53. Surah An-Najm

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّى عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا ﴿٢٩﴾

53: 29.  Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire nothing but the life of this world.

ذَلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ...

53: 30.  That is as far as knowledge will reach them.

C5104. Men with a materialist turn of mind, whose desires are bounded by sex and material things, will not go beyond those things. Their knowledge will be limited to the narrow circle in which their thoughts move.

The spiritual world is beyond their ken. While persons with a spiritual outlook, even though they may fail again and again in attaining their full ideals, are on the right Path. They are willing to receive guidance and Allah's Grace will find them out and help them.

... إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ...

Verily thy Lord knoweth best those who stray from His path,

... وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اهْتَدَى ﴿٣٠﴾

and He knoweth best those who receive guidance.

Asad’s Version:

53:29 Avoid thou, therefore, those who turn away from all remembrance of Us and care for no more than the life of this world,

(53:30) which, to them, is the only thing worth knowing. 22 Behold, thy Sustainer is fully aware as to who has strayed from His path, and fully aware is He as to who follows His guidance.

Yuksel’s version

53:29 So disregard he who turns away from Our reminder, and only desires this worldly life.

53:30 This is the extent of their knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of those who strayed away from His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.