GOD’S WILL

قَالَ اللّهُ هَذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ ...

5: 119. Allah will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth:

... لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا...

theirs are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, their eternal home:

... رَّضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُواْ عَنْهُ ...

Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah:

... ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿١١٩﴾

that is the great Salvation, (the fulfillment of all desires)."

C833. Fauz: Felicity, happiness, achievement, salvation, the attainment or fulfilment of desires.

What a beautiful definition of salvation or the end of life! -that we should win Allah's good pleasure and that we should reach the stage at which His good pleasure is all-in-all to us.

لِلّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ ...

5: 120. To Allah doth belong the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein,

... وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١٢٠﴾

and it is He who hath power over all things.

Asad’s Version:

5: 18 And the Jews and the Christians say, “We are God’s children, and His beloved ones,” Say: “Why, then, does He cause you to suffer for your sins? Nay, you are but human beings of His creating. He forgives whom He wills, and He causes to suffer whom He wills: for God’s is the dominion over the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and with Him is all journeys’ end.”

5:119 [And on Judgment Day] God will say: “ Today, their truthfulness shall benefit all who have been true to their word: theirs shall be gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide beyond the count of time; well-pleased is God with them, and well-pleased are they with Him: this is the triumph supreme.”

5: 120 God’s is the dominion over the heavens and the earth and all that they contain: and He has the power to will anything.

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6. [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُل لِّمَن مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...

6: 12. Say: "To whom belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth?"

قُل لِلّهِ...

Say:

"To Allah.

كَتَبَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ ...

He hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy

C844. History, travel, human experience, all prove the Mercy of Allah and the law that without it those who reject Truth tend to lose their own souls and destroy themselves.

... لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ...

that He will gather you together for the Day of Judgment, there is no doubt whatever.

...الَّذِينَ خَسِرُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٢﴾

It is they who have lost their own souls, that will not believe.

وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا صُمٌّ وَبُكْمٌ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ...

6: 39. Those who reject Our Signs are deaf and dumb, in the midst of darkness profound:

C860. The limited free will of man makes a little difference. If he sees the Signs but shuts his ears to the true Message, and refuses (like a dumb thing) to speak out the Message which all Nature proclaims, then according to the Plan ( of his limited free-will) he must suffer and wander, just as, in the opposite case, he will receive grace and salvation.

...مَن يَشَإِ اللّهُ يُضْلِلْهُ وَمَن يَشَأْ يَجْعَلْهُ عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٣٩﴾

whom Allah willeth, He leaveth to wander,

whom He willeth, He placeth on the way that is straight.

Asad’s Version:

6: 12

Asad Say “Unto whom belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth?” Say: “ Unto God, who has willed upon Himself the law of grace and mercy.” (See Asd note 10)

6: 39

Asad ….Whomever God wills, He lets go astray; and whomever He wills, He places upon a straight path [note 32]

Pickthall Those who deny our revelations are deaf and dumb in darkness. Whom Allah will He sendeth astray, and whom He will He placeth on a straight path.

Transliteration Wallazina kazabu_ bi a_ya_tina_ summuw wa bukmun fiz zuluma_t(i), may yasya'illa_hu yudlilhu wa may yasya' yaj'alhu 'ala_ sira_tim mustaqim(in).

[[ Asad’s note 32 – See note 4 on 14:4]]

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9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِن تُصِبْكَ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ ...

9: 50.  If good befalls thee, it grieves them;

...وَإِن تُصِبْكَ مُصِيبَةٌ يَقُولُواْ قَدْ أَخَذْنَا أَمْرَنَا مِن قَبْلُ...

but if a misfortune befalls thee, they say,

"We took indeed our precautions beforehand,"

...وَيَتَوَلَّواْ وَّهُمْ فَرِحُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾  

and they turn away rejoicing.

قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَا إِلاَّ مَا كَتَبَ اللّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلاَنَا...   

9: 51.  Say:

"Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us:

He is our Protector":

...وَعَلَى اللّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٥١﴾  

and on Allah let the believers put their trust.

Pickthall’s Version:

9: 50

Pickthall If good befalleth thee (O Muhammad) it afflicteth them, and if calamity befalleth thee, they say: We took precaution, and they turn away well pleased.

Transliteration In tusibka hasanatun tasu'hum, wa in tusibka musibatuy yaqu_lu_ qad akhazna_ amrana_ min qablu wa yatawallau wa hum farihu_n(a).

9: 51

Pickthall Say: Naught befalleth us save that which Allah hath decreed for us. He is our protecting Friend. In Allah let believers put their trust!

Transliteration Qul lay yusibana_ illa_ ma_ kataballa_hu lana_, huwa maula_na_ wa 'alalla_hi falyatawakkalil mu'minu_n(a).

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11. Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ إِلاَّ مَا شَاء رَبُّكَ...   

11: 107.They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as thy Lord willeth:

C1608. Khalidin: This is the word which is usually translated "dwell for ever" or "dwell for aye".

Here it is definitely connected with two conditions, viz:

-        as long as the heavens and the earth endure, and

-        except as Allah wills.

Some Muslim theologians deduce from this the conclusion that the penalties referred to are not eternal, because the heavens and the earth as we see them are not eternal, and the punishments for the deeds of a life that will end should not be such as will never end.

The majority of Muslim theologians reject this view. They hold that the heavens and the earth here referred to are not those we see now, but others that will be eternal. They agree that Allah's Will is unlimited in scope and power, but that it has willed that the rewards and punishments of the Day of Judgment will be eternal.

This is not the place to enter into this tremendous controversy.

...إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ ﴿١٠٧﴾  

for thy Lord is the (sure) Accomplisher of what He planneth.

Other Versions:

11: 107

Asad Therein to abide as long as the heavens and the earth endure-unless thy Sustainer wills it otherwise: [see asad note 134] verily, thy sustainer is a Sovereign doer of whatever He wills.

Pickthall Abiding there so long as the heavens and the earth endure save for that which thy Lord willeth. Lo! thy Lord is Doer of what He will.

Transliteration Kha_lidina fiha_ ma_ da_matis sama_wa_tu wal ardu illa_ ma_ sya_'a rabbuk(a), inna rabbaka fa''a_lul lima_ yurid(u).

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14. Surah Ibrahim

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَثلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ...   

14: 26.  And the parable of an evil Word is that of an evil tree.

...اجْتُثَّتْ مِن فَوْقِ الأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ ﴿٢٦﴾

It is torn up by the root, from the surface of the earth:

it has no stability.

C1902. The evil tree is the opposite of the goodly tree. The parallelism of contrast can be followed out in all the details of the last note.

يُثَبِّتُ اللّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ...   

14: 27.  Allah will establish in strength those who believe, with the Word that stands firm, in this world and in the Hereafter;

...وَيُضِلُّ اللّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ...

but Allah will leave, to stray, those who do wrong:

...وَيَفْعَلُ اللّهُ مَا يَشَاء ﴿٢٧﴾

Allah doeth what He willeth.

C1903. His Will and Plan may be above comprehension, but will prevail over all things. It is not like the will of man, who may plan good things but is not necessarily able to carry them out.

Other Versions:

14: 26

Pickthall And the similitude of a bad saying is as a bad tree, uprooted from upon the earth, possessing no stability.

Transliteration Wa masalu kalimatin khabisatin ka syajaratin khabisatin-ijtussat min fauqil ardi ma_ laha_ minqara_r(in).

14: 27

Asad God grants firmness unto those who have attained to faith through the word that is unshakable true in the life of this world as well as in the life to come; but the wrongdoers He lets go astray: for God does whatever He wills.

Pickthall Allah confirms those who believe by a firm saying in the life of the world and in the Hereafter, and Allah sends wrongdoers astray. And Allah doeth what He will.

Transliteration Yusabbitulla_hul lazina a_manu_ bil qaulis sa_biti fil haya_tid dunya_ wa fil a_khirah(ti), wa yudillulla_huz za_limin(a), wa yaf'alulla_hu ma_ yasya_'(u).

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17. Surah Al Isra

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version: 

رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ...   

17: 54.  It is your Lord that knoweth you best:

...إِن يَشَأْ يَرْحَمْكُمْ أَوْ إِن يَشَأْ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ...

if He please, He granteth you mercy, or if He please, punishment:

C2239. Man should never for a single moment entertain a thought that would imply that he was wiser than Allah. Allah's knowledge is all-embracing. If He grants mercy to some that you consider wicked or punishment to some that you consider righteous, it is your knowledge or your deductions that are at fault, not Allah's righteous Plan.

Even Prophets of Allah are not sent to arrange or dispose of men's affairs, but only to teach Allah's Message. How much less can ordinary men presume to judge other men?

The Mashiyat -Will and Plan of Allah- is above all human wisdom. (R).

...وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلاً ﴿٥٤﴾

We have not sent thee to be a disposer of their affairs for them.

Other Versions:

17: 54

Asad Your Sustainer is fully aware of what you are: if He so wills, he will bestow [His] Grace upon you; and if He so wills, He will chastise you. Hence, We have not sent you with the power to determine their fate,

Pickthall Your Lord is best aware of you. If He will, He will have mercy on you, or if He will, He will punish you. We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) as a warden over them.

Transliteration Rabbukum a'lamu bikum, iy yasya' yarhamkum au iy yasya' yu'azzibkum, wa ma_ arsalna_ka 'alaihim wakila_(n).

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22. [al-Hajj, Mecca-Medina 103]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ وَالنُّجُومُ ...

22: 18.  Seest thou not that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth -- the sun, the moon, the stars;

C2790. Cf. 21:79, and n. 2733.

All created things, animate and inanimate, depend on Allah for their existence, and this dependence can be construed as their Sajdah or bowing down in worship.

Their very existence proclaims their dependence. How can they be objects of worship?

 ...وَالْجِبَالُ وَالشَّجَرُ وَالدَّوَابُّ...

the hills, the trees, the animals;

 ...وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنَ النَّاسِ...

and a great number among mankind?

...وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابُ...

But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment:

For haqqa in this verse. Cf. 15:64, n. 1990.

...وَمَن يُهِنِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ...

and such as Allah shall disgrace -- none can rise to honor:

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاء ﴿١٨﴾

for Allah carries out all that He wills.

C2791. Cf. 22:16. There the argument was that those who work in harmony with Allah's Law and Will will get their reward, for Allah always carries out His Plan.

Here is the Parallel argument: those who defy Allah's Will must suffer pain and disgrace, for Allah is well able to carry out His Will.

Other Versions:

22: 18

Asad Art thou not aware that before God prostrate themselves all [things and beings] that are in the heavens and all that are on earth (21) – the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the beasts?

And many human beings (22) [submit to God consciously], whereas many [others, having defied Him,] will inevitably have to suffer (23) [in the life to come]; and he whom God shall scorn [on Resurrection Day] will have none who could bestow honor on him; for, verily, God does what He wills.

Pickthall Hast thou not seen that unto Allah payeth adoration whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many of mankind, while there are many unto whom the doom is justly due. He whom Allah scorneth, there is none to give him honor. Lo! Allah doeth what He will.

Transliteration Alam tara an nal la_ha yasjudu lahu_ man fis sama_wa_ti wa man fil ardi was samsu wal qamaru wan nuju_ mu wal jiba_lu was sajaru wad dawa_b bu wa kasirum minan na_s wa kasirun haq qa 'alaihil aza_b wa may yuhinil la_hu fama_ lahu_ mim mukrim in nal la_ha yaf'alu ma_ yasya_

[Ali’s notes: 2790 Cf. xxi. 79, and n. 2733. All created things, animate and inanimate, depend on Allah for their existence, and this dependence can be construed as their Sajda or bowing down in worship. Their very existence proclaims their dependence. How can they be objects of worship? For haqqa in this verse. Cf. xv. 64, n. 1990. (22.18)

2791 Cf. xxii, 16. There the argument was that those who work in harmony with Allah's Law and Will will get their reward, for Allah always carries out His Plan. Here is the Parallel argument: those who defy Allah's Will must suffer pain and disgrace, for Allah is well able to carry out His Will. (22.18) ]

[ Asad’s note 21: For the meaning of this “prostration” see 13:15 and 16:48-49, …….My rendering of the relative pronoun “man”, in this context, as “ all [things and beings] that …” is explained in note 33 on 13:15]

[Asad’s note 22: According to Zamakhshari and Razi, ………….the purport beign that although everything in creation “prostrates itself” before God, willingly or unwillingly (cf. 13:15), not all human beings do so consciously.]

[Asad’s note 23: Lit., “whereas upon many a one the suffering ……..has become unavoidably incumbent (haqqa alayhi)”………]

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24. [an-Nur, Medina 102]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

24:45

...يَخْلُقُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاء...

Allah creates what He wills:

C3023. In Allah's Will and Plan, the variety of forms and habits among animals is adapted to their various modes of life and stages of biological evolution.

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٤٥﴾

for verily Allah has power over all things.

Other Versions:

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6. [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل رَّبُّكُمْ ذُو رَحْمَةٍ وَاسِعَةٍ...

6: 147. If they accuse thee of falsehood, say:

"Your Lord is full of Mercy All-embracing;

...وَلاَ يُرَدُّ بَأْسُهُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿١٤٧﴾

but from people in guilt never will His wrath be turned back.

سَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ لَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا أَشْرَكْنَا وَلاَ آبَاؤُنَا وَلاَ حَرَّمْنَا مِن شَيْءٍ...

6: 148. Those who give partners to Allah will say,

"If Allah had wished, we should not have given partners to Him, nor would our father;

nor should we have had any taboos."

C972. As used by the Pagans, the argument is false, for it implies;

a. that men have no personal responsibility,

b. that they are the victims of a Determinism against which they are helpless, and

c. that they might therefore go on doing just what they liked.

It is also inconsistent, for if (b) is true, (c) cannot be true. Nor is it meant to be taken seriously.

...كَذَلِكَ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم حَتَّى ذَاقُواْ بَأْسَنَا...

So did their ancestors argue falsely, until they tasted of Our wrath.

...قُلْ هَلْ عِندَكُم مِّنْ عِلْمٍ فَتُخْرِجُوهُ لَنَا...

Say:

"Have ye any (certain) Knowledge?

If so, produce it before us.

...إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ أَنتُمْ إَلاَّ تَخْرُصُونَ ﴿١٤٨﴾

Ye follow nothing but conjecture:

Ye do nothing but lie."

قُلْ فَلِلّهِ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ ...

6: 149. Say:

"With Allah is the argument that reaches home:

C973. On the other hand, the argument cuts true and deep, as from Allah to His creatures.

Allah is Omnipotent, and can do all that we can conceive. But He, in His Plan, has given man some responsibility, and some choice in order to train man's will. If man fails, he is helped in various ways by Allah's mercy and grace. But man cannot go on sinning, and in a state of sin, expect Allah to be pleased with him (6:147).

... فَلَوْ شَاء لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿١٤٩﴾

if it had been his will, he could indeed have guided you all."

قُلْ هَلُمَّ شُهَدَاءكُمُ الَّذِينَ يَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ اللّهَ حَرَّمَ هَـذَا...

6: 150. Say:

"Bring forward your witnesses to prove that Allah did forbid so and so."

...فَإِن شَهِدُواْ فَلاَ تَشْهَدْ مَعَهُمْ...

If they bring such witnesses, be not thou amongst them:

C974. The Pagan superstitions were of course baseless, and in many cases harmful and debasing. If Allah's name was taken as supporting them, no true man of God could be taken in, or join in support simply because Allah's name was taken in vain.

...وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاء الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا...

nor follow thou the vain desires of such as treat Our Signs as falsehoods,

...وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآخِرَةِ وَهُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ ﴿١٥٠﴾

and such as believe not in the Hereafter:

for they hold others as equal with their Guardian-Lord.

C975. Cf. 6:1.

Allah, who created and who cherishes and cares for all, should have the first claim on our attention. Those who set up false gods fail to understand Allah's true governance of their own true destiny.

Other Versions:

6: 147

Asad And if they give thee the lie [note 140], say: “Limitless is your Sustainer in His grace; but His punishment shall not be averted from people who are lost in sin.”

Pickthall So if they give the lie to thee (Muhammad), say: Your Lord is a Lord of all embracing mercy, and His wrath will never be withdrawn from guilty folk.

Transliteration Fa in kazzabu_ka faqur rabbukum zu_ rahmatiw wa_si'ah(tin), wa la_ yuraddu ba'suhu_ 'anil qaumil mujrimin(a).

[[Ruby’s note – Here the predestination is refuted. God is all mighty and therefore can override human will and events. However He willingly allow human will to dictate in some limited way. A human will cannot dictate the universe but can dictate his/her many choices and actions. A human is responsible only up to the limit of his/her ability and freedom that God has given humans. This declaration is confirming both God’s overriding omnipotent power at the same time human’s limited power and responsibility. A human would bear the consequences of his/he choices only for what, how and when he/she can choose.] And one he/she cannot avoid this responsibility by saying that he/she does not have really any choice it is God’s will that dictates everything. The truth is that God wills a choice for man and he exercises that choice and then he cannot absolve the responsibility. However, he may not know the exact limitation and how his/her free will works with the greater overriding Will of God. A human operates within that unknowable factor accepting the knowable responsibility that there is a limited free will. How limited it is, is not known.]]

6: 148

Asad ……….” Had God so willed, we would not have ascribed divinity to aught but Him, nor would our forefathers………….” Even so did those who lived before them give the lie to the truth [note 141] – until they came to taste Our punishment! Say: “Have you any [certain] knowledge which you could proffer to us? You follow but [other people’s] conjectures, and you yourselves do nothing but guess.”

Pickthall They who are idolaters will say: Had Allah willed, we had not ascribed (unto Him) partners neither had our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught. Thus did those who were before them give the lie (to Allah's messengers) till they tasted of the fear of Us. Say: Have ye any knowledge that ye can adduce for us? Lo! ye follow naught but an opinion. Lo! ye do but guess.

Transliteration Sayaqu_lul lazina asyraku_ lau sya_'alla_hu ma_ asyrakna_ wa la_ a_ba_'una_ wa la_ harramna_ min syai'(in), kaza_lika kazzabal lazina min qablihim hatta_ za_qu_ ba'sana_, qul hal 'indakum min 'ilmin fa tukhriju_hu lana_, in tattabi'u_na illaz zanna wa in antum illa_ takhrusu_n(a).

[[ Asad’s note 141 – I.e., the truth that God has endowed man with the ability to choose between right and wrong. The above verse constitute a categorical rejection of the doctrine of “predestination” in the commonly-accepted sense of this term.]]

6: 149

Asad Say: “[Know,] then, that the final evidence [of all truth] rests with God alone; and had He so willed, He would have guided you all right.” [Note 143]

Pickthall Say--For Allah's is the final argument--Had He willed He could indeed have guided all of you.

Transliteration Qul fa lilla_hil hujjatul ba_ligah(tu), fa lau sya_'a lahada_kum ajma'in(a).

6: 150

Pickthall Say: Come, bring your witnesses who can bear witness that Allah forbade (all) this. And if they bear witness, do not thou bear witness with them. Follow thou not the whims of those who deny Our revelations, those who believe not in the Hereafter and deem (others) equal with their Lord.

Transliteration Qul halumma syuhada_'akumul lazina yasyhadu_na annalla_ha harrama ha_za_, fa in syahidu_ fala_ tasyhad ma'ahum, wa la_ tattabi' ahwa_'al lazina kazzabu_ bi a_ya_tina_ wallazina la_ yu'minu_na bil a_khirati wa hum bi rabbihim ya'dilu_n(a).

[[ Asad’s note – In other words, the real relationship between God’s knowledge of the future ……on the one side, and man’s free will, on the other – two proposition which, on the face of it, seem to contradict one another – is beyond man’s comprehension;…………Had God so willed, every being would have been forced to live righteously; but this would have amounted to depriving man of his free will, and morality of all its meaning.]]

[[ Ruby’s note – Re: Asad’s note above – both of these propositions are not exclusive of each other and failing to comprehension is due to our limitation of capacity to know. We do not know exactly how man’s limited free will works within God’s overriding greater Will. We do not know exactly when, how and where man’s will is limited and therefore responsible. Only God knows that and therefore only God can judge man. The exclusive right to judge a man as to the total worth of a life belong to God: trespassing this limit would be a transgression on the part of a human. Even though a human does not know the exact relationship and working of his/her free will nonetheless he/she must know that it exists and take responsibility of it to the best of his/her ability and seek constant guidance from God about it. A human in order to be right and righteous therefore is dependant on God’s guidance. This is expounded through the famous prayer which seeks God’s guidance in knowing what is within one’s power to change and what is not and to have the wisdom to know the difference. That prayer manifests the true spirit of truth and spirituality. It manifests the spirit of the limited free will of a human being without knowing where, how and when it ends and God’s greater Will take over. This unknowable factor is a human limitation that a human must accept and work within. ]]

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25. Surah Al Furqan

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي إِن شَاء جَعَلَ لَكَ خَيْرًا مِّن ذَلِكَ جَنَّاتٍ...

25: 10. Blessed is He Who, if that were His will, could give thee better (things) than those -- Gardens

C3064. Cf. above, 25:1.

The reminiscent phrase shows that the first argument, about the Revelation and Prophethood, is completed, and we now pass on to the contrast, the fate of the rejecters of both.

... تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَيَجْعَل لَّكَ قُصُورًا ﴿١٠﴾

beneath which rivers flow; and He could give thee Palaces (secure to dwell in).

C3065. This phrase is usually symbolized of the Bliss in the Hereafter. If it were Allah's Plan, He could give his Messengers complete felicity and power in this life also. Instead of being persecuted, mocked, driven out of their homes, and having to exert their utmost powers of body, mind, and character to plant the flag of Truth in an unbelieving world, they could have lived in ease and security. But that would not have given the real lessons they came to teach struggling humanity by their example.

Asad’s Version:

(25:10) Hallowed is He who, if it be His will, shall give thee something better than that (whereof they speak] - gardens through which running waters flow - and shall assign to thee mansions (of bliss in the life to come].

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57. Sura al-Hadid [Iron]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ ...

57: 2.    To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; it is He Who gives life and Death;

وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٢﴾

and He has Power over all things.

Asad’s Version:

57: 2 …..He has the power to will anything.