39 Az-Zumar (The Throngs)

Mecca Period 59 [75 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ يَا قَوْمِ اعْمَلُوا عَلَى مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّي عَامِلٌ...

39: 39. Say:

"O my people!

Do whatever ye can: I will do (my part):

C4302. Cf. 11:121 and n. 1624a.

... فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾

but soon will ye know --

مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ ...

39: 40. "Who it is to whom come a Penalty of ignominy,

C4303. Cf. 11:93.

The two clauses, about those who suffer a Penalty of ignominy and those on whom descends a lasting Penalty, apparently refer to the same persons in two different aspects:

- they suffer shame, and

- their punishment endures.

... وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ ﴿٤٠﴾

and on whom descends a Penalty that abides."

Asad’s Version:

39:39 [Asad] Say: "O my [truth-denying] people! Do yet all that may be within your power, [whereas] I, behold, shall labour [in God's way]: in time you will come to know

(39:40) who it is that shall be visited [in this world] by suffering which will cover him with ignominy, 42 and upon whom long-lasting suffering shall alight [in the life to come] ! "

Yuksel’s version:

39:38 If you ask them: "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they will say, "God." Say, "Do you see what you call on besides God, If God wanted any harm for me, can they alleviate His harm? Or if He wanted a mercy for me, can they hold back his mercy?" Say, "God is sufficient for me; in Him those who trust shall put their trust."

39:39 Say, "O my people, work according to your way, and I will work.

39:40 You will come to know to whom the humiliating retribution will come, and on whom descends the eternal retribution."