Surah 79. An-Naziat

even though we may have become [a heap of] crumbling bones?"

  - Mohammad Asad

when we shall have become hollow bones?"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Even after we are crumbled bones?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[And] they add, "That, then, would be a return with loss!"⁵

  - Mohammad Asad

Implying derisively (Zamakhshari) that in such a case they would be proved wrong in what they now consider a "reasonable" assumption.

They further say: "It would then be a fruitless restoration!"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They say: Then that would be a vain proceeding.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[But,] then, that [Last Hour] will be [upon them of a sudden, as if it were] but a single accusing cry -

  - Mohammad Asad

They should know that it shall be only a single shout,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Surely it will need but one shout,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and then, lo, they will be fully awakened [to the truth]!

  - Mohammad Asad

and they will be back to life in open plain.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And lo! they will be awakened.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

HAS THE STORY of Moses ever come within thy ken?⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

Connecting with the preceding passage, the story of Moses (which appears in much greater detail in {20:9-98}) is cited here as an illustration of the fact that everyone will have to answer on Judgment Day for whatever he did in life, and that it is the main function of every prophet to make man aware of this responsibility.

Have you heard the story of Musa (Moses)?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Hath there come unto thee the history of Moses?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Lo! His Sustainer called out to him in the twice-hallowed valley:⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [9] on 20:12 . - For the meaning of the particle idh at the beginning of this sentence, rendered by me as "Lo!", see surah {2}, note [21].

When His Rabb called him in the sacred valley of Tuwa,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

How his Lord called him in the holy vale of Tuwa,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Go unto Pharaoh - for, verily, he has transgressed all bounds of what is right -

  - Mohammad Asad

and said: "Go to Fir'on (Pharaoh) for he has indeed transgressed all bounds,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

(Saying:) Go thou unto Pharaoh--Lo! he hath rebelled--

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and say [unto him], 'Art thou desirous of attaining to purity?

  - Mohammad Asad

and tell him, `Have you the desire to purify yourself?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And say (unto him): Hast thou (will) to grow (in grace)?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[If so,] then I shall guide thee towards [a cognition of] thy Sustainer, so that [henceforth] thou wilt stand in awe [of Him].'"⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

Implying that so long as man is not fully aware of the existence of God, he cannot really discern between what is morally right or wrong; and since God is just, He does not punish anyone who has not yet attained to such a discernment (or, as expressed in the preceding sentence, "to [moral] purity"): cf. 6:131 - "thy Sustainer would never destroy a community for its wrongdoing so long as its people are still unaware [of the meaning of right and wrong]".

If so, I shall guide you towards your Rabb, so that you may fear Him.'"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then I will guide thee to thy Lord and thou shalt fear (Him).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And thereupon he [went to Pharaoh and] made him aware of the great wonder [of God's grace].⁹

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "showed him the great wonder", i.e., of the guidance which God, in His measureless grace, offers even to the most recalcitrant sinner.

Then Musa showed Fir'on the mighty sign,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And he showed him the tremendous token.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But [Pharaoh] gave him the lie and rebelliously rejected [all guidance],

  - Mohammad Asad

but he denied and disobeyed.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But be denied and disobeyed,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and brusquely turned his back [on Moses];

  - Mohammad Asad

Then he quickly turned back,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then turned he away in haste,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and then he gathered [his great ones], and called [unto his people],

  - Mohammad Asad

assembled his people and made a proclamation;

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then gathered he and summoned

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and said, "I am your Lord All-Highest!"¹⁰

  - Mohammad Asad

"I am your lord, the most high."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And proclaimed: "I (Pharaoh) am your Lord the Highest."

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And thereupon God took him to task, [and made him] a warning example in the life to come as well as in this world.¹¹

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "in the first [life]". See last sentence of 7:137 - "We utterly destroyed all that Pharaoh and his people had wrought, and all that they had built" - and the corresponding note [100].

Consequently, Allah seized him for punishment, both in the Hereafter and in this life.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So Allah seized him (and made him) an example for the after (life) and for the former.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall