Al-Qur'an Surah Ibrahim Verse 21

Mufti Taqi Usmani

All of them shall appear before Allah. Then, the weak shall say to the arrogant, “We were your followers. So, can you relieve us a little from Allah’s punishment?” They will say, “Had Allah guided us, we would have guided you. It is all the same for us whether we deplore or endure, we have no way out.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They will all appear before Allah, and the lowly ˹followers˺ will appeal to the arrogant ˹leaders˺, “We were your ˹dedicated˺ followers, so will you ˹then˺ protect us from Allah’s torment in any way?” They will reply, “Had Allah guided us, we would have guided you. ˹Now˺ it is all the same for us whether we suffer patiently or impatiently, there is no escape for us.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

All will appear before Allah, then those who were weak will say to those who were arrogant, “We were your followers; can you avail us anything against the punishment of Allah?” They will say, “If Allah had guided us, we would have guided you. It is all the same for us whether we cry or suffer patiently, we have no escape.”

A. J. Arberry

They sally forth unto God, all together; then say the weak to those who waxed proud, 'We were your followers; will you avail us against the chastisement of God anything?' They say, 'If God had guided us, we would have guided you. Alike it is for us whether we cannot endure, or whether we are patient; we have no asylum.'

Abdul Haleem

When they all appear before Him, the weak will say to the powerseekers, ‘We were your followers. Can you protect us from any of God’s punishment?’ They will reply, ‘If God had guided us, we would have guided you. It makes no difference now whether we rage or endure with patience: there is no escape.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And they all shall appear before Allah, then those who were counted weak shall say to those who were stiff-necked: verily we were unto you a following, are ye going to avail us at all against the torment of AllAh? They Will say: had Allah guided, We would have guided you also; it is equal unto us whether we become impatient or bear patiently; for us there is no place of escape.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They will all be marshalled before Allah together; then will the weak say to those who were arrogant, "For us, we but followed you; can ye then avail us to all against the wrath of Allah?" They will reply, "If we had received the Guidance of Allah, we should have given it to you; to us it makes no difference (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience; for ourselves there is no way of escape."

Abul Ala Maududi

Then all of them will appear exposed before Allah, and the weak ones will say to the haughty ones: "We merely followed you. Will you, then, protect us from Allah's chastisement?" They will say: "Had Allah shown us the Way to our salvation, we would surely have also guided you. Now it is all the same whether we cry or suffer patiently, we have no escape."

Ahmed Ali

When they will all appear before God together, the weak will say to those who were arrogant: "We were your followers, so can you now save us a little from God's punishment?" They will say: "If we had been guided by God we would surely have shown you the way. To lament or endure is all the same to us now. No getting away is there for us."

Ahmed Raza Khan

They will all publicly come in the presence of Allah – then those who were weak will say to those who were the leaders, “We were your followers – is it possible for you to avert some of Allah’s punishment from us?” They will answer, “If Allah had guided us, we would have guided you; it is the same for us, whether we panic or patiently endure – we have no place of refuge.” (* This conversation will take place between the disbelievers and their leaders.)

Ali Quli Qarai

Together they will be presented before Allah. Then those who were weak will say to the arrogant [leaders], ‘Indeed we were your followers. So will you avail us against Allah’s punishment in any wise?’ They will say, ‘Had Allah guided us, surely we would have guided you. It is the same to us whether we are restless or patient: there is no escape for us.’

Ali Ünal

They will appear before God all together. Then those who were weak (in the world and followed the arrogant oppressors in their misguidance) will say to those who were arrogant and oppressed others: "We used to follow your lead: can you now avert from us anything of God’s punishment?" The others will answer: "If God had guided us (to the way to be saved), we would indeed have guided you to it. It is all the same for us now whether we are anguished (about it) or endure with patience; there is no escape for us!"

Amatul Rahman Omar

(Beware of the Day when) the people shall appear before Allâh in a body so that the weak shall say to those who considered themselves great, `We were your followers definitely. Can you not help (to save) us (today) in any manner against the punishment of Allâh?´ They will reply, `Had Allâh guided us (to a way of deliverance) we would have surely guided you. It makes no difference for us (now) whether we show impatience or remain patient. There is no way of escape for us (this day).´

English Literal

And they emerged/appeared to God all together , so the weak said to those who were arrogant: "That we, we were for you following, so are you sufficing/availing (helping) from us from (against) God`s torture from a thing?" They said: "If God guided us, we would have guided you, (it is) equal on (to) us if we became grievous worried and impatient or we were patient, (there is) none from an escape/diversion for us."

Faridul Haque

They will all publicly come in the presence of Allah - then those who were weak will say to those who were the leaders, "We were your followers - is it possible for you to avert some of Allah’s punishment from us?" They will answer, "If Allah had guided us, we would have guided you; it is the same for us, whether we panic or patiently endure - we have no place of refuge." (* This conversation will take place between the disbelievers and their leaders.)

Hamid S. Aziz

They will all come forth unto their Lord; and the despised (or weak) say to those who were scornful (or inflated with pride), "We were but followers of your s, can you now avail us aught against Allah´s torment?" They say, "If Allah had guided us we would have guided you. It is now the same for us whether we rage or whether we are penitent, we have no escape."

Hilali & Khan

And they all shall appear before Allah (on the Day of Resurrection) then the weak will say to those who were arrogant (chiefs): "Verily, we were following you; can you avail us anything from Allah's Torment?" They will say: "Had Allah guided us, we would have guided you. It makes no difference to us (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience, there is no place of refuge for us."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And that is not difficult for Allah.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And they shall all come forth before Allah, then the weak shall say to those who were proud: Surely we were your followers, can you therefore avert from us any part of the chastisement of Allah? They would say: If Allah had guided us, we too would have guided you; it is the same to us whether we are impatient (now) or patient, there is no place for us to fly to.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

They all come forth unto their Lord. Then those who were despised say unto those who were scornful: We were unto you a following, can ye then avert from us aught of Allah's doom? They say: Had Allah guided us, we should have guided you. Whether we rage or patiently endure is (now) all one for us; we have no place of refuge.

Muhammad Sarwar

(On the Day of Judgment) everyone will appear before God and those who have been suppressed will say to their oppressors, "We were your followers, can you do anything to rescue us from the torment of God?" They will reply, "Had God guided us, we would also have guided you. It makes no difference whether we cry for help or exercise patience; there is no escape for us."

Qaribullah & Darwish

Together they shall all come before Allah. Then the weak will say to those who were proud: 'We were your followers. Can you help us in anything against the punishment of Allah' They will say: 'Had Allah guided us we would have guided you. It is now the same for us whether we cannot endure or bear patiently, we have no place of refuge'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And they all shall appear before Allah; then the weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Verily, we were following you; can you avail us anything against Allah's torment" They will say: "Had Allah guided us, we would have guided you. It makes no difference to us (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience; there is no place of refuge for us."

Wahiduddin Khan

They shall all appear before God and the weak will say to those who behaved proudly, "We were your followers. Can you protect us from God's punishment?" They will reply, "Had God given us guidance, we would have guided you. It is all the same whether we are patient or impatient; there is no escape for us."

Talal Itani

They will emerge before God, altogether. The weak will say to those who were proud, “We were your followers, can you protect us at all against God’s punishment?” They will say, “Had God guided us, we would have guided you. It is the same for us; whether we mourn, or are patient; there is no asylum for us.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And they, that is, [all] creatures, sally forth to God (wa-baraz; this, and what follows, is expressed in the past tense because it will come to pass) all together; then the weak, the followers, say to those who were arrogant, those who were followed; `Indeed we were your followers (taba`an is the plural of tbi`). Will you then avail, defend, us against the chastisement of God in any way?' (min `adhbi'Llhi min shay'in; the first min is explicative, while the second one is partitive). They, the ones followed, say, `If God had guided us, we would have guided you, we would have called you to [right] guidance. It is the same for us whether we rage [impatiently] or patiently endure; we do not have any asylum', [any] refuge (min mahs, `any asylum', min is extra).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Disbelieving Chiefs and Their Followers will dispute in the Fire

Allah said,

وَبَرَزُواْ لِلّهِ جَمِيعًا

And they all shall appear before Allah;

meaning, all the creatures, the wicked and the righteous among them, will appear before Allah the One, the Irresistible. They will be gathered on a flat plain that does not have anything those present could use for cover,

فَقَالَ الضُّعَفَاء

then the weak will say,

the followers who used to obey their chiefs, leaders and notables will say,

لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ

to those who were arrogant,

who rebelled against worshipping Allah alone without partners and obeying the Messengers,

إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا

Verily, we were following you,

we obeyed your orders and implemented them,

فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ اللّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ

can you avail us anything against Allah's torment!

They will ask, `can you prevent any of Allah's torment from striking us as you used to promise and vow to us!'

قَالُواْ

They will say;

the leaders will say in response,

لَوْ هَدَانَا اللّهُ لَهَدَيْنَاكُمْ

Had Allah guided us, we would have guided you.

but the statement of our Lord shall come to pass concerning us, and the destiny that He has appointed for us and you shall come true; the word of punishment shall befall the disbelievers,

سَوَاء عَلَيْنَأ أَجَزِعْنَا أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ



It makes no difference to us (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience; there is no place of refuge for us.

we have no means of escape from what we are in, whether we face it with patience or grief.'

I (Ibn Kathir) say that it appears that this conversation will occur in the Fire after they enter it, just as Allah said in other Ayat,

وَإِذْ يَتَحَأجُّونَ فِى النَّـارِ فَيَقُولُ الضُّعَفَاءُ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْـبَرُواْ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعاً فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا نَصِيباً مِّنَ النَّارِ

قَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ إِنَّا كُلٌّ فِيهَأ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ حَكَمَ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ

And, when they will dispute in the Fire, the weak will say to those who were arrogant;"Verily, we followed you, can you then take from us some portion of the Fire!"

Those who were arrogant will say;"We are all (together) in this (Fire)! Verily, Allah has judged between (His) servants!" (40;47-48)

قَالَ ادْخُلُواْ فِى أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مِّن الْجِنِّ وَالاِنْسِ فِى النَّارِ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَتْ أُمَّةٌ لَّعَنَتْ أُخْتَهَا حَتَّى إِذَا ادَّارَكُواْ فِيهَا جَمِيعًا قَالَتْ أُخْرَاهُمْ لاٍّولَـهُمْ رَبَّنَا هَـوُلاءِ أَضَلُّونَا فَـَاتِهِمْ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا مِّنَ النَّارِ قَالَ لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَـكِن لاَّ تَعْلَمُونَ

وَقَالَتْ أُولَـهُمْ لاٌّخْرَاهُمْ فَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِن فَضْلٍ فَذُوقُواْ الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ

(Allah) will say;

"Enter you in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and Jinn, into the Fire."

Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister nation (that went before) until they will be gathered all together in the Fire. The last of them will say to the first of them;

"Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire."

He will say;"For each one there is double (torment), but you know not."

The first of them will say to the last of them;"You were not better than us, so taste the torment for what you used to earn." (7;38-39)

and,

وَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَأ إِنَّأ أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلْ

رَبَّنَأ ءَاتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ وَالْعَنْهُمْ لَعْناً كَبِيراً

Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) way.

Our Lord! Give them a double torment and curse them with a mighty curse! (33;67-68)

Disbelievers will also dispute on the Day of Gathering,

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَن نُّوْمِنَ بِهَـذَا الْقُرْءَانِ وَلَا بِالَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الظَّـلِمُونَ مَوْقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يَرْجِعُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ الْقَوْلَ يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ لَوْلَا أَنتُمْ لَكُنَّا مُوْمِنِينَ


قَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُواْ أَنَحْنُ صَدَدنَـكُمْ عَنِ الْهُدَى بَعْدَ إِذْ جَأءَكُمْ بَلْ كُنتُمْ مُّجْرِمِينَ


وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ بَلْ مَكْرُ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَأ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُ أَندَاداً وَأَسَرُّواْ النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُاْ اْلَعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا الاٌّغْلَـلَ فِى أَعْنَاقِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ


But if you could see when the wrongdoers will be made to stand before their Lord, how they will cast the (blaming) word one to another!

Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant;"Had it not been for you, we certainly have been believers!"

And those who were arrogant will say to those who were deemed weak;"Did we keep you back from guidance after it had come to you! Nay, but you were wrongdoers."

Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant;"Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day;when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals to Him!"

And We shall put iron collars round the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught except what they used to do! (34;31-33)