Surah 62 of 114 · Madani · 11 ayat
Al-Jumu'ah الجمعة
The Congregation, Friday
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْمَلِكِ ٱلْقُدُّوسِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ
PickthallAll that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorifieth Allah, the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One, the Mighty, the Wise.
Yusuf AliWhatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare the Praises and Glory of Allah,- the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
The agreed readingEverything in the heavens and the earth declares God free of every imperfection, and the word used takes in the whole of creation, not only those who can speak. Four names follow: the Sovereign; the Holy, meaning the One held far above all that does not befit Him; the Mighty in His dominion; and the Wise in His making.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى بَعَثَ فِى ٱلْأُمِّيِّـۧنَ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِى ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
PickthallHe it is Who hath sent among the unlettered ones a messenger of their own, to recite unto them His revelations and to make them grow, and to teach them the Scripture and wisdom, though heretofore they were indeed in error manifest,
Yusuf AliIt is He Who has sent amongst the Unlettered a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom,- although they had been, before, in manifest error;-
The agreed readingHe raised up among the unlettered a messenger from among themselves, who recites God's signs to them, purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the wisdom in it. The unlettered are those who had no scripture of their own and did not read one. What he purifies them of is the setting up of partners with God and the character of the age before him, in which they were plainly astray.
وَءَاخَرِينَ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا يَلْحَقُوا۟ بِهِمْ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
PickthallAlong with others of them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Yusuf AliAs well as (to confer all these benefits upon) others of them, who have not already joined them: And He is exalted in Might, Wise.
The agreed readingThe sending is not confined to the people present at it. Others of them, who had not yet joined those first hearers, are included in the same message — the recitation, the purifying and the teaching reach them equally. He is the Mighty and the Wise.
ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
PickthallThat is the bounty of Allah; which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is of Infinite Bounty.
Yusuf AliSuch is the Bounty of Allah, which He bestows on whom He will: and Allah is the Lord of the highest bounty.
The agreed readingThat sending is God's bounty, which He gives to whom He will — the one meant being the messenger, together with those named with him. It is not something the people who received it had earned; it was given. God is the possessor of bounty beyond measure.
مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًۢا بِئْسَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
PickthallThe likeness of those who are entrusted with the Law of Moses, yet apply it not, is as the likeness of the ass carrying books. Wretched is the likeness of folk who deny the revelations of Allah. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
Yusuf AliThe similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law, but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong.
The agreed readingThose who were charged with the Torah and then did not carry it are likened to a donkey carrying books. The likeness does not turn on ignorance of what the books contain but on getting no benefit from carrying them: the load is on its back and none of it reaches it. Wretched is the likeness of a people who called God's signs a lie, and God does not guide such wrongdoers.
قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوٓا۟ إِن زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُا۟ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ
PickthallSay (O Muhammad): O ye who are Jews! If ye claim that ye are favoured of Allah apart from (all) mankind, then long for death if ye are truthful.
Yusuf AliSay: "O ye that stand on Judaism! If ye think that ye are friends to Allah, to the exclusion of (other) men, then express your desire for Death, if ye are truthful!"
The agreed readingSay to those who are Jews: if you claim that you alone are God's friends, apart from all other people, then wish for death. The argument turns on what the claim itself implies — one who is truly God's friend prefers what is with God, and death is the beginning of it. The wish for death is therefore the test of the claim.
وَلَا يَتَمَنَّوْنَهُۥٓ أَبَدًۢا بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
PickthallBut they will never long for it because of all that their own hands have sent before, and Allah is Aware of evil-doers.
Yusuf AliBut never will they express their desire (for Death), because of the (deeds) their hands have sent on before them! and Allah knows well those that do wrong!
The agreed readingThey will never wish for it, because of what their own hands have sent ahead — their refusal, and the deeds they know are waiting for them. Their unwillingness is itself the answer to the claim: a man certain of what was coming would not shrink from it. God knows the wrongdoers.
قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْمَوْتَ ٱلَّذِى تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ مُلَٰقِيكُمْ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
PickthallSay (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! the death from which ye shrink will surely meet you, and afterward ye will be returned unto the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible, and He will tell you what ye used to do.
Yusuf AliSay: "The Death from which ye flee will truly overtake you: then will ye be sent back to the Knower of things secret and open: and He will tell you (the truth of) the things that ye did!"
The agreed readingSay: the death you run from will meet you all the same. To run from wishing for it is to run from the thing itself, and the thing does not move. Then you are returned to the One who knows the unseen and the seen — what is hidden and what is open — and He will tell you what you were doing, and requite you for it.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
PickthallO ye who believe! When the call is heard for the prayer of the day of congregation, haste unto remembrance of Allah and leave your trading. That is better for you if ye did but know.
Yusuf AliO ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew!
The agreed readingWhen the call is given for the prayer on the day of congregation, go to the remembrance of God and leave your trading. The commentaries gloss the command as going, not running, and take the remembrance here to be the prayer itself. The day carries its name from the gathering that takes place on it. That is better for you, if you knew — so do it.
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
PickthallAnd when the prayer is ended, then disperse in the land and seek of Allah's bounty, and remember Allah much, that ye may be successful.
Yusuf AliAnd when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper.
The agreed readingWhen the prayer is over, disperse in the land and seek God's bounty. The commentaries read this as permission rather than a command to trade: what was held back for the length of the call is released again. And remember God much, so that you may succeed.
وَإِذَا رَأَوْا۟ تِجَٰرَةً أَوْ لَهْوًا ٱنفَضُّوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَآئِمًا قُلْ مَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ ٱلتِّجَٰرَةِ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
PickthallBut when they spy some merchandise or pastime they break away to it and leave thee standing. Say: That which Allah hath is better than pastime and than merchandise, and Allah is the Best of providers.
Yusuf AliBut when they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave thee standing. Say: "The (blessing) from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! and Allah is the Best to provide (for all needs)."
The agreed readingWhen they saw a trade or a diversion they broke away to it and left him standing. The commentaries note that it was the trade they went for rather than the diversion, and that he was on his feet delivering the address when a trading caravan came in. Say: what is with God is better than the diversion and better than the trade, and God is the best of providers.