11. Surah Hud, Mecca 52
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا مَا
دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ
وَالأَرْضُ
إِلاَّ مَا شَاء
رَبُّكَ...
11: 107.They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as thy Lord willeth:
C1608. Khalidin: This is the word which is usually translated "dwell for ever" or "dwell for aye".
Here it is definitely connected with two conditions, viz:
- as long as the heavens and the earth endure, and
- except as Allah wills.
Some Muslim theologians deduce from this the conclusion that the penalties referred to are not eternal, because the heavens and the earth as we see them are not eternal, and the punishments for the deeds of a life that will end should not be such as will never end.
The majority of Muslim theologians reject this view. They hold that the heavens and the earth here referred to are not those we see now, but others that will be eternal. They agree that Allah's Will is unlimited in scope and power, but that it has willed that the rewards and punishments of the Day of Judgment will be eternal.
This is not the place to enter into this tremendous controversy.
...إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ ﴿١٠٧﴾
for thy Lord is the (sure) Accomplisher of what He planneth.
وَأَمَّا
الَّذِينَ
سُعِدُواْ فَفِي
الْجَنَّةِ
خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا مَا
دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ
وَالأَرْضُ...
11: 108.And those who are blessed shall be in the Garden:
they will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure,
C1609. Exactly the same arguments apply as in the last note.
...إِلاَّ مَا شَاء رَبُّكَ...
except as thy Lord willeth:
...عَطَاء غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ ﴿١٠٨﴾
a gift without break.
C1610. The felicity will be uninterrupted, unlike any joy or happiness which we can imagine in this life and which is subject to chances and changes, as our daily experience shows.
11: 107
Asad therein to abide as long as the heavens and the earth endure – unless your Sustainer wills it otherwise [note 134]; for, verily, your Sustainer is a sovereign doer of whatever He wills.
Pickthall Abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth. Lo! thy Lord is Doer of what He will.
Yuksel They will abide in it as long as the heavens and earth exist, except for what your Lord wishes. Your Lord does as He pleases.
Transliteration Kha_lidina fiha_ ma_ da_matis sama_wa_tu wal ardu illa_ ma_ sya_'a rabbuk(a), inna rabbaka fa''a_lul lima_ yurid(u).
[[ Ali’s note - 1608 Khalidin: This is the word which is usually translated "dwell for ever" or "dwell for aye". Here it is definitely connected with two conditions, viz: (1) as long as the heavens and the earth endure, and (2) except as Allah wills. Some Muslim theologians deduce from this the conclusion that the penalties referred to are not eternal, because the heavens and the earth as we see them are not eternal, and the punishments for the deeds of a life that will end should not be such as will never end. The majority of Muslim theologians reject this view. They hold that the heavens and the earth here referred to are not those we see now, but others that will be eternal. They agree that Allah's Will is unlimited in scope and power, but that It has willed that the rewards and punishments of the Day of Judgment will be eternal. (11.107)]]
[[ Asad’s note – I.e., unless God wills to reprieve them (cf. the last paragraph of 6:128 and the corresponding note 114, as well as note 10 on 40:12). The phrase “as long as the heavens and the earth endure” has causes some perplexity to most of the classical commentators in view of the many Quranic statements to the effect that the world as well know it will come to an end on the Last Day, which is synonymous with the Day of Resurrection. …..were used metonymically in the sense of “time beyond count”….See also 20:105-107 and the corresponding note 90, as well note 63 on 14:48.]]
11: 108
Pickthall And as for those who will be glad (that day) they will be in the Garden, abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth: a gift unfailing.
Yuksel As for those who are fortunate, they will be in paradise; in it they will abide as long as the heavens and earth exist, except for what your Lord wishes, a giving without end.*
Transliteration Wa ammal lazina su'idu_ fa fil jannati kha_lidina fiha_ ma_ da_matis sama_wa_tu wal ardu illa_ ma_ sya_'a rabbuk(a), 'ata_'an gaira majzu_z(in).
[[ Yuksel’s note - 011:108 After the end of the world, the earth together with the universe will be recreated anew (14:48).]]