Surah 77. Al-Mursalat

placing it in a secure place

  - Mustafa Khattab

The which We placed in a place of rest firmly fixed. ⁵⁸⁷²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 2873 to xxiii. 13. The silent growth in the mother's womb, and the protection and sustenance which the growing life receives from the life of the mother, are themselves wonders of creation.

until an appointed time?¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 See 23:12-14 and 22:5.

For a period (of gestation) determined (according to need)? ⁵⁸⁷³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The period roughly of nine months and ten days is subject to many adjustments. In fact throughout our prenatal as well as post-natal life there are wonderful and nicely-balanced adjustments of which we are ourselves unconscious. Should we not turn in love and gratitude to Allah our Creator?

We 'perfectly' ordained 'its development'. How excellent are We in doing so!

  - Mustafa Khattab

For We do determine (according to need); for We are the Best to determine (things)! ⁵⁸⁷⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Perhaps the life in the womb, in relation to the life after birth, is an allegory for our probationary life on earth in relation to the eternal Life to come. Perhaps, also, our state when we are buried in the tomb suggests an allegory to the life in the womb, in relation to the life in the Hereafter.

Woe on that Day to the deniers!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ah woe that Day to the Rejecters of Truth!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Have We not made the earth a lodging

  - Mustafa Khattab

Have We not made the earth (as a place) to draw together

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

for the living and the dead,

  - Mustafa Khattab

The living and the dead ⁵⁸⁷⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

What a wonderful parable! The earth is a place where death and life, decay and growth and decay, green grass, stubble, and fuel, corruption and purification jostle together,-one often leading to the other. The drama which we see with our own eyes in this world should enable us to appreciate the wonders in the Kingdom of Allah where the despised and rejected receive the highest honour, Lazarus rests in Abraham's bosom, and the Pharaoh is led in chains for his arrogance and his sin.

and placed upon it towering, firm mountains, and given you fresh water to drink?

  - Mustafa Khattab

And made therein mountains standing firm lofty (in stature); and provided for you water sweet (and wholesome)? ⁵⁸⁷⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 2038 to xvi. 15. The solid mountains are frequently referred to: cf. xiii. 3. The parable here is that the mountains are hard, solid rock, and yet they act as sponges to collect, store up, and filter sweet and wholesome water, which on account of their altitude they are able to distribute by gravity to the lower, dry land by means of rivers or springs. Any one who has seen the parched Makkan valleys and the delicious springs in the mountains around, or the Zubaida Canal, which used to be the main source of Makkah's water-supply, will appreciate the aptness of the metaphor, but it applies to any country, though not to so striking a degree. If the wisdom and power of Allah can do such things before your eyes, how can you reject His teaching of a still more wonderful future Life?

Woe on that Day to the deniers!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ah woe that Day to the Rejecters of Truth!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'The disbelievers will be told,' 'Proceed into that 'Fire' which you used to deny!

  - Mustafa Khattab

(It will be said:) "Depart ye to that which ye used to reject as false!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Proceed into the shade 'of smoke' which rises in three columns,

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Depart ye to a Shadow (of smoke ascending) in three columns ⁵⁸⁷⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Sinners, instead of reposing in cool shades, will only see the blazing Fire. The only shadow they will see will be that of Smoke, ascending in three columns, right, left, and above, i.e., completely enveloping them. But it will give no comfort or coolness. On the contrary, it will contain huge sparks.

providing neither coolness nor shelter from the flames.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"(Which yields) no shade of coolness and is of no use against the fierce Blaze.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Indeed, it hurls sparks 'as big' as huge castles,

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Indeed it throws about sparks (huge) as Forts ⁵⁸⁷⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Qasr: Fort, big building, palace. An alternative reading is Qasar, plural of Qasarat (-un), meaning bundies of wood used for fuel: Ibn Abbas apud Bukhari. I almost prefer this latter reading.

and 'as dark' as black camels.'¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 lit., yellow camels. Black camels’ hair glistens yellow in sunlight.

"As if there were (a string of) yellow camels (marching swiftly)." ⁵⁸⁷⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The yellow sparks flying swiftly one after another suggest a string of camels marching swiftly, such as the Arabs of Nejd and central Arabia are so proud of. There is a double allegory. It refers not only to the colour and the rapid succession of sparks, but to the vanity of worldly pride, as much as to say: "your fine yellow camels in which you took such pride in the world are but sparks that fly away and even sting you in the Hereafter!" Smoke with sparks may also assume fantastic shapes like long-necked camels.

Woe on that Day to the deniers!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ah woe that Day to the Rejecters of Truth!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

On that Day they will not 'be in a position to' speak,

  - Mustafa Khattab

That will be a Day when they shall not be able to speak ⁵⁸⁸⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They will be dumbfounded; i.e., (when read with the next verse), they will not be in a position to put forward any valid defence or plea. Facts will speak too plainly against them. They might perversely try to deny false worship: vi. 23: but their own tongues and limbs will bear witness against them: xxiv. 24. Nor does the fighting out or settling of doctrinal disputes in the Hereafter (xxxix. 31) amount to putting forward pleas in defence.

nor will they be permitted to offer excuses.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Nor will it be open to them to put forth pleas.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Woe on that Day to the deniers!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ah woe that Day to the Rejecters of Truth!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'They will be told by Allah,' 'This is the Day of 'Final' Decision: We have gathered you along with earlier disbelievers 'for punishment'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

That will be a Day of Sorting out! We shall Gather you together and those before (you)! ⁵⁸⁸¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We may suppose this as spoken primarily to the Quraish who were plotting against the Prophet. You may use all your wisdom and that of your ancestors, but you will not be able to defeat Allah or His Plan. See next verse.

So if you have a scheme 'to save yourselves', then use it against Me.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Now if ye have a trick (or plot) use it against Me! ⁵⁸⁸²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The plots against the holy Prophet were plots against Allah's Truth, and therefore against Allah. Can any one hope to profit by such plots? Can any one defeat Allah's Plan and Purpose? Let them try. They will only ruin themselves, as the Pagan leaders did. There can only be pity for such men. What will be their state in the Hereafter? "Ah woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Allah's Truth!"

Woe on that Day to the deniers!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ah woe that Day to the Rejecters of Truth!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali