14. Surah Ibrahim

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَاسْتَفْتَحُواْ ...

14: 15.  But they sought victory and decision (there and then),

C1889. Cf. 8:19.

1 have assumed that "they" in this verse is the same as "them" in the preceding verse, i.e., the ungodly.

Hoping for victory they forced a decision, and they got it-against themselves.

Or they challenged a punishment, and it came in good time.

Some Commentators construe "they" here to mean "the Prophets": in that case the verse would mean:

"The Prophets prayed for a victory and decision, and the ungodly were frustrated in their efforts to suppress the Truth."

... وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ ﴿١٥﴾

and frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor.

C1890. Cf. 11:59.

مِّن وَرَآئِهِ جَهَنَّمُ وَيُسْقَى مِن مَّاء صَدِيدٍ ﴿١٦﴾

14: 16.  In front of such a one is Hell, and he is given, for drink, boiling fetid water.

يَتَجَرَّعُهُ وَلاَ يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُ... 

14: 17.  In gulps will he sip it, but never well he be near swallowing it down his throat:

...وَيَأْتِيهِ الْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ...

Death will come to him from every quarter, yet will he not die:

...وَمِن وَرَآئِهِ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ ﴿١٧﴾

and in front of him will be a chastisement unrelenting.

C1891. A graphic and deterrent picture, from the preaching of the earlier Prophets, of unrelieved horror of the torments of Hell.

The door of escape by annihilation is also closed to them.

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمْ...   

14: 18.  The parable of those who reject their Lord

...أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ اشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ...

is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day:

C1892. Note the fullness of the parable.

The works of the ungodly are in themselves light and unsubstantial like ashes; they are the useless rubbish that remains out of the faculties and opportunities which they have misused by burning them up. Further, the ashes are blown about hither and thither by the wind: the ungodly have no compass, direction, or purpose that can stand. The wind, too, which blows on them is no ordinary wind, nor the day on which they seek to enjoy the fruits of their labours an ordinary tranquil day: a furious gale is blowing, for such is the Wrath of Allah.

They have neither internal peace nor external gain. In the scattering of the ashes they lose control even of such things as they might have earned but for their misdeeds. Their whole nature is contaminated. All their wishes go astray. They are carried so far, far away from what was in their minds. What did they aim at, and what did they achieve?

...لاَّ يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُواْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ...

No power have they over aught that they have earned:

...ذَلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلاَلُ الْبَعِيدُ ﴿١٨﴾

That is the straying far, far (from the goal).

Other versions:

14: 15

Asad And they prayed [to God] that the truth be made to triumph. And every arrogant enemy of the truth shall be undone. [con’t]

Yusuf Ali But they sought victory and decision (there and then) and frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor.

Pickthall And they sought help (from their Lord) and every froward potentate was brought to naught;

Transliteration Wa-staftahu_ wa kha_ba kullu jabba_rin 'anid(im),

[ Ruby’s note: the meaning of ‘istaftaha’ “he sought to open [something]”, and ‘wa staftahu’ connoting vindication or opening the door of truth. Also opening the door of Shuayb prayed in 7:89, “Lay You open [iftah] the truth between us and our people”.]

14: 16

Asad with hell awaiting him and he shall be made to drink of the water of most biter distress,

Yusuf Ali In front of such a one is Hell and he is given for drink boiling fetid water.

Pickthall Hell is before him, and he is made to drink a festering water,

Transliteration Miw wara_'ihi jahannamu wa yusqa_ mim ma_'in sadid(iy),

14: 17

Asad gulping it little by little, and yet hardly able to swallow it. And death will beset him from every quarter – but he shall not die: for severe suffering lies ahead of him.

Yusuf Ali In gulps will he sip it but never well he be near swallowing it down his throat: Death will come to him from every quarter yet will he not die: and in front of him will be a chastisement unrelenting.

Pickthall Which he sippeth but can hardly swallow, and death cometh unto him from every side while yet he cannot die, and before him is a harsh doom.

Transliteration Yatajarra'uhu_ wa la_ yaka_du yusiguhu_ wa ya'tihil mautu min kulli maka_niw wa ma_ huwa bi mayyit(in), wa miw wara_'ihi 'aza_bun galiz(un).

14: 18

Asad [This, then, is ] the parable of those who are bent on denying their Sustainer: all their works are as ashes which the wind blows about fiercely on a stormy day: they cannot achieve any benefit whatever from all that they may have wrought : for this [denial of God ] is indeed the farthest one can go astray.

Yusuf Ali The parable of those who reject their Lord is that their works are as ashes on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day: No power have they over aught that they have earned: That is the straying far far (from the goal).

Pickthall A similitude of those who disbelieve in their Lord: Their works are as ashes which the wind bloweth hard upon a stormy day. They have no control of aught that they have earned. That is the extreme failure.

Transliteration Masalul lazina kafaru_ bi rabbihim a'ma_luhum ka rama_din-isytaddat bihir rihu fi yaumin 'a_sif(in), la_ yaqdiru_na mimma_ kasabu_ 'ala_ syai'(in), za_lika huwad dala_lul ba'id(u).