13. Surah Ar Ra'd

 The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِن تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَئِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا أَئِنَّا لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ...

13: 5.     If thou dost marvel (at their want of faith), strange is their saying:

"When we are (actually) dust, shall we indeed then be in a creation renewed?"

C1808. After seeing the Signs in nature and the Signs in revelation, it is indeed strange that people should deny their Creator.

But if they admit the Signs of the Creator, Who works marvels before their very eyes every day, why should they doubt that when they are reduced to dust, they can be raised up again?

If one creation is possible, what difficulty can there be in accepting a renewed creation?

It becomes then a question of an obstinate and rebellious will, for which the punishment is described.

...أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمْ...

They are those who deny their Lord!

...وَأُوْلَئِكَ الأَغْلاَلُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ...

They are those round whose necks will be yokes (of servitude):

C1809. Aglal: yokes (of servitude): Cf. 7:157 and n. 1128.

The punishment may be conceived of in two stages:

-         immediately, yokes of servitude to superstition, falsehood, etc., as against the freedom in Faith;

-         and finally, the Fire which bums the very soul.

...وَأُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدونَ ﴿٥﴾

they will be Companions of the Fire, who dwell therein (for aye)!

Pickthall’s Version:

13: 5

Pickthall And if thou wonderest, then wondrous is their saying: When we are dust, are we then forsooth (to be raised) in a new creation? Such are they who disbelieve in their Lord; such have carcans on their necks; such are rightful owners of the Fire, they will abide therein.

Transliteration Wa in ta'jab fa 'ajabun qauluhum a'iza_ kunna_ tura_ban ainna_ lafi khalqin jadid(in), ula_'ikal lazina kafaru_ bi rabbihim, wa ula_'ikal agla_lu fi a'na_qihim, wa ula_'ika asha_bun na_r(i), hum fiha_ kha_lidu_n(a).

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18. Surah Al Kahf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ...   

18: 35.  He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul:

C2377. It was not wealth that ruined him, but the attitude of his mind. He was unjust, not so much to his neighbour, as to his own soul. In his love of the material, he forgot or openly defied the spiritual.

As verse 37 shows, he took his companion with him, to impress him with his own importance, but the companion was unmoved.

... قَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَذِهِ أَبَدًا ﴿٣٥﴾

He said, "I deem not that this will ever perish.

وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً...   

18: 36.  "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come:

... وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَى رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا ﴿٣٦﴾

even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange."

C2378. Here comes out the grasping spirit of the materialist.

In his mind "better" means more wealth and more power, of the kind he was enjoying in this life, although in reality, even what he had, rested on hollow foundations and was doomed to perish and bring him down with it.

Pickthall’s Version:

18: 35

Pickthall And he went into his garden, while he (thus) wronged himself. He said: I think not that all this will ever perish.

Transliteration Wa dakhala jannatahu_ wa huwa za_limul li nafsih(i), qa_la ma_ azunnu an tabida ha_zihi abada_(w),

18: 36

Pickthall I think not that the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back unto my Lord I surely shall find better than this as a resort.

Transliteration Wa ma_ azunnus sa_'ata qa_'imataw wa la'ir rudittu ila_ rabbi la'ajidanna khairam minha_ munqalaba_(n).