The Twenty-Ninth Surah

Al-'Ankabut (The Spider)

Period Uncertain

In The Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace:

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

29:1. Alif Lam Mim.

C3422. For these Abbreviated Letters see n. 25 to 2:1.

We are asked to contrast, in our present life the real inner life against the outer life, and learn from the past about the struggles of the soul which upholds Allah's Truth, against the environment of evil, which resists it, and to turn our thoughts to the Ma'ad, or man's future destiny in the Hereafter.

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا...

29: 2. Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe,"

C3423. Mere lip profession of Faith is not enough. It must be tried and tested in the real turmoil of life.

The test will be applied in all kinds of circumstances, in individual life and in relation to the environment around us, to see whether we can strive constantly and put Allah above Self.

Much pain, sorrow, and self-sacrifice may be necessary, not because they are good in themselves, but because they will purify us, like fire applied to a goldsmith's crucible to burn out the dross.

...وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾

and that they will not be tested?

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ...

29:3. We did test those before them,

...فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٣﴾

and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.

C3424. The word "know" is used here more in the sense of testing than of acquiring knowledge.

Allah is All-Knowing: He needs no test to increase His own knowledge, but the test is to burn out the dross within ourselves, as explained in the last note.

Asad’s Version:

29:1

Alif Lam. Mim. 1

DO MEN THINK that on their [mere] saying, "We have attained to faith", they will be left to themselves, and will not be put to a test?

(29:3) Yea, indeed, We did test those who lived before them; and so, [too, shall be tested the people now living: and] most certainly will God mark out those who prove themselves true, and most certainly will He mark out those who are lying. 2