6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَالُواْ
إِنْ
هِيَ
إِلاَّ
حَيَاتُنَا
الدُّنْيَا
وَمَا
نَحْنُ
بِمَبْعُوثِينَ
﴿٢٩﴾
6: 29. And they (sometimes) say:
"There is nothing except our life on this earth, and never shall we be raised up again."
وَلَوْ
تَرَى
إِذْ
وُقِفُواْ
عَلَى
رَبِّهِمْ...
6: 30. If thou couldst but see when they are confronted with their Lord!
...قَالَ أَلَيْسَ هَذَا بِالْحَقِّ...
He will say: "Is not this the truth?"
...قَالُواْ بَلَى وَرَبِّنَا...
They will say: "Yea, by our Lord!"
...قَالَ فَذُوقُواْ العَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾
He will say: "Taste ye then the penalty, because ye rejected faith."
وَلِتَصْغَى
إِلَيْهِ
أَفْئِدَةُ
الَّذِينَ
لاَ
يُؤْمِنُونَ
بِالآخِرَةِ...
6: 113. To such (deceit) let the hearts of those incline, who have no faith in the Hereafter:
...وَلِيَرْضَوْهُ وَلِيَقْتَرِفُواْ مَا هُم مُّقْتَرِفُونَ ﴿١١٣﴾
let them delight in it, and let them earn from it what they may.
C942. People who have no faith in the future destiny of man may listen to and be taken in by the deceit of evil.
If they take a delight in it, let them. See what they gain by it. Their gains will be as deceitful as their delight. For the end of evil must be evil.
6: 29
Pickthall And they say: There is naught save our life of the world, and we shall not be raised (again).
Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ in hiya illa_ haya_tunad dunya_ wa ma_ nahnu bi mab'u_sin(a).
6: 30
Pickthall If thou couldst see when they are set before their Lord! He will say: Is not this real? They will say: Yea, verily, by our Lord! He will say: Taste now the retribution for that ye used to disbelieve.
Transliteration Wa lau tara_ iz wuqifu_ 'ala_ rabbihim, qa_la alaisa ha_za_ bil haqq(i), qa_lu_ bala_ wa rabbina_, qa_la fazu_qul 'aza_ba bima_ kuntum takfuru_n(a).
[[ Ali’s note - 853 Their falsity was not due to want of knowledge, but to perversity and selfishness. In their heart was a disease (ii. 10): therefore neither their understanding, nor their ears, nor their eyes do their proper work. They twist what they see, hear, or are taught, and go deeper and deeper into the mire. The deceptions which they used to practise on other people will, before the Seat of Judgement, become clear in their own eyes. (6.28) ]]
6: 113
Asad Yet, to the end that the hearts of those who do not believe in the life to come might incline towards Him, and that in Him they might find contentment, and that they might earn whatever they can earn [of merit] -
Pickthall That the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter may incline thereto, and that they may take pleasure therein, and that they may earn what they are earning.
Unal And the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter incline towards it (their deluding speech) and take pleasure in it, and they continue perpetrating the evils that they have long been perpetrating.
Transliteration Wa litasga_ ilaihi af'idatul lazina la_ yu'minu_na bil a_khirati wa liyardauhu wa liyaqtarifu_ ma_ hum muqtarifu_n(a).
[[ Ali’s note - 942 People who have no faith in the future destiny of man may listen to and be taken in by the deceit of evil. If they take a delight in it, let them. See what they gain by it. Their gains will be as deceitful as their delight. For the end of evil must be evil. (6.113) ]]
[[ Ruby – There is completely an opposite meaning between Asad and ali]]
10. Surah Yunus
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَوْ
يُعَجِّلُ
اللّهُ لِلنَّاسِ
الشَّرَّ
اسْتِعْجَالَهُم
بِالْخَيْرِ
لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ
أَجَلُهُمْ...
10:11. If Allah were to hasten for men the ill (they have earned) as they would fain hasten on the good -- then would their respite be settled at once.
C1398. Those who have no hope for the Future grasp at any temporary advantage, and in their blindness even mockingly ask for immediate punishment for their sins (8:32), thus vainly challenging Allah, in Whom they do not believe.
If the beneficent Allah were to take them at their word, they would have no chance at all. Their doom would be sealed. But even the respite they get they use badly. They merely wander about distractedly like blind men, to and fro. Cf. 2:15.
...فَنَذَرُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءنَا فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ ﴿١١﴾
But We leave those who rest not their hope of their meeting with Us, in their trespasses, wandering in distraction to and fro.
وَإِذَا
مَسَّ الإِنسَانَ
الضُّرُّ دَعَانَا
لِجَنبِهِ أَوْ
قَاعِدًا أَوْ
قَآئِمًا...
10:12. When trouble toucheth a man, he crieth unto Us (in all postures) lying down on his side, or sitting, or standing.
C1399. Not only do men fail to use their respite: even those who have a superficial belief in Allah call on Him in their trouble but forget Him when He has relieved their trouble.
Their Faith is not strong enough to make them realise that all good proceeds from Allah. But in moments of trouble they use every position, literally and figuratively, to appeal to Him.
...فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمْ يَدْعُنَا إِلَى ضُرٍّ مَّسَّهُ...
But when We have solved his trouble, he passeth on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him!
...كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٢﴾
Thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes!
C1400. Those without Faith are selfish, and are so wrapped up in themselves that they think every good that comes to them is due to their own merits or cleverness. That is itself a cause of their undoing. They do not see their own faults.
Others version:
10: 11
Pickthall If Allah were to hasten on for men the ill (that they have earned ) as they would hasten on the good, their respite would already have expired. But We suffer those who look not for the meeting with Us to wander blindly on in their contumacy.
Yuksel If God were to hasten for people the evil as they desire the hastening of good for them, then they would have been ruined. We thus leave those who do not wish to meet Us wandering in their transgression.
Transliteration Wa lau yu'ajjilulla_hu lin na_sisy syarra-sti'ja_lahum bil khairi laqudiya ilaihim ajaluhum, fa nazarul lazina la_ yarju_na liqa_'ana_ fi tugya_nihim ya'mahu_n(a).
10: 12
Yusuf Ali When trouble toucheth a man he crieth unto Us (in all postures) lying down on his side or sitting or standing. But when We have solved his trouble he passeth on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him! Thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes!
Pickthall And if misfortune touch a man he crieth unto Us, (while reclining) on his side, or sitting or standing, but when We have relieved him of the misfortune he goeth his way as though he had not cried unto Us because of a misfortune that afflicted him. Thus is what they do made (seeming) fair unto the prodigal.
Transliteration Wa iza_ massal insa_nad durru da'a_na_ li jambihi au qa_'idan au qa_'ima_(n), falamma_ kasyafna_ 'anhu durrahu_ marra ka allam yad'una_ ila_ durrim massah(u_), kaza_lika zuyyina lil musrifina ma_ ka_nu_ ya'malu_n(a).
16.Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
16: 22. Your Allah is One Allah:
... فَالَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾
as to those who believe not in the Hereafter, their hearts refuse to know and they are arrogant.
C2045. Everything points to Allah, the One True Eternal God. If so, there is a Hereafter, for He has declared it.
In so far as people do not believe this, the fault is in their Will; they do not wish to believe, and the motive behind is arrogance, the sin which brought about the fall of Iblis: 2:34. (R).
لاَ جَرَمَ
أَنَّ اللّهَ
يَعْلَمُ مَا
يُسِرُّونَ
وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ...
16: 23. Undoubtedly Allah doth know what they conceal, and what they reveal:
C2046. Cf. 16:19, where the same words refer to man generally.
Whether he conceals or reveals what is in his heart, Allah knows it, and as Allah is Oft-Forgiving. Most Merciful, His grace is available as His highest favour if man will take it.
Here the reference is to those who "refuse to know", who reject Allah's guidance out of arrogance. Allah"loveth not the arrogant". Such men deprive themselves of Allah's grace.
... إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ ﴿٢٣﴾
verily He loveth not the arrogant.
وَإِذَا
قِيلَ لَهُم
مَّاذَا أَنزَلَ
رَبُّكُمْ...
16: 24. When it is said to them, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?"
C2047. When the arrogant Unbelievers are referred to some definite argument or illustration from Scripture, they dismiss it contemptuously with the remark. "Tales of the ancients!"
In this, they are not only playing with their own conscience, but misleading others, with perhaps less knowledge than themselves.
... قَالُواْ أَسَاطِيرُ الأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾
They say, "Tales of the ancients!"
لِيَحْمِلُواْ
أَوْزَارَهُمْ
كَامِلَةً
يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ...
16: 25. Let them bear, on the Day of Judgment, their own burdens in full,
... وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ...
and also (something) of the burdens of those without knowledge, whom they misled.
C2048. Their responsibility or crime is twofold:
- that they rejected Allah's Message, and
- that they misled others.
Their Penalty will also be double.
In 6:164, we are told that "no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another".
This is against the doctrine of vicarious atonement. Every man is responsible for his own sins; but the sin of misleading others is a sin of the misleader himself, and he must suffer the penalty for that also, without relieving those misled, of their responsibility.
... أَلاَ سَاء مَا يَزِرُونَ ﴿٢٥﴾
Alas, how grievous the burdens they will bear!
قَدْ مَكَرَ
الَّذِينَ مِن
قَبْلِهِمْ...
16: 26. Those before them did also plot (against Allah's Way):
... فَأَتَى اللّهُ بُنْيَانَهُم مِّنَ الْقَوَاعِدِ...
but Allah took their structures from their foundations,
... فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ...
and the roof fell down on them from above;
... وَأَتَاهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٢٦﴾
and the Wrath seized them from directions they did not perceive.
C2049. Evil will always devise plots against the Prophets of Allah. So was it with Al-Mustafa, and so was it with the Prophets before him. But the imposing structures which the ungodly build up (metaphorically) collapse at the Command of Allah, and they are often punished from quarters from which they least expected punishment.
For example, the Quraish were confident in their numbers, their organizations, and their superior equipment. But on the field of Badr they collapsed where they expected victory.
وَأَقْسَمُواْ
بِاللّهِ جَهْدَ
أَيْمَانِهِمْ ...
16: 38. They swear their strongest oaths by Allah,
C2063. The strongest oath of the Pagan Arabs would be by the Supreme Allah; less strong oaths would be by their subordinate deities, or their ancestors, or other things they valued or held sacred.
... لاَ يَبْعَثُ اللّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ...
that Allah will not raise up those who die:
C2064. The usual Pagan creed is:
'If there is a God, it does not follow that He will raise us up; why should He?'
The answer is twofold:
- Allah has promised it, and Allah's promise is true;
- He must finally manifest the Truth to them, convict them of their falsehood, and enforce their personal responsibility (16:39).
... بَلَى وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا وَلـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾
Nay, but it is a promise (binding) on Him in truth:
but most among mankind realize it not.
لِيُبَيِّنَ
لَهُمُ الَّذِي
يَخْتَلِفُونَ
فِيهِ...
16: 39. (They must be raised up), in order that He may manifest to them the truth of that wherein they differ,
... وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ كَاذِبِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾
and that the rejecters of Truth may realize that they had indeed (surrendered to) Falsehood.
C2065. See the last note.
Others version:
16: 22
Asad Your God is the One God: but because of their false pride, the hearts of those who do not believe in the life to come refuse to admit this.
Pickthall Your God is One God. But as for those who believe not in the Hereafter their hearts refuse to know, for they are proud.
Transliteration Ila_hukum ila_huw wa_hid(un), fallazina la_ yu'minu_na bil a_khirati qulu_buhum munkiratuw wa hum mustakbiru_n(a).
[Asad note 15: I.e., they are too arrogant to accept the idea of man’s utter dependence on, and responsibility to, a Supreme Being.]
[Ruby’s note: If one refuse to believe Hereafter, and thinks that this life is final, then he/she has not enough reason to acknowledge existence of God and to submit to his Laws. They may think that they can get away with anything and they would not be accountable. ]
16: 23
Asad Truly, God knows all they keep secret as well as all that they bring into the open – [and,] behold, He does not love those who are given to arrogance,
Pickthall Assuredly Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden and that which they proclaim. Lo! He loveth not the proud.
Transliteration La_ jarama annalla_ha ya'lamu ma_ yusirru_na wa ma_ yu'linu_n(a), innahu_ la_ yuhibbul mustakbirin(a).
16: 24
Pickthall And when it is said unto them: What hath your Lord revealed? they say: (Mere) fables of the men of old.
Yuksel If they are told: "What has your Lord sent down?" They say, "Fairytales of the past."*
Transliteration Wa iza_ qila lahum ma_ anzala rabbukum, qa_lu_ asa_tirul awwalin(a),
16: 25
Pickthall That they may bear their burdens undiminished on the Day of Resurrection, with somewhat of the burdens of those whom they mislead without knowledge. Ah! evil is that which they bear!
Yuksel They will carry their burdens in full on the day of Resurrection, and also from the burdens of those whom they misguided without knowledge. Evil indeed is what they bear.*
Transliteration Liyahmilu_ auza_rahum ka_milatay yaumal qiya_mah(ti), wa min auza_ril lazina yudillu_nahum bi gairi 'ilm(in), ala_ sa_'a ma_ yaziru_n(a).
16: 26
Pickthall Those before them plotted, so Allah struck at the foundations of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them from above them, and the doom came on them whence they knew not;
Yuksel Those before them have schemed, but God came to their buildings from the foundation, thus the roof fell on top of them, and the retribution came to them from where they did not know.
Transliteration Qad makaral lazina min qablihim fa atalla_hu bunya_nahum minal qawa_'idi fa kharra 'alaihimus saqfu min fauqihim wa ata_humul 'aza_bu min haisu la_ yasy'uru_n(a).
16: 38
Pickthall And they swear by Allah their most binding oaths (that) Allah will not raise up him who dieth. Nay, but it is a promise (binding) upon Him in truth, but most of mankind know not,
Transliteration Wa aqsamu_ billa_hi jahda aima_nihim, la_ yab'asulla_hu may yamu_t(u), bala_ wa'dan 'alaihi haqqaw wa la_kinna aksaran na_si la_ ya'lamu_n(a),
16: 39
Pickthall That he may explain unto them that wherein they differ, and that those who disbelieved may know that they were liars.
Transliteration Liyubayyina lahumul lazi yakhtalifu_na fihi wa liya'lamal lazina kafaru_ annahum ka_nu_ ka_zibin(a).
25.Surah Al Furqan
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَالَ
الَّذِينَ
لَا يَرْجُونَ
لِقَاءنَا
لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ
عَلَيْنَا
الْمَلَائِكَةُ
...
25: 21. Such as fear not the meeting with Us (for Judgment) say:
"Why are not the angels sent down to us,
C3077. The blasphemers who have given up all Faith and laugh at the Hereafter: nothing is sacred to them: their arrogance and insolence are beyond all bounds.
... أَوْ نَرَى رَبَّنَا...
or (why) do we not see our Lord?"
C3078. Cf. 2:55.
The Israelites in the time of Moses demanded to see Allah. But they were struck with thunder and lightning even as they looked on. Indeed death would have been their fate, had it not been for the mercy of Allah.
... لَقَدِ اسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ...
Indeed they have an arrogant conceit of themselves,
... وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا ﴿٢١﴾
and mighty is the insolence of their impiety!
يَوْمَ
يَرَوْنَ
الْمَلَائِكَةَ
لَا بُشْرَى
يَوْمَئِذٍ
لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ...
25: 22. The Day they see the angels -- no joy will there be to the sinners that Day:
... وَيَقُولُونَ حِجْرًا مَّحْجُورًا ﴿٢٢﴾
the (angels) will say:
"There is a barrier forbidden (to you) altogether!"
C3079. They will not be allowed to enjoy any of the felicity or peace which will be the normal state of the new world of Reality. Their own past will stand as a barrier to shut them off .
وَقَدِمْنَا
إِلَى
مَا عَمِلُوا
مِنْ عَمَلٍ
فَجَعَلْنَاهُ
هَبَاء مَّنثُورًا
﴿٢٣﴾
25: 23. And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did (in this life),
and We shall make such deeds as floating dust scattered about.
C3080. The false hopes they built on in this life, and the deeds did under the shadow of such false hopes will be dissipated as if they were dust flying about in the wind. They will have no value whatever.
Asad’s Version:
25:21
But those who do not believe that they are destined to meet Us 18 are wont to say, "Why have no angels been sent down to us?" - or, "Why do we not see our Sustainer?"
Indeed, they are far too proud of themselves, having rebelled [against God's truth] with utter disdain!
25:22
[Yet] on that Day - the Day on which they shall see the angels"- there will be no glad tiding for those who were lost in sin; and they will exclaim, "By a forbidding ban [are we from God's grace debarred]!" –
(25:23) for We shall have turned towards all the [supposedly good] deeds
they ever wrought, and shall have transformed them into scattered dust –