11. Hud

(We wronged them not) when We destroyed them, (but they did wrong themselves) by engaging in disbelief, idolatry and idol worship; (and their gods on whom they call) they worship (beside Allah) when Allah's chastisement seized them (availed them naught then came your Lords command) your Lord's punishment; (they added to them) the worship of idols (naught save ruin) loss.

(Even thus is the grasp of your Lord) the chastisement of your Lord (when He graspeth the townships) when He chastises the people of these townships (while they are doing wrong) when they are disbelievers and idolaters. (Lo! His grasp) His chastisement (is painful, very strong).

(Lo! Herein) in that which We mentioned to you (verily there is a portent) a lesson (for those who fear the doom of the Hereafter) such that they do not follow in their footsteps. (That is a day) the Day of Resurrection (unto which mankind will be gathered) the first and last among mankind will be gathered, (and that is a day that will be witnessed) it will be witnessed by the dwellers of heaven and earth.

(And We defer it) i.e. that day (only as a term already reckoned) only to an appointed time.

(On the day when it cometh no soul will speak) no righteous soul will intercede in favour of anyone (except by His permission) except by His command; (some among them) some of the people on that day (will be wretched) it was decreed that they will be damned, ((others) glad) it was decreed that they will be felicitous.

(As for those who will be wretched (on that day) they will be in the Fire; sighing) like the sighing heard from a donkey when about to bray (and wailing) like the exhaling of a donkey when he stops braying (will be their portion therein).

(Abiding there) they will stay in the Fire forever (so long as the heavens and the earth endure) for as long as the heavens and the earth remain, from the moment they were created until the moment they lapse (save for that which thy Lord willeth) and your Lord has willed that they will abide in the Fire forever; it is also said: those who are damned will abide therein forever for as long as the heavens, the earth and the children of Adam subsist, except those whom Allah wills to change from damnation to felicity by His saying: (Allah effaceth what He will, and establishes [13:39]); it is also said that this means: they will abide in the Fire for as long as the heavens and the earth subsist: the heaven of the Fire and the earth of the Fire unless Allah wills to get the people who believed in Allah's divine Oneness out of it, those whose wretchedness was caused by a sin less than disbelief. Allah will enter these into Paradise because of their pure faith. (Lo! thy Lord is Doer of what He will) as He will.

(So be not thou in doubt concerning that which these (folk)) the people of Mecca (worship. They worship only as their fathers worshipped aforetime) before them and they were destroyed because of it. (Lo! We shall pay them their whole due) their chastisement (unabated) it is said that the last part of this verse was revealed about the Qadariyyah.

(And We verily gave unto Moses the Scripture) i.e. the Torah, (and there was strife thereupon) about the Scripture of Moses: some believed in it while others did not; (and had it not been for a Word that had already gone forth) enjoined (from thy Lord) to delay His chastisement from your nation, (the case would have been judged between them) their destruction would have already happened and chastisement would have seized them, (and Lo! they are in grave doubt) manifest doubt (concerning it).