Al-Qur'an Surah Ar-Ra'd Verse 42

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Those before them did devise plans, but all the real plans belong only to Allah. He knows what every soul earns, and the disbelievers will soon know for whom is the excellent end.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Those ˹disbelievers˺ before them ˹secretly˺ planned, but Allah has the ultimate plan. He knows what every soul commits. And the disbelievers will soon know who will have the ultimate outcome.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Those who came before them did devise plans, but Allah has the ultimate plan. He knows what every soul does, and the disbelievers will come to know who will have the final abode.

A. J. Arberry

Those that were before them devised; but God's is the devising altogether. He knows what every soul earns. The unbelievers shall assuredly know whose will be the Ultimate Abode.

Abdul Haleem

Those before them also schemed, but the overall scheme belongs to God: He knows what each soul does. In the end, the disbelievers will find out who will have the excellent home.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And of a surety there plotted those before them; but unto Allah belongeth the plotting entirely. He knoweth that which each soul earneth. And anon will the infidels know for whom is the happy ending of the Abode.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Those before them did (also) devise plots; but in all things the master-planning is Allah's He knoweth the doings of every soul; and soon will the Unbelievers know who gets home in the end.

Abul Ala Maududi

Those who lived before them also devised many a plot, but the master plot rests with Allah. He knows what everyone does. The deniers of the truth will soon come to know whose end is good.

Ahmed Ali

Surely those who had gone before them had also plotted; but God's is all the planning, for He has knowledge of what each does. The unbelievers will soon learn for whom is the guerdon of Paradise.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And indeed those before them had plotted; therefore Allah Himself is the Master of all strategies; He knows all what every soul earns; and soon will the disbelievers realise for whom is the final abode.

Ali Quli Qarai

Those who were before them [also] schemed; yet all devising belongs to Allah. He knows what every soul earns. Soon the faithless will know in whose favour the outcome of that abode will be.

Ali Ünal

Those who were before them plotted (just as their descendants now do), but all schemes are owned by God (Who brings them to nothing and enforces His own "scheme"). He knows what every soul earns (by its intentions and deeds). So the unbelievers will know whose is the ultimate, everlasting abode.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And their predecessors did devise plans (against the truth) but all effective devising (and the success) of the plans rests with Allâh. He knows what every person accomplishes. The disbelievers will soon come to know who will gain the (good and successful) end of this abode.

English Literal

And those from before them had cheated/deceived/schemed, so to God (is) all the cheatery/deceit/scheme. He knows what every self gains/acquires , and the disbelievers will know to whom (is) the house`s/home`s end/turn (result).

Faridul Haque

And indeed those before them had plotted; therefore Allah Himself is the Master of all strategies; He knows all what every soul earns; and soon will the disbelievers realise for whom is the final abode.

Hamid S. Aziz

And those who were before them plotted; but all plotting is Allah´s! He knows what every soul earns; and the disbelievers shall come to know who comes Home in the end.

Hilali & Khan

And verily, those before them did devise plots, but all planning is Allah's. He knows what every person earns, and the disbelievers will know who gets the good end (final destination).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

See they not that We are visiting the land, curtailing it of its sides? And Allah pronounces a doom -- there is no repeller of His decree. And He is Swift in calling to account.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And those before them did indeed make plans, but all planning is Allah's; He knows what every soul earns, and the unbelievers shall come to know for whom is the (better) issue of the abode.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Those who were before them plotted; but all plotting is Allah's. He knoweth that which each soul earneth. The disbelievers will come to know for whom will be the sequel of the (heavenly) Home.

Muhammad Sarwar

Certain people who lived before plotted evil plans but God is the Master of all plans. He knows what every soul does. The unbelievers will soon learn who will achieve the blissful end.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Those who have gone before them devised, but to Allah is the devising altogether. He knows what every soul earns. The unbelievers shall know without doubt for whom is the Ultimate Abode.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And verily, those before them did devise plots, but all planning is Allah's. He knows what every person earns, and the disbelievers will know who gets the good end (final destination).

Wahiduddin Khan

Those before them did also devise plots; but in all things the master planning is God's. He knows what each soul does. Those who deny the truth shall soon know for whom is the final abode.

Talal Itani

Those before them planned, but the entire plan is up to God. He knows what every soul earns. Those who disbelieve will know to whom the Ultimate Home is.

Tafsir jalalayn

And indeed those that were before them, of communities, plotted, against their prophets just as they plot against you; but to God belongs all plotting. And nor is their plotting like the plotting of God, for, exalted be He, He knows what every soul earns, and so its requital is prepared for it, and this is the ultimate plotting, since He brings it to them whence they are not aware. The disbeliever (the genus is meant here; a variant reading has kuffr [`the disbelievers']) shall assuredly know for whom shall be the sequel of the [heavenly] Abode, that is, the praiseworthy sequel in the abode of the Hereafter; will it be theirs or that of the Prophet (s) and his Companions?

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Disbelievers plot, but the Believers gain the Good End

Allah says,

وَقَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ

And verily, those before them did devise plots,

against their Messengers, they wanted to expel them from their land, but Allah devised plots against the disbelievers and gave the good end to those who fear Him.

Allah said in other Ayat,

وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَـكِرِينَ

And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out; they were plotting and Allah too was plotting; and Allah is the Best of those who plot. (8;30)

and,

وَمَكَرُواْ مَكْراً وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْراً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَـهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily, We destroyed them and their nation, all together. (27;50,51)

فَلِلّهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًا

but all planning is Allah's.

Allah said next,

يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ

He knows what every person earns,

meaning, He alone knows all secrets and concealed thoughts and will reckon each person according to his work,

وَسَيَعْلَمُ الْكُفَّارُ

and the Kuffar (disbeliever) will know ,

لِمَنْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ



who gets the good end.

who will earn the ultimate and final victory, they or the followers of the Messengers. Indeed, the followers of the Messengers will earn the good end in this life and the Hereafter, all thanks and praise is due to Allah