Surah 27. An-Naml

Ta. Sin.¹ THESE ARE MESSAGES of the Qur'an - a divine writ clear in itself and clearly showing the truth:²

  - Mohammad Asad

See Appendix II.

For an explanation of this composite rendering of the adjective mubin, see note [2] on 12:1 . In the present instance, the term kitab ("divine writ") is preceded by the conjunction Wa, which primarily signifies "and", but in this case has a function more or less similar to the expression "namely"; hence, it may be replaced in translation by a dash without affecting the meaning of the sentence.

Tua Sin. These are verses of the Qur'an, the Glorious Book;

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Ta-Sin. These are the verses of the Quran; the clear Book.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ta. Sin. These are revelations of the Qur'an and a Scripture that maketh plain;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Ta Sin. These are verses of the Qur'an a Book that makes (things) clear; ³²⁴⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 3137 to xxvi. 1.

a guidance and a glad tiding to the believers

  - Mohammad Asad

a guide and good news for the believers,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

'It is' a guide and good news for the believers:

  - Mustafa Khattab

A guidance and good tidings for believers

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

A Guide; and Glad Tidings for the Believers ³²⁴¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Revelation is here presented in three aspects: (1) it explains things, the attributes of Allah, our own position, and the world around; (2) it directs us to right conduct and keeps us from evil; and (3) to those who have Faith and accept its guidance, it gives the good news of forgiveness, purification, and the achievement of salvation.

who are constant in prayer and spend in charity: ³ for it is they, they who in their innermost are certain of the life to come!

  - Mohammad Asad

This is obviously the meaning of the term zakah in the above context, since at the time of the revelation of this surah it had not yet received its later, specific connotation of a tax incumbent upon Muslims (cf. surah {2}, note [34]).

who establish the Salah (prayer) and pay the Zakah (charity) and firmly believe in the hereafter.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

'those' who establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and have sure faith in the Hereafter.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Who establish worship and pay the poor due and are sure of the Hereafter.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who establish regular prayers and give in regular charity and also have (full) assurance of the Hereafter.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As for those who will not believe in the life to come - behold, goodly have We made their own doings appear unto them, and so they stumble blindly to and fro.⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

The implication is that people who do not believe in life after death concentrate all their endeavours, as a rule, on material gains alone, and cannot think of anything worthwhile beyond "their own doings". See also note [7] on 2:7 , which explains why the "causing" of this spiritual blindness and confusion - in itself but a consequence of man’s own behaviour - is attributed to God.

As for those who do not believe in the hereafter, We make their deeds seem fair to them, therefore they blunder about in their folly.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

As for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have certainly made their 'evil' deeds appealing to them, so they wander blindly.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! as for those who believe not in the Hereafter, We have made their works fair seeming unto them so that they are all astray.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

As to those who believe not in the Hereafter We have made their deeds pleasing in their eyes; and so they wander about in distraction. ³²⁴²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Those who reject Allah and follow Evil have a good conceit of themselves. Their deeds are pleasing to no one else. As they have rejected Allah's guidance, they are allowed to hug their own self-conceit, and given further respite for repentance. But they follow their own whims and wander about in distraction, as they have no standards such as guide the godly.

It is they whom the worst of suffering awaits: for it is they, they who in the life to come shall be the greatest losers!

  - Mohammad Asad

They are the ones for whom there is an evil punishment, and in the hereafter, they will be the greatest losers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

It is they who will suffer a dreadful torment, and in the Hereafter they will 'truly' be the greatest losers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Those are they for whom is the worst of punishment, and in the Hereafter they will be the greatest losers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Such are they for whom a grievous Penalty is (waiting): and in the Hereafter theirs will be the greatest loss. ³²⁴³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The account will then be made up, and they will be found to be terribly in loss. They will be the worst in loss, for all their self-complacency.