16.Sura al-Nahl

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

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 --

Other versions:

16: 26

Asad Those who lived before them did, too, devise many a blasphemy – whereupon God visited with destruction all that they had ever built, [striking] at its very foundations, so that the roof fell in upon them from above, and suffering befell them without their having perceived whence it came.

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;

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

Asad And then, on Resurrection Day, He will cover them [all] with ignominy, and will say: “Where, now, are those beings to whom you ascribed a share in My divinity, [and] for whose sake you cut yourselves off [from My guidance]?”

Those who were endowed with knowledge will say: “Verily, ignominy and misery [have fallen] this day upon those who have been denying the truth -

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,

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),