3.Sura al-Imran, Medina 89
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
بَلَى
إِن
تَصْبِرُواْ
وَتَتَّقُواْ
وَيَأْتُوكُم
مِّن
فَوْرِهِمْ
هَـذَا...
3: 125. "Yea -- if ye remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste,
...يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ آلافٍ مِّنَ الْمَلآئِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ ﴿١٢٥﴾
your Lord would help you with five thousand angels making a terrific onslaught."
C446. Musawwim: this is the active voice of the verb, not to be confused with the passive voice in 3:14, which has a different signification.
وَمَا
جَعَلَهُ
اللّهُ
إِلاَّ
بُشْرَى
لَكُمْ
وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ
قُلُوبُكُم
بِهِ...
3: 126. Allah made it but a message of hope for you; and an assurance to your hearts:
...وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلاَّ مِنْ عِندِ اللّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ ﴿١٢٦﴾
(in any case) there is no help except from Allah the Exalted, the Wise.
C447. Whatever happens, whether there is a miracle or not, all help proceeds from Allah. Man should not be so arrogant as to suppose that his own resources will change the current of the world plan.
Allah helps those who show constancy, courage, and discipline, and use all the human means at their disposal, not those who fold their hands and have no faith. But Allah's help is determined on considerations exalted far above our petty human motive, and by perfect wisdoms, of which we can have only faint glimpses.
لِيَقْطَعَ
طَرَفًا
مِّنَ
الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ
أَوْ
يَكْبِتَهُمْ
...
3: 127. That he might cut off a fringe of the unbelievers or expose them to infamy,
C448. A fringe of the Unbelievers: an extremity, an end, either upper or lower.
Here it may mean that the chiefs of the Makkan Pagans, who had come to exterminate the Muslims with such confidence, went back frustrated in their purpose.
The shameless cruelty with which they and their women mutilated the Muslim corpses on the battle-field will stand recorded to their eternal infamy.
Perhaps it also exposed their real nature to some of those who fought for them. e.g., Khalid ibn Al-Walid, who not only accepted Islam afterwards, but became one of the most notable champions of Islam. He was with the Muslims in the conquest of Makkah and later on, won distinguished honours in Syria and 'Iraq.
... فَيَنقَلِبُواْ خَآئِبِينَ ﴿١٢٧﴾
and they should then be turned back, frustrated of their purpose.
وَلَقَدْ
صَدَقَكُمُ
اللّهُ
وَعْدَهُ
إِذْ
تَحُسُّونَهُم
بِإِذْنِهِ...
3: 152. Allah did indeed fulfil His promise to you when ye with His permission were about to annihilate your enemy,
...حَتَّى إِذَا فَشِلْتُمْ وَتَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي الأَمْرِ وَعَصَيْتُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا أَرَاكُم مَّا تُحِبُّونَ...
until ye flinched and fell to disputing about the order and disobeyed it after He brought you in sight (of the Booty) which ye covet.
C462. The order was: not to leave the post and strictly to maintain discipline. Uhud was in the beginning a victory for the Muslims. Many of the enemy were slain, and they were retiring when a part of the Muslims, against orders, ran in pursuit, attracted by the prospects of booty.
See note to 3:121.
...مِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ الدُّنْيَا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ الآخِرَةَ ...
Among you are some that hanker after this world and some that desire the Hereafter.
...ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمْ عَنْهُمْ لِيَبْتَلِيَكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنكُمْ ...
Then did He divert you from your foes in order to test you, but He forgave you:
C463. The disobedience seemed at first pleasant: they were chasing the enemy, and there was the prospect of booty. But when the gap was noticed by the enemy, they turned the flank round the hill and nearly overwhelmed the Muslims.
Had it not been for Allah's grace, and the firmness of their Prophet and his immediate Companions, they would have been finished.
...وَاللّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٥٢﴾
for Allah is full of grace to those who believe.
مَّا
كَانَ
اللّهُ
لِيَذَرَ
الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
عَلَى
مَآ
أَنتُمْ
عَلَيْهِ
حَتَّىَ
يَمِيزَ
الْخَبِيثَ
مِنَ
الطَّيِّبِ...
3: 179. Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which ye are now, until He separates what is evil from what is good.
C481. The testing of good men by calamities and evil men by leaving them in the enjoyment of good things is part of the trials of Allah, in which some freedom of choice is left to man.
The psychological and subjective test is unfailing, and the separation is effected partly by the operation of the human wills, to which some freedom is allowed. But it must be effected, if only in the interests of the good.
...وَمَا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ ...
Nor will He disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen.
C482. Man in his weak state would be most miserable if he could see the secrets of the Future or the secrets of the Unseen. But things are revealed to him from time to time as may be expedient for him, by Messengers chosen for the purpose.
Our duty is to hold fast by faith and lead a good life.
... وَلَكِنَّ اللّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِن رُّسُلِهِ مَن يَشَاء...
But He chooses of His Messengers (for the purpose) whom He pleases.
...فَآمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ...
So believe in Allah and His Messengers:
...وَإِن تُؤْمِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٧٩﴾
and if ye believe and do right, ye have a reward without measure.
Other versions:
3: 125
Asad Nay, but if you are patient in adversity and conscious of Him, and the enemy should fall upon you of a sudden, your Sustainer will aid you with five thousand angels swooping down!” [note 93]
Pickthall Nay, but if ye persevere, and keep from evil, and (the enemy) attack you suddenly, your Lord will help you with five thousand angels sweeping on.
Transliteration Bala_, in tasbiru_ wa tattaqu_ wa ya'tu_kum min faurihim ha_za_ yumdidkum rabbukum rabbukum bi khamsati a_la_fim minal mala_'ikati musawwimin(a).
3: 126
Asad And God ordained this [to be said by His Apostle (note 94) only as a glad tiding for you, and that your hearts should thereby be set at rest – since no succor can come from any save God, the Almighty, the Truly Wise
Pickthall Allah ordained this only as a message of good cheer for you, and that thereby your hearts might be at rest--Victory cometh only from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise--
Transliteration Wa ma_ ja'alahulla_hu illa_ bsyra_ lakum wa litatma'inna qulu_bukum bih(i), wa man nasru illa_ min 'indilla_hil'azizil hakim(i).
3: 127
Asad [and] that [through you] He might destroy some of those who were bent on denying the truth, and so abase the others [note 95] that they would withdraw in utter hopelessness.
Pickthall That He may cut off a part of those who disbelieve, or overwhelm them so that they retire, frustrated.
Transliteration Liyaqta' tarafam minal lazina kafaru_ au yakbitahum fayanqalibu_ kha_'ibin(a).
3: 152
Asad And, indeed, God made good His promise unto you when, by His leave, you were about to destroy your foes [note 107] – until the moment when you lost heart and acted contrary to the [Prophet’s] command [note 108], disobeyed after you within view of that [victory] …………….There were among you such as cared for this world [alone], …[note 109], whereupon, in order that He might put you to test, He prevented you form defeating your foes [note 110]. But now He has effaced your sin: for God is limitless in His bounty unto the believers.
Pickthall Allah verily made good His promise unto you when ye routed them by His leave, until (the moment) when your courage failed you, and ye disagreed about the order and ye disobeyed, after He had shown you that for which ye long. Some of you desired the world, and some of you desired the Hereafter. Therefore He made you flee from them, that He might try you. Yet now He hath forgiven you. Allah is a Lord of Kindness to believers.
Transliteration Wa laqad sadaqakumulla_hu wa'dahu_ iz tahussu_nahum bi iznih(i), hatta_ iza_ fasyiltum wa tana_za'tum fil amri wa 'asaitum mim ba'di ma_ ara_kum ma_ tuhibbu_n(a), minkum may yuridud dunya_ wa minkum may yuridul a_khirah(ti), summa sarafakum 'anhum liyabtaliyakum, wa laqad'afa_ 'ankum, walla_hu zu_ fadlin 'alal mu'minin(a).
[ Asad’s notes: - 107 Lit., “when you were destroying them”: a reference to the opening stages of the battle of Uhud. Regarding the promise alluded to, see verses 124-125 of this surah.
108 Lit., “you disgreed with one another regarding the [Prophet’s] command” – an allusion to the abandonment of their posts by most of the archers at the moment when it seemed that victory had been won (see note 90 above).
109 Out of the fifty Muslim archers less than ten remained at their post, and were killed by Khalid’s cavalry. It is to them, as well as the few Companions who went on fighting after the bulk of the Muslims had fled, that the second part of the above sentence refers.
110 Lit., “He turned away from them”. ]
3: 179
Asad It is not God’s will [O you who deny the truth] to abandon the believers to your way of life [note 136]: [and] to that end He will set apart the bad form the good. And it is not God’s will to give you insight into that which is beyond the reach to human perception: but [to that end] God elects whomsoever He wills from among his apostles [note 137]. Believe, then, in God and his apostles; for if you believe and are conscious of Him, a magnificent requital awaits you..
Pickthall It is not (the purpose) of Allah to leave you in your present state till He shall separate the wicked from the good. And it is not (the purpose of) Allah to let you know the unseen. But Allah choose of His messengers whom He will, (to receive knowledge thereof.) So believe in Allah and His messengers. If ye believe and ward off (evil), yours will be a vast reward.
Transliteration Ma_ ka_nalla_hu liyazaral mu'minina 'ala ma_ antum'alaihi hatta_ yamizal khabisa minat tayyib(i), wa ma_ ka_nalla_hu liyutli'akum'alal gaibi wa la_kinnalla_ha yajtabi mir rusulihi may yasya_'(u), fa a_minu_ billa_hi wa rusulih(i), wa in tu'minu_ wa tattaqu_ fa lakum ajrun 'azim(un).
[yamizal – means differentiate, root from majaya. khabisa means evil and tayyib means good ones]
[ Asad’s note ---136: …………..people addressed here are “those who deny the truth” to whom the preceding passages refer. ]
=====================================
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ
الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ
يُنفِقُونَ
أَمْوَالَهُمْ
لِيَصُدُّواْ
عَن سَبِيلِ
اللّهِ...
8: 36. The unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the path of Allah,
...فَسَيُنفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةً ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَ...
and so will they continue to spend;
but in the end they will have (only) regrets and sighs;
at length they will be overcome:
...وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾
and the unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell.
Asad’s Version:
8: 36 Behold, those who are bent on denying the truth are spending their riches in order to turn others away from t he path of God; and they will go on spending them until they become [a source of] intense regret for them; and then they will be overcome!
And those who have denied the truth shall be gathered unto hell, so that God might separate the bad from the good, and join the bad with one another, and link them all together and then place them in hell. They, they are the lost!
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9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قَاتِلُوهُمْ
يُعَذِّبْهُمُ
اللّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ
وَيُخْزِهِمْ...
9: 14. Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands,
cover them with shame,
...وَيَنصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٤﴾
help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of believers.
C1262. Heal the breasts of believers, i.e., of wounds that they may have sustained from the assaults, taunts, and cruelty of the enemy.
وَيُذْهِبْ
غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ...
9: 15. And still the indignation of their hearts.
C1263. When the victory comes and the wounds are healed, a great peace comes to the hearts of those who have suffered, striven, and struggled.
The fighting was necessity forced by injustice and oppression. When Allah's Law is established, the fire of indignation is quelled, and the true Peace of Islam is attained.
...وَيَتُوبُ اللّهُ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء...
For Allah will turn (in mercy) to whom He will;
C1264. Allah's mercy is unlimited. When evil is destroyed, many of those who were enticed by evil will come into the fold of truth and righteousness, and the cessation of war and conflict will bring peace, certainly to those who fought for the right, but also possibly to those whose eyes have been opened to the working of Allah's Law and who in healing reconciliation become members of the Brotherhood of Peace ill Islam.
...وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿١٥﴾
and Allah is the All-Knowing, All-Wise.
يُرِيدُونَ
أَن يُطْفِؤُواْ
نُورَ اللّهِ
بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ...
9: 32. Fain would they extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths,
C1289. With their mouths: there is a twofold meaning:
- the old-fashioned open oil lamps were extinguished by blowing with the mouth; the Unbelievers would like to blow out Allah's Light as it is a cause of offence to them;
- false teachers and preachers distort the Message of Allah by the false words of their mouth.
Their wish is to put out the light of Truth for they are people of darkness; but Allah will perfect His Light, i.e., make it shine all the brighter in the eyes of men.
His Light in itself is ever perfect, but it will penetrate the hearts of men more and more, and so become more and more perfect for them.
...وَيَأْبَى اللّهُ إِلاَّ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾
but Allah will not allow but that His Light should be perfected, even though the unbelievers may detest (it).
هُوَ الَّذِي
أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ
بِالْهُدَى
وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ...
9: 33. It is He who hath sent His Messenger with guidance and religion of truth,
...لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٣٣﴾
to proclaim it over all religions, even though the pagans may detest (it).
C1290. Every religion which commends itself widely to human beings and lasts through some space of time has a glimpse of Truth in it. But Islam being the perfect light of Truth is bound to prevail.
As the greater Light, through its own strength, outshines all lesser lights, so will Islam outshine all else, in spite of the displeasure of those to whom light is an offence.
See also 48:28, n. 4912, and 61:9, n. 5442.
Asad’s Version:
9: 14 - 15 Fight them, and God will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you [to victory] over them, heal the breasts of Believers, and still the indignation of their hearts. For God will turn [in mercy] to whom He will; and God is all-Knowing, all-Wise.
9: 32 They want to extinguish God’s light with their utterances: but God will not allow, for He has willed to spread His light in all its fullness, however hateful this may be to all who deny the truth.
9: 33 He it is who has sent forth His Apostle with the guidance and the religion of truth, to the end that He may cause it to prevail over all religion – however hateful this may be those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God.
[Asad note 50 3: 19 – “the only [true] religion in the sight of God is [man’s] self-surrender unto Him.” See also 61: 8-9]
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17.al Israa, Mecca 50
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ
فَتَهَجَّدْ
بِهِ نَافِلَةً
لَّكَ ...
17: 79. And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee:
C2277. This is held to be addressed specially to the holy Prophet who usually prayed more than the five canonical prayers.
The Tahajjud was a prayer after midnight, in the small watches of the morning.
... عَسَى أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا ﴿٧٩﴾
soon will thy Lord raise thee to a station of Praise and Glory!
C2278. To the Prophet was to be assigned in the Hereafter the highest Post of Honour and Glory - the Maqam Mahmud, implying his excellence above all other Prophets.
The immediate reference may be to the hope that the Makkan persecution will soon be over and the glorious work in Madinah will begin. (R).
Other versions:
17: 79
Asad And rise from your sleep and pray during part of the night, as a free offering from you, and Your Sustainer may well raise you to a glorious station.
station of Praise and Glory!
Pickthall And some part of the night awake for it, a largess for thee. It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate.
[asad note 97: Lit., “as a deed beyond that which is incumbent on you” [nafilatan laka]
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14.Surah Ibrahim
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ
اللّهَ مُخْلِفَ
وَعْدِهِ
رُسُلَهُ...
14.47. Never think that Allah would fail His Messengers in His promise:
...إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ ﴿٤٧﴾
for Allah is Exalted in power -- the Lord of Retribution.
Pickthall’s Version:
14: 47
Pickthall So think not that Allah will fail to keep His promise to His messengers. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).
Transliteration Fala_ tahsabannalla_ha mukhlifa wa'dihi rusulah(a_), innalla_ha 'azizun zu-ntiqa_m(in).
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16. Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَالْخَيْلَ
وَالْبِغَالَ
وَالْحَمِيرَ
لِتَرْكَبُوهَا
وَزِينَةً...
16: 8. And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for you to ride and use for show;
C2027. Horse, mules, and donkeys as well as other animals may be beasts of burden, but they may also be pedigree animals bred for beauty and for all those more refined uses, such as processions, in which grace and elegance is the predominant feature.
... وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٨﴾
and He has created (other) things of what ye have no knowledge.
C2028. If we examine the history of transport, there have been vast changes through the ages, from rude pack animals to fine equipages, and then through mechanical contrivances, such means of transport as elegant coaches, tramways and railways, useful motor lorries and Rolls-Royce cars, and air-ships and aeroplanes of all descriptions.
At any given point of time, many of these were yet unknown to man. Nor can we suppose the limit to have been reached now or that it will ever be reached at any future time.
Through the mind and ingenuity of man it is Allah that creates new things hitherto unknown to man.
Other versions:
16: 8
Asad ……and He will yet create things of which [today] you have no knowledge.
Pickthall And horses and mules and asses (hath He created) that ye may ride them, and for ornament. And He createth that which ye know not.
Transliteration Wal khaila wal biga_la wal hamira litarkabu_ha_ wa zinah(tan), wa yakhluqu ma_ la_ ta'lamu_n(a).
[Asad note 6: The use, in this context, of the aorist “yakhluqu” implies the future tense ( “He will create” ) in contrast with the past tense “khalaqa” employed in the preceding passages. Since this reference to God’s continuing creation comes immediately after a mention of primitive means of transport……to new means of transport which God unceasingly creates through the instrumentality of the inventiveness with which He has endowed man’s mind (cf. 36:42).
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9. at-Tawbah, Medina 113, after Tabuk, 9 H
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَعْتَذِرُونَ
إِلَيْكُمْ
إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ
إِلَيْهِمْ...
9: 94. They will present their excuses to you when ye return to them.
... قُل لاَّ تَعْتَذِرُواْ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكُمْ قَدْ نَبَّأَنَا اللّهُ مِنْ أَخْبَارِكُمْ...
Say thou:
"Present no excuses: we shall not believe you:
Allah hath already informed us of the true state of matters concerning you:
... وَسَيَرَى اللّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ...
it is your actions that Allah and His Messenger will observe:
... ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَى عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ...
in the end will ye be brought back to Him who knoweth what is hidden and what is open:
... فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٤﴾
then will He show you the truth of all that ye did.
سَيَحْلِفُونَ
بِاللّهِ لَكُمْ
إِذَا انقَلَبْتُمْ
إِلَيْهِمْ
لِتُعْرِضُواْ
عَنْهُمْ ...
9: 95. They will swear to you by Allah, when ye return to them, that ye may leave them alone.
... فَأَعْرِضُواْ عَنْهُمْ ...
So leave them alone:
... إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ ...
For they are an abomination,
... وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاء بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٩٥﴾
and Hell is their dwelling place, a fitting recompense for the (evil) that they did.
يَحْلِفُونَ
لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْاْ
عَنْهُمْ فَإِن
تَرْضَوْاْ
عَنْهُمْ ...
9: 96. They will swear unto you, that ye may be pleased with them
... فَإِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ ﴿٩٦﴾
but if ye are pleased with them, Allah is not pleased with those who disobey.
Pickthall’s Version:
9: 94 how the hypocrites would respond upon return from Tabuk: ]
Pickthall They will make excuse to you (Muslims) when ye return unto them. Say: Make no excuse, for we shall not believe you. Allah hath told us tidings of you. Allah and His messenger will see your conduct, and then ye will be brought back unto Him Who knoweth the invisible as well as the visible, and He will tell you what ye used to do.
Transliteration Ya'taziru_na ilaikum iza_ raja'tum ilaihim, qul la_ ta'taziru_ lan nu'mina lakum qad nabba'analla_hu min akhba_rikum wa sayaralla_hu 'amalakum wa rasu_luhu_ summa turaddu_na ila_ 'a_limil gaibi wasy syaha_dati fayunabbi'ukum bima_ kuntum ta'malu_n(a).
9: 95
Pickthall They will swear by Allah unto you, when ye return unto them, that ye may let them be. Let them be, for lo! they are unclean, and their abode is hell as the reward for what they used to earn.
Transliteration Sayahlifu_na billa_hi lakum iza-nqalabtum ilaihim litu'ridu_ 'anhum, fa a'ridu_ 'anhum, innahum rijs(uw), wa ma'wa_hum jahannamu jaza_'am bima_ ka_nu_ yaksibu_n(a).
9: 96
Pickthall They swear unto you, that ye may accept them. Though ye accept them, Allah verily accepteth not wrongdoing folk.
Transliteration Yahlifu_na lakum litardau'anhum, fa in tardau 'anhum fa innalla_ha la_ yarda_ 'anil qaumil fa_siqin(a).
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