7. Sura al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِلَى
عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ
هُوداً ...
7: 65. To the Ad people, (We sent) Hud, one of their (own) brethren:
C1040. The 'Ad people, with their prophet Hud, are mentioned in many places. See especially 26:123-140, and 46:21-26.
Their story belongs to Arabian tradition. Their eponymous ancestor 'Ad was fourth in generation from Noah, having been a son of 'Aus, the son of Aram, the son of Sam, the son of Noah.
They occupied a large tract of country in Southern Arabia, extending from Umman at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf to Hadhramaut and Yemen at the southern end of the Red Sea. The people were tall in stature and were great builders. Probably the long, winding tracts of sands (ahqaf) in their dominions (46:21) were irrigated with canals.
They forsook the true God, and oppressed their people. A three years famine visited them, but yet they took no warning. At length a terrible blast of wind destroyed them and their land, but a remnant, known as the second 'Ad or the Thamud (see below) were saved, and afterwards suffered a similar fate for their sins.
The tomb of the Prophet Hud (qabr Nabi Hud) is still traditionally shown in Hadhramaut, latitude 16 N, and longitude 49 1/2 E', about 90 miles north of Mukalla. There are ruins and inscriptions in the neighbourhood.
See "Hadhramaut, Some of its Mysteries Unveiled," by D. van der Meulen and H. von Wissmann, Leyden, 1932. (R).
... قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ...
He said:
"O my people!
...اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـهٍ غَيْرُهُ أَفَلاَ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾
worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him.
Will yet not fear (Allah)?"
قَالَ
الْمَلأُ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ مِن
قَوْمِهِ...
7: 66. The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said:
...إِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِي سَفَاهَةٍ وِإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٦٦﴾
"Ah! we see thou art an imbecile!" and
"We think thou art a liar!"
قَالَ
يَا قَوْمِ
لَيْسَ بِي
سَفَاهَةٌ
وَلَكِنِّي
رَسُولٌ مِّن
رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
﴿٦٧﴾
7: 67. He said:
"O my people! I am not imbecile, but (I am) a Messenger from the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds!
أُبَلِّغُكُمْ
رِسَالاتِ
رَبِّي وَأَنَاْ
لَكُمْ نَاصِحٌ
أَمِينٌ ﴿٦٨﴾
7: 68. "I but fulfil towards your the duties of my Lord's mission:
I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser.
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ
أَن جَاءكُمْ
ذِكْرٌ مِّن
رَّبِّكُمْ
عَلَى رَجُلٍ
مِّنكُمْ
لِيُنذِرَكُمْ
...
7: 69. "Do ye wonder that there hath come to you a message from your Lord through a man of your own people, to warn you?
...وَاذكُرُواْ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَاء مِن بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَزَادَكُمْ فِي الْخَلْقِ بَسْطَةً...
Call in remembrance that he made you inheritors after the people of Noah, and gave you a stature tall among the nations.
...فَاذْكُرُواْ آلاء اللّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٦٩﴾
Call in remembrance the benefits (ye have received) from Allah:
that so Ye may prosper."
قَالُواْ
أَجِئْتَنَا
لِنَعْبُدَ
اللّهَ وَحْدَهُ
وَنَذَرَ مَا
كَانَ يَعْبُدُ
آبَاؤُنَا...
7: 70. They said:
"Comest thou to us, that we may worship Allah alone, and give up the cult of our fathers?
...فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿٧٠﴾
Bring us what thou threatenest us with, if so be that thou tellest the truth!"
قَالَ
قَدْ وَقَعَ
عَلَيْكُم مِّن
رَّبِّكُمْ
رِجْسٌ وَغَضَبٌ...
7: 71. He said:
"Punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord:
C1041. The past tense may be understood in three ways.
1. A terrible famine had already afflicted the 'Ad as a warning before they were overwhelmed in the final blast of hot wind (see the last note).
2. The terrible insolence and sin into which they had fallen was itself a punishment.
3. The prophetic past is used, as much as to say: "Behold! I see a dreadful calamity: it is already on you!"
...أَتُجَادِلُونَنِي فِي أَسْمَاء سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَآؤكُم مَّا نَزَّلَ اللّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ...
dispute ye with me over names which ye have devised, ye and your fathers, without authority from Allah?
C1042. Why dispute over names and imaginary gods, the inventions of your minds? Come to realities. If you ask for the punishment and are waiting in insolent defiance, what can I do but also wait? -in fear and trembling for you, for I know that Allah's punishment is sure!
...فَانتَظِرُواْ إِنِّي مَعَكُم مِّنَ الْمُنتَظِرِينَ ﴿٧١﴾
Then wait: I am amongst you, also waiting."
فَأَنجَيْنَاهُ
وَالَّذِينَ
مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ
مِّنَّا...
7: 72. We saved him and those who adhered to him, by our mercy,
...وَقَطَعْنَا دَابِرَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا وَمَا كَانُواْ مُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٧٢﴾
and We cut off the roots of those who rejected our signs and did not believe.
Other versions:
7: 65 [al-Araf, Mecca 39]
Asad And unto Ad their brother Hud. He said: “O my people ! Worship God alone; you have no deity other than Him. Will you not, then, be conscious of Him?”
Yusuf Ali To the Ad people (We sent) Hud one of their (own) brethren: He said: "O my people! worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him. Will yet not fear (Allah)?"
Pickthall And unto (the tribe of) Aad (We sent) their brother, Hud. He said : O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him. Will ye not ward off (evil)?
Transliteration Wa ila_ 'a_din akha_hum hu_da_(n), qa_la ya_ qaumi'budulla_ha ma_ lakum min ila_hin gairuh(u_), afala_ tattaqu_n(a).
7: 66
Asad Said the great ones among his people, who refused to acknowledge the truth: “Verily, we see that you are weak-minded; and , verily, we think that you are a liar!”
Yusuf Ali The leaders of the unbelievers among his people said: "Ah! we see thou art an imbecile!" and "we think thou art a liar!"
Pickthall The chieftains of his people, who were disbelieving, said: Lo! we surely see thee in foolishness, and lo! we deem thee of the liars.
Transliteration Qa_lal mala'ul lazina kafaru_ min qaumihi inna_ lanara_ka fi safa_hatiw wa inna_ lanazunnuka minal ka_zibin(a).
7: 67
Asad Said [Hud]: “O my people! There is no weak mindedness in me, but I am an apostle from the Sustainer of all the worlds,
Yusuf Ali He said: "O my people! I am not imbecile but (I am) an apostle from the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds!
Pickthall He said : O my people; There is no foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds.
Transliteration Qa_la ya_ qaumi laisa bi safa_hatuw wa la_kinni rasu_lum mir rabbil 'a_lamin(a).
7: 68
Asad I am delivering unto you my Sustainer’s messages and advising you truly and well.”
Yusuf Ali "I but fulfil towards your the duties of my Lord's mission: I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser.
Pickthall I convey unto you the messages of my Lord and am for you a true adviser.
Transliteration Uballigukum risa_la_ti rabbi wa ana lakum na_sihun amin(un).
7: 69
Asad Why, do you deem it strange that a tiding from your Sustainer should have come unto you through a man form among yourselves, so that he might warn you? Do you remember how He made you heirs to Noah’s people, and endowed you abundantly with power : remember, then, God’s blessings, so that you might attain to a happy state!”
Yusuf Ali "Do ye wonder that there hath come to you a message from your Lord through a man of your own people to warn you? call in remembrance that he made you inheritors after the people of Noah and gave you a stature tall among the nations. Call in remembrance the benefits (ye have received) from Allah: that so Ye may prosper."
Pickthall Marvel ye that there should come unto you a Reminder from your Lord by means of a man among you, that he may warn you? Remember how He made you viceroys after Noah's folk, and gave you growth of stature. Remember (all) the bounties of your Lord, that haply ye may be successful.
Transliteration Awa'ajibtum an ja_'akum zikrum mir rabbikum 'ala_ rajulim minkum liyunzirakum, wazkuru_ iz ja'alakum khulafa_'a mim ba'di qaumi nu_hiw wa za_dakum fil khalqi bastah(tan), fazkuru_ a_la_'alla_hi la'allakum tuflihu_n(a).
7: 70
Asad They answered: “Have you come to us that we worship God alone, and give up all that our forefathers were wont to worship? Bring about, then, that [punishment] with which you have threatened us, if you are a man of truth!”
Yusuf Ali They said: "Comest thou to us that we may worship Allah alone and give up the cult of our fathers? Bring us what thou threatenest us with if so be that thou tellest the truth!"
Pickthall They said: Hast come unto us that we should serve Allah alone, and forsake what our fathers worshipped? Then bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us if thou art of the truth.
Transliteration Qa_lu_ aji'tana_ lina'budalla_ha wahdahu_ wa nazara ma_ ka_na ya'budu a_ba_'una_, fa'tina_ bima_ ta'iduna_ in kunta minas sa_diqin(a).
7: 71
Asad Said [Hud]: “You are already beset by loathsome evil and by your Sustainer’s condemnation! Do you argue with me about the names which you have invented – you and your forefathers – for which God has bestowed no warrant from on high? Wait, then , verily, I shall wait with you!”
Yusuf Ali He said: "punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord: dispute ye with me over names which ye have devised ye and your fathers without authority from Allah? Then wait: I am amongst you also waiting."
Pickthall He said: Terror and wrath from your Lord have already fallen on you. Would ye wrangle with me over names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which no warrant from Allah hath been revealed? Then await (the consequence), lo! I (also) am of those awaiting (it).
Transliteration Qa_la qad waqa'a 'alaikum mir rabbikum rijsuw wa gadab(un), atuja_dilu_nani fi asma_'in sammaitumu_ha_ antum wa a_ba_'ukum ma_ nazzalalla_hu biha_ min sulta_n(in), fantaziru_ inni ma'akum minal muntazirin(a).
7: 72
Asad And so, by Our grace, We saved him and those who stood by him, the while We wiped out the last remnant of those who gave the life to Our messages and would not believe.(Ad people)
Yusuf Ali We saved him and those who adhered to him by our mercy and We cut off the roots of those who rejected our signs and did not believe.
Pickthall And We saved him and those with him by a mercy from Us, and We cut the root of those who denied Our revelations and were not believers.
Transliteration Fa anjaina_hu wallazina ma'ahu_ bi rahmatim minna_ wa qata'na_ da_biral lazina kazzabu_ bi a_ya_tina_ wa ma_ ka_nu_ mu'minin(a).
[[ Asad’s note 55 – As is shown in 69:6-8, this destruction came about through a violent sandstorm raging without a break for seven nights and eight days.]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1040 The 'Ad people, with their prophet Had, are mentioned in many places. See especially xxvi. 123-140, and xivi. 21-26. Their story belongs to Arabian tradition. Their eponymous ancestor 'Ad was fourth in generation from Noah, having been a son of 'Aus, the son of Aram, the son of Sam, the son of Noah. They occupied a large tract of country in Southern Arabia, extending from Umman at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf to Hadhramaut and Yemen at the southern end of the Red Sea. The people were tall in stature and were great builders. Probably the long, winding tracts of sands (ahqaf) in their dominions (xivi. 21) were irrigated with canals. They forsook the true God, and oppressed their people. A three years famine visited them, but yet they took no warning. At length a terrible blast of wind destroyed them and their land, but a remnant, known as the second 'Ad or the Thamud (see below) were saved, and afterwards suffered a similar fate for their sins. The tomb of the Prophet Hud (qabr Nabi Hud) is still traditionally shown in Hadhramaut, latitude 16 N, and longitude 49 1/2 E', about 90 miles north of Mukalla. There are ruins and inscriptions in the neighbourhood. See "Hadhramaut, Some of its Mysteries Unveiled," by D. van der Meulen and H. von Wissmann, Leyden, 1932. (7.65)
1041 The past tense may be understood in three ways. (1) A terrible famine had already afflicted the 'Ad as a warning before they were overwhelmed in the final blast of hot wind (see the last note). (2) The terrible insolence and sin into which they had fallen was itself a punishment. (3) The prophetic past is used, as much as to say: "Behold! I see a dreadful calamity: it is already on you!" (7.71)
1042 Why dispute over names and imaginary gods, the inventions of your minds? Come to realities. If you ask for the punishment and are waiting in insolent defiance, what can I do but also wait?-in fear and trembling for you, for I know that Allah's punishment is sure! (7.71) ]]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ
يَأْتِهِمْ
نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ
مِن قَبْلِهِمْ
قَوْمِ نُوحٍ
وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ...
9: 70. Hath not the story reached them of those before them?
The people of Noah, and Ad, and Thamud;
C1328. The story:
- of Noah is told in 7:59-64:
- of 'Ad in 7:65-72; and
- of Thamud in 7:73-79;
- of Abraham in numerous places, but see specially 6:74-82;
- of Midianites in 7:85-93; and
- of Lut and the Cities of the Plain overthrown for their wickedness, in 7:80-84.
...وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وِأَصْحَابِ مَدْيَنَ ...
the people of Abraham,
the men of Madyan,
C1329. In the case of Noah and Abraham, the word I have translated as "people of..." is qaum:
these prophets were messengers each to his own people or nation, as was also Hud to the 'Ad people and Salih to the Thamud people.
The word used for the Midianites is Ashabi Madyan, which I have translated "men of Midian" for want of a better word.
The Midianites were for the greater part of their history nomads, with pasture grounds but no settled territory or town. The town of Madyan on the Gulf of 'Aqaba refers to much later times when the Midianites as a people had ceased to count.
See n. 1053 to 7:85.
... وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَاتِ...
and the cities overthrown.
C1330. The Cities of Plain, Sodom and Gomorrah, to whom Lut preached in vain to desist from their abominations: 7:80-84.
...أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ...
To them came their Messengers with clear signs.
...فَمَا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـكِن كَانُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾
It is not Allah who wrongs them, but they wrong their own souls.
Asad’s Version:
9: 70 Have then the stories of those who preceded them never come within the ken of these – of Noah’s people , and of Ad and Thamud, and of Abraham’s people, and of the folk of Madyan, and of the cities that were overthrown? To them their apostles had come with all evidence of the truth, and so it was not God who wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.
11.Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِلَى
عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ
هُودًا...
11: 50. To the 'Ad People (We sent) Hud, one of their own brethren.
...قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـهٍ غَيْرُهُ...
He said:
"O my people! worship Allah!
ye have no other god but Him.
C1545. Cf. the story of Hud the Messenger of the 'Ad People, in 7:65-72. There the argument was how other Peoples treated their prophets as the Makkans were treating Al-Mustafa.
Here we see another point emphasized: the insolence of the 'Ad in obstinately adhering to false gods after the true God had been preached to them, Allah's grace to them, and finally Allah's justice in bringing them to book while the righteous were saved.
The locality in which the 'Ad flourished is indicated in n. 1040 to 7:65.
...إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ مُفْتَرُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾
(Your other gods) ye do nothing but invent!
يَا
قَوْمِ لا أَسْأَلُكُمْ
عَلَيْهِ
أَجْرًا...
11: 51. "O my people! I ask of you no reward for this (Message).
...إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي...
My reward is from none but Him Who created me:
...أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٥١﴾
will ye not then understand?
وَيَا قَوْمِ
اسْتَغْفِرُواْ
رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ
تُوبُواْ
إِلَيْهِ...
11: 52. "And O my people!
ask forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him (in repentance):
...يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاء عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا ...
He will send you the skies pouring abundant rain,
C1546. The beautiful metaphor about the skies coming down with rain has been obscured unnecessarily in most translations.
The country of the 'Ad was an arid country, and rain was the greatest blessing they could receive. We can imagine this being said in a time of famine, when the people performed all sorts of superstitious rites and invocations instead of turning to the true God in faith and repentance.
Further, when we remember that there were, in this tract in ancient times, dams like that at Ma'arib, for the storage of rain water, the effect is still further heightened in pointing to Allah's care and mercy in His dealing with men.
... وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً...
and add strength to your strength:
C1547. Adding strength to strength may refer to increase of population, as some Commentators think. While other parts of Arabia were sparsely populated, the irrigated lands of the 'Ad supported a comparatively dense population and added to their natural strength in the arts of peace and war.
But the term used is perfectly general. They were a powerful people in their time. If they obeyed Allah and followed the law of righteousness, they would be still more powerful, for "righteousness exalteth a nation."
...إِلَى قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَوَلَّوْاْ مُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٥٢﴾
so turn ye not back in sin!"
قَالُواْ يَا
هُودُ مَا جِئْتَنَا
بِبَيِّنَةٍ...
11: 53. They said:
"O Hud! no Clear (Sign) hast thou brought us,
...وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِي آلِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٥٣﴾
and we are not the ones to desert our gods on thy word!
Nor do we believe in thee!
C1548. The argument of the Unbelievers is practically this:
"We are not convinced by you: we don't want to be convinced: we think you are a liar,-or perhaps a fool!"
(See next verse).
إِن
نَّقُولُ إِلاَّ
اعْتَرَاكَ
بَعْضُ آلِهَتِنَا
بِسُوَءٍ...
11: 54. "We say nothing but that (perhaps) some of our gods may have seized thee with imbecility."
C1549. See n. 1548 above.
Continuing their argument, the Unbelievers make a show of making all charitable allowances for Hud, but in reality cut him to the quick by bringing in their false gods.
"To be quite polite," said they, "we will not say that you are exactly a liar! Perhaps you have been touched with imbecility! Ah yes! You rail against what you call our false gods! Some of them have paid you out, and made you a fool! Ha! ha!"
This mockery is even worse than their other false accusations. For it sets up false gods against the One True God, even in dealing with Hud.
So Hud replies, with spirit and indignation:
"At least keep Allah's name out of your futile talk! You know as well as I do, that I worship the One True God!
You pretend that your false gods can smite a true Prophet of Allah!
I accept the challenge. Scheme and plot against me as you may, all of you-you and your gods! See if you have any power! I ask for no quarter from you!
My trust is in Allah!"
...قَالَ إِنِّي أُشْهِدُ اللّهِ وَاشْهَدُواْ أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾
He said:
"I call Allah to witness, and do ye bear witness that I am free from the sin of ascribing, to Him,
11: 55. "Other gods as partners!
...فَكِيدُونِي جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ لاَ تُنظِرُونِ ﴿٥٥﴾
So scheme (your worst) against me, all of you, and give me no respite.
إِنِّي
تَوَكَّلْتُ
عَلَى اللّهِ
رَبِّي وَرَبِّكُم...
11: 56. "I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord!
...مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا...
There is not a moving creature, but He hath grasp of its forelock.
C1551. Grasp of the fore-lock; an Arabic idiom, referring to a horse's fore-lock.
The man who grasps it has complete power over the horse, and for the horse the fore-lock is as it were the crown of his beauty, the sum of his power of self-assertion. So Allah's power over all creatures is unlimited and no one can withstand His decree.
Cf. 96:15-16.
...إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٥٦﴾
Verily, it is my Lord that is on a Straight Path.
C1552. That is, the standard of all virtue and righteousness is in the Will of Allah, the Universal Will that controls all things in goodness and justice.
You are on a crooked Path. Allah's Path is a straight Path.
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ
فَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُم
مَّا أُرْسِلْتُ
بِهِ إِلَيْكُمْ...
11: 57. "If ye turn away -- I (at least) have conveyed the Message with which I was sent to you.
...وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ رَبِّي قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلاَ تَضُرُّونَهُ شَيْئًا...
My Lord will make another People to succeed you, and you will not harm Him in the least.
C1553. Hud was dealing with a people of pride and obstinate rebellion. He tells them that their conduct will only recoil on themselves. It can do no harm to Allah or in any way frustrate the beneficent Plan of Allah. He will only put some other people in their place to carry out His Plan.
That Plan is referred to in the next sentence as "care and watch" over all his Creation.
...إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيظٌ ﴿٥٧﴾
For my Lord hath care and watch over all things."
وَلَمَّا جَاء
أَمْرُنَا
نَجَّيْنَا
هُودًا وَالَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ
بِرَحْمَةٍ
مِّنَّا...
11: 58. So when Our decree issued, We saved Hud and those who believed with him, by (special) Grace from Ourselves:
C1554. A few just men might suffer for the iniquities of the many. But Allah's Plan is perfect and eventually saves His own people by special Grace, if they have Faith and Trust in Him.
...وَنَجَّيْنَاهُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ ﴿٥٨﴾
We saved them from a severe Penalty.
11: 59. Such were the 'Ad people:
...جَحَدُواْ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَعَصَوْاْ رُسُلَهُ وَاتَّبَعُواْ أَمْرَ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ ﴿٥٩﴾
they rejected the Signs of their Lord and Cherisher;
disobeyed His Messengers;
and followed the command of every powerful, obstinate transgressor.
C1555. Instead of following the beneficent Lord who cherished them, they followed every rebel against Allah's Law, if he only obtained a little power to dazzle them.
وَأُتْبِعُواْ
فِي هَـذِهِ
الدُّنْيَا
لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ
الْقِيَامَةِ...
11: 60. And they were pursued by a Curse in this Life -- and on the Day of Judgment.
...أَلا إِنَّ عَادًا كَفَرُواْ رَبَّهُمْ...
Ah! behold! for the 'Ad rejected their Lord and Cherisher!
...أَلاَ بُعْدًا لِّعَادٍ قَوْمِ هُودٍ ﴿٦٠﴾
Ah! behold! removed (from sight) were 'Ad, the people of Hud!
Other versions:
11: 50 [[ Hud, Mecca 52]
Asad And unto [the tribe of] Ad [We sent] their brother Hud [note 74]. ……………….as you are but inventors of falsehood! [note 75].
Yusuf Ali To the `Ad People (We sent) Hud one of their own brethren. He said: "O my people! worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him. (Your other gods) ye do nothing but invent!
Pickthall And unto (the tribe of) Aad (We sent) their brother, Hud. He said: O my people! Serve Allah! Ye have no other God save Him. Lo! ye do but invent!
Yuksel To Aad was sent their brother Hud. He said, "My people, serve God, you have no god besides Him; you are simply conjecturing."
Transliteration Wa ila_ 'a_din akha_hum hu_da_(n), qa_la ya_ qaumi'budulla_ha ma_ lakum min ila_hin gairuh(u_), in antumilla_ muftaru_n(a).
[[ Asad’s ntoe 74 – For particulars relating to the name Hud as well as the tribe of Ad, see surah 7, note 48.]
Note 75 -…………regarding the term MUFTARUN, see surah 7, note 119.]
11: 51
Asad “O my people! No reward do I ask of you for this [message]: my reward rests with none but Him who brought me into being. Will you not, then, use your reason?
Yusuf Ali "O my people! I ask of you no reward for this (Message). My reward is from none but Him Who created me: will ye not then understand?
Pickthall O my people! I ask of you no reward for it. Lo! my reward is the concern only of Him who made me. Have ye then no sense?
Yuksel "My people, I do not ask you for any wage, my wage is from the One who initiated me. Will you not reason?"
Transliteration Ya_ qaumi la_ as'alukum 'alaihi ajra_(n), in ajriya illa_ 'alal lazi fatarani, afala_ ta'qilu_n(a).
11: 52
Asad ………He will shower upon you heavenly blessings abundant, and will add strength to your strength……….
Yusuf Ali "And O my people! ask forgiveness of your Lord and turn to Him (in repentance): He will send you the skies pouring abundant rain and add strength to your strength: so turn ye not back in sin!"
Pickthall And, O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn unto Him repentant; He will cause the sky to rain abundance on you and will add unto you strength to your strength. Turn not away, guilty!
Yuksel "My people, seek forgiveness from your Lord, then repent to Him; He will send the sky to you abundantly, and He will increase might to your might. So do not turn away as criminals."
Transliteration Wa ya_ qaumi-stagfiru_ rabbakum summa tu_bu_ ilaihi yursilis sama_'a 'alaikum midra_raw wa yazidkum quwwatan ila_ quwwatikum wa la_ tatawallau mujrimin(a).
11: 53
Yusuf Ali They said: "O Hud! no Clear (Sign) hast thou brought us and we are not the ones to desert our gods on thy word! Nor do we believe in thee!
Pickthall They said: O Hud! Thou hast brought us no clear proof and we are not going to forsake our gods on thy (mere) saying, and we are not believers in thee.
Yuksel They said, "O Hud, you have not come to us with any proof, nor will we leave our gods based on what you say. We will not acknowledge you."
Transliteration Qa_lu_ ya_ hu_du ma_ ji'tana_ bi bayyinatiw wa ma_ nahnu bi ta_riki a_lihatina_ 'an qaulika wa ma_ nahnu laka bi mu'minin(a).
11: 54
Yusuf Ali "We say nothing but that (perhaps) some of our gods may have seized thee with imbecility." He said: "I call Allah to witness and do ye bear witness that I am free from the sin of ascribing to Him
Pickthall We say naught save that one of our gods hath possessed thee in an evil way. He said: I call Allah to witness, and do ye (too) bear witness, that I am innocent of (all) that ye ascribe as partners (to Allah)
Yuksel "All we can say is that perhaps some of our gods have possessed you with evil." He said, "I make God my witness, and all of you witness that I disown what you have set up as partners--
Transliteration In naqu_lu illa-'tara_ka ba'du a_lihatina_ bi su_'(in), qa_la inni usyhidulla_ha wa-syhadu_ anni bari'um mimma_ tusyriku_n(a).
11: 55
Yusuf Ali "Other gods as partners! So scheme (your worst) against me all of you and give me no respite.
Pickthall Beside Him. So (try to) circumvent me, all of you, give me no respite.
Yuksel "-- besides Him, so scheme against me all of you, then do not give me respite."
Transliteration Min du_nihi fa kidu_ni jami'an summa la_ tunziru_n(i).
[[ Ruby’s note 11:54 – Hud people were polytheists/pagans. They had more than one god]
11: 56
Asad Behold, I have placed my trust in God, my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer: for there is no living creature which He does not hold by its forelock. Verily, straight is my Sustainer’s way!
Yusuf Ali "I put my trust in Allah my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He hath grasp of its forelock. Verily it is my Lord that is on a Straight Path.
Pickthall Lo! I have put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Not an animal but He doth grasp it by the forelock! Lo! my Lord is on a straight path.
Yuksel "I have put my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is not a creature except He will seize it by its frontal lobe. My Lord is on a Straight Path."
Transliteration Inni tawakkaltu 'alalla_hi rabbi wa rabbikum, ma_ min da_bbatin illa_ huwa a_khizum bi na_siyatiha_, inna rabbi 'ala_ sira_tim mustaqim(in).
11: 57
Yusuf Ali "If ye turn away I (at least) have conveyed the Message with which I was sent to you. My Lord will make another People to succeed you and you will not harm Him in the least. For my Lord hath care and watch over all things."
Pickthall And if ye turn away, still I have conveyed unto you that wherewith I was sent unto you, and my Lord will set in place of you a folk other than you. Ye cannot injure Him at all. Lo! my Lord is Guardian over all things.
Yuksel "If you turn away, then I have delivered what I was sent to you with. My Lord will bring after you a people who are not like you, and you will not harm Him in the least. My Lord is Guardian over all things."
Transliteration Fa in tawallau faqad ablagtukum ma_ ursiltu bihi ilaikum, wa yastakhlifu rabbi qauman gairakum, wa la_ tadurru_nahu_ syaia'a_(n), inna rabbi 'ala_ kulli syai'in hafiz(un).
11: 58
Yusuf Ali So when Our decree issued We saved Hud and those who believed with him by (special) Grace from Ourselves: We saved them from a severe Penalty.
Pickthall And when Our commandment came to pass We saved Hud and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us; We saved them from a harsh doom.
Yuksel When Our command came, We saved Hud and those who acknowledged with him by a mercy from Us, and We saved them from a harsh retribution.
Transliteration Wa lamma_ ja_'a amruna_ najjaina_ hu_daw wallazina a_manu_ ma'ahu_ bi rahmatim minna_, wa najjaina_hum min 'aza_bin galiz(in).
11: 59
Asad ………………….and followed the bidding of every arrogant enemy of the truth. [note 85]
Yusuf Ali Such were the `Ad people: they rejected the Signs of their Lord and Cherisher; disobeyed His Apostles; and followed the command of every powerful obstinate transgressor.
Pickthall And such were Aad. They denied the revelations of their Lord and flouted His messengers and followed the command of every froward potentate.
Yuksel Such was the case of Aad. They disregarded the signs of their Lord, and they disobeyed His messengers, and they followed the lead of everyone powerful and stubborn.
Transliteration Wa tilka 'a_d(un), jahadu_ bi a_ya_ti rabbihim wa 'asau rusulahu_ wa-ttaba'u_ amra kulli jabba_rin 'anid(in).
[[ Asad’s note 85 – An allusion to “the great ones among them, who refused to acknowledge the truth” (7:66). …..interpretation of Jabbar, see note 58 on 26:130.]]
11: 60
Asad And they were pursued in this world by [God’s] rejection, and …..[note 86]
Yusuf Ali And they were pursued by a Curse in this Life and on the Day of Judgment. Ah! behold! for the `Ad rejected their Lord and Cherisher! Ah! behold! removed (from sight) were `Ad the people of Hud!
Pickthall And a curse was made to follow them in the world and on the Day of Resurrection. Lo! Aad disbelieved in their Lord. A far removal for Aad, the folk of Hud!
Yuksel They were followed by a curse in this world and on the day of judgment, for Aad rejected their Lord. There is no more Aad, the people of Hud.
Transliteration Wa utbi'u_ fi ha_zihid dunya_ la'nataw wa yaumal qiya_mah(ti), ala_ inna 'a_dan kafaru_ rabbahum, ala_ bu'dal li 'a_din qaumi hu_d(in).
[[ Asad’s note 86 – For my rendering of the term “la’nah’ as “[God’s] rejection, see note 37 above. Note 37- The term ‘la’nah’ – which is usually, but inexactly, translated as “curse’ – is in its primary meaning synonymous with ‘ib’ad’ (“alienation”, “estrangement”, or “banishment”) in the moral sense; hence it denotes “rejection from all that is good” (Lisan al-Arab) and, with reference to God, the sinner’s “exclusion from His grace” (Manar ll, 50).]]
22.
Sura al-Hajj
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِن
يُكَذِّبُوكَ
فَقَدْ كَذَّبَتْ
قَبْلَهُمْ
...
22: 42. If they treat thy (mission) as false, so did the Peoples before them (with their Prophets),
C2820. It is nothing new if the Prophet of Allah is accused of imposture. This was done in all ages; e.g.,
- Noah (7:64);
- Hud the prophet of the 'Ad people (7:66);
- Salih the prophet of the Thamud (7:76);
- Abraham ( 21:55);
- Lut (7:82);
- Shu'aib the prophet of the Madyan people (7:85)
- and also of the Companions of the Wood ( 15:78).
The case of Moses is mentioned apart, as his people survived to the time of our Prophet and survive to the present, and they frequently rebelled against Moses (2:49-61).
... قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَعَادٌ وَثَمُودُ ﴿٤٢﴾
the People of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud;
وَقَوْمُ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
وَقَوْمُ لُوطٍ
﴿٤٣﴾
22: 43. Those of Abraham and Lut;
وَأَصْحَابُ
مَدْيَنَ...
22: 44. And the Companions of the Madyan people:
C2821. Were they the same as the Companions of the Wood?
See n. 2000 to 15:78.
...وَكُذِّبَ مُوسَى...
and Moses was rejected (in the same way).
...فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ...
But I granted respite to the Unbelievers and (only) after that did I punish them:
...فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ ﴿٤٤﴾
but how (terrible) was My rejection (of them)!
C2822. My Wrath on them, and the complete reversal of their fortune in consequence.
Asad’s Version:
22:42
AND IF THEY [who are bent on denying the truth] give thee the lie, [O Muhammad,
remember that, long] before their time, the people of Noah and [the tribes of] Ad and Thamud gave the lie [to their prophets],
(22:43) as did the people of Abraham, and the people of Lot,
(22:44) and the dwellers of Madyan; and [so, too,] Moses was given the lie [by Pharaoh] . 60 And [in every case] I gave rein, for a while, to the deniers of the truth: but then I took them to task - and how awesome was My denial [of them]!
25.Surah Al Furqan
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَوْمَ
نُوحٍ لَّمَّا
كَذَّبُوا
الرُّسُلَ
أَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ
وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ
لِلنَّاسِ
آيَةً...
25: 37. And the people of Noah -- when they rejected the messengers, We drowned them, and We made them as a Sign for mankind;
C3093. The stories of Noah, of the prophets of 'Ad and Thamud (and of other prophets), in the reactions of their communities to their teaching are told in 26:105-159.
Here they are just mentioned to illustrate how little respect past ages had for their prophets and teachers of Truth. But Allah's Truth did not suffer: it was the blind rejecters of spiritual Truth who were wiped out.
... وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا ﴿٣٧﴾
and We have prepared for (all) wrongdoers a grievous Penalty --
وَعَادًا
وَثَمُودَ
وَأَصْحَابَ
الرَّسِّ وَقُرُونًا
بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ
كَثِيرًا ﴿٣٨﴾
25: 38. As also 'Ad and Thamud, and the Companions of the Rass, and many a generation between them.
C3094. Commentators are not clear as to who the "Companions of the Rass" were. The root meaning of "rass" is an old well or shallow water-pit. Another root connects it with the burial of the dead. But it is probably the name of a town or place.
The "Companions of the Rass" may well have been the people of Shu'aib, as they are here mentioned with the 'Ad, the Thamud, and Lut's people, and the people of Shu'aib are mentioned in a similar connection in 26:176-190 and in 11:84-95.
Shu'aib was the prophet of the Madyan people in the north-west of Arabia, where many old wells are found. There is however an oasis town al-Rass in the district of Qasim in Middle Najd, about thirty-five miles south-west of the town of 'Unaiza, reputed to be the central point of the Arabian Peninsula, and situated midway between Makkah and Basra.
See Doughly's Arabia Deserts, thin-paper one-volume edition, London 1926, 11, 435 and Map, Lat. 26*N., and Long. 43*E.
وَكُلًّا
ضَرَبْنَا لَهُ
الْأَمْثَالَ...
25: 39. To each one We set forth parables and examples;
... وَكُلًّا تَبَّرْنَا تَتْبِيرًا ﴿٣٩﴾
and each one We broke to utter annihilation (for their sins).
Asad’s Version:
25:37
And [think of] the people of Noah: when they gave the lie to [one of] the apostles, We caused them to drown, and made them a symbol for all mankind: for, grievous suffering have We readied for all who [knowingly] do wrong!
(25:38) And [remember how We punished the tribes of] Ad and Thamud, and the people of Ar-Rass, 33 and many generations [of sinners] in- between:
(25:39) and unto each of them did We proffer lessons, 34 and each of them did We destroy with utter destruction.
[Asad’s notes - 32 For this rendering of the term wazir, see note 18 on 20:29. The mention, at this place, of Moses and Aaron - and of Noah, etc., in the following verses - is intended to remind us of the statement in verse 31 above that "against every prophet We have set up enemies from among those who are lost 33 Regarding the tribes of Ad and Thamud, see surah 7, notes 48 and 56. As for Ar-Rass, a town of that name exists to this day in the Central- Arabian province of Al-Qasim; in the ancient times referred to it seems to have been inhabited by descendants of the Nabataean tribe of Thamud Tabari). There is, however no agreement among the commentators as to the real meaning of this name or designation; Razi cites several of the current, conflicting interpretations and rejects all of them as purely conjectural.
34 Sc, "which they failed to heed". For my rendering of mathal, in this context, as "lesson see note 104 on 17:89. ]]
===================================================================
26. Surah Al Shu'ara'
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
كَذَّبَتْ
عَادٌ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
﴿١٢٣﴾
26: 123. The 'Ad (people) rejected the messengers.
C3194. See n. 1040 to 7:65 for the 'Ad people and their location.
Here the emphasis is on the fact that they were materialists believing in brute force, and felt secure in their fortresses and resources, but were found quite helpless when Allah's Message came and they rejected it.
إِذْ
قَالَ لَهُمْ
أَخُوهُمْ هُودٌ
أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
﴿١٢٤﴾
26: 124. Behold, their brother Hud said to them:
"Will ye not fear (Allah)?
إِنِّي
لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ
أَمِينٌ ﴿١٢٥﴾
26: 125. "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.
C3195. See n. 3187 to 26:107 above.
فَاتَّقُوا
اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ
﴿١٢٦﴾
26: 126. "So fear Allah and obey me.
وَمَا
أَسْأَلُكُمْ
عَلَيْهِ مِنْ
أَجْرٍ...
26: 127. "No reward do I ask of you for it:
...إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٢٧﴾
my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
أَتَبْنُونَ
بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ
آيَةً تَعْبَثُونَ
﴿١٢٨﴾
26: 128. "Do ye build a landmark on every high place to amuse yourselves?
C3196. Any merely material civilisation prides itself on show and parade. Its votaries scatter monuments for all sorts of things in conspicuous places-monuments which commemorate deeds and events which are forgotten in a few generations!
Cf. Shelley's poem on Ozymandias:
"I am Ozymandias, King of Kings!
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair! ....
Boundless and bare the lonely and level sands stretch far away!"
وَتَتَّخِذُونَ
مَصَانِعَ
لَعَلَّكُمْ
تَخْلُدُونَ
﴿١٢٩﴾
26: 129. "And do ye get for yourselves fine buildings in the hope of living therein (forever)?
وَإِذَا
بَطَشْتُم
بَطَشْتُمْ
جَبَّارِينَ
﴿١٣٠﴾
26: 130. "And when ye exert your strong hand, do ye do it like men of absolute power?
C3197. "Without any responsibility or consideration for those who come within your power?"
فَاتَّقُوا
اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ
﴿١٣١﴾
26: 131. "Now fear Allah, and obey me.
C3198. See n. 3188 above.
وَاتَّقُوا
الَّذِي أَمَدَّكُم
بِمَا تَعْلَمُونَ
﴿١٣٢﴾
26: 132. "Yea, fear Him Who has bestowed on you freely all that ye know.
C3199. The gifts are described generally, immaterial and material.
"All that ye know" includes not only material things, but knowledge and the faculties by which knowledge may be used for human well-being, all that makes life beautiful and refined.
"Cattle" means wealth generally, and "sons" means population and manpower. "Gardens and Springs" are things that contribute to the delight and pleasure of man.
أَمَدَّكُم
بِأَنْعَامٍ
وَبَنِينَ ﴿١٣٣﴾
26: 133. "Freely has He bestowed on you cattle and sons --
وَجَنَّاتٍ
وَعُيُونٍ ﴿١٣٤﴾
26: 134. And Gardens and Springs.
إِنِّي
أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ
عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ
عَظِيمٍ ﴿١٣٥﴾
26: 135. "Truly I fear for you the Penalty of a Great Day."
C3200. "But you have misused all those gifts, and you will suffer the inevitable penalties for your misuse and or your ingratitude."
قَالُوا
سَوَاء عَلَيْنَا
أَوَعَظْتَ
أَمْ لَمْ تَكُن
مِّنَ الْوَاعِظِينَ
﴿١٣٦﴾
26: 136. They said:
"It is the same to us whether thou admonish us or be not among (our) Admonishers!
C3201. "We are not going to attend to you whether you preach to us or not."
The construction of the second clause, "or be not among our admonishers" is a rapier cut at Hud, as if they had said:
"Oh yes! we have heard plenty of admonishers like you!"
See the next verse.
إِنْ
هَذَا إِلَّا
خُلُقُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
﴿١٣٧﴾
26: 137. "This is no other than a customary device of the ancients,
C3202. They said, as many of our modern enemies of religion say,
"you are only reviving an ancient superstition, a dope of the crowd; there is no such thing as a Hereafter, or the sort of punishments you announce!"
وَمَا
نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ
﴿١٣٨﴾
26: 138. "And we are not the ones to receive Pains and Penalties!"
فَكَذَّبُوهُ
فَأَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ...
26: 139. So they rejected him,
and We destroyed them,
...إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً...
verily in this is a Sign:
...وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٣٩﴾
but most of them do not believe.
وَإِنَّ
رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ
الْعَزِيزُ
الرَّحِيمُ
﴿١٤٠﴾
26: 140. And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.
Asad’s Version:
26:123 [AND the tribe of] Ad gave the lie to [one of God's] message-bearers
(26:124) when their brother Hud 55 said unto them: "Will you not be conscious of God?
(26:125) Behold, I am an apostle [sent by Him] to you, [and therefore] worthy of your trust:
(26:126) be, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me!
26:127 "And no reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward rests with none but the Sustainer of all the worlds.
(26:128) "Will you, in your wanton folly, build [idolatrous] altars on every height, 56
(26:129) and make for yourselves mighty castles, [hoping] that you might become immortal? 57
(26: 130) And will you [always], whenever you lay hand [on others], lay hand [on them) cruelly, without any restraint? 58
26:131 "Be, then, conscious of God and pay heed unto me:
(26:132) and [thus] be conscious of Him who has [so] amply provided you with all [the good] that you might think of 59 –
(26:133) amply provided you with flocks, and children,
(26:134) and gardens, and springs -:
(26:135)for, verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome day ! "
26:136 [But] they answered: "It is all one to us whether thou preachest [something new] or art not of those who [like to] preach.
(26: 137) This [religion of ours) is none other than that to which our forebears clung, 60
(26: 138) and we are not going to be chastised [for adhering to it] ! "
26:139 And so they gave him the lie: and thereupon We destroyed them. In this [story], behold, there is a message [unto men], even though most of them will not believe [in it]."
(26:140) But, verily, thy Sustainer - He alone - is almighty, a dispenser of grace!
[[ Asad’s notes: -
54 For the message specifically alluded to here, see verses 1 1 1-1 15, as well as note 50 above.
55 See 7:65 and the corresponding note 48. 56 The noun ayah, which primarily denotes "a sign" or "a token", evidently refers here to the ancient Semitic custom of worshipping the tribal gods on hilltops, which were crowned to this end by sacrificial altars or monuments, each of them devoted to a particular deity: hence my rendering of ayah, in this particular context, as "altars" (in the plural).
57 The meaning could be either "hoping that you might live in them forever", or "that you might gain immortal renown for having built them" .
58 The term jabbar, when applied to man, as a rule denotes one who is haughty, overbearing, exorbitant and cruel, and does not submit to any moral restraints in his dealings with those who are weaker than himself. Sometimes (as, e.g., in 11:59 or 14:15) this term is used to describe a person's negative ethical attitude, and in that case it may be rendered as "enemy of the truth". In the present instance, however, stress is laid on the tyrannical behaviour of the tribe of 'Ad, evidently relating to their warlike conflicts with other people: and in this sense it expresses a Qur'anic prohibition, valid for all times, of all unnecessary cruelty in warfare, coupled with the positive, clearly- implied injunction to subordinate every act of war - as well as the decision to wage war as such - to moral considerations and restraints.
59 Lit., "with all that you know" or "that you are [or "might be"] aware of" .
]]
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29. Surah Al-'Ankabut (The Spider)
Period Uncertain
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَعَادًا
وَثَمُودَ ...
29:38. Remember also the 'Ad and the Thamud (people):
C3459. For the 'Ad people see 7:65-72, and n. 1040,
and for the Thamud, 7:73-79, and n. 1043.
The remains of their buildings show:
- that they were gifted with great intelligence and skill;
- that they were proud of their material civilization; and
- their destruction argues how the greatest material civilization and resources cannot save a People who disobey Allah's moral law.
... وَقَد تَّبَيَّنَ لَكُم مِّن مَّسَاكِنِهِمْ...
clearly will appear to you from (the traces) of their buildings (their fate):
...وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ...
the Evil One made their deeds alluring to them, and kept them back from the Path,
C3460. They were so arrogant and self-satisfied, that they missed the higher purpose of life, and strayed clean away from the Path of Allah.
Though their intelligence should have kept them straight, Evil made them crooked and led them and kept them astray.
...وَكَانُوا مُسْتَبْصِرِينَ ﴿٣٨﴾
though they were gifted with Intelligence and Skill.
Asad’s Version:
29:38 AND [the tribes of] Ad and Thamud, 32 [too, did We destroy -] as should have become obvious to you from [whatever there remains of] their dwellings. 33 (They perished] because Satan had made their [sinful] doings seem goodly to them, and thus had barred them from the path (of God] despite their having been endowed with the ability to perceive the truth. 34
[[ Asad’s notes - 32 See surah 7, second half of note 48, and note 56.
33 As regards the tribe of 'Ad, the above seems to be an allusion to their one-time capital, the legendary 'Tram the many-pillared" (mentioned in the Qur'an only once, namely, in 89:7). It has since been buried by the moving sand-dunes of Al-Ahqaf (a region between 'Uman and Hadramawt, within the great South- Arabian desert of Rub' al-Khali); it is said, however, that its traces are occasionally uncovered by strong winds. For an explanation of the reference to the dwellings of the Thamud, see note 59 on 7:74.
34 Thus, the Qur'an implies that it is man's "ability to perceive the truth" (istibsar) that makes him morally responsible for his doings and, hence, for his failure to resist his own evil impulses - which is evidently the meaning of "Satan" in this context. See in this connection 14:22 and the corresponding notes 31 and 33. ]]
41. Surah Fussilat (Clearly Spelled Out/Expounded)
Mecca Period 61 [54 ayats]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَإِنْ
أَعْرَضُوا
فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ
صَاعِقَةً
مِّثْلَ صَاعِقَةِ
عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ
﴿١٣﴾
41: 13. But if they turn away, say thou:
"I have warned you of a stunning Punishment (as of thunder and lightning) like that which (overtook) the 'Ad and the Thamud!"
C4479. See verse 17 below.
إِذْ
جَاءتْهُمُ
الرُّسُلُ مِن
بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ
وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ
...
41: 14. Behold, the messengers came to them, from before them and behind them, (preaching):
C4480. "From before them and behind them": i.e., from every side. They were warned from every point of view.
... أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ...
"Serve none but Allah."
...قَالُوا لَوْ شَاء رَبُّنَا لَأَنزَلَ مَلَائِكَةً ...
They said,
"If our Lord had so pleased, He would certainly have sent down angels (to preach):
C4481. Cf. 15:7, n. 1941; 6:8-9, n. 841-842.
The 'Ad had more power and material civilisation than the Pagan Arabs contemporary with the holy Prophet. But the greater the material civilisation, the greater the arrogance as the besetting sin.
... فَإِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ كَافِرُونَ ﴿١٤﴾
now we reject your mission (altogether)."
فَأَمَّا
عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا
فِي الْأَرْضِ
بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ
...
41: 15. Now the 'Ad behaved arrogantly through the land, against (all) truth and reason,
C4482. Against (all) truth and reason: Cf. 7:33.
Their estimate of their own strength was greater than was justified by facts, but if they had all the strength which they arrogated to themselves, yet how could they stand before Allah?
... وَقَالُوا مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً...
and said: "Who is superior to us in strength?"
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً...
What!
did they not see that Allah, Who created them, was superior to them in strength?
...وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ ﴿١٥﴾
But they continued to reject Our Signs!
فَأَرْسَلْنَا
عَلَيْهِمْ
رِيحًا صَرْصَرًا
فِي أَيَّامٍ
نَّحِسَاتٍ...
41: 16. So We sent against them a furious Wind through days of disaster,
C4483. The detailed story of the 'Ad and their besetting sin, and the preaching of their Prophet Hud to them will be found in 26:123-140;
also 7:65-72, and n. 1040 to 7:65.
For the furious Wind, Cf. 54:19.
...لِّنُذِيقَهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...
that We might give them a taste of a Penalty of humiliation in this Life;
...وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَخْزَى وَهُمْ لَا يُنصَرُونَ ﴿١٦﴾
but the Penalty of the Hereafter will be more humiliating still:
and they will find no help.
Asad’s Version:
41:13 BUT IF they turn away, 16 say: "I warn you of [the coming of] a thunderbolt of punishment 17 like the thunderbolt [that fell upon the tribes] of Ad and Thamud!" 18
(41:14) Lo! There came unto them [God's] apostles, speaking of what lay open before them and what was [still) beyond their ken, 19 [and calling unto them,] "Worship none but God!" They answered: "If our Sustainer had willed [us to believe in what you say], He would have sent down angels [as His message-bearers] 20 , As it is, behold, we deny that there is any truth in what you [claim to] have been sent with!"
41:15 Now as for [the tribe of) 'Ad, they walked arrogantly on earth, [offending] against all right, and saying, "Who could have a power greater than ours?"
Why - were they, then, not aware that God, who created them, had a power greater than theirs? But they went on rejecting Our messages;
(41:16) and thereupon We let loose upon them a stormwind raging through days of misfortune, 21 so as to give them, in the life of this world, a foretaste of suffering through humiliation: but [their] suffering in the life to come will be far more humiliating, and they will have none to succour them.
14 I.e., a multiplicity of cosmic systems (cf. note 20 on 2:29).
15 Cf. 15:16-18 and the corresponding notes 16 and 17; also 37:6 ff
16 This connects with the opening sentence of verse 9 above: "Would you indeed deny Him who has created...", etc.
17 See note 40 on 2:55.
1 8 For the story of these two ancient tribes, see 7:65-79 and the corresponding notes, in particular 48 and 56; also 26:123-158.
1 9 Lit., "from between their hands and from behind them" : i.e., reminding them of something that was known to them - namely, what happened to sinners like themselves who lived before their time - and warning them of what was bound to happen in the future to them, too, if they persisted in their denial of the truth (Al-Hasan al-Basri, as quoted by Zamakhshari). However, it is possible to understand the above phrase (which has been explained in note 247 on 2:255) in yet another, more direct way: God's message-bearers pointed out to those sinning communities something that should have been obvious to them (lit., "between their hands") - namely, their patently wrong attitude in their worldly, social concerns and moral concepts - as well as the unreasonableness of their denying something that was still beyond their ken (lit., "behind them"): namely, life after death and God's ultimate judgment.
20 Cf. 6:8-9 and 15:7
21 See 69:6-8.
46. Surah Al-Ahqaf (The Sand-Dunes)
Mecca Period 66
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاذْكُرْ
أَخَا
عَادٍ
...
46: 21. Mention (Hud) one of 'Ad's (own) brethren:
The point is that the Warner who was raised among the 'Ad people-as among other peoples-was not a stranger, but one of their own brethren, even as the holy Prophet began his preaching with a call to his own brethren the Quraysh.
... إِذْ أَنذَرَ قَوْمَهُ بِالْأَحْقَافِ...
behold, he warned his people about the winding Sand-tracts:
C4799. Winding Sand-tracts: Ahqaf: see Introduction to this Surah.
The very things, which, under irrigation and with Allah's Grace, gave them prosperity and power, were to be their undoing when they broke Allah's Law and defied His Grace.
See verses 24-26 below.
...وَقَدْ خَلَتْ النُّذُرُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ...
but there have been Warners before him and after him:
"Worship ye none other than Allah:
...إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٢١﴾
truly I fear for you the Penalty of a Mighty Day."
قَالُوا
أَجِئْتَنَا
لِتَأْفِكَنَا
عَنْ
آلِهَتِنَا...
46: 22. They said:
"Hast thou come in order to turn us aside from Our gods?
C4800. They were too much wedded to their evil ways-to the false gods that they worshipped-to appreciate the sincere advice of the prophet of Allah. They defied him and defied Allah Who had sent him. Mockingly they challenged him to bring on the threatened punishment! For they did not believe a word of what he said.
...فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿٢٢﴾
Then bring upon us the (calamity) with which thou dost threaten us, if thou art telling the truth!"
قَالَ
إِنَّمَا
الْعِلْمُ
عِندَ
اللَّهِ...
46: 23. He said:
"The Knowledge (of when it will come) is only with Allah:
C4801. The coming of the Punishment for evil was (and is always) certain. At what particular time it would come he could not tell. It is not for the prophet, but for Allah, to bring on the Penalty. But he saw that it was useless to appeal to them on account of the ignorance in which they were content to dwell.
...وَأُبَلِّغُكُم مَّا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾
I proclaim to you the mission on which I have been sent: but I see that ye are a people in ignorance!"...
فَلَمَّا
رَأَوْهُ
عَارِضًا
مُّسْتَقْبِلَ
أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ
...
46: 24. Then, when they saw the (Penalty in the shape of) a cloud traversing the sky, coming to meet their valleys,
C4802. The Punishment came suddenly, and when they least expected it. They wanted rain, and they saw a cloud and rejoiced. Behold, it was coming towards their own tracts, winding through the hills. Their irrigation channels would be full, their fields would be green, and their season would be fruitful.
But no!
What is this?
It is a tremendous hurricane, carrying destruction on its wings! A violent blast, with dust and sand! Its fury destroys everything in its wake! Lives lost! Fields covered with sand-hills!
The morning dawns on a scene of desolation! Where were the men who boasted and defied their Lord! There are only the ruins of their houses to witness to the past!
... قَالُوا هَذَا عَارِضٌ مُّمْطِرُنَا...
they said,
"This cloud will give us rain!"
...بَلْ هُوَ مَا اسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٤﴾
"Nay,
it is the (calamity) ye were asking to be hastened! --
a wind wherein is a Grievous Penalty!
تُدَمِّرُ
كُلَّ
شَيْءٍ
بِأَمْرِ
رَبِّهَا
...
46: 25. "Everything will it destroy by the command of its Lord!"
... فَأَصْبَحُوا لَا يُرَى إِلَّا مَسَاكِنُهُمْ...
Then by the morning they -- nothing was to be seen but (the ruins of) their houses!
C4803. Here is the figure of speech known in rhetoric as aposiopesis, to heighten the effect of the suddenness and completeness of the calamity.
In the Arabic text, the verb asbahu, in the third person plural, leads us to expect that we shall be told what they were doing in the morning. But no! They had been wiped out, and any small remnant had fled (see n. 1040 to 7:65). Nothing was to be seen but the ruins of their houses.
...كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٢٥﴾
Thus do We recompense those given to sin!
وَلَقَدْ
مَكَّنَّاهُمْ
فِيمَا
إِن
مَّكَّنَّاكُمْ
فِيهِ
وَجَعَلْنَا
لَهُمْ
سَمْعًا
وَأَبْصَارًا
وَأَفْئِدَةً...
46: 26. And We had firmly established them in a (prosperity and) power which We have not given to you (ye Quraish!) and We had endowed them with (faculties of) hearing, seeing, heart and intellect:
C4804. The 'Ad and their successors the Thamud were more richly endowed with the faculties of the arts, sciences, and culture than ever were the Quraish before Islam.
"Hearing and seeing" refer to the experimental faculties;
the word "heart" in Arabic includes intellect, or the rational faculties, as well as the instruments of feeling and emotion, the aesthetic faculties.
The Second 'Ad, or Thamud, have left interesting traces of their architecture in the country round the Hijr: see n. 1043 to 7:73, and notes 2002-3 to 15:80-82.
...فَمَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَلَا أَبْصَارُهُمْ وَلَا أَفْئِدَتُهُم مِّن شَيْءٍ...
but of no profit to them were their (faculties of) hearing, sight, and heart and intellect,
...إِذْ كَانُوا يَجْحَدُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ...
when they went on rejecting the Signs of Allah;
C4805. The highest talents and faculties of this world are useless in the next world if we reject the laws of Allah and thus become outlaws there.
... وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِؤُون ﴿٢٦﴾
and they were (completely) encircled by that which they used to mock at!
C4806. See n. 4770 to 45:33.
They used to mock at Allah's Signs, but those were the very things which hemmed them in, and showed that they had more power and effectiveness than anything else.
Asad’s Version:
46:21 AND REMEMBER that brother of [the tribe of] Ad, 25 how - seeing that [other] warnings had already come and gone within his own knowledge as well as in times beyond his ken 26 - he warned his people [who lived] among those sand-dunes: "Worship none but God! Verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome day!"
[[Asad’s notes -
25 I.e., the Prophet Hud (see surah 7, note 48). The mention of Hud and the tribe of 'Ad connects with the last sentence of the preceding verse, inasmuch as this tribe "transgressed all bounds of equity all over their lands" (89:11).
26 Lit., "from between his hands and from behind him". This idiomatic phrase (explained in note 247 on 2:255) is evidently an allusion to the many warning messages, in Hud's own time as well as in the almost forgotten past, which ought to have made - but did not make - the tribe of 'Ad conscious of how far astray they had gone. We have here a subtle, parenthetic reminder that, apart from the revelations which He bestows upon His prophets, God offers His guidance to man through the many signs and warnings apparent in all nature as well as in the changing conditions of human society. ]]
46:22 They answered: "Hast thou come to seduce us away from our gods? Bring, then, upon us that [doom] with which thou threatenest us, if thou art a man of truth!"
46:23 Said he: "Knowledge [of when it is to befall you] rests with God alone: I but convey unto you the message with which I have been entrusted; but I see that you are people ignorant [of right and wrong]!"
(46:24) And so, when they beheld it 27 in the shape of a dense cloud approaching
their valleys, they exclaimed, "This is but a heavy cloud which will bring us [welcome] rain! " [But Hud said:] "Nay, but it is the very thing which you [so contemptuously] sought to hasten - a wind bearing grievous suffering,
(46:25) bound to destroy everything at its Sustainer's behest!"
And then they were so utterly wiped out, that nothing could be seen save their [empty] dwellings: thus do We requite people lost in sin.
46:26 And yet, We had established them securely in a manner in which We have never established you, [people of later times;] 29 and We had endowed them with hearing, and sight, and [knowledgeable] hearts: 30 but neither their hearing, nor their sight, nor their hearts were of the least avail to them, seeing that they went on rejecting God's messages; and [in the end] they were overwhelmed 31 by the very thing which they had been wont to deride.
[[Asad’s notes -
27 I.e., when they beheld, without recognizing it as such, the approach of their doom.
28 Lit., "then they became so that ...", etc. See 69:6-8, describing the sandstorm which destroyed the tribe of Ad without leaving any trace of them.
29 This relates in the first instance to the pagan contemporaries of the Prophet, but applies to later generations as well. - The tribe of Ad were the unchallenged lords in the vast region in which they lived (cf 89:8 - "the like of whom has never been reared in all the land"). Moreover, the social conditions of their time were so simple and so free of the many uncertainties and dangers which beset people of higher civilizations that they could be regarded as more "securely established" on earth than people of later, more complex times.
30 I.e., intellect and feeling, both of which are comprised in the noun fu'ad.
31 Lit., "enfolded". ]]
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