6. [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَيَوْمَ
يِحْشُرُهُمْ
جَمِيعًا يَا
مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ
قَدِ اسْتَكْثَرْتُم
مِّنَ الإِنسِ...
6: 128. One day will He gather them all together, (and say):
"O ye assembly of Jinns! much (toll) did ye take of men."
C949. Jinns are spirits -here evil spirits.
...وَقَالَ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُم مِّنَ الإِنسِ ...
Their friends amongst men will say:
... رَبَّنَا اسْتَمْتَعَ بَعْضُنَا بِبَعْضٍ وَبَلَغْنَا أَجَلَنَا الَّذِيَ أَجَّلْتَ لَنَا ...
"Our Lord! we made profit from each other: but (alas!) we reached our term -- which Thou didst appoint for us."
C950. It is common experience that the forces of evil make an alliance with each other, and seem thus to make a profit by their mutual log-rolling.
But this is only in this material world. When the limited term expires, their unholy bargains will be exposed, and there will be nothing but regrets.
...قَالَ النَّارُ مَثْوَاكُمْ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا إِلاَّ مَا شَاء اللّهُ...
He will say:
"The fire be your dwelling-place you will dwell therein for ever, except as Allah willeth."
C951. Eternity and infinity are abstract terms. They have no precise meaning in our human experience.
The qualification, "except as Allah willeth," makes it more intelligible, as we can form some idea -however inadequate- of a Will and Plan, and we know Allah by His attribute of Mercy as well as of Justice.
...إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَليمٌ ﴿١٢٨﴾
For thy Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge.
6: 128
Asad And on that day when He shall gather them [all] together, [He will say:] “O you who have lived in close communion with [evil] invisible beings! A great many [other] human beings have you ensnared [note 112]! And those of the humans who were close to them [note 113] will say: “O our Sustainer! We did enjoy one another’s fellowship [in life]; but [now that] we have reached the end of our term – the term which You have laid down for us – [we see the error of our ways]!” [But] He will say: “The fire shall be your abode, there to abide – unless God wills it otherwise.” [note 114]. Verily, your Sustainer is wise, all-knowing.
Pickthall In the day when He will gather them together (He will say): O ye assembly of the jinn! Many of humankind did ye seduce. And their adherents among humankind will say: Our Lord! We enjoyed one another, but now we have arrived at the appointed term which Thou appointedst for us. He will say: Fire is your home. Abide therein for ever, save him whom Allah wills (to deliver). Lo! thy Lord is Wise, Awar
Transliteration Wa yauma yahsyuruhum jami'a_(n), ya_ ma'syaral jinni qadistaksartum minal ins(i), wa qa_la auliya_'uhum minal insi rabban_stamta'a ba'duna_ bi ba'diw wa balagna_ ajalanal lazi ajjalta lana_, qa_lan na_ru maswa_kum kha_lidina fiha_ illa_ ma_ sya_'alla_h(u), inna rabbaka hakimun 'alim(un).
[[ Ruby’s note – This is a right God has reserved for Himself to forgive sinners or all sinners on the Day of Judgment: An extremely important point of note. ]]
[[Asad’s note 114 – I.e., unless he Graces them with His mercy (see verse 12 of this surah, and the corresponding note). Some of the great theologians conclude from the above and from the similar phrase occurring in 11:107 …………the suffering of the sinners in the life to come will be limited by God’s mercy. (See in this connection the hadith quoted in note 10 on 40:12)]]