Life and All Things Return to God
7. [al-Araf, Mecca 39]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
لأُقَطِّعَنَّ
أَيْدِيَكُمْ
وَأَرْجُلَكُم
مِّنْ
خِلاَفٍ
ثُمَّ
لأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ
أَجْمَعِينَ
﴿١٢٤﴾
7: 124. "Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides,
and I will cause you all to die on the cross."
قَالُواْ
إِنَّا
إِلَى
رَبِّنَا
مُنقَلِبُونَ
﴿١٢٥﴾
7: 125. They said:
"For us, we are but sent back unto our Lord.
Pickthall’s Version:
7: 124
Pickthall Surely I shall have your hands and feet cut off upon alternate sides. Then I shall crucify you every one.
Transliteration La uqatti'anna aidiyakum wa arjulakum min khila_fin summa la usallibannakum ajma'in(a).
7: 125
Pickthall They said: Lo! We are about to return unto our Lord!
Transliteration Qa_lu_ inna_ ila_ rabbina_ munqalibu_n(a).
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6. [al-Anam, Mecca 55]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّمَا
يَسْتَجِيبُ
الَّذِينَ
يَسْمَعُونَ
...
6: 36. Those who listen (in truth), be sure, will accept:
C857. There is a double meaning here.
- If people listen to truth sincerely and earnestly, they must believe; even if the spiritual faculty is dead, Allah will by His grace revive it and they will come to Him, if they really try earnestly to understand.
- The sincere will believe; but those whose hearts are dead will not listen, yet they cannot escape being brought to the Judgement Seat before Him.
... وَالْمَوْتَى يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللّهُ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾
as to the dead, Allah will raise them up: then will they be turned unto Him.
وَمَا
مِن دَآبَّةٍ
فِي الأَرْضِ
وَلاَ طَائِرٍ
يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ
إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ
أَمْثَالُكُم
...
6: 38. There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you.
C859. "Animals living on the earth" include those living in the water-fishes, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, as well as four-footed beasts. Life on the wing is separately mentioned.
"Tair," which is ordinarily translated as "bird," is anything that flies, including mammals like bats.
In our pride we may exclude animals from our purview, but they live a life, social ad individual, like ourselves, and all life is subject to the Plan and Will of Allah.
In 6:59 we are told that not a leaf falls but by His Will, and things dry and green are recorded in His Book. In other words they all obey His archetypal Plan, the Book which is also mentioned here.
They are all answerable in their several degrees to His Plan ("shall be gathered to their Lord in the end"). This is not Pantheism: it is ascribing all life, activity, and existence to the Will and Plan of Allah.
...مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ...
Nothing have We omitted from the Book,
... ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾
and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.
وَهُوَ
الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُم
بِاللَّيْلِ
وَيَعْلَمُ
مَا جَرَحْتُم
بِالنَّهَارِ...
6: 60. It is He Who doth take your souls by night, and hath knowledge of all that ye have done by day.
...ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَى أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى...
By day doth He raise you up again; that a term appointed be fulfilled;
...ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٦٠﴾
in the end unto Him will be your return, then will He show you the truth of all that ye did.
C881. As the rest of His Creation is subject to His Law and Plan, so is man's life in every particular and at every moment, awake or asleep.
The mystery of Sleep -"the twin brother of death"- is called the taking of our soul by Him, with the record of all we have done in our waking moments, and this record sometimes appears to us in confused glimpses in dreams. By day we awaken again to our activities, and so it goes on until we fulfil the term of our life appointed for this earth.
Then comes the other Sleep (death), with the longer record of our Day (Life); and then, in the end comes the Resurrection and Judgment, at which we see everything clearly and not as in dreams, for that is the final Reality.
وَهُوَ
الْقَاهِرُ
فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ
...
6: 61. He is the Irresistible, (watching) from above over his worshippers,
... وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُم حَفَظَةً...
and He sets guardians over you.
C882. Guardians: most commentators understand this to mean guardian angels. The idea of guardianship is expressed in a general term.
Allah watches over us and guards us, and provides all kinds of agencies, material, moral, and spiritual, to help our growth and development, keep us from harm, and bring us nearer to our Destiny.
...حَتَّىَ إِذَا جَاء أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا...
At length, when death approaches one of you, Our angels take his soul,
C883. Angel: the word used is rusul, the Sent Ones, -the same word as for human Messengers sent by Allah to teach mankind.
The agents who come to take our souls at death are accurate in the performance of their duty. They come neither before nor after their appointed time, nor do they do it in any manner other than that fixed by the Command of Allah.
...وَهُمْ لاَ يُفَرِّطُونَ ﴿٦١﴾
and they never fail in their duty.
ثُمَّ
رُدُّواْ إِلَى
اللّهِ مَوْلاَهُمُ
الْحَقِّ أَلاَ
لَهُ الْحُكْمُ
...
6: 62. Then are men returned unto Allah, their True Protector, the (only) reality:
Surely His is the Command?
C884. The only Reality: al-haqq, the Truth, the only True One.
The point is that our illusions of the life of this lower world now vanish, when we are rendered back to Allah, from Whom we came. And now we find that so far from the results of our actions being delayed, they follow more swiftly than we can express in terms of Time.
Here is the answer to the taunt of those who were impatient of the working of Allah's Plans (6:57-58). (R).
... وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ الْحَاسِبِينَ ﴿٦٢﴾
And He is the swiftest in taking account.
6: 36
Asad Only they who listen [with their hearts] can respond to a call; and as for the dead [of hearts], God [alone] can raise them from the dead, whereupon unto Him they shall return. [note 27]
Pickthall Only those can accept who hear. As for the dead, Allah will raise them up; then unto Him they will be returned.
Transliteration Innama_ yastajibul lazina yasma'a_n(a), wal mauta_ yab'asuhumulla_hu summa ilaihi yurja'u_n(a).
6: 38
Asad although there is no beast that walks on earth and no bird that flies on its two wings which is not [God’s] creature [note 30] like yourselves: no single thing have We neglected n Our decree. And once again [note 31]: Unto their Sustainer shall they [all] be gathered.
Pickthall There is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the Book (of Our decrees). Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.
Transliteration Wa ma_ min da_bbatin fil ardi wa la_ ta_'iriy yatiru bi jana_haihi illa_ umamun amsa_lukum, ma_ farratna_ fil kita_bi min syai'in summa ila_ rabbihim yuhsyaru_n(a).
6: 60
Asad And He it is who causes you to be [like] dead [note 50] at night, and knows what you work in daytime; and He brings you back to life each day [note 51] in order that a term set [by Him] be fulfilled. In the end, unto Him you must return; and then He will make you understand all that you were doing [in life].
Pickthall He it is Who gathereth you at night and knoweth that which ye commit by day. Then He raiseth you again to life therein, that the term appointed (for you) may be accomplished. And afterward unto Him is your return. Then He will proclaim unto you what ye used to do.
Transliteration Wa huwal lazi yatawaffa_kum bil laili wa ya'lamu ma_ jarahtum bin naha_ri summa yab'asukum fihi liyuqda_ ajalum musamma_(n), summa ilaihi marji'ukum summa yunabbi'ukum bima_ kuntum ta'malu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 50 – For a full explanation of the verb ‘tawaffa’ – lit., “he took [something] in full” – see note 44 on 39:42, which is the earliest instance of its use in the Quran.
note 51 – Lit., “therein” – referring to the daytime. The polarity of sleep and wakefulness contains an allusion to life and death (cf. 78:9 – 11). ]]
[[ Ali’s note - 881 As the rest of His Creation is subject to His Law and Plan, so is man's life in every particular and at every moment, awake or asleep. The mystery of Sleep-" the twin brother of death" - is called the taking of our soul by Him, with the record of all we have done in our waking moments, and this record sometimes appears to us in confused glimpses in dreams. By day we awaken again to our activities, and so it goes on until we fulfill the term of our life appointed for this earth. Then comes the other Sleep (death), with the longer record of our Day (Life); and then, in the end comes the Resurrection and Judgment, at which we see everything clearly and not as in dreams, for that is the final Reality. (6.60)]]
6: 61
Asad And He alone holds sway over His servants. And He sends forth heavenly forces to watch over you [note 52] until, when death approaches any of you, Our messengers cause him to die: and they do not over look [anyone].
Pickthall He is the Omnipotent over His slaves. He send guardians over you until, when death comes unto one of you, Our messengers receive him, and they neglect not.
Transliteration Wa huwal qa_hiru fauqa'iba_dihi wa yursilu 'alaikum hafazah(tan), hatta_ iza_ ja_'a ahadakumul mautu tawaffathu rusuluna_ wa hum la_ yufarritu_n(a).
6: 62
Asad And they [who have died] are thereupon brought before God, their true Lord Supreme. Oh, verily, His alone is all judgment: and He is the swiftest of all reckoners!
Pickthall Then are they restored unto Allah, their Lord, the Just. Surely His is the judgment. And He is the most swift of reckoners.
Transliteration Summa ruddu_ ilalla_hi maula_humul haqq(i),ala_ lahul hukmu wa huwa asra'ul ha_sibin(a).
[[ Asad’s note 52 –Lit., “sends forth guardians over you”. ]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 882 Guardians: most commentators understand this to mean guardian angels. The idea of guardianship is expressed in a general term. God watches over us and guards us, and provides all kinds of agencies, material, moral, and spiritual, to help our growth and development, keep us from harm, and bring us nearer to our Destiny. (6.61)
883 Angel: the word used is rusul, the Sent Ones, -the same word as for human Apostles and Messengers sent by God to teach mankind. The agents who come to take our souls at death are accurate in the performance of their duty. They come neither before nor after their appointed time, nor do they do it in any manner other than that fixed by the Command of God. (6.61)
884 The only Reality: al-haqq, the Truth, the only True One. The point is that our illusions of the life of this lower world now vanish, when we are rendered back to God, from Whom we came. And now we find that so far from the results of our actions being delayed, they follow more swiftly than we can express in terms of Time. Here is the answer to the taunt of those who were impatient of the working of God's Plans (vi. 57-58). (6.62) ]]
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8. [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2H]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ
اسْتَجِيبُواْ
لِلّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ
إِذَا دَعَاكُم
لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ...
8: 24. O ye who believe!
give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life;
C1196. There are two points to note.
1. Note that after Allah and His Messenger are mentioned, the pronoun and verb in the next clause are singular:
everything that Allah's Messenger put forward as an injunction came by inspiration from Allah:
the Messenger made his will coincide completely with Allah's will.
2. We are asked actively to give our response in deed and life to the call of duty and conscience, for that call leads to real life, the life eternal, even though it may apparently mean in this world the loss of things that make life dear or the loss of life itself.
If we refer this to Jihad, i.e., fighting in and for the Cause, both literally and metaphorically, the meaning becomes quite clear.
...وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ...
and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart,
C1197. If the human heart is refractory and refuses to obey the call of Allah, that is not the end of the matter. Allah has to be reckoned with. The refusal may be because there was some pet human scheme which the heart of man was not willing to give up for Allah's Cause.
Will that scheme come to fruition by refusing to serve the higher Cause?
By no means. Man proposes, but God disposes.
If the scheme or motive was perfectly secret from men, it was not secret from Allah. The heart is the innermost seat of man's affections and desires: but Allah intervenes between man and his heart. (R).
...وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾
and that it is He to whom ye shall (all) be gathered.
Asad’s Version:
8: 24
Asad …….and know that God intervenes between man and [the desires of] his heart, [note 24] and that unto Him you shall be gathered.
Pickthall O ye who believe; Obey Allah, and the messenger when He calleth you to that which quickeneth you, and know that Allah cometh in between the man and his own heart, and that He it is unto Whom ye will be gathered.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manustajibu_ lilla_hi wa lirrasu_li iza_ da'a_kum lima_ yuhyikum, wa'lamu_ annalla_ha yahu_lu bainal mar'i wa qalbihi wa annahu_ ilaihi tuhsyaru_n(a).
===================================
10. [Yunus, Mecca 51]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَلَمَّا
أَنجَاهُمْ
إِذَا هُمْ
يَبْغُونَ فِي
الأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ
الْحَقِّ...
10: 23. But when He delivereth them, Behold! they transgress insolently through the earth in defiance of right!
...يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُم...
O mankind!
your insolence is against your own souls --
C1411. In our insolence and pride we do not see how small and ephemeral is that part of us which is mortal. We shall see it at last when we appear before our Judge. In the meantime our ridiculous pretensions only hurt ourselves.
...مَّتَاعَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...
an enjoyment of the life of the Present:
...ثُمَّ إِلَينَا مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَنُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾
in the end, to Us is your return, and We shall show you the truth of all that ye did.
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ
كَأَن لَّمْ
يَلْبَثُواْ
إِلاَّ سَاعَةً
مِّنَ النَّهَارِ ...
10: 45. One day He will gather them together:
(it will be) as if they had tarried but an hour of a day:
C1436. In eternity our life on this earth will look as if it had been just a little part of our little day, and so also will appear any interval between our death and the call to Judgment.
... يَتَعَارَفُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ...
they will recognize each other:
C1437. We shall retain some perception of our mutual relations on earth, so that the righteous judgment which will be pronounced will be intelligible to us, and we shall be convinced of its righteousness.
...قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِلِقَاء اللّهِ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾
assuredly those will be lost who denied the meeting with Allah and refused to receive true guidance.
وَإِمَّا
نُرِيَنَّكَ
بَعْضَ الَّذِي
نَعِدُهُمْ
أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ...
10: 46. Whether We show thee (realized in thy lifetime) some part of what We promise them -- or We take thy soul (to Our Mercy)
...فَإِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ ثُمَّ اللّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَى مَا يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٤٦﴾
(before that) -- in any case, to Us is their return:
ultimately Allah is witness to all that they do.
C1438. The Prophet is assured that the end of evil is evil, just as the end of good is good. Whether this result is made plain before his very eyes in his own life-time or afterwards, makes no difference.
The wicked should not rejoice if they are given rope and seem to have the upper hand for a time, nor should the righteous lose heart: for Allah's promise is sure and must come to pass.
And in any case, the scales can only be partially, if at all, adjusted in this life. There is the final and complete adjustment on the Day of Judgment. Allah is All-Knowing, and all truth will be before Him.
أَلا إِنَّ
لِلّهِ مَا فِي
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضِ...
10: 55. Is it not (the case) that to Allah belongeth whatever is in the heavens and on earth?
...أَلاَ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾
Is it not (the case) that Allah's promise is assuredly true?
Yet most of them understand not.
هُوَ
يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ
وَإِلَيْهِ
تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٥٦﴾
10: 56. Is it He Who giveth life and who taketh it, and to Him shall ye all be brought back.
Other Versions:
10: 23
Pickthall Yet when He hath delivered them, behold! they rebel in the earth wrongfully. O mankind! Your rebellion is only against yourselves. (Ye have) enjoyment of the life of the world; then unto Us is your return and We shall proclaim unto you what ye used to do.
Transliteration Falamma_ anja_hum iza_ hum yabgu_na fil ardi bi gairil haqq(i), ya_ ayyuhan na_su innama_ bagyukum 'ala_ anfusikum mata_'al haya_tid dunya_, summa ilaina_ marji'ukum fanunabbi'ukum bima_ kuntum ta'malu_n(a).
10: 45
Pickthall And on the day when He shall gather them together, (when it will seem) as though they had tarried but an hour of the day, recognizing one another, those will verily have perished who denied the meeting with Allah and were not guided.
Yuksel The day We gather them, it will be as if they have slept for only a moment of a day. They will get to know one another. Losers are those who denied meeting God, and they were not guided.
Transliteration Wa yauma yahsyuruhum ka allam yalbasu_ illa_ sa_'atam minan naha_ri yata'a_rafu_na bainahum, qad khasiral lazina kazzabu_ bi liqa_'illa_hi wa ma_ ka_nu_ muhtadin(a).
10: 46
Pickthall Whether We let thee (O Muhammad) behold something of that which We promise them or (whether We) cause thee to die, still unto Us is their return, and Allah, moreover, is Witness over what they do.
Yuksel Whether We show you some of what We promise them, or We let you pass away, then to Us is their return and God is witness over what they do.
Transliteration Wa imma_ nuriyannaka ba'dal lazi na'iduhum au natawaffayannaka fa ilaina_ marji'uhum summalla_hu syahidun 'ala_ ma_ yaf'alu_n(a).
10: 55
Pickthall Lo! verily all that is in the heavens and the earth is Allah's. Lo! verily Allah's promise is true. But most of them know not.
Transliteration Ala_ inna lilla_hi ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), ala_ inna wa'dalla_hi haqquw wa la_kinna aksarahum la_ ya'lamu_n(a).
10: 56
Pickthall He quickeneth and giveth death, and unto Him ye will be returned.
Transliteration Huwa yuhyi wa yumitu wa ilaihi turja'u_n(a).
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11. Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلاَ
يَنفَعُكُمْ
نُصْحِي إِنْ
أَرَدتُّ أَنْ
أَنصَحَ لَكُمْ
إِن كَانَ اللّهُ
يُرِيدُ أَن
يُغْوِيَكُمْ...
11: 34. "Of no profit will be my counsel to you, much as I desire to give you (good) counsel, if it be that Allah willeth to leave you astray:
C1527. But Noah's heart bleeds for his people. They are preparing their own undoing! All his efforts are to be vain! Obstinate as they are, Allah's grace must be withdrawn, and then who can help them, and what use is any counsel?
But again he will try to remind them of their Lord, and turn their face to Him. For their ultimate return to His judgment-seat is certain, to answer for their conduct.
...هُوَ رَبُّكُمْ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾
He is your Lord! and to Him will ye return!"
Other Versions:
11: 34
Asad For, my advice will not benefit you- if it be God’s will that you shall remain lost in grievous error. He is your Sustainer, and unto Him you must return.”
Pickthall My counsel will not profit you if I were minded to advise you, if Allah's will is to keep you astray. He is your lord and unto Him ye will be brought hack.
Transliteration Wa la_ yanfa'ukum nushi in arattu an ansaha lakum in ka_nalla_hu yuridu ay yugwiyakum, huwa rabbukum, wa ilaihi turja'u_n(a).