27. Surah An-Naml

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ ...

27: 82. And when the Word is fulfilled against them (the unjust),

C3312. The Word. the Decree or Sentence, the Decision to end the respite and restore the true values of right and wrong in a new world: their cup of iniquity will then have been full.

... أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَابَّةً مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ...

We shall produce from the earth a beast to (face) them:

C3313. The Beast will be one of the Signs of the Last Days to come, before the present World passes away and the new World is brought into being.

In symbolic language it would represent gross Materialism. It will be the embodiment of fat worldly triumph, which will appeal to a misguided and degenerate world, because such a corrupt world will have no assured belief in the Signs of Allah or in spiritual Light. It will itself he a Sign or Portent, closing the door or repentance. I do not know whether this Beast has any reference to the symbolism in chapter xii of the Book of Revelation, which closes the New Testament.

...تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾

he will speak to them, for that mankind did not believe with assurance in our Signs.

If taklimuhum is read instead of tukallimuhum, it would mean that the Beast would wound them, symbolically, that Materialism would produce its own Nemesis.

وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ فَوْجًا مِّمَّن يُكَذِّبُ بِآيَاتِنَا فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ﴿٨٣﴾

27: 83. One Day We shall gather together from every people a troop of those who reject Our Signs, and they shall be kept in ranks --

حَتَّى إِذَا جَاؤُوا قَالَ أَكَذَّبْتُم بِآيَاتِي...

27: 84. Until, when they come (before the Judgment-Seat), Allah will say:

"Did ye reject My Signs,

...وَلَمْ تُحِيطُوا بِهَا عِلْمًا ...

though ye comprehended them not in knowledge,

C3314. The charge against them will be:

'You had no knowledge, and yet you arrogantly rejected My Signs: is that true, or have you any plea in your defence?'

... أَمَّاذَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨٤﴾

or what was it ye did?"

وَوَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِم بِمَا ظَلَمُوا فَهُمْ لَا يَنطِقُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾

27: 85. And the Word will be fulfilled against them, because of their wrongdoing, and they will be unable to speak (in plea).

C3315. There will be no plea, because the charge will be only too true.

The Decree will be passed and executed.

أَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ لِيَسْكُنُوا فِيهِ وَالنَّهَارَ مُبْصِرًا...

27: 86 [Ali]. See they not that We have made the Night for them to rest in and the Day to give them light?

C3316. Night, Day, Rest, and Light. both in the literal and the symbolic sense.

- Any one with a scrap of faith or spiritual insight could see that the Night is blessing when used for rest and a curse when used to cover ignorance or sin;

- and that the Day is for work and enlightenment, and its misuse is gross ingratitude to Allah.

Or, understand Truth and practise Righteousness while it is yet Light and the Message of Allah is here to guide you:

for there comes the Night when Endeavour will cease and there will be no room for Repentance.

...إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٨٦﴾

Verily in this are Signs for any people that believe!

Asad’s Version:

27:82

Now, [as for the deaf and blind of heart - I when the word [of truth] stands revealed against them, 75 We shall bring forth unto them out of the earth a creature which will tell them that mankind had no real faith in Our messages. 74

27:83 And on that Day We shall gather from within every community a host of those who gave the lie to Our messages; and they will be grouped [according to the gravity of their sins]

(27:84) until such a time as they shall come [to be judged. And] He will say: "Did you give the lie to My messages even though you failed to encompass them with [your] knowledge? 75 Or what was it that [you thought] you were doing?"

(27:85) And the word [of truth] will stand revealed against them in the face of 6 all the wrong which they had committed, and they will not [be able to] utter a single word [of excuse]:

(27:86) for, were they not aware that it is We who had made the night for them, so that they might rest therein, and the day, to make [them] see? 77 In this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who will believe!