Stem سُلَّم - Quranic Morphology

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

And if their aversion is grievous to thee, then, if thou art able to seek a passage into the earth or a ladder unto heaven, and bring them a Sign, thou canst do so. And had Allah enforced His will, He could surely have brought them together into the guidance. So be thou not of those who lack knowledge.

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اور اگر تجھ پر ان کا منہ پھیرنا گراں گزرتا ہے تو اگر تجھ میں طاقت ہے کہ زمین میں کوئی سُرنگ یا آسمان میں کوئی سیڑھی تلاش کرلے پھر (اس کے ذریعہ) ان کے پاس کوئی نشان لاسکے (تو ایسا کرکے دیکھ لے)۔ اور اگر اللہ چاہتا تو انہیں ضرور ہدایت پر اکٹھاکر دیتا۔ پس تُو ہرگز جاہلوں میں سے نہ ہو۔

French

Et si leur aversion t’afflige, alors si tu es à même de chercher et de trouver un passage dans la terre ou une échelle pour monter au ciel, afin de leur apporter un Signe, regarde si tu peux le faire. Et si Allāh l’avait voulu, Il aurait pu assurément les rassembler sur la bonne direction. Ne sois donc pas du nombre des ignorants.

German

Und wenn dir ihr Widerwille schmerzlich ist, nun wohl, falls du imstande bist, einen Schacht in die Erde oder eine Leiter in den Himmel zu finden und ihnen ein Zeichen zu bringen (dann magst du es tun). Wäre es Allahs Wille, Er hätte sie gewiss auf den rechten Weg zusammengeführt. So sei nicht der Unwissenden einer.

Chinese

如果他们的拒绝 (真理) 使你 (的心情) 沉重, 那么, 倘若你能找到入地的隧道或上天的云梯, 并能为他们带来任何迹象, (那你就这样去做。) [c]要是安拉愿意的话, 他必定把他们都集聚在正道上。所以你千万不要做无知的人。

Italian

E se la loro avversione ti procura dolore, allora, se puoi trovare un passaggio dentro la terra, o una scala fino al cielo, per portare loro un segno, puoi farlo. E se Allah avesse voluto, Egli certamente avrebbe potuto riunirli sotto la Sua guida. Non siate dunque fra gli ignoranti.

Spanish

Y si te apena su alejamiento, entonces, aunque trates de encontrar un túnel en la tierra o una escala que suba al cielo, para traerles un igno, no podrás hacerlo. Pues si Al-lah hubiese ejecutado su voluntad, en verdad los hubiera reunido en el camino recto. No seas pues de los ignorantes.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اور اگر ان (کافروں) کی روگردانی تجھ پر گراں گزرتی ہے تو اگر تجھ میں طاقت ہے کہ زمین میں کسی سرنگ کی یا آسمان کی طرف کسی سیڑھی کی تلاش کر سکے (اور) پھر ان کے لئے کوئی نشان لا سکے (تو بیشک ایسا کر) اور اگر اللہ چاہتا تو ان کو ضرور ہدایت پر جمع کر دیتا۔ پس تو ناواقفوں[1] میں سے ہرگز نہ بن۔

English - Short Commentary Translation

And if their turning away is hard on thee, then, if thou art able to seek a passage into the earth[844] or a ladder unto heaven, and bring them a Sign, thou canst do so. And [b]had Allah enforced His will, He could surely have brought them all together to the guidance. So be thou not of those who lack knowledge.

English - Five Volume Translation

And if their aversion is grievous to thee, then, if thou art able to seek a passage into the earth or a ladder unto Heaven, and bring them a Sign, thou canst do so. And [c]had Allah enforced His will, He could surely have brought them together into the guidance. So be thou not of those who lack knowledge.[783]

5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.

Important Words:

نفقا (passage). نفق means, a hole or a passage bored into or through the earth and having an opening at the other end (Aqrab). See also 9:67.

سلما (ladder) is derived from سلم (sallama). They say سلمه i.e. he made him safe and secure. سلمه الیه means, he gave or delivered it to him. سلم (sullam) means, a ladder or series of stairs or steps meant for ascending. It is so called because it delivers one to the place to which one desires to go. The word also signifies a means to a thing (Lane).

Commentary:

The words, to seek a passage into the earth, signify using worldly means, i.e. preaching and propagating the truth in the earth in order to strengthen the faith; and the words, a ladder unto Heaven, imply using spiritual means, i.e. offering up prayers to God for the guidance of disbelievers, etc. Prayer is indeed the ladder by which a man can mount to Heaven.

The Holy Prophet has been told here that God is not going to compel men to embrace Islam; if he desires their wholesale conversion he should assiduously follow the two prescribed courses, one earthly and the other heavenly. He should, on the one hand, devote himself vigorously to preaching and propagating the truth; and, on the other, he should fervently pray to God that He may guide mankind and help the cause of Islam.

It goes without saying that the Holy Prophet acted upon both these methods to the fullest extent, as a result of which God helped the cause of Islam, so much so that within a small space of time the whole of Arabia was converted.

The word جاھل (one lacking knowledge) is here used only in the sense of one not knowing or unacquainted, and not in the stronger sense of ignorant. It has been also used in this sense in other verses of the Quran. For instance, we read in 2:274; "One who does not know them (the needy) thinks them to be free from want", i.e. those who are unacquainted with the real condition of the poor, think them to be well off. In the verse under comment, the Holy Prophet has been exhorted not to remain unacquainted with the law of God in this respect.

It should also be noted that it was not by way of rebuke, as some have thought, that the Holy Prophet was asked to seek a passage into the earth or a ladder into the sky. The words become meaningless, if taken in that light. What is meant is simply the suggestion of two ways of success which, when acted upon, proved wonderfully effective.

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

تاہم اگر ان لوگوں کی بے رخی تم سے برداشت نہیں ہوتی تو اگر تم میں کچھ زور ہے تو زمین میں کوئی سرنگ ڈھونڈو یا آسمان میں سیڑھی لگاؤ اور ان کے پاس کوئی نشانی لانے کی کوشش کرو اگر اللہ چاہتا تو ان سب کو ہدایت پر جمع کر سکتا تھا، لہٰذا نادان مت بنو

English - Sahih

And if their evasion is difficult for you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth or a stairway into the sky to bring them a sign, [then do so]. But if Allah had willed, He would have united them upon guidance. So never be of the ignorant.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

اور اگر ان کا منہ پھیرنا تم پر گراں ہو رہا ہے پھر اگر تم سے ہو سکے تو کوئی سرنگ زمین میں تلاش کر یا آسمان سے سیڑھی لگا پھر ان کے پاس کوئی معجزہ لا اور اگر الله چاہتا تو سب کو سیدھی راہ پر جمع کر دیتا سو تو نادانوں میں سے نہ ہو

English - Talal Itani

And if is difficult for you their aversion then if you are able to seek a tunnel in the earth or a ladder into the sky so that you bring to them a Sign. But if (had) willed Allah surely He (would) have gathered them on the guidance. So (do) not be of the ignorant.

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

c

5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

1

یعنی خداتعالیٰ کی مشیّت پر صبر کر۔

English - Arberry

And if their turning away is distressful for thee, why, if thou canst seek out a hole in the earth, or a ladder in heaven, to bring them some sign but had God willed, He would have gathered them to the guidance; so be not thou one of the ignorant.

English - Maududi

Nevertheless, if their turning away grieves you, then seek - if you can - either a way down into the earth or a ladder to the heavens, and try to bring to them some sign. Had Allah so willed, He would have gathered them all to the true guidance. Do not, then, be among the ignorant.

English - Ahmed Ali

If their aversion still weighs upon you, seek out a tunnel (going deep) into the earth, or a ladder reaching out to the skies, and bring them a sign: (Even then they will not believe). If God had willed He would have brought them all to the right path. So be not like the pagans.

English - Yusuf Ali

If their spurning is hard on thy mind, yet if thou wert able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a sign,- (what good?). If it were Allah's will, He could gather them together unto true guidance: so be not thou amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

c

5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.

783

Important Words:

نفقا (passage). نفق means, a hole or a passage bored into or through the earth and having an opening at the other end (Aqrab). See also 9:67.

سلما (ladder) is derived from سلم (sallama). They say سلمه i.e. he made him safe and secure. سلمه الیه means, he gave or delivered it to him. سلم (sullam) means, a ladder or series of stairs or steps meant for ascending. It is so called because it delivers one to the place to which one desires to go. The word also signifies a means to a thing (Lane).

Commentary:

The words, to seek a passage into the earth, signify using worldly means, i.e. preaching and propagating the truth in the earth in order to strengthen the faith; and the words, a ladder unto Heaven, imply using spiritual means, i.e. offering up prayers to God for the guidance of disbelievers, etc. Prayer is indeed the ladder by which a man can mount to Heaven.

The Holy Prophet has been told here that God is not going to compel men to embrace Islam; if he desires their wholesale conversion he should assiduously follow the two prescribed courses, one earthly and the other heavenly. He should, on the one hand, devote himself vigorously to preaching and propagating the truth; and, on the other, he should fervently pray to God that He may guide mankind and help the cause of Islam.

It goes without saying that the Holy Prophet acted upon both these methods to the fullest extent, as a result of which God helped the cause of Islam, so much so that within a small space of time the whole of Arabia was converted.

The word جاھل (one lacking knowledge) is here used only in the sense of one not knowing or unacquainted, and not in the stronger sense of ignorant. It has been also used in this sense in other verses of the Quran. For instance, we read in 2:274; "One who does not know them (the needy) thinks them to be free from want", i.e. those who are unacquainted with the real condition of the poor, think them to be well off. In the verse under comment, the Holy Prophet has been exhorted not to remain unacquainted with the law of God in this respect.

It should also be noted that it was not by way of rebuke, as some have thought, that the Holy Prophet was asked to seek a passage into the earth or a ladder into the sky. The words become meaningless, if taken in that light. What is meant is simply the suggestion of two ways of success which, when acted upon, proved wonderfully effective.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

b

5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.

844

The words, to seek a passage into the earth, signify 'using worldly means,' i.e. preaching and propagating the truth; and the words, a ladder unto heaven, imply 'using spiritual means,' i.e. offering prayers to God for the guidance of disbelievers, etc. Prayer is indeed the ladder by which a man can spiritually mount to heaven. The Holy Prophet is told to employ both these means. The word Jahil as in 2:274 means "one not knowing" or "unacquainted." The Holy Prophet is exhorted not to remain unacquainted with the law of God in this respect. The verse also sheds light on the Holy Prophet’s great solicitude and concern for the spiritual well-being of his people. He was prepared to go to any length to bring them a Sign, even if he had "to seek a passage in the earth or a ladder unto heaven."

English - Pickthall

And if their aversion is grievous unto thee, then, if thou canst, seek a way down into the earth or a ladder unto the sky that thou mayst bring unto them a portent (to convince them all)! - If Allah willed, He could have brought them all together to the guidance - So be not thou among the foolish ones.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

And if their turning away is hard on thee, then, if thou canst, seek an opening into the earth or a ladder to heaven, to bring them a sign! And if Allah pleased, He would certainly have gathered them all to guidance, so be not of the ignorant.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

Yet, if the turning away of the disbelievers bears hardly upon thee, then if thou art able to seek a passage into the earth or a ladder up to heaven and bring them a Sign, by all means, do so. Had Allah enforced His will, He would surely have brought them together into the guidance. So be thou not one of the unenlightened.

سُلَّم

Derived Words (4)

Occurrences in Quran

Explore Topics

Explore Roots