31. Surah Luqman

Mecca Period [57]

Asad’s Version:


31:29


Art thou not aware that it is God who makes the night grow longer by shortening the day, and makes the day grow longer by shortening the night, and that He has made the sun and the moon subservient [to His laws], each running its course for a term set [by Him] 27 - and that God is fully aware of all that you do?

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:


أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ...

31:29. Seest thou not that Allah merges Night into Day and He merges Day into Night;

...وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى...

that He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law), each running its course for a term appointed:

...وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿٢٩﴾

and that Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do?







55. Ar-Rah Man (The Most Gracious)

Period Uncertain

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:



الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ ﴿٥﴾

55: 5.     The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed;

C5174. In the great astronomical universe there are exact mathematical laws, which bear witness to Allah's Wisdom and also to His favours to His creatures; for we all profit by the heat and light, the seasons, and the numerous changes in the tides and the atmosphere, on which the constitution of our globe and the maintenance of life depend.

وَالنَّجْمُ ...

55: 6.     And the herbs

C5175. Najm: may mean stars collectively, or herbs collectively: perhaps both meanings are implied.

... وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ ﴿٦﴾

and the trees-both (alike) bow in adoration.

C5176. All nature adores Allah.

Cf. 22:18, and n. 2790; 13:15; and 16:48-49.

وَالسَّمَاء رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ ﴿٧﴾

55: 7.     And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the balance (of Justice)

C5177. The "balance of justice" in this verse is connected with "the Balance" in the next two verses, that men may act justly to each other and observe due balance in all their actions, following the golden mean and not transgressing due bounds in anything. But the Balance is also connected figuratively with the heavens above in three symbols:

أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِي الْمِيزَانِ ﴿٨﴾

55: 8.     In order that ye may not transgress (due) balance.

وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ ﴿٩﴾

55: 9.     So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance.

C5178. To be taken both literally and figuratively.

A man should be honest and straight in every daily matter, such as weighing out things which he is selling: and he should be straight, just and honest, in all the highest dealings, not only with other people, but with himself and in his obedience to Allah's Law. Not many do either the one or the other when they have an opportunity of deceit. Justice is the central virtue, and the avoidance of both excess and defect in conduct keeps the human world balanced just as the heavenly world is kept balanced by mathematical order.


Asad’s Version:

(55:5) [At His behest] the sun and the moon run their appointed courses; 2

(55:6) [before Him] prostrate themselves the stars and the trees.


55:7 And the skies has He raised high, and has devised [for all things] a measure, 3 (55:8) so that you [too, O men,] might never transgress the measure [of what is right): (55:9) weigh, therefore, [your deed] with equity, and cut not the measure short!



[[ Asad’s notes - 2 Lit., "according to a definite reckoning".


3 The noun mizan, usually denoting a "balance", has here the more general connotation of "measure" or "measuring" by any means whatsoever (Zamakhshari), in both the concrete and abstract senses of the word. (Cf also the parabolic use of the term mza~ in 42:17 and 57:25.)