Verses about Agriculture / Parable Of Proud, Vain Nations - inQuran Topics

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

The likeness of the present life is only as water which We send down from the clouds, then there mingles with it the produce of the earth, of which men and cattle eat till, when the earth receives its ornature and looks beautiful and its owners think that they have power over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day and We render it a field that is mown down, as if nothing had existed there the day before. Thus do We expound the Signs for a people who reflect.

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

یقیناً دنیا کی زندگی کی مثال تو اس پانی کی طرح ہے جسے ہم نے آسمان سے اتارا تو اس میں زمین کی روئیدگی گھل مل گئی جس میں سے انسان بھی کھاتے ہیں اور مویشی بھی۔ یہاں تک کہ جب زمین اپنے سنگھار پہن لیتی ہے اور خوب سج جاتی ہے اور اس کے رہنے والے یہ گمان کرنے لگتے ہیں کہ وہ اس پر پورا اختیار رکھتے ہیں تو ہمارا فیصلہ رات یا دن (کسی وقت بھی) اسے آ لیتا ہے اور ہم اُسے ایک ایسے کٹے ہوئے کھیت کی طرح کر دیتے ہیں (جو پھل لانے سے پہلے ہی کٹ گرا ہو) گویا کل تک اس کا کوئی وجود نہ تھا۔ اسی طرح ہم غور وفکر کرنے والوں کے لئے نشانات کو کھول کھول کر بیان کرتے ہیں۔

French

La similitude de la vie sur terre est comme l’eau : Nous l’avons fait descendre du ciel et avec elle se mélange la végétation de la terre, dont se nourrissent les hommes et les bestiaux. Il continue à en être ainsi jusqu’à ce que la terre se soit revêtue de toute sa parure et soit devenue extrêmement belle – et ceux qui en sont propriétaires s’imaginent qu’ils détiennent le pouvoir total sur elle. Alors, soudainement de nuit ou de jour, descend sur elle Notre décret. Et Nous la transformons en un champ complètement fauché, comme si elle n’existait pas la veille. C’est ainsi que Nous expliquons les Signes pour un peuple qui réfléchit.

German

Das Gleichnis des irdischen Lebens ist nur wie das Wasser, das Wir herabsenden aus den Wolken; dann vermischen sich damit die Gewächse der Erde, davon Mensch und Vieh sich nähren, bis dass – wenn die Erde ihren Schmuck empfängt und schön geputzt erscheint und ihre Bewohner glauben, sie hätten Macht über sie – Unser Befehl zu ihr kommt in der Nacht oder am Tag und Wir sie zu einem niedergemähten Acker machen, als habe sie nicht gediehen am Tag zuvor. Also machen Wir die Zeichen klar für ein Volk, das nachzudenken vermag.

Chinese

[b]今世的生活正像我从云中降下的 (雨) 水, 后来那水与人和牲畜所吃的地上的禾苗混合起来, 直到地面披上盛装, 显得美丽, 它的主人以为 (现在) 他们可以收获它的产物时, [c]我 (惩罚) 的意旨在夜间或白天降临到那 (些) 田地, 使它变成了好像一个收割了的, 似乎昨天那里[d]什么都没有一样。我就这样为运用理智的人详述 (自己的) 迹象。

Italian

L'esempio della vita sulla terra è simile all'acqua che facciamo discendere dal cielo che poi si mescola con la vegetazione della terra di cui si nutrono uomini e animali. Continua ad essere così fino a quando la terra non fiorisce in tutto il suo splendore e non appare in tutta la sua bellezza - poi quelli che la posseggono si ritengono dominatori su di essa, ed ecco che discende, di notte o di giorno, il Nostro decreto. E Noi la trasformiamo in un campo che viene falciato, come se non fosse esistito il giorno prima. In questo modo Noi esponiamo i segni per un popolo che riflette.

Spanish

El ejemplo de la vida presente es como el del agua que hacemos descender del cielo; con ella se mezcla la vegetación de la tierra, de la que participan los hombres y el ganado. Así continúa ocurriendo hasta que la tierra florece plenamente y madura en belleza. Entonces quienes la poseen se sienten dueños de ella; pero entonces viene Nuestro designio, de noche o de día, y la convertimos en un campo segado, como si nada hubiese existido en ella el día anterior. Así exponemos los Signos para las gentes que reflexionan.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اس ورلی زندگی کی حالت (تو) اس پانی کی طرح ہے‘ جسے ہم نے بادل سے برسایا‘ پھر اس کے ساتھ زمین کی روئیدگی جسے آدمی اور چارپائے کھاتے ہیں مل (کر یک جان ہو) گئی۔ یہاں تک کہ جب زمین نے (اس کے ذریعہ سے) اپنی کمال درجہ کی زینت کو پالیا ور خوب صورت ہوگئی اور اس کے مالکوں نے سمجھ لیا کہ (اب) وہ اس پر قابو یافتہ ہیں تو اس پر دن یا رات کو (عذاب کے متعلق) ہمارا حکم آگیا۔ اور ہم نے اسے ایک کٹے ہوئے کھیت کی طرح کر دیا گویا یہاں کل (کچھ) تھا (ہی) نہیں۔ (غرض) جو لوگ سوچ سے کام لیتے ہیں ان کے لئے ہم اسی طرح (اپنی) آیات کو کھول کر بیان کرتے ہیں۔

English - Short Commentary Translation

[c]The likeness of the present life is only as water which We send down from the clouds, then there mingles with it the produce of the earth, of which men and cattle eat till when the earth takes on its ornament and looks beautiful and its owners think that they have full power over it, [a]there comes to it Our command by night or by day and We render it like a mown down field, as if [b]nothing had existed there the day before.[1252] Thus do We expound the Signs for a people who reflect.

English - Five Volume Translation

[a]The likeness of the present life is only as water which We send down from the clouds, then there mingles with it the produce of the earth, of which men and cattle eat till, when the earth receives its ornature and looks beautiful and its owners think that they have power over it, [b]there comes to it Our command by night or by day and We render it a field that is mown down, as if [c]nothing had existed there the day before. Thus do We expound the Signs for a people who reflect.[1300]

18:46.

3:118.

11:69.

Important Words:

حصیدا (a field that is mown down) is derived from حصد meaning, he reaped or cut with the scythe seed-produce or plants or herbage. They say حصدھم بالسیف i.e. he mowed them down with the sword; he slew them; he exerted his utmost power or exceeded ordinary bounds in slaying them; he exterminated them with the sword. The Arab proverb من زرع الشر حصد الندامةmeans, he who sows evil reaps regret. حصید means, reaped seed-produce; grain that is reaped; seed-produce torn up and carried away by the wind; slain or mown down with the sword, like seed-produce when reaped. حصاد means, time or season of reaping; what remains on the ground after the crop has been reaped; what falls off and becomes scattered of the seed-produce (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The life of this world has been likened here to rainwater. The verse purports to say that when rain descends from heaven, it causes various kinds of vegetation to grow. Some of them are useful for man and others for animals. But man, instead of ascribing this to the favour of God, looks upon it as the fruit of his own industry and skill. When, however, in consequence of his pride and vanity, a sudden visitation from God destroys all the produce of the earth, he cannot prevent or delay its destruction, let alone possess the power to produce it which he so vaingloriously claimed to have. The moral of the parable is that when nations become proud and vain, i.e. when they take life lightly, their decline sets in and they come to grief.

Water in this verse may also be taken to stand for the word of God. In this sense, the verse would mean that the word of God brings about mighty changes in the life of those who accept and follow it and various new sciences come into existence as a result of its study and new discoveries are made in the material as well as in the spiritual world. The revelation of the Quran gave birth not only to highly spiritual and righteous men but also to eminent philosophers and scientists. But when Muslims became vain and refused to acknowledge their debt to the word of God and began to look upon themselves as the real originators and creators of all these sciences, they fell from the high pedestal of material and spiritual glory to the depths of degradation and degeneration.

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

دنیا کی یہ زندگی (جس کے نشے میں مست ہو کر تم ہماری نشانیوں سے غفلت برت رہے ہو) اس کی مثال ایسی ہے جیسے آسمان سے ہم نے پانی برسایا تو زمین کی پیداوار، جسے آدمی اور جانور سب کھاتے ہیں، خوب گھنی ہو گئی، پھر عین اُس وقت جبکہ زمین اپنی بہار پر تھی اور کھیتیاں بنی سنوری کھڑی تھیں اور ان کے مالک یہ سمجھ رہے تھے کہ اب ہم ان سے فائدہ اُٹھانے پر قادر ہیں، یکایک رات کو یا دن کو ہمارا حکم آ گیا اور ہم نے اسے ایسا غارت کر کے رکھ دیا کہ گویا کل وہاں کچھ تھا ہی نہیں اس طرح ہم نشانیاں کھول کھول کر پیش کرتے ہیں اُن لوگوں کے لیے جو سوچنے سمجھنے والے ہیں

English - Sahih

The example of [this] worldly life is but like rain which We have sent down from the sky that the plants of the earth absorb - [those] from which men and livestock eat - until, when the earth has taken on its adornment and is beautified and its people suppose that they have capability over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day, and We make it as a harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We explain in detail the signs for a people who give thought.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

دنیا کی زندگی کی مثال مینہ کی سی ہے کہ اسے ہم نے آسمان سے اتارا پھراس کے ساتھ سبزہ مل کر نکلا جسے آدمی اور جانور کھاتے ہیں یہاں تک کہ جب زمین سبزے سے خوبصورت اور آراستہ ہو گئی اورزمین والوں نے خیال کیا کہ وہ اس پر بالکل قابض ہو چکے ہیں تو اس پر ہماری طرف سے دن یا رات میں کوئی حادثہ آ پڑا سو ہم نے اسے ایسا صاف کر دیا کہ گویا کل وہا ں کچھ بھی نہ تھا اس طرح ہم نشانیوں کو کھول کر بیان کرتے ہیں اور لوگو ں کے سامنے جو غور کرتے ہیں

English - Talal Itani

Only (the) example (of) the life (of) the world (is) like (the) water which We sent down from the sky, so absorbs [with] it, (the) plants (of) the earth from which eat the men and the cattle, until when takes the earth its adornment and is beautified and think its people that they have the power over it, comes (to) it Our command (by) night or (by) day, and We make it a harvest clean-mown, as if not it had flourished yesterday. Thus We explain the Signs for a people who reflect.

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

b

18:46.

c

3:118.

d

11:69.

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

English - Arberry

The likeness of this present life is as water that We send down out of heaven, and the plants of the earth mingle with it whereof men and cattle eat, till, when the earth has taken on its glitter and has decked itself fair, and its inhabitants think they have power over it, Our command comes upon it by night or day, and We make it stubble, as though yesterday it flourished not. Even so We distinguish the signs for a people who reflect.

English - Maududi

The example of the life of this world (which has enamoured you into becoming heedless to Our signs) is that of water that We sent down from the heaven which causes the vegetation of the earth, which sustains men and cattle, to grow luxuriantly. But when the earth took on its golden raiment and became well adorned and the owners believed that they had full control over their lands Our command came upon them by night or by day, and We convened it into a stubble, as though it had not blossomed yesterday. Thus do We expound the signs for a people who reflect.

English - Ahmed Ali

The life of the world is like the rain that waters the crops of the earth which are used as food by men and cattle. But when the earth is embellished and adorned with gold, and its tillers begin to feel that (the crops) are under control, Our command descends suddenly at night or in the day, and We mow them down as though there was nothing there yesterday. This is how We distinctly explain Our signs to those who think.

English - Yusuf Ali

The likeness of the life of the present is as the rain which We send down from the skies: by its mingling arises the produce of the earth- which provides food for men and animals: (It grows) till the earth is clad with its golden ornaments and is decked out (in beauty): the people to whom it belongs think they have all powers of disposal over it: There reaches it Our command by night or by day, and We make it like a harvest clean-mown, as if it had not flourished only the day before! thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who reflect.

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

18:46.

b

3:118.

c

11:69.

1300

Important Words:

حصیدا (a field that is mown down) is derived from حصد meaning, he reaped or cut with the scythe seed-produce or plants or herbage. They say حصدھم بالسیف i.e. he mowed them down with the sword; he slew them; he exerted his utmost power or exceeded ordinary bounds in slaying them; he exterminated them with the sword. The Arab proverb من زرع الشر حصد الندامةmeans, he who sows evil reaps regret. حصید means, reaped seed-produce; grain that is reaped; seed-produce torn up and carried away by the wind; slain or mown down with the sword, like seed-produce when reaped. حصاد means, time or season of reaping; what remains on the ground after the crop has been reaped; what falls off and becomes scattered of the seed-produce (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The life of this world has been likened here to rainwater. The verse purports to say that when rain descends from heaven, it causes various kinds of vegetation to grow. Some of them are useful for man and others for animals. But man, instead of ascribing this to the favour of God, looks upon it as the fruit of his own industry and skill. When, however, in consequence of his pride and vanity, a sudden visitation from God destroys all the produce of the earth, he cannot prevent or delay its destruction, let alone possess the power to produce it which he so vaingloriously claimed to have. The moral of the parable is that when nations become proud and vain, i.e. when they take life lightly, their decline sets in and they come to grief.

Water in this verse may also be taken to stand for the word of God. In this sense, the verse would mean that the word of God brings about mighty changes in the life of those who accept and follow it and various new sciences come into existence as a result of its study and new discoveries are made in the material as well as in the spiritual world. The revelation of the Quran gave birth not only to highly spiritual and righteous men but also to eminent philosophers and scientists. But when Muslims became vain and refused to acknowledge their debt to the word of God and began to look upon themselves as the real originators and creators of all these sciences, they fell from the high pedestal of material and spiritual glory to the depths of degradation and degeneration.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

a

3:118.

b

11:69.

c

18:46.

1252

The moral of the parable is that when nations become proud and vain and take life lightly, their decline sets in and they come to grief.

English - Pickthall

The similitude of the life of the world is only as water which We send down from the sky, then the earth's growth of that which men and cattle eat mingleth with it till, when the earth hath taken on her ornaments and is embellished, and her people deem that they are masters of her, Our commandment cometh by night or by day and We make it as reaped corn as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do we expound the revelations for people who reflect.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

The likeness of this world’s life is only as water which We send down from the clouds, then the herbage of the earth, of which men and cattle eat, grows luxuriantly thereby; until when the earth puts on its golden raiment and it becomes adorned, and its people think that they are masters of it, Our command comes to it, by night or by day, so We render it as reaped seed-produce, as though it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We make clear the messages for a people who reflect.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

The life of this world is like water that We send down from the clouds, then the vegetation of the earth, of which men and cattle eat, mingles with it and the earth is embellished and looks beautiful, and its owners believe they are its complete masters; then by day or by night, Our command comes to it and We convert it into a mown-down field, as if nothing had existed there the day before. Thus do We expound the Signs for a people who reflect.

Topic: Parable Of Proud, Vain Nations

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