Surah 41. Fussilat

And ¹¹ He [it is who] applied His design to the skies, which were [yet but] smoke;¹² and He [it is who] said to them and to the earth, "Come [into being], both of you, willingly or unwillingly!" - to which both responded, "We do come in obedience." ¹³

  - Mohammad Asad

Whenever the particle thumma is used, as in the above instance, to link parallel statements - statements not necessarily indicating a sequence in time - it has the function of a simple conjunction, and may be rendered as "and".

I.e., a gas - evidently hydrogen gas, which physicists regard as the primal element from which all material particles of the universe have evolved and still evolve. For the meaning of the term sama' ("sky" or "skies" or "heaven") in its cosmic connotation, see note [20] on 2:29 .

Explaining this passage, Zamakhshari observes: "The meaning of God's command to the skies and the earth to 'come', and their submission [to His command] is this: He willed their coming into being, and so they came to be as He willed them to be...: and this is the kind of metaphor (majaz) which is called 'allegory' (tamthil).... Thus, the purport [of this passage] is but an illustration (taswir) of the effect of His almighty power on all that is willed [by Him], and nothing else..." (It is obvious that Zamakhahari's reasoning is based on the oft-repeated Qur'anic statement, "When God wills a thing to be, He but says unto it, 'Be' - and it is.") Concluding his interpretation of the above passage, Zamakshari adds: "If I am asked about the meaning of [the words] 'willingly or unwillingly', I say that it is a figurative expression (mathal) indicating that His almighty will must inevitably take effect."

Then He turned towards the sky, which was but smoke, He said to it and to the earth: 'Come forward both of you, willingly or unwillingly,' and they submitted: 'We shall come willing'.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then He turned towards the heaven when it was 'still like' smoke, saying to it and to the earth, 'Submit, willingly or unwillingly.' They both responded, 'We submit willingly.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Then turned He to the heaven when it was smoke, and said unto it and unto the earth: Come both of you, willingly or loth. They said: We come, obedient.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Moreover He Comprehended in His design the sky and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together) in willing obedience." ^{4474 4475 4476}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For istawa see n. 1386 to x. 3. Cf. also ii. 29.

From lxxix. 30 it would appear as if the earth was spread out after the sky was made. In the present passage the creation of the earth and the evolution of life on our globe are mentioned first; and the making of the sky into the seven firmaments is mentioned last. The two statements are not inconsistent. It is stated here that when the sky was made into seven firmaments, it had existed previously as smoke, or vapour, or steam. The idea I derive from a collation of the relevant Quranic passages is that Allah first created primeval matter, which was as yet without order, shape, or symmetry. This state is called Chaos as opposed to Cosmos in Greek Cosmogony. The next stage would be the condensation of this primeval matter, into gases, liquids, or solids: on this subject no precise information is given to us: it belongs to the realm of Physics. About the earth we are told of four stages or Days, and about the heavens, of two stages or Days. For Days see n. 4477 below. If these stages proceeded or proceed together in time, it is obvious that each stage as we know it on earth is half as long as each stage in the heavens. But these are questions of Physics, Astronomy, or Geology.

I take this to mean that Allah's design in creation was not to keep heaven and earth separate, but together, as we indeed are, being part of the solar system, and travellers through space, crossing the path of several comets. And all matter created by Allah willingly obeys the laws laid down for it.

And He [it is who] decreed that they become seven heavens¹⁴ in two aeons, and imparted unto each heaven its function. And We adorned the skies nearest to the earth with lights, and made them secure:¹⁵ such is the ordaining of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., a multiplicity of cosmic systems (cf. note [20] on 2:29 ).

Cf. {15:16-18} and the corresponding notes [16] and [17]; also 37:6 ff.

So, from this creation, He formed the seven heavens in two periods and to each heaven He ordained its laws. He adorned the lowest heaven with brilliant lamps and made it secure. Such is the design of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So He formed the heaven into seven heavens in two Days, assigning to each its mandate. And We adorned the lowest heaven with 'stars like' lamps 'for beauty' and for protection. That is the design of the Almighty, All-Knowing.'¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 See footnote for 7:54.

Then He ordained them seven heavens in two Days and inspired in each heaven its mandate; and we decked the nether heaven with lamps, and rendered it inviolable. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Knower.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might Full of knowledge. ^{4477 4478}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For "Days", which may include thousands of years, see vii. 54, and n. 1031. They refer to stages in the evolution of physical nature. In the Biblical cosmogony, (Gen. i, and ii. 1-7), which reflects old Babylonian cosmogony, the scheme is apparently to be taken literally as to days and is as follows. The first day Allah created light; the second, the firmament; the third, the earth and vegetation; the fourth, the stars and plants; the fifth, fish and fowl from the sea; and the sixth, cattle, creeping things, beasts on land, and man; on the seventh day He ended His work and rested. Our scheme is wholly different. (1) Allah did not rest, and never rests. "His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them"; (2) Allah's work has not ended; His activity still goes on: xxxii. 5; vii, 54; (3) man in our scheme does not come in with land animals; his advent is much later; (4) our stages are not sharply divided from each other, as in the above scheme, where the stars and planets having been created on the fourth day, it is not intelligible how the first three days were counted, nor how vegetation grew on the third day. Our stages for earth and heaven are not in sequence of time for the heavens and the earth. Our six stages are broadly speaking, (1) the throwing off of our planet from cosmic matter; (2) its cooling and condensing; (3) and (4) the growth of vegetable and animal life; (5) and (6) the parallel growth of the starry realm and our solar system.

Cf. xv. 17, and n. 1951; also xxxvii. 6-9. The transition from the third person ("He completed," etc.) to the first person ("We adorned," etc.) may be noted. The act of creation is an impersonal act: the act of adornment and guarding is a personal favour to Allah's creatures.

BUT IF they turn away,¹⁶ say: "I warn you of [the coming of] a thunderbolt of punishment¹⁷ like the thunderbolt [that fell upon the tribes] of 'Ad and Thamud!"¹⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

This connects with the opening sentence of verse {9} above: "Would you indeed deny Him who has created...", etc.

See note [40] on 2:55 .

For the story of these two ancient tribes, see {7:65-79} and the corresponding notes, in particular [48] and [56]; also {26:123-158}.

Now if they turn away, say to them: "I have given you warning of a thunderbolt, like the thunderbolt which struck Ad and Thamud."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

If they turn away, then say, 'O Prophet,' 'I warn you of a 'mighty' blast, like the one that befell 'Ȃd and Thamûd.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

But if they turn away, then say: I warn you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt (which fell of old upon the tribes) of Aad and Thamud;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But if they turn away say thou: "I have warned you of a stunning Punishment (as of thunder and lightning) like that which (overtook) the `Ad and the Thamud!" ⁴⁴⁷⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See verse 17 below.

Lo! There came unto them [God's] apostles, speaking of what lay open before them and what was [still] beyond their ken,¹⁹ [and calling unto them,] "Worship none but God!" They answered: "If our Sustainer had willed [us to believe in what you say], He would have sent down angels [as His message-bearers].²⁰ As it is, behold, we deny that there is any truth in what you [claim to] have been sent with!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit.. "from between their hands and from behind them": i.e., reminding them of something that was known to them - namely, what happened to sinners like themselves who lived before their time - and warning them of what was bound to happen in the future to them, too, if they persisted in their denial of the truth (Al-Hasan al-Basri, as quoted by Zamakhshari). However, it is possible to understand the above phrase (which has been explained in note [247] on 2:255 ) in yet another, more direct way: God's message-bearers pointed out to those sinning communities something that should have been obvious to them (lit., "between their hands")- namely, their patently wrong attitude in their worldly, social concerns and moral concepts - as well as the unreasonableness of their denying something that was still beyond their ken (lit., "behind them"): namely, life after death and God's ultimate judgment.

Cf.{6:8-9} and 15:7 .

When their Rasools came to them from before and from behind, saying: "Worship none but Allah." They replied: "If our Rabb wanted to send us a message, He would certainly have sent down angels, so we categorically deny the message with which you are sent."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The messengers had come to them from all angles, 'proclaiming,' 'Worship none but Allah.' They responded, 'Had our Lord willed, He could have easily sent down angels 'instead'. So we totally reject what you have been sent with.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

When their messengers came unto them from before them and behind them, saying: Worship none but Allah! they said: If our Lord had willed, He surely would have sent down angels (unto us), so lo! we are disbelievers in that wherewith ye have been sent.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Behold the apostles came to them from before them and behind them (preaching): "Serve none but Allah." They said "If our Lord had so pleased He would certainly have sent down angels (to preach): now we reject your mission (altogether)." ^{4480 4481}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"From before them and behind them": i.e., from every side. They were warned from every point of view.

Cf. xv. 7, n. 1941; vi. 8-9, n. 841-42. The 'Ad had more power and material civilisation than the Pagan Arabs contemporary with the holy Prophet. But the greater the material civilisation, the greater the arrogance as the besetting sin.

Now as for [the tribe of] 'Ad, they walked arrogantly on earth, [offending] against all right, and saying, "Who could have a power greater than ours?" Why - were they, then, not aware that God, who created them, had a power greater than theirs? But they went on rejecting Our messages;

  - Mohammad Asad

As for `Ad, they conducted themselves with arrogance in the land without any justification and said: "Who is stronger than us in might?" Could they not see that Allah Who created them, was mightier than them? Yet they continued to reject Our revelations.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

As for 'Ȃd, they acted arrogantly throughout the land with no right, boasting, 'Who is superior to us in might?' Did they not see that Allah 'Himself', Who created them, was far superior to them in might? Still they persisted in denying Our signs.

  - Mustafa Khattab

As for Aad, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said: Who is mightier than us in power? Could they not see that Allah Who created them, He was mightier than them in power? And they denied Our revelations.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Now the `Ad behaved arrogantly through the land against (all) truth and reason and said: "Who is superior to us in strength?" What! did they not see that Allah Who created them was superior to them in strength? But they continued to reject Our Signs! ⁴⁴⁸²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Against (all) truth and reason: Cf. vii. 33. Their estimate of their own strength was greater than was justified by facts, but if they had all the strength which they arrogated to themselves, yet how could they stand before Allah?

and thereupon We let loose upon them a stormwind raging through days of misfortune,²¹ so as to give them, in the life of this world, a foretaste of suffering through humiliation: but [their] suffering in the life to come will be far more humiliating, and they will have none to succour them.

  - Mohammad Asad

See {69:6-8}.

So, over a few ill-omened days, We let loose on them a furious hurricane to make them taste a shameful scourge in this life, but more shameful still will be the punishment of the hereafter, and they shall have none to help them.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So We sent against them a furious wind,¹ for 'several' miserable days, to make them taste a humiliating punishment in this worldly life. But far more humiliating will be the punishment of the Hereafter. And they will not be helped.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 lit., a bitter and screaming wind.

Therefor We let loose on them a raging wind in evil days, that We might make them taste the torment of disgrace in the life of the world. And verily the doom of the Hereafter will be more shameful, and they will not be helped.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

So We sent against them a furious Wind through days of disaster that We might give them a taste of a Penalty of humiliation in this Life; but the Penalty of the Hereafter will be more humiliating still: and they will find no help. ⁴⁴⁸³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The detailed story of the 'Ad and their besetting sin, and the preaching of their Prophet Hud to them will be found in xxvi. 123-140; also vii. 65-72, and n. 1040. For the furious Wind, Cf. liv. 19.

And as for [the tribe of] Thamud, We offered them guidance, but they chose blindness in preference to guidance: and so the thunderbolt of shameful suffering fell upon them as an outcome of all [the evil] that they had wrought;

  - Mohammad Asad

As for Thamud, We offer them Our guidance, but they preferred to remain blind rather than to receive guidance towards the Right Way; so the thunderbolt of humiliating scourge seized them for their misdeeds,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

As for Thamûd, We showed them guidance, but they preferred blindness over guidance. So the blast of a disgracing punishment overtook them for what they used to commit.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And as for Thamud, We gave them guidance, but they preferred blindness to the guidance, so the bolt of the doom of humiliation overtook them because of what they used to earn.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

As to the Thamud We gave them guidance but they preferred blindness (of heart) to Guidance; so the stunning Punishment of humiliation seized them because of what they had earned. ^{4484 4485}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The story of the Thamud usually goes with that of the 'Ad. Cf. xxvi. 140-59; also vii. 73-79, and n. 1043.

"The thunder bolt:" i.e., deafening noises like those of thunder and lightning; or the rumbling of a terrible earthquake. In vii. 78, an earthquake is suggested: see n. 1047 to that verse. Cf. also above. xli. 13.

and We saved [only] those who had attained to faith and were conscious of Us.

  - Mohammad Asad

but We saved those who believed and had the fear of Allah.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And We delivered those who were faithful and were mindful 'of Allah'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We delivered those who believed and used to keep their duty to Allah.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But We delivered those who believed and practiced righteousness.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Hence, [warn all men of] the Day when the enemies of God shall be gathered together before the fire, and then shall be driven onward,

  - Mohammad Asad

Imagine that Day when the enemies of Allah will be brought together and led to the hellfire in groups.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

'Consider' the Day 'when' the enemies of Allah will be gathered for the Fire, all driven in ranks.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And (make mention of) the day when the enemies of Allah are gathered unto the Fire, they are driven on

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

On the Day that the enemies of Allah will be gathered together to the Fire they will be marched in ranks. ⁴⁴⁸⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Marched in ranks": to show their further humiliation: for they will be like prisoners going to Punishment.

till, when they come close to it, their hearing and their sight and their [very] skins will bear witness against them, speaking of what they were doing [on earth].

  - Mohammad Asad

Finally when they reach there, their ears, their eyes, and their skins will testify to their misdeeds.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

When they reach it, their ears, eyes, and skin will testify against what they used to do.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 It is reported in Ibn Kathîr’s commentary that, on the Day of Judgment, the wicked will deny the evil deeds in their records—as a desperate attempt to escape the horrible punishment in Hell. They will be asked if they accept Allah, the angels, or even their own families and neighbours as witnesses, but they will refuse. So Allah will make their organs testify against them.

Till, when they reach it, their ears and their eyes and their skins testify against them as to what they used to do.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

At length when they reach the (Fire) their hearing their sight and their skins will bear witness against them as to (all) their deeds. ⁴⁴⁸⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

All the members of their bodies and the faculties of their minds, which they misused, will bear witness against them. Similarly, in xxxvi. 65, their hands and their feet bear witness against them. The "skin" not only includes the sense of touch (which is so often misused in sex), but also the sense of taste and the sense of smell, which are specialised forms of the organ of touch. All the sensory organs, and all their intellectual and emotional counterparts advance us by their use and pull us down by their misuse. They become tell-tale witnesses against us if abused.

And they will ask their skins, "Why did you bear witness against us?" - [and] these will reply: "God, who gives speech to all things, has given speech to us [as well]: for He [it is who] has created you in the first instance - and unto Him you are [now] brought back.

  - Mohammad Asad

And they will ask their skins: "Why did you testify against us?" Their skins will reply: "Allah Who gives the faculty of speech to everything, has made us speak. He is the One Who created you to begin with, and now to Him you are being brought back.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They will ask their skin 'furiously', 'Why have you testified against us?' It will say, 'We have been made to speak by Allah, Who causes all things to speak. He 'is the One Who' created you the first time, and to Him you were bound to return.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And they say unto their skins: Why testify ye against us? They say: Allah hath given us speech Who giveth speech to all things, and Who created you at the first, and unto Whom ye are returned.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

They will say to their skins: "Why bear ye witness against us?" They will say: "Allah hath given us speech (He) Who giveth speech to everything: He created you for the first time and unto Him were ye to return. ⁴⁴⁸⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A new phase of their existence will now dawn on them. They used to think that if they concealed their evil deeds from the rest of the world, nothing would happen to them! But Allah can give "tongues to trees", and can make every fact in life, known and unknown to the world, contribute to the elucidation of truth and justice. When we succumb to evil, our limbs and faculties themselves betray us.

And you did not try to hide [your sins] lest your hearing or your sight or your skins bear witness against you: nay, but you thought that God did not know much of what you were doing

  - Mohammad Asad

During your life on earth you use to hide yourselves while committing crimes, you never thought that your own ears, your own eyes and your own skins would ever testify against you. Rather you thought that even Allah had no knowledge of many things that you do.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

You did not 'bother to' hide yourselves from your ears, eyes, and skin to prevent them from testifying against you. Rather, you assumed that Allah did not know much of what you used to do.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ye did not hide yourselves lest your ears and your eyes and your skins should testify against you, but ye deemed that Allah knew not much of what ye did.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Ye did not seek to hide yourselves lest your hearing your sight and your skins should bear witness against you! But ye did think that Allah knew not many of the things that ye used to do! ⁴⁴⁸⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The limbs and faculties will say: "You did not seek to hide your evil from us: in fact you used us for your evil, because we were in your power. Did you not know that Allah knew everything and that our knowledge would be evidence against you?"

and that very thought which you thought about your Sustainer has brought you to perdition, and so now you find yourselves among the lost!"

  - Mohammad Asad

This thought of yours, which you entertained concerning your Rabb, has brought you to destruction and now you have become of those who are utterly lost."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

It was that 'false' assumption you entertained about your Lord that has brought about your doom, so you have become losers.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

That, your thought which ye did think about your Lord, hath ruined you; and ye find yourselves (this day) among the lost.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"But this thought of yours which ye did entertain concerning your Lord hath brought you to destruction and (now) have ye become of those utterly lost!" ⁴⁴⁹⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"You now see the situation! We were given for your use and service. You misused us, to your own utter and irretrievable destruction!"

And then, [even] if they endure [their lot] in patience, the fire will still be their abode;²² and if they pray to be allowed to make amends, they will not be allowed to do so:²³

  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "unless God wills to reprieve them": see the last paragraph of 6:128 and the corresponding note [114]; also the hadith quoted in note [10] on 40:12 .

Lit., "they will not be of those who are allowed to make amends": an allusion to the request of the doomed, on the Day of Judgment, to be granted a "second chance" on earth, and to God's refusal of this request (cf. {6:27-28} and 32:12 ).

Then, whether they have patience or not, the fire will still be their home, and even if they beg for pardon, it shall not be granted to them.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Even if they endure patiently, the Fire will 'always' be their home. And if they 'beg to' appease 'their Lord', they will never be allowed to.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And though they are resigned, yet the Fire is still their home; and if they ask for favor, yet they are not of those unto whom favor can be shown.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

If then they have patience the Fire will be a Home for them! And if they beg to be received into favor into favor will they not (then) be received. ⁴⁴⁹¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If they have patience: there is sarcasm in the meaning. "Let them not be impatient: they will soon find a home in the Fire of Hell! If they ask for grace and forgiveness then, it will be too late."

for [when they became oblivious of Us,] We assigned to them [their own evil impulses as their] other selves,²⁴ and these made appear goodly to them whatever lay open before them and whatever was beyond their ken.²⁵ And so, the sentence [of doom] will have fallen due upon them together with the [other sinful] communities of invisible beings²⁶ and humans that passed away before their time: verily, they [all] will indeed be lost!

  - Mohammad Asad

Or: "soul-mates" (cf. 4:38 ). The verb qarana, from which the noun qarin is derived, signifies "he linked" or "intimately associated" or "yoked together [one thing with another]". Cf. 43:36 - "as for anyone who chooses to remain blind to the remembrance of the Most Gracious, to him We assign an [enduring] evil impulse [lit., "a satan"], to become his other self".

Lit., "that which was between their hands and that which was behind them": i.e., their own evil impulses (which had become their "other selves", as it were) made alluring to them the unrestrained enjoyment, without any moral discrimination, of all the worldly attractions which lay open before them, causing them, at the same time, to dismiss as an illusion the idea of ressurrection and of God's judgment - thus giving them a false sense of security with regard to something that was beyond their ken.

For this rendering - and the meaning - of the term jinn, see Appendix III.

We have assigned intimate companions, of like nature, for them Who make their past and present seem fair to them; and the same word (sentence of punishment) proved true against them, which overtook generations of jinn and men who have gone before them, that they shall surely be in loss.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

We placed at their disposal 'evil' associates who made their past and future 'misdeeds' appealing to them.¹ 'So' the fate of earlier communities of jinn and humans has been justified against them 'as well', 'for' they were truly losers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., associating others with Allah in worship and denying the Hereafter. See 43:36-37.

And We assigned them comrades (in the world), who made their present and their past fair seeming unto them. And the Word concerning nations of the jinn and humankind who passed away before them hath effect for them. Verily they are the losers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And We have destined for them intimate companions (of like nature) Who made alluring to them what was before them and behind them; and the sentence among the previous generations of Jinns and men who have passed away is proved against them; for they are utterly lost. ^{4492 4493 4494 4495}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Just as the idea of happiness in heaven is expressed, not only by individual satisfaction, but by congenial society, so the idea of Punishment in hell is deepened by the fact that Evil will be made to meet evil: those who made sin fair-seeming in this life will be there to share in the regrets and mutual recriminations which will make life a burden. In fact, in these Ha-Mim verses, the idea of fit companionship for the Good and uncongenial company for the Evil, runs like a thread throughout. See Introduction to S. xl.

They painted in glowing colours the pleasures of sin in the past and the pleasure of sin in the future, thus practising a double deception, which will now be found out.

Jinns: see n. 929 to vi. 100. All spirits of wickedness and all men who submitted to them, in the past, were under one common sentence; and future generations who embrace evil will also join them. Cf. vi. 128.

The echo here of verse 23 above completes the argument from another point of view.

NOW THOSE who are bent on denying the truth say [unto one another]: "Do not listen to this Qur'an, but rather talk frivolously about it, so that you might gain the upper hand!"²⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

This is an allusion to efforts aimed at discrediting the Qur'an by describing it as "invented" by Muhammad for his own - personal and political - ends, as a series of "misunderstood quotations" from earlier scriptures, as the result of "hallucinations", and so forth: all of which implies that the opponents of the Qur'anic message instinctively feel its force, realizing at the same time that it endangers their self-complacent, materialistic outlook on life and ought, therefore, to be combatted. This explains the statement, at the end of verse {28}, that they "knowingly reject" God's messages.

The disbelievers say: "Do not listen this Qur'an and make noise when it is recited so that you may gain the upper hand."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The disbelievers advised 'one another', 'Do not listen to this Quran but drown it out so that you may prevail.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Those who disbelieve say: Heed not this Qur'an, and drown the hearing of it; haply ye may conquer.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

The Unbelievers say: "Listen not to this Qur'an but talk at random in the midst of its (reading) that ye may gain the upper hand!" ⁴⁴⁹⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A favourite trick of those who wish to dishonour Revelation is, not only not to listen to it themselves, but to talk loudly and insolently when it is being read, so that even the true listeners may not be able to perform their devotions. They think that they are drowning the voice of Allah: in fact they are piling up misery for themselves in the future. For Allah's voice can never be silenced.

But We shall most certainly give those who are [thus] bent on denying the truth a taste of suffering severe, and We shall most certainly requite them according to the worst of their deeds!

  - Mohammad Asad

We will certainly punish the disbelievers and requite them for the worst of their misdeeds.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So We will certainly make the disbelievers taste a severe punishment, and We will surely repay them according to the worst of their deeds.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But verily We shall cause those who disbelieve to taste an awful doom, and verily We shall requite them the worst of what they used to do.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But We will certainly give the Unbelievers a taste of a severe Penalty and We will requite them for the worst of their deeds. ⁴⁴⁹⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Nothing that they can do, however outrageous, will escape its fit punishment. And to reject Allah's Signs is to shut the very door to His Grace and Mercy.

That requital of God's enemies will be the fire [of the hereafter]: in it will they have an abode of unmeasurable duration as an outcome of their having knowingly rejected Our messages.²⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

For the above rendering of the verb jahada, see surah {29}, note [45].

hell that is, the reward for such enemies of Allah, which will be their eternal home: a reward for their denying Our revelations.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

That is the reward of Allah's enemies: the Fire, which will be their eternal home- a 'fitting' reward for their denial of Our revelations.

  - Mustafa Khattab

That is the reward of Allah's enemies: the Fire. Therein is their immortal home; payment forasmuch as they denied Our revelations.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Such is the requital of the enemies of Allah the Fire: therein will be for them the Eternal Home: a (fit) requital for that they were wont to reject Our Signs.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And they who [in their life on earth] were bent on denying the truth will [thereupon] exclaim: "O our Sustainer! Show us those of the invisible beings and humans that have led us astray: ²⁹ we shall trample them underfoot, so that they shall be the lowest of all!"³⁰

  - Mohammad Asad

See 6:112 - "against every prophet We have set up as enemies the evil forces (shayatin) from among humans as well as from among invisible beings" - and the corresponding note [98].

Cf. 7:38 .

Wherein, the disbelievers will say: "Our Rabb! Show us those among jinns and mankind who misled us: we shall trample them under our feet so that they become utterly disgraced."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The disbelievers will 'then' cry, 'Our Lord! Show us those jinn and humans who led us astray: we will put them under our feet so that they will be among the lowest 'in Hell'.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And those who disbelieve will say: Our Lord! Show us these who beguiled us of the jinn and humankind. We will place them underneath our feet that they may be among the nethermost.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And the Unbelievers will say: "Our Lord! show us those among Jinns and men who misled us: we shall crush them beneath our feet so that they become the vilest (before all)." ⁴⁴⁹⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is one of the qualities of sin and all evil, that it wishes to drag down others in its own camp, and rejoices to see them humiliated and disgraced, just as, in the opposite case, the good rejoice to help and honour others and make them happy wherever they can. Cf. vi. 112-113.

[But,] behold, as for those who say, "Our Sustainer is God," and then steadfastly pursue the right way - upon them do angels often descend, [saying:] "Fear not and grieve not, but receive the glad tiding of that paradise which has been promised to you!

  - Mohammad Asad

As for those who say: "Our God is Allah," and then stay firm on it, the angels will descend on them, saying: "Let nothing fear or grieve you. Rejoice for the good news of paradise that has been promised to you.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Surely those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them,¹ 'saying,' 'Do not fear, nor grieve. Rather, rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Especially at the time of their death.

Lo! those who say: Our Lord is Allah, and afterward are upright, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not nor grieve, but bear good tidings of the paradise which ye are promised.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

In the case of those who say "Our Lord is Allah" and further stand straight and steadfast the angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear ye not!" (they suggest) "nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss) the which ye were promised! ⁴⁴⁹⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The people who succeed in eternal Life are those who recognise and understand the one and only Eternal Reality, that is Allah, and further shape their probationary Life firmly and steadfastly on the principles of that Truth and Reality. They will have their friends and protectors in the good angels, in contrast to the evil ones, who will have no friendship or protection, but only the reproaches of the Satan.