بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Transcription
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Edip-Layth
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Compassionate.
The Monotheist Group
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
Muhammad Asad
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace:
Rashad Khalifa
In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. ,
Shabbir Ahmed
All praise is due to God, the Lord/Cherisher/Sustainer of the Universe and everything therein.
Çeviriyazı
Bismillâhir rahmânir rahîm.
Edip Yüksel
Rahman, Rahim Allah'ın ismiyle
Yaşar Nuri Öztürk
Rahman ve Rahim Allah'ın adıyla...
Muhammed Esed
RAHMÂN, RAHÎM ALLAH ADINA
Ali Bulaç
Rahman ve Rahim olan Allah'ın adıyla

57:1 سبح لله ما فى السموت والارض وهو العزيز الحكيم

Transcription (English)
57:1 Sabbaha lillahi ma fee alssamawatiwaal-ardi wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:1 Glorifying God is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Noble, the Wise.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:1 Glorifying God is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Noble, the Wise.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:1 ALL THAT IS in the heavens and on earth extols God's limitless glory: for He alone is almighty, truly wise!
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:1 Glorifying GOD is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:1 All things in the heavens and earth are working relentlessly to fulfill the Divine Plan. He is the Almighty, the Wise.1

Note 1


This is the 57th Surah of the Qur’an and it has 29 verses. The Surah derives its name from iron that serves mankind in various ways. God’s Messengers and their companions have had to defend the faith with power when necessitated.



God never enjoined upon mankind monasticism, asceticism, ‘Sufism’, ‘yog’ or mysticism. They are human inventions. Herein we find further emphasis on the Supremacy of the Divine law following which the humans can achieve Eternal success. ‘Kuffar’ are those who knowingly conceal, oppose or deny the truth. Belief bears its fruit when it is translated into action. Motivation without action is a bird without wings.



With the Glorious Name of God, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all Mercy and Kindness



57:2 له ملك السموت والارض يحى ويميت وهو على كل شىء قدير

Transcription (English)
57:2 Lahu mulku alssamawatiwaal-ardi yuhyee wayumeetu wahuwa AAalakulli shay-in qadeerun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:2 To Him is the kingship of the heavens and the earth. He brings life and death. He is capable of all things.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:2 To Him is the kingship of the heavens and the earth. He brings life and death. And He is capable of all things.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:2 His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth; He grants life and deals death; and He has the power to will anything.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:2 To Him belongs the kingship of the heavens and the earth. He controls life and death. He is Omnipotent.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:2 Unto Him belongs the Dominion of the heavens and earth. His are the laws of life and death and He has Power over all things.

57:3 هو الاول والءاخر والظهر والباطن وهو بكل شىء عليم

Transcription (English)
57:3 Huwa al-awwalu waal-akhiru waalththahiruwaalbatinu wahuwa bikulli shay-in AAaleemun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:3 He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Innermost. He is fully aware of all things.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:3 He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Innermost. And He is fully aware of all things.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:3 He is the First and the Last,1 and the Outward as well as the Inward:2 and He has full knowledge of everything.

Note 1
I.e., His Being is eternal, without anything preceding His existence and without anything outlasting its infinity: an interpretation given by the Prophet himself, as recorded in several well-authenticated Traditions. Thus, "time" itself - a concept beyond man's understanding - is but God's creation.

Note 2
I.e., He is the transcendental Cause of all that exists and, at the same time, immanent in every phenomenon of His creation - cf. the oft-repeated Quranic phrase (e.g., in verse 5), "all things go back unto God [as their source]"; in the words of Tabari, "He is closer to everything than anything else could be". Another - perhaps supplementary - rendering could be, "He is the Evident as well as the Hidden", i.e., "His existence is evident (zahir) in the effects of His activity, whereas He Himself is not perceptible (ghayr mudrak) to our senses" (Zamakhshari ).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:3 He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Outermost and the Innermost. He is fully aware of all things.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:3 He has no beginning and He has no ending. He is the Evident and the Hidden. And He is the Knower of all things.2

Note 2
He is Evident through His attributes and Hidden to the eyes

57:4 هو الذى خلق السموت والارض فى ستة ايام ثم استوى على العرش يعلم ما يلج فى الارض وما يخرج منها وما ينزل من السماء وما يعرج فيها وهو معكم اين ما كنتم والله بما تعملون بصير

Transcription (English)
57:4 Huwa allathee khalaqa alssamawatiwaal-arda fee sittati ayyamin thumma istawaAAala alAAarshi yaAAlamu ma yaliju fee al-ardiwama yakhruju minha wama yanzilu mina alssama-iwama yaAAruju feeha wahuwa maAAakum ayna makuntum waAllahu bima taAAmaloona baseerun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:4 He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then He settled over the dominion. He knows everything that enters into the land, everything that comes out of it, everything that comes down from the sky, and everything that climbs into it. He is with you wherever you may be. God is Seer of everything you do.1

Note 1

For the evolutionary creation of the universe, See 41:9.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:4 He is the One who has created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He settled upon the Throne. He knows everything that enters within the earth, and everything that comes out of it, and everything that comes down from the heaven, and everything that ascends into it. And He is with you wherever you may be. God is Seer of what you do.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:4 He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in six aeons, and is established on the throne of His almightiness.3 He knows all that enters the earth, and all that comes out of it, as well as all that descends from the skies, and all that ascends to them.4 And He is with you wherever you may be; and God sees all that you do.

Note 3
Cf. the identical phrase in 7:54 and the corresponding note.

Note 4
See note 1 on 34:2.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:4 He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then assumed all authority. He knows everything that enters into the earth, and everything that comes out of it, and everything that comes down from the sky, and everything that climbs into it. He is with you wherever you may be. GOD is Seer of everything you do.,1

Note 1
The six days of creation are simply a yardstick to inform us of the relative importance of various components, toemphasize the significance of the planet Earth, and to let us know that theEarth is the only inhabited planet. See Footnote41:9-10.
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:4 He is the One Who has created the heavens and earth in six stages, and is established on the Throne of His Almightiness of Supreme Control. He knows all that enters the earth and all that comes out of it, and all that descends from the sky, and all that ascends therein. And He is with you wherever you may be. God is Seer of what you do.3

Note 3
Six Stages or Eras: 7:54, 10:3, 11:7, 25:59, 50:38, 57:4, 41:10

57:5 له ملك السموت والارض والى الله ترجع الامور

Transcription (English)
57:5 Lahu mulku alssamawatiwaal-ardi wa-ila Allahi turjaAAual-omooru
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:5 To Him is the kingship of the heavens and the earth, and to God all matters are returned.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:5 To Him is the kingship of the heavens and the earth, and to God all matters are returned.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:5 His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth; and all things go back unto God [as their source].
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:5 To Him belongs the kingship of the heavens and the earth. All matters are controlled by GOD.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:5 Unto Him belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and earth and to God return all affairs.4

Note 4
All things find their Source in Him and His laws determine the final end of all actions

57:6 يولج اليل فى النهار ويولج النهار فى اليل وهو عليم بذات الصدور

Transcription (English)
57:6 Yooliju allayla fee alnnahariwayooliju alnnahara fee allayi wahuwa AAaleemun bithatialssudoori
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:6 He merges the night into the day, and merges the day into the night. He is fully aware of what is inside the chests.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:6 He merges the night into the day, and He merges the day into the night. He is fully aware of what is in the chests.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:6 He makes the night grow longer by shortening the day, and makes the day grow longer by shortening the night; and He has full knowledge of what is in the hearts [of men].
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:6 He merges the night into the day, and merges the day into the night. He is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:6 He merges the night into the day, and merges the day into the night. He is Knower of all that is in the hearts.

57:7 ءامنوا بالله ورسوله وانفقوا مما جعلكم مستخلفين فيه فالذين ءامنوا منكم وانفقوا لهم اجر كبير

Transcription (English)
57:7 Aminoo biAllahiwarasoolihi waanfiqoo mimma jaAAalakum mustakhlafeenafeehi faallatheena amanoo minkum waanfaqoolahum ajrun kabeerun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:7 Acknowledge God and His messenger, and spend from what He has made you successors to. Those among you who acknowledge and spend have deserved a great recompense.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:7 Believe in God and His messenger, and spend from what He has made you successors to. Those among you who believe and spend have deserved a great recompense.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:7 BELIEVE in God and His Apostle, and spend on others out of that of which He has made you trus­tees:5 for, those of you who have attained to faith and who spend freely [in God's cause] shall have a great reward.

Note 5
Implying that all that man "possesses is but held in trust from God, since "all that is in the heavens and on earth belongs to Him", whereas man is allowed only its usufruct.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:7 Believe in GOD and His messenger, and give from what He has bestowed upon you. Those among you who believe and give (to charity) have deserved a great recompense.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:7 Believe in God and His Messenger. And spend on others of what He has made you trustees of (your wealth and persons). Those of you who believe and spend on fellow humans, theirs will be a great reward.5

Note 5
Nafaq = Keeping open = Spending on others = Not hoarding

57:8 وما لكم لا تؤمنون بالله والرسول يدعوكم لتؤمنوا بربكم وقد اخذ ميثقكم ان كنتم مؤمنين

Transcription (English)
57:8 Wama lakum la tu/minoona biAllahiwaalrrasoolu yadAAookum litu/minoo birabbikum waqad akhathameethaqakum in kuntum mu/mineena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:8 Why should you not acknowledge God when the messenger is inviting you to acknowledge your Lord? He has already taken a pledge from you, if you are those who acknowledge.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:8 Why should you not believe in God when the messenger is inviting you to believe in your Lord? And He has already taken a covenant from you, if you are believers.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:8 And why should you not believe in God, seeing that the Apostle calls you to believe in [Him who is] your Sustainer, and [seeing that] He has taken a pledge from you?6 [Why should you not believe in Him] if you are able to believe [in anything]?7

Note 6
God's "taking a pledge" is a metonymic allusion to the faculty of reason with which He has endowed man, and which ought to enable every sane person to grasp the evidence of God's existence by observing the effects of His creativeness in all nature and by paying heed to the teachings of His prophets (Zamakhshari ). See in this connection 7:172 and the corresponding note 139

Note 7
Lit., "if you are believers": implying, according to Razi, "if you can believe in anything on the basis of sound evidence".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:8 Why should you not believe in GOD when the messenger is inviting you to believe in your Lord? He has taken a pledge from you, if you are believers.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:8 And what is amiss with you that keeps you from having conviction in God? And the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord and he has taken your pledge, if you are believers. [5:7]

57:9 هو الذى ينزل على عبده ءايت بينت ليخرجكم من الظلمت الى النور وان الله بكم لرءوف رحيم

Transcription (English)
57:9 Huwa allathee yunazzilu AAalaAAabdihi ayatin bayyinatin liyukhrijakummina alththulumati ila alnnooriwa-inna Allaha bikum laraoofun raheemun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:9 He is the One who sends down to His servant clear signs, to bring you out of the darkness into the light. God is Kind towards you, Compassionate.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:9 He is the One who sends down to His servant clear revelations, to bring you out of the darkness and into the light. God is Compassionate towards you, Merciful.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:9 It is He who bestows from on high clear mes­sages unto [this] His servant, to lead you out of the deep darkness into the light: for, behold, God is most compassionate towards you, a dispenser of grace.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:9 He is the One who sends down to His servant clear revelations, in order to lead you out of the darkness into the light. GOD is Compassionate towards you, Most Merciful.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:9 He is the One Who sends down clear messages to His servant, to bring you out from the depths of darkness to the splendorous light. For you, God is Compassionate, Merciful.

57:10 وما لكم الا تنفقوا فى سبيل الله ولله ميرث السموت والارض لا يستوى منكم من انفق من قبل الفتح وقتل اولئك اعظم درجة من الذين انفقوا من بعد وقتلوا وكلا وعد الله الحسنى والله بما تعملون خبير

Transcription (English)
57:10 Wama lakum alla tunfiqoo feesabeeli Allahi walillahi meerathu alssamawatiwaal-ardi la yastawee minkum man anfaqa minqabli alfathi waqatala ola-ika aAAthamudarajatan mina allatheena anfaqoo min baAAdu waqataloowakullan waAAada Allahu alhusna waAllahubima taAAmaloona khabeerun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:10 Why do you not spend in the cause of God, when God possesses all wealth in the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who spent before the victory and fought. They attained a greater rank than those who spent after the victory and fought. For each, God promises goodness. God is Ever-aware in everything you do.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:10 And why do you not spend in the cause of God, when God possesses all wealth in the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who spent before the victory and fought. They attained a greater rank than those who spent after the victory and fought. And for each, God promises goodness. And God is Expert in everything you do.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:10 And why should you not spend freely in the cause of God, seeing that God's [alone] is the heritage of the heavens and the earth?8 Not equal are those of you who spent and fought [in God's cause] before the Victory9 [and those who did not do so]: they are of a higher rank than those who would spend and fight [only] after it - although God has promised the ultimate good to all [who strive in His cause].10 and god is aware of that you do.

Note 8
I.e., "that to God belongs all that is…", etc.: see note 5 above; also note 22 on 15:23.

Note 9
I.e., before the conquest of Mecca in 8 H., when the Muslims were still weak and their future uncertain.

Note 10
The above principle applies, of course, to the relative merits of believers of all times who strive in God's cause before and/or after success has been achieved.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:10 Why do you not spend in the cause of GOD, when GOD possesses all wealth in the heavens and the earth?,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:10 And why should you not spend in the cause of God when to God belongs the heritage of the heavens and earth? Those who spend and fight before the victory are not at the same level as the rest of you. They have a greater rank than those who spend and fight after the victory. Unto each God has promised good. He is Aware of what you do. [55:62, 56:8-12]

57:11 من ذا الذى يقرض الله قرضا حسنا فيضعفه له وله اجر كريم

Transcription (English)
57:11 Man tha allathee yuqriduAllaha qardan hasanan fayudaAAifahulahu walahu ajrun kareemun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:11 Who will lend God a loan of goodness, to have it multiplied for him manifold, and he will have a generous recompense?
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:11 Who will lend God a loan of righteousness that He may multiply it for him, and he will have a generous recompense?
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:11 WHO IS IT that will offer up unto God a goodly loan, which He will amply repay11 For, such [as do so] shall have a noble reward

Note 11
See note 234 on the identical phrase in 2:245. In the present instance the meaning is apparently wider, applying to all that man may do selflessly, for the sake of God alone.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Special Honor57:11 Who would like to loan GOD a loan of righteousness, to have it multiplied for him manifold, and end up with a generous recompense?,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:11 Who is it that will lend to God a goodly loan that He may increase it manifold, and his may be a generous reward?

57:12 يوم ترى المؤمنين والمؤمنت يسعى نورهم بين ايديهم وبايمنهم بشرىكم اليوم جنت تجرى من تحتها الانهر خلدين فيها ذلك هو الفوز العظيم

Transcription (English)
57:12 Yawma tara almu/mineena waalmu/minatiyasAAa nooruhum bayna aydeehim wabi-aymanihim bushrakumualyawma jannatun tajree min tahtiha al-anharukhalideena feeha thalika huwa alfawzu alAAatheemu
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Light and Truth57:12 The day will come when you see the acknowledging men and the acknowledging women with their light radiating around them and to their right. "Good news is yours today, you will have paradises with flowing rivers, abiding therein. This is the great triumph!"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:12 The Day will come when you see the believing males and the believing females with their light radiating around them and to their right. "Good news is yours today, you will have estates with rivers flowing beneath them; abiding therein. This is the great triumph!"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:12 on the Day when thou shalt see all believing men and believing women, with their light spreading rapidly before them and on their right,12 [and with this wel­come awaiting them:] “A glad tiding for you today: gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide! This, this is the triumph supreme!"

Note 12
See note 25 on the expression ashab al-yamin ("those on the right hand") in 74:39. In many instances, the metaphor of "the right hand" or "right side" is used in the Qur'an to denote "righteousness" and, therefore, "blessedness", symbolized in the present context by the "light spreading rapidly" before and on the right side of the believers as a result of their "cognition of God, and their high morality, and their freedom from ignorance and blameworthy traits" (Razi).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Great Triumph57:12 The day will come when you see the believing men and women with their lights radiating ahead of them and to their right. Good news is yours that, on that day, you will have gardens with flowing streams. You will abide therein forever. This is the great triumph.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:12 On the Day when you will see the believing men and the believing women, their lights shining forth before them, blessing them, (it will be said), “A happy news for you this Day - Gardens beneath which rivers flow, (for you) to abide therein. This, this is the Supreme Triumph!" [57:9]

57:13 يوم يقول المنفقون والمنفقت للذين ءامنوا انظرونا نقتبس من نوركم قيل ارجعوا وراءكم فالتمسوا نورا فضرب بينهم بسور له باب باطنه فيه الرحمة وظهره من قبله العذاب

Transcription (English)
57:13 Yawma yaqoolu almunafiqoona waalmunafiqatulillatheena amanoo onthuroonanaqtabis min noorikum qeela irjiAAoo waraakum failtamisoonooran faduriba baynahum bisoorin lahu babun batinuhufeehi alrrahmatu wathahiruhumin qibalihi alAAathabu
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:13 On that day, the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women will say to those who acknowledged: "Wait for us! Let us absorb some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you, and seek light." So a barrier will be set up between them, whose gate separates compassion on the inner side, from retribution on the outer side.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:13 On that Day, the hypocrite males and the hypocrite females will say to those who believed: "Wait for us! Let us absorb some of your light." It will be said: "Go back behind you, and seek light." So a barrier will be put forth between them, whose gate separates mercy on the inner side, from retribution on the outer side.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:13 On that Day shall the hypocrites, both men and women,13 speak [thus] unto those who have attained to faith: “Wait for us! Let us have a [ray of] light from your light!" [But] they will be told: “Turn back, and seek a light [of your own]!"14 And thereupon a wall will be raised between them [and the believers], with a gate in it: within it will be grace and mercy, and against the outside thereof, suffering.15

Note 13
Meant here are, apparently, not only outright "hypocrites" (in the connotation given to this term in Western languages), but also people who, being shaky in their beliefs and uncertain in their moral convictions, are inclined to deceive themselves (see note 7 on 29:11).

Note 14
I.e., "you should have sought light while you lived on earth".

Note 15
The stress on there being a gate in the wall separating true believers and hypocrites (or the weak of faith) points to the possibility of the latters' redemption: cf. the famous hadith quoted in note 10 on 40:2. Mujahid (as quoted by Tabari) identifies the "wall" spoken of here with the "barrier" (hijab) mentioned in 7:46 .
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Worst Losers57:13 On that day, the hypocrite men and women will say to those who believed, "Please allow us to absorb some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you, and seek light." A barrier will be set up between them, whose gate separates mercy on the inner side, from retribution on the outer side.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:13 On that Day the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women will say to the believers, "Wait, look at us. Let us borrow from your light!" It will be said, "Go back behind and seek light." Then a barrier will be erected with a gate therein. On the inner side of it will be grace, and on the outer side of it the doom.

57:14 ينادونهم الم نكن معكم قالوا بلى ولكنكم فتنتم انفسكم وتربصتم وارتبتم وغرتكم الامانى حتى جاء امر الله وغركم بالله الغرور

Transcription (English)
57:14 Yunadoonahum alam nakun maAAakum qaloobala walakinnakum fatantum anfusakum watarabbastumwairtabtum wagharratkumu al-amaniyyu hattajaa amru Allahi wagharrakum biAllahialgharooru
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:14 They will call upon them: "Were we not with you?" They will reply: "Yes, but you led yourselves into temptation, and you hesitated, and doubted, and became misled by wishful thinking, until God's judgment came. You were diverted from God by arrogance."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:14 They will call upon them: "Were we not with you?" They will reply: "Yes, but you led yourselves into temptation, and you hesitated, and doubted, and became misled by wishful thinking, until the judgment of God came. You were diverted from God by arrogance."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:14 They [who will remain without] will call out to those [within], “Were we not with you?" - [to which] the others will answer: “So it was! But you allowed yourselves to succumb to temptation,16 and you were hesitant [in your faith],17 and you were doubtful [of resurrection]; and your wishful thinking beguiled you until God's command came to pass:18 for, [indeed, your own] deceptive thoughts about God deluded you19

Note 16
Sc., "by the prospect of worldly gains" or "by fear for your personal safety" - both of which characterize the half-hearted as well as the hypocrites.

Note 17
Thus Ibn Zayd (quoted by Tabari), explaining the verb tarabbastum.

Note 18
I.e., "until your death".

Note 19
See note 30 on the last sentence of 31:33.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:14 They will call upon them, "Were we not with you?" They will answer, "Yes, but you cheated your souls, hesitated, doubted, and became misled by wishful thinking, until GOD's judgment came. You were diverted from GOD by illusions.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:14 They will cry to them, "Were we not with you?" The others (believers) will answer, "Yes, certainly! But you let your own ‘self’ succumb to temptation. And you tempted one another, and you were ever hesitant (watching which side was prevailing), and doubted (God’s promise). And your wishful thinking misled you until God’s command came to pass. Your own deceptions concerning God deceived you.6

Note 6
The hypocrites used to tell lies about God and His Messenger. Their wishful thinking: That they would never be exposed. 3:179

57:15 فاليوم لا يؤخذ منكم فدية ولا من الذين كفروا ماوىكم النار هى مولىكم وبئس المصير

Transcription (English)
57:15 Faalyawma la yu/khathuminkum fidyatun wala mina allatheena kafaroo ma/wakumualnnaru hiya mawlakum wabi/sa almaseeru
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:15 "This day, no ransom can be taken from you, nor from those who rejected. Your abode is the fire, it is your patron; what a miserable abode."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:15 "This Day, no ransom can be taken from you, nor from those who disbelieved. Your abode is the Fire, it is your patron; what a miserable abode."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:15 “And so, no ransom20 shall be accepted today from you, and neither from those who were [openly] bent on denying the truth. Your goal is the fire: it is your [only] refuge -21 and how evil a journey's end!"

Note 20
I.e., belated repentance.

Note 21
Lit., "your friend" (mawlakum) - i.e., "the only thing by which you may hope to be purified and redeemed": cf. the saying of the Prophet mentioned in note 10 on 40:12; see also the last note 15 above.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:15 "Therefore, today no ransom can be taken from you, nor from those who disbelieved. Your abode is the fire; it is your lord, and miserable abode.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:15 So this Day no ransom can be accepted from you, nor from the open rejecters. Your home is the fire. That is your caretaker and a miserable destination it is.

57:16 الم يان للذين ءامنوا ان تخشع قلوبهم لذكر الله وما نزل من الحق ولا يكونوا كالذين اوتوا الكتب من قبل فطال عليهم الامد فقست قلوبهم وكثير منهم فسقون

Transcription (English)
57:16 Alam ya/ni lillatheena amanooan takhshaAAa quloobuhum lithikri Allahi wamanazala mina alhaqqi wala yakoonoo kaallatheenaootoo alkitaba min qablu fatala AAalayhimu al-amadufaqasat quloobuhum wakatheerun minhum fasiqoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:16 Has not the time come for those who acknowledged to open up their hearts for the remembrance of God, and the truth that is revealed herein? They should not be like those who were given the book before, and the waiting became long for them, so their hearts became hardened, and many of them were wicked.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:16 Has not the time come for those who believed to open up their hearts for the remembrance of God, and the truth that is revealed herein? And they should not be like those who were given the Book before, and the waiting became long for them, so their hearts became hardened, and many of them were wicked.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:16 IS IT NOT time that the hearts of all who have attained to faith should feel humble at the remem­brance of God and of all the truth that has been bestowed [on them] from on high,22 lest they become like those who were granted revelation aforetime,23 and whose hearts have hardened with the passing of time so that many of them are [now] depraved?24

Note 22
I.e., "Should not the remembrance of God and His revelation make them humble rather than proud?" This is an emphatic warning against all smugness, self-righteousness and false pride at having "attained to faith" - a failing which only too often attains to such as consider themselves "pious".

Note 23
This is apparently an allusion to the spiritually arrogant among the Jews, who regard themselves as "God's chosen people" and, therefore, as predestined for His acceptance.

Note 24
I.e., so that now they act contrary to the ethical precepts of their religion: implying that the purpose of all true faith is to make man humble and God-conscious rather than self-satisfied, and that a loss of that spiritual humility invariably results in moral degeneration.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Deterioration of Religion57:16 Is it not time for those who believed to open up their hearts for GOD's message, and the truth that is revealed herein? They should not be like the followers of previous scriptures whose hearts became hardened with time and, consequently, many of them turned wicked.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:16 Is it not yet time for the believers that their hearts humble at the remembrance of God, reflecting on the truth that has been revealed? Do not be like those who were given the scripture before, and whose hearts were hardened with time. And so, a great many of them have drifted away from truth.

57:17 اعلموا ان الله يحى الارض بعد موتها قد بينا لكم الءايت لعلكم تعقلون

Transcription (English)
57:17 IAAlamoo anna Allaha yuhyeeal-arda baAAda mawtiha qad bayyanna lakumual-ayati laAAallakum taAAqiloona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:17 Know that God revives the land after it had died. We have made clear to you the signs, perhaps you may understand.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:17 Know that God revives the land after it had died. We have made clear to you the signs, perhaps you may comprehend.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:17 [But] know that God gives life to the earth after it has been lifeless!25 We have indeed made Our messages clear unto you, so that you might use your reason.

Note 25
According to most of the commentators - and, particularly, Zamakhshari , Razi and Ibn Kathir - this is a parabolic allusion to the effect of a re-awakening of God-consciousness in hearts that had become deadened by self-satisfaction and false pride.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:17 Know that GOD revives the land after it had died. We thus explain the revelations for you, that you may understand.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:17 Know all of you that God gives life to the land after it has been dead. We have made Our messages clear for you so that you might use your intellect.

57:18 ان المصدقين والمصدقت واقرضوا الله قرضا حسنا يضعف لهم ولهم اجر كريم

Transcription (English)
57:18 Inna almussaddiqeena waalmussaddiqatiwaaqradoo Allaha qardan hasanan yudaAAafulahum walahum ajrun kareemun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:18 Surely, the charitable men and charitable women, who have loaned God a loan of goodness, He will multiply their reward, and they will have a generous recompense.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:18 Surely, the charitable males and charitable females, who lend God a loan of righteousness, He will multiply their reward, and they will have a generous recompense.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:18 Verily, as for the men and women who accept the truth as true26 and who [thus] offer up unto God a goodly loan, they will be amply repaid,27 and shall have a noble reward [in the life to come].

Note 26
Or: "who give in charity" - depending on the vocalization of the consonants sad and dal. In view of the sequence, the sense given in my rendering seems preferable (and is, indeed, stressed by Zamakhshari ), although in the reading of Hafs ibn Sulayman al-Asadi, on which this translation is based, the relevant nouns appear in the spelling mussaddiqin and mussaddiqat, "men and women who give in charity".

Note 27
See verse 11 above.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:18 Surely, the charitable men and women, have loaned GOD a loan of goodness. They will receive their reward multiplied manifold; they have deserved a generous recompense.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:18 Men and women who stand true to their proclamations of belief and lend a goodly loan to God, they will be repaid manifold. And theirs will be a generous reward.

57:19 والذين ءامنوا بالله ورسله اولئك هم الصديقون والشهداء عند ربهم لهم اجرهم ونورهم والذين كفروا وكذبوا بايتنا اولئك اصحب الجحيم

Transcription (English)
57:19 Waallatheena amanoo biAllahiwarusulihi ola-ika humu alssiddeeqoona waalshshuhadaoAAinda rabbihim lahum ajruhum wanooruhum waallatheenakafaroo wakaththaboo bi-ayatina ola-ikaas-habu aljaheemi
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:19 Those who acknowledged God and His messengers are the truthful ones. The martyrs at their Lord will have their reward and their light. As for those who rejected and rejected Our signs, they are the dwellers of hell.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:19 And those who believed in God and His messengers are the truthful ones. And the martyrs at their Lord will have their reward and their light. As for those who disbelieved and denied Our revelations, they are the dwellers of Hell.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:19 For, they who have attained to faith in God and His Apostle - it is they, they who uphold the truth, and they who bear witness [thereto] before God:28 [and so] they shall have their reward and their light! But as for those who are bent on denying the truth and on giving the lie to Our messages - it is they who are destined for the blazing fire!

Note 28
I.e., by their readiness for any sacrifice.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:19 Those who believed in GOD and His messengers are the saints and martyrs. Reserved for them at their Lord are their rewards and their light. As for those who disbelieved and rejected our revelations, they have incurred Hell.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:19 Those who believe in God and His Messengers, they are the truthful, as well as the witnesses to the truth, in the Sight of their Lord. For them are their reward and their light (of Faith). But, those who oppose or deny Our revelations, they are the companions of the Blazing Fire.

57:20 اعلموا انما الحيوة الدنيا لعب ولهو وزينة وتفاخر بينكم وتكاثر فى الامول والاولد كمثل غيث اعجب الكفار نباته ثم يهيج فترىه مصفرا ثم يكون حطما وفى الءاخرة عذاب شديد ومغفرة من الله ورضون وما الحيوة الدنيا الا متع الغرور

Transcription (English)
57:20 IAAlamoo annama alhayatualddunya laAAibun walahwun wazeenatun watafakhurunbaynakum watakathurun fee al-amwali waal-awladikamathali ghaythin aAAjaba alkuffara nabatuhuthumma yaheeju fatarahu musfarran thumma yakoonu hutamanwafee al-akhirati AAathabun shadeedun wamaghfiratunmina Allahi waridwanun wama alhayatualddunya illa mataAAu alghuroori
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
The Purpose of Life on Earth57:20 Know that this worldly life is no more than play and amusement, and boasting among you, and an increase in wealth and children. It is like plants that are supplied by an abundant rain, which appear pleasing to those who do not appreciate. But then they dry up and turn yellow, and become useless hay. In the Hereafter there is severe retribution, and forgiveness from God and approval. This worldly life is no more than a deceiving enjoyment.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:20 Know that the worldly life is no more than play and distraction and adornments, and boasting among you, and to increase in wealth and children. It is like plants that are supplied by an abundant rain, which appear pleasing to the rejecters. But then they dry-up and turn yellow, and become useless hay. And in the Hereafter there is severe retribution, and forgiveness from God and acceptance. This worldly life is no more than a deceiving enjoyment.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:20 KNOW [O men] that the life of this world is but a play and a passing delight, and a beautiful show, and [the cause of] your boastful vying with one another, and [of your] greed for more and more riches and children.29 Its parable is that of30 [life-giving] rain: the herbage which it causes to grow delights the tillers of the soil;31 but then it withers, and thou canst see it turn yellow; and in the end it crumbles into dust. But [the abiding truth of man's condition will become fully apparent] in the life to come: [either] suffering severe, or32 God's forgiveness and His goodly acceptance: for the life of this world is nothing but an enjoyment of self-delusion.

Note 29
Commenting at length on this passage, Razi makes it clear that life as such is not to be despised, inasmuch as it has been created by God: cf. 38:27 - "We have not created heaven and earth and all that is between them without meaning and purpose"; and 23:115 - "Did you think that We have created you in mere idle play?" But whereas life in itself is a positive gift of God and - as Razi points out - the potential source of all blessings, it loses this positive quality if it is indulged in recklessly, blindly and with disregard of spiritual values and considerations: in brief, if it is indulged in without any thought of the hereafter.

Note 30
Lit., "(It is) like the parable of…", etc.

Note 31
This is the sole instance in the Qur'an where the participial noun kafir (in its plural form kuffar) has its original meaning of "tiller of the soil". For the etymology of this meaning, see note 4 on 74: 10, where the term kafir (in the sense of "denier of the truth") appears for the first time in the sequence of Quranic revelation.

Note 32
According to Tabari, the conjunction wa has here the meaning of aw ("or").
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Preoccupation With This Life Condemned57:20 Know that this worldly life is no more than play and games, and boasting among you, and hoarding of money and children. It is like abundant rain that produces plants and pleases the disbelievers. But then the plants turn into useless hay, and are blown away by the wind. In the Hereafter there is either severe retribution, or forgiveness from GOD and approval. This worldly life is no more than a temporary illusion.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:20 Know all of you that (in comparison to Eternity) the life of this world is only play and a fleeting delight, and your mutual bragging, and rivalry in riches and children. It is like abundant rain that brings forth plantation and pleases the farmers (Kuffaar). But then the plantation withers and you can see it turn into yellow hay. And in the end it crumbles into dust! But in the Hereafter it is either grievous suffering or protecting forgiveness from God and His approval. So, what is the life of this world, but an enjoyment of illusion?7

Note 7
Therefore, invest in the life to come for lasting rewards. 3:14, 10:24, 16:92, 18:45, 14:18, 24:39, 83:26, 102:1. Kuffar in this verse, very uniquely, has been used in the very literal sense, indicating those who hide something - specifically, the farmers who cover the seed with soil. Kafir will also mean one who conceals the truth and the one who shows ingratitude

57:21 سابقوا الى مغفرة من ربكم وجنة عرضها كعرض السماء والارض اعدت للذين ءامنوا بالله ورسله ذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم

Transcription (English)
57:21 Sabiqoo ila maghfiratin minrabbikum wajannatin AAarduha kaAAardi alssama-iwaal-ardi oAAiddat lillatheena amanoobiAllahi warusulihi thalika fadlu Allahiyu/teehi man yashao waAllahu thooalfadli alAAatheemi
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:21 You shall race towards forgiveness from your Lord, and a Paradise whose width is as the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who acknowledged God and His messengers. Such is God's grace that He bestows upon whomever He wills. God is the Possessor of Infinite Grace.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:21 You shall race towards forgiveness from your Lord, and a Paradise whose width is as the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believed in God and His messengers. Such is the grace of God that He bestows upon whoever He wills. God is the Possessor of Infinite Grace.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:21 [Hence,] vie with one another in seeking to attain to your Sustainer's forgiveness,33 and [thus] to a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, which has been readied for those who have attained to faith in God and His Apostle:34 such is the bounty of God which He grants unto whomever He wills - for God is limitless in His great bounty.

Note 33
Sc., "rather than in striving for glory and worldly possessions": implying elliptically that no man is free from faults and transgressions, and hence everyone is in need of God's forgiveness. (Cf. note 41 on 24:31.)

Note 34
For a further qualification of the humility which characterizes true believers, see 3:133.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Intelligent Alternative57:21 Therefore, you shall race towards forgiveness from your Lord, and a Paradise whose width encompasses the heaven and the earth. It awaits those who believed in GOD and His messengers. Such is GOD's grace that He bestows upon whomever He wills. GOD is Possessor of Infinite Grace.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:21 Be foremost in seeking the protection from your Lord, and a Garden as vast as the heaven and the earth. It has been readied for those who choose to believe in God and His Messengers. Such is God’s bounty that He bestows upon him who wills it. God is the Lord of abounding bounty.8

Note 8
The Paradise encompasses the entire Universe. 3:133

57:22 ما اصاب من مصيبة فى الارض ولا فى انفسكم الا فى كتب من قبل ان نبراها ان ذلك على الله يسير

Transcription (English)
57:22 Ma asaba min museebatinfee al-ardi wala fee anfusikum illa fee kitabinmin qabli an nabraaha inna thalika AAala Allahiyaseerun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
The Key of Happiness: Stoic Submission to God57:22 No misfortune can happen on earth, or in yourselves, except it is decreed in a record, before We bring it about. This is easy for God to do.2

Note 2

Proving the existence of free will is philosophically and scientifically impossible. Considering Gödel's incompleteness theorem, it is impossible to eliminate axioms in axiomatic deductions. The assertion, "I have freedom of will" is not only nonfalsifiable, but also contradicts the deterministic laws governing matter and energy. As Nietzsche and Blanchard argued, it might be impossible to predict the interactive motion of hundreds of billiard balls, yet the motion of each ball depends on the mass and velocity of the ball colliding it. The motion of all balls depends on the motion of the first ball, and its motion depends on the angle and kinetic energy of the cue, which passes it to the balls during the impact. Sartre and other atheistic existentialists assumed the existence of freedom of will by asserting that "existence preceded essence" yet they never explained why one egg ended up with a snake while another with a bird; they ignored the fact that there could not be existence without essence.

Nevertheless, if there is freedom of will, it cannot be possible without an omnipotent, the greatest paradox-solver God. Without God, there is no justification for believing in one's freedom in a world where every atom and molecule works in a deterministic way. Does the human brain function according to the quantum laws governing quarks? So far, there is no scientific evidence showing such a relationship. Muslims cannot be accused of being fatalistic; to the contrary, freedom of will is only possible with the existence of God, and muslims can only be accused of believing in freedom of will. See 6:110; 7:15; 13:11; 18:29; 42:13; 46:15; 57:22.

However, acceptance of freedom of will based on divine communication creates other logical problems or paradoxes. Leaving aside the uncertainty principle and speculations related to quantum physics, it seems impossible to assert the freedom of an agent who did not even choose his or her genetic makeup, the time, the space, and the conditions where he or she would be born. Obviously, this is a paradox, since it is impossible to choose existence or the qualities of existence without having an existence or the qualities for choosing qualities! In other words, the paradox of freedom of will is triggered at the moment of creation. Did God ask us whether to give us freedom of will and subject us to a test? If yes, then how could we have the freedom to choose or reject freedom, if we did not have it in the first place? If no, then, how can we have freedom of will, while we were forced to have it in the first place?

Though believing that we humans have freedom of will is one of the paradoxes most difficult to digest, I acknowledge it because of the proven book (18:29; 57:22).

God, as a demonstration of His creative powers, chose to test the results of creating a being with the ability to freely choose its own destiny (18:29; 6:110; 13:11). God downloaded His ruh (revelation/ information/logic) to the prototypical human that would provide him with innate rules of reasoning to distinguish falsehood from truth, bad from good (15:29; 32:9; 38:72;). Messengers and books containing ruh were only a bonus mercy, mere reminders of the facts that could be discovered by reason (2:37; 10:57; 11:17; 16:89; 21:107; 29:51; 16:2; 36:69; 37:87; 39:21; 42:52; 58:22). After the two human prototypes failed the first test (2:11), God created life and death on this planet to give another chance, to reform ourselves, this time subjecting billions of individuals inheriting and operating the same basic program to the same test (67:2). After letting the program run for a period, an individual is deemed accountable to God (46:15). God decided to punish those who freely choose a path contradictory to its original program as they corrupt it through false ideas and actions (2:57; 4:107; 6:12; 7:9; 59:19). The programs that are infected with viruses will experience a regretful stage in a quarantine called Hell (Hell and Paradise are allegories: 13:35; 17:60; 37:62; 7:44). In this stage the corrupt programs and their chief infector (Satan) will be penalized (7:11; 38:71), and then they will altogether be annihilated there (87:13). The only virus that will not be healed on the day of Judgment is the virus that creates a schizophrenic personality, a personality that submits itself to others besides God, a personality that does not free itself from false gods thereby alienating itself from its origin, that is God (4:48).

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:22 No misfortune can happen on the earth, or in yourselves, except it is decreed in a record, before We bring it about. This is easy for God to do.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:22 NO CALAMITY can ever befall the earth, and nei­ther your own selves,35 unless it be [laid down] in Our decree before We bring it into being: verily, all this36 is easy for God.

Note 35
I.e., "the earth or mankind as a whole, or any of you individually": an allusion to natural as well as man-made catastrophes, and to individual suffering through illness, moral or material deprivation, etc.

Note 36
I.e.. God's decreeing an event and bringing it into being.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Profound Fact57:22 Anything that happens on earth, or to you, has already been recorded, even before the creation. This is easy for GOD to do.2 ,

Note 2
We are absolutely free to side with God, or with Satan. God happens to know precisely what kind of decision each of us will make. The video tapeof your life, from birth to death, is already recorded. SeeAppendix 14.
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:22 No disaster befalls the earth, nor yourselves but according to the laws that We have already recorded in the Book of decrees. Surely, all this is easy for God.

57:23 لكيلا تاسوا على ما فاتكم ولا تفرحوا بما ءاتىكم والله لا يحب كل مختال فخور

Transcription (English)
57:23 Likayla ta/saw AAala mafatakum wala tafrahoo bima atakumwaAllahu la yuhibbu kulla mukhtalinfakhoorin
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:23 In order that you do not despair over anything that has passed you by, nor be exultant of anything He has bestowed upon you. God does not like those who are boastful, proud.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:23 In order that you do not despair over anything that has passed you by, nor be happy of anything He has bestowed upon you. God does not love those who are boastful, proud.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:23 [Know this,] so that you may not despair over whatever [good] has escaped you nor exult [unduly] over whatever [good] has come to you:37 for, God does not love any of those who, out of self-conceit, act in a boastful manner –38

Note 37
Thus, the knowledge that whatever has happened had to happen - and could not have not happened - because, obviously, it had been willed by God in accordance with His unfathomable plan, ought to enable a true believer to react with conscious equanimity to whatever good or ill comes to him.

Note 38
I.e., attributing their good fortune to their own merit or "luck".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:23 Thus, you should not grieve over anything you miss, nor be proud of anything He has bestowed upon you. GOD does not love those who are boastful, proud.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:23 So, despair not over whatever has left you, nor exult for whatever you have been given. For, God does not love those who are boastful, proud.

57:24 الذين يبخلون ويامرون الناس بالبخل ومن يتول فان الله هو الغنى الحميد

Transcription (English)
57:24 Allatheena yabkhaloona waya/muroona alnnasabialbukhli waman yatawalla fa-inna Allaha huwaalghaniyyu alhameedu
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:24 They are stingy, and order the people to be stingy. For anyone who turns away, then know that God is the Rich, the Praiseworthy.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:24 They are stingy, and order the people to be stingy. And for anyone who turns away, then know that God is the Rich, the Praiseworthy.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:24 those who are niggardly [with God's bounty] and bid others to be niggardly!39 And he who turns his back [on this truth40 ought to know that], verily, God alone is self-sufficient, the One to whom all praise is due!

Note 39
Cf. last sentence of 4:36 and the whole of verse 37.

Note 40
I.e., does not want to admit that whatever has happened must have been willed by God.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:24 They are stingy, and enjoin the people to be stingy. If one turns away, then GOD is the Rich, the Praiseworthy.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:24 They are stingy and enjoin people to be stingy. But if anyone turns away, then (he should know that) God is free of want, Worthy of all praise.

57:25 لقد ارسلنا رسلنا بالبينت وانزلنا معهم الكتب والميزان ليقوم الناس بالقسط وانزلنا الحديد فيه باس شديد ومنفع للناس وليعلم الله من ينصره ورسله بالغيب ان الله قوى عزيز

Transcription (English)
57:25 Laqad arsalna rusulana bialbayyinatiwaanzalna maAAahumu alkitaba waalmeezanaliyaqooma alnnasu bialqisti waanzalnaalhadeeda feehi ba/sun shadeedun wamanafiAAu lilnnasiwaliyaAAlama Allahu man yansuruhu warusulahu bialghaybiinna Allaha qawiyyun AAazeezun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Iron: an Important Metal57:25 We have sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and We sent down with them the book and the balance, that the people may uphold justice. We sent down the iron, wherein there is great strength, and many benefits for the people. So that God would distinguish those who would support Him and His messengers on acknowledgement. God is Powerful, Noble.3

Note 3

This chapter, which mentions the qualities of iron provides some interesting information regarding the physical structure of the element. Since it is the only chapter elaborating on the benefits and harms of iron, the chapter is called Sura al-Hadid, that is, Chapter Iron. Decades ago, when I was a young Sunni scholar, my research on the numerical structure of the chapter led me to interesting discoveries which was published as a booklet. (Kuran'da Demirin Kimyasal Esrarı, Edip Yuksel, Timaş, Istanbul, 1984).

We know that during the era of Quranic revelation, Arabs were not using the so-called Arabic numerals. They adopted those numerals about two centuries after Muhammed. During the time of Muhammed, Arabs were using their Alphabet letters as numbers. The 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet then was arranged in a different order that started with the letters ABJD, thus known as Abjad, or Gematria. Since Arabic and Hebrew are closely related languages, their numerical system too resembled each other. Each letter corresponded to a number, such as A for 1, B for 2, J for 3, D for 4. When it reached 10, the corresponding numerical values would continue as multiples of tens and when reaching 100, they would continue as multiples of hundred ending with 1000. Archeological evidence shows that then they were distinguishing letters from numbers by using different color ink or simply by putting a line over the letter, resembling the Roman numerals. However, a literary text might use letters/numbers for multiple purposes; that is for both their semantic or lexicon function and at the same time for their numerical value. Such a multi-use requires an extreme command and knowledge of language and the author is limited by the language. When Arabs abandoned the Abjad system, it was still used by poets and charlatan healers who wished to take advantage of an antiquated numerical system that became a curiosity for the gullible. Poets wrote verses about events or epithets for important figures, with the date of the event or the death embedded in the numerical values of the letters of a word or a phrase in their verses. The usage of the Abjad in the Quran is extensive, impressive and prophetic (For another example see 74:1).

When we add up the numerical values of letters comprising the word HaDYD (iron), it gives the atomic number of any iron element: 8+4+10+4=26. If we add up the numerical values of the letters comprising the word AL-HaDYD (the iron, or a particular version of iron), it gives the atomic weight of a particular isotope of the iron element: 1+30+8+4+10+4=57. Of course, this interesting coincidence has nothing to do with the Quran, since the word HaDYD already existed in the language of common people, including the opponents of the Quran. However, when we study the details of this chapter we will learn that the author of the book was aware of the unique relationship between this word, its numerical values, and the related physical or chemical properties.

This chapter is listed as the 57th chapter of the Quran, corresponding to the numerical value of its popular name, and at the same time corresponding to the atomic weight of a particular isotope of iron. Iron has five isotopes, with the atomic number of 54, 55, 56, 57, and 58, containing 29, 30, 31, and 32 neutrons, respectively. We also observe that the only verse mentioning the physical properties of iron is listed as the 26th verse, including the unnumbered verse, Bismillah, in the beginning of chapter. (Bismillah, as the first and the most repeated verse of the Quran has a unique role in the mathematical structure of the Quran). The chapter contains 29 numbered verses and 30 verses, when you include Bismillah; each number giving us the number of neutrons of different isotopes of iron. Iron with 30 neutrons has the most stable nucleus possible, and thus cannot be subjected to fission or fusion. Formation of iron marks the formation of planets and death of stars. Iron with 31 neutrons has a nuclear spin and is used in industry. The word God occurs 32 times in the chapter, two of them in the verse mentioning iron. Thus, the verse about the iron contains the 26th occurrence of the word God, with or without including the unnumbered Bismillah. The verb "we sent down" is interesting, since it describes the formation of planets.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:25 We have sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and We sent down with them the Book and the balance, so that the people may uphold justice. And We sent down the iron, wherein there is great strength, and many benefits for the people. So that God would distinguish those who would support Him and His messengers in the unseen. God is Powerful, Noble.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:25 Indeed, [even aforetime] did We send forth Our apostles with all evidence of [this] truth; and through them41 We bestowed revelation from on high, and [thus gave you] a balance [wherewith to weigh right and wrong], so that men might behave with equity; and We bestowed [upon you] from on high [the ability to make use of] iron, in which there is awesome power as well as [a source of] benefits for man:42 and [all this was given to you] so that God might mark out those who would stand up for him and His Apostle,43 even though He [Himself] is beyond the reach of human perception.44 Verily, God is powerful, almighty!

Note 41
Lit., "with them".

Note 42
Side by side with enabling man to discriminate between right and wrong (which is the innermost purpose of all divine revelation), God has endowed him with the ability to convert to his use the natural resources of his earthly environment. An outstanding symbol of this ability is man's skill, unique among all animated beings, in making tools; and the primary material for all tool-making - and, indeed, for all human technology - is iron: the one metal which is found abundantly on earth, and which can be utilized for beneficial as well as destructive ends. The awesome power (bas shadid) inherent in iron manifests itself not merely in the manufacture of weapons of war but also, more subtly, in man's ever-growing tendency to foster the development of an increasingly complicated technology which places the machine in the foreground of all human existence and which, by its inherent - almost irresistible - dynamism, gradually estranges man from all inner connection with nature. This process of growing mechanization, so evident in our modern life, jeopardizes the very structure of human society and, thus, contributes to a gradual dissolution of all moral and spiritual perceptions epitomized in the concept of "divine guidance". It is to warn man of this danger that the Qur'an stresses - symbolically and metonymically - the potential evil (ba's) of "iron" if it is put to wrong use: in other words, the danger of man's allowing his technological ingenuity to run wild and thus to overwhelm his spiritual consciousness and, ultimately, to destroy all possibility of individual and social happiness.

Note 43
Lit., "those who succour Him and His Apostle", i.e., those who stand up for the cause of God and His Apostle. The meaning is that only they who put God's spiritual and material gifts to right use can be described as "true believers".

Note 44
See note 3 on 2:3.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Iron: The Most Useful Metal57:25 We sent our messengers supported by clear proofs, and we sent down to them the scripture and the law, that the people may uphold justice. And we sent down the iron, wherein there is strength, and many benefits for the people. All this in order for GOD to distinguish those who would support Him and His messengers, on faith. GOD is Powerful, Almighty.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:25 We sent Our Messengers with the evident truth and revealed with them the law and the Standard of right and wrong that mankind may deal in justice. And We have bestowed on from high the iron in which there is awesome power and many benefits for people. For, God marks out those who help Him and His Messengers although the victory may initially be obscure to them. Surely, God is Strong, Almighty.9

Note 9
Meezaan = Balance of measure = Standard of justice. As proven by modern science, the iron is not native to earth. It has come down from higher celestial bodies, the Nova stars. In 1920, Charles Edouard Guillaume was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in recognition of the service he had rendered to this research

57:26 ولقد ارسلنا نوحا وابرهيم وجعلنا فى ذريتهما النبوة والكتب فمنهم مهتد وكثير منهم فسقون

Transcription (English)
57:26 Walaqad arsalna noohan wa-ibraheemawajaAAalna fee thurriyyatihima alnnubuwwatawaalkitaba faminhum muhtadin wakatheerun minhum fasiqoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Prophethood57:26 We had sent Noah and Abraham, and We placed in their progeny the prophethood and the book. Some of them were guided, while many were wicked.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:26 And We had sent Noah and Abraham, and We placed in their progeny the prophethood and the Book. Some of them were guided, while many were wicked.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:26 And, indeed, [to the same end]45 We sent forth Noah and Abraham [as Our message-bearers], and established prophethood and revelation among their descendants; and some of them were on the right way, but many were iniquitous.

Note 45
I.e., to give man a balance wherewith to weigh right and wrong, and so to enable him to behave with equity (see preceding verse).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Prophets57:26 We sent Noah and Abraham, and we granted their descendants prophethood and the scripture. Some of them were guided, while many were wicked.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:26 We sent Noah and Abraham and granted Prophethood and scripture to their progeny. Some of them remained rightly guided, but a great many of them drifted away.

57:27 ثم قفينا على ءاثرهم برسلنا وقفينا بعيسى ابن مريم وءاتينه الانجيل وجعلنا فى قلوب الذين اتبعوه رافة ورحمة ورهبانية ابتدعوها ما كتبنها عليهم الا ابتغاء رضون الله فما رعوها حق رعايتها فاتينا الذين ءامنوا منهم اجرهم وكثير منهم فسقون

Transcription (English)
57:27 Thumma qaffayna AAala atharihimbirusulina waqaffayna biAAeesa ibni maryamawaataynahu al-injeela wajaAAalna fee quloobiallatheena ittabaAAoohu ra/fatan warahmatan warahbaniyyatanibtadaAAooha ma katabnaha AAalayhimilla ibtighaa ridwani Allahifama raAAawha haqqa riAAayatihafaatayna allatheena amanoo minhumajrahum wakatheerun minhum fasiqoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:27 Then We sent in their tracks Our messengers. We sent Jesus the son of Mary, and We gave him the Injeel, and We ordained in the hearts of his followers kindness and compassion. But they invented Monasticism which We never decreed for them. They wanted to please God, but they did not observe it the way it should have been observed. Consequently, We gave those who acknowledged among them their recompense, while many of them were wicked.4

Note 4

According to a law attributed to Moses, eunuchs were not respected. "No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 23:1 ). However, Christians who later fabricated hadith attributing them to Jesus, turned castration or hermitic life into a righteous act: "Jesus replied, 'Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.' The disciples said to him, 'If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.' Jesus replied, 'Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage--because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it'" (Matthew 19:8-12 ). "These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins…" (Revelation 14:4 ). St. Paul, the voice behind the Gospels of the Nicene Conference, praised hermitic life: "Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry" (1 Corinthians 7:1 ).

Today, only the Catholic Church and some small sects are struggling to keep this innovation alive. However, as the Quran states, they do not follow their own fabricated practice of celibacy. Worse, their churches have become notorious for pedophilia and child abuse, and many rich churches have recently declared bankruptcy because of a series of litigations by abused children. The unnatural religious innovation in the name of God, led many priests to engage in child abuse and sodomy, perhaps attracting homosexuals to the ranks of priesthood for various reasons. Some religious men with homosexual tendencies who thought celibacy to be a cure for their desires ended up getting more opportunity to spend time with altar boys in their churches. Perhaps some homosexuals picked the profession just to indulge in their perverted act behind holy curtains. In 2004, the Conference of Catholic Bishops found 11,000 cases of sexual abuse by about 4,000 priests and deacons since 1950. The real numbers are most likely much higher. The sex-abuse lawsuits cost the Church billions of dollars in compansation, leading some dioceses to financial bankruptcy.

The moral bankruptcy and perversion, however, was going on for centuries and was kept a "holy secret" by the powerful and secretive Church. It is only in the last decades that children have more of a voice, and the Church's financial and social power to keep the evil deeds of its priests as secrets behind the confession session is weakening. The Catholic Church, which is also having problems in recruiting priests, is in a dilemma. If they adhere to their centuries-old celebrated rule, then they will continue suffering from the perverted behavior of priests and a shortage of new recruits. If they amend their rules and abandon the practice, then their credibility and claim of infallibility will get hurt, again. If history is a guide, the Church will resist until reality will force them to abandon it. They will always find a way to justify their blunder to their faithful, who consider reason and religion to be like ice and fire, with their eternally "infallible" teachings of their Popes! Those charlatans did not only steal the power of forgiveness, infallibility, the keys of heaven from God, but also stole the Biblical title of God, "holy father." According to the Quran, the Pope is no different than Pharaoh, since he is claiming divine powers. According to the Quran, Catholics are mentally and spiritually enslaved by their Popes. Isn’t it time to accept the truth so that truth will set us all free?

The Quran encourages man and woman to marry. Sexual intercourse, as long as it is done within the limit of God's law, is considered one of God's great blessings. See 30:21. Also see 3:71; 4:161; 9:24; 2:42; 2:188.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:27 Then We sent in their tracks Our messengers. And We sent Jesus, son of Mary, and We gave him the Gospel, and We ordained in the hearts of his followers kindness and mercy. But they invented Monasticism which We never decreed for them. They wanted to please God, but they did not observe it the way it should have been observed. Consequently, We gave those who believed among them their recompense, while many of them were wicked.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:27 And thereupon We caused [other of] Our apostles to follow in their footsteps; and [in the course of time] We caused them to be followed by Jesus, the son of Mary, upon whom We bestowed the Gospel;46 and in the hearts of those who [truly] followed him We engendered compassion and mercy. But as for monastic asceticism -47 We did not enjoin it upon them: they invented it themselves out of a desire for God's goodly acceptance.48 But then, they did not [always] observe it as it ought to have been observed:49 and so We granted their recompense unto such of them as had [truly] attained to faith, whereas many of them became iniquitous.50

Note 46
See surah 3 note 4.

Note 47
The term rahbaniyyah combines the concepts of monastic life with an exaggerated asceti­cism, often amounting to a denial of any value in the life of this world - an attitude characteristic of early Christianity but disapproved of in Islam (cf. 2:143 - "We have willed you to be a community of the middle way" - and the corresponding note 118).

Note 48
Or: "they invented it themselves, [for] We did not enjoin it upon them: [We enjoined upon them] only the seeking of God's goodly acceptance". Both these interpretations are equally legitimate, and are accepted as such by most of the classical commentators. The rendering adopted by me corresponds to the interpretation given by Sa'id ibn Jubayr and Qatadah (both of them cited by Tabari and Ibn Kathir).

Note 49
I.e., not all of them observed it in the right spirit (Tabari, Zamakhshari , Ibn Kathir), inasmuch as in the course of time many of them - or, rather, many of those who came after the early ascetics (Tabari) - corrupted their devotions by accepting the ideas of Trinity and of God's incarnation in Jesus, and by lapsing into empty formalism (Razi).

Note 50
Sc., "and were deprived of Our grace".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Deterioration of Religion57:27 Subsequent to them, we sent our messengers. We sent Jesus the son of Mary, and we gave him the Injeel (Gospel), and we placed in the hearts of his followers kindness and mercy. But they invented hermitism which we never decreed for them. All we asked them to do was to uphold the commandments approved by GOD. But they did not uphold the message as they should have. Consequently, we gave those who believed among them their recompense, while many of them were wicked.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:27 Then, in succession, We followed them up with (other of) Our Messengers. We caused them to be followed by Jesus son of Mary and gave him the Gospel. And We placed kindness and compassion in the hearts of those who followed him. As for monastic asceticism - We had never ordained it to them. They invented it themselves to seek God’s approval. But then, they did not uphold (the Gospel) with right observance. And so those who truly believed among them, We gave them their reward. But, a great many of them have been drifting away.10

Note 10
They adopted false dogmas repugnant to Strict Monotheism of the Gospel and preoccupied themselves with polytheistic ritualism

57:28 يايها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وءامنوا برسوله يؤتكم كفلين من رحمته ويجعل لكم نورا تمشون به ويغفر لكم والله غفور رحيم

Transcription (English)
57:28 Ya ayyuha allatheena amanooittaqoo Allaha waaminoo birasoolihi yu/tikumkiflayni min rahmatihi wayajAAal lakum nooran tamshoonabihi wayaghfir lakum waAllahu ghafoorun raheemun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
57:28 O you who acknowledge, you shall revere God and acknowledge His messenger. He will then grant you double the reward from His mercy, and He will make for you a light by which you shall walk, and He will forgive you. God is Forgiving, Compassionate.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:28 O you who believe, you shall reverence God and believe in His messenger. He will then grant you double the reward from His mercy, and He will make for you a light by which you shall walk, and He will forgive you. And God is Forgiving, Merciful.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:28 O YOU who have attained to faith!51 Remain con­scious of God, and believe in His Apostle, [and] He will grant you doubly of His grace, and will light for you a light wherein you shall walk, and will forgive you [your past sins]: for God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.

Note 51
As is evident from the preceding passage as well as from verse 29, the people thus addressed are the followers of earlier revelation (ahl al-kitab), and in particular the true - i.e., Unitarian - followers of Jesus.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:28 O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD and believe in His messenger. He will then grant you double the reward from His mercy, endow you with light to guide you, and forgive you. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:28 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Be mindful of God and put faith in His Messenger. And He will bestow on you a double reward of His grace. He will appoint for you a light by which you shall walk, and He will absolve your faults. God is Forgiving, Merciful.

57:29 لئلا يعلم اهل الكتب الا يقدرون على شىء من فضل الله وان الفضل بيد الله يؤتيه من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم

Transcription (English)
57:29 Li-alla yaAAlama ahlu alkitabialla yaqdiroona AAala shay-in min fadli Allahiwaanna alfadla biyadi Allahi yu/teehi man yashaowaAllahu thoo alfadli alAAatheemi
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
The People of the Book Should Know57:29 So that the followers of the book should know that they have no power over God's grace, and that all grace is in God's hand. He bestows it upon whoever/whomever He wills. God is Possessor of Infinite Grace.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
57:29 So that the followers of the Book should know that they have no power over the grace of God, and that all grace is in the hand of God. He bestows it upon whoever He wills. God is Possessor of Infinite Grace.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
57:29 And the followers of earlier revelation should know52 that they have no power whatever over any of God's bounty,53 seeing that all bounty is in God's hand [alone]: He grants it unto whomever He wills - for God is limitless in His great bounty.

Note 52
Lit., "so that the followers of earlier revelation (i.e., the Bible) may know".

Note 53
I.e., that they have no exclusive claim to any of God's bounty - which latter term relates, in the present context, to a bestowal of divine revelation. This is addressed in the first instance to the Jews, who reject the revelation granted to Muhammad in the belief that the office of prophethood is an exclusive "preserve" of the children of Israel , as well as to the Christians who, as followers of the Bible, implicitly accept this unwarranted claim.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
57:29 Thus, the followers of previous scripture should know that they have not monopolized GOD's mercy and grace, and that all grace is in GOD's hand. He bestows it upon whomever He wills. GOD is Possessor of Infinite Grace.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
57:29 And the People of the Scripture should know that they have no power whatsoever over the bounty of God. All bounty is in God’s hand and He grants it according to His laws. God is the Lord of a tremendous bounty.11

Note 11
He is the Lord of the Worlds and the Lord of all mankind and He does not discriminate between people. 1:1, 114:1