Surah 40. Ghafir

the like of what happened to Noah's people, and to [the tribes of] 'Ad and Thamud and those who came after them! And, withal. God does not will any wrong for His creatures²²

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., those sinners were not wronged by what befell them in this world: they had deserved it. The next two verses refer to the Day of Judgment.

such as the people of Nuh, `Ad and Thamud and those who came after them, and Allah does not intend to wrong His servants.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

A plight like that of Noah's folk, and Aad and Thamud, and those after them, and Allah willeth no injustice for (His) slaves.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"And, O my people, I fear for you [the coming of] that Day of [Judgment-the Day when you will be] calling unto one another [in distress]

  - Mohammad Asad

And O my People! I fear for you the Day of wailing,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And, O my people! Lo! I fear for a Day of Summoning,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

the Day when you will [wish to] turn your backs and flee, having none to defend you against God: for he whom God lets go astray can never find any guide.²³

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [152] on 7:186 and note [4] on 14:4 .

when you will turn your backs and flee, when there will be none to protect you from Allah. The one to whom Allah lets go astray, shall have none to guide him.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

A day when ye will turn to flee, having no preserver from Allah: and he whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"And [remember:] it was to you that Joseph came aforetime with all evidence of the truth; but you never ceased to throw doubt on all [the messages] that he brought you - so much so that when he died, you said, 'Never will God send any apostle [even] after him !²⁴ "In this way God lets go astray such as waste their own selves by throwing suspicion [on His revelations]

  - Mohammad Asad

Thus not only refusing to acknowledge Joseph's prophethood, but also denying the possibility of any prophet being sent by God (Zamakhshari). It would seem that Joseph had been accepted in Egypt as a prophet only by the ruling class, the Hyksos, who were of Arab origin; spoke a language closely related to Hebrew (cf. surah {12}, note [44]), and were, therefore, emotionally and culturally predisposed towards the spirit of Joseph's mission, while the rest of the population was and remained hostile to the faith preached by him.

Do you remember that long time before this, Yusuf came to you with clear signs, but you ever remained in doubt concerning to what he brought; and when he died you said: 'After him, Allah will never send another Rasool.' Thus Allah confounds the ones who are the doubting transgressors,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And verily Joseph brought you of old clear proofs, yet ye ceased not to be in doubt concerning what be brought you till, when he died, he said: Allah will not send any messenger after him. Thus Allah deceiveth him who is a prodigal, a doubter.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

such as would call God's messages in question without having any evidence therefo:²⁵ [a sin] exceedingly loathsome in the sight of God and of those who have attained to faith. It is in this way that God sets a seal on every arrogant, self-exalting heart"²⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "without any authority [or "evidence"] having come to them": i.e., without having any cogent evidence that would support their "denial" of the fact of revelation. - The verb jadala primarily denotes "he argued"; followed by the particle fi ("with regard to" or "about") it has the meaning of "contesting" the truth of something, or "calling it in question".

Lit., "on the heart of every arrogant, self-exalting [person]". For an explanation of God's "sealing" an inveterate sinner's heart. see note [7] on 2:7 .

who dispute the revelations of Allah having no authority vouchsafed to them. Such an attitude is disgusting in the sight of Allah and of the believers. Thus Allah seals up the heart of every arrogant transgressor."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Those who wrangle concerning the revelations of Allah without any warrant that hath come unto them, it is greatly hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who believe. Thus doth Allah print on every arrogant, disdainful heart.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But Pharaoh said: "O Haman! Build me a lofty tower, that haply I may attain to the [right] means

  - Mohammad Asad

After hearing this, Fir'on said: "O Haman! Build me a high tower that I may attain the means of access,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And Pharaoh said: O Haman! Build for me a tower that haply I may reach the roads,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

the means of approach to the heavens - and that [thus] I may have a look at the god of Moses:²⁷ for, behold, I am indeed certain that he is a liar!" And thus, goodly seemed unto Pharaoh the evil of his own doings, and so he was barred from the path [of truth]: and Pharaoh's guile did not lead to aught but ruin.

  - Mohammad Asad

See surah {28}, notes [6] and [37].

an access to the heavens, so that I may see the God of Musa, I am convinced that he is lying." Thus Fir'on was seduced by his foul deeds and he turned away from the Right Way. The schemes of Fir'on led him to nothing but destruction.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The roads of the heavens, and may look upon the God of Moses, though verily I think him a liar. Thus was the evil that he did made fair seeming unto Pharaoh, and he was debarred from the (right) way. The plot of Pharaoh ended but in ruin.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Still, the man who had attained to faith went on: "O my people! Follow me: I shall guide you onto the path of rectitude!

  - Mohammad Asad

The man who was true believer, said: "O my people! Follow me, I shall guide you to the Right Way.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And he who believed said: O my people! Follow me. I will show you the way of right conduct.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"O my people! This worldly life is but a brief enjoyment, whereas, behold, the life to come is the home abiding.

  - Mohammad Asad

O my people! The life of this world is only temporary enjoyment, while the abode of hereafter is everlasting.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O my people! Lo! this life of the world is but a passing comfort, and lo! the Hereafter, that is the enduring home.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[There,] anyone who has done a bad deed will be requited with no more than the like thereof, whereas anyone, be it man or woman, who has done righteous deeds and is a believer withal - all such will enter paradise, wherein they shall be blest with good beyond all reckoning!²⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., beyond any earthly imagination. The concept of rizq (expressed in the verb yurzaqun) has here its full significance of all that is good and of benefit to a living being, comprising things material as well as intellectual and spiritual; hence my rendering of yurzaqun (lit., "they will be given sustenance") as "they shall be blest with good".

The one who does evil shall be recompensed to the extent of the evil done; and the one who is a believer and does good deeds, whether man or woman, shall enter the paradise and therein receive sustenance without measure.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Whoso doeth an ill deed, he will be repaid the like thereof, while whoso doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, (all) such will enter the Garden, where they will be nourished without stint.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"And, O my people, how is it²⁹ that I summon you to salvation, the while you summon me to the fire?

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "what is the matter with me": an expression of astonishment at the incongruity of the two attitudes referred to in the sequence.

And O my people! How is it that I call you to salvation, while you call me to the fire?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And, O my people! What aileth me that I call you unto deliverance when ye call me unto the Fire?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[for] you call upon me to deny [the oneness of] God and to ascribe a share in His divinity to aught of which I cannot [possibly] have any knowledge,³⁰ the while I summon you to [a cognition of] the Almighty, the All-Forgiving!

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., because there is no reality whatsoever in those supposedly "divine" beings or forces (Zamakhshari).

You bid me to deny Allah and worship other gods I know nothing of; while I bid you to worship the All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Ye call me to disbelieve in Allah and ascribe unto Him as partners that whereof I have no knowledge, while I call you unto the Mighty, the Forgiver.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"There is no doubt that what you summon me to is something that has no claim to being invoked either in this world or in the life to come - as [there is no doubt] that unto God is our return, and that they who have wasted their own selves shall find themselves in the fire:

  - Mohammad Asad

No doubt you call me towards those who can be invoked neither in this world nor in the hereafter. In fact, we all have to return back to Allah and the transgressors are the ones who shall go to hell.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Assuredly that whereunto ye call me hath no claim in the world or in the Hereafter, and our return will be unto Allah, and the prodigals will be owners of the fire.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and at that time you will [have cause to] remember what I am telling you [now]. "But [as for me,] I commit myself unto God: for, verily, God sees all that is in [the hearts of] His servants."

  - Mohammad Asad

So bear in mind what I have told you, I am entrusting my affairs to Allah, surely Allah is ever watchful over His servants."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And ye will remember what I say unto you. I confide my cause unto Allah. Lo! Allah is Seer of (His) slaves.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And God preserved him from the evil of their scheming, whereas suffering vile was to encompass Pharaoh's folk:

  - Mohammad Asad

So Allah saved that believer from all those evil plots that the people devised against him, and the people of Fir'on were overtaken by a horrible scourge.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So Allah warded off from him the evils which they plotted, while a dreadful doom encompassed Pharaoh's folk.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

the fire [of the hereafter-that fire] which they had been made to contemplate [in vain], morning and evening:³¹ for on the Day when the Last Hour dawns [God will say], "Make Pharaoh's folk enter upon suffering most severe!"

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., of which they had been warned, day-in and day-out, by prophets and believers like the one spoken of in this passage.

It is the fire of hell before which they are presented morning and evening, and on the Day when the time of their Judgment will come, it will be commanded: "Make the people of Fir'on (Pharaoh) to enter the severest punishment."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening; and on the day when the Hour upriseth (it is said): Cause Pharaoh's folk to enter the most awful doom.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

AND LO! They [who in life were wont to deny the truth] will contend with one another in the fire [of the hereafter]; and then the weak will say unto those who had gloried in their arrogance, "Behold, we were but your followers: can you, then, relieve us of some [of our] share of this fire?"³²

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. 14:21 and the corresponding notes [28] and [29].

Then imagine that time when these people will start arguing with each other in the fire, and the weak followers will say to the arrogant leaders: "We were your followers: can you now save us from some of these flames?"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And when they wrangle in the fire, the weak say unto those who were proud: Lo! we were a following unto you: will ye therefor rid us of a portion of the Fire?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[to which] they who had [once] been arrogant will reply, "Behold, we are all in it [together]! Verily, God has judged between His creatures!"

  - Mohammad Asad

The arrogant leaders will reply: "We are all in it together! Allah has already judged between His servants."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Those who were proud say: Lo! we are all (together) herein. Lo! Allah hath judged between (His) slaves.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And they who are in the fire will say to the keepers of hell,³³ "Pray unto your Sustainer that He lighten, [though it be] for one day [only], this suffering of ours!"

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., the angelic forces that are to watch over the suffering of the sinners in the hereafter: perhaps an allegory of the belated awakening of the latters' conscience.

Also imagine when the dwellers of fire will ask the Keepers of hell: "Pray to your Rabb for relieving our punishment at least for one day!"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And those in the Fire say unto the guards of hell: Entreat your Lord that He relieve us of a day of the torment.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[But the keepers of hell] will ask, "Is it not [true] that your apostles came unto you with all evidence of the truth?" Those [in the fire] will reply, "Yea, indeed." [And the keepers of hell] will say, "Pray, then!"³⁴ -for the prayer of those who deny the truth cannot lead to aupht but delusion.

  - Mohammad Asad

According to the classical commentators, this answer implies no more than a refusal on the part of the "keepers of hell" to intercede for the doomed sinners, telling them, as it were, "Pray yourselves, if you can." It seems to me, however, that we have here an indirect allusion to the sinners' erstwhile, blasphemous devotion to false objects of worship and false values - the meaning being, "Pray now to those imaginary powers to which you were wont to ascribe a share in God's divinity, and see whether they can help you!" This interpretation finds support in the next sentence, which speaks of the delusion (dalal) inherent in the prayers of "those who deny the truth", i.e., during their life on earth - for, obviously, on the Day of Judgment all such delusions will have disappeared.

The Keepers of hell will ask: "Did there not come to you Rasools with clear revelations?" "Yes," they will answer. The Keepers of hell will say: "Then pray yourselves." But vain shall be the prayer of the disbelievers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They say: Came not your messengers unto you with clear proofs? They say: Yea, verily. They say: Then do ye pray, although the prayer of disbelievers is in vain.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall