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RationalWiki:Annotated Qur'an/Revelations Well Expounded

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Annotated Qur'an
Sura 41: Revelations Well Expounded
Word-by-word translation
Alternate translations and related tafsirs
Alternate translations
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Qur'an 41:1[edit]

Ha, Meem.

Qur'an 41:1 Notes[edit]

These letters appear at the start of many verses in the Quran. They must mean something for Allah to include them as often as he does. To this day, however, people don't actually know why Allah started 29 chapters with these disconnected letters.

Qur'an 41:2[edit]

A revelation from the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Qur'an 41:2 Notes[edit]

This book says that a lot, though it never proves these claims nor does it portray Allah as gracious and merciful.

Qur'an 41:3[edit]

A Scripture whose Verses are detailed, a Quran in Arabic for people who know.

Qur'an 41:3 Notes[edit]

This chapter's first verse lacks detail. Also, Allah chose a very difficult language to learn, thus including a language barrier, though even scholars familiar with Quranic Arabic can disagree with the meaning of many parts of this book for some reason.

Qur'an 41:4[edit]

Bringing good news, and giving warnings. But most of them turn away, so they do not listen.

Qur'an 41:4 Notes[edit]

The good news is that a select few could possibly hope to make it to an imaginary heaven after they die and avoid the infinite torture. The warnings are about this infinite torture that a merciful god created.

Qur'an 41:5[edit]

And they say, “Our hearts are screened from what you call us to, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a barrier. So do what you want, and so will we.”

Qur'an 41:5 Notes[edit]

Nobody has ever said that unironically. Anybody saying that is making fun of the many times in which Allah claims to seal the hearts and minds of certain people, thereby dooming them to that infinite punishment realm.

Qur'an 41:6[edit]

Say, “I am only a human like you; it is inspired in me that your God is One God. So be upright towards Him, and seek forgiveness from Him.” And woe to the idolaters.

Qur'an 41:6 Notes[edit]

Anybody could come up with any ridiculous fairytale and claim that a totally real god inspired it as divine knowledge.

Qur'an 41:7[edit]

Those who do not pay the alms; and regarding the Hereafter, they are disbelievers.

Qur'an 41:7 Notes[edit]

Those who do not pay the alms... don't believe this outlandish nonsense... Huh?

Qur'an 41:8[edit]

As for those who believe and do righteous deeds—for them is a reward uninterrupted.

Qur'an 41:8 Notes[edit]

Evidently, righteous deeds only matter if believers do them for reasons.

Qur'an 41:9[edit]

Say, “Do you reject the One who created the earth in two days? And you attribute equals to Him? That is the Lord of the Universe.”

Qur'an 41:9 Notes[edit]

What can you say to demonstrate that this god specifically created the earth. Also, two days only? That makes no scientific sense.

Qur'an 41:10[edit]

He placed stabilizers over it; and blessed it; and planned its provisions in four days, equally to the seekers.

Qur'an 41:10 Notes[edit]

What do the stabilizers do exactly and how can people objectively observe them?

Qur'an 41:11[edit]

Then He turned to the sky, and it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth, “Come, willingly or unwillingly.” They said, “We come willingly.”

Qur'an 41:11 Notes[edit]

On that topic, what was this author smoking?

Qur'an 41:12[edit]

So He completed them as seven universes in two days, and He assigned to each universe its laws. And We decorated the lower universe with lamps, and for protection. That is the design of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

Qur'an 41:12 Notes[edit]

The cosmology in the Quran, at least here, seems utterly bonkers.

Qur'an 41:13[edit]

But if they turn away, say, “I have warned you of a thunderbolt, like the thunderbolt of Aad and Thamood.”

Qur'an 41:13 Notes[edit]

A lone thunderbolt was enough?

Qur'an 41:14[edit]

Their messengers came to them, from before them and from behind them, saying, “Do not worship anyone but God.” They said, “Had our Lord willed, He would have sent down angels; Therefore, we reject what you are sent with.”

Qur'an 41:14 Notes[edit]

Had God willed, this book of tall tales could make sense and come with ways of proving anything in it.

Qur'an 41:15[edit]

As for Aad, they turned arrogant on earth, and opposed justice, and said, “Who is more powerful than us?” Have they not considered that God, who created them, is more powerful than they? And they went on denying Our revelations.

Qur'an 41:15 Notes[edit]

They had not considered that a character in some fictional story is stronger than them because they are real and have more evidence of their own existence than anybody has for God. Did they get any proof that this "God" created them?

Qur'an 41:16[edit]

So We unleashed upon them a screaming wind, for a few miserable days, to make them taste the punishment of shame in this life; but the punishment of the Hereafter is more shameful; and they will not be saved.

Qur'an 41:16 Notes[edit]

That was because they had no reason to believe this nonsense.

Qur'an 41:17[edit]

And as for Thamood, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance. So the thunderbolt of the humiliating punishment seized them, because of what they used to earn.

Qur'an 41:17 Notes[edit]

This supposed revelation from an all-powerful god discourages skepticism and encourages blind faith. Who prefers blindness over guidance exactly?

Qur'an 41:18[edit]

And We saved those who believed and were righteous.

Qur'an 41:18 Notes[edit]

Belief and righteousness should not be hand-in-hand as they are in this book.

Qur'an 41:19[edit]

The Day when God’s enemies are herded into the Fire, forcibly.

Qur'an 41:19 Notes[edit]

Allah speaks a lot about how he misleads his own creations to blindness and prevents them from accepting the truth. He made his own enemies per his book.

Qur'an 41:20[edit]

Until, when they have reached it, their hearing, and their sight, and their skins will testify against them regarding what they used to do.

Qur'an 41:20 Notes[edit]

What was that prophet smoking and where can I find some?

Qur'an 41:21[edit]

And they will say to their skins, “Why did you testify against us?” They will say, “God, Who made all things speak, made us speak. It is He who created you the first time, and to Him you are returned.”

Qur'an 41:21 Notes[edit]

What would skin realistically have to say? Do human skin cells retain knowledge and understand things now? Are neurons not located in the cranium?

Qur'an 41:22[edit]

You were unable to hide yourselves from your hearing, and your sight, and your skins, to prevent them from testifying against you, and you imagined that God was unaware of much of what you do.

Qur'an 41:22 Notes[edit]

This book makes this God seem like a buffoon who does not understand how the round earth works or how humans actually think.

Qur'an 41:23[edit]

It is that thought of yours about your Lord that led you to ruin—so you became of the losers.

Qur'an 41:23 Notes[edit]

Uh huh...

Qur'an 41:24[edit]

If they endure patiently, the Fire will be their residence; and if they make up excuses, they will not be pardoned.

Qur'an 41:24 Notes[edit]

This verse specifies that patience is only a virtue for believers.

Qur'an 41:25[edit]

We had assigned companions for them, who glamorized to them what was in front of them, and what was behind them. And the Word proved true against them in communities of jinn and humans that have passed away before them. They were losers.

Qur'an 41:25 Notes[edit]

Word salad? Word salad, anybody?

Qur'an 41:26[edit]

Those who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to this Quran, and talk over it, so that you may prevail.”

Qur'an 41:26 Notes[edit]

Those who disbelieve nowadays let the Quran debunk itself rather than cowering from the truth. This verse suggests that disbelievers run away faster than strawmen when faced with the "undeniable truth" that this sloppy book could only pretend to have whatsoever.

Qur'an 41:27[edit]

We will make those who disbelieve taste an intense agony, and We will recompense them according to the worst of what they used to do.

Qur'an 41:27 Notes[edit]

This chapter started off by calling God "Gracious" and "Merciful". Which is it?

Qur'an 41:28[edit]

Such is the recompense of God’s enemies—the Fire—where they will have their permanent home, in recompense for having disregarded Our revelations.

Qur'an 41:28 Notes[edit]

Because disagreeing is just the worst offense in God's eyes to the point where he can infinitely punish them, refuse to accept their begs for mercy, and still call himself a "Merciful" god.

Qur'an 41:29[edit]

Those who disbelieved will say, “Our Lord, show us those who led us astray—among jinn and humans—and we will trample them under our feet, so they become of the lowest.”

Qur'an 41:29 Notes[edit]

Allah did mislead them and is certainly "the lowest" he could possibly be.

Qur'an 41:30[edit]

Surely, those who say: “Our Lord is God,” and then go straight, the angels will descend upon them: “Do not fear, and do not grieve, but rejoice in the news of the Garden which you were promised.

Qur'an 41:30 Notes[edit]

The stick was very harsh, so have a delicious carrot to pair with it.

Qur'an 41:31[edit]

We are your allies in this life and in the Hereafter, wherein you will have whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you call for.

Qur'an 41:31 Notes[edit]

My "soul" simply desires a peaceful existence or nonexistence after death where nobody infinitely suffers for any reason.

Qur'an 41:32[edit]

As Hospitality from an All-Forgiving, Merciful One.”

Qur'an 41:32 Notes[edit]

This is describing, in clear terms no less, an indomitable despot who created Hell and doomed most humans ever to it.

Qur'an 41:33[edit]

And who is better in speech than someone who calls to God, and acts with integrity, and says, “I am of those who submit”?

Qur'an 41:33 Notes[edit]

Perhaps those speakers who, by their words and actions, call others to stop believing harmful myths like Islam and motivate people to be great people to themselves and others?

Qur'an 41:34[edit]

Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with good, and the person who was your enemy becomes like an intimate friend.

Qur'an 41:34 Notes[edit]

This can have several different meaningful interpretations that could use some clarification to have any practical and moral use.

Qur'an 41:35[edit]

But none will attain it except those who persevere, and none will attain it except the very fortunate.

Qur'an 41:35 Notes[edit]

God states here that luck is necessary for a torture-free afterlife.

Qur'an 41:36[edit]

When a temptation from the Devil provokes you, seek refuge in God; He is the Hearer, the Knower.

Qur'an 41:36 Notes[edit]

What exactly is a temptation specifically from this Devil?

Qur'an 41:37[edit]

And of His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not bow down to the sun, nor to the moon, but bow down to God, Who created them both, if it is Him that you serve.

Qur'an 41:37 Notes[edit]

What specifically makes those celestial bodies signs of Allah? How can people observe them and find anything about them that indicates in any way that the God of this religion is the one who created them?

Qur'an 41:38[edit]

But if they are too proud—those in the presence of your Lord praise Him night and day, and without ever tiring.

Qur'an 41:38 Notes[edit]

The most ardent believers could realistically worship this despot for many hours, tiring after a decent amount of time because humans are like this.

Qur'an 41:39[edit]

And of His signs is that you see the land still. But when We send down water upon it, it stirs and grows. Surely, He Who revived it will revive the dead. He is Able to do all things.

Qur'an 41:39 Notes[edit]

This land was never dead to be revived. It was never alive to have been dead in the first place. Even assuming that the earth is revived, how do we know that Allah specifically is that same deity?

Qur'an 41:40[edit]

Those who despise Our revelations are not hidden from Us. Is he who is hurled into the Fire better? Or he who arrives safely on the Day of Resurrection? Do as you please; He is Seeing of everything you do.

Qur'an 41:40 Notes[edit]

God, forgiving as ever, made some despicable "revelations" and should not be surprised that his beings are naturally appalled by it. This brutal punishment is a major reason.

Qur'an 41:41[edit]

Those who reject the Reminder when it has come to them—it is an invincible Book.

Qur'an 41:41 Notes[edit]

Invicible how? How could this book be invincible? Scriptural variants of this book are enough to disprove the "perfect preservation" myth. What meaning could this verse have beyond that?

Qur'an 41:42[edit]

Falsehood cannot approach it, from before it or behind it. It is a revelation from One Wise and Praiseworthy.

Qur'an 41:42 Notes[edit]

Allah apparently included falsehoods in this holy book but somehow falsehood, things that can't possibly be true, abound in this bound.

Qur'an 41:43[edit]

Nothing is said to you but was said to the Messengers before you: your Lord is Possessor of Forgiveness, and Possessor of Painful Repayment.

Qur'an 41:43 Notes[edit]

The simple fact that the "Possessor of Forgiveness" could ever choose, whatsoever, to go with painful repayment is not truly a "Forgiving One" as this book claims constantly.

Qur'an 41:44[edit]

Had We made it a Quran in a foreign language, they would have said, “If only its verses were made clear.” Non-Arabic and an Arab? Say, “For those who believe, it is guidance and healing. But as for those who do not believe: there is heaviness in their ears, and it is blindness for them. These are being called from a distant place.”

Qur'an 41:44 Notes[edit]

Language barrier aside, this book's verses are not clear even to those fluent in Quranic Arabic. Also, how telling is it that it only has any useful meaning to those who already believe?

Qur'an 41:45[edit]

We gave Moses the Book, but disputes arose concerning it. Were it not for a prior decree from your Lord, judgment would have been pronounced between them. But they are in perplexing doubt concerning it.

Qur'an 41:45 Notes[edit]

Those trying to really understand this book would be in perplexing doubt with such a perplexingly self-contradictory book.

Qur'an 41:46[edit]

Whoever acts righteously does so for himself; and whoever works evil does so against himself. Your Lord is not unjust to the servants.

Qur'an 41:46 Notes[edit]

What does this endlessly evil overlord even think justice is?

Qur'an 41:47[edit]

To Him is referred the knowledge of the Hour. No fruit emerges from its sheath, and no female conceives or delivers, except with His knowledge. And on the Day when He calls out to them, “Where are My associates?” They will say, “We admit to you, none of us is a witness.”

Qur'an 41:47 Notes[edit]

Evidently, nobody could disbelieve on that day. Of course, God only wants slaves to believe without any definitive proof because believing ridiculous nonsense without any real evidence, now that really seems like a virtue!

Qur'an 41:48[edit]

What they used to pray to before will forsake them, and they will realize that they have no escape.

Qur'an 41:48 Notes[edit]

What kind of despot would show such cruelty with this judgment that anybody would even want to escape?

Qur'an 41:49[edit]

The human being never tires of praying for good things; but when adversity afflicts him, he despairs and loses hope.

Qur'an 41:49 Notes[edit]

Everybody tires of that, no matter how devout they are.

Qur'an 41:50[edit]

And when We let him taste a mercy from Us, after the adversity that had afflicted him, he will say, “This is mine, and I do not think that the Hour is coming; and even if I am returned to my Lord, I will have the very best with Him.” We will inform those who disbelieve of what they did, and We will make them taste an awful punishment.

Qur'an 41:50 Notes[edit]

What kind of straw men does Allah think we are. He created us and still has no idea what he is even talking about. This would be considered "falsehood", but Allah stated that falsehood cannot ever approach this book.

Qur'an 41:51[edit]

When We provide comfort for the human being, he withdraws and distances himself; but when adversity befalls him, he starts lengthy prayers.

Qur'an 41:51 Notes[edit]

This verse runs counter other verses, even here in this chapter.

Qur'an 41:52[edit]

Say, “Have you considered? If it is from God and you reject it—who is further astray than he who is cutoff and alienated?”

Qur'an 41:52 Notes[edit]

Pascal's wager falls flat on so many levels. God should know better.

Qur'an 41:53[edit]

We will show them Our proofs on the horizons, and in their very souls, until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient that your Lord is witness over everything?

Qur'an 41:53 Notes[edit]

In this world or a mystical afterworld?

Qur'an 41:54[edit]

Surely they are in doubt about the encounter with their Lord. Surely He comprehends everything.

Qur'an 41:54 Notes[edit]

This book shows that God comprehends nothing at all, which is why so many are in doubt.