10. Surah Yunus

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُهُ بَيَاتًا أَوْ نَهَارًا مَّاذَا يَسْتَعْجِلُ مِنْهُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾

10: 50.  Say:

"Do ye see -- if His punishment should come to you by night or by day, what portion of it would the Sinners wish to hasten?

C1442. The mockery of Unbelievers will be turned into panic when the wrath of Allah descends on them. It may do so suddenly, by night or by day, when they ]cast expect it. Will they then say of any bit of it: "Let it be hastened"?

أَثُمَّ إِذَا مَا وَقَعَ آمَنْتُم بِهِ...   

10: 51.  "Would ye then believe in it at last, when it actually cometh to pass?

...آلآنَ وَقَدْ كُنتُم بِهِ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ ﴿٥١﴾

(It will then be said): 'Ah! now?

And ye wanted (aforetime) to hasten it on!"

ثُمَّ قِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْخُلْدِ...   

10: 52.  "At length will be said to the wrongdoers:

"Taste ye the enduring punishment! Ye get

C1443. This will be the final doom, and they will themselves have brought it on themselves!

The psychology of the Unbelievers is here analyzed and exposed. This particular argument begins at 10:47 and ends at 10:53.

It begins with the general statement that every People has had due warning and explanation by means of a Prophet specially sent to them: that Prophet will be a relevant witness at the final Judgment, when the matter will be judged in perfect equity.

Then follows a dialogue. The Unbelievers mock and say, "Why not bring on the Punishment now?" The reply to the Unbelievers is,

"It will come in Allah's good time".

The Believers are told to watch and see how the sinners would take it if the Punishment were to come at once. Would they not think it too sudden? When it actually comes, their panic will be indescribable.

"Is that true?" say the Unbelievers.

"It is the very truth," is the answer, "and nothing can ward it of'.

...هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾

but the recompense of what ye earned!' "

وَيَسْتَنبِئُونَكَ أَحَقٌّ هُوَ...   

10: 53.  They seek to be informed by thee: "Is that true?"

...قُلْ إِي وَرَبِّي إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ...

Say:

"Aye! by my Lord! It is the very truth!

...وَمَا أَنتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ ﴿٥٣﴾

and ye cannot frustrate it!"

Other versions:

10: 50

Yusuf Ali Say: "Do ye see if his punishment should come to you by night or by day what portion of it would the Sinners wish to hasten?

Pickthall Say: Have ye thought: When His doom cometh unto you as a raid by night, or in the (busy) day; what is there of it that the guilty ones desire to hasten?

Transliteration Qul ara'aitum in ata_kum 'aza_buhu_ baya_tan au naha_ram ma_za_ yasta'jilu minhul mujrimu_n(a).

10: 51

Yusuf Ali "Would ye then believe in it at last when it actually cometh to pass? (It will then be said): `Ah! now? And ye wanted (aforetime) to hasten it on!"

Pickthall Is it (only) then, when it hath befallen you, that ye will believe? What! (Believe) now, when (until now) ye have been hastening it on (through disbelief)?

Transliteration Asumma iza_ ma_ waqa'a a_mantum bih(i), a_l'a_na wa qad kuntum bihi tasta'jilu_n(a).

10: 52

Yusuf Ali "At length will be said to the wrongdoers: "Taste ye the enduring punishment! Ye get but the recompense of what ye earned!' "

Pickthall Then will it be said unto those who dealt unjustly: Taste the torment of eternity. Are ye requited aught save what ye used to earn?

Transliteration Summa qila lillazina zalamu_ zu_qu_ 'aza_bal khuld(i), hal tujzauna illa_ bima_ kuntumtaksibu_n(a).

10: 53

Yusuf Ali They seek to be informed by thee: "Is that true?" Say: "Aye! by my Lord! It is the very truth! and ye cannot frustrate it!"

Pickthall And they ask thee to inform them (saying): Is it true? Say: Yea, by my Lord, verily it is true, and ye cannot escape.

Transliteration Wa yastambi'u_naka ahaqqun huw(a), qul i wa rabbi innaha_ lahaqq(un), wa ma_ antum bi mu'jizin(a).