5. Surah Al-Ma'idah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّمَا
جَزَاء الَّذِينَ
يُحَارِبُونَ
اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ
وَيَسْعَوْنَ
فِي الأَرْضِ
فَسَادًا...
5: 33. The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is:
C738. For the double crime of treason against the State, combined with treason against Allah, as shown by overt crimes, four alternative punishments are mentioned, any one of which is to be applied according to the crime committed, viz.,
- execution (cutting off of the head),
- crucifixion,
- maiming, or
- exile.
These were features of the Criminal Law then and for centuries afterwards, except that tortures such as "hanging, drawing, and quartering" in English Law, and piercing of eyes and leaving the unfortunate victim exposed to a tropical sun, which was practised in Arabia, and all such tortures were abolished.
In any case sincere repentance before it was too late was recognised as a ground for mercy.
... أَن يُقَتَّلُواْ أَوْ يُصَلَّبُواْ أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ ...
execution, or crucifixion, of the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides,
C739. Understood to mean the right hand and the left foot.
... أَوْ يُنفَوْاْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ...
or exile from the land:
... ذَلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْيٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٣٣﴾
that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.
إِلاَّ
الَّذِينَ
تَابُواْ مِن
قَبْلِ أَن
تَقْدِرُواْ
عَلَيْهِمْ
...
5: 34. Except for those who repent before they fall into your power:
... فَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٣٤﴾
in that case, know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
يَا
أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ ...
5: 35. O ye who believe!
... اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَابْتَغُواْ إِلَيهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ ...
do your duty to Allah, seek the means of approach unto Him,
C740. Taqwa here too might be translated "fear of Allah", but the very next clause shows that "fear of Allah" does not mean "fear" in the ordinary sense, which would make you avoid the object of fear.
On the contrary the "fear of Allah" is the intense desire to avoid everything that is against His Will and Law.
It is in fact duty to Allah, for we are told to seek ardently the means by which we may approach Him, and that can only be done by striving with might and main for His cause.
... وَجَاهِدُواْ فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾
and strive with might and main in His cause: that ye may prosper.
C741. "Prosper" in the real sense, for that is all that matters, as the life of this world is brief and fleeting, and of small account as against Eternity.
5: 33
Asad It is but a just recompense for those who make war on God and his apostle [note 43], and endeavor to spread corruption on earth, that they are being slain in great numbers, or their perverseness, their hands and feet cut off in great numbers [note 44], or are being [entirely] banished form [the face of] the earth: such is their ignominy in this world [note 45]. But in the life to come [yet more] awesome suffering awaits them -
Pickthall The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom;
Transliteration Innama_ jaza_'ul lazina yuha_ribu_nalla_ha wa rasu_laha_ wa yas'auna fil ardi fasa_dan ay yuqattala_ au yusallabu_ au tuqatta'a aidihim wa arjuluhum min khila_fin au yunfau minal ard(i), zua_lika lahum khizyun fid dunya_ wa lahum fil a_khirati 'aza_bun'azim(un).
5: 34
Asad save for such [of them] as repent ere you [O believers] become more powerful than they [note 46]: for you must know that God is much- forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
Pickthall Save those who repent before ye overpower them. For know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Transliteration Illal lazina ta_bu_ min qabli an taqdiru_ 'alaihim, fa'lamu_ annalla_ha gafu_rur rahim(un).
5: 35
Pickthall O ye who believe! Be mindful of your duty to Allah, and seek the way of approach unto Him, and strive in His way in order that ye may succeed.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manuttaqulla_ha wabtagu_ ilaihil wasilata wa ja_hidu_ fi sabilihi la'allakum tuflihu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note
[[ Ali’s notes - 738 For the double crime of treason against the State, combined with treason against Allah, as shown by overt crimes, four alternative punishments are mentioned, any one of which is to be applied according to the crime committed, viz., execution (cutting off of the head), crucifixion, maiming, or exile. These were features of the Criminal Law then and for centuries afterwards, except that tortures such as "hanging, drawing, and quartering" in English Law, and piercing of eyes and leaving the unfortunate victim exposed to a tropical sun, which was practised in Arabia, and all such tortures were abolished. In any case sincere repentance before it was too late was recognised as a ground for mercy. (5.33)
739 Understood to mean the right hand and the left foot. (5.33)
740 Taqwa here too might be translated "fear of Allah", but the very next clause shows that "fear of Allah" does not mean "fear" in the ordinary sense, which would make you avoid the object of fear. On the contrary the "fear of Allah" is the intense desire to avoid everything that is against His Will and Law. It is in fact duty to Allah, for we are told to seek ardently the means by which we may approach Him, and that can only be done by striving with might and main for His cause. (5.35)
741 "Prosper" in the real sense, for that is all that matters, as the life of this world is brief and fleeting, and of small account as against Eternity. (5.35) ]]
8. Surah Al Anfal
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ
الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ
يُنفِقُونَ
أَمْوَالَهُمْ
لِيَصُدُّواْ
عَن سَبِيلِ
اللّهِ...
8: 36. The unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the path of Allah,
...فَسَيُنفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةً ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَ...
and so will they continue to spend;
but in the end they will have (only) regrets and sighs;
at length they will be overcome:
...وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾
and the unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell.
لِيَمِيزَ
اللّهُ الْخَبِيثَ
مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ ...
8: 37. In order that Allah may separate the impure from the pure,
C1206. It is only when matters are brought to an issue that evil is separated distinctly from the good. Then evil consorts with evil, and good with good.
The evil will be piled into a heap. When the cup is full, the punishment will come. There will be no mistake about it.
The good should not be discouraged, because in fighting against them, all forces of evil join together and pool their resources together. The more they do so, the easier is the final arbitrament. It is all in Allah's Plan.
... وَيَجْعَلَ الْخَبِيثَ بَعْضَهُ عَلَىَ بَعْضٍ...
put the impure, one on another,
...فَيَرْكُمَهُ جَمِيعاً فَيَجْعَلَهُ فِي جَهَنَّمَ...
heap them together, and cast them into hell.
...أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾
They will be the ones to have lost.
قُل لِلَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ إِن
يَنتَهُواْ
يُغَفَرْ لَهُم
مَّا قَدْ
سَلَفَ...
8: 38. Say to the unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from unbelief), their past would be forgiven them;
...وَإِنْ يَعُودُواْ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّةُ الأَوَّلِينِ ﴿٣٨﴾
but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ
حَتَّى لاَ
تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
وَيَكُونَ
الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ
لِلّه...
8: 39. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere;
...فَإِنِ انتَهَوْاْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿٣٩﴾
but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.
C1208. If they cease from fighting and from the persecution of truth, Allah judges then by their actions and their motives, and would not wish that they should be harassed with further hostility.
But if they refuse all terms, the righteous have nothing to fear: Allah will help and protect them.
Others version:
8: 36
Asad Behold, those who are bent on denying the truth are spending their riches in order to turn others away from the path of God: and they will go on spending them until they become [a source of ] intense regret for them; and then they will be overcome! And those who [until their death] have denied the truth shall be gathered unto hell,
Pickthall Lo! those who disbelieve spend their wealth in order that they may debar (men) from the way of Allah. They will spend it, then it will become an anguish for them, then they will be conquered. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto hell,
Transliteration Innal lazina kafaru_ yunfiqu_na amwa_lahum liyasuddu_ 'an sabililla_h(i), fa sayunfiqu_naha_ summa taku_nu 'alaihim hasratan summa yuglabu_n(a), wallazina kafaru_ ila_ jahannama yuhsyaru_n(a).
8: 37
Asad so that God might separate the bad from the good, and join the bad with one another, and link them all together and place them in hell. They, they are the lost!
Pickthall That Allah may separate the wicked from the good. The wicked will He place piece upon piece, and heap them all together, and consign them unto hell. Such verily are the losers.
Transliteration Liyamizalla_hul khabisa minat tayyibi wa yaj'alal khabisa ba'dahu_ 'ala_ ba'din fa yarkumahu_ jami'an fa yaj'alahu_ fi jahannam(a), ula_'ika humul kha_siru_n(a).
8: 38
Pickthall Tell those who disbelieve that if they cease (from persecution of believers) that which is past will be forgiven them; but if they return (thereto) then the example of the men of old hath already gone (before them, for a warning).
Transliteration Qul lillazina kafaru_ iy yantahu_ yugfar lahum ma_ qad salaf(a), wa iy ya'u_du_ fa qad madat sunnatul awwalin(a).
8: 39
Asad And fight against them until there is no more oppression and all worship is devoted to God alone [note 39]. And if they desist – behold, God sees all that they do [note 40];
Pickthall And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do.
Transliteration Wa qa_tilu_hum hatta_ la_ taku_na fitnatuw wa yaku_nad dinu kulluhu_ lilla_h(i), fa inintahau fa innalla_ha bima_ ya'malu_na basir(un).
[[ Asad’s note 39 – I.e., until man is free to worship God. Cf. the identical phrase in 2:193, and the corresponding note. Both these passages stressed self-defense – in the widest sense of this word – as the only justification of war.]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1207 Cf. ii. 193 and n. (8.39)
1208 If they cease from fighting and from the persecution of truth, Allah judges then by their actions and their motives, and would not wish that they should be harassed with further hostility. But if they refuse all terms, the righteous have nothing to fear: Allah will help and protect them. (8.39) ]]