سورة یسٓ
Surah Yâ Sîn 36:40
O Perfect Man! · Verse 40 of 83
لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ ۚ وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ
Abdul Mannan Omar
It is not given to the sun to attain to (the purpose ordained for) the moon, nor is it given to the night to outstrip the day. All of these (luminaries) go on floating smoothly in an orbit (of their own).
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law).
Ahmed Ali
Neither can the sun overtake the moon, nor the night outpace the day: Each of them keeps coursing in its orbit.
12 more translations
Ali Unal
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. All (the celestial bodies and systems) float in an orbit (determined for each).
Daryabadi
It is not permitted to the sun that it should overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day: each in an orbit, they float.
Faridul Haque
It is not for the sun to catch up with the moon, nor does the night surpass the day; and each one of them floats in its orbit.
Maulana Muhammad Ali
Neither is it for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day. And all float on in an orbit.
Maulvi Sher Ali
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day. All of them float smoothly in an orbit.
Muhammad Asad
[and] neither may the sun overtake the moon, nor can the night usurp the time of day, since all of them float through space [in accordance with Our laws].
Muhammad Musin Khan
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit.
Muhammad Pickthall
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit.
Muhammad Sarwar
how the sun is not supposed to catch-up with the moon, nor is the night to precede the day. All of them are to float in a certain orbit;
Muhammed ali Shakir
Neither is it allowable to the sun that it should overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day; and all float on in a sphere.
Rashad Khalifa
The sun is never to catch up with the moon - the night and the day never deviate - each of them is floating in its own orbit.
Shabbir Ahmed
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outrun the day. All of them swim along in their orbits.
Commentary 36:40 The statement: “It is not given to the sun to attain to the moon” points to the fact that the two follow different orbits, which do not cross. This and…
لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِي لَهَا أَن تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ ۚ وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ
36:40 The statement: “It is not given to the sun to attain to the moon” points to the fact that the two follow different orbits, which do not cross. This and the previous verse contradict the old view that the heavenly bodies were fixed with something solid to one another. Rather the verses describe the heavenly bodies floating freely through space. It is the characteristic of the Holy Qur’ân that it uses expressions, which not only contradict erroneous views and ideas, but also anticipate new discoveries in the domain of science and philosophy.