The Quran

سورة الصَّافات

Surah Al-Sâffât 37:143

Those Ranging in Ranks · Verse 143 of 182

فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ

Abdul Mannan Omar

Had he not been of those who glorify (God)

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified Allah,

Ahmed Ali

Had he not been one of those who struggled hard,

12 more translations

Ali Unal

Had it not been that he was one who always glorified God, (declaring Him absolutely above having any defects and partners),

Daryabadi

And had he not been of those who hallow Him,

Faridul Haque

And were he not one of those who praise. -

Maulana Muhammad Ali

But had he not been of those who glorify (Us),

Maulvi Sher Ali

And had he not been of those who glorify God,

Muhammad Asad

And had he not been of those who [even in the deep darkness of their distress are able to] extol God's limitless glory,

Muhammad Musin Khan

Had he not been of them who glorify Allah,

Muhammad Pickthall

And had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah)

Muhammad Sarwar

Had he not glorified God,

Muhammed ali Shakir

But had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us),

Rashad Khalifa

If it were not that he resorted to meditation (on God),

Shabbir Ahmed

And had he not been a valiant swimmer,

Commentary 37:143-144 If Jonas had not been entrusted with the responsibility of prophethood and the spreading of the message of One Deity; he would have been drowned in…

On 37:143–144

﴿١٤٣﴾لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَفَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ

37:143-144 If Jonas had not been entrusted with the responsibility of prophethood and the spreading of the message of One Deity; he would have been drowned in the sea and died. This is what is signified by the following words (37:144); that he would have tarried there after death until the Day of Resurrection. The significance of this verse is that the big fish would have devoured him and he would have died. By the words “he would have surely remained in its belly till the time people are raised up” does not imply that the fish was an immortal fish that could live to the time of resurrection. A person’s death is generally called “the time of his resurrection”. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, “He who dies, his resurrection comes to pass.” That is why the Islamic Sufis are of the opinion that the account of Jonas is the account of a vision experienced by Holy Prophet (pbuh).