Surah 34. Saba

All praise is for Allah, to Whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And praise be to Him in the Hereafter. He is the All-Wise, All-Aware.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Praise be to Allah to Whom belong all things in the heavens and on earth: to Him be Praise in the Hereafter: and He is Full of Wisdom acquainted with all things. ³⁷⁸⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

All Creation declares His Praises, i.e., manifests His Mercy and Power, Goodness and Truth, all the sublime attributes summed up in His Most Beautiful Names (vii. 180 and xvii 110 and notes). For man to contrmplate these is in itself a Revelation. This sentiment opens five Suras of the Qur-an evenly distributed, viz., i., vi., xviii., xxxiv., and xxxv. Here the point most emphasised is that His wisdom and mercy comprehend all things, extended in space or in time-here and everywhere, now and evermore.

He knows whatever goes into the earth and whatever comes out of it, and whatever descends from the sky and whatever ascends into it. And He is the Most Merciful, All-Forgiving.

  - Mustafa Khattab

He knows all that goes into the earth and all that comes out thereof; all that comes down from the sky and all that ascends thereto: and He is the Most Merciful the Oft-Forgiving. ^{3786 3787}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

An ignorant man may think that water absorbed in the soil or seed sown beneath the sod is lost, but it replenishes numerous rills, and streams, and feeds and sustains numerous roots and forms of life, and throws up all kinds of vegetable life. So with things that come out of the earth: who can count the myriad forms of herbs and trees that grow and perish, and yet sustain a continuous life for ages and ages? Yet these are symbolical of other things or entities beyond time or space, and beyond physical form. We see the birth and death of the animal part of man: When he is buried beneath the soil, the ignorant man thinks there is an end of him.

The vapours that rise from the earth and ascend to the sky descend again as rain and snow and as symbols of Allah's Mercy. So are the prayers of the devout and the call of those in agony for help and light, answered by the descent of mercy and guidance, hlep and light from Allah. Do not forget that, just as there is the element of Mercy, so there is an element of Justice and Punishment.

The disbelievers say, 'The Hour will never come to us.' Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Yes- by my Lord, the Knower of the unseen- it will certainly come to you!' Not 'even' an atom's weight is hidden from Him in the heavens or the earth; nor anything smaller or larger than that, but is 'written' in a perfect Record.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 See footnote for 33:6.

The Unbelievers say "Never to us will come the hour": say "Nay! but most surely by my Lord it will come upon you by Him Who knows the unseen from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the Heavens or on earth: nor is there anything less than that or greater but is in the Record Perspicuous: ^{3788 3789 3790}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The last two verses prepared us to realise the position of Unbelievers in Allah's great Universe. They are the discord in the universal harmony of Prayer and Praise. Their existence is due to the grant of a limited free-will, the Trust which the Unbelievers have betrayed (see xxxiii. 72 and notes). But they must and will be eliminated: see verse 5 below. For there is nothing more certain in the world, physical, moral, and spiritual, than that every cause, great or small, must have its corresponding consequences.

The strongest emphasis and the most perfect assurance of certainty are indicated by reference to the authority of Allah Himself, the Ruler of the Day of Judgment.

In the symbolical language of our own human experience, a record is more enduring than memory: in fact (if properly preserved) it is perpetual. If, further, it is expressed in clear language, without any obscurity, it can always be read with perfect precision and without any doubt whatever. Apply these qualities, free from human defect to Allah's laws and decrees. They are unerring and enduring. Everything, greater or small, will receive due recognition-a Reward for Good and a Punishment for Evil.

So He may reward those who believe and do good. It is they who will have forgiveness and an honourable provision.

  - Mustafa Khattab

That He may reward those who believe and work deeds of righteousness: for such is Forgiveness and a Sustenance Most Generous." ³⁷⁹¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Sustenance": Spiritual in things spiritual, and physical in things physical. It implies not only the satisfaction of desire, but the provision of means for sustaining the ground won and for winning more ground in the march of progress.

As for those who strive to discredit Our revelations, it is they who will suffer the 'worst' torment of agonizing pain.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But those who strive against Our Signs to frustrate them for such will be a Penalty a Punishment most humiliating. ³⁷⁹²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxii. 51. Allah's Plan cannot be frustrated. It is those who work against it, who will be eliminated and destroyed.