Al-Qur'an Surah Fatir Verse 10

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Whoever desires honor, then all honor lies with Allah alone. Towards Him ascends the pure word, and the righteous deed uplifts it. As for those who plot evils, for them there is a severe punishment, and their plot itself will perish.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Whoever seeks honour and power, then ˹let them know that˺ all honour and power belongs to Allah. To Him ˹alone˺ good words ascend, and righteous deeds are raised up by Him. As for those who plot evil, they will suffer a severe punishment. And the plotting of such ˹people˺ is doomed ˹to fail˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Whoever seeks honor, then all honor belongs to Allah alone. To Him ascend good words, and righteous deeds raise them. But those who plan evil deeds there will be a severe punishment for them, and the plans of such people will perish.

A. J. Arberry

Whosoever desires glory, the glory altogether belongs to God. To Him good words go up, and the righteous deed -- He uplifts it; but those who devise evil deeds -- theirs shall be a terrible chastisement, and their devising shall come to naught.

Abdul Haleem

If anyone desires power, all power belongs to God; good words rise up to Him and He lifts up the righteous deed, but a severe torment awaits those who plot evil and their plotting will come to nothing.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Whosoever desireth glory, then all glory is Allah's; unto Him mount up the goodly words; and the righteous works exalteth it. And those who plot evils,--theirs shall be a torment severe; and the plotting of those!--it shall perish.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If any do seek for glory and power,- to Allah belong all glory and power. To Him mount up (all) Words of Purity; It is He Who exalts each Deed of Righteousness. Those that lay Plots of Evil,- for them is a Penalty terrible; and the plotting of such will be void (of result).

Abul Ala Maududi

He who seeks glory, let him know that all glory belongs to Allah alone. To Him do good words go up, and righteous action uplifts them. But those who contrive evil deeds, a severe punishment lies in store for them, and their contriving will come to naught.

Ahmed Ali

Whosoever desires honour (should remember) that all honour is with God. All good words ascend to Him, and all good deeds He exalts. As for those who are plotting evil, there is severe punishment for them, and their plots will be fruitless.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Whoever desires honour – therefore all honour belongs to Allah!* Towards Him only ascends the pure good speech, and He raises high the pious deed; and for those who conspire evil is a severe punishment; and their own conspiracy will be destroyed. (It is Allah Who bestows honour, to whomever He wills.)

Ali Quli Qarai

Whoever seeks honour [should know that] honour entirely belongs to Allah. To Him ascends the good word, and He elevates righteous conduct; as for those who devise evil schemes, there is a severe punishment for them, and their plotting shall come to naught.

Ali Ünal

Whoever seeks might and glory should know that all might and glory is for God (so let him seek from Him alone). To Him ascends only the pure word (as the source of might and glory), and the good, righteous action (accompanying it) raises it. But those who are devising evil actions, for them there is a severe punishment, and their devising is bound to come to nothing.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Whoever seeks glory (let him turn to God as) all glory belongs to Allâh. All good and pure words (of faith) go up to Him and all the righteous deeds exalt that (faith). As for those who plan evil plots, there awaits them an agony of a severe nature; the evil planning of such is doomed to fail.

English Literal

Who was wanting the glory/might , so to God (is) the glory/might all/all together, to Him ascends/climbs the words/expressions, the good/beautiful , and the deed the correct/righteous He raises it; and those who scheme the sins/crimes, for them (is) a strong (severe) torture, and (the) schemes (of) those it perishes/fails .

Faridul Haque

Whoever desires honour – therefore all honour belongs to Allah! * Towards Him only ascends the pure good speech, and He raises high the pious deed; and for those who conspire evil is a severe punishment; and their own conspiracy will be destroyed. (It is Allah Who bestows honour, to whomever He wills.)

Hamid S. Aziz

And Allah is He Who sends the winds so they raise a cloud, then We drive it on to a dead country, and therewith We give life to the earth after its death; even so is the Resurrection.

Hilali & Khan

Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allah belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (the goodly words i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allah unless and until they are followed by good deeds), but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And Allah is He Who sends the winds, so they raise a cloud, then We drive it on to a dead land, and therewith give life to the earth after its death. Even so is the quickening.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Whoever desires honor, then to Allah belongs the honor wholly. To Him do ascend the good words; and the good deeds, lift them up, and (as for) those who plan evil deeds, they shall have a severe chastisement; and (as for) their plan, it shall perish.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Whoso desireth power (should know that) all power belongeth to Allah. Unto Him good words ascend, and the pious deed doth He exalt; but those who plot iniquities, theirs will be an awful doom; and the plotting of such (folk) will come to naught.

Muhammad Sarwar

Whoever seeks honor should know that all honor belongs to God. Good words (worship) will be presented before Him and He will accept good deeds. Those who make evil plans will suffer intense torment. Their evil plans are doomed to destruction.

Qaribullah & Darwish

He who wants might, the Might belongs to Allah altogether. To Him ascend good words, and the righteous deed He raises. But those who devise evil deeds theirs shall be a terrible punishment, and their plotting shall be annulled.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Whosoever desires Al-`Izzah then to Allah belongs Al-`Izzah. To Him ascend the good words, and the righteous deeds exalt it, but those who plot evils, theirs will be a severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish.

Wahiduddin Khan

If anyone seeks glory, let him know that glory belongs to God alone. Good words ascend to Him and righteous deeds are exalted by Him. Those who plot evil deeds shall be sternly punished and their plotting will come to nothing.

Talal Itani

Whoever desires honor—all honor belongs to God. To Him ascends speech that is pure, and He elevates righteous conduct. As for those who plot evil, a terrible punishment awaits them, and the planning of these will fail.

Tafsir jalalayn

Whoever desires glory [should know that] all glory belongs to God, in this world and in the Hereafter, and it cannot be obtained from Him except through obedience to Him, so let such [a one] be obedient to Him. To Him ascends good words, that is to say, He is aware of such [good words], and these are [statements such as] `there is no god except God' and the like; and as for righteous action, He exalts it, He accepts it; but those who plot evil, schemes against the Prophet -- [as was the case] at the council assembly, in the way of imprisoning him, killing him or expelling him, as mentioned in [srat] al-Anfl [Q. 8;30] -- theirs shall be a severe chastisement and their plotting shall come to nothing; it shall be ruined.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا



Whosoever desires Al-`Izzah then to Allah belongs all Al-`Izzah.

means, whoever desires honor, power and glory in this world and the next, let him be obedient towards Allah, may He be exalted. This will help him reach his goal, for Allah is the Sovereign of this world and the Hereafter, and to Him belong all honor, power and glory.

This is like the Ayat;

الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَأءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُوْمِنِينَ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ الْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ العِزَّةَ للَّهِ جَمِيعاً

Those who take disbelievers for protectors instead of believers, do they seek Al-`Izzah with them? Verily, then to Allah belongs all honor, power and glory. (4;139)

وَلَا يَحْزُنكَ قَوْلُهُمْ إِنَّ الْعِزَّةَ للَّهِ جَمِيعاً

And let not their speech grieve you, for all Al-`Izzah belongs to Allah. (10;65)

وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُوْمِنِينَ وَلَـكِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

But Al-`Izzah belongs to Allah, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not. (63;8)

Mujahid said;

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ
(Whosoever desires Al-`Izzah) means, by worshipping idols,
فَإِنَّ العِزَّةَ للَّهِ جَمِيعاً
(then to Allah belongs Al-`Izzah).

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا


Whosoever desires Al-`Izzah then to Allah belongs Al-`Izzah. means,

let him seek honor, power and glory through obeying Allah, may He be glorified.
Righteous Deeds ascend to Allah

Allah says,

إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ

To Him ascend the good words,

means, words of remembrance, recitation of Qur'an, and supplications.

This was the view of more than one of the Salaf.

Ibn Jarir recorded that Al-Mukhariq bin Sulaym said that "Abdullah bin Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said to them,

"If we tell you a Hadith, we will bring you proof of it from the Book of Allah. When the Muslim servants says, `Glory and praise be to Allah, there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, Allah is Most Great and blessed be Allah,' an angel takes these words and puts them under his wing, then he ascends with them to the heaven. He does not take them past any group of angels but they seek forgiveness for the one who said them, until he brings them before Allah, may He be glorified."

Then Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, recited;

إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ

To Him ascend the good words, and the righteous deeds exalt it."

Imam Ahmad recorded that An-Nu`man bin Bashir, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

"The Messenger of Allah said;

الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللهَ مِنْ جَلَلِ اللهِ مِنْ تَسْبِيحِهِ وَتَكْبِيرِهِ وَتَحْمِيدِهِ وَتَهْلِيلِهِ يَتَعَاطَفْنَ حَوْلَ الْعَرْشِ لَهُنَّ دَوِيٌّ كَدَوِيِّ النَّحْلِ يَذْكُرْنَ بِصَاحِبِهِنَّ أَلَا يُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ لَا يَزَالَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللهِ شَيْءٌ يُذَكِّرُ بِه

Those who remember Allah and glory Allah by saying,

`Glory be to Allah, Allah is most Great, all praise is due to Allah and La ilaha illallah,

these words go around the Throne buzzing like bees, mentioning those who said them. Would one of you not like to have something with Allah mentioning him."

This was also recorded by Ibn Majah.

وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ

and the righteous deeds exalt it.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

"The good word is the remembrance of Allah, may He be exalted, which is taken up to Allah, and the righteous deed is the performance of obligatory duties.

Whoever remembers Allah when doing an obligatory duty, his deed carries his remembrance of Allah and takes it up to Allah, may He be exalted.

Whoever remembers Allah and does not perform the obligatory duties, his words will be rejected, as will his deed."

وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّيَاتِ

but those who plot evils,

Mujahid, Said bin Jubayr and Shahr bin Hawshab said,

This refers to those who show off by their actions, i.e., they deceive the people by giving the impression that they are obeying Allah, when in fact they are hated by Allah for showing off.

Allah says;

لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَكْرُ أُوْلَيِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ



theirs will be severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish.

meaning, it will fail and vanish, for their reality is apparent from up close to those who have insight and wisdom. No one conceals a secret but Allah will cause it to become known, on his face or by a slip of the tongue, or He will cause the person to wear it like a cloak (so that everyone will see it). If it is good, then the consequences will be good, and if it is bad, then the consequences will be bad. The person who shows off cannot continue to deceive anyone but the fool, but the believers who have insight are not deceived by that; from up close, they soon discover it. And nothing at all can be hidden from the Knower of the Unseen (Allah).
Allah is the Creator and Knower of the Unseen

Allah tells;