59. Surah Al-Hashr
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا
اللَّهَ ...
59:18. O ye who believe! Fear Allah,
C5394. The "fear of Allah" is akin to love; for it means the fear of offending Him or doing anything wrong that will forfeit His Good Pleasure. This is Taqwa, which implies self restraint, guarding ourselves from all sin, wrong, and injustice, and the positive doing of good.
... وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ...
and let every soul look to what (provision) he has sent forth for the morrow.
C5395. The positive side of Taqwa, or "fear of Allah" (see last note) is here emphasised.
It is not merely a feeling or an emotion: it is an act, a doing of things which become a preparation and provision for the Hereafter,-the next life, which may be described as "the morrow" in relation to the present Life, which is "to-day".
... وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٨﴾
Yea, fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) they ye do.
C5395a. The repetition emphasises both sides of Taqwa: "let your soul fear to do wrong and let it do every act of righteousness; for Allah observes both your inner motives and your acts, and in His scheme of things everything will have its due consequences."
Asad’s Version:
59:18 O YOU who have attained to faith! Remain conscious of God; and let every human being look to what he sends ahead for the morrow! And [once again]: Remain conscious of God, for God is fully aware of all that you do;