10. Surah Yunus
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ
اللّهُ الَّذِي
خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضَ
فِي سِتَّةِ
أَيَّامٍ...
10: 3. Verily your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days,
C1385. See n. 1031 to 7:54.
...ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ...
then He established Himself on the Throne (of authority),
C1386. Istawa, with the preposition ila after it, means He turned to or He directed Himself by His will to as in 2:29.
With the preposition 'ala after it, as here and in 7:54 and elsewhere, the meaning seems to be "to mount or ascend," and to be firmly established, to sit firm and unshaken, beyond question.
The Throne represents many ideas: e.g.,
1. that God is high above all His Creation;
2. that He regulates and governs it, as a king does, whose authority is unquestionably recognised;
3. that He is not, therefore, like the gods of Greece, and paganism, who were imagined to be in a world apart, careless of mankind, or jealous of mankind, but on the contrary.
4. He disposes of their affairs and all affairs continuously and with justice;
5. that the authority of His prophets, ministers, and messengers is derived from Him, and such intercession as they can make is by His will and permission. (R).
... يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ...
regulating and governing all things.
...مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِ...
No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His leave (hath been obtained).
...ذَلِكُمُ اللّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ...
This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore serve ye:
...أَفَلاَ تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٣﴾
will ye not receive admonition ?
C1387. Cf. 6:80.
Other Versions:
10: 3
Asad Verily, your Sustainer is God, who has created the heavens and the earth in six aeons, and is established on the throne of His almightiness, governing all that exists. There is none that could intercede with Him unless He grants leave therefore. Thus is God, your Sustainer: worship therefore, Him [alone]: will you not, then, keep this in mind?
Pickthall Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He established Himself upon the Throne, directing all things. There is no intercessor (with Him) save after His permission. That is Allah, your Lord, so worship Him. Oh, will ye not remind?
Yuksel Your Lord is God who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He settled over the throne; He handles all affairs. There is no intercessor except after His leave. Such is God your Lord, so serve Him. Would you not take heed?
Transliteration Inna rabbakumulla_hul lazi khalaqas sama_wa_ti wal arda fi sittati ayya_min summa-stawa_ 'alal 'arsyi yudabbirul amr(a), ma_ min syafi'in illa_ mim ba'di iznih(i), za_likumulla_hu rabbukum fa'budu_h(u), afala_ tazakkaru_n(a).
[[ Ali’s notes - 1385 See note 1031 to vii. 54. (10.3)
1386 Istawa, with the preposition ila after it, means He turned to or He directed Himself by His will to as in ii-29. With the preposition 'ala after it, as here and in vii. 54 and elsewhere, the meaning seems to be "to mount or ascend," and to be firmly established, to sit firm and unshaken, beyond question. "The Throne represents many ideas: e.g., (1) that God is high above all His Creation; (2) that He regulates and governs it, as a king does, whose authority is unquestionably recognized; (3) that He is not, therefore, like the gods of Greece, and paganism, who were imagined to be in a world apart, careless of mankind, or jealous of mankind, but on the contrary. He (4) disposes of their affairs and all affairs continuously and with justice; (5) that the authority of His prophets, ministers, and messengers is derived from Him, and such intercession as they can make is by His will and permission. (10.3)
1387 Cf. vi. 80. (10.3) ]]
TaWaYa – to fold, to roll up,
Istawa -
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13. [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
اللّهُ
الَّذِي رَفَعَ
السَّمَاوَاتِ
بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ
تَرَوْنَهَا...
13; 2. Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that ye can see;
C1800. Should we construe the clause "that ye can see" to refer to "pillars" or "to the heavens"?
Either is admissible, but I prefer the former.
The heavens are supported on no pillars that we can see. What we see is the blue vault of heaven, but there are invisible forces or conditions created by Allah, which should impress us with His power and glory.
...ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ...
is firmly established on the Throne (of Authority);
C1801. Cf. 10:3 , and n. 1386.
We must not think that anything came into being by itself or carries out its functions by itself. Allah is the Creator from Whom everything has its life and being and through Whom everything is maintained and supported, even though fixed laws are established for its regulation and government.
... وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ...
He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law)!
...كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى...
each one runs (its course) for a term appointed.
The "term appointed" limits the duration of their functioning: its ultimate return is to Allah, as its beginning proceeded from Allah.
...يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ ...
He doth regulate affairs,
Where the laws of nature are fixed, and everything runs according to its appointed course, the government and regulation behind it is still that of Allah.
Where there is limited free will as in man, yet the ultimate source of man's faculties is Allah.
Allah cares for His creatures. He does not, as in the idea of polytheistic Greece, sit apart on Olympus, careless of His creatures.
... يُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَاء رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ ﴿٢﴾
explaining the Signs in detail, that ye may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.
C1803. One manifestation of His caring for His creatures, even where a limited amount of free-will is granted for their development, is that He is careful to explain His Signs both in nature and in express and detailed revelation through His Messengers, lest man should have any doubts whether he has to return ultimately to his Lord and account for all his actions during the "term appointed," when he was given some initiative by way of trial and preparation.
If man attends carefully to the Signs, he should have no doubt whatever.
13: 2
Pickthall Allah it is who raised up the heavens without visible supports, then mounted the Throne, and compelled the sun and the moon to be of service, each runneth unto an appointed term; He ordereth the course; He detaileth the revelations, that haply ye may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.
Yuksel God, Who raised the skies without any pillars that you can see, then He established the authority, and He commissioned the sun and the moon; each running to a fixed destiny. He manages all affairs, and He details the signs so that you will be aware of the meeting with your Lord.
Transliteration Alla_hul lazi rafa'as sama_wa_ti bi gairi 'amadin taraunaha_ summa-stawa_ 'alal 'arsyi wa sakhkharasy syamsa wal qamar(a), kulluy yajri li ajalim musamma_(n), yudabbirul amra yufassilul a_ya_ti la'allakum biliqa_'i rabbikum tu_qinu_n(a).