18. Surah Al Kahf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...   

18: 45.  Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world:

... كَمَاء أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاء فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ... 

it is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it,

... فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ... 

but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter:

... وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا ﴿٤٥﴾

it is (only) Allah Who prevails over all things.

Asad’s Version:

18:45 AND PROPOUND unto them the parable of the life of this world: [it is] like the water which We send down from the skies, and which is absorbed by the plants of the earth: but [in time] they turn into dry stubble which the winds blow freely about.

And it is God [alone] who determines all things.