Surah 37. As-Saffat

and, verily, we too extol His limitless elory!"

  - Mohammad Asad

and we are surely those who declare His glory."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! We, even We are they who hymn His praise

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

AND, INDEED, they [who deny the truth] have always been wont to say,

  - Mohammad Asad

Before this, the same disbelievers used to say:

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And indeed they used to say:

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"If only we had a tradition Ito this effectl from our forebears,⁷²

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "a reminder (dhikr) from those of old": see note [27] on verses {69-70} above. Most of the commentators assume that the term dhikr connotes here, as so often in the Qur'an, a "divine writ". In my opinion, however, it is far more probable - because more in tune with the context - that in this case it signifies an ancestral tradition bearing on the (to them astonishing) message of God's oneness and uniqueness as promulgated by the Qur'an.

"If we had received a reminder which the earlier people had received,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

If we had but a reminder from the men of old

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

we would certainly be true servants of God."

  - Mohammad Asad

We certainly would have been sincere devotees of Allah."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

We would be single-minded slaves of Allah.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And yet, [now that this divine writ has been placed before them,] they refuse to acknowledge it as true! In time, however, they will come to know [what it was that they had rejected]:

  - Mohammad Asad

But now that the Qur'an has come, they reject it: but soon they will find out the consequences of this attitude.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Yet (now that it is come) the, disbelieve therein: but they will come to know.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

for, long ago has Our word gone forth unto Our servants, the message-bearers,

  - Mohammad Asad

We have already promised Our servants whom We sent as Rasools

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And verily Our word went forth of old unto Our bondmen sent (to warn)

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

that, verily, they-they indeed-would be succoured,

  - Mohammad Asad

that they would certainly be helped,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

That they verily would be helped,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and that, verily, Our hosts - they indeed-would [in the end] be victorious!

  - Mohammad Asad

and that Our forces will surely be victorious.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And that Our host, they verily would be the victors.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Hence, turn thou aside for a while from those [who deny the truth],

  - Mohammad Asad

So give no heed to them for a while;

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So withdraw from them (O Muhammad) awhile,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and see them [for what they are];⁷³ and in time they [too] will come to see [what they do not see now].⁷⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., as people who are bent on deceiving themselves. In this context, the verb basura (lit., "he saw" or "became seeing") is used tropically, in the sense of "seeing mentally" or "gaining insight".

I.e., they will realize the truth as well as the suffering which its rejection entails: obviously a reference to the Day of Judgment.

you will see their downfall as they shall see your victory.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And watch, for they will (soon) see.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Do they, then, [really] wish that Our chas-tisement be hastened on?⁷⁵

  - Mohammad Asad

This is an allusion to the sarcastic demand of the people who refused to regard the Qur'an as a divine revelation, to be punished forthwith "if this be indeed the truth from God" (see 8:32 and the corresponding note).

Do they wish to hurry on Our punishment?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Would they hasten on Our doom?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But then, once it alights upon them, hapless will be the awakening of those who were warned [to no avail]!⁷⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "when it alights in their courtyard, evil [or "hapless"] is the morning of those...", etc. In ancient Arabic usage, the idiomatic phrase "chastisement [or "suffering"] has alighted (nazala) in so-and-so's courtyard" denotes its coming-down upon, or befalling, the person or persons concerned (Tabari). Similarly, the "morning" (sabah) is a metonym for "awakening".

But dreadful will be that morning, when it will descend in the courtyards of those who have been forewarned.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But when it cometh home to them, then it will be a hapless morn for those who have been warned.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Hence, turn thou aside for a while from them,

  - Mohammad Asad

So pay no heed to them for a while.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Withdraw from them awhile

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and see [them for what they are]; and in time they [too] will come to see [what they do not see now].

  - Mohammad Asad

You will surely see their downfall as they shall see your victory.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And watch, for they will (soon) see.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

LIMITLESS in His glory is thy Sustainer, the Lord of almightiness, [exalted] above anything that men may devise by way of definition!

  - Mohammad Asad

Glory be to your Rabb, the Lord of Honor, He is free from what they ascribe to Him!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Glorified be thy Lord, the Lord of Majesty, from that which they attribute (unto Him)

  - Marmaduke Pickthall