conditions of human society.

Tell them the story of 'Ad's brethren, the Prophet Hud, when he warned his people, the residents of Ahqaf - in fact Warners came to them before him and after him - saying: "Worship none but Allah. Surely I fear for you the torment of a mighty Day."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And remember the brother of 'Ȃd, when he warned his people, who inhabited the sand-hills1- there were certainly warners before and after him- 'saying,' 'Worship none but Allah. I truly fear for you the torment of a tremendous day.'
  - Mustafa Khattab

 The people of ’Ȃd were the residents of the hills in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

And make mention (O Muhammad) of the brother of Aad when he warned his folk among the wind curved sand hills and verily warners came and went before and after him saying: Serve none but Allah. Lo! I fear for you the doom of a tremendous Day.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Mention (Hud) one of `Ad's (own) brethren: behold he warned his people about the winding Sand-tracts: but there have been Warners before him and after him: "Worship ye none other than Allah: truly I fear for you the Penalty of a Mighty Day." 4798 4799
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vii. 65. and note 1040. The point is that the Warner who was raised among the 'Ad people-as among other peoples-was not a stranger, but one of their own brethren, even as the holy Prophet began his preaching with a call to his own brethren the Quraish.

Winding Sand-tracts: Ahqaf: see Introduction to this Sura. The very things, which, under irrigation and with Allah's Grace, gave them prosperity and power, were to be their undoing when they broke Allah's Law and defied His Grace. See verses 24-26 below.

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46:22
قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ Q a loo ajitan a litafikan a AAan a lihatin a fatin a bim a taAAidun a in kunta mina a l ssa diqeen a
They answered: "Hast thou come to seduce us away from our gods? Bring, then, upon us that [doom] with which thou threatenest us, if thou art a man of truth!"
  - Mohammad Asad
They replied: "Have you come to turn us away from our gods? Bring us the torment that you threaten us with, if you are telling the truth."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They argued, 'Have you come to turn us away from our gods? Bring us then whatever you threaten us with, if what you say is true.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
They said; Hast come to turn us away from our gods? Then bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us, if thou art of the truthful.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
They said: "Hast thou come in order to turn us aside from Our gods? Then bring upon us the (calamity) with which thou dost threaten us if thou art telling the truth!" 4800
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They were too much wedded to their evil ways-to the false gods that they worshipped-to appreciate the sincere advice of the prophet of Allah. They defied him and defied Allah Who had sent him. Mockingly they challenged him to bring on the threatened punishment! For they did not believe a word of what he said.

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46:23
قَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱلْعِلْمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُم مَّآ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ Q a la innam a alAAilmu AAinda All a hi waoballighukum m a orsiltu bihi wal a kinnee ar a kum qawman tajhaloon a
Said he: "Knowledge [of when it is to befall you] rests with God alone: I but convey unto you the message with which I have been entrusted; but I see that you are people ignorant [of right and wrong]!"
  - Mohammad Asad
The Prophet Hud said: "The Knowledge of when it is going to come is only with Allah. I am only conveying the Message with which I have been sent, however, I can see that you are ignorant people."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
He responded, 'The knowledge 'of its time' is only with Allah. I only convey to you what I have been sent with. But I can see that you are a people acting ignorantly.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
He said: The knowledge is with Allah only. I convey unto you that wherewith I have been sent, but I see you are a folk that know not.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
He said: "The Knowledge (of when it will come) is only with Allah: I proclaim to you the mission on which I have been sent: but I see that ye are a people in ignorance!"... 4801
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The coming of the Punishment for evil was (and is always) certain. At what particular time it would come he could not tell. It is not for the prophet, but for Allah, to bring on the Penalty. But he saw that it was useless to appeal to them on account of the ignorance in which they were content to dwell.

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46:24
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضًا مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا عَارِضٌ مُّمْطِرُنَا ۚ بَلْ هُوَ مَا ٱسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِۦ ۖ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ Falamm a raawhu AA a ri d an mustaqbila awdiyatihim q a loo h atha AA a ri d un mum t irun a bal huwa m a istaAAjaltum bihi ree h un feeh a AAa tha bun aleem un
And so, when they beheld it27 in the shape of a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they exclaimed, "This is but a heavy cloud which will bring us [welcome] rain!" [But Hud said:] "Nay, but it is the very thing which you [so contemptuously] sought to hasten - a wind bearing grievous suffering,
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., when they beheld, without recognizing it as such, the approach of their doom.

Then when they saw the torment in the shape of a cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: "This cloud will bring us rain." - "Nay! It is what you were asking for, a fierce wind bringing you a woeful torment.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Then when they saw the torment as a 'dense' cloud approaching their valleys, they said 'happily', 'This is a cloud bringing us rain.' 'But Hûd replied,' 'No, it is what you sought to hasten: a 'fierce' wind carrying a painful punishment!'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Then when they beheld it a dense cloud coming toward their valleys, they said; Here is a cloud bringing us rain. Nay, but it is that which ye did seek to hasten, a wind wherein is painful torment,
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Then when they saw the (Penalty in the shape of ) a cloud traversing the sky coming to meet their valleys they said "This cloud will give us rain!" "Nay it is the (calamity) ye were asking to be hastened! a wind wherein is a Grievous Penalty! 4802
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Punishment came suddenly, and when they least expected it. They wanted rain, and they saw a cloud and rejoiced. Behold, it was coming towards their own tracts, winding through the hills. Their irrigation channels would be full, their fields would be green, and their season would be fruitful. But no! What is this? It is a tremendous hurricane, carrying destruction on its wings! A violent blast, with dust and sand! Its fury destroys everything in its wake! Lives lost! Fields covered with sand-hills! The morning dawns on a scene of desolation! Where were the men who boasted and defied their Lord! There are only the ruins of their houses to witness to the past!

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46:25
تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۭ بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَـٰكِنُهُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ Tudammiru kulla shayin biamri rabbih a faa s ba h oo l a yur a ill a mas a kinuhum ka tha lika najzee alqawma almujrimeen a
bound to destroy everything at its Sustainer's behest!" And then they were so utterly wiped out28 that nothing could be seen save their [empty] dwellings: thus do We requite people lost in sin.
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "then they became so that .. .", etc. See {69:6-8}, describing the sandstorm which destroyed the tribe of 'Ad without leaving any trace of them.

It is going to destroy everything by the command of its Rabb. Consequently by the morning, there was nothing to be seen except the ruins of their dwellings. Thus did We reward those guilty people.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
It destroyed everything by the command of its Lord, leaving nothing visible except their ruins. This is how We reward the wicked people.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Destroying all things by commandment of its Lord. And morning found them so that naught could be seen save their dwellings. Thus do We reward the guilty folk.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Everything will it destroy by the command of its Lord!" Then by the morning they nothing was to be seen but (the ruins of) their houses! Thus do We recompense those given to sin! 4803
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Here is the figure of speech known in rhetoric as aposiopesis, to heighten the effect of the suddenness and completeness of the calamity. In the Arabic text, the verb asbahu, in the third person plural, leads us to expect that we shall be told what they were doing in the morning. But no! They had been wiped out, and any small remnant had fled (see n. 1040 to vii. 65). Nothing was to be seen but the ruins of their houses.

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46:26
وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّـٰهُمْ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّـٰكُمْ فِيهِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ سَمْعًا وَأَبْصَـٰرًا وَأَفْـِٔدَةً فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَلَآ أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ وَلَآ أَفْـِٔدَتُهُم مِّن شَىْءٍ إِذْ كَانُوا۟ يَجْحَدُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ Walaqad makkann a hum feem a in makkann a kum feehi wajaAAaln a lahum samAAan waab sa ran waafidatan fam a aghn a AAanhum samAAuhum wal a ab sa ruhum wal a afidatuhum min shayin i th k a noo yaj h adoona bi a y a ti All a hi wa ha qa bihim m a k a noo bihi yastahzioon a
And yet, We had established them securely in a manner in which We have never established you, people of later times;]29 and We had endowed them with hearing, and sight, and [knowledgeable] hearts:30 but neither their hearing, nor their sight, nor their hearts were of the least avail to them, seeing that they went on rejecting God's messages; and [in the end] they were overwhelmed31 by the very thing which they had been wont to deride.
  - Mohammad Asad

This relates in the first instance to the pagan contemporaries of the Prophet, but applies to later generations as well. - The tribe of 'Ad were the unchallenged lords in the vast region in which they lived (cf. 89:8 - "the like of whom has never been reared in all the land"). Moreover, the social conditions of their time were so simple and so free of the many uncertainties and dangers which beset people of higher civilizations that they could be regarded as more "securely established" on earth than people of later, more complex times.

I.e., intellect and feeling, both of which are comprised in the noun fu'ad.

Lit.. "enfolded".

We had established them much better than We have established you, O Qureysh of Makkah, and endowed them with the faculties of hearing, seeing, and intellect. Yet their faculties of hearing, sight and intellect avail them nothing since they denied the revelations of Allah; and they were completely hemmed in by the same thing that they used to mock at.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Indeed, We had established them1 in a way We have not established you 'Meccans'. And We gave them hearing, sight, and intellect. But neither their hearing, sight, nor intellect were of any benefit to them whatsoever, since they persisted in denying Allah's signs. And 'so' they were overwhelmed by what they used to ridicule.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 The people of Hûd.

And verily We bad empowered them with that where with We have not empowered you, and had assigned them ears and eyes and hearts; but their ears and eyes and hearts availed them naught since they denied the revelations of Allah; and what they used to mock befell them.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And We had firmly established them in a (prosperity and) power which We have not given to you (ye Quraish!) and We had endowed them with (faculties of) hearing seeing heart and intellect: but of no profit to them were their (faculties of) hearing sight and heart and intellect when they went on rejecting the Signs of Allah; and they were (completely) encircled by that which they used to mock at! 4804 4805 4806
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The 'Ad and their successors the Thamud were more richly endowed with the faculties of the arts, sciences, and culture than ever were the Quraish before Islam. "Hearing and seeing" refer to the experimental faculties; the word "heart" in Arabic includes intellect, or the rational faculties, as well as the instruments of feeling and emotion, the aesthetic faculties. The Second 'Ad, or Thamud, have left interesting traces of their architecture in the country round the Hijr: see n. 1043 to vii. 73, and notes 2002- 2003 to xv. 80-82.

The highest talents and faculties of this world are useless in the next world if we reject the laws of Allah and thus become outlaws in the Hereafter.

See n. 4770 to xlv. 33. They used to mock at Allah's Signs, but those were the very things which hemmed them in, and showed that they had more power and effectiveness than anything else.

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46:27
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفْنَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ Walaqad ahlakn a m a h awlakum mina alqur a wa s arrafn a al a y a ti laAAallahum yarjiAAoon a
Thus have We destroyed many a [sinful] community living round about you;32 and yet, [before destroying them,] We had given many facets to [Our warning] messages, so that they might turn back [from their evil ways].
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., "close to you in space as well as in time". In its wider sense, this phrase denotes "all the rest of the world".

We have destroyed the towns which were once flourished around you - and We repeatedly sent them Our revelations so that they may turn to the Right Way.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
We certainly destroyed the societies around you after having varied the signs so perhaps they would return 'to the Right Path'.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And verily We have destroyed townships round about you, and displayed (for them) Our revelation, that haply they might return.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
We destroyed aforetime populations round about you; and We have shown the Signs in various ways that they may turn (to Us). 4807
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In Arabian history and tradition alone, to say nothing of Allah's Signs elsewhere, sin inevitably suffered its Punishment, and in various ways. Would not the later people take warning?

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46:28
فَلَوْلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرْبَانًا ءَالِهَةًۢ ۖ بَلْ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ إِفْكُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ Falawl a na s arahumu alla th eena ittakha th oo min dooni All a hi qurb a nan a lihatan bal d alloo AAanhum wa tha lika ifkuhum wam a k a noo yaftaroon a
But, then, did those [beings] whom they had chosen to worship as deities beside God, hoping that they would bring them nearer [to Him],33 help them [in the end]? Nay, they forsook them: for that [alleged divinity] was but an outcome of their self-delusion and all their false imagery.34
  - Mohammad Asad

This clause gives the meaning of the expression qurbanan, which contains an allusion not merely to false deities but also to the deification of saints,living or dead, who allegedly act as mediators between man and the transcendental Supreme Being.

Lit., "that was their lie and all that they were wont to invent .

- Then Why did not those whom they worshipped besides Allah helped them who they regarded as a means of attaining nearness to Him? But those deities utterly forsake them, because those were nothing but their lies and their false inventions.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Why then did those 'idols' they took as gods- hoping to get closer 'to Him'- not come to their aid? Instead, they failed them. That is 'the result of' their lies and their fabrications.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Then why did those whom they had chosen for gods as a way of approach (unto Allah) not help them? Nay, but they did fail them utterly. And (all) that was their lie, and what they used to invent.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Why then was no help forthcoming to them from those whom they worshipped as gods besides Allah as a means of access (to Allah)? Nay they left them in the lurch: but that was their Falsehood and their invention. 4808
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The false things that they worshipped were figments of their imagination. If they had had any existence in fact, it was not of the kind they imagined.

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46:29
وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنصِتُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوْا۟ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ Wai th s arafn a ilayka nafaran mina aljinni yastamiAAoona alqur a na falamm a h a d aroohu q a loo an s itoo falamm a qu d iya wallaw il a qawmihim mun th ireen a
AND Lo!35 We caused a group of unseen beings to incline towards thee, [O Muhammad,]36 so that they might give ear to the Qur'an; and so, as soon as they became aware of it,37 they said [unto one another], "Listen in silence!" And when [the recitation] was ended, they returned to their people as warners.38
  - Mohammad Asad

See surah {2}, note [21]. The connection between this passage and the preceding one apparently lies in the fact that whereas "those who are lost in sin" (of whom the tribe of 'Ad is given as an example) refuse to heed God's messages, the "unseen beings" spoken of in the sequence immediately perceived their truth and accepted them.

The term nafar signifies a group of more than three and up to ten persons. The occurrence mentioned in this passage - said to have taken place in the small oasis of Nakhlah, on the way leading from Mecca to Ta'if (Tabari) - is evidently identical with that described in {72:1-15}; for a tentative explanation, see note [1] on 72:1 .

Lit., "as soon as they attended to it", i.e., to its recitation by the Prophet.

I.e., as preachers of the Qur'anic creed. The expression "as warners" connects with the preceding references to "warning messages".

Tell them how We brought to you a group of jinns, who when they reached the place where you were reciting and listened to the Qur'an, said to each other: "Be silent." When the recitation was over, they returned to their people as warners.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'Remember, O Prophet,' when We sent a group of jinn your way to listen to the Quran. Then, upon hearing it, they said 'to one another', 'Listen quietly!' Then when it was over, they returned to their fellow jinn as warners.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And when We inclined toward thee (Muhammad) certain of the Jinn, who wished to hear the Qur'an and, when they were in its presence, said: Give ear! and, when it was finished, turned back to their people, warning.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Behold We turned towards thee a company of Jinns (quietly) listening to the Qur'an: when they stood in the presence thereof they said "Listen in silence!" When the (reading) was finished they returned to their people to warn (them of their sins). 4809
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A company of Jinns. Nafar (company) may mean a group of from three to ten persons. For Jinns, see n. 929 to vi. 100. They listened to the reading of the Qur-an with great respect. The next verse shows that they had heard of the Jewish religion, but they were impressed with the Message of Islam, and they seem to have gone back to their people to share the Good News with them.

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46:30
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰقَوْمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَـٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلْحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ Q a loo y a qawman a inn a samiAAn a kit a ban onzila min baAAdi moos a mu s addiqan lim a bayna yadayhi yahdee il a al h aqqi wail a t areeqin mustaqeem in
They said: "O our people! Behold, we have been listening to a revelation bestowed from on high after [that of] Moses, confirming the truth of whatever there still remains [of the Torah]:39 it guides towards the truth, and onto a straight way.
  - Mohammad Asad

For an explanation of this rendering of the phrase ma bayna yadayhi, see surah {3}, note [3]. - As pointed out in note [1] on 72:1 , this reference to the Qur'an as revealed "after Moses", omitting any mention of Jesus, seems to indicate that the speakers were followers of the Jewish faith; hence my interpolation of the words "of the Torah".

They said "O our people! We have just listened to a Book that has been revealed after Musa which is confirming that what came before it, and it guides to the truth and to the Right Way.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They declared, 'O our fellow jinn! We have truly heard a scripture revealed after Moses, confirming what came before it. It guides to the truth and the Straight Way.
  - Mustafa Khattab
They said: O our people! Lo! we have heard a Scripture which hath been revealed after Moses, confirming that which was before it, guiding unto the truth and a right road.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
They said "O our people! We have heard a Book revealed after Moses confirming what came before it: it guides (men) to the Truth and to a Straight Path.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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