11. Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ إِلاَّ مَا شَاء رَبُّكَ...   

11: 107.They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as thy Lord willeth:

C1608. Khalidin: This is the word which is usually translated "dwell for ever" or "dwell for aye".

Here it is definitely connected with two conditions, viz:

-        as long as the heavens and the earth endure, and

-        except as Allah wills.

Some Muslim theologians deduce from this the conclusion that the penalties referred to are not eternal, because the heavens and the earth as we see them are not eternal, and the punishments for the deeds of a life that will end should not be such as will never end.

The majority of Muslim theologians reject this view. They hold that the heavens and the earth here referred to are not those we see now, but others that will be eternal. They agree that Allah's Will is unlimited in scope and power, but that it has willed that the rewards and punishments of the Day of Judgment will be eternal.

This is not the place to enter into this tremendous controversy.

...إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ ﴿١٠٧﴾  

for thy Lord is the (sure) Accomplisher of what He planneth.

Other Versions:

11: 107

Asad Therein to abide as long as the heavens and the earth endure-unless thy Sustainer wills it otherwise: [see asad note 134] verily, thy sustainer is a Sovereign doer of whatever He wills.

Pickthall Abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth. Lo! thy Lord is Doer of what He will.

Transliteration Kha_lidina fiha_ ma_ da_matis sama_wa_tu wal ardu illa_ ma_ sya_'a rabbuk(a), inna rabbaka fa''a_lul lima_ yurid(u).