- See also Quran/exhausted_ink
Shaykh Yasir Fahmy reflects on verses 109-110 from Surat al-Kahf.
https://youtu.be/RHikfF9dE2w via celebrate mercy Admin (talk) 10:14, 10 September 2022 (UTC)
2024-01-29
http://www.islamitexts.org/quran/18/109#18:109
- say: "if the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid."
- say: though the sea became ink for the words of my lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my lord were exhausted, even though we brought the like thereof to help.
- say: if the sea were ink for the words of my lord, the sea would surely be consumed before the words of my lord are exhausted, though we were to bring the like of that (sea) to add
- say (o muhammad saw to mankind). "if the sea were ink for (writing) the words of my lord, surely, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my lord would be finished, even if we brought (another sea) like it for its aid."
- say thou: were the sea to become ink for the words of my lord, the sea would surely exhaust ere the words of my lord exhausted, even though we brought onot her like thereof for support.
- say: 'if the sea were ink for the words of my lord, the sea would surely be spent before the words of my lord are spent, even if we brought its like for replenishment. '
- say, `if the sea were ink for the words of my lord, the sea would be spent before the words of my lord were spent, even though we brought in aid the like of it'.
- say, 'if every ocean become ink for the words of my lord, surely, the ocean would be exhausted before the words of my lord were exhausted, even though we brought the like thereof as further help.'
- say: "if all the sea were ink for my sustainer's words, the sea would indeed be exhausted ere my sustainer's words are exhausted! and [[[thus]] it would be] if we were to add to it sea upon sea."
- lit., "if we were to produce the like of it [[[i]].e., of the sea] in addition". it is to be noted that, as pointed out by zamakhshari, the term al-bahr ("the sea") is used here in a generic sense, comprising all the seas that exist: hence, the expression "the like of it" has been rendered by me as "sea upon sea". (see also 31:27.)
- say:. if the sea were ink for the words of my lord, the sea would be spent before the words of my lord are spent, though we brought replenishment the like of it.
- say: "if the sea were to become ink to record the words{{80}} of my lord, indeed the sea would be all used up before the words of my lord are exhausted, and it would be the same even if we were to bring an equal amount of ink."
Shaykh Waleed Basouyi's QuranReflection
this verse closes the door of anyone who would challenge the level of detail presented in the quran, the person who says "thats it? thats all the quran says about dhul qarnayn?" this verse is as if to say, "there is so much more that could be shared, the detail about each story and every event and so many other prophets, events and details that have not been mentioned. this earth that is two thirds water, if all of it were transformed into ink would be exhausted twice over and allahs words would not be exhausted."
Related question/comment: by Ben Zararsiz
Why do the words of Rabb (الرب) differ from the words of Allah (الله)?
[Al-Kahf:109]: قُل لَّوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا
Say, "If the sea were ink for [writing] the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement." — Saheeh International
In this verse, it is stated that the words of the Lord will eventually be exhausted, meaning His words will come to an end. His knowledge is immensely vast, to the extent that even if two entire seas from the Earth were used as ink, His words would not be exhausted before that. It's important to note the word "before" in this context because it signifies that His words will indeed come to an end. This verse explicitly mentions "Rabb" (الرب) and not "Allah" (الله).
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[Luqman:27]: وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَامٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَّا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens and the sea [was ink], replenished thereafter by seven [more] seas, the words of Allah would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. — Saheeh International
In this verse, it is clearly written that the words of Allah will not be exhausted, even if all the oceans on Earth were used as ink sevenfold. This means that, regardless of the quantity of "ink" used, Allah's words have no end. This verse explicitly mentions "Allah" (اهلل) and not "Rabb" (الرب).
So the question is: Why do the words of Rabb (الرب) differ from the words of Allah?