INTRODUCTION:
This Surah consists of 52 verses, 300 sentences, 1,256 letters and 2 Ruku’s
This Surah is called Nun as well as Qulum, the words with which it begins.
This too is one of the earliest surahs to be revealed at Makkah, but its subject matter shows that it was sent down at the time when opposition to the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) had grown very harsh and tyrannical.
It consists of three themes: Replies to the opponents objections, administration of warning and admonition to them, and exhortation to the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) to patience and constancy.
At the outset, the Holy Prophet has been addressed, to the effect: "The disbelievers call you a madman whereas the Book that you are presenting and the sublime conduct that you practise, are by themselves sufficient to refute their false accusations. Soon they will see as to who was mad and who was sane; therefore, do not at all yield to the din of opposition being kicked up against you, for all this is actually meant to cow you and make you resort to a compromise with them."
Then, in order to enlighten the common people the character of a prominent man from among the opponents, whom the people of Makkah fully well recognized, has been presented, without naming him: At that time, the Holy Prophet's pure and sublime conduct was before them, and every discerning eye could also see what sort of character and morals were possessed by the chiefs of Makkah, who were leading the opposition against him.
Then, in vv. 17-33, the parable of the owners of a garden has been presented, who after having been blessed by Allah turned ungrateful to Him, and did not heed the admonition of the best man among them when it was given them. Consequently, they were deprived of the blessing and they realized this, when all they had lay devastated. With this parable the people of Makkah have been warned to the effect: "With the appointment of the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) to Prophethood, you, O people of Makkah, too, have been put to a test similar to the one to which the owners of the garden had been put. If you do not listen to him, you too will be afflicted with a punishment in the world, and the punishment of the Hereafter is far greater."
Then, in vv. 34-47 continuously, the disbelievers have been admonished, in which the address sometimes turns to them directly and sometimes they are warned through the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace). A summary of what has been said in this regard, is this: Well being in the Hereafter inevitably belongs to those who spend their lives in the world in full consciousness of God. It is utterly against reason that the obedient servants should meet in the Hereafter the same fate as the guilty. There is absolutely no basis of the disbelievers misunderstanding that God will treat them in the manner they choose for themselves, whereas they have no guarantee for this. Those who are being called upon to bow before God in the world and they refuse to do so, would be unable to prostrate themselves on the Day of Resurrection even if they wanted to do so, and thus would stand disgraced and condemned. Having denied the Quran they cannot escape Divine punishment. The rein they are being given, has deluded them. They think that since they are not being punished in spite of their denial, they must be on the right path, whereas they are following the path of ruin. They have no reasonable ground for opposing the Messenger, for he is a preacher without any vested interest: he is not asking any reward of them for himself, and they cannot either make the claim that they know with certainty that he is not a true Messenger, nor that what he says is false.
In conclusion, the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been exhorted to the effect: "Bear with patience the hardships that you may have to face in the way of preaching the Faith till Allah's judgement arrives, and avoid the impatience which caused suffering and affliction to the Prophet Jonah (peace be on him)."
Maududi
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Section 1.
68 : 1
1. Noon waalqalami wama yasturoona
Nuun. By the pen and by that which they write with it!
68 : 2
2. Ma anta biniAAmati rabbika bimajnoonin
You are not, by the Grace of your Lord, a mad person!
68 : 3
3. Wa-inna laka laajran ghayra mamnoonin
And verily yours is a reward unimpeded!
68 : 4
4. Wa-innaka laAAala khuluqin AAatheemin
And verily yours is a disposition unblemished!
68 : 5
5. Fasatubsiru wayubsiroona
And now you will find out and they will find out -
68 : 6
6. Bi-ayyikumu almaftoonu
Who amongst you is mad!
68 : 7
7. Inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu biman dalla AAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bialmuhtadeena
Verily your Lord is best aware of him who has strayed away from His path and He is best aware of those who are on the right course!
68 : 8
8. Fala tutiAAi almukaththibeena
So succumb not to the repudiators -
68 : 9
9. Waddoo law tudhinu fayudhinoona
Who ardently wish for you to become trucial so that they too may become trucial!
68 : 10
10. Wala tutiAA kulla hallafin maheenin
Nor succumb to all and sundry who flout their oaths -
68 : 11
11. Hammazin mashsha-in binameemin
The mean and the slandermonger;
68 : 12
12. MannaAAin lilkhayri muAAtadin atheemin
He that impedes the righteous, the transgressor, the miscreant, -
68 : 13
13. AAutullin baAAda thalika zaneemin
The violent (and cruel) with all that base-born
68 : 14
14. An kana tha malin wabaneena
All because he has some wealth and some children!
68 : 15
15. Itha tutla AAalayhi ayatuna qala asateeru al-awwaleena
When Our revelations are recited to him, he says : 'Ah! Mere fables from the past!'
68 : 16
16. Sanasimuhu AAala alkhurtoomi
Soon We shall brand him on his proboscis!
68 : 17
17. Inna balawnahum kama balawna as-haba aljannati ith aqsamoo layasrimunnaha musbiheena
Verily We have tested them in the same way as We once tested the 'owners of the orchard' who had sworn that they would reap their harvest of fruits next morning -
68 : 18
18. Wala yastathnoona
Without making a proviso for the will of Allah!
68 : 19
19. Fatafa AAalayha ta-ifun min rabbika wahum na-imoona
Then a visitation from your Lord came upon it whilst they slept!
68 : 20
20. Faasbahat kaalssareemi
By morning the garden looked dark and desolate, its fruits already harvested!
68 : 21
21. Fatanadaw musbiheena
And at the crack of dawn they woke each other up -
68 : 22
22. Ani ighdoo AAala harthikum in kuntum sarimeena
Saying : 'Make haste to the garden, if you wish to reap!'
68 : 23
23. Faintalaqoo wahum yatakhafatoona
So they set out, saying to one another in mild whispers :
68 : 24
24. An la yadkhulannaha alyawma AAalaykum miskeenun
'No destitute will get a preview of our garden this day!'
68 : 25
25. Waghadaw AAala hardin qadireena
They reached early, their minds made up!
68 : 26
26. Falamma raawha qaloo inna ladalloona
But when they saw the state of the garden, they said : 'Verily we strayed away in error!
68 : 27
27. Bal nahnu mahroomoona
'Nay, but now we are the destitutes!'
68 : 28
28. Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum lawla tusabbihoona
The best among them said : 'Did I not say to you : Why do you not glorify Allah?'
68 : 29
29. Qaloo subhana rabbina inna kunna thalimeena
Only then did they say : 'Glorified be our Lord! Verily we have done wrong!'
68 : 30
30. Faaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdin yatalawamoona
Then they got at each other with mutual recriminations -
68 : 31
31. Qaloo ya waylana inna kunna tagheena
And said : 'May we be damned! Nay, but we were intractable!
68 : 32
32. AAasa rabbuna an yubdilana khayran minha inna ila rabbina raghiboona
'It may be that our Lord will give us something better in the place of this! Verily let us turn to the Lord!'
68 : 33
33. Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona
Such was their punishment! And verily the punishment in the Hereafter is harshest of all, if they but knew! (R)
Section 2
Context of Revelation : The following verses were revealed when the idolaters said that, even if they were raised again after their death, they would nonetheless be better off than the believers and that their status would be higher in the Hereafter, as it was in the life of this world!
68 : 34
34. Inna lilmuttaqeena AAinda rabbihim jannati alnnaAAeemi
Verily for those who proscribe evil, there are Gardens of bliss with their Lord!
68 : 35
35. AfanajAAalu almuslimeena kaalmujrimeena
Is it ever possible that We shall treat the true believers the same as those who are sinful?
68 : 36
36. Ma lakum kayfa tahkumoona
What is wrong with you? How flawed is your judgement!
68 : 37
37. Am lakum kitabun feehi tadrusoona
Or have you a Scripture which lays down -
68 : 38
38. Inna lakum feehi lama takhayyaroona
That you shall always get what you cherish?
68 : 39
39. Am lakum aymanun AAalayna balighatun ila yawmi alqiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumoona
Or are there any covenants which bind Us until the Day of Judgement that yours shall be all that which you claim?
68 : 40
40. Salhum ayyuhum bithalika zaAAeemun
Ask them (O Mohammed) who amongst them will vouch for that?
68 : 41
41. Am lahum shurakao falya/too bishuraka-ihim in kanoo sadiqeena
Or have they a 'Partner' who does? Then let them produce this 'Partner' - if they are of the truthful!
* * *
68 : 42
42. Yawma yukshafu AAan saqin wayudAAawna ila alssujoodi fala yastateeAAoona
On the Day when it befalls in earnest, they are summoned to prostrate themselves but will not have the strength to do it -
68 : 43
43. KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun waqad kanoo yudAAawna ila alssujoodi wahum salimoona
Their eyes downcast and mortified by opprobrium! And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves whilst they were still strong enough!
68 : 44
44. Fatharnee waman yukaththibu bihatha alhadeethi sanastadrijuhum min haythu la yaAAlamoona
So leave Me to deal with those that refute this asseveration and We will take them step by step to a goal which they expect the least!
68 : 45
45. Waomlee lahum inna kaydee mateenun
And yet I tolerate them, for verily My strategy happens to be unassailable!
68 : 46
46. Am tas-aluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muthqaloona
Or is it that you (O Mohammed) seek of them a remuneration which has straddled them with burden of penury?
68 : 47
47. Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboona
Or does the Unseen belong to them so that they can insert in it whatever they fancy?
68 : 48
48. Faisbir lihukmi rabbika wala takun kasahibi alhooti ith nada wahuwa makthoomun
So await you the command of your Lord and be not like him (Jonah) of the fish who cried for help only when he was in extreme anguish!
68 : 49
49. Lawla an tadarakahu niAAmatun min rabbihi lanubitha bialAAara-i wahuwa mathmoomun
If the favour of his Lord had not reached in time, he would have been abandoned on the island whilst he was still in a state of guilt!
68 : 50
50. Faijtabahu rabbuhu fajaAAalahu mina alssaliheena
But his Lord chose him and entered him amongst the righteous.
68 : 51
51. Wa-in yakadu allatheena kafaroo layuzliqoonaka bi-absarihim lamma samiAAoo alththikra wayaqooloona innahu lamajnoonun
And verily those who disbelieve wish they could strike you down with the evil in their eyes whenever they hear the recitation of the Reminder and say : 'Verily he is irretrievably mad!'
68 : 52
52. Wama huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena
Though it is nothing less than a Reminder for all mankind! (R)
MUHSIN:
1. Nûn.
[These letters (Nûn, etc.) are one of the miracles of the Qur'ân, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings].
By the pen and what the (angels) write (in the Records of men).
2. You (O Muhammad SAW) are not, by the Grace of your Lord, a madman.
3. And verily, for you (O Muhammad SAW) will be an endless reward.
4. And verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are on an exalted standard of character.
5. You will see, and they will see,
6. Which of you is afflicted with madness.
7. Verily, your Lord knows better, who (among men) has gone astray from His Path, and He knows better those who are guided.
8. So (O Muhammad SAW) obey not the deniers [(of Islâmic Monotheism those who belie the Verses of Allâh), the Oneness of Allâh, and the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad SAW), etc.][]
9. They wish that you should compromise (in religion out of courtesy) with them, so they (too) would compromise with you.
10. And obey not everyone who swears much, and is considered worthless,
11. A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
12. Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,
13. Cruel, after all that base-born (of illegitimate birth),
14. (He was so) because he had wealth and children.
15. When Our Verses (of the Qur'ân) are recited to him, he says: "Tales of the men of old!"
16. We shall brand him over the nose!
17. Verily, We have tried them as We tried the people of the garden, when they swore to pluck the fruits of the (garden) in the morning,
18. Without saying: Inshâ' Allâh (If Allâh will).
19. Then there passed by on the (garden) something (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep.
20. So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins).
21. Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke,
22. Saying: "Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits."
23. So they departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying),
24. No Miskîn (poor man) shall enter upon you into it today.
25. And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom).
26. But when they saw the (garden), they said: "Verily, we have gone astray,"
27. (Then they said): "Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!"
28. The best among them said: "Did I not tell you: why do you not say: Inshâ' Allâh (If Allâh will)."
29. They said: "Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.)."
30. Then they turned, one against another, in blaming.
31. They said: "Woe to us! Verily, we were Tâghûn (transgressors and disobedient, etc.)
32. We hope that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this. Truly, we turn to our Lord (wishing for good that He may forgive our sins, and reward us in the Hereafter)."
33. Such is the punishment (in this life), but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they but knew.
34. Verily, for the Muttaqûn (pious and righteous persons - see V.2:2) are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord.
35. Shall We then treat the (submitting) Muslims like the Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers, etc.)?
36. What is the matter with you? How judge you?
37. Or have you a Book through which you learn.
38. That you shall have all that you choose?
39. Or you have oaths from Us, reaching to the Day of Resurrection that yours will be what you judge.
40. Ask them, which of them will stand surety for that!
41. Or have they "partners"? Then let them bring their "partners" if they are truthful!
42. (Remember) the Day when the Shin[] shall be laid bare (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) and they shall be called to prostrate (to Allâh), but they (hypocrites) shall not be able to do so,
43. Their eyes will be cast down, ignominy will cover them; they used to be called to prostrate (offer prayers), while they were healthy and good (in the life of the world, but they did not).
44. Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'ân. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.
45. And I will grant them a respite. Verily, My Plan is strong.
46. Or is it that you (O Muhammad SAW) ask them a wage, so that they are heavily burdened with debt?
47. Or that the Ghaib (unseen here in this Verse it means Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz) is in their hands, so that they can write it down?
48. So wait with patience for the Decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish, when he cried out (to Us) while he was in deep sorrow. (See the Qur'ân, Verse 21:87).
49. Had not a Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been (left in the stomach of the fish, but We forgave him), so he was cast off on the naked shore, while he was to be blamed.
50. But his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
51. And verily, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes through hatredness when they hear the Reminder (the Qur'ân), and they say: "Verily, he (Muhammad SAW) is a madman!"
52. But it is nothing else than a Reminder to all the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
068.001
YUSUFALI: Nun. By the
Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,-
PICKTHAL: Nun. By the
pen and that which they write (therewith),
SHAKIR: Noon. I swear
by the pen and what the angels write,
068.002
YUSUFALI: Thou art
not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.
PICKTHAL: Thou art
not, for thy Lord's favour unto thee, a madman.
SHAKIR: By the grace
of your Lord you are not mad.
068.003
YUSUFALI: Nay, verily
for thee is a Reward unfailing:
PICKTHAL: And lo!
thine verily will be a reward unfailing.
SHAKIR: And most
surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off.
068.004
YUSUFALI: And thou (standest)
on an exalted standard of character.
PICKTHAL: And lo! thou
art of a tremendous nature.
SHAKIR: And most
surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.
068.005
YUSUFALI: Soon wilt
thou see, and they will see,
PICKTHAL: And thou
wilt see and they will see
SHAKIR: So you shall
see, and they (too) shall see,
068.006
YUSUFALI: Which of you
is afflicted with madness.
PICKTHAL: Which of you
is the demented.
SHAKIR: Which of you
is afflicted with madness.
068.007
YUSUFALI: Verily it is
thy Lord that knoweth best, which (among men) hath strayed from His Path: and He
knoweth best those who receive (true) Guidance.
PICKTHAL: Lo! thy Lord
is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those
who walk aright.
SHAKIR: Surely your
Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of
the right course.
068.008
YUSUFALI: So hearken
not to those who deny (the Truth).
PICKTHAL: Therefor
obey not thou the rejecters
SHAKIR: So do not
yield to the rejecters.
068.009
YUSUFALI: Their desire
is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.
PICKTHAL: Who would
have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.
SHAKIR: They wish that
you should be pliant so they (too) would be pliant.
068.010
YUSUFALI: Heed not the
type of despicable men,- ready with oaths,
PICKTHAL: Neither obey
thou each feeble oath-monger,
SHAKIR: And yield not
to any mean swearer
068.011
YUSUFALI: A slanderer,
going about with calumnies,
PICKTHAL: Detracter,
spreader abroad of slanders,
SHAKIR: Defamer, going
about with slander
068.012
YUSUFALI: (Habitually)
hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,
PICKTHAL: Hinderer of
the good, transgressor, malefactor
SHAKIR: Forbidder of
good, outstepping the limits, sinful,
068.013
YUSUFALI: Violent (and
cruel),- with all that, base-born,-
PICKTHAL: Greedy
therewithal, intrusive.
SHAKIR: Ignoble,
besides all that, base-born;
068.014
YUSUFALI: Because he
possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.
PICKTHAL: It is
because he is possessed of wealth and children
SHAKIR: Because he
possesses wealth and sons.
068.015
YUSUFALI: When to him
are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!
PICKTHAL: That, when
Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.
SHAKIR: When Our
communications are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore.
068.016
YUSUFALI: Soon shall
We brand (the beast) on the snout!
PICKTHAL: We shall
brand him on the nose.
SHAKIR: We will brand
him on the nose.
068.017
YUSUFALI: Verily We
have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they resolved to
gather the fruits of the (garden) in the morning.
PICKTHAL: Lo! We have
tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed that they would
pluck its fruit next morning,
SHAKIR: Surely We will
try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore that they would
certainly cut off the produce in the morning,
068.018
YUSUFALI: But made no
reservation, ("If it be Allah's Will").
PICKTHAL: And made no
exception (for the Will of Allah);
SHAKIR: And were not
willing to set aside a portion (for the poor).
068.019
YUSUFALI: Then there
came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around,
while they were asleep.
PICKTHAL: Then a
visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept
SHAKIR: Then there
encompassed it a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping.
068.020
YUSUFALI: So the
(garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had
been gathered).
PICKTHAL: And in the
morning it was as if plucked.
SHAKIR: So it became
as black, barren land.
068.021
YUSUFALI: As the
morning broke, they called out, one to another,-
PICKTHAL: And they
cried out one unto another in the morning,
SHAKIR: And they
called out to each other in the morning,
068.022
YUSUFALI: "Go ye to
your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."
PICKTHAL: Saying: Run
unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).
SHAKIR: Saying: Go
early to your tilth if you would cut (the produce).
068.023
YUSUFALI: So they
departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-
PICKTHAL: So they went
off, saying one unto another in low tones:
SHAKIR: So they went,
while they consulted together secretly,
068.024
YUSUFALI: "Let not a
single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."
PICKTHAL: No needy man
shall enter it to-day against you.
SHAKIR: Saying: No
poor man shall enter it today upon you.
068.025
YUSUFALI: And they
opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.
PICKTHAL: They went
betimes, strong in (this) purpose.
SHAKIR: And in the
morning they went, having the power to prevent.
068.026
YUSUFALI: But when
they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:
PICKTHAL: But when
they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error!
SHAKIR: But when they
saw it, they said: Most surely we have gone astray
068.027
YUSUFALI: "Indeed we
are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"
PICKTHAL: Nay, but we
are desolate!
SHAKIR: Nay! we are
made to suffer privation.
068.028
YUSUFALI: Said one of
them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, 'Why not glorify
(Allah)?'"
PICKTHAL: The best
among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah)?
SHAKIR: The best of
them said: Did I not say to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)?
068.029
YUSUFALI: They said:
"Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"
PICKTHAL: They said:
Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong-doers.
SHAKIR: They said:
Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust.
068.030
YUSUFALI: Then they
turned, one against another, in reproach.
PICKTHAL: Then some of
them drew near unto others, self-reproaching.
SHAKIR: Then some of
them advanced against others, blaming each other.
068.031
YUSUFALI: They said:
"Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!
PICKTHAL: They said:
Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.
SHAKIR: Said they: O
woe to us! surely we were inordinate:
068.032
YUSUFALI: "It may be
that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do
turn to Him (in repentance)!"
PICKTHAL: It may be
that our Lord will give us better than this in place thereof. Lo! we beseech our
Lord.
SHAKIR: Maybe, our
Lord will give us instead one better than it; surely to our Lord do we make our
humble petition.
068.033
YUSUFALI: Such is the
Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter,- if
only they knew!
PICKTHAL: Such was the
punishment. And verily the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they did
but know.
SHAKIR: Such is the
chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is greater, did
they but know!
068.034
YUSUFALI: Verily, for
the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.
PICKTHAL: Lo! for
those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.
SHAKIR: Surely those
who guard (against evil) shall have with their Lord gardens of bliss.
068.035
YUSUFALI: Shall We
then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?
PICKTHAL: Shall We
then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty?
SHAKIR: What! shall We
then make (that is, treat) those who submit as the guilty?
068.036
YUSUFALI: What is the
matter with you? How judge ye?
PICKTHAL: What aileth
you? How foolishly ye judge!
SHAKIR: What has
happened to you? How do you judge?
068.037
YUSUFALI: Or have ye a
book through which ye learn-
PICKTHAL: Or have ye a
scripture wherein ye learn
SHAKIR: Or have you a
book wherein you read,
068.038
YUSUFALI: That ye
shall have, through it whatever ye choose?
PICKTHAL: That ye
shall indeed have all that ye choose?
SHAKIR: That you have
surely therein what you choose?
068.039
YUSUFALI: Or have ye
Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye
shall have whatever ye shall demand?
PICKTHAL: Or have ye a
covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall
be all that ye ordain?
SHAKIR: Or have you
received from Us an agreement confirmed by an oath extending to the day of
resurrection that you shall surely have what you demand?
068.040
YUSUFALI: Ask thou of
them, which of them will stand surety for that!
PICKTHAL: Ask them (O
Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that!
SHAKIR: Ask them which
of them will vouch for that,
068.041
YUSUFALI: Or have they
some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they
are truthful!
PICKTHAL: Or have they
other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful
SHAKIR: Or have they
associates if they are truthful.
068.042
YUSUFALI: The Day that
the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but
they shall not be able,-
PICKTHAL: On the day
when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but
are not able,
SHAKIR: On the day
when there shall be a severe affliction, and they shall be called upon to make
obeisance, but they shall not be able,
068.043
YUSUFALI: Their eyes
will be cast down,- ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned
aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole, (and had refused).
PICKTHAL: With eyes
downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate
themselves while they were yet unhurt.
SHAKIR: Their looks
cast down, abasement shall overtake them; and they were called upon to make
obeisance indeed while yet they were safe.
068.044
YUSUFALI: Then leave
Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from
directions they perceive not.
PICKTHAL: Leave Me (to
deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on
by steps from whence they know not.
SHAKIR: So leave Me
and him who rejects this announcement; We will overtake them by degrees, from
whence they perceive not:
068.045
YUSUFALI: A (long)
respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.
PICKTHAL: Yet I bear
with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.
SHAKIR: And I do bear
with them, surely My plan is firm.
068.046
YUSUFALI: Or is it
that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of
debt?-
PICKTHAL: Or dost thou
(Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed?
SHAKIR: Or do you ask
from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?
068.047
YUSUFALI: Or that the
Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?
PICKTHAL: Or is the
Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof)?
SHAKIR: Or have they
(the knowledge of) the unseen, so that they write (it) down?
068.048
YUSUFALI: So wait with
patience for the Command of thy Lord, and be not like the Companion of the
Fish,- when he cried out in agony.
PICKTHAL: But wait
thou for thy Lord's decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in
despair.
SHAKIR: So wait
patiently for the judgment of your Lord, and be not like the companion of the
fish, when he cried while he was in distress.
068.049
YUSUFALI: Had not
Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked
shore, in disgrace.
PICKTHAL: Had it not
been that favour from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the
wilderness while he was reprobate.
SHAKIR: Were it not
that favor from his Lord had overtaken him, he would certainly have been cast
down upon the naked Found while he was blamed.
068.050
YUSUFALI: Thus did his
Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.
PICKTHAL: But his Lord
chose him and placed him among the righteous.
SHAKIR: Then his Lord
chose him, and He made him of the good.
068.051
YUSUFALI: And the
Unbelievers would almost trip thee up with their eyes when they hear the
Message; and they say: "Surely he is possessed!"
PICKTHAL: And lo!
those who disbelieve would fain disconcert thee with their eyes when they hear
the Reminder, and they say: Lo! he is indeed mad;
SHAKIR: And those who
disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the reminder,
and they say: Most surely he is mad.
068.052
YUSUFALI: But it is
nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.
PICKTHAL: When it is
naught else than a Reminder to creation.
SHAKIR: And it is
naught but a reminder to the nations.