6. [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَوْمَ يِحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ قَدِ اسْتَكْثَرْتُم مِّنَ الإِنسِ...

6: 128. One day will He gather them all together, (and say):

"O ye assembly of Jinns! much (toll) did ye take of men."

C949. Jinns are spirits -here evil spirits.

See 6:100, n. 929.

...وَقَالَ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُم مِّنَ الإِنسِ ...

Their friends amongst men will say:

... رَبَّنَا اسْتَمْتَعَ بَعْضُنَا بِبَعْضٍ وَبَلَغْنَا أَجَلَنَا الَّذِيَ أَجَّلْتَ لَنَا ...

"Our Lord! we made profit from each other: but (alas!) we reached our term -- which Thou didst appoint for us."

C950. It is common experience that the forces of evil make an alliance with each other, and seem thus to make a profit by their mutual log-rolling.

But this is only in this material world. When the limited term expires, their unholy bargains will be exposed, and there will be nothing but regrets.

...قَالَ النَّارُ مَثْوَاكُمْ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا إِلاَّ مَا شَاء اللّهُ...

He will say:

"The fire be your dwelling-place you will dwell therein for ever, except as Allah willeth."

C951. Eternity and infinity are abstract terms. They have no precise meaning in our human experience.

The qualification, "except as Allah willeth," makes it more intelligible, as we can form some idea -however inadequate- of a Will and Plan, and we know Allah by His attribute of Mercy as well as of Justice.

...إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَليمٌ ﴿١٢٨﴾

For thy Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge.

وَكَذَلِكَ نُوَلِّي بَعْضَ الظَّالِمِينَ بَعْضًا بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿١٢٩﴾

6: 129. Thus do We make the wrongdoers turn to each other, because of what they earn.

C952. See n. 950 above.

Evil consorts with evil because of their mutual bargains. But in doing so they save the righteous from further temptation.

Others version:

6: 128

Asad And on that day when He shall gather them [all] together, [He will say:] “O you who have lived in close communion with [evil] invisible beings! A great many [other] human beings have you ensnared [note 112]! And those of the humans who were close to them [note 113] will say: “O our Sustainer! We did enjoy one another’s fellowship [in life]; but [now that] we have reached the end of our term – the term which You have laid down for us – [we see the error of our ways]!” [But] He will say: “The fire shall be your abode, there to abide – unless God wills it otherwise.” [note 114]. Verily, your Sustainer is wise, all-knowing.

Yusuf Ali One day will He gather them all together (and say): "O ye assembly of Jinns! much (toll) did ye take of men." Their friends amongst men will say: "Our Lord! we made profit from each other: but (alas!) we reached our term which Thou didst appoint for us." He will say: "The fire be your dwelling-place you will dwell therein for ever except as Allah wills." For thy Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge.

Pickthall In the day when He will gather them together (He will say): O ye assembly of the jinn! Many of humankind did ye seduce. And their adherents among humankind will say: Our Lord! We enjoyed one another, but now we have arrived at the appointed term which Thou appointedst for us. He will say: Fire is your home. Abide therein for ever, save him whom Allah wills (to deliver). Lo! thy Lord is Wise, Aware.

Transliteration Wa yauma yahsyuruhum jami'a_(n), ya_ ma'syaral jinni qadistaksartum minal ins(i), wa qa_la auliya_'uhum minal insi rabban_stamta'a ba'duna_ bi ba'diw wa balagna_ ajalanal lazi ajjalta lana_, qa_lan na_ru maswa_kum kha_lidina fiha_ illa_ ma_ sya_'alla_h(u), inna rabbaka hakimun 'alim(un).

6: 129

Asad And in this manner do We cause evildoers to seduce one another [note 115] by means of heir [evil] doings.

Yusuf Ali Thus do We make the wrong-doers turn to each other because of what they earn.

Pickthall Thus We let some of the wrong-doers have power over others because of what they are wont to earn.

Transliteration Wa kaza_lika nuwalli ba'daz za_limina ba'dam bima_ ka_nu_ yaksibu_n(a).

[[ Ruby’s Note – I would like to agree with the Asad’s following rendition except that God is saying that He would “gather together” and addressing the Jinns and thus giving them the status of individualities or beings and not forces of inclinations or ideas.]]

[[ Asad’s note 112- According to most of the commentators, the invisible beings (al-jinn) referred to here are the “evil forces” (shayatin) among them, such as are spoken of in verse 112 of this surah. it is generally assumed that these very beings or forces are addressed here; but the primary meaning of the term “ma’shar” appealing in this context warrants, in my opinion, a different conclusion. It is true that this term is often used to denote a group or community or genus of sentient beings which have certain characteristics in common: ……….But it is precisely this verbal origin of the term “ma shar” which gives us a clue as to what is really meant here……Thus to my mind, the allocution “ya ma shar al-jinn” does not dente “….the community of [evil] invisible beings” but, rather, “…who are …in close communion with [evil] invisible beings”: in other words, its is addressed to the misguided “human” beings who have been seduced by “glittering half-truths meant to delude the mind” (verse 112)…….

Note 115 – Lit., “to be close to one another”, or “get hold of one another”. The expression “in this manner” (kadhalika), which introduces the above sentence, is an obvious allusion to the manner in which the evil ones “whisper unto one another glittering half-truths meant to delude the mind’ (verse 112 of this surah).]]

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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.

لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ...   

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).

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[26 ash-Shuara, Mecca 47]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَوَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ آيَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُ عُلَمَاء بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ﴿١٩٧﴾

26: 197. Is it not a Sign to them that the learned of the Children of Israel knew it (as true)?

C3227. Many of the Jewish Doctors recognised the holy Prophet's Message as a Message from Allah, e.g., 'Abdullah ibn Salam and Mukhairiq.

The latter was a man of property, which he left for Islam.

(There were also Christian monks and learned men who recognised the Prophet's mission.)

وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَاهُ عَلَى بَعْضِ الْأَعْجَمِينَ ﴿١٩٨﴾

26: 198. Had We revealed it to any of the non-Arabs,

فَقَرَأَهُ عَلَيْهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ مُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٩٩﴾

26: 199. And had he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.

C3228. The turn of Arabia having come for receiving Allah's Revelation, as was foretold in previous Revelations, it was inevitable that it should be in the Arab tongue through the mouth of an Arab. Otherwise it would have been unintelligible, and the Arabs could not have received the Faith and become the vehicles for its promulgation as actually happened in history.

كَذَلِكَ سَلَكْنَاهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٢٠٠﴾

26: 200. Thus have We caused it to enter the hearts of the Sinners.

C3229. "Thus" I think means through the medium of the Arabic language and the Arab people.

The Quran penetrated through their language and their hearts. If the hard- hearted among them did not believe, they will see when the Penalty comes, how grievous a mistake they made. For the Penalty must come; even when they least expected it.

They will be caught saying or thinking, "There is plenty of time; we can get another respite," when already it will have become too late for them to turn over a new leaf.

Asad’s Version:

26:197

Is it not evidence enough for them 84 that [so many] learned men from among the children of Israel have recognized this [as true]? 85

(26:198) But [even] had We bestowed it from on high upon any of the non- Arabs,

(26: 199) and had he recited it unto them [in his own tonguej, they would not have believed in it. 86

26:200 Thus have We caused this [message] to pass [unheeded] through the hearts of those who are lost in sin:

كَذَلِكَ سَلَكْنَاهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٢٠٠﴾

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Obsessed with desires of this life

45 Al-Jathiyah (Kneeling Down)

Mecca Period 65

Asad’s Version:

45:23 HAST THOU ever considered [the kind of man) who makes his own desires his deity, and whom God has [thereupon] let go astray, knowing [that his mind is closed to all guidance], 24 and whose hearing and heart He has sealed, and upon whose sight He has placed a veil? 25 Who, then, could guide him after God [has abandoned him]? Will you not, then, bethink yourselves?

45:24 And yet they say: "There is nothing beyond our life in this world. We die as we come to life, 26 and nothing but time destroys us." But of this they have no knowledge whatever: they do nothing but guess. (45:25) And [so,) whenever Our messages are conveyed to them in all their clarity, their only argument is this: 27 "Bring forth our forefathers [as witnesses), if what you claim is true!" 28

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَهَهُ هَوَاهُ ...

45:23. Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire?

C4761. If a man follows, not the laws of Allah, which are also the laws of his own pure nature as made by Allah, but the desires of his own distorted self, as shaped by the rebellion of his will, the inevitable consequence will be the withdrawal of Allah's grace and guidance. All his faculties will then be debased, and there will be nothing to guide him, unless he turns in repentance again to Allah.

... وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ...

Allah has, knowing (him as such), left him astray,

...وَخَتَمَ عَلَى سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَى بَصَرِهِ...

and sealed His hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a cover on his sight.

C4762. Cf. 2:7 and notes.

...غِشَاوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ اللَّهِ ....

Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn Guidance)?

.. أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾

Will ye not then receive admonition?