Atheists in Quran (35) they are hasty

The Atheists try to hasten the punishment against which the Prophet Muhammad warns them. Sarcastically, they say, ‘When will this promise of resurrection and chastisement be fulfilled, if you are truthful O Muhammad?

The Quran says that 1) Man is a creature of haste; he is so hasty in his affairs and 2) Verily, messengers before you O Muhammad were derided but those who mocked them were encircled by the chastisement, which they used to deride; likewise, it shall befall those who have derided you.

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The Arabs at the time of the Prophet Muhammad were one of two:

The unbelievers deny the existence of One God and they used to worship many idols as gods

The Atheists who deny the existence of any god

Both groups deny the Resuscitation, the Day of Judgment and the Afterlife

They deny the very existence of Allah, the Most Merciful, who has created the universe and set the rules that operate in it and sustain its existence.

Herein, a likely dispute is expected.

Allah’s Messenger Muhammad speaks out against their deities, showing such inanimate idols to be useless.

On the other hand, The Atheists and unbelievers rudely deny Allah and they hurl abuse and mockery at Allah’s Messenger, saying that it is unacceptable that he should criticize their idol worship. They find nothing wrong with the arrogance that leads them to

Deny Allah’s existence,

Deny Allah’s Messenger and

Reject Allah’s revelation, the Quran.

The sarcasm of their attitude exposes to the full the far- reaching corruption that affects their nature and impairs their judgment.

Whenever they see you O Muhammad, they take you in derision and pick you out for mockery

What is more stupid of them?

They try to hasten the punishment against which the Prophet warns them.

They say, ‘When will this promise of resurrection and chastisement be fulfilled, if you are truthful O Muhammad?

Man is a creature of haste; he is so hasty in his affairs

Haste is present in man’s very nature and constitution.

He always stretches his eyes to what lies ahead, beyond the present moment, aiming to grasp it with his own hand. He wants to achieve, the moment it flashes in his mind, all that seems desirable. He wants to see all that is promised to him, even though it may be to his damage. Such is man’s nature, unless he establishes a firm relationship with Allah, which gives him strength and reassurance. He will then trust to Allah’s wisdom, leaving His will to run its course without hastening events. For faith combines trust with patience and reassurance.

Those unbelievers hastened Allah’s punishment, wondering when the promise of punishment in the hereafter, as well as in this life, would be fulfilled.

The Quran paints here for them a scene of the suffering in the hereafter, while also warning them against a similar punishment to that which befell earlier communities, which rejected the faith

If the unbelievers only knew what shall happen to them:

They would change their attitude completely.

They would stop their mockery and hastening of what is bound to come.

Let them, then, see what is bound to come.

There, the fire surrounds them on all sides.

Nay, but it, the Resurrection, shall come upon them suddenly, dumbfounding them, confusing them, and they shall not be able to ward it off, nor shall they be granted any respite, [nor shall they] be given any [extra] time to make a repentance or offer an excuse.

We envisage their agitated movements, described implicitly in the verse, to protect their faces and their backs against the fire, but their attempt is useless. It is as if the fire engulfs them on all sides. They can neither keep it away from themselves, nor retreat to seek protection. Nor is even a short respite from it possible.

That the punishment comes suddenly is only the response for their hastening it.

Sarcastically, they used to say time after time:

“When is this promise to be fulfilled, if what you say be true?”

The answer is that it comes suddenly, perplexing their minds and paralyzing their will. Thus, they are unable to think or act. This applies to the punishment in the hereafter.

Moreover, verily messengers before you were derided but those who mocked them were encircled by the chastisement, which they used to deride; likewise, it shall befall those who have derided you.

As for this world’s punishment, it certainly befell communities before them, which ridiculed Allah’s messengers. Just as those communities were unable to ward off a punishment that wiped them out altogether, so these unbelievers are unable to avert their defeat and captivity. They are thus warned not to deride Allah’s Messenger, to avoid the punishment that befalls those who ridicule prophets. Such fate and punishment is bound to come, because it is part of Allah’s law, which will inevitably, take effect, just as the destruction of earlier communities, guilty of the same offence, proves.

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The verses 21:36-41in different translations:

QARIB:

36-When the unbelievers see you, they take you only for mockery, saying: ‘is this he who talks about your gods? ‘While they are unbelievers in the remembrance of the merciful.

37-The human was created of haste. Indeed, I will show you my signs; so do not ask me to hasten them.

38-They say: ‘if you are truthful, when will this promise come? ‘

39-If the unbelievers only knew when they will be unable to shield either their faces or their backs from the fire; when they will not be helped!

40-It will overtake them suddenly, dumbfounding them. they shall be unable to ward it off, and they shall not be respited.

41-Before you, other messengers were mocked, but the mockers were encompassed by the very thing they mocked.

SHAKIR:

36-And when those who disbelieve see you, they do not take you but for one to be scoffed at: is this he who speaks of your gods? and they are deniers at the mention of the beneficent Allah

37-Man is created of haste; now will i show to you my signs, therefore do not ask me to hasten (them) on

38-And they say: when will this threat come to pass if you are truthful?

39-Had those who disbelieve but known (of the time) when they shall not be able to ward off the fire from their faces nor from their backs, nor shall they be helped

40-Nay, it shall come on them all of a sudden and cause them to become confounded, so they shall not have the power to avert it, nor shall they be respited

41-And certainly messengers before you were scoffed at, then there befell those of them who scoffed that at which they had scoffed

PICKTHAL:

36-And when those who disbelieve behold thee, they but choose thee out for mockery, (saying): is this he who maketh mention of your gods? and they would deny all mention of the beneficent.

37-Man is made of haste. I shall show you my portents, but ask me not to hasten.

38-And they say: when will this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful?

39-If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not be able to drive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not be helped!

40-Nay, but it will come upon them unawares so that it will stupefy them, and they will be unable to repel it, neither will they be reprieved.

41-Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked, but that whereat they mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them.

YUSUFALI:

36-When the unbelievers see thee, they treat thee not except with ridicule. “is this,” (they say), “the one who talks of your gods?” and they blaspheme at the mention of (Allah) most gracious!

37-Man is a creature of haste: soon (enough) will i show you my signs; then ye will not ask me to hasten them!

38-They say: “when will this promise come to pass, if ye are telling the truth?”

39-If only the unbelievers knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and (when) no help can reach them!

40-Nay, it may come to them all of a sudden and confound them: no power will they have then to avert it, nor will they (then) get respite.

41-Mocked were (many) messenger before thee; but their scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.

Atheists in Quran (31) Noah pleads with his Atheist son

Aware of the terrible reality, Noah pleads with him for the last time: O my son! Do not be with the unbelievers lest you drown. His son said: I shall seek refuge in a mountain, which will afford me protection from the waves. In an instant, the gigantic waves swallow everything up, so he was among the drowned by the flood

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The verses 11:40-42 say,

“Embark with us, my child, and do not stay with the unbelievers.”

As a proud arrogant, the Atheist son does not respond to his loving father.

He does not realize the extent of the terrible event that is taking place.

Noah said: O my son! Come ride with us

His son said: I shall take refuge in a mountain that will protect me, from the water’.

Noah said: O my son! Be saved with us

His son said: the mountain that will preserve me, from the flood’.

Noah said: O my son! Do not be with the unbelievers lest you drown

His son said: the mountain will prevent me from drowning, the mountain will afford me protection from the flood.

Aware of the terrible reality, Noah pleads with him for the last time:

“Today there is no protection for anyone from Allah’s judgment, except those who shall enjoy His mercy.”

In an instant, the scene changes and the gigantic waves swallow everything up:

The Huge waves came between them, so he was among the drowned by the flood

Today as we read this story, it is as if we see these events happening now before our very own eyes.

The ark is sailing amid huge waves, Noah, the worried father makes one plea after another; his conceited young son insolently turns his back, and then suddenly a towering wave settles the issue.

Everything is over as if the dialogue did not take place.

The element of fear and worry in this scene is measured by its:

1. Depth in the human soul, in the conversation between Noah and his son.
2. Extent in nature, as the waves rise high to submerge the tops of the mountains.

Both elements are equal.

This is a distinctive feature of how the Quran tells us about the ancient people.

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Then, the storm subsides, an air of calmness spreads, the matter is settled according to Allah’s will.

The verse here gives the impression of something coming to a complete standstill.

“And the word was spoken: ‘Earth, swallow up your waters. Heaven, cease (your rain).’ Thus, the waters sank into the earth, and Allah’s will was done, and the ark came to rest on Mount Judi. The word was spoken: Away with these evil-doing folk.’”

It was said,

‘O earth, swallow your waters, that have sprung forth from you, and the Earth reabsorbed it and

O heaven, abate!’ withhold the rain, and it did.

The waters subsided, the affair was accomplished, the matter of the destruction of Noah’s people was complete and it settled,

The earth swallows up its water and the heaven stops raining.

Furthermore, the earth’s surface was soon dry, as excess waters penetrated deep underground.

Allah addressed the earth and the heavens as if they were human beings.

Both comply with the commandment.

No wonder they did when they are Allah’s obedient creatures.

“Allah’s will was done and the ark came to rest on Mount Judi.”

That was its final stop. “The word was spoken: ‘Away with these evil-doing folk.’”

• Those who were supposed to be destroyed were destroyed and
• Those who were supposed to be saved were saved.

It was said:

‘Away with perish the evildoing, disbelieving, folk!’

The Quran does not say who said this statement, but it generates the impression that the whole affair does not in need to be considered again.

Let the evildoers disappear beyond Allah’s mercy for they deserve to be expelled;

Let them be banished from memory, for they do not deserve to be remembered.

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The verses 11:43-44 in different translations:

QARIB:

43- But he replied: ‘i shall seek refuge on a mountain, which will protect me from the water. ‘He (Noah) said: ‘today, there is no defender from the command of Allah, except those to whom he has mercy. ‘And the waves came between them, and he was drowned.

44- And it was said: ‘earth, swallow up your waters. Heaven, cease! ‘The water subsided and the matter was accomplished. And the ark came to rest upon (the mountain of) aljudi, and it was said: ‘be gone, evildoing nation! ‘

SHAKIR:

43- He said: i will betake myself for refuge to a mountain that shall protect me from the water. Nuh said: there is no protector today from Allah’s punishment but he who has mercy; and a wave intervened between them, so he was of the drowned

44- And it was said: o earth, swallow down your water, and o cloud, clear away; and the water was made to abate and the affair was decided, and the ark rested on the judi, and it was said: away with the unjust people

PICKTHAL:

43- He said: i shall betake me to some mountain that will save me from the water. (Noah) said: this day there is none that saveth from the commandment of Allah save him on whom he hath had mercy. And the wave came in between them, so he was among the drowned.

44- And it was said: o earth! swallow thy water and, o sky! be cleared of clouds! and the water was made to subside. And the commandment was fulfilled. And it (the ship) came to rest upon (the mount) al-judi and it was said: a far removal for wrongdoing folk!

YUSUFALI:

43- The son replied: “i will betake myself to some mountain: it will save me from the water.” Noah said: “this day nothing can save, from the command of Allah, any but those on whom he hath mercy! “And the waves came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed in the flood.

44- Then the word went forth: “o earth! Swallow up thy water, and o sky! Withhold (thy rain)!” and the water abated, and the matter was ended. The ark rested on mount Judi, and the word went forth: “away with those who do wrong!”

Atheists in Quran (30) the Atheist Noah’ son in Tsunami

Noah saw his son; he was standing on the side of a mountain aloof from the Ark. The waves were as huge as mountains. Noah cried unto his son, O my son! Come ride with us, be saved with us; do not be with the unbelievers lest you drown. Does the Atheist Son respond to his loving father?

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In the previous article, Allah told Noah:

No more of your people will believe; they are hopeless.

Therefore, it is over and the unbelievers are done.

Verily, they will be drowned by the flood.

Allah commanded Noah: Build the ark

Then what happened?

The meanings of the verses11:40-42:

Allah gave Noah this sign;

‘The fountains of the earth gushed forth

This means when water started to gush forth from the earth and rain poured down in torrents.

When this took place, Allah said to Noah:

“Take into the Ark a pair of every species, as well as your family, except those against whom Our word has passed, and all those who have accepted the faith.”

It is obvious that Allah has revealed to Noah the whole process systematically at the right moment.

Noah first received orders to build the ark.

At the beginning, the verse does not tell us why the ark is built

Then, Noah received the instructions for the following stage

When the sign took place, (Allah told him 🙂

Such that when Our command came, for their destruction

When the appointed time for chastisement happens and you see the sign;

Load therein, in the ship:

• Of every kind, male and female, that is, of every species of these two, two, a male and a female; Allah gathered for Noah all the beasts of prey and birds and other animals.  Noah was ordered to take into the ark a pair of all such living species as he could take.
• Your family and your household save the unbeliever
• Those who believed

However, a few were they who believed with him

It is said that the number of all those aboard the ship was eighty, half of whom were men and the other half were women.

Noah carried out his instructions exactly as they were given to him

Praying to Allah, Noah said to the believers:

• Embark therein in the ship!
• In the name of Allah be its course wherever it sails to and
• In the name of Allah be its mooring wherever it stops.
• Allah makes it sail wherever He wills and makes it stop wherever He wills.

This statement indicates that Noah put himself and the ark in Allah’s hands and trusted in Him. The ark would float and anchor under Allah’s watchful eyes. For, what could Noah and his people do to steer the ark to safety in such a flood?

[Envisage these huge waves like mountains that would have caused many titanic ships to drown, to understand Allah’s will, which protect the first primitive ship in the history of humankind]

Then Noah said:

Lo! My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful towards the one who believes and repents.

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The ship sailed with them amid huge waves; the waves’ height and size were like mountains

Noah’s Atheist Son

We then have the very awesome scene of the flood.

Two elements of fear are at work here: one originates from nature, stormy but silent as it is; and the other is felt in one’s innermost soul. Both converge as the ark moves on amidst waves as high as mountains.

At this terrible, decisive moment, Noah looks in a certain direction and sees one of his sons who has not joined them in the ark.

Noah saw his son; he was standing on the side of a mountain aloof from the ship

Paternal emotion roused up in Noah.

Immediately, Noah cried unto his stray son:

• O my son! Come ride with us
• O my son! Be saved with us
• O my son! Do not be with the unbelievers lest you drown.

Does the Atheist Son respond to his loving father?

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The verses 11:40-42 in different translations:

QARIB:

40- And when our command came and the oven gushed (forth with water), we said (to Noah): ‘take on board (the ark) a pair from every species and your family, except he of whom the word has already been spoken, and those who believe. And none except a few believed with him.

41- He (Noah) said: ’embark. In the name of Allah will be its course and berthing. indeed, my lord is forgiving, the most merciful. ‘

42- And so it (the ark) ran with them amidst the mountainous waves, and Noah cried out to his son, who was standing apart, ’embark with us, my son, do not be with the unbelievers! ‘

SHAKIR:

40- Until when our command came and water came forth from the valley, we said: carry in it two of all things, a pair, and your own family– except those against whom the word has already gone forth, and those who believe. and there believed not with him but a few

41- And he said: embark in it, in the name of Allah be its sailing and its anchoring; most surely, my lord is forgiving, merciful

42- And it moved on with them amid waves like mountains; and nuh called out to his son, and he was aloof: o my son! Embark with us and be not with the unbelievers

PICKTHAL:

40- (Thus it was) till, when our commandment came to pass and the oven gushed forth water, we said: load therein two of every kind, a pair (the male and female), and thy household, save him against whom the word hath gone forth already, and those who believe. And but a few were they who believed with him.

41- And he said: embark therein! In the name of Allah be its course and its mooring. lo! my lord is forgiving, merciful.

42- And it sailed with them amid waves like mountains, and Noah cried unto his son – and he was standing aloof – o my son! Come ride with us, and be not with the disbelievers.

YUSUFALI:

40- At length, behold! there came our command, and the fountains of the earth gushed forth! we said: “embark therein, of each kind two, male and female, and your family – except those against whom the word has already gone forth,- and the believers.” but only a few believed with him.

41- So he said: “embark ye on the ark, in the name of Allah, whether it move or be at rest! for my lord is, be sure, oft-forgiving, most merciful!”

42- So the ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains, And Noah called out to his son, who had separated himself (from the rest): “o my son! Embark with us, and be not with the unbelievers!”

Atheists in Quran (29) they mocked Noah

Allah commanded Noah: Build the ark and Noah did.

While building the ark, group after group of the insolent Atheists men pass by and scoff at Noah and his followers. Noah said to them, though you mock us today, yet we mock you tomorrow, because Allah will save us and will drown you.

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In the previous article, Allah told Noah:

“None of your people will believe apart from those who have already accepted the faith.”

Those who are susceptible to faith have already accepted it. The others are hopeless.

Therefore, it is over and the unbelievers are done.

Allah commanded Noah: Build the ark

The verses 11:37-39 disclose the story of building the Ark and tell us what happened during building it, the verses say:

Build the Ark under Our watch, protection and inspiration and by Our command

We will look after you and give you instructions as you do so.

Start the construction of the ship under Our care and by Our command.

[Then, we have to watch this Allah’ strong order]

Do not address Me concerning the unbelievers who have done evil, by asking that I should refrain from destroying them

Do not plead with Me on behalf of those unbelievers about saving them.

The Atheists’ destiny has been decided and you are not to plead their case.

You can neither pray for them to be guided to the truth, nor can you pray for their punishment.

Prayers are to no avail when Allah’s will comes to pass.

Verily, they will be drowned by the flood.

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Noah and his followers were building the Ark

Every time that chieftain of a notable council, a group, of his people passed him, they scoffed at him

Whenever a group, of his people passed him, they made mock of him, they derided him for so doing.

They told Noah’s followers that they are following an insane.

Noah builds the ark and group after group of his insolent people pass by and scoff at him. They scoff at the man who said he was a messenger from Allah and argued long with them, but who now busies himself making a boat. They mock him because they can only see what appears to them.

Noah said unto them:

The same you scoff at us is the same we scoff at you.

Though you make mock of us today, yet we mock at you tomorrow.

Because we are saved, while you drown.

Noah, on the other hand, is full of confidence as he tells them that their mockery will rebound. We will scoff at you because you cannot visualize that Allah has a definite purpose beyond all this, and you cannot imagine what awaits you.

Will this apply to us or to you when everything will be revealed?

You shall know to whom will come a punishment that will confound, humiliate and destroy him

You shall know upon whom an everlasting chastisement will fall and will be enjoined upon in the Hereafter.

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The verses 11: 37-39 in different translations:

QARIB:

37- Build the ark with our seeing (and protection), and as we reveal. do not speak to me concerning the evildoers; they shall be drowned. ‘

38- Whenever an assembly of his nation passed by him as he was building the ark, they mocked him. whereupon he said: ‘if you mock us, we shall indeed mock you, just as you mock.

39- You shall know to whom a degrading punishment will come, and upon whom an everlasting punishment will fall. ‘

SHAKIR:

37- And make the ark before our eyes and (according to) our revelation, and do not speak to me in respect of those who are unjust; surely they shall be drowned

38- And he began to make the ark; and whenever the chiefs from among his people passed by him they laughed at him. he said: if you laugh at us, surely we too laugh at you as you laugh (at us)

39- So shall you know who it is on whom will come a chastisement which will disgrace him, and on whom will lasting chastisement come down

PICKTHAL:

37- Build the ship under our eyes and by our inspiration, and speak not unto me on behalf of those who do wrong. lo! they will be drowned.

38- And he was building the ship, and every time that chieftains of his people passed him, they made mock of him. he said: though ye make mock of us, yet we mock at you even as ye mock;

39- And ye shall know to whom a punishment that will confound him cometh, and upon whom a lasting doom will fall.

YUSUFALI:

37- “But construct an ark under our eyes and our inspiration, and address me no (further) on behalf of those who are in sin: for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the flood).”

38- Forthwith he (starts) constructing the ark: every time that the chiefs of his people passed by him, they threw ridicule on him. he said: “if ye ridicule us now, we (in our turn) can look down on you with ridicule likewise!

39- “But soon will ye know who it is on whom will descend a penalty that will cover them with shame,- on whom will be unloosed a penalty lasting:”

Atheists in Quran (16) they mocked Muhammad

The Quran talked about the Atheists’ mockery they hurled at the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran says, “If they knew of the time when they shall not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs and none shall protect them from it at the Resurrection”.

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Do Not Overlook this Warning

The verses 21:38-41 describe how the Atheists deal with Muhammad

The verses talk about

• The way the unbelievers received Allah’s Messenger and the revelations he was given.
• The mockery they hurled at him and
• Their persistent disbelief.

The verses follow this by pointing out that, by nature, man is hasty.

One manifestation of this haste is the unbelievers’ attempts to hasten Allah’s punishment.

Hence, it warns them against such haste and makes it clear to them that they must refrain from mocking the Prophet Muhammad if they wish to avoid the consequences of such unwarranted behavior. That is the persistent suffering of the unbelievers in the hereafter.

The verses talk about the accuracy of the reckoning in the hereafter and the suitability of the reward given on the Day of Judgment.

Thus, the reckoning and the reward are linked to the rules operating in the universe, human nature and human life.

What is more, they try to hasten the punishment against which the Prophet warns them.

For, by nature, man is hasty:

“Man is a creature of haste.”

Haste is present in man’s very nature and constitution.

Man always stretches his eyes to what lies ahead, beyond the present moment, aiming to grasp it with his own hand.

Man wants to achieve, the moment it flashes in his mind, all that seems desirable. He wants to see all that is promised to him, even though it may be to his detriment.

Such is man’s nature, unless he establishes a firm relationship with Allah, which gives him strength and reassurance. He will then trust to Allah’s wisdom, leaving His will to run its course without hastening events. For faith combines trust with patience and reassurance.

Those Atheists hastened Allah’s punishment, wondering when the promise of punishment in the hereafter, as well as in this life, would be fulfilled.

The Quran describes here for them a scene of the suffering in the hereafter, while also warning them against a similar punishment to that which befell earlier communities that rejected the faith “If only the unbelievers knew [that there will come]

• A time when they will not be able to shield their faces and their backs from the fire;
• A time when they will find no support.

Indeed, it will come upon them all of a sudden, and will stupefy them.

They will be unable to avert it, nor will they be allowed any respite.

Other messengers were derided before your time; but those who scoffed at them were [in the end] overwhelmed by the very thing that they derided.”

(Verses 39-41)

If the Atheists only knew what will happen to them, they would change their attitude completely.

They would stop their mockery and hastening of what is bound to come.

Let them, then, see what is bound to come. Therein, the fire surrounds them on all sides.

Imagine their frantic movements, described implicitly in the verse, to protect their faces and their backs against the fire, but their attempt is futile. It is as if the fire engulfs them on all sides. They can neither keep it away from themselves, nor retreat to seek protection. Nor is even a short respite from it possible.

That the punishment comes suddenly is only the response for their hastening it.

They used to say time after time:

“When is this promise to be fulfilled, if what you say be true?” (Verse 38)

The answer is that it comes suddenly, perplexing their minds andparalyzing their will. Thus, they are unable to think or act, let alone enjoy a period ofgrace to mend their ways.

This applies to the punishment in the hereafter. As for this world’s punishment, it certainly befell communities before them, which ridiculed Allah’s messengers. Just like those communities were unable to ward off a punishment that wiped them out altogether, so these Atheists are unable to avert their defeat and captivity. They are thus warned not to deride Allah’s Messenger, so as to avoid the punishment that befalls those who ridicule prophets. Such fate and punishment is bound to come, because it is part of Allah’s law which will inevitably take effect, just as the destruction of earlier communities, guilty of the same offence, proves.

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The verses 21:38-41 in different translations:

QARIB:

38-They say: ‘if you are truthful, when will this promise come? ‘

39-If the unbelievers only knew when they will be unable to shield either their faces or their backs from the fire; when they will not be helped!

40-It will overtake them suddenly, dumbfounding them. they shall be unable to ward it off, and they shall not be respited.

41-Before you, other messengers were mocked, but the mockers were encompassed by the very thing they mocked.

SHAKIR:

38-And they say: when will this threat come to pass if you are truthful?

39-Had those who disbelieve but known (of the time) when they shall not be able to ward off the fire from their faces nor from their backs, nor shall they be helped

40-Nay, it shall come on them all of a sudden and cause them to become confounded, so they shall not have the power to avert it, nor shall they be respited

41-And certainly messengers before you were scoffed at, then there befell those of them who scoffed that at which they had scoffed

PICKTHAL:

38-And they say: when will this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful?

39-If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not be able to drive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not be helped!

40-Nay, but it will come upon them unawares so that it will stupefy them, and they will be unable to repel it, neither will they be reprieved.

41-Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked, but that whereat they mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them.

YUSUFALI:

38-They say: “when will this promise come to pass, if ye are telling the truth?”

39-If only the unbelievers knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and (when) no help can reach them!

40-Nay, it may come to them all of a sudden and confound them: no power will they have then to avert it, nor will they (then) get respite.

41-Mocked were (many) messenger before thee; but their scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.

Allah Asks you (21) are they looking for the Angels to come?

Historically, the Ancient Disbelievers had denied their messengers and they were destroyed

The punishment for mocking the prophets was inflicted upon the Disbelievers

The Angels will seize the souls of the disbelievers and show them the Hell, their fate!

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In verses 16:33-34 of the Noble Quran, Allah is asking mankind this question: Are the disbelievers looking for the angels to come?

The Angels will seize the spirits (souls) of the (dying) disbelievers and show them the Hell, their fate!  The punishment for mocking the prophets was decreed and inflicted upon the Disbelievers. 

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In the Noble Quran, Allah is asking mankind some important questions.

It seems compulsory for the serious one who is looking for the truth to have a look at those questions and if possible to answer them.

Allah’ questions are many. In this series, these questions are chosen randomly.

Verses 16:33-34 of the Noble Quran give the question of this article

In these verses, Allah is asking mankind this question: Are the disbelievers looking for the angels to come?

The Angels will seize the spirits (souls) of the (dying) disbelievers and show them the Hell, their fate!  The punishment for mocking the prophets was decreed and inflicted upon the Disbelievers. 

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The meanings of the verses 16:33-34

Verse 16:33 says:

Do they, the disbelievers, await anything after their disbelief but that the Angels should come to them to seize their spirits, to take away their souls; the Angels will seize the spirits (souls) of the (dying) disbelievers and show them the Hell, their fate!

Or they await that there should come to pass your Lord’s command? Or that the chastisement of your Lord should come to destroy them in the life of this world? Or when the Lord’s commands the resurrection and the chastisement of the disbelievers in the hereafter?

So, just as these have done, did those before them, from among the former communities: they denied their messengers and were therefore destroyed.

In other words, just as your people denied you and vilified you so, did those before them, they denied their prophets and vilified them.

And God did not wrong them, destroying them for no sin, but they used to wrong themselves, through disbelief.

In other words, Allah did not wrong them when He destroyed them, but they did wrong themselves through their denial of the prophets.

 

Verse 16:34 says:

The evil results of their deeds overtook them.

So that the evil of what they did, so the punishment for what they did and said of transgressions smote them, and that which they used to mock surrounded them

The punishment for mocking the prophets was decreed and inflicted upon them;

It is also said that this means: the punishment which they were mocking descended upon them.

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Verses 16:33-34 in different translations:

QARIB:

33) Are they looking for the angels to come down or the order of your lord to come? as such did those who have gone before them. Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves,

34) So the evil things which they did coiled around them, and they were encompassed by that they mocked.

 

SHAKIR:

33) They do not wait aught but that the angels should come to them or that the commandment of your lord should come to pass. thus did those before them; and Allah was not unjust to them, but they were unjust to themselves

34) So the evil (consequences) of what they did shall afflict them and that which they mocked shall encompass them

 

PICKTHAL:

33) Await they aught say that the angels should come unto them or thy lord’s command should come to pass? even so did those before them. Allah wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves,

34) So that the evils of what they did smote them, and that which they used to mock surrounded them.

 

YUSUFALI:

33) Do the (ungodly) wait until the angels come to them, or there comes the command of thy lord (for their doom)? so did those who went before them. but Allah wronged them not: nay, they wronged their own souls.

34) But the evil results of their deeds overtook them, and that very (wrath) at which they had scoffed hemmed them in.