40. Sura al Mu’min

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَا قَوْمِ مَا لِي...

40: 41. "And O my People! how (strange) it is for me

C4414. It may seem strange according to the laws of this world that he should be seeking their Good while they are seeking his damnation! But that is the merit of Faith. Its mission is to rescue its enemies and Allah's enemies, as far as their will will consent!

... أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى النَّجَاةِ وَتَدْعُونَنِي إِلَى النَّارِ ﴿٤١﴾

to call you to Salvation while ye call me to the Fire!

تَدْعُونَنِي لِأَكْفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَأُشْرِكَ بِهِ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ...

40: 42. "Ye do call upon me to blaspheme against Allah, and to join with Him Partners of whom I have no knowledge;

C4415. The worship of Pharaoh was blasphemy, but it had many sides, including the worship of heroes, animals, powers of good and evil in nature, and idols of all kinds.

It is this comprehensive cult which required warnings again and again, but Allah is Exalted in Power, and gives such forgiveness on repentance.

... وَأَنَا أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى الْعَزِيزِ الْغَفَّارِ ﴿٤٢﴾

and I call you to the Exalted in Power, Who forgives again and again!"

Asad’s Version:

40:41 "And, O my people, how is it 2 ' that I summon you to salvation, the while you summon me to the fire?

(40:42) - [for] you call upon me to deny [the oneness of] God and to ascribe a share in His divinity to aught of which I cannot [possibly] have any knowledge, 30 the while I summon you to [a cognition of] the Almighty, the All-Forgiving!