Oh, that a city had but believed and profited by its faith save the people of Jonah! When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world, and gave them enjoyment for a time.
| # | word | meaning | root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | falawlā | So why not | |
| 2 | kānat | was | كون |
| 3 | qaryatun | any town | قري |
| 4 | āmanat | that believed | امن |
| 5 | fanafaʿahā | and benefited it | نفع |
| 6 | īmānuhā | its faith | امن |
| 7 | illā | except | |
| 8 | qawma | the people | قوم |
| 9 | yūnusa | (of) Yunus | |
| 10 | lammā | When | |
| 11 | āmanū | they believed | امن |
| 12 | kashafnā | We removed | كشف |
| 13 | ʿanhum | from them | |
| 14 | ʿadhāba | (the) punishment | عذب |
| 15 | l-khiz'yi | (of) the disgrace | خزي |
| 16 | fī | in | |
| 17 | l-ḥayati | the life | حيي |
| 18 | l-dun'yā | of the world | دنو |
| 19 | wamattaʿnāhum | and We granted them enjoyment | متع |
| 20 | ilā | for | |
| 21 | ḥīnin | a time | حين |
How is it that there has never been a city that had iman, whose iman then brought it benefit, except the people of Yunus? When they had iman We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world and We let them have enjoyment for a time.
If there was any town that benefited from its belief, then that would be the people of Jonah. When they believed, We removed from them the retribution of disgrace in this worldly life, and We let them enjoy until a time.
For, alas, there has never yet been any community that attained belief, and benefited by its belief, except the nation of Jonah. When they embraced belief, We removed from them the suffering of disgrace, and let them enjoy their term. (37:147-148). (They used to live in humiliation at Nineveh. When they accepted the Divine Message, they prospered for about two centuries between 800-612 B.C. Then the Midyans conquered them. After the demise of Jonah, his people had been fast ignoring the Divine Word revealed to Jonah, and leaning towards the resurging priest class. The invaders set on fire the wonderful town of Nineveh. The spacious 60 mile wide, and beautiful town was reduced to ashes. The king of Assyria got himself burnt alive in the palace, and that was the end of the Assyrian dynasty).
Oh, that a city had but believed and profited by its faith save the people of Jonah! When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world, and gave them enjoyment for a time.
If there was any town that benefited from its belief, then that was the people of Jonah. When they believed, We removed from them the retribution of disgrace in this worldly life, and We let them enjoy until a time.
Why was there not a single town that benefited from its acknowledgement, with the exception of the people of Jonah? When they acknowledged, We removed from them the retribution of disgrace in this worldly life, and We let them enjoy until a time.
Any community that believes will surely be rewarded for believing. For example, the people of Jonah: when they believed, we relieved the humiliating retribution they had been suffering in this world, and we made them prosperous.
Why has there been no habitation that believed and profited by their faith, except the people of Jonah? When they came to believe, We removed from them the affliction of shame in the world, and made them prosperous for a time.
Then has there not been a city that believed so its faith benefited it except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in worldly life and gave them enjoyment for a time.
For, alas, there has never yet been any community that attained to faith and thereupon benefited by its faith, except the people of Jonah. When they came to believe, We removed from them the suffering of disgrace in the life of this world, and allowed them to enjoy their life during the time allotted to them.
If only there had been a community (of all those that were destroyed of old) that believed and profited by its belief as did the folk of Jonah! When they believed We drew off from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the world and gave them comfort for a while.
Did it ever happen that the people of a town believed on seeing God's chastisement and its believing profited them? (There is no such instance) except of the people of Yunus.* When they believed We granted them reprieve from humiliating chastisement in this world,* and We let them enjoy themselves for a while.*
Wherefore Had any town conformed to Allah's will, inducing the people to piety profiting by it, but they did not, except the people of Yunus who no sooner did they conform to Allah's will than they were the recipients of His mercy. We cancelled their misfortunes which drew upon them worldly disgrace and shame and had greatly injured their name. And We granted them comfort and enjoyment and all that advantaged them of Allah's blessings in life, up to a predetermined point of time.
There was only one community, among the evil doers, who chose to repent and take advantage of the Lord’s mercy; and that was the people of Jonah. When they chose to answer My call, I removed their sufferings and let them enjoy their worldly lives.
Was there any town (community) that believed (after seeing the punishment), and its Faith (at that moment) saved it (from the punishment)? (The answer is none) - except the people of Yûnus (Jonah); when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.
Why was there not a single township (among those We warned), which believed,- so its faith should have profited it,- except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the penalty of ignominy in the life of the present, and permitted them to enjoy (their life) for a while.
If only there had been a society which believed ˹before seeing the torment˺ and, therefore, benefited from its belief, like the people of Jonah. When they believed, We lifted from them the torment of disgrace in this world and allowed them enjoyment for a while.
So, how is it that there never was a town, which could have believed and its belief would have been of benefit to it, except the people of Yūnus? When they came to believe, We removed from them the punishment of humiliation in the worldly life and let them enjoy themselves for some time.
If only a single town had believed and benefited from its belief! Only Jonah’s people did so, and when they believed, We relieved them of the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world, and let them enjoy life for a time.
Why was there never a city that believed, and its belief profited it? -- Except the people of Jonah; when they believed, We removed from them the chastisement of degradation in this present life, and We gave unto them enjoyment for a time.
Were it not so, a city would have believed and its faith would have profited it. But (none did) except the people of Jonas; when they believed we removed from them the torment of disgrace in this world, and we gave them provision for a while.
Even though there come to them every sign, until they see the grievous doom.
So, was there a town that believed (and) so its belief profited it, except the people of Yûnus? As soon as they believed, We lifted off from them the torment of disgrace in the present life, (Literally: the lowly life, i. e., the life of this world) and We gave them enjoyment for a while.
And if it were not so, some city, among the many which have been destroyed, would have believed; and the faith of its inhabitants would have been of advantage unto them: But none of them believed, before the execution of their sentence, except the people of Jonas. When they believed, We delivered them from the punishment of shame in this world, and suffered them to enjoy their lives and possessions for a time.
Was there not a single township of people (among those We warned), which believed— So that its faith should have helped it— Except the people of Yunus (Jonah)? When they believed, We removed from them the penalty of dishonor in the present life, and let them to enjoy (their lives) for a while.
Why was there no community other than the people of Jonah who should have believed (as a whole), so that their belief would have done them good? (If it had been so it would have been much better), for when they (-the people of Jonah) believed, We spared them a humiliating punishment in the present life and We gave them provision (to avail themselves therefrom) for a time.
Why has there not been any town that might believe, so that its belief might benefit it, except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world, and We provided for them for a while.