Individuals, Communities, Earth
The Night Journey (17:58)
وَإِن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًۭا شَدِيدًۭا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًۭا ٥٨
There is not a ˹wicked˺ society that We will not destroy or punish with a severe torment before the Day of Judgment. That is written in the Record.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
There is not a township but We shall destroy it ere the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with dire punishment. That is set forth in the Book (of Our decrees).
— M. Pickthall
اور کوئی بستی ایسی نہیں جس کو ہم قیامت سے پہلے ہلاک نہ کریں یا سخت عذاب نہ دیں یہ بات کتاب میں لکھی ہوئی ہے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Surah al-Isra informs us that every township, every community, every settlement, in this world, is destined to come to an end when its time comes. Either it is destroyed, or it is punished severely.
Surah al-Anbiya elaborates further:
The Prophets (21:6-10)
مَآ ءَامَنَتْ قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَآ ۖ أَفَهُمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ ٦
Not a ˹single˺ society We destroyed before them ever believed ˹after receiving the signs˺. Will these ˹pagans˺ then believe?
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before them (though We sent them portents): would they then believe?
— M. Pickthall
ان سے پہلے کسی بستی کے لوگ بھی جن کو ہم نے ہلاک کیا، ایمان نہیں لائے تو کیا یہ لوگ ایمان لائیں گے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًۭا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ٧
We did not send ˹messengers˺ before you ˹O Prophet˺ except mere men inspired by Us. If you ˹polytheists˺ do not know ˹this already˺, then ask those who have knowledge ˹of the Scriptures˺.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men, whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not?
— M. Pickthall
اور تم سے پہلے بھی جس کو ہم نے رسول بناکر بھیجا، آدمیوں ہی میں سے بھیجا ہم ان کی طرف وحی بھیجتے تھے پس تم اہل کتاب سے پوچھ لو، اگر تم نہیں جانتے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
وَمَا جَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ جَسَدًۭا لَّا يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ خَـٰلِدِينَ ٨
We did not give those messengers ˹supernatural˺ bodies that did not need food, nor were they immortal.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
We gave them not bodies that would not eat food, nor were they immortals.
— M. Pickthall
اور ہم نے ان رسولوں کو ایسے جسم نہیں دئے کہ وہ کھانا نہ کھاتے ہوں اور وہ ہمیشہ رہنے والے نہ تھے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
ثُمَّ صَدَقْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْوَعْدَ فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُمْ وَمَن نَّشَآءُ وَأَهْلَكْنَا ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ ٩
Then We fulfilled Our promise to them, saving them along with whoever We willed and destroying the transgressors.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Then we fulfilled the promise unto them. So we delivered them and whom We would, and We destroyed the prodigals.
— M. Pickthall
پھر ہم نے ان سے وعدہ پورا کیا پس ان کو اور جس جس کو ہم نے چاہا، بچالیا اور ہم نے حد سے گزرنے والوں کو ہلاک کردیا
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَـٰبًۭا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ١٠
We have surely revealed to you a Book, in which there is glory for you. Will you not then understand?
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Now We have revealed unto you a Scripture wherein is your Reminder. Have ye then no sense?
— M. Pickthall
ہم نے تمھاری طرف ایک کتاب اتاری ہے جس میں تمھاری یاد دہانی ہے، پھر کیا تم سمجھتے نہیں
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Not only were the nations destroyed, but even their prophets were not immortal. Even though the prophets and those who believed with them were saved from destruction, yet they were mortal, and so they were granted death when their time came.
Towards the end of the surah, it is mentioned:
The Prophets (21:95-98)
وَحَرَٰمٌ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَآ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ ٩٥
It is impossible for a society which We have destroyed to ever rise again,
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
And there is a ban upon any community which We have destroyed: that they shall not return.
— M. Pickthall
اور جس بستی والوں کے ليے ہم نے ہلاکت مقرر کردی ہے، ان کے ليے حرام ہے کہ وہ رجوع کریں
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍۢ يَنسِلُونَ ٩٦
until ˹after˺ Gog and Magog have broken loose ˹from the barrier˺,[1] swarming down from every hill,
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
[1] See 18:93-99.
Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they hasten out of every mound,
— M. Pickthall
یہاں تک کہ جب یاجوج اور ماجوج کھول دئے جائیں گے اور وہ ہر بلندی سے نکل پڑیں گے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
وَٱقْتَرَبَ ٱلْوَعْدُ ٱلْحَقُّ فَإِذَا هِىَ شَـٰخِصَةٌ أَبْصَـٰرُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَا قَدْ كُنَّا فِى غَفْلَةٍۢ مِّنْ هَـٰذَا بَلْ كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ ٩٧
ushering in the True Promise.[1] Then—behold!—the disbelievers will stare ˹in horror, crying,˺ “Oh, woe to us! We have truly been heedless of this. In fact, we have been wrongdoers.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
[1] i.e., the Final Hour.
And the True Promise draweth nigh; then behold them, staring wide (in terror), the eyes of those who disbelieve! (They say): Alas for us! We (lived) in forgetfulness of this. Ah, but we were wrong-doers!
— M. Pickthall
اور سچا وعدہ نزدیک آلگے گا تو ان لوگوں کی نگاہیں پھٹی رہ جائیں گی جنھوں نے انکار کیا تھا ہائے ہماری کم بختی، ہم اس سے غفلت میں پڑے رہے بلکہ ہم ظالم تھے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمْ لَهَا وَٰرِدُونَ ٩٨
Certainly you ˹disbelievers˺ and whatever you worship instead of Allah will be the fuel of Hell.[1] You are ˹all˺ bound to enter it.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
[1] See footnote for 43:57-58.
Lo! ye (idolaters) and that which ye worship beside Allah are fuel of hell. Thereunto ye will come.
— M. Pickthall
بے شک تم اور جن کو تم خدا کے سوا پوجتے تھے، سب جہنم کا ایندھن ہیں وہیں تم کو جانا ہے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Surah al-Hajj begins with the warning:
The Pilgrimage (22:1)
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ ٱلسَّاعَةِ شَىْءٌ عَظِيمٌۭ ١
O humanity! Fear your Lord, for the ˹violent˺ quaking at the Hour is surely a dreadful thing.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
O mankind! Fear your Lord. Lo! the earthquake of the Hour (of Doom) is a tremendous thing.
— M. Pickthall
اے لوگو، اپنے رب سے ڈرو بے شک قیامت کا بھونچال بڑی بھاری چیز ہے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Even the Earth will be destroyed with a tremendous earthquake levelling everything.
The life of this world, the individual, his progeny, and whatever they build upon it, are all temporary, and each has a predetermined expiry date.
Nothing here will last forever, but there will be a resurrection, and an accountability, and then the Hereafter will be forever.
There will be no expiry date for the individual, whether the person is in the Gardens or the Fire.
That will last till Allah wills:
Hud (11:105-108)
يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لَا تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ فَمِنْهُمْ شَقِىٌّۭ وَسَعِيدٌۭ ١٠٥
When that Day arrives, no one will dare speak except with His permission. Some of them will be miserable, others joyful.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
On the day when it cometh no soul will speak except by His permission; some among them will be wretched, (others) glad.
— M. Pickthall
جب وہ دن آئے گا تو کوئی جان اس کی اجازت کے بغیر کلام نہ کرسکے گی پس ان میں کچھ بدبخت ہوں گے، اور کچھ نیک بخت
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ شَقُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلنَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌۭ وَشَهِيقٌ ١٠٦
As for those bound for misery, they will be in the Fire, where they will be sighing and gasping,
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
As for those who will be wretched (on that day) they will be in the Fire; sighing and wailing will be their portion therein,
— M. Pickthall
پس جو لوگ بدبخت ہیں وہ آگ میں ہوں گے ان کو وہاں چیخنا ہے اور دھاڑنا
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ رَبُّكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌۭ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ ١٠٧
staying there forever, as long as the heavens and the earth will endure, except what your Lord wills.[1] Surely your Lord does what He intends.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
[1] Sinful believers will eventually be removed from Hell after receiving their punishment.
Abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth. Lo! thy Lord is Doer of what He will.
— M. Pickthall
وہ اس میں رہیں گے جب تک آسمان اور زمین قائم ہیں ، مگر جو تیرا رب چاہے بے شک تیرا رب کر ڈالتا ہے جو چاہتا ہے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
۞ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ سُعِدُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ رَبُّكَ ۖ عَطَآءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍۢ ١٠٨
And as for those destined to joy, they will be in Paradise, staying there forever, as long as the heavens and the earth will endure, except what your Lord wills[1]—a ˹generous˺ giving, without end.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
[1] Except the time they spend on earth and in the grave, or except the time the sinful believers spend in Hell before being transferred to Paradise.
And as for those who will be glad (that day) they will be in the Garden, abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth: a gift unfailing.
— M. Pickthall
اور جو لوگ نیک بخت ہیں وہ جنت میں ہوں گے، وہ اس میں رہیں گے جب تک آسمان اور زمین قائم ہیں ، مگر جو تیرا رب چاہے بخشش ہے بے انتہا
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
[https://quran.com/11/105-108]
Some people believe that the sinful believers will have to endure a temporary punishment, hence the footnote by translator 'Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran'.
The Quran mentions the people on Al-Ar'af, awaiting the decision for their fate. Maybe, this is what is being referred to.
May Allah surround us with His Mercy, and protect us from all punishments, and keep us protected from the Fire and its Terror.
To quote again from Surah alAnbiya:
The Prophets (21:101-105)
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقَتْ لَهُم مِّنَّا ٱلْحُسْنَىٰٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَنْهَا مُبْعَدُونَ ١٠١
Surely those for whom We have destined the finest reward will be kept far away from Hell,
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Lo! those unto whom kindness hath gone forth before from Us, they will be far removed from thence.
— M. Pickthall
بے شک جن کے ليے ہماری طرف سے بھلائی کا پہلے فیصلہ ہوچکا ہے، وہ اس سے دور رکھے جائیں گے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ حَسِيسَهَا ۖ وَهُمْ فِى مَا ٱشْتَهَتْ أَنفُسُهُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ ١٠٢
not even hearing the slightest hissing from it. And they will delight forever in what their souls desire.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
They will not hear the slightest sound thereof, while they abide in that which their souls desire.
— M. Pickthall
وہ اس کی آہٹ بھی نہ سنیں گے اور وہ اپنی پسندیدہ چیزوں میں ہمیشہ رہیں گے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
لَا يَحْزُنُهُمُ ٱلْفَزَعُ ٱلْأَكْبَرُ وَتَتَلَقَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ هَـٰذَا يَوْمُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ ١٠٣
The Supreme Horror ˹of that Day˺ will not disturb them, and the angels will greet them, ˹saying,˺ “This is your Day, which you have been promised.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
The Supreme Horror will not grieve them, and the angels will welcome them, (saying): This is your Day which ye were promised;
— M. Pickthall
ان کو بڑی گھبراہٹ غم میں نہ ڈالے گی اور فرشتے ان کا استقبال کریں گے یہ ہے تمھارا وہ دن جس کا تم سے وعدہ کیا گیا تھا
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
يَوْمَ نَطْوِى ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَطَىِّ ٱلسِّجِلِّ لِلْكُتُبِ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأْنَآ أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍۢ نُّعِيدُهُۥ ۚ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ ١٠٤
On that Day We will roll up the heavens like a scroll of writings. Just as We produced the first creation, ˹so˺ shall We reproduce it. That is a promise binding on Us. We truly uphold ˹Our promises˺!
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
The Day when We shall roll up the heavens as a recorder rolleth up a written scroll. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise (binding) upon Us. Lo! We are to perform it.
— M. Pickthall
جس دن ہم آسمان کو لپیٹ دیں گے جس طرح طومار میں اوراق لپیٹ دئے جاتے ہیں جس طرح پہلے ہم نے تخلیق کی ابتدا کی تھی، اسی طرح ہم پھر اس کا اعادہ کریں گے یہ ہمارے ذمہ وعدہ ہے اور ہم اس کو کرکے رہیں گے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلذِّكْرِ أَنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ ١٠٥
Surely, following the ˹heavenly˺ Record, We decreed in the Scriptures: “My righteous servants shall inherit the land.”[1]
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
[1] This refers to Psalm 37:29: “The righteous shall inherit the land.” See footnote for 39:47.
And verily we have written in the Scripture, after the Reminder: My righteous slaves will inherit the earth:
— M. Pickthall
اور زبور میں ہم نصیحت کے بعد لکھ چکے ہیں کہ زمین کے وارث ہمارے نیک بندے ہوں گے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
[https://quran.com/21/101-105]
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