Al-Qur'an Surah Maryam Verse 75

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Say, “Whoever stays straying, let his term be extended by the All-Merciful (Allah) still longer, until when they will see what they are being warned of: either the punishment or the Hour (of Doom), then they will know who was worse in his place and weaker in his forces.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Whoever is ˹entrenched˺ in misguidance, the Most Compassionate will allow them plenty of time, until—behold!—they face what they are threatened with: either the torment or the Hour. Only then will they realize who is worse in position and inferior in manpower.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Say, “Whoever is following misguidance, the Most Compassionate will give him respite, until they see what they were warned of – be it the punishment [in this world] or the Hour – only then will they realize who is in a worse abode and who has a smaller following.”

A. J. Arberry

Say: 'Whosoever is in error, let the All-merciful prolong his term for him! Till, when they see that they were threatened, whether the chastisement, or the Hour, then they shall surely know who is worse in place, and who is weaker in hosts.'

Abdul Haleem

Say [Prophet], ‘The Lord of Mercy lengthens [the lives] of the misguided, until, when they are confronted with what they have been warned about- either the punishment [in this life] or the Hour [of Judgement]- they realize who is worse situated and who has the weakest forces.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou: whosoever is in error--surely unto him the Compassionate lengtheneth a length, until When they behold that wherewith they were threatened, either the torment or the Hour, then they shall come to know whosoever is worse in position and weaker as an army. *Chapter: 19

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Say; "If any men go astray, (Allah) Most Gracious extends (the rope) to them, until, when they see the warning of Allah (being fulfilled) - either in punishment or in (the approach of) the Hour,- they will at length realise who is worst in position, and (who) weakest in forces!

Abul Ala Maududi

Say: "The Most Compassionate Lord grants respite to those who stray into error, until they behold what they had been threatened with, either God's chastisement (in the world) or the Hour (of Resurrection)" - then they fully know whose station is worse, and who is weaker in hosts!

Ahmed Ali

Say: "Ar-Rahman extends the life of those who are astray until they come to realise what had been promised them was either (physical) affliction or (the terror) of Resurrection. Then will they know who is worse in position, and who is weak in supporters.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Proclaim, “For one in error – so the Most Gracious may give him respite; to the extent that when they see the thing which they are promised – either the punishment or the Last Day; so then they will come to know for whom is the evil rank and whose army is weak.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Say, ‘Whoever abides in error, the All-beneficent shall prolong his respite until they sight what they have been promised: either punishment, or the Hour.’ Then they will know whose position is worse, and whose host is weaker.

Ali Ünal

Say: "Whoever is lost in error, no matter how much the All-Merciful adds (to their wealth and how long He prolongs their life-span), when they face what they were promised – whether it be punishment (here in this world) or the Last Hour – they will come to know who is worse in position and weaker in forces.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Say, `The Most Gracious (God) gives those, who are steeped in error, long respite.´ But when such people see that with which they are threatened, be it some (worldly) punishment or the Hour (of complete and final destruction), they shall realize who is worse placed and weaker in forces.

English Literal

Say: "Who was in the misguidance, so the merciful will extend/spread (E) for him extension/spreading until when they saw/understood what they are being promised, either the torture, and either the Hour/Resurrection , so they will know who he is worst (in) a place/position, and weaker soldiers/warriors."

Faridul Haque

Proclaim, "For one in error - so the Most Gracious may give him respite; to the extent that when they see the thing which they are promised - either the punishment or the Last Day; so then they will come to know for whom is the evil rank and whose army is weak."

Hamid S. Aziz

And how many generations before them have We destroyed who were better off in property and outward appearance?

Hilali & Khan

Say (O Muhammad SAW) whoever is in error, the Most Beneficent (Allah) will extend (the rope) to him, until, when they see that which they were promised, either the torment or the Hour, they will come to know who is worst in position, and who is weaker in forces. [This is the answer for the Verse No. 19:73]

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And how many a generation have We destroyed before them, who had better possessions and appearance!

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Say: As for him who remains in error, the Beneficent Allah will surely prolong his length of days, until they see what they were threatened with, either the punishment or the hour; then they shall know who is in more evil plight and weaker in forces

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Say: As for him who is in error, the Beneficent will verily prolong his span of life until, when they behold that which they were promised, whether it be punishment (in the world), or the Hour (of doom), they will know who is worse in position and who is weaker as an army.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), tell them, "The Beneficent God gives respite to those who have gone astray only until they face the torment with which they were threatened or to the Day of Judgment. Then they will find out who will have the most miserable place and the weakest forces.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Say: 'Whosoever is in error, let the Most Merciful prolong his life span until they see that which they were threatened, be it a punishment, or the Hour. Thenshall they know whose is the worst place and who is weaker in hosts'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Say: whoever is in error, the Most Gracious will extend [circumstances] for him, until, when they see that which they were promised, either the torment or the Hour, they will come to know who is worst in position, and who is weaker in forces.

Wahiduddin Khan

Say, "The Gracious One grants respite for a time to those who are in error until, when they are confronted with what they are promised, either in punishment [in the world] or in [the approach of] the Hour, they will realize who is worse in respect of position and who is weaker in resources."

Talal Itani

Say, “Whoever is in error, the Most Merciful will lead him on.” Until, when they see what they were promised—either the punishment, or the Hour. Then they will know who was in worse position and weaker in forces.

Tafsir jalalayn

Say; `As for him who is in error (man kna f'l-dallati, a conditional clause, the response to which is [fa'l- yamdud, `He shall prolong' and what follows it]) the Compassionate One shall defer (fa'l-yamdud, functions in the sense of a predicate) him, from chastisement by [granting him] some respite, in this world, drawing him on [to his eventual chastisement] gradually, until, when they catch sight of that which they were promised, whether it be chastisement [in this world], by being killed or taken captive, or the Hour, the Resurrection that comprises Hell, they will enter it. Then they will surely know who is worse in [respect of] position and weaker in [respect of the number of] hosts', in [respect of the number of] supporters, themselves or the believers? Their hosts will be the devils, while the hosts of the believers against them will be the angels.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Rebellious Person is given Respite but He is not forgotten

Allah, the Exalted, says,

قُلْ



Say;

This means, "O Muhammad, say to these people who are associating partners with their Lord, while claiming to follow the truth, that they are really following falsehood."

مَن كَانَ فِي الضَّلَلَةِ

whoever is in error,

This means, `be they from us or from you.'

فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ الرَّحْمَنُ مَدًّا

the Most Gracious will extend (circumstances) for him.

This means that the Most Beneficent will give him respite in that which he is in, until he meets his Lord and his appointed time will have arrived.

حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْا مَا يُوعَدُونَ إِمَّا الْعَذَابَ

until, when they see that which they were promised, either the torment, (that will strike him),

وَإِمَّا السَّاعَةَ

or the Hour, (that will come suddenly),

فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ

they will come to know, (at that time),

مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضْعَفُ جُندًا



who is worst in position, and who is weaker in forces.

This is in refutation of their argument about their nice dwellings and splendid places of gathering. This is a challenge against the idolators who claim that they were following guidance in what they were doing.

This is similar to the challenge that Allah mentions about the Jews when He says,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ إِن زَعمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَأءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ

O you Jews! If you pretend that you are friends of Allah, to the exclusion of (all) other people, then long for death if you are truthful. (62;6)

Meaning, `Supplicate for death to come to those who are following falsehood among us if you truly claim to be upon the truth. If you are true, then this supplication will not harm you.' But they refused to do so. An extensive discussion of this has already preceded in Surah Al-Baqarah, and to Allah is the praise.

Likewise, Allah mentioned the challenge that was given to the Christians in Surah Al Imran, when they were persistent in their disbelief and continued in their transgression. They refused to give up their exaggerating claim that `Isa was the son of Allah. Therefore, Allah mentioned His arguments and proofs against the worship of `Isa, and that he was merely a creature like Adam.

After this, Allah said,

فَمَنْ حَأجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَأءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ نَدْعُ أَبْنَأءَنَا وَأَبْنَأءَكُمْ وَنِسَأءَنَا وَنِسَأءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَـذِبِينَ

Then whoever disputes with you about him after (all this) knowledge that has come to you, say;"Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves - then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the curse of Allah upon those who lie." (3;61)

However, they (the Christians) also retreated from this challenge