Surah 10. Yunus, Ayah 24
| إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالْأَنْعَامُ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَخَذَتِ الْأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَازَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَا أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَيْهَا أَتَاهَا أَمْرُنَا لَيْلًا أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَاهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَنْ لَمْ تَغْنَ بِالْأَمْسِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ |
| Transliteration | : | 'inna-maa mathal al- h.ayaah ad- dunyaa ka- maa' anzalnaa -hu min as- samaa' fa- ikhtalat.a bi- -hi nabaat al- 'ard. min maa ya'kul an- naas wa- al- ancaam h.attaa 'idhaa 'akhadhat al- 'ard. zukhruf -haa wa- izzayyanat wa- z.anna 'ahl -haa 'anna -hum qaadiron calay -haa 'ataa -haa 'amr -naa layl(an) 'aw nahaar(an) fa- jacalnaa -haa h.as.ed(an) ka-'an lam taghna bi- al- 'ams ka- dhaalika nufas.s.il al- 'aayaat li- qawm yatafakkaron |
| Pickthall | : | The similitude of the life of the world is only as water which We send down from the sky, then the earth's growth of that which men and cattle eat mingleth with it till, when the earth hath taken on her ornaments and is embellished, and her people deem that they are masters of her, Our commandment cometh by night or by day and we make it as reaped corn as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We expound the revelations for people who reflect. |
| Asad | : | The parable of the life of this world is but that of rain which We send down from the sky, and which is absorbed by the plants of the earth37 whereof men and animals draw nourishment, until - when the earth has assumed its artful adornment and has been embellished, and they who dwell on it believe that they have gained mastery over it38 - there comes down upon it Our judgment, by night or by day, and We cause it to become [like] a field mown down, as if there had been no yesterday.39 Thus clearly do We spell out these messages unto people who think! |
| Malik | : | The example of this worldly life (which you love so much that you have even become neglectful of Our signs) is like the water which We send down from the sky; it mingles with the soil and produces vegetation which becomes the food for men and animals. Then, at the very time when the crops are ripened and the land looks attractive, the people to whom it belongs think that they are able to cultivate it, and there comes Our scourge upon it, by night or in broad day, and We mow it down thoroughly as if nothing existed there yesterday! Thus do We spell out Our signs for those who are thoughtful. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | The likeness of the life of the present is as the rain which We send down from the skies: by its mingling arises the produce of the earth which provides food for men and animals: (it grows) till the earth is clad with its golden ornaments and is decked out (in beauty): the people to whom it belongs think they have all powers of disposal over it: there reaches it Our command by night or by day and We make it like a harvest clean-mown as if it had not flourished only the day before! Thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who reflect. 1412 |
Note - 37Lit., "with which the plants of the earth mingle".
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Note - 38I.e., they come to believe that they have gained "mastery
over nature", with no conceivable limits to what they may
yet achieve. It is to be borne in mind that the term
zukhruf bears almost invariably a connotation of
artificiality - a connotation which in this case is
communicated to the subsequent verb izzayyanat. Thus, the
whole of the above parabolic sentence may be understood
as alluding to the artificial, illusory "adornment"
brought about by man's technological efforts, not in
collaboration with nature but, rather, in hostile
"confrontation" with it.
|
Note - 39Lit., "as if it had not been in existence yesterday": a
phrase used in classical Arabic to describe something
that has entirely disappeared or perished (Taj al-'Arus).
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Note - 1412Another beautiful Parable, explaining the nature of our
present life. The rain comes down in drops and mingles
with the earth. Through it, by Allah's matchless
artistry, the womb of the earth is made fruitful. All
kinds of good, useful, and beautiful grains, vegetables,
and fruits are produced for men and animals. The earth is
covered in its bravery of green and gold and all kinds of
colours. Perhaps the "owner" takes all the credit to
himself, and thinks that this will last eternally. A
hailstorm or a blast, a frost or a volcanic eruption,
comes and destroys it, or it may be even normally, that
the time of harvest comes, and the fields and orchards
are stripped bare by some blight or disease. Where is the
beauty and bravery of yesterday? All that is left is dust
and ashes! What more can we get from this physical
material life?
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I.e., they come to believe that they have gained "mastery over nature", with no conceivable limits to what they may yet achieve. It is to be borne in mind that the term zukhruf bears almost invariably a connotation of artificiality - a connotation which in this case is communicated to the subsequent verb izzayyanat. Thus, the whole of the above parabolic sentence may be understood as alluding to the artificial, illusory "adornment" brought about by man's technological efforts, not in collaboration with nature but, rather, in hostile "confrontation" with it. |
| |
Another beautiful Parable, explaining the nature of our present life. The rain comes down in drops and mingles with the earth. Through it, by Allah's matchless artistry, the womb of the earth is made fruitful. All kinds of good, useful, and beautiful grains, vegetables, and fruits are produced for men and animals. The earth is covered in its bravery of green and gold and all kinds of colours. Perhaps the "owner" takes all the credit to himself, and thinks that this will last eternally. A hailstorm or a blast, a frost or a volcanic eruption, comes and destroys it, or it may be even normally, that the time of harvest comes, and the fields and orchards are stripped bare by some blight or disease. Where is the beauty and bravery of yesterday? All that is left is dust and ashes! What more can we get from this physical material life? |
