Surah 68. Al-Qalam

Or have they, perchance, any sages to support their views?²⁰ Well, then, if they are sincere in this their claim, let them produce those supporters of theirs

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "Or have they any associates?" - i.e., wise people ('uqala') who would share their views and their way of life (Zamakhshari and Razi). Accordingly, the expression shuraka'uhum in the next sentence has been rendered as "those supporters of theirs".

Or do they have other gods who could help them against Allah? If so, let them produce their other gods if they are truthful.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

on the Day when man's very being shall be bared to the bone,²¹ and when they [who now deny the truth] shall be called upon to prostrate themselves [before God],²² and shall be unable to do so:

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "when the shin[-bone] shall be bared": i.e., when man's innermost thoughts, feelings and motivations will be laid bare. The implication is that their erstwhile claim that whatever is "expedient" is morally justifiable (see note [19] above), shall be revealed in all its nakedness - namely, as something indefensible and spiritually destructive.

I.e., willingly, gladly humbling themselves before Him.

On the Day of Judgement, when the dreadful events shall be unfolded, and they shall be asked to prostrate themselves, they shall not be able to do so.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

downcast will be their eyes, with ignominy overwhelming them - seeing that they had been called upon [in vain] to prostrate themselves [before Him] while they were yet sound [and alive].

  - Mohammad Asad

They shall stand with eyes downcast, utterly humbled; because during their safe and sound earthly life they were called upon to prostrate themselves but they refused to do so.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

With eyes downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet unhurt.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Hence, leave Me alone with such as give the lie to this tiding.²³ We shall bring them low, step by step, without their perceiving how it has come about:²⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., to divine revelation in general, and to the tiding of resurrection and judgment, in particular - the implication being that God alone has the right to decide whether or how to chastise them.

Lit., "without their knowing whence [it comes]". The above sentence, as well as the next (verse {45}), are found in exactly the same formulation in {7:182-183}.

O Prophet, leave to Me those who reject this revelation. We shall lead them step by step to their ruin, in ways that they cannot perceive.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Leave Me (to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on by steps from whence they know not.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

for, behold, though I may give them rein for a while, My subtle scheme is exceedingly firm!²⁵

  - Mohammad Asad

The term "subtle scheme" (kayd) evidently circumscribes here God's unfathomable plan of creation of which man can glimpse only isolated fragments and never the totality: a plan in which every thing and happening has a definite function, and nothing is accidental. (See in this connection note [11] on 10:5 - "None of this has God created without [an inner] truths.) Indirectly, the above passage alludes to the question as to the reason why God allows so many evil persons to enjoy their lives to the full, while so many of the righteous are allowed to suffer: the answer being that during his life in this world man cannot really understand where apparent happiness and unhappiness ultimately lead to, and what role they play in God's "subtle scheme" of creation.

I shall even put up with them for a while; for My plan is fool proof.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Or is it that [they fear lest] thou ask them for a reward, [O Prophet,] so that they would be burdened with debt [if they listened to thee]?

  - Mohammad Asad

Or have you, O Prophet, demanded a compensation from them, that they are overburdened with debt?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Or [do they think] that the hidden reality [of all that exists] is within their grasp, so that [in time] they can write it down?²⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "and that, therefore, they need not listen to divine revelation. For the real significance of the term al-ghayb - of which the above is undoubtedly the earliest instance in the chronology of Qur'anic revelation - see surah {2}, note [3]. Its use in the above context is meant to elucidate and further develop the idea already touched upon in 96:6 - "man becomes grossly overweening whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient". More particularly, the present passage points to the fallacy of the arrogant belief that the solution of all the mysteries of the universe is "just around the corner" and that man-centred science - epitomised in the reference to its being "written down" - can and will teach its adepts how to "conquer nature" and to attain to what they regard as the good life.

Or do they have the knowledge of the unseen and they are writing it down?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof)?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

BEAR, THEN, with patience thy Sustainer's will, and be not like him of the great fish, who cried out [in distress] after having given in to anger.²⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

This is a reference to the Prophet Jonah - see 21:87 and the corresponding notes [82] and [83]. As mentioned in 37:140 , "he fled like a runaway slave" from the task with which he had been entrusted by God, because his people did not all at once accept his preaching as valid: and so Muhammad is exhorted not to give in to despair or anger at the opposition shown to him by most of his contemporaries in Mecca, but to persevere in his prophetic mission.

So wait with patience for the Judgement of your Rabb and be not like the man of the fish (reference is to the Prophet Jonah who was swallowed by a whale), who cried when he was in distress.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But wait thou for thy Lord's decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in despair.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[And remember:] had not grace from his Sustainer reached him,²⁸ he would indeed have been cast forth upon that barren shore in a state of disgrace:²⁹

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. 37:143 - "had he not been of those who [even in the deep darkness of their distress are able to] extol God's limitless glory": i.e., who always remember God and pray for His forgiveness.

Lit., "while he was still blameworthy", i.e., burdened with sin and unredeemed by repentance: implying that but for God's grace he would have died as a sinner.

Had his Rabb not bestowed on him His grace, he would certainly have been cast off on the naked shore, while he was condemned.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Had it not been that favor from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

but [as it was,] his Sustainer had elected him and placed him among the righteous.

  - Mohammad Asad

But his Rabb choose him and included him among the righteous.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Hence, [be patient,] even though they who are bent on denying the truth would all but kill thee with their eyes whenever they hear this reminder, and [though] they say, "[As for Muhammad,] behold, most surely he is a madman!"

  - Mohammad Asad

The unbelievers would almost trip you up with their eyes when they hear Our revelations (The Qur'an), and say: "He (Muhammad) is surely crazy."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And lo! those who disbelieve would fain disconcert thee with their eyes when they bear the Reminder, and they say: Lo! he is indeed mad;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[Be patient:] for this is nought else but reminder [from God] to all mankind.

  - Mohammad Asad

This (The Qur'an) is nothing but a Reminder to all the people of the world.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall