28. Al-Qasas, (The Story)

Mecca Period 49

Asad’s Version:

28:49 Say: "Produce, then, [another] revelation from God which would offer better guidance than either of these two 4 ' - [and) I shall follow it, if you speak the truth!"

28:50 And since they cannot respond to this thy challenge, 50 know that they are following only their own likes and dislikes: and who could be more astray than he who follows [but) his own likes and dislikes without any guidance from God? Verily, God does not grace with His guidance people who are given to evildoing!

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِكِتَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَى مِنْهُمَا أَتَّبِعْهُ...

28:49 Say: "Then bring ye a Book from Allah, which is a better Guide than either of them, that I may follow it!

...إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿٤٩﴾

(Do), if ye are truthful!"

فَإِن لَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكَ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهْوَاءهُمْ...

28:50. But if they hearken not to thee, know that they only follow their own lusts:

C3383. They were challenged to produce something better, to be a guide in life. But as they could not, it was evident that their objections were fractious. They were only following their own selfish lusts of power, monopoly, and exploitation of the poor and ignorant.

How can such people receive guidance?

...وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِّنَ اللَّهِ...

and who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, devoid of guidance from Allah?

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٥٠﴾

For Allah guides not people given to wrongdoing.