4. Sura an-Nisa, Medina 92 [Hijra 4]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلاَ
تَتَمَنَّوْاْ
مَا فَضَّلَ
اللّهُ بِهِ
بَعْضَكُمْ
عَلَى بَعْضٍ...
4:32. And in no wise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed his gifts more freely on some of you than on others:
C542. Men and women have gifts from Allah -some greater than others. They seem unequal. but we are assured that Allah has allotted them by a scheme by which people receive what they earn.
If this does not appear clear in our sight, let us remember that we have no full knowledge but Allah has. We must not be jealous if other people have more than we have-in wealth or position or strength or honour or talent or happiness.
Probably things are equalized in the aggregate or in the long run, or equated to needs and merits on a scale which we cannot appraise. If we want more, instead of being jealous or covetous, we should pray to Allah and place before Him our needs. Though He knows all, and has no need of our prayer, our prayer may reveal to ourselves our shortcomings and enable us to deserve more of Allah's bounty or make ourselves fit for it.
... لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُواْ وَلِلنِّسَاء نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ...
to men is allotted what they earn,
and to women what they earn:
... وَاسْأَلُواْ اللّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِ...
but ask Allah of His bounty:
... إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا ﴿٣٢﴾
for Allah hath full knowledge of all things.
Other versions:
4: 32 Asad Hence, do not covet the bounties which God has bestowed more abundantly on some of you than on others.
Men shall have a benefit from what they earn, women shall have a benefit from what they earn. Ask, therefore, God [to give you] out of His bounty: behold, God has indeed full knowledge of everything.
Pickthall And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. (Envy not one another) but ask Allah of His bounty. Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things.
Transliteration Wa la_ tatamannau ma_ faddalalla_hu bihi ba'dakum'ala_ ba'd(in), lir rija_li nasibum mimmaktasabu_, wa linnisa_'i nasibum mimmaktasabn(a), was'alulla_ha min fadlih(i), innalla_ha ka_na bi kulli syai'in 'alima_(n).
[Ali’s note -542 Men and women have gifts from Allah-some greater than others. They seem unequal, but we are assured that Allah has allotted them by a scheme by which people receive what they earn. If this does not appear clear in our sight, let us remember that we have no full knowledge but Allah has. We must not be jealous if other people have more than we have-in wealth or position or strength or honor or talent or happiness. Probably things are equalized in the aggregate or in the long run, or equated to needs and merits on a scale which we cannot appraise. If we want more, instead of being jealous or covetous, we should pray to Allah and place before Him our needs. Though He knows all, and has no need of our prayer, our prayer may reveal to ourselves our shortcomings and enable us to deserve more of Allah's bounty or make ourselves fit for it. (4.32) ]