21. Surah Al Anbiya
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
جَعَلْنَا
لِبَشَرٍ مِّن
قَبْلِكَ
الْخُلْدَ...
21:34. We granted not to any man before thee permanent life (here):
C2696. Life on this planet without death has not been granted to any man. The taunt of the Unbelievers at the holy Prophet was therefore futile.
Could any of them live without death at some time or other?
Could they name any one who did?
...أَفَإِن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾
if then thou shouldst die, would they live permanently?
كُلُّ
نَفْسٍ
ذَائِقَةُ
الْمَوْتِ...
21:35. Every soul shall have a taste of death:
The soul does not die, but when it separates from the body at the death of the body, the soul gets a taste of death.
In our life of probation on this earth, our virtue and faith are tested by many things: some are tested by calamities, and some by the good things of this life. If we prove our true mettle, we pass our probation with success.
In any case all must return to Allah, and then will our life be appraised at its true value.
...وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً...
and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial:
...وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾
to Us must ye return.
وَإِذَا
رَآكَ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُوا إِن
يَتَّخِذُونَكَ
إِلَّا هُزُوًا...
21: 36. When the Unbelievers see thee, they treat thee not except with ridicule.
...أَهَذَا الَّذِي يَذْكُرُ آلِهَتَكُمْ ...
"Is this," (they say), "the one who talks of your gods?"
C2698. To the godly man the issue between false worship and true worship is a very serious matter.
To the skeptics and unbelievers it is only a joke. They take it lightly, and laugh at the godly man. They not only laugh at him, but they blaspheme when the name of the One True God is mentioned.
The reply to this is in the next verse.
...وَهُم بِذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَنِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾
And they blaspheme at the mention of (Allah) Most Gracious!
خُلِقَ
الْإِنسَانُ
مِنْ عَجَلٍ...
21: 37. Man is a creature of haste:
C2699. Haste is in the very bone and marrow of man. If he is granted respite for his own sake, in order that he may have a further chance of repentance and coming back to Allah, he says impatiently and incredulously:
"Bring on the Punishment quickly, that I may see if what you say is true!"
Alas, it is too true! When the Punishment actually comes near and he sees it, he will not want it hastened. He will want more time and further delay! Poor creature of haste!
...سَأُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِي فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونِ ﴿٣٧﴾
soon (enough) will I show you My Signs: then ye will not ask Me to hasten them!
Asad’s Version:
21:34
AND [remind those who deny thee, O Prophet, 42 that] never have We granted life everlasting to any mortal before thee: 43 but do they, perchance, hope that although thou must die, they will live forever? 44
21:35
Every human being is bound to taste death; and We test you [all] through the bad and the good [things of life] by way of trial: and unto Us you all must return. 45
(21:36} But [thus it is:] whenever they who are bent on denying the truth consider thee, 46 they make thee but a target of their mockery, [saying to one another,] "Is this the one who speaks [so contemptuously] of your gods?" 47 And yet, it is they themselves who, at [every] mention of the Most Gracious, are wont to deny
the truth ! 48
(21:37} Man is a creature of haste; 4 ' [but in time] I shall make obvious to you [the truth of] My messages: do not, then, ask Me to hasten [it] ! 50
[[ Asad’s notes -
40 See 16:15 and the corresponding note 1 1 .
41 See note 4 on the first sentence of 13:2, which seems to have a similar meaning.
42 This relates to the objection of the unbelievers, mentioned in verse 3 of this surah, that Muhammad is "but a mortal like yourselves", and connects also with verses 7-8, which stress that all of God's apostles were but mortal men (cf 3 : 144).
43 The obvious implication is, "and so We shall not grant it unto thee, either". Cf. 39:30 - "thou art bound to die".
44 Lit., "but if, then, thou shouldst die, will they live forever?" - implying an assumption on
their part that they would not be called to account on death and resurrection.
45 Lit., "you shall be brought back", i.e., for judgment.
46 Lit., "see thee" : but since this verb has here obviously an abstract meaning, relating to the
message propounded by the Prophet, it is best rendered as above.
47 Sc, "and dares to deny their reality although he is a mere mortal like ourselves?"
48 I.e., although they resent any aspersion cast on whatever things or forces they unthinkingly worship, they refuse to acknowledge God's planning will manifested in every aspect of His creation.
49 Lit, "is created out of haste" - i.e., he is by nature imbued with impatience: cf. last sentence of 17:11. In the present context this refers to man's impatience regarding things to come: in this case - as is obvious from the sequence - his hasty refusal to believe in God's coming judgment
50 Cf. 16:1 - "God's judgment is [bound to] come: do not; then, call for its speedy advent! " ]]