13. [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:



 

أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا...

13: 17.  He sends down water from the skies, and the channels flow, each according to its measure:

C1831. This verse is full of parables.

1.     It is Allah Who sends rain and sends it to all.

See how it flows in different channels according to their capacities. Some are sluggish-, some have a swift current. Some form great rivers and irrigate wide tracts of country; some are clear crystal streams, perhaps in hilly tracts, with beds of clean pebbles which you can see through the water.

Some produce delicious edible fish; and some are infested by crocodiles or injurious monsters.

And there are degrees and degrees among brooks, streams, lakes, rivers, and seas.

So with the rain of Allah's mercy and the knowledge and wisdom and guidance which He sends. All can receive it. Different ones will respond according to their capacities.

2.     In the physical world, water is pure and beneficial. But froth and scum will gather according to local conditions.

As the floods will carry off the scum and purify the water, so will the flood of Allah's spiritual mercy carry away our spiritual scum and purify the water.

3.     The froth may make a greater show on the surface, but it will not last. So will there be frothy knowledge, which will disappear, but Allah's Truth will endure.

...فَاحْتَمَلَ السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا...

but the torrent bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface.

...وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي النَّارِ ابْتِغَاء حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ زَبَدٌ مِّثْلُهُ...

Even so, from that (ore) which they heat in the fire, to make ornaments or utensils therewith, there is a scum likewise.

C1832. In continuation of the last note, the fourth parable is that of metal ores:

-        the ore is full of baser admixture, but the fire will separate the gold from the dross for ornaments, or

-        some metal of household utility, with which you make every-day utensils, which the fire will separate from admixtures which you do not want.

So the fire of Allah's test, either by adversity or by affluence, will search out the true metal in us and reject the dross. it will show us what is valuable or what is useful, all sorts of scum and vanity which we collect and miscall knowledge.

...كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَاطِلَ...

Thus doth Allah (by parables) show forth Truth and Vanity:

...فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاء وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الأَرْضِ...

for the scum disappears like froth cast out; while that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth.

...كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللّهُ الأَمْثَالَ ﴿١٧﴾

Thus doth Allah set forth parables.


Other Versions:

13: 17

Asad He sends down water from the sky, and river-beds are running high according to their measure, the stream carries scum on its surface; and, likewise from that [metal] which they smelt in the fire in order to make ornaments or utensils, [there rises] scum.

In this way does God set forth the parable of truth and falsehood; for, as far as the scum is concerned, it passes away as dross; but that which is of benefit to man abides on earth. In this way does God set forth the parables. …………….


Pickthall He sendeth down water from the sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure, and the flood beareth (on its surface) swelling foam from that which they felt in the fire in order to make ornaments and tools riseth a foam like unto it thus Allah coineth (the similitude of) the true and the false. Then, as for the foam, it passeth away as scum upon the banks, while, as for that which is of use to mankind, it remaineth in the earth. Thus Allah coineth the similitudes.

Transliteration Anzala minas sama_'i ma_'an fa sa_lat audiyatum bi qadariha_ fa-htamalas sailu zabadar ra_biya_(n), wa mimma_ yu_qidu_na 'alaihi fin na_ri-btiga_'a hilyatin au mata_'in zabadum misluh(u_), kaza_lika yadribull_hul haqqa wal ba_til(a), fa ammaz zabadu fa yazhabu jufa_'a(n), wa amma_ ma_ yanfa'un na_sa fa yamkusu fil ard(i), kaza_lika yadribulla_hul amsa_l(a).

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17. [al-Israa, Mecca 50 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

 

وَقَالُواْ أَئِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا وَرُفَاتًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا ﴿٤٩﴾

17: 49.  They say:

"What! when we are reduced to bones and dust, should we really be raised up (to be) a new creation?"

C2234. They do not realise that Allah Who created them once out of nothing can create them again, with memories of their past, in order to render to Him an account of how they used or misused the talents and opportunities which they were given.

If it is to be a new Creation, what then?

Bones and dust or ashes may yet retain something of the personality which was enshrined in them. But even if they were reduced to stones or iron or anything which their minds can conceive of as being most unlike them, yet there is nothing impossible to Allah!

He has clearly sent a Message that we shall have to render an account of ourselves, and His Message is necessarily true. (R).

قُل كُونُواْ حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا ﴿٥٠﴾

17: 50.  Say: "(Nay!) be ye stones or iron,

أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِي صُدُورِكُمْ...   

17: 51.  "Or created matter which, in your minds, is hardest (to be raised up) -- (yet shall ye be raised up)!"

...فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا ...

Then will they say: "Who will cause us to return?"

...قُلِ الَّذِي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ...

Say: "He Who created you first!"

...فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُؤُوسَهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هُوَ...

Then will they wag their heads towards thee, and say, "When will that be?"

C2235. The skeptic shifts his ground when he is cornered in argument. It is no longer tenable for him to say that it cannot happen or that there is no one who can bring him back to life and memory. He now gets shaky, and says, "Well, when is that going to happen?"

The actual time no man can tell. Indeed that event will be on a plane in which there will be no Time. Our relative ideas of time and place will have been completely overthrown, and it will appear to us then, not that it has been postponed too long, but that it has come too soon!

See the next verse and note.

...قُلْ عَسَى أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا ﴿٥١﴾

Say, "Maybe it will be quite soon!

يَوْمَ يَدْعُوكُمْ فَتَسْتَجِيبُونَ بِحَمْدِهِ...   

17: 52.  "It will be on a Day when He will call you, and ye will answer (His call) with (words of) His praise,

...وَتَظُنُّونَ ...

and ye will think

C2236. It may be that this verse should not be in the inverted commas governed by the verb "say", in the last clause of the last verse. In that case, the answer to the skeptic would be finished in the last verse, and this verse would be a general statement applying also to the righteous, who will rise up celebrating the praises of Allah.

But on the whole, I think it is better to take this verse as part of the answer to the skeptic referred to in the last verse.

... إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ﴿٥٢﴾

that ye tarried but a little while!"

C2237. Whatever may have been your spiritual blindness in this life, the "new creation" will have opened your eyes to the Truth. No one will any longer be in any delusion as regards the Reality of Allah, and will be forced, by their new circumstances, to recognise the Truth and sing Allah's praises. And all will be surprised at the seemingly short flight of time since they had their little ephemeral life on this earth. They will now appraise its true worth.


Pickthall’s Version:

17: 49

Pickthall And they say: When we are bones and fragments, shall we, forsooth, be raised up as a new creation?

Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ a'iza_ kunna_ 'iza_maw wa rufa_tan a'inna_ lamab'u_su_na khalqan jadida_(n).

17: 50

Pickthall Say: Be ye stones or iron

Transliteration Qul ku_nu_ hija_ratan au hadida_(n),

17: 51

Pickthall Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life)? Say: He who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon;

Transliteration Au khalqam mimma_ yakburu fi sudu_rikum, fa sayaqu_lu_na may yu'iduna_, qulil lazi fatarakum awwala marrah(tin), fa sayungidu_na ilaika ru'u_sahum wa yaqu_lu_na mata_ huw(a), qul 'asa_ ayyaku_na qariba_(n).

17: 52

Pickthall A day when He will call you and ye will answer with His praise, and ye will think that ye have tarried but a little while.

Transliteration Yauma yad'u_kum fa tastajibu_na bi hamdihi wa tazunnu_na il labistum illa_ qalila_(n).

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23. Surah Al-Muminun

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:



وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى الْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾

23: 22. And on them, as well as in ships, ye ride.

Asad’s Version:

(23:22) and by them - as by the ships [over the sea) - you are borne [overland].

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34. Saba-(Sheba) Mecca 58 [54 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:


34:10. We bestowed Grace aforetime on David from Ourselves:

C3799. Cf. 21:79-80, and notes 2733-34.

David had the gift of song and sacred music, and this is shown in his Psalms.

All nature-hills and birds-sing and echo back the Praises of Allah.

... يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ...

"O ye Mountains! sing ye back the Praises of Allah with him!

and ye birds (also)!

... وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ ﴿١٠﴾

and We made the iron soft for Him --

C3800. Iron or steel is hard stuff: but in the hands of a craftsman it becomes soft and pliable, and with it can be made instruments for the defence of righteousness.

These, in the literal sense, are coats of mail, and defensive armour, and the manufacture of them is traditionally attributed to David. (R).

أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَابِغَاتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ...

34: 11. (Commanding),

"Make thou coats of mail, balancing well the rings of chain armor,

C3801. Coats of chain armour have to be made with cunning art, if the chains are to fit into each other and the whole garment is to be worn in comfort in fierce warfare.

... وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا...

and work ye righteousness;

C3802. Note the transition from the singular, "make them coats of mail", to the plural "and work ye righteousness".

The first is addressed to David, who was the artificer of defensive armour; and the second is addressed to him and his whole people. He made the armour, but it was to be worn not only by him but all the warriors. But he and all his people were to be careful to see that they did not deviate from the paths of righteousness.

Fighting is a dangerous weapon and may well degenerate (as it so often does) into mere violence. They were to see that this should not happen, and they were told that Allah was watching over them all with the personal solicitude implied in the singular pronoun "I".

... إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿١١﴾

for be sure I see (clearly) all that ye do."

Asad’s Version:


34:10

AND [thus], indeed, did We grace David with Our favour: 10 "O you mountains! Sing with him the praise of God! And [likewise] you birds!"" And We softened all sharpness in him, 12


(34:11) [and inspired him thus:] "Do good deeds lavishly, without stint, and give deep thought to their steady flow." 13 And [thus should you all, O believers,] do righteous deeds: for, verily, I see all that you do!



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57. Al-Hadid (Iron)

Medina Period [94

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ...

57: 25.   We sent aforetime our messengers with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice;

C5313. Three things are mentioned as gifts of Allah. In concrete terms they are;

which stand as emblems of three things which hold society together, viz.

For Balance, see also 42:17, and n. 4550.

...وَأَنزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ ...

and We sent down Iron,

C5314. "Sent down": anzala:

in the sense of revealed to man the use of certain things, created in him the capacity of understanding and using them: cf. 39:6: "sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs".

... فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ...

in which is (material for) mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind,

C5315. Iron: the most useful metal known to man. Out of it is made steel, and from steel and iron are made implements of war, such as swords, spears, guns, etc., as well as instruments of peace, such as ploughshares, bricklayers' trowels, architects' and engineers' instruments, etc.

Iron stands as the emblem of Strength, Power, Discipline, Law's sanctions, etc. Iron and steel industries have also been the foundation of the prosperity and power of modem manufacturing nations'. (R).

...وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ...

that Allah may test who it is that will help, unseen Him and His messengers;

C5316. In 21:49, I have translated "in their most secret thoughts" for the more literal "unseen" (bilgaibi). Perhaps the more literal "unseen" may do if understood in the adverbial sense; as explained in 35:18, n. 3902. The sincere man will help the Cause, whether he is seen or brought under notice or not.

C5317. To help Allah and His messengers is to help their Cause. It is to give men an opportunity of striving and fighting for His Cause and proving their true mettle, for thus is their spirit tested.

As explained in the next line, Allah in Himself is Full of Strength, Exalted in Power, and Able to enforce His Will, and He has no need of others' assistance.

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ ﴿٢٥﴾

for Allah is Full of Strength, exalted in Might (and able to enforce His will).

C5318. Cf. 22:40 and n. 2818.

"Strength" is specific: Power or Might is more abstract, the ability to enforce what is willed.

Asad’s Version:


57:25 Indeed, [even aforetime] did We send forth Our apostles with all evidence of [this] truth; and through them 41 We bestowed revelation from on high, and [thus gave you] a balance [wherewith to weigh right and wrong], so that men might behave with equity; and We bestowed [upon you] from on high [the ability to make use of] iron, in which there is awesome power as well as [a source of] benefits for man: 42 and [all this was given to you] so that God might mark out those who would stand up for him and His Apostle, 43 even though He [Himself] is beyond the reach of human perception. 44 Verily, God is powerful, almighty!




IRON


57: 25 …and He revealed Iron , wherein is mighty power and many uses for mankind,

Pickthall


57: 25 ….and We send down Iron in which is (material for) Mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind, ….Ali


57:25 …..and We bestowed (upon you) from on high (the ability to make use of) iron, in which there is awesome power as well as (a source of ) benefits for man: and (all this was given to you) so that God might mark out those who would stand up for him and His Apostle, even though He (Himself) is beyond the reach of human perception. Asad


[[ Asad’s notes - 41 Lit., "with them".


42 Side by side with enabling man to discriminate between right and wrong (which is the innermost purpose of all divine revelation), God has endowed him with the ability to convert to his use the natural resources of his earthly environment. An outstanding symbol of this ability is man's skill, unique among all animated beings, in making tools; and the primary material for all tool-making - and, indeed, for all human technology - is iron: the one metal which is found abundantly on earth, and which can be utilized for beneficial as well as destructive ends.


The "awesome power" (ba's shadid) inherent in iron manifests itself not merely in the manufacture of weapons of war but also, more subtly, in man's every-growing tendency to foster the development of an increasingly complicated technology which places the machine in the foreground of all human existence and which, by its inherent - almost irresistible - dynamism, gradually estranges man from all inner connection with nature.


This process of growing mechanization, so evident in our modern life, jeopardizes the very structure of human society and, thus, contributes to a gradual dissolution of all moral and spiritual perceptions epitomized in the concept of "divine guidance". It is to warn man of this danger that the Qur'an stresses - symbolically and metonymically - the potential evil (ba's) of "iron" if it is put to wrong use: in other words, the danger of man's allowing his echnological ingenuity to run wild and thus to overwhelm his spiritual consciousness and, ultimately, to destroy all possibility of individual and social happiness.



43 Lit., "those who succour Him and His Apostle", i.e., those who stand up for the cause of God and His Apostle. The meaning is that only they who put God's spiritual and material gifts to right use can be described as "true believers".


44 See note 3 on 2:3. ]]