10YūnusJonahسُورَةُ يونس

Alif-Lām-Ra’ [A-L-R]. These are [the articulated] messages of the divine Writ, full of wisdom.

Do people deem it strange that We should have inspired a man from their own midst [with this, Our message], “Warn all people, and express to those who are committed [to Allah] the good news that in their Sustainer’s sight they surpass all others because they are completely sincere”? [Only] they who deny the truth [about Allah’s power and authority] say, “Behold, he [Muhammad] is clearly but a spellbinder!”

Surely, your Sustainer is Allah, who has created the heavens and the earth in six eons, and is established on the throne of His almightiness, managing all that exists. There is none who could intercede with Him unless He grants permission thereof. Thus is Allah, your Sustainer: conform, therefore, to Him [alone]: will you not, then, keep this in mind?

Unto Him you all must return: this is, in truth, Allah’s promise — for, observe that He initiates creation in the first instance, and then brings it [creation] onward once again to the end that He may compensate with social justice all who commit themselves [to Him] and do righteous deeds; whereas for those who are bent on rejecting the truth [affecting His power and preponderance] there is in store a soup of burning despair and grievous suffering because of their persistent refusal to acknowledge the truth [tied to Allah’s power and prevalence].

He it is who has made the Sun a [source of] radiant light and the Moon a light [reflected], and has determined for it phases so that you might know how to compute the years and to measure [time]. None of this has Allah created without [a sensible] truth. Clearly does He spell out these power/authority illustrations to people of science:

For, truly, in the alternating of night and day, and in all that Allah has created in the heavens and on earth there are power/authority illustrations indeed for people who are conscious of Him [as authority and power].

Surely, as for those who are not anticipating Our encounter but content themselves with the life of this world and do not look beyond it, and are heedless of Our illustrations of power and primacy —

Their goal is the Fire in return for all [the evil] they were habituated to do.

[But], verily, as for those who have committed [to the primacy and power of Allah] and do righteous deeds — their Sustainer guides them aright by means of their faith-commitment. [In the life to come], running waters will flow at their feet in gardens of bliss;

[And] in that [state of happiness] they will call out, “Limitless are You in Your glory, O Allah!” — and will be answered with the greeting, “Peace!” And their call will close with [the words], “All praise is due to Allah, the Sustainer of all the worlds!”

Now if Allah were to speed up for human beings the ill [they deserve by their sinning] in the same manner as they [themselves] would speed up [the coming to them of what they consider to be] good, their end would indeed come forthwith! But We leave them alone [for a while] — all those who do not anticipate meeting with Us: [We leave them alone] in their overweening arrogance, blindly stumbling to and fro.

For [thus it is]: when affliction befalls man, he cries out unto Us [in resentment], whether he be vacillating or dormant or aroused; but as soon as We have freed him of his affliction, he goes on as though he had never invoked Us to save him from the affliction that befell him! Thus do their own undertakings seem nice-looking to those who indulge themselves [in a materialistically centered world].

And, indeed, We destroyed before your time [whole national] generations when they [persistently] institutionalized evil, although the apostles sent to them brought them all evidence of the [divinely revealed] truth — for they refused to commit their lives [to Allah]. Thus do We requite people who are [longstanding] criminals.

And thereupon We made you their successors on earth, so that We might observe how you [socially] behave.

And [thus it is]: whenever Our [unmatched verbal] messages are conveyed to them [via revelation] in all their clarity, those who do not anticipate meeting with Us [are accustomed to] say, “Bring us a discourse other than this, or alter this one.” Say [O Prophet], “It is not conceivable that I shall alter it of my own volition; I only follow what is revealed to me. Behold, I would dread, were I [thus] to rebel against my Sustainer, the suffering [that would befall me] on that awesome Day [of Judgement]!”

Say, “Had Allah willed it [otherwise], I would not have conveyed this [divine Writ] to you, nor would He have brought it to your knowledge. Indeed, a whole lifetime have I dwelt among you before this [revelation came to me]: will you not, then, use your reason?”

And who could be more of a justice violator than they who attribute their own lying inventions to Allah or refute His [miraculous] messages? Verily, those who break divine laws will never be successful.

And they [who], side by side, venerate things or beings that can neither harm nor benefit them, say [to themselves], “These are our intercessors with Allah!” Say, “Do you [think that you could] inform Allah of anything in the heavens or on earth that He does not know? Limitless is He in His glory, and sublimely exalted above anything to which people may ascribe a share in His divinity/authority!”

And [know that] all mankind were once but one single community, and only later did they begin to hold divergent views. And had it not been for a decree that had already gone forth from Your Sustainer, all their differences would indeed have been settled [from the outset].

Now they [the kāfirs] are eager to ask, “Why has no miraculous [physical] sign ever been bestowed upon him from on high by his Sustainer?” Say, then, “Allah’s alone is the knowledge of that which is beyond the reach of human perception. Wait, then, [until His resolve becomes manifest]: verily, I shall wait with you!”

And [thus it is]: whenever We let [such] people taste [some of Our] grace after hardship has visited them — lo and behold! They forthwith turn to devising scheming arguments against Our [extraordinary] messages. Say, “Allah is swifter [than you] in His deep devising!” Behold, Our [heavenly] messengers are recording all that you may devise!

He it is who enables you to travel on land and sea. And [behold what happens] when you go to sea in ships: [they go to sea in ships], and they sail on in them in a favorable wind, and they rejoice thereat — until there comes upon them a tempest, and waves surge toward them from all sides, so much so that they believe themselves to be encompassed [by death; and then] they call unto Allah, [at that moment] sincere in their faith in Him alone, “If You will but save us from this, we shall most certainly be among the grateful!”

Yet as soon as He has saved them from this [danger], lo and behold! They behave outrageously on earth, offending against all that is right and just! O people! All your aggressive outrageous deeds are bound to fall back upon your own selves! [You care only for] the enjoyment of life in this world, [but remember that] in the end unto Us you must return, whereupon We shall make you truly understand all that you were doing [while you were in life on earth].

The parable of the life of this world is but that of rain, which We send down from the sky, and which is absorbed by the plants of the earth whereof humans and animals draw nourishment, until — when the earth has assumed its artful adornment and has been embellished, and they who dwell on it believe they have gained mastery over it — there comes down upon it Our due judgement, by night or by day, and We cause it to become [like] a field mown down, as if there had been no prosperous yesterday. Thus clearly do We spell out these amazing messages for people who [reflect and] think!

And [know that] Allah invites [man] to the abode of peace, and guides him that wills [to be guided] onto a [facilitated] straight way.

For those who persevere in perfecting the good that they do will have the ultimate good in store, and more [than that]. No haze and no ignominy will overshadow their faces [on Resurrection Day]: it is they who are destined for Paradise, therein to abide.

But as for those who have done evil deeds — the recompense of an evil deed shall be the like thereof; and — since they will have none to secure them against Allah — ignominy will overshadow them as though their faces were veiled by the night’s own darkness: it is they who are destined for the Fire, therein to abide.

For, one Day, We shall gather them all together, and then We shall say to those who [in their lifetime] ascribed divinity and authority to anything/anyone but Allah, “Stand where you are, you and those [beings and powers] to whom you were accustomed to ascribe a share in Allah’s divinity and authority!” — for, by then We shall have [visibly] extricated them from one another. And the beings to whom they had ascribed a share in Allah’s divinity and authority will say [to those who had revered them], “It was not us that you were accustomed to venerate;

“And none can bear witness between us and you as Allah does: we were, for certain, oblivious of your elevating us to the status of deity/ authority.”

There and then will every human being clearly apprehend what he has done in the past; and all will be brought back unto Allah, their true Lord Supreme, and all their false imagery will have forsaken them.

Say, “Who is it that provides you with sustenance out of the heaven and earth, or who is it that has full power over [your] hearing and sight? And who is it that brings forth the living out of that which is [in time] to die, and brings forth the yet-to-die out of that which is alive? And who is it that [arranges and] governs all such [issues]?” And they will [surely] answer, “[It is] Allah.” Say, then, “Will you not, then, become fully vigilant and protective [concerning His power presence]? —

“Seeing that He is Allah, your Sustainer, the Ultimate Truth [and forthcoming justice]? For, after truth and justice [has been forsaken], what is there [left] but error and deviation? How, then, can you lose sight [of the truth and justice]?”

Thus is your Sustainer’s word proved true and due with regard to those who are corrupt in their behavior: they will not commit [themselves to Him].

Say, “Can any of those beings to whom you ascribe a share of Allah’s divinity and authority create [life] in the first instance, and then reinitiate it?” Say, “It is Allah [alone] who creates [all life] in the first instance, and then reinitiates it. How distorted then, are your minds!”

Say, “Does any of those beings to whom you ascribe a share of Allah’s divinity and authority guide to truth and justice?” Say, “It is Allah [alone] who guides to truth and justice. Which, then, is more worthy to be followed: He who guides to the truth and justice, or he who cannot find the right way [to it] unless he is guided? What, then, is amiss with you and your judgement?”

For, most of them follow nothing but conjecture: [and], behold, conjecture can never be a substitute for truth and justice. Certainly, Allah has full knowledge of all that they do.

Now this Qur’an could not possibly have been devised by anyone save Allah: no indeed, it confirms the truth of whatever there still remains [of earlier revelations] and clearly spells out the revelation [that comes] — let there be no doubt about it — from the Sustainer of all the worlds.

And yet, they [who are set on denying Allah’s authority and power]] assert, “[Muhammad] has invented it!” Say [to them], “Produce, then, a sūrah of similar merit; and [to this end] call to your aid whomever you can, other than Allah, if what you say is true!”

No, but they are focused on giving the lie to everything the wisdom of which they do not comprehend, and before its original meaning has become clear to them. And so did those who lived before their time contradict the truth: and behold what happened in the end to those offenders!

And there are among them [the mushriks in Makkah] such as will in time come to commit [themselves] and believe in this [divine Writ], just as there are among them such as will never commit or believe in it; and your Sustainer is fully aware as to who are the purveyors of corruption.

And [so, O Prophet], if they say you are lying, say [to them], “To me [shall be accounted] my doings, and to you, your doings: you are not responsible for what I am doing, and I am not responsible for whatever you do.”

And there are among them such as [pretend to] listen to you: but can you cause the deaf to pay attention even though they will not use their reason?

And there are among them such as [pretend to] scrutinize you: but can you show the right way to the blind even though they cannot see?

Without doubt, Allah does not do the least wrong to people, but it is people who wrong themselves.

And on the Day when He shall gather them [unto Himself, it will seem to them] as if they had not stayed [on earth] longer than an hour of a day, getting to know one another [while they were there]; [and] lost indeed will be they who [in their lifetime] considered it a lie that they were destined to meet Allah, and [thus] failed to find the right way.

And whether We show you [in this world] something of what We promise to befall them [those deniers of Allah’s power and authority], or whether We cause you to die [before that retribution takes place — know that, in the end], it is unto Us that they must return; and Allah is witness to all that they do.

Now every ummah has had an apostle; and only after their apostle has appeared [and delivered his message] is judgement passed on them, in honor of social justice; and never are they ill-treated and wronged.

And yet, they [who deny Allah’s power and authority] are in the habit of asking, “When is that promise [of resurrection and judgement] to be fulfilled? [Answer this, O you who believe in it], if you are truthful?”

Say [O Prophet], “It is not within my power to avert harm from, or bring benefit to, myself, except as Allah may determine. For all people a timeline has been set: when the end of their timeline approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor hasten it.”

Say, “Have you ever considered [how you would feel] if His infliction were to befall you by night or by day? What could there be in such a prospect that people lost in sin should wish to hasten?

“Will you, then, believe in it [only] after it has come to pass — [on the Day when you will be asked, ‘Do you believe in it] now, after having [contemptuously] called for its speedy advent?’ —

“Whereupon those who [in their lifetime] were bent on injustice will be told, ‘Taste suffering that is abiding! Is this requital anything but the just due for what you had acquired [in an institutional way while you were living it up]?’”

And some people solicit information from you asking, “Is all this true?” Say, “Yes, by my Sustainer! It is most certainly true, and you cannot elude [the final reckoning]!”

And all living beings that have done injustice [during their earthly lifetime] would surely, if they possessed all that is on earth, offer it as ransom [on Judgement Day]; and when they see the suffering [that awaits them], they will be unable to express their remorse. But judgement will be passed on them in all equity; and they will not be [maltreated or] wronged.

Oh, definitely, unto Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth! Oh, emphatically, Allah’s promise always comes true — but most of them know it not!

He alone grants life and deals death; and to Him you all must return.

O mankind! Advice has come to you from your Sustainer, and a cure for all [the ill] that may be in man’s sentiment, and guidance and grace to all who are dedicated [to Allah’s power and authority].

Say, “In [this] bounty of Allah and in His grace — in this, then, let them rejoice: it is better than all [the worldly wealth] that they may amass!”

Say, “Have you ever considered all the means of sustenance that Allah has bestowed upon you from on high — and that you thereupon divide into ‘things forbidden’ and ‘things lawful’?” Say, “Has Allah given you approval [to do this] — or do you, perchance, attribute your own guesswork to Allah?”

But what do they think — they who attribute their own lying inventions to Allah — [what do they think will happen to them] on the Day of Resurrection? Behold, Allah is indeed limitless in His bounty given to people — but most of them are ungrateful.

And in whatever condition you may find yourself, [O Prophet], and whatever discourse of this [divine Writ] you may be reciting, and whatever work you [all, O people], may do — [remember that] We are your witness [from the moment] when you engage in it, for, not even an atom’s weight [of whatever there is] on earth or in heaven escapes your Sustainer’s knowledge; and neither is there anything smaller than that, or larger, but is recorded in [His] clear chronicle.

Oh, in truth, they who are close to Allah — no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve:

They who committed themselves [to Allah’s power and authority] and have always been on guard [regarding His power presence].

For them there is the valuable news [of happiness] in the life of this world and in the life to come; [and since] nothing could ever alter [the outcome of] Allah’s promises, this, this is the triumph supreme!

And be not grieved by the sayings of those [who deny Allah’s power and authority]. Behold, all might and glory belong to Allah alone: He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Oh, verily, to Allah belongs whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on earth: hence, what is it that they follow — those who invoke, beside Allah, beings to whom they ascribe a share in His divinity and authority? They follow but the conjectures [of others], and themselves do nothing but guesstimate —

[Whereas] it is He who has made the night for you, so that you might have rest therein, and the day, to make [you] see [things in the light of day] in this, behold, there are illustrations [of His power and authority] indeed for people who [are willing to] listen.

[And yet] they [Christians] assert, “God has taken unto Himself a son!” Limitless is He in His glory! Self-sufficient is He: to Him belong all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth! No incontrovertible evidence whatever have you for this [assertion]! Would you ascribe to God something that you cannot know?

Say, “Indeed, they who attribute their own lying inventions to God will never be successful!”

[A brief] enjoyment in this world — and thereafter to Us they must return: and then We shall let them taste suffering severe as an outcome of their persistent denial [of Allah’s power and authority].

And convey unto them the story of Nūḥ, when he said to his people, “O my people! If my presence [among you] and my announcement of Allah’s [power] messages are repugnant to you — well, in Allah I have placed my trust. Decide, then, upon what you are going to do [against me], and [call to your aid] those beings to whom you ascribe a share in Allah’s divinity/authority; and once you have chosen your course of action, let no hesitation deflect you from it; and then carry out against me [whatever you may have decided], and give me no respite!

“But if you turn away [from the authoritative message I bear, remember that] I have asked no reward whatever from you: my reward rests with none but Allah, for I have been commanded [by Allah] to be among those who have surrendered themselves to Him.”

And yet they refuted him [and his divinely inspired advice]! And so We saved him and all who stood by him, in the ark, and made them inherit [the earth], the while We caused those who contradicted Our messages to drown: observe, then, what happened in the end to those people who had been warned [in vain]!

And then, after him [Nūḥ], We sent forth [other] apostles — each one [sent] to his own people — and they brought them all evidence of the truth; but they would not believe in anything to which they had once denounced: thus it is that We seal the hearts of such as [are adapted to] transgressing the bounds of what is right.

And after those [earlier prophets] We sent Mūsā and Hārūn with Our [power] messages to Pharaoh and his elites: but they gloried in their arrogance, for they were people lost in sins and crimes.

And so, when the truth about justice came to them from Us, they said, “Behold, this is clearly nothing but sorcery!”

Said Mūsā, “Do you speak thus [in a dismissive way] of the [divine] truth after it has been brought to you? Can this be sorcery? But sorcerers can never come to an efficacious end!”

[The elites] replied, “Have you come to turn us away from what we found our forefathers believing in and doing [our well established and time-proven status quo], so that the two of you [Mūsā and Hārūn] might become supreme in this land? Moreover, we do not have confidence in you two!”

And Pharaoh commanded, “Bring before me every wizard of great knowledge!”

And when the professionals came, Mūsā said to them, “Throw whatever you may [wish to] throw!”

And when they threw down [their staffs and cast a spell upon the people’s eyes], Mūsā said to them, “What you have contrived is [but] sorcery that, indeed, Allah will bring to naught! Verily, Allah does not further the works of those who promote corruption —

“Whereas by His words Allah proves the truth to be true and justice to be just, however hateful this may be to those who are lost in sin and crimes!”

But none save a few of his people’s descendants declared their faith in Mūsā, [while others held back] for fear of Pharaoh and their elites, lest they persecute them: for, of a certainty, Pharaoh was mighty on earth and was, verily, of those who are given to excesses.

And Mūsā said, “O my people! If you have dedicated yourself to Allah, place your trust in Him — if you have [truly] relinquished yourselves to Him!”

Whereupon they answered, “In Allah we have placed our trust! O our Sustainer! Make us not a [cause for] sedition [to be used] by people who are oppressors.

“And save us, by Your grace, from people who deny the truth [about Your authority and power!]”

And [thus] did We inspire Mūsā and his brother, “Set aside for your people some houses in Egypt, and [tell them], ‘Turn your houses into places of divine orientation, and give orderliness to your prayer!’ And give you [O Mūsā] the pleasant news [of Allah’s support] to all who are committed [to Him].”

And Mūsā said [praying to Allah], “O our Sustainer! Verily, splendor and riches have You granted, in the life of this world, to Pharaoh and his elite — with the result, O our Sustainer, that they are leading [others] astray from Your path! O our Sustainer! Wipe out their riches, and freeze their hearts, so that they may not attain faith allegiance before they see the grievous suffering [that awaits them]!”

[Allah] answered, “The prayer of both of you [Mūsā and Hārūn] has been accepted! Continue, then, both of you, steadfastly on the straightforward way, and follow not the path of those who have no knowledge [of right and wrong, truth and justice].”

And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea; and thereupon Pharaoh and his legions pursued them with vehement insolence and hostility, until [they were overwhelmed by the waters of the sea. And] when he was about to drown, [Pharaoh] exclaimed, “I have come to believe that there is no deity/authority save Him in whom the Children of Israel believe [and honor], and I am of those who surrender themselves to Him!”

[But Allah said], “Now [you say this]? — grasping that before this [dying moment in your life] you were rebelling [against Us], and have been among those who spread corruption?

“[No], but today We shall save only your body, so that you may be a [warning] sign to those who will come after you: for, behold, a good many people are heedless of Our [power and powerful] messages!”

And [thereafter], indeed, We assigned to the Children of Israel a most proper abode, and provided for them sustenance out of the wholesome things of life. And it was not until knowledge [of Allah’s revelation] was conferred upon them that they began to hold divergent views: [but], verily, your Sustainer will judge between them on Resurrection Day regarding all on which they were prone to differ.

And so, if you are in doubt about [the truth and justice of] what We have [now] bestowed upon you from on high, ask those who read the divine writ [revealed] before your time: [and you will find that] surely, the truth has now come to you from your Sustainer. Be not, then, among the vacillators —

And neither be among those who are bent on refuting Allah’s [wonderful power] messages, lest you find yourself among those who are lost.

Verily — those who warrant your Sustainer’s due word [of punishment] are the ones who do not dedicate themselves [to Allah],

Even though every sign [of the truth and justice] should come within their knowledge — until they behold the grievous suffering [that awaits them in the life to come].

For, alas, there has never yet been any society that attained to faith responsibilities [in its entirety], and thereupon benefitted by its faith [in this ancient history], except the people of Yūnus. When they came to believe and affirm [Allah’s power and authority], We removed from them the suffering of disgrace [which otherwise would have befallen them even] in the life of this world, and allowed them to enjoy their life during the time allotted to them.

And [thus it is]: had your Sustainer so willed, all those who live on earth would surely have attained to faith-commitment, all of them — do you, then, think that you could compel people to commit themselves [to Allah],

Notwithstanding that no human being can ever attain to faith responsibilities otherwise than by Allah’s permission, and [that] it is He who lays the loathsome evil [of kufr] upon those who will not use their reason?

Say, “Consider [and think through] whatever there is in the heavens and on earth!” But of what avail could all the [divine power] messages and all the warnings be to people who will not have a faith [of commitment to Him]?

Can such people, then, expect anything else [to befall them] but the life of the days of [calamity that befell] those [deniers of Allah’s power] who passed away before them? Say, “Wait, then, [for what will happen in the future]: verily, I shall wait with you!”

[For thus it always happens: We seal the doom of all who deny the truth and contradict Our power messages] and thereupon We save Our apostles and those who have committed themselves. Thus have We willed it upon Ourselves: We save all who commit themselves in faith [to Our power and authority].

Say [O Prophet], “O mankind! If you are in doubt as to what my dīn is, then [know that] I do not comply with those beings whom you comply with beside Allah, but [that] I conform to Allah alone, who shall cause you [all] to die: for I have been commanded [by Him] to be among those who are committed [to Him alone].”

Hence, set your face steadfastly toward the [true] dīn, turning away from all that is false, and be not among those who ascribe divinity/ authority to anyone/anything besides God.

Thus, do not invoke, side by side with Allah, anything that can neither benefit you nor harm you: for, behold, if you do it, you will surely be among the doers of iniquity!

And [know that] if Allah should touch you with harm, there is none who could remove it except Him; and if He intends good for you, there is none who could turn away His bounty: He causes it to alight upon whomsoever He wills of His subjects. And He alone is the Truly Forgiving, the Truly Most Merciful.

Say [O Prophet], “O mankind! The truth and justice from your Sustainer has now come to you. Whoever, therefore, chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good; and whoever chooses to go astray, goes but astray to his own hurt. And I am not responsible for your conduct.”

And [as for yourself, O Muhammad], follow what is being revealed to you, and be patient in hard times until Allah shall give His judgement: for He is the best of all judges.