9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
9: 112. - Those that turn (to Allah) in repentance:
C1363. We are to rejoice that by giving up such small things as ourselves and our possessions we are to be rewarded with such a great thing as the eternal life of felicity. The truly righteous, whose lives in various aspects are described in this verse, do so rejoice. The good news is to be proclaimed to all Believers, including the weakest among us, so that they may profit by that example.
... الْعَابِدُونَ الْحَامِدُونَ السَّائِحُونَ الرَّاكِعُونَ السَّاجِدونَ...
- that serve Him, and praise Him;
- that wander in devotion to the Cause of Allah;
- that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer;
... الآمِرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّاهُونَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ...
- that enjoin good and forbid evil;
وَالْحَافِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ اللّهِ...
- and observe the limits set by Allah; (these do rejoice).
... وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١١٢﴾
So proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers.
Other versions:
9: 112 [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, after Tabuk, 9H]
Asad ……………..and go on and on [seeking His goodly acceptance] [note 147],…….and keep to the bounds set by God. And give thous [O Prophet] the glad tiding [of God’s promise] to all believers.
Yusuf Ali Those that turn (to Allah) in repentance: that serve Him and praise Him; that wander in devotion to the Cause of Allah; that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer; that enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limits set by Allah; (these do rejoice). So proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers.
Pickthall (Triumphant) are those who turn repentant (to Allah), those who serve (Him), those who praise (Him), those who fast, these who bow down, those who fall prostrate (in worship), those who enjoin the right and who forbid the wrong and those who keep the limits (ordained) of Allah And give glad tidings to believers!.
Transliteration At ta_'ibu_nal 'a_bidu_nal ha_midu_nas sa_'ihu_nar ra_ki'u_nas sa_jidu_nala a_miru_na bil ma'ru_fi wan na_hu_na 'anil munkari wal hu_fizu_na li hudu_dilla_h(i), wa basysyiril mu'minin(a).
[[ Asad’s note 147 – Most o the commentators attribute to the expression “as-sa’ihun [lit., “those who wander”) the meaning of as-sa’imun, i.e., “those who fast”, since he who fasts deprives himself, temporarily, of worldly enjoyments ……………..Other authorities, however, ……..prefer the original significance of this term and explain it as more or less synonymous with al-muhajirun (“those who forsake the domain of evil”). To my mind, the expression as-saihun is best rendered as “those who go on and on [seeking God’s goodly acceptance]”, thus combining the literal and metonymical connotation of the term ‘siyahah’.]]
[[Ruby’s note – I think I like the shade of meaning of wondering in the world seeking God’s signs in the pursuit of truth. People who wonder go places to places are better exposed to many things than who stay in one place. But the central here is the intention of wondering. If one wonders just for the sake of wondering and pleasure or curiosity or amusement the purpose is lost. When one wonders with the deep desire and commitment to see the sign of God in greater reality and wonder with that spirit that act then becomes a worship and service to God. This spirit is similar to that of al-muhajirun but not the same. I believe as-saihun is general in spirit in life and not due to a compulsive situation where as al-muhajirun is due to a compulsive situation but both are with the spirit to do good, comply with God’s laws and thus serve God better. ]]
22. Sura al-Hajj
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
الَّذِينَ
أُخْرِجُوا
مِن دِيَارِهِمْ
بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ
إِلَّا أَن
يَقُولُوا
رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ...
22: 40. (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right -- (for no cause) except that they say, "Our Lord is Allah."
...وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ...
Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another,
C2817. To allow a righteous people to fight against a ferocious and mischief-loving people was fully justified. But the justification was far greater here, when the little Muslim community was not only fighting for its own existence against the Makkan Quraish, but for the very existence of the Faith in the One True God.
They had as much right to be in Makkah and worship in the Ka'bah as the other Quraish; yet they were exiled for their Faith. It affected not the faith of one peculiar people. The principle involved was that of all worship, Jewish or Christian as well as Muslim, and of all foundations built for pious uses.
...لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا ...
there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure.
...وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ...
Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause);
...إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ ﴿٤٠﴾
for verily Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (Able to enforce His Will).
C2818. 'Aziz means:
- Exalted in power, rank, dignity;
- Incomparable;
- Full of might and majesty;
- Able to enforce His Will.
The last signification is the one that predominates here.
الَّذِينَ
إِن مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ
فِي الْأَرْضِ
أَقَامُوا
الصَّلَاةَ
وَآتَوُا
الزَّكَاةَ...
22: 41. (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land,
- establish regular prayer
- and give regular charity,
...وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ...
- enjoin the right and forbid wrong:
C2819. "Enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong" is an essential duty of the Muslim Ummah and one of the main purposes for which it has been raised.
See 3:104, 110; 9:71, 111-112.
...وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ ﴿٤١﴾
with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs.
Asad’s Version:
(22:40)
those who have been driven from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying, "Our Sustainer is God!" For, if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, 58 [all] monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques - in [all of] which God's name is abundantly extolled - would surely have been destroyed [ere now]. 5 ' And God will most certainly succour him who succours His cause: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty,
(22:41) [well aware of] those who, [even] if We firmly establish them on earth, remain constant in prayer, and give in charity, and enjoin the doing of what ts right and forbid the doing of what is wrong; but with God rests the final outcome of all events.
22:41 [al-Hajj, ]
Allatheena in makkannahum fee al-ardi aqamoo alssalata waatawoo alzzakata waamaroo bialmaAAroofi wanahaw AAani almunkari walillahi AAaqibatu al-omoori |
Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning |
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[well aware of] those who, [even] if We firmly establish them on earth, remain constant in prayer, and give in charity, and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong; but with God rests the final outcome of all events. |
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Those who, if We give them power in the land, establish worship and pay the poor-due and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity. And Allah's is the sequel of events. |
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Those who, should We establish them in the land, will keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and enjoin good and forbid evil; and Allah's is the end of affairs. |
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(They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong: with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs. |
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[They are] those who, if We established them in the land, would say their prayers regularly and pay the zakat and enjoin good and forbid evil. The final outcome of all affairs rests with God. |
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These are they who lift to Allah their inward sight and will not neglect religious observances (the act of worship, zakat (almsgiving) enjoining what is just and right and forbidding what is evil) when given power and authority in the land. The ultimate decision of all affairs rests in the hands of Allah, - here and Hereafter-. |
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Those whom if We allow them authority in the land, they hold the contact-method, and they contribute towards betterment, and deter from evil. And to God is the conclusion of all matters. |
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57. Sura al-Hadid
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا ...
57: 28. O ye that believe!
C5325. From the context before (see n. 5323 above) and after (see next note), this is held to refer to the Christians and People of the Book who kept their Faith true and undefiled.
... اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَآمِنُوا بِرَسُولِهِ...
fear Allah, and believe in His messenger,
...يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِ ...
and He will bestow on you a double portion of His Mercy:
C5326. The double portion refers to the past and the future.
As noted in the last note, this passage is addressed to the Christians and the People of the Book, who, when honestly facing the question of the new Revelation in Islam, find in it the fulfilment of previous revelations, and therefore believe in Allah's Messenger Muhammad, and walk by the new light. Their previous merits will be duly recognised, and they will be treated on fully equal terms in the new Ummah. This is their double share, not necessarily more in quantity than that of their brethren in Islam who passed through no other gate, but having a twofold aspect.
... وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِ ...
He will provide for you a light by which ye shall walk (straight in your path),
C5327. As this refers to the Christians and the People of the Book, the following saying of Christ in his last days may interest them:
"'Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you... While ye have the fight, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them". (John, 12:35-36).
The light of Christ's Gospel soon departed; his Church was enveloped in darkness; then came the fight again, in the fuller light of Islam. And they are asked to believe in the light, and to walk in it. Cf. also 57:12. and n. 5288 above.
... وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ...
and He will forgive you (your past):
C5328. Any wrong they may have committed through ignorance or misconceptions in their previous religion will be forgiven them, as they have seen the new light and walk by it.
...وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٨﴾
For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful:
Asad’s Version:
57: 28 Be mindful of your duty to God and believe in His messenger. He will give you two fold of His Mercy and will appoint for you a light wherein you shall walk, and will forgive you. Allah is Forgiving , Merciful:
