10. [Yunus, Mecca 51]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذَا أَذَقْنَا النَّاسَ رَحْمَةً مِّن بَعْدِ ضَرَّاء مَسَّتْهُمْ إِذَا لَهُم مَّكْرٌ فِي آيَاتِنَا...   

10: 21.  When We make mankind taste of some mercy after adversity hath touched them,

Behold! they take to plotting against our Signs!

...قُلِ اللّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَكْرًا...

Say: "Swifter to plan is Allah!"

...إنَّ رُسُلَنَا يَكْتُبُونَ مَا تَمْكُرُونَ ﴿٢١﴾  

Verily, Our Messengers record all the plots that ye make!

C1409. Man turns his thoughts in adversity to Allah. But as soon as the trouble is past, he not only forgets Him but actually strives against His cause.

But such people are poor ignorant creatures, not realising that the Universal Plan of Allah is swifter to stop their petty plans, and that though they fail, the record of them remains eternally against them. (R).

هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ...

10: 22.  He it is Who enableth you to traverse through land and sea;

...حَتَّى إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُواْ بِهَا...

so that ye even board ships --

they sail with them with a favorable wind, and they rejoice thereat;

...جَاءتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَاءهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ...

then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think they are being overwhelmed:

...دَعَوُاْ اللّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ ...

they cry unto Allah, sincerely offering (their) duty unto Him, saying,

...لَئِنْ أَنجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَـذِهِ لَنَكُونَنِّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ ﴿٢٢﴾

"If Thou dost deliver us from this, we shall truly show our gratitude!"

C1410. All the great inventions and discoveries on which man prides himself are the fruit of that genius and talent which Allah has freely given of His grace. But the spirit of man remains petty, as is illustrated by the parable from the sea.

How the heart of man rejoices when the ship goes smoothly with favourable winds!

How in adversity it turns, in terror and helplessness, to Allah, and makes vows for deliverance! and how those vows are disregarded as soon as the danger is past!

Cf. 6:63.

فَلَمَّا أَنجَاهُمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَبْغُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ...   

10: 23.  But when He delivereth them, Behold! they transgress insolently through the earth in defiance of right!

...يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُم...

O mankind!

your insolence is against your own souls --

C1411. In our insolence and pride we do not see how small and ephemeral is that part of us which is mortal. We shall see it at last when we appear before our Judge. In the meantime our ridiculous pretensions only hurt ourselves.

...مَّتَاعَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...

an enjoyment of the life of the Present:

...ثُمَّ إِلَينَا مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَنُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾  

in the end, to Us is your return, and We shall show you the truth of all that ye did.

Pickthall’s Version:

10: 21

Pickthall And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy after some adversity which had afflicted them, behold! they have some plot against Our revelations. Say: Allah is more swift in plotting. Lo! Our messengers write down that which ye plot.

Transliteration Wa iza_ azaqnan na_sa rahmatam mim ba'di darra_'a massathum iza_ lahum makrun fi a_ya_tina_, qulilla_hu asra'u makra_(n), inna rusulana_ yaktubu_na ma_ tamkuru_n(a).

10: 22

Pickthall He it is Who make you to go on the land and the sea till, when ye are in the ships and they sail with them with a fair breeze and they are glad therein, a storm wind reach them and the wave cometh unto them from every side and they deem that they are overwhelmed therein; (then) they cry unto Allah, making their faith pure for Him only; If Thou deliver us from this, we truly will be of the thankful.

Transliteration Huwal lazi yusayyirukum fil barri wal bahr(i), hatta_ iza_ kuntum fil fulk(i), wa jaraina bihim bi rihin tayyibatiw wa farihu_ biha_ ja_'atha_ rihun 'a_sifuw wa ja_'ahumul mauju min kulli maka_niw wa zannu_ annahum uhita bihim, da'awulla_ha mukhlisina lahud din(a), la'in anjaitana_ min ha_zihi lanaku_nanna minasy sya_kirin(a).

10: 23

Pickthall Yet when He hath delivered them, behold! they rebel in the earth wrongfully. O mankind! Your rebellion is only against yourselves. (Ye have) enjoyment of the life of the world; then unto Us is your return and We shall proclaim unto you what ye used to do.

Transliteration Falamma_ anja_hum iza_ hum yabgu_na fil ardi bi gairil haqq(i), ya_ ayyuhan na_su innama_ bagyukum 'ala_ anfusikum mata_'al haya_tid dunya_, summa ilaina_ marji'ukum fanunabbi'ukum bima_ kuntum ta'malu_n(a).

[[ Ali’s notes:-

409 Man turns his thoughts in adversity to Allah. But as soon as the trouble is past, he not only forgets Him but actually strives against His cause. But such people are poor ignorant creatures, not realizing that the Universal Plan of Allah is swifter to stop their petty plans, and that though they fail, the record of them remains eternally against them. (10.21)

1410 All the great inventions and discoveries on which man prides himself are the fruit of that genius and talent which Allah has freely given of His grace. But the spirit of man remains petty, as is illustrated by the parable from the sea. How the heart of man rejoices when the ship goes smoothly with favourable winds! How in adversity it turns, in terror and helplessness, to Allah, and makes vows for deliverance! and how those vows are disregarded as soon as the danger is past! Cf. vi. 63. (10.22)

1411 In our insolence and pride we do not see how small and ephemeral is that part of us which is mortal. We shall see it at last when we appear before our Judge. In the meantime our ridiculous pretensions only hurt ourselves. (10.23)]]