Devotion to God

3. [al-i-Imran, Medina 89 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

شَهِدَ اللّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ قَآئِمَاً بِالْقِسْطِ...

3: 18. There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice.

C358. Allah Himself speaks to us through His revelations (through angels) and through His Creation, for all Nature glorifies Allah.

No thinking mind, if it only judges the matter fairly, can fail to find the same witness in his own heart and conscience.

All this points to the Unity of Allah, His exalted nature, and His wisdom.

...لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴿١٨﴾

There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise.

Pickthall’s Version:

3: 18

Pickthall Allah (Himself) is witness that there is no God save Him. And the angels and the men of learning (too are witness). Maintaining His creation in justice, there is no God save Him, the Almighty, the Wise.

Transliteration Syahidalla_hu annahu_ la_ ila_ha illa_ huw(a), wal mala_'ikatu wa ulul 'ilmi qa_'imam bil qist(i), la_ ila_ha illa_ huwal'azizul hakim(u).

Asad’s note - 11 Lit., "bears witness" - i.e., through the nature of His creation, which shows plainly that it has been brought into being by a consciously planning Power.

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5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

5: 8. O ye who believe!

stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing,

C706. Cf. 4:135.

... وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ...

and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice.

C707. To do justice and act righteously in a favourable or neutral atmosphere is meritorious enough, but the real test comes when you have to do justice to people who hate you or to whom you have an aversion. But no less is required of you by the higher moral law.

... اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ ...

Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear Allah,

... إِنَّ اللّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨﴾

for Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

Asad’s Version:

5: 8 O you who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of anyone lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Be just; this is closest to being God-conscious. And remain conscious of God: verily, God is aware of all that you do.