Tafheem ul Quran
Surah 19 Maryam, Ayat 73-77
وَاِذَا تُتۡلٰى عَلَيۡهِمۡ اٰيٰتُنَا بَيِّنٰتٍ قَالَ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا لِلَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا ۙ اَىُّ الۡفَرِيۡقَيۡنِ خَيۡرٌ مَّقَامًا وَّاَحۡسَنُ نَدِيًّا
﴿19:73﴾
وَكَمۡ اَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُمۡ مِّنۡ قَرۡنٍ هُمۡ اَحۡسَنُ اَثَاثًا وَّرِءۡيًا
﴿19:74﴾
قُلۡ مَنۡ كَانَ فِى الضَّلٰلَةِ فَلۡيَمۡدُدۡ لَهُ الرَّحۡمٰنُ مَدًّا ۚ حَتّٰٓى اِذَا رَاَوۡا مَا يُوۡعَدُوۡنَ اِمَّا الۡعَذَابَ وَاِمَّا السَّاعَةَ ؕ فَسَيَـعۡلَمُوۡنَ مَنۡ هُوَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَّاَضۡعَفُ جُنۡدًا
﴿19:75﴾
وَيَزِيۡدُ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيۡنَ اهۡتَدَوۡا هُدًىؕ وَالۡبٰقِيٰتُ الصّٰلِحٰتُ خَيۡرٌ عِنۡدَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَّخَيۡرٌ مَّرَدًّا
﴿19:76﴾
اَفَرَءَيۡتَ الَّذِىۡ كَفَرَ بِاٰيٰتِنَا وَقَالَ لَاُوۡتَيَنَّ مَالًا وَّوَلَدًا ؕ
﴿19:77﴾
(19:73) When Our clear revelations are recited to those who deny the Truth
they are wont to say to those who have faith: "Which of the two groups has a
better status and whose assemblies are grander?"45 (19:74) How numerous are the peoples We destroyed before them - those that
were more resourceful and grander in outward appearance! (19:75) Say: "The Most Compassionate Lord grants respite to those who stray
into error, until they behold what they had been threatened with, either God's
chastisement (in the world) or the Hour (of Resurrection)" - then they fully
know whose station is worse, and who is weaker in hosts! (19:76) (On the contrary), Allah increases in guidance those who follow the
Right Way.46 Lasting acts of righteousness are better in the sight
of your Lord as reward and conducive to a better end. (19:77) Have you seen him who rejected Our signs and said: "Surely I shall
continue to be favoured with riches and children."47
Notes
45. In response to the recital of clear revelations, instead of accepting
their message, the unbelievers put such questions as these to the believers
to show that they were in the right: Who has grander houses to live in? Who
has a higher standard of life? Who enjoys splendid meetings? If we are enjoying
all these things while you are deprived of them, you may decide for yourselves
whether we, who are enjoying happy worldly lives, are in the wrong, or you who
are living miserable lives of indigence are in the right? Also see
(Surah Al-Kahf E.Ns 37-38). 7
46. That is, On every critical occasion, Allah guides them to make right
decisions and helps them to adopt the right way, and protects them from evil
and wrong things; thus they go on making more and more progress on the right
way.
47. The boastful person was not a particular man but a typical chief of the
disbelievers of Makkah. Everyone of them claimed: Howsoever you may call me
an erroneous and un-righteous person and threaten me with the divine scourge,
the fact is that I am more prosperous than you today and shall continue being
blessed with favors in future as well. Just have a look at my riches, at my
grandeur and at my estate, and at my well-known sons, and then say where you
see any signs of the wrath of God.