Sura-29 [Al-'Ankabut mecca 85 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
وَقَالُوا
لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ
عَلَيْهِ آيَاتٌ
مِّن رَّبِّهِ...
29:50. Yet they say: "Why are not Signs sent down to him from his Lord?"
...قُلْ إِنَّمَا الْآيَاتُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٥٠﴾
Say:
"The Signs are indeed with Allah: and I am indeed a clear Warner."
C3481. See last note.
In the Quran, as said in verse 49, are Signs which should carry conviction to all honest hearts. And yet the Unbelievers ask for Signs! They mean some special kinds of Signs or Miracles, such as their own foolish minds dictate.
Everything is possible for Allah, but Allah is not going to humor the follies of men or listen to their disingenuous demands. He has sent a Messenger to explain His Signs clearly, and to warn them of the consequences of rejection.
Is it not enough?
أَوَلَمْ
يَكْفِهِمْ
أَنَّا أَنزَلْنَا
عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ
يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ...
29:51. And is it not enough for them that We have sent down to thee the Book which is rehearsed to them?
...إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَرَحْمَةً وَذِكْرَى لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٥١﴾
Verily, in it is Mercy and Reminder to those who believe.
C3482. The perspicuous Quran, explained in detail by Allah's Messenger, in conjunction with Allah's Signs in nature and in the hearts of men, should be enough for all. It is mere fractious opposition to demand vaguely something more.
Section 6
قُلْ
كَفَى
بِاللَّهِ
بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ
شَهِيدًا...
29:52. Say:
"Enough is Allah for a Witness between me and you:
...يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ...
He knows what is in the heavens and on earth.
C3483. The test of a Revelation is whether it comes from Allah or not. This is made clear by the life and teachings of the Messenger who brings it.
No fraud or falsehood can for a moment stand before Allah. All the most hidden things in heaven and earth are open before Him.
...وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ وَكَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾
And it is those who believe in vanities and reject Allah, that will perish (in the end)."
C3484. If Truth is rejected, Truth does not suffer. It is the rejecters who suffer and perish in the end.
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ
بِالْعَذَابِ...
29:53. They ask thee to hasten on the Punishment (for them):
The rejecters of Faith throw out a challenge out of bravado: "Let us see if you can hasten the punishment on us!"
This is a vain taunt. Allah's Plan will take its course, and can neither be delayed nor hastened. It is out of His Mercy that He gives respite to sinners, in order that they may have a chance of repentance. If they do not repent, the Punishment must certainly come to them -and on a sudden, before they perceive that it is coming! And then it will be too late for repentance.
...وَلَوْلَا أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى لَجَاءهُمُ الْعَذَابُ...
had it not been for a term (of respite) appointed, the Punishment would certainly have come to them:
...وَلَيَأْتِيَنَّهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٥٣﴾
and it will certainly reach them, -- of a sudden, while they perceive not!
يَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ
بِالْعَذَابِ...
29:54. They ask thee to hasten on the Punishment
C3486. The challenge of the wicked for Punishment was answered in the last verse by reference to Allah's merciful Respite, to give chances of repentance.
It is answered in this verse by an assurance that if no repentance is forthcoming, the Punishment will be certain and of an all-pervasive kind. Hell will surround them on all sides, and above them and below them.
...وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٥٤﴾
but, of a surety, Hell will encompass the rejecters of Faith! --
يَوْمَ
يَغْشَاهُمُ
الْعَذَابُ
مِن فَوْقِهِمْ
وَمِن تَحْتِ
أَرْجُلِهِمْ...
29:55. On the Day that the Punishment shall cover them from above them and from below them,
C3487. Cf. a similar phrase in 6:65.
...وَيَقُولُ ذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾
and (a Voice) shall say: "Taste ye (the fruits) of your deeds!"
C3488. This is not merely a reproach, but a justification of the Punishment. "It is you who brought it on yourselves by your evil deeds: blame none but yourselves. Allah's Mercy gave you many chances: His Justice has now overtaken you!"
Asad’s Version:
29:50 And yet they say, "Why have no miraculous signs ever been bestowed upon him from on high by his Sustainer?" Say: "Miracles are in the power of God alone; 49 and as for me - 1 am but a plain warner.
29:51
Why - is it not enough for them that We have bestowed this divine writ on thee from on high, to be conveyed [by thee] to them? 50 For, verily, in it is [manifested Our] grace, and a reminder to people who will believe.
29:52
Say [unto those who will not believe]: "God is witness enough between me and you! He knows all that is in the heavens and on earth; and they who are bent on believing in what is false and vain, and thus on denying God - it is they, they who shall be the losers!"
(29:53)
Now they challenge thee to hasten the coming upon them of [God's] chastisement: 51 and indeed, had not a term been set [for it by God], that suffering would already have come upon them! But indeed, it will most certainly come upon them of a sudden, and they will be taken unawares.
29:54
They challenge thee to hasten the coming upon them of [God's] chastisement: but, verily, hell is bound to encompass all who deny the truth –
(29:55) [encompass them] on the Day when suffering will overwhelm them from above them and from beneath their feet: 52 whereupon He shall say: "Taste [now the fruit of] your own doings!"
[[Asad’s notes -
49 See note 94 on 6:109.
50 I.e.. "are the contents of this revelation not enough for them to make them grasp its intrinsic truth without the help of 'miraculous proofs' of its divine origin?" (Cf note 60 on the last sentence of 7:75.)
51 See note 32 on 18:32. ]]