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. ]