10. Surah Yunus

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

بَلْ كَذَّبُواْ بِمَا لَمْ يُحِيطُواْ بِعِلْمِهِ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِهِمْ تَأْوِيلُهُ...   

10: 39.  Nay,

they charge with falsehood that whose knowledge they cannot compass, even before the elucidation thereof hath reached them:

C1431. Taawil: elucidation, explanation, final fulfilment, Cf., 7:53,

The Message of Allah not only gives us rules for our every-day conduct, but speaks of high matters of religious significance, which require elucidation in two ways:

-         by experience from the actual facts of life, and

-         by the final fulfilment of the hopes and warnings which we now take on trust through our Faith.

The Unbelievers reject Allah's Message simply because they cannot understand it and without giving it even a chance of elucidation in any of these ways. (R).

...كَذَلِكَ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ... ...

thus did those before them make charges of falsehood:

...فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾  

but see what was the end of those who did wrong!

C1432. Wrong-doers always came to grief ultimately.

The true course of history shows it from a broad standpoint. But they are so headstrong that they prejudge issues in their ignorance before they are decided.

Other versions:

10: 39 [Yunus, Mecca 51]

Yusuf Ali Nay they charge with falsehood that whose knowledge they cannot compass even before the elucidation thereof hath reached them: thus did those before them make charges of falsehood: but see what was the end of those who did wrong!

Pickthall Nay, but they denied that, the knowledge whereof they could not compass, and whereof the interpretation (in events) hath not yet come unto them. Even so did those before them deny. Then see what was the consequence for the wrongdoers!

Transliteration Bal kazzabu_ bima_ lam yuhitu_ bi 'ilmihi wa lamma_ ya'tihim ta'wiluh(u_), kaza_lika kazzabal lazina min qablihim fanzur kaifa ka_na 'a_qibatuz za_limin(a).

[[ Ruby’s note – This consequence must be in this world that is why the Quran is exhorting to ‘see’. The manifestation of these failures must be seen by people in this life: empires fall, civilization disappear, human sufferings of different kinds, etc. A human should take a note of these and intuitively understand and accept the understanding from God by bringing him/her to the situation and giving the guidance and ability to understand. However, one trespasses or transgresses limits when one is certain about it and claims to have known the exact reason of the outcome or consequence of a human failure. An understanding of this nature should be always taken with a degree of humility that one can be wrong. A righteous person understands many things correctly but internalize some of these and exercise due discretion in articulation and communication to others with acknowledgement of one’s own limitations as to making a mistake of being wrong. One must endeavor and remain open to the events around one and in one’s own life to see the cause and consequences and take heed. ]]