Surah 69. Al-Haqqah

It is not the prose of a poet 'as you claim', 'yet' you hardly have any faith.

  - Mustafa Khattab

It is not the word of a poet: little it is ye believe! ⁵⁶⁶⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A poet draws upon his imagination, and the subjective factor is so strong that though we may learn much from him, we cannot believe as facts the wonderful tales he has to tell. And the poet who is not a Seer is merely a vulgar votary of exaggerations and falsehoods.

Nor is it the mumbling of a fortune-teller, 'yet' you are hardly mindful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Nor is it the word of a soothsayer: little admonition it is ye receive. ⁵⁶⁶⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A soothsayer merely pretends to foretell future events of no profound spiritual consequence. Most of his prophecies are frauds, and none of them is meant to teach lessons of real admonition. Such admonition is the work of an honoured prophet.

'It is' a revelation from the Lord of all worlds.

  - Mustafa Khattab

(This is) a Message sent down from the Lord of the Worlds.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Had the Messenger made up something in Our Name,

  - Mustafa Khattab

And if the apostle were to invent any sayings in Our name

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We would have certainly seized him by his right hand,

  - Mustafa Khattab

We should certainly seize him by his right hand ⁵⁶⁶⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The right hand is the hand of power and action. Any one who is seized by his right hand is prevented from acting as he wishes or carrying out his purpose. The argument is that if an impostor were to arise, he would soon be found out. He could not carry out his fraud indefinitely. But the prophets of Allah, however much they are persecuted, gain more and more power every day, as did the holy Prophet, whose truth, earnestness, sincerity, and love for all, were recognised as his life unfolded itself.

then severed his aorta,

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We should certainly then cut off the artery of his heart: ⁵⁶⁷⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This would effectually stop the functioning of his life.

and none of you could have shielded him 'from Us'!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Nor could any of you withhold him (from Our wrath). ⁵⁶⁷¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The protection which the prophets of Allah enjoy in circumstances of danger and difficulty would not be available for impostors.

Indeed, this 'Quran' is a reminder to those mindful 'of Allah'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But verily this is a Message for the Allah-fearing.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And We certainly know that some of you will persist in denial,

  - Mustafa Khattab

And We certainly know that there are amongst you those that reject (it)

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and it will surely be a source of regret for the disbelievers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But truly (Revelation) is a cause of sorrow for the Unbelievers. ⁵⁶⁷²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Message of Allah is glad tidings for those who believe in Him and follow His Law, for it is a message of Mercy and Forgiveness through repentance and amendment. But in the case of the wicked it is a cause of sorrow, for it denounces sin and proclaims the punishment of those who do not turn from evil:

And indeed, this 'Quran' is the absolute truth.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But verily it is Truth of assured certainty. ⁵⁶⁷³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

All Truth is in itself. But as received by men, and understood with reference to men's psychology, certainty may have certain degrees. There is the probability or certainty resulting from the application of man's power of judgment and his appraisement of evidence. This is ilmulyaqin, certainty by reasoning or inference. Then there is the certainty of seeing something with our own eyes. "Seeing is believing." This is 'ain-ul-yaqin, certainty by personal inspection. See cii. 5, 7. Then, as here, there is the absolute Truth, with no possiblity of error of judgment or error of the eye, (which stands for any instrument of sense-perception and any ancillary aids, such as microscopes etc.). This absolute Truth is the haqq-il-yaqin spoken of here.

So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Greatest.

  - Mustafa Khattab

So glorify the name of thy Lord Most High. ⁵⁶⁷⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As Allah has given us this absolute Truth through His Revelation, it behaves us to understand it and be grateful to Him. We must celebrate His praises in thought, word and deed.