18. [al- Kahf, Mecca 69 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:



وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ...   

18: 35.  He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul:

C2377. It was not wealth that ruined him, but the attitude of his mind. He was unjust, not so much to his neighbour, as to his own soul. In his love of the material, he forgot or openly defied the spiritual.

As verse 37 shows, he took his companion with him, to impress him with his own importance, but the companion was unmoved.

... قَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَذِهِ أَبَدًا ﴿٣٥﴾

He said, "I deem not that this will ever perish.

وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً...   

18: 36.  "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come:

... وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَى رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا ﴿٣٦﴾

even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange."

C2378. Here comes out the grasping spirit of the materialist.

In his mind "better" means more wealth and more power, of the kind he was enjoying in this life, although in reality, even what he had, rested on hollow foundations and was doomed to perish and bring him down with it.


Others version:


18: 35 [[ Context – giving parable of 2 men, one with vineyard and success]


Transliteration Wa dakhala jannatahu_ wa huwa za_limul li nafsih(i), qa_la ma_ azunnu an tabida ha_zihi abada_(w),



Wadakhala jannatahu wahuwa thalimun linafsihi qala ma athunnu an tabeeda hathihi abadan

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Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning

Muhammad Asad

 

And having [thus] sinned against himself, he entered his garden, saying, "I do not think that this will ever perish!

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M. M. Pickthall

 

And he went into his garden, while he (thus) wronged himself. He said: I think not that all this will ever perish.

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Shakir

 

And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said: I do not think that this will ever perish

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Yusuf Ali

 

He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul: He said, "I deem not that this will ever perish,

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[Al-Muntakhab]

 

In his wrongful state of mind which was prejudicial to his soul, he -the rich- entered his orchard exclaiming "I cannot imagine", he said, "that this orchard will ever perish in the wreck of time".

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[Progressive Muslims]

 

And he went back into his garden while he had wronged himself. He said: "I do not think that this will ever perish."




[ Ruby’s note – This wrong state of mind to feel secure when success takes place and to think that these would entail true success that is one’s wellbeing and contentment with life, and that these earthly successes are end in itself, are there in humanity. These vices must be understood and dealt with voluntarily in order to be truly successful and not let these come and work against one’s true interests and well-being. ]


18: 36

Pickthall I think not that the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back unto my Lord I surely shall find better than this as a resort.

Transliteration Wa ma_ azunnus sa_'ata qa_'imataw wa la'ir rudittu ila_ rabbi la'ajidanna khairam minha_ munqalaba_(n).