16.Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
16: 22. Your Allah is One Allah:
... فَالَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾
as to those who believe not in the Hereafter, their hearts refuse to know and they are arrogant.
C2045. Everything points to Allah, the One True Eternal God. If so, there is a Hereafter, for He has declared it.
In so far as people do not believe this, the fault is in their Will; they do not wish to believe, and the motive behind is arrogance, the sin which brought about the fall of Iblis: 2:34. (R).
لاَ جَرَمَ
أَنَّ اللّهَ
يَعْلَمُ مَا
يُسِرُّونَ
وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ...
16: 23. Undoubtedly Allah doth know what they conceal, and what they reveal:
C2046. Cf. 16:19, where the same words refer to man generally.
Whether he conceals or reveals what is in his heart, Allah knows it, and as Allah is Oft-Forgiving. Most Merciful, His grace is available as His highest favour if man will take it.
Here the reference is to those who "refuse to know", who reject Allah's guidance out of arrogance. Allah"loveth not the arrogant". Such men deprive themselves of Allah's grace.
... إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ ﴿٢٣﴾
verily He loveth not the arrogant.
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 --
الَّذِينَ
تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ
الْمَلائِكَةُ
ظَالِمِي
أَنفُسِهِمْ...
16: 28. "(Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of wrongdoing to their own souls.
C2051. That is, those who died in a state of Kufr, or rebellion against Allah, which was really wrong-doing against their own souls.
... فَأَلْقَوُاْ السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوءٍ...
Then would they offer submission (with the pretence), 'We did no evil (knowingly).'"
C2052. The excuse is a mere pretence. At first they were too dazed to reply. When they reply, they cannot deny the facts, but resort to the sinner's excuse of saying that they sinned through ignorance, and that their motives were not wrong.
Such a plea raises a question of hidden thoughts which are difficult to appraise before a human tribunal. But here they are before their Divine Author, Who knows every secret of their souls, and before Whom no false plea can be of any value. So they are condemned.
... بَلَى إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾
(The angels will reply),
"Nay, but verily Allah knoweth all that ye did;
فَادْخُلُواْ
أَبْوَابَ
جَهَنَّمَ
خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا...
16: 29. "So enter the gates of Hell, to dwell therein.
... فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾
Thus evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant."
Other versions:
16: 22
Asad Your God is the One God: but because of their false pride, the hearts of those who do not believe in the life to come refuse to admit this.
Yusuf Ali Your Allah is One Allah: as to those who believe not in the Hereafter their hearts refuse to know and they are arrogant.
Pickthall Your God is One God. But as for those who believe not in the Hereafter their hearts refuse to know, for they are proud.
Transliteration Ila_hukum ila_huw wa_hid(un), fallazina la_ yu'minu_na bil a_khirati qulu_buhum munkiratuw wa hum mustakbiru_n(a).
[Asad note 15: I.e., they are too arrogant to accept the idea of man’s utter dependence on, and responsibility to, a Supreme Being.]
[Ruby’s note: If one refuse to believe Hereafter, and thinks that this life is final, then he/she has not enough reason to acknowledge existence of God and to submit to his Laws. They may think that they can get away with anything and they would not be accountable. ]
16: 23 [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]
Asad Truly, God knows all they keep secret as well as all that they bring into the open – [and,] behold, He does not love those who are given to arrogance,
Yusuf Ali Undoubtedly Allah doth know what they conceal and what they reveal: verily He loveth not the arrogant.
Pickthall Assuredly Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden and that which they proclaim. Lo! He loveth not the proud.
Transliteration La_ jarama annalla_ha ya'lamu ma_ yusirru_na wa ma_ yu'linu_n(a), innahu_ la_ yuhibbul mustakbirin(a).
16: 24 [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]
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.
Yuksel If they are told: "What has your Lord sent down?" They say, "Fairytales of the past."*
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!
Yuksel They will carry their burdens in full on the day of Resurrection, and also from the burdens of those whom they misguided without knowledge. Evil indeed is what 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 [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]
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;
Yuksel Those before them have schemed, but God came to their buildings from the foundation, thus the roof fell on top of them, and the retribution came to them from where they did not know.
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 [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]
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,
Yuksel Then, on the day of Resurrection He will humiliate them, and say, "Where are My partners whom you used to dispute regarding them?" Those who have received the knowledge said, "The humiliation today and misery is upon the ingrates."
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),
16: 28
Yusuf Ali "(Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of wrongdoing to their own souls. Then would they offer submission (with the pretence) `We did no evil (knowingly).' " (The angels will reply) "Nay but verily Allah knoweth all that ye did;
Pickthall Whom the angels cause to die while they are wronging themselves. Then will they make full submission (saying): We used not to do any wrong. Nay! Surely Allah is Knower of what ye used to do.
Yuksel Those whom the angels take while they had wronged themselves: "Amnesty, we did not do any evil!" "Alas, God is aware of what you had done."
Transliteration Allazina tatawaffa_humul mala_'ikatu za_limi anfusihim, fa alqawus salama ma_ kunna_ na'malu min su_'(in), bala_ innalla_ha 'alimum bima_ kuntum ta'malu_n(a).
16: 29 [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]
Yusuf Ali "So enter the gates of Hell to dwell therein. Thus evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant."
Pickthall So enter the gates of hell, to dwell therein forever. Woeful indeed will be the lodging of the arrogant.
Yuksel "So enter the gates of hell, in it you shall reside; such is the abode of the arrogant."
Transliteration Fa-dkhulu_ abwa_ba jahannama kha_lidina fiha_, fa labi'sa maswal mustakabbirin(a).