27. Surah al-Naml (Mecca 48)

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

...وَيَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ فَفَزِعَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَاء اللَّهُ...

27: 87. And the Day that the Trumpet will be sounded -- then will be smitten with terror those who are in the heavens, and those who are on earth, except such as Allah will please (to exempt):

...وَكُلٌّ أَتَوْهُ دَاخِرِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾

and all shall come to His (Presence) as beings conscious of their lowliness.

C3317. Arrogance will flee with Ignorance, and Self will sec itself in its true place-that of humility and lowliness-when the scales of ignorance fall from its eyes.

وَتَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِ...

27: 88. Thou seest the mountains and thinkest them firmly fixed: but they shall pass away as the clouds pass away:

C3318. This is so in the present phase of phenomenal things, both literally and figuratively.

There seems nothing more firm or fixed or permanent than the "eternal hills": yet when the new order of things comes and the new World is brought into being, they will be as flimsy and unsubstantial as clouds.

So, in the revaluation of things in the Hereafter persons or things or ideas that seem so great and so firmly established now will pass away like mere fancies and give way to the Reality of Allah.

...صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ...

(such is) the artistry of Allah, Who disposes of all things in perfect order:

C3319. Atqana: to arrange or dispose of things with art, or so as to obtain the most perfect results.

The present phenomenal world and the Future that is to be, all have a definite object and purpose in the Plan of Allah, Who knows perfectly what we are, what we do, what we think, and what we need. Who can praise His artistry enough?

...إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾

for He is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

Asad’s Version:

27:87 And on that Day the trumpet [of judgment] will be sounded, and all [creatures] that are in the heavens and all that are on earth will be stricken with terror, except such as God wills [to exempt]: and in utter lowliness all will come unto Him.

(27:88) And thou wilt see the mountains, which [now] thou deemest so firm, pass away as clouds pass away: a work of God, who has ordered all things to perfection! 78 Verily, He is fully aware of all that you do!

[[ Asad’s note - 78 I.e., in perfect consonance with the purpose for which He has created them: which is the approximate meaning of the verb atqana, In this particular instance, stress is laid on the God- willed transitory nature of the world as we know it (cf. 14:48 and 20:105-107, and the corresponding notes) in contrast with the lasting reality of the life to come. ]]