THE HOLY QUR'AAN

SURAH 41
Fussilat  (Explained In Detail, Detailed, Expounded)

INTRODUCTION:

This Surah consists of 54 verses, 796 sentences, 3,350 letters and 6 Ruku's.

Name

The name of this Surah is composed of two words, Ha-Mim and As-Sajdah, which implies that it is a Surah which begins with Ha-Mim and in which a verse requiring the performance of sajdah (prostration) has occurred.

Period of Revelation

According to authentic Traditions, it was sent down after the affirmation of the Faith by Hadrat Hamzah and before the affirmation of the Faith by Hadrat Umar. Muhammad bin Ishaq, the earliest biographer of the Holy Prophet, has related on the authority of Muhammad bin Ka'b al-Qurzi, the famous follower of the Companions, that one day some of the Quraish chiefs were sitting in their assembly in the Masjid al-Haram, while in another corner of the Mosque there was the Holy Prophet sitting by himself. This was the time when Hadrat Hamzah had already embraced Islam and the people of the Quraish were feeling upset at the growing numbers of the Muslims. On this occasion, Utbah bin Rabi'ah (the father-in-law of Abu Sufyan) said to the Quraish chiefs: "Gentlemen, if you like I would go and speak to Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) and put before him some proposals; maybe that he accepts one of them, to which we may also agree, and so he stops opposing us." They all agreed to this, and Utbah went and sat by the Holy Prophet. When the Holy Prophet turned to him, he said: "Nephew, you know the high status that you enjoy in the community by virtue of your ancestry and family relations, but you have put your people to great trouble: you have created divisions among them and you consider them to be fools: you talk ill of their religion and gods, and say things as though all our forefathers were pagans. Now listen to me and I shall make some suggestions. Consider them well: maybe that you accept one of them." The Holy Prophet said: "Abul Walid, say what you want to say and I shall listen to you." He said, "Nephew, if by what you are doing, you want wealth, we will give you enough of it so that you will be the richest man among us; if you want to became an important man, we will make you our chief and will never decide a matter without you; if you want to be a king, we will accept you as our king; and if you are visited by a jinn, whom you cannot get rid of by your own power, we will arrange the best physicians and have you treated at our own expense." 'Utbah went on speaking in this strain and the Holy Prophet went on listening to him quietly. Then he said, "Have you said, O Abul Walid, what you had to say?" He replied that he had. The Holy Prophet said: "Well, now listen to me." Then pronouncing Bismilah ir Rehman-ir-Rahim he began to recite this very Surah, and Utbah kept on listening to it, putting his hands behind his back and leaning on them as he listened. Coming to the verse of prostration (v. 38) the Holy Prophet prostrated himself; then raising his head, said, "This was my reply, O Abul Walid, now you may act as you please." Then Utbah arose and walked back towards the chiefs, the people saw him from afar, and said: "By God! Utbah's face is changed. He does not look the same man that he was when he went from here." Then, when he came back and sat down, the people asked, "What have you heard?" He replied, "By God! I have heard something the like of which I had never heard before. By God, it's neither poetry, nor sorcery, nor magic. O chiefs of the Quraish, listen to what I say and leave this man to himself. I think what he recites is going to have its effect. If the other Arabs overcome him, you will be saved from raising your hand against your brother, and the others will deal with him. But if he overcame Arabia, his sovereignty would be your sovereignty and his honour your honour." Hearing this the chiefs spoke out: "You too, O father of Walid, have been bewitched by his tongue." Utbah replied, "I have given you my opinion; now you may act as you please." (Ibn Hisham, vol. I, pp. 313-314).

 

This story has been narrated by several other traditionists also on the authority of Hadrat Jabir bin Abdullah in different ways, with a little variation in wording. In some traditions it has also been related that when during the recitation the Holy Prophet had come to verse 13, viz. "If they turn away, say to them: I warn you of a thunderbolt the like of which had visited the Ad and the Thamud," Utbah had spontaneously placed his hand on the Holy Prophet's mouth, and said: "For God's sake, have mercy on your people." Afterwards he justified his action before the Quraish chiefs, saying: "You know that whatever Muhammad says is always fulfilled; therefore, I feared lest a torment should descend on us." (For details, see Tafsir Ibn Kathir, vol. IV, pp. 90-91; Al Bidayah wan-Nihayah, vol. III, p. 62).

Theme and Subjet Matter

In the discourse that Allah sent down in response to what Utbah said, no attention whatever was paid to the absurd proposals that he had made to the Holy Prophet. For what he had said was, in fact, an attack on the Holy Prophet's intention and his intellect. His assumption was that as there was no possibility of his being a Prophet and the Quran being Allah's Revelation, inevitably the motive of his invitation must either be the desire to obtain wealth and political power, or, God forbid, he had lost his reason. In the first case, he wanted to make a bargain with the Holy Prophet; in the seconcd, he was insulting him when he said that the Quraish chiefs would have him cured of his madness at their own expense. Obviously, when the opponents come down to such absurd things, no gentleman would like to answer them, but would ignore them and say what he himself had to say.

 

Therefore, ignoring what Utbah said, this Surah makes antagonism its subject of discussion, which the unbelieving Quraish were showing stubbornly and wickedly in order to defeat the message of the Qur'an. They would say to tho Holy Prophet, "You may try however hard you try: we would not listen to you. We have put coverings on our hearts and we have closed our ears. There is a wall between you and us, which would never let us meet together."

 

They had given a clear notice to the Holy Prophet to the effect: "You may continue your mission of inviting the people to yourself, but we would go on opposing you as hard as we can to frustrate your mission."

 

For this object they had devised the following plan: Whenever the Holy Prophet or a follower of his would try to recite the Qur'an before the people, they would at once raise such a hue and cry that no one could hear anything. They were desperately trying to misconstrue the verses of the Qur'an and spread every kind of misunderstanding among the people. They misconstrued everything and found fault even with the straightforward things. They would isolate words and sentences from their right context, from here and there, and would add their own words in order to put new meanings on them so as to mislead the people about the Quran and the Messenger who presented it.

 

They would raise strange objections a specimen of which has been presented in this Surah. They said, "If an Arab presents a discourse in Arabic, what could be the miracle in it? Arabic is his mother tongue. Anyone could compose anything that he pleased in his mother tongue and then make the claim that he had received it from God. It would be a miracle if the person would suddenly arise and make an eloquent speech in a foreign tongue which he did not know. Then only could one say that the discourse was not of his own composition but a revelation from God."

Here is a resume of what has been said in answer to this deaf and blind opposition:

1.       The Qur'an is most certainly the Word of God, which He has sent down in Arabic. The ignorant people do not find any light of knowledge in the truths that have been presented in it plainly and clearly, but the people of understanding are seeing this light as well as benefiting by it. It is surely Allah's mercy that He has sent down this Word for the guidance of man. If a person regarded it as an affliction, it would be his own misfortune. Good news is for those who benefit by it and warning for those who turn away from it.

2.       If you have put coverings on your hearts and have made yourselves deaf, it is none of the Prophet's job to make the one hear who does not want to hear, and the one who does not want to understand understand forcibly. He is a man like you; he can make only those to hear and understand, who are inclined to hear and understand.

3.       Whether you close down your eyes and ears and put coverings on your hearts, the fact, however, is that your God is only One God, and you are not the servant of any one else. Your stubbornness cannot change this reality in any way. If you accept this truth and correct your behaviour accordingly you will do good only to yourselves, and if you reject it, you will only be preparing your own doom.

4.       Do you have any understanding as to whom you disbelieve and with whom you associate others in divinity? It is with regard to that God Who has created this limitless universe, Who is the Creator of the earth and heavens, from Whose blessings you are benefiting on the earth, and on Whose provisions you are being fed and sustained. You set up His mean creatures as His associates and then you are made to understand the truth you turn away in stubbornness.

5.       If you still do not believe, then be aware that a sudden torment is about to visit you, the like of which had visited the Ad and the Thamud, and this torment also will not be the final punishment of your crimes, but there is in addition the accountability and the fire of Hell in the Hereafter.

6.       Wretched is the man who gets as company such satans from among men and jinn, who show him nothing but green and pleasant, who make his follies seem fair to him, who neither let him think aright himself nor let him hear right from others. But on the Day of Reckoning when their doom overtakes them, each one of them will say that if he happened to get hold of those who had misled and deceived him in the world, he would trample them under his foot.

7.       This Quran is an unchangeable Book. You can not defeat it by your machinations and falsehoods. Whether falsehood comes from the front or makes a secret and indirect attack from behind, it cannot succeed in refuting it.

8.       Today when this Quran is being presented in your own language so that you may understand it, you say that it should have been sent down in some foreign tongue. But had We sent it in a foreign tongue for your guidance, you would yourselves have called it a joke, as if to say, "What a strange thing! The Arabs are being given guidance in a non-Arabic language, which nobody understands." This means that you, in fact, have no desire to obtain guidance. You are only inventing ever new excuses for not affirming the faith.

9.       Have you ever considered that if it became established that the Qur'an was really from Allah, then what fate you would meet by denying it and opposing it so vehemently as you do?

10.   Today you do not believe but soon you will see with your own eyes that the message of this Qur'an had pervaded the whole world and you have yourselves been overwhelmed by it. Then you will come to know that what you were being told was the very truth.

Besides giving these answers to the opponents, attention has been paid to the problems which the believers and the Holy Prophet himself were facing in that environment of active resistance. Not to speak of preaching the message to others, the believers were even finding it difficult to follow the way of the Faith. Any one about whom it became known that he had become a Muslim, life would become an agony. As against the dreadful combination of the enemy and its all pervading power, they were feeling utterly helpless and powerless. In this state, in the first place, they were consoled and encouraged, as if to say: "You are not, in fact, helpless and powerless, for any person who believes in God as his Lord and adheres to this belief and way of life resolutely, God's angels descend on him and help and support him at every stage, from the life of this world till the Hereafter." Then they were encouraged with the consolation: "The best man is he who does good, invites others to God and proclaims firmly that he is a Muslim."

 

The question that was vexing the Holy Prophet at that time was as to how he should carve out a way of preaching his message when he had to face such heavy odds on every side. The solution he was given to this question was: "Although apparently the obstacles seem to be insurmountable, the weapon of good morals and character can smash and melt them away. Use this weapon patiently, and whenever Satan provokes you and incites you to use some other device, seek refuge in Allah."  

Maududi

 

IMPORTANT: Please note that the Digest is based upon these outstanding translations and they have been reproduced here for the benefit of serious readers of the Qur’aan; the copyrights of these works are held by their respective authors/publishers from whom they can be purchased by anyone interested in acquiring them and we ardently hope that no offence will be taken by their inclusion.

 

THE HOLY QUR'AAN


SURAH 41
FUSSILAT  (THEY ARE EXPOUNDED)

   

Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
 


Section 1

41 : 1

 

1. Ha-meem

Hâ­Mîm.

41 : 2

2. Tanzeelun mina alrrahmani alrraheemi

This is a revelation from the Beneficent, the Merciful.

41 : 3

3. Kitabun fussilat ayatuhu qur-anan AAarabiyyan liqawmin yaAAlamoona

A Scripture of which the verses are hereby expounded, - a Tractate in Arabic language for the erudite -

41 : 4

4. Basheeran wanatheeran faaAArada aktharuhum fahum la yasmaAAoona

Containing good tidings and warnings, but most of them have turned their faces away so they cannot hear it!

41 : 5

5. Waqaloo quloobuna fee akinnatin mimma tadAAoona ilayhi wafee athanina waqrun wamin baynina wabaynika hijabun faiAAmal innana AAamiloona

They say : 'Our hearts are impervious to that towards which you call us and in our ears there is a deafness, and between us and you there is an obstruction, so you do what you can and we shall do what we can.'

41 : 6

6. Qul innama ana basharun mithlukum yooha ilayya annama ilahukum ilahun wahidun faistaqeemoo ilayhi waistaghfiroohu wawaylun lilmushrikeena

Say to them (O Mohammed) : 'I am only a mortal like you. It is inspirited in me that your God is One God, so take the straight path to Him and seek His forgiveness. And damnation be upon the idolaters -

41 : 7

7. Allatheena la yu/toona alzzakata wahum bial-akhirati hum kafiroona

Who do not give to the deserving their due and who disbelieve in the Hereafter!

41 : 8

8. Inna allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati lahum ajrun ghayru mamnoonin

For those who believe and perform righteous deeds, there is an unlimited reward in store. (R)


OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:

MUHSIN:

1. Hâ­Mîm.

[These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'ân, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings.]

2. A revelation from Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

3. A Book whereof the Verses are explained in detail; A Qur'ân in Arabic for people who know.

4. Giving glad tidings [of Paradise to the one who believes in the Oneness of Allâh (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism) and fears Allâh much (abstains from all kinds of sins and evil deeds) and loves Allâh much (performing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], and warning (of punishment in the Hell Fire to the one who disbelieves in the Oneness of Allâh), but most of them turn away, so they listen not.

5. And they say: "Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a screen, so work you (on your way); verily, we are working (on our way)."

6. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I am only a human being like you. It is inspired in me that your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God - Allâh), therefore take Straight Path to Him (with true Faith Islâmic Monotheism) and obedience to Him, and seek forgiveness of Him. And woe to Al-Mushrikûn (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh, polytheists, idolaters, etc. - see V.2:105).

7. Those who give not the Zakât and they are disbelievers in the Hereafter.

8. Truly, those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism, and in His Messenger Muhammad SAW) and do righteous good deeds, for them will be an endless reward that will never stop (i.e. Paradise).


041.001
YUSUFALI: Ha Mim:
PICKTHAL: Ha. Mim.
SHAKIR: Ha Mim!

041.002
YUSUFALI: A Revelation from (Allah), Most Gracious, Most Merciful;-
PICKTHAL: A revelation from the Beneficent, the Merciful,
SHAKIR: A revelation from the Beneficent, the Merciful Allah:

041.003
YUSUFALI: A Book, whereof the verses are explained in detail;- a Qur'an in Arabic, for people who understand;-
PICKTHAL: A Scripture whereof the verses are expounded, a Lecture in Arabic for people who have knowledge,
SHAKIR: A Book of which the verses are made plain, an Arabic Quran for a people who know:

041.004
YUSUFALI: Giving good news and admonition: yet most of them turn away, and so they hear not.
PICKTHAL: Good tidings and a warning. But most of them turn away so that they hear not.
SHAKIR: A herald of good news and a warner, but most of them turn aside so they hear not.

041.005
YUSUFALI: They say: "Our hearts are under veils, (concealed) from that to which thou dost invite us, and in our ears in a deafness, and between us and thee is a screen: so do thou (what thou wilt); for us, we shall do (what we will!)"
PICKTHAL: And they say: Our hearts are protected from that unto which thou (O Muhammad) callest us, and in our ears there is a deafness, and between us and thee there is a veil. Act, then. Lo! we also shall be acting.
SHAKIR: And they say: Our hearts are under coverings from that to which you call us, and there is a heaviness in our ears, and a veil hangs between us and you, so work, we too are working.

041.006
YUSUFALI: Say thou: "I am but a man like you: It is revealed to me by Inspiration, that your Allah is one Allah: so stand true to Him, and ask for His Forgiveness." And woe to those who join gods with Allah,-
PICKTHAL: Say (unto them O Muhammad): I am only a mortal like you. It is inspired in me that your Allah is One Allah, therefor take the straight path unto Him and seek forgiveness of Him. And woe unto the idolaters,
SHAKIR: Say: I am only a mortal like you; it is revealed to me that your Allah is one Allah, therefore follow the right way to Him and ask His forgiveness; and woe to the polytheists;

041.007
YUSUFALI: Those who practise not regular Charity, and who even deny the Hereafter.
PICKTHAL: Who give not the poor-due, and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter.
SHAKIR: (To) those who do not give poor-rate and they are unbelievers in the hereafter.

041.008
YUSUFALI: For those who believe and work deeds of righteousness is a reward that will never fail.
PICKTHAL: Lo! as for those who believe and do good works, for them is a reward enduring.
SHAKIR: (As for) those who believe and do good, they shall surely have a reward never to be cut off.

 

 

Section 2

41 : 9

9. Qul a-innakum latakfuroona biallathee khalaqa al-arda fee yawmayni watajAAaloona lahu andadan thalika rabbu alAAalameena

Say to the idolaters (O Mohammed) : 'Dare you refute Him Who created the world in two days and dare you set up rivals to Him? He and only He is the Lord of the Worlds!

41 : 10

10. WajaAAala feeha rawasiya min fawqiha wabaraka feeha waqaddara feeha aqwataha fee arbaAAati ayyamin sawaan lilssa-ileena

He placed upon it huge mountains that rise high, and blessed it and provided it with ample sustenance for those who dwell in it, - all that in four days - and for all those who seek sustenance!

41 : 11

11. Thumma istawa ila alssama-i wahiya dukhanun faqala laha walil-ardi i/tiya tawAAan aw karhan qalata atayna ta-iAAeena

Then turned He to the heaven, - and it was all oblivion - and said to the sky and the earth : 'Come both of you, willingly or unwillingly!' They said : 'We come willingly!'

41 : 12

12. Faqadahunna sabAAa samawatin fee yawmayni waawha fee kulli sama-in amraha wazayyanna alssamaa alddunya bimasabeeha wahifthan thalika taqdeeru alAAazeezi alAAaleemi

And then He transformed it into seven heavens in two days and He assigned to each of the heavens their respective ordinances; and We arrayed the nether heaven with galaxies and rendered it sacrosanct against trespass. Such is the magnitude of the Meritorious, the Erudite!

41 : 13

13. Fa-in aAAradoo fuqul anthartukum saAAiqatan mithla saAAiqati AAadin wathamooda

Yet if they turn away, say to them : 'I warn you of a thunderbolt like the one that had once descended upon the tribes of Aad and Thamud -

41 : 14

14. Ith jaat-humu alrrusulu min bayni aydeehim wamin khalfihim alla taAAbudoo illa Allaha qaloo law shaa rabbuna laanzala mala-ikatan fa-inna bima orsiltum bihi kafiroona

'When their messengers came to them from before them and from behind them saying : 'Worship none but Allah!' they said: 'If our Lord had willed, He surely would have sent His angels to us! Hence we believe not in that with which you have been sent!'

41 : 15

15. Faamma AAadun faistakbaroo fee al-ardi bighayri alhaqqi waqaloo man ashaddu minna quwwatan awa lam yaraw anna Allaha allathee khalaqahum huwa ashaddu minhum quwwatan wakanoo bi-ayatina yajhadoona

As for Aad, they took to arrogance in the land without any right and said : 'Who is mightier than us?' Could they not see that Allah Who created them is mightier? Yet they vituperate Our Revelations!

41 : 16

16. Faarsalna AAalayhim reehan sarsaran fee ayyamin nahisatin linutheeqahum AAathaba alkhizyi fee alhayati alddunya walaAAathabu al-akhirati akhza wahum la yunsaroona

So We unleashed on them a devastating thunderstorm whilst their fortunes were at an ebb so that they taste the flavour of humiliating torment in the life of this world. And verily the doom of the Hereafter is the most opprobrious of all, and they will not be helped.

41 : 17

17. Waamma thamoodu fahadaynahum faistahabboo alAAama AAala alhuda faakhathat-hum saAAiqatu alAAathabi alhooni bima kanoo yaksiboona

 And as for Thamud, We did give them guidance, but they preferred blindness over knowledge, so they too were wiped out by the landing of the doom of humiliation in return for their evil deeds!

41 :18

18. Wanajjayna allatheena amanoo wakanoo yattaqoona

And We delivered those out of them who believed and rendered their duty to Allah. (R )


OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:

MUHSIN:

9. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days and you set up rivals (in worship) with Him? That is the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

10. He placed therein (i.e. the earth) firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and measured therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four Days equal (i.e. all these four 'days' were equal in the length of time), for all those who ask (about its creation).

11. Then He Istawâ (rose over) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come, willingly."

12. Then He completed and finished from their creation (as) seven heavens in two Days and He made in each heaven its affair. And We adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars)[] to be an adornment as well as to guard (from the devils by using them as missiles against the devils). Such is the Decree of Him the All-Mighty, the All-Knower.

13. But if they turn away, then say (O Muhammad SAW): "I have warned you of a Sâ'iqah (a destructive awful cry, torment, hit, a thunderbolt) like the Sâ'iqah which overtook 'Ad and Thamûd (people)."

14. When the Messengers came to them, from before them and behind them (saying): "Worship none but Allâh" They said: "If our Lord had so willed, He would surely have sent down the angels. So indeed! We disbelieve in that with which you have been sent."

15. As for 'Ad, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said: "Who is mightier than us in strength?" See they not that Allâh, Who created them was mightier in strength than them. And they used to deny Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.)!

16. So We sent upon them furious wind in days of evil omen (for them) that We might give them a taste of disgracing torment in this present worldly life, but surely the torment of the Hereafter will be more disgracing, and they will never be helped.

17. And as for Thamûd, We showed and made clear to them the Path of Truth (Islâmic Monotheism) through Our Messenger, (i.e. showed them the way of success), but they preferred blindness to guidance, so the Sâ'iqah (a destructive awful cry, torment, hit, a thunderbolt) of disgracing torment seized them, because of what they used to earn.

18. And We saved those who believed and used to fear Allâh, keep their duty to Him and avoid evil.


041.009
YUSUFALI: Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds.
PICKTHAL: Say (O Muhammad, unto the idolaters): Disbelieve ye verily in Him Who created the earth in two Days, and ascribe ye unto Him rivals? He (and none else) is the Lord of the Worlds.
SHAKIR: Say: What! do you indeed disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two periods, and do you set up equals with Him? That is the Lord of the Worlds.

041.010
YUSUFALI: He set on the (earth), mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measure therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (Sustenance).
PICKTHAL: He placed therein firm hills rising above it, and blessed it and measured therein its sustenance in four Days, alike for (all) who ask;
SHAKIR: And He made in it mountains above its surface, and He blessed therein and made therein its foods, in four periods: alike for the seekers.

041.011
YUSUFALI: 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."
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: Then He directed Himself to the heaven and it is a vapor, so He said to it and to the earth: Come both, willingly or unwillingly. They both said: We come willingly.

041.012
YUSUFALI: 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.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: So He ordained them seven heavens in two periods, and revealed in every heaven its affair; and We adorned the lower heaven with brilliant stars and (made it) to guard; that is the decree of the Mighty, the Knowing.

041.013
YUSUFALI: 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!"
PICKTHAL: But if they turn away, then say: I warn you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt (which fell of old upon the tribes) of A'ad and Thamud;
SHAKIR: But if they turn aside, then say: I have warned you of a scourge like the scourge of Ad and Samood.

041.014
YUSUFALI: Behold, the messengers 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)."
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: When their messengers came to them from before them and from behind them, saying, Serve nothing but Allah, they said: If our Lord had pleased He would certainly have sent down angels, so we are surely unbelievers in that with which you are sent.

041.015
YUSUFALI: 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!
PICKTHAL: As for A'ad, 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.
SHAKIR: Then as to Ad, they were unjustly proud in the land, and they said: Who is mightier in strength than we? Did they not see that Allah Who created them was mightier than they in strength, and they denied Our communications?

041.016
YUSUFALI: 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 a Hereafter will be more humiliating still: and they will find no help.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: So We sent on them a furious wind in unlucky days, that We may make them taste the chastisement of abasement in this world's life; and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is much more abasing, and they shall not be helped.

041.017
YUSUFALI: 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.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: And as to Samood, We showed them the right way, but they chose error above guidance, so there overtook them the scourge of an abasing chastisement for what they earned.

041.018
YUSUFALI: But We delivered those who believed and practised righteousness.
PICKTHAL: And We delivered those who believed and used to keep their duty to Allah.
SHAKIR: And We delivered those who believed and guarded (against evil).

 

Section 3. 

41 : 19

19. Wayawma yuhsharu aAAdao Allahi ila alnnari fahum yoozaAAoona

And describe to them the Day when the enemies of Allah would be gathered together to be driven to the Fire -

41 : 20

20. Hatta itha ma jaooha shahida AAalayhim samAAuhum waabsaruhum wajulooduhum bima kanoo yaAAmaloona

Until they reach it, when their ears and their eyes and their hides will testify against them as to all that which they used to do!

41 : 21

21. Waqaloo lijuloodihim lima shahidtum AAalayna qaloo antaqana Allahu allathee antaqa kulla shay-in wahuwa khalaqakum awwala marratin wa-ilayhi turjaAAoona

And they will say to their hides : 'Why did you testify against us?' Their hides will reply : 'Because Allah Who gives speech to all things has given speech to us. He it is Who created you in the beginning and to Whom you will return in the end!

41 : 22

22. Wama kuntum tastatiroona an yashhada AAalaykum samAAukum wala absarukum wala juloodukum walakin thanantum anna Allaha la yaAAlamu katheeran mimma taAAmaloona

'You did not conceal your misdeeds lest your ears and eyes and hides testify against you but because you thought Allah did not know much of what you did!

41 : 23

23. Wathalikum thannukumu allathee thanantum birabbikum ardakum faasbahtum mina alkhasireena

'And it is for this miscalculation on your part of your Lord's prowess that He has punished you and now you are amongst the losers!'

41 : 24

24. Fa-in yasbiroo faalnnaru mathwan lahum wa-in yastaAAtiboo fama hum mina almuAAtabeena

If they resigned themselves to burning, the Fire would still be their dwelling place; and if they resort to beseeching, there is none who would respond to their cries!

41 : 25

25. Waqayyadna lahum quranaa fazayyanoo lahum ma bayna aydeehim wama khalfahum wahaqqa AAalayhimu alqawlu fee omamin qad khalat min qablihim mina aljinni waal-insi innahum kanoo khasireena

We assigned to them such affiliates in this life who made their present and past seem fair to them. And the word which was fulfilled concerning the past generations of Jinn and humankind stands good for them as well, for verily they too are a nation lost! (R)


OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:

MUHSIN:

19. And (remember) the Day that the enemies of Allâh will be gathered to the Fire, so they will be collected there (the first and the last).

20. Till, when they reach it (Hell-fire), their hearing (ears) and their eyes, and their skins will testify against them as to what they used to do.

21. And they will say to their skins, "Why do you testify against us?" They will say: "Allâh has caused us to speak, as He causes all things to speak, and He created you the first time, and to Him you are made to return."

22. And you have not been hiding against yourselves, lest your ears, and your eyes, and your skins testify against you, but you thought that Allâh knew not much of what you were doing.

23. And that thought of yours which you thought about your Lord, has brought you to destruction, and you have become (this Day) of those utterly lost!

24. Then, if they have patience, yet the Fire will be a home for them, and if they beg for to be excused, yet they are not of those who will ever be excused.

25. And We have assigned them (devils) intimate companions (in this world), who have made fair-seeming to them, what was before them (evil deeds which they were doing in the present worldly life and disbelief in the Reckoning and the Resurrection, etc.) and what was behind them (denial of the matters in the coming life of the Hereafter as regards punishment or reward, etc.). And the Word (i.e. the torment) is justified against them as it was justified against those who were among the previous generations of jinns and men that had passed away before them. Indeed they (all) were the losers.


041.019
YUSUFALI: On the Day that the enemies of Allah will be gathered together to the Fire, they will be marched in ranks.
PICKTHAL: And (make mention of) the day when the enemies of Allah are gathered unto the Fire, they are driven on
SHAKIR: And on the day that the enemies of Allah shall be brought together to the fire, then they shall be formed into groups.

041.020
YUSUFALI: At length, when they reach the (Fire), their hearing, their sight, and their skins will bear witness against them, as to (all) their deeds.
PICKTHAL: Till, when they reach it, their ears and their eyes and their skins testify against them as to what they used to do.
SHAKIR: Until when they come to it, their ears and their eyes and their skins shall bear witness against them as to what they did.

041.021
YUSUFALI: 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.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: And they shall say to their skins: Why have you borne witness against us? They shall say: Allah Who makes everything speak has made us speak, and He created you at first, and to Him you shall be brought back.

041.022
YUSUFALI: "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!
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: And you did not veil yourselves lest your ears and your eyes and your skins should bear witness against you, but you thought that Allah did not know most of what you did.

041.023
YUSUFALI: "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!"
PICKTHAL: That, your thought which ye did think about your Lord, hath ruined you; and ye find yourselves (this day) among the lost.
SHAKIR: And that was your (evil) thought which you entertained about your Lord that has tumbled you down into perdition, so are you become of the lost ones.

041.024
YUSUFALI: If, then, they have patience, the Fire will be a home for them! and if they beg to be received into favour, into favour will they not (then) be received.
PICKTHAL: And though they are resigned, yet the Fire is still their home; and if they ask for favour, yet they are not of those unto whom favour can be shown.
SHAKIR: Then if they will endure, still the fire is their abode, and if they ask for goodwill, then are they not of those who shall be granted goodwill.

041.025
YUSUFALI: 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.
PICKTHAL: And We assigned them comrades (in the world), who made their present and their past fairseeming unto them. And the Word concerning nations of the jinn and humankind who passed away before them hath effect for them. Lo! they were ever losers.
SHAKIR: And We have appointed for them comrades so they have made fair-seeming to them what is before them and what is behind them, and the word proved true against them-- among the nations of the jinn and the men that have passed away before them-- that they shall surely be losers.

 

Section 4

41 : 26

26. Waqala allatheena kafaroo la tasmaAAoo lihatha alqur-ani wailghaw feehi laAAallakum taghliboona

Those who disbelieve say :  'Do not hear the Qur'aan but drown its recitation in ruction so that you might perchance succeed in undermining its effect!'

41 : 27

 

27. Falanutheeqanna allatheena kafaroo AAathaban shadeedan walanajziyannahum aswaa allathee kanoo yaAAmaloona

But verily We shall make the disbelievers get the taste of a harsh doom and We shall requite them for each and every one of their heinous deeds!

41 : 28

28. Thalika jazao aAAda-i Allahi alnnaru lahum feeha daru alkhuldi jazaan bima kanoo bi-ayatina yajhadoona

This is the requital for Allah's enemies : - the Fire, - their lasting abode in retaliation for vituperating Our Revelations!

41 : 29

29. Waqala allatheena kafaroo rabbana arina allathayni adallana mina aljinni waal-insi najAAalhuma tahta aqdamina liyakoona mina al-asfaleena

And those who disbelieve will say : 'Our Lord! Show us the Jinn and the men who misled us so that we may trample upon them with our feet and render them lower than the lowest!'

41 : 30

30. Inna allatheena qaloo rabbuna Allahu thumma istaqamoo tatanazzalu AAalayhimu almala-ikatu alla takhafoo wala tahzanoo waabshiroo bialjannati allatee kuntum tooAAadoona

Those who say : 'Our Lord is Allah!' and thereafter remain resolute in their faith, the angels descend upon them saying : 'Fear not nor grieve but rejoice over the good tidings of Paradise which was promised to you!

41 : 31

31. Nahnu awliyaokum fee alhayati alddunya wafee al-akhirati walakum feeha ma tashtahee anfusukum walakum feeha ma taddaAAoona

 

'We are your protecting friends in the life of this world as well as in the Hereafter! And therein for you is all that your souls desire and therein for you is all that you seek!

41 : 32

32. Nuzulan min ghafoorin raheemin

A gesture of welcome for you from the Magnanimous, the Merciful! (R)


OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:

MUHSIN:

26. And those who disbelieve say: "Listen not to this Qur'ân, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation) that you may overcome."

27. But surely, We shall cause those who disbelieve to taste a severe torment, and certainly, We shall requite them the worst of what they used to do.

28. That is the recompense of the enemies of Allâh: The Fire, therein will be for them the eternal home, a (deserving) recompense for that they used to deny Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.).

29. And those who disbelieve will say: "Our Lord! Show us those among jinns and men who led us astray, we shall crush them under our feet, so that they become the lowest."

30. Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is Allâh (Alone)," and then they Istaqâmû[] , on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): "Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!

31. "We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask for.

32. "An entertainment from (Allâh), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."


041.026
YUSUFALI: 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!"
PICKTHAL: Those who disbelieve say: Heed not this Qur'an, and drown the hearing of it; haply ye may conquer.
SHAKIR: And those who disbelieve say: Do not listen to this Quran and make noise therein, perhaps you may overcome.

041.027
YUSUFALI: But We will certainly give the Unbelievers a taste of a severe Penalty, and We will requite them for the worst of their deeds.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: Therefore We will most certainly make those who disbelieve taste a severe punishment, and We will most certainly reward them for the evil deeds they used to do.

041.028
YUSUFALI: 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.
PICKTHAL: That is the reward of Allah's enemies: the Fire. Therein is their immortal home, payment forasmuch as they denied Our revelations.
SHAKIR: That is the reward of the enemies of Allah-- the fire; for them therein shall be the house of long abiding; a reward for their denying Our communications.

041.029
YUSUFALI: 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)."
PICKTHAL: And those who disbelieve will say: Our Lord! Show us those who beguiled us of the jinn and humankind. We will place them underneath our feet that they may be among the nethermost.
SHAKIR: And those who disbelieve will say: Our Lord! show us those who led us astray from among the jinn and the men that we may trample them under our feet so that they may be of the lowest.

041.030
YUSUFALI: 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!
PICKTHAL: Lo! those who say: Our Lord is Allah, and afterward are upright, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not nor grieve, but hear good tidings of the paradise which ye are promised.
SHAKIR: (As for) those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden which you were promised.

041.031
YUSUFALI: "We are your protectors in this life and in the Hereafter: therein shall ye have all that your souls shall desire; therein shall ye have all that ye ask for!-
PICKTHAL: We are your protecting friends in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. There ye will have (all) that your souls desire, and there ye will have (all) for which ye pray.
SHAKIR: We are your guardians in this world's life and in the hereafter, and you shall have therein what your souls desire and you shall have therein what you ask for:

041.032
YUSUFALI: "A hospitable gift from one Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!"
PICKTHAL: A gift of welcome from One Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: A provision from the Forgiving, the Merciful.

 

Section 5

41 : 33

33. Waman ahsanu qawlan mimman daAAa ila Allahi waAAamila salihan waqala innanee mina almuslimeena

Who speaks a sweeter tongue than him who beckons the others to Allah and performs seemly deeds and declares : 'I am of those who surrender to Him!'

* * *

Context of Revelation : The following verses were revealed when the Prophet captured the heart of a committed foe by his courteous behaviour and winsome manners and turned him into a dedicated friend, finally leading to a matrimonial alliance between him and the latter's daughter.

41 : 34

34. Wala tastawee alhasanatu wala alssayyi-atu idfaAA biallatee hiya ahsanu fa-itha allathee baynaka wabaynahu AAadawatun kaannahu waliyyun hameemun

A good deed and an evil deed are not alike! Overcome evil by means of a good deed when verily you and he between whom there is animosity will become like the best of friends!

41 : 35

35. Wama yulaqqaha illa allatheena sabaroo wama yulaqqaha illa thoo haththin AAatheemin

This virtue is not granted to anyone save those who are forbearing and it is not acquired by anyone save him who is fortunate enough!

41 : 36

36. Wa-imma yanzaghannaka mina alshshaytani nazghun faistaAAith biAllahi innahu huwa alssameeAAu alAAaleemu

And if you are deflected by the devil (O Mohammed) then take refuge in Allah, for verily He hears and He knows!

* * *

41 : 37

37. Wamin ayatihi allaylu waalnnaharu waalshshamsu waalqamaru la tasjudoo lilshshamsi wala lilqamari waosjudoo lillahi alathee khalaqahunna in kuntum iyyahu taAAbudoona

And of His portents are the day and the night and the sun and the moon. Adulate neither the sun nor the moon but adulate Allah who created them, if you truly worship Him alone!

41 : 38

38. Fa-ini istakbaroo faallatheena AAinda rabbika yusabbihoona lahu biallayli waalnnahari wahum la yas-amoona

But if these are too proud to adulate Him, (it does not matter, for) those who are with your Lord glorify Him day and night and they never tire!

41 : 39

39. Wamin ayatihi annaka tara al-arda khashiAAatan fa-itha anzalna AAalayha almaa ihtazzat warabat inna allathee ahyaha lamuhyee almawta innahu AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun

And of His portents is the earth which you may find lying barren, but when We do cause the rain to fall, it rejuvenates and develops! Assuredly He who brings it back to life can bring the dead back to life. Verily He is Omnipotent over all things!

41 : 40

40. Inna allatheena yulhidoona fee ayatina la yakhfawna AAalayna afaman yulqa fee alnnari khayrun amman ya/tee aminan yawma alqiyamati iAAmaloo ma shi/tum innahu bima taAAmaloona baseerun

Those who misinterpret Our Revelations are not unknown to Us! Is he who is destined to be hurled into the Fire better, or is he who comes in safety on the Day of Resurrection? So, do what you will, for verily He is watching everything which you do!

41 : 41

41. Inna allatheena kafaroo bialththikri lamma jaahum wa-innahu lakitabun AAazeezun

Those who vituperate the Reminder when it has come to them (are indefensible) for verily it is the most consummate Scripture!

41 : 42

42. La ya/teehi albatilu min bayni yadayhi wala min khalfihi tanzeelun min hakeemin hameedin

Falsehood has no access to it, neither from the front nor from the back, - a revelation from Him Who is Sagacious and Praiseworthy!

41 : 43

43. Ma yuqalu laka illa ma qad qeela lilrrusuli min qablika inna rabbaka lathoo maghfiratin wathoo AAiqabin aleemin

Nothing is being said to you (O Mohammed) except that which has been said to the other messengers before you. Verily your Lord is relenting in mercy, but He is also relentless in retribution!

41 : 44

44. Walaw jaAAalnahu qur-anan aAAjamiyyan laqaloo lawla fussilat ayatuhu aaAAjamiyyun waAAarabiyyun qul huwa lillatheena amanoo hudan washifaon waallatheena la yu/minoona fee athanihim waqrun wahuwa AAalayhim AAaman ola-ika yunadawna min makanin baAAeedin

If We had revealed this Qur'aan in a foreign language, they would surely have said : 'If only its verses were adequately expounded! What! A foreign language and an Arab? Say to them (Mohammed) : 'For those who believe, it is a Guidance and a Healing! And as for those who disbelieve, they have a blockade in their ears and a blindfold on their eyes! For them, it is a cry in the distance! (R)


OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:

MUHSIN:

33. And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh's (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."

34. The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allâh ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.

35. But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of the happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and in this world of a high moral character).

36. And if an evil whisper from Shaitân (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad SAW) (from doing good, etc.), then seek refuge in Allâh. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

37. And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allâh Who created them, if you (really) worship Him.

38. But if they are too proud[] (to do so), then there are those who are with your Lord (angels) glorify Him night and day, and never are they tired.

39. And among His Signs (in this), that you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) to it, it is stirred to life and growth (of vegetations). Verily, He Who gives it life, surely, (He) is Able to give life to the dead (on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed! He is Able to do all things.

40. Verily, those who turn away from Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc. by attacking, distorting and denying them), are not hidden from Us. Is he who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what you will. Verily! He is All-Seer of what you do (this is a severe threat to the disbelievers[]).

41. Verily, those who disbelieved in the Reminder (i.e. the Qur'ân) when it came to them (shall receive the punishment). And verily, it is an honourable respected Book (because it is Allâh's Speech, and He has protected it from corruption, etc.). (See V.15:9]

42. Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allâh ÚÒ æ Ìá).

43. Nothing is said to you (O Muhammad SAW) except what was said to the Messengers before you. Verily, your Lord is the Possessor of forgiveness, and (also) the Possessor of painful punishment[].

44. And if We had sent this as a Qur'ân in a foreign language other than Arabic, they would have said: "Why are not its Verses explained in detail (in our language)? What! (A Book) not in Arabic and (the Messenger) an Arab?" Say: "It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it (the Qur'ân) is blindness for them. They are those who are called from a place far away (so they neither listen nor understand).


041.033
YUSUFALI: Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, "I am of those who bow in Islam"?
PICKTHAL: And who is better in speech than him who prayeth unto his Lord and doeth right, and saith: Lo! I am of those who are muslims (surrender unto Him).
SHAKIR: And who speaks better than he who calls to Allah while he himself does good, and says: I am surely of those who submit?

041.034
YUSUFALI: Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!
PICKTHAL: The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend.
SHAKIR: And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel (evil) with what is best, when lo! he between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were a warm friend.

041.035
YUSUFALI: And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint,- none but persons of the greatest good fortune.
PICKTHAL: But none is granted it save those who are steadfast, and none is granted it save the owner of great happiness.
SHAKIR: And none are made to receive it but those who are patient, and none are made to receive it but those who have a mighty good fortune.

041.036
YUSUFALI: And if (at any time) an incitement to discord is made to thee by the Evil One, seek refuge in Allah. He is the One Who hears and knows all things.
PICKTHAL: And if a whisper from the devil reach thee (O Muhammad) then seek refuge in Allah. Lo! He is the Hearer, the Knower.
SHAKIR: And if an interference of the Shaitan should cause you mischief, seek refuge in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

041.037
YUSUFALI: Among His Signs are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon. Do not prostrate to the sun and the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him ye wish to serve.
PICKTHAL: And of His portents are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon; but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if it is in truth Him Whom ye worship.
SHAKIR: And among His signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon; do not prostrate to the sun nor to the moon; and prostrate to Allah Who created them, if Him it is that you serve.

041.038
YUSUFALI: But is the (Unbelievers) are arrogant, (no matter): for in the presence of thy Lord are those who celebrate His praises by night and by day. And they never flag (nor feel themselves above it).
PICKTHAL: But if they are too proud - still those who are with thy Lord glorify Him night and day, and tire not.
SHAKIR: But if they are proud, yet those with your Lord glorify Him during the night and the day, and they are not tired.

041.039
YUSUFALI: And among His Signs in this: thou seest the earth barren and desolate; but when We send down rain to it, it is stirred to life and yields increase. Truly, He Who gives life to the (dead) earth can surely give life to (men) who are dead. For He has power over all things.
PICKTHAL: And of His portents (is this): that thou seest the earth lowly, but when We send down water thereon it thrilleth and groweth. Lo! He Who quickeneth it is verily the Quickener of the Dead. Lo! He is Able to do all things.
SHAKIR: And among His signs is this, that you see the earth still, but when We send down on it the water, it stirs and swells: most surely He Who gives it life is the Giver of life to the dead; surely He has power over all things.

041.040
YUSUFALI: Those who pervert the Truth in Our Signs are not hidden from Us. Which is better?- he that is cast into the Fire, or he that comes safe through, on the Day of Judgment? Do what ye will: verily He seeth (clearly) all that ye do.
PICKTHAL: Lo! those who distort Our revelations are not hid from Us. Is he who is hurled into the Fire better, or he who cometh secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what ye will. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do.
SHAKIR: Surely they who deviate from the right way concerning Our communications are not hidden from Us. What! is he then who is cast into the fire better, or he who comes safe on the day of resurrection? Do what you like, surely He sees what you do.

041.041
YUSUFALI: Those who reject the Message when it comes to them (are not hidden from Us). And indeed it is a Book of exalted power.
PICKTHAL: Lo! those who disbelieve in the Reminder when it cometh unto them (are guilty), for lo! it is an unassailable Scripture.
SHAKIR: Surely those who disbelieve in the reminder when it comes to them, and most surely it is a Mighty Book:

041.042
YUSUFALI: No falsehood can approach it from before or behind it: It is sent down by One Full of Wisdom, Worthy of all Praise.
PICKTHAL: Falsehood cannot come at it from before it or from behind it. (It is) a revelation from the Wise, the Owner of Praise.
SHAKIR: Falsehood shall not come to it from before it nor from behind it; a revelation from the Wise, the Praised One.

041.043
YUSUFALI: Nothing is said to thee that was not said to the messengers before thee: that thy lord has at his Command (all) forgiveness as well as a most Grievous Penalty.
PICKTHAL: Naught is said unto thee (Muhammad) save what was said unto the messengers before thee. Lo! thy Lord is owner of forgiveness, and owner (also) of dire punishment.
SHAKIR: Naught is said to you but what was said indeed to the messengers before you; surely your Lord is the Lord of forgiveness and the Lord of painful retribution.

041.044
YUSUFALI: Had We sent this as a Qur'an (in the language) other than Arabic, they would have said: "Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! (a Book) not in Arabic and (a Messenger an Arab?" Say: "It is a Guide and a Healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness in their (eyes): They are (as it were) being called from a place far distant!"
PICKTHAL: And if We had appointed it a Lecture in a foreign tongue they would assuredly have said: If only its verses were expounded (so that we might understand)? What! A foreign tongue and an Arab? - Say unto them (O Muhammad): For those who believe it is a guidance and a healing; and as for those who disbelieve, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness for them. Such are called to from afar.
SHAKIR: And if We had made it a Quran in a foreign tongue, they would certainly have said: Why have not its communications been made clear? What! a foreign (tongue) and an Arabian! Say: It is to those who believe a guidance and a healing; and (as for) those who do not believe, there is a heaviness in their ears and it is obscure to them; these shall be called to from a far-off place.

 

Section 6

41 : 45

45. Walaqad atayna moosa alkitaba faikhtulifa feehi walawla kalimatun sabaqat min rabbika laqudiya baynahum wa-innahum lafee shakkin minhu mureebin

And verily We gave Moses the Scripture in the past, but it has been riddled with controversies! And if a verdict had not already gone forth from your Lord, their dispute would have been resolved before now. But verily they are plunged in self-defeating doubts over it.

41 : 46

 

46. Man AAamila salihan falinafsihi waman asaa faAAalayha wama rabbuka bithallamin lilAAabeedi

Those who persevere righteousness do so for the good of their own souls and those who perpetrate evil do so to its detriment! And your Lord does not persecute His bondsmen!

41 : 47

47. Ilayhi yuraddu AAilmu alssaAAati wama takhruju min thamaratin min akmamiha wama tahmilu min ontha wala tadaAAu illa biAAilmihi wayawma yunadeehim ayna shuraka-ee qaloo athannaka ma minna min shaheedin

The knowledge about the Hour is with Allah alone! And no fruits emerge from their shells and no female conceives nor delivers but with His knowledge! And on the Day when He calls to them : 'Where are My partners?' they will say : 'We confess to you that there is no one amongst us who bear witness for them!'

41 : 48

48. Wadalla AAanhum ma kanoo yadAAoona min qablu wathannoo ma lahum min maheesin

And they have been forsaken by those whom they used to worship in the past and they realize now that there is no haven for them!

41 : 49

49. La yas-amu al-insanu min duAAa-i alkhayri wa-in massahu alshsharru fayaoosun qanootun

Man does not tire of seeking benefactions, but if a misfortune befalls him, he is quick to despair and to relinquish hope

41 : 50

50. Wala-in athaqnahu rahmatan minna min baAAdi darraa massat-hu layaqoolanna hatha lee wama athunnu alssaAAata qa-imatan wala-in rujiAAtu ila rabbee inna lee AAindahu lalhusna falanunabbi-anna allatheena kafaroo bima AAamiloo walanutheeqannahum min AAathabin ghaleethin

And if We give him a taste of Our mercy after the misfortune that befell him, he will say : 'This is my own accomplishment! And I do not think that the Hour would ever culminate, and if I am brought back to my Lord, there will be some good in it too for me! But verily We shall tell those who disbelieve everything which they used to do and verily We shall give them a taste of caustic punishment!

41 : 51

51. Wa-itha anAAamna AAala al-insani aAArada wanaa bijanibihi wa-itha massahu alshsharru fathoo duAAa-in AAareedin

And when We do a favour to man, he turns his face away and recedes into distance; but if a misfortune should befall him, then he is limitless in invocation!

41 : 52

52. Qul araaytum in kana min AAindi Allahi thumma kafartum bihi man adallu mimman huwa fee shiqaqin baAAeedin

Say to them : 'Tell me! If this Qur'aan is truly from Allah and you have rejected it, then who can be more irretrievably lost than him that is at open odds with Him?

41 : 53

53. Sanureehim ayatina fee al-afaqi wafee anfusihim hatta yatabayyana lahum annahu alhaqqu awa lam yakfi birabbika annahu AAala kulli shay-in shaheedun

 

We will show them how Our revelations permeate the outer horizons as well as their inner selves, until it dawns on them that they are the Truth! Does it suffice them not that your Lord is a witness over all thing?

41 : 54

54. Ala innahum fee miryatin min liqa-i rabbihim ala innahu bikulli shay-in muheetun

Yet they are in doubt concerning their meeting with their Lord although verily their Lord pervades over all things? (R)


OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHAL AND SHAKIR:

MUHSIN:

  45. And indeed We gave Mûsa (Moses) the Scripture, but dispute arose therein. And had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, (the torment would have overtaken them) and the matter would have been settled between them. But truly, they are in grave doubt thereto (i.e. about the Qur'ân). [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 15, Page 370]

46. Whosoever does righteous good deed it is for (the benefit of) his ownself, and whosoever does evil, it is against his ownself, and your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves[].

47. (The learned men) refer to Him (Alone) the knowledge of the Hour[]. No fruit comes out of its sheath, nor does a female conceive (within her womb), nor brings forth (young), except by His Knowledge. And on the Day when He will call unto them (polytheists) (saying): "Where are My (so-called) partners (whom you did invent)?" They will say: "We inform You that none of us bears witness to it (that they are Your partners)!"

48. And those whom they used to invoke before will fail them, and they will perceive that they have no place of refuge (from Allâh's punishment).[]

49. Man (the disbeliever) does not get tired of asking good (things from Allâh), but if an evil touches him, then he gives up all hope and is lost in despair.

50. And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy from us, after some adversity (severe poverty or disease, etc.) has touched him, he is sure to say: "This is for me (due to my merit), I think not that the Hour will be established. But if I am brought back to my Lord, Surely, there will be for me the best (wealth, etc.) with Him. Then, We verily, will show to the disbelievers what they have done and We shall make them taste a severe torment.

51. And when We show favour to man, he withdraws and turns away, but when evil touches him, then he has recourse to long supplications.

52. Say: "Tell me, if it (the Qur'ân) is from Allâh, and you disbelieve in it, who is more astray than one who is in opposition far away (from Allâh's Right Path and His obedience).

53.  We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their ownselves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur'ân) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?

54. Verily! They are in doubt concerning the Meeting with their Lord? (i.e. Resurrection after their deaths, and their return to their Lord). Verily! He it is Who is surrounding all things!


041.045
YUSUFALI: We certainly gave Moses the Book aforetime: but disputes arose therein. Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (their differences) would have been settled between them: but they remained in suspicious disquieting doubt thereon.
PICKTHAL: And We verily gave Moses the Scripture, but there hath been dispute concerning it; and but for a Word that had already gone forth from thy Lord, it would ere now have been judged between them; but lo! they are in hopeless doubt concerning it.
SHAKIR: And certainly We gave the Book to Musa, but it has been differed about, and had not a word already gone forth from your Lord, judgment would certainly have been given between them; and most surely they are in a disquieting doubt about it.

041.046
YUSUFALI: Whoever works righteousness benefits his own soul; whoever works evil, it is against his own soul: nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His Servants.
PICKTHAL: Whoso doeth right it is for his soul, and whoso doeth wrong it is against it. And thy Lord is not at all a tyrant to His slaves.
SHAKIR: Whoever does good, it is for his own soul, and whoever does evil, it is against it; and your Lord is not in the least unjust to the servants.

041.047
YUSUFALI: To Him is referred the Knowledge of the Hour (of Judgment: He knows all): No date-fruit comes out of its sheath, nor does a female conceive (within her womb) nor bring forth the Day that (Allah) will propound to them the (question), "Where are the partners (ye attributed to Me?" They will say, "We do assure thee not one of us can bear witness!"
PICKTHAL: Unto Him is referred (all) knowledge of the Hour. And no fruits burst forth from their sheaths, and no female carrieth or bringeth forth but with His knowledge. And on the day when He calleth unto them: Where are now My partners? they will say: We confess unto Thee, not one of us is a witness (for them).
SHAKIR: To Him is referred the knowledge of the hour, and there come not forth any of the fruits from their coverings, nor does a female bear, nor does she give birth, but with His knowledge; and on the day when He shall call out to them, Where are (those whom you called) My associates? They shall say: We declare to Thee, none of us is a witness.

041.048
YUSUFALI: The (deities) they used to invoke aforetime will leave them in the lurch, and they will perceive that they have no way of escape.
PICKTHAL: And those to whom they used to cry of old have failed them, and they perceive they have no place of refuge.
SHAKIR: And away from them shall go what they called upon before, and they shall know for certain that there is no escape for them.

041.049
YUSUFALI: Man does not weary of asking for good (things), but if ill touches him, he gives up all hope (and) is lost in despair.
PICKTHAL: Man tireth not of praying for good, and if ill toucheth him, then he is disheartened, desperate.
SHAKIR: Man is never tired of praying for good, and if evil touch him, then he is despairing, hopeless.

041.050
YUSUFALI: When we give him a taste of some Mercy from Ourselves, after some adversity has touched him, he is sure to say, "This is due to my (merit): I think not that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) be established; but if I am brought back to my Lord, I have (much) good (stored) in His sight!" But We will show the Unbelievers the truth of all that they did, and We shall give them the taste of a severe Penalty.
PICKTHAL: And verily, if We cause him to taste mercy after some hurt that hath touched him, he will say: This is my own; and I deem not that the Hour will ever rise, and if I am brought back to my Lord, I surely shall be better off with Him - But We verily shall tell those who disbelieve (all) that they did, and We verily shall make them taste hard punishment.
SHAKIR: And if We make him taste mercy from Us after distress that has touched him, he would most certainly say: This is of me, and I do not think the hour will come to pass, and if I am sent back to my Lord, I shall have with Him sure good; but We will most certainly inform those who disbelieved of what they did, and We will most certainly make them taste of hard chastisement.

041.051
YUSUFALI: When We bestow favours on man, he turns away, and gets himself remote on his side (instead of coming to Us); and when evil seizes him, (he comes) full of prolonged prayer!
PICKTHAL: When We show favour unto man, he withdraweth and turneth aside, but when ill toucheth him then he aboundeth in prayer.
SHAKIR: And when We show favor to man, he turns aside and withdraws himself; and when evil touches him, he makes lengthy supplications.

041.052
YUSUFALI: Say: "See ye if the (Revelation) is (really) from Allah, and yet do ye reject it? Who is more astray than one who is in a schism far (from any purpose)?"
PICKTHAL: Bethink you: If it is from Allah and ye reject it - Who is further astray than one who is at open feud (with Allah)?
SHAKIR: Say: Tell me if it is from Allah; then you disbelieve in it, who is in greater error than he who is in a prolonged opposition?

041.053
YUSUFALI: Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?
PICKTHAL: We shall show them Our portents on the horizons and within themselves until it will be manifest unto them that it is the Truth. Doth not thy Lord suffice, since He is Witness over all things?
SHAKIR: We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own souls, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things?

041.054
YUSUFALI: Ah indeed! Are they in doubt concerning the Meeting with their Lord? Ah indeed! It is He that doth encompass all things!
PICKTHAL: How! Are they still in doubt about the meeting with their Lord? Lo! Is not He surrounding all things?
SHAKIR: Now surely they are in doubt as to the meeting of their Lord; now surely He encompasses all things.
 

 Index

 SURAH 42