INTRODUCTION:
This Surah consists of 165 verses, 3001 sentences, 12, 935 letters and 20 Ruku's
It takes its
name from vv. 136, 138 and 139 in which some superstitious beliefs of the
idolatrous Arabs concerning the lawfulness of some cattle (anam) and the
unlawfulness of some others have been refuted.
According to a
tradition of Ibn Abbas, the whole of the Surah was revealed at one sitting at
Makkah. Asma, a daughter of Yazid and a first cousin of Hadrat Mu'az-bin Jahl,
says, "During the revelation of this Surah, the Holy Prophet was riding on a
she-camel and I was holding her nose-string. The she-camel began to feel the
weight so heavily that it seemed as if her bones would break under it." We also
learn from other traditions that the Holy Prophet dictated the whole of the
Surah the same night that it was revealed.
Its subject-matter clearly shows that it must have been revealed during the last year of the Holy Prophet's life at Makkah. The tradition of Asma, daughter of Yazid, also confirms this. As she belonged to the Ansar and embraced Islam after the migration of the Holy Prophet to Yathrab, her visit to the Holy Prophet at Makkah must have taken place during the last year of his life there. For before this, his relations with those people were not so intimate that a woman from there might have come to visit him at Makkah.
After
determining the period of its revelation, it is easier to visualise the
background of the Surah. Twelve years had passed since the Holy Prophet had been
inviting the people to Islam. The antagonism and persecution by the Quraish had
become most savage and brutal, and the majority of the Muslims had to leave
their homes and migrate to Habash (Abyssinia). Above all, the two great
supporters of the Holy Prophet, Abu Talib and Hadrat Khadijah, were no more to
help and give strength to him. Thus he was deprived of all the worldly support.
But in spite of this, he carried on his mission in the teeth of opposition. As a
result of this, on the one hand, all the good people of Makkah and the
surrounding clans gradually began to accept Islam; on the other hand, the
community as a whole, was bent upon obduracy and rejection. Therefore, if anyone
showed any inclination towards Islam, he was subjected to taunts and derision,
physical violence and social boycott. It was in these dark circumstances that a
ray of hope gleamed from Yathrab, where Islam began to spread freely by the
efforts of some influential people of Aus and Khazraj, who had embraced Islam at
Makkah. This was a humble begining in the march of Islam towards success and
none could foresee at that time the great potentialities that lay hidden in it.
For, to a casual observer, it appeared at that time as if Islam was merely a
weak movement; it had no material backing except the meagre support of the
Prophet's own family and of the few poor adherents of the Movement. Obviously
the latter could not give much help because they themselves had been cast out by
their own people who had become their enemies and were persecuting them.
1. Refutation of shirk and invitation to the creed of Tawhid.
2. Enunciation of the doctrine of the "Life-after-death" and refutation of the wrong notion that there was nothing beyond this worldly life.
3. Refutation of the prevalent superstitions.
4. Enunciation of the fundamental moral principles for the building up of the Islamic Society.
5. Answers to the objections raised against the person of the Holy Prophet and his mission.
6. Comfort and encouragement to the Holy Prophet and his followers who were at that time in a state of anxiety and despondency because of the apparent failure of the mission.
7. Admonition, warning and threats to the disbelievers and opponents to give up their apathy and haughtiness. It must, however, be noted that the above topics have not been dealt with one by one under separate headings, but the discourse goes on as a continuous whole and these topics come under discussion over and over again in new and different ways.
As this is the first long Makki Surah in the order of the compilation of the Quran, it will be useful to explain the historical background of Makki Surahs in general, so that the reader may easily understand the Makki Surahs and our references to its different stages in connection with our commentary on them. First of all, it should be noted that comparatively very little material is available in regard to the background of the revelation of Makki Surahs whereas the period of the revelation of all the Madani Surahs is known or can be determined with a little effort. There are authentic traditions even in regard to the occasions of the revelation of the majority of the verses. On the other hand, we do not have such detailed information regarding the Makki Surahs. There are only a few Surahs and verses which have authentic traditions concerning the time and occasion of their revelation. This is because the history of the Makki period had not been compiled in such detail as that of the Madani period. Therefore we have to depend on the internal evidence of these Surahs for determining the period of their revelation: for example, the topics they discuss, their subject. matter, their style and the direct or indirect references to the events and the occasions of their revelation. Thus it is obvious that with the help of such evidence as this, we cannot say with precision that such and such Surah or verse was revealed on such and such an occasion. The most we can do is to compare the internal evidence of a Surah with the events of the life of the Holy Prophet at Makkah, and then come to a more or less correct conclusion as to what particular stage a certain Surah belongs. If we keep the above things in view, the history of the mission of the Holy Prophet at Makkah can be divided into four stages.
1. The first stage began with his appointment as a Messenger and ended with the proclamation of Prophethood three years later. During this period the Message was given secretly to some selected persons only, but the common people of Makkah were not aware of it.
2. The second stage lasted for two years after the proclamation of his Prophethood. It began with opposition by individuals: then by and by, it took the shape of antagonism, ridicule, derision,, accusation, abuse, and false propaganda then gangs were formed to persecute those Muslims who were comparatively poor, weak and helpless.
3. The third stage lasted for about six years from the beginning of the persecution to the death of Abu Talib and Hadrat Khadijah in the tenth year of Prophethood. During this period, the persecution of the Muslims became so savage and brutal that many of them were forced to migrate to Habash. Social and economic boycott was applied against the Holy Prophet and the members of his family, and those Muslims who continued to stay in Makkah were forced to take refuge in Shi'b-i-A'bi Talib which was besieged.
4. The fourth stage lasted for about three years from the tenth to the thirteenth year of Prophethood. This was a period of hard trials and grievous sufferings for the Holy Prophet and his followers. Life had become unendurable at Makkah and there appeared to be no place of refuge even outside it. So much so that when the Holy Prophet went to Ta'if, it offered no shelter or protection. Besides this, on the occasion of Hajj, he would appeal to each and every Arab clan to accept his invitation to Islam but met with blank refusal from every quarter. At the same time, the people of Makkah were holding counsels to get rid of him by killing or imprisoning or banishing him from their city. It was at that most critical time that Allah opened for Islam the hearts of the Ansar of Yathrab where he migrated at their invitation. Now that we have divided the life of the Holy Prophet at Makkah into four stages, it has become easier for us to tell, as far as possible, the particular stage in which a certain Makki Surah was revealed. This is because the Surahs belonging to a particular stage can be distinguished from those of the other stages with the help of their subject matter and style. Besides this, they also contain such references as throw light on the circumstances and events that form the background of their revelation. In the succeeding Makki Surahs, we will determine on the basis of the distinctive features of each stage, and point out in the Preface, the particular stage in which a certain Makki Surah was revealed.
This Surah mainly discusses the different aspects of the major articles of the Islamic Creed: Tawhid, Life-after-death, Prophethood and their practical application to human life. Side by side with this, it refutes the erroneous beliefs of the opponents and answers their objections, warns and admonishes them and comforts the Holy Prophet and his followers, who were then suffering from persecution. Of course, these themes have not been dealt with under separate heads but have been blended in an excellent manner.
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.
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Section 1.
6 : 1
1. Alhamdu lillahi allathee khalaqa alssamawati waal-arda wajaAAala alththulumati waalnnoora thumma allatheena kafaroo birabbihim yaAAdiloona
Praise be to Allah who has created the heavens and the earth and has interjected in them darkness and light and yet the apostates set up rivals to their Lord!
(The countless flora and fauna that adorn the vast expanse of the earth with their glamour, the twirling bines and the fragrant blooms, the restless butterflies and the lazy beetles, the busy birds and their merry songs, the leaping gazelles, the majestic lions, the glorious peacocks, the mighty whales that go slicing through waves, the shoals of colourful fish swimming around in the warm waters of the enigmatic ocean, they all pay tribute to their Creator in one voice!
In the infinite distances of the azure sky, the dazzling globe of the fiery sun, the serene orb of the shy moon, the spatter of glittering stars, the wafers of clouds wafting beneath the milky way, the random flares of lightning on the distant horizon, they too pay their tribute to Him who brought them into being.
Yet, how sad it is, how opprobrious and how sinful that man should replace so generous a Lord with those whom he has chosen to be his gods, from among his own species, or from the idols carved by his hands, or from Elements and Planets who are subservient to the Lord of the Worlds!
Ka'ab Ahbar, the prominent Jewish pedagogue who embraced Islam states that the Torah also begins on the same auspicious note of glorifying Allah who has created these, so that man does not take the marvels of His creation for granted and neglect to give Him praises or to acknowledge his gratitude to Him.
The words 'darkness' and 'light' used in this context assume a meaning which is totally beyond the literal connotation and take in their fold the darkness of the night, darkness denoting darkness of heresy and darkness of ignorance; and light denoting the light of day, the light of faith, the light of Guidance and the light of Knowledge).
6 : 2
2. Huwa allathee khalaqakum min teenin thumma qada ajalan waajalun musamman AAindahu thumma antum tamtaroona
He it is who has created you out of dust and has fixed for you tenure on the earth and you have a tenure with Him too and yet you doubt!
(The verse is a terse reminder to those who question the concept of Resurrection after their bodies turned into dust that in the same way as their original foreparts were created out of dust, they too will be re-created out of dust, - the dust into which their bodies would mingle!
The first tenure refers to the span of life which we spend on earth, and the second tenure refers to the span of a new life which we shall spend in the Hereafter, both pre-ordained).
6 : 3
3. Wahuwa Allahu fee alssamawati wafee al-ardi yaAAlamu sirrakum wajahrakum wayaAAlamu ma taksiboona
And He is Allah in the heavens and He is Allah upon the earth, and He has knowledge of that which you conceal and of that which you reveal and has knowledge of all your deeds!
(He is the sole Lord of the heavens and the earth; there is no one who shares the kingdom of the universe with Him; whose knowledge about us; about what we show on the surface and what we keep hidden underneath the surface; about what we contemplate and what we perpetrate; about whom we covet and whom we detest; about what we spend today and what we stash away for the morrow; is all pervasive! To Him, we are like an open book, with no sentences ambiguous, no words complicated, no confusing preludes nor any complex sequels!)
6 : 4
4. Wama ta/teehim min ayatin min ayati rabbihim illa kanoo AAanha muAArideena
There never came to them a revelation from the revelations of Allah from which they did not turn their faces away!
6 : 5
5. Faqad kaththaboo bialhaqqi lamma jaahum fasawfa ya/teehim anbao ma kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona
They repudiated the Truth when it came to them, so now they will be given the news about that which they used to deride.
(The ancient Jews, we are apprised, tossed the Scripture of Allah behind their backs and re-wrote its text according to their own whims and fancies and then went on to repudiating the Gospel and the Qur'aan; the Christians, as we are also apprised, joined forces with their Jewish brethren and spared no scruples in discrediting the Qur'aan as well as the Prophet through whom it was revealed for the good of mankind.
The verse contains yet another terse warning to these repudiators that they are not too far away from confronting the consequences of their repudiation).
6 : 6
6. Alam yaraw kam ahlakna min qablihim min qarnin makkannahum fee al-ardi ma lam numakkin lakum waarsalna alssamaa AAalayhim midraran wajaAAalna al-anhara tajree min tahtihim faahlaknahum bithunoobihim waansha/na min baAAdihim qarnan akhareena
See they not how many generations We destroyed before them whom We had established on earth more firmly than We established you; and blessed them with abundance of rainfall and caused rivers to flow in the vales below them; yet We wiped them out because of their sinfulness and then replaced them with new generations!
(Other repudiators who came before them had a firmer foothold on the earth; they had no shortage of rainfall; their rivers never dried up; their valleys were green;, their pastures were dense; their crops seldom failed; their cattle always thrived; their dwellings bore all the hallmarks of affluence, and yet, as soon as they raised their heads against the Lord who had blessed them with all that and showed signs of arrogance, they were stripped of their pride, deprived of their comforts, consigned to days bygone and replaced by others!
Even though religion is often dismissed by intellectuals as a preoccupation of fools, history bears witness how many civilizations sprang upon earth, engineered by the architects who brought them into existence; how many heads wore crowns of glory and have yet perished; how many Pharaohs surfaced and sank into oblivion; how many Alexanders built empires without frontiers and yet fell victims to the ravages of time; how many Neros and Nimrods rose to fame and then slowly faded away into obscurity, leaving behind them faint traces of their short-lived glory! The haunting Pyramids of Egypt, the crumbling domes and steeples of Rome, the desolate Caves of Agenta and the abandoned Pagodas of China, all say only one thing : these are the transient comforts of the life of this world, - here today and gone tomorrow; these are remnants of Pomp; these are vestiges of Glory; these are reflections from a past that would never recur)
* * *
Context of Revelation :The following verse was revealed when the Jews declared to the Prophet that they would not embrace Islam until he produced a Book sent by Allah through four of His angels who come there prepared to testify that it is from Allah and that the Prophet is a true Prophet appointed by Him.
6 : 7
7. Walaw nazzalna AAalayka kitaban fee qirtasin falamasoohu bi-aydeehim laqala allatheena kafaroo in hatha illa sihrun mubeenun
And even if We had sent towards you a script inscribed on parchment so that they could touch it with their fingers, the agnostics would have said nonetheless : 'This is nothing more than mere magic!'
(When Moses brought to them the Torah inscribed on stone Tablets with Divine hand, did they believe it? Did they accept it? Did they revere it? Did they acknowledge that it was sent by Allah to bring them Light, to provide them Guidance and to change their fortunes by ameliorating them?)
* * *
6 : 8
8. Waqaloo lawla onzila AAalayhi malakun walaw anzalna malakan laqudiya al-amru thumma la yuntharoona
They say : 'Why has not an angel been sent to him?' If We had sent to them an angel, the issue would have been resolved then and there, with no time to spare for introspection!
(These used to be quite often asked questions by the idolaters that, if the Prophet was truly a messenger appointed by Allah, why are there no angels surrounding him? Why has he no wings, why is there no halo around his head? Why does he not go around pulling rabbits out of his turban, performing miracles, setting up a ladders long enough to go in and out of Paradise? Why has he no treasures of his own? Why does he survive on clusters of dates and pots of honey, why does he take mortal women as wives instead of the Hurs he keeps talking about?
The verse contains a warning to them that, if an angel was sent either to support him or to attest to his credentials, or to convince the prevaricators, or to force them into submission, or to punish them for their transgressions, their doom would have been sealed then and there without giving them a moment's respite).
6 : 9
9. Walaw jaAAalnahu malakan lajaAAalnahu rajulan walalabasna AAalayhim ma yalbisoona
Even if We had sent to them an angel instead of a man as a Prophet, We would still have sent him in the personification of a human, leaving them plunged in the same quandary in which they are now plunged!
(It is because Angels are different from human beings, - they are invisible; their powers are super-natural; their loyalties are inflexible; their decisions are irreversible; their strength is insurmountable. For human beings, who are embodiments of confusion, only a human being could bring the right solutions, and not a super-human entity, which is why the order of things arranged by Allah is for mortals to be taught only by mortals and not by the immortals, so that they could be seen, heard, questioned and debated).
6 : 10
10. Walaqadi istuhzi-a birusulin min qablika fahaqa biallatheena sakhiroo minhum ma kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona
Verily messengers have been derided before you, but those who derided them were in the end destroyed by their own derision! (R)
(The verse is addressed to the Prophet, exhorting him not to be distressed by the derision of the ignorant whose nature is to conceal their inadequacies behind the facade of resentment and make fun of those who guide them. Prophets were derided before, Scriptures were refuted before, admonitions were ignored before, religion was proscribed before, faith was trounced before and Allah too was rejected before! But sooner or later, their sins and transgressions caught up with them; the outcome of their evil deeds engulfed them in the straits of evil; they were grabbed, castigated and cast asunder!)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
1. All praises and thanks be to Allâh, Who (Alone) created the heavens and the earth, and originated the darkness and the light, yet those who disbelieve hold others as equal with their Lord.
2. He it is Who has created you from clay, and then has decreed a stated term (for you to die). And there is with Him another determined term (for you to be resurrected), yet you doubt (in the Resurrection).
3. And He is Allâh (to be worshipped Alone) in the heavens and on the earth, He knows what you conceal and what you reveal, and He knows what you earn (good or bad).
4. And never an Ayah (sign) comes to them from the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord, but that they have been turning away from it.
5. Indeed, they rejected the truth (the Qur'ân and Muhammad SAW)[] when it came to them, but there will come to them the news of that (the torment) which they used to mock at.
6. Have they not seen how many a generation before them We have destroyed whom We had established on the earth such as We have not established you? And We poured out on them rain from the sky in abundance, and made the rivers flow under them. Yet We destroyed them for their sins, and created after them other generations.
006.001
YUSUFALI: Praise be Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and made the
darkness and the light. Yet those who reject Faith hold (others) as equal, with
their Guardian-Lord.
PICKTHAL: Praise be to Allah, Who hath created the heavens and the earth, and
hath appointed darkness and light. Yet those who disbelieve ascribe rivals unto
their Lord.
SHAKIR: All praise is due to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth and
made the darkness and the light; yet those who disbelieve set up equals with
their Lord.
006.002
YUSUFALI: He it is created you from clay, and then decreed a stated term (for
you). And there is in His presence another determined term; yet ye doubt within
yourselves!
PICKTHAL: He it is Who hath created you from clay, and hath decreed a term for
you. A term is fixed with Him. Yet still ye doubt!
SHAKIR: He it is Who created you from clay, then He decreed a term; and there is
a term named with Him; still you doubt.
006.003
YUSUFALI: And He is Allah in the heavens and on earth. He knoweth what ye hide,
and what ye reveal, and He knoweth the (recompense) which ye earn (by your
deeds).
PICKTHAL: He is Allah in the heavens and in the earth. He knoweth both your
secret and your utterance, and He knoweth what ye earn.
SHAKIR: And He is Allah in the heavens and in the earth; He knows your secret
(thoughts) and your open (words), and He knows what you earn.
006.004
YUSUFALI: But never did a single one of the signs of their Lord reach them, but
they turned away therefrom.
PICKTHAL: Never came there unto them a revelation of the revelations of Allah
but they did turn away from it.
SHAKIR: And there does not come to them any communication of the communications
of their Lord but they turn aside from it
006.005
YUSUFALI: And now they reject the truth when it reaches them: but soon shall
they learn the reality of what they used to mock at.
PICKTHAL: And they denied the truth when it came unto them. But there will come
unto them the tidings of that which they used to deride.
SHAKIR: So they have indeed rejected the truth when it came to them; therefore
the truth of what they mocked at will shine upon them.
006.006
YUSUFALI: See they not how many of those before them We did destroy?-
generations We had established on the earth, in strength such as We have not
given to you - for whom We poured out rain from the skies in abundance, and gave
(fertile) streams flowing beneath their (feet): yet for their sins We destroyed
them, and raised in their wake fresh generations (to succeed them).
PICKTHAL: See they not how many a generation We destroyed before them, whom We
had established in the earth more firmly than We have established you, and We
shed on them abundant showers from the sky, and made the rivers flow beneath
them. Yet we destroyed them for their sins, and created after them another
generation.
SHAKIR: Do they not consider how many a generation We have destroyed before
them, whom We had established in the earth as We have not established you, and
We sent the clouds pouring rain on them in abundance, and We made the rivers to
flow beneath them, then We destroyed them on account of their faults and raised
up after them another generation.
006.007
YUSUFALI: If We had sent unto thee a written (message) on parchment, so that
they could touch it with their hands, the Unbelievers would have been sure to
say: "This is nothing but obvious magic!"
PICKTHAL: Had we sent down unto thee (Muhammad) (actual) writing upon parchment,
so that they could feel it with their hands, those who disbelieve would have
said: This is naught else than mere magic.
SHAKIR: And if We had sent to you a writing on a paper, then they had touched it
with their hands, certainly those who disbelieve would have said: This is
nothing but clear enchantment.
006.008
YUSUFALI: They say: "Why is not an angel sent down to him?" If we did send down
an angel, the matter would be settled at once, and no respite would be granted
them.
PICKTHAL: They say: Why hath not an angel been sent down unto him? If We sent
down an angel, then the matter would be judged; no further time would be allowed
them (for reflection).
SHAKIR: And they say: Why has not an angel been sent down to him? And had We
sent down an angel, the matter would have certainly been decided and then they
would not have been respited.
006.009
YUSUFALI: If We had made it an angel, We should have sent him as a man, and We
should certainly have caused them confusion in a matter which they have already
covered with confusion.
PICKTHAL: Had we appointed him (Our messenger) an angel, We assuredly had made
him (as) a man (that he might speak to men); and (thus) obscured for them (the
truth) they (now) obscure.
SHAKIR: And if We had made him angel, We would certainly have made him a man,
and We would certainly have made confused to them what they make confused.
006.010
YUSUFALI: Mocked were (many) messengers before thee; but their scoffers were
hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.
PICKTHAL: Messengers (of Allah) have been derided before thee, but that whereat
they scoffed surrounded such of them as did deride.
SHAKIR: And certainly messengers before you were mocked at, but that which they
mocked at encompassed the scoffers among them.
6 : 11
11. Qul seeroo fee al-ardi thumma onthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu almukaththibeena
Say to such of them : 'Traverse the earth and see for yourselves what became of those that repudiated!
(The best counsel one can give them is to travel across the metes and bounds of the earth and see with their own eyes the plight which befell those who prevaricated their Prophets, trifled with the messages they brought to them, refused to surrender to the hegemony of Allah and disobeyed His command. In the debris that lies scattered on the surface of the earth, in the awe-inspiring edifices crumbled into dust by the passage of time, in the rubble of garrisons that were built to ward off marauding conquerors, in the sunken cities lying asleep on ocean beds, in forgotten civilizations and forsaken treasures, there is more evidence than they need to see how the heads which did not bend before their Lord were crushed and how the nations that did not surrender to Him were decimated!)
6 : 12
12. Qul liman ma fee alssamawati waal-ardi qul lillahi kataba AAala nafsihi alrrahmata layajmaAAannakum ila yawmi alqiyamati la rayba feehi allatheena khasiroo anfusahum fahum la yu/minoona
Say : 'To whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and on the earth and?' Say : 'To Allah!' He has ordained for Himself mercy so that He may gather you together on a Day about which there is no doubt. Only those who encumber their souls decline to believe it!
6 : 13
13. Walahu ma sakana fee allayli waalnnahari wahuwa alssameeAAu alAAaleemu
To Him belongs everything that lurks in the night and dwells in the day! He hears and He knows!
(There is no other answer to the question in verse 12 but Allah because there is no Lord in the heavens or on the earth but Allah; there is no Omnipotent and Omnipresent in the Universe but Allah; there is none Living and Lasting but Allah; there was none in the beginning and there will be none in the end but Allah! There is nothing that transpires in the esoteric darkness of night which is not known to Him and nothing that transpires in the vivid brightness of the day not known to Him; nothing resounds in the infinite vastness of the skies which is beyond His hearing and nothing occurs on the boundless expanse of the earth which is beyond His knowledge!)
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed when a delegation of idolaters approached the Prophet and urged him to revert to the religion of their forefathers.
6 : 14
14. Qul aghayra Allahi attakhithu waliyyan fatiri alssamawati waal-ardi wahuwa yutAAimu wala yutAAamu qul innee omirtu an akoona awwala man aslama wala takoonanna mina almushrikeena
Say : 'Are you asking me to choose as my guardian someone other than Allah, the Creator of the heavens and of the earth, Who sustains everyone but does not depend on anyone for His Own sustenance? Say to them : 'I am commanded to be the foremost to surrender to Him and not to be of the idolaters!'
(Allah feeds those whom man does not feed; He feeds tiny insects crawling in the crevices of stones at the bottom of oceans; He feeds mighty lions roaming the impenetrable jungles; He feeds the birds in flight, He feeds the fish in water, He feeds the fledglings in the nests, He feeds the spiders in their webs; He makes sure every mouth that has to sustain a stomach receives its due morsel in time).
6 : 15
15. Qul innee akhafu in AAasaytu rabbee AAathaba yawmin AAatheemin
Say to them : 'If I disobey my Lord, I fear its outcome on the Awesome Day!'
(A Day on which all outstanding scores would be settled; all accounts rendered; the guilty requited and the righteous rewarded; the idolaters will get what is coming to them and the believers will receive what is owed to them; those with soiled faces will be herded towards hell and those with radiant faces will be entered into Gardens!)
* * *
6 : 16
16. Man yusraf AAanhu yawma-ithin faqad rahimahu wathalika alfawzu almubeenu
He from whom castigation is warded off on that Day, the mercy of Allah is on him. And this indeed is the most signal triumph!
6 : 17
17. Wa-in yamsaska Allahu bidurrin fala kashifa lahu illa huwa wa-in yamsaska bikhayrin fahuwa AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun
And if Allah wishes to inflict asperity upon you, none can avert it save Him; and if He wishes to bless you with prosperity, He is able to do that too!
6 : 18
18. Wahuwa alqahiru fawqa AAibadihi wahuwa alhakeemu alkhabeeru
He is Omnipotent over His creatures and He is the Wise, the Cognizant.
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed when the Meccans demanded the Prophet to produce a reliable witness who could testify to his prophethood.
6 : 19
19. Qul ayyu shay-in akbaru shahadatan quli Allahu shaheedun baynee wabaynakum waoohiya ilayya hatha alqur-anu li-onthirakum bihi waman balagha a-innakum latashhadoona anna maAAa Allahi alihatan okhra qul la ashhadu qul innama huwa ilahun wahidun wa-innanee baree-on mimma tushrikoona
Say to them (O Mohammed) : 'Whose testimony is of the utmost essence?' Say : 'Allah is Witness between you and me. And this Qur'aan has been inspired in me so that I warn you with it, and warn whomsoever it may reach! Do you purport to bear witness that there are other gods besides Allah?' Say : 'I bear no such witness to any such gods!' Say : 'He is One God, and I renounce those whom you set up as His equals!'
(The verse contains two significant asseverations; one is that, the Qur'aan is imbibed with the enigmatic quality of edifying not only those who were present during the Prophethood of Mohammed (may Allah's peace be on him), but also those who hear its recitation, regardless of who they are and where they are, beyond the annals of time and beyond the scope of distances; and the other is that, no believer could deem himself to be a true believer, unless he openly and publicly renounces all other religions and surrenders himself to Allah in his entirety, in the same way as the Prophet was asked to do, - hail the sole Lord of the Worlds as the One and Only God, to the exclusion of all else!)
* * *
6 : 20
20. Allatheena ataynahumu alkitaba yaAArifoonahu kama yaAArifoona abnaahum allatheena khasiroo anfusahum fahum la yu/minoona
Those to whom We have given the Scripture recognize the Prophet as unmistakably as they recognize their own sons. Only those who put their souls in jeopardy refuse to believe! (R)
(This verse is aimed at the Jewish and Christian clerics who were as familiar with the face, features and attributes of the Prophet from the vivid description of him contained in their Scriptures as they were with their own sons, - not in the Torah according to those who re-wrote it, nor in the Gospel according to Paul and Matthew and so on, but in the Torah and in the Gospel as revealed by Allah to Moses and to Isa (Jesus) ).
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
11. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Travel in the land and see what was the end of those who rejected truth."
12. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "To whom belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth?" Say: "To Allâh. He has prescribed Mercy for Himself[]. Indeed He will gather you together on the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. Those who destroy themselves will not believe [in Allâh as being the only Ilâh (God), and Muhammad SAW as being one of His Messengers, and in Resurrection, etc.].
13. And to Him belongs whatsoever exists in the night and the day, and He is the AllHearing, the AllKnowing."
14. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Shall I take as a Walî (helper, protector, etc.) any other than Allâh, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? And it is He Who feeds but is not fed." Say: "Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit themselves to Allâh (as Muslims)." And be not you (O Muhammad SAW) of the Mushrikûn [polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh].
15. Say: "I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the torment of a Mighty Day."
16. Who is averted from (such a torment) on that Day, (Allâh) has surely been Merciful to him. And that would be the obvious success.
17. And if Allâh touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things.
18. And He is the Irresistible, above His slaves, and He is the All-Wise, WellAcquainted with all things.
19. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "What thing is the most great in witness?" Say: "Allâh (the Most Great!) is Witness between me and you; this Qur'ân has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach. Can you verily bear witness that besides Allâh there are other alihâ (gods)?" Say "I bear no (such) witness!" Say: "But in truth He (Allâh) is the only one Ilâh (God). And truly I am innocent of what you join in worship with Him."
20. Those to whom We have given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) recognize him (i.e. Muhammad SAW as a Messenger of Allâh, and they also know that there is no Ilah (God) but Allâh and Islâm is Allâh's Religion), as they recognize their own sons. Those who destroy themselves will not believe[]. (Tafsir At-Tabarî)
006.011
YUSUFALI: Say: "Travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who
rejected Truth."
PICKTHAL: Say (unto the disbelievers): Travel in the land, and see the nature of
the consequence for the rejecters!
SHAKIR: Say: Travel in the land, then see what was the end of the rejecters.
006.012
YUSUFALI: Say: "To whom belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth?" Say:
"To Allah. He hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy. That He will
gather you together for the Day of Judgment, there is no doubt whatever. It is
they who have lost their own souls, that will not believe.
PICKTHAL: Say: Unto whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth?
Say: Unto Allah. He hath prescribed for Himself mercy, that He may bring you all
together to the Day of Resurrection whereof there is no doubt. Those who ruin
their souls will not believe.
SHAKIR: Say: To whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth? Say: To
Allah; He has ordained mercy on Himself; most certainly He will gather you on
the resurrection day-- there is no doubt about it. (As for) those who have lost
their souls, they will not believe.
006.013
YUSUFALI: To him belongeth all that dwelleth (or lurketh) in the night and the
day. For he is the one who heareth and knoweth all things."
PICKTHAL: Unto Him belongeth whatsoever resteth in the night and the day. He is
the Hearer, the Knower.
SHAKIR: And to Him belongs whatever dwells in the night and the day; and He is
the Hearing, the Knowing.
006.014
YUSUFALI: Say: "Shall I take for my protector any other than Allah, the Maker of
the heavens and the earth? And He it is that feedeth but is not fed." Say: "Nay!
but I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah (in Islam), and be
not thou of the company of those who join gods with Allah."
PICKTHAL: Say: Shall I choose for a protecting friend other than Allah, the
Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who feedeth and is never fed? Say: I am
ordered to be the first to surrender (unto Him). And be not thou (O Muhammad) of
the idolaters.
SHAKIR: Say: Shall I take a guardian besides Allah, the Originator of the
heavens and the earth, and He feeds (others) and is not (Himself) fed. Say: I am
commanded to be the first who submits himself, and you should not be of the
polytheists.
006.015
YUSUFALI: Say: "I would, if I disobeyed my Lord, indeed have fear of the penalty
of a Mighty Day.
PICKTHAL: Say: I fear, if I rebel against my Lord, the retribution of an Awful
Day.
SHAKIR: Say: Surely I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the chastisement of a grievous
day.
006.016
YUSUFALI: "On that day, if the penalty is averted from any, it is due to Allah's
mercy; And that would be (Salvation), the obvious fulfilment of all desire.
PICKTHAL: He from whom (such retribution) is averted on that day, (Allah) hath
in truth had mercy on him. That will be the signal triumph.
SHAKIR: He from whom it is averted on that day, Allah indeed has shown mercy to
him; and this is a manifest achievement.
006.017
YUSUFALI: "If Allah touch thee with affliction, none can remove it but He; if He
touch thee with happiness, He hath power over all things.
PICKTHAL: If Allah touch thee with affliction, there is none that can relieve
therefrom save Him, and if He touch thee with good fortune (there is none that
can impair it); for He is Able to do all things.
SHAKIR: And if Allah touch you with affliction, there is none to take it off but
He; and if He visit you with good, then He has power over all things.
006.018
YUSUFALI: "He is the irresistible, (watching) from above over His worshippers;
and He is the Wise, acquainted with all things."
PICKTHAL: He is the Omnipotent over His slaves, and He is the Wise, the Knower.
SHAKIR: And He is the Supreme, above His servants; and He is the Wise, the
Aware.
006.019
YUSUFALI: Say: "What thing is most weighty in evidence?" Say: "Allah is witness
between me and you; This Qur'an hath been revealed to me by inspiration, that I
may warn you and all whom it reaches. Can ye possibly bear witness that besides
Allah there is another Allah?" Say: "Nay! I cannot bear witness!" Say: "But in
truth He is the one Allah, and I truly am innocent of (your blasphemy of)
joining others with Him."
PICKTHAL: Say (O Muhammad): What thing is of most weight in testimony? Say:
Allah is Witness between me and you. And this Qur'an hath been inspired in me,
that I may warn therewith you and whomsoever it may reach. Do ye in sooth bear
witness that there are gods beside Allah? Say: I bear no such witness. Say: He
is only One Allah. Lo! I am innocent of that which ye associate (with Him).
SHAKIR: Say: What thing is the weightiest in testimony? Say: Allah is witness
between you and me; and this Quran has been revealed to me that with it I may
warn you and whomsoever it reaches. Do you really bear witness that there are
other gods with Allah? Say: I do not bear witness. Say: He is only one Allah,
and surely I am clear of that which you set up (with Him).
006.020
YUSUFALI: Those to whom We have given the Book know this as they know their own
sons. Those who have lost their own souls refuse therefore to believe.
PICKTHAL: Those unto whom We gave the Scripture recognise (this revelation) as
they recognise their sons. Those who ruin their own souls will not believe.
SHAKIR: Those whom We have given the Book recognize him as they recognize their
sons; (as for) those who have lost their souls, they will not believe.
6 : 21
21. Waman athlamu mimmani iftara AAala Allahi kathiban aw kaththaba bi-ayatihi innahu la yuflihu alththalimoona
And who can be more impetuous than him that assigns lies to Allah and prevaricates His revelations! Verily the sinful will never attain redemption!
(The lies assigned to Allah by the invidious include deeming Him in par with their idols, claiming that the Angels are His daughters, or that He espoused Mary and begot for Himself a son through her, or that Jesus was a manifestation of Allah in human form, or that Jesus and the Archangel and Allah form the 'Holy Trinity' and should therefore be worshipped as one 'Unit').
6 : 22
22. Wayawma nahshuruhum jameeAAan thumma naqoolu lillatheena ashrakoo ayna shurakaokumu allatheena kuntum tazAAumoona
And on the Day We gather them together, We will say to those who ascribed partners to Allah : 'Where are now the partners of whom you used to boast?'
6 : 23
23. Thumma lam takun fitnatuhum illa an qaloo waAllahi rabbina ma kunna mushrikeena
All their pretensions will come to an end forthwith and they will have no excuses other than saying : 'We swear upon Allah, our Lord, that we were not idolaters.'
6 : 24
24. Onthur kayfa kathaboo AAala anfusihim wadalla AAanhum ma kanoo yaftaroona
See how they impugned themselves with lies and how their claims have collapsed on them?
6 : 25
25. Waminhum man yastamiAAu ilayka wajaAAalna AAala quloobihim akinnatan an yafqahoohu wafee athanihim waqran wa-in yaraw kulla ayatin la yu/minoo biha hatta itha jaooka yujadiloonaka yaqoolu allatheena kafaroo in hatha illa asateeru al-awwaleena
And there are those amongst them who do lend you an ear but We have wrapped their cores in covers so that they comprehend not, and in their auricles have We placed a deafness, so that, even if they saw the signs, they can never recognize them; to such an extent that, when they come before you for a debate, the disbelievers would say : 'These are only tales from days bygone!'
(According to some commentators, the above verse was revealed in response to some of the most virulent opponents of the Prophet who used to attend his congregations in a big bunch as if they were there for a healthy exchange of views, but in reality to make fun of him and his recital of the Qur'aan, saying that it was nothing but tales from the bygone past.
This notorious bunch included men like Abu Sufian and Abu Jehl).
6 : 26
26. Wahum yanhawna AAanhu wayan-awna AAanhu wa-in yuhlikoona illa anfusahum wama yashAAuroona
And they dissuade others and flee from it themselves although by doing so they harm none except their own souls! But they perceive it not!
(According to some commentators, the above verse was aimed at Meccan disbelievers in general, but at the Prophet's own uncle Abu Talib in particular who did stop them from harming his nephew, although never himself considered embracing the religion he preached.
It applies equally well to the Meccan disbelievers who used to stop people from attending the Prophet's sermons as well as refrained from hearing his recitation in case it touched the cockles of their hearts and prevailed upon their senses.
Such people harm no one else but their own selves, although they do not realize it).
6 : 27
27. Walaw tara ith wuqifoo AAala alnnari faqaloo ya laytana nuraddu wala nukaththiba bi-ayati rabbina wanakoona mina almu/mineena
And if you could see them when they are exposed to the Fire, how they say : 'If only we could return! We would never again dare repudiate the revelations of our Lord and would be of the believers!
6 : 28
28. Bal bada lahum ma kanoo yukhfoona min qablu walaw ruddoo laAAadoo lima nuhoo AAanhu wa-innahum lakathiboona
Nay, but all that which they used to hide has become manifest to them; and even if they are returned, they would still do the same things they used to do before! Verily they are a mendacious folk.
6 : 29
29. Waqaloo in hiya illa hayatuna alddunya wama nahnu bimabAAootheena
And they say : 'Nothing lasts forever except the life of this world and we will not be raised from here!
(When the Prophet talked to the disbelievers about the Resurrection of the dead on the Last Day, about the Hereafter, about punishment for the sinful and rewards for the righteous, about retribution and redemption and about heaven and Hell, they insisted that the only life in which they believed was the one spent on the earth and that, once it was over, there was nothing else for them, no lingering in graves, no returning to their Maker, no rendition of accounts and no Judgement)
6 : 30
30. Walaw tara ith wuqifoo AAala rabbihim qala alaysa hatha bialhaqqi qaloo bala warabbina qala fathooqoo alAAathaba bima kuntum takfuroona
If only you could see them when they are brought before their Lord! He will say : 'Is this tryst real enough for you?' They will say : 'Yes, by our Lord!' He will say : 'Taste now the flavour of punishment in return for that which you used to repudiate!' (R)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
21. And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allâh or rejects His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.)? Verily, the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.) shall never be successful.
22. And on the Day when We shall gather them all together, We shall say to those who joined partners in worship (with Us): "Where are your partners (false deities) whom you used to assert (as partners in worship with Allâh)?"
23. There will then be (left) no Fitnah (excuses or statements or arguments) for them but to say: "By Allâh, our Lord, we were not those who joined others in worship with Allâh."
24. Look! How they lie against themselves! But the (lie) which they invented will disappear from them.
25. And of them there are some who listen to you; but We have set veils on their hearts, so they understand it not, and deafness in their ears; if they see every one of the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) they will not believe therein; to the point that when they come to you to argue with you, the disbelievers say: "These are nothing but tales of the men of old."
26. And they prevent others from him (from following Prophet Muhammad SAW) and they themselves keep away from him, and (by doing so) they destroy not but their ownselves, yet they perceive (it) not.
27. If you could but see when they will be held over the (Hell) Fire! They will say: "Would that we were but sent back (to the world)! Then we would not deny the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.) of our Lord, and we would be of the believers!"
28. Nay, it has become manifest to them what they had been concealing before. But if they were returned (to the world), they would certainly revert to that which they were forbidden. And indeed they are liars.
29. And they said: "There is no (other life) but our (present) life of this world, and never shall we be resurrected (on the Day of Resurrection)."
30. If you could but see when they will be held (brought and made to stand) in front of their Lord! He will say: "Is not this (Resurrection and the taking of the accounts) the truth?" They will say: "Yes, by our Lord!" He will then say: "So taste you the torment because you used not to believe."
006.021
YUSUFALI: Who doth more wrong than he who inventeth a lie against Allah or
rejecteth His signs? But verily the wrong-doers never shall prosper.
PICKTHAL: Who doth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie against Allah or
denieth His revelations? Lo! the wrongdoers will not be successful.
SHAKIR: And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or (he
who) gives the lie to His communications; surely the unjust will not be
successful.
006.022
YUSUFALI: One day shall We gather them all together: We shall say to those who
ascribed partners (to Us): "Where are the partners whom ye (invented and) talked
about?"
PICKTHAL: And on the day We gather them together We shall say unto those who
ascribed partners (unto Allah): Where are (now) those partners of your
make-believe?
SHAKIR: And on the day when We shall gather them all together, then shall We say
to those who associated others (with Allah): Where are your associates whom you
asserted?
006.023
YUSUFALI: There will then be (left) no subterfuge for them but to say: "By Allah
our Lord, we were not those who joined gods with Allah."
PICKTHAL: Then will they have no contention save that they will say: By Allah,
our Lord, we never were idolaters.
SHAKIR: Then their excuse would be nothing but that they would say: By Allah,
our Lord, we were not polytheists.
006.024
YUSUFALI: Behold! how they lie against their own souls! But the (lie) which they
invented will leave them in the lurch.
PICKTHAL: See how they lie against themselves, and (how) the thing which they
devised hath failed them!
SHAKIR: See how they lie against their own souls, and that which they forged has
passed away from them.
006.025
YUSUFALI: Of them there are some who (pretend to) listen to thee; but We have
thrown veils on their hearts, So they understand it not, and deafness in their
ears; if they saw every one of the signs, not they will believe in them; in so
much that when they come to thee, they (but) dispute with thee; the Unbelievers
say: "These are nothing but tales of the ancients."
PICKTHAL: Of them are some who listen unto thee, but We have placed upon their
hearts veils, lest they should understand, and in their ears a deafness. If they
saw every token they would not believe therein; to the point that, when they
come unto thee to argue with thee, the disbelievers say: This is naught else
than fables of the men of old.
SHAKIR: And of them is he who hearkens to you, and We have cast veils over their
hearts lest they understand it and a heaviness into their ears; and even if they
see every sign they will not believe in it; so much so that when they come to
you they only dispute with you; those who disbelieve say: This is naught but the
stories of the ancients.
006.026
YUSUFALI: Others they keep away from it, and themselves they keep away; but they
only destroy their own souls, and they perceive it not.
PICKTHAL: And they forbid (men) from it and avoid it, and they ruin none save
themselves, though they perceive not.
SHAKIR: And they prohibit (others) from it and go far away from it, and they
only bring destruction upon their own souls while they do not perceive.
006.027
YUSUFALI: If thou couldst but see when they are confronted with the Fire! They
will say: "Would that we were but sent back! Then would we not reject the signs
of our Lord, but would be amongst those who believe!"
PICKTHAL: If thou couldst see when they are set before the Fire and say: Oh,
would that we might return! Then would we not deny the revelations of our Lord
but we would be of the believers!
SHAKIR: And could you see when they are made to stand before the fire, then they
shall say: Would that we were sent back, and we would not reject the
communications of our Lord and we would be of the believers.
006.028
YUSUFALI: Yea, in their own (eyes) will become manifest what before they
concealed. But if they were returned, they would certainly relapse to the things
they were forbidden, for they are indeed liars.
PICKTHAL: Nay, but that hath become clear unto them which before they used to
hide. And if they were sent back they would return unto that which they are
forbidden. Lo! they are liars.
SHAKIR: Nay, what they concealed before shall become manifest to them; and if
they were sent back, they would certainly go back to that which they are
forbidden, and most surely they are liars.
006.029
YUSUFALI: And they (sometimes) say: "There is nothing except our life on this
earth, and never shall we be raised up again."
PICKTHAL: And they say: There is naught save our life of the world, and we shall
not be raised (again).
SHAKIR: And they say: There is nothing but our life of this world, and we shall
not be raised.
006.030
YUSUFALI: If thou couldst but see when they are confronted with their Lord! He
will say: "Is not this the truth?" They will say: "Yea, by our Lord!" He will
say: "Taste ye then the penalty, because ye rejected Faith."
PICKTHAL: If thou couldst see when they are set before their Lord! He will say:
Is not this real? They will say: Yea, verily, by our Lord! He will say: Taste
now the retribution for that ye used to disbelieve.
SHAKIR: And could you see when they are made to stand before their Lord. He will
say: Is not this the truth? They will say: Yea! by our Lord. He will say: Taste
then the chastisement because you disbelieved.
Section 4.
6 : 31
31. Qad khasira allatheena kaththaboo biliqa-i Allahi hatta itha jaat-humu alssaAAatu baghtatan qaloo ya hasratana AAala ma farratna feeha wahum yahmiloona awzarahum AAala thuhoorihim ala saa ma yaziroona
They are the losers who carry on rejecting the inevitability of their tryst with their Lord until suddenly the Hour is upon them when they say : 'Damnation on us that we were callous about this!' And they will stand staggering under the load of remorse straddled upon their backs, - O what a terrible burden it is which is straddled upon them!
6 : 32
32. Wama alhayatu alddunya illa laAAibun walahwun walalddaru al-akhirati khayrun lillatheena yattaqoona afala taAAqiloona
The life of this world is nothing but fun and frolic, whereas the abode in the Hereafter is a more desirable destination for those who render their duty to Allah! Have you no sense?
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed when two staunch opponents of Islam told the Prophet that it was not he with whom they were having problems, but it was the Qur'aan's being a Divine Scripture with which they were at loggerheads.
6 : 33
33. Qad naAAlamu innahu layahzunuka allathee yaqooloona fa-innahum la yukaththiboonaka walakinna alththalimeena bi-ayati Allahi yajhadoona
We are aware of how much the words they utter distress you (O Mohammed), but it is not you whom they oppugn. The recusants are, in fact, deriding the revelations of Allah!
(The incident refers to a conversation the committed foe of Islam Abu Jehl had with the Prophet in which he declared that, while he had no reason to impeach his integrity or question his veracity, he was unable and unwilling to concede that the Qur'aan is a Divine revelation inspirited in him by an Angel of God, - a statement which enormously distressed the Prophet)
* * *
6 : 34
34. Walaqad kuththibat rusulun min qablika fasabaroo AAala ma kuththiboo waoothoo hatta atahum nasruna wala mubaddila likalimati Allahi walaqad jaaka min naba-i almursaleena
Many messengers before you were insulted in the past, but they endured their affronts and persecution with patience until Our help reached them. No one ever succeeded in reversing the decisions of Allah and you have already been apprised of the events that transpired in the case of those messengers!
6 : 35
35. Wa-in kana kabura AAalayka iAAraduhum fa-ini istataAAta an tabtaghiya nafaqan fee al-ardi aw sullaman fee alssama-i fata/tiyahum bi-ayatin walaw shaa Allahu lajamaAAahum AAala alhuda fala takoonanna mina aljahileena
If their vituperation grieves you, then dig a tunnel into the earth or put a ladder up the sky, if you can, and bring a portent convincing enough for them! (Remember that) had Allah willed, He would have brought them all under the fold of guidance, so do not make a fool out of yourself over them!
(The above verse once again comforts the Prophet over the affronts and persecutions he was suffering at the hands of his tormentors by reminding him that persecution of Prophets was a fact of life with which most messengers of Allah had to reconcile; but the light at the bottom of the tunnel was that, in every case Allah invariably delivered them from their torment and punished the guilty. It is a promise of Allah that will surely come to pass and hence, all he needed to do was to put his faith in the benevolence of his Lord and be patient.
But at
the same time it also draws the bottom line that, whether he digs a tunnel
through to the bowels of the earth, or puts up a ladder to scale the heavens in
pursuit of a portent to convince them, it is not for him to produce miracles for
them, except if Allah so willed and when Allah so willed!)
6 : 36
36. Innama yastajeebu allatheena yasmaAAoona waalmawta yabAAathuhumu Allahu thumma ilayhi yurjaAAoona
Only those who listen can respond to what they hear! As for those whose hearts are dead, Allah will raise them up and then they will be driven back to Him in the end.
6 : 37
37. Waqaloo lawla nuzzila AAalayhi ayatun min rabbihi qul inna Allaha qadirun AAala an yunazzila ayatan walakinna aktharahum la yaAAlamoona
They say : 'Why has no portent been sent down to him by his Lord?' Say : 'It is a matter of Allah's discretion whether or not He sends down a portent!' But a vast majority of them are utterly ignorant.
(Despite the series of Divine revelations being made to the Prophet through the Archangel; despite the unsurpassable excellence of its text; the overwhelming proclivity of its content; the wealth of erudition imbibed in every one of its verses; its dynamism and its profusion; its intensity and its pervasion; its copiousness and its proportions; its amazing span and its astonishing sustainability, - no less than the best miracles performed by other Prophets in the past, - the narrow minded idolaters and disbelievers used to insist upon his producing miracles, as though he was a ring-master in a circus entertaining his audiences, and miracles were the feats of skill he was showing them as samples of the show!)
6 : 38
38. Wama min dabbatin fee al-ardi wala ta-irin yateeru bijanahayhi illa omamun amthalukum ma farratna fee alkitabi min shay-in thumma ila rabbihim yuhsharoona
There is no animal that roams the earth, nor is there a bird that flies on its wings not been included in Our Creation alongside you; and We omitted nothing without its being entered in the Book of Our Decrees! And to their Lord will they be gathered in the end!
(A thought provoking parable that springs to mind from reading this verse according to which, after the Exodus, as Moses sat brooding underneath the shade of a tree, his people in their tens of thousands gathered behind him, to be taken to the Promised Land, Angel Gabriel accosted him and asked why he was lost in thought. Moses pointed at his people, men and women, young and old, robust and disabled, healthy and sick, all following him like a herd of cattle following their shepherd, all their hopes banked upon him, their feet placed in his footprints, their eyes cast upon his countenance, their courage motivated by his promises.
'What am I going to feed them?' he said to the Angel, 'Where am I going to find their food? What am I to do? How am I to cope?'
In reply to the question, Gabriel asked Moses to smite the ground with his staff; when he did, the ground split apart and revealed a stream of water flowing underneath the surface. Gabriel asked him to smite the water, and when he did, the water split apart and revealed a solid boulder at its bottom The Angel asked him to smite the boulder likewise, and when he did, the boulder also split apart, and he noticed in one of its crevices a tiny insect hurriedly crawling away with a morsel of food in its mouth.
'See you not O Moses?' said the Angel, 'Your Lord is He who does not neglect even the tiniest of creatures living in the crevices of stones lying at the bottom of streams underneath the surface of the earth!'
We learn from this verse that, whether they are birds flying in air, or beasts roaming upon earth or fish swimming in water, all occupy the same status in Allah's Creation as the rest of mankind, and are entered in the Book of Decrees without discrimination.
This has led some commentators to derive that, according to this revelation, animals are as aware of their Lord as human beings are and offer Him worship in their own way; they abide by His commandments and glorify Him; love one another, raise families, protect those who rely on them, feed those who cannot feed themselves, recognize their genders and procreate, feel pain and experience distress; and also that, in the same way as humans are accountable to their Lord on the Day of Judgement, animals will also be held to account for their deeds.
It
should be noted in this context that, if an animal with horns assaulted an
animal without horns, the latter will be given horns on the Day of Judgement and
asked to settle the scores between them!)
6: 39
39. Waallatheena kaththaboo bi-ayatina summun wabukmun fee alththulumati man yasha-i Allahu yudlilhu waman yasha/ yajAAalhu AAala siratin mustaqeemin
Those who repudiate Our revelations are deaf and dumb and adrift in oblivion! Allah sends astray whom He will and guides on to the straight whom He will!
(Those who repudiate the ordinances of Allah are devoid of hearing despite having ears and are incapable of speech despite having a mouth because they are sunk in the voids of ignorance and agnosticism. When Allah wishes to send astray a nation, He takes away from them their faculties, without depriving them of the organs with which they were born!)
6: 40
40. Qul araaytakum in atakum AAathabu Allahi aw atatkumu alssaAAatu aghayra Allahi tadAAoona in kuntum sadiqeena
Say : 'When punishment from Allah lands on you, or when the Hour culminates, is there anyone around from whom you can seek help save Allah? Answer me if you are truthful!'
(When the mountains turn into rubble; when the earth shudders with tremors; when the sky becomes oblivion; when the planets collide; when the oceans begin to boil and the moment of truth stares you in the eye, would you be able to summon your impotent gods to help you against the might of Allah? Would you rely on the daughters of Allah, or on the Son of Allah, or on the idols whom you have set up on the four corners of your city to protect you?)
6: 41
41. Bal iyyahu tadAAoona fayakshifu ma tadAAoona ilayhi in shaa watansawna ma tushrikoona
Nay, but you will seek help from Him alone because only He can ease that for which you seek help - if He will! Then you will forget the partners whom you assigned to Him. (R)
(No, you will not, because deep down in your hearts you know it quite well that it is not within their power to ease the burden of guilt which has landed upon you and underneath which you are crushed. You will go down on your knees before Him; you will beg Him for lenience; you will lay down your arms with which you used to resist His goodwill and surrender to Him; you will shed tears of remorse; you will choke with grief and beseech Him to levitate the weight that has landed on you, painfully aware that it is a weight which can be levitated only by Him who put it there)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
31. They indeed are losers who denied their Meeting with Allâh[], until all of a sudden, the Hour (signs of death) is on them, and they say: "Alas for us that we gave no thought to it," while they will bear their burdens on their backs; and evil indeed are the burdens that they will bear!
32. And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the Hereafter for those who are AlMuttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2). Will you not then understand?
33. We know indeed the grief which their words cause you (O Muhammad SAW): it is not you that they deny, but it is the Verses (the Qur'ân) of Allâh that the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers) deny.
34. Verily, (many) Messengers were denied before you (O Muhammad SAW), but with patience they bore the denial, and they were hurt, till Our Help reached them, and none can alter the Words (Decisions) of Allâh. Surely there has reached you the information (news) about the Messengers (before you).
35. If their aversion (from you, O Muhammad SAW and from that with which you have been sent) is hard on you, (and you cannot be patient from their harm to you), then if you were able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the sky, so that you may bring them a sign (and you cannot do it, so be patient). And had Allâh willed, He could have gathered them together (all) unto true guidance, so be not you one of those who are Al-Jâhilûn (the ignorant).
36. It is only those who listen (to the Message of Prophet Muhammad SAW), will respond (benefit from it), but as for the dead (disbelievers), Allâh will raise them up, then to Him they will be returned (for their recompense).
37. And they said: "Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?" Say: "Allâh is certainly Able to send down a sign, but most of them know not."
38. There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.
39. Those who reject Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) are deaf and dumb in darkness. Allâh sends astray whom He wills and He guides on the Straight Path whom He wills.
40. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Tell me if Allâh's Torment comes upon you, or the Hour comes upon you, would you then call upon any one other than Allâh? (Reply) if you are truthful!"
41. Nay! To Him Alone you call, and, if He will, He would remove that (distress) for which you call upon Him, and you forget at that time whatever partners you joined with Him (in worship)!
006.031
YUSUFALI: Lost indeed
are they who treat it as a falsehood that they must meet Allah,- until on a
sudden the hour is on them, and they say: "Ah! woe unto us that we took no
thought of it"; for they bear their burdens on their backs, and evil indeed are
the burdens that they bear?
PICKTHAL: They indeed
are losers who deny their meeting with Allah until, when the Hour cometh on them
suddenly, they cry: Alas for us, that we neglected it! They bear upon their
backs their burdens. Ah, evil is that which they bear!
SHAKIR: They are
losers indeed who reject the meeting of Allah; until when the hour comes upon
them all of a sudden they shall say: O our grief for our neglecting it! and they
shall bear their burdens on their backs; now surely evil is that which they
bear.
006.032
YUSUFALI: What is the
life of this world but play and amusement? But best is the home in the
hereafter, for those who are righteous. Will ye not then understand?
PICKTHAL: Naught is
the life of the world save a pastime and a spot. Better far is the abode of the
Hereafter for those who keep their duty (to Allah). Have ye then no sense?
SHAKIR: And this
world's life is naught but a play and an idle sport and certainly the abode of
the hereafter is better for those who guard (against evil); do you not then
understand?
006.033
YUSUFALI: We know
indeed the grief which their words do cause thee: It is not thee they reject: it
is the signs of Allah, which the wicked contemn.
PICKTHAL: We know
well how their talk grieveth thee, though in truth they deny not thee (Muhammad)
but evil-doers flout the revelations of Allah.
SHAKIR: We know
indeed that what they say certainly grieves you, but surely they do not call you
a liar; but the unjust deny the communications of Allah.
006.034
YUSUFALI: Rejected
were the messengers before thee: with patience and constancy they bore their
rejection and their wrongs, until Our aid did reach them: there is none that can
alter the words (and decrees) of Allah. Already hast thou received some account
of those messengers.
PICKTHAL: Messengers
indeed have been denied before thee, and they were patient under the denial and
the persecution till Our succour reached them. There is none to alter the
decisions of Allah. Already there hath reached thee (somewhat) of the tidings of
the messengers (We sent before).
SHAKIR: And certainly
messengers before you were rejected, but they were patient on being rejected and
persecuted until Our help came to them; and there is none to change the words of
Allah, and certainly there has come to you some information about the
messengers.
006.035
YUSUFALI: If their
spurning is hard on thy mind, yet if thou wert able to seek a tunnel in the
ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a sign,- (what good?). If it were
Allah's will, He could gather them together unto true guidance: so be not thou
amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!
PICKTHAL: And if
their aversion is grievous unto thee, then, if thou canst, seek a way down into
the earth or a ladder unto the sky that thou mayst bring unto them a portent (to
convince them all)! - If Allah willed, He could have brought them all together
to the guidance - So be not thou among the foolish ones.
SHAKIR: And if their
turning away is hard on you, then if you can seek an opening (to go down) into
the earth or a ladder (to ascend up) to heaven so that you should bring them a
sign and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have gathered them all on
guidance, therefore be not of the ignorant.
006.036
YUSUFALI: Those who
listen (in truth), be sure, will accept: as to the dead, Allah will raise them
up; then will they be turned unto Him.
PICKTHAL: Only those
can accept who hear. As for the dead, Allah will raise them up; then unto Him
they will be returned.
SHAKIR: Only those
accept who listen; and (as to) the dead, Allah will raise them, then to Him they
shall be returned.
006.037
YUSUFALI: They say:
"Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?" Say: "Allah hath certainly
power to send down a sign: but most of them understand not.
PICKTHAL: They say:
Why hath no portent been sent down upon him from his Lord? Say: Lo! Allah is
Able to send down a portent. But most of them know not.
SHAKIR: And they say:
Why has not a sign been sent down to him from his Lord? Say: Surely Allah is
able to send down a sign, but most of them do not know.
006.038
YUSUFALI: There is
not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings,
but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book,
and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.
PICKTHAL: There is
not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they
are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the Book (of Our
decrees). Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.
SHAKIR: And there is
no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but
(they are) genera like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book,
then to their Lord shall they be gathered.
006.039
YUSUFALI: Those who
reject our signs are deaf and dumb,- in the midst of darkness profound: whom
Allah willeth, He leaveth to wander: whom He willeth, He placeth on the way that
is straight.
PICKTHAL: Those who
deny Our revelations are deaf and dumb in darkness. Whom Allah will sendeth
astray, and whom He will He placeth on a straight path.
SHAKIR: And they who
reject Our communications are deaf and dumb, in utter darkness; whom Allah
pleases He causes to err and whom He pleases He puts on the right way.
006.040
YUSUFALI: Say: "Think
ye to yourselves, if there come upon you the wrath of Allah, or the Hour (that
ye dread), would ye then call upon other than Allah?- (reply) if ye are
truthful!
PICKTHAL: Say: Can ye
see yourselves, if the punishment of Allah come upon you or the Hour come upon
you, (calling upon other than Allah)? Do ye then call (for help) to any other
than Allah? (Answer that) if ye are truthful.
SHAKIR: Say: Tell me
if the chastisement of Allah should overtake you or the hour should come upon
you, will you call (on others) besides Allah, if you are truthful?
006.041
YUSUFALI: "Nay,- On
Him would ye call, and if it be His will, He would remove (the distress) which
occasioned your call upon Him, and ye would forget (the false gods) which ye
join with Him!"
PICKTHAL: Nay, but
unto Him ye call, and He removeth that because of which ye call unto Him, if He
will, and ye forget whatever partners ye ascribed unto Him.
SHAKIR: Nay, Him you
call upon, so He clears away that for which you pray if He pleases and you
forget what you set up (with Him).
Section 5.
6 : 42
42. Walaqad arsalna ila omamin min qablika faakhathnahum bialba/sa-i waalddarra-i laAAallahum yatadarraAAoona
And We did send Our messengers to people who were here before you and We put them through every kind of asperity and adversity in order to behumble them!
(Whenever a messenger is sent to a people, it is a clear sign that their transgressions have reached a dangerous peek; that the angels have run out of patience; that the devil is in their midst and rocking the boat; that evil has gagged and blindfolded righteousness and cast it off in the seclusion of anonymity; that they have reached the cross-roads from where they must make a choice of their recourse and change directions. All messengers come from Allah to help them choose that new direction, to enlighten them as to what lies at the end of which road, to persuade them to take the road which leads to the right goal and to avoid that which leads to doom and damnation. The message they bring from Allah contains this Guidance for them, as it did for all mankind ever since Adam and Eve pitched their tent upon this earth with His leave, including definitive warnings of dire consequences!)
6 : 43
43. Falawla ith jaahum ba/suna tadarraAAoo walakin qasat quloobuhum wazayyana lahumu alshshaytanu ma kanoo yaAAmaloona
If only they had humbled themselves when Our doom cracked upon them! But their hearts had indurated and the devil had made their unjust deeds seem justifiable to them.
6 : 44
44. Falamma nasoo ma thukkiroo bihi fatahna AAalayhim abwaba kulli shay-in hatta itha farihoo bima ootoo akhathnahum baghtatan fa-itha hum mublisoona
Then, when they bantered the admonitions made to them, We threw open the doors of indulgence on them for a while until they began to gloat over their good fortunes, after which We seized them unawares and abandoned them to mull over their misfortunes!
(When they began to treat the admonitions of Allah with utter contempt, break every rule in the book, trifle with His messengers, ignore their warnings, refuse to remain within the bounds set out for them and defy His commandments, there came about an abrupt surge in their fortunes, to be followed by a catastrophic decline,- a distinct sign of Divine chastisement.
This
proves that behind every tide there is an ebb, behind every bright day there is
a dark night, behind every peaceful calm there is a tumultuous storm, and that
plenitude could be deceptive and often heralds dearth and shortfalls).
6 : 45
45. FaqutiAAa dabiru alqawmi allatheena thalamoo waalhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameena
Thus were the roots of the sinful severed! Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!
(There is a very subtle hint in this verse that, whenever the sinful are smitten by a disaster from Allah, it is in fact a blessing in disguise for the rest of mankind.
Look what happened to Pharaoh and his warlords, to Nimrod and his sorcerers, to the Romans and their Centurions, to Hitler and his Nazis, to Milosovich and his Arcanes!)
6 : 46
46. Qul araaytum in akhatha Allahu samAAakum waabsarakum wakhatama AAala quloobikum man ilahun ghayru Allahi ya/teekum bihi onthur kayfa nusarrifu al-ayati thumma hum yasdifoona
Say to them : 'Did you ever wonder that, if Allah took away from you your ears and your eyes and sealed off your hearts, which other God is there who can give these back to you except Allah?' See in how many different ways We expound Our revelations? Yet they turn away!
6 : 47
47. Qul araaytakum in atakum AAathabu Allahi baghtatan aw jahratan hal yuhlaku illa alqawmu alththalimoona
Say to them : 'Can you tell me that, when Allah's retribution lands upon you, unforeseen or foreseen, who else will be smitten by it other than the insidious?
(Looking around us at the portentous manner in which this new Millennium is shaping up, the unparalleled fires that are raging in the forests of America, the bewildering levels of rainfall pouring down in Europe and inundating its towns and cities with such floods as had never been experienced before, fierce twisters coming out of nowhere and leaving behind a trail of devastation in their wake, mud-slides swallowing up human habitations and wiping them out of existence, volcanoes erupting here and earthquakes triggered off there, mankind smitten by bizarre diseases, hunger and starvation taking their toll in the middle of this our twenty-first Century, - a century which has taken a quantum leap in terms of human progress and modernization! Are there no lessons to be learnt from all this? Is there any other way of describing such an appalling state of affairs as anything but Apocalyptic? Why is it that our fire-fighters are not being able to fight the fires, our weather forecasters are not being able to predict these disasters, our doctors are not being able to cure these prodigious diseases, our wealthy nations are not being able to support their poverty stricken brethren? Is it not because, if God decides to have His own way, man has no choice but to yield?)
6 : 48
48. Wama nursilu almursaleena illa mubashshireena wamunthireena faman amana waaslaha fala khawfun AAalayhim wala hum yahzanoona
We never send Our messengers to you except as bearers of good tidings and as warners. Hence, those of you who become believers and ameliorated themselves, they have no cause for concern nor for distress!
6 : 49
49. Waallatheena kaththaboo bi-ayatina yamassuhumu alAAathabu bima kanoo yafsuqoona
But those of you who repudiate Our revelations, they will be chastised in return for their insubordination.
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed in response to the unreasonable demands made by the disbelievers that the Prophet brought to them material affluence, that he predicted their future for them, that he performed miracles to reassure them, that he severed earthly ties and turned into an angel!
6 : 50
50. Qul la aqoolu lakum AAindee khaza-inu Allahi wala aAAlamu alghayba wala aqoolu lakum innee malakun in attabiAAu illa ma yooha ilayya qul hal yastawee al-aAAma waalbaseeru afala tatafakkaroona
Say (O Mohammed) : 'I do not say to you that I happen to have in my possession treasures given to me by Allah, nor that I have knowledge of the Unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel! I merely follow that which is inspired in me!' Say : 'Can the blind ever be equal to those who have eyes? Will you not ponder over such issues?' (R)
(The disbelievers and idolaters, their hearts filled with malice and their minds filled with mischief, used to congregate at the Prophet's residence and while away their time by asking him to do all sorts of things for them, such as reverse their fortunes by making them rich so that they never have to endure asperity; touch the mountains surrounding their city with a magic wand and turn them into heaps of gold; look into his crystal ball and predict their future so that they could pursue that which yielded them lucre and avoid that which led to loss; apprise them when the Hour is destined to culminate; but above all, renounce his earthly way of life and behave like angels are expected to behave, - not eat the food which humans eat nor wed mortal women and have conjugal relations with them.
This verse was revealed to rectify their thinking about the make up of the Prophet so that their expectations of him were scaled down to reality by reiterating that he too, like all other Prophets before him, was not drawn from the ranks of angels but was chosen from their own brotherhood, visible to their eye and accessible to their touch, who spoke the same language, wore the same clothes, ate the same food, did the same things as they did, went shopping in the local marked, married women and made babies, visited the closet, felt pain, fell sick, reacted to the events; - an ordinary man in every other way, except that he was entrusted with an extra-ordinary mission!
Such a crisp and crystal clear clarification about the Prophet was, indeed, necessary so that, those who wished to challenge him or challenge his prowess challenged him only in the areas to which he laid claims; if he claimed to be a magician, he could be challenged in his craft; if he claimed to be an oracle, he could be challenged to foresee the future; if he claimed to be an angel, he could be challenged to behave like one; but if he claimed to be no more than just an ordinary man, there was no way in which they could challenge him to do anything but be an ordinary man.
The verse ends, asking the Prophet to make an incontrovertible asseveration that he simply conveys to them whatever is inspired in Him by Allah, with nothing added nor taken away, acts upon it himself and exhorts the others to do the same, - which is what messengers are charged with)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
42. Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad SAW). And We seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss in health with calamities so that they might believe with humility.
43. When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not believe with humility? But their hearts became hardened, and Shaitân (Satan) made fairseeming to them that which they used to do.
44. So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened to them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them to punishment, and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows.
45. So the roots of the people who did wrong were cut off. And all the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns, and all that exists).
46. Say (to the disbelievers): "Tell me, if Allâh took away your hearing and your sight, and sealed up your hearts, who is there - an ilâh (a god) other than Allâh who could restore them to you?" See how variously We explain the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), yet they turn aside.
47. Say: "Tell me, if the punishment of Allâh comes to you suddenly (during the night), or openly (during the day), will any be destroyed except the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doing people)?"
48. And We send not the Messengers but as givers of glad tidings and as warners. So whosoever believes and does righteous good deeds, upon such shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve.
49. But those who reject Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), the torment will touch them for their disbelief[] (and for their belying the Message of Muhammad SAW). [Tafsir Al-Qurtubî].
50. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I don't tell you that with me are the treasures of Allâh, nor (that) I know the unseen; nor I tell you that I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me by inspiration." Say: "Are the blind and the one who sees equal? will you not then take thought?"
006.042
YUSUFALI: Before thee We sent (messengers) to many nations, and We afflicted the
nations with suffering and adversity, that they might learn humility.
PICKTHAL: We have sent already unto peoples that were before thee, and We
visited them with tribulation and adversity, in order that they might grow
humble.
SHAKIR: And certainly We sent (messengers) to nations before you then We seized
them with distress and affliction in order that they might humble themselves.
006.043
YUSUFALI: When the suffering reached them from us, why then did they not learn
humility? On the contrary their hearts became hardened, and Satan made their
(sinful) acts seem alluring to them.
PICKTHAL: If only, when Our disaster came on them, they had been humble! But
their hearts were hardened and the devil made all that they used to do seem fair
unto them!
SHAKIR: Yet why did they not, when Our punishment came to them, humble
themselves? But their hearts hardened and the Shaitan made what they did
fair-seeming to them.
006.044
YUSUFALI: But when they forgot the warning they had received, We opened to them
the gates of all (good) things, until, in the midst of their enjoyment of Our
gifts, on a sudden, We called them to account, when lo! they were plunged in
despair!
PICKTHAL: Then, when they forgot that whereof they had been reminded, We opened
unto them the gates of all things till, even as they were rejoicing in that
which they were given, We seized them unawares, and lo! they were dumbfounded.
SHAKIR: But when they neglected that with which they had been admonished, We
opened for them the doors of all things, until when they rejoiced in what they
were given We seized them suddenly; then lo! they were in utter despair.
006.045
YUSUFALI: Of the wrong-doers the last remnant was cut off. Praise be to Allah,
the Cherisher of the worlds.
PICKTHAL: So of the people who did wrong the last remnant was cut off. Praise be
to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!
SHAKIR: So the roots of the people who were unjust were cut off; and all praise
is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
006.046
YUSUFALI: Say: "Think ye, if Allah took away your hearing and your sight, and
sealed up your hearts, who - a god other than Allah - could restore them to
you?" See how We explain the signs by various (symbols); yet they turn aside.
PICKTHAL: Say: Have ye imagined, if Allah should take away your hearing and your
sight and seal your hearts, Who is the Allah Who could restore it to you save
Allah? See how We display the revelations unto them! Yet still they turn away.
SHAKIR: Say: Have you considered that if Allah takes away your hearing and your
sight and sets a seal on your hearts, who is the god besides Allah that can
bring it to you? See how We repeat the communications, yet they turn away.
006.047
YUSUFALI: Say: "Think ye, if the punishment of Allah comes to you, whether
suddenly or openly, will any be destroyed except those who do wrong?
PICKTHAL: Say: Can ye see yourselves, if the punishment of Allah come upon you
unawares or openly? Would any perish save wrongdoing folk?
SHAKIR: Say: Have you considered if the chastisement of Allah should overtake
you suddenly or openly, will any be destroyed but the unjust people?
006.048
YUSUFALI: We send the messengers only to give good news and to warn: so those
who believe and mend (their lives),- upon them shall be no fear, nor shall they
grieve.
PICKTHAL: We send not the messengers save as bearers of good news and warners.
Whoso believeth and doeth right, there shall no fear come upon them neither
shall they grieve.
SHAKIR: And We send not messengers but as announcers of good news and givers of
warning, then whoever believes and acts aright, they shall have no fear, nor
shall they grieve.
006.049
YUSUFALI: But those who reject our signs,- them shall punishment touch, for that
they ceased not from transgressing.
PICKTHAL: But as for those who deny Our revelations, torment will afflict them
for that they used to disobey.
SHAKIR: And (as for) those who reject Our communications, chastisement shall
afflict them because they transgressed.
006.050
YUSUFALI: Say: "I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I
know what is hidden, nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but follow what is
revealed to me." Say: "can the blind be held equal to the seeing?" Will ye then
consider not?
PICKTHAL: Say (O Muhammad, to the disbelievers): I say not unto you (that) I
possess the treasures of Allah, nor that I have knowledge of the Unseen; and I
say not unto you: Lo! I am an angel. I follow only that which is inspired in me.
Say: Are the blind man and the seer equal? Will ye not then take thought?
SHAKIR: Say: I do not say to you, I have with me the treasures of Allah, nor do
I know the unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel; I do not follow aught
save that which is revealed to me. Say: Are the blind and the seeing one alike?
Do you not then reflect?
Section 6.
6 : 51
51. Waanthir bihi allatheena yakhafoona an yuhsharoo ila rabbihim laysa lahum min doonihi waliyyun wala shafeeAAun laAAallahum yattaqoona
And warn with this all those who fear that, when they are gathered before their Lord, they would have no intercessors or stalwarts other than Allah, so let them keep away from evil.
* * *
Context of revelation : The following verses were revealed when some of the idolaters told the Prophet that, if he did not make them share his congregation with poverty stricken people clad in their rags, they might consider converting to Islam. But, as soon as he inclined to concede to them by asking the others to leave as a measure of expedience, he was prevented from doing so by means of this emotive revelation.
6 : 52
52. Wala tatrudi allatheena yadAAoona rabbahum bialghadati waalAAashiyyi yureedoona wajhahu ma AAalayka min hisabihim min shay-in wama min hisabika AAalayhim min shay-in fatatrudahum fatakoona mina alththalimeena
Never distance from you those who seek their Lord day and night and yearn only for His accord. You have no accounts to render for them nor have they any accounts to render for you, so do not become an offender by sending them away!
6 : 53
53. Wakathalika fatanna baAAdahum bibaAAdin liyaqooloo ahaola-i manna Allahu AAalayhim min baynina alaysa Allahu bi-aAAlama bialshshakireena
We have deliberately made some of you a source of envy for the others so that the affluent may look at the impoverished with envy and say : 'Are these the people whom Allah has favoured in preference to us?' Does not Allah recognize those who are grateful to Him?
(Islam being a religion strictly based on the concept of equality of human beings in the eyes of their Lord, - men and women, young and old, healthy and sick, citizens and migrants, - there is no question of affluence taking precedence over penury, nor is there a question of the wealthy refusing to share the assembly of the Prophet along with those who are not so wealthy, much less the chance of his sending away the poor from his assembly in order to accommodate the rich. This is one good reason why, when believers come to pray in the sanctuaries of Allah, they are required to stand shoulder to shoulder before their Lord without gaps, so that no such thing as a social ladder remains in existence, the rich rubbing shoulders with the poor, the healthy in physical contact with the sick, the master next to the slave and the ruler next to the ruled.
If we concentrate upon the verse, it is easy to see that Allah holds this concept of equality so far up the portfolio of priorities that He is prepared to openly rebuke His messenger for demonstrating even a degree of compliance towards such a despicable attitude by inspiring in him this revelation at once, even warning him that if he conceded to such an unworthy request, he too could become one with the wrongdoers, so that no believers dared to discriminate between people on the strength of their financial status, how they dress, where they dwell, what they eat!
Verse 53 elaborates the same premise that Allah made some people richer than others, not for the rich to resent the poor but to envy them because, despite their being clad in rags and reeking of sweat, they are nearer to Allah than those who wear silks and reek of perfumes, for no other reason than that Allah recognizes and appreciates their devotion and their gratitude)
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6 : 54
54. Wa-itha jaaka allatheena yu/minoona bi-ayatina faqul salamun AAalaykum kataba rabbukum AAala nafsihi alrrahmata annahu man AAamila minkum soo-an bijahalatin thumma taba min baAAdihi waaslaha faannahu ghafoorun raheemun
And when those who believe in Our revelations come to you, say to them : 'May Allah's peace be on you! Your Lord has bound Himself with a promise to be kind to you so that, if you err in ignorance but repent and reform yourselves, for him Allah is Magnanimous and Merciful!'
6 : 55
55. Wakathalika nufassilu al-ayati walitastabeena sabeelu almujrimeena
And thus do We elucidate Our ordinances in detail so that the path of the sinful becomes distinctly clear to you! (R)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
51. And warn therewith (the Qur'ân) those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord, when there will be neither a protector nor an intercessor for them besides Him, so that they may fear Allâh and keep their duty to Him (by abstaining from committing sins and by doing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained).
52. And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon seeking His Face. You are accountable for them in nothing, and they are accountable for you in nothing, that you may turn them away, and thus become of the Zâlimûn (unjust).
53. Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: "Is it these (poor believers) that Allâh has favoured from amongst us?" Does not Allâh know best those who are grateful?
54. When those who believe in Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) come to you, say: "Salâmun 'Alaikum" (peace be on you); your Lord has written Mercy for Himself, so that, if any of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allâh), then surely, He is OftForgiving, Most Merciful.
55. And thus do We explain the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that the way of the Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists, sinners), may become manifest.
006.051
YUSUFALI: Give this warning to those in whose (hearts) is the fear that they
will be brought (to judgment) before their Lord: except for Him they will have
no protector nor intercessor: that they may guard (against evil).
PICKTHAL: Warn hereby those who fear (because they know) that they will be
gathered unto their Lord, for whom there is no protecting ally nor intercessor
beside Him, that they may ward off (evil).
SHAKIR: And warn with it those who fear that they shall be gathered to their
Lord-- there is no guardian for them, nor any intercessor besides Him-- that
they may guard (against evil).
006.052
YUSUFALI: Send not away those who call on their Lord morning and evening,
seeking His face. In naught art thou accountable for them, and in naught are
they accountable for thee, that thou shouldst turn them away, and thus be (one)
of the unjust.
PICKTHAL: Repel not those who call upon their Lord at morn and evening, seeking
His Countenance. Thou art not accountable for them in aught, nor are they
accountable for thee in aught, that thou shouldst repel them and be of the
wrong-doers.
SHAKIR: And do not drive away those who call upon their Lord in the morning and
the evening, they desire only His favor; neither are you answerable for any
reckoning of theirs, nor are they answerable for any reckoning of yours, so that
you should drive them away and thus be of the unjust.
006.053
YUSUFALI: Thus did We try some of them by comparison with others, that they
should say: "Is it these then that Allah hath favoured from amongst us?" Doth
not Allah know best those who are grateful?
PICKTHAL: And even so do We try some of them by others, that they say: Are these
they whom Allah favoureth among us? Is not Allah best Aware of the thanksgivers?
SHAKIR: And thus do We try some of them by others so that they say: Are these
they upon whom Allah has conferred benefit from among us? Does not Allah best
know the grateful?
006.054
YUSUFALI: When those come to thee who believe in Our signs, Say: "Peace be on
you: Your Lord hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) mercy: verily, if any of
you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented, and amend (his conduct), lo!
He is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: And when those who believe in Our revelations come unto thee, say:
Peace be unto you! Your Lord hath prescribed for Himself mercy, that whoso of
you doeth evil through ignorance and repenteth afterward thereof and doeth
right, (for him) lo! He is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: And when those who believe in Our communications come to you, say: Peace
be on you, your Lord has ordained mercy on Himself, (so) that if any one of you
does evil in ignorance, then turns after that and acts aright, then He is
Forgiving, Merciful.
006.055
YUSUFALI: Thus do We explain the signs in detail: that the way of the sinners
may be shown up.
PICKTHAL: Thus do We expound the revelations that the way of the unrighteous may
be manifest.
SHAKIR: And thus do We make distinct the communications and so that the way of
the guilty may become clear.
Section 7.
6 : 56
56. Qul innee nuheetu an aAAbuda allatheena tadAAoona min dooni Allahi qul la attabiAAu ahwaakum qad dalaltu ithan wama ana mina almuhtadeena
Say : 'I am forbidden from worshipping those whom you worship instead of Allah!' Say to them : 'I will not pursue the course which you cherish, for if I do so, I too will deflect from the path of guidance!'
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verses were revealed when the disbelievers dared the Prophet to go ahead and bring upon them the wrath of Allah.
6 : 57
57. Qul innee AAala bayyinatin min rabbee wakaththabtum bihi ma AAindee ma tastaAAjiloona bihi ini alhukmu illa lillahi yaqussu alhaqqa wahuwa khayru alfasileena
Say : 'I uphold the definitive portents sent to me by my Lord which you reject; and that for which you are so impatient is not within my prowess. No one decides upon it save Allah! His is the final judgement and He the best of Judges!'
6 : 58
58. Qul law anna AAindee ma tastaAAjiloona bihi laqudiya al-amru baynee wabaynakum waAllahu aAAlamu bialththalimeena
Say : 'If that for which you are impatient was within my means, the issue between us would have been resolved a long time ago!' And Allah knows well who the insidious are!
(In the above verses the Prophet is directed to declare to the obstinate disbelievers who used to challenge him about the culmination of Apocalypse that he believes in whatever is revealed to him; that it is not within his means to hasten the Hour and along with it their damnation; that no one has knowledge about it except Allah; and that, if it was up to him, he would have expedited it a long time ago without giving them even a moment's respite).
* * *
6 : 59
59. WaAAindahu mafatihu alghaybi la yaAAlamuha illa huwa wayaAAlamu ma fee albarri waalbahri wama tasqutu min waraqatin illa yaAAlamuha wala habbatin fee thulumati al-ardi wala ratbin wala yabisin illa fee kitabin mubeenin
In His safekeeping are the keys to the unseen and He alone is familiar with them. And He is familiar with what lies on land and what lies in the water; no leaf is shed by trees without His knowledge nor does any grain germinate under the surface of the earth; nothing is there on land or in water which is not entered in a clear Record.
(The Clear Record refers to the Book of Decrees mentioned throughout the Qur'aan on various occasions as a Divine Tractate in which everything is recorded : who we are, who we share this universe with, what we have done, what we are doing, what are we required to do, what are we going to do in the future, our lives, our deeds and our destinies, so that no one can say on the Day of Judgement that they are accused of things which they did not do; or that they have been wronged; or that they received no justice from the best Judge of all, or that they were neither guided nor were warned whilst there was still time for them to save themselves from doom and damnation)
6 : 60
60. Wahuwa allathee yatawaffakum biallayli wayaAAlamu ma jarahtum bialnnahari thumma yabAAathukum feehi liyuqda ajalun musamman thumma ilayhi marjiAAukum thumma yunabbi-okum bima kuntum taAAmaloona
He it is who gathers your souls by the night and is aware of what it has earned during the day. Then He brings you back to life so that the term appointed for you on earth is concluded, and you are returned to Him in the end when He will tell you what you used to do! (R)
(According to the Qur'aan, sleep is a form of a lesser death which is induced on all living beings at regular intervals when their functions and activities are suspended as though in death. We have no control over our thoughts and actions, we become completely oblivious to our surroundings, we do not feel pain, we become incapable of conscious speech, we are sunk in total oblivion until that something - our spirit or our soul, - which was taken away from us by an invisible, incomprehensible and uncontrollable force, is returned to us once again so that we wake up, gather our wits, repossess our faculties and resume our life until the same thing happens once again.
In this normal occurrence that takes place night after night without our realizing it, there are several lessons to learn from. For instance, we get a clear proof from this that Allah has the power to gather our souls at any time and return them to us, by His will and not at our behest. We cannot stop Him from doing it nor can we make any objections or lay down any stipulations. Should He decide not to return our souls to us, our eyes would remain shut and our limbs cease to function until we are raised again on the Day of Resurrection.
Secondly, it serves the purpose of a stark reminder to all mankind that, in the same way as Allah causes us to wake up in the morning after having lain insensate through the night, He causes us to wake up from our even more prolonged a slumber inside our graves when the Trumpet is blown to usher in the Day of Judgement. Only, on that occasion, we wake up to find ourselves trapped in a maddening rush, all our earthly links severed, every memory of the past erased from our minds, our thoughts centred around what is to come and our hearts beating away from fear of the unknown!)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
56. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I have been forbidden to worship those whom you invoke (worship) besides Allâh." Say: "I will not follow your vain desires. If I did, I would go astray, and I would not be one of the rightly guided."
57. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I am on clear proof from my Lord (Islâmic Monotheism), but you deny (the truth that has come to me from Allâh). I have not gotten what you are asking for impatiently (the torment). The decision is only for Allâh, He declares the truth, and He is the Best of judges."
58. Say: "If I had that which you are asking for impatiently (the torment), the matter would have been settled at once between me and you, but Allâh knows best the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.)."
59. And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.
60. It is He, Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day, then he raises (wakes) you up again that a term appointed (your life period) be fulfilled, then in the end unto Him will be your return. Then He will inform you what you used to do.
006.056
YUSUFALI: Say: "I am forbidden to worship those - others than Allah - whom ye
call upon." Say: "I will not follow your wain desires: If I did, I would stray
from the path, and be not of the company of those who receive guidance."
PICKTHAL: Say: I am forbidden to worship those on whom ye call instead of Allah.
Say: I will not follow your desires, for then should I go astray and I should
not be of the rightly guided.
SHAKIR: Say: I am forbidden to serve those whom you call upon besides Allah.
Say: I do not follow your low desires. for then indeed I should have gone astray
and I should not be of those who go aright.
006.057
YUSUFALI: Say: "For me, I (work) on a clear sign from my Lord, but ye reject
Him. What ye would see hastened, is not in my power. The command rests with none
but Allah: He declares the truth, and He is the best of judges."
PICKTHAL: Say: I am (relying) on clear proof from my Lord, while ye deny Him. I
have not that for which ye are impatient. The decision is for Allah only. He
telleth the truth and He is the Best of Deciders.
SHAKIR: Say: Surely I have manifest proof from my Lord and you call it a lie; I
have not with me that which you would hasten; the t judgment is only Allah's; He
relates the truth and He is the best of deciders.
006.058
YUSUFALI: Say: "If what ye would see hastened were in my power, the matter would
be settled at once between you and me. But Allah knoweth best those who do
wrong."
PICKTHAL: Say: If I had that for which ye are impatient, then would the case
(ere this) have been decided between me and you. Allah is Best Aware of the
wrong-doers.
SHAKIR: Say: If that which you desire to hasten were with me, the matter would
have certainly been decided between you and me; and Allah best knows the unjust.
006.059
YUSUFALI: With Him are the keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knoweth
but He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf
doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or
depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is
(inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read).
PICKTHAL: And with Him are the keys of the Invisible. None but He knoweth them.
And He knoweth what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falleth but He
knoweth it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, naught of wet or dry but
(it is noted) in a clear record.
SHAKIR: And with Him are the keys of the unseen treasures-- none knows them but
He; and He knows what is in the land and the sea, and there falls not a leaf but
He knows it, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything green nor
dry but (it is all) in a clear book.
006.060
YUSUFALI: It is He who doth take your souls by night, and hath knowledge of all
that ye have done by day: by day doth He raise you up again; that a term
appointed be fulfilled; In the end unto Him will be your return; then will He
show you the truth of all that ye did.
PICKTHAL: He it is Who gathereth you at night and knoweth that which ye commit
by day. Then He raiseth you again to life therein, that the term appointed (for
you) may be accomplished. And afterward unto Him is your return. Then He will
proclaim unto you what ye used to do.
SHAKIR: And He it is Who takes your souls at night (in sleep), and He knows what
you acquire in the day, then He raises you up therein that an appointed term may
be fulfilled; then to Him is your return, then He will inform you of what you
were doing.
Section 8.
6 : 61
61. Wahuwa alqahiru fawqa AAibadihi wayursilu AAalaykum hafathatan hatta itha jaa ahadakumu almawtu tawaffat-hu rusuluna wahum la yufarritoona
And He has ascendancy over all His slaves; and He appoints His angels to guard over you until the moment of death comes to you when Our messengers receive him, and they elide not in their duties.
(The above verse also serves the purpose of a reminder to mankind that they are constantly flanked on either side by angels assigned to them by Allah, whose job is to keep a vigil over them and to record everything they do, good and bad, which is weighed in as evidence, in their favour or against them when the Supreme Judge sits in Judgement either to absolve them or to condemn them. So, whatever we contemplate and whatever we perpetrate, whether in private or in public, with our eyes firmly shut or wide open, inadvertently or intentionally, lying in bed or walking in the market, we are constantly being watched, every move we make is being recorded, every word we utter is being attested, by those whose credibility is unimpeachable and who never neglect their duty nor make any mistakes.
According to some commentators, out of the two angels assigned to every human being, one stands to his right and records every decent thing he does, and the other stands to his left and records every evil deed he perpetrates, which will be read out to him in public on the Day of Judgement).
6 : 62
62. Thumma ruddoo ila Allahi mawlahumu alhaqqi ala lahu alhukmu wahuwa asraAAu alhasibeena
And then they are handed over to Allah, their truthful Sovereign! His is the Command and He is swift at reckoning!
(A befitting sequel to a term spent on earth by men and women, - their gains and their losses, their accomplishments and their capitulations, their conquests and their defeats, their joys and their sorrows, their affiliations and betrayals, their loyalties and their devotions!)
6: 63
63. Qul man yunajjeekum min thulumati albarri waalbahri tadAAoonahu tadarruAAan wakhufyatan la-in anjana min hathihi lanakoonanna mina alshshakireena
Say : 'Who is it that delivers you from the perils of the land and the sea and whose help it is that you seek with humility and below your breath saying : 'If He protects us from this danger, we will surely be grateful to Him?'
(Most of us have been through such moments of tensions and uncertainties, whether on a large scale, such as when the ships we are travelling in are caught up in the midst of storms, or our air crafts being rattled by unexpected levels of turbulence, or we are trapped in the path of a devastating twister; or on a smaller scale, such as when we are getting ready for a crucial interview, or we are going to take a make-or-break exam, or waiting for the verdict of a jury in a court where we are indicted of a crime, or outside an operation theatre where someone we cherish is being operated upon, biting our nails, our fingers crossed, no other name on our lips but Allah's, making a million promises to Him, invoking His mercy and begging for deliverance!).
6 : 64
64. Quli Allahu yunajjeekum minha wamin kulli karbin thumma antum tushrikoona
Say : 'Allah delivers you from this hazard and from every other hazard and yet you assign partners to Him!'
6 : 65
65. Qul huwa alqadiru AAala an yabAAatha AAalaykum AAathaban min fawqikum aw min tahti arjulikum aw yalbisakum shiyaAAan wayutheeqa baAAdakum ba/sa baAAdin onthur kayfa nusarrifu al-ayati laAAallahum yafqahoona
Say: 'He has the power to inflict retribution on you from above you and from underneath your feet, or to split you into factions and set you up against one another so that each of you get the taste of persecution at the hands of your own folks!' See in how many different ways We expound Our revelations to make them understand?
(This verse contains one more chilling reminder to mankind that Allah has the power to inflict punishment on us from every side and at any given time, without warning, without waiting, without relenting; from above us such as excessive rains, thunderbolts, blizzards, hail-storms and colliding meteors; and from around us such as floods, fires, tornadoes, landslides, mudslides, volcanoes, locusts; the outbreak of plagues; and from below us such as earthquakes, droughts and crop failures.
Allah's punishment does not always have to be as dire and apocalyptic as that. Every time we are betrayed by a trusted friend or targeted by a ferocious foe; when a wife cheats her husband or a husband abuses his wife, when a daughter elopes with her lover or a son lets us down, when a rabbit is crushed under our wheels or a parrot is swallowed up by a cat; when we bury a loved one, when we lose a new-born baby, when we fall victim to a robbery, when we sustain a major loss in business; when we are stricken by disease, when we lose our limbs in a roadside accident or we deprive someone else of their limbs as a result of our negligence, - everything is a punishment, a castigation, a chastisement, so that we learn our lessons from them and turn repentant to Allah.
Another example of Divine chastisement is to split mankind in opposing factions and set them up against one another : the Shias against the Sunnis, the Christian Crusaders against the Defenders of the Faith, the Germans against Allied Forces, Israelites against Palestinians, Yugoslavs against Kosovorts, the Russians against the Chechnyans, - endless spirals of conflicts going on unstopped since the first drop of human blood was spilled on the soil between Cane and Able, - very much on the increase in the present day and age.
There is a Hadith in this regard according to which, after offering prayers in the Mosque and spending a more than usual time in supplications, the Prophet addressed his adherents and told them that he sought three favours of Allah out of which two were granted but the third was turned down. 'When I sought Him to protect my followers against droughts and famines, it was granted; when I sought Him to protect them from floods, it was also granted; but when I sought Him to protect them from one another, it was turned down!'
An unfortunate prediction which came to pass barely a few years after his demise, culminating in the blood-bath of Karbala between Muslims against Muslims which saw the tragic deaths of so many of the Prophets own kith and kin, besides many a great man who had helped him accomplish his exemplary mission).
6 : 66
66. Wakaththaba bihi qawmuka wahuwa alhaqqu qul lastu AAalaykum biwakeelin
And your people (O Mohammed) have refuted this solemn truth, so say to them : 'I am not a guardian over you!
6 : 67
67. Likulli naba-in mustaqarrun wasawfa taAAlamoona
'There is a time appointed for every event and you will come to know about it only when it transpires!'
6 : 68
68. Wa-itha raayta allatheena yakhoodoona fee ayatina faaAArid AAanhum hatta yakhoodoo fee hadeethin ghayrihi wa-imma yunsiyannaka alshshaytanu fala taqAAud baAAda alththikra maAAa alqawmi alththalimeena
And whenever you see them meddle with Our revelations, withdraw from them until they delve in other topics. If the devil causes you to forget this, withdraw from them as soon as you remember it, but do not participate in the assemblies of the iniquitous!
(The admonition contained in this verse is aimed not only at the Prophet and his associates who were with him at the time of its revelation, but also at the entire Muslim community, forbidding them from attending the assemblies of the disbelievers in which Islam or the revelations of Allah are being derided, mocked at or deliberately misinterpreted so as to convey an adverse image of our faith and confound the participants.
As far as this verse is concerned, the initial command was to walk out of there at once, or as soon as we realize that the milieu of the assembly is to ridicule our concepts, although in the next verse it has been moderated somewhat).
* * *
Context if Revelation : The following verse was revealed in response to the concerns of Muslims that, if they did not provide timely guidance to the idolaters, would they not be as guilty as them?
6 : 69
69. Wama AAala allatheena yattaqoona min hisabihim min shay-in walakin thikra laAAallahum yattaqoona
Those who guard themselves against evil have no responsibility towards the deserts of the iniquitous. But verily admonish them in case they ameliorate themselves!
(But if there is a realistic possibility that they may lend us an ear, reason with us and reform themselves, it becomes our duty to correct their thinking and give them the chance.
However, it should be borne in mind at all times that no one can provide guidance to those whom Allah does not wish to guide, nor can any one stand in the way of those whom Allah wishes to guide; and the inference generated by the premise is that, whereas we may give them the benefit of our wisdom if they want it, we are in no way accountable for what they choose to do, - whether they ignore it or make use of it).
* * *
6 : 70
70. Wathari allatheena ittakhathoo deenahum laAAiban walahwan wagharrat-humu alhayatu alddunya wathakkir bihi an tubsala nafsun bima kasabat laysa laha min dooni Allahi waliyyun wala shafeeAAun wa-in taAAdil kulla AAadlin la yu/khath minha ola-ika allatheena obsiloo bima kasaboo lahum sharabun min hameemin waAAathabun aleemun bima kanoo yakfuroona
And disregard those who treat their religion as if it were a pastime or an entertainment, and whom the life of this world has inveigled! But warn them with this, lest a soul be destroyed by what it earns. It has no friends nor intercessors other than Allah, and no amount of ransom it offers will be accepted from it. These are the people who slighted their religion and were seized because of their own wicked deeds. For them there is boiling water to drink and a most excruciating chastisement in return for their agnosticism! (R)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
61. He is the Irresistible, Supreme over His slaves, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one's good and bad deeds) over you[], until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.
62. Then they are returned to Allâh, their Maulâ [True Master (God), the Just Lord (to reward them)]. Surely, His is the judgement and He is the Swiftest in taking account.
63. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Who rescues you from the darkness of the land and the sea (dangers like storms), when you call upon Him in humility and in secret (saying): If He (Allâh) only saves us from this (danger), we shall truly be grateful."
64. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Allâh rescues you from it and from all (other) distresses, and yet you worship others besides Allâh."
65. Say: "He has power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another." See how variously We explain the Ayât (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), so that they may understand.
66. But your people (O Muhammad SAW) have denied it (the Qur'ân) though it is the truth. Say: "I am not responsible for your affairs."
67. For every news there is a fact, i.e. for everything there is an appointed term (and it is also said that for every deed there is a recompense) and you will come to know.
68. And when you (Muhammad SAW) see those who engage in a false conversation about Our Verses (of the Qur'ân) by mocking at them, stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaitân (Satan) causes you to forget, then after the remembrance sit not you in the company of those people who are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.).
69. Those who fear Allâh, keep their duty to Him and avoid evil are not responsible for them (the disbelievers) in any case, but (their duty) is to remind them, that they may avoid that (mockery at the Qur'ân). [The order of this Verse was cancelled (abrogated) by the Verse 4:140].
70. And leave alone those who take their religion as play and amusement, and are deceived by the life of this world. But remind (them) with it (the Qur'ân) lest a person be given up to destruction for that which he has earned, when he will find for himself no protector or intercessor besides Allâh, and even if he offers every ransom, it will not be accepted from him. Such are they who are given up to destruction because of that which they have earned. For them will be a drink of boiling water and a painful torment because they used to disbelieve.
006.061
YUSUFALI: He is the irresistible, (watching) from above over His worshippers,
and He sets guardians over you. At length, when death approaches one of you, Our
angels take his soul, and they never fail in their duty.
PICKTHAL: He is the Omnipotent over His slaves. He sendeth guardians over you
until, when death cometh unto one of you, Our messengers receive him, and they
neglect not.
SHAKIR: And He is the Supreme, above His servants, and He sends keepers over
you; until when death comes to one of you, Our messengers cause him to die, and
they are not remiss.
006.062
YUSUFALI: Then are men returned unto Allah, their protector, the (only) reality:
Is not His the command? and He is the swiftest in taking account.
PICKTHAL: Then are they restored unto Allah, their Lord, the Just. Surely His is
the judgment. And He is the most swift of reckoners.
SHAKIR: Then are they sent back to Allah, their Master, the True one; now surely
His is the judgment and He is swiftest in taking account.
006.063
YUSUFALI: Say: "Who is it that delivereth you from the dark recesses of land and
sea, when ye call upon Him in humility and silent terror: 'If He only delivers
us from these (dangers), (we vow) we shall truly show our gratitude'?"
PICKTHAL: Say: Who delivereth you from the darkness of the land and the sea? Ye
call upon Him humbly and in secret, (saying): If we are delivered from this
(fear) we truly will be of the thankful.
SHAKIR: Say: Who is it that delivers you from the dangers of the land and the
sea (when) you call upon Him (openly) humiliating yourselves, and in secret: If
He delivers us from this, we should certainly be of the grateful ones.
006.064
YUSUFALI: Say "It is Allah that delivereth you from these and all (other)
distresses: and yet ye worship false gods!"
PICKTHAL: Say: Allah delivereth you from this and from all affliction. Yet ye
attribute partners unto Him.
SHAKIR: Say: Allah delivers you from them and from every distress, but again you
set up others (with Him).
006.065
YUSUFALI: Say: "He hath power to send calamities on you, from above and below,
or to cover you with confusion in party strife, giving you a taste of mutual
vengeance - each from the other." See how We explain the signs by various
(symbols); that they may understand.
PICKTHAL: Say: He is able to send punishment upon you from above you or from
beneath your feet, or to bewilder you with dissension and make you taste the
tyranny one of another. See how We display the revelations so that they may
understand.
SHAKIR: Say: He has the power that He should send on you a chastisement from
above you or from beneath your feet, or that He should throw you into confusion,
(making you) of different parties; and make some of you taste the fighting of
others. See how We repeat the communications that they may understand.
006.066
YUSUFALI: But thy people reject this, though it is the truth. Say: "Not mine is
the responsibility for arranging your affairs;
PICKTHAL: Thy people (O Muhammad) have denied it, though it is the Truth. Say: I
am not put in charge of you.
SHAKIR: And your people call it a lie and it is the very truth. Say: I am not
placed in charge of you.
006.067
YUSUFALI: For every message is a limit of time, and soon shall ye know it."
PICKTHAL: For every announcement there is a term, and ye will come to know.
SHAKIR: For every prophecy is a term, and you will come to know (it).
006.068
YUSUFALI: When thou seest men engaged in vain discourse about Our signs, turn
away from them unless they turn to a different theme. If Satan ever makes thee
forget, then after recollection, sit not thou in the company of those who do
wrong.
PICKTHAL: And when thou seest those who meddle with Our revelations, withdraw
from them until they meddle with another topic. And if the devil cause thee to
forget, sit not, after the remembrance, with the congregation of wrong-doers.
SHAKIR: And when you see those who enter into false discourses about Our
communications, withdraw from them until they enter into some other discourse,
and if the Shaitan causes you to forget, then do not sit after recollection with
the unjust people.
006.069
YUSUFALI: On their account no responsibility falls on the righteous, but (their
duty) is to remind them, that they may (learn to) fear Allah.
PICKTHAL: Those who ward off (evil) are not accountable for them in aught, but
the Reminder (must be given them) that haply they (too) may ward off (evil).
SHAKIR: And nought of the reckoning of their (deeds) shall be against those who
guard (against evil), but (theirs) is only to remind, haply they may guard.
006.070
YUSUFALI: Leave alone those who take their religion to be mere play and
amusement, and are deceived by the life of this world. But proclaim (to them)
this (truth): that every soul delivers itself to ruin by its own acts: it will
find for itself no protector or intercessor except Allah: if it offered every
ransom, (or reparation), none will be accepted: such is (the end of) those who
deliver themselves to ruin by their own acts: they will have for drink (only)
boiling water, and for punishment, one most grievous: for they persisted in
rejecting Allah.
PICKTHAL: And forsake those who take their religion for a pastime and a jest,
and whom the life of the world beguileth. Remind (mankind) hereby lest a soul be
destroyed by what it earneth. It hath beside Allah no protecting ally nor
intercessor, and though it offer every compensation it will not be accepted from
it. Those are they who perish by their own deserts. For them is drink of boiling
water and a painful doom, because they disbelieved.
SHAKIR: And leave those who have taken their religion for a play and an idle
sport, and whom this world's life has deceived, and remind (them) thereby lest a
soul should be given up to destruction for what it has earned; it shall not have
besides Allah any guardian nor an intercessor, and if it should seek to give
every compensation, it shall not be accepted from it; these are they who shall
be given up to destruction for what they earned; they shall have a drink of
boiling water and a painful chastisement because they disbelieved.
Section 9.
6 : 71
71. Qul anadAAoo min dooni Allahi ma la yanfaAAuna wala yadurruna wanuraddu AAala aAAqabina baAAda ith hadana Allahu kaallathee istahwat-hu alshshayateenu fee al-ardi hayrana lahu as-habun yadAAoonahu ila alhuda i/tina qul inna huda Allahi huwa alhuda waomirna linuslima lirabbi alAAalameena
Say : 'Are we to worship in the place of Allah those who can neither help us nor harm us and turn round on our heels from the right path after Allah has guided us on to it, like him whom the devil sent astray in the land and plunged into confusion, even though his well-wishers beckon him towards the right path saying : 'Come here!' Say : 'The only true guidance is the guidance Allah provides for us and we are commanded to surrender only to Him who is the Lord of the Worlds -
(The verse contains an example to illustrate the importance of choosing the correct guide in moments of confusion. The similitude is that of a man who sets out into the wilderness along with his wellwishers, but is intercepted by the devil, separated from his companions and sent astray. Although his well-wishers keep beckoning him towards them - or, towards the path from which he was deflected, - he is no longer able to choose his right recourse on account of the confusion raised in his mind by the ruse of the devil.
It is aimed at those who are separated from their sincere friends by the interception of some evil force, exhorts them to respond to their call, return to the path of guidance which Allah has provided for them, benefit from the Light of the Qur'aan, live by the principles laid out in it and surrender to on one other than to the Lord of the Worlds).
6 : 72
72. Waan aqeemoo alssalata waittaqoohu wahuwa allathee ilayhi tuhsharoona
'And to establish regular worship and to ward off evil, for He it is to Whom we all must return one day.'
6 : 73
73. Wahuwa allathee khalaqa alssamawati waal-arda bialhaqqi wayawma yaqoolu kun fayakoonu qawluhu alhaqqu walahu almulku yawma yunfakhu fee alssoori AAalimu alghaybi waalshshahadati wahuwa alhakeemu alkhabeeru
He it is who created the heavens and the earth in truth! On the Day when He says : 'Be!' it is! His word is the absolute Truth and to Him shall belong the Kingdom on the Day when the Trumpet is blown, - He who knows that which is concealed and that which is revealed, the Erudite, the Cognizant!
(When the Trumpet indicating the culmination of Apocalypse is blown for the first time by Angel Seraphiel, everything on the earth will be destroyed. When it is blown for the second time, Allah will say : 'Be!' and everyone will become as they were and prepare for the Judgement).
6 : 74
74. Wa-ith qala ibraheemu li-abeehi azara atattakhithu asnaman alihatan innee araka waqawmaka fee dalalin mubeenin
And (remember) when Abraham said to his father Azar : 'Are you apotheosizing idols as your Gods? Verily I find you and your folks sunk in blatant error!'
(This verse is aimed at idolaters of Mecca who held Prophet Abraham in high esteem because of their own bonds with him, in order to impress on them that he was foremost to proscribe the worship of man-made idols).
6 : 75
75. Wakathalika nuree ibraheema malakoota alssamawati waal-ardi waliyakoona mina almooqineena
Thus did We show Abraham the Kingdom of the heavens and of the earth so that he may be of those whose faith is unshakeable.
(Though opinions of translators and commentators are divided as to the connotations of the term Kingdom, according to the most widely accepted traditions it is believed that Abraham was shown the hidden marvels of Allah's creation which are not visible to the human eye, - the celestial plane of the Angels and a glimpse of the Divine Throne which Allah wanted His most cherished Prophet to see with his own eyes, so that nothing is withheld from him and his faith in his Lord is strengthened.
The verse accentuates the fact that, beyond the dome of the sky, beyond the glittering stars and beyond the contours of planets, there are many more mysteries of Allah's Glory which we have neither witnessed nor imagined, although whatever is within our purview by itself beggars belief and plunges us into deeper thoughts!
It is important here to narrate the story about the birth of Abraham as contained in ancient chronicles on which most Islamic scholars and clerics rely :
Abraham was born in Northern Iraq, which was ruled by Nimrod, a ruthless tyrant reputed to be the first ruler to have worn a crown on his head as a symbol of Royalty. He ruled his people with force and compelled them to build for him many a monument which now lie in ruins, but bear witness to his pomp and glory to this day.
One night he had a dream in which he saw a bright star in the sky, which was so bright that even the sun and the moon had faded away in its dazzling light.
Intrigued, when he summoned the wizards whom he had patronized and asked them for an interpretation of his strange dream, he was told that a son will be born in his kingdom that year who would bring him down, his people to abandon their religion and follow a new faith which he would launch.
Determined to reverse the portentous presage, he ordered all newborn babies in his kingdom to be slain and men and women refrain from cohabiting for the rest of the year so that the danger passes away without claiming any casualties.
But Allah being mightier than the mightiest, His will had to prevail and a young woman did secretly cohabit with her husband and conceived.
Even though the wizards informed the king that his adversary has already arrived, he could not trace the offending couple and put them to death because the pregnant woman was so young that her pregnancy did not show and her husband made secret arrangements for her to give birth to the baby inside a well concealed dungeon, away from the public eye.
After the baby was born, they named him Abraham, kept him hidden inside the cave and looked after him. Whenever his mother found him sucking his thumb, her breasts filled with milk and she fed him on it.
Opinions differ as to the length of time he spent in hiding; according some it was ten years, according to the others it was thirteen years, while some opine it was seventeen years; but by and large as his mind matured, he began asking his mother questions, mostly about who took care of mankind and whom did his people worship as their ultimate Lord. 'Who takes care of me, mother?' he asked her. 'I do,' she replied. 'And who takes care of you, mother?' he asked her next. 'Your father,' she replied. 'Who takes care of my father?' he asked her. She kept quiet but told her husband later on that he who is destined to change the religion of their people is none other than their son.
Thus began Abraham's quest to find out Who Created the Universe; Who created the stars and the planets whom most of his people worshipped; Who was at the helm; Who was the true Lord of the Worlds and therefore his own Lord too).
6 : 76
76. Falamma janna AAalayhi allaylu raa kawkaban qala hatha rabbee falamma afala qala la ohibbu al-afileena
When darkness of the night fell around him, he noticed a star. He cried : 'Do they say this is my Lord?' But when it faded away, he said : 'I can adore not those who set!'
6 : 77
77. Falamma raa alqamara bazighan qala hatha rabbee falamma afala qala la-in lam yahdinee rabbee laakoonanna mina alqawmi alddalleena
When he saw the moon clambering up the sky, he said : 'Do they say this is my Lord?' But when he saw it set, he said : 'If my Lord does not guide me, I too will become as misguided as my folks are!'
6 : 78
78. Falamma raa alshshamsa bazighatan qala hatha rabbee hatha akbaru falamma afalat qala ya qawmi innee baree-on mimma tushrikoona
When he saw the sun clambering up the sky, he said : 'Do they say this is my Lord? This is even bigger!' But when it set, he said, 'O my people! I must renounce everything you assign as partners to Him!
6 : 79
79. Innee wajjahtu wajhiya lillathee fatara alssamawati waal-arda haneefan wama ana mina almushrikeena
'Verily I have turned my face towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, for I am of the righteous and I do not belong to the idolaters.'
(A declaration that has been incorporated in daily worship and is asserted by Muslims all over the world whenever they prepare to offer their Salaat.
It should be noted that Abraham refused to submit to anything as his Lord which came to an end, such as the stars and the planets whom his people worshipped, or the idols they carved and apotheosized, even before he received a religion from Allah and the knowledge about One God who supersedes all other. This is why he is referred to in the Qur'aan as 'Hanif' which means 'by nature upright', - one who was born with the love of Allah, and not imbibed with it later on, - as part of a mission).
6 : 80
80. Wahajjahu qawmuhu qala atuhajjoonnee fee Allahi waqad hadani wala akhafu ma tushrikoona bihi illa an yashaa rabbee shay-an wasiAAa rabbee kulla shay-in AAilman afala tatathakkaroona
And his people argued with him. So he said : 'Are you arguing with me over Allah when He has given me guidance? I shall not fear those whom you worship, unless my Lord wills me to. My Lord's knowledge permeates everything! Will you then heed not to counsel?
6 : 81
81. Wakayfa akhafu ma ashraktum wala takhafoona annakum ashraktum biAllahi ma lam yunazzil bihi AAalaykum sultanan faayyu alfareeqayni ahaqqu bial-amni in kuntum taAAlamoona
'How should I fear those whom you set up as rivals to Him when you had no fear of Allah while setting up these rivals to Him for which He gave you no warrant? Which of us two dissidents has a greater right to safety? Tell me that if you know!'
6 : 82
82. Allatheena amanoo walam yalbisoo eemanahum bithulmin ola-ika lahumu al-amnu wahum muhtadoona
Those who believe and do not dilute their faith through solecism! For them is safety and they are rightly guided! (R)
(The question posed by Abraham to his people in verse 81 is answered by Allah Himself in verse 82 to the effect that, those who decline to dilute their faith by fearing the false deities set up by the disbelievers as partners to Allah are entitled to His protection and will assuredly be taken into safety).
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
71. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Shall we invoke others besides Allâh (false deities), that can do us neither good nor harm, and shall we turn on our heels after Allâh has guided us (to true Monotheism)? - like one whom the Shayâtin (devils) have made to go astray, confused (wandering) through the earth, his companions calling him to guidance (saying): 'Come to us.' " Say: "Verily, Allâh's Guidance is the only guidance, and we have been commanded to submit (ourselves) to the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists);
72. And to perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât)", and to be obedient to Allâh and fear Him, and it is He to Whom you shall be gathered.
73. It is He Who has created the heavens and the earth in truth, and on the Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) He will say: "Be!", - and it shall become. His Word is the truth. His will be the dominion on the Day when the trumpet will be blown. AllKnower of the unseen and the seen. He is the AllWise, Well-Aware (of all things).
74. And (remember) when Ibrâhim (Abraham) said to his father Azar: "Do you take idols as âlihâ (gods)? Verily, I see you and your people in manifest error.[]"
75. Thus did we show Ibrâhim (Abraham) the kingdom of the heavens and the earth that he be one of those who have Faith with certainty.
76. When the night covered him over with darkness he saw a star. He said: "This is my lord." But when it set, he said: "I like not those that set."
77. When he saw the moon rising up, he said: "This is my lord." But when it set, he said: "Unless my Lord guides me, I shall surely be among the erring people."
78. When he saw the sun rising up, he said: "This is my lord. This is greater." But when it set, he said: "O my people! I am indeed free from all that you join as partners in worship with Allâh.
79. Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth Hanifa (Islâmic Monotheism, i.e. worshipping none but Allâh Alone) and I am not of Al-Mushrikûn (see V.2:105)".
80. His people disputed with him. He said: "Do you dispute with me concerning Allâh while He has guided me, and I fear not those whom you associate with Allâh in worship. (Nothing can happen to me) except when my Lord (Allâh) wills something. My Lord comprehends in His Knowledge all things. Will you not then remember?
81. And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allâh (though they can neither benefit nor harm), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allâh things for which He has not sent down to you any authority. (So) which of the two parties has more right to be in security? If you but know."
82. It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allâh), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided.[]
006.071
YUSUFALI: Say: "Shall we indeed call on others besides Allah,- things that can
do us neither good nor harm,- and turn on our heels after receiving guidance
from Allah? - like one whom the evil ones have made into a fool, wandering
bewildered through the earth, his friends calling, come to us', (vainly) guiding
him to the path." Say: "Allah's guidance is the (only) guidance, and we have
been directed to submit ourselves to the Lord of the worlds;-
PICKTHAL: Say: Shall we cry, instead of unto Allah, unto that which neither
profiteth us nor hurteth us, and shall we turn back after Allah hath guided us,
like one bewildered whom the devils have infatuated in the earth, who hath
companions who invite him to the guidance (saying): Come unto us? Say: Lo! the
guidance of Allah is Guidance, and we are ordered to surrender to the Lord of
the Worlds,
SHAKIR: Say: Shall we call on that besides Allah, which does not benefit us nor
harm us, and shall we be returned back on our heels after Allah has guided us,
like him whom the Shaitans have made to fall down perplexed in the earth? He has
companions who call him to the right way, (saying): Come to us. Say: Surely the
guidance of Allah, that is the (true) guidance, and we are commanded that we
should submit to the Lord of the worlds.
006.072
YUSUFALI: "To establish regular prayers and to fear Allah: for it is to Him that
we shall be gathered together."
PICKTHAL: And to establish worship and be dutiful to Him, and He it is unto Whom
ye will be gathered.
SHAKIR: And that you should keep up prayer and be careful of (your duty to) Him;
and He it is to Whom you shall be gathered.
006.073
YUSUFALI: It is He who created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions):
the day He saith, "Be," behold! it is. His word is the truth. His will be the
dominion the day the trumpet will be blown. He knoweth the unseen as well as
that which is open. For He is the Wise, well acquainted (with all things).
PICKTHAL: He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in truth. In the day
when He saith: Be! it is. His Word is the Truth, and His will be the Sovereignty
on the day when the trumpet is blown. Knower of the Invisible and the Visible,
He is the Wise, the Aware.
SHAKIR: And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth with truth, and
on the day He says: Be, it is. His word is the truth, and His is the kingdom on
the day when the trumpet shall be blown; the Knower of the unseen and the seen;
and He is the Wise, the Aware.
006.074
YUSUFALI: Lo! Abraham said to his father Azar: "Takest thou idols for gods? For
I see thee and thy people in manifest error."
PICKTHAL: (Remember) when Abraham said unto his father Azar: Takest thou idols
for gods? Lo! I see thee and thy folk in error manifest.
SHAKIR: And when Ibrahim said to his sire, Azar: Do you take idols for gods?
Surely I see you and your people in manifest error.
006.075
YUSUFALI: So also did We show Abraham the power and the laws of the heavens and
the earth, that he might (with understanding) have certitude.
PICKTHAL: Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth that
he might be of those possessing certainty:
SHAKIR: And thus did We show Ibrahim the kingdom of the heavens and the earth
and that he might be of those who are sure.
006.076
YUSUFALI: When the night covered him over, He saw a star: He said: "This is my
Lord." But when it set, He said: "I love not those that set."
PICKTHAL: When the night grew dark upon him he beheld a star. He said: This is
my Lord. But when it set, he said: I love not things that set.
SHAKIR: So when the night over-shadowed him, he saw a star; said he: Is this my
Lord? So when it set, he said: I do not love the setting ones.
006.077
YUSUFALI: When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord."
But when the moon set, He said: "unless my Lord guide me, I shall surely be
among those who go astray."
PICKTHAL: And when he saw the moon uprising, he exclaimed: This is my Lord. But
when it set, he said: Unless my Lord guide me, I surely shall become one of the
folk who are astray.
SHAKIR: Then when he saw the moon rising, he said: Is this my Lord? So when it
set, he said: If my Lord had not guided me I should certainly be of the erring
people.
006.078
YUSUFALI: When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord;
this is the greatest (of all)." But when the sun set, he said: "O my people! I
am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah.
PICKTHAL: And when he saw the sun uprising, he cried: This is my Lord! This is
greater! And when it set he exclaimed: O my people! Lo! I am free from all that
ye associate (with Him).
SHAKIR: Then when he saw the sun rising, he said: Is this my Lord? Is this the
greatest? So when it set, he said: O my people! surely I am clear of what you
set up (with Allah).
006.079
YUSUFALI: "For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created
the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah."
PICKTHAL: Lo! I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the
earth, as one by nature upright, and I am not of the idolaters.
SHAKIR: Surely I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated
the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists.
006.080
YUSUFALI: His people disputed with him. He said: "(Come) ye to dispute with me,
about Allah, when He (Himself) hath guided me? I fear not (the beings) ye
associate with Allah: Unless my Lord willeth, (nothing can happen). My Lord
comprehendeth in His knowledge all things. Will ye not (yourselves) be
admonished?
PICKTHAL: His people argued with him. He said: Dispute ye with me concerning
Allah when He hath guided me? I fear not at all that which ye set up beside Him
unless my Lord willeth aught. My Lord includeth all things in His knowledge.
Will ye not then remember?
SHAKIR: And his people disputed with him. He said: Do you dispute with me
respecting Allah? And He has guided me indeed; and I do not fear in any way
those that you set up with Him, unless my Lord pleases; my Lord comprehends all
things in His knowledge; will you not then mind?
006.081
YUSUFALI: "How should I fear (the beings) ye associate with Allah, when ye fear
not to give partners to Allah without any warrant having been given to you?
Which of (us) two parties hath more right to security? (tell me) if ye know.
PICKTHAL: How should I fear that which ye set up beside Him, when ye fear not to
set up beside Allah that for which He hath revealed unto you no warrant? Which
of the two factions hath more right to safety? (Answer me that) if ye have
knowledge.
SHAKIR: And how should I fear what you have set up (with Him), while you do not
fear that you have set up with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you
any authority; which then of the two parties is surer of security, if you know?
006.082
YUSUFALI: "It is those who believe and confuse not their beliefs with wrong -
that are (truly) in security, for they are on (right) guidance."
PICKTHAL: Those who believe and obscure not their belief by wrongdoing, theirs
is safety; and they are rightly guided.
SHAKIR: Those who believe and do not mix up their faith with iniquity, those are
they who shall have the security and they are those who go aright.
Section 10
6 : 83
83. Watilka hujjatuna ataynaha ibraheema AAala qawmihi narfaAAu darajatin man nashao inna rabbaka hakeemun AAaleemun
This is Our argument with which We armed Abraham in his contest with his people. Thus do We elevate whom We will in eminence, for verily your Lord is Erudite and Wise!
(Allah elevated the status of Abraham in this world by bestowing on him Wisdom and Knowledge and Prophethood, and then in the Hereafter by granting him redemption and His own propinquity).
6 : 84
84. Wawahabna lahu ishaqa wayaAAqooba kullan hadayna wanoohan hadayna min qablu wamin thurriyyatihi dawooda wasulaymana waayyooba wayoosufa wamoosa waharoona wakathalika najzee almuhsineena
And We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, each of whom We guided; and Noah did We guide before them; and from his seed We guided David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron! And thus do We reward the righteous!
6 : 85
85. Wazakariyya wayahya waAAeesa wailyasa kullun mina alssaliheena
And Zachariah and John and Isa (Jesus) and Elias, all of whom were equally righteous!
6 : 86
86. Wa-ismaAAeela wailyasaAAa wayoonusa walootan wakullan faddalna AAala alAAalameena
And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot; and We exalted each and every one of them over all our other creatures -
6 : 87
87. Wamin aba-ihim wathurriyyatihim wa-ikhwanihim waijtabaynahum wahadaynahum ila siratin mustaqeemin
As well as some of their ancestors and descendants and their brethren; and We chose them all and guided them on to the righteous path.
6 : 88
88. Thalika huda Allahi yahdee bihi man yashao min AAibadihi walaw ashrakoo lahabita AAanhum ma kanoo yaAAmaloona
Such is the guidance of Allah with which He guides whom He will of His creatures. But if they had set up anyone other than Him as their deities, their toils would surely have come to a naught.
6 : 89
89. Ola-ika allatheena ataynahumu alkitaba waalhukma waalnnubuwwata fa-in yakfur biha haola-i faqad wakkalna biha qawman laysoo biha bikafireena
These are the people on whom We bestowed the Scripture and the Command and the Prophethood. But if these decline to believe in it, then verily We shall commit it to a people who will never be disbelievers.
6: 90
90. Ola-ika allatheena hada Allahu fabihudahumu iqtadih qul la as-alukum AAalayhi ajran in huwa illa thikra lilAAalameena
These are the people to whom Allah provided guidance, so follow the guidance they provide. Say to all mankind (O Mohammed) : 'I ask not to be remunerated for this because this is but a Reminder to all His creatures!' (R)
(In this verse Allah puts the mission of the Prophet in the right perspective by commanding him to follow the guidance He provided to the Prophets mentioned above and declare it to mankind that the religion he is preaching is not a new-fangled creed of his own making but one that was taught by Allah to all other Prophets who were sent before him and was passed on to him by them only as a Reminder)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
83. And that was Our Proof which We gave Ibrâhim (Abraham) against his people. We raise whom We will in degrees. Certainly your Lord is AllWise, AllKnowing.
84. And We bestowed upon him Ishâque (Isaac) and Ya'qûb (Jacob), each of them We guided, and before him, We guided Nûh (Noah), and among his progeny Dawûd (David), Sulaimân (Solomon), Ayub (Job), Yûsuf (Joseph), Mûsa (Moses), and Hârûn (Aaron). Thus do We reward the gooddoers.
85. And Zakariyâ (Zachariya), and Yahya (John) and 'Iesa (Jesus) and Iliyâs (Elias), each one of them was of the righteous.
86. And Ismâ'il (Ishmael) and Al-Yas'â (Elisha), and Yûnus (Jonah) and Lout (Lot), and each one of them We preferred above the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns) (of their times).
87. And also some of their fathers and their progeny and their brethren, We chose them, and We guided them to a Straight Path.
88. This is the Guidance of Allâh with which He guides whomsoever He will of His slaves. But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.
89. They are those whom We gave the Book, AlHukm (understanding of the religious laws), and Prophethood. But if these disbelieve therein (the Book, AlHukm and Prophethood), then, indeed We have entrusted it to a people (such as the Companions of Prophet Muhammad SAW) who are not disbelievers therein.
90. They are those whom Allâh had guided. So follow their guidance. Say: "No reward I ask of you for this (the Qur'ân). It is only a reminder for the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns)."
006.083
YUSUFALI: That was the reasoning about Us, which We gave to Abraham (to use)
against his people: We raise whom We will, degree after degree: for thy Lord is
full of wisdom and knowledge.
PICKTHAL: That is Our argument. We gave it unto Abraham against his folk. We
raise unto degrees of wisdom whom We will. Lo! thy Lord is Wise, Aware.
SHAKIR: And this was Our argument which we gave to Ibrahim against his people;
We exalt in dignity whom We please; surely your Lord is Wise, Knowing.
006.084
YUSUFALI: We gave him Isaac and Jacob: all (three) guided: and before him, We
guided Noah, and among his progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and
Aaron: thus do We reward those who do good:
PICKTHAL: And We bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob; each of them We guided; and
Noah did We guide aforetime; and of his seed (We guided) David and Solomon and
Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the good.
SHAKIR: And We gave to him Ishaq and Yaqoub; each did We guide, and Nuh did We
guide before, and of his descendants, Dawood and Sulaiman and Ayub and Yusuf and
Haroun; and thus do We reward those who do good (to others).
006.085
YUSUFALI: And Zakariya and John, and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the
righteous:
PICKTHAL: And Zachariah and John and Jesus and Elias. Each one (of them) was of
the righteous.
SHAKIR: And Zakariya and Yahya and Isa and Ilyas; every one was of the good;
006.086
YUSUFALI: And Isma'il and Elisha, and Jonas, and Lot: and to all We gave favour
above the nations:
PICKTHAL: And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot. Each one (of them) did We
prefer above (Our) creatures,
SHAKIR: And Ismail and Al-Yasha and Yunus and Lut; and every one We made to
excel (in) the worlds:
006.087
YUSUFALI: (To them) and to their fathers, and progeny and brethren: We chose
them, and we guided them to a straight way.
PICKTHAL: With some of their forefathers and their offspring and their brethren;
and We chose them and guided them unto a straight path.
SHAKIR: And from among their fathers and their descendants and their brethren,
and We chose them and guided them into the right way.
006.088
YUSUFALI: This is the guidance of Allah: He giveth that guidance to whom He
pleaseth, of His worshippers. If they were to join other gods with Him, all that
they did would be vain for them.
PICKTHAL: Such is the guidance of Allah wherewith He guideth whom He will of His
bondmen. But if they had set up (for worship) aught beside Him, (all) that they
did would have been vain.
SHAKIR: This is Allah's guidance, He guides thereby whom He pleases of His
servants; and if they had set up others (with Him), certainly what they did
would have become ineffectual for them.
006.089
YUSUFALI: These were the men to whom We gave the Book, and authority, and
prophethood: if these (their descendants) reject them, Behold! We shall entrust
their charge to a new people who reject them not.
PICKTHAL: Those are they unto whom We gave the Scripture and command and
prophethood. But if these disbelieve therein, then indeed We shall entrust it to
a people who will not be disbelievers therein.
SHAKIR: These are they to whom We gave the book and the wisdom and the prophecy;
therefore if these disbelieve in it We have already entrusted with it a people
who are not disbelievers in it.
006.090
YUSUFALI: Those were the (prophets) who received Allah's guidance: Copy the
guidance they received; Say: "No reward for this do I ask of you: This is no
less than a message for the nations."
PICKTHAL: Those are they whom Allah guideth, so follow their guidance. Say (O
Muhammad, unto mankind): I ask of you no fee for it. Lo! it is naught but a
Reminder to (His) creatures.
SHAKIR: These are they whom Allah guided, therefore follow their guidance. Say:
I do not ask you for any reward for it; it is nothing but a reminder to the
nations.
Section 11
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed when a group of Jews visited the Prophet along with one of their leaders to debate the issues which he preached, arguing all along that God never revealed any Book to a mortal.
6 : 91
91. Wama qadaroo Allaha haqqa qadrihi ith qaloo ma anzala Allahu AAala basharin min shay-in qul man anzala alkitaba allathee jaa bihi moosa nooran wahudan lilnnasi tajAAaloonahu qarateesa tubdoonaha watukhfoona katheeran waAAullimtum ma lam taAAlamoo antum wala abaokum quli Allahu thumma tharhum fee khawdihim yalAAaboona
They realize not the eminence of Allah which is His due when they say : 'Allah did not reveal anything to a mortal!' Say : 'Who was it that revealed the Book Moses brought to you containing Light and Guidance for all mankind, which you wrote on parchments, some of which you shared with the others but most of which you hid; and through which you were given the knowledge you did not possess, nor did your ancestors?' Say : 'Allah did!' and then leave them to get on with their wrangling!
* * *
6 : 92
92. Wahatha kitabun anzalnahu mubarakun musaddiqu allathee bayna yadayhi walitunthira omma alqura waman hawlaha waallatheena yu/minoona bial-akhirati yu/minoona bihi wahum AAala salatihim yuhafithoona
And this is a blessed Scripture which We have revealed, ratifying that which was revealed before it, so that you warn the leaders of the Mother of Cities and her suburbs. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they guard their worship.
(The City of Mecca, built around the first House of Worship constructed by Abraham and Ishmael at the behest of Allah as has been pointed out in Surah 2, is geographically located at the axis of three continents and surrounded by the rest of the world. It is, therefore often referred to in the Qur'aan as the 'Mother of Cities').
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed when a well known scribe who used to write down the divine revelations as and when they were revealed to the Prophet got carried away by his own extra-ordinary talent and began to boast that he too was being inspired by Allah through the Revealing Angel!
6: 93
93. Waman athlamu mimmani iftara AAala Allahi kathiban aw qala oohiya ilayya walam yooha ilayhi shay-on waman qala saonzilu mithla ma anzala Allahu walaw tara ithi alththalimoona fee ghamarati almawti waalmala-ikatu basitoo aydeehim akhrijoo anfusakumu alyawma tujzawna AAathaba alhooni bima kuntum taqooloona AAala Allahi ghayra alhaqqi wakuntum AAan ayatihi tastakbiroona
Who commits a greater sin than him who associates falsehood with Allah; or says : 'I am inspired!' when he is not inspired; or who says : 'I too can reveal the like of that which Allah revealed!' If you could see them, when the sinful are plunged into the agony of death and the angels come with hands outstretched, saying : 'Deliver your souls! This day you will be awarded a most dire castigation in retaliation for assigning lies to Allah and treating His revelations with contempt!'
* * *
6 : 94
94. Walaqad ji/tumoona furada kama khalaqnakum awwala marratin wataraktum ma khawwalnakum waraa thuhoorikum wama nara maAAakum shufaAAaakumu allatheena zaAAamtum annahum feekum shurakao laqad taqattaAAa baynakum wadalla AAankum ma kuntum tazAAumoona
Now you have came to Us alone, as you were when We first created you, leaving behind all the material affluence which We had bestowed upon you; and We see not with you any of those bastions about whom you said that they possessed a share in your life! The bonds between you have snapped and forsaken are your claims of mutual solidarity! (R)
(A concise reminder from Allah to all of us that, when we come into the world, we come alone, and when we return to Him, we return alone, leaving behind everything He gave us of His own bounty, and that which we accumulated by dint of our own effort, the homes we cherished, the families we loved, the status we achieved, the fame we acquired, the missions we accomplished, the name and we made for ourselves, everything save the deeds we perpetrated, good as well as bad, to be rewarded for some and to be requited for the rest. No one will accompany us when we face our Maker, least of all those on whom we had banked our hopes that they would be our intercessors and our redeemers).
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
91. They (the Jews, Quraish pagans, idolaters, etc.) did not estimate Allâh with an estimation due to Him when they said: "Nothing did Allâh send down to any human being (by inspiration)." Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Who then sent down the Book which Mûsa (Moses) brought, a light and a guidance to mankind which you (the Jews) have made into (separate) papersheets, disclosing (some of it) and concealing (much). And you (believers in Allâh and His Messenger Muhammad SAW), were taught (through the Qur'ân) that which neither you nor your fathers knew." Say: "Allâh (sent it down)." Then leave them to play in their vain discussions. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubî, Vol.7, Page 37).
92. And this (the Qur'ân) is a blessed Book which We have sent down, confirming (the revelations) which came before it, so that you may warn the Mother of Towns (i.e. Makkah) and all those around it. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in (the Qur'ân), and they are constant in guarding their Salât (prayers).
93. And who can be more unjust than he who invents a lie against Allâh, or says: "I have received inspiration," whereas he is not inspired in anything; and who says, "I will reveal the like of what Allâh has revealed." And if you could but see when the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.) are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands (saying): "Deliver your souls! This day you shall be recompensed with the torment of degradation because of what you used to utter against Allâh other than the truth. And you used to reject His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) with disrespect![]"
94. And truly you have come unto Us alone (without wealth, companions or anything else) as We created you the first time. You have left behind you all that which We had bestowed on you. We see not with you your intercessors whom you claimed to be partners with Allâh. Now all relations between you and them have been cut off, and all that you used to claim has vanished from you.
006.091
YUSUFALI: No just estimate of Allah do they make when they say: "Nothing doth
Allah send down to man (by way of revelation)" Say: "Who then sent down the Book
which Moses brought?- a light and guidance to man: But ye make it into
(separate) sheets for show, while ye conceal much (of its contents): therein
were ye taught that which ye knew not- neither ye nor your fathers." Say: "Allah
(sent it down)": Then leave them to plunge in vain discourse and trifling.
PICKTHAL: And they measure not the power of Allah its true measure when they
say: Allah hath naught revealed unto a human being. Say (unto the Jews who speak
thus): Who revealed the Book which Moses brought, a light and guidance for
mankind, which ye have put on parchments which ye show, but ye hide much
(thereof), and (by which) ye were taught that which ye knew not yourselves nor
(did) your fathers (know it)? Say: Allah. Then leave them to their play of
cavilling.
SHAKIR: And they do not assign to Allah the attributes due to Him when they say:
Allah has not revealed anything to a mortal. Say: Who revealed the Book which
Musa brought, a light and a guidance to men, which you make into scattered
writings which you show while you conceal much? And you were taught what you did
not know, (neither) you nor your fathers. Say: Allah then leave them sporting in
their vain discourses.
006.092
YUSUFALI: And this is a Book which We have sent down, bringing blessings, and
confirming (the revelations) which came before it: that thou mayest warn the
mother of cities and all around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe
in this (Book), and they are constant in guarding their prayers.
PICKTHAL: And this is a blessed Scripture which We have revealed, confirming
that which (was revealed) before it, that thou mayst warn the Mother of Villages
and those around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe herein, and
they are careful of their worship.
SHAKIR: And this is a Book We have revealed, blessed, verifying that which is
before it, and that you may warn the metropolis and those around her; and those
who believe in the hereafter believe in it, and they attend to their prayers
constantly.
006.093
YUSUFALI: Who can be more wicked than one who inventeth a lie against Allah, or
saith, "I have received inspiration," when he hath received none, or (again) who
saith, "I can reveal the like of what Allah hath revealed"? If thou couldst but
see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death! - the angels
stretch forth their hands, (saying),"Yield up your souls: this day shall ye
receive your reward,- a penalty of shame, for that ye used to tell lies against
Allah, and scornfully to reject of His signs!"
PICKTHAL: Who is guilty of more wrong than he who forgeth a lie against Allah,
or saith: I am inspired, when he is not inspired in aught; and who saith: I will
reveal the like of that which Allah hath revealed? If thou couldst see, when the
wrong-doers reach the pangs of death and the angels stretch their hands out
(saying): Deliver up your souls. This day ye are awarded doom of degradation for
that ye spake concerning Allah other than the truth, and used to scorn His
portents.
SHAKIR: And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah, or says:
It has been revealed to me; while nothing has been revealed to him, and he who
says: I can reveal the like of what Allah has revealed? and if you had seen when
the unjust shall be in the agonies of death and the angels shall spread forth
their hands: Give up your souls; today shall you be recompensed with an
ignominious chastisement because you spoke against Allah other than the truth
and (because) you showed pride against His communications.
006.094
YUSUFALI: "And behold! ye come to us bare and alone as We created you for the
first time: ye have left behind you all (the favours) which We bestowed on you:
We see not with you your intercessors whom ye thought to be partners in your
affairs: so now all relations between you have been cut off, and your (pet)
fancies have left you in the lurch!"
PICKTHAL: Now have ye come unto Us solitary as We did create you at the first,
and ye have left behind you all that We bestowed upon you, and We behold not
with you those your intercessors, of whom ye claimed that they possessed a share
in you. Now is the bond between you severed, and that which ye presumed hath
failed you.
SHAKIR: And certainly you have come to Us alone as We created you at first, and
you have left behind your backs the things which We gave you, and We do not see
with you your intercessors about whom you asserted that they were (Allah's)
associates in respect to you; certainly the ties between you are now cut off and
what you asserted is gone from you.
Section 12.
6 : 95
95. Inna Allaha faliqu alhabbi waalnnawa yukhriju alhayya mina almayyiti wamukhriju almayyiti mina alhayyi thalikumu Allahu faanna tu/fakoona
Verily Allah it is who causes the corn seed and the date stone to split and sprout! He brings forth the living from the dead and He brings forth the dead from the living. Such is Allah!! Why then are you turning away from Him?
(After dwelling at length on details of His Prophets in previous verses, it is only apt that He should dwell on Himself, His glory, His Omnipotence, what makes Him the Lord of the Worlds, what puts His Throne at the Apex of Universe, why should we worship Him and why should we surrender to His hegemony to the exclusion of all else!
The answer is simple; He is the Creator of all things visible as well as invisible to the naked eye, which no one else is; not the stone idols, not the stars, not the planets, not the fire, not the Angels, not the Jinn, not Jesus, not Mary, not the Holy Trinity, because each and every one of them have been created by Allah and hence He alone is worthy of our adoration.
He brings forth living plants from seeds that have no life; He brings forth living humans and animals from semen that has no life; He brings forth living birds from egg that has no life; then He reverses the process and brings forth seeds which have no life from living trees; He brings forth semen which has no life from living humans; He brings forth eggs which have no life from living birds! Why then should He not be the Supreme Sovereign of the Universe, and why should we not believe that He who has given us this life and will give us our death will also brings us back to life after our bones have mingled into dust?)
6 : 96
96. Faliqu al-isbahi wajaAAala allayla sakanan waalshshamsa waalqamara husbanan thalika taqdeeru alAAazeezi alAAaleemi
He tears up the folds of darkness to bring forth the glare of dawn; He has made the night tranquil and He has appointed the sun and the moon for the measuring of time! Such is the ascendancy of the Mighty, the Wise!
(Imagine the state of our lives if the sun did not cleave apart the folds of the dark night; did not scatter on the horizon the crimson flare of dawn and did not flood the day with its resplendence; imagine our plight if the night did not draw its veil at dusk; did not cool off the horizon; did not bring life to a tentative halt, did not subdue the tumult of day and impose upon the rolling moments a milieu of calm, of silence, of serenity, of recuperation and of respite, so that those who wish to relax their aching bones in peace and rejuvenate themselves can do so, and those who wish to introspect or loose themselves in remembrance of their Lord, their Maker, their Guide, their Guardian, their Bastion and their Stalwart can do so!
And
imagine how lost we would be in the magnitude of the Universe, in the endless
passage of time as moment after moment tick away, as seasons change, as days
trail the nights and nights trail the days, if we did not have the means of
measuring time!)
6 : 97
97. Wahuwa allathee jaAAala lakumu alnnujooma litahtadoo biha fee thulumati albarri waalbahri qad fassalna al-ayati liqawmin yaAAlamoona
And He it is who has created the stars for you so that you may navigate your way through the darkness of land and of the high seas. Thus do We elucidate Our revelations for those who possess knowledge.
(Imagine a sky without the twinkling stars, without the Milky way, without the shimmering moon, we drowned in the oblivion of darkness, without any idea of the direction in which our feet are taking us, or our camels and horses are carrying us, or which way our ships are headed, towards the safety of shores or towards the perils of the doldrums!
Allah created the sea upon which we place our ships and sail; Allah created the stars upon which we base our charts and navigate; Allah created the nights and the days and we divided them into hours, minutes and seconds and devised our calendars; Allah created seasons and we named them winters, summers and monsoons; Allah created water and fire and we turned it into steam; Allah created sound and we made music out of it; Allah gave us voice and we produced Shakespeares and Mozarts for its proper use; Allah created the versatile human hand and we trained it to perform life-saving operations, exploring the outer space, building the Atom Bomb as well as finding cures for the afflictions with which mankind is beset; in short, Allah blessed us with the talent and capabilities for exploiting the opportunities provided by Him without which there would have been no difference between us and the beasts with whom we share His earth!)
6 : 98
98. Wahuwa allathee anshaakum min nafsin wahidatin famustaqarrun wamustawdaAAun qad fassalna al-ayati liqawmin yafqahoona
He it is who has produced you from a single seed and appointed for you a term inside a safe repository! And thus do We elucidate Our revelations for those who possess knowledge!
(The single seed mentioned here could either refer to Adam from whose seed all mankind emerged, or to the drop of semen from which offspring of both sexes emerge; the safe repository could either refer to the temporary habitation on earth promised to Adam by Allah at the time of his expulsion from Paradise, or to the womb in which semen is lodged and in which the foetus gestates, - both for an appointed term).
6 : 99
99. Wahuwa allathee anzala mina alssama-i maan faakhrajna bihi nabata kulli shay-in faakhrajna minhu khadiran nukhriju minhu habban mutarakiban wamina alnnakhli min talAAiha qinwanun daniyatun wajannatin min aAAnabin waalzzaytoona waalrrummana mushtabihan waghayra mutashabihin onthuroo ila thamarihi itha athmara wayanAAihi inna fee thalikum laayatin liqawmin yu/minoona
He it is who sends down the rain from the sky; and with it We cause to grow a myriad variety of burgeons and We cause the green petioles to sprout which yield thick clumps of grain in turn; and from the pollen of date palms We grow clusters of fruit, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike! And marvel how they bear fruit and how the fruit ripen, for in all this verily there are portents for those who believe!
6 : 100
100. WajaAAaloo lillahi shurakaa aljinna wakhalaqahum wakharaqoo lahu baneena wabanatin bighayri AAilmin subhanahu wataAAala AAamma yasifoona
Yet they ascribe as partners to Him the Jinn although it was He who created the Jinn, and ascribe sons and daughters to Him out of sheer ignorance! May He be glorified and rise above such blasphemy! (R)
(Despite the glorious marvels of Allah's Creation as detailed above, despite beholding the sun's ascent in the horizon every dawn and its descent every dusk, despite watching the moon grow in size night after night and wane, despite observing our gardens flourish with blooms in spring and then wither and bare themselves in autumn, despite knowing where the food on our tables comes from and who makes sure that it is there, despite realizing that every whiff of breath that goes into our lungs comes out of there at His behest Who lets us breath, there are those around us who ascribe partners to Him, who assert that Jinns are His cohorts, that the Angels are His daughters, that Mary was His spouse and that Isa (Jesus) was His son!)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
95. Verily! It is Allâh Who causes the seedgrain and the fruitstone (like datestone, etc.) to split and sprout. He brings forth the living from the dead, and it is He Who brings forth the dead from the living. Such is Allâh, then how are you deluded away from the truth?
96. (He is the) Cleaver of the daybreak. He has appointed the night for resting, and the sun and the moon for reckoning. Such is the measuring of the AllMighty, the AllKnowing.
97. It is He Who has set the stars[] for you, so that you may guide your course with their help through the darkness of the land and the sea. We have (indeed) explained in detail Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, Revelations, etc.) for people who know.
98. It is He Who has created you from a single person (Adam), and has given you a place of residing (on the earth or in your mother's wombs) and a place of storage [in the earth (in your graves) or in your father's loins]. Indeed, We have explained in detail Our revelations (this Qur'ân) for people who understand.
99. It is He Who sends down water (rain) from the sky, and with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds, and out of it We bring forth green stalks, from which We bring forth thick clustered grain. And out of the datepalm and its spathe come forth clusters of dates hanging low and near, and gardens of grapes, olives and pomegranates, each similar (in kind) yet different (in variety and taste). Look at their fruits when they begin to bear, and the ripeness thereof. Verily! In these things there are signs for people who believe.
100. Yet, they join the jinns as partners in worship with Allâh, though He has created them (the jinns), and they attribute falsely without knowledge sons and daughters to Him. Be He Glorified and Exalted above (all) that they attribute to Him.
006.095
YUSUFALI: It is Allah Who causeth the seed-grain and the date-stone to split and
sprout. He causeth the living to issue from the dead, and He is the one to cause
the dead to issue from the living. That is Allah: then how are ye deluded away
from the truth?
PICKTHAL: Lo! Allah (it is) Who splitteth the grain of corn and the date-stone
(for sprouting). He bringeth forth the living from the dead, and is the
bringer-forth of the dead from the living. Such is Allah. How then are ye
perverted?
SHAKIR: Surely Allah causes the grain and the stone to germinate; He brings
forth the living from the dead and He is the bringer forth of the dead from the
living; that is Allah! how are you then turned away.
006.096
YUSUFALI: He it is that cleaveth the day-break (from the dark): He makes the
night for rest and tranquillity, and the sun and moon for the reckoning (of
time): Such is the judgment and ordering of (Him), the Exalted in Power, the
Omniscient.
PICKTHAL: He is the Cleaver of the Daybreak, and He hath appointed the night for
stillness, and the sun and the moon for reckoning. That is the measuring of the
Mighty, the Wise.
SHAKIR: He causes the dawn to break; and He has made the night for rest, and the
sun and the moon for reckoning; this is an arrangement of the Mighty, the
Knowing.
006.097
YUSUFALI: It is He Who maketh the stars (as beacons) for you, that ye may guide
yourselves, with their help, through the dark spaces of land and sea: We detail
Our signs for people who know.
PICKTHAL: And He it is Who hath set for you the stars that ye may guide your
course by them amid the darkness of the land and the sea. We have detailed Our
revelations for a people who have knowledge.
SHAKIR: And He it is Who has made the stars for you that you might follow the
right way thereby in the darkness of the land and the sea; truly We have made
plain the communications for a people who know.
006.098
YUSUFALI: It is He Who hath produced you from a single person: here is a place
of sojourn and a place of departure: We detail Our signs for people who
understand.
PICKTHAL: And He it is Who hath produced you from a single being, and (hath
given you) a habitation and a repository. We have detailed Our revelations for a
people who have understanding.
SHAKIR: And He it is Who has brought you into being from a single soul, then
there is (for you) a resting-place and a depository; indeed We have made plain
the communications for a people who understand.
006.099
YUSUFALI: It is He Who sendeth down rain from the skies: with it We produce
vegetation of all kinds: from some We produce green (crops), out of which We
produce grain, heaped up (at harvest); out of the date-palm and its sheaths (or
spathes) (come) clusters of dates hanging low and near: and (then there are)
gardens of grapes, and olives, and pomegranates, each similar (in kind) yet
different (in variety): when they begin to bear fruit, feast your eyes with the
fruit and the ripeness thereof. Behold! in these things there are signs for
people who believe.
PICKTHAL: He it is Who sendeth down water from the sky, and therewith We bring
forth buds of every kind; We bring forth the green blade from which We bring
forth the thick-clustered grain; and from the date-palm, from the pollen
thereof, spring pendant bunches; and (We bring forth) gardens of grapes, and the
olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike. Look upon the fruit thereof, when
they bear fruit, and upon its ripening. Lo! herein verily are portents for a
people who believe.
SHAKIR: And He it is Who sends down water from the cloud, then We bring forth
with it buds of all (plants), then We bring forth from it green (foliage) from
which We produce grain piled up (in the ear); and of the palm-tree, of the
sheaths of it, come forth clusters (of dates) within reach, and gardens of
grapes and olives and pomegranates, alike and unlike; behold the fruit of it
when it yields the fruit and the ripening of it; most surely there are signs in
this for a people who believe.
006.100
YUSUFALI: Yet they make the Jinns equals with Allah, though Allah did create the
Jinns; and they falsely, having no knowledge, attribute to Him sons and
daughters. Praise and glory be to Him! (for He is) above what they attribute to
Him!
PICKTHAL: Yet they ascribe as partners unto Him the jinn, although He did create
them, and impute falsely, without knowledge, sons and daughters unto Him.
Glorified be He and High Exalted above (all) that they ascribe (unto Him).
SHAKIR: And they make the jinn associates with Allah, while He created them, and
they falsely attribute to Him sons and daughters without knowledge; glory be to
Him, and highly exalted is He above what they ascribe (to Him).
Section 13.
6 : 101
101. BadeeAAu alssamawati waal-ardi anna yakoonu lahu waladun walam takun lahu sahibatun wakhalaqa kulla shay-in wahuwa bikulli shay-in AAaleemun
The Originator of the Heavens and of the earth! How can He have an offspring when He has not taken for Himself a spouse and when He created all things and is aware of all things?
6 : 102
102. Thalikumu Allahu rabbukum la ilaha illa huwa khaliqu kulli shay-in faoAAbudoohu wahuwa AAala kulli shay-in wakeelun
Such is Allah, your Lord! There is no God save Him, who is the Creator of all things; so worship Him alone for He is the Protector of the entire Creation!
6 : 103
103. La tudrikuhu al-absaru wahuwa yudriku al-absara wahuwa allateefu alkhabeeru
Vision constrains Him not though every eye is within the range of His purview! He is the Perspicacious, the Omnipresent!
(The human vision being limited by perimeters, it is impossible to contain within its narrow confines One who is infinite in proportions and beyond the scope of physical dimensions. Those who argue that Allah does not exist because He is not visible to the eye in the same way as the objects they worship are, such as the idols or the elements or the stars, they are wrong and are grossly misguided.
Wherever a fledgling cracks open the shell of its egg and emerges into its nest, Allah's presence is there; wherever a bud unfurls its petals and blooms, Allah's presence is there; wherever men and women come together in holy wedlock and vow to bring up their offspring as true believers, Allah's presence is there; wherever a hungry suppliant eats his first morsel of bread in a long time and wets his throat with gratitude, Allah's presence is there; wherever drops of rain fall on the parched earth and revive it, Allah's presence is there; wherever a seed splits underneath the surface of soil and sprouts, Allah's presence is there; wherever the horizon chips and ushers in the first silvery streak of day, Allah's presence is there!
In short, if Allah did not exist according to the brazen convictions of the sceptics and misguided notions of heretics, Moses would not have cast his shivering eyes on the Magnificent Splendour and the Divine Countenance of the Lord on Mount Sinai and spoken to Him, nor would the believers been so consistently and repeatedly promised by Allah that, when they come to abide in the Garden, they would have the joy and honour of casting their eyes upon their Maker!)
6 : 104
104. Qad jaakum basa-iru min rabbikum faman absara falinafsihi waman AAamiya faAAalayha wama ana AAalaykum bihafeethin
There have come to you many an eye-opening portent from your Lord! Those who can see them do so for their own betterment and those who turn a blind eye towards them do so to their own detriment! And I am not a guardian over you!
(The proofs of Allah's hegemony are all around us : in the glittering particles of the sand, in the azure stretches of the oceans, in the whistle of the wind, in the flight of the albatross, in the roar of the lion, in the fragrance of jasmines, in the wings of the butterfly, in the colours of the rainbow, in the magnificence which our naked eyes behold, in the marvels which our inner visions witness, in the faith which our hearts absorb, in the tributes which our silent lips pay, in the convictions which our minds vouchsafe!
If we accept them and acknowledge them as manifestations of our Supreme Lord, we do so to our own advantage; but if we do not feel that the dome of the sky arched above us without any columns to support it is a portent of Allah; if we do not feel that the tall peaks of the mountains in the distance, flakes of snow descending from sky, gusts of breeze heaving around us, the saga of life begetting life, of days yielding to nights and of nights yielding to days, of autumn stripping our gardens of their glamour and spring giving them back their stolen vistas are portents of Allah; if we are not convinced that the baby in our arms is a portent of Allah; that our falling asleep at night and waking up in the morning is a portent of Allah; that the departure of the soul from our bodies and the arrival of new souls from our old bodies is a portent of Allah, then we are doing ourselves irreparable damage and are destroying our inner selves with our own hands!)
6 : 105
105. Wakathalika nusarrifu al-ayati waliyaqooloo darasta walinubayyinahu liqawmin yaAAlamoona
And thus do We annotate Our revelations in many different ways so that the apostates may say to you (O Mohammed) : 'You are, indeed, well read!' and so that We make them clear to those who have knowledge.
6 : 106
106. IttabiAA ma oohiya ilayka min rabbika la ilaha illa huwa waaAArid AAani almushrikeena
Follow only that which has been inspired in you by your Lord! There is no God save Him, so turn away from the idolaters.
(The verse contains a piece of reassurance for the Prophet asking him to concentrate only on what Allah has revealed to him; to bear in mind at all times that there is no other God for mankind except Allah; to ignore those who dispute it and let not their disobedience and agnosticism get him down. If they believed in Allah, it would be for their own good; if they did not, they would have to answer for themselves when the time to answer comes, an assertion which has been consolidated in the next verse saying that he was not intended to be their guardian nor would he be held accountable for their deeds).
6 : 107
107. Walaw shaa Allahu ma ashrakoo wama jaAAalnaka AAalayhim hafeethan wama anta AAalayhim biwakeelin
Had Allah so willed, they would not have been idolaters! And We have not appointed you to act as a guardian over them nor have We made you responsible for their deeds.
6 : 108
108. Wala tasubboo allatheena yadAAoona min dooni Allahi fayasubboo Allaha AAadwan bighayri AAilmin kathalika zayyanna likulli ommatin AAamalahum thumma ila rabbihim marjiAAuhum fayunabbi-ohum bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
Traduce not those whom they worship in the place of Allah lest they traduce Allah in turn out of spite and in ignorance. Thus, in the eyes of every nation, We have made their deeds seem fair to them, for it is to their Lord that they must return in the end when He will tell them all that they used to do.
(At one time in the past, it was deemed an act of compassion to explain to the idolaters the futility of worshipping impotent idols, of banking their hopes on them, of associating their expectations with them, invoking their mercy and supplicating to them, so that they saw the truth and ameliorated themselves. Hence Muslims used to admonish their friends to give up their false deities and believe in Allah. But since it encouraged the idolaters to traduce Allah in turn and pour scorn over His religion, they were forbidden from entering into any form of debates or arguments over their deities, fuelling retaliations and frays).
6 : 109
109. Waaqsamoo biAllahi jahda aymanihim la-in jaat-hum ayatun layu/minunna biha qul innama al-ayatu AAinda Allahi wama yushAAirukum annaha itha jaat la yu/minoona
They swear by Allah a solemn oath that, if a portent were to come to them from Him, they would surely believe in it. Say : 'Portents are the discretion of Allah!' How can you be sure that, even if they come, they would believe in them?
6 : 110
110. Wanuqallibu af-idatahum waabsarahum kama lam yu/minoo bihi awwala marratin wanatharuhum fee tughyanihim yaAAmahoona
And We turn their hearts and their eyes away from the Truth! Since they refused to believe in it in the first instance, We abandoned them to wander aimlessly in their arrogance. (R)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
101. He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife? He created all things and He is the All-Knower of everything[].
102. Such is Allâh, your Lord! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Creator of all things. So worship Him (Alone), and He is the Wakîl (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian, etc.) over all things.
103. No vision can grasp Him, but His Grasp is over all vision. He is the Most Subtle and Courteous, WellAcquainted with all things.
104. Verily, proofs have come to you from your Lord, so whosoever sees, will do so for (the good of) his ownself, and whosoever blinds himself, will do so to his own harm, and I (Muhammad SAW) am not a watcher over you.
105. Thus We explain variously the Verses so that they (the disbelievers) may say: "You have studied (the Books of the people of the Scripture and brought this Qur'ân from that)" and that We may make the matter clear for the people who have knowledge.
106. Follow what has been inspired to you (O Muhammad SAW) from your Lord, Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) and turn aside from Al-Mushrikûn.[]
107. Had Allâh willed, they would not have taken others besides Him in worship. And We have not made you a watcher over them nor are you set over them to dispose of their affairs.
108. And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allâh, lest they insult Allâh wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fairseeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do.[]
109. And they swear their strongest oaths by Allâh, that if there came to them a sign, they would surely believe therein. Say: "Signs are but with Allâh and what will make you (Muslims) perceive that (even) if it (the sign) came, they will not believe?"
110. And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time, and We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly.
006.101
YUSUFALI: To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: How can
He have a son when He hath no consort? He created all things, and He hath full
knowledge of all things.
PICKTHAL: The Originator of the heavens and the earth! How can He have a child,
when there is for Him no consort, when He created all things and is Aware of all
things?
SHAKIR: Wonderful Originator of the heavens and the earth! How could He have a
son when He has no consort, and He (Himself) created everything, and He is the
Knower of all things.
006.102
YUSUFALI: That is Allah, your Lord! there is no god but He, the Creator of all
things: then worship ye Him: and He hath power to dispose of all affairs.
PICKTHAL: Such is Allah, your Lord. There is no Allah save Him, the Creator of
all things, so worship Him. And He taketh care of all things.
SHAKIR: That is Allah, your Lord, there is no god but He; the Creator of all
things, therefore serve Him, and He has charge of all things.
006.103
YUSUFALI: No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above
all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.
PICKTHAL: Vision comprehendeth Him not, but He comprehendeth (all) vision. He is
the Subtile, the Aware.
SHAKIR: Vision comprehends Him not, and He comprehends (all) vision; and He is
the Knower of subtleties, the Aware.
006.104
YUSUFALI: "Now have come to you, from your Lord, proofs (to open your eyes): if
any will see, it will be for (the good of) his own soul; if any will be blind,
it will be to his own (harm): I am not (here) to watch over your doings."
PICKTHAL: Proofs have come unto you from your Lord, so whoso seeth, it is for
his own good, and whoso is blind is blind to his own hurt. And I am not a keeper
over you.
SHAKIR: Indeed there have come to you clear proofs from your Lord; whoever will
therefore see, it is for his own soul and whoever will be blind, it shall be
against himself and I am not a keeper over you.
006.105
YUSUFALI: Thus do we explain the signs by various (symbols): that they may say,
"Thou hast taught (us) diligently," and that We may make the matter clear to
those who know.
PICKTHAL: Thus do We display Our revelations that they may say (unto thee,
Muhammad): "Thou hast studied," and that We may make (it) clear for people who
have knowledge.
SHAKIR: And thus do We repeat the communications and that they may say: You have
read; and that We may make it clear to a people who know.
006.106
YUSUFALI: Follow what thou art taught by inspiration from thy Lord: there is no
god but He: and turn aside from those who join gods with Allah.
PICKTHAL: Follow that which is inspired in thee from thy Lord; there is no Allah
save Him; and turn away from the idolaters.
SHAKIR: Follow what is revealed to you from your Lord; there is no god but He;
and withdraw from the polytheists.
006.107
YUSUFALI: If it had been Allah's plan, they would not have taken false gods: but
We made thee not one to watch over their doings, nor art thou set over them to
dispose of their affairs.
PICKTHAL: Had Allah willed, they had not been idolatrous. We have not set thee
as a keeper over them, nor art thou responsible for them.
SHAKIR: And if Allah had pleased, they would not have set up others (with Him)
and We have not appointed you a keeper over them, and you are not placed in
charge of them.
006.108
YUSUFALI: Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out
of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each
people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall
then tell them the truth of all that they did.
PICKTHAL: Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully
revile Allah through ignorance. Thus unto every nation have We made their deed
seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they
used to do.
SHAKIR: And do not abuse those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest exceeding
the limits they should abuse Allah out of ignorance. Thus have We made fair
seeming to every people their deeds; then to their Lord shall be their return,
so He will inform them of what they did.
006.109
YUSUFALI: They swear their strongest oaths by Allah, that if a (special) sign
came to them, by it they would believe. Say: "Certainly (all) signs are in the
power of Allah: but what will make you (Muslims) realise that (even) if
(special) signs came, they will not believe."?
PICKTHAL: And they swear a solemn oath by Allah that if there come unto them a
portent they will believe therein. Say; Portents are with Allah and (so is) that
which telleth you that if such came unto them they would not believe.
SHAKIR: And they swear by Allah with the strongest of their oaths, that if a
sign came to them they would most certainly believe in it. Say: Signs are only
with Allah; and what should make you know that when it comes they will not
believe?
006.110
YUSUFALI: We (too) shall turn to (confusion) their hearts and their eyes, even
as they refused to believe in this in the first instance: We shall leave them in
their trespasses, to wander in distraction.
PICKTHAL: We confound their hearts and their eyes. As they believed not therein
at the first, We let them wander blindly on in their contumacy.
SHAKIR: And We will turn their hearts and their sights, even as they did not
believe in it the first time, and We will leave them in their inordinacy,
blindly wandering on.
Section 14
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed when the tribe of Quraish dared the Prophet to bring their dead back to life so that they can find out what happened to them after they died, or to produce angels who could vouch for his being a Prophet, or to show them the Angels, or to show them Allah in the company of His Angels.
6 : 111
111.
Walaw annana nazzalna ilayhimu almala-ikata wakallamahumu
almawta wahasharna AAalayhim kulla shay-in qubulan ma
kanoo liyu/minoo illa an yashaa Allahu walakinna
aktharahum yajhaloona
And even if We sent towards them Our angels or caused the dead to speak with them or arrayed in front of their eyes every possible proof that Allah does exist, they would still not believe in any of it except if Allah willed! This is because most of them are utterly ignorant!
(There is once again a reiteration here that, believing in Allah, in His Angels, in His Scriptures, in His messengers, in the Last Day and the Hereafter, all of which put together constitutes Faith under Islam, are not matters of one's own choice but of Allah's discretion because He provides the inclination to believe only to those whom He considers to be worthy of redemption).
* * *
6 : 112
112. Wakathalika jaAAalna likulli nabiyyin AAaduwwan shayateena al-insi waaljinni yoohee baAAduhum ila baAAdin zukhrufa alqawli ghurooran walaw shaa rabbuka ma faAAaloohu fatharhum wama yaftaroona
And thus have We set up rivals for every Prophet - devils among mankind and Jinn - who surreptitiously incite mistrust in one another through guile! If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done so, and hence leave them to get on with their guile -
6 : 113
113. Walitasgha ilayhi af-idatu allatheena la yu/minoona bial-akhirati waliyardawhu waliyaqtarifoo ma hum muqtarifoona
So that the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter succumb to their guile, even relish it, and earn whatever sins one earns from such succumbing.
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed in response to the demands made by the idolaters that the Prophet should appoint a separate judge to mediate disputes arising between him and them
6 : 114
114. Afaghayra Allahi abtaghee hakaman wahuwa allathee anzala ilaykumu alkitaba mufassalan waallatheena ataynahumu alkitaba yaAAlamoona annahu munazzalun min rabbika bialhaqqi fala takoonanna mina almumtareena
'Are you asking me to seek a judgement other than Allah's, when He it is who has revealed this Scripture to you in such detail?' Those to whom We revealed the previous Scripture are well aware that it is the Truth from their Lord, so be not (O Mohammed) of those who waver!
(In this verse Allah has summarily dismissed the need for an over-riding Book to verify the Truth contained in the Qur'aan because its arrival was already foretold in the Torah, and those who follow it are aware of its authenticity. It contains everything which men need to know to regulate their spiritual standards; it contains guidance for those who seek guidance; it contains the Truth for those who are in conflict with falsehood; it contains the Criteria of right and wrong for those who are pursing the course of justice; it anticipates problems and offers their solutions; it chronicles the past and constructs a future based upon lessons learnt from it; it tells us what is lawful and what is unlawful and dwells at length upon sin and punishment, on requital and reward, on hell and on heaven!).
* * *
6 : 115
115. Watammat kalimatu rabbika sidqan waAAadlan la mubaddila likalimatihi wahuwa alssameeAAu alAAaleemu
Final is the word of your Lord in matters of Truth and Justice! No one can dare alter that which He has spoken. He hears everything and He knows everything!
(Unlike the courts constituted by human beings where a judgement delivered in a trial court is appealed against in a higher court and then in the supreme court and then in judiciaries of higher executives such as the governor of the state, or the president of the nation or in the Privy Council or the Sovereign, the word of Allah is ultimate because there is no one in the heavens or upon the earth who can change it, or overrule it, or reject it, or criticize it.
Most commentators say, - and rightly so, - that the Word of Allah is synonymous with the Qur'aan which He promised to preserve in tact until the Day of Judgement, and it is this Divine pledge which has ensured that no mortal has ever had the audacity of implementing changes in it, not a word, not a mark of punctuation, not a correction, not an abbreviation, no editing, no errata, no prologues nor any epilogues, - nothing)
6 : 116
116. Wa-in tutiAA akthara man fee al-ardi yudillooka AAan sabeeli Allahi in yattabiAAoona illa alththanna wa-in hum illa yakhrusoona
And if you follow the multitudes that dwell in the earth, they will only digress you from the path of Allah, for what they follow is a notion and what they practice is an hypothesis!
6 : 117
117. Inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu man yadillu AAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bialmuhtadeena
Verily your Lord knows best who has strayed away from His path, and He knows best who has remained firmly rooted to the path of guidance!
6 : 118
118. Fakuloo mimma thukira ismu Allahi AAalayhi in kuntum bi-ayatihi mu/mineena
Eat of that which has been consecrated with Allah's name, if you believe in His revelations!
6 : 119
119. Wama lakum alla ta/kuloo mimma thukira ismu Allahi AAalayhi waqad fassala lakum ma harrama AAalaykum illa ma idturirtum ilayhi wa-inna katheeran layudilloona bi-ahwa-ihim bighayri AAilmin inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu bialmuAAtadeena
Why would you not eat of that which has been consecrated with Allah's name when He has already told you what is forbidden, except in the event of an extremity? But there are many who are led astray by their own cravings out of utter ignorance. Your Lord is best aware of those who transgress the bounds!
(The verse makes crystal clear that the only food lawful for us to eat is the food He has made lawful for us and the rest is unlawful, except if extenuating circumstances have prevailed.
None can make lawful for themselves that which Allah has made unlawful, and none can make unlawful that which Allah has made lawful.
There is no way in which a Muslim living in a non Muslim country, or bringing up children there can say to himself or to them that : 'Let us make an exception to the Big Mac or the Burger King or the Kentucky Fried Chicken today because we do not wish to look like odd-men-out!
The exceptions come into play only when it is a matter of life and death, and not when it is a matter of conforming to living patterns and lifestyles).
6 : 120
120. Watharoo thahira al-ithmi wabatinahu inna allatheena yaksiboona al-ithma sayujzawna bima kanoo yaqtarifoona
And renounce all forms of sin, in public or in private, for those who earn sin will eventually suffer the consequences of that which they have earned!
(Sin is a sin, whether you commit it in private or in public. A man who solicits prostitutes in the red-light districts, or visits brothels for illicit sex is as guilty as him who molests children in his care or compels his maids to submit to him for sexual gratification in the privacy of his home.
A judge who accepts bribes and delivers his judgement in favour of those who paid him the most, or a Civil Servant who bends the rules in return for financial favours is as guilty as he who cheats his wife, or he who deprives orphans in his care of what is rightfully theirs, or he who steals from his own parents or defrauds his trusting friends and gullible brethren.
To
Allah, neither the gravity of the sin, nor the circumstances leading to it, nor
its venue of perpetration matter in the least. We reap what we sow, and if we
sinned, we will be punished for it, no questions asked, no excuses accepted, no
intercession permitted).
6 : 121
121. Wala ta/kuloo mimma lam yuthkari ismu Allahi AAalayhi wa-innahu lafisqun wa-inna alshshayateena layoohoona ila awliya-ihim liyujadilookum wa-in ataAAtumoohum innakum lamushrikoona
And eat not of that which has not been consecrated with Allah's name, for it would be an abomination. The devils do pursue their sycophants to confound you, but if you capitulate to them, you too will be similar to an idolater! (R)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
111. And even if We had sent down unto them angels, and the dead had spoken unto them, and We had gathered together all things before their very eyes, they would not have believed, unless Allâh willed, but most of them behave ignorantly.
112. And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies - Shayâtin (devils) among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications. (Tafseer Qurtubi, Vol.7, Page 67)
113. (And this is in order) that the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter may incline to such (deceit), and that they may remain pleased with it, and that they may commit what they are committing (all kinds of sins and evil deeds, etc.).
114. [Say (O Muhammad SAW)] "Shall I seek a judge other than Allâh while it is He Who has sent down unto you the Book (The Qur'ân), explained in detail." Those unto whom We gave the Scripture [the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] know that it is revealed from your Lord in truth. So be not you of those who doubt.
115. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the AllHearer, the AllKnower.
116. And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allâh's Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie.
117. Verily, your Lord! It is He Who knows best who strays from His Way, and He knows best the rightly guided ones.
118. So eat of that (meat) on which Allâh's Name has been pronounced (while slaughtering the animal), if you are believers in His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.).
119. And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allâh's Name has been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering the animal), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity? And surely many do lead (mankind) astray by their own desires through lack of knowledge. Certainly your Lord knows best the transgressors.
120. Leave (O mankind, all kinds of) sin, open and secret. Verily, those who commit sin will get due recompense for that which they used to commit.
121. Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allâh's Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal), for sure it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allâh). And certainly, the Shayâtin (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them[] [by making AlMaytatah (a dead animal) legal by eating it], then you would indeed be Mushrikûn (polytheists) [because they (devils and their friends) made lawful to you to eat that which Allâh has made unlawful to eat and you obeyed them by considering it lawful to eat, and by doing so you worshipped them, and to worship others besides Allâh is polytheism].
006.111
YUSUFALI: Even if We did send unto them angels, and the dead did speak unto
them, and We gathered together all things before their very eyes, they are not
the ones to believe, unless it is in Allah's plan. But most of them ignore (the
truth).
PICKTHAL: And though We should send down the angels unto them, and the dead
should speak unto them, and We should gather against them all things in array,
they would not believe unless Allah so willed. Howbeit, most of them are
ignorant.
SHAKIR: And even if We had sent down to them the angels and the dead had spoken
to them and We had brought together all things before them, they would not
believe unless Allah pleases, but most of them are ignorant.
006.112
YUSUFALI: Likewise did We make for every Messenger an enemy,- evil ones among
men and jinns, inspiring each other with flowery discourses by way of deception.
If thy Lord had so planned, they would not have done it: so leave them and their
inventions alone.
PICKTHAL: Thus have We appointed unto every prophet an adversary - devils of
humankind and jinn who inspire in one another plausible discourse through guile.
If thy Lord willed, they would not do so; so leave them alone with their
devising;
SHAKIR: And thus did We make for every prophet an enemy, the Shaitans from among
men and jinn, some of them suggesting to others varnished falsehood to deceive
(them), and had your Lord pleased they would not have done it, therefore leave
them and that which they forge.
006.113
YUSUFALI: To such (deceit) let the hearts of those incline, who have no faith in
the hereafter: let them delight in it, and let them earn from it what they may.
PICKTHAL: That the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter may incline
thereto, and that they may take pleasure therein, and that they may earn what
they are earning.
SHAKIR: And that the hearts of those who do not believe in the hereafter may
incline to it and that they may be well pleased with it and that they may earn
what they are going to earn (of evil).
006.114
YUSUFALI: Say: "Shall I seek for judge other than Allah? - when He it is Who
hath sent unto you the Book, explained in detail." They know full well, to whom
We have given the Book, that it hath been sent down from thy Lord in truth.
Never be then of those who doubt.
PICKTHAL: Shall I seek other than Allah for judge, when He it is Who hath
revealed unto you (this) Scripture, fully explained? Those unto whom We gave the
Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from thy Lord in truth. So be not
thou (O Muhammad) of the waverers.
SHAKIR: Shall I then seek a judge other than Allah? And He it is Who has
revealed to you the Book (which is) made plain; and those whom We have given the
Book know that it is revealed by your Lord with truth, therefore you should not
be of the disputers.
006.115
YUSUFALI: The word of thy Lord doth find its fulfilment in truth and in justice:
None can change His words: for He is the one who heareth and knoweth all.
PICKTHAL: Perfected is the Word of thy Lord in truth and justice. There is
naught that can change His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
SHAKIR: And the word of your Lord has been accomplished truly and justly; there
is none who can change His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
006.116
YUSUFALI: Wert thou to follow the common run of those on earth, they will lead
thee away from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture: they do
nothing but lie.
PICKTHAL: If thou obeyedst most of those on earth they would mislead thee far
from Allah's way. They follow naught but an opinion, and they do but guess.
SHAKIR: And if you obey most of those in the earth, they will lead you astray
from Allah's way; they follow but conjecture and they only lie.
006.117
YUSUFALI: Thy Lord knoweth best who strayeth from His way: He knoweth best who
they are that receive His guidance.
PICKTHAL: Lo! thy Lord, He knoweth best who erreth from His way; and He knoweth
best (who are) the rightly guided.
SHAKIR: Surely your Lord-- He best knows who goes astray from His way, and He
best knows those who follow the right course.
006.118
YUSUFALI: So eat of (meats) on which Allah's name hath been pronounced, if ye
have faith in His signs.
PICKTHAL: Eat of that over which the name of Allah hath been mentioned, if ye
are believers in His revelations.
SHAKIR: Therefore eat of that on which Allah's name has been mentioned if you
are believers in His communications.
006.119
YUSUFALI: Why should ye not eat of (meats) on which Allah's name hath been
pronounced, when He hath explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you -
except under compulsion of necessity? But many do mislead (men) by their
appetites unchecked by knowledge. Thy Lord knoweth best those who transgress.
PICKTHAL: How should ye not eat of that over which the name of Allah hath been
mentioned, when He hath explained unto you that which is forbidden unto you
unless ye are compelled thereto. But lo! many are led astray by their own lusts
through ignorance. Lo! thy Lord, He is Best Aware of the transgressors.
SHAKIR: And what reason have you that you should not eat of that on which
Allah's name has been mentioned, and He has already made plain to you what He
has forbidden to you-- excepting what you are compelled to; and most surely many
would lead (people) astray by their low desires out of ignorance; surely your
Lord-- He best knows those who exceed the limits.
006.120
YUSUFALI: Eschew all sin, open or secret: those who earn sin will get due
recompense for their "earnings."
PICKTHAL: Forsake the outwardness of sin and the inwardness thereof. Lo! those
who garner sin will be awarded that which they have earned.
006.021
YUSUFALI: Who doth more wrong than he who inventeth a lie against Allah or
rejecteth His signs? But verily the wrong-doers never shall prosper.
PICKTHAL: Who doth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie against Allah or
denieth His revelations? Lo! the wrongdoers will not be successful.
SHAKIR: And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or (he
who) gives the lie to His communications; surely the unjust will not be
successful.
Section 15
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed when a sworn enemy of Islam tried to insult the Prophet by slinging dirt at him which developed into a tussle between the offender and a great stalwart of the Prophet who had not yet embraced Islam but did so as a result of the incident, later to became one of the most astute defenders of Islam
6 : 122
122. Awa man kana maytan faahyaynahu wajaAAalna lahu nooran yamshee bihi fee alnnasi kaman mathaluhu fee alththulumati laysa bikharijin minha kathalika zuyyina lilkafireena ma kanoo yaAAmaloona
Is he who was dead and We gave him a new life and ushered in for him a radiance which enables him to walk dauntless amid men similar to him who is sunk in darkness from which he will never be able to emerge? Thus are the misdeeds of disbelievers made to seem fair to them.
(In this verse dead is synonymous to apostasy, life to Islam', radiance to the Qur'aan and darkness to Ignorance.
The reference here is to an incident that took place when Abu Jehl, a sworn enemy of the Prophet and of Islam, deliberately slung mud over him to humiliate him in public. He is referred to in this verse as the one who is sunk in the darkness of ignorance from which he would never emerge'.
The man who threw down the gauntlet at him in defence of the Prophet was Emir Hamza, a brave and valiant man who had not yet embraced Islam and is hence referred to as dead until he was given a new Life by Allah when he embraced Islam as a result of this incident. Since then, he became a brave champion of Allah's Cause, rose to great prominence as an astute defender of the faith and 'walked dauntless amidst men', while Abu Jehl continued to sink deeper and deeper into the quagmire of sin and apostasy until his death, as predicted here).
* * *
6 : 123
123. Wakathalika jaAAalna fee kulli qaryatin akabira mujrimeeha liyamkuroo feeha wama yamkuroona illa bi-anfusihim wama yashAAuroona
And thus have We turned the worst of offenders in every city into great heroes so that they carried on committing offences. They offend not but against their own selves, though most of them have no cognition.
(This is a warning to those who rise to prominence and receive adulation from their folks that their fame is not always a symbol of glory or recognition. Allah deliberately causes them to ride high on the tide of eminence and then washes them ashore, marooned forever in the wilderness of ignominy.
Nero rose to power in Rome but faded away into anonymity; Hitler brought the world to its knees but disappeared from the face of the earth without a trace or clue; more recently, Milosovic followed in the footsteps of Hitler and is now standing under the threshold of disgrace, indicted of gruesome war crimes and is now on trial).
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed in response to a claim made by a prominent Jew that, if there was any truth to prophethood, he deserved to be a messenger of Allah more than the Prophet did because he was older than him and wiser than him and richer than him!
6 : 124
124. Wa-itha jaat-hum ayatun qaloo lan nu/mina hatta nu/ta mithla ma ootiya rusulu Allahi Allahu aAAlamu haythu yajAAalu risalatahu sayuseebu allatheena ajramoo sagharun AAinda Allahi waAAathabun shadeedun bima kanoo yamkuroona
Whenever a token comes to them, they say : 'We will not believe in it unless we too are given that which Allah's messengers are given!' Allah knows best whom to entrust His messages with. Disgrace from Allah and an opprobrious castigation awaits the iniquitous in return for their cabal
* * *
6 : 125
125. Faman yuridi Allahu an yahdiyahu yashrah sadrahu lil-islami waman yurid an yudillahu yajAAal sadrahu dayyiqan harajan kaannama yassaAAAAadu fee alssama-i kathalika yajAAalu Allahu alrrijsa AAala allatheena la yu/minoona
Those whom it is Allah's will to guide, He makes their bosoms wide enough to contain Islam, and those whom it is Allah's will to send adrift, He straitens their bosoms and strains them as if they were engaged in an arduous ascent! Thus does Allah encumber those who refuse to believe.
6 : 126
126. Wahatha siratu rabbika mustaqeeman qad fassalna al-ayati liqawmin yaththakkaroona
This is the path of your Lord - the straight path - and We have laid down Our revelations in clear detail for those who respond to admonitions.
6 : 127
127. Lahum daru alssalami AAinda rabbihim wahuwa waliyyuhum bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
For them is an Abode of Peace with their Lord and He is their guardian in return for their virtuous deeds!
6 : 128
128. Wayawma yahshuruhum jameeAAan ya maAAshara aljinni qadi istakthartum mina al-insi waqala awliyaohum mina al-insi rabbana istamtaAAa baAAduna bibaAAdin wabalaghna ajalana allathee ajjalta lana qala alnnaru mathwakum khalideena feeha illa ma shaa Allahu inna rabbaka hakeemun AAaleemun
On the day when He will gather them, He will say : 'O assembly of Jinn! You beguiled many a man!' And their sycophants amongst men will say : 'Our Lord! Each of us exploited the other and have now reached the end of the term which You appointed for us!' He will say : 'Fire is your destination and in it shall you abide forever, except him whom Allah will decide to spare! Verily your Lord is Wise and Erudite!!
6 : 129
129. Wakathalika nuwallee baAAda alththalimeena baAAdan bima kanoo yaksiboona
Thus We let some of the iniquitous wield power over some of the iniquitous in return for their iniquitous deeds! (R)
(The above verse has been interpreted by some commentators to imply that, when Allah wishes to punish a people given to oppression and solecism, He forces on them a foul and oppressive regime in order to give them a taste of their own medicine. One way, - and the most effective way - of getting rid of such a regime is not to try and change those who wield the rod of power, but to change our own attitude and behaviour so that, once the soil has been cleared of slush, the vermin will stop breeding in it!).
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
122. Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out? Thus it is made fairseeming to the disbelievers that which they used to do.
123. And thus We have set up in every town great ones of its wicked people to plot therein. But they plot not except against their ownselves, and they perceive (it) not.
124. And when there comes to them a sign (from Allâh) they say: "We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allâh had received." Allâh knows best with whom to place His Message. Humiliation and disgrace from Allâh and a severe torment will overtake the criminals (polytheists, sinners, etc.) for that which they used to plot.
125. And whomsoever Allâh wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islâm, and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky. Thus Allâh puts the wrath on those who believe not.[]
126. And this is the Path of your Lord (the Qur'ân and Islâm) leading Straight. We have detailed Our Revelations for a people who take heed.
127. For them will be the home of peace (Paradise) with their Lord. And He will be their Walî (Helper and Protector) because of what they used to do.
128. And on the Day when He will gather them (all) together (and say): "O you assembly of jinns! Many did you mislead of men," and their Auliyâ' (friends and helpers, etc.) amongst men will say: "Our Lord! We benefited one from the other, but now we have reached our appointed term which You did appoint for us." He will say: "The Fire be your dwellingplace, you will dwell therein forever, except as Allâh may will. Certainly your Lord is AllWise, AllKnowing."
129. And thus We do make the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.) Auliyâ' (supporters and helpers) one to another (in committing crimes etc.), because of that which they used to earn.
006.122
YUSUFALI: Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he can
walk amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he
can never come out? Thus to those without faith their own deeds seem pleasing.
PICKTHAL: Is he who was dead and We have raised him unto life, and set for him a
light wherein he walketh among men, as him whose similitude is in utter darkness
whence he cannot emerge? Thus is their conduct made fairseeming for the
disbelievers.
SHAKIR: Is he who was dead then We raised him to life and made for him a light
by which he walks among the people, like him whose likeness is that of one in
utter darkness whence he cannot come forth? Thus what they did was made fair
seeming to the unbelievers.
006.123
YUSUFALI: Thus have We placed leaders in every town, its wicked men, to plot
(and burrow) therein: but they only plot against their own souls, and they
perceive it not.
PICKTHAL: And thus have We made in every city great ones of its wicked ones,
that they should plot therein. They do but plot against themselves, though they
perceive not.
SHAKIR: And thus have We made in every town the great ones to be its guilty
ones, that they may plan therein; and they do not plan but against their own
souls, and they do not perceive.
006.124
YUSUFALI: When there comes to them a sign (from Allah), They say: "We shall not
believe until we receive one (exactly) like those received by Allah's
messengers." Allah knoweth best where (and how) to carry out His mission. Soon
will the wicked be overtaken by humiliation before Allah, and a severe
punishment, for all their plots.
PICKTHAL: And when a token cometh unto them, they say: We will not believe till
we are given that which Allah's messengers are given. Allah knoweth best with
whom to place His message. Humiliation from Allah and heavy punishment will
smite the guilty for their scheming.
SHAKIR: And when a communication comes to them they say: We will not believe
till we are given the like of what Allah's messengers are given. Allah best
knows where He places His message. There shall befall those who are guilty
humiliation from Allah and severe chastisement because of what they planned.
006.125
YUSUFALI: Those whom Allah (in His plan) willeth to guide,- He openeth their
breast to Islam; those whom He willeth to leave straying,- He maketh their
breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth
Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.
PICKTHAL: And whomsoever it is Allah's will to guide, He expandeth his bosom
unto the Surrender, and whomsoever it is His Will to send astray, He maketh his
bosom close and narrow as if he were engaged in sheer ascent. Thus Allah layeth
ignominy upon those who believe not.
SHAKIR: Therefore (for) whomsoever Allah intends that He would guide him aright,
He expands his breast for Islam, and (for) whomsoever He intends that He should
cause him to err, He makes his breast strait and narrow as though he were
ascending upwards; thus does Allah lay uncleanness on those who do not believe.
006.126
YUSUFALI: This is the way of thy Lord, leading straight: We have detailed the
signs for those who receive admonition.
PICKTHAL: This is the path of thy Lord, a straight path. We have detailed Our
revelations for a people who take heed.
SHAKIR: And this is the path of your Lord, (a) right (path); indeed We have made
the communications clear for a people who mind.
006.127
YUSUFALI: For them will be a home of peace in the presence of their Lord: He
will be their friend, because they practised (righteousness).
PICKTHAL: For them is the abode of peace with their Lord. He will be their
Protecting Friend because of what they used to do.
SHAKIR: They shall have the abode of peace with their Lord, and He is their
guardian because of what they did.
006.128
YUSUFALI: One day will He gather them all together, (and say): "O ye assembly of
Jinns! Much (toll) did ye take of men." Their friends amongst men will say: "Our
Lord! we made profit from each other: but (alas!) we reached our term - which
thou didst appoint for us." He will say: "The Fire be your dwelling-place: you
will dwell therein for ever, except as Allah willeth." for thy Lord is full of
wisdom and knowledge.
PICKTHAL: In the day when He will gather them together (He will say): O ye
assembly of the jinn! Many of humankind did ye seduce. And their adherents among
humankind will say: Our Lord! We enjoyed one another, but now we have arrived at
the appointed term which Thou appointedst for us. He will say: Fire is your
home. Abide therein for ever, save him whom Allah willeth (to deliver). Lo! thy
Lord is Wise, Aware.
SHAKIR: And on the day when He shall gather them all together: O assembly of
jinn! you took away a great part of mankind. And their friends from among the
men shall say: Our Lord! some of us profited by others and we have reached our
appointed term which Thou didst appoint for us. He shall say: The fire is your
abode, to abide in it, except as Allah is pleased; surely your Lord is Wise,
Knowing.
006.129
YUSUFALI: Thus do we make the wrong-doers turn to each other, because of what
they earn.
PICKTHAL: Thus We let some of the wrong-doers have power over others because of
what they are wont to earn.
SHAKIR: And thus do We make some of the iniquitous to befriend others on account
of what they earned.
Section 16.
6 : 130
130. Ya maAAshara aljinni waal-insi alam ya/tikum rusulun minkum yaqussoona AAalaykum ayatee wayunthiroonakum liqaa yawmikum hatha qaloo shahidna AAala anfusina wagharrat-humu alhayatu alddunya washahidoo AAala anfusihim annahum kanoo kafireena
O you of the Jinn and of mankind! Came there not to you Our messengers chosen from your own midst, reciting to you My ordinances and warning you of the arrival of this Day? And they will say : 'We testify against our own souls!' Inveigled as they are by the life of this world, they will testify against themselves that they were agnostics!
(As we have been told in previous Surahs, the Day of Judgement will be a long and arduous day for the disbelievers. After witnessing the propitious outcome for the believers resulting from their righteousness, their patience, their faith and their lifetime of toils for discharging their obligations, the disbelievers will try to bluff their way out of trouble by flatly denying that they ever disbelieved, or that they ever assigned partners to Him; but their tongues will be taken away and their limbs will be given tongues of their own so that they could testify against those to whom they belonged.
The above verse accentuates this warning).
6 : 131
131. Thalika an lam yakun rabbuka muhlika alqura bithulmin waahluha ghafiloona
This is because your Lord never obliterates the townships imperiously unless their denizens have been amply warned!
6 : 132
132. Walikullin darajatun mimma AAamiloo wama rabbuka bighafilin AAamma yaAAmaloona
For all of them there are gradations based upon the deeds they have perpetrated, and your Lord is not oblivious to their deeds!
(When a messenger of Allah arrives in the midst a people with tidings of joy or warnings of punishment, it is a sign that they have transgressed beyond their bounds, that Allah is fully aware of their solecism, and that the time has come for them either to return to the path of righteousness from which they had strayed away and be rewarded for it, or to face the consequences of their arrogance)
6 : 133
133. Warabbuka alghaniyyu thoo alrrahmati in yasha/ yuthhibkum wayastakhlif min baAAdikum ma yashao kama anshaakum min thurriyyati qawmin akhareena
Your Lord is Self-reliant and infinite in His mercy! If He wills, He can erase you and then create others to replace you in the same way as He created you from the seed of others!
6 : 134
134. Inna ma tooAAadoona laatin wama antum bimuAAjizeena
That which you have been promised will surely come to pass and no one can avert it.
6 : 135
135. Qul ya qawmi iAAmaloo AAala makanatikum innee AAamilun fasawfa taAAlamoona man takoonu lahu AAaqibatu alddari innahu la yuflihu alththalimoona
Say to them : (O Mohammed) : 'O my people! You strive at your end and I will strive at mine! And you will, eventually, come to know who amongst us will inherit the Abode in the Hereafter! Verily there can never be a redemption for the iniquitous!
6 : 136
136. WajaAAaloo lillahi mimma tharaa mina alharthi waal-anAAami naseeban faqaloo hatha lillahi bizaAAmihim wahatha lishuraka-ina fama kana lishuraka-ihim fala yasilu ila Allahi wama kana lillahi fahuwa yasilu ila shuraka-ihim saa ma yahkumoona
And in all the crops and cattle Allah created, they make Him a shareholder saying : 'This portion is Allah's' - they feign - 'and this for the partners whom we assigned to Him!' But whilst that which they set aside for His partners never reaches Allah, that which they had set aside for Allah does reach His partners unencumbered! How unbecoming are the actions in which they engage!
(The reference here is to an ancient custom amongst the pagan Arabs according to which they used to pile up all surplus produce from their crops and fruits which were yielded by their trees as well as their senile cattle who were replaced by the younger ones and then distribute into two portions, one for Allah and the other for their idols, to be passed on to the priests who served them. However, whereas Allah's share was mostly spent in entertaining their guests and some on feeding the poor, the share of their idols and their priests used to be passed on to them with due care and honesty lest they were punished by the gods. And if a part of Allah's portion accidentally got mixed up with that of their idols, they would let them keep it; but if a part of the portion given to the priests got mixed up with Allah's, they would recover it at once and pass it on to their greedy priests).
6 : 137
137. Wakathalika zayyana likatheerin mina almushrikeena qatla awladihim shurakaohum liyurdoohum waliyalbisoo AAalayhim deenahum walaw shaa Allahu ma faAAaloohu fatharhum wama yaftaroona
Thus have the partners whom they set up as equals (to Allah) made even infanticide seem fair to many an idolater so that they may slay their infants without being condemned by their religion! If Allah willed, they would not have done this; so leave them alone, - they and their so-called gods!
(According to some commentators, the pagan Arabs who indulged in the infamy of burying their infant daughters alive in order to escape the risks and responsibilities of bringing them up were once followers of Ishmael and hence offered the example of Abraham willing to sacrifice his own son for Allah's pleasure as an excuse for slaying their daughters as offering for their idols, although the reasons behind Abraham's gesture of obedience were certainly not as spurious and virulent as theirs).
6 : 138
138. Waqaloo hathihi anAAamun waharthun hijrun la yatAAamuha illa man nashao bizaAAmihim waanAAamun hurrimat thuhooruha waanAAamun la yathkuroona isma Allahi AAalayha iftiraan AAalayhi sayajzeehim bima kanoo yaftaroona
And they say : 'Such and such cattle and crops are prohibited and only they can eat of it whom we allow!' - as per their inept thinking - and there are cattle which they prohibit from being ridden, and others which they prohibit from being consecrated in the name of Allah, - all fabrications assigned to Him, for which He surely will requite them!
(The idolaters of Mecca, in collaboration with the priests who served their idols, forbade the consumption of cattle and crops which were dedicated to their gods and refused to ride the camels retired from service as an offering to them, or consecrate them with the name of Allah even if they were constrained to put them to slaughter in times of dearth
Further restrictions, such as those mentioned in the following verse, were also devised and imposed by the same priests, then falsely attributed to Allah).
6 : 139
139. Waqaloo ma fee butooni hathihi al-anAAami khalisatun lithukoorina wamuharramun AAala azwajina wa-in yakun maytatan fahum feehi shurakao sayajzeehim wasfahum innahu hakeemun AAaleemun
And they say : 'Whatever is in the wombs of these cattle belongs to our men and therefore forbidden to our women; but if it is born dead, then all can share it alike!' - false attributes assigned to Him for which He will requite them for sure. Allah is Wise and Erudite!
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed with reference to the barbaric pagan custom of burying alive their new-born daughters, which was widely practised by the wandering Arabs during the dark days of ignorance.
6 : 140
140. Qad khasira allatheena qataloo awladahum safahan bighayri AAilmin waharramoo ma razaqahumu Allahu iftiraan AAala Allahi qad dalloo wama kanoo muhtadeena
Those who slay their infants from wanton inanity and those who deem unlawful that which Allah has made lawful for them and impute a blatant lie against Him, they have gone astray and will never be given any guidance. (R)
(There is no sin a human being could commit more heinous than the sin of burying alive an infant who can neither protest nor protect herself, and whom Allah has brought into this world so that she could complete her appointed term on earth, cherish and serve her parents and her siblings, grace the arms of an adoring husband, bring forth offspring of her own and enjoin them to distinguish right from wrong, offer worship to her Maker, and finally return to Him in humble submission. Trampling on and destroying a bud that has not yet unfurled its petals and bloomed; cutting short a life before Allah decided to bring to an end, and being oblivious to the inhumanity of inflicting such brutal suffering on a fellow human being, - their own flesh and blood - is a crime which even beasts in the jungles are wont to commit.
What makes it even worse is, they did it in order to escape the sensitive responsibility of bringing them up, feeding and clothing them, giving them a good upbringing, finding for them suitable partners and changing their rolls in life from being good daughters to being good wives and good mothers, but assigned it either to Allah or to their gods, - human sacrifice being the highest tribute which idolaters are enjoined to pay to their idols!
The apt requital for committing such an unforgivable and monstrous offence is described in the Qur'aan elsewhere that, on the Day of Judgement, Allah will raise every infant who was buried alive and ask her: 'Was it your fault for which they buried you alive?' and the baby will answer : 'No, it was not my fault!' and then He will herd her parents into the flames of hell and leave them to burn in it forever!).
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
130. O you assembly of jinns and mankind! "Did not there come to you Messengers from amongst you, reciting unto you My Verses and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "We bear witness against ourselves." It was the life of this world that deceived them. And they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
131. This is because your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns for their wrongdoing (i.e. associating others in worship along with Allâh) while their people were unaware (so the Messengers were sent).
132. For all there will be degrees (or ranks) according to what they did. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.
133. And your Lord is Rich (Free of all wants), full of Mercy, if He will, He can destroy you, and in your place make whom He will as your successors, as He raised you from the seed of other people.
134. Surely, that which you are promised will verily come to pass, and you cannot escape (from the Punishment of Allâh).
135. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "O my people! Work according to your way, surely, I too am working (in my way), and you will come to know for which of us will be the (happy) end in the Hereafter. Certainly the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.) will not be successful."
136. And they assign to Allâh a share of the tilth and cattle which He has created, and they say: "This is for Allâh according to their pretending, and this is for our (Allâh's socalled) partners." But the share of their (Allâh's socalled) "partners" reaches not Allâh, while the share of Allâh reaches their (Allâh's socalled) "partners"! Evil is the way they judge!
137. And so to many of the Mushrikûn (polytheists - see V.2:105) their (Allâh's socalled) "partners" have made fair-seeming the killing of their children, in order to lead them to their own destruction and cause confusion in their religion. And if Allâh had willed they would not have done so. So leave them alone with their fabrications.
138. And according to their pretending, they say that such and such cattle and crops are forbidden, and none should eat of them except those whom we allow. And (they say) there are cattle forbidden to be used for burden or any other work, and cattle on which (at slaughtering) the Name of Allâh is not pronounced; lying against Him (Allâh). He will recompense them for what they used to fabricate.
139. And they say: "What is in the bellies of such and such cattle (milk or foetus) is for our males alone, and forbidden to our females (girls and women), but if it is born dead, then all have shares therein." He will punish them for their attribution (of such false orders to Allâh). Verily, He is AllWise, AllKnower. (Tafsir AtTabarî, Vol. 8, Page 49).
140. Indeed lost are they who have killed their children, from folly, without knowledge, and have forbidden that which Allâh has provided for them, inventing a lie against Allâh. They have indeed gone astray and were not guided.
006.130
YUSUFALI: "O ye assembly of Jinns and men! came there not unto you messengers
from amongst you, setting forth unto you My signs, and warning you of the
meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "We bear witness against
ourselves." It was the life of this world that deceived them. So against
themselves will they bear witness that they rejected Faith.
PICKTHAL: O ye assembly of the jinn and humankind! Came there not unto you
messengers of your own who recounted unto you My tokens and warned you of the
meeting of this your Day? They will say: We testify against ourselves. And the
life of the world beguiled them. And they testify against themselves that they
were disbelievers.
SHAKIR: O assembly of jinn and men! did there not come to you messengers from
among you, relating to you My communications and warning you of the meeting of
this day of yours? They shall say: We bear witness against ourselves; and this
world's life deceived them, and they shall bear witness against their own souls
that they were unbelievers.
006.131
YUSUFALI: (The messengers were sent) thus, for thy Lord would not destroy for
their wrong-doing men's habitations whilst their occupants were unwarned.
PICKTHAL: This is because thy Lord destroyeth not the townships arbitrarily
while their people are unconscious (of the wrong they do).
SHAKIR: This is because your Lord would not destroy towns unjustly while their
people were negligent.
006.132
YUSUFALI: To all are degrees (or ranks) according to their deeds: for thy Lord
is not unmindful of anything that they do.
PICKTHAL: For all there will be ranks from what they did. Thy Lord is not
unaware of what they do.
SHAKIR: And all have degrees according to what they do; and your Lord is not
heedless of what they do.
006.133
YUSUFALI: Thy Lord is self-sufficient, full of Mercy: if it were His will, He
could destroy you, and in your place appoint whom He will as your successors,
even as He raised you up from the posterity of other people.
PICKTHAL: Thy Lord is the Absolute, the Lord of Mercy. If He will, He can remove
you and can cause what He will to follow after you, even as He raised you from
the seed of other folk.
SHAKIR: And your Lord is the Self-sufficient one, the Lord of mercy; if He
pleases, He may take you off, and make whom He pleases successors after you,
even as He raised you up from the seed of another people.
006.134
YUSUFALI: All that hath been promised unto you will come to pass: nor can ye
frustrate it (in the least bit).
PICKTHAL: Lo! that which ye are promised will surely come to pass, and ye cannot
escape.
SHAKIR: Surely what you are threatened with must come to pass and you cannot
escape (it).
006.135
YUSUFALI: Say: "O my people! Do whatever ye can: I will do (my part): soon will
ye know who it is whose end will be (best) in the Hereafter: certain it is that
the wrong-doers will not prosper."
PICKTHAL: Say (O Muhammad): O my people! Work according to your power. Lo! I too
am working. Thus ye will come to know for which of us will be the happy sequel.
Lo! the wrong-doers will not be successful.
SHAKIR: Say: O my people! act according to your ability; I too am acting; so you
will soon come to know, for whom (of us) will be the (good) end of the abode;
surely the unjust shall not be successful.
006.136
YUSUFALI: Out of what Allah hath produced in abundance in tilth and in cattle,
they assigned Him a share: they say, according to their fancies: "This is for
Allah, and this" - for our "partners"! but the share of their" partners "reacheth
not Allah, whilst the share of Allah reacheth their "partners" ! evil (and
unjust) is their assignment!
PICKTHAL: They assign unto Allah, of the crops and cattle which He created, a
portion, and they say: "This is Allah's" - in their make-believe - "and this is
for (His) partners in regard to us." Thus that which (they assign) unto His
partners in them reacheth not Allah and that which (they assign) unto Allah
goeth to their (so-called) partners. Evil is their ordinance.
SHAKIR: And they set apart a portion for Allah out of what He has created of
tilth and cattle, and say: This is for Allah-- so they assert-- and this for our
associates; then what is for their associates, it reaches not to Allah, and
whatever is (set apart) for Allah, it reaches to their associates; evil is that
which they judge.
006.137
YUSUFALI: Even so, in the eyes of most of the pagans, their "partners" made
alluring the slaughter of their children, in order to lead them to their own
destruction, and cause confusion in their religion. If Allah had willed, they
would not have done so: But leave alone them and their inventions.
PICKTHAL: Thus have their (so-called) partners (of Allah) made the killing of
their children to seem fair unto many of the idolaters, that they may ruin them
and make their faith obscure for them. Had Allah willed (it otherwise), they had
not done so. So leave them alone with their devices.
SHAKIR: And thus their associates have made fair seeming to most of the
polytheists the killing of their children, that they may cause them to perish
and obscure for them their religion; and if Allah had pleased, they would not
have done it, therefore leave them and that which they forge.
006.138
YUSUFALI: And they say that such and such cattle and crops are taboo, and none
should eat of them except those whom - so they say - We wish; further, there are
cattle forbidden to yoke or burden, and cattle on which, (at slaughter), the
name of Allah is not pronounced; - inventions against Allah's name: soon will He
requite them for their inventions.
PICKTHAL: And they say: Such cattle and crops are forbidden. No-one is to eat of
them save whom we will - in their make-believe - cattle whose backs are
forbidden, cattle over which they mention not the name of Allah. (All that is) a
lie against Him. He will repay them for that which they invent.
SHAKIR: And they say: These are cattle and tilth prohibited, none shall eat them
except such as We please-- so they assert-- and cattle whose backs are
forbidden, and cattle on which they would not mention Allah's name-- forging a
lie against Him; He shall requite them for what they forged.
006.139
YUSUFALI: They say: "What is in the wombs of such and such cattle is specially
reserved (for food) for our men, and forbidden to our women; but if it is
still-born, then all have share therein. For their (false) attribution (of
superstitions to Allah), He will soon punish them: for He is full of wisdom and
knowledge.
PICKTHAL: And they say: That which is in the bellies of such cattle is reserved
for our males and is forbidden to our wives; but if it be born dead, then they
(all) may be partakers thereof. He will reward them for their attribution (of
such ordinances unto Him). Lo, He is Wise, Aware.
SHAKIR: And they say: What is in the wombs of these cattle is specially for our
males, and forbidden to our wives, and if it be stillborn, then they are all
partners in it; He will reward them for their attributing (falsehood to Allah);
surely He is Wise, Knowing.
006.140
YUSUFALI: Lost are those who slay their children, from folly, without knowledge,
and forbid food which Allah hath provided for them, inventing (lies) against
Allah. They have indeed gone astray and heeded no guidance.
PICKTHAL: They are losers who besottedly have slain their children without
knowledge, and have forbidden that which Allah bestowed upon them, inventing a
lie against Allah. They indeed have gone astray and are not guided.
SHAKIR: They are lost indeed who kill their children foolishly without
knowledge, and forbid what Allah has given to them forging a lie against Allah;
they have indeed gone astray, and they are not the followers of the right
course.
Section 17.
6 : 141
141. Wahuwa allathee anshaa jannatin maAArooshatin waghayra maAArooshatin waalnnakhla waalzzarAAa mukhtalifan okuluhu waalzzaytoona waalrrummana mutashabihan waghayra mutashabihin kuloo min thamarihi itha athmara waatoo haqqahu yawma hasadihi wala tusrifoo innahu la yuhibbu almusrifeena
And He it is Who flourishes the gardens, some arboured and others agrarian, and the date palms and the vegetation laden with colourful harvests, the olive and the pomegranate, some alike and some different, so regale yourselves when they bear fruit and give the deserving their due when you reap your harvests, and squander not your wealth, for Allah cherishes not the profligate!
(There
are several connotations assigned to the term profligacy by various
commentators because of its importance. According to some, profligacy is
needlessly spending away that which Allah has given us as material assets until
we are reduced to penury and our families are driven to starvation; some claim
that those who begrudge giving to the poor their due but spend lavishly for
anything except charity fall into the category of profligates; while some opine
that anything spent towards whatever falls outside the sphere of service to
Allah constitutes profligacy, even if its quantity is modest, while according to
several others, if you own a mountain of gold and give it away in the way of
Allah, it is not profligacy, but if you spend a single coin of gold in sin, it
is profligacy of the worst order).
6 : 142
142. Wamina al-anAAami hamoolatan wafarshan kuloo mimma razaqakumu Allahu wala tattabiAAoo khutuwati alshshaytani innahu lakum AAaduwwun mubeenun
And of cattle, some are beasts of burden and others scattered around; eat that which Allah has made lawful for you to eat and follow not in the footsteps of the devil, for verily he is a blatant foe for you!
6 : 143
143. Thamaniyata azwajin mina aldda/ni ithnayni wamina almaAAzi ithnayni qul alththakarayni harrama ami alonthayayni amma ishtamalat AAalayhi arhamu alonthayayni nabbi-oonee biAAilmin in kuntum sadiqeena
Take eight pairs of cattle, - of them a pair of sheep and a pair of goats, - then say : 'Has He forbidden the two males or the two females, or that which is inside the wombs of females? Explain this to me of your own knowledge, if you are truthful!'
6 : 144
144. Wamina al-ibili ithnayni wamina albaqari ithnayni qul alththakarayni harrama ami alonthayayni amma ishtamalat AAalayhi arhamu alonthayayni am kuntum shuhadaa ith wassakumu Allahu bihatha faman athlamu mimmani iftara AAala Allahi kathiban liyudilla alnnasa bighayri AAilmin inna Allaha la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena
And then take a pair of camels and a pair of oxen, - then say : 'Has He forbidden the two males or the two females or that which is inside the wombs of females? Were you present when Allah gave this command?' Who can be a worse offender than he who fabricates lies about Allah so that he may lead mankind astray without himself having any knowledge of its veracity? Verily Allah guides not the invidious. (R)
(The above two verses accentuate the fact that Allah has not forbidden the consumption of any cattle on the basis of their species or their gender or their age. If there are any restrictions on them, they are only self-imposed restrictions for which Allah gave on one any sanctions, and that nothing becomes lawful or unlawful because of what the Jews say, or the Christians say, or the idolaters say, as opposed to whatever Allah has said)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
141. And it is He Who produces gardens trellised and untrellised, and datepalms, and crops of different shape and taste (its fruits and its seeds) and olives, and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in taste). Eat of their fruit when they ripen, but pay the due thereof (its Zakât, according to Allâh's Orders 1/10th or 1/20th) on the day of its harvest, and waste not by extravagance[]. Verily, He likes not Al-Musrifûn (those who waste by extravagance),
142. And of the cattle (are some) for burden (like camels etc.) and (some are) small (unable to carry burden like sheep, goats etc. for food, meat, milk, wool etc.). Eat of what Allâh has provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Surely he is to you an open enemy.
143. Eight pairs; of the sheep two (male and female)[], and of the goats two (male and female). Say: "Has He forbidden the two males or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful."
144. And of the camels two (male and female), and of oxen two (male and female). Say: "Has He forbidden the two males or the two females or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Or were you present when Allâh ordered you such a thing? Then who does more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allâh, to lead mankind astray without knowledge. Certainly Allâh guides not the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.)."
006.141
YUSUFALI: It is He Who produceth gardens, with trellises and without, and dates,
and tilth with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in
kind) and different (in variety): eat of their fruit in their season, but render
the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. But waste not
by excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters.
PICKTHAL: He it is Who produceth gardens trellised and untrellised, and the
date-palm, and crops of divers flavour, and the olive and the pomegranate, like
and unlike. Eat ye of the fruit thereof when it fruiteth, and pay the due
thereof upon the harvest day, and be not prodigal. Lo! Allah loveth not the
prodigals.
SHAKIR: And He it is Who produces gardens (of vine), trellised and untrellised,
and palms and seed-produce of which the fruits are of various sorts, and olives
and pomegranates, like and unlike; eat of its fruit when it bears fruit, and pay
the due of it on the day of its reaping, and do not act extravagantly; surely He
does not love the extravagant.
006.142
YUSUFALI: Of the cattle are some for burden and some for meat: eat what Allah
hath provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you
and avowed enemy.
PICKTHAL: And of the cattle (He produceth) some for burdens, some for food. Eat
of that which Allah hath bestowed upon you, and follow not the footsteps of the
devil, for lo! he is an open foe to you.
SHAKIR: And of cattle (He created) beasts of burden and those which are fit for
slaughter only; eat of what Allah has given you and do not follow the footsteps
of the Shaitan; surely he is your open enemy.
006.143
YUSUFALI: (Take) eight (head of cattle) in (four) pairs: of sheep a pair, and of
goats a pair; say, hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the
young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Tell me with knowledge if ye
are truthful:
PICKTHAL: Eight pairs: Of the sheep twain, and of the goats twain. Say: Hath He
forbidden the two males or the two females, or that which the wombs of the two
females contain? Expound to me (the case) with knowledge, if ye are truthful.
SHAKIR: Eight in pairs-- two of sheep and two of goats. Say: Has He forbidden
the two males or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females
contain? Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful.
006.144
YUSUFALI: Of camels a pair, and oxen a pair; say, hath He forbidden the two
males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females
enclose? - Were ye present when Allah ordered you such a thing? But who doth
more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead astray men without
knowledge? For Allah guideth not people who do wrong.
PICKTHAL: And of the camels twain and of the oxen twain. Say: Hath He forbidden
the two males or the two females, or that which the wombs of the two females
contain; or were ye by to witness when Allah commanded you (all) this? Then who
doth greater wrong than he who deviseth a lie concerning Allah, that he may lead
mankind astray without knowledge. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
SHAKIR: And two of camels and two of cows. Say: Has He forbidden the two males
or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Or were
you witnesses when Allah enjoined you this? Who, then, is more unjust than he
who forges a lie against Allah that he should lead astray men without knowledge?
Surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
6 : 145
145. Qul la ajidu feema oohiya ilayya muharraman AAala taAAimin yatAAamuhu illa an yakoona maytatan aw daman masfoohan aw lahma khinzeerin fa-innahu rijsun aw fisqan ohilla lighayri Allahi bihi famani idturra ghayra baghin wala AAadin fa-inna rabbaka ghafoorun raheemun
Say : 'I do not find anything in that which is revealed to me about food forbidden to him who wishes to eat, except carrion, or blood streaming from veins, or swine flesh, - for it is, indeed, an abomination, - or flesh of any animal immolated in the name of a deity other than Allah. However, if you are compelled by extenuating circumstances and have neither chosen to eat it nor do you relish eating it, then know that Allah is indeed Magnanimous and Merciful!
6 : 146
146. WaAAala allatheena hadoo harramna kulla thee thufurin wamina albaqari waalghanami harramna AAalayhim shuhoomahuma illa ma hamalat thuhooruhuma awi alhawaya aw ma ikhtalata biAAathmin thalika jazaynahum bibaghyihim wa-inna lasadiqoona
We made unlawful for the Jews birds that have claws. And we made unlawful for them the fat of sheep and oxen, except that which covers their humps or their intestines or is stuck to their bones. We deprived them of these in retaliation for their arrogance. And verily We are truthful!
6 : 147
147. Fa-in kaththabooka faqul rabbukum thoo rahmatin wasiAAatin wala yuraddu ba/suhu AAani alqawmi almujrimeena
Then, if they refute you nonetheless, say (O Mohammed) : 'Your Lord is infinite in Mercy, but His retribution towards the disobedient remains unavoidable!
6 : 148
148. Sayaqoolu allatheena ashrakoo law shaa Allahu ma ashrakna wala abaona wala harramna min shay-in kathalika kaththaba allatheena min qablihim hatta thaqoo ba/sana qul hal AAindakum min AAilmin fatukhrijoohu lana in tattabiAAoona illa alththanna wa-in antum illa takhrusoona
The idolaters say : 'Had Allah willed, neither we nor our ancestors would have ascribed partners to Him nor have forbidden anything for anyone!' Thus had their predecessors also lied to their messengers until they tasted the flavour of Our wrath. Say to them : 'Have you any knowledge with which to corroborate this? Verily you follow but a hypothesis and rely upon conjecture!'
(The argument which the idolaters often raise in defence of their apostasy is that, if Allah had so willed, neither they nor their forefathers would have ever worshipped any idols, nor assigned rivals to Him, nor perpetrated evil deeds, as if whatever they did in life, they did it because Allah had wanted them to. If nothing moves without the knowledge and consent of Allah; if not even a leaf is shed by a tree unless it be with His leave; and if those whom He wills are the only ones to find the righteous path while the rest go astray, why threaten with dire consequences grievous punishment those who are doing what He has intended them to? Why hold a puppet responsible for the way in which it is dancing when someone else is pulling all the strings?
They could not be more wrong. Allah has repeatedly asserted and re-asserted in every Scripture He revealed what He wants them to do, how He wants them to behave, on which path He wants them to walk and which path to abandon, on what He deems right and what He deems wrong and on what is solecism and what is righteousness.
If people respond to His guidance, follow the course He has set out for them; avoid what He has enjoined them to avoid and perform what He has enjoined them to perform; if they offer worship only to Him who is entitled to be worshipped; if they spend some of what He has given them back in His way; if they keep away from turpitude and aim at no other goal in life except the grand abode in the Hereafte; He has no need to threaten them with grim consequences; He has no reason to be cross with them!).
6 : 149
149. Qul falillahi alhujjatu albalighatu falaw shaa lahadakum ajmaAAeena
Say to them : 'The only conclusive contention is that which Allah holds. Had He willed, He would indeed have given guidance to one and all!
(As far as guidance itself is concerned, He did give it to one and all, to the Jews, to the Christians, to the idolaters, to the rejecters, to the doubters, to the transgressors, to the disobedient and to the pernicious by repeatedly asserting that 'those who follow the Guidance of Allah have no cause for concern nor for any distress.' It is only those to whom Knowledge came and yet they turned away from it who need to take a good hard look at themselves and search their bosoms).
6 : 150
150. Qul halumma shuhadaakumu allatheena yashhadoona anna Allaha harrama hatha fa-in shahidoo fala tashhad maAAahum wala tattabiAA ahwaa allatheena kaththaboo bi-ayatina waallatheena la yu/minoona bial-akhirati wahum birabbihim yaAAdiloona
Say : 'Come forward with your witnesses who can testify that Allah forbade these things.' And if they bring their witnesses, you do not bear testimony along with them, nor follow the whims of those who refute Our revelations and refuse to believe in the Hereafter and set up equals to their Lord!' (R)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
145. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I find not in that which has been inspired to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytatah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork, etc.) for that surely is impure, or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh (or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allâh's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But whosoever is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, (for him) certainly, your Lord is OftForgiving, Most Merciful."
146. And unto those who are Jews, We forbade every (animal) with undivided hoof, and We forbade them the fat of the ox and the sheep except what adheres to their backs or their entrails, or is mixed up with a bone. Thus We recompensed them for their rebellion [committing crimes like murdering the Prophets, eating of Ribâ (usury), etc.]. And verily, We are Truthful.
147. If they (Jews) belie you (Muhammad SAW) say you: "Your Lord is the Owner of Vast Mercy, and never will His Wrath be turned back from the people who are Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.)."
148. Those who took partners (in worship) with Allâh will say: "If Allâh had willed, we would not have taken partners (in worship) with Him, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything (against His Will)." Likewise belied those who were before them, (they argued falsely with Allâh's Messengers), till they tasted of Our Wrath. Say: "Have you any knowledge (proof) that you can produce before us? Verily, you follow nothing but guess and you do nothing but lie."
149. Say: "With Allâh is the perfect proof and argument, (i.e. the Oneness of Allâh, the sending of His Messengers and His Holy Books, etc. to mankind), had He so willed, He would indeed have guided you all."
150. Say: "Bring forward your witnesses, who can testify that Allâh has forbidden this. Then if they testify, testify not you (O Muhammad SAW) with them. And you should not follow the vain desires of such as treat Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) as falsehoods, and such as believe not in the Hereafter, and they hold others as equal (in worship) with their Lord."
006.145
YUSUFALI: Say: "I find not in the message received by me by inspiration any
(meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead
meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine,- for it is an abomination -
or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than
Allah's". But (even so), if a person is forced by necessity, without wilful
disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- thy Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most
Merciful.
PICKTHAL: Say: I find not in that which is revealed unto me aught prohibited to
an eater that he eat thereof, except it be carrion, or blood poured forth, or
swineflesh - for that verily is foul - or the abomination which was immolated to
the name of other than Allah. But whoso is compelled (thereto), neither craving
nor transgressing, (for him) lo! thy Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: Say: I do not find in that which has been revealed to me anything
forbidden for an eater to eat of except that it be what has died of itself, or
blood poured forth, or flesh of swine-- for that surely is unclean-- or that
which is a transgression, other than (the name of) Allah having been invoked on
it; but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring nor exceeding the limit,
then surely your Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
006.146
YUSUFALI: For those who followed the Jewish Law, We forbade every (animal) with
undivided hoof, and We forbade them that fat of the ox and the sheep, except
what adheres to their backs or their entrails, or is mixed up with a bone: this
in recompense for their wilful disobedience: for We are true (in Our
ordinances).
PICKTHAL: Unto those who are Jews We forbade every animal with claws. And of the
oxen and the sheep forbade We unto them the fat thereof save that upon the backs
or the entrails, or that which is mixed with the bone. That we awarded them for
their rebellion. And lo! we verily are truthful.
SHAKIR: And to those who were Jews We made unlawful every animal having claws,
and of oxen and sheep We made unlawful to them the fat of both, except such as
was on their backs or the entrails or what was mixed with bones: this was a
punishment We gave them on account of their rebellion, and We are surely
Truthful.
006.147
YUSUFALI: If they accuse thee of falsehood, say: "Your Lord is full of mercy
all-embracing; but from people in guilt never will His wrath be turned back.
PICKTHAL: So if they give the lie to thee (Muhammad), say: Your Lord is a Lord
of All-Embracing Mercy, and His wrath will never be withdrawn from guilty folk.
SHAKIR: But if they give you the lie, then say: Your Lord is the Lord of
All-encompassing mercy; and His punishment cannot be averted from the guilty
people.
006.148
YUSUFALI: Those who give partners (to Allah) will say: "If Allah had wished, we
should not have given partners to Him nor would our fathers; nor should we have
had any taboos." So did their ancestors argue falsely, until they tasted of Our
wrath. Say: "Have ye any (certain) knowledge? If so, produce it before us. Ye
follow nothing but conjecture: ye do nothing but lie."
PICKTHAL: They who are idolaters will say: Had Allah willed, we had not ascribed
(unto Him) partners neither had our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught. Thus
did those who were before them give the lie (to Allah's messengers) till they
tasted of the fear of Us. Say: Have ye any knowledge that ye can adduce for Us?
Lo! ye follow naught but an opinion, Lo! ye do but guess.
SHAKIR: Those who are polytheists will say: If Allah had pleased we would not
have associated (aught with Him) nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden
(to ourselves) anything; even so did those before them reject until they tasted
Our punishment. Say: Have you any knowledge with you so you should bring it
forth to us? You only follow a conjecture and you only tell lies.
006.149
YUSUFALI: Say: "With Allah is the argument that reaches home: if it had been His
will, He could indeed have guided you all."
PICKTHAL: Say - For Allah's is the final argument - Had He willed He could
indeed have guided all of you.
SHAKIR: Say: Then Allah's is the conclusive argument; so if He please, He would
certainly guide you all.
006.150
YUSUFALI: Say: "Bring forward your witnesses to prove that Allah did forbid so
and so." If they bring such witnesses, be not thou amongst them: Nor follow thou
the vain desires of such as treat our signs as falsehoods, and such as believe
not in the Hereafter: for they hold others as equal with their Guardian-Lord.
PICKTHAL: Say: Come, bring your witnesses who can bear witness that Allah
forbade (all) this. And if they bear witness, do not thou bear witness with
them. Follow thou not the whims of those who deny Our revelations, those who
believe not in the Hereafter and deem (others) equal with their Lord.
SHAKIR: Say: Bring your witnesses who should bear witness that Allah has
forbidden this, then if they bear witness, do not bear witness with them; and
follow not the low desires of those who reject Our communications and of those
who do not believe in the hereafter, and they make (others) equal to their Lord.
Section 19.
6 : 151
151. Qul taAAalaw atlu ma harrama rabbukum AAalaykum alla tushrikoo bihi shay-an wabialwalidayni ihsanan wala taqtuloo awladakum min imlaqin nahnu narzuqukum wa-iyyahum wala taqraboo alfawahisha ma thahara minha wama batana wala taqtuloo alnnafsa allatee harrama Allahu illa bialhaqqi thalikum wassakum bihi laAAallakum taAAqiloona
Say to them: 'Come and let me explain to you the Code of Conduct which your Lord has prescribed for you : that you will not ascribe partners to Him and that you will be generous towards your parents and that you will not slay your children by reason of penury - for We will provide for you as well as for them, - that you will not indulge in profanities, whether in public or in private, and that you will not destroy life which Allah has held in deference, except in pursuit of justice! This He has commanded you to do so that you may wise up to it.
6 : 152
152. Wala taqraboo mala alyateemi illa biallatee hiya ahsanu hatta yablugha ashuddahu waawfoo alkayla waalmeezana bialqisti la nukallifu nafsan illa wusAAaha wa-itha qultum faiAAdiloo walaw kana tha qurba wabiAAahdi Allahi awfoo thalikum wassakum bihi laAAallakum tathakkaroona
And do not go near the property of the orphans until they reach the age of puberty, except with the best of intentions; and render full weights and measures with diligence; and know that We do not place upon any soul a burden more than that which it is equipped to carry; and speak only for justice even if it is a matter that affects your own kith and kin; but above all, fulfil the covenant of Allah! This He has commanded you to do so that you may incline to pay heed -
6 : 153
153. Waanna hatha siratee mustaqeeman faittabiAAoohu wala tattabiAAoo alssubula fatafarraqa bikum AAan sabeelihi thalikum wassakum bihi laAAallakum tattaqoona
And so that, this being the straight path towards Me, you may walk on it and not on any other path which might divert you away from Him! This He has commanded to do so that you may ward off evil
(Verses 151 to 153 contain the Code of Conduct preached by the Qur'aan to all those who believe in it and follow it, which is at the same time a reassertion of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by Allah that formed the basis of the Torah, then of the Gospel and then of the Qur'aan, and they are:
i) Do not ascribe partners to Allah;
ii) Be kind and compassionate towards your parents;
iii) Do not slay your children on the grounds of penury;
iv) Do not indulge in profanities, in public or in private;
v) Do not take an innocent life that Allah has held in deference, save in pursuit of justice;
vi) Do not purloin the property of orphans;
vii) Do not cheat in weights and measures;
viii) Keep your mutual promises at all times;
ix) Keep your Covenant with Allah;
x) Walk on the path of righteousness that will lead you to Allah and not on that which will take you away from Him.
Words and phrases used may have changed from time to time, but the spirit and essence of these golden admonitions have always remained the same).
6 : 154
154. Thumma atayna moosa alkitaba tamaman AAala allathee ahsana watafseelan likulli shay-in wahudan warahmatan laAAallahum biliqa-i rabbihim yu/minoona
Again, We gave Moses the Scripture to consummate Our favour to those who are righteous, in substantive detail, a Mercy and a Guidance for those who acknowledge the inevitability of their meeting with their Lord! (R)
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
151. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawâhish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allâh has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islâmic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand.
152. "And come not near to the orphan's property, except to improve it, until he (or she) attains the age of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice. We burden not any person, but that which he can bear. And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence, etc.), say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfill the Covenant of Allâh, This He commands you, that you may remember.[]
153. "And verily, this (i.e. Allâh's Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2)."
154. Then, We gave Mûsa (Moses) the Book [the Taurât (Torah)], to complete (Our Favour) upon those who would do right, and explaining all things in detail and a guidance and a mercy that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord.
006.151
YUSUFALI: Say: "Come, I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you
from": Join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not
your children on a plea of want;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;-
come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret; take not life, which
Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command
you, that ye may learn wisdom.
PICKTHAL: Say: Come, I will recite unto you that which your Lord hath made a
sacred duty for you: That ye ascribe no thing as partner unto Him and that ye do
good to parents, and that ye slay not your children because of penury - We
provide for you and for them - and that ye draw not nigh to lewd things whether
open or concealed. And that ye slay not the life which Allah hath made sacred,
save in the course of justice. This He hath command you, in order that ye may
discern.
SHAKIR: Say: Come I will recite what your Lord has forbidden to you-- (remember)
that you do not associate anything with Him and show kindness to your parents,
and do not slay your children for (fear of) poverty-- We provide for you and for
them-- and do not draw nigh to indecencies, those of them which are apparent and
those which are concealed, and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden
except for the requirements of justice; this He has enjoined you with that you
may understand.
006.152
YUSUFALI: And come not nigh to the orphan's property, except to improve it,
until he attain the age of full strength; give measure and weight with (full)
justice;- no burden do We place on any soul, but that which it can bear;-
whenever ye speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned; and
fulfil the covenant of Allah: thus doth He command you, that ye may remember.
PICKTHAL: And approach not the wealth of the orphan save with that which is
better, till he reach maturity. Give full measure and full weight, in justice.
We task not any soul beyond its scope. And if ye give your word, do justice
thereunto, even though it be (against) a kinsman; and fulfil the covenant of
Allah. This He commandeth you that haply ye may remember.
SHAKIR: And do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner
until he attains his maturity, and give full measure and weight with justice--
We do not impose on any soul a duty except to the extent of its ability; and
when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative, and fulfill
Allah's covenant; this He has enjoined you with that you may be mindful;
006.153
YUSUFALI: Verily, this is My way, leading straight: follow it: follow not
(other) paths: they will scatter you about from His (great) path: thus doth He
command you. that ye may be righteous.
PICKTHAL: And (He commandeth you, saying): This is My straight path, so follow
it. Follow not other ways, lest ye be parted from His way. This hath He ordained
for you, that ye may ward off (evil).
SHAKIR: And (know) that this is My path, the right one therefore follow it, and
follow not (other) ways, for they will lead you away from His way; this He has
enjoined you with that you may guard (against evil).
006.154
YUSUFALI: Moreover, We gave Moses the Book, completing (Our favour) to those who
would do right, and explaining all things in detail,- and a guide and a mercy,
that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord.
PICKTHAL: Again, We gave the Scripture unto Moses, complete for him who would do
good, an explanation of all things, a guidance and a mercy, that they might
believe in the meeting with their Lord.
SHAKIR: Again, We gave the Book to Musa to complete (Our blessings) on him who
would do good (to others), and making plain all things and a guidance and a
mercy, so that they should believe in the meeting of their Lord.
Section
20.
6 : 155
155. Wahatha kitabun anzalnahu mubarakun faittabiAAoohu waittaqoo laAAallakum turhamoona
And now We have revealed this blessed Qur'aan to you so follow it and be fearful of Allah so that you may find mercy -
6 : 156
156. An taqooloo innama onzila alkitabu AAala ta-ifatayni min qablina wa-in kunna AAan dirasatihim laghafileena
Lest you say : 'Scriptures were revealed only to two other sects of people before us and we were unaware of what was contained in them, -
6 : 157
157. Aw taqooloo law anna onzila AAalayna alkitabu lakunna ahda minhum faqad jaakum bayyinatun min rabbikum wahudan warahmatun faman athlamu mimman kaththaba bi-ayati Allahi wasadafa AAanha sanajzee allatheena yasdifoona AAan ayatina soo-a alAAathabi bima kanoo yasdifoona
Or lest you say : 'Had the Scripture been revealed to us, we would have been more prone to guidance than our predecessors' And now that there has come to you a definitive portent from your Lord, - a Mercy and a Guidance, - who can be a worse offender than him that vituperates the revelations of Allah and turns away from them! So beware that We requite those who turn away from Our revelations with a severe requital, in retaliation for their vituperation!
(Disbelievers and idolaters of Mecca used to brag that the Jews and the Christians to whom Scriptures were revealed did not possess the mental acumen to absorb their contents and to benefit from them. On the contrary, if they were revealed to them, they would have grasped them better and followed them with greater commitment because they possessed the insight and maturity of thought to be able to do so).
6 : 158
158. Hal yanthuroona illa an ta/tiyahumu almala-ikatu aw ya/tiya rabbuka aw ya/tiya baAAdu ayati rabbika yawma ya/tee baAAdu ayati rabbika la yanfaAAu nafsan eemanuha lam takun amanat min qablu aw kasabat fee eemaniha khayran quli intathiroo inna muntathiroona
Wait they for what except that the angels should come for them; or that your Lord should come; or that the signs from your Lord should emerge! On the Day when these signs from your Lord emerge, no rejecting soul would be able to avail the virtue of acceptance, nor a believing soul that did not earn good by means of good deeds would be able to benefit from its good deeds! Say to them : 'You wait and so shall We!'
1 : 159
159. Inna allatheena farraqoo deenahum wakanoo shiyaAAan lasta minhum fee shay-in innama amruhum ila Allahi thumma yunabbi-ohum bima kanoo yafAAaloona
Verily as for those who rupture their spiritual synthesis into diverse ideologies and fragment into factions, they are not at all a concern of yours. Their destiny lies in the hands of Allah and He will spell out to them what they used to do.
(According to a widely accepted Hadith, the Prophet is quoted to have said : 'The Jews would split into seventy one sects out of whom only one sect would enter Paradise while the rest would burn in hell; the Christians would split into seventy two sects out of whom only one sect would enter Paradise while the rest would burn in hell; the Muslims would split into seventy three sects out of whom only one sect would enter Paradise while the rest would burn in hell, - and they would be those who follow the Qur'aan with diligence, follow in my footsteps and in the footsteps of my closest associates with sincerity, - and they will be the largest in numbers).
1 : 160
160. Man jaa bialhasanati falahu AAashru amthaliha waman jaa bialssayyi-ati fala yujza illa mithlaha wahum la yuthlamoona
He who brings with him one righteous deed will be given back ten times its worth, while he who brings with him evil deeds will get no less than what he has brought! And no one will be wronged!
(Allah is so full of love and compassion towards man that He has based the reward for his righteousness on generosity and the requital for his sin on justice. In other words, whereas those who were righteous in their lives would receive ten times its worth by way of reward because He is infinite in mercy, those who sinned in their lives would be requited one for one because He is fair and has promised that no soul would be loaded with a weight it is not equipped to carry, and that no one would receive a crooked deal at His hands!)
1 : 161
161. Qul innanee hadanee rabbee ila siratin mustaqeemin deenan qiyaman millata ibraheema haneefan wama kana mina almushrikeena
Say to them: 'Verily my Lord has guided me on to the right path and He has given me the right religion and has blessed me with the ancestry of Abraham who was by nature upright and never of the idolaters!'
1 : 162
162. Qul inna salatee wanusukee wamahyaya wamamatee lillahi rabbi alAAalameena
Say to them : 'My worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are all dedicated to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!
1 : 63
163. La shareeka lahu wabithalika omirtu waana awwalu almuslimeena
'He has no cohorts! This is what I am commanded to acknowledge and I am the foremost out of those who surrender to His hegemony!
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed when some of the idolaters of Mecca suggested to the Prophet that, if he renounced his religion and returned to their old ways of worshipping idols, they would share the burden of his sin, - if he incurred any.
6 : 164
164. Qul aghayra Allahi abghee rabban wahuwa rabbu kulli shay-in wala taksibu kullu nafsin illa AAalayha wala taziru waziratun wizra okhra thumma ila rabbikum marjiAAukum fayunabbi-okum bima kuntum feehi takhtalifoona
Say to them : 'Am I to seek one other than Allah as my Lord when He is the Lord of all things? Every soul receives only that which it has earned and no laden soul shall be allowed to carry the load of another! And then to your Lord it is that all must return and He will tell you that about which you disagreed.
1 : 165
165. Wahuwa allathee jaAAalakum khala-ifa al-ardi warafaAAa baAAdakum fawqa baAAdin darajatin liyabluwakum fee ma atakum inna rabbaka sareeAAu alAAiqabi wa-innahu laghafoorun raheemu
And He it is who has made you regents on earth and has exalted some of you in status above the others so that He may test your integrity by means of that which He has bestowed on you! Verily your Lord is swift at reckoning but verily He is also Magnanimous and Merciful! (R)
(Although all human beings are equal in the eyes of Allah regardless of their colour, creed or ethnic origin, He did not create them as equals; some He made pretty and some He made ugly; some he made intelligent and some He made imbeciles; some He made rich and some He made poor; some He made talented and some He made useless; some He made kings and queens and some He made serfs and maids; some He made lucky and some He made unlucky. This He did, so that He could test the integrity of those who are better off and the loyalty of those who are worse off on the strength of that which He has given them).
OTHER TRANSLATIONS BY MUHSIN, YUSUFALI, PICKTHALL AND SHAKIR:
MUHSIN:
155. And this is a blessed Book (the Qur'ân) which We have sent down, so follow it and fear Allâh (i.e. do not disobey His Orders), that you may receive mercy (i.e. saved from the torment of Hell).
156. Lest you (pagan Arabs) should say: "The Book was only sent down to two sects before us (the Jews and the Christians), and for our part, we were in fact unaware of what they studied."
157. Or lest you (pagan Arabs) should say: "If only the Book had been sent down to us, we would surely have been better guided than they (Jews and Christians)." So now has come unto you a clear proof (the Qur'ân) from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy. Who then does more wrong than one who rejects the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh and turns away therefrom? We shall requite those who turn away from Our Ayât with an evil torment, because of their turning away (from them). [Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 8, Page 95]
158. Do they then wait for anything other than that the angels should come to them, or that your Lord should come, or that some of the Signs of your Lord should come (i.e. portents of the Hour e.g., arising of the sun from the west)! The day that some of the Signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believed not before, nor earned good (by performing deeds of righteousness) through his Faith. Say: "Wait you! we (too) are waiting."[]
159. Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects)[], you (O Muhammad SAW) have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only with Allâh, Who then will tell them what they used to do.
160. Whoever brings a good deed (Islâmic Monotheism and deeds of obedience to Allâh and His Messenger SAW) shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit, and whoever brings an evil deed (polytheism, disbelief, hypocrisy, and deeds of disobedience to Allâh and His Messenger SAW) shall have only the recompense of the like thereof, and they will not be wronged.[]
161. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Truly, my Lord has guided me to a Straight Path, a right religion, the religion of Ibrâhim (Abraham), Hanifa [i.e. the true Islâmic Monotheism - to believe in One God (Allâh i.e. to worship none but Allâh, Alone)] and he was not of Al-Mushrikûn (see V.2:105)."
162. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
163. "He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims."
164. Say: "Shall I seek a lord other than Allâh, while He is the Lord of all things? No person earns any (sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then unto your Lord is your return, so He will tell you that wherein you have been differing."
165. And it is He Who has made you generations coming after generations, replacing each other on the earth. And He has raised you in ranks, some above others that He may try you in that which He has bestowed on you. Surely your Lord is Swift in retribution, and certainly He is OftForgiving, Most Merciful.
006.155
YUSUFALI: And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it
and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy:
PICKTHAL: And this is a blessed Scripture which We have revealed. So follow it
and ward off (evil), that ye may find mercy.
SHAKIR: And this is a Book We have revealed, blessed; therefore follow it and
guard (against evil) that mercy may be shown to you.
006.156
YUSUFALI: Lest ye should say: "The Book was sent down to two Peoples before us,
and for our part, we remained unacquainted with all that they learned by
assiduous study:"
PICKTHAL: Lest ye should say: The Scripture was revealed only to two sects
before us, and we in sooth were unaware of what they read;
SHAKIR: Lest you say that the Book was only revealed to two parties before us
and We were truly unaware of what they read.
006.157
YUSUFALI: Or lest ye should say: "If the Book had only been sent down to us, we
should have followed its guidance better than they." Now then hath come unto you
a clear (sign) from your Lord,- and a guide and a mercy: then who could do more
wrong than one who rejecteth Allah's signs, and turneth away therefrom? In good
time shall We requite those who turn away from Our signs, with a dreadful
penalty, for their turning away.
PICKTHAL: Or lest ye should say: If the Scripture had been revealed unto us, we
surely had been better guided than are they. Now hath there come unto you a
clear proof from your Lord, a guidance and mercy; and who doeth greater wrong
than he who denieth the revelations of Allah, and turneth away from them? We
award unto those who turn away from Our revelations an evil doom because of
their aversion.
SHAKIR: Or lest you should say: If the Book had been revealed to us, we would
certainly have been better guided than they, so indeed there has come to you
clear proof from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Who then is more unjust than
he who rejects Allah's communications and turns away from them? We will reward
those who turn away from Our communications with an evil chastisement because
they turned away.
006.158
YUSUFALI: Are they waiting to see if the angels come to them, or thy Lord
(Himself), or certain of the signs of thy Lord! the day that certain of the
signs of thy Lord do come, no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then
if it believed not before nor earned righteousness through its faith. Say: "Wait
ye: we too are waiting."
PICKTHAL: Wait they, indeed, for nothing less than that the angels should come
unto them, or thy Lord should come, or there should come one of the portents
from thy Lord? In the day when one of the portents from thy Lord cometh, its
belief availeth naught a soul which theretofore believed not, nor in its belief
earned good (by works). Say: Wait ye! Lo! We (too) are waiting.
SHAKIR: They do not wait aught but that the angels should come to them, or that
your Lord should come, or that some of the signs of your Lord should come. On
the day when some of the signs of your Lord shall come, its faith shall not
profit a soul which did not believe before, or earn good through its faith. Say:
Wait; we too are waiting.
006.159
YUSUFALI: As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou
hast no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah: He will in the
end tell them the truth of all that they did.
PICKTHAL: Lo! As for those who sunder their religion and become schismatics, no
concern at all hast thou with them. Their case will go to Allah, Who then will
tell them what they used to do.
SHAKIR: Surely they who divided their religion into parts and became sects, you
have no concern with them; their affair is only with Allah, then He will inform
them of what they did.
006.160
YUSUFALI: He that doeth good shall have ten times as much to his credit: He that
doeth evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil: no wrong shall be
done unto (any of) them.
PICKTHAL: Whoso bringeth a good deed will receive tenfold the like thereof,
while whoso bringeth an ill-deed will be awarded but the like thereof; and they
will not be wronged.
SHAKIR: Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it, and whoever
brings an evil deed, he shall be recompensed only with the like of it, and they
shall not be dealt with unjustly.
006.161
YUSUFALI: Say: "Verily, my Lord hath guided me to a way that is straight,- a
religion of right,- the path (trod) by Abraham the true in Faith, and he
(certainly) joined not gods with Allah."
PICKTHAL: Say: Lo! As for me, my Lord hath guided me unto a straight path, a
right religion, the community of Abraham, the upright, who was no idolater.
SHAKIR: Say: Surely, (as for) me, my Lord has guided me to the right path; (to)
a most right religion, the faith of Ibrahim the upright one, and he was not of
the polytheists.
006.162
YUSUFALI: Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my
death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds:
PICKTHAL: Say: Lo! my worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are
for Allah, Lord of the Worlds.
SHAKIR: Say. Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are
(all) for Allah, the Lord of the worlds;
006.163
YUSUFALI: No partner hath He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of those
who bow to His will.
PICKTHAL: He hath no partner. This am I commanded, and I am first of those who
surrender (unto Him).
SHAKIR: No associate has He; and this am I commanded, and I am the first of
those who submit.
006.164
YUSUFALI: Say: "Shall I seek for (my) Cherisher other than Allah, when He is the
Cherisher of all things (that exist)? Every soul draws the meed of its acts on
none but itself: no bearer of burdens can bear of burdens can bear the burden of
another. Your goal in the end is towards Allah: He will tell you the truth of
the things wherein ye disputed."
PICKTHAL: Say: Shall I seek another than Allah for Lord, when He is Lord of all
things? Each soul earneth only on its own account, nor doth any laden bear
another's load. Then unto your Lord is your return and He will tell you that
wherein ye differed.
SHAKIR: Say: What! shall I seek a Lord other than Allah? And He is the Lord of
all things; and no soul earns (evil) but against itself, and no bearer of burden
shall bear the burden of another; then to your Lord is your return, so He will
inform you of that in which you differed.
006.165
YUSUFALI: It is He Who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth: He
hath raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He
hath given you: for thy Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed
Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: He it is Who hath placed you as viceroys of the earth and hath exalted
some of you in rank above others, that He may try you by (the test of) that
which He hath given you. Lo! Thy Lord is swift in prosecution, and Lo! He verily
is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: And He it is Who has made you successors in the land and raised some of
you above others by (various) grades, that He might try you by what He has given
you; surely your Lord is quick to requite (evil), and He is most surely the
Forgiving, the Merciful.