27. An-Naml (The Ants)

Mecca Period 48

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الْبَلْدَةِ الَّذِي حَرَّمَهَا وَلَهُ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ...

27:91. For me, I have been commanded to serve the Lord of this City, Him Who has sanctified it and to Whom (belong) all things:

C3322. The Lord of this City. This was spoken in Makkah say about the 5th year before the Hijrah, when the holy Prophet and his adherents were being persecuted as enemies to the cult of Makkah.

So far from being against the true spirit of the holy City of Makkah, it was actually in furtherance of that spirit, which had been overlaid by the idolatries and abominations of the Pagan Quraish.

They are told that the new Teaching is from the Lord of Makkah itself, the One True God, Who had sanctified it in the time of Abraham. Lest they should think that it was a local or tribal or narrow cult, it is added that He is not only Lord of this City, but Lord of the Worlds, "to Whom belong all things".

It is a universal message; but how sad it would be if the Makkans, among whom it came first, were to reject it?

...وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿٩١﴾

and I am commanded to be of those who bow in Islam to Allah's Will --

وَأَنْ أَتْلُوَ الْقُرْآنَ...

27: 92. And to rehearse the Qur'án:

C3323. The duty of the Prophet and his adherents was,

- first, to accept Islam and become themselves shining examples of Allah's grace and mercy, as they in fact were, and

- secondly to preach that message and spread that Light to all around.

It was not for them to force it on unwilling people: for any who rejected it would find their own spiritual loss in such rejection. But they must clearly warn them of the consequences.

...فَمَنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ ...

and if any accept guidance, they do it for the good of their own souls,

...وَمَن ضَلَّ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ ﴿٩٢﴾

and if any stray, say: "I am only a Warner."

وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ سَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ فَتَعْرِفُونَهَا...

27: 93. And say: "Praise be to Allah, Who will soon show you His Signs, so that ye shall know them;"

C3324. In a few years after that, many wonderful things happened that removed the doubts of the doubters and confirmed the faith of the Believers. They showed how the logic of events proved the true mission of the holy Prophet. Other things some minds may not be able to grasp. But the logic of events is for all to see.

...وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٣﴾

and thy Lord is not unmindful of all that ye do.

C3325. Trials and tribulations, persecution and exile, and the patient endurance and constancy with which they were met by the Believers-all are known to Allah and will be credited to their account.

Asad’s Version:

27:91 [SAY, O Muhammad:] "I have been bidden to worship the Sustainer of this City 82 - Him who has made it sacred, and unto whom all things belong; and I have been bidden to be of those who surrender themselves to Him,

(27:92) and to convey this Qur'an [to the world]." Whoever, therefore, chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good; and if any wills to go astray, say [unto him]: "I am only a warner!"

27:93 And say: "All praise is due to God! In time He will make you see [the truth of] His messages, and then you shall know them [for what they are]." And thy Sustainer is not unmindful of whatever you all may do.

[[Asad’s note -82 I.e., Mecca, where the first temple dedicated to the One God was built (cf. 3:96).]]