Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 40

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Surely, those who have rejected Our signs and stood arrogant against them, the gates of the heavens shall not be opened for them, and they shall not enter Paradise unless a camel passes through the eye of a needle. This is how We recompense the sinners.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Surely those who receive our revelations with denial and arrogance, the gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle. This is how We reward the wicked.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Those who reject Our verses and show arrogance towards them, the gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel can pass through the eye of a needle. This is how We recompense the wicked.

A. J. Arberry

Those that cry lies to Our signs and wax proud against them the gates of heaven shall not be opened to them, nor shall they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of the needle. Even so We recompense the sinners;

Abdul Haleem

The gates of Heaven will not be open to those who rejected Our revelations and arrogantly spurned them; even if a thick rope were to pass through the eye of a needle they would not enter the Garden. This is how We punish the guilty-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Verily those who belie Our signs and are stiff-necked against them, for them will not be opened the portals of heaven, nor shall they enter the Garden until a camel passeth through the eye of a needle. And Thus We requite the guilty ones.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden, until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle; Such is Our reward for those in sin.

Abul Ala Maududi

Surely the gates of Heaven shall not be opened for those who reject Our signs as false and turn away ' from them in arrogance; nor shall they enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle. Thus do We reward the guilty ones.

Ahmed Ali

Verily for those who deny Our signs and turn away in haughtiness from them, the gates of heaven shall not be opened, nor will they enter Paradise, not till the camel passes through the needle's eye. That is how We requite the transgressors:

Ahmed Raza Khan

Indeed those who denied Our signs and were conceited towards them – the gates of the heavens will not be opened for them nor will they enter Paradise until the camel goes through the needle’s eye*; and this is the sort of reward We give the guilty. (* Which will never happen.)

Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed, those who deny Our signs and are disdainful of them—the gates of the heaven will not be opened for them, nor shall they enter paradise until the camel passes through the needle’s eye, and thus do We requite the guilty.

Ali Ünal

Those who deny Our Revelations and turn arrogantly from them – for them, the gates of Heaven will indeed not be opened (i.e. God will not accept even their good deeds) and they will enter Paradise no further than a camel can pass through the eye of a needle. Thus do We recompense the disbelieving criminals.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Be sure, those who cry lies to Our Messages and turn away from them disdainfully, the gates of the (spiritual) firmament shall not be opened for them, nor shall they enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle. In this way do We award punishment to those who cut their ties (with Allâh).

English Literal

That those who lied/denied/falsified with Our verses/evidences and became arrogant from/about it, the sky`s/space`s doors/entrances do not be (get) opened for them, and nor they enter the Paradise, until the camel enters/penetrates in the needle`s/sewing needle`s eye/threading hole, and as/like that We reward/reimburse the criminals/sinners.

Faridul Haque

Indeed those who denied Our signs and were conceited towards them - the gates of the heavens will not be opened for them nor will they enter Paradise until the camel goes through the needle’s eye *; and this is the sort of reward We give the guilty. (* Which will never happen.)

Hamid S. Aziz

Verily, those who deny and scorn Our Signs in arrogance, for these the doors of heaven shall not be opened, nor shall they enter into the Garden, until a camel can pass through the eye of a needle. Such is Our reward for the guilty. (Compare with MatthewMark 10:25)

Hilali & Khan

Verily, those who belie Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and treat them with arrogance, for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle (which is impossible). Thus do We recompense the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And the first of them will say to the last of them: You have no preference over us, so taste the chastisement for what you earned.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Surely (as for) those who reject Our communications and turn away from them haughtily, the doors of heaven shall not be opened for them, nor shall they enter the garden until the camel pass through the eye of the needle; and thus do We reward the guilty.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Lo! they who deny Our revelations and scorn them, for them the gates of heaven will nor be opened not will they enter the Garden until the camel goeth through the needle's eye. Thus do We requite the guilty.

Muhammad Sarwar

For those who have rejected Our revelations out of pride, no door to the heavens will be opened, nor will they be admitted into Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a sewing needle. Thus do We recompense the criminals.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The gates of heaven shall not be opened for those who have belied and grew proud against Our verses; nor shall they enter Paradise until a camel shall pass through the eye of a needle. As such We shall recompense the sinners.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Verily, those who belie Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance, for them the gates of the heavens will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the Jamal goes through the eye of the needle. Thus do We recompense the criminals.

Wahiduddin Khan

The gates of Heaven shall not be opened for those who rejected Our signs and arrogantly spurned them; nor shall they enter Paradise until a camel shall pass through the eye of a needle. That is how We repay the evil-doers,

Talal Itani

Those who reject Our revelations and are too arrogant to uphold them—the doors of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise, until the camel passes through the eye of the needle. Thus We repay the guilty.

Tafsir jalalayn

Those who deny Our signs and scorn them, not believing in them, indeed the gates of heaven shall not be opened for them, when their spirits are carried up to it after death, for instead they are taken down into Sijjn [cf. Q. 83;7f.] -- in contrast to the believer, for whom the gates are opened, and his spirit is carried up into the seventh heaven, as is stated in one hadth -- nor shall they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of the needle, which is impossible, and so is their entry [into Paradise]. So, with this requital, We requite those who are sinful, through disbelief.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Doors of Heaven shall not open for Those Who deny Allah's Ayat, and They shall never enter Paradise

Allah said,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِأيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ عَنْهَا

Verily, those who belie Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance,

لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاء

for them the gates of the heavens will not be opened,

According to Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ibn Abbas, as Al-`Awfi and Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from him,

meaning, their good deeds and supplication will not ascend through it,

Ath-Thawri narrated that, Layth said that Ata narrated this from Ibn Abbas.

According to Ad-Dahhak who reported this from Ibn Abbas that it was also said that;

the meaning here is that the doors of the heavens will not be opened for the disbelievers' souls,

As-Suddi and several others mentioned this meaning.

What further supports this meaning, is the report from Ibn Jarir that Al-Bara' said that the Messenger of Allah mentioned capturing the soul of the `Fajir' (wicked sinner or disbeliever), and that his or her soul will be ascended to heaven. The Prophet said,

فَيَصْعَدُونَ بِهَا فَلَ تَمُرُّ عَلَى مَلٍَ مِنَ الْمَلَيِكَةِ إِلاَّ قَالُوا مَا هَذِهِ الرُّوحُ الْخَبِيثَةُ

فَيَقُولُونَ فُلَنٌ بِأَقْبَحِ أَسْمَايِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُدْعَى بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا

حَتَّى يَنْتَهَوا بِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَيَسْتَفْتَحُونَ بَابَهَا لَهُ فَلَ يَفْتَحُ لَه

So they (angels) ascend it and it will not pass by a gathering of the angels, but they will ask, who's wicked soul is this?'

They will reply, `The soul of so-and-so,' calling him by the worst names he was called in this life.

When they reach the (lower) heaven, they will ask that its door be opened for the soul, but it will not be opened for it.

The Prophet then recited,
لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاء
(For them the gates of heaven will not be opened).

This is a part of a long Hadith which was also recorded by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah.

Ibn Jurayj commented on the Ayah,
لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاء
(for them the gates of heaven will not be opened),

"(The gates of heaven) will not be opened for their deeds or souls."

This explanation combines the two meanings we gave above, and Allah knows best.

Allah's statement,

وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ

and they will not enter Paradise until the Jamal goes through the eye of the needle.

refers to the male camel.

Ibn Mas`ud said it is a male camel from the she camel.

In another narration it refers to the spouse of the she camel.

Mujahid and Ikrimah said that Ibn Abbas used to recite this Ayah this way,

"Until the Jummal goes through the eye of the needle," whereas `Jummal' is a thick rope.

وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُجْرِمِينَ



Thus do We recompense the criminals.

Allah's statement