40 Ghafir (Forgiving)/al mumin

Mecca 60 [85 verses]

Asad’s Version:

40:4 NONE BUT THOSE who are bent on denying the truth would call God's messages in

question. But let it not deceive thee that they seem to be able to do as they please on earth:

(40:5) to the truth gave the lie, before their time, the people of Noah and, after them, all those [others] who were leagued together [against God's message-bearers]; 2 and each of those communities schemed against the apostle sent unto them, 3 aiming to lay hands on him; and they contended [against his message) with fallacious arguments, so as to render void the truth thereby: but then I took them to task - and how awesome was My retribution!

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

مَا يُجَادِلُ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا...

40: 4. None can dispute about the Signs of Allah but the Unbelievers.

C4359. Allah's knowledge and attributes are perfect, and everything around us proclaims this. We are surrounded by His Signs. It is only want of Faith that will make people dispute about them.

... فَلَا يَغْرُرْكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمْ فِي الْبِلَادِ ﴿٤﴾

Let not, then, their strutting about through the land deceive thee!

C4360. Cf. 3:196.

Their strutting about shows how little they can read the Signs.

كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَالْأَحْزَابُ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ...

40: 5. But (there were people) before them, who denied (the Signs) -- the People of Noah, and the confederates (of Evil) after them;

C4361. Cf. 38:11-13, and n. 4158.

All the hosts of wickedness collected together from history will have no power against Allah's Truth, or the Messenger of that Truth, or Allah's holy Plan for all His Creation.

... وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ...

and every People plotted against their prophet, to seize him,

... وَجَادَلُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ...

and disputed by means of vanities, therewith to condemn the truth;

C4362. Whenever a great or vital Truth is proclaimed and renewed, there are always shallow minds that are ready to dispute about it! And what petty and vain arguments they advance! They think they can discredit or condemn the Truth in this way, or render "of none effect" Allah's Plan. But they are mistaken. If they seem to succeed for a time, that is merely their trial. They may try to plan and plot against Allah's men. But their plots will fail in the long run. They will themselves be caught in their own snares. And then, how terrible will be their Punishment!

... فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ...

but it was I that seized them!

... فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ ﴿٥﴾

And how (terrible), was My Requital!

C4363. Cf. 13:32.