42. Ash-Shura (Consultation)

Mecca Period 53

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

ذَلِكَ الَّذِي يُبَشِّرُ اللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ...

42: 23. That is (the Bounty) whereof Allah gives Glad Tidings to His Servants who believe and do righteous deeds.

C4559. Heaven may be pictured to our minds in various forms. This is one of the highest, and Allah announces it freely to the righteous.

...قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى...

Say:

"No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin."

C4560. No sort of tangible reward does the prophet of Allah ask for proclaiming the Glad Tidings of Allah. But at least he has the right to ask that his kith and kin should not persecute him and put all sorts of obstacles in his way, as did the Quraysh against the holy Prophet.

The love of kindred may be extended to mean the love of our common humanity, for all mankind are brothers descended from Adam. Everyone can understand the ordinary love of kindred. (R).

وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَّزِدْ لَهُ فِيهَا حُسْنًا...

And if anyone earns any good, We shall give Him an increase of good in respect thereof:

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ ﴿٢٣﴾

for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (service).

C4561. Cf. 35:29-30, and notes 3915 (for increase) and 3917 (for Allah's appreciation of service).

Asad’s Version:

(42:23) that [bounty] whereof God gives the glad tiding to such of His servants as attain to faith and do righteous deeds. Say [O Prophet]: "No reward do I ask of you for this [message] other than [that you should) love your fellow -men." 29