14. Surah Ibrahim
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ
ضَرَبَ اللّهُ
مَثَلاً...
14: 24. Seest thou not how Allah sets forth a parable? --
...كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاء ﴿٢٤﴾
a goodly Word like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens --
C1900. "Goodly word" is usually interpreted as the Divine Word, the Divine Message, the True Religion.
It may also be interpreted in a more general sense as a word of truth, a word of goodness or kindness, which follows from a true appreciation of Religion. For Religion includes our duty to Allah and our duty to man.
The "evil word" is opposite to this: false religion, blasphemy, false speech, or preaching or teaching unkindness and wrong-doing. (R).
تُؤْتِي
أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ
حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ
رَبِّهَا...
14: 25. It brings forth its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord.
C1901. The goodly tree is known for:
- its beauty; it gives pleasure to all who see it;
- its stability; it remains firm and unshaken in storms, because its roots are firmly fixed in the earth;
- its wide compass; its branches reach high, and it catches all the sunshine from heaven, and gives shade to countless birds in its branches and men and animals beneath it, and
- its abundant fruit, which it yields at all times.
So is the Good Word.
- It is as beautiful as it is true.
- It abides in all the changes and chances of this life, and even beyond (see verse 27 below);
- it is never shaken by sorrow or what seems to us calamity;
- its roots are deep down in the bed-rock facts of life. Its reach is universal, above, around, below:
- it is illuminated by the divine light from heaven, and its consolation reaches countless beings of all grades of life.
- Its fruit-the enjoyment of its blessings-is not confined to one season or one set of circumstances;
furthermore the fortunate man who is the vehicle of that word has no self-pride; he attributes all its goodness, and his act in spreading it, to the Will and Leave of Allah.
Cf. the New Testament Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-6) or of the Mustard-seed (Matt. 13:31- 32).
In this Parable of the Quran there are fewer words and more spiritual meaning, and the emphasis is on more essential things.
...وَيَضْرِبُ اللّهُ الأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٥﴾
So Allah sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive admonition.
Other versions:
14: 25
Asad yielding its fruit at all times by its Sustainer’s leave. And [thus it is that] God propounds parables unto men, so that they might bethink themselves [of the truth].
Pickthall Giving its fruit at every season by permission of its Lord? Allah coineth the similitudes for mankind in order that they may reflect.
Transliteration Tu'ti ukulaha_ kulla hinim bi izni rabbiha_, wa yadribulla_hul amsa_la lin na_si la'allahum yatazakkaru_n(a).
14: 24
Asad Are you not aware how God sets forth the parable of a good word? [It is ] like a good tree, firmly rooted, [reaching out] with its branches towards the sky, yielding its
Pickthall Seest thou not how Allah coineth a similitude: A goodly saying, as a goodly tree, its root set firm, its branches reaching into heaven,
Transliteration Alam tara kaifa daraballa_hu masalan kalimatan tayyibatan ka syajaratin tayyibatin asluha_ sa_bituw wa far'uha_ fis sama_'(i),
[Asad note 36: In its wider meaning, the term “kalimah” denotes any conceptual statement or proposition. ………..]
1900 "Goodly word" is usually interpreted as the Divine Word, the Divine Message, the True Religion. It may also be interpreted in a more general sense as a word of truth, a word of goodness or kindness, which follows from a true appreciation of Religion. For Religion includes our duty to Allah and our duty to man. The "evil word" is opposite to this: false religion, blasphemy, false speech, or preaching or teaching unkindness and wrong-doing. (14.24)
1901 The goodly tree is known for: (1) its beauty; it gives pleasure to all who see it; (2) its stability; it remains firm and unshaken in storms, because its roots are firmly fixed in the earth; (3) its wide compass; its branches reach high, and it catches all the sunshine from heaven, and gives shade to countless birds in its branches and men and animals beneath it, and (4) its abundant fruit, which it yields at all times. So is the Good Word. It is as beautiful as it is true. It abides in all the changes and chances of this life, and even beyond (see verse 27 below); it is never shaken by sorrow or what seems to us calamity; its roots are deep down in the bed-rock facts of life. Its reach is universal, above, around, below: it is illuminated by the divine light from heaven, and its consolation reaches countless beings of all grades of life. Its fruit-the enjoyment of its blessings-is not confined to one season or one set of circumstances; furthermore the fortunate man who is the vehicle of that word has no self-pride; he attributes all its goodness, and his act in spreading it, to the Will and Leave of Allah. Cf. the New Testament Parable of the Sower (Matt. iv. 14-20) or of the Mustard-seed (Matt. iv. 30- 32). In this Parable of the Qur-an there are fewer words and more spiritual meaning, and the emphasis is on more essential things. (14.25)