Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nahl Verse 36

Mufti Taqi Usmani

We did raise a messenger among every people, with the message: “Worship Allah and stay away from the Rebel (the Satan).” Then, there were some among them whom Allah guided, and there were others against whom deviation (from the right path) was established. So, travel on earth and see how was the fate of those who rejected (the prophets).

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We surely sent a messenger to every community, saying, “Worship Allah and shun false gods.” But some of them were guided by Allah, while others were destined to stray. So travel throughout the land and see the fate of the deniers!

Ruwwad Translation Center

Indeed, We sent to every community a messenger, [saying], “Worship Allah and shun false gods.” Among them were some whom Allah guided, while others were destined to stray. So travel through the land and see how was the end of the deniers!

A. J. Arberry

Indeed, We sent forth among every nation a Messenger,; saying: 'Serve you God, and eschew idols.' Then some. of them God guided, and some were justly disposed to error. So journey in the land, and behold how was the end of them that cried lies.

Abdul Haleem

We sent a messenger to every community, saying, ‘Worship God and shun false gods.’ Among them were some God guided; misguidance took hold of others. So travel through the earth and see what was the fate of those who denied the truth.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And assuredly We have raised in every community an apostle saying: worship Allah and avoid the devil. Then of them were some whom Allah guided, and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. Wherefore travel about on the earth, and look on what wise hath been the end of the disbelievers.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger, (with the Command), "Serve Allah, and eschew Evil"; of the People were some whom Allah guided, and some on whom error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth).

Abul Ala Maududi

We raised a Messenger in every community (to tell them): "Serve Allah and shun the Evil One." Thereafter Allah guided some of them while others were overtaken by error. Go about the earth, then, and observe what was the end of those who rejected the Messengers, calling them liars.

Ahmed Ali

To every community We have sent an apostle. (saying:) "Worship God, and keep away from all other deities." Thus some of them were guided by God, and ruin was justified on some. Travel over the earth and see what befell those who accused (the apostles) of lies.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And indeed We sent to every nation a Noble Messenger (proclaiming) that “Worship Allah and beware of the devil”; therefore Allah guided some of them, and error proved true upon some of them; therefore travel in the land and see what sort of fate befell the deniers!

Ali Quli Qarai

Certainly We raised an apostle in every nation [to preach:] ‘Worship Allah, and shun fake deities.’ Among them were some whom Allah guided, and among them were some who deserved to be in error. So travel over the land and observe how was the fate of the deniers.

Ali Ünal

And certainly, We have raised within every community a Messenger (to convey the primordial Message): Worship God alone, and keep away from false deities and powers of evil (who institute patterns of faith and rule in defiance of God). Among them (past generations) were people whom God guided, just as there were among them those for whom straying was their just due. Go about, then, on the earth and look! How was the outcome for those who denied (God’s manifest signs and His Messengers)!

Amatul Rahman Omar

And We raised a Messenger among every community (teaching,) `Worship Allâh and shun the transgressor (- satan).´ Thus there were some among them whom Allâh guided and there were some among them who were condemned to be lost. So travel in the land and behold how evil was the end of those who cried lies (to the truth).

English Literal

And We had sent in every nation a messenger: "That worship God and avoid/distance (yourselves from) the every thing worshipped other than God/idols ." So from them who God guided, and from them who the misguidance became certain/deserved on him, so walk/move in the earth/Planet Earth, so see/wonder about how was the liars`/deniers` end/turn (result).

Faridul Haque

And indeed We sent to every nation a Noble Messenger (proclaiming) that "Worship Allah and beware of the devil"; therefore Allah guided some of them, and error proved true upon some of them; therefore travel in the land and see what sort of fate befell the deniers!

Hamid S. Aziz

Verily, We have sent to every nation a Messenger, proclaiming, "Serve you Allah, and avoid Taghut (false gods)." And amongst them are some whom Allah has guided, and amongst them are some for whom error has become established. So travel through the earth, and behold what was the end of those who denied them.

Hilali & Khan

And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc.i. e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah)." Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And the idolaters say: Had Allah pleased, we had not served aught but Him, (neither) we nor our fathers, nor had we prohibited aught without (order from) Him. Thus did those before them. But have the messengers any duty except a plain delivery (of the message)?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And certainly We raised in every nation an apostle saying: Serve Allah and shun the Shaitan. So there were some of them whom Allah guided and there were others against whom error was due; therefore travel in the land, then see what was the end of the rejecters.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Serve Allah and shun false gods. Then some of them (there were) whom Allah guided, and some of them (there were) upon whom error had just hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequence for the deniers!

Muhammad Sarwar

To every nation We sent a Messenger who told its people, "Worship God and stay away from satan." Some of them were guided by God and others were doomed to go astray. Travel through the land and see how terrible was the end for those who rejected the truth!

Qaribullah & Darwish

We sent a Messenger to every nation, saying: 'Worship Allah and avoid the idols' Amongst them were some whom Allah guided, and some justly disposed to error. Travel in the land and see what was the end of those who belied (the Revelation and the prophets)!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And We have indeed sent a Messenger to every Ummah (community, nation) (saying): "Worship Allah (Alone), and shun the Taghut (all false deities). " Then among them were some whom Allah guided, and among them were some who deserved to be left to stray. So travel through the land and see the end of those who denied (the truth).

Wahiduddin Khan

We raised among every people a messenger who enjoined, "Worship God alone and shun the evil one." Then among them were some whom God guided and among them were others who became deserving of ruin. So travel across the earth and observe what was the end of those who rejected the messengers.

Talal Itani

To every community We sent a messenger: “Worship God, and avoid idolatry.” Some of them God guided, while others deserved misguidance. So travel through the earth, and see what the fate of the deniers was.

Tafsir jalalayn

And verily We sent forth among every community a messenger, just as We have sent you forth among these [Meccans], [to say]; `Worship God, profess [belief in] His Oneness, and shun false deities', graven images, and do not worship them. Then among them were some whom God guided, and they believed, and among them were some who deserved to be in error, according to God's knowledge, and so they did not believe. So travel, O disbelievers of Mecca, in the land and observe the nature of the consequence of those who denied, their messengers, in that they were destroyed.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الطَّاغُوتَ

And We have indeed sent a Messenger to every Ummah (community, nation) (saying);"Worship Allah (alone), and shun the Taghut (all false deities)."

Allah continued sending Messengers to mankind with this Message, from the first incidence of Shirk that appeared among the Children of Adam, in the people to whom Nuh was sent - the first Messenger sent by Allah to the people of this earth - until He sent the final Messenger, Muhammad, whose call was addressed to both men and Jinn, in the east and in the west. All of the Messengers brought the same Message, as Allah says;

وَمَأ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ

And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We revealed to him (saying);None has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah), so worship Me (alone and none else)." (21;25)

وَاسْيلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَأ أَجَعَلْنَا مِن دُونِ الرَّحْمَـنِ ءَالِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ

And ask (O Muhammad) those Messengers of Ours whom We sent before you;"Did We ever appointed to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious (Allah)" (43;45)

And in this Ayah, Allah says;

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الطَّاغُوتَ

And We have indeed sent a Messenger to every Ummah (community, nation) (saying);"Worship Allah (alone), and shun the Taghut (all false deities)."

So how could any of the idolators say,
لَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا عَبَدْنَا مِن دُونِهِ مِن شَيْءٍ
(If Allah had so willed, we would not have worshipped any but Him),

The legislative will of Allah is clear and cannot be taken as an excuse by them, because He had forbidden them to do that upon the tongue of His Messengers, but by His universal will (i.e., by which He allows things to occur even though they do not please Him). He allowed them to do that as it was decreed for them. So there is no argument in that for them. Allah created Hell and its people both the Shayatin (devils) and disbelievers, but He does not like His servants to disbelieve. And this point constitutes the strongest proof and the most unquestionable wisdom.

Then Allah informs us that He rebuked them with punishment in this world, after the Messengers issued their warning, thus He says;

فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى اللّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّللَةُ فَسِيرُواْ فِي الَارْضِ فَانظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ



Then among them were some whom Allah guided, and among them were some who deserved to be left to stray. So travel through the land and see the end of those who denied (the truth).

This means;ask about what happened to those who went against the Messengers and rejected the truth, see how;

دَمَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلِلْكَـفِرِينَ أَمْثَـلُهَا

Allah destroyed them completely, and a similar (end awaits) the disbelievers. (47;10)

and,

وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نكِيرِ

And indeed those before them belied (the Messengers of Allah), so then how terrible was My denial (punishment). (67;18)

Then Allah told His Messenger

إِن تَحْرِصْ عَلَى هُدَاهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَن يُضِلُّ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ