41. Fussilat (Clearly Spelled Out/Expounded)

Mecca Period 61 [54 ayats]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

تَنزِيلٌ مِّنَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٢﴾

41:2. A revelation from (Allah), Most Gracious, Most Merciful --

C4463. In the last Surah (40:2-3) the revelation was described with reference to some of the qualities of Allah from Whom it came.

Here it is described mainly with reference to its subject-matter.

1. It brings the Message of Grace and Mercy;

2. it is not merely a book of Dark Sayings, but everything is explained clearly and from various points of view;

3. it is in Arabic, the language of the people among whom it was first promulgated, and therefore easily intelligible to them if they take the trouble to understand; and

4. it opens the way to Forgiveness through Repentance and gives warning of all spiritual Dangers.

كِتَابٌ فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣﴾

41:3. A Book, whereof the verses are explained in detail -- a Qur'án in Arabic, for people who understand --

بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا فَأَعْرَضَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ ﴿٤﴾

41:4. Giving Good News and Admonition: yet most of them turn away, and so they hear not.

C4464. With all the qualities mentioned in the last note, if men do not profit by its blessings, the fault lies in their will: they turn away, and thus fail to hear the voice that cans to them.

Asad’s Version:

41:2 HE BESTOWAL from on high [of this revelation) issues from the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace:

(41:3) a divine writ, the messages whereof have been clearly spelled out as a discourse in the Arabic tongue 2 for people of [innate] knowledge,

(41:4) to be a herald of glad tidings as well as a warning.

And yet, [whenever this divine writ is offered to men,] most of them turn away, so that they cannot hear its message); 3