Al-Qur'an Surah Yunus Verse 11

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And if Allah were to hasten in sending evil to the people, as they hasten in seeking good, their time would have been all over. So, We leave alone those who do not believe in meeting Us to wander blindly in their rebellion.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

If Allah were to hasten evil for people[[ When they pray against themselves or their children, or when they demand to be destroyed. ]] as they wish to hasten good, they would have certainly been doomed. But We leave those who do not expect to meet Us to wander blindly in their defiance.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If Allah were to hasten evil to the people, just as they seek to hasten good, they would have been ruined. But We leave those who do not expect to meet Us to wander blindly in their transgression.

A. J. Arberry

If God should hasten unto men evil as they would hasten good, their term would be already decided for them. But We leave those, who look not to encounter Us, in their insolence wandering blindly.

Abdul Haleem

If God were to hasten on for people the harm [they have earned] as they wish to hasten on the good, their time would already be up. But We leave those who do not expect to meet Us to wander blindly in their excesses.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And were Allah to hasten the ill unto mankind as their desire for hastening the good, their term would surely have been decreed unto them. So we let alone those who hope not for the meeting with Us, wandering in their exorbitance perplexed.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If Allah were to hasten for men the ill (they have earned) as they would fain hasten on the good,- then would their respite be settled at once. But We leave those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us, in their trespasses, wandering in distraction to and fro.

Abul Ala Maududi

Were Allah to hasten to bring upon men (the consequence of) evil in the way men hasten in seeking the wealth of this world, their term would have long since expired. (But that is not Our way.) So We leave alone those who do not expect to meet Us that they may blindly stumble in their transgression.

Ahmed Ali

If God were to hasten the evil, as men try to hasten the good, their term would come to end. So We leave those who do not expect to meet Us to wander perplexed in transgression.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Were Allah to send misfortune to the people as quickly as they hasten for the good*, their appointed term would have been finished; so We leave those who do not expect to meet Us, to wander in their rebellion. (* The way they wish the good to reach them quickly.)

Ali Quli Qarai

Were Allah to hasten ill for mankind with their haste for good, their term would have been over. But We leave those who do not expect to encounter Us bewildered in their rebellion.

Ali Ünal

If God were to hasten for human beings the ill (which they have earned) in the same manner as they hasten (the coming to them of what they consider to be) the good, their term would indeed have been decreed over for them. But We leave those who do not expect to encounter Us in their rebellion blindly wandering.

Amatul Rahman Omar

If Allâh were to hasten on the evil for the people (as a consequence of their evil actions), just as they would seek to hasten on (for themselves) the good, (the end of) their term (of life) would certainly have been brought upon them (forthwith). But We leave alone those who fear not the meeting with Us, nor do they cherish any hope (for the same). They are wandering distractedly in their transgression.

English Literal

And if God hurries/hastens the bad/evil/harm to the people (as) their hurrying/hastening with the good/wealth , their term/time would have been executed/accomplished to them, so We leave those who do not expect meeting Us in their tyranny/arrogance being confused/puzzled .

Faridul Haque

Were Allah to send misfortune to the people as quickly as they hasten for the good *, their appointed term would have been finished; so We leave those who do not expect to meet Us, to wander in their rebellion. (* The way they wish the good to reach them quickly.)

Hamid S. Aziz

Their cry therein shall be, "Glory be to Thee, O Allah!" and their salutation therein shall be, "Peace!" and the end of their cry shall be, "Praise be to Allah, the Lord (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the Worlds!"

Hilali & Khan

And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil (they invoke for themselves and for their children, etc. while in a state of anger) as He hastens for them the good (they invoke) then they would have been ruined. So We leave those who expect not their meeting with Us, in their trespasses, wandering blindly in distraction. (Tafsir At-Tabari; Vol. 11, Page 91)

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Their cry therein will be, Glory to Thee, O Allah! and their greeting, Peace! And the last of their cry will be: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And if Allah should hasten the evil to men as they desire the hastening on of good, their doom should certainly have been decreed for them; but We leave those alone who hope not for Our meeting in their inordinacy, blindly wandering on.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

If Allah were to hasten on for men the ill (that they have earned) as they would hasten on the good, their respite would already have expired. But We suffer those who look not for the meeting with Us to wander blindly on in their contumacy.

Muhammad Sarwar

Had God been as hasty to punish people as they were hasty to achieve good, their life would have already ended. We will leave those who have no hope of receiving Our mercy, in the life hereafter, to continue blindly in their transgression.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If Allah should hasten evil to people as they would hasten good, their term would already have been decided. But We leave those who do not expect to meet Us to wander blindly in their insolence.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil as He hastens for them the good then they would have been ruined. So We leave those who expect not their meeting with Us, in their trespasses, wandering blindly in distraction.

Wahiduddin Khan

Had God hastened the punishment of men as He hastens the good, the end of their term of life would already have been reached. We leave those who do not hope to meet Us groping along in their arrogance.

Talal Itani

If God were to accelerate the ill for the people, as they wish to accelerate the good, their term would have been fulfilled. But We leave those who do not expect Our encounter to blunder in their excesses.

Tafsir jalalayn

When the idolaters sought to hasten [their] chastisement, the following was revealed; And if God should hasten for mankind evil as they would hasten good, their term [of life] would already have been concluded for them (read as the passive, with nominative ajaluhum [sc. la-qudiya ajaluhum]; or read as the active with accusative ajalahum [sc. la-qad ajalahum, `He would have already concluded their term']), by His destroying them, but He gives them respite. But We leave those, who do not expect to encounter Us, to wander blindly in their insolence, hesistant and perplexed.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah does not respond to the Requests for Evil like He does with the Requests for Good

Allah tells;

وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِالْخَيْرِ لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ فَنَذَرُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءنَا فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ




And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil as He hastens for them the good then they would have been ruined. So We leave those who expect not their meeting with Us, in their trespasses, wandering blindly in distraction.

Allah tells us about His Forbearance and Benevolence with His servants. He does not respond to them when they pray with evil intentions against themselves, their wealth or their children during times of grief or anger. He knows that they do not truly intend evil for themselves so He doesn't respond to them. This is in reality kindness and mercy. On the other hand, He responds to them when they pray for themselves, wealth and money, with good, blessing and growth.

Allah has said,

وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِالْخَيْرِ لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ

And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil as He hastens for them the good then they would have been ruined.

This means that if He had responded to all of their evil requests, He would have destroyed them. However, people should avoid praying for evil as much as they can.

Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar recorded in his Musnad that Jabir said,

"Allah's Messenger said;

لَاا تَدْعُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ لَاا تَدْعُوا عَلَى أَوْلَاادِكُمْ لَاا تَدْعُوا عَلَى أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَاا تُوَافِقُوا مِنَ اللهِ سَاعَةً فِيهَا إِجَابَةٌ فَيَسْتَجِيبَ لَكُم

Do not pray against yourselves, do not pray against your children, do not pray against your wealth, for your prayer may coincide with a time of response from Allah and Allah will respond to you."

This Hadith was also recorded by Abu Dawud.

This is similar to what is understood from the following Ayah;

وَيَدْعُ الاِنْسَـنُ بِالشَّرِّ دُعَأءَهُ بِالْخَيْرِ

And man invokes (Allah) for evil as he invokes (Allah) for good. (17;11)

In regard to the interpretation of this Ayah,
وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِالْخَيْرِ
(And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil as He hastens for them the good), Mujahid said;

"It is the man saying to his son or money when he is angry, `O Allah don't bless him (or it) and curse him (or it).' Should Allah respond to this man in this request as He responds to him with good, He would destroy them.