Surah 40. Ghafir

the Day when they shall come forth [from death], with nothing of themselves hidden from God. With whom will sovereignty rest on that Day? With god, the One who holds absolute sway over all that exists!

  - Mohammad Asad

The Day when they all shall come forth from their graves with nothing hidden from Allah. It will be asked: "Whose is the Kingdom today?" No one shall dare to speak, and Allah Himself will say: "It is Allah's, the One, the Irresistible.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

the Day all will appear 'before Allah'. Nothing about them will be hidden from Him. 'He will ask,' 'Who does all authority belong to this Day? To Allah- the One, the Supreme!¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 It is reported in a ḥadîth collected by Imâm Muslim that everyone and everything that has ever existed will die on that Day, except for Allah—the Eternal. He will then ask, “Who does all authority belong to this Day? Where are the kings of the world? I am the King.” Since no one will be there to answer, Allah will answer Himself, “˹All authority belongs˺ to Allah—the One, the Supreme!”

The day when they come forth, nothing of them being hidden from Allah. Whose is the sovereignty this day? It is Allah's, the One, the Almighty.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

The Day whereon they will (all) come forth: Not a single thing concerning them is hidden from Allah. Whose will be the dominion that Day? That of Allah the One the Irresistible! ⁴³⁷⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Kingdom of Allah-of Justice, Truth, and Righteousness-will then be fully established. Evil can then no more come into competition with Good, even in the subjective consciousness of man.

On that Day will every human being be requited for what he has earned: no wrong [will be done] on that Day: verily, swift in reckoning is God!

  - Mohammad Asad

Today every soul shall be rewarded for whatever it has earned; today there shall be no injustice; surely Allah is swift in settling accounts."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Today every soul will be rewarded for what it has done. No injustice Today! Surely Allah is swift in reckoning.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

This day is each soul requited that which it hath earned; no wrong (is done) this day. Lo! Allah is swift at reckoning.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

That Day will every soul be requited for what it earned; no injustice will there be that Day for Allah is Swift in taking account. ⁴³⁸⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Swift in several senses; (1) the time of the present life or of the interval before Judgment. i.e., before the restoration of true values, is so short as compared to Eternity, that it may be counted as negligible: in the next verse the Day is characterised as "(ever) drawing near"; (2) in spite of the great concourse of souls to be judged, the process of Judgment will be almost instantaneous, "in the twinkling of an eye" (xvi. 77), because everything is already known to Allah; and yet not the least injustice will be done.

Hence, warn them of that Day which draws ever nearer, when the hearts will chokingly come up to the throats: no loving friend will the evildoers have, nor any intercessor who would be he ded:¹³

  - Mohammad Asad

Regarding the problem of "intercession" (shafaah) and its meaning in the Qur an, see note [7] on 10:3 .

O Prophet, warn them of the Day that is drawing near, when the hearts will leap up to the throats with grief; when the wrongdoers will have neither friend nor intercessor who could be given heed to.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Warn them 'O Prophet' of the approaching Day when the hearts will jump into the throats, suppressing distress. The wrongdoers will have neither a close friend nor intercessor to be heard.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Warn them (O Muhammad) of the Day of the approaching (doom), when the hearts will be choking the throats, (when) there will be no friend for the wrong-doers, nor any intercessor who will be heard.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Warn them of the Day that is (ever) drawing near when the Hearts will (come) right up to the Throats to choke (them); no intimate friend nor intercessor will the wrongdoers have who could be listened to. ^{4381 4382}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Hearts will come right up to the Throats to choke them: an idiom implying that the whole of their life-functions will be choked up with terror. But a more subtle meaning emerges from further analysis. The heart (or the breast) is the seat of affection, emotion, and every kind of feeling, such as terror, pain, despair, etc. These things will as it were overflow right up to the throat and choke it. The throat is the vehicle for the voice; their voice will be choked, and they will be able to say nothing. The throat is the channel for food, which goes to the stomach and maintains a healthy functioning of life; the choking means that the healthy functioning will stop, and there will be nothing but woe.

In that enforcement of personal responsibility, what sympathy or intercession can the wrong-doers get?

[for] He is aware of the [most] stealthy glance, and of all that the hearts would conceal.¹⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

God's omniscience is shown here as the reason why there can be no intercession with Him in the commonly-accepted sense of this term (cf. surah {10}, note [27]).

Allah knows the furtive looks and the secret thoughts,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Allah 'even' knows the sly glances of the eyes and whatever the hearts conceal.

  - Mustafa Khattab

He knoweth the traitor of the eyes, and that which the bosoms hide.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

(Allah) knows of (the tricks) that deceive with the eyes and all that hearts (of men) conceal. ^{4383 4384}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Men may be taken in by tricks that deceive with the eyes, but Allah's perfect knowledge penetrates through all mysteries. "Treachery of the eyes" may mean several things; (1) a sleight of hand (literally or figuratively) may deceive in respect of the eyes of beholders, for the things that they see do not actually happen; (2) it may be the deceiver's own eyes that play false, because, for example, they show love when hatred is meant; or (3) it may be that the eyes of the beholder play him false, in that he sees things that he should not see, and thus sins with his eyes.

Here we come into the region of evil motives and thoughts which may be concealed in the hearts, breast, or mind, but which are all perfectly known to Allah.

And God will judge in accordance with truth and justice, whereas those [beings] whom they invoke beside Him¹⁵ cannot judge at all: for, verily, God alone is all-hearing, all-seeing.

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., saints, whether real or imaginary, or angels. (The pronoun alladhina is used only with reference to sentient beings endowed with reason.)

and Allah will judge with all fairness. As for those whom the unbelievers invoke besides Him, will not be in a position to judge at all. Surely it is Allah Alone Who Hears all and Sees all.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And Allah judges with the truth, while those 'idols' they invoke besides Him cannot judge at all. Indeed, Allah 'alone' is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Allah judgeth with truth, while those to whom they cry instead of Him judge not at all. Lo! Allah, He is the Nearer, the Seer.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And Allah will judge with (Justice and) Truth: but those whom (men) invoke besides Him will not (be in a position) to judge at all. Verily it is Allah (alone) Who hears and sees (all things). ⁴³⁸⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If men build their hopes or their faith in anything except the Divine Grace, they will find themselves deserted. Any pretences that they make will be known to Allah. On the other hand every single good act, or word, or motive, or aspiration of their win, will reach Allah's Throne of Mercy.

Have they, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? Greater were they in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth: but God took them to task for their sins, and they had none to defend them against God:

  - Mohammad Asad

Have they not travelled through the land and seen what was the end of those who have gone before them? They were far greater in power than these and left great traces in the land: but Allah seized them for their sins and there was none to protect them from Allah.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those 'destroyed' before them? They were far superior in might and 'richer in' monuments throughout the land. But Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Have they not travelled in the land to see the nature of the consequence for those who disbelieved before them? They were mightier than these in power and (in the) traces (which they left behind them) in the earth. Yet Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before them? They were even superior to them in strength and in the traces (they have left) in the land: but Allah did call them to account for their sins and none had they to defend them against Allah. ^{4386 4387}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxx. 9. and several other similar passages.

See n. 3515 to xxx. 9. We can learn from the history of previous nations. Many of them were more powerful, or have left finer and more imposing monuments and made a deeper impression on the world around them than any particular generation addressed. "Traces" in the text may be taken in that extended sense. And yet all this did not save them from the consequences of their sins. They were called to account and punished. None of the power or pomp or skill of which they boasted could for a moment ward off the punishment when it came in God's good time.

this, because their apostles had come to them with all evidence of the truth, and yet they rejected it: and so God took them to taskfor, verily, He is powerful, severe in retribution!

  - Mohammad Asad

That was because there came to them their Rasools with clear revelations and they denied them: so Allah seized them. Mighty is He indeed and stern is His retribution.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

That was because their messengers used to come to them with clear proofs, but they persisted in disbelief. So Allah seized them. Surely He is All-Powerful, severe in punishment.

  - Mustafa Khattab

That was because their messengers kept bringing them clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty) but they disbelieved; so Allah seized them. Lo! He is Strong, Severe in punishment.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

That was because there came to them their apostles with Clear (Signs) but they rejected them: So Allah called them to account: for He is full of Strength Strict in Punishment. ⁴³⁸⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But Allah in His Mercy always sends a Message of warning and good news through his messengers, and He gives His messengers Clear Signs and an authority that can be recognised. Among the Clear Signs are: (1) the pure and unselfish lives of the messengers; (2) the revelation of truth which they bring; (3) their influence on the course of events in their own and succeeding generations; etc. Some of these may be so remarkable that they merit the name of Miracles.

THUS, INDEED, did We send Moses with Our messages and a manifest authority [from Us]

  - Mohammad Asad

Indeed We sent Musa with Our signs and a clear authority,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Indeed, We sent Moses with Our signs and compelling proof

  - Mustafa Khattab

And verily We sent Moses with Our revelations and a clear warrant

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Of old We sent Moses with Our Signs and Authority manifest ⁴³⁸⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is not the story of Moses himself, so much as an introduction to the story of the one just man who believed, in the court of Pharaoh: see verse 28 below. This Sura ("The Believer") is called after him.

unto Pharaoh, and Haman, and Qarun;¹⁶ but they [only] said, "A spellbinder is he, a liar!"

  - Mohammad Asad

As regards Qarun, who is said to have been a follower - and subsequently an opponent - of Moses, see 28:76 ff., as well as the corresponding note [84]. For a discussion of the name Haman, see note [6] on 28:6 .

to Fir'on (Pharaoh) Haman and Qarun (Korah); but they called him 'a sorcerer, a liar'.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

to Pharaoh, Haman, and Korah. But they responded: 'Magician! Total liar!'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Unto Pharaoh and Haman and Korah, but they said: A lying sorcerer!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

To Pharaoh Haman and Qarun; but they called (him) "a sorcerer telling lies!"... ⁴³⁹⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Here are three types of Unfaith, each showing a different phase, and yet all united in opposition to the Truth and Mission of Moses. (1) Pharaoh is the type of arrogance, cruelty, and reliance on brute force; cf. xxviii. 38-39. (2) Haman was Pharaoh's minister (n. 3331 to xxviii. 6; also xxviii. 38): he was the type of a sycophant who would pander to the vanity of any man in power. (3) Qarun excelled in his wealth, was selfish in its use, and overbearing to the poor (xxviii. 76-81, and n. 3404). They all came to an evil end eventually.

Now [as for Pharaoh and his followers,] when he came to them, setting forth the truth from Us, they said, "Slay the sons of those who share his beliefs,¹⁷ and spare [only] their women! " - but the guile of those deniers of the truth could not lead to aught but failure.

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "those who have come to believe with him".

Then, when he brought them the truth from Us, they said: "Kill the sons of those who share his faith and spare only their females." But futile were the schemes of the unbelievers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then, when he came to them with the truth from Us, they said, 'Kill the sons of those who believe with him and keep their women.' But the plotting of the disbelievers was only in vain.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And when he brought them the Truth from Our presence, they said: Slay the sons of those who believe with him, and spare their women. But the plot of disbelievers is in naught but error.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Now when he came to them in Truth from Us they said "Slay the sons of those who believe with him and keep alive their females" but the plots of Unbelievers (end) in nothing but errors (and delusions)!"... ^{4391 4392}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Verse 24 described the opposition of three types of Unfaith, which opposed Faith, in different ways, as described in the last note. Qarun, in his overweening insolence, may well have called Moses and Aaron "sorcerers telling lies" in the Sinai desert, as he despised priests and men of God, and might cast the Egyptian reproach in their teeth as a reminiscence. Here, in verse 25, we have an episode about the time of the birth of Moses: "them" and "they" refer to Pharaoh and his Court; the "coming" of Moses here refers to the time of his birth. On that construction, "with him", lower down in their speech would be elliptical, referring to "slay the sons", as if they had said, "Kill all Israelite male children: the unknown Prophet to be born would be amongst them: so kill them all with him." In verse 26 we again skip some years and recall an episode when Moses, having got his mission, stood in Pharaoh's Court, and some of the Egyptian Commonalty were almost ready to believe in him.

That is, the Israelites, for they were the custodians of Allah's Faith then. For the slaughter of Israelite children by Pharaoh, see xxviii. 4-6, and notes.

And Pharaoh said: "Leave it to me to slay Moses-and let him invoke his [alleged] sustainer!¹⁸ Behold, I fear lest he cause you to change your religion, or lest he cause corruption to prevail in the land!"

  - Mohammad Asad

My interpolation of the word "alleged", is necessitated by the obvious sarcasm of Pharaoh's remark.

Finally Fir'on said: "Let me kill Musa; and let him invoke his Rabb! I fear that he may change your religion or that he may cause mischief to appear in the land."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And Pharaoh said, 'Let me kill Moses, and let him call upon his Lord! I truly fear that he may change your traditions or cause mischief in the land.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And Pharaoh said: Suffer me to kill Moses, and let him cry unto his Lord. Lo! I fear that he will alter your religion or that he will cause confusion in the land.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Said Pharaoh: "Leave me to slay Moses; and let him Call on his Lord! What I fear is lest he should change your religion or lest he should cause mischief to appear in the land!" ^{4393 4394}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is an episode that occurs when Moses, invested with his mission, confronts Pharaoh in his Court and preaches to him: see xx. 49 and following verses; also xx. 57, 63.

Some of Pharaoh's people did afterwards give up the worship of Pharaoh and of the Egyptian gods and believed "in the Lord of Aaron and Moses" and in fact suffered martyrdom for the Faith of Unity: xx. 70-73.

But Moses said: "With [Him who is] my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer have I indeed found refuge from everyone who, immersed in false pride, will not believe in [the coming of] the Day of Reckoning!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Musa said: "I have indeed taken refuge in my Rabb and your Rabb from every arrogant one who does not believes in the Day of Reckoning."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Moses replied, 'I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant person who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Moses said: Lo! I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every scorner who believeth not in a Day of Reckoning.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Moses said: "I have indeed called upon my Lord and your Lord (for protection) from every arrogant one who believes not in the Day of Account!" ⁴³⁹⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The whole point of the Gospel of Unity which Moses preached was that the God of Moses and the God of Pharaoh, of Israel and Egypt, the Lord of all the Worlds, was One,-Allah, the only True God. See xx. 49-50 and notes 2572 and 2573.

At that, a believing man of Pharaoh's family, who [until then] had concealed his faith,¹⁹ exclaimed: "Would you slay a man because he says, God is my Sustainer- seeing, withal, that he has brought you all evidence of this truth from your Sustainer? Now if he be a liar, his lie will fall back on him; but if he is a man of truth, something [of the punishment] whereof he warns you is bound to befall you: for, verily, God would not grace with His guidance one who has wasted his own self by Iying [about Him].²⁰

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. the parable of the believer in {36:20-27} and, in particular, the corresponding note 15.

Lit., "a liar". As regards my rendering of musaf as "one who wastes [or "has wasted"] his own self", see note [21] on the last sentence of 10:12 . Thus, the anonymous believer spoken of here argues that the message brought by Moses is so convincing that, by itself, it is a proof of his not being "one who wastes his own self" - i.e., destroys himself spiritually-by a spurious claim to divine inspiration.

At this, a believer from among the relatives of Fir'on, who had kept his faith hidden, said: "Will you kill a man merely because he says: `My Rabb is Allah, specially when he has brought you clear signs from your Rabb? If he is lying, may his lie be on his head; but if he is speaking the truth, then some of the dreadful things he is threatening you with may very well fall on you. Surely Allah does not guide the one who is a lying transgressor.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

A believing man from Pharaoh's people, who was hiding his faith, argued, 'Will you kill a man¹ 'only' for saying: 'My Lord is Allah,' while he has in fact come to you with clear proofs from your Lord? If he is a liar, it will be to his own loss. But if he is truthful, then you will be afflicted with some of what he is threatening you with. Surely Allah does not guide whoever is a transgressor, a total liar.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., Moses (ﷺ).

And a believing man of Pharaoh's family, who hid his faith, said: Would ye kill a man because he saith: My Lord is Allah, and hath brought you clear proofs from your Lord? If he is lying, then his lie is upon him; and if he is truthful then some of that wherewith he threateneth you will strike you. Lo! Allah guideth not one who is a prodigal, a liar.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

A believer a man from among the people of Pharaoh who had concealed his faith said: "Will ye slay a man because he says `My Lord is Allah'? When he has indeed come to you with Clear (Signs) from your Lord? And if he be a liar on him is (the sin of) his lie: but if he is telling the Truth then will fall on you something of the (calamity) of which he warns you: truly Allah guides not one who transgresses and lies! ^{4396 4397 4398}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There is nothing to justify the identification of this man with the man mentioned in xxviii. 20, who warned Moses long before Moses had received his mission. On the contrary, in this passage, the man is evidently speaking after Moses had received his mission, preached to Pharaoh, and got a certain amount of success, for which Pharaoh and his people were trying, to seek his life. Moses had evidently already brought his Clear Signs.

A commonsense view is put before them by an Egyptian who loves his own people and does not wish them to perish in sin. "Will you kill this man for calling on Allah? Have you not seen his character and behaviour? Do you not see the 'Clear Signs' about him that bespeak his credentials? Suppose for a moment that he is a liar and pretender: he will suffer for his falsehood, but why should you turn against Allah? But suppose that he is really inspired by Allah to tell you the truth and warn you against evil, what will be your fate when Allah's Wrath descends? For it must descend if he is a true Messenger sent by Allah."

This is with reference to the "Clear signs". 'They are Signs of Allah's guidance, for Allah would never guide a man who exceeds the bounds of truth and tells you lies! Such a man is bound to be found out!'

"O my people! Yours is the dominion today, [and] most eminent are you on earth: but who will rescue us from God's punishment, once it befalls us?" Said Pharaoh: "I but want to make you see what I see myself;²¹ and I would never make you follow any path but that of rectitude!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Thus alluding to the reasons underlying his intention to kill Moses, expressed in verse {26}.

O my people! You are the rulers and are dominant in the land today: but who will help us against the scourge of Allah, should it befall us?" Fir'on said: "I am pointing out to you only what I see and I am guiding you only towards the right way."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O my people! Authority belongs to you today, reigning supreme in the land. But who would help us against the torment of Allah, if it were to befall us?' Pharaoh assured 'his people', 'I am telling you only what I believe, and I am leading you only to the way of guidance.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

O my people! Yours is the kingdom today, ye being uppermost in the land. But who would save us from the wrath of Allah should it reach us? Pharaoh said: I do but show you what I think, and I do but guide you to wise policy.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"O my people! yours is the dominion this day: ye have the upper hand in the land: but who will help us from the Punishment of Allah should it befall us?" Pharaoh said: "I but point out to you that which I see (myself); nor do I guide you but to the Path of Right!" ^{4399 4400}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'Do not be puffed up with arrogance because the power is in your hands at present! Do you deserve it? Will it last? If you are sinning and drawing upon yourselves Allah's Punishment, is there anything that can shield you from it?'

Pharaoh's egotism and arrogance come out. 'I can see and understand everything. As I see things, so do I direct you. The Path which I see must be right, and you must follow it.'

Thereupon exclaimed he who had attained to faith: "O my people! Verily, I fear for you the like of what one day befell those others who were leagued together [against God's truth]-

  - Mohammad Asad

Then the person who was a true believer said: "O my people! In fact I fear for you the day of disaster like of what befell prior people,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And the man who believed cautioned, 'O my people! I truly fear for you the doom of 'earlier' enemy forces-

  - Mustafa Khattab

And he who believed said: O my people! Lo! I fear for you a fate like that of the factions (of old);

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then said the man who believed: "O my People! truly I do fear for you something like the Day (of disaster) of the Confederates (in sin)! ^{4401 4402}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

He appeals to past history. "Have you not heard of people who lived before you?-like the generations of Noah, the 'Ad, the Thamud, and many more-who held together in sin against Allah's Preachers, but were wiped out for their sins?"

Cf. xxxviii. 11-13, and n. 4158, also xi. 5, and n. 4361.