8. Surah al-Anfal
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ لاَ
تَخُونُواْ
اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ...
8: 27. O ye that believe!
betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger,
...وَتَخُونُواْ أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٧﴾
nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.
C1200. Trusts may be of various kinds:
- property, goods, credit, etc.;
- plans, confidences, secrets, etc.;
- knowledge, talents, opportunities, etc.,
which we are expected to use for our fellowmen.
Men may betray the trust of Allah and His Prophet by misusing property, or abusing the confidence reposed in them, or the knowledge or talents given to them. On that special occasion, when the plans for the protection of Allah's worshippers against annihilation were of special importance, the Prophet's trust and confidence had to be guarded with special care.
Occasions for scrupulously respecting the trust and confidence of our fellow-men occur every day in our life, and few of us can claim perfection in this respect. Hence the special distinction of the Prophet of Allah, who earned the title of Al-Amin, the one who was true to every trust reposed in him.
وَاعْلَمُواْ
أَنَّمَا
أَمْوَالُكُمْ
وَأَوْلاَدُكُمْ
فِتْنَةٌ...
8: 28. And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial;
C1201. A big family-many sons-was considered a source of power and strength: 3:10, 116.
So in English, a man with many children is said to have his "quiver full":
Cf. Psalms, 127:4-5:
"As arrows are in the hands of a mighty man, so are the children of thy youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
So with property and possessions: they add to a man's dignity, power, and influence. But both possessions and a large family are a temptation and a trial. They may turn out to be a source of spiritual downfall, if they are mishandled, or if the love of them excludes the love of Allah.
...وَأَنَّ اللّهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٢٨﴾
and that it is Allah with whom lies your highest reward.
8: 27
Asad [Hence] O you who have attained to faith, do not be false to God and the Apostle, and do not knowingly be false to the trust that has been reposed in you [ note 27]
Pickthall O ye who believe! Betray not Allah and His messenger, nor knowingly betray your trusts.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ la_ takhu_nulla_ha war rasu_la wa takhu_nu_ ama_na_tikum wa antum ta'lamu_n(a).
8: 28
Asad and know that your worldly goods and your children are but a trial and a temptation, and that with God there is a tremendous reward [note 28].
Pickthall And know that your possessions and your children are a test, and that with Allah is immense reward.
Transliteration Wa'lamu_ annama_ amwa_lukum wa aula_dukum fitnah(tuw), wa annalla_ha 'indahu_ ajrun'azim(un).
[[ Ali’s notes -
1200 Trusts may be of various kinds: (1) property, goods, credit, etc.; (2) plans, confidences, secrets, etc.; (3) knowledge, talents, opportunities, etc., which we are expected to use for our fellowmen. Men may betray the trust of Allah and His Prophet by misusing property, or abusing the confidence reposed in them, or the knowledge or talents given to them. On that special occasion, when the plans for the protection of Allah's worshippers against annihilation were of special importance, the Prophet's trust and confidence had to be guarded with special care. Occasions for scrupulously respecting the trust and confidence of our fellow-men occur every day in our life, and few of us can claim perfection in this respect. Hence the special distinction of the Prophet of Allah, who earned the title of Al-Amin, the one who was true to every trust reposed in him. (8.27)
1201 A big family-many sons-was considered a source of power and strength: iii. 10, 116. So in English, a man with many children is said to have his "quiver full": Cf. Psalms, cxxvii. 4-5: "As arrows are in the hands of a mighty man, so are the children of thy youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." So with property and possessions: they add to a man's dignity, power, and influence. But both possessions and a large family are a temptation and a trial. They may turn out to be a source of spiritual downfall, if they are mishandled, or if the love of them excludes the love of Allah. (8.28) ]]
[[ Asad’s note 27 – Lit., “do not be false to your trusts, the while you know”. Regarding the deeper meaning of “amanah” (“trust”), see note 87 on 33:72.]