Chapter 39

39.21

surah 39 - verse 21

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Hast thou not seen how that God has sent down out of heaven water and threaded it as springs in the earth, then He brings forth therewith crops of diverse hues, then they wither, and thou seest them turning yellow, then He makes them broken orts? Surely in that is a reminder for men possessed of minds.
Maududi	Do you not see that Allah sent down water from the sky, then made it flow on earth as springs and streams and rivers and then with it He brings forth vegetation of various hues; then this vegetation ripens and dries up, turning yellow, whereafter He reduces it to broken straw? Surely there is a lesson in this for those endowed with understanding.
Pickthall	Hast thou not seen how Allah hath sent down water from the sky and hath caused it to penetrate the earth as watersprings, and afterward thereby produceth crops of divers hues; and afterward they wither and thou seest them turn yellow; then He maketh them chaff. Lo! herein verily is a reminder for men of understanding.
Sahih	Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.
Yusuf Ali	Seest thou not that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and leads it through springs in the earth? Then He causes to grow, therewith, produce of various colours: then it withers; thou wilt see it grow yellow; then He makes it dry up and crumble away. Truly, in this, is a Message of remembrance to men of understanding.

39.22

surah 39 - verse 22

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Is he whose breast God has expanded unto Islam, so he walks in a light from his Lord...? But woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of God! Those are in manifest error.
Maududi	Can he whose breast Allah has opened up for Islam and who is thus (moving along a Path) illumined by a light from Allah (be likened to him who derives no lesson from what he observes)? Woe, then, to those whose hearts were further hardened after Allah's admonition. Such are indeed in obvious error.
Pickthall	Is he whose bosom Allah hath expanded for Al-Islam, so that he followeth a light from his Lord, (as he who disbelieveth)? Then woe unto those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah. Such are in plain error.
Sahih	So is one whose breast Allah has expanded to [accept] Islam and he is upon a light from his Lord [like one whose heart rejects it]? Then woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. Those are in manifest error.
Yusuf Ali	Is one whose heart Allah has opened to Islam, so that he has received Enlightenment from Allah, (no better than one hard-hearted)? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against celebrating the praises of Allah! they are manifestly wandering (in error)!

39.23

surah 39 - verse 23

translator's name	verse
Arberry	God has sent down the fairest discourse as a Book, consimilar in its oft-repeated, whereat shiver the skins of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of God. That is God's guidance, whereby. He guides whomsoever He will; and whomsoever God leads astray, no guide has he.
Maududi	Allah has revealed the best teaching, a self-consistent Book which repeats its contents in manifold forms whereat shiver the skins of those that hold their Lord in awe, and then their skins and their hearts soften for Allah's remembrance. That is Allah's Guidance wherewith He guides whosoever He pleases. And he whom Allah does not guide to the Right Path has none to guide him.
Pickthall	Allah hath (now) revealed the fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent, (wherein promises of reward are) paired (with threats of punishment), whereat doth creep the flesh of those who fear their Lord, so that their flesh and their hearts soften to Allah's reminder. Such is Allah's guidance, wherewith He guideth whom He will. And him whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.
Sahih	Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.
Yusuf Ali	Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide.

39.24

surah 39 - verse 24

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Is he who guards himself with his face against the evil of the chastisement on the Day of Resurrection...? And it is said to the evildoers, 'Taste now that you were earning!'
Maududi	How woeful is the plight of him who has nothing except his face to shield him from severe chastisement on the Day of Resurrection? Such evil-doers shall be told: “Taste now the consequence of your deeds.”
Pickthall	Is he then, who will strike his face against the awful doom upon the Day of Resurrection (as he who doeth right)? And it will be said unto the wrong-doers: Taste what ye used to earn.
Sahih	Then is he who will shield with his face the worst of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection [like one secure from it]? And it will be said to the wrongdoers, "Taste what you used to earn."
Yusuf Ali	Is, then, one who has to fear the brunt of the Penalty on the Day of Judgment (and receive it) on his face, (like one guarded therefrom)? It will be said to the wrong-doers: "Taste ye (the fruits of) what ye earned!"

39.25

surah 39 - verse 25

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Those that were before them cried lies, then the chastisement came upon them from whence they were not aware;
Maududi	Their predecessors gave the lie to the Truth and then chastisement came upon them from whence they could not imagine.
Pickthall	Those before them denied, and so the doom came on them whence they knew not.
Sahih	Those before them denied, and punishment came upon them from where they did not perceive.
Yusuf Ali	Those before them (also) rejected (revelation), and so the Punishment came to them from directions they did not perceive.

39.26

surah 39 - verse 26

translator's name	verse
Arberry	so God let them taste degradation in this present life; and the chastisement of the world to come is assuredly greater, did they but know.
Maududi	So Allah made them taste degradation in the life of this world, and certainly the chastisement of the Hereafter will be much more grievous. Would that they knew!
Pickthall	Thus Allah made them taste humiliation in the life of the world, and verily the doom of the Hereafter will be greater if they did but know.
Sahih	So Allah made them taste disgrace in worldly life. But the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.
Yusuf Ali	So Allah gave them a taste of humiliation in the present life, but greater is the punishment of the Hereafter, if they only knew!

39.27

surah 39 - verse 27

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Indeed We have struck for the people in this Koran every manner of similitude; haply they will remember;
Maududi	We have indeed propounded for mankind all kinds of parables in this Qur'an that they may take heed.
Pickthall	And verily We have coined for mankind in this Qur'an all kinds of similitudes, that haply they may reflect;
Sahih	And We have certainly presented for the people in this Qur'an from every [kind of] example - that they might remember.
Yusuf Ali	We have put forth for men, in this Qur'an every kind of Parable, in order that they may receive admonition.

39.28

surah 39 - verse 28

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Koran, wherein there is no crookedness; haply they will be godfearing.
Maududi	It is an Arabic Qur'an free of all crookedness that they may guard against their evil end.
Pickthall	A Lecture in Arabic, containing no crookedness, that haply they may ward off (evil).
Sahih	[It is] an Arabic Qur'an, without any deviance that they might become righteous.
Yusuf Ali	(It is) a Qur'an in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against Evil.

39.29

surah 39 - verse 29

translator's name	verse
Arberry	God has struck a similitude -- a man in whom partners disagreeing share, and a man the property of one man. Are the two equal in likeness? Praise belongs to God! Nay, but most of them do not know.
Maududi	Allah propounds a parable: there is a man whose ownership is shared by several quarrelsome masters, each pulling him to himself; and there is another who is exclusively owned by one man. Can the two be alike? All praise and thanks be to Allah. But most of them are unaware.
Pickthall	Allah coineth a similitude: A man in relation to whom are several part-owners, quarrelling, and a man belonging wholly to one man. Are the two equal in similitude? Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not.
Sahih	Allah presents an example: a slave owned by quarreling partners and another belonging exclusively to one man - are they equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! But most of them do not know.
Yusuf Ali	Allah puts forth a Parable a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! but most of them have no knowledge.

39.30

surah 39 - verse 30

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Thou art mortal, and they are mortal;
Maududi	(O Prophet), you are destined to die and they too are destined to die.
Pickthall	Lo! thou wilt die, and lo! they will die;
Sahih	Indeed, you are to die, and indeed, they are to die.
Yusuf Ali	Truly thou wilt die (one day), and truly they (too) will die (one day).

39.31

surah 39 - verse 31

translator's name	verse
Arberry	then on the Day of Resurrection before your Lord you shall dispute.
Maududi	Then eventually all of you will contend before your Lord on the Day of Resurrection.
Pickthall	Then lo! on the Day of Resurrection, before your Lord ye will dispute.
Sahih	Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, before your Lord, will dispute.
Yusuf Ali	In the end will ye (all), on the Day of Judgment, settle your disputes in the presence of your Lord.

39.32

surah 39 - verse 32

translator's name	verse
Arberry	But who does greater evil than he who lies against God and cries lies to the very truth, when it comes to him? Is there not in Gehenna a lodging for the unbelievers?
Maududi	Who, then, can be more unjust than he who lied against Allah and denied the Truth when it came to him, calling it a lie? Is there no room for such unbelievers in Hell?
Pickthall	And who doth greater wrong than he who telleth a lie against Allah, and denieth the truth when it reacheth him? Will not the home of disbelievers be in hell?
Sahih	So who is more unjust than one who lies about Allah and denies the truth when it has come to him? Is there not in Hell a residence for the disbelievers?
Yusuf Ali	Who, then, doth more wrong than one who utters a lie concerning Allah, and rejects the Truth when it comes to him; is there not in Hell an abode for blasphemers?

39.33

surah 39 - verse 33

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And he who has come with the very truth and confirms it, those they are the godfearing.
Maududi	But he who brought the Truth, and those who confirmed it as true, such are the ones who shall be guarded against the chastisement.
Pickthall	And whoso bringeth the truth and believeth therein - Such are the dutiful.
Sahih	And the one who has brought the truth and [they who] believed in it - those are the righteous.
Yusuf Ali	And he who brings the Truth and he who confirms (and supports) it - such are the men who do right.

39.34

surah 39 - verse 34

translator's name	verse
Arberry	They shall have whatsoever they will with their Lord; that is the recompense of the good-doers,
Maududi	They shall have from their Lord all that they wish for. That is the reward of those that do good,
Pickthall	They shall have what they will of their Lord's bounty. That is the reward of the good:
Sahih	They will have whatever they desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the doers of good -
Yusuf Ali	They shall have all that they wish for, in the presence of their Lord: such is the reward of those who do good:

39.35

surah 39 - verse 35

translator's name	verse
Arberry	that God may acquit them of the worst of what they did, and recompense them with the wages of the fairest of what they were doing.
Maududi	so that Allah may remit their worst deeds and reward them according to the best of their deeds.
Pickthall	That Allah will remit from them the worst of what they did, and will pay them for reward the best they used to do.
Sahih	That Allah may remove from them the worst of what they did and reward them their due for the best of what they used to do.
Yusuf Ali	So that Allah will turn off from them (even) the worst in their deeds and give them their reward according to the best of what they have done.

39.36

surah 39 - verse 36

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Shall not God suffice His servant, though they frighten thee with those apart from Him? And whomsoever God leads astray, no guide has he.
Maududi	(O Prophet), does Allah not suffice for His servant? They frighten you with others apart from Him, although he whom Allah lets go astray, none can guide him to the Right Way.
Pickthall	Will not Allah defend His slave? Yet they would frighten thee with those beside Him. He whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.
Sahih	Is not Allah sufficient for His Servant [Prophet Muhammad]? And [yet], they threaten you with those [they worship] other than Him. And whoever Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.
Yusuf Ali	Is not Allah enough for his Servant? But they try to frighten thee with other (gods) besides Him! for such as Allah leaves to stray, there can be no guide.

39.37

surah 39 - verse 37

translator's name	verse
Arberry	But whomso God guides, none shall lead him astray; is not God All-mighty, All-vengeful?
Maududi	And he whom Allah guides to the Right Way, none can lead him astray. Is not Allah the Most Mighty, the Lord of Retribution?
Pickthall	And he whom Allah guideth, for him there can be no misleader. Is not Allah Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong)?
Sahih	And whoever Allah guides - for him there is no misleader. Is not Allah Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution?
Yusuf Ali	And such as Allah doth guide there can be none to lead astray. Is not Allah Exalted in Power, (Able to enforce His Will), Lord of Retribution?

39.38

surah 39 - verse 38

translator's name	verse
Arberry	If thou askest them, 'Who created the heavens and the earth?' they will say, 'God.' Say: 'What think you? That you call upon apart from God -- if God desires affliction for me, shall they remove His affliction? Or if He desires mercy for me, shall they withhold His mercy?' Say: 'God is enough for me; in Him all those put their trust who put their trust.'
Maududi	If you ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth?” they will surely answer: “Allah.” Tell them: “What do you think, then, of the deities whom you call upon instead of Allah? If Allah should will that an affliction befall me, will those deities remove the harm inflicted by Him? Or if Allah should will that I receive (His) Mercy, will they be able to withhold His Mercy from me?” Say: “Allah is sufficient for me; those who have to put their trust, let them put their trust in Him.
Pickthall	And verily, if thou shouldst ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth? they will say: Allah. Say: Bethink you then of those ye worship beside Allah, if Allah willed some hurt for me, could they remove from me His hurt; or if He willed some mercy for me, could they restrain His mercy? Say: Allah is my all. In Him do (all) the trusting put their trust.
Sahih	And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "Allah." Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allah? If Allah intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?" Say, "Sufficient for me is Allah; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."
Yusuf Ali	If indeed thou ask them who it is that created the heavens and the earth, they would be sure to say, "Allah". Say: "See ye then? the things that ye invoke besides Allah,- can they, if Allah wills some Penalty for me, remove His Penalty?- Or if He wills some Grace for me, can they keep back his Grace?" Say: "Sufficient is Allah for me! In Him trust those who put their trust."

39.39

surah 39 - verse 39

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Say: 'My people, act according to your station; I am acting; and soon you will know
Maududi	Tell them: “My people, continue to work in your position as you will, I too will continue with my work. Soon you shall know
Pickthall	Say: O my people! Act in your manner. Lo! I (too) am acting. Thus ye will come to know
Sahih	Say, "O my people, work according to your position, [for] indeed, I am working; and you are going to know
Yusuf Ali	Say: "O my People! Do whatever ye can: I will do (my part): but soon will ye know-

39.40

surah 39 - verse 40

translator's name	verse
Arberry	to whom will come a chastisement degrading him, and upon whom lights a lasting chastisement.'
Maududi	whom the degrading chastisement will visit and upon whom the everlasting chastisement will alight.
Pickthall	Who it is unto whom cometh a doom that will abase him, and on whom there falleth everlasting doom.
Sahih	To whom will come a torment disgracing him and on whom will descend an enduring punishment."
Yusuf Ali	"Who it is to whom comes a Penalty of ignominy, and on whom descends a Penalty that abides."