In the name of Allah, Most
Gracious, Most Merciful
Holy Quran
Surah 50 Qaf
Interpretation of
the Meanings of the Noble Quran in English Language
by A.Yusuf Ali
1 Qaf. By the Glorious Qur'an
(Thou art Allah's Apostle). 4939 4940
2 But they wonder that there has come to them a Warner from among
themselves. So the Unbelievers say:
"This is a wonderful thing! 4941
3 "What! when
we die and become dust (shall we live again?).
That is a (sort of) Return far (from our understanding)." 4942
4 We already know how much of them the earth takes away: with Us is a Record guarding (the full account). 4943
5 But they deny the truth when it comes to them: So they are in a
confused state. 4944
6 Do they not look at the sky above them? How We
have made it and adorned it and there are no flaws in it? 4945
7 And the earth--We have spread it out and set thereon mountains
standing firm and produced therein every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs) 4946 4947
8 To be observed and commemorated by every devotee turning (to
Allah). 4948
9 And We send down from the sky Rain
charged with blessing and We produce therewith Gardens and Grain for harvests;
10 And tall (and stately) palm-trees with shoots of fruit-stalks
piled one over another 4949
11 As sustenance for (Allah's) Servants; and We give (new) life
therewith to land that is dead: Thus will be the Resurrection.
12 Before them was denied (the Hereafter) by the people of Noah the
Companions of the Rass the Thamud
4950
13 The `Ad Pharaoh the Brethren of Lut
14 The companions of the Wood and the people of Tubba;
each one (of them) rejected the apostles and My
warning was duly fulfilled (in them).
15 Were We then weary with the first
Creation that they should be in confused doubt about a new Creation? 4951
Transliteration
Ayah 1 
Yusuf Ali Qaf.
By the Glorious Qur'an (Thou art Allah's
Apostle).
Transliteration Qa_f wal qur a_nil majid
Ayah 2
Yusuf Ali But they wonder that there has come
to them a Warner from among themselves.
So the Unbelievers say: "This is a wonderful thing!
Transliteration Bal ajbu_ an ja_ ahum munzirum
minhum faqa_lal ka_firu_na ha_za_ sai un ajib
Ayah 3
Yusuf Ali "What! when we die
and become dust (shall we live again?).
That is a (sort of) Return far (from our understanding)."
Transliteration A iza_ mitna_ wa
kun na_ tura_ban za_lika rajun baid
Ayah 4
Yusuf Ali We already know how much of them the
earth takes away: with Us is a Record guarding (the full account).
Transliteration Qad alimna_
ma_ tanqusul ardu minhum wa
indana_ kita_bun hafiz
Ayah 5
Yusuf Ali But they deny the truth when it comes
to them: So they are in a confused state.
Transliteration Bal kaz zabu_ bil haq
qi lam ma_ ja_ ahum fahum fi
amrim marij
Ayah 6
Yusuf Ali Do
they not look at the sky above them? How We have made it and adorned it
and there are no flaws in it?
Transliteration Afalam yanzuru_ ilas sama_i fauqahum
kaifa banaina_ha_ wa zay yana_ha_ wa ma_ laha_ min furu_j
Ayah 7
Yusuf Ali And the earth--We have spread it out and
set thereon mountains standing firm and produced therein every kind of
beautiful growth (in pairs)
Transliteration Wal arda madadna_ha_ wa
alqaina_ fiha_ rawa_siya wa an batna_ fiha_ min kul li zaujin
bahij
Ayah 8
Yusuf Ali To
be observed and commemorated by every devotee turning (to Allah).
Transliteration Tabsirataw wa zikra_ likul li abdim
munib
Ayah 9
Yusuf Ali And We send down from the sky Rain
charged with blessing and We produce therewith Gardens and Grain for harvests;
Transliteration Wa naz zalna_ minas sama_i ma_ am muba_rakan fa an batna_ bihi jan
na_tiw wa hab bal hasid
Ayah 10
Yusuf Ali And tall (and stately) palm-trees with
shoots of fruit-stalks piled one over another
Transliteration Wan nakhla ba_siqa_til laha_ talun nadid
Ayah 11
Yusuf Ali As sustenance for (Allah's) Servants;
and We give (new) life therewith to land that is dead: Thus will be the
Resurrection.
Transliteration Rizqal lil iba_d wa
ahyaina_ bihi bal datam maita_ kaza_likal
khuru_j
Ayah 12
Yusuf Ali Before them was denied (the
Hereafter) by the people of Noah the Companions of the Rass
the Thamud
Transliteration Kaz zabat qablahum qaumu nu_hiw wa
asha_bur rasi wa samu_d
Ayah 13
Yusuf Ali The `Ad Pharaoh the Brethren of Lut
Transliteration Wa a_duw wa firauna wa
ikhwa_nu lu_t
Ayah 14
Yusuf Ali The companions of the Wood and the
people of Tubba; each one (of them) rejected the
apostles and My warning was duly fulfilled (in them).
Transliteration Wa asha_bul aikati wa qaumu
tub bain kul lun kaz zabar
rusula fahaq qawaid
Ayah 15
Yusuf Ali Were We then weary with the first
Creation that they should be in confused doubt about a new Creation?
Transliteration Afa'ayina_ bil halqil aw wal bal
hum fi labsim min halqin jadid
Introduction
Name
The Surah derives its name from the initial letter Qaf, thereby implying that it is the Surah
which opens with the alphabetic letter Qaf.
Period of RevelatIon
There
is no authentic tradition to show as to when exactly this Surah
was sent down. A study of the subject matter, however, reveals that its period
of revelation is the second stage of the Holy Prophet's life at Makkah, which lasted from the third year of the Prophethood till the fifth year. We have given the
characteristics of this period in the Introduction to the Surah
Al-An'am. In view of those characteristics it can be
said that this Surah might have been sent down in
about the 5th year, when the antagonism of the disbelievers had become quite
intense but had not yet assumed tyrannical proportions.
Theme and Topics
Authentic
traditions show that the Holy Prophet used to recite this Surah
generally in the Prayer on the Eid days. A woman
named Umm Hisham bin Harithah,
wbo was a neighbour of the
Holy Prophet, says that she was able to commit Surah Qaf to memory only because she often heard it from the Holy
Prophet in the Friday sermons. According to some other traditions he often
recited it in the Fajr Prayer. This makes it
abundantly clear that this was an important Surah in
the sight of the Holy Prophet. That is why he made sure that its contents
reached as many people as possible over and over again.
This
reason for this importance can be easily understood by a careful study of the Surah. The theme of the entire Surah
is the Hereafter. When the Holy Prophet started preaching his message in Makkah what surprised the people most was the news that
people would be resurrected after death, and they would have to render an
account of their deeds. They said that that was impossible; human mind could
not believe that that would happen. After all, how could it be possible that
when the body had disintegrated into dust the scattered particles would be
reassembled after hundreds of thousands of years to make up the same body once
again and raised up as a living body, Allah in response sent down this discourse. In it, on the one hand, arguments have been given
for the possibility and occurrence of the Hereafter in a brief way, in short
sentences, and, on the other, the people have been warned, as if to say:
"Whether you express wonder and surprise, or you regard it as something
remote from reason, or deny it altogether, in any case it cannot change the
truth. The absolute, un-alterable truth is that Allah knows the whereabouts of
each and every particle of your body that has scattered away in the earth, and
knows where and in what state it is. Allah's one signal is enough to make all
the scattered particles gather together again and to make you rise up once
again as you had been made in the first instance. Likewise, this idea that you
have been created and left free to yourselves in the world and that you have
not been made answerable to anyone, is no more than a misunderstanding. The
fact is that not only is Allah Himself directly aware of each act and word of
yours, even of the ideas that pass in your mind, but His angels also are
attached to each one of you, who are preserving the record of whatever you do
and utter. When the time comes, you will come out of your graves at one call
just as young shoots of vegetable sprout up from the earth on the first shower
of the rain. Then this heedlessness which obstructs your vision will be removed
and you will see with your own eyes all that you are denying today. At that
time you will realize that you had not been created to be irresponsible in this
world but accountable to all your deeds. The meting out of the rewards and
punishments, the Hell and Heaven, which you regard as impossible and imaginary
things, will at that time become visible realities for you. In consequence of your
enmity and opposition to the Truth you will be cast into the same Hell which
you regard as remote from reason today and the ones who fear the Merciful God
and return to the path of righteousness, will be admitted to the same
Notes
4939 This
is an Abbreviated Letter. For Abbreviated Letters generally, see Appendix I.
This particular Abbreviated Letter Qaf occurs only
here as a single letter, and in combination at the beginning of S. xlii. (50.1)
4940 Majid (translated "Glorious") is one of the
beautiful appellations of the Qur-an. Its glory is
that of the rising sun: the more it rises on your mental and spiritual horizon,
the more you are lost in admiration of its glory. Its meanings are manifest and
inexhaustible. The greater your experience, the more light is your spiritual
eye able to bear. And in that glory is a beauty that none can tell who has not
experienced it in his soul. It is in itself the proof of the mission of the
holy Prophet. (50.1)
4941 In a
sense their wonder is natural: do we wonder at the glorious sun? In another
sense it is unnatural: what should we say of a man who fails to see in broad
daylight? (50.2)
4942 Cf.
xxxvii. 16. (50.3)
4943 The
earth only corrupts and takes away the body when they are dead; it has no power
over the soul. The full account of the soul's doings is in Allah's Record. (50.4)
4944 If
they deny what has been made clear to them, their minds must necessarily get
into confusion. All nature declares the glory and goodness of Allah. Revelation
explains the inequalities of this life and how they will be redressed in the
Hereafter. If they do not accept this, they are not in a logical position. They
cannot reconcile the known with the unknown. (50.5)
4945 The
greatest philosophers have found a difficulty in understanding the sceptical position when they contemplate the wonder and
mystery of the skies with all the countless beautiful stars and planets and
light in them, and laws of order, motion, and symmetry, that respond to the
highest mathematical abstractions without a flaw. Can blind Chance give rise to
such conditions? (50.6)
4946 Cf.
xiii. 3; and xv. 19 and n. 1955.
The earth is round, and yet it appears stretched out as a vast expanse, like a
carpet kept steady with the weight of the mountains. (50.7)
4947 Cf.
xxii. 5, and n. 2777. Sex in plants may be hinted at:
see n. 1804 to xiii. 3. (50.7)
4948 For
all these things go into his very heart and soul. He loves to contemplate them,
to remember them for himself as evidence of Allah's goodness and glory, and to
mention and proclaim them. (50.8)
4949 A
beautiful nature passage. How graphic and unforgettable to any one who has seen
a spring and summer in an Arabian oasis! (50.10)
4950 Just
the names of the peoples of Arabian tradition who were punished for their sins
are mentioned; their stories will be found elsewhere. For the People of Noah,
see xi. 25-48 and other passages. For the Companions
of the Rass, see xxv. 38 and n. 3094; for the 'Ad and
the Thamud, see xxvi. 123-158, and other passages;
for Pharaoh and his People, see ii. 49-50 and other passages; for the Brethren
of Lut, see vii. 80-84, and other passages; for the
Companions of the Wood, see xv. 78-79, and n. 2000; and for the People of Tubba', see xliv. 37 and n. 4715.
(50.12)
4951 Cf.
xlvi. 33, and n. 4912. (50.15)
Holy Quran
Surah 50 Qaf
Interpretation of
the Meanings of the Noble Quran in English Language
by A.Yusuf Ali
16 It was We who created man and We know
what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than
(his) jugular vein. 4952
17 Behold two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn
(and note them) one sitting on the right and one on the left. 4953
18 Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him ready (to
note it). 4954
19 And the stupor of death will bring truth (before his eyes):
"This was the thing which thou wast trying to
escape!" 4955
20 And the Trumpet shall be blown: that will be the Day whereof
warning (had been given). 4956
21 And there will come forth every soul: with each will be an (angel)
to drive and an (angel) to bear witness. 4957
22 (It will be said:) "Thou wast heedless of this; now have We
removed thy veil and sharp is thy sight this Day!" 4958
23 And his companion will say: "Here is (his record) ready with
me!" 4959
24 (The sentence will be:) "Throw throw into Hell every contumacious
Rejector (of Allah)! 4960
25 "Who forbade what was good transgressed all bounds cast
doubts and suspicions;
26 "Who set up another god besides Allah: throw him into a
severe Penalty."
27 His companion will say: "Our Lord! I did not make him
transgress but he was (himself) far astray." 4961 4962 4963
28 He will say: "Dispute not with each other in My Presence: I
had already in advance sent you Warning. 4964 4965
29 "The Word changes not before Me and
I do not the least injustice to My Servants." 4966
Transliteration
Ayah 16
Yusuf Ali It was We who
created man and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are
nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.
Transliteration Wa laqad halaqnal insa_na wa nalamu ma_ tuwaswisu
bihi nafsuhu_ wa nahnu aqrabu
ilaihi min hablil warid
Ayah 17
Yusuf Ali Behold two (guardian angels)
appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and note them) one sitting on the right
and one on the left.
Transliteration Iz yatalaq qal mutalaq qiya_ni
anil yamini wa anis sima_li
qaid
Ayah 18
Yusuf Ali Not a word does he utter but there is a
sentinel by him ready (to note it).
Transliteration Ma_ yalfizu
min qaulin il
la_ ladaihi raqibun atid
Ayah 19
Yusuf Ali And the stupor of death will bring truth
(before his eyes): "This was the thing which thou wast
trying to escape!"
Transliteration Wa ja_ at sakratul mauti bil haq za_lika
ma_ kunta minhu tahid
Ayah 20
Yusuf Ali And the Trumpet shall be blown: that
will be the Day whereof warning (had been given).
Transliteration Wa nufika fis su_r za_lika
yaumul waid
Ayah 21
Yusuf Ali And there will come forth every soul:
with each will be an (angel) to drive and an (angel) to bear witness.
Transliteration Wa ja_ at kul lu nafsim
maaha_ sa_ I quw wa sahid
Ayah 22
Yusuf Ali (It will be said:)
"Thou wast heedless of this; now have We removed thy veil and sharp is thy sight this Day!"
Transliteration Laqad kunta fi gaflatim min ha_za_ fakasyafna_ anka gita_ aka
fabasarukal yauma hadid
Ayah 23
Yusuf Ali And his companion will say: "Here
is (his record) ready with me!"
Transliteration Wa qa_la qarinuhu_ ha_za_ ma_ laday yaatid
Ayah 24
Yusuf Ali (The sentence will be:)
"Throw throw into Hell
every contumacious Rejector (of Allah)!
Transliteration Alqiya_ fi jahan nama
kul la kaf fa_rin anid
Ayah 25
Yusuf Ali "Who forbade what was good
transgressed all bounds cast doubts and suspicions;
Transliteration Man na_il lilkhairi mutadim murib
Ayah 26
Yusuf Ali "Who set up another god besides
Allah: throw him into a severe Penalty."
Transliteration Al lazi ja'ala maal la_hi
ila_han a_khara fa alqiya_hu fil
aza_bis sadid
Ayah 27
Yusuf Ali His companion will say: "Our
Lord! I did not make him transgress but he was (himself) far astray."
Transliteration Qa_la qarinuhu_ rab bana_ ma_ atgaituhu_
wa la_kin ka_na fi dala_lin
baid
Ayah 28
Yusuf Ali He will say: "Dispute not with
each other in My Presence: I had already in advance sent you Warning.
Transliteration Qa_la la_ taktasimu_
laday ya waqad qad damtu
ilaikum bil waid
Ayah 29
Yusuf Ali "The Word changes not before Me and I do not the least injustice to My Servants."
Transliteration Ma_ yubad dalul qaulu laday
ya wa
ma_ ana bizal la_mil lil abid
Notes
4952 Allah
created man, and gave him his limited free-will. Allah knows the inmost desires
and motives of man even better than man does himself. He is nearer to a man
than the man's own jugular vein. The jugular vein is the big trunk vein, one on
each side of the neck, which brings the blood back from the head to the heart.
The two jugular veins correspond to the two carotid arteries which carry the
blood from the heart to the head. As the blood-stream is the vehicle of life
and consciousness, the phrase "nearer than the jugular vein" implies
that Allah knows more truly the innermost state of our feeling and consciousness
than does our own ego. (50.16)
4953 Two
angels are constantly by him to note his thoughts, words, and actions. One sits
on the right side and notes his good deeds and the other on the left, to note
his bad deeds; corresponding to the Companions of the Right and the Companions
of the Left mentioned in lvi. 27
and 41. (50.17)
4954 Then
each "word" spoken is taken down by a guardian (raqib).
This has been construed to mean that the guardian only records words, not
thoughts which are not uttered. Thoughts may be forgiven if not uttered, and
still more if they do not issue in action. At the stage at which we clothe a
thought in words, we have already done an action. The Recorders mentioned in
the last verse make a complete Record, in order to supply motives and springs
of action, which will affect the degrees or status in the Hereafter. The three
together, individuals or kinds, make the honourable Recorders, Kiraman Katibin, (plural, not dual number) mentioned in lxxii. 11. (50.18)
4955 What
is stupor or unconsciousness to this probationary life will be the opening of
the eyes to the next world: for Death is the Gateway between the two. Once
through that Gateway man will realise how the things
which he neglected or looked upon as remote are the intimate Realities, and the
things which seemed to loom large in his eyes in this world were shadows that
have fled. The things he wanted to avoid are the things that have really come
to pass. Both Good and Evil will realise the Truth
now in its intensity. (50.19)
4956 The
next stage will be the Judgment, heralded with the blowing of the Trumpet.
Every soul will then come forth. (50.20)
4957 Several
interpretations are possible, leading to the same truth, that
the Judgment will be set up; the Record will be produced; the good and bad
deeds will speak for and against; and complete justice will be done, each act
leading to its own due fruit. (1) The (angel) to drive and the (angel) to bear
witness may be the Recording Angels of the left and the right (verse 17); or (2)
it may not be angels, but the evil deeds will drive like task-masters, and the
good deeds will bear witness for the soul on trial; or (3) his misused limbs
and faculties will drive him to his doom, while his well-used limbs and
faculties will witness for him. (50.21)
4958 The
clearness of vision will now be even greater: see n. 4955 above. (50.22)
4959 Qarin: Companion. If we take No. 1 of the constructions
suggested in n. 4957, the Companion will be one of the Recording Angels
mentioned above, in verse 21, perhaps the one that drives; or perhaps the third
one mentioned in verse 18, for he has the Record ready with him. If we take any
of the other constructions mentioned in n. 4957, it will be the evil deeds or
the misused faculties. In any case it will be the factors on whose testimony
his conviction will be based. (50.23)
4960 The
original for "throw", here and in verse 26 below, is in the dual
number, which some Commentators explain by saying that the dual form is used
for emphasis, as if the verb ("throw, throw") were twice repeated.
Examples of this are found in Arabic. But is it possible that the dual refers
to the two angels mentioned in verses 17 and 21? In that case the Companion in
verse 27 will be the third one mentioned in verses 18 and 23. In any case the
third one will be the one on whose Record the sentence will be passed. (50.24)
4961 See
last note. But some people understand by "Companion" here an evil
associate in the world, an evil one who misled. (50.27)
4962 Our
Lord. One man speaks: "I did not", etc. Yet he uses the plural
pronoun in saying, "Our Lord". This is beautifully appropriate, as he
is speaking so as to include the person to be judged: as if he were to say.
"Thou art my Lord, or the Lord of us angels or of all Creation, but Thou
art his Lord also, for Thou didst cherish him and warn him, and he owed duties
to Thee." (50.27)
4963 Neither
the Recording Angels nor the misused limbs and faculties, nor anything else
whatever was responsible for the Evil: it was the personal responsibility of
the Doer himself, with his free-will. (50.27)
4964 It
is suggested that sinners whose Record is black,
driven into a comer, accuse others of misleading them: the others may be the Recorders,
or their faculties or opportunities or surroundings or their associates in the
world, or anything but themselves. Such recriminations are not allowed in the
Court of Judgment. (50.28)
4965 Besides,
personal responsibility had already been clearly preached to them in Allah's
Message, and they had been warned of the consequences. "You" is in
the plural number: 'all of you who are before the Judgment-Seat had clear
warning of the consequences of your conduct.' (50.28)
4966 "'Abd" has two plurals: (1) 'Abid,
as here, means all Servants of Allah, i.e., all his creatures; (2) 'Ibad has the further connotation of Servants of Allah,
devoted to his service; I have translated it in many cases by the word
"devotees". The Sentence before the Judgment-Seat is pronounced with
perfect justice; it does not change, and requires no change; the inevitable
consequences of sin must follow; the time for Mercy is past. (50.29)
Holy Quran
Surah 50 Qaf
Interpretation of
the Meanings of the Noble Quran in English Language by A.Yusuf Ali
30 One Day We will ask Hell "art thou
filled to the full?" It will say "are there any more (to come)?"
4967
31 And the Garden will be brought nigh to the righteous no more a
thing distant. 4968
32 (A voice will say:) "This is what
was promised for you for everyone who turned (to Allah) in sincere repentance
who kept (his law). 4969
33 "Who feared (Allah) Most Gracious unseen and brought a heart
turned in devotion (to Him): 4970
34 "Enter ye therein in Peace and
Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!" 4971
35 There will be for them therein all that they wish and more besides
in Our Presence. 4972
36 But how many generations before them did We
destroy (for their Sins) stronger in power than they? Then did they wander
through the land: Was there any place of escape (for them)? 4973
37 Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and
understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the truth). 4974
38 We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six
Days nor did any sense of weariness touch Us. 4975 4976 4977
39 Bear then with patience all that they say and celebrate the
praises of thy Lord before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting 4978
40 And during part of the night (also) celebrate His praises and (so
likewise) after the postures of adoration. 4979
41 And listen for the Day when the Caller will call out from a place
quite near 4980 4981
42 The day when they will hear a (mighty)
Blast in (very) truth): that will be the day of Resurrection. 4982
43 Verily it is We Who give Life and Death; and to Us
is the Final Goal--
44 The Day when the Earth will be rent asunder from (men) hurrying
out: that will be a gathering together quite easy for Us.
4983 4984
45 We know best what they say; and thou art not one to ever awe them
by force. So admonish with the Qur'an such as fear My Warning! 4985
Transliteration
Ayah 30
Yusuf Ali One Day We will ask Hell "art
thou filled to the full?" It will say "are there any more (to
come)?"
Transliteration Yauma naqu_lu lijahan nama
halim talati wa taqu_lu hal
mim mazud
Ayah 31
Yusuf Ali And the Garden will be brought nigh to
the righteous no more a thing distant.
Transliteration Wa uzlifatil jan natu lilmut
taqina gaira baid
Ayah 32
Yusuf Ali (A voice will say:)
"This is what was promised for you for everyone who turned (to Allah) in
sincere repentance who kept (his law).
Transliteration Ha_za_ ma_ tu_adu_na
likul li awa_bin hafiz
Ayah 33
Yusuf Ali "Who feared (Allah) Most Gracious
unseen and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him):
Transliteration Man khasyiyar
rahma_na bil gaibi wa
ja_ a biqalbim munib
Ayah 34
Yusuf Ali "Enter ye therein in Peace and
Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!"
Transliteration Udkhulu_ha_ bisala_m za_lika yaumul khulu_d
Ayah 35
Yusuf Ali There will be for them therein all
that they wish and more besides in Our Presence.
Transliteration Lahum ma_ yasya_
u_na fiha_ wa ladaina_
mazid
Ayah 36
Yusuf Ali But how many generations before them
did We destroy (for their Sins) stronger in power than
they? Then did they wander through the land: Was there any place of escape (for
them)?
Transliteration Wakam ahlakna_ qablahum min garnin hum asyad du minhum
batsyan fanaq qabu_ fil bila_d
hal mim mahis
Ayah 37
Yusuf Ali Verily in this is a Message for any
that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses
(the truth).
Transliteration In na fi za_lika
lazikra_ liman ka_na lahu_ qalbun
au alqas sama wa huwa sahid
Ayah 38
Yusuf Ali We created the heavens and the earth
and all between them in Six Days nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.
Transliteration Wa laqad halaqnas sama_wa_ti wal arda wa
ma_ bainahuma_ fi sit tati ay ya_miw wa ma_ mas sana_
mil lugu_b
Ayah 39
Yusuf Ali Bear then with patience all that they
say and celebrate the praises of thy Lord before the rising of the sun and
before (its) setting
Transliteration Fasbir ala_ ma_ yaqu_lu_na
wa sab
bih bihamdi rab bika qabla
tulu_is samsi wa qablal ghuru_b
Ayah 40
Yusuf Ali And during part of the night (also)
celebrate His praises and (so likewise) after the postures of adoration.
Transliteration Wa minal laili fasab bih
hu wa adba_ras
suju_d
Ayah 41
Yusuf Ali And listen for the Day when the Caller
will call out from a place quite near
Transliteration Wastami yauma yuna_dil muna_di mim maka_nin qarib
Ayah 42
Yusuf Ali The day when they will hear a
(mighty) Blast in (very) truth): that will be the day of Resurrection.
Transliteration Yauma yasmau_nas
saihata bil haq za_lika yaumul
khuru_j
Ayah 43
Yusuf Ali Verily it is We Who give Life and
Death; and to Us is the Final Goal--
Transliteration In na_ nahnu nuhyi wa numitu wa ilainal masir
Ayah 44
Yusuf Ali The Day when the Earth will be rent
asunder from (men) hurrying out: that will be a gathering together quite easy
for Us.
Transliteration Yauma tasyaq qaqul ardu anhum
sira_a_ za_lika hasyrun alaina_ yasir
Ayah 45
Yusuf Ali We know best what they say; and thou art
not one to ever awe them by force. So
admonish with the Qur'an such as fear My Warning!
Transliteration Nahnu alamu bima_ yaqu_lu_na wa ma_ anta alaihim
bijab ba_rin fazakir bil qur
a_ni may yaka_fu wajid
Notes
4967 As
the capacity of Reward is unlimited, so is the capacity of
Punishment-unlimited. Hell is personified and asked, "Art thou sated to
the full?" It replies, "If there are more to come, let them come. " It is not satisfied. (50.30)
4968 In this
life, the ideas of the spirit, the accomplishment of the things in our hearts
and our hopes, seem to be ever so far, seem even to recede as we think we come
nearer. Not so in the Hereafter. The fruits of righteousness will no longer be
in the distance. They will be realised. They will
seem themselves to approach the Righteous. (50.31)
4969 The
description of the Righteous is given in four masterly clauses: (1) those who
turned away from Evil in sincere repentance; (2) those whose new life was good
and righteous; (3) those who in their innermost hearts and in their most secret
doings were actuated by Allah-fearing love, the fear that is akin to love in
remembering Allah under His title of "Most Gracious"; and (4) who
gave up their whole heart and being to Him. (50.32)
4970 Cf.
xxxvi. 11 and n. 3952; and xxxv. 18,
and n. 3902. (50.33)
4971 The
true meaning of Islam: peace, security, salutation, and accord with Allah's
Plan in all Eternity. (50.34)
4972 To
get all that our purified wishes and desires comprehend may seem to sum up
final Bliss; but there is something still wanting, which is supplied by the
sight of Allah, the Light of His Countenance. (50.35)
4973 While
virtue and righteousness will accomplish their final goal, what will be the End
of Sin? Let the past tell its story. Many powerful and arrogant generations
were swept away, to stray in the paths of misery, without any way of escape
from the consequences of their sin. This was already seen in the life of this
world. In the world to come, it will be worse, as already stated in verses
24-26 above. (50.36)
4974 As
Christ said (Matt. xi. 15), "he that hath ears to hear, let him
hear". These are matters of high moment. Many spiritual lessons can be
learnt from these things by any one who has the heart and understanding to
apply to Allah's teaching and can give genuine thought to what he sees, as a
witness does who has to swear to the facts on his oath. (50.37)
4975 Allah's
creation of the heavens and the earth in long stages or periods of time, as we
count time, shows how things evolve in their own good time. We must therefore
be patient if Good does not seem to come to its own according to our ideas. Our
will should merge itself in Allah's Will, and we should praise Him, realising that He is All-Good, and that all adjustments
will be in the Hereafter. (50.38)
4976 Cf.
vii. 54, n. 1031; and xli. 12. n. 4477. (50.38)
4977 Cf.
xxxv. 35. (50.38)
4978 Allah
should be remembered at all times. But the best time for individual adoration
is early in the morning before sunrise, late in the day before sunset, and a
portion of the night, when there is stillness in the air, and man's spirit
loves to commune with things spiritual. Those who would connect this with the
five canonical prayers, instituted at a later stage in Madinah,
would take the Fajr for the prayer before sunrise,
the Zuhr and, the Asr for the afternoon prayers before sunset and the Magrib and the Ishaa for the
night prayers. (50.39)
4979 The
general meaning of "after the prostration" would be the contemplation
and remembrance of Allah after prayers. Those who would connect this passage
with the five canonical prayers understand these further prayers
"following the sujud or prostration to mean the
extra or supernumerary prayers known as nafl. (50.40)
4980 The Day of Resurrection, when the Call to the
souls to arise and come to the Judgment-Seat will be immediately answered, and
they
will all arise and come forth. Cf. xxxvi. 49-53, and notes
3997 and 3999. (50.41)
4981 In
the life of this world it seemed all so remote. In the new life at the
Resurrection it will all be so near; for there will be neither time nor space
as we know them here. (50.41)
4982 The
word "saihatun" (mighty Blast) is used for the
Resurrection (as here) or for the sudden punishment of the guilty on this
earth, as in xi. 67, where see further references. (50.42)
4983 Men
will hurry out from all corners of the earth to answer the call, and the earth
itself will be rent asunder. In xxv. 25 the imagery
used was the heaven being rent asunder, and angels
coming out in ranks: see n. 3082. Cf. also lxxxiv.
1-4. (50.44)
4984 It
may seem to our material imaginations a difficult task to collect together the
souls of all sorts of men, who died in all sorts of conditions at different
times, but it will be a different kind of world and creation altogether, and to
Allah all things are not only possible but easy. (50.44)
4985 People
may throw all sorts of doubts about the Judgment and the Hereafter. The
Prophet's task is not to force them to accept anything. His task is to deliver
the Message of the Qur-an, and admonish those who are
spiritually fit and ready to receive admonition and to prepare themselves for
the new and higher life destined for man. (50.45)
End of Surah
Qaf