Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)

SÛRAH XXXVI

Yâ Sîn takes its name from the two letters of the Arabic alphabet which stand as the first verse and are generally held to signify Yâ Insân (“O Man”). This Sûrah is regarded with special reverence, and is recited in times of adversity, illness, fasting and on the approach of death.

It belongs to the middle group of Meccan Sûrahs.

Yâ Sîn

1. Yâ Sîn.

2. By the wise Qur’ân,

3. Lo! thou art of those sent

4. On a straight path,

5. A revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful,

6. That thou mayst warn a folk whose fathers were not warned, so they are needless.

7. Already hath the word proved true of most of them, for they believe not.

8. Lo! We have put on their necks carcans reaching unto the chins, so that they are made stiff-necked.

9. And We have set a bar before them and a bar behind them, and (thus) have covered them so that they see not.

10. Whether thou warn them or thou warn them not, it is alike for them, for they believe not.

11. Thou warnest only him who followeth the Reminder and feareth the Beneficent in secret. To him bear tidings of forgiveness and a rich reward.