32 . Sura Al Sajdah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَذَا الْفَتْحُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿٢٨﴾

32: 28. They say: "When will this decision be, if ye are telling the truth?"

C3664. The Unbelievers may say: "If all this which you say is true, tell us when this final decision between right and wrong will come about."

The answer is: "If you mean that you will postpone your repentance and reform till then, it will be no use: it will be too late for repentance, and no respite will be granted then: this is the Respite, and this is your chance."

قُلْ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ لَا يَنفَعُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِيمَانُهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ ﴿٢٩﴾

32: 29. Say:

"On the Day of Decision, no profit will it be to Unbelievers if they (then) believe!

Nor will they be granted a respite."

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَانتَظِرْ إِنَّهُم مُّنتَظِرُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾

32: 30. So turn away from them, and wait:

they too are waiting.

C3665. Read 6:158 and n. 984 as a commentary on this.

There it is said to the Unbelievers: "Wait ye: we too are waiting."

Here the Righteous one is told: "Wait (thou): they too are waiting."

The reversal of the order is appropriate: in each case the person (or persons) addressed is mentioned first.

Cf. also 7:71.

Asad’s Version:

32:28 But they answer: "When will that final decision take place, if what you [believers] say is true?" 24

(32:29) Say: "On the Day of the Final Decision, their [newly -found] faith will be of no use to those who [in their lifetime] were bent on denying the truth, nor will they be granted respite!" –

(32:30) and then leave them alone, and wait [for the truth to unfold as] they, behold,

are waiting....

24 A reference to the statement in verse 25 .