Surah Ghafir Ayat 78 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 78
And We have already sent messengers before you. Among them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those [whose stories] We have not related to you. And it was not for any messenger to bring a sign [or verse] except by permission of Allah. So when the command of Allah comes, it will be concluded in truth, and the falsifiers will thereupon lose [all].
We did aforetime send messengers before thee: of them there are some whose story We have related to thee, and some whose story We have not related to thee. It was not (possible) for any messenger to bring a sign except by the leave of Allah: but when the Command of Allah issued, the matter was decided in truth and justice, and there perished, there and then those who stood on Falsehoods.
Indeed We sent many Messengers before you: of them there are some whose account We have narrated to you and there are others whose account We have not narrated to you. It did not lie in any Messenger’s power to bring any Sign except with Allah’s leave. So when Allah’s decree came, the matter was decided with justice, and those steeped in error courted utter loss, then and there.
And, indeed We have sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW); of some of them We have related to you their story and of some We have not related to you their story, and it was not given to any Messenger that he should bring a sign except by the Leave of Allah. So, when comes the Commandment of Allah, the matter will be decided with truth, and the followers of falsehood will then be lost.
Verily We sent messengers before thee, among them those of whom We have told thee, and some of whom We have not told thee; and it was not given to any messenger that he should bring a portent save by Allah’s leave, but when Allah’s commandment cometh (the cause) is judged aright, and the followers of vanity will then be lost.
And indeed We already sent Messengers even before you. Among them are the ones whom We related to you, and (some) We have not related to you; and in no way (could) any Messenger come up with a sign except by the permission of Allah. Then when the Command of Allah comes, (their end) is decreed with the Truth, and there over the wrong-doers (Literally: doers of void “deeds”) will lose.
We have sent other messengers before you- some We have mentioned to you and some We have not- and no messenger could bring about a sign except with God’s permission. When [the Day] God ordained comes, just judgement will be passed between them: there and then, those who followed falsehood will be lost.
یقیناً ہم آپ سے پہلے بھی بہت سے رسول بھیج چکے ہیں جن میں سے بعض کے (واقعات) ہم آپ کو بیان کر چکے ہیں اور ان میں سے بعض کے (قصے) تو ہم نے آپ کو بیان ہی نہیں کیے اور کسی رسول کا یہ (مقدور) نہ تھا کہ کوئی معجزه اللہ کی اجازت کے بغیر ﻻ سکے پھر جس وقت اللہ کا حکم آئےگا حق کے ساتھ فیصلہ کر دیا جائے گا اور اس جگہ اہل باطل خسارے میں ره جائیں گے
Quran 40 Verse 78 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Ghafir ayat 78, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(40:78) Indeed We sent many Messengers before you: of them there are some whose account We have narrated to you and there are others whose account We have not narrated to you.[107] It did not lie in any Messenger’s power to bring any Sign[108] except with Allah’s leave. So when Allah’s decree came, the matter was decided with justice, and those steeped in error courted utter loss,[109] then and there.
107. A new theme starts from here. The disbelievers of Makkah said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): We would not believe you to be Allah’s Messenger unless you showed us the miracle that we ask you to show us. In the following verses an answer is being given to this very demand without mentioning it. For the type of the miracles they demanded, see (Surah Houd, Ayat 12); (Surah Al-Hijr, Ayat 7); (Surah Bani Israil, Ayat 90-93); (Surah Al-Furqan, Ayat 21) and the E.Ns thereof.
108. That is, no Prophet ever showed a miracle by his own will and desire, nor had any Prophet the power to show a miracle by himself. Whenever a miracle was shown through a Prophet, it was shown when Allah willed it to be shown through him to the disbelievers. This is the first answer to the disbelievers’ demand.
109. That is, a miracle has never been shown for the mere fun of it. It is a decisive thing. If a nation does not believe even after a miracle has been shown, it is destroyed. You are demanding a miracle only for the sake of fun, but you have no idea that by making such a demand you are, in fact, inviting your own doom. This is the second answer to their demand. For details, please see (Surah Al-Hijr, Ayat 8) (Surah Al-Hijr, Ayat 58-60); (Surah Bani Israil, Ayat 59); (Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayat 5-9); (Surah Al-Furqan, Ayat 22-23); (Surah Ash- Shuara, Ayat 66-67) and the E.Ns thereof.
Ibn-Kathir
The tafsir of Surah Muminun verse 78 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Muminun ayat 77 which provides the complete commentary from verse 77 through 78.
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