পার্থিব জীবনের উদাহরণ তেমনি, যেমনি আমি আসমান থেকে পানি বর্ষন করলাম, পরে তা মিলিত সংমিশ্রিত হয়ে তা থেকে যমীনের শ্যামল উদ্ভিদ বেরিয়ে এল যা মানুষ ও জীব-জন্তুরা খেয়ে থাকে। এমনকি যমীন যখন সৌন্দর্য সুষমায় ভরে উঠলো আর যমীনের অধিকর্তারা ভাবতে লাগল, এগুলো আমাদের হাতে আসবে, হঠাৎ করে তার উপর আমার নির্দেশ এল রাত্রে কিংবা দিনে, তখন সেগুলোকে কেটে স্তুপাকার করে দিল যেন কাল ও এখানে কোন আবাদ ছিল না। এমনিভাবে আমি খোলাখুলি বর্ণনা করে থাকি নিদর্শণসমূহ সে সমস্ত লোকদের জন্য যারা লক্ষ্য করে।
Verily the likeness of (this) worldly life is as the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, so by it arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men and cattle eat until when the earth is clad with its adornments and is beautified, and its people think that they have all the powers of disposal over it, Our Command reaches it by night or by day and We make it like a clean-mown harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday! Thus do We explain the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, laws, etc.) in detail for the people who reflect.
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاء أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاء فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالأَنْعَامُ حَتَّىَ إِذَا أَخَذَتِ الأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَازَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَا أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَيْهَآ أَتَاهَا أَمْرُنَا لَيْلاً أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَاهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَن لَّمْ تَغْنَ بِالأَمْسِ كَذَلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Innama mathalu alhayati alddunya kama-in anzalnahu mina alssama-i faikhtalata bihi nabatu al-ardi mimma ya/kulu alnnasu waal-anAAamu hatta itha akhathati al-ardu zukhrufaha waizzayyanat wathanna ahluha annahum qadiroona AAalayha ataha amruna laylan aw naharan fajaAAalnaha haseedan kaan lam taghna bial-amsi kathalika nufassilu al-ayati liqawmin yatafakkaroona
YUSUFALI: The likeness of the life of the present is as the rain which We send down from the skies: by its mingling arises the produce of the earth- which provides food for men and animals: (It grows) till the earth is clad with its golden ornaments and is decked out (in beauty): the people to whom it belongs think they have all powers of disposal over it: There reaches it Our command by night or by day, and We make it like a harvest clean-mown, as if it had not flourished only the day before! thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who reflect.
PICKTHAL: The similitude of the life of the world is only as water which We send down from the sky, then the earth’s growth of that which men and cattle eat mingleth with it till, when the earth hath taken on her ornaments and is embellished, and her people deem that they are masters of her, Our commandment cometh by night or by day and We make it as reaped corn as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do we expound the revelations for people who reflect.
SHAKIR: The likeness of this world’s life is only as water which We send down from the cloud, then the herbage of the earth of which men and cattle eat grows luxuriantly thereby, until when the earth puts on its golden raiment and it becomes garnished, and its people think that they have power over it, Our command comes to it, by night or by day, so We render it as reaped seed; produce, as though it had not been in existence yesterday; thus do We make clear the communications for a people who reflect.
KHALIFA: The analogy of this worldly life is like this: we send down water from the sky to produce with it all kinds of plants from the earth, and to provide food for the people and the animals. Then, just as the earth is perfectly adorned, and its people think that they are in control thereof, our judgment comes by night or by day, leaving it completely barren, as if nothing existed the previous day. We thus explain the revelations for people who reflect.