Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Hajj Verse 48

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And how many towns were there to whom I allowed respite, while they were wrongdoers, then I seized them. And to Me is the final return.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Many are the societies whose end We delayed while they did wrong, then seized them. And to Me is the final return.

Ruwwad Translation Center

to how many towns did I give respite when they were wrongdoers, then I seized them. And to Me is the final return.

A. J. Arberry

How many a city I have respited in its evildoing; then I seized it, and to Me was the homecoming.

Abdul Haleem

To many a town steeped in wrongdoing I gave more time and then struck them down: they all return to Me in the end.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And how many a city did give reins to, While it wronged itself, then took hold of it! and unto Me is the return.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And to how many populations did I give respite, which were given to wrong-doing? in the end I punished them. To me is the destination (of all).

Abul Ala Maududi

How many towns did I respite at first though they were steeped in iniquity, and then I seized them! To Me are all destined to return.

Ahmed Ali

To how many habitations did We give respite, though given to wickedness, and then seized them. To Me they had to come back in the end.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And to many a township did I give respite although they were oppressors; then I seized them; and towards Me is the return.

Ali Quli Qarai

To how many a town did I give respite while it was doing wrong! Then I seized it, and toward Me is the destination.

Ali Ünal

(Let them not hasten you to bring on them Our punishment.) How many a township that was given up to wrongdoing have I given respite to, but then seized them (when they persisted in unbelief and injustices); and to Me is the homecoming.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And so many (people of) townships were given to wicked ways but I respited them long. Then I took them to task and to Me alone shall be the return (of all of them).

English Literal

And how many from a village/urban city I extended in time/life for it, and it is unjust/oppressive? Then I took/punished it, and to Me (is) the end/destination.

Faridul Haque

And to many a township did I give respite although they were oppressors; then I seized them; and towards Me is the return.

Hamid S. Aziz

They will bid you to hasten on the torment, but Allah will never fail in his promise; for, verily, a day with your Lord is as a thousand years of what you number.

Hilali & Khan

And many a township did I give respite while it was given to wrong-doing. Then (in the end) I seized it (with punishment). And to Me is the (final) return (of all).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they ask thee to hasten on the chastisement, and Allah by no means fails in His promise. And surely a day with thy Lord is as a thousand years of what you reckon.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And how many a town to which I gave respite while it was unjust, then I overtook it, and to Me is the return.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And how many a township did I suffer long though it was sinful! Then I grasped it. Unto Me is the return.

Muhammad Sarwar

To how many unjust towns have We given respite and then sized with torment. To Me do all things return.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And how many a village have I respited in its evil doing! Then I seized it. To Me is the return.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And many a township did I give respite while it was given to wrongdoing. Then I seized it (with punishment). And to Me is the (final) return (of all).

Wahiduddin Khan

To how many a town We gave respite while it was given to wrongdoing. Then I seized it. To Me all things shall return.

Talal Itani

How many a town have I reprieved, although it was unjust? Then I seized it. To Me is the destination.

Tafsir jalalayn

To how many a town did I give respite while it was doing wrong; [but] then I seized it, meaning, [I seized] its inhabitants, and with Me lies the journey's end, the [final] return.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And many a township did I give respite while it was given to wrongdoing. Then I seized it (with punishment). And to Me is the (final) return (of all).

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said;

يَدْخُلُ فُقَرَاءُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الْجَنَّةَ قَبْلَ الاَْغْنِيَاءِ بِنِصْفِ يَوْمٍ خَمْسِمِايَةِ عَام

The poor among the Muslims will enter Paradise half a day before the rich -- five hundred years.

This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i from the Hadith of Ath-Thawri from Muhammad bin `Amr.

At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih."

Abu Dawud recorded at the end of Book of Al-Malahim in his Sunan from Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas that the Prophet said;

إِنِّي لَاَرْجُو أَنْ لَا تَعْجِزَ أُمَّتِي عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا أَنْ يُوَخِّرَهُمْ نِصْفَ يَوْم


I hope that it will not be too much for my Ummah if Allah delays them for half a day.

It was said to Sa`d, "What does half a day mean?"

He said, "Five hundred years.