11.Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

تِلْكَ مِنْ أَنبَاء الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهَا إِلَيْكَ...   

11: 49.   Such are some of the stories of the Unseen, which We have revealed unto thee:

...مَا كُنتَ تَعْلَمُهَا أَنتَ وَلاَ قَوْمُكَ مِن قَبْلِ هَـذَا...

before this, neither thou nor thy People knew them.

...فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٤٩﴾  

So persevere patiently:

for the End is for those who are righteous.  

C1544. Cf. n. 1528 to 11:35.

The sum of the whole matter is that the righteous, who work for Allah and their fellow-men, may be traduced, insulted, and persecuted. But they will be sustained by Allah's Mercy. They must go on working patiently, for the End will all be for them and their Cause.

Other versions:

11: 49

Asad These accounts of something that was beyond the reach of your perception We [now] reveal unto you, [O Muhammad: for] neither you nor your people knew them [fully] ere this [note 73]. Be, then, [like Noah,] patient in adversity – for, behold, the future belongs to the God-conscious!

Yusuf Ali Such are some of the stories of the Unseen which We have revealed unto thee: before this neither thou nor thy People knew them. So persevere patiently: for the End is for those who are righteous.

Pickthall This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou thyself knewest it not, nor did thy folk (know it) before this. Then have patience. Lo! the sequel is for those who ward off (evil).

Yuksel This is from the news of the unseen that We inspire to you. Neither did you nor your people know this, so be patient. The ending is always in favor of the righteous.

Transliteration Tilka min amba_'il gaibi nu_hiha_ ilaik(a), ma_ kunta ta'lamuha_ anta wa la_ qaumuka min qabli ha_za_, fa-sbir, innal 'a_qibata lil muttaqin(a).

[[ Ali’s note - 1544 Cf. n. 1528 to xi. 35. The sum of the whole matter is that the righteous, who work for Allah and their fellow-men, may be traduced, insulted, and persecuted. But they will be sustained by Allah's Mercy. They must go on working patiently, for the End will all be for them and their Cause. (11.49)]]

[[ Asad’s note 73 – See verse 35 above. Although the story of Noah had been vaguely known to the Arabs even before the advent o the Prophet Muhammad, they – and the Prophet with them - were entirely unaware of the details as narrated in the preceding Quranic account (Razi) The use of the plural at the beginning of this parenthetic passage (“These accounts”) – in contrast with the singular form employed in a similar phrase occurring in 3:44, 11:100 and 12: 102 (“This account”) – seems, in my opinion, to indicate that it refers not only to the preceding story of Noah but also to the subsequent stories of other prophets. In this connection it should be remembered – and it cannot be stressed too often – that “narrative” as such is never the purpose of the Quran. Whatever it relates the stories of earlier prophets, or alludes to ancient legends of to historical events that took place before the advent of Islam or during the lifetime of the Prophet, the aim is, invariably, a moral lesson; and since one and the same event, or even legend, has usually many facets revealing as many moral implications, the Quran reverts again and again to the same stories , but every time with a slight variation of stress on this or that aspect of the fundamental truths underlying the Quranic revelation as a whole.]]

[[ Ruby’s Note - I agree with Asad. This is a mid-Meccan sura the period when the degree of humiliation and persecution was highest. This is the time the revelation is reminding the victory of the people who did right over the ones who did wrong in the past and assuring that this same consequence would take place if the people are patient and have trust in God. The Quran reveals according to the context and the pressing need of the unfolding issues: here keeping up the spirit is critically important facing utterly disturbing obstinacy and rejection of the people and hopelessness of the situation, this is the context of assuring believers that the ultimately the victory would be theirs.]]