6. Surah al-Anam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتَكُمْ إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُ اللّهِ بَغْتَةً أَوْ جَهْرَةً هَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلاَّ الْقَوْمُ الظَّالِمُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾

6: 47. Say:

"Think ye, if the punishment of Allah comes to you, whether suddenly or openly, will any be destroyed except those who do wrong?"

C865. Suddenly: without warning.

Openly: with many warnings, even to the sinners, though they heed them not.

As to those who understand and read the signs of God, they could always tell that all wrong-doing must eventually have it punishment. But it will affect the wrong-doers, not the righteous. It is justice, not revenge.

Others version:

6:47

Asad ……….Will any but evildoing folk [ever] be destroyed? Note 37

Pickthall Say: Can ye see yourselves, if the punishment of Allah come upon you unawares or openly? Would any perish save wrongdoing folk?

Transliteration Qul ara'aitakum in ata_kum 'aza_bulla_hi bagtatan au jahratan hal yuhlaku illal qaumuz za_limu_n(a).

[[ Asad’s note 37 – I.e., the righteous will never be really “destroyed” – for, even if they should suffer physical destruction, they are bound to attain to spiritual bliss and cannot, therefore, be said to have been “destroyed” like the evildoers, who, by their actions, lose their happiness both in this world and in the life to come (Razi).]]

[[ Ali’s note - 865 Suddenly=without warning. Openly=with many warnings, even to the sinners, though they heed them not. As to those who understand and read the signs of God, they could always tell that all wrong-doing must eventually have its punishment. But it will affect the wrong-doers, not the righteous. It is justice, not revenge. (6.47) ]]