9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ
اللّهَ اشْتَرَى
مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
أَنفُسَهُمْ
وَأَمْوَالَهُم
بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ
الجَنَّةَ...
9: 111. Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their good; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise):
C1361. In a human bargain both sides give something and receive some advantage. In the divine bargain of Allah with man, Allah takes man's will and soul and his wealth and goods, and gives him in return ever-lasting Felicity.
Man fights in Allah's Cause and carries out His will. All that he has to give up is the ephemeral things of this world, while he gains eternal salvation, the fulfilment of his highest spiritual hopes, -a supreme achievement indeed.
... يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ...
they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain:
... وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ...
a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'án:
C1362. We offer our whole selves and our possessions to Allah, and Allah gives us Salvation. This is the true doctrine of redemption: and we are taught that this is the doctrine not only of the Quran but of the earlier Revelations, -the original Law of Moses and the original Gospel of Jesus.
Any other view of redemption is rejected by Islam, especially that of corrupted Christianity, which thinks that some other person suffered for our sins and we are redeemed by his blood. It is our self-surrender that counts, not other people's merits.
Our complete self-surrender may include fighting for the cause, both spiritual and physical. As regards actual fighting with the sword there has been some difference in theological theories at different times, but very little in the practice of those who framed those theories.
The Jewish wars were ruthless wars of extermination. The Old Testament does not mince matters on this subject. In the New Testament St. Paul, in commending the worthy fruits of Faith, mentions Gideon. Barak, and other warriors of the Old Testament as his ideals, "Who through faith subdued kingdoms... waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens..." (Hebrews, 11:32-34).
The monkish morality of the Gospels in their present form has never been followed by any self-respecting Christian or other nation in history. Nor is it common-sense to ignore lust of blood in unregenerate man as a form of evil which has to be combated "within the limits, set by Allah" (9:112). (R).
... وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللّهِ...
and who is more faithful to his Covenant than Allah?
... فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ...
Then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded:
... وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿١١١﴾
that is the achievement supreme.
9: 111
Asad Behold, God has brought of the believers their lives and their possessions, promising them paradise in return, [and so] they fight in God’s cause, and slay, and are stain: a promise which in truth He has willed upon himself in [the words of] Torah, and the Gospel, and the Quran. And who could be more faithful to his covenant than God?
Pickthall Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Quran. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.
Yuksel God has purchased from those who acknowledge their very lives and their wealth; that they will have paradise. They fight in the cause of God so they kill and are killed. A promise that is true upon Him in the Torah, the Injeel and the Quran. Whoever fulfills his pledge to God, then have good news of the deal which you concluded with. Such is the supreme success.
Transliteration Innalla_ha-sytara_ minal mu'minina anfusahum wa amwa_lahum bi anna lahumul jannah(ta), yuqa_tilu_na fi sabililla_hi fa yaqtulu_na wa yuqtalu_na wa'dan 'alaihi haqqan fit taura_ti wal injili wal qura'a_n(i), wa man aufa_ bi 'ahdihi minalla_hi fa-stabsyiru_ bi bai'ikumul lazi ba_ya'tum bih(i), wa za_lika huwal fauzul 'azim(u).
[[ Ali’s notes - 1361 In a human bargain both sides give something and receive some advantage. In the divine bargain of Allah with man, Allah takes man's will and soul and his wealth and goods, and gives him in return ever-lasting Felicity. Man fights in Allah's Cause and carries out His will. All that he has to give up is the ephemeral things of this world, while he gains eternal salvation, the fulfilment of his highest spiritual hopes,-a supreme achievement indeed. (9.111)
1362 We offer our whole selves and our possessions to Allah, and Allah gives us Salvation. This is the true doctrine of redemption: and we are taught that this is the doctrine not only of the Qur-an but of the earlier Revelations,-the original Law of Moses and the original Gospel of Jesus. Any other view of redemption is rejected by Islam, especially that of corrupted Christianity, which thinks that some other person suffered for our sins and we are redeemed by his blood. It is our self-surrender that counts, not other people's merits. Our complete self-surrender may include fighting for the cause, both spiritual and physical. As regards actual fighting with the sword there has been some difference in theological theories at different times, but very little in the practice of those who framed those theories. The Jewish wars were ruthless wars of extermination. The Old Testament does not mince matters on this subject. In the New Testament St. Paul, in commending the worthy fruits of Faith, mentions Gideon, Barak, and other warriors of the Old Testament as his ideals, "Who through faith subdued kingdoms... waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens..." (Hebrews, xi. 32-34). The monkish morality of the Gospels in their present form has never been followed by any self-respecting Christian or other nation in history. Nor is it common-sense to ignore lust of blood in unregenerate man as a form of evil which has to be combated "within the limits, set by Allah" (Q. ix. 112). (9.111) ]]