18.Surah Al Kahf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
مَنَعَ النَّاسَ
أَن يُؤْمِنُوا
إِذْ جَاءهُمُ
الْهُدَى
وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا
رَبَّهُمْ...
18: 55. And what is there to keep back men from believing, now that Guidance has come to them, nor from praying for forgiveness from their Lord,
... إِلَّا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ ...
but that (they ask that) the ways of the ancients be repeated with them,
C2399. But man's obstinacy or contrariness asks or calls for a repetition of what happened to the wicked and those who rejected Faith in ancient times.
Out of curiosity, or by way of challenge, they seem to court the Punishment and ask that it be brought to pass at once.
But it will come soon enough, and then they will think it too early! Cf. 13:6 and n. 1810.
... أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ قُبُلًا ﴿٥٥﴾
or the Wrath be brought to them face to face?
Other versions:
Wama manaAAa alnnasa an yu/minoo ith jaahumu alhuda wayastaghfiroo rabbahum illa an ta/tiyahum sunnatu al-awwaleena aw ya/tiyahumu alAAathabu qubulan |
18:55 al-Kahf, Mecca |
Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
for, what is there to keep people from attaining to faith now
that guidance has come unto them, and from asking their
Sustainer to forgive them their sins - unless it be [their
wish] that the fate of the [sinful] people of ancient times
should befall them [as well], or that the [ultimate] suffering
should befall them in the hereafter?
And naught hindereth mankind from believing when the guidance
cometh unto them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord
unless (it be that they wish) that the judgment of the men of
old should come upon them or (that) they should be confronted
with the Doom.
And nothing prevents men from believing when the guidance
comes to them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord,
except
that what happened to the ancients should overtake them,
or that the chastisement should come face to face with them.
And what is there to keep back men from believing, now that
Guidance has come to them, nor from praying for forgiveness
from their Lord, but that (they ask that) the ways of the
ancients be repeated with them, or the Wrath be brought to
them face to face?
What kept people back from acknowledging and accepting the
spirit of truth presented to them to guide them into all truth
and inspire them to invoke their Creator's mercy and
forgiveness but to rest content until they are wedded to the
same calamities wedding those of old or to perceive through
sense of sight the torment destined to be laid upon the
damned!
And what prevented the people from believing when the guidance
came to them, and to seek forgiveness from their Lord Are they
waiting for what happened to the people of old to come to
them, or that the retribution be brought to them face to face
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