Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)
SÛRAH XLII
Ash-Shûrâ, “Counsel,” takes its name from a word in v. 38.
It belongs to the middle group of Meccan Sûrahs.
Counsel
1. Ḥâ. Mîm.1
2. A‘in. Sîn. Qâf.
3. Thus Allah the Mighty, the Knower inspireth thee (Muhammad) as (He inspired) those before thee.
4. Unto Him belongeth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.
5. Almost might the heavens above be rent asunder while the angels hymn the praise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on the earth. Lo! Allah is the Forgiver, the Merciful.
6. And as for those who choose protecting friends beside Him, Allah is Warden over them, and thou art in no wise a guardian over them.
7. And thus We have inspired in thee a Lecture 2 in Arabic, that thou mayest warn the mother-town 3 and those around it, and mayst warn of a day of assembling whereof there is no doubt. A host will be in the Garden, and a host of them in the Flame.
8. Had Allah willed, He could have made them one community
1 See Sur. II, v. 1, footnote.
2 Ar. Qur’ân.
3 i.e. Mecca.
