2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاء مَرْضَاتِ اللّهِ...

2: 207. And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah;

... وَاللّهُ رَؤُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ﴿٢٠٧﴾

and Allah is full of kindness to (His) devotees.

C229. This second type of man,

- firm, sincere, devoted, willing to give his life for the faith that is in him - was common in early Islam.

Such men were its pillars. Through persecution, obloquy, torture, threat to their own lives or the lives of those dear to them, they stood by their leader, and many of them gave their lives. That is what established Islam.

We are asked in the next verse to follow this type and shun the other or evil type. If we do that, our Cause is safe.

Other versions:

2: 207 [ al-Baqarah, Medina 87 ]

Asad But there is [also]a kind of man who would willingly sell his own self in order to please God [note 190]: and God is most compassionate towards His servants.

Yusuf Ali And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is full of kindness to (His) devotees.

Pickthall And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah; and Allah hath compassion on (His) bondmen.

Transliteration Wa minan na_si may yasyri nafsahub tiga_'a marda_tilla_h(i), wallahu_ ra'u_fum bil 'iba_d(i).

[ Ali’s note - 229 This second type of man, - firm, sincere, devoted, willing to give his life for the faith that is in him - was common in early Islam. Such men were its pillars. Through persecution, obloquy, torture, threat to their own lives or the lives of those dear to them, they stood by their leader, and many of them gave their lives. That is what established Islam. We are asked in the next verse to follow this type and shun the other or evil type. If we do that, our Cause is safe. (2.207) ]

[ Asad’s note 190 – Lit., “there is such as would sell his own self out of desire fro God’s pleasure”: i.e., would give all his personal interests if compliance with God’s will were to demand it.]