Sura 37, As-Saffat (Those Ranged In Ranks), Mecca 56

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Translation:

قَالَ تَاللَّهِ إِنْ كِدتَّ لَتُرْدِينِ ﴿٥٦﴾

37: 56. He said:

"By God! thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition!

وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي ...

37: 57. "Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord,

... لَكُنتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ ﴿٥٧﴾

I should certainly have been among those brought (there)!

أَفَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ ﴿٥٨﴾

37: 58. "Is it (the case) that we shall not die,

إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْأُولَى وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ ﴿٥٩﴾

37: 59. "Except our first death, and that we shall not be punished?"

إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿٦٠﴾

37: 60. Verily this is the supreme achievement!

Asad’s Translation:

(37:56) and says: "By God! Verily, thou hast almost destroyed me [too, O my erstwhile companion] –

(37:57) for had it not been for my Sustainer's favour, I would surely be [now] among those who are given over [to suffering]!

(37:58) But then, [O my friends in paradise,] is it [really] so that we are not to die

(37:59) [again,] beyond our previous death, and that we shall never (again] be made to suffer?

(37:60) Verily, this - this indeed - is the triumph supreme!"

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Ali’s comments:

4069. And he gratefully acknowledges his short-comings: "I should have been a sinner just like this, but for the grace of God!"

He sees that if he had erred it would have been no excuse to plead the other man's example. He had Faith and was saved, to walk in the path of righteousness.

4070. After he realises the great danger from which he narrowly escaped, his joy is so great that he can hardly believe it!

Is the danger altogether past now?

Are the portals of death closed for ever?

Is he safe now from the temptations which will bring him to ruin and punishment?

4071. The answer is: Yes.

"Beyond the flight of Time. Beyond the realm of Death. There surely is some blessed clime, Where Life is not a breath!"

In the words of Longfellow this was an aspiration on this earth. In the Hereafter it is a realisation!

Some interpret verses 60-62 as a continuation of the speech of the man in heaven. The meaning would in that case be the same.