Sūrah Yūnus

This is Sūrah Alif Lām Rā. These are the verses of the Book which is an embodiment of wisdom. Were these people overcome with wonder that We have sent Our revelation to a person from among them: “Warn people and give glad tidings to those who believe that for them is a position of great honour with their Lord.” [Instead of understanding this fact,] these disbelievers said: “This person is an expert magician.”

[People!] Indeed, your Lord is the God Who created the heavens and the earth in six days. Then He lodged Himself on His throne while governing affairs. No one can intercede [before Him] without His permission. Your Lord is that God; so, worship Him alone. Then do you not think? All of you will have to return to Him [one day]. This is a true promise of God. Undoubtedly, it is He Who initiates creation and then He will create again so that those who have professed faith and have done righteous deeds, He may justly reward them [for their deeds]. On the other hand, for those who have disbelieved there is boiling water and a painful punishment because of the disbelief they were continuously guilty of. It is He who made the sun radiant and the moon a light and ordained phases for it so that you are able to find the number of years and their calculation from it. God has created all this only with a purpose. He explains His signs for those who want to know. Surely, in the alternation of day and night and whatever God has created in the heavens and the earth there are signs in it for those who fear. In reality, those who do not entertain any hope to meet Us and are content with the life of this world and satisfied with it and who are indifferent to Our signs, their abode is Hell in requital for their deeds. On the contrary, those who have professed faith and have done righteous deeds, their Lord will make them reach [their] destination because of their faith. Beneath them rivers will be flowing [for them] in orchards of delight. There their cry will be: “Lord! Exalted are you!” And their salutations there will be [prayers of] peace and [when they see favours all around,] their last statement will be: “Gratitude is for God alone who is Lord of all the universe.”

[They demand punishment.] If God showed hastiness for people in the matter of punishment too the way He shows hastiness in mercy, their term would have been made to reach its conclusion. [Yet they do not understand.] So, We leave to wander in their rebellion those who do not expect to meet Us. [In wander, even if they are shown some punishment, they will not believe. This is because] when a person is struck by a calamity, he calls Us lying down, sitting and standing [in all situations]. Then when We deliver him of his difficulty, he walks away as if he never called us in the calamity that had struck him. The deeds of those who cross the limits have been made to seem fair in a similar way.

We had destroyed the nations before you when they became unjust [in this very way]. Their messengers came to them with veritable signs and they never professed faith. Thus do We punish the wrongdoers [for their wrongdoings]. Now after them We have given their place to you in the land to see what you do.

But their situation too is the same [O Prophet] that when Our clear revelations are recited before them, then those who do not have fear of meeting Us, say: “Bring another Qur’ān instead of this or change it.” Say: [This is God’s word;] what right do I have to change it myself? I only follow the revelation that is sent to me. If I disobey my Lord, I fear the punishment of a horrible day. Say: Had God willed, I would neither have recited this Qur’ān to you nor would God have informed you of it. It is His decision alone because I have spent a whole life among you before this. [When have I uttered such words?] Then, do you not use your intellect? So, who will be more unjust than the person who imputes falsehood to God or denies His revelation? In reality, such wrongdoers shall never succeed.

[At this time also, they are imputing falsehoods. Thus] they are worshipping those besides God who can neither harm nor benefit them and say: “These are our intercessors before God.” Tell them: Do you wish to inform God of that which He Himself has no knowledge, neither in the heavens nor in the earth. He is pure and exalted from what they associate as partners. [They should not give reference of their forefathers with regard to this polytheism of theirs.] In reality, people were one community only; later they have differed with one another and had a matter not been decided by your Lord previously, the issue in which they are differing would have been decided among them.

And regarding what they say that why was not a sign sent to their prophet by their Lord, tell them: [These are matters of the unseen and] and only God has knowledge of the unseen. So, wait; I am also waiting with you. Such is the situation of people that [they demand a sign of torment; but] when We make them taste Our mercy after some difficulty they have encountered, they start to present excuses about Our signs at that very instant. Tell them: God is much smarter in His excuses. Bear in mind, Our angels are writing down the lame excuses you are presenting.

[An example of this is that] it is God alone Who makes you travel by land and by sea until when you are in a ship and the ships are sailing while taking along people in favourable winds and people are happy at this, suddenly a strong wind blows over it and waves begin to rise on the voyagers of the ship from all sides and they know that they have been caught in a storm. At that time, they call God in sincere obedience: “If you deliver us from this, we shall certainly be among the grateful.” Then when He delivers them, they immediately start to show rebelliousness in the land without any justification. People! The evil consequence of your rebelliousness is going to come over you. Benefit from the life of the world; then you have to return to Us. At that time, We shall tell you what you had been doing. The example of this life of the world [which has made you heedless] is that of rain We sent down from the sky; then, thick foliage sprouted from the earth because of it – those also which humans eat and those too which animals eat. Until when the earth became lush and it embellished itself and the inhabitants of the earth thought that now they are in full control over it, suddenly Our verdict came over it [at some time] by night or by day. Then We chopped it to the ground in such a manner as if nothing was there yesterday. We mention in detail in this manner Our revelations for those who reflect.

[People! You have been deceived by this worldly life.] And God calls you to the abode of peace and for this shows the straight path to whomsoever He wants [in accordance with His law]. [Then] those who showed goodness, for them is goodness and even more. Neither blackness will overspread their faces nor humiliation. It is they who are the people of Paradise. They shall remain in it forever. On the other hand, those who have earned evil, then [the law of God is that] the recompense of an evil is equal to it. Humiliation shall overspread them – no one will be able to save them from God – such will be their faces as if they have been covered with pieces of a dark night. It is they who are the companions of Hell. They shall abide in it forever.

They should remember the day when We shall gather all of them; then shall say to those who are guilty of polytheism: “Keep to your place you and the partners also you associated with God.” Then We will alienate them from one another, and their associates with God will say: “You would not worship us. So, sufficient is God as a witness between us. In reality, we were totally unaware of your worship.” At that time, each person will encounter his deeds he had done before. And people will be returned to their true master and the falsehoods they had invented [by making other deities] will all vanish from them.

Ask them: Who provides you with sustenance from the heavens and the earth? Or: In whose control are your faculties of sight and hearing? Who is it that brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living? Who is governing the system of this universe? They shall definitely answer this by saying: “God.” Then say: So, do you not fear Him? Thus, it is this God Who is your true Lord. Then what is there after truth except going astray? Hence, where do you turn away to? In this very way, the word of your Lord has become true for these rebellious that they will not accept faith.

Ask them: Is there anyone among the partners you associate with God who creates the first time, then can also do this again? Say: It is God Who creates the first time. Then He will do it again. So, where do you wander away? Ask: Is there anyone from your associates who guides towards the truth? Say: It is God alone Who guides towards the truth. Then speak up: “Is he worthy of being followed who guides towards the truth or those who cannot find the way unless they themselves are guided? What then has come over you? What kind of a judgement do you make?” In reality, most of them are following conjecture only and conjecture cannot the slightest take the place of the truth. Surely, God fully knows what they are doing.

This Qur’ān is not something that can be authored without God. It, in fact, validates the predictions that are present before it and details the law of God. There is no doubt that it is from the Lord of the Universe. Do they say: “The Prophet has fabricated it?” Tell them: If you are truthful, bring forth a sūrah like it and call [to help] whoever you can except God. No, this is not the case. In fact, they are denying what their knowledge could not grasp and whose reality is not evident to them as yet. Those before them had also denied similarly. Then observe the fate these unjust people met.

[Rest assured, O Prophet!] There are those among them also who will believe in the Qur’ān and others too who will not. [They are inclined to create disorder] and your Lord is fully aware of these people who spread disorder. If they reject you, say: For me are my deeds and for you yours. You have no responsibility of my deeds and I have no responsibility of yours. [Why are you after those who have become blind and deaf?] There are those among them also who intently listen to you. Then will you make the deaf listen even though they understand nothing? And there are those among them also who look at you with full attention. Then, will you show the way to the blind even if they can see nothing? In reality, God is not the slightest unjust to people; in fact, people are unjust to themselves.

[At this time, these people are engrossed in their own selves; but] on the day God will gather them, they will feel that they stayed for only a short period of a day in the world. They will be recognizing one another [as if they have just met]. [On that day, it will become evident that] in fact great was the loss incurred by those who denied the meeting with God and did not come to the right path. We shall definitely show you a part of what We are promising them [O Prophet] Or give death to you and thereafter deal with them. Nevertheless, they have to return to Us. Then God is a witness to what they are doing. [His law is that] for every nation there is a messenger. Then, when their messenger comes their fate is justly decided and no injustice is done to them. In response, [they say:] “When will this promise be fulfilled [for us], if you are truthful?” Tell them: [What can I say in this matter;] I do not have any authority regarding any benefit or harm for even my own self except what God wills. For each nation, there is a period fixed [with Him]. When that time arrives, they are not advanced in time or deferred for a moment. Tell them: Speak up! If God’s torment visits you any time in the day or night, what will you be able to do? So, what is the basis on which these criminals wish to hurry it on? Then will you believe when it appears? Now you have believed! You were calling to hasten it. At that time, it will be said to these unjust: “Taste eternal torment now; this is the recompense of what you had been earning.”

They ask you: “Is this really a truth?” Yes, by my Lord! this is certain and you cannot defeat God. At that time, if every person who has been unjust has all what is in the earth he will want [to save himself] by giving it in ransom. [At that time,] they will regret in their hearts when they will see the torment [with their eyes,] and they shall be fairly judged and no injustice shall they suffer. Listen! Whatever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to God. Listen! The promise of God is destined to be fulfilled; but [alas] most of them do not know. [In reality,] it is He Who gives life and it is He Who gives death and you shall be returned to Him alone.

People! A counsel has come to you from your Lord and it is a cure for what [beat] in the chests and a guidance and mercy for those who believe. Tell them: [O Prophet!] It has come due to God’s blessings and mercy. So, they should rejoice on it. This is better than what they are amassing. (57-58)

Ask them: Speak up! The sustenance which God had sent down to you; then some of it you have pronounced to be unlawful and the other as lawful? Ask them: Did God give you this directive or are you imputing falsehood to God? What is their thinking on the Day of Judgement who are imputing falsehood to God? [It is God’s graciousness that He has given them respite; otherwise this audacity could have even destroyed them.] In reality, God is very gracious to people but most of them are not grateful.¹

[Ignore them and keep doing your duty O Prophet!] In whatever situation you are and whatever part that you read out of the Qur’ān [that We have revealed] and whatever task you people do, We are watching you when you are busy in it. In reality, there is nothing at all hidden from your Lord, neither in the earth nor in the heavens and neither smaller than a particle nor bigger except that it is written in a clear book. [People!] listen [God’s prophet and his companions are all friends of God, and] for the friends of God who accepted faith and feared God, there shall be no fear [on the Day of Judgement] nor shall they be grieved. For them are glad tidings in the life of this world also and in that of the Hereafter too. [This is the word of God, and] the words of God can never change. This alone is great success. Whatever they are saying should not grieve you [O Prophet!] All honour is for God. [Trust Him and keep doing your duty.] He listens and knows all.²

Listen intently! Those in the heavens and in the earth all belong to God and they, who call upon those other than God, do not follow the partners of God. In reality, they only follow conjecture and make wild guesses. [Listen!] It is God Who has made the night dark for you so that you may rest in it and made the day radiant so that you may strive for your livelihood. In it, surely are signs for those who listen. They have said: “God has children.” Exalted is He [to make anyone His son or daughter]. He does not need any such thing. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth all belongs to Him. You do not have any proof for this. Do you say something about God of which you have no knowledge? Say [O Prophet]: Those who impute falsehood to God shall never succeed. For them, there is this small benefit that they can reap in this world. Then they shall have to return to Us alone. Then We shall sternly punish them because of their disbelief.

Relate to them the account of Noah [O Prophet] when he told his nation: “O People of My Nation! If my standing to preach and reminding you by reciting out God’s revelations has become a burden on you, then listen that I put my trust in God only. So, you all should come to a decision and also ask your partners with God to join you, then there should be no hesitancy in your decision. Then do whatever you want with me and do not give me any respite. If even after this you show indifference, what harm will come to me as I have not asked you for any reward. My reward is with God and I have been directed to be obedient [to God].” Even after this, they rejected him; so, We delivered him and those also who were with him on the ship. And made them successors and drowned all those who had denied Our revelations. So, observe the fate they met who had been warned [before this torment].

Then, after Noah, how many a messenger We sent to their nations. So, they came to them with clear signs. But they did not accept what they had denied earlier. In this manner, We put a seal on the hearts of those who cross the limits.

After them, We sent Moses and Aaron to the Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our signs. So, they too showed arrogance and, in reality, they were wrongdoers. Thus when the truth came to them from Us, they said: “This is manifest magic.” Moses said: “Do you say this about the truth when it has come to you. Is this magic? No, certainly not! This is the certain truth and magicians never succeed against the truth.” They replied: “Have you come to us to turn us away from the way on which we have found our forefathers and that the pre-eminence of you both is established in this country. We are not ones who will listen to what you say.” The Pharaoh ordered: “Bring before me all expert magicians.” Thus, when the magicians came, Moses said to them: “Throw whatever you want to.” Then when they threw, Moses said: “Whatever you have brought is magic.” Rest assured, God shall soon bring it to nothing because [on such occasions,] God does not allow the efforts of those who spread disorder to bear fruit, and God through His words makes the truth come true, however much the wrongdoers may dislike it. Yet because of fear of the Pharaoh and of the elders of the nation no one believed in Moses except for a few youth lest the Pharaoh may put them through some trial. In reality, the Pharaoh was a big tyrant in that country and was from those who cross limits. Moses said: “People of My Nation! You have believed in God; so trust Him only if you have really submitted to Him.” At this, they replied: “We have trusted God alone – Our Lord! Do not make us suffer at the hands of these unjust people and deliver us from these disbelieving people by your grace.”³

[To connect with God in this manner,] We sent revelations to Moses and his brother [Aaron]: “Mark some houses in Egypt for your nation, and the houses you mark for your selves make them your qiblah and arrange to pray [in them] and [O Moses!] Give glad tidings to the believers [that at the end they will succeed].” Moses prayed: “Our Lord! You have bestowed the Pharaoh and his chiefs with majesty and resources in the life of the world. Our Lord! So that as a consequence they lead astray people from your path. Our Lord! Destroy now their wealth and seal their hearts in such a manner that they are not able to believe until they see the painful punishment.” God said: “Your prayer and that of your brother has been accepted. Persevere both of you and do not tread the path of those who do not have knowledge.”⁴

[After that,] We made the Israelites cross the sea; so, the Pharaoh and his armies showed arrogance and pursued them in mischief. Until when the Pharaoh was about to drown, he cried out: “I do believe that there is no God except Him on whom the Israelites have professed belief, and I am also among those who submit.” – Is it now? Before this, you kept showing defiance and were among those who spread disorder. Thus, today We shall preserve your body so that you can become a sign [of God’s scourge] for those who come after you. In reality, many people only remain heedless to Our signs. We provided the Israelites with a dwelling of honour and gave them excellent sustenance. Then in whatever matters they differed, they differed when the knowledge [sent by God] had come to them. Have conviction that on the Day of Judgement, your Lord will decide the matters in which they have been differing.

So, [O Prophet!] If you have any doubt about that which We have revealed to you, ask the [righteous] among the [People of the Book] who are reading the Book of God before you. Undoubtedly, the truth alone has come to you from your Lord; thus do not the slightest be among those who doubt and do not be among those who have denied God’s revelations lest you too end up among losers. In reality, even if all the signs come before those for whom your Lord’s word has come true, they will not profess belief until they see the painful scourge. So, why did this not happen that some other city besides the nation of Jonah also professed faith; then its faith could have been of benefit to it? When the people of that city professed faith, We had delivered them from the humiliating punishment of this world and had given them the opportunity to live for a period of time.

Had your Lord willed, all the people of the earth would have professed faith. Then, will you force people to become believers? [Fully understand that] without God’s permission it is not possible for anyone to profess faith [in a prophet]. [This permission is granted to those only who use their intellect.] And God casts the filth of misguidance on those who do not use their intellect.

[They ask for a sign.] Tell them: Observe what is in the heavens and the earth. In reality, signs and warnings do not in any manner benefit those who do not want to profess faith. So, are they waiting for a day similar to the ones those before them had encountered? Say: Then wait; I shall also wait with you. [Tell them:] Then [when that day arrives,] We protect Our messengers and those also who have professed faith. In a similar way, it is Our responsibility to protect those who have accepted faith.

[O Prophet!] Say: People! If [even now] you are in doubt about my religion, then listen that I do not worship those whom you worship besides God; I, in fact, worship the God Who gives you death [so that you can gather before Him for accountability]. I have been directed to be among the believers and have been directed to devotedly turn to this very religion and to be never among the polytheists come what may. And also to not call upon those besides God who can neither benefit you nor harm you. Then if you still do this, at that time you too shall surely be among the unjust. If God seizes you in a calamity, no one besides Him can deliver you from it. And if He intends something good for you, then no one can withhold that favour of His. He blesses whomsoever He intends from His people and He is Forgiving and very Merciful.

Tell them: People! The truth has come to you from your Lord. Now he who accepts guidance will do it for himself and he who goes astray will alone bear its consequences and I am not responsible for you. [O Prophet!] Follow what is revealed to you

and be steadfast until God passes His judgement and He is the best of judges.