3. Sura al-Imran

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَئِن قُتِلْتُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ أَوْ مُتُّمْ لَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللّهِ وَرَحْمَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ ﴿١٥٧﴾

3: 157. And if ye are slain, or die, in the way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all they could amass.

C470. Notice a beautiful little literary touch here.

At first sight you would expect the second person here ("you could amass"), to match the second person in the earlier clause. But remember that the second person in earlier clause refers to the man of faith, and the third person in the last line refers to the Unbelievers; as if it said:

"Of course you as a man of faith would not be for hoarding riches: your wealth, -duty and the mercy of Allah,- is far more precious than anything the Unbelievers can amass in their selfish lives. "

Pickthall’s Version:

3: 157

Pickthall And what though ye be slain in Allah's way or die therein? Surely pardon from Allah and mercy are better than all that they amass.

Transliteration Wa la'in qutiltum fi sabililla_hi au muttum lamagfiratum minalla_hi wa rahmatun khairum mimma_ yajma'u_n(a).