Surah 74. Al-Muddaththir

and the Day of Judgment we were wont to call a lie -

  - Mohammad Asad

and we used to deny the Day of Judgment,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And we used to deny the Day of Judgment,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

until certainty came upon us [in death]."

  - Mohammad Asad

until death overtook us."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Till the inevitable came unto us.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And so, of no benefit to them could be the intercession of any that would intercede for them.²⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "the intercession of intercessors" - implying that there would be none to intercede for them with God. As regards the much-misunderstood Islamic concept of "intercession", see 10:3 - "there is none that could intercede with Him unless He grants His leave therefor" - and the corresponding note [7].

On that Day, no intercession of any intercessors shall profit them.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The mediation of no mediators will avail them then.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

WHAT, THEN, is amiss with them²⁸ that they turn away from all admonition

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., with so many people who refuse to listen to the truth.

Then what is the matter with them that they turn away from this admonition?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Why now turn they away from the Admonishment

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

as though they were terrified asses

  - Mohammad Asad

Like frightened donkeys

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

As they were frightened asses

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

fleeing from a lion?

  - Mohammad Asad

fleeing from a lion.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Fleeing from a lion!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Yea, every one of them claims that he [himself] ought to have been given revelations unfolded!²⁹

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "every one of them wants to be given wide-open scriptures", or "scriptures unfolded" (i.e., open to everyone's understanding): cf. 2:118 - "Why does not God speak unto us, nor is a message conveyed to us?" - i.e., directly, without the intervention of a prophet. The above is the earliest illustration of the "arrogance" or "false pride" to which the Qur'an so often refers.

Nay, each of them wants a scripture of his own to be unrolled before them.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Nay, but everyone of them desireth that he should be given open pages (from Allah).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Nay, but they do not [believe in and, hence, do not] fear the life to come.

  - Mohammad Asad

But no! The fact is that they do not fear the Hereafter.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Nay, verily. They fear not the Hereafter.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Nay, verily, this is an admonition -

  - Mohammad Asad

But no! Surely this Qur'an is an admonition.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Nay, verily. Lo! this is an Admonishment.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and whoever wills may take it to heart.

  - Mohammad Asad

Let him who wills take heed.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So whosoever will may heed.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But they [who do not believe in the life to come] will not take it to heart unless God so wills:³⁰ [for] He is the Fount of all God-consciousness, and the Fount of all forgiveness.

  - Mohammad Asad

Namely, unless He bestows His grace on them by making their minds and hearts receptive to the truth, so that they are compelled - from within themselves, as it were - to make the right choice. (See also note [11] on {81:28-29}, as well as note [4] on 14:4 .)

But none takes heed except by the will of Allah. He Alone is worthy to be feared and He Alone is worthy to forgive those who fear Him.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And they will not heed unless Allah willeth (it). He is the fount of fear. He is the fount of Mercy.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall