Surah 11. Hud

[And thus it is with most men -] save those who are patient in adversity and do righteous deeds: it is they whom forgiveness of sins awaits, and a great reward.

  - Mohammad Asad

The exception is for those people who are steadfast and do good deeds; they are the ones who will have forgiveness and a great reward.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

except those who patiently endure and do good. It is they who will have forgiveness and a mighty reward.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Save those who persevere and do good works. Theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Not so do those who show patience and constancy and work righteousness; for them is forgiveness (of sins) and a great reward. ¹⁵⁰⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Their attitude is the right one: to take ill-fortune with fortitude and good fortune with humility, and in either case go on persevering in good deeds to their fellow-creatures.

IS IT, then, conceivable [O Prophet] that thou couldst omit any part of what is being revealed unto thee [because the deniers of the truth dislike it, and] because thy heart is distressed at their saying,²⁰ "Why has not a treasure been bestowed upon him from on high?" - or, "[Why has not] an angel come [visibly] with him?"²¹ [They fail to understand that] thou art only a warner, whereas God has everything in His care;²²

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "because thy bosom is constricted [for fear] lest they say". According to all available authorities, the expression la'alla (lit., "it may well be that") at the beginning of the above sentence denotes a wrong expectation on the part of the opponents of Muhammad's message; it is, therefore, best rendered in the form of a query which implies its own denial - thus: "Is it conceivable that...", etc. As regards the expectation that the Prophet might omit a part of what was being revealed to him, it has been reported by 'Abd Allah ibn 'Abbas and other Companions (see Razi's commentary on this verse) that the pagan Quraysh demanded of the Prophet, "Bring us a revelation (kitab) which does not contain a defamation of our deities, so that we could follow thee and believe in thee."

Explaining this verse, Ibn'Abbas mentions that some of the pagan chieftains of Mecca said "O Muhammad, cause the mountains of Mecca to be turned into gold, if thou art truly an apostle of God", while others exclaimed derisively, "Bring before us angels who would bear witness to thy being a prophet!" - whereupon the above verse was revealed (Razi). Cf. 6:8 and {17:90-93}.

Sc., "and so it is He who will cause the truth to prevail". Regarding the Prophet's denial of any ability on his part to perform miracles, see 6:50 and the corresponding note [38].

O Prophet, be on your guard lest you omit to recite some things which are being revealed to you feeling distressed in your heart that they might say: "Why has no treasure been sent down to him, or why has no angel come with him?" You should know that you are nothing but a Warner! It is Allah Who is the Custodian of everything.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Perhaps you 'O Prophet' may wish to give up some of what is revealed to you and may be distressed by it because they say, 'If only a treasure had been sent down to him, or an angel had come with him!' You are only a warner, and Allah is the Trustee of All Affairs.

  - Mustafa Khattab

A likely thing, that thou wouldst forsake aught of that which hath been revealed unto thee, and that thy breast should be straitened for it, because they say: Why hath not a treasure been sent down for him, or an angel come with him? Thou art but a warner, and Allah is in charge of all things.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Perchance thou mayest (feel the inclination) to give up a part of what is revealed unto thee and thy heart feeleth straitened lest they say "Why is not a treasure sent down unto him or why does not an angel come down with him? But thou art there only to warn! It is Allah that arrangeth all affairs! ¹⁵⁰⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Every Prophet of Allah, when he not only encounters opposition, but is actually accused of falsehood and those very evils which he is protesting against, may feel inclined, in his human weakness, to ask himself the question. "Supposing I omit this little point, will Allah's Truth then be accepted more readily? Or he may think to himself, "If I had only more money to organise my campaign, or something which will draw people's attention, like the company of an angel, how much better can I push my Message?" He is told that truth must be delivered as it is revealed, even though portions of it may be unpalatable, and that resources and other means to draw people to him are beside the point. He must use just such resources and opportunities as he has, and leave the rest to Allah.

and so they assert, "[Muhammad himself] has invented this [Qur'an]!"²³ Say [unto them]: "Produce, then, ten surahs of similar merit, invented [by yourselves], and [to this end] call to your aid whomever you can, other than God, if what you say is true!²⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

For my rendering of the particle am at the beginning of this sentence as "and", see surah {10}, note [61].

I.e., that a divine writ like the Qur'an could have been "invented" by a human being. Cf. 2:23 , {10:37-38} and 17:88 , as well as the corresponding notes.

Do they say: "He has made up the Qur'an himself." Say to them: "Make up ten Surahs like this and call to your aid whomsoever you can, including your gods whom you worship, besides Allah if what you say is true.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Or do they say, 'He¹ has fabricated this 'Quran'!'? Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Produce ten fabricated sûrahs like it and seek help from whoever you can- other than Allah- if what you say is true!'

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The Prophet (ﷺ).

Or they say: He hath invented it. Say: Then bring ten surahs, the like thereof, invented, and call on everyone ye can beside Allah, if ye are truthful!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Or they may say "He forged it." Say "Bring ye then ten Surahs forged like unto it and call (to your aid) whomsoever ye can other than Allah! if ye speak the truth! ¹⁵¹⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. ii. 23 and x. 38.

And if they [whom you have called to your aid] are not able to help you,²⁵ then know that [this Qur'an] has been bestowed from on high out of God's wisdom alone,²⁶ and that there is no deity save Him. Will you, then, surrender yourselves unto Him?"

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "if they [i.e., your poets and wise men] do not respond to your call". Cf. 2:24 , where a similar challenge is followed by the words, "And if you cannot do it - and most certainly you cannot do it - then...", etc.

Lit., "only by God's knowledge".

But if those gods fail to answer you, then you should know that (they are false gods and that) this (Book) is revealed with the knowledge of Allah, and that there is no god but Him! Will you then become Muslims?"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But if your helpers fail you, then know that it has been revealed with the knowledge of Allah, and that there is no god 'worthy of worship' except Him! Will you 'not' then submit 'to Allah'?

  - Mustafa Khattab

And if they answer not your prayer, then know that it is revealed only in the knowledge of Allah; and that there is no God save Him. Will ye then be (of) those who surrender?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"If then they (your false gods) answer not your (call) know ye that this Revelation is sent down (replete) with the knowledge of Allah and that there is no god but He! Will ye even then submit (to Islam)?"

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

AS FOR THOSE who care for [no more than] the life of this world and its bounties - We shall repay them in full for all that they did in this [life], and they shall not be deprived of their just due therein:

  - Mohammad Asad

Those who desire the life of this world and its splendors, they are given full reward of their deeds therein and shall not be diminished.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Whoever desires 'only' this worldly life and its luxuries, We will pay them in full for their deeds in this life- nothing will be left out.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Whoso desireth the life of the world and its pomp, We shall repay them their deeds herein, and therein they will not be wronged.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who desire the life of the Present and its glitter to them We shall pay (the price of) their deeds therein without diminution. ¹⁵¹¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If worldly men desire the glitter of this world, they shall have it in full measure, but it is false glitter, and it involves the negation of that spiritual life which comes from the guidance of the inner light and from the revelation of Allah, as described in verse 17 below.

[yet] it is they who, in the life to come, shall have nothing but the fire - for in vain shall be all that they wrought in this [world], and worthless all that they ever did!²⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., although their good deeds will be taken fully into account on Judgment Day, they will be outweighed by their refusal to believe in resurrection and the life to come.

They are the ones who will have nothing in the hereafter except Hellfire. There they shall come to know that their deeds were fruitless and their actions were worthless.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

It is they who will have nothing in the Hereafter except the Fire. Their efforts in this life will be fruitless and their deeds will be useless.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Those are they for whom is naught in the Hereafter save the Fire. (All) that they contrive here is vain and (all) that they are wont to do is fruitless.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but the Fire: vain are the designs they frame therein and of no effect are the deeds that they do!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Can, then, [he who cares for no more than the life of this world be compared with²⁸] one who takes his stand on a clear evidence from his Sustainer, conveyed through [this] testimony from Him,²⁹ as was the revelation vouchsafed to Moses aforetime - [a divine writ ordained by Him] to be a guidance and grace [unto man]? They [who understand this message - it is they alone who truly] believe in it;³⁰ whereas for any of those who, leagued together [in common hostility],³¹ deny its truth - the fire shall be their appointed state [in the life to come]. And so,³² be not in doubt about this [revelation]: behold, it is the truth from thy Sustainer, even though³³ most people will not believe in it.

  - Mohammad Asad

This interpolation is based on the interpretation given by Baghawi, Zamakhshari and Razi.

Lit., "which a witness from Him recites", or "announces". According to Zamakhshari, Razi and other classical commentators, this phrase refers to the Qur'an; hence my rendering of shahid as "testimony". If, as some commentators believe, this term refers to the Prophet or, alternatively, to the Angel Gabriel who transmitted the revelation to him, shahid should be translated as "witness". Whichever interpretation one adopts, the meaning remains the same, for - as Ibn Kathir points out in his commentary on this verse - "the Qur'an was revealed through Gabriel to Muhammad, and was conveyed by the latter to the world".

Sc., "and shall, therefore, attain to happiness in the hereafter". The ijaz (elliptic mode of expression) employed in this passage is comparable in its subtlety to that in 10:103 .

I.e., in hostile, a-priori opposition to the message of the Qur'an, without really understanding its purport. The "historical" identification, by some of the commentators, of the ahzab with the pagan Arabs who leagued together in their hostility to the Prophet is definitely too narrow in this context.

Razi suggests that the conjunction fa ("And so") preceding this sentence (which is obviously addressed to man in general) connects with verses {12-14} above: a suggestion which is most convincing in view of the sequence.

Lit., "but" or "nevertheless".

Can they be like those who have clear revelations from their Rabb and to whom a witness from Himself recites it, and they have the Book of Musa before them - a guidance and a blessing? Can such people deny the revelation of Al- Qur'an? No of course not, rather such people will believe in this, but those factions who do not believe shall have their promised place in the Hellfire. So, O Prophet, do not be in any doubt about it; it is the Truth from your Rabb, even though most people do not believe so.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

'Can these people be compared to' those 'believers' who stand on clear proof from their Lord, backed by 'the Quran as' a witness from Him, and preceded by the Book of Moses 'which was revealed' as a guide and mercy? It is those 'believers' who have faith in it. But whoever from the 'disbelieving' groups rejects it, the Fire will be their destiny. So do not be in doubt of it. It is certainly the truth from your Lord, but most people do not believe.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Is he (to be counted equal with them) who relieth on a clear proof from his Lord, and a witness from Him reciteth it, and before it was the Book of Moses, an example and a mercy? Such believe therein, and Whoso disbelieveth therein of the clans, the Fire is his appointed place. So be not thou in doubt concerning it. Lo! it is the Truth from thy Lord; but most of mankind believe not.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Can they be (like) those who accept a Clear (Sign) from their Lord and whom a witness from Himself doth teach as did the Book of Moses before it a guide and a mercy? They believe therein; but those of the Sects that reject it the Fire will be their promised meeting place. Be not then in doubt thereon: for it is the Truth from thy Lord: yet many among men do not believe! ^{1512 1513}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"A witness from Himself': i.e., the Book which was given to Al-Mustafa, the Holy Qur-an, which is compared to the original Revelation given to Moses. We make no difference between one true and genuine Message and another, nor between one apostle and another,-for they all come from the One True God.

"Guide": the Arabic word here is Imam, a leader, a guide, one that directs to the true Path. Such a direction is an instance of the Mercy and Goodness of Allah to man. The Qur-an and the Prophet Muhammad are also called, each, a Guide and a Mercy, and so are these epithets applicable to previous Books and Prophets.

And who could be more wicked than they who attribute their own lying inventions to God?³⁴ [On the Day of Judgment, such as] these shall be arraigned before their Sustainer, and those who are called upon to bear witness [against them]³⁵ shall say, "It is they who uttered lies about their Sustainer!"³⁶ Oh, verily, God's rejection is the due of all evildoers³⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

This is a refutation of the contention of the unbelievers that the Qur'an was composed by Muhammad himself (cf. verse {13} above as well as 10:17 ) and thereupon blasphemously attributed to God.

Lit., "the witnesses". Most of the earliest authorities take this to mean the recording angels, while others (e.g., Ibn'Abbas, as quoted by Baghawi) relate it to the prophets, who, on the Day of Judgment, will be called upon to testify for or against the people to whom they were sent. The latter interpretation is supported by Ad-Dahhak (quoted by Tabari and Baghawi) on the basis of 16:84 , where witnesses "out of every community" are mentioned - an expression which can obviously refer only to human beings.

Or: "against their Sustainer".

The term la'nah - which is usually, but inexactly, translated as "curse" - is in its primary meaning synonymous with ib'ad ("alienation", "estrangement" or "banishment") in the moral sense, hence it denotes "rejection from all that is good" (Lisan al-'Arab) and, with reference to God, the sinner's "exclusion from His grace" (Manar II, 50).

Who can be more wrong than the one who forges a lie against Allah? Such people will be brought before their Rabb, and the witnesses will say: "These are the ones who lied against their Rabb." Beware! The Curse of Allah is on those wrongdoers

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Who does more wrong than those who fabricate lies against Allah? They will be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses¹ will say, 'These are the ones who lied against their Lord.' Surely Allah's condemnation is upon the wrongdoers,

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., the angels and the prophets.

Who doeth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah? Such will be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses will say: These are they who lied concerning their Lord. Now the curse of Allah is upon wrong-doers,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Who doth more wrong than those who invent a lie against Allah? They will be turned back to the presence of their Lord and the witnesses will say "These are the ones who lied against their Lord! Behold! the Curse of Allah is on those who do wrong!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

who turn others away from the path of God and try to make it appear crooked - since it is they, they who refuse to acknowledge the truth of the life to come!³⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. {7:44-45}, with which the above passage is almost identical, with only one difference: whereas in 7:45 the pronoun "they" occurs only once (and the phrase is, consequently, rendered as "and who refuse...", etc.), in the present verse this pronoun is repeated, to express both stress and causality ("since it is they, they who refuse...", etc.) - thus implying that their refusal to believe in a life after death is the ultimate cause of their wrongdoing. In other words, belief in resurrection, God's judgment and life in the hereafter is here postulated as the only valid and lasting source of human morality.

who hinder others from the path of Allah and seek to make it crooked, and who deny the hereafter.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

who hinder 'others' from Allah's Path, striving to make it 'appear' crooked, and disbelieve in the Hereafter.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Who debar (men) from the way of Allah and would have it crooked, and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Those who would hinder (men) from the path of Allah and would seek in it something crooked: these were they who denied the Hereafter! ¹⁵¹⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vii. 45.

Never can they elude [their final reckoning, even if they remain unscathed] on earth:³⁹ never will they find anyone who could protect them from God. [In the life to come] double suffering will be imposed on them⁴⁰ for having lost the ability to hear [the truth] and having failed to see [it].⁴¹

  - Mohammad Asad

The above interpolation is, I believe, necessary in view of the highly elliptic character of this phrase. According to Tabari, Zamakhshari and Ibn Kathir. the meaning is that whereas God's punishment may befall the sinners referred to during their life on earth, it will certainly befall them in the hereafter. Cf. also 3:185 - "only on the Day of Resurrection will you be requited in full for whatever you have done."

For an explanation of the "double suffering, see surah {7}, note [29].

Lit., "they were unable to hear and they did not see": cf. 2:7 and the corresponding note [7], as well as 7:179 .

These people cannot frustrate His plan in the land and there is none to protect them besides Allah. Their punishment shall be doubled, for they could neither hear others who speak the Truth nor see the Truth for themselves.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They will never frustrate Allah on earth, and they will have no protector besides Allah. Their punishment will be multiplied, for they failed to hear or see 'the truth'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Such will not escape in the earth, nor have they any protecting friends beside Allah. For them the torment will be double. They could not bear to hear, and they used not to see.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

They will in nowise frustrate (His design) on earth nor have they protectors besides Allah! Their Penalty will be doubled! They lost the power to hear and they did not see! ¹⁵¹⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vii. 38. In this context, it is implied that they committed a two-fold wrong: (1) in inventing falsehoods against Allah, which deadened their own soul, and (2) in leading others astray or hindering them from Allah's path. Thus they lost the faculty of hearing, which they might have used to hear the Word of Allah, and they blinded the faculty of sight by shutting out Allah's light.

It is they who have squandered their own selves - for [on the Day of Resurrection] all their false imagery⁴² will have forsaken them:

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "all that they were wont to invent": a phrase which implies not merely false imaginings regarding the existence of any real "power" apart from God (i.e., the existence of supposedly divine or semi-divine beings) but also deceptive ideas and "glittering half-truths meant to delude the mind" (see 6:112 and the corresponding note) - such as "luck", wealth, personal power, nationalism, deterministic materialism, etc. - all of which cause men to lose sight of spiritual values and thus to "squander their own selves".

They are the ones who have lost their own souls, and the fancies they invented have left them in the lurch.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

It is they who have ruined themselves, and whatever 'gods' they fabricated will fail them.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Such are they who have lost their souls, and that which they used to invent hath failed them.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

They are the ones who have lost their own souls: and the (fancies) they invented have left them in the lurch!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

truly it is they, they who in the life to come shall be the losers!

  - Mohammad Asad

No doubt they will be the greatest losers in the Hereafter.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Without a doubt, they will be the worst losers in the Hereafter.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Assuredly in the Hereafter they will be the greatest losers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Without a doubt these are the very ones who will lose most in the Hereafter!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Behold, [only] those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds and humble themselves before their Sustainer - [only] they are destined for paradise, and there shall they abide.

  - Mohammad Asad

As for those who believe and do good deeds and humble themselves before their Rabb, they will be residents of paradise to live therein forever.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Surely those who believe, do good, and humble themselves before their Lord will be the residents of Paradise. They will be there forever.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! those who believe and do good works and humble themselves before their Lord: such are rightful owners of the Garden; they will abide therein.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But those who believe and work righteousness and humble themselves before their Lord they will be Companions of the Garden to dwell therein for aye! ¹⁵¹⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Note that the humility is to be "before their Lord," i.e., in Allah's sight. There is no virtue, quite the contrary, in rubbing our noses to the ground before men. We are not to be arrogant even before men because we are humble as in Allah's sight. Nor does true humility lose self-confidence; for that self-confidence arises from confidence in the support and help of Allah.

These two kinds of man⁴³ may be likened to the blind and deaf and the seeing and hearing. Can these two be deemed alike in [their] nature?⁴⁴ Will you not, then, keep this in mind?

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "two groups" - i.e., the believers and those who reject the divine writ.

For my rendering, in this context, of mathal (lit., "likeness") as "nature", see the first part of note [47] on 3:59 .

The example of these two kinds of people is like two men, one of whom is blind and deaf, and the other who can see and hear. Are they equal when compared? Will you not then learn a lesson from this example?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The example of these two parties is that of the blind and the deaf, compared to the seeing and the hearing. Can the two be equal? Will you not then be mindful?

  - Mustafa Khattab

The similitude of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf and the seer and the hearer. Are they equal in similitude? Will ye not then be admonished?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

These two kinds (of men) may be compared to the blind and deaf and those who can see and hear well. Are they equal when compared? Will ye not then take heed?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

AND INDEED, [it was with the same message that] We sent forth Noah unto his people:⁴⁵ "Behold, I come unto you with the plain warning

  - Mohammad Asad

The conjunction "and" at the beginning of this sentence apparently connects with the opening verses of this surah, and stresses the fact that the fundamental message of the Qur'an is the same as that conveyed to man by the earlier prophets (Manar XII, 59 f.); hence my interpolation. See also surah {7}, note [45].

We sent Nuh to his people. Nuh said: "I have come to warn you plainly,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Surely We sent Noah to his people. 'He said,' 'Indeed, I am sent to you with a clear warning

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We sent Noah unto his folk (and he said): I am a plain warner unto you.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

We sent Noah to his people (with a mission): "I have come to you with a Clear Warning:

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali