14. Surah Ibrahim

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمْ...   

14: 18.  The parable of those who reject their Lord

...أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ اشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ...

is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day:

C1892. Note the fullness of the parable.

The works of the ungodly are in themselves light and unsubstantial like ashes; they are the useless rubbish that remains out of the faculties and opportunities which they have misused by burning them up. Further, the ashes are blown about hither and thither by the wind: the ungodly have no compass, direction, or purpose that can stand. The wind, too, which blows on them is no ordinary wind, nor the day on which they seek to enjoy the fruits of their labours an ordinary tranquil day: a furious gale is blowing, for such is the Wrath of Allah.

They have neither internal peace nor external gain. In the scattering of the ashes they lose control even of such things as they might have earned but for their misdeeds. Their whole nature is contaminated. All their wishes go astray. They are carried so far, far away from what was in their minds. What did they aim at, and what did they achieve?

...لاَّ يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُواْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ...

No power have they over aught that they have earned:

...ذَلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلاَلُ الْبَعِيدُ ﴿١٨﴾

That is the straying far, far (from the goal).

Pickthall’s Version:

14: 18

Pickthall A similitude of those who disbelieve in their Lord: Their works are as ashes which the wind bloweth hard upon a stormy day. They have no control of aught that they have earned. That is the extreme failure.

Transliteration Masalul lazina kafaru_ bi rabbihim a'ma_luhum ka rama_din-isytaddat bihir rihu fi yaumin 'a_sif(in), la_ yaqdiru_na mimma_ kasabu_ 'ala_ syai'(in), za_lika huwad dala_lul ba'id(u).

[[Ali’s note - 1892 Note the fullness of the parable. The works of the ungodly are in themselves light and unsubstantial like ashes; they are the useless rubbish that remains out of the faculties and opportunities which they have misused by burning them up. Further, the ashes are blown about hither and thither by the wind: the ungodly have no compass, direction, or purpose that can stand. The wind, too, which blows on them is no ordinary wind, nor the day on which they seek to enjoy the fruits of their labours an ordinary tranquil day: a furious gale is blowing, for such is the Wrath of Allah. They have neither internal peace nor external gain. In the scattering of the ashes they lose control even of such things as they might have earned but for their misdeeds. Their whole nature is contaminated. All their wishes go astray. They are carried so far, far away from what was in their minds. What did they aim at, and what did they achieve? (14.18)]]