11.Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَصْنَعُ الْفُلْكَ وَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلأٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ سَخِرُواْ مِنْهُ...

11: 38.   Forthwith he starts constructing the Ark:

every time that the Chiefs of his People passed by him they threw ridicule on him.

C1531. The ridicule of the sinners, from their own point of view, was natural. Here was a Prophet turned carpenter! Here was a plain in the higher reaches of the Mesopotamian basin, drained by the majestic Tigris, over 800 to 900 miles from the sea Arabian Gulf in a straight line! Yet he talks of a flood like the Sea!

All material civilisations pride themselves on their Public Works and their drainage schemes. And here was a fellow relying on Allah! But did not their narrow pride seem ridiculous also to the Prophet of Allah!

Here were men steeped in sin and insolence! And they pit themselves against the power and the promise of Allah! Truly a contemptible race is man!

...قَالَ إِن تَسْخَرُواْ مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنكُمْ كَمَا تَسْخَرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾

He said: "If ye ridicule us now, we (in our turn) can look down on you with ridicule likewise!

C1532. The Arabic Aorist may be construed either by the present tense or the future tense, and both make good sense here.

Following Zamakhshari, I construe in the present tense, because the future is so tragic for the sinners.

For the time being the worldly ones looked down on the Believers as they always do: but the Believers relied on Allah, and pitied their critics for knowing no better!- for their arrogance was really ridiculous.

فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ ﴿٣٩﴾    

11: 39.   "But soon will ye know who it is on whom will descend a Penalty that will cover them with shame -- will be unloosed a Penalty lasting."

حَتَّى إِذَا جَاء أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ التَّنُّورُ...   

11: 40.   At length, behold! there came Our Command, and the fountains of the earth gushed forth!

C1533. Far at tannuru. Two interpretations have been given:

-        the fountains or the springs on the surface of the earth bubbled over or gushed forth; or

-        the oven boiled over.

The former has the weight of the best authority behind it and I prefer it.

Moreover, the same phrase occurs in 23:27, where it is a clause coordinated (as here) with the coming of Allah's Command.

These two passages may be compared with 54:11-12, where it is said that water poured forth from the skies and gushed forth from the springs.

This double action is familiar to any one who has seen floods on a large scale. The rain from above would saturate the great Ararat Plateau, and give great force to the springs and fountains in the valley of the Tigris below.

...قُلْنَا احْمِلْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ...

We said:

"Embark therein, of each kind two, male and female,

C1534. Zaujaini: the dual number refers to the two individuals in each pair of opposite sexes.

Some of the most authoritative Commentators (e.g., Imam Razi) construe in this sense, though others construe it to mean two pairs of each species.

...وَأَهْلَكَ إِلاَّ مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ آمَنَ...

and your family -- except those against whom the Word has already gone forth -- and the Believers."

C1535. A disobedient and recalcitrant son (or step-son or grandson) of Noah is mentioned below (11:42-43, 45-56).

A member of the family, who breaks away from the traditions of the family in things that matter, ceases to share in the privileges of the family.

...وَمَا آمَنَ مَعَهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ ﴿٤٠﴾

But only a few believed with him.

Other versions:

11: 38 [Hud, Mecca 52]

Yusuf Ali Forthwith he starts constructing the Ark: every time that the Chiefs of his People passed by him they threw ridicule on him. They threw ridicule on him. He said: "If ye ridicule us now we (in our turn) can look down on you with ridicule likewise!

Pickthall And he was building the ship, and every time that chieftains of his people passed him, they made mock of him. He said: Though ye make mock of us, yet we mock at you even as ye mock;

Transliteration Wa yasna'ul fulk(a), wa kullama_ marra 'alaihi mala'um min qaumihi sakhiru_ minh(u), qa_la in taskharu_ minna_ fa inna_ naskharu minkum kama_ taskharu_n(a).

11: 39

Yusuf Ali "But soon will ye know who it is on whom will descend a Penalty that will cover them with shame will be unloosed a Penalty lasting."

Pickthall And ye shall know to whom a punishment that will confound him cometh, and upon whom a lasting doom will fall.

Transliteration Fa saufa ta'lamu_n(a), may ya'tihi 'aza_buy yukhzihi wa yahillu 'alaihi 'aza_bum muqim(un).

11: 40

Asad Till, when Our Judgment came to pass, and waters gushed forth in torrents over the face of the earth [note 62], We said : “Place on board of this one pair of each of either sex, as well as the family – except those on whom sentence has already been passed – and all who have attained to faith! – for, only a few shared his faith.

Yusuf Ali At length behold! there came Our Command and the fountains of the earth gushed forth! We said: "Embark therein of each kind two male and female and your family except those against whom the Word has already gone forth and the Believers." But only a few believed with him.

Pickthall (Thus it was) till, when Our commandment came to pass and the oven gushed forth water, We said: Load therein two of every kind, a pair (the male and female), and thy household, save him against whom the word hath gone forth already, and those who believe. And but a few were they who believed with him.

Yuksel So, when Our command came and the volcano erupted. We said, "Carry in it two from every pair, and your family; except those against whom the word has been issued; and whoever acknowledged." But those who acknowledged with him were few.*

Transliteration Hatta_ iza_ ja_'a amruna_ wafa_rat tannu_r(u), qulna-hmil fiha_ min kullin zaujaini-snaini wa ahlaka illa_ man sabaqa 'alaihil qaulu wa man a_man(a), wa ma_ a_mana ma'ahu_ illa_ qalil(un).

[Asad’s note 62 – Lit., “the face of the earth boiled over” ( fara ‘t-tannur ). ……fara- which literally means “it boiled over” - ..This gushing forth of water over the face of the earth” seems to point to the inundation of the huge valley now covered……….]

[[ Ali’s notes - 1533 Far-at-tannuru. Two interpretations have been given: (1) the fountains or the springs on the surface of the earth bubbled over or gushed forth; or (2) the oven boiled over. The former has the weight of the best authority behind it and I prefer it. Moreover, the same phrase occurs in xxiii. 27, where it is a clause coordinated (as here) with the coming of Allah's Command. These two passages may be compared with liv. 11-12, where it is said that water poured forth from the skies and gushed forth from the springs. This double action is familiar to any one who has seen floods on a large scale. The rain from above would saturate the great Ararat Plateau, and give great force to the springs and fountains in the valley of the Tigris below. (11.40)

1534 Zaujaini: the dual number refers to the two individuals in each pair of opposite sexes. Some of the most authoritative Commentators (e.g., Imam Razi) construe in this sense, though others construe it to mean two pairs of each species. (11.40)

1535 A disobedient and recalcitrant son (or step-son or grandson) of Noah is mentioned below (xi. 42-43, 45-56). A member of the family, who breaks away from the traditions of the family in things that matter, ceases to share in the privileges of the family. (11.40) ]]

[[ Yuksel’s notes - 011:040-44 Noah's ark was a simple watercraft made of logs connected with ropes (54:12). The flood was limited to the Dead Sea region and Noah's people (7:59; 9:70; 11:25,36,89; 22:42; 25:35-39; 38:12; 40:5,31; 50:12; 51:46; 53:52; 54:9; 71:1-11). The animals taken to the watercraft were a few domesticated animals in Noah's farm. The holy storytellers mutated the story, and with time, it was exaggerated into a global event. Perhaps public interest encouraged the storytellers to exaggerate a bit more, until it became a mythology about a worldwide flood.

The mythology found its way to the Old Testament; three chapters of Genesis, chapters 6-8, are allocated to the story of a universal flood (See Genesis 7:21-23). The letters of the New Testament also refer to a worldwide flood (1 Peter 3:18-20; 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:6). Also, see 2:93; 16:103; 26:101-105; 71:1-28. ]]

18.Surah Al Kahf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَى أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا...   

18: 59.  Such were the populations We destroyed when they committed iniquities;

... وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا ﴿٥٩﴾

but We fixed an appointed time for their destruction.

C2403. The instances of exemplary Punishment in former times were also subject to this rule, that Allah gives plenty of rope to the wicked, in case they might turn, repent, and obtain His Mercy.

Other versions:

19. Surah Maryam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَاثًا وَرِئْيًا ﴿٧٤﴾

19: 74.  But how many (countless) generations before them have We destroyed, who were even better in equipment and in glitter to the eye?

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ...   

19: 98.  But how many (countless) generation before them have We destroyed?

C2533. Cf. 19:74, from which this sentence is brought up as a reminiscence, showing the progress of sin, the Guidance which Allah gives to the good, the degradation of blasphemy, the respite granted, and the final End, when personal responsibility will be enforced.

...هَلْ تُحِسُّ مِنْهُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَوْ تَسْمَعُ لَهُمْ رِكْزًا ﴿٩٨﴾

Canst thou find a single one of them (now) or hear (so much as) a whisper of them?

Other versions:

19:74

19:98 Mary, Mecca 44

21. Surah Al Anbiya'

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَكَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ كَانَتْ ظَالِمَةً...  

21 : 11.  How many were the populations we utterly destroyed because of their iniquities,

...وَأَنشَأْنَا بَعْدَهَا قَوْمًا آخَرِينَ ﴿١١﴾

setting up in their places other peoples!

فَلَمَّا أَحَسُّوا بَأْسَنَا إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَرْكُضُونَ ﴿١٢﴾

21 : 12.  Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it.

C2673. When they had every chance of repentance and reform, they rejected Allah's Message, and perhaps even put up an open defiance.

When they actually began to feel the Wrath coming, they began to flee, but it was too late! Besides, where could they flee to from the Wrath of Allah?

Hence the ironical appeal to them in the next verse: better go back to your luxuries and what you thought were your permanent homes!

Cf. Christ's saying in the present Gospel of St. Matthew (3:7):

"O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come?"

لَا تَرْكُضُوا وَارْجِعُوا إِلَى مَا أُتْرِفْتُمْ فِيهِ وَمَسَاكِنِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْأَلُونَ ﴿١٣﴾

21 : 13.  Flee not, but return to the good things of this life which were given you, and to your homes, in order that ye may be called to account.

C2674. See last note.

'You thought your homes so comfortable: why don't you go back to them? You will be called to account. Perhaps there may be rewards to be given you, who knows?

This irony is itself the beginning of the Punishment. But the ungodly now see how wrong they had been. But their signs and regrets now avail them nothing. It is too late. They are lost, and nothing can save them.

قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ ﴿١٤﴾

21 : 14.  They said: "Ah! woe to us! We were indeed wrongdoers!"

Asad’s Version:

21:11 [al-Anbiyaa, mecca 73]

Asad

For, how many a community that persisted in evildoing have We dashed into fragments, and

raised another people in its stead! 14

(21:12} And [every time,] as soon as they began to feel

Our punishing might, lo! they tried to flee from it –

(21:13) (and at the same time they seemed

to hear a scornful voice]: "Do not try to flee, but return to all that [once] gave you pleasure and

corrupted your whole being. 15 and [return] to your homes, so that you might be called to

account [for what you have done] ! "

21:14

And they could only cry: 17 "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we were wrongdoers!" (21:15} And that

cry of theirs did not cease until We caused them to become [like] a field mown down, still and

silent as ashes.