16.Sura al-Nahl

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَا أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ...   

16: 24.  When it is said to them, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?"

C2047. When the arrogant Unbelievers are referred to some definite argument or illustration from Scripture, they dismiss it contemptuously with the remark. "Tales of the ancients!"

In this, they are not only playing with their own conscience, but misleading others, with perhaps less knowledge than themselves.

... قَالُواْ أَسَاطِيرُ الأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾ 

They say, "Tales of the ancients!"

لِيَحْمِلُواْ أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ...   

16: 25.  Let them bear, on the Day of Judgment, their own burdens in full,

... وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ... 

and also (something) of the burdens of those without knowledge, whom they misled.

C2048. Their responsibility or crime is twofold:

-         that they rejected Allah's Message, and

-         that they misled others.

Their Penalty will also be double.

In 6:164, we are told that "no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another".

This is against the doctrine of vicarious atonement. Every man is responsible for his own sins; but the sin of misleading others is a sin of the misleader himself, and he must suffer the penalty for that also, without relieving those misled, of their responsibility.

... أَلاَ سَاء مَا يَزِرُونَ ﴿٢٥﴾ 

Alas, how grievous the burdens they will bear!

قَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ...   

16: 26.  Those before them did also plot (against Allah's Way):

... فَأَتَى اللّهُ بُنْيَانَهُم مِّنَ الْقَوَاعِدِ... 

but Allah took their structures from their foundations,

... فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ... 

and the roof fell down on them from above;

... وَأَتَاهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٢٦﴾ 

and the Wrath seized them from directions they did not perceive.

C2049. Evil will always devise plots against the Prophets of Allah. So was it with Al-Mustafa, and so was it with the Prophets before him. But the imposing structures which the ungodly build up (metaphorically) collapse at the Command of Allah, and they are often punished from quarters from which they least expected punishment.

For example, the Quraish were confident in their numbers, their organizations, and their superior equipment. But on the field of Badr they collapsed where they expected victory.

ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ...   

16: 27.  Then, on the Day of Judgment, He will cover them with shame,

... وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآئِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تُشَاقُّونَ فِيهِمْ... 

and say: "Where are My 'partners' concerning whom ye used to dispute (with the godly)?"

... قَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ ...

Those endued with knowledge will say:

C2050. The worshippers of false gods (ungodly, the Unbelievers) will be unable to reply when brought before the Judgment Seat.

The comment of those "endued with knowledge" -the Prophets and Teachers whom they had rejected- will be by way of indictment and explanation of the position of those before the Judgment Seat.

... إِنَّ الْخِزْيَ الْيَوْمَ وَالْسُّوءَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٢٧﴾ 

"This Day, indeed, are the Unbelievers covered with Shame and Misery --

Other versions:

16: 24

Yusuf Ali When it is said to them "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" They say "Tales of the ancients!"

Pickthall And when it is said unto them: What hath your Lord revealed? they say: (Mere) fables of the men of old.

Transliteration Wa iza_ qila lahum ma_ anzala rabbukum, qa_lu_ asa_tirul awwalin(a),

16: 25

Yusuf Ali Let them bear on the Day of Judgment their own burdens in full and also (something) of the burdens of those without knowledge whom they misled. Alas how grievous the burdens they will bear!

Pickthall That they may bear their burdens undiminished on the Day of Resurrection, with somewhat of the burdens of those whom they mislead without knowledge. Ah! evil is that which they bear!

Transliteration Liyahmilu_ auza_rahum ka_milatay yaumal qiya_mah(ti), wa min auza_ril lazina yudillu_nahum bi gairi 'ilm(in), ala_ sa_'a ma_ yaziru_n(a).

16: 26

Yusuf Ali Those before them did also plot (against Allah's Way): but Allah took their structures from their foundations and the roof fell down on them from above; and the Wrath seized them from directions they did not perceive.

Pickthall Those before them plotted, so Allah struck at the foundations of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them from above them, and the doom came on them whence they knew not;

Transliteration Qad makaral lazina min qablihim fa atalla_hu bunya_nahum minal qawa_'idi fa kharra 'alaihimus saqfu min fauqihim wa ata_humul 'aza_bu min haisu la_ yasy'uru_n(a).

16: 27

Yusuf Ali Then on the Day of Judgment He will cover them with shame and say: "Where are My `partners' concerning whom ye used to dispute (with the godly)?" Those endued with knowledge will say: "This Day indeed are the Unbelievers covered with Shame and Misery

Pickthall Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and will say: Where are My partners, for whose sake ye opposed (My Guidance)? Those who have been given knowledge will say: Disgrace this day and evil are upon the disbelievers,

Transliteration Summa yaumal qiya_mati yukhzihim wa yaqu_lu aina syuraka_'iyal lazina kuntum tusya_qqu_na fihim, qa_lal lazina u_tul 'ilma innal khizyal yauma was su_'a 'alal ka_firin(a),