10. Surah Yunus

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ...

10:3. Verily your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days,

...ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ...

then He established Himself on the Throne (of authority),

C1386. Istawa, with the preposition ila after it, means He turned to or He directed Himself by His will to as in 2:29.

With the preposition 'ala after it, as here and in 7:54 and elsewhere, the meaning seems to be "to mount or ascend," and to be firmly established, to sit firm and unshaken, beyond question.

The Throne represents many ideas: e.g.,

1. that God is high above all His Creation;

2. that He regulates and governs it, as a king does, whose authority is unquestionably recognised;

3. that He is not, therefore, like the gods of Greece, and paganism, who were imagined to be in a world apart, careless of mankind, or jealous of mankind, but on the contrary.

4. He disposes of their affairs and all affairs continuously and with justice;

5. that the authority of His prophets, ministers, and messengers is derived from Him, and such intercession as they can make is by His will and permission. (R).

... يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ...

regulating and governing all things.

...مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِ...

No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His leave (hath been obtained).

...ذَلِكُمُ اللّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ...

This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore serve ye:

...أَفَلاَ تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٣﴾

will ye not receive admonition ?

C1387. Cf. 6:80.

Other versions:

10: 3

(Asad)Verily, your Sustainer is God, who has created the heavens and the earth in six aeons, and is established on the throne of His almightiness, governing all that exists. There is none that could intercede with Him unless He grants leave therefore.

Thus is God, your Sustainer: worship, therefore, Him [alone]: will you not, then, keep this in mind? [asad, see his notes]

[……Thus the Quran rejects the popular belief in unqualified “intercession” by living or dead saints or prophets……….God will grant to His prophets on Judgment Day the permission to “intercede”]

Pickthall Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He established Himself upon the Throne, directing all things. There is no intercessor (with Him) save after His permission. That is Allah, your Lord, so worship Him. Oh, will ye not remind?

Yuksel Your Lord is God who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He settled over the throne; He handles all affairs. There is no intercessor except after His leave. Such is God your Lord, so serve Him. Would you not take heed?

Transliteration Inna rabbakumulla_hul lazi khalaqas sama_wa_ti wal arda fi sittati ayya_min summa-stawa_ 'alal 'arsyi yudabbirul amr(a), ma_ min syafi'in illa_ mim ba'di iznih(i), za_likumulla_hu rabbukum fa'budu_h(u), afala_ tazakkaru_n(a).

[[ Ali’s notes - 1385 See note 1031 to vii. 54. (10.3)

1386 Istawa, with the preposition ila after it, means He turned to or He directed Himself by His will to as in ii-29. With the preposition 'ala after it, as here and in vii. 54 and elsewhere, the meaning seems to be "to mount or ascend," and to be firmly established, to sit firm and unshaken, beyond question. "The Throne represents many ideas: e.g., (1) that God is high above all His Creation; (2) that He regulates and governs it, as a king does, whose authority is unquestionably recognized; (3) that He is not, therefore, like the gods of Greece, and paganism, who were imagined to be in a world apart, careless of mankind, or jealous of mankind, but on the contrary. He (4) disposes of their affairs and all affairs continuously and with justice; (5) that the authority of His prophets, ministers, and messengers is derived from Him, and such intercession as they can make is by His will and permission. (10.3)

1387 Cf. vi. 80. (10.3) ]]

TaWaYa – to fold, to roll up,

Istawa –