Surah Maryam >> Currently viewing Surah Maryam Ayat 73 (19:73)

Surah Maryam Ayat 73 in Arabic Text

وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَيُّ ٱلۡفَرِيقَيۡنِ خَيۡرٞ مَّقَامٗا وَأَحۡسَنُ نَدِيّٗا
Wa izaa tutlaa ‘alaihim Aayaatunaa baiyinaatin qaalal lazeena kafaroo lillazeena aamanooo aiyul fareeqaini khairum maqaamanw wa ahsanu nadiyyaa

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 73

Sahih International
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Which of [our] two parties is best in position and best in association?”

Yusuf Ali
When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, the Unbelievers say to those who believe, “Which of the two sides is best in point of position? Which makes the best show in council?”

Abul Ala Maududi
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?”

Muhsin Khan
And when Our Clear Verses are recited to them, those who disbelieve (the rich and strong among the pagans of Quraish who live a life of luxury) say to those who believe (the weak, poor companions of Prophet Muhammad SAW who have a hard life): “Which of the two groups (i.e. believers and disbelievers) is best in (point of) position and as regards station (place of council for consultation).”

Pickthall
And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them, those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: Which of the two parties (yours or ours) is better in position, and more imposing as an army?

Dr. Ghali
And when Our ayat (Verses or signs) are recited to them as supremely evident (signs), the ones who have disbelieved say to the ones who have believed, “Whichever of the two groups is more charitable (i.e., better) in station and fairer council?”

Abdel Haleem
When Our revelations are recited to them in all their clarity, [all that] the disbelievers say to the believers [is], ‘Which side is better situated? Which side has the better following?’

Muhammad Junagarhi
جب ان کے سامنے ہماری روشن آیتیں تلاوت کی جاتی ہیں تو کافر مسلمانوں سے کہتے ہیں بتاؤ ہم تم دونوں جماعتوں میں سے کس کا مرتبہ زیاده ہے؟ اور کس کی مجلس شاندار ہے؟

Quran 19 Verse 73 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Maryam ayat 73, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(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]


45. In respon`se 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, ayat 35-36) note 37-38.

Ibn-Kathir

73. And when Our clear Ayat are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: “Which of the two groups has the best dwellings and the finest Nadiyyan” 74. And how many a generation have We destroyed before them, who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance


The Disbelievers boast over Their good Fortune in the World

Allah, the Exalted, informs that when the clear, evident Ayat of Allah are recited to the disbelievers, they reject them and turn away. They say about those who believe, while boasting to them and arguing that their false religion is correct,

﴿خَيْرٌ مَّقَاماً وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيّاً﴾

(best dwellings and the finest Nadiyyan.) This means the best houses, with the loftiest levels and the finest Nadiyyan, which are meeting rooms for men to gather and discuss matters. Thus, this means that their meeting rooms are full of more people who come to attend. In this they were saying, “How can we be upon falsehood while we are in this manner of successful living” These people were actually those who were concealed in the house of Al-Arqam bin Abi Al-Arqam and its likes from the other houses. This is as Allah says about them,

﴿وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوْ كَانَ خَيْراً مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيْهِ﴾

(And those who disbelieve say of those who believe: “Had it been a good thing, they (the weak and the poor) would not have preceded us thereto!”) ﴿46:11﴾ Nuh’s people said,

﴿أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الاٌّرْذَلُونَ﴾

(“Shall we believe in you, when the weakest (of the people) follow you”) ﴿26:111﴾ And Allah says,

﴿وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولواْ أَهَـؤُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَآ أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِالشَّـكِرِينَ ﴾

(Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: “Is it these (poor believers) whom Allah has favored among us” Does not Allah know best those who are grateful) ﴿6:53﴾ This is why Allah refuted their doubts:

﴿وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُمْ مِّن قَرْنٍ﴾

(And how many a generations have We destroyed before them) This means, “How many nations and generations did We destroy of those who denied (this message) due to their disbelief”

﴿هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَاثاً وَرِءْياً﴾

(who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance) This means that they were better than these present people in wealth, possessions, looks and appearance. Al-A`mash reported from Abu Zibyan, who reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said concerning the Ayah,

﴿خَيْرٌ مَّقَاماً وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيّاً﴾

(best dwellings and finest Nadiyyan.) “Position ﴿Maqam﴾ means home, Nadi means place of gathering, wealth refers to material possessions and outward appearance is how they look physically.” Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said, “Position ﴿Maqam﴾ means dwelling, Nadi means place of gathering and the blessing and happiness that they were living in. This is as Allah says about the people of Fir`awn when He destroyed them and related the story of their situation in the Qur’an,

﴿كَمْ تَرَكُواْ مِن جَنَّـتٍ وَعُيُونٍ – وَزُرُوعٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ ﴾

(How many gardens and springs that they ﴿Fir`awn’s people﴾ left behind, and green crops and honored places ﴿Maqam﴾.) ﴿44:25-26﴾ Therefore, position ﴿Maqam﴾ refers to their dwellings and splendid bounties, and Nadi is the places of gathering and meeting where they used to congregate. Allah said while relating the story to His Messenger of what happened with the people of Lut,

﴿وَتَأْتُونَ فِى نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنْكَرَ﴾

(And practice Al-Munkar (evil deeds) in your meeting places ﴿Nadiyakum﴾.) ﴿29:29﴾ The Arabs call a place of gathering a Nadi.”

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surah maryam ayat 73
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