Surah 40. Ghafir

Ha. Mim.¹

  - Mohammad Asad

See Appendix II.

Ha M'im.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Ha-Mim.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ha. Mim.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Ha Mim. ⁴³⁵⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See the Introduction to this Sura.

THE BESTOWAL from on high of this divine writ issues from God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing,

  - Mohammad Asad

The revelation of this Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Knowledgeable,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The revelation of this Book is from Allah- the Almighty, All-Knowing,

  - Mustafa Khattab

The revelation of the Scripture is from Allah, the Mighty, the Knower,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

The revelation of this Book is from Allah Exalted in Power Full of Knowledge ⁴³⁵⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This verse is the same as xxxix: 1, except for the last words describing the attribute of Allah. In S. xxxix. 1, it was "Full of Wisdom", because stress was laid on the wisdom of Allah's Plan in ordering His World. In this Sura the stress is laid on Allah's Knowledge, before which the shallow knowledge of men is vain (xi. 83).

forgiving sins and accepting repentance, severe in retribution, limitless in His bounty. There is no deity save Him: with Him is all journeys' end.

  - Mohammad Asad

the forgiver of sins, the Acceptor of repentance, the Stern in punishment and the Lord of bounty; there is no god except Him, to Whom all shall return.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

the Forgiver of sin and Accepter of repentance, the Severe in punishment, and Infinite in bounty. There is no god 'worthy of worship' except Him. To Him 'alone' is the final return.

  - Mustafa Khattab

The Forgiver of sin, the Accepter of repentance, the Stern in punishment, the Bountiful. There is no God save Him. Unto Him is the journeying.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Who forgiveth Sin accepteth Repentance is strict in Punishment and hath a Long Reach (in all things). There is no god but He: to Him is the Final Goal. ⁴³⁵⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah's knowledge is supreme and all-reaching. But there are other attributes of His, which concern us even more intimately; e.g., He forgives sin and accepts our repentance when it is sincere and results in our change of heart and life: but He is also just, and strict in punishment; and so no loophole will be left for Evil except in repentance. And further, all His attributes reach forward to everything: His Mercy, as well as His Knowledge and Justice; His Bounties as well as His Punishments.

NONE BUT THOSE who are bent on denying the truth would call God's messages in question. But let it not deceive thee that they seem to be able to do as they please on earth:

  - Mohammad Asad

None dispute the revelations of Allah but those who disbelieve; so let not their affluent activity in the land deceive you.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

None disputes the signs of Allah except the disbelievers, so do not be deceived by their prosperity throughout the land.

  - Mustafa Khattab

None argue concerning the revelations of Allah save those who disbelieve, so let not their turn of fortune in the land deceive thee (O Muhammad).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

None can dispute about the Signs of Allah but the Unbelievers. Let not then their strutting about through the land deceive thee! ^{4359 4360}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah's knowledge and attributes are perfect, and everything around us proclaims this. We are surrounded by His Signs. It is only want of Faith that will make people dispute about them.

Cf. iii. 196. Their strutting about shows how little they can read the Signs.

to the truth gave the lie, before their time, the people of Noah and, after them, all those [others] who were leagued together [against God's message-bearers];² and each of those communities schemed against the apostle sent unto them,³ aiming to lay hands on him; and they contended [against his message] with fallacious arguments, so as to render void the truth thereby: but then I took them to task-and how awesome was My retribution!

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. {{38:12-14}}, where some of those who were "leagued together" (al-ahzab) are enumerated; also verses {30} ff. of this surah.

Lit., "each community schemed against their apostle".

Before them the people of Nuh denied the Message and so did other groups after them. Every nation plotted against its Prophet, seized him and sought to refute the truth through false arguments; but I smote them, and how terrible was My retribution!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Before them, the people of Noah denied 'the truth', as did 'other' enemy forces afterwards. Every community plotted against its prophet to seize him, and argued in falsehood, 'hoping' to discredit the truth with it. So I seized them. And how 'horrible' was My punishment!

  - Mustafa Khattab

The folk of Noah and the factions after them denied (their messengers) before these, and every nation purposed to seize their messenger and argued falsely, (thinking) thereby to refute the Truth. Then I seized them, and how (awful) was My punishment.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But (there were people) before them who denied (the Signs) the People of Noah and the confederates (of Evil) after them; and every People plotted against their prophet to seize him and disputed by means of vanities therewith to condemn the truth; but it was I that seized them! And how (terrible) was My Requital! ^{4361 4362 4363}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxxviii. 11-13, and n. 4158. All the hosts of wickedness collected together from history will have no power against Allah's Truth, or the Messenger of that Truth, or Allah's holy Plan for all His Creation.

Whenever a great or vital Truth is proclaimed and renewed, there are always shallow minds that are ready to dispute about it! And what petty and vain arguments they advance! They think they can discredit or condemn the Truth in this way, or render "of none effect" Allah's Plan. But they are mistaken. If they seem to succeed for a time, that is merely their trial. They may try to plan and plot against Allah's men. But their plots will fail in the long run. They will themselves be caught in their own snares. And then, how terrible will be their Punishment!

Cf. xiii. 32.