Surah 38. Sad

He replied, 'I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from clay.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Iblis) said: "I am better than he: Thou createdst me from fire and him Thou createdst from clay."

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah commanded, 'Then get out of Paradise, for you are truly cursed.

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Allah) said: "Then get thee out from here: for thou art rejected accursed.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And surely upon you is My condemnation until the Day of Judgment.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"And My Curse shall be on thee till the Day of Judgement." ⁴²³¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 1972 to xv. 35, where it is explained why the respite is to the Day of Judgment. The whole of that passage in S. xv. forms a good commentary on this.

Satan appealed, 'My Lord! Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Iblis) said: "O my Lord! give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are raised." ⁴²³²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For the significance of the respite see n. 1973 to xv. 36.

Allah said, 'You will be delayed

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Allah) said: "Respite then is granted thee

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

until the appointed Day.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Till the day of the Time Appointed." ⁴²³³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is not an indefinite respite. It is for a period definitely limited, while this our Probation lasts in this world. It is part of the test as to how we use our limited free-will. After that, our whole existence will be on a different plane. The good will have been sorted out, the chain of consequences of the present world will be broken, and "a new Creation" will have taken the place of the present World.

Satan said, 'By Your Glory! I will certainly mislead them all,

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Iblis) said: "Then by Thy power I will put them all in the wrong ^{4234 4235}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This phrase, this oath of Satan, is a fresh point introduced in this passage, because here we are dealing with Power-the Power of Good contrasted with Evil,-the Power of Allah as contrasted with the power that we see in our earthly affairs. Satan acknowledges that even his Power, such as it is, has no reality except in so far as it is permitted to operate by Allah in Allah's wise and universal Plan, and that it cannot harm the true and sincere worshippers of Allah.

See n. 1974 to xv. 39.

except Your chosen servants among them.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Except Thy Servants amongst them sincere and purified (by Thy grace)."

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah concluded, 'The truth is- and I 'only' say the truth- :

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Allah) said: "Then it is just and fitting and I say what is just and fitting ⁴²³⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. n. 1990 to xv. 64.

I will surely fill up Hell with you and whoever follows you from among them, all together.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"That I will certainly fill Hell with thee and those that follow thee--every one." ⁴²³⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vii. 18; vii. 179; and xi. 119, n. 1623. The punishment of defiance, disobedience, and rebellion is inevitable and just, and the followers who chose to identify themselves with the disobedience must suffer as well as the leaders. Cf. x. 33.

Say, 'O Prophet,' 'I do not ask you for any reward for this 'Quran', nor do I pretend to be someone I am not.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this (Qur'an) nor am I a pretender. ^{4238 4239}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxv. 57; xxvi. 109; and many other passages. The prophet of Allah neither seeks nor expects any reward from men. On the contrary he suffers much at their hands. He is unselfish and offers his services under Allah's inspiration. He is satisfied with the hope "that each one who will may take a straight Path to his Lord." That is his reward. And the reward he hopes for from Allah is similarly unselfish. He earnestly hopes to win His Good Pleasure i.e. "to see His Face."

Mutakallif: a man who pretends to things that are not true, or declares as facts things that do not exist, one who takes upon himself tasks to which he is not equal. True prophets are not people of that kind.

It is only a reminder to the whole world.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"This is no less than a Message to (all) the Worlds. ⁴²⁴⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

So far from there being any false or selfish motive in the Message proclaimed in Revelation, it is a healing mercy to all mankind. More, it is in accord with all parts of Allah's Creation, and makes us kin with all Creation, the handiwork of the One True God.

And you will certainly know its truth before long.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"And ye shall certainly know the truth of it (all) after a while." ⁴²⁴¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There may be many things which we in our "muddy vesture of decay" may not fully understand or take in. If we only follow the right Path, we shall arrive at the Goal in the Hereafter, and then everything will be dear to us.