6. Sura al-Anam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ إِنِّيَ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿١٥﴾

6: 15. Say:

"I would, if I disobeyed my Lord, indeed have fear of the penalty of a Mighty Day.

مَّن يُصْرَفْ عَنْهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمَهُ وَذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١٦﴾

6: 16. "On that day, if the penalty is averted from any, it is due to Allah's Mercy;

and that would be (Salvation), the obvious fulfillment of all desire.

C848. We continue the implied dialogue suggested in n 846.

In verse 14, the objector might say: "But we have other interests in life than religion and Allah."

"No," says the man of God,

"My Creator is the one and only Power whose protection I seek; and I strive to be first in the race."

In verse 15, the objector suggests: "enjoy the good things of this life; it is short."

The answer is:

"The Hereafter is more real to me, and promises the true fulfilment of all desire; happiness or affliction comes not from the fleeting pettinesses or illusions of this life, but from the power and wisdom of Allah."

In verse 19, the objector makes his final splash: "What evidence is there for all this?"

The reply is:

"I know it is true, for Allah's voice is within me, and my living Teacher awakens that voice; and there is the Book of Inspiration. Allah is one, and there is none other besides."

وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلاَ كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلاَّ هُوَ...

6: 17. "If Allah touch thee with affliction, none can remove it but He;

...وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدُيرٌ ﴿١٧﴾

if He touch thee with happiness, He hath power over all things.

C849. The vulgar worship of false gods out of fear that they would harm them or hope that they would confer some benefit on them. These false gods can do neither.

All power, all goodness is in the hands of Allah. All else is pretence or illusion.

Other versions:

6: 15

Asad Say: “Behold, I would dread, were I [thus] to rebel against my Sustainer, …………..

Yusuf Ali Say: "I would if I disobeyed my Lord indeed have fear of the penalty of a Mighty Day.

Pickthall Say: I fear, if I rebel against my Lord, the retribution of an Awful Day.

Transliteration Qul inni akha_fu in 'asaitu rabbi 'aza_ba yaumin'azim(in).

6: 16

Asad Upon him who shall be spared on that Day, he will indeed have bestowed His grace; and this will be a manifest triumph.

Yusuf Ali "On that day if the penalty is averted from any it is due to Allah's Mercy; and that would be (Salvation) the obvious fulfillment of all desire.

Pickthall He from whom (such retribution) is averted on that day (Allah) hath in truth had mercy on him. That will be the signal triumph.

Transliteration May yusraf 'anhu yauma'izin fa qad rahimah(u_), wa za_likal fauzul mubin(u).

6: 17

Yusuf Ali "If Allah touch thee with affliction none can remove it but He; if He touch thee with happiness He hath power over all things.

Pickthall If Allah touch thee with affliction, there is none that can relieve therefrom save Him, and if He touch thee with good fortune (there is none that can impair it); for He is Able to do all things.

Transliteration Wa iy yamsaskalla_hu bi durrin fala_ ka_syifa lahu_ illa_ huw(a), wa iy yamsaska bi khairin fa huwa 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).