Quran 21:44 — Al-Anbiyaa, verse 44
M. A. S. Abdel Haleem · selected translation
We have allowed these sinners and their forefathers to enjoy life for a long time. But do they not see how We are shrinking their borders? Is it they who will prevail?
بَلْ مَتَّعْنَا هَـٰؤُلَاءِ وَآبَاءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ طَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمُرُ ۗ أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنْقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا ۚ أَفَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ
bal mattaʿnā hāulāi waābāahum ḥattā ṭāla ʿalayhimu l-ʿumuru afalā yarawna annā natī l-arḍa nanquṣuhā min aṭrāfihā afahumu l-ghālibūna
Other translations
- A. J. Arberry
- Nay, but Ourselves gave these and their fathers enjoyment of days, until their life had lasted long while upon them. What, do they not see how We come to the land, diminishing it in its extremities? Or are they the victors?
- Muhammad Asad
- Nay, We have allowed these [sinners] – as [We allowed] their forebears – to enjoy the good things of life for a great length of time: but then – have they never yet seen how We visit the earth [with Our punishment], gradually depriving it of all that is best thereon? Can they, then, [hope to] be the winners?
- Sahih International
- But, [on the contrary], We have provided good things for these [disbelievers] and their fathers until life was prolonged for them. Then do they not see that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders? Is it they who will overcome?
Words
| # | Word | Meaning | Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | بَلْbal | Nay | — |
| 2 | مَتَّعْنَاmattaʿnā | We gave provision | متع |
| 3 | هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِhāulāi | (to) these | — |
| 4 | وَءَابَآءَهُمْwaābāahum | and their fathers | أبو |
| 5 | حَتَّىٰḥattā | until | — |
| 6 | طَالَṭāla | grew long | طول |
| 7 | عَلَيْهِمُʿalayhimu | for them | — |
| 8 | ٱلْعُمُرُ ۗl-ʿumuru | the life | عمر |
| 9 | أَفَلَاafalā | Then do not | — |
| 10 | يَرَوْنَyarawna | they see | رأي |
| 11 | أَنَّاannā | that We | — |
| 12 | نَأْتِىnatī | We come | أتي |
| 13 | ٱلْأَرْضَl-arḍa | (to) the land | أرض |
| 14 | نَنقُصُهَاnanquṣuhā | We reduce it | نقص |
| 15 | مِنْmin | from | — |
| 16 | أَطْرَافِهَآ ۚaṭrāfihā | its borders | طرف |
| 17 | أَفَهُمُafahumu | So is (it) they | — |
| 18 | ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَl-ghālibūna | (who will be) overcoming | غلب |