40 Ghafir (Forgiving)/al mumin

Mecca 60 [85 verses]

40:10 [But,] behold, as for those who are bent on denying the truth - [on that same Day] a voice will call out unto them: 6 "Indeed, greater than your [present] loathing of yourselves 7 was God's loathing of you [at the time] when you were called unto faith but went on denying the truth! " 8

40:11 [Asad] [Whereupon] they will exclaim: "O our Sustainer! Twice hast Thou caused us to die, just as twice Thou hast brought us to life!' But now that we have acknowledged our sins, is there any way out [of this second death)?"

(40:12) [And they will be told:] "This [has befallen you] because, whenever the One God was invoked, you denied this truth; whereas, when divinity was ascribed to aught beside Him, you believed [in it]! But all judgment rests with God, the Exalted, the Great!" 10

40:13 HE IT IS who shows you His Wonders [in all nature], and sends down sustenance for you from the sky: but none bethinks himself [thereof] save those who are wont to turn to God.

The Quranic text and Ali’s version

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُنَادَوْنَ...

40:10 [Ali]. The Unbelievers will be addressed:

... لَمَقْتُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ مِن مَّقْتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ... ...

"Greater was the aversion of Allah to you than (is) your aversion to yourselves,

C4370. The Unbelievers having rejected Allah's Signs, they now see how they are shut out from Grace, and they feel disgusted with themselves.

How much greater was Allah's displeasure with them, when He showered mercy upon mercy on them and they yet rebelled!

How could they now hope for Grace!

... إِذْ تُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى الْإِيمَانِ فَتَكْفُرُونَ ﴿١٠﴾

seeing that ye were called to the Faith and ye used to refuse."

قَالُوا رَبَّنَا أَمَتَّنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ...

40:11. They will say:

"Our Lord! twice hast Thou made us without life, and twice hast Thou given us Life!

C4371. Cf. 2:28:

"How can ye reject the faith in Allah?-seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return."

Non-existence, or existence as clay without life was equivalent to death. Then came true Life on this earth; then came physical death or the cessation of our physical life; and now at the Resurrection, is the second life.

... فَاعْتَرَفْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا...

Now have we recognized our sins:

... فَهَلْ إِلَى خُرُوجٍ مِّن سَبِيلٍ ﴿١١﴾

is there any way out (of this)?"

ذَلِكُم بِأَنَّهُ إِذَا دُعِيَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ كَفَرْتُمْ...

12. (The answer will be:)

"This is because, when Allah was invoked as the only (object of worship), ye did reject Faith,

C4372. Cf. 39:45, and n. 4313.

When exclusive devotion is not rendered to Allah, there is no true understanding, in the mind of a creature, of his own true position, or of the working of the Divine Will and Purpose. How can he then hope to achieve the purpose of his life, or obtain Allah's Mercy, which is the only way to obtain release from the consequences of Sin?

... وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِ تُؤْمِنُوا...

but when partners were joined to Him, ye believed!

... فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِ ﴿١٢﴾

The command is with Allah, Most High, Most Great!"

C4373. At the Judgment, the matter will have passed out of the stage at which further chances could have been hoped for. But in any case Allah is High above all things, Great above all that we can conceive of, both in Mercy and in Justice. The Decision will be with Him, and Him alone.