21. Surah Al Anbiya'
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَيَقُولُونَ
مَتَى
هَذَا الْوَعْدُ
إِن كُنتُمْ
صَادِقِينَ
﴿٣٨﴾
21: 38. They say: "When will this promise come to pass, if ye are telling the truth?"
لَوْ
يَعْلَمُ
الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُوا حِينَ
لَا يَكُفُّونَ
عَن وُجُوهِهِمُ
النَّارَ
وَلَا عَن
ظُهُورِهِمْ...
21: 39. If only the Unbelievers knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs,
C2700. They would not be so unreasonable if they only realized the terrible future for them! The Fire will envelop them on all sides, and no help will then be possible.
Is it not best for them now to turn and repent?
The Punishment may come too suddenly, as is said in the next verse.
...وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾
and (when) no help can reach them!
بَلْ
تَأْتِيهِم
بَغْتَةً
فَتَبْهَتُهُمْ...
21: 40. Nay, it may come to them all of a sudden and confound them:
...فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ رَدَّهَا وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ ﴿٤٠﴾
no power will they have then to avert it,
nor will they (then) get respite.
Asad’s Version:
21:38
But they [who reject My messages are wont to] ask, "When is that promise [of God's judgment] to be fulfilled? [Answer this, O you who believe in it,] if you are men of truth!" 51
21:39
If they but knew - they who are bent on denying the truth - [that there will come] a time when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor from their backs, and will not find any succour!
(21:40) Nay, but [the Last Hour] will come upon them of a sudden, and will stupefy them: and they will be unable to avert it, and neither will they be allowed any respite.
7. Sura al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَسْأَلُونَكَ
عَنِ
السَّاعَةِ
أَيَّانَ
مُرْسَاهَا...
7: 187. They ask thee about the (final) hour, when will be its appointed time?
...قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي لاَ يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَا إِلاَّ هُوَ...
Say:
"The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (alone): none but He can reveal as to when it will occur.
C1159. The fact of its coming is a certainty: the exact time appointed for it is not revealed by Allah. If it were it would be so momentous as to disturb our thoughts and life. It would be a heavy burden to us. Our duty is to be prepared for it at all times.
It will come when we least expect it. In the present Gospels Jesus says the same thing: he does not know the Hour, but it will come suddenly.
"But of that day and that Hour knoweth no man, no, not the angles which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." (Mark. 13:32-33).
...ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ لاَ تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلاَّ بَغْتَةً ...
Heavy were its burden through the heavens and the earth.
Only, all of a sudden, will it come to you.
...يَسْأَلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَا...
They ask thee as if thou wert eager in search thereof:
C1160. Hafiyy is usually construed to mean; "eager or anxious in search of":
the preposition following here is 'an = concerning, about.
Some commentators (including Raghib) understand it in this passage to mean "well-acquainted."
In 19:47, with the preposition bi following it, it signifies "well-disposed to", favourable to, good to, kind to."
...قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ اللّهِ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٨٧﴾
Say: "The knowledge thereof is with Allah (alone), but most men know not."
Asad’s Version:
7: 187 They will ask you [O Prophet] about the Last Hour: “Verily, knowledge thereof rests with my Sustainer alone. None but He will reveal it in its time. Heavily will it weigh on the heavens and the earth; it will not fall upon you otherwise than of a sudden.”
They will ask thee – as if you could gain insight into this by dint of persistent inquiry!
Say: “Knowledge thereof rests with my Sustainer alone; but most people are unaware .”
[see asad note 153; ….mp amount inquiry of speculation can reveal to man – the prophets included- the coming of the Last Hour before its actual manifestation. ]