WHAT GOD DOES NOT LIKE OR LOVE
2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِذَا
تَوَلَّى
سَعَى فِي الأَرْضِ
لِيُفْسِدَ
فِيِهَا وَيُهْلِكَ
الْحَرْثَ
وَالنَّسْلَ...
2: 205. When he turns his back, his aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and cattle.
يَمْحَقُ
اللّهُ
الْرِّبَا
وَيُرْبِي
الصَّدَقَاتِ...
2: 276. Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity:
Asad’s Version:
2:205 …But whenever he prevails, he goes about the earth spreading corruption and destroying (man’s) tilth and progeny: God does not love corruptoion.
2:276 For God does not love creatures ungrateful and wicked.
3. Sura al-Imran
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُلْ
أَطِيعُواْ
اللّهَ
وَالرَّسُولَ
...
3: 32. Say: "Obey Allah and His Messenger;"
وَأَمَّا
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا
وَعَمِلُواْ
الصَّالِحَاتِ
فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ
أُجُورَهُمْ
...
3: 57. "As to those who believe and work righteousness, Allah will pay them (in full) their reward;
وَلْتَكُن
مِّنكُمْ
أُمَّةٌ
يَدْعُونَ
إِلَى
الْخَيْرِ
وَيَأْمُرُونَ
بِالْمَعْرُوفِ
وَيَنْهَوْنَ
عَنِ
الْمُنكَرِ...
3: 104. Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong;
...وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٠٤﴾
they are the ones to attain felicity.
C431. Muflih, aflaha, falah: the root idea is;
- attainment of desires;
- happiness, in this world and the next;
- success;
- prosperity;
- freedom from anxiety, care, or a disturbed state of mind;
the opposite of 'azab in the next verse, which includes:
- failure;
- misery;
- punishment or penalty;
- agony or anguish.
The ideal Muslim community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united, and prosperous: because it invites to all that is good; enjoins the right; and forbids the wrong, -a master- stroke of description in three clauses.
Asad’s Version:
3:32 …God does not love those who deny the truth.(Asad)
3:32 God love not who reject faith.(Ali)
3: 57 ..for God does not love evildoers
3: 140 ….since God does not love evildoers.
4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاعْبُدُواْ
اللّهَ
وَلاَ
تُشْرِكُواْ
بِهِ
شَيْئًا...
4: 36. Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him:
C550. The essence of Islam is to serve Allah and do good to your fellow-creatures. This is wider and more comprehensive than "Love God and love your neighbour".
For it includes duties to animals as our fellow-creatures, and emphasises practical service rather than sentiment.
... وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى ...
and do good to;
- parents,
- kinsfolk,
- orphans,
- those in need,
- neighbors who are near,
C551. Neighbors who are near: that is, in local situation as well as intimate relationships, just as neighbors who are strangers includes those whom we do not know or who live away from us or in a different sphere altogether.
... وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ...
neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side,
the wayfarer (ye meet),
C552. The Companion by your side may be your intimate friends and associates, just as the way-farer you meet may be a casual acquaintance on your travels.
This last is much wider than the "stranger within your gate."
... وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ...
and what your right hands possess:
C553. What your right hands possess: For the meaning of the phrase see n. 537 above. (R).
... إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالاً فَخُورًا ﴿٣٦﴾
for Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;
C554. Real deeds of service and kindness proceed, not from showing off or from a superior sort of condescension (cf. "White Man's Burden"), but from a frank recognition of our own humility and the real claims, before Allah, of all our fellow-creatures.
For in our mutual needs we are equal before Allah, or perhaps the best of us (as the world sees us) may be worse than the worst of us (from the same point of view).
الَّذِينَ
يَبْخَلُونَ
وَيَأْمُرُونَ
النَّاسَ
بِالْبُخْلِ
وَيَكْتُمُونَ
مَا
آتَاهُمُ
اللّهُ
مِن
فَضْلِهِ...
4: 37. (Nor) those who are niggardly or enjoin niggardliness on others, or hide the bounties which Allah hath bestowed on them;
C555. Arrogance is one reason why our deeds of love and kindness do not thrive.
Another is niggardliness or selfishness.
Allah does not love either the one or the other, for they both proceed from want of love of Allah, or faith in Allah.
Niggardly is the worldly wise man who not only refuses to spend himself in service, but by example and precept prevents others from doing so, as otherwise he would be made odious by comparison, before his fellow-creatures. So he either makes a virtue of his caution, or hides the gifts which have been given him-wealth, position, talent, etc.
... وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا ﴿٣٧﴾
for We have prepared, for those who resist faith, a punishment that steeps them in contempt.
C556. Note how the punishment fits the crime.
The niggard holds other people in contempt, and in doing so, becomes himself contemptible.
وَالَّذِينَ
يُنفِقُونَ
أَمْوَالَهُمْ
رِئَـاء
النَّاسِ
وَلاَ
يُؤْمِنُونَ
بِاللّهِ
وَلاَ
بِالْيَوْمِ
الآخِرِ...
4: 38. (Nor) those who spend of their substance, to be seen of men, but have no faith in Allah and the Last Day:
C557. A fault opposed to niggardliness, and equally opposed to true Charity, is to spend lavishly to be seen of men.
It is mere hypocrisy: there is no love in it, either for Allah or for man.
... وَمَن يَكُنِ الشَّيْطَانُ لَهُ قَرِينًا فَسَاء قِرِينًا ﴿٣٨﴾
if any take the Evil One for their intimate, what a dreadful intimate he is!
وَلاَ
تُجَادِلْ
عَنِ
الَّذِينَ
يَخْتَانُونَ
أَنفُسَهُمْ...
4: 107. Contend not on behalf of such as betray their own souls:
C622. Own souls are a sort of trust with us. We have to guard them against all temptation. Those who surrender to crime or evil, betray that trust.
We are warned against being deceived into taking their part, induced either by plausible appearances, or by such incentives to partiality as that they belong to our own people or that some link connects them with us, whereas when we are out to do justice, we must not allow any irrelevant considerations to sway us.
... إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا ﴿١٠٧﴾
for Allah loveth not one given to perfidy and crime.
لاَّ
يُحِبُّ
اللّهُ
الْجَهْرَ
بِالسُّوَءِ
مِنَ
الْقَوْلِ
إِلاَّ
مَن
ظُلِمَ
...
4: 148. Allah loveth not that evil should be noised abroad in public speech, except where injustice hath been done;
C654. We can make a public scandal of evil in many ways.
1. It may be idle sensation-mongering:
it often leads to more evil by imitation, as where criminal deeds are glorified in a cinema, or talked about shamelessly in a novel or drama.
2. It may be malicious gossip of a foolish, personal kind:
it does no good, but it hurts people's feelings.
3. it may be malevolent slander or libel:
it is intended deliberately to cause harm to people's reputation or injure them in other ways, and is rightly punishable under all laws.
4. It may be a public rebuke or correction or remonstrance, without malice.
1, 2 and 3 are absolutely forbidden.
4 may be by a person in authority; in which case the exception applies, for all wrong or injustice must be corrected openly, to prevent its recurrence. Or
4 may be a person not vested with authority, but acting either from motives of public spirit, or in order to help some one who has been wronged; here again the exception will apply. But if the motive is different, the exception does not apply.
4 would also include a public complaint by a person who has suffered a wrong; he has every right to seek public redress.
... وَكَانَ اللّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا ﴿١٤٨﴾
for Allah is He who heareth and knoweth all things.
Asad’s Version:
4: 36, 37 ….Verily, God does not love any of those who , full of self-conceit, act in a boastful manner; [nor] those who are niggardly, and bid others to be niggardly, an conceal whatever God has bestowed upon them out of His bounty; and so We have readied shameful suffering for all who thus deny the truth.
4: 38 And [God does not love] those who spend their possessions on others [only] to be seen and praised by men, the while they believe neither in God nor in the Last Day; and he who has Satan for a soul-mate , how evil a soul-mate has he!
4: 107, 108 Yet do not argue in behalf of those who are false to their own selves: verily, God does not love those who betray their trust and persist in sinful ways. They would conceal their doings from men; but from God they cannot conceal them – for He is with them whenever they devise, in the dark of night, all manner of beliefs which He does not approve. And God indeed encompasses [with His knowledge] whatever they do. Asad
4:107 …For God loveth not one given to perfidy and crime;
4 :148 God loveth not that evil should be noised abroad on public speech, except where injustice hath been done;
( All wrong or injustice must be corrected openly, to prevent its recurrence. )
5. Surah Al-Ma'idah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَالَتِ
الْيَهُودُ
يَدُ اللّهِ
مَغْلُولَةٌ
...
5: 64. The Jews say: "Allah's hand is tied up."
C772. Cf. 5:12. and 2:245, for a "beautiful loan to Allah",
and 3:181, for the blasphemous taunt, "Then Allah is poor!" It is another form of the taunt to say, "Then Allah's hands are tied up. He is close-fisted. He does not give!"
This blasphemy is repudiated. On the contrary, boundless is Allah's bounty, and He gives, as it were, with both hands outstretched,-a figure of speech for unbounded liberality.
... غُلَّتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَلُعِنُواْ بِمَا قَالُواْ ...
Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter.
... بَلْ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِ يُنفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشَاء ...
Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth.
... وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا...
But the revelation that cometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy.
C773. Their jealousy-because Al-Mustafa is chosen for Allah's Message-is so great that it only confirms and strengthens their rebellion and blasphemy.
... وَأَلْقَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاء إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ...
Amongst them We have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment.
C774. Cf. 5:14. where the eternal warring of the Christian sects, among themselves and against the Jews, is referred to.
The reference is to the whole of the People of the Book, Jews and Christians-their internal squabbles and their external disputes, quarrels, and wars.
... كُلَّمَا أَوْقَدُواْ نَارًا لِّلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا اللّهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا...
Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth.
C775. The argument of the whole verse may be thus stated.
The Jews blaspheme and mock, and because of their jealousy, the more they are taught, the more obstinate they become in their rebellion.
But what good will it do to them?
Their selfishness and spite sow quarrels among themselves, which will not be healed till the Day of Judgment.
When they stir up wars, especially against the innocent. Allah's Mercy is poured down like a flood of water to extinguish them. But their wickedness continues to devise ever new mischief.
And Allah loves not mischief or those who do mischief.
... وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٦٤﴾
And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.
يَا
أَيُّهَا
الرَّسُولُ
بَلِّغْ مَا
أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ
مِن رَّبِّكَ...
5: 67. O Messenger! proclaim the (Message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord.
C777. Muhammad had many difficulties to contend with, many enemies and dangers to avoid.
Hi; mission must be fulfilled. And he must-as he did-go forward and proclaim that Message and fulfil his mission, trusting to Allah for protection, and unconcerned if people who had lost all sense of right rejected it or threatened him.
... وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ...
If thou didst not, thou wouldst not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission:
... وَاللّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ...
and Allah will defend thee from men (who mean mischief).
... إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٦٧﴾
For Allah guideth not those who reject Faith.
يَا
أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ لاَ
تُحَرِّمُواْ
طَيِّبَاتِ
مَا أَحَلَّ
اللّهُ
لَكُمْ وَلاَ
تَعْتَدُواْ...
5: 87. O ye who believe!
make not unlawful the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you,
but commit no excess:
C791. In pleasures that are good and lawful the crime is excess. There is no merit merely in abstention or asceticism, though the humility or unselfishness that may go with asceticism may have its value.
In 5:82, Christian monks are praised for particular virtues, though here and elsewhere monasticism is disapproved of.
Use Allah's gifts of all kinds with gratitude, but excess is not approved of by Allah.
... إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾
for Allah loveth not those given to excess.
وَكُلُواْ
مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ
اللّهُ حَلاَلاً
طَيِّبًا...
5: 88. Eat of the things which Allah hath provided for you, lawful and good:
... وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِيَ أَنتُم بِهِ مُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾
but fear Allah, in Whom ye believe.
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا
الْخَمْرُ
وَالْمَيْسِرُ
...
5: 90. O ye who believe!
- intoxicants and gambling,
C793. Cf. 2:219, and notes 240 and 241.
... وَالأَنصَابُ ...
- (dedication of) stones,
C794. Cf. 5:3.
The stones there referred to were stone altars or stone columns on which oil was poured for consecration, or slabs on which meat was sacrificed to idols. Any idolatrous or superstitious practices are here condemned.
The ansab were objects of worship, and were common in Arabia before Islam.
See Renan, "History of Israel", Chapter 6, and Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum. Part 1. p. 154: Illustrations Nos. 123 and 123 bis are Phoenician columns of that kind, found in Malta.
... وَالأَزْلاَمُ ...
- and (divination by) arrows,
C795. Cf. 5:3.
The arrows there referred to were used for the division of meat by a sort of lottery or rate.
But arrows were also used for divination, i.e., for ascertaining lucky or unlucky moments, or learning the wishes of the heathen gods, as to whether men should undertake certain actions or not. All superstitions are condemned.
... رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ...
are an abomination, of Satan's handiwork:
... فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٩٠﴾
eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.
5: 64 .......And so We have cast enmity and hatred among the followers of the Bible(see
Asad note 82, meant here are those who are hypocrite and not true followers of the Books) until Resurrection Day; every time they light the fires of war, God extinguishes them; and they labor hard to spread corruption on earth: and God does not love the spreaders of corruption.
5 :67 And God loveth not those who do mischief.
5: 87 Asad O you who have attained to faith! Do Not derive yourselves of the good things of life which God has made lawful to you [note 100], but do not transgress the bounds of what is right: verily, God does not love those who transgress the bounds of what is right.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Forbid not the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you, and transgress not. Lo! Allah loveth not transgressors.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ la_ tuharrimu_ tayyiba_ti ma_ ahallalla_hu lakum wa la_ ta'tadu_, innalla_ha la_ yuhibbul mu'tadin(a).
[[ Ali’s note - 791 In pleasures that are good and lawful the crime is excess. There is no merit merely in abstention or asceticism, though the humility or unselfishness that may go with asceticism may have its value. In v. 82, Christian monks are praised for particular virtues, though here and elsewhere monasticism is disapproved of. Use Allah's gifts of all kinds with gratitude, but excess is not approved of by Allah. (5.87) ]]
[[ Asad’s note 100 – Most of the commentators ……….explain the expression ‘la tuharrimu (lit., “do not forbid” or “do not declare as forbidden”) in the sense given by me above, and take it to refer to the self-mortification practiced, in particular, by Christians priests and monks……………]]
[[ Ruby’s note – I disagree with the above explanation. There are good references about the piety about the Christian monks as well [see 5:82]. However, this could be true about the doctrine of celibacy and other austerity the monks practice that is in excess. Islam commands to celebrate life within the boundary set by moral law of God. Conjugal life and other enjoyments are all part of that celebration of life that is God gifted to humankind. No one should short change life on the beautiful things God has provided a human to enjoy. This is the trust of the meaning I understood and it is general. There is no specific implication towards the Christian monks here because the context is confirming that as well.]]
5: 88
Asad Thus, partake of the lawful, good things which God grants you as sustenance, and be conscious of God, in whom you believe.
Pickthall Eat of that which Allah hath bestowed on you as food lawful and good, and keep your duty to Allah in Whom ye are believers.
Transliteration Wa kulu_ mimma_ razaqakumulla_hu hala_lan tayyiba_(w), wattaqulla_hal lazi antum bihi mu'minu_n(a).
5: 90 … for God loveth not those given to excess.
7. Sura al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
ادْعُواْ
رَبَّكُمْ
تَضَرُّعًا
وَخُفْيَةً...
7: 55. Call on your Lord with humility and in private:
C1033. In prayer, we must avoid any arrogance or show or loudness, or vanity of requests or words.
If excess is condemned in all things, it is specially worthy of condemnation when we go humbly before our Lord,-we poor creatures before the Omnipotent Who knoweth all.
...إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ ﴿٥٥﴾
for Allah loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds.
Asad’s Version:
7: 55 for God loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds.
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
الَّذِينَ عَاهَدتَّ
مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ
يَنقُضُونَ
عَهْدَهُمْ
فِي كُلِّ
مَرَّةٍ...
8: 56. They are those with whom thou didst make a Covenant, but they break their covenant every time
C1224. The immediate occasion was the repeated treachery of the BanuQuraiza after their treaties with the Muslims. But the general lesson remains, as noted in the two following verses.
Treachery in war is doubly wrong, for it endangers so many lives. Such treachery should be punished in such a way that it gets no chance again. Not only the actual perpetrators but those who follow their standard should be rendered powerless.
And the broken treaty should be denounced so that the innocent party can at least fight on equal terms.
From actual physical warfare we can carry the same lesson to spiritual warfare. A truce or understanding is possible with those who respect definite principles, not with those who have no principles and are merely out for oppression and wickedness.
...وَهُمْ لاَ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٥٦﴾
and they have not the fear (of Allah).
فَإِمَّا
تَثْقَفَنَّهُمْ
فِي الْحَرْبِ
فَشَرِّدْ بِهِم
مَّنْ خَلْفَهُمْ
لَعَلَّهُمْ
يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿٥٧﴾
8: 57. If ye gain the mastery over them in war, disperse, with them, those who follow them, that they may remember.
C1224a. The purpose of the verse is to urge Muslims to act against their enemies described above with a severity and resoluteness which would serve as a deterrent to other enemies of Islam who might be inclined to follow their example and act treacherously towards Muslims. (Eds.).
وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ
مِن قَوْمٍ
خِيَانَةً
فَانبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ
عَلَى سَوَاء...
8: 58. If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms:
...إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الخَائِنِينَ ﴿٥٨﴾
for Allah loveth not the treacherous.
Asad’s Version:
8 : 58 For God loveth not the trecherous.
8: 56 They are those with whom you did make a covenant, but they break their covenant every time, and they have not the fear [of God].
8: 57 If you gain the mastery over them in war, disperse, with them, those who follow them, that they may remember.
8: 58 If you fear treachery from any group, throw back [their covenant] to them, on equal terms: for God love not the treacherous.
9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
سَيَحْلِفُونَ
بِاللّهِ لَكُمْ
إِذَا انقَلَبْتُمْ
إِلَيْهِمْ
لِتُعْرِضُواْ
عَنْهُمْ ...
9: 95. They will swear to you by Allah, when ye return to them, that ye may leave them alone.
... فَأَعْرِضُواْ عَنْهُمْ ...
So leave them alone:
... إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ ...
For they are an abomination,
... وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاء بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٩٥﴾
and Hell is their dwelling place, a fitting recompense for the (evil) that they did.
Asad’s Version:
9: 95 God is not pleased with those who disobey.
16.Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
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.
Asad’s Version:
16: 23 …Verily He loveth not the arrogant.
22 : 38 ….Verily, God loveth not any that is a traitor to faith , or shows ingratitude
28:76, 77, 30 : 45, 31 : 18 …. For God loveth not any arrogant boaster.
39 : 7 …but He liketh not ingratitude from His senvants : if you are grateful He is pleased with you. 42 : 40
57: 23 ….for God does not love any of those who , out of self-conceit, act in a boastful manner - those hwo are niggardly with God's bounty and bid others to be niggardly. 57: 24 Such persons as are covetous and command covetousness to men,…