6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِن
كَانَ كَبُرَ
عَلَيْكَ
إِعْرَاضُهُمْ...
6: 35. If their spurning is hard on thy mind,
...فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِيَ نَفَقًا فِي الأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًا فِي السَّمَاء فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِآيَةٍ...
yet if thou wert able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a Sign, (what good?).
C856. There were many signs of a divine Mission in the Prophet's life and in the Message which he delivered. If these did not convince the Unbelievers, was it not vain to seek a miraculous Sign from the bowels of the earth or by a visible ascent to the skies?
If in the Prophet's eagerness to get all to accept his Message he was hurt at their callousness, active opposition, and persecution of him, he is told that a full knowledge of the working of Allah's Plan would convince him that impatience was misplaced. This was in the days of persecution before the Hijrah. The history in Madinah and after shows how Allah's truth was ultimately and triumphantly vindicated. Who among the sincere devotees of Muhammad can fail to read 6:33-35 without tears in his eyes?
...وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى الْهُدَى فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴿٣٥﴾
If it were Allah's will, He could gather them together unto true guidance:
so be not thou amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!
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.
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.
قُلْ
أَرَأَيْتُكُم
إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ
عَذَابُ اللّهِ
أَوْ أَتَتْكُمُ
السَّاعَةُ...
6: 40. Say:
"Think ye to yourselves, if there come upon you the wrath of Allah, or the hour (that ye dread),
...أَغَيْرَ اللّهِ تَدْعُونَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾
would ye then call upon other than Allah?
(Reply) if ye are truthful!"
بَلْ
إِيَّاهُ تَدْعُونَ
فَيَكْشِفُ
مَا تَدْعُونَ
إِلَيْهِ إِنْ
شَاء...
6: 41. "Nay, On Him would ye call,
and if it be His Will, He would remove (the distress) which occasioned your call upon Him,
...وَتَنسَوْنَ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٤١﴾
and ye would forget (the false gods) which ye join with Him!"
وَلَوْ
شَاء اللّهُ
مَا أَشْرَكُواْ...
6: 107. If it had been Allah's Plan, they would not have taken false gods:
C935. Allah's Plan is to use the human will to co-operate in understanding Him and His relations to us. This is the answer to an objector who might say: "If He is All-powered, why does sin or evil exist in the world? Can He not destroy it?"
He can, but His Plan is different, and in any case it is not for a Teacher to force any one to accept the truths which he is inspired to preach and proclaim.
...وَمَا جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ ﴿١٠٧﴾
but We made thee not one to watch over their doings,
nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs.
وَكَذَلِكَ
جَعَلْنَا
لِكُلِّ نِبِيٍّ
عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ
الإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ
...
6: 112. Likewise did We make for every Messenger an enemy, evil ones among men and Jinns,
C941. What happened in the history of the Holy Prophet happens in the history of all righteous men who have a Message from Allah. The spirit of evil is ever active and uses men to practice deception by means of highly embellished words and plausible excuses and objections.
Allah permits these things in His Plans. It is not for us to complain. Our faith is tested, and we must stand the test steadfastly.
...يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا...
inspiring each other with flowery discourses by way of deception.
...وَلَوْ شَاء رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿١١٢﴾
If thy Lord had so planned, they would not have done it:
so leave them and their inventions alone.
فَمَن
يُرِدِ اللّهُ
أَن يَهْدِيَهُ
يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ
لِلإِسْلاَمِ...
6: 125. Those whom Allah (in His Plan) willeth to guide, He openeth their breast to Islam;
C947. Allah's Universal Plan is the Qadha wa Qadr, which is so much misunderstood. That Plan is unalterable, and that is His Will.
It means that in the spiritual world, as in t physical world, there are laws of justice, mercy, grace, penalty, etc., which work as surely as anything we know.
If, then, a man refuses Faith, becomes a rebel, with each step he goes further and further down, and his pace will be accelerated; he will scarcely be able to take spiritual breath, and his recovery -in spite of Allah's mercy which he has rejected-will be as difficult as if he had to climb up to the skies.
On the other hand, the godly will find, with each step, the next step easier. Jesus expressed this truth paradoxically:
"He that hath, to him shall be given; but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath": Mark, 4:25.
John (6:65) make Jesus say: "No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."
...وَمَن يُرِدْ أَن يُضِلَّهُ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّمَاء...
those whom He willeth to leave straying, He maketh their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies:
...كَذَلِكَ يَجْعَلُ اللّهُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٢٥﴾
thus doth Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.
وَكَذَلِكَ
نُوَلِّي بَعْضَ
الظَّالِمِينَ
بَعْضًا بِمَا
كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ
﴿١٢٩﴾
6: 129. Thus do We make the wrongdoers turn to each other, because of what they earn.
C952. See n. 950 above.
Evil consorts with evil because of their mutual bargains. But in doing so they save the righteous from further temptation.
Asad’s Version:
6: 35 And if it distress you that those who deny the truth turn their backs on thee – why, then, if you are able to go down deep into the earth or to ascend a ladder unto heaven in order to bring them a message, but had God so willed, He would indeed have gathered them all unto [His] guidance. Do not, therefore allow yourself to ignore [God’s Ways].
6: 36 Only they who listen can respond to a call; and as for the dead, God can raise them from the dead, whereupon unto Him they shall return.
6: 39 And they who give the lie to Our messages are deaf and dumb, in darkness deep. Whomever God wills, he lets go astray; and whomever He wills, he places upon a straight way.
6: 40 Say: “ Can you yourselves invoking any but God when God’s chastisement befalls you or the Last Hour comes upon you?” [Tell me this] if you are truthful.
6; 41 Nay, but it is Him alone that you will invoke – whereupon He may, if He so wills, remove that which caused you to call unto Him; and you will have forgotten all that to which you ascribe divinity side by side with Him.”
6: 107 Yet if God so willed, they would not have ascribed divinity to aught beisde Him; hence, We have not made thee their keeper, and neither are you responsible for their conduct.
(Asad note 91: no mortal has it in his power to cause another person to believe unless God graces that person with His guidance.)
6: 112 And thus it is that against every prophet We have set up as enemies the evil forces from among humans as well as from among invisible beings that whisper unto one another glittering half-truths meant to delude the mind. But they could not do this unless your Sustainer had so willed; stand, therefore, aloof from them and from all their false imagery! Asad
6: 125 and whomever God wills to guide, his bosom He opens wide with willingness towards self-surrender [unto Him]; and whomsoever He wills to let go astray, his bosom He causes to be tight and constricted, as if he were climbing unto the skies: it is thus that God inflicts horror upon those who will not believe.
6: 129 And in this manner do We cause evildoers to seduce one another by means of their doings.
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وَلَوْ شَاء رَبُّكَ
لآمَنَ مَن فِي
الأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ
جَمِيعًا...
10: 99. If it had been the Lord's Will, they would all have believed -- all who are on earth!
...أَفَأَنتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونُواْ مُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٩٩﴾
Wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe!
C1480. If it had been Allah's Plan or Will not to grant the limited Free-will that He has granted to man, His omnipotence could have made all mankind alike: all would then have had Faith, but that Faith would have reflected no merit on them.
In the actual world as it is, man has been endowed with various faculties and capacities, so that he should strive and explore, and bring himself into harmony with Allah's Will. Hence Faith becomes a moral achievement, and to resist Faith becomes a sin.
As a complementary proposition, men of Faith must not be impatient or angry if they have to contend against Unfaith, and most important of all, they must guard against the temptation of forcing Faith, i.e., imposing it on others by physical compulsion or any other forms of compulsion such as social pressure, or inducements held out by wealth or position, or other adventitious advantages.
Forced faith is no faith. They should strive spiritually and let Allah's Plan work as He wills.
وَمَا
كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ
أَن تُؤْمِنَ
إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ
اللّهِ...
10: 100. No soul can believe, except by the Will of Allah,
C1481. To creatures endued with Will, Faith comes out of an active use of that Will. But we must not be so arrogant as to suppose that that is enough. At best man is weak, and is in need of Allah's grace and help.
If we sincerely wish to understand. He will help our Faith; but if not, our doubts and difficulties will only be increased. This follows as a necessary consequence, and in Quranic language all consequences are ascribed to Allah.
...وَيَجْعَلُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٠٠﴾
and He will place Doubt (or obscurity) on those who will not understand.
C1482. Rijs (from rajisa, yarjasu, or rajusa, yarjusu) has various meanings: e.g.,
- filth, impurity, uncleanness, abomination, as in 9:95;
- hence, filthy deeds, foul conduct, crime, abomination, thus shading off into previous, as in 5:93;
- hence punishment for crime, penalty, as in 6:125;
- a form of such punishment, viz., doubt, obscurity, or unsettlement of mind, anger, indignation, as in 9:125, and here, but perhaps the idea of punishment is also implied here.
قُلِ
انظُرُواْ
مَاذَا فِي
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضِ...
10: 101. Say:
"Behold all that is in the heavens and on earth;"
...وَمَا تُغْنِي الآيَاتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لاَّ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٠١﴾
but neither Signs nor Warners profit those who believe not.
C1483. If Faith results from an active exertion of our spiritual faculties or understanding, it follows that if we let these die, Allah's Signs in His Creation or in the spoken Word which comes by inspiration through the mouths of His Messengers will not reach us any more than music reaches a deaf man.
وَإِن
يَمْسَسْكَ
اللّهُ بِضُرٍّ
فَلاَ كَاشِفَ
لَهُ إِلاَّ
هُوَ...
10: 107. If Allah do touch thee with hurt, there is none can remove it but He:
...وَإِن يُرِدْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَلاَ رَآدَّ لِفَضْلِهِ...
if He do design some benefit for thee, there is none can keep back His favor:
...يُصَيبُ بِهِ مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ...
He causeth it to reach whomsoever of His servants He pleaseth.
...وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٠٧﴾
And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
C1489. Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Even when we suffer under trials and tribulations, it is for our good, and no one can remove them except He, when, in His Plan. He sees it to be best for all concerned.
On the other hand, there is no power that can intercept His blessings and favours, and His bounty flows freely when we are worthy, and often when we are not worthy of it.
Pickthall’s Version:
10: 98
Pickthall If only there had been a community (of all those that were destroyed of old) that believed and profited by its belief as did the folk of Jonah. When they believed We drew off from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the world and gave them comfort for a while.
Transliteration Fa lau la_ ka_nat qaryatun a_manat fa nafa'aha_ ima_nuha_ illa_ qauma yu_nus(a), lamma_ a_manu_ kasyafna_ 'anhum 'aza_bal khizyi fil haya_tid dunya_ wa matta'na_hum ila_ hin(in).
10: 99
Pickthall And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou (Muhammad) compel men until they are believers?
Transliteration Wa lau sya_'a rabbuka la'a_mana man fil ardi kulluhum jami'a_(n), afa anta tukrihun na_sa hatta_ yaku_nu_ mu'minin(a).
10: 100
Transliteration Wa ma_ ka_na li nafsin an tu'mina illa_ bi iznilla_h(i), wa yaj'alur rijsa 'alal lazina la_ ya'qilu_n(a).
10: 101
Pickthall Say: Behold what is in the heavens and the earth! But revelations and warnings avail not folk who will not believe.
Transliteration Qul-inzuru_ ma_za_ fis sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), wa ma_ tugnil a_ya_tu wan nuzuru 'an qaumil la_ yu'minu_n(a).
10: 107
Pickthall If Allah aflicteth thee with some hurt, there is none who can remove it save Him; and if He desireth good for thee, there is none who can repel His bounty. He striketh with it whom He will of His bondmen. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Transliteration Wa iy yamsaskalla_hu bi durrin fala_ ka_syifa lahu_ illa_ huw(a), wa iy yuridka bi khairin fala_ ra_dda lifadlih(i), yusibu bihi may yasya_'u min 'iba_dih(i), wa huwal gafu_rur rahim(u).
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11. Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَلَمَّا
جَاء أَمْرُنَا
نَجَّيْنَا
صَالِحًا وَالَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ...
11: 66. When Our Decree issued, We saved Saleh and those who believed with him,
...بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْيِ يَوْمِئِذٍ...
by (special) Grace from Ourselves -- and from the Ignominy of that Day.
C1562. Cf. 11:58 above and n. 1554.
...إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْقَوِيُّ الْعَزِيزُ ﴿٦٦﴾
For thy Lord -- He is the Strong One, and Able to enforce His Will.
For 'Aziz, see n. 2818 to 22:40.
وَلَوْ شَاء
رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ
النَّاسَ أُمَّةً
وَاحِدَةً...
11: 118. If thy Lord had so willed He could have made mankind one People:
C1622. Cf. 10:19.
All mankind might have been one. But in Allah's Plan man was to have a certain measure of free-will, and this made difference inevitable.
This would not have mattered if all had honestly sought Allah. But selfishness and moral wrong came in, and people's disputations became mixed up with hatred, jealousy, and sin, except in the case of those who accepted Allah's grace, which saved them.
The object of their creation was to raise them up spiritually by Allah's grace. But if they will choose the path of evil and fall into sin, Allah's decree must be fulfilled, and His justice will take its course. In the course of that justice Hell will be filled with men and jinns, such is the number of those who go astray.
...وَلاَ يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ ﴿١١٨﴾
but they will not cease to dispute,
إِلاَّ مَن
رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ
وَلِذَلِكَ
خَلَقَهُمْ...
11: 119. Except those on whom He hath bestowed His Mercy: and for this did He create them:
...وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لأَمْلأنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿١١٩﴾
and the Word of thy Lord shall be fulfilled:
"I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together."
If Satan and his evil soldiers tempt men from the path of rectitude, the responsibility of the tempted, who choose the path of evil, is no less than that of the tempters, and they will both be involved in punishment together.
11: 66
Pickthall So, when Our commandment came to pass, We saved Salih, and those who believed with him, by a mercy from Us, from the ignominy of that day. Lo, thy Lord! He is the Strong, the Mighty.
Transliteration Falamma_ ja_'a amruna_ najjaina_ sa_lihaw wallazina a_manu_ ma'ahu_ birahmatim minnu_ wa min khizyi yaumi'iz(in), inna rabbaka huwal qawiyyul 'aziz(u).
11: 118
Asad And had thy Sustainer so willed, He could surely have made all mankind one single community: but they continue to hold divergent views-
[Asad note 150: ………see sure 2, note 197-198, 2: 253 and note 245 note, 5: 48, note 66-67. Thus the Quran stresses once again that the unceasing differentiation in men’s views and ideas is not incidental but represents a God-willed, basic factor of human existence. If God, has willed that all human beings should be of one persuasion, all intellectual progress would have been ruled out, and “they would have been similar in their social life to the bees and the ants, while in their spiritual life they would have been like the angels, constrained by their nature always t obelieve in what is true and always to obey God” [ Manar XII, 193] – that is to say devoid of that relative free will which enables man to choose between right and wrong and thus endows his life ……”]
Pickthall And if thy Lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation, yet they cease not differing,
Transliteration Wa lau sya_'a rabbuka laja'alan na_sa ummataw wa_hidataw wa la_ yaza_lu_na mukhtalifin(a),
11: 119
Asad Save those upon whom thy Sustainer has bestowed His grace. And to this end has He created them [all]. But [as for those who refuse to avail themselves of divine guidance,] that word of thy Sustainer shall be fulfilled: “ Most certainly will I fill hell with invisible beings as well as with humans, all together!”
[Asad note 151: I.e., those who avail themselves of His grace, consisting of the God-given ability to realize His existence [cf. 7: 172 …and note 139] and the guidance which He offers to mankind through His prophets [Razi]. ]
Pickthall Save him on whom thy Lord hath mercy; and for that He did create them. And the Word of thy Lord hath been fulfilled: Verily I shall fill hell with the jinn and mankind together.
Transliteration Illa_ mar rahima rabbuk(a), wa liza_lika khalaqahum, wa tammat kalimatu rabbika la'amla'anna jahannama minal jinnati wan na_si ajma'in(a).
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13. Surah Ar Ra'd
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
لَهُ
مُعَقِّبَاتٌ
مِّن بَيْنِ
يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ
خَلْفِهِ
يَحْفَظُونَهُ
مِنْ أَمْرِ
اللّهِ...
13: 11. For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him:
they guard him by command of Allah.
C1816. See last verse.
Every person, whether he conceals or reveals his thoughts, whether he skulks in darkness or goes about by day, -all are under Allah's watch and ward. His grace encompasses everyone, and again and again protects him, if he will only take the protection, from harm and evil.
If in his folly he thinks he can secretly take some pleasure or profit, he is wrong, for recording angels record all his thoughts and deeds.
...إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ...
Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls).
C1817. Allah is not intent on punishment. He created man virtuous and pure; he gave him intelligence and knowledge; he surrounded him with all sorts of instruments of His grace and mercy.
If, in spite of all this, man distorts his own will and goes against Allah's Will, yet is Allah's forgiveness open to him if he will take it.
It is only when he has made his own sight blind and changed his own nature or soul away from the beautiful mould in which Allah formed it, that Allah's Wrath will descend on him and the favourable position in which Allah placed him will be changed.
When once the punishment comes, there is no turning it back. None of the things which he relied upon- other than Allah-can possibly protect him.
...وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلاَ مَرَدَّ لَهُ...
But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back,
...وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ ﴿١١﴾
nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.
Other Versions:
13: 11
Asad ……..When God wills people to suffer evil [in consequence of their own evil deeds] there is none who could avert it……
Pickthall For him are angels ranged before him and behind him who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him.
Transliteration Lahu_ mu'aqqiba_tum mim baini yadaihi wa min khalfihi yahfazu_nahu_ min amrilla_h(i), innalla_ha la_ yugayyiru ma_ bi qaumin hatta_ yugayyiru_ ma_ bi anfusihim, wa iza_ ara_dalla_hu bi qaumin sa_'an fala_ maradda lah(u_), wa ma_ lahum min du_nihi miw wa_l(in).
[ ali’s notes: 1816 See last verse. Every person, whether he conceals or reveals his thoughts, whether he skulks in darkness or goes about by day,-all are under Allah's watch and ward. His grace encompasses everyone, and again and again protects him, if he will only take the protection, from harm and evil. If in his folly he thinks he can secretly take some pleasure or profit, he is wrong, for recording angels record all his thoughts and deeds. (13.11)
1817 Allah is not intent on punishment. He created man virtuous and pure; he gave him intelligence and knowledge; he surrounded him with all sorts of instruments of His grace and mercy. If, in spite of all this, man distorts his own will and goes against Allah's Will, yet is Allah's forgiveness open to him if he will take it. It is only when he has made his own sight blind and changed his own nature or soul away from the beautiful mould in which Allah formed it, that Allah's Wrath will descend on him and the favourable position in which Allah placed him will be changed. When once the punishment comes, there is no turning it back. None of the things which he relied upon- other than Allah-can possibly protect ]
Note 57: …….an unceasing succession of social catastrophes, fratricidal wars and mutual deprivations……cause them to suffer by affecting their whole organic environment: ….. ]
[Ali’s Notes: 1847 Everything is possible and in Allah's power. His Plan is beneficient and all-embracing. But it is not for His creatures to dictate to Him, or demand what He should do, or how He should do it. The Command is with Allah in all things. The Believers know His omnipotence, and they also know that He will order His world for the best. (13.31)
1848 Let not the Unbelievers think that if they seem to prosper for a time, that is the end of the matter. They are warned about three things. (1) their ill deeds must carry evil consequences for them all the time, though they may not perceive them for a certain time. (2) Their homes, their places of resort, the circles in which they move, will also be haunted by their ill deeds and their consequences. For evil makes a complex of its environment. The walls of Jericho, when they fall, must bring down all Jericho in its ruins. (3) The ultimate Disaster, the final Reckoning, must come, for Allah never fails in His promise. True values must eventually be restored: the good to the good, and the evil to the evil, The Commentators draw illustrations from the life of the Prophet, his exile from Makkah, and his restoration. A similar miracle works in all history. But the Command is with Allah. (13.31) ]
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14. Surah Ibrahim
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
أَرْسَلْنَا
مِن رَّسُولٍ
إِلاَّ بِلِسَانِ
قَوْمِهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ
لَهُمْ...
14: 4. We sent a Messenger except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people, in order to make (things) clear to them.
C1874. If the object of a Message is to make things clear, it must be delivered in the language current among the people to whom the Messenger is sent. Through them it can reach all mankind.
There is even a wider meaning for "language". It is not merely a question of alphabets, letters, or words. Each age or people -or world in a psychological sense- casts its thoughts in a certain mould or form.
Allah's Message -being universal- can be expressed in all moulds and forms, and is equally valid and necessary for all grades of humanity, and must therefore be explained to each according to his or her capacity or receptivity. In this respect the Quran is marvelous. It is for the simplest as well as the most advanced.
...فَيُضِلُّ اللّهُ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء...
Now Allah leaves straying those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases:
C1875. 'Whom He pleases'; the usual expression for Mashiyat, the universal Will and Plan, which is all-wise and on the highest plane of goodness and righteousness.
...وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴿٤﴾
and He is Exalted in power, Full of Wisdom.
Other Versions:
14:4
Asad And never have We sent forth any apostle otherwise than in his own people’s tongue, so that he might make [the truth] clear unto them; but God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray], and guides him that wills [to be guided] – for He alone is almighty, truly wise.
Pickthall And We never sent a messenger save with the language of his folk, that he might make (the message) clear for them. Then Allah sendeth whom He will astray, and guideth whom He will. He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Transliteration Wa ma_ arsalna_ mir rasu_lin illa_ bi lisa_ni qaumihi liyubayyina lahum, fa yudillulla_hu may yasya_'u wa yahdi may yasya_'(u), wa huwal 'azizul hakim(u).
[ Asad note 4 : “God lets go astray whoever He wills, and guides whomever He wills”. All Quranic references to God’s “letting man go astray” must be understood against the background of 2:26-27 – “none does He cause to go astray save the iniquitous, who break their bond with God”…..that is to say, man’s ‘going astray’ is a consequence of his own attitudes and inclinations and not as a result of an arbitrary “predestination”……………..Thus, He does not forsake anyone except those who deserve to be forsaken…………commenting on the identical phrase occurring in 16:93 ……] see also note 19 .
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16. Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَعَلَى
اللّهِ قَصْدُ
السَّبِيلِ
وَمِنْهَا
جَآئِرٌ...
16: 9. And unto Allah leads straight the Way, but there are ways that turn aside:
C2029. Through material things "the Way" does always lead to Allah. But some minds are so obsessed with material things that they miss the pointers to the spiritual.
Allah could have forced all to the true Way, but in His Will and Plan is the training of man's will, and that is done by the Signs in nature and Revelation.
... وَلَوْ شَاء لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٩﴾
if Allah had willed, He could have guided all of you.
وَلَوْ شَاء
اللّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ
أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً...
16: 93. If Allah so willed, He could make you all one people:
... وَلكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء...
but He leaves straying whom He pleases, and He guides whom He pleases:
Allah's Will and Plan, in allowing limited free-will to man, is, not to force man's will, but to give all guidance, and leave alone those who reject that guidance, in case they should repent and come back into Grace.
But in all cases, in so far as we are given the choice, we shall be called to account for all our actions. "Leaving to stray" does not mean that we can do what we please. Our personal responsibility remains.
... وَلَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٣﴾
but ye shall certainly be called to account for all your actions.
Other Versions:
16: 9
Asad And it rests with God alone to show you the right path: yet there is who swerves from it. However, had He so willed, He would have guided you all aright.
Pickthall And Allah's is the direction of the way, and some (roads) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all aright.
Transliteration Wa 'alalla_hi qasdus sabili wa minha_ ja_'ir(un), wa lau sya_'a lahada_kum ajma'in(a).
[Asad note 8: Since the concept of morality is linked with man’s God-given freedom of choice between good and evil, God does not “impose” His guidance upon man but leaves it to him to accept or reject it. ]
[Ali’s note: 2029 - Through material things "the Way" does always lead to Allah. But some minds are so obsessed with material things that they miss the pointers to the spiritual. Allah could have forced all to the true Way, but in His Will and Plan is the training of man's will, and that is done by the Signs in nature and Revelation. ]
16: 93
Asad for, had God so willed, He could surely have made you all one single community; however, He lets go astray him that wills, and guides aright him that wills, and you will surely be called to account for all that you ever did !
Pickthall Had Allah willed He could have made you (all) one nation, but He sendeth whom He will astray and guideth whom He will, and ye will indeed be asked of what ye used to do.
Transliteration Wa lau sya_'alla_hu laja'alakum ummataw wa_hidataw wa la_kiy yudillu may yasya_'u wa yahdi may yasya_'(u), wa latus'alunna 'amma_ kuntum ta'malu_n(a).
[ Ruby’s note: God’s will can override human will, but God Willingly does not override human will. He let human will dictate consequences often time. And that is why the structure of the verse ends with an expression that a human will be called to account for this freedom. ]
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18. [al-Kahf, Mecca 69 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَا
تَقُولَنَّ
لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي
فَاعِلٌ ذَلِكَ
غَدًا ﴿٢٣﴾
18: 23. Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow" --
18: 24. Without adding, "So please Allah!"
C2363. Verses 23 and 24 are parenthetical. We must never rely upon our own resources so much as to forget Allah. If by any chance we do forget, we must come back to Him and keep Him in remembrance, as did the Companions of the Cave.
... وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ...
And call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest,
... وَقُلْ عَسَى أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَذَا رَشَدًا ﴿٢٤﴾
and say, "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road."
C2364. In geometry the perfect circle is an ideal. Any given circle that we draw is not so perfect that we cannot draw one closer to the ideal. So in our life, there is always the hope of drawing closer and closer to Allah.
Other Versions:
18: 23
Pickthall And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow,
Transliteration Wa la_ taqa_lanna lisyai'in inni fa_'ilun za_lika gada_(n),
[Asad note 33: According to almost all of the commentators, this parenthetic passage is primarily addressed to the Prophet, who, on being asked by some of the pagan Quraysh as to what “really” happened to the Men of the Cave, is said to have replied, “I shall give you my answer tomorrow” – whereupon revelation was temporarily withheld from him in token of God’s disapproval; in the second instance, this exhortation expresses a general principle addressed to all believers.]
18: 24
Asad ………”I pray that my Sustaienr guide me, even closer than this, to a consciousness of what is right!”
Pickthall Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say: It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this.
Transliteration Illa_ ay yasya_'alla_h(u), wa-zkur rabbaka iza_ nasita wa qul 'asa_ ay yahdiyani rabbi li'aqraba min ha_za_ rasyada_(n).
[ Ali’s notes: 2363 Verses 23 and 24 are parenthetical. We must never rely upon our own resources so much as to forget Allah. If by any chance we do forget, we must come back to Him and keep Him in remembrance, as did the Companions of the Cave. (18.24)
2364 ……..in our life, there is always the hope of drawing closer and closer to Allah. (18.24)]
[Ruby’s note: It indicates that there are different paths to the final goal of life: and by living a good life and asking guidance from God to be led in the better and better ways, one can hope to achieve a better and straighter path to the Goal.]