74. Al-Muddaththir (The Enfolded One)

Mecca Period

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:



مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ ﴿٤٢﴾Shape1

74:42.  "What led you into Hell-fire?"

قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤٣﴾Shape2

74:43.  They will say:

"We were not of those who prayed;"

وَلَمْ نَكُ نُطْعِمُ الْمِسْكِينَ ﴿٤٤﴾Shape3

74:44.  "Nor were we of those who fed the indigent;"

وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ الْخَائِضِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾Shape4

74:45.  "But we used to talk vanities with vain talkers;"

وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤٦﴾Shape5

74:46.  "And we used to deny the Day of Judgment,"

حَتَّى أَتَانَا الْيَقِينُ ﴿٤٧﴾Shape6

74:47.  "Until there came to us (the Hour) that is certain."

C5804. Cf. 15:99, and n. 2018.

The Hour that is Certain is usually taken to the Death. (R).

 

فَمَا تَنفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشَّافِعِينَ ﴿٤٨﴾Shape7

74:48.  Then will no intercession of (any) intercessors profit them.


Asad’s Version:

(42) "What has brought you into hell-fire?"


74:43 They will answer: "We were not among those who prayed; 26 (44) and neither did we feed the needy; (45) and we were wont to indulge in sinning together with all [the others] who indulged in it; (46) and the Day of Judgment we were wont to call a lie (47) until certainty came upon us [in death]." (48) And so, of no benefit to them could be the intercession of any that would intercede for them. 27


[[Asad’s notes –



27 Lit., "the intercession of intercessors" - implying that there would be none to intercede for them with God. As regards the much-misunderstood Islamic concept of "intercession", see 10:3 "there is none that could intercede with Him unless He grants His leave therefor" - and the corresponding note 7. ]]