9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلاَ تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَأَوْلاَدُهُمْ...   

9: 85.  Nor let their wealth nor their (following in) sons Dazzle thee:

...إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾

Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls may perish in their (very) denial of Allah.

C1338. Except for the omission of a single word ("life"), this verse repeats verse 55 above. But the repetition indicates the harmonious closing of the same argument in two aspects.

-        In 9:55 it occurred in connection with the reasons for refusing to receive the contributions of such persons to the expenses of an enterprise which though vital to Islam's defence was secretly opposed by such persons.

-        Here (in 9:85) it is a question of refusing to participate in the obsequies of such persons after their death: it is natural to omit the word "life" in this case.

Asad’s Version:

9: 85 And let not their worldly goods and [the happiness which they may derive from] their children excite thy admiration: God but wants to chastise them by these means in [the life of] this world, and [to cause] their souls to depart while they are [still] denying the truth [note 118]

Pickthall’s Version:

9: 85 Let not their wealth nor their children please thee! Allah purposeth only to punish them thereby in the world, and that their souls shall pass away while they are disbelievers.

Transliteration Wa la_ tu'jibka amwa_luhum wa la_ aula_duhum, innama_ yuridulla_hu ay yu'azzibahum biha_ fid dunya_ wa tazhaqa anfusuhum wa hum ka_firu_n(a).

[[ Asad’s note 118 – Cf. 3:178 and 8:28, as well as the corresponding notes. This (almost literal) repetition of verse 55 above is meant to stress the psychological importance of this problem (Zamakhshari) – namely, the insignificance of worldly happiness as compared with spiritual righteousness or the absence of it.]]

[[ Ali’s note - 1338 Except for the omission of a single word ("life"), this verse repeats verse 55 above. But the repetition indicates the harmonious closing of the same argument in two aspects. In ix. 55 it occurred in connection with the reasons for refusing to receive the contributions of such persons to the expenses of an enterprise which though vital to Islam's defense was secretly opposed by such persons. Here (in ix. 85) it is a question of refusing to participate in the obsequies of such persons after their death: it is natural to omit the word "life" in this case. (9.85) ]]