14. [Ibrahim, Mecca 72]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

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: 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.

Yuksel God makes firm those who acknowledge with firm sayings in the worldly life, and in the Hereafter. God sends the wicked astray, and God does what He wishes.

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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39. Az-Zumar (The Throngs)

Mecca Period 59 [75 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا ...

39: 23. Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book,

consistent with itself,

C4276. Is Mutashabih here to be understood in the same sense as in 3:7? See n. 347.

The better opinion is that there is a slightly different shade of meaning here, as suggested by the context.

In the earlier passage, it was opposed to Muhkam: here it is contrasted or compared to Mathani.

The root meaning is: 'having something similar; working by analogy or allegory, or parable; having its parts consistent with each other'. The last meaning I adopt here.

The Quran was revealed in parts at different times. And yet its parts all conform to each other. There is no contradiction or inconsistency anywhere. (R).

... مَّثَانِيَ...

(yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects):

C4277. Mathani:- Cf. 15:87, where we have translated "oft-repeated": "the seven oft- repeated (verses)". See n. 2008 to that passage.

Here the meaning is similar, but the context gives a different colour to it, as is seen in the translation.

... تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ...

the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat;

C4278. The skin is the outer integument of the body. It receives the first shock from the impact of anything unusual, and it trembles and its hair stands on end under excitement.

So in spiritual matters the first stimulation from Allah's Message is external. Those who receive Faith do it as it were with tremor and not with apathy. But the next stage is that it penetrates their outer nature and goes right into their hearts. Their whole nature is "softened" to receive the beneficent Message, and it transforms them through and through.

... ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ...

then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises.

... ذَلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ ...

Such is the guidance of Allah:

... يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاء ...

He guides therewith whom He pleases,

... وَمَن يُضْلِلْ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ ﴿٢٣﴾

but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide.

C4279. "Whom He pleases" and "leaves to stray" are explained fully in n. 2133 to 16:93.