Al-Insan 76:1
The Man · Medinan · Juz 29 · Page 578
A Time Not Worth Mentioning
هَلۡ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡإِنسَٰنِ حِينࣱ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهۡرِ لَمۡ يَكُن شَيۡـࣰٔا مَّذۡكُورًا ١
Hath there come upon man (ever) any period of time in which he was a thing unremembered.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
Has there not come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing worth mentioning?
Insight
According to Elmalılı, “hal” here is not a question but an affirmation meaning “indeed”: man passed through a time when he was nothing worth mentioning.
Reflect
Reflect on your state before you existed, and give thanks.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›