Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Isra Verse 51

Mufti Taqi Usmani

or any creation you deem harder in your hearts.” Thereupon they will ask, “Who will bring us back?” Say, “The One who created you for the first time.” So, they will shake their heads before you and say, “When shall that be?” Say, “May be, it is near.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

or whatever you think is harder to bring to life!” Then they will ask ˹you˺, “Who will bring us back ˹to life˺?” Say, “The One Who created you the first time.” They will then shake their heads at you and ask, “When will that be?” Say, “Perhaps it is soon!”

Ruwwad Translation Center

or any other substance you think is harder to bring back to life.” They will then say, “Who will bring us back [to life]?” Say, “The One Who created you the first time.” They will shake their heads at you and say, “When will that be?” Say, “Perhaps it is soon.”

A. J. Arberry

or some creation yet more monstrous in your minds!' Then they will say, 'Who will bring us back?' Say: 'He who originated you the first time.' Then they will shake their heads at thee, and they will say, 'When will it be?' Say: 'It is possible that it may be nigh,

Abdul Haleem

or any other substance you think hard to bring to life.’ Then they will say, ‘Who will bring us back?’ Say, ‘The One who created you the first time.’ Then they will shake their heads at you and say, ‘When will that be?’ Say, ‘It may well be very soon:

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Or anything created of the things more remote in your breasts. Then they will say: who will restore us! Say thou: He who created you the first time. Then they will wag their heads at thee and say; when will it be! Say thou: belike it is nigh-

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Or created matter which, in your minds, is hardest (to be raised up),- (Yet shall ye be raised up)!" then will they say; "Who will cause us to return?" Say; "He who created you first!" Then will they wag their heads towards thee, and say, "When will that be?" Say, "May be it will be quite soon!

Abul Ala Maududi

or any other form of creation you deem hardest of all (to recreate from)." They will certainly ask: "Who will bring us back (to life)?" Say: "He Who created you in the first instance." They will shake their heads at you and inquire: "When will that be?" Say: "Perhaps that time might have drawn near;

Ahmed Ali

Or some other created thing which may seem to you most difficult (to create)!" They will then say: "Who will revert us back?" Say: "He who originated you in the first place." They will shake their heads at you and say: "When will that be?" Say: "In the near future, perhaps,

Ahmed Raza Khan

“Or some other creation which you deem great”; so they will now say, “Who will create us again?”; proclaim, “He Who created you for the first time”; so now they will mockingly shake their heads at you, and question, “When is this going to occur?”; say, “It could perhaps be soon.”

Ali Quli Qarai

or a creature more fantastic to your minds!’ They will say, ‘Who will bring us back?’ Say, ‘He who originated you the first time.’ They will nod their heads at you, and say, ‘When will that be?’ Say, ‘Maybe it is near!

Ali Ünal

"Or any other created substance which, in your minds, is greater (in its resistance to being given life)." Then they will say: "Who will bring us back to life?" Say: "He Who originated you in the first instance with a unique individuality." They will shake their heads at you (in amazement and derision) and say: "When will that be?" Say: "It may well be soon,

Amatul Rahman Omar

`Or some other creation yet more hard (that you can possibly conceive) in your mind, (even then you shall be raised to a new life).´ Thereupon they will say, `Who will restore us (to life)?´ Say, `The same Who originated you the first time.´ At this, then, they will shake their heads at you (expressing wonder and disbelief in being raised) and will say, `When will it come to pass?´ Say, `May be it is near.´

English Literal

Or a creation from what enlarges in your chests (innermosts). So they will say: "Who returns/repeats us?" Say: "Who created you/brought you into life (the) first time." So they will shake/shiver their heads to you in wonderment and say: "When/at what time it is?" Say: "Maybe/perhaps (it) becomes near/close."

Faridul Haque

"Or some other creation which you deem great"; so they will now say, "Who will create us again?"; proclaim, "He Who created you for the first time"; so now they will mockingly shake their heads at you, and question, "When is this going to occur?"; say, "It could perhaps be soon."

Hamid S. Aziz

"Or a created thing which, in your mind, is greater (or harder to reproduce) yet you shall be raised" Then they shall say, "Who is to restore us?" Say, "He who originated you at first;" Then they will wag their heads and say, "When will that be?” Say, "It may, perhaps, be soon."

Hilali & Khan

"Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts (thoughts to be resurrected, even then you shall be resurrected)" Then, they will say: "Who shall bring us back (to life)?" Say: "He Who created you first!" Then, they will shake their heads at you and say: "When will that be?" Say: "Perhaps it is near!"

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Say: Be stones or iron,

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Or some other creature of those which are too hard (to receive life) in your minds! But they will say: Who will return us? Say: Who created you at first. Still they will shake their heads at you and say: When will it be? Say: Maybe it has drawn nigh.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon;

Muhammad Sarwar

or anything that you think is harder to be brought to life." They will soon ask, "Who will bring us back to life?" Say,"The One who created you in the first place." They will shake their heads and say, "When will He bring us back to life?" Say, "Perhaps very soon.

Qaribullah & Darwish

or any other creation yet more monstrous in your minds' They will ask: 'Who will restore us' Say: 'He who originated you at first' They will shake theirheads and ask: 'When will this be' Say: 'Maybe it is near,

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

"Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts." Then, they will say: "Who shall bring us back (to life)" Say: "He Who created you first!" Then, they will shake their heads at you and say: "When will that be" Say: "Perhaps it is near!"

Wahiduddin Khan

or any other substance which you think unlikely to be given life." Then they will ask, "Who is it that shall restore us to life?" Answer them, "He who created you the first time." They will then shake their heads at you and say, "When will that be?" Say, "It may well be very soon."

Talal Itani

Or some substance, which, in your minds, is even harder.” Then they will say, “Who will restore us?” Say, “The One who originated you the first time.” Then they will nod their heads at you, and say, “When will it be?” Say, “Perhaps it will be soon.”

Tafsir jalalayn

or some creation yet greater in your breasts, [something yet] far less able to accept life, aside from bones and fragments, a spirit will undoubtedly be made to exist in you [to bring you back to life]. They will then say, `Who shall bring us back?', to life. Say; `He Who originated you, created you, the first time, when you had not been anything [in existence], because the One Who is able to initiate [creation] is also able to repeat [it], indeed, this [repetition] is easier [than the initiation]. Then they will shake their heads at you, stupefied, and they will say, mockingly; `When will it be?', that is, the Resurrection. Say; `Maybe it is near!'

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِي صُدُورِكُمْ

Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts.

Ibn Ishaq narrated from Ibn Abi Najih from Mujahid;

"I asked Ibn Abbas about that, and he said;`This is death."'

Atiyah reported that Ibn Umar explained of this Ayah;

"If you were dead I would still resurrect you."

This was also the view of Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Salih, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and others.

This means that if you were to assume that you would become dead, which is the opposite of living, Allah will resurrect you when He wills, for nothing can stop Him when He wills a thing.

Mujahid said;

"This means the heavens, earth and mountains."

According to another report,

"Whatever you want to be, go ahead, Allah will still resurrect you after you die."

فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا

Then, they will say;"Who shall bring us back (to life)!"

meaning, who will resurrect us if we are stones or iron or some other strong created thing!

قُلِ الَّذِي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ

Say;"He Who created you first!"

meaning, He Who created you when you were nothing, then you became human beings, walking about. He is able to create you anew, no matter what you have become.

وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ

And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it; and this is easier for Him. (30;27)

فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُوُوسَهُمْ

Then, they will shake their heads at you,

Ibn Abbas and Qatadah said,

"They will move their heads in a gesture of mockery."

This view expressed by Ibn Abbas and Qatadah is;

what the Arabs understand from the language, because the word used Fasayunghidun indicates an up-and-down movement Nughad. A word derived from the same root, Naghd, is used to refer to the young of the ostrich, because when it walks, it walks quickly and moves its head. The same word is used to describe a tooth when it becomes loose and is detached from its place.

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هُوَ

and say;"When will that be!"

This shows that they thought it very unlikely that it would happen, as Allah says;

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَـذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ

And they say;"When will this promise (i.e. Resurrection) be fulfilled, if you are truthful!" (36;48)

يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لَا يُوْمِنُونَ بِهَا

Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it (the Hour). (42;18)

قُلْ عَسَى أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا



Say;"Perhaps it is near!"

meaning, beware of it, for it is at hand and will no doubt come to you, and what will be will be