10. Surah Yunus
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّمَا
مَثَلُ الْحَيَاةِ
الدُّنْيَا
كَمَاء أَنزَلْنَاهُ
مِنَ السَّمَاء...
10: 24. The likeness of the life of the present is as the rain which We send down from the skies:
C1412. Another beautiful Parable, explaining the nature of our present life.
The rain comes down in drops and mingles with the earth. Through it, by Allah's matchless artistry, the womb of the earth is made fruitful. All kinds of good, useful, and beautiful grains, vegetables, and fruits are produced for men and animals. The earth is covered in its bravery of green and gold and all kinds of colours.
Perhaps the "owner" takes all the credit to himself, and thinks that this will last eternally. A hailstorm or a blast, a frost or a volcanic eruption, comes and destroys it, or it may be even normally, that the time of harvest comes, and the fields and orchards are stripped bare by some blight or disease.
Where is the beauty and bravery of yesterday?
All that is left is dust and ashes!
What more can we get from this physical material life?
... فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالأَنْعَامُ...
by its mingling arises the produce of the earth -- which provides food for men and animals:
...حَتَّىَ إِذَا أَخَذَتِ الأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَازَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَا أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَيْهَآ...
(it grows) till the earth is clad with its golden ornaments and is decked out (in beauty):
the people to whom it belongs think they have all powers of disposal over it:
...أَتَاهَا أَمْرُنَا لَيْلاً أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَاهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَن لَّمْ تَغْنَ بِالأَمْسِ...
there reaches it Our command by night or by day, and We make it like a harvest clean-mown, as if it had not flourished only the day before!
...كَذَلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾
Thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who reflect.
Other versions:
10: 24
Asad The parable of this life of this world is but that of rain which We send down from the sky, and which is absorbed by the plants of the earth whereof men and animals draw nourishment, until – when the earth has assumed its artful adornment and has been embellished, and they who dwell on it believe that they have gained mastery over it – there comes down upon it Our judgment, by night or by day, and We cause it to become a field mown down, as if there had been no yesterday. Thus clearly do We spell out these messages unto people who think!
Pickthall The similitude of the life of the world is only as water which We send down from the sky, then the earth's growth of that which men and cattle eat mingleth with it till, when the earth hath taken on her ornaments and is embellished, and her people deem that they are masters of her, Our commandment cometh by night or by day and we make it as reaped corn as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We expound the revelations for people who reflect.
Yuksel When Humans Are Intoxicated With Arrogance Because of Their Technological Achievements
10:24 The example of the worldly life is like water which has come down from the sky; it mixed with the plants of the earth from what people and the livestock eat. Then the earth takes its attractions and becomes glamorous, and its inhabitants think that they have mastered it. Then Our judgment comes by night or by day, so We make it a wasteland as if it never prospered yesterday! It is such that We clarify the signs to a people who think.*
Transliteration Innama_ masalul haya_tid dunya_ ka ma_'in anzalna_hu minas sama_'i fa-khtalata bihi naba_tul ardi mimma_ ya'kulun na_su wal an'a_m(u), hatta_ iza_ akhazatil ardu zukhrufaha_ wa-zzayyanat wa zanna ahluha_ annahum qa_diru_na 'alaiha_ ata_ha_ amruna_ lailan au naha_ran fa ja'alna_ha_ hasidan ka allam tagna bil ams(i), kaza_lika nufassilul a_ya_ti li qaumiy yatafakkaru_n(a).
[[Ruby’s note 10:24 – This metaphor of life is conveying a general sequence of emotions and events that often take place for many people in life. When things look good and appear successful in life we often do not reflect on the true cause and purpose of that success and its temporary nature. A true believer should neither be puffed up with the glamorous things in this life when these come by nor he/she should be depressed when these things are absent or less in life. One should remain humble and thankful for all the gifts of life and enjoy these with the right attitude without getting engrossed with these, obsessed with life and forgetful about the true purposes of these exciting things and temporary achievements of life: these could be tests of one’s faith. One’s attitude and responses towards such events and a state decide on the true success and failure of life. Failure or destruction comes when one becomes arrogant and possessive about one’s gifts and endowments in life and become obsessed with this life and thinks these are due to and belongs to him/her. That is when failure comes and these gifts are taken away. On the other hand one’s true success comes when one uses these gifts and endowments not only for fulfilling his/her own life but to share these with others and for others and in the service of God. This truth manifests in various ways in life: one should always remain alert and vigilant about the signs that are being brought before him/her to receive wisdom, guidance and Mercy.]]
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18.Surah Al Kahf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم
مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ
الدُّنْيَا...
18: 45. Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world:
... كَمَاء أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاء فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ...
it is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it,
... فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ...
but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter:
C2386. Rain-water is a good thing in itself, but it does not last, and you can build no solid foundations on it.
It is soon absorbed in the earth, and produces the flourishing appearance of grass and vegetation-for a time. Soon these decay, and become as dry stubble, which the least wind from any quarter will blow about like a thing of no importance.
The water is gone, and so is the vegetation to which it lent a brave show of luxuriance temporarily. Such is the life of this world, contrasted with the inner and real Life, which looks to the Hereafter.
Allah is the only enduring Power we can look to, supreme over all.
... وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا ﴿٤٥﴾
it is (only) Allah Who prevails over all things.
الْمَالُ
وَالْبَنُونَ
زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ
الدُّنْيَا...
18: 46. Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world:
... وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦﴾
but the things that endure, Good Deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes.
C2387. Other things are fleeting: but Good Deeds have a lasting value in the sight of Allah. They are best as (or for) rewards in two ways:
1. they flow from us by the Grace of Allah, and are themselves rewards for our Faith:
2. they become the foundation of our hopes for the highest rewards in the Hereafter.
Other versions:
18: 45
Asad And propound unto them the parable of the life of this world: [it is] like the water which We send down from the skies, and which is absorbed by the plants of the earth: but [in time] they turn into dry stubble which the winds blow freely about.
Pickthall And coin for them the similitude of the life of the world as water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingleth with it and then becometh dry twigs that the winds scatter. Allah is Able to do all things.
Transliteration Wa-drib lahum masalal haya_tid dunya_ kama_'in anzalna_hu minas sama_'i fa-khtalata bihi naba_tul ardi fa asbaha hasyiman tazru_hur riya_h(u), wa ka_nalla_hu 'ala_ kulli syai'im muqtadira_(n).
18: 46
Asad Wealth and children are an adornment of this world’s life: but good deeds, the fruit whereof endures forever, are of far greater merit in your Sustainer’s sight, and a far better source of hope.
Pickthall Wealth and children are an ornament of life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord's sight for reward, and better in respect of hope.
Transliteration Al ma_lu wal banu_na zinatul haya_tid dunya_, wal ba_qiya_tus sa_liha_tu khairun 'inda rabbika sawa_baw wa khairun amala_(n).
[Asad note 49 Lit., ………The expression ‘al-baqiyat as –salihat’ (good deeds, the fruits whereof endures forever”) occurs in the Quran twice – in the above verse as well as in 19:76]
[Ali’s notes: 2386 Rain-water is a good thing in itself, but it does not last, and you can build no solid foundations on it. It is soon absorbed in the earth, and produces the flourishing appearance of grass and vegetation-for a time. Soon these decay, and become as dry stubble, which the least wind from any quarter will blow about like a thing of no importance. The water is gone, and so is the vegetation to which it lent a brave show of luxuriance temporarily. Such is the life of this world, contrasted with the inner and real Life, which looks to the Hereafter-Allah is the only enduring Power we can look to, supreme over all. (18.45)
2387 Other things are fleeting: but Good Deeds have a lasting value in the sight of Allah. They are best as (or for) rewards in two ways: (1) they flow from us by the Grace of Allah, and are themselves rewards for our Faith: (2) they become the foundation of our hopes for the highest rewards in the Hereafter. (18.46)