Surah 27. An-Naml

for, were they not aware that it is We who had made the night for them, so that they might rest therein, and the day, to make [them] see?⁷⁷ In this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who will believe!

  - Mohammad Asad

In the present context (as in 10:67 or 40:61 ) the reference to "night" and "day" has a symbolic significance: namely, man's God-given ability to gain insight through conscious reasoning ("the day that makes them see") as well as through the intuition that comes from a restful surrender to the voice of one's own heart ("the night made for rest") - both of which tell us that the existence of God is a logical necessity, and that a rejection of His messages is a sin against ourselves

Do they not see that We have made the night for them to rest in, and the day to give them light? Surely there are signs in this for the true believers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Do they not see that We made the night for them to rest in and the day bright?¹ Surely in this are signs for those who believe.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 To demonstrate His ability to bring people back to life, Allah usually refers to some wonders of His creation, such as the planets, the alternation of the day and night, the mountains, and the development of the human embryo.

Have they not seen how We have appointed the night that they may rest therein, and the day sight giving? Lo! therein verily are portents for a people who believe.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

See they not that We have made the Night for them to rest in and the Day to give them light? Verily in this are Signs for any people that believe! ³³¹⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Night, Day, Rest, and Light: both in the literal and the symbolic sense. Any one with a scrap of faith or spiritual insight could see that the Night is blessing when used for rest and a curse when used to cover ignorance or sin; and that the Day is for work and enlightenment, and its misuse is gross ingratitude to Allah. Or, understand Truth and practise Righteousness while it is yet Light and the Message of Allah is here to guide you: for there comes the Night when Endeavour will cease and there will be no room for Repentance.

And on that Day the trumpet [of judgment] will be sounded, and all [creatures] that are in the heavens and all that are on earth will be stricken with terror, except such as God wills [to exempt]: and in utter lowliness all will come unto Him.

  - Mohammad Asad

On the Day, when the trumpet shall be blown and all who dwell in the heavens and the earth shall be terrified except those whom Allah will choose to spare, and all shall come to Him in utter humiliation,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And 'beware of' the Day the Trumpet will be blown, and all those in the heavens and all those on the earth will be horrified 'to the point of death',¹ except those Allah wills 'to spare'. And all will come before Him, fully humbled.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The Trumpet will be blown at two different occasions, signalling the beginning of Judgment Day. The first blow will cause all creation to die, except whoever Allah spares, and the second one will cause them to be raised from the dead.

And (remind them of) the Day when the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and the earth will start in fear, save him whom Allah willeth. And all come unto Him, humbled.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And the Day that the Trumpet will be sounded then will be smitten with terror those who are in the heavens and those who are on earth except such as Allah will please (to exempt): and all shall come to His (Presence) as beings conscious of their lowliness. ³³¹⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Arrogance will flee with Ignorance, and Self will see itself in its true place-that of humility and lowliness-when the scales of ignorance fall from its eyes.

And thou wilt see the mountains, which [now] thou deemest so firm, pass away as clouds pass away: a work of God, who has ordered all things to per-fection!⁷⁸ Verily, He is fully aware of all that you do!

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., in perfect consonance with the purpose for which He has created them: which is the approximate meaning of the verb atqana. In this particular instance, stress is laid on the God-willed transitory nature of the world as we know it (cf. 14:48 and {20:105-107}, and the corresponding notes) in contrast with the lasting reality of the life to come.

these mountains which you see and think are firmly fixed, will pass away like clouds. Such is the might of Allah, Who has perfected all things. He is aware of what you do.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Now you see the mountains, thinking they are firmly fixed, but they are travelling 'just' like clouds. 'That is' the design of Allah, Who has perfected everything. Surely He is All-Aware of what you do.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And thou seest the hills thou deemest solid flying with the flight of clouds: the doing of Allah Who perfecteth all things. Lo! He is Informed of what ye do.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Thou seest the mountains and thinkest them firmly fixed: but they shall pass away as the clouds pass away: (such is) the artistry of Allah Who disposes of all things in perfect order: for He is well-acquainted with all that ye do. ^{3318 3319}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is so in the present phase of phenomenal things, both literally and figuratively. There seems nothing more firm or fixed or permanent than the "eternal hills": yet when the new order of things comes and the new World is brought into being, they will be as flimsy and unsubstantial as clouds. So, in the revaluation of things in the Hereafter persons or things or ideas that seem so great and so firmly established now will pass away like mere fancies and give way to the Reality of Allah.

Atqana: to arrange or dispose of things with art, or so as to obtain the most perfect results. The present phenomenal world and the Future that is to be, all have a definite object and purpose in the Plan of Allah, Who knows perfectly what we are, what we do, what we think, and what we need. Who can praise His artistry enough?

Whoever shall come [before Him] with a good deed will gain [further] good therefrom;⁷⁹ and they will be secure from the terror of that Day.

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "good shall be his from it", i.e., in consequence or in result of it (Ibn 'Abbas, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ibn Jurayj, all of them quoted by Tabari) - thus stressing the Qur'anic doctrine that what is metaphorically described as "rewards" and "punishments" in the life to come are but the natural consequences, good or bad, of man's attitudes and doings in this world. On a different level, the above phrase may also be understood thus: "Whoever shall come with a good deed will gain something better than [or "through"] it" - an allusion to the fact that whereas the deed itself may be transitory, its merit is enduring (Zamakhshari).

Those who have done good deeds shall be rewarded with what is better and shall be secure from the terror of that Day.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded with what is better, and they will be secure from the horror on that Day.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Whoso bringeth a good deed will have better than its worth; and such are safe from fear that Day.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

If any do good good will (accrue) to them therefrom; and they will be secure from terror that Day.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But they who shall come with evil deeds⁸⁰ -their faces will be thrust into the fire, [and they will be asked:] "Is this aught but a just requital⁸¹ for what you were doing [in life]?"

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., those who did only evil, or whose evil deeds greatly outweigh their good deeds (Ibn Kathir).

Lit., "Are you requited for anything else than...", etc.

And those who have done evil deeds, shall be flung upon their faces in the hellfire. Should you not be rewarded according to your deeds?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And whoever comes with an evil deed will be hurled face-first into the Fire. Are you rewarded except for what you used to do?

  - Mustafa Khattab

And whoso bringeth an ill deed, such will be flung down on their faces in the Fire. Are ye rewarded aught save what ye did?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And if any do evil their faces will be thrown headlong into the Fire: "Do ye receive a reward other than that which ye have earned by your deeds?" ^{3320 3321}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Headlong: it may be that the very things of which we were proudest, which we considered foremost in our present order of the world, will be the first to go into the Fire, as they are but the window-dressing (=faces) of Evil.

There will be no punishment except such as has been deserved by actual conduct in the present life of probation.

[SAY, O Muhammad:] "I have been bidden to worship the Sustainer of this City⁸² -Him who has made it sacred, and unto whom all things belong; and I have been bidden to be of those who surrender themselves to Him,

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., Mecca, where the first temple dedicated to the One God was built (cf. 3:96 ).

O Muhammad, say to them: "I have been commanded to worship the Rabb of this city (Makkah), the One Who has made it sacred and Who is the Owner of all things; and I am commanded to be of those who are Muslims,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Say, 'O Prophet,' 'I have only been commanded to worship the Lord of this city 'of Mecca', Who has made it sacred, and to Him belongs everything. And I am commanded to be one of those who 'fully' submit 'to Him',

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Say): I (Muhammad) am commanded only to serve the Lord of this land which He hath hallowed, and unto Whom all things belong. And I am commanded to be of those who surrender (unto Him),

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

For me I have been commanded to serve the Lord of this City Him Who has sanctified it and to Whom (belong) all things: and I am commanded to be of those who bow in Islam to Allah's Will ³³²²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Lord of this City. This was spoken in Makkah say about the 5th year before the Hijrat, when the holy Prophet and his adherents were being persecuted as enemies to the cult of Makkah. So far from being against the true spirit of the holy City of Makkah, it was actually in furtherance of that spirit, which had been overlaid by the idolatries and abominations of the Pagan Quraish. They are told that the new Teaching is from the Lord of Makkah itself, the One True God, Who had sanctified it in the time of Abraham. Lest they should think that it was a local or tribal or narrow cult, it is added that He is not only Lord of this City, but Lord of the Worlds, "to Whom belong all things". It is a universal message; but how sad it would be if the Makkans, among whom it came first, were to reject it?

and to convey this Qur'an [to the world]." Whoever, therefore, chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good; and if any wills to go astray, say [unto him]: "I am only a warner!"

  - Mohammad Asad

and that I should recite The Qur'an. Now, whoever follows this guidance will be guided for his own good, and to him who goes astray, say: "I am merely a Warner."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and to recite the Quran.' Then whoever chooses to be guided, it is only for their own good. But whoever chooses to stray, say, 'O Prophet,' 'I am only a warner.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And to recite the Qur'an. And whoso goeth right, goeth right only for (the good of) his own soul; and as for him who goeth astray (unto him) say: Lo! I am only a warner.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And to rehearse the Qur'an: and if any accept guidance they do it for the good of their own souls and if any stray say: "I am only a Warner." ³³²³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The duty of the Prophet and his adherents was, first, to accept Islam and become themselves shining examples of Allah's grace and mercy, as they in fact were, and secondly to preach that message and spread that Light to all around. It was not for them to force it on unwilling people: for any who rejected it would find their own spiritual loss in such rejection. But they must clearly warn them of the consequences.

And say: "All praise is due to God! In time He will make you see [the truth of] His messages, and then you shall know them [for what they are]." And thy Sustainer is not unmindful of whatever you all may do.

  - Mohammad Asad

Then proclaim: "Praise be to Allah, very soon He will show you His signs and you will recognize them. Your Rabb is not unaware of what you do."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And say, 'All praise is for Allah! He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is never unaware of what you do.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And say: Praise be to Allah who will show you His portents so that ye shall know them. And thy Lord is not unaware of what ye (mortals) do.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And say: "Praise be to Allah Who will soon show you His Signs so that ye shall know them"; and thy Lord is not unmindful of all that ye do. ^{3324 3325}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In a few years after that, many wonderful things happened that removed the doubts of the doubters and confirmed the faith of the Believers. They showed how the logic of events proved the true mission of the holy Prophet. Other things some minds may not be able to grasp. But the logic of events is for all to see.

Trials and tribulations, persecution and exile, and the patient endurance and constancy with which they were met by the Believers-all are known to Allah and will be credited to their account.