Sura-16 An Nahl mecca 70]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
ثُمَّ
إِذَا كَشَفَ
الضُّرَّ عَنكُمْ
إِذَا فَرِيقٌ
مِّنكُم بِرَبِّهِمْ
يُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾
16:54. Yet, when He removes the distress from you, behold! some of you turn to other gods to join with their Lord --
لِيَكْفُرُواْ
بِمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ...
16:55. (As if) to show their ingratitude for the favors We have bestowed on them!
... فَتَمَتَّعُواْ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾
Then enjoy (your brief day);
but soon will ye know (your folly)!
وَيَجْعَلُونَ
لِمَا لاَ
يَعْلَمُونَ ...
16:56. And they (even) assign, to things they do not know,
C2080. Idols and fictitious gods are certainly things of which they have no knowledge, idols being lifeless things of whose life or doings no knowledge is possible, and fictitious gods being but figments of their imagination.
... نَصِيبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ...
a portion out of that which we have bestowed for their sustenance!
C2081. Cf. 6:136-140, 142-144, and 5:103.
The Pagans, in assigning and dedicating some of their children, or some of their cattle, or some of the produce of their fields, to their false gods as sharers with the true Supreme God, made themselves doubly ridiculous;
- first, because every good thing that they valued was given to them by Allah, and how could they patronizingly assign to Him a share of His own gifts?
- and secondly, because they brought in other gods as sharers, who had no existence whatever!
Besides, the cattle and produce was given for their physical sustenance and the children for their social and spiritual sustenance, and how can they, poor creatures, give sustenance to Allah?
... تَاللّهِ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ ﴿٥٦﴾
By Allah, ye shall certainly be called to account for your false inventions.
Other versions:
16: 54
Asad Yet as soon as He has removed the harm from you, lo! Some of you [begin to] ascribe to other powers a share in their Sustainer’s divinity,
Yusuf Ali Yet when He removes the distress from you behold! some of you turn to other gods to join with their Lord
Pickthall And afterward, when He hath rid you of the misfortune, behold! a set of you attribute partners to their Lord,
Transliteration Summa iza_ kasyafad durra 'ankum iza_ fariqum minkum bi rabbihim yusyriku_n(a),
[Ruby’s note: when the difficulty is over, some ascribe the superficial cause behind the success or recovery from the difficulty, and start focusing on those transitory causes such as wealth, power, mysterious elements or demigods such as astrology, intercession, etc. These misleading beliefs or focus, causes humans to wrong actions, instead of doing good to human beings or giving charity, etc., they start giving to special interests or special agents. Instead of remaining fair and just, they align themselves to the leaders or people they follow.
One’s focus in life should be God as the Ultimate disposer of all affairs, Cause of all causes. ]
16: 55
Asad to prove their ingratitude for all that We have granted them!
Yusuf Ali (As if) to show their ingratitude for the favors We have bestowed on them! Then enjoy (your brief day); but soon will ye know (your folly)!
Pickthall So as to deny that which We have given them. Then enjoy life (while ye may), for ye will come to know.
Transliteration Liyakfuru_ bima_ a_tain_hum, fa tamatta'u_, fa saufa ta'lamu_n(a).
16: 56
Asad As it is, they ascribe – out of what We provide for them as sustenance – a share unto things of which they know nothing. By God, you shall most certainly be called to account for all your false imagery!
Yusuf Ali And they even assign (to things they do not know) a portion out of that which we have bestowed for their sustenance! By Allah ye shall certainly be called to account for your false inventions.
Pickthall And they assign a portion of that which We have given them unto what they know not. By Allah! but ye will indeed be asked concerning (all) that ye used to invent.
Transliteration Wa yaj'alu_na lima_ la_ ya'lamu_na nasibam mimma_ razaqna_hum, talla_hi latus'alunna 'amma_ kuntum taftaru_n(a).