16. [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَا أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ...   

16: 24.  When it is said to them, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?"

C2047. When the arrogant Unbelievers are referred to some definite argument or illustration from Scripture, they dismiss it contemptuously with the remark. "Tales of the ancients!"

In this, they are not only playing with their own conscience, but misleading others, with perhaps less knowledge than themselves.

... قَالُواْ أَسَاطِيرُ الأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾ 

They say, "Tales of the ancients!"

لِيَحْمِلُواْ أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ...   

16: 25.  Let them bear, on the Day of Judgment, their own burdens in full,

... وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ... 

and also (something) of the burdens of those without knowledge, whom they misled.

C2048. Their responsibility or crime is twofold:

-         that they rejected Allah's Message, and

-         that they misled others.

Their Penalty will also be double.

In 6:164, we are told that "no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another".

This is against the doctrine of vicarious atonement. Every man is responsible for his own sins; but the sin of misleading others is a sin of the misleader himself, and he must suffer the penalty for that also, without relieving those misled, of their responsibility.

... أَلاَ سَاء مَا يَزِرُونَ ﴿٢٥﴾ 

Alas, how grievous the burdens they will bear!

Pickthall’s Version:

16: 24

Pickthall And when it is said unto them: What hath your Lord revealed? they say: (Mere) fables of the men of old.

Transliteration Wa iza_ qila lahum ma_ anzala rabbukum, qa_lu_ asa_tirul awwalin(a),

16: 25

Pickthall That they may bear their burdens undiminished on the Day of Resurrection, with somewhat of the burdens of those whom they mislead without knowledge. Ah! evil is that which they bear!

Transliteration Liyahmilu_ auza_rahum ka_milatay yaumal qiya_mah(ti), wa min auza_ril lazina yudillu_nahum bi gairi 'ilm(in), ala_ sa_'a ma_ yaziru_n(a).