Al-Qur'an Surah Yunus Verse 21

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Once We cause people to taste a blessing after a hardship having afflicted them, they at once start devising plans against Our verses. Say, Allah is swifter in implementing His plan. Indeed, Our messengers (angels) record whatever you intrigue.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When We give people a taste of mercy after being afflicted with a hardship, they swiftly devise plots against Our revelations! Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Allah is swifter in devising ˹punishment˺. Surely Our messenger-angels record whatever you devise.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

When We give people a taste of mercy after being afflicted with adversity, they start plotting against Our verses. Say, “Allah is swifter in planning [retribution]. Our angel-messengers record whatever you plot.”

A. J. Arberry

When We let the people taste mercy after hardship has visited them, lo, they have a device concerning Our signs. Say: 'God is swifter at devising; surely Our messengers are writing down what you are devising.'

Abdul Haleem

No sooner do We let people taste some mercy after some hardship has afflicted them, than they begin to scheme against Our revelations. Say, ‘God schemes even faster.’ Our messengersrecord all your scheming.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And when We let mankind taste of mercy after an adversity hath touched them, forthwith they have a plot with regard to his signs. Say thou: Allah is swifter in plotting. Verily Our mesengers write down that which ye plot.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When We make mankind taste of some mercy after adversity hath touched them, behold! they take to plotting against Our Signs! Say; "Swifter to plan is Allah!" Verily, Our messengers record all the plots that ye make!

Abul Ala Maududi

No sooner than We bestow mercy on a people after hardship has hit them than they begin to scheme against Our signs. Tell them: 'Allah is swifter in scheming. Our angels are recording all your intriguing.

Ahmed Ali

When We let them taste Our mercy after affliction, they contrive against Our signs. Say: "God is swifter at contriving," for Our angels record everything you plan.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when We give mankind the taste of mercy after some hardship which had afflicted them, they immediately start conspiring against Our signs; proclaim, “The secret plan of Allah is the fastest”; indeed Our angels record your scheming.

Ali Quli Qarai

When We let people taste [Our] mercy after a distress that has befallen them, behold, they scheme against Our signs! Say, ‘Allah is more swift at devising.’ Indeed Our messengers write down what you scheme.

Ali Ünal

Whenever We let the (unbelieving) people taste an act of grace after a hardship which has visited them, they at once contrive some plot against Our Revelations. Say: "God is more swift in enforcing His will (and making any plot rebound on those who conceived it)." Surely Our (heavenly) envoys (angels) are recording what they are devising.

Amatul Rahman Omar

When We show mercy to people after adversity has visited them, they at once start scheming (devices) against Our revelations. Say, `Allâh is Quicker at scheming (counter-devices). Indeed Our messengers (- the angels appointed for the purpose) are recording all that you devise.

English Literal

And if We made the people taste/experience mercy from after calamity/disastrous distress touched them, then for them (is) cheatery/deceit/schemes in Our verses/evidences . Say: "God (is) quicker/faster (in) cunning/scheming , that Our messengers write what you cheat/ deceive/scheme."

Faridul Haque

And when We give mankind the taste of mercy after some hardship which had afflicted them, they immediately start conspiring against Our signs; proclaim, "The secret plan of Allah is the fastest"; indeed Our angels record your scheming.

Hamid S. Aziz

They say, "If only a sign had been sent down upon him from his Lord?" Say, "The unseen belongs only to Allah; but wait you for a while. Verily, I, too, am waiting with you!"

Hilali & Khan

And when We let mankind taste of mercy after some adversity has afflicted them, behold! They take to plotting against Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)! Say: "Allah is more Swift in planning!" Certainly, Our Messengers (angels) record all of that which you plot.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they say: Why is not a sign sent to him from his Lord? Say: The unseen is only for Allah, so wait; surely I too with you am of those who wait.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when We make people taste of mercy after an affliction touches them, lo! they devise plans against Our communication. Say: Allah is quicker to plan; surely Our apostles write down what you plan.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy after some adversity which had afflicted them, behold! they have some plot against Our revelations. Say: Allah is more swift in plotting. Lo! Our messengers write down that which ye plot.

Muhammad Sarwar

When people are granted mercy after having suffered hardship, they begin to plot against Our revelations. Say, "God is the most swift in His plans." Our angelic messengers record all that you plot.

Qaribullah & Darwish

When We let people taste (Our) mercy after they had been afflicted by hardship, they devise against Our verses. Say: 'Allah is more swift in devising' Indeed, Our Messengers (the angels) are writing down whatever you devise.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And when We let mankind taste mercy after some adversity has afflicted them, behold! They take to plotting against Our Ayat! Say: "Allah is more swift in planning!" Certainly, Our messengers (angels) record all of that which you plot.

Wahiduddin Khan

Whenever We let mankind taste mercy after some adversity has afflicted them, they forthwith turn to devising false arguments against Our signs. Say, "God is swifter in His devising! Our angels are recording your intrigues."

Talal Itani

When We make the people taste mercy after some adversity has touched them, they begin to scheme against Our revelations. Say, “God is swifter in scheming.” Our envoys are writing down what you scheme.

Tafsir jalalayn

And when We made people, that is, the disbelievers of Mecca, taste of mercy, [of] rain and fertility, after adversity, misery and drought, that had afflicted them, behold! they have some plot concerning Our signs, in the way of mockery and denial. Say, to them; `God is swifter at plotting, at requiting; surely Our, guardian, messengers are writing down that which you are plotting' (tamkurn, is also read yamkurn, `they are plotting').

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Man changes when He receives Mercy after Times of Distress

Allah tells;

وَإِذَا أَذَقْنَا النَّاسَ رَحْمَةً مِّن بَعْدِ ضَرَّاء مَسَّتْهُمْ


And when We let mankind taste mercy after some adversity has afflicted them,

Allah tells us that when He makes men feel His mercy after being afflicted with distress,

إِذَا لَهُم مَّكْرٌ فِي ايَاتِنَا

behold! They take to plotting against Our Ayat.

The coming of mercy after distress is like the coming of ease after hardship, fertility after aridity, and rain after drought.

Mujahid said that;

man's attitude indicates a mockery and belying of blessings.

The meaning here is similar to Allah's statement;

وَإِذَا مَسَّ الاِنسَـنَ الضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنبِهِ أَوْ قَاعِدًا أَوْ قَأيِمًا

And when harm touches man, he invokes Us, lying on his side, or sitting or standing. (10;12)

Al-Bukhari recorded that;

Allah's Messenger led the Subh (Dawn) prayer after it had rained during the night, then he said;

هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ




Do you know what your Lord has said last night?

They replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better."

He said;

قَالَ أَصْبَحَ مِنْ عِبَادِي مُوْمِنٌ بِي وَكَافِرٌ

فَأَمَّا مَنْ قَالَ مُطِرْنَا بِفَضْلِ اللهِ وَرَحْمَتِهِ فَذَاكَ مُوْمِنٌ بِي كَافِرٌ بِالْكَوْكَبِ وَأَمَّا مَنْ قَالَ مُطِرْنَا بِنَوْءِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَذَاكَ كَافِرٌ بِي مُوْمِنٌ بِالْكَوْكَب

Allah said; "This morning, some of My servants have become believers and some disbelievers in Me.

He who said;`We have had this rainfall due to the grace and mercy of Allah' is a believer in Me and a disbeliever in the stars. And he who said `we have had this rainfall due to the rising of such and such star' is a disbeliever in Me and a believer in the stars.

The Ayah;

قُلِ اللّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَكْرًا

Say;"Allah is more swift in planning!"

means that Allah is more capable of gradually seizing them with punishment, while granting them concession of a delay until the criminals think that they would not be punished. But in reality they are in periods of respite, then they will be taken suddenly.

إنَّ رُسُلَنَا يَكْتُبُونَ مَا تَمْكُرُونَ



Certainly, Our messengers (angels) record all of that which you plot.

The noble writers (meaning the angels who write the deeds) will write everything that they do and keep count of their deeds. Then they will present it before the All-Knowing of the seen and unseen worlds. The Lord will then reward them for the significant deeds and even the seemingly insignificant that may be as tiny as a spot on a date pit.

Allah further states