بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Transcription
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Edip-Layth
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Compassionate.
The Monotheist Group
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
Muhammad Asad
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace:
Rashad Khalifa
In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. ,
Shabbir Ahmed
All praise is due to God, the Lord/Cherisher/Sustainer of the Universe and everything therein.
Çeviriyazı
Bismillâhir rahmânir rahîm.
Edip Yüksel
Rahman, Rahim Allah'ın ismiyle
Yaşar Nuri Öztürk
Rahman ve Rahim Allah'ın adıyla...
Muhammed Esed
RAHMÂN, RAHÎM ALLAH ADINA
Ali Bulaç
Rahman ve Rahim olan Allah'ın adıyla

79:1 والنزعت غرقا

Transcription (English)
79:1 WaalnnaziAAati gharqan
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:1 By those that pull forcibly.1

Note 1

For the meaning and function of the Quranic oaths, see 89:5.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:1 By those that take the person forcibly.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:1 CONSIDER those [stars] that rise only to set,1

Note 1
For my rendering of the adjurative particle wa as "Consider", see first half of note 23 on 74:32. - The early commentators differ widely in their explanations of verses 1-5 of this surah. The most popular interpretation is based on the view that the descriptive participles an-nazi'at, an-nashitat, as-sabihat, as-sabiqat and al-mudabbirat refer to angels and their activities with regard to the souls of the dying: an interpretation categorically rejected by Abu Muslim al-Isfahani, who - as mentioned by Razi - points out that the angels are never referred to in the Qur'an in the female gender, as is the case in the above five participles, and that the present passage cannot be an exception. Almost equally unconvincing - because somewhat laboured - are the explanations which link those five participles to the souls of the dying, or to warriors engaged in holy war, or to war-mounts, and so forth. The clearest and simplest interpretation is that advanced by Qatadah (as quoted by Tabari and Baghawi) and Al-Hasan al-Basri (quoted by Baghawi and Razi), who maintain that what is meant in this passage are the stars - including the sun and the moon - and their movements in space: and this interpretation is fully in tune with many other passages in the Qur'an in which the harmony of those celestial bodies in their multiform orbits and graded speeds is cited as an evidence of God's planning and creativeness. In accordance with this interpretation, the participle an-nazi'at occurring in the first verse denotes the daily "ascending" or "rising" of the stars, while their subsequent "setting" is indicated by the expression gharqan, which comprises the two concepts of "drowning" (i.e., disappearing) and, tropically, of the "completeness" of this daily phenomenon (Zamakhshari).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:1 The (angels who) snatch (the souls of the disbelievers) forcibly.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:1 Consider those who dive to bring up.1

Note 1


The is the 79th Surah of the Qur’an. It has 46 verses. "Nazi’aat" indicates the noble group who join hands in freeing people from mental and physical bondage. Organized movements can change the fate of a nation.



History is replete with oppression of the masses at the hands of three groups:



1 – Political tyrants, autocrats, monarchs, dictators, kings and tribal leaders. 2 – Hoarders of wealth, the rich elite, the greedy feudal lords, accumulators of illicit money, those who thrive on the toil of others. 3:5.0pt;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom: 5.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none">Almost invariably, these three exploitative forces work in concert and support each other. The best example given in the Qur’an is that of Pharaoh, Korah and Haman.



With the Glorious Name of God, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all Mercy and Kindness



Pearls from the ocean, people from repression

79:2 والنشطت نشطا

Transcription (English)
79:2 Waalnnashitati nashtan
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:2 Those that release vigorously.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:2 And those that take the person gently.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:2 and move [in their orbits] with steady motion,2

Note 2
I.e., passing from constellation to constellation (Zamakhshari).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:2 And those who gently take (the souls of the believers) joyfully.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:2 And move steadily in jubilation, releasing (the oppressed from bondage).

79:3 والسبحت سبحا

Transcription (English)
79:3 Waalssabihati sabhan
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:3 Those that float along.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:3 And those that swim along.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:3 and float [through space] with floating serene,
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:3 And those floating everywhere.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:3 And working hard, like swimming in strides.

79:4 فالسبقت سبقا

Transcription (English)
79:4 Faalssabiqati sabqan
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:4 Those that press forward in a race.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:4 And those that press forward in a race.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:4 and yet overtake [one another] with swift overtaking:3

Note 3
This is apparently an allusion to the different speeds of the orbiting stars (Al-Hasan and Abu Ubaydah, as quoted by Razi), as well as to the extent of their orbits in relation to one another.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:4 Eagerly racing with one another -,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:4 And then together racing to progress.

79:5 فالمدبرت امرا

Transcription (English)
79:5 Faalmudabbirati amran
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:5 So as to carry out a command.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:5 So as to carry out a command.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:5 and thus they fulfil the [Creator's] behest!
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:5 to carry out various commands.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:5 And thus taking charge of their matters.

79:6 يوم ترجف الراجفة

Transcription (English)
79:6 Yawma tarjufu alrrajifatu
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:6 On the day the ground shakes.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:6 On the Day the ground shakes.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:6 [HENCE,4 think of] the Day when a violent convulsion will convulse [the world],

Note 4
I.e., upon realizing the above-mentioned evidence of God's almightiness and, therefore, of man's subjection to His ultimate judgment.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:6 The day the quake quakes.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:6 The Day when the violent quake causes commotion.

79:7 تتبعها الرادفة

Transcription (English)
79:7 TatbaAAuha alrradifatu
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:7 It will be followed by the second blow.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:7 It will be followed by the second blow.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:7 to be followed by further [convulsions]!
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:7 Followed by the second blow.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:7 To be followed by the jolter.2

Note 2
The oppressors are shaken up again and again

79:8 قلوب يومئذ واجفة

Transcription (English)
79:8 Quloobun yawma-ithin wajifatun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:8 Hearts on that day will be terrified.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:8 Hearts on that Day will be terrified.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:8 On that Day will [men's] hearts be throbbing,
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:8 Certain minds will be terrified.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:8 On that Day hearts tremble.

79:9 ابصرها خشعة

Transcription (English)
79:9 Absaruha khashiAAatun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:9 Their eyes cast down.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:9 Their eyes cast down.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:9 [and] their eyes downcast. . .
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:9 Their eyes will be subdued.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:9 And the eyes are subdued.

79:10 يقولون اءنا لمردودون فى الحافرة

Transcription (English)
79:10 Yaqooloona a-inna lamardoodoona feealhafirati
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:10 They will say, "Shall we be returned to live our lives."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:10 They say: "Shall we be returned to live our lives."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:10 [And yet,] some say, "What! Are we indeed to be restored to our former state –
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:10 They will say, "We have been recreated from the grave!,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:10 They say, “What! Are we to be restored to our former state,

79:11 اءذا كنا عظما نخرة

Transcription (English)
79:11 A-itha kunna AAithamannakhiratan
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:11 "Even after we were crumbled bones?"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:11 "Even after we were crumbled bones?"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:11 even though we may have become [a heap of] crumbling bones?"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:11 "How did this happen after we had turned into rotten bones?",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:11 Even after we have become crumbling bones?"3

Note 3
These two verses can also be understood pertaining to this life. Former state and crumbling bones: As they were before getting rich on others’ labor

79:12 قالوا تلك اذا كرة خاسرة

Transcription (English)
79:12 Qaloo tilka ithan karratun khasiratun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:12 They said, "This is an impossible recurrence."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:12 They said: "This is an impossible recurrence."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:12 [And] they add, "That, then, would be a return with loss!"5

Note 5
Implying derisively (Zamakhshari) that in such a case they would be proved wrong in what they now consider a "reasonable" assumption.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:12 They had said, "This is an impossible recurrence.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:12 And they add, “In that case, then, it would be a great loss of investment!”

79:13 فانما هى زجرة وحدة

Transcription (English)
79:13 Fa-innama hiya zajratun wahidatun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:13 But all it takes is one blow.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:13 But all it takes is one blow.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:13 [But,] then, that [Last Hour] will be [upon them of a sudden, as if it were] but a single accusing cry -
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:13 All it takes is one nudge.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:13 But finally, it is a single swift call.

79:14 فاذا هم بالساهرة

Transcription (English)
79:14 Fa-itha hum bialssahirati
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:14 Whereupon they will rise up.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:14 Whereupon they will rise-up.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:14 and then, lo, they will be fully awakened [to the truth]!
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:14 Whereupon they get up.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:14 And they will be fully awakened to the truth.

79:15 هل اتىك حديث موسى

Transcription (English)
79:15 Hal ataka hadeethu moosa
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
The Story of Moses79:15 Did the hadith of Moses come to you?
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:15 Did the narrative of Moses come to you?
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:15 HAS THE STORY of Moses ever come within thy ken.6

Note 6
Connecting with the preceding passage, the story of Moses (which appears in much greater detail in 20:9) is cited here as an illustration of the fact that everyone will have to answer on Judgment Day for whatever he did in life, and that it is the main function of every prophet to make man aware of this responsibility.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:15 Have you known about the history of Moses?,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:15 Has the story of Moses reached you?4

Note 4
Such a Revolution occurred in his times. 20:9

79:16 اذ نادىه ربه بالواد المقدس طوى

Transcription (English)
79:16 Ith nadahu rabbuhu bialwadialmuqaddasi tuwan
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:16 His Lord called him at the holy valley of Tuwa.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:16 His Lord called him at the holy valley of Tuwa.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:16 Lo! His Sustainer called out to him in the twice-hallowed valley:7

Note 7
See note 9 on 20:12. - For the meaning of the particle idh at the beginning of this sentence, rendered by me as "Lo!", see surah 2, note 21.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:16 His Lord called him at the holy valley of Tuwaa.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:16 When his Lord called him in the Sacred Valley of revelation. [18:60-64, 20:12]

79:17 اذهب الى فرعون انه طغى

Transcription (English)
79:17 Ithhab ila firAAawna innahu tagha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:17 "Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:17 "Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:17 "Go unto Pharaoh - for, verily, he has transgressed all bounds of what is right -
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:17 "Go to Pharaoh; he has transgressed.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:17 "Go to Pharaoh. He has transgressed all bounds."

79:18 فقل هل لك الى ان تزكى

79:18 fql hl lk alya an tzkya
Transcription (English)
79:18 Faqul hal laka ila an tazakka
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:18 Tell him: "Would you not be purified?"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:18 Tell him: "Would you not be purified?"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:18 and say[unto him], 'Art thou desirous of attaining to purity?
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:18 Tell him, "Would you not reform?,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:18 And ask him, "Are you willing to reform?”5

Note 5
Zaku = Grow in goodness = Develop the ‘self’ = Get rid of evil behavior = Attain purity = Improve in conduct = Prime the ‘self’ for actualization

79:19 واهديك الى ربك فتخشى

Transcription (English)
79:19 Waahdiyaka ila rabbika fatakhsha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:19 "I will guide you to your Lord, that you may turn reverent."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:19 "And I will guide you to your Lord, that you may be concerned."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:19 [If so,] then I shall guide thee towards [a cognition of] thy Sustainer, so that [henceforth] thou wilt stand in awe [of Him].'"8

Note 8
Implying that so long as man is not fully aware of the existence of God, he cannot really discern between what is morally right or wrong; and since God is just, He does not punish anyone who has not yet attained to such a discernment (or, as expressed in the preceding sentence, "to [moral] purity"): cf. 6:31- "thy Sustainer would never destroy a community for its wrongdoing so long as its people are still unaware [of the meaning of right and wrong]".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:19 "Let me guide you to your Lord, that you may turn reverent.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:19 Then I will guide you to your Lord so that you will have some idea of His awesome glory."

79:20 فارىه الءاية الكبرى

Transcription (English)
79:20 Faarahu al-ayata alkubra
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:20 He then showed him the great sign.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:20 He then showed him the great sign.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:20 And thereupon he [went to Pharaoh and] made him aware of the great wonder [of God's grace].9

Note 9
Lit., "showed him the great wonder", i.e., of the guidance which God, in His measureless grace, offers even to the most recalcitrant sinner.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:20 He then showed him the great miracle.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:20 And then he presented to him the tremendous evidence of the truth. [20:23]

79:21 فكذب وعصى

79:21 fkźb wASya
Transcription (English)
79:21 Fakaththaba waAAasa
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:21 But he rejected and rebelled.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:21 But he disbelieved and rebelled.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:21 But [Pharaoh] gave him the lie and rebelliously rejected [all guidance],
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:21 But he disbelieved and rebelled.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:21 But he denied and haughtily rejected.

79:22 ثم ادبر يسعى

79:22 śm adbr ysAya
Transcription (English)
79:22 Thumma adbara yasAAa
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:22 Then he turned away in a hurry.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:22 Then he turned away in a hurry.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:22 and brusquely turned his back [on Moses];
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:22 Then he turned away in a hurry.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:22 Then he turned away briskly.

79:23 فحشر فنادى

79:23 fHşr fnadya
Transcription (English)
79:23 Fahashara fanada
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:23 So he gathered and proclaimed.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:23 So he gathered and proclaimed.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:23 and then he gathered [his great ones], and called [unto his people],
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:23 He summoned and proclaimed.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:23 Then gathered (his chiefs) and called (his people).

79:24 فقال انا ربكم الاعلى

Transcription (English)
79:24 Faqala ana rabbukumu al-aAAla
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:24 He said, "I am your lord, the most high."2

Note 2

Slave owners are called rab (lord, master) in Arabic (12:41). Pharaohs were claiming to be the lord/master of those humans whom they have subjugated. Enslaving humans and thus claiming to be their rab (lord, master) is polytheism, or associating one's ego with God as His partner See 12:39; 90:13; 4:25.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:24 He said: "I am your lord, the most high."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:24 and said, "I am your Lord All-Highest!"10

Note 10
Cf. 28:38 and the corresponding note 36. Pharaoh's claim to divine status is the cardinal sin whereby "he has transgressed all bounds of what is right" (verse 17 above).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:24 He said, "I am your Lord; most high.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:24 And proclaimed, "I am your Lord, the Highest!"

79:25 فاخذه الله نكال الءاخرة والاولى

Transcription (English)
79:25 Faakhathahu Allahu nakalaal-akhirati waal-oola
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:25 So God seized him with retribution in the Hereafter, as well as in the first life.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:25 So God seized him for punishment in the Hereafter, and for the first life.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:25 And thereupon God took him to task, [and made him] a warning example in the life to come as well as in this world.11

Note 11
Lit., "in the first [life]". See last sentence of 7:137 - "We utterly destroyed all that Pharaoh and his people had wrought, and all that they had built" - and the corresponding note 100.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:25 Consequently, GOD committed him to the retribution in the Hereafter, as well as in the first life.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:25 So God took him to task, and made him an example for the later generations and the ones who soon followed.

79:26 ان فى ذلك لعبرة لمن يخشى

Transcription (English)
79:26 Inna fee thalika laAAibratan limanyakhsha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:26 In that is a lesson for those who are aware.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:26 In that is a lesson for those who are concerned.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:26 In this, behold, there is a lesson indeed for all who stand in awe [of God].
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:26 This is a lesson for the reverent.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:26 Herein is a lesson for him who fears (violating the law).

79:27 ءانتم اشد خلقا ام السماء بنىها

Transcription (English)
79:27 Aantum ashaddu khalqan ami alssamaobanaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:27 Are you a more powerful creation than the sky which He built?
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:27 Are you a more powerful creation than the heaven which He built?
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:27 [O MEN!] Are you more difficult to create than the heaven which He has built?12

Note 12
Lit., "or the heaven. . . ", etc. The "heaven" is here, as in many other places in the Qur'an, a metonym for "cosmic system" (cf. note 20 on 2:29). The above verse is an echo of an earlier, more explicit passage - namely, 40:56, which should be read together with the corresponding notes 40 and 41. Both these passages refute the "man-centred" view of the universe by pointing out man's insignificance as compared with the vastness and complexity of the whole God-created universe.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:27 Are you more difficult to create than the heaven? He constructed it.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:27 What! Are you the more difficult to create or is the heaven that He built?

79:28 رفع سمكها فسوىها

79:28 rfA smkha fswyaha
Transcription (English)
79:28 RafaAAa samkaha fasawwaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:28 He raised its height, and perfected it.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:28 He raised its height, and perfected it.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:28 High has He reared its vault and formed it in accordance with what it was meant to be;13

Note 13
See 87:2, which is the earliest instance, in the chronology of Qur'anic revelation, of the use of the verb sawwa in the above sense.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:28 He raised its masses, and perfected it.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:28 He raised high its canopy, and shaped it perfect.

79:29 واغطش ليلها واخرج ضحىها

Transcription (English)
79:29 Waaghtasha laylaha waakhraja duhaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:29 He covered its night and brought out its morning.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:29 And He covered its night and brought out its morning.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:29 and He has made dark its night and brought forth its light of day.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:29 He made its night dark, and brightened its morn.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:29 And He made dark its night and brings out its splendor.

79:30 والارض بعد ذلك دحىها

Transcription (English)
79:30 Waal-arda baAAda thalikadahaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:30 The land after that, He made it like an egg.3

Note 3

The Arabic word dahaha comes from root dahy, which means egg. The earth, with its physical shape and geologic layers resembles an egg. Though the roundness of the earth was known by philosophers before the revelation of the Quran, ordinary people did not find it a reasonable or common-sense fact. Therefore, almost all the commentators of the Quran tried to interpret the word so that they could save their flat earth from being curved. They reasoned that the verse must be an allegorical description, that God must have meant the nest or the place of the egg from the word egg. So, they translated this verse as follows: "and after that He spread the earth"!

Abd al-Aziz bin Baz was the chief cleric of Saudi Arabia, the head of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars for three decades. He had a great impact on regressive and oppressive laws in Saudi Arabia, including the ban on women's driving. A book authored by Bin Baz was published in 1975 carried the following title: "Scientific and Narrative Evidence for that the Earth is Fixed, the Sun is Moving and it is Possible to Go to the Planets." The book was not published by any publishing house; it was published by none other than the Islamic University of Medina. In that book, Bin Baz complains about a new heresy; he is saddened to see, well more accurately, hear, people talking about the motion of the earth and he wants to put a stop to that heresy. In page 23, Bin Baz after listing some hadiths, issues a fatwa, asserting that those who believe that the earth is rotating are kafirs (disbelievers), and if they were Muslims before, they became apostates. The Saudi Sunni leader does not stop there and explains the ramification of the fatwa: any Muslim believing in the rotation of the earth loses his or her right to life and property; they should be killed! This same cleric was the head of an international conference of Sunni scholars representing 38 countries discussing the Salman Rushdi affair. Then, Saudi Arabia was competing with Iran regarding leadership in the Islamic world and this was the hot issue. The conference issued a unanimous fatwa on March 19, 1989, condemning Rushdi and Rashad Khalifa, as apostates. The Western world by then knew Rushdi, but not many westerners were familiar with the second name in the fatwa. Dr. Rashad Khalifa, the late leader of the modern reformist movement and the discoverer of the mathematical code of the Quran, in less than a year after this fatwa, would be assassinated by a terrorist group affiliated with the Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden on January 31, 1990, in his mosque in Tucson, Arizona.

Bin Baz, in his book, quoted some verses and many hadith to support his position that the earth is fixed. After his expressing his religious verdict of the death penalty for the apostates who believe in a moving earth, he included the following reasoning as his scientific evidence:

"If the world was rotating as they assert, countries, mountains, trees, rivers, seas, nothing would be stable; humans would see the countries in the west in the east, the ones in the east in the west. The position of the qibla would change continuously. In sum, as you see, this claim is false in many respects. But, I do not wish to prolong my words."

Towards the end of the 20th century, a "university" of a Sunni country publishes such nonsense authored by the highest-ranking religious leader of that country! Considering the Ottoman chief clerics banned the import and use of the printing machine for about 300 years, it becomes clear why the so-called Muslim countries are so lagging behind in civilization, socially, politically, and in science and technology.

For a comparative discussion of this verse, see the Sample Comparisons section in the Introduction.

The Bible, because of the tampering of many human hands, contains questionable information about the shape of earth: Isaiah 11:12 ; Matthew 4:8 ; Revelation 7:1 .

See 4:82; 68:1 and 39:5.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:30 And the land after that He spread out.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:30 And after that, the earth: wide has He spread its expanse,
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:30 He made the earth egg-shaped.,1

Note 1
The Arabic word ``dahhaahaa'' is derived from ``Dahhyah'' which means ``egg.''
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:30 And after that, He made the earth shoot out from the Cosmic Nebula and spread it out oval (flattened at the poles – an oblate spheroid).6

Note 6
Dahaha entails all the meanings rendered. 21:30, 41:11

79:31 اخرج منها ماءها ومرعىها

Transcription (English)
79:31 Akhraja minha maahawamarAAaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:31 He brought forth from it its water and pasture.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:31 He brought forth from it its water and pasture.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:31 and has caused its waters to come out of it, and its pastures,14

Note 14
The term "pasture" (mar'a) connotes here, metonymically, all herbal produce suitable for consumption by man or animal (Razi).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:31 From it, He produced its own water and pasture.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:31 And produced from it its own water and pasture.

79:32 والجبال ارسىها

Transcription (English)
79:32 Waaljibala arsaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:32 The mountains He fixed firmly.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:32 And the mountains He fixed firmly.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:32 and has made the mountains firm:
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:32 He established the mountains.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:32 And the mountains He firmly fixed.

79:33 متعا لكم ولانعمكم

Transcription (English)
79:33 MataAAan lakum wali-anAAamikum
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:33 All this to be a provision for you and your livestock.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:33 All this to be a provision for you and your livestock.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:33 [all this] as a means of livelihood for you and your animals.15

Note 15
Implying (as in 80:24) that man ought to be grateful to God, and should always be conscious of His being the Provider: hence the subsequent return of the discourse to the theme of resurrection and ultimate judgment.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:33 All this to provide life support for you and your animals.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:33 A means of livelihood for you and your cattle.

79:34 فاذا جاءت الطامة الكبرى

Transcription (English)
79:34 Fa-itha jaati alttammatualkubra
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:34 Then, when the great blow comes.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:34 Then, when the great blow comes.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:34 AND SO, when the great overwhelming event [of, resurrection] comes to pass –
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:34 Then, when the great blow comes.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:34 And so, when there comes the Great Event,

79:35 يوم يتذكر الانسن ما سعى

Transcription (English)
79:35 Yawma yatathakkaru al-insanu masaAAa
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:35 The day when the human remembers all that he strove for.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:35 The Day when man remembers all that he strove for.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:35 on that Day man will [clearly] remember all that he has ever wrought;
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:35 That is the day when the human will remember everything he did.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:35 On that Day man will remember all that he has ever done. [53:39, 56:63-73]

79:36 وبرزت الجحيم لمن يرى

Transcription (English)
79:36 Waburrizati aljaheemu liman yara
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:36 Hell will be apparent to all who can see.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:36 And Hell will be made apparent for all who can see.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:36 and the blazing fire [of hell] will be lad open before all who [are destined to] see it.16

Note 16
Cf. 26:91- "will be laid open before those who had been lost in grievous error": thus reminding man that suffering in the hereafter ("hell") is the inevitable consequence of spiritual self-destruction through deliberate wrongdoing.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:36 Hell will be brought into existence.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:36 And the Insurmountable Barrier will stand before him to see.7

Note 7
‘Jaheem’ = Insurmountable Barrier. He failed to prime his own ‘self’ for continued progress. 29:54, 39:48, 82:16

79:37 فاما من طغى

79:37 fama mn Tğya
Transcription (English)
79:37 Faamma man tagha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:37 As for the one who transgressed.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:37 As for he who transgressed.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:37 For, unto him who shall have transgressed the bounds of what is right,
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:37 As for the one who transgressed.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:37 Then, the one who rebelled against the Divine laws,

79:38 وءاثر الحيوة الدنيا

Transcription (English)
79:38 Waathara alhayata alddunya
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:38 He was preoccupied with the worldly life.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:38 And was preoccupied with the worldly life.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:38 and preferred the life of this world [to the good of his soul],
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:38 Who was preoccupied with this life.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:38 And fell for instant gratifications,8

Note 8
Hayat-id-duniya = Life of this world = Short term = Instant gains = Disregard of the life to come

79:39 فان الجحيم هى الماوى

Transcription (English)
79:39 Fa-inna aljaheema hiya alma/wa
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:39 Then hell will be the abode.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:39 Then Hell will be the abode.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:39 that blazing fire will truly be the goal!
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:39 Hell will be the abode.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:39 Then the Blazing fire will be his home.

79:40 واما من خاف مقام ربه ونهى النفس عن الهوى

Transcription (English)
79:40 Waama man khafa maqamarabbihi wanaha alnnafsa AAani alhawa
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:40 As for the one who reveredd the majesty of his Lord, and restrained himself from desire.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:40 And as for he who feared the station of his Lord, and prohibited the self from desire.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:40 But unto him who shall have stood in fear of his Sustainer's Presence, and held back his inner self from base desires,
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:40 As for the one who reverenced the majesty of his Lord, and enjoined the self from sinful lusts.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:40 But the one who feared standing before his Lord and restrained his selfish desires,

79:41 فان الجنة هى الماوى

Transcription (English)
79:41 Fa-inna aljannata hiya alma/wa
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:41 The Paradise will be the abode.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:41 The Paradise will be the abode.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:41 paradise will truly be the goal!
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:41 Paradise will be the abode.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:41 The Paradise will be his home.

79:42 يسلونك عن الساعة ايان مرسىها

Transcription (English)
79:42 Yas-aloonaka AAani alssaAAatiayyana mursaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:42 They ask you about the moment: "When is its appointed time?"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:42 They ask you about the Hour: "When is its appointed time?"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:42 THEY WILL ASK thee [O Prophet] about the Last Hour: "When will it come to pass?"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:42 They ask you about the Hour, and when it will take place!,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:42 They ask you of the Hour, “When will it come to pass?”

79:43 فيم انت من ذكرىها

79:43 fym ant mn źkryaha
Transcription (English)
79:43 Feema anta min thikraha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:43 You have no knowledge if it.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:43 You have no knowledge of it.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:43 [But] how couldst thou tell anything about it,17

Note 17
Lit., "wherein [or "whereon"] art thou with regard to stating it (min dhikraha)?"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:43 It is not you (Muhammad) who is destined to announce its time.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:43 Why? What do you have to tell them about it? [7:187, 33:63, 42:17]

79:44 الى ربك منتهىها

79:44 alya rbk mnthyaha
Transcription (English)
79:44 Ila rabbika muntahaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:44 To your Lord is its term.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:44 To your Lord is its term.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:44 [seeing that] with thy Sustainer alone rests the beginning and the end [of all knowledge] thereof?18

Note 18
Lit., "its utmost limit", i.e., the beginning and the end of all that can be known about it. Cf. 7:187 and the corresponding note 153.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:44 Your Lord decides its fate.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:44 Unto your Lord is the final end of it. [53:42]

79:45 انما انت منذر من يخشىها

Transcription (English)
79:45 Innama anta munthiru manyakhshaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:45 You are simply to warn those who fear it.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:45 You are simply to warn those who are concerned by it.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:45 Thou art but [sent] to warn those who stand in awe of it.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:45 Your mission is to warn those who expect it.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:45 You are but a warner to him who stands in awe of it.

79:46 كانهم يوم يرونها لم يلبثوا الا عشية او ضحىها

Transcription (English)
79:46 Kaannahum yawma yarawnaha lamyalbathoo illa AAashiyyatan aw duhaha
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
79:46 For the day they see it, it will be as if they had remained an evening or half a day.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
79:46 For the Day they see it, it will be as if they had remained an evening or half a day.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
79:46 On the Day when they behold it, [it will seem to them] as if they had tarried [in this world] no longer than one evening or [one night, ending with] its morn!19

Note 19
As in many other places in the Qur'an (e.g., in 2:259, 17:52, 18:19, 20:103, 23:112, 30:55 etc.), this is a subtle indication of the illusory, earthbound nature of man's concept of "time" - a concept which, we are told, will lose all its meaning in the context of the ultimate reality comprised in the term "hereafter" (al-akhirah).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
79:46 The day they see it, they will feel as if they lasted one evening or half a day.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
79:46 On the Day when they see it, it will be as if they had lived no longer than an evening or its morning.