9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
الْمُنَافِقُونَ
وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ
بَعْضُهُم مِّن
بَعْضٍ...
9: 67. The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other:
C1324. Literally, "the Hypocrites... are of each other".
The forms of hypocrisy may vary, but they are all alike, and they understand each other's hypocrisy. They hold together.
...يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ...
they enjoin evil, and forbid what in just, and are close with their hands.
C1325. The English phrase "close-fisted" would cover only a part of the meaning.
The hand is the symbol of power, help, and assistance. This may be financial, or it may be in other ways.
The Hypocrites pretend a great deal, but are of no use or real help to any one.
...نَسُواْ اللّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ...
They have forgotten Allah; so He hath forgotten them.
They ignore Allah: and Allah will ignore them.
...إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾
Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse.
وَعَدَ الله
الْمُنَافِقِينَ
وَالْمُنَافِقَاتِ
وَالْكُفَّارَ
نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ
خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا...
9: 68. Allah hath promised the Hypocrites, men and women, and the rejecters of faith, the fire of hell:
therein shall they dwell:
...هِيَ حَسْبُهُمْ...
sufficient is it for them:
...وَلَعَنَهُمُ اللّهُ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ ﴿٦٨﴾
for them is the curse of Allah, and an enduring punishment,
C1327. "Curse," here as elsewhere, is deprivation of grace and mercy, brought about by the rejection of Allah by the Unbelievers.
كَالَّذِينَ
مِن قَبْلِكُمْ
كَانُواْ أَشَدَّ
مِنكُمْ قُوَّةً
وَأَكْثَرَ
أَمْوَالاً
وَأَوْلاَدًا...
9: 69. As in the case of those before you:
they were mightier than you in power and more flourishing in wealth and children.
...فَاسْتَمْتَعُواْ بِخَلاقِهِمْ فَاسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِخَلاَقِكُمْ كَمَا اسْتَمْتَعَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ...
They had their enjoyment of their portion: and ye have of yours, as did those before you;
...بِخَلاَقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَالَّذِي خَاضُواْ...
and ye indulge in idle talk as they did.
...أُوْلَـئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الُّدنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ...
They! their works are fruitless in this world and in the hereafter,
...وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ ﴿٦٩﴾
and they will lose (all spiritual good).
أَلَمْ
يَأْتِهِمْ
نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ
مِن قَبْلِهِمْ
قَوْمِ نُوحٍ
وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ...
9: 70. Hath not the story reached them of those before them?
The people of Noah, and Ad, and Thamud;
C1328. The story:
- of Noah is told in 7:59-64:
- of 'Ad in 7:65-72; and
- of Thamud in 7:73-79;
- of Abraham in numerous places, but see specially 6:74-82;
- of Midianites in 7:85-93; and
- of Lut and the Cities of the Plain overthrown for their wickedness, in 7:80-84.
...وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وِأَصْحَابِ مَدْيَنَ ...
the people of Abraham,
the men of Madyan,
C1329. In the case of Noah and Abraham, the word I have translated as "people of..." is qaum:
these prophets were messengers each to his own people or nation, as was also Hud to the 'Ad people and Salih to the Thamud people.
The word used for the Midianites is Ashabi Madyan, which I have translated "men of Midian" for want of a better word.
The Midianites were for the greater part of their history nomads, with pasture grounds but no settled territory or town. The town of Madyan on the Gulf of 'Aqaba refers to much later times when the Midianites as a people had ceased to count.
See n. 1053 to 7:85.
... وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَاتِ...
and the cities overthrown.
C1330. The Cities of Plain, Sodom and Gomorrah, to whom Lut preached in vain to desist from their abominations: 7:80-84.
...أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ...
To them came their Messengers with clear signs.
...فَمَا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـكِن كَانُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾
It is not Allah who wrongs them, but they wrong their own souls.
9: 67
Asad The hypocrites, both men and women, are all of a kind: they enjoin the doing of what is wrong and forbid the doing of what is right [note 94], and withhold their hands [from doing good]. They are oblivious of God, and so He is oblivious of them. Verily, the hypocrites – it is they, they who are truly iniquitous! [note 95]
Pickthall The hypocrites, both men and women, proceed one from another. They enjoin the wrong, and they forbid the right, and they withhold their hands (from spending for the cause of Allah). They forget Allah, so He hath forgotten them. Lo! the hypocrites, they are the transgressors.
Transliteration Al muna_fiqu_na wal muna_fiqa_tu ba'duhum mim ba'd(in), ya'muru_na bil munkari wa yanhauna 'anil ma'ru_fi wa yaqbidu_na aidiyahum, nasullaa_ha fa nasiyahum, innal muna_fiqina humul fa_siqu_n(a).
9: 68
Pickthall Allah promiseth the hypocrites, both men and women, and the disbelievers fire of hell for their abode. It will suffice them. Allah curseth them, and theirs is lasting torment.
Transliteration Wa'adalla_hul muna_fiqina wal muna_fiqa_ti wal kuffa_ra na_ra jahannama kha_lidina fiha_, hiya hasbuhum, wa la'anahumulla_h(u), wa lahum 'aza_bum muqim(un).
[[ Asad’s note 94 – I.e., their behavior is – in effect, at least – the exact opposite of that expected of the believers (cf. 3:104, 110 and 114; 9:71 and 112; and 22:41).
note 95 – It is to be borne in mind that this and the following verse refer to the conscious hypocrisy spoken of in the last sentence of the preceding verse, and not to the waverers, whose hypocrisy is an outcome of inner fears and uncertainties.]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1324 Literally, "the Hypocrites... are of each other". The forms of hypocrisy may vary, but they are all alike, and they understand each other's hypocrisy. They hold together. (9.67)
1325 The English phrase "close-fisted" would cover only a part of the meaning. The hand is the symbol of power, help, and assistance. This may be financial, or it may be in other ways. The Hypocrites pretend a great deal, but are of no use or real help to any one. (9.67)
1326 Cf. vii. 51. and n. 1029. They ignore Allah: and Allah will ignore them. (9.67)
1327 "Curse," here as elsewhere, is deprivation of grace and mercy, brought about by the rejection of Allah by the Unbelievers. (9.68) ]]
9: 69
Pickthall Even as those before you were mightier than you in strength, and more affluent than you in wealth and children. They enjoyed their lot awhile, so ye enjoy your lot awhile even as those before you did enjoy their lot awhile. And ye prate even as they prated. Such are they whose works have perished in the world and the Hereafter. Such are they who are the losers.
Transliteration Kallazina min qablikum ka_nu_ asyadda minkum quwwataw wa aksara amwa_law wa aula_da_(n), fastamta'u_ bi khala_qihim fastamta'tum bi khala_qikum kamastamta'al lazina min qalikum bi khala_qihim wa khudtum kallazina kha_du_, ula_'ika habitat a'ma_luhum fid dunya_ wal a_khirah(ti), ula_'ika humul kha_siru_n(a).
9: 70
Pickthall Hath not the fame of those before them reached them the folk of Noah, Aad, Thamud, the folk of Abraham, the dwellers of Midian and the disasters (which befell them)? Their messengers (from Allah) came unto them with proofs (of Allah's sovereignty). So Allah surely wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves.
Transliteration Alam ya'tihim naba'ul lazina min qablihim qaumi nu_hiw wa 'a_diw wa samu_d(a), wa qaumi ibra_hima wa asha_bi madyana wal mu'tafika_t(i), atathum rusuluhum bil bayyina_t(i), fama_ ka_nalla_hu liyazlimahum wa la_kin ka_nu_ anfusahum yazlimu_n(a).
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16. [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ
إِلاَّ أَن
تَأْتِيَهُمُ
الْمَلائِكَةُ
أَوْ يَأْتِيَ
أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ...
16: 33. Do the (ungodly) wait until the angels come to them, or there comes the Command of thy Lord (for their doom)?
C2056. That is, until death comes to them, or some Punishment in this life, itself, which precludes them from repentance, and the Mercy of Allah.
... كَذَلِكَ فَعَلَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ...
So did those who went before them.
... وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ اللّهُ وَلـكِن كَانُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿٣٣﴾
But Allah wronged them not:
nay, they wronged their own souls.
فَأَصَابَهُمْ
سَيِّئَاتُ
مَا عَمِلُواْ
وَحَاقَ بِهِم
مَّا كَانُواْ
بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾
16: 34. But the evil results of their deeds overtook them, and that very (Wrath) at which they had scoffed hemmed them in.
Pickthall’s Version:
16: 33
Pickthall Await they aught save that the angels should come unto them or thy Lord's command should come to pass? Even so did those before them. Allah wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves,
Transliteration Hal yanzuru_na illa_ an ta'tiyahumul mala_'ikatu au ya'tiya amru rabbik(a), kaza_lika fa'alal lazina min qablihim, wa ma_ zalamahumulla_hu wa la_kin ka_nu_ anfusahum yazlimu_n(a).
16: 34
Pickthall So that the evil of what they did smote them, and that which they used to mock surrounded them.
Transliteration Fa asa_bahum sayyi'a_tu ma_ 'amilu_ wa ha_qa bihim ma_ ka_nu_ bihi yastahzi'u_n(a).
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42. Ash-Shura (Consultation)
Mecca Period 53
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
أَصَابَكُم
مِّن
مُّصِيبَةٍ
فَبِمَا
كَسَبَتْ
أَيْدِيكُمْ
...
42: 30. Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought,
C4570. All evil, all sorrow, all pain and affliction, are things not normal, things twisted from the pure and holy nature as created by Allah's hands. As far as man is concerned, his misfortunes are but the consequences of the things he has done. He must bear personal responsibility for them and not throw the blame on others.
... وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ ﴿٣٠﴾
and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness.
وَمَا
أَنتُم
بِمُعْجِزِينَ
فِي
الْأَرْضِ...
42: 31. Nor can ye frustrate (aught), (fleeing) through the earth;
C4571. Every evil deed or word or thought must have its evil consequences: but if Allah forgives anything,-and He forgives much, yet no one imagine that he has defeated- or can defeat-Allah's Will or Plan.
...وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ ﴿٣١﴾
nor have ye, besides Allah, anyone to protect or to help.
The only help or protection that is possible is from Allah.
Cf. 29:22.
Asad’s Version:
42:30 Now whatever calamity may befall you [on Judgment Day] will be an outcome of what your own hands have wrought, 34 although He pardons much;
(42:31) and you cannot elude Him on earth, and you will have none to protect you from God [in the life to come], and none to bring you succour.