Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Furqan Verse 21

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Said those who do not even expect to meet Us, “Why the angels are not sent down to us or why do we not see our Lord?” Indeed they think too highly of themselves, and have gone too far in rebellion.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Those who do not expect to meet Us say, “If only the angels were sent down to us, or we could see our Lord!” They have certainly been carried away by their arrogance and have entirely exceeded all limits.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Those who do not expect to meet Us say, “Why are angels not sent down to us or why do we not see our Lord?” They have been too proud of themselves, and have transgressed immensely.

A. J. Arberry

Say those who look not to encounter Us, 'Why have the angels not been sent down on us, or why see we not our Lord?' Waxed proud they have within them, and become greatly disdainful.

Abdul Haleem

Those who do not fear to meet Us say, ‘Why are the angels not sent down to us?’ or ‘Why can we not see our Lord?’ They are too proud of themselves and too insolent.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And those who fear not the meeting with Usl say: wherefore are not angels sent down unto us or wherefore we see not our Lord! Assuredly they have proven stiff-necked in their souls and have exceeded the bounds with excess great.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Such as fear not the meeting with Us (for Judgment) say; "Why are not the angels sent down to us, or (why) do we not see our Lord?" Indeed they have an arrogant conceit of themselves, and mighty is the insolence of their impiety!

Abul Ala Maududi

Those people, who have no fear of coming before Us, say, "Why should not the angels be sent down to us? Or else we should see our Lord. " Great arrogance have they assumed in regard to themselves, and have transgressed all limits in their rebellion.

Ahmed Ali

Those who do not hope to meet Us say: "Why are no angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord?" They are full of self-conceit and behave with intense arrogance.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And those who do not expect to meet Us said, “Why were the angels not sent down to us or we been able to see our Lord?” Indeed they thought too highly of themselves and they turned extremely rebellious.

Ali Quli Qarai

Those who do not expect to encounter Us say, ‘Why have angels not been sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord?’ Certainly, they are full of arrogance within their souls and have become terribly defiant.

Ali Ünal

Those who (being unbelievers) do not expect to meet Us (in the Hereafter) say: "Why are no angels sent down on us or (why) do we not see our Lord?" Assuredly they are far too arrogant of themselves (demanding what is impossible for them), and exceed all bounds (in their presumption).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Those who entertain no fear about being present before Us, nor do they expect it, say, `Why should not the angels be sent down to us? Or we see our Lord?´ They have indeed thought very highly of themselves and have exceeded all limits of transgression.

English Literal

And those who do not hope/expect meeting Us said: "If only angels were descended on (to) us, or we see our Lord." They had become arrogant in themselves, and they became arrogant/disobedient, great arrogance/disobedience.

Faridul Haque

And those who do not expect to meet Us said, “Why were the angels not sent down to us or we been able to see our Lord?” Indeed they thought too highly of themselves and they turned extremely rebellious.

Hamid S. Aziz

We have not sent before you any messengers, but lo! They ate food and walked in the markets; but We have made some of you a test for others: will you be steadfast? your Lord is ever Seer.

Hilali & Khan

And those who expect not for a Meeting with Us (i.e. those who deny the Day of Resurrection and the life of the Hereafter), say: "Why are not the angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord?" Indeed they think too highly of themselves, and are scornful with great pride.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And We did not send before thee any messengers but they surely ate food and went about in the markets. And We make some of you a trial for others. Will you bear patiently? And thy Lord is ever Seeing.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And those who do not hope for Our meeting, say: Why have not angels been sent down upon us, or (why) do we not see our Lord? Now certainly they are too proud of themselves and have revolted in great revolt.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And those who look not for a meeting with Us say: Why are angels not sent down unto us and (Why) do we not see our Lord! Assuredly they think too highly of themselves and are scornful with great pride.

Muhammad Sarwar

Those who have no desire to meet Us have said, "Would that the angels had been sent to us or that we could see our Lord." They are really filled with pride and have committed the greatest and worst kind of rebellion and hostility.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Those who do not hope to meet Us ask: 'Why have no angels been sent to us? Why can we not see our Lord' How proud they are within themselves, and have become greatly disdainful.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And those who expect not a meeting with Us said: "Why are not the angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord" Indeed they think too highly of themselves, and are scornful with great pride.

Wahiduddin Khan

Those who do not expect a meeting with Us say, "Why are angels not sent down to us?" Or "Why do we not see our Lord?" Surely, they are too proud of themselves and have greatly exceeded all bounds.

Talal Itani

Those who do not expect to meet Us say, “If only the angels were sent down to us, or we could see our Lord.” They have grown arrogant within themselves, and have become excessively defiant.

Tafsir jalalayn

And those who do not expect to encounter Us, [those] who have no fear of the Resurrection, say, `Why have the angels not been sent down to us, to act as messengers to us, or why do we not see our Lord?', so that we might be informed [by Him] that Muhammad (s) is [truly] His Messenger? God, exalted be He, says; Assuredly they are full of arrogance within their souls and have become terribly insolent, in demanding to see God, exalted be He, in this world (read `utuwwan, `insolence' with the ww, according to the original root form, as opposed to `itiyyan with the [y'] substitution as in [srat] Maryam [Q. 19;8]).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Stubbornness of the Disbelievers

Allah tells;

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ

And those who expect not a meeting with Us said;

Allah describes how stubborn the disbelievers were in their disbelief when they said;

لِقَاءنَا لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا

Why are not the angels sent down to us,

meaning, `so that we may see them with our own eyes and they may tell us that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.'

This is like when they said;

أَوْ تَأْتِىَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْمَلَـيِكَةِ قَبِيلً

or you bring Allah and the angels before (us) face to face. (17;92)

Hence they also said;

الْمَلَيِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَى

or why do we not see our Lord,

Allah said;

رَبَّنَا لَقَدِ اسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا



Indeed they think too highly of themselves, and are scornful with great pride.

And Allah says;

وَلَوْ أَنَّنَا نَزَّلْنَأ إِلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَـيِكَةَ وَكَلَّمَهُمُ الْمَوْتَى

And even if We had sent down unto them angels, and the dead had spoken unto them... (6;111)

يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ الْمَلَيِكَةَ لَا بُشْرَى يَوْمَيِذٍ لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ وَيَقُولُونَ حِجْرًا مَّحْجُورًا