15. Surah Al Hijr
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
15: 43. And verily, Hell is the promised abode for them all!
15: 44. To it are seven Gates:
C1977. The ways of sin are numerous, and if they are classified into seven, each of them points to a Gate that leads to Hell.
...لِّكُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَّقْسُومٌ ﴿٤٤﴾
for each of those Gates is (special) class (of sinners assigned).
Other versions:
15: 43
Yusuf Ali And verily Hell is the promised abode for them all!
Pickthall And lo! for all such, hell will be the promised place.
Transliteration Wa inna jahannama lamau'iduhum ajma'in(a),
15: 44
Yusuf Ali To it are seven Gates: for each of those Gates is (special) class (of sinners assigned).
Pickthall It hath seven gates, and each gate hath an appointed portion.
Transliteration Laha_ sab'atu abwa_b(in), likulli ba_bim minhum juz'um maqsu_m(un).
[Asad note 33: Lit., …………It should also be remembered that the concept of “hell” as such is referred to the Quran under seven different names, all of them metaphorical [necessarily so, because they relate to what the Quran describes as ‘al-ghyab’ “something that is beyond the reach of human perception”]: namely ‘nar’ [fire, which is the general term], ‘jahannam’ [hell] , ‘jahim’ [blazing fire], ‘sa’ir’ [blazing flame], saqar [hell-fire], laza [raging flame], and ‘hutamah’ [crushing torment].
Furthermore it is well known that in the Semitic languages – and most particularly in classical Arabic – the number “seven” is often used in the sense “several” or “various”….and so the above Quranic phrase may well have the meaning of “various ways leading to hell” – in other words, many ways of sinning. ]
19. Surah Maryam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَنَسُوقُ
الْمُجْرِمِينَ
إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ
وِرْدًا ﴿٨٦﴾
19: 86. And We shall drive the sinners to Hell, like thirsty cattle driven down to water --
C2528. Note the contrast between the saved and the doomed.
- The one march with dignity like honoured ones before a king,
- and the other rush in anguish to their punishment like a herd of cattle driven down by thirst to their watering place.
Note the metaphor of the water. They rush madly for water but are plunged into the Fire!
لَا
يَمْلِكُونَ
الشَّفَاعَةَ
إِلَّا مَنِ
اتَّخَذَ عِندَ
الرَّحْمَنِ
عَهْدًا ﴿٨٧﴾
19: 87. None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from (Allah) Most Gracious.
Other versions:
19: 86
Asad and drive those who were lost in sin unto hell as a thirsty herd is driven to a well -
Yusuf Ali And We shall drive the sinners to Hell like thirsty cattle driven down to water
Pickthall And drive the guilty unto Hell, a weary herd,
Transliteration Wa nasu_qul mujrimina ila_ jahan nama wirda_
19: 87
Asad [on that Day] none will have [the benefit of] intercession unless he has [in his lifetime] entered into a bond with the Most Gracious.
Yusuf Ali None shall have the power of intercession but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from (Allah) Most Gracious.
Pickthall They will have no power of intercession, save him who hath made a covenant with his Lord.
Transliteration La_ yamliku_nas syafa_'ata il la manit takhadza indar rahma_ni ahda_
[ Asad’s note 74 – Lit., “except him who has ….” etc. ………….Consequently, as pointed out by Razi, even great sinners may hope for God’s forgiveness – symbolically expressed by the right of “intercession” which will eb granted to the prophets on Judgment Day………………]
[ Ruby’s note – I think this concession to exercise “intercession” or appeal to God may also be given to people other than the prophets, such as the loved ones, a righteous person to appeal for his/her people or for the entire humanity, etc. ]