9. [at-Tauba, Medina 113, after Tabuk 9 H]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِذَا
مَا أُنزِلَتْ
سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم
مَّن يَقُولُ
أَيُّكُمْ
زَادَتْهُ
هَـذِهِ إِيمَانًا...
9: 124. Whenever there cometh down a Surah, some of them say:
"Which of you has had his faith increased by it?"
C1375. The incompatibility of Unfaith and Faith are contrasted in this section in respect of revelation and the divine teacher.
The Unbelievers laugh at revelation, and say to each other mockingly: "Does this increase your faith?"
To the Believer every new aspect of Allah's truth as revealed increases his faith, and wonder, and gratitude. He rejoices, because he gets added strength for life and achievement.
... فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ ﴿١٢٤﴾
Yea,
those who believe, their faith is increased, and they do rejoice.
وَأَمَّا
الَّذِينَ فِي
قُلُوبِهِم
مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ
رِجْسًا إِلَى
رِجْسِهِمْ...
9: 125. But those in whose hearts is a disease, it will add doubt to their doubt,
C1376. Cf. 2:10 and several similar passages.
Just as the light, which to healthy eyes gives enlightenment, causes pain to the diseased eye, which emits unclean matter, so to those spiritually diseased. Allah's grace is unwelcome, and they put forth more doubts to cover their disease. And they die in their disease, and of their disease.
Note the aptness of the metaphor.
... وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ ﴿١٢٥﴾
and they will die in a state of unbelief.
Pickthall’s Version:
9: 124
Pickthall And whenever a surah is revealed there are some of them who say: Which one of you hath thus increased in faith? As for those who believe, it hath increased them in faith and they rejoice (therefor).
Transliteration Wa iza_ ma_ unzilat su_ratun fa minhum may yaqu_lu ayyukum za_dathu ha_zihi ima_na_(n), fa ammal lazina a_manu_ fa za_dathum ima_naw wa hum yastabsyiru_n(a).
9: 125
Pickthall But as for those in whose hearts is disease, it only addeth wickedness to their wickedness, and they die while they are disbelievers.
Transliteration Wa ammal lazina fi qulu_bihim maradun fa za_dathum rijsan ila_ rijsihim wa ma_tu_ wa hum ka_firu_n(a).
15. [al-Hijr, Mecca 54]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
يَأْتِيهِم
مِّن رَّسُولٍ
إِلاَّ كَانُواْ
بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ ﴿١١﴾
15:11. But never came a Messenger to them but they mocked him.
كَذَلِكَ
نَسْلُكُهُ
فِي قُلُوبِ
الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿١٢﴾
15: 12. Even so do We let it creep into the hearts of the sinners --
C1946. If evil and disbelief exist in the world, we must not be impatient or lose our faith. We must recognise that if such things are permitted, they are part of the Universal Plan and purpose of Allah, Who is All-Wise and All-Good, but Whose wisdom and goodness we cannot fully fathom.
One consolation we have, and that is stated in the next verse and the next note.
15:13. That they should not believe in the (Message);
...وَقَدْ خَلَتْ سُنَّةُ الأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٣﴾
but the ways of the ancients have passed away.
C1947. Sects, divisions, and systems invented by men tend to pass away, but Allah's pure Truth of Unity endures for ever. This we see in history when we study it on a large scale.
Cf. the parable in 14:24-26.
Khalat: I have translated it here in the same sense as in 13:30, 10:102, and other places.
Some Commentators give it a slightly different shade of meaning. The other meaning is seen in 48:23.
وَلَوْ
فَتَحْنَا
عَلَيْهِم
بَابًا مِّنَ
السَّمَاء ...
15:14. Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven,
C1948. Cf. 6:35.
The spiritual kingdom is open to all to enter. But the entrance is not a mere matter of physical movement. It is a question of a total change of heart. Evil must cease to be evil, before it can see or enjoy Good.
If we could suppose Evil, like Bottom the weaver, to be "translated" or in some way carried up to heaven, it would only think that the Truth was an illusion, and the reality was mere witchery. The taint is in its very nature, which must first be purified and rendered fit for the reception of light, truth, and bliss.
... فَظَلُّواْ فِيهِ يَعْرُجُونَ ﴿١٤﴾
and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein,
لَقَالُواْ
إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ
أَبْصَارُنَا...
15:15. They would only say:
"Our eyes have been intoxicated:
...بَلْ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَّسْحُورُونَ ﴿١٥﴾
nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery."
Pickthall’s Version:
15: 11
Pickthall And never came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him.
Transliteration Wa ma_ ya'tihim mir rasu_lin illa_ ka_nu_ bihi yastahzi'u_n(a).
15: 12
Pickthall Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty:
Transliteration Kaza_lika naslukuhu_ fi qulu_bil mujrimin(a),
15: 13
Pickthall They believe not therein, though the example of the men of old hath gone before.
Transliteration La_ yu'minu_na bihi wa qad khalat sunnatul awwalin(a).
15: 14
Pickthall And even if We opened unto them a Gate of Heaven and they kept mounting through it.
Transliteration Wa lau fatahna_ 'alaihim ba_bam minas sama_'i fazallu_ fihi ya'ruju_n(a),
15: 15
Pickthall They would say: Our sight is wrong--nay, but we are folk bewitched.
Transliteration Laqa_lu_ innama_ sukkirat absa_runa_ bal nahnu qaumum mashu_ru_n(a).