Sura-18 [Al Kahf mecca 69]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ﴿٦﴾

18:6.     Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message.

C2331. In a reasonable world the preaching of a reasonable Faith like that of Islam would win universal acceptance. But the world is not altogether reasonable. It caused great distress to the unselfish Preacher of Islam that his Message met with so much opposition. He wanted to point the way to salvation. He only got, in the Makkans period, abuse from the chiefs of the Makkans-abuse and persecution, not only for himself but for the Truth which he was preaching.

A heart less stout than his might have been appalled at what seemed the hopeless task of reclaiming the world from falsehood, superstition, selfishness, wrong, and oppression. He is here consoled, and told that he was not to fret himself to death: he was nobly doing his duty, and, as after-events showed, the seed of Truth was already germinating, although this was not visible at the time.

Besides, these "chiefs" and "leaders" were only strutting in false plumes: their glory was soon to fade forever.

Asad’s Version:

18: 6

Asad But would you, perhaps torment yourself to death with grief over them if they are not willing to believe in the message?

Yusuf Ali Thou wouldst only perchance fret thyself to death following after them in grief if they believe not in this Message.

Pickthall Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement, that thou (Muhammad) wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps.

Transliteration Fa la'allaka ba_khi'un nafsaka 'ala_ a_sa_rihim il lam yu'minu_ bi ha_zal hadisi asafa_(n).

[ Asad note 4. This rhetorical question is addressed, in the first instance, to the Prophet who was deeply distressed by the hostility which his message aroused among the pagan Meccans, and suffered agonies of apprehension regarding their spiritual fate.]

[Ali’s note: 2331 In a reasonable world the preaching of a reasonable Faith like that of Islam would win universal acceptance. But the world is not altogether reasonable. It caused great distress to the unselfish Preacher of Islam that his Message met with so much opposition. He wanted to point the way to salvation. He only got, in the Makkans period, abuse from the chiefs of the Makkans-abuse and persecution, not only for himself but for the Truth which he was preaching. A heart less stout than his might have been appalled at what seemed the hopeless task of reclaiming the world from falsehood, superstition, selfishness, wrong, and oppression. He is here consoled, and told that he was not to fret himself to death: he was nobly doing his duty, and, as after-events showed, the seed of Truth was already germinating, although this was not visible at the time. Besides, these "chiefs" and "leaders" were only strutting in false plumes: their glory was soon to fade for ever. ]