P:  And indeed they have passed by the township whereon was rained the fatal rain.  Can it be that they have not seen it?  Nay, but they hope for no resurrection.

S:  And certainly they have (often) passed by the town on which was rained an evil rain; did they not then see it?  Nay! they did not hope to be raised again.

025.041 Y:  When they see thee, they treat thee no otherwise than in mockery: 

“Is this the one whom Allah has sent as a messenger?” P:  And when they see thee (O Muhammad) they treat thee only as a jest (saying):  Is this he whom Allah sendeth as a messenger?

S:  And when they see you, they do not take you for aught but a mockery:  Is this he whom Allah has raised to be a messenger?

025.042 Y:  “He indeed would well-nigh have misled us from our gods, had it not been that we were constant to them!” — Soon will they know, when they see the Penalty, who it is that is most misled in Path!

P:  He would have led us far away from our gods if we had not been staunch to them.  They will know, when they behold the doom, who is more astray as to the road.

S:  He had well-nigh led us astray from our gods had we not adhered to them patiently!  And they will know, when they see the punishment, who is straying farther off from the path.

025.043 Y:  Seest thou such a one as taketh for his god his own passion (or impulse)?  Couldst thou be a disposer of affairs for him?

P:  Hast thou seen him who chooseth for his god his own lust?  Wouldst thou then be guardian over him?

S:  Have you seen him who takes his low desires for his god?  Will you then be a protector over him?

025.044 Y:  Or thinkest thou that most of them listen or understand?  They are only like cattle;- nay, they are worse astray in Path.

P:  Or deemest thou that most of them hear or understand?  They are but as the cattle — nay, but they are farther astray?

S:  Or do you think that most of them do hear or understand?  They are nothing but as cattle; nay, they are straying farther off from the path.

025.045 Y:  Hast thou not turned thy vision to thy Lord?- How He doth prolong the shadow!  If He willed, He could make it stationary! then do We make the sun its guide;

P:  Hast thou not seen how thy Lord hath spread the shade — And if He willed He could have made it still — then We have made the sun its pilot;

S:  Have you not considered (the work of) your Lord, how He extends the shade?  And if He had pleased He would certainly have made it stationary; then We have made the sun an indication of it;

025.046 Y:  Then We draw it in towards Ourselves,- a contraction by easy stages.

P:  Then We withdraw it unto Us, a gradual withdrawal?

S:  Then We take it to Ourselves, taking little by little.

025.047 Y:  And He it is Who makes the Night as a Robe for you, and Sleep as Repose, and makes the Day (as it were) a Resurrection.