FAITH (IMAN)
7. Sura al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاكْتُبْ
لَنَا فِي هَـذِهِ
الدُّنْيَا
حَسَنَةً وَفِي
الآخِرَةِ
إِنَّا هُدْنَـا
إِلَيْكَ...
7: 156. "And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and in the hereafter:
for we have turned unto Thee."
...قَالَ عَذَابِي أُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ أَشَاء وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ...
He said:
"With My punishment I visit whom I will; but My mercy extendeth to all things.
C1125. Allah's mercy is in and for all things. All nature subserves a common purpose, which is for the good of all His creatures.
Our faculties and our understandings are all instances of His grace and mercy. Each unit or factor among his creatures benefits from the others and receives them as Allah's mercy to itself: and in its turn, each contributes to the benefit of the others and is thus an instance of Allah's mercy to them.
His mercy is universal and all-pervasive; while His justice and punishment are reserved for those who swerve from His plan and (to use a mediaeval juridical formula) go out of His Peace.
...فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَـاةَ...
That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those
- who do right,
- and practice regular charity,
...وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾
- and those who believe in Our signs;
C1126. The personal grace and mercy -and their opposite- are referred to the singular pronoun "I" while the impersonal Law, by which Allah's Signs operate in His universe, is referred to the plural pronoun of authority and dignity, "We".
Other versions:
7: 156 [al-Araf, Mecca 39]
Asad And ordain You for us what is good in this world as well as in the life to come: behold, unto You have we turned in repentance!” [God] answered: “With My chastisement do I afflict whom I will – but My grace overspreads everything [123]: and so I shall confer it on those who are conscious of me and spend in charity, and who believe in Our messages -
Yusuf Ali "And ordain for us that which is good in this life and in the hereafter: for we have turned unto Thee." He said: "with My punishment I visit whom I will; but My mercy extendeth to all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right and practice regular charity and those who believe in Our signs;
Pickthall And ordain for us in, this world that which is good, and in the Hereafter (that which is good), Lo! We have turned unto Thee. He said: I smite with My punishment whom I will, and My mercy embraceth all things, therefore I shall ordain It for those who ward off (evil) and pay the poor due, and those who believe Our revelations;
Transliteration Waktub lana_ fi ha_zihid dunya_ hasanataw wa fil a_khirati inna_ hudna_ ilaik(a), qa_la 'aza_bi usibu bihi man asya_'(u), wa rahmati wasi'at kulla syai'(in), fa sa'aktubuha_ lillazina yattaqu_na wa yu'tu_naz zaka_ta wallazina hum bi a_ya_tina_ yu'minu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 123 – Cf. 6:12 (and the corresponding 10), as well as 6:54.]]
2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
آمَنَ
الرَّسُولُ
بِمَا أُنزِلَ
إِلَيْهِ مِن
رَّبِّهِ
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ
...
2: 285. The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith.
... كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَمَلآئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ...
Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His Messengers.
C337. This Surah started with the question of Faith (2:3-4), showed us various aspects of Faith and the denial of Faith, gave us ordinances for the new People of Islam as a community, and now rounds off the argument again with a confession of Faith and of its practical manifestation in conduct ("we hear and we obey"), and closes on a note of humility, so that we may confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, and pray for Allah's help and guidance.
... لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ...
"We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His Messengers."
C338. Cf. 2:136 and 2:253, n. 289.
It is not for us to make any distinction between one and another of Allah's Prophets: we must honor them all equally, though we know that God in His wisdom sent them with different kinds of mission and gave them different degrees of rank.
... وَقَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا...
And they say: "We hear, and we obey:
... غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿٢٨٥﴾
(we seek) Thy forgiveness, Our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys."
C339. When our faith and conduct are sincere, we realize how far from perfection we are, and we humbly pray to Allah for the forgiveness of our sins.
We feel that Allah imposes no burden on us that we cannot bear, and with this realization in our hearts and in the confession of our lips, we go to Him and ask for His help and guidance.
Asad’s Version:
2: 285 ….in God, …angels, …revelations, ..apostles, ….
3. Sura al-Imran
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَأَمَّا
الَّذِينَ
ابْيَضَّتْ
وُجُوهُهُمْ
فَفِي رَحْمَةِ
اللّهِ ...
3: 107. But those whose faces will be (lit with) white, they will be in (the light of) Allah's Mercy;
... هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴿١٠٧﴾
therein to dwell (for ever).
وَلاَ
تَهِنُوا وَلاَ
تَحْزَنُوا
وَأَنتُمُ
الأَعْلَوْنَ
إِن كُنتُم
مُّؤْمِنِينَ
﴿١٣٩﴾
3: 139. So lose not heart, nor fall into despair:
for ye must gain mastery if ye are true in faith.
Other versions:
3: 107
Yusuf Ali But those whose faces will be (lit with) white they will be in (the light of) Allah's Mercy; therein to dwell (for ever).
Pickthall As for those whose faces have been whitened, Lo! in the mercy of Allah they dwell for ever.
Transliteration Wa ammal lazinabyaddat wuju_huhum fa fi rahmatilla_h(i), hum fiha_ kha_lidu_n(a).
3:139 Be not, then, faint of heart, and grieve not: for you are bound to rise high if you are (truly) believers.
4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَلاَ
وَرَبِّكَ لاَ
يُؤْمِنُونَ
حَتَّىَ يُحَكِّمُوكَ
فِيمَا شَجَرَ
بَيْنَهُمْ
...
4: 65. But no, by thy Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them,
... ثُمَّ لاَ يَجِدُواْ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٦٥﴾
and find in their souls no resistance against thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.
C583. The test of true Faith is not mere lip profession, but bringing all our doubts and disputes to the one in whom we profess faith.
Further, when a decision is given we are not only to accept it. but find in our inmost souls no difficulty and no resistance, but on the contrary a joyful acceptance springing from the conviction of our own faith.
وَلَوْ
أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا
عَلَيْهِمْ
أَنِ اقْتُلُواْ
أَنفُسَكُمْ
أَوِ اخْرُجُواْ
مِن دِيَارِكُم
...
4: 66. If We had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes,
... مَّا فَعَلُوهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ مِّنْهُمْ...
very few of them would have done it:
C584. The highest in faith willingly sacrifice their lives, their homes. and all that they hold dearest, in the cause of Allah.
Those whose faith is not so strong are expected at least to do what a loyal member of any society does, submit his doubts and disputes to the head of the society and cheerfully accept his decision and submit to it,
The contrast is between the Hypocrites who will not even do this, and the really devoted men and women who would voluntarily sacrifice their lives.
... وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُواْ مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ تَثْبِيتًا ﴿٦٦﴾
but if they had done what they were (actually) told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone farthest to strengthen their (faith).
وَإِذاً
لَّآتَيْنَاهُم
مِّن لَّدُنَّـا
أَجْراً عَظِيمًا
﴿٦٧﴾
4: 67. And We should then have given them from Our Presence a great reward.
وَلَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ
صِرَاطًا
مُّسْتَقِيمًا
﴿٦٨﴾
4: 68. And We should have shown them the Straight Way.
C585. Four advantages of obedience to Allah are mentioned, in the order in which they will appeal to the beginner in faith:
1. his own benefit ("best for them"):
2. strengthening of his faith, as he becomes more and more at home in the world of faith:
3. reward from Allah's own Presence, such intense conviction that no further arguments are needed:
4. the Straight Way, in which there is no doubt or difficulty whatever in our practical conduct.
مَّا
أَصَابَكَ مِنْ
حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ
اللّهِ وَمَا
أَصَابَكَ مِن
سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن
نَّفْسِكَ...
4: 79. Whatever good, (O man!) happens to thee, is from Allah; but whatever evil happens to thee, is from thy (own) soul.
... وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولاً ...
And We have sent thee as a Messenger to (instruct) mankind:
C598. To blame a man of God for our misfortunes is doubly unjust. For he comes to save us from misfortune, and it is because we flout him or pay no heed to him, that our own rebellion, brings its own punishment.
If we realise this truth we shall be saved from two sins:
1. the sin of injustice to Allah's Messengers, who come for our good, and not for our harm:
2. the sin of not realising our own shortcomings or rebellion, and thus living in spiritual darkness.
If the Message is from Allah, that carries its own authority:
"enough is Allah for a witness."
... وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ شَهِيدًا ﴿٧٩﴾
and enough is Allah for a witness.
مَّنْ
يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ
فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ
اللّهَ ...
4: 80. He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah:
... وَمَن تَوَلَّى فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا ﴿٨٠﴾
but if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over their (evil deeds).
C599. The Messenger was sent to preach, guide, instruct, and show the Way, -not to drive people to good. That is not Allah's Plan, which trains the human Will.
The Messenger's duty is therefore to convey the Message of Allah, in all the ways of persuasion that are open to him.
If men perversely disobey that Message, they are not disobeying him but they are disobeying Allah. In the same way those who obey the Message are obeying Allah. They are not obliging the Messenger: they arc merely doing their duty.
لاَّ
يَسْتَوِي
الْقَاعِدُونَ
مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
غَيْرُ أُوْلِي
الضَّرَرِ ...
4: 95. Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt,
... وَالْمُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ...
and those who strive and fight in the Cause of Allah with their goods and their persons.
... فَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً...
Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home):
... وَكُـلاًّ وَعَدَ اللّهُ الْحُسْنَى ...
unto all (in faith) hath Allah promised good:
C614. Allah's goodness is promised to all people of Faith. But there are degrees among men and women of Faith.
- There are people with natural inertia: they do the minimum that is required of them, but no more.
- There are people who are weak in will: they are easily frightened.
- There are people who are so strong in will and so firm in faith that they are determined to conquer every obstacle, whether in their own physical or other infirmities or in the external world around them.
In a time of jihad, when people give their all, and even their lives, for the common cause, they must be accounted more glorious than those who sit at home, even though they have good will to the cause and carry out minor duties in aid.
The special reward of such self-sacrifice is special forgiveness and mercy, as proceeding from the direct approbation and love of Allah.
... وَفَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٩٥﴾
but those who strive and fight hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward.
دَرَجَاتٍ
مِّنْهُ وَمَغْفِرَةً
وَرَحْمَةً...
4: 96. Ranks specially bestowed by Him, and Forgiveness and Mercy.
... وَكَانَ اللّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿٩٦﴾
For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ آمِنُواْ
بِاللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
...
4: 136. O ye who believe! believe in Allah and His Messenger,
... وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِيَ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبْلُ...
and the scripture which He hath sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him).
C646. If your belief is by habit or birth or the example of those you love or respect or admire, make that belief more specific and personal to yourself. We must not only have faith, but realise that faith in our inmost being.
The chief objects of our Faith are Allah. His Messenger, and His Revelations.
To all these we must give a home in our hearts. The angels we do not see and realise as we realise Allah, who is nearer to us than the vehicle of our life-blood, and the Day of Judgment is for our future experience, but we must not deny them, or we cut off a part of our religious view.
... وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِاللّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا ﴿١٣٦﴾
And who denieth Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray.
لَّـكِنِ
الرَّاسِخُونَ
فِي الْعِلْمِ
مِنْهُمْ
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ
يُؤْمِنُونَ
بِمَا أُنزِلَ
إِلَيكَ وَمَا
أُنزِلَ مِن
قَبْلِكَ...
162. But those among them who are well-grounded in knowledge, and the believers, believe in what hath been revealed to thee;
... وَالْمُقِيمِينَ الصَّلاَةَ وَالْمُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ...
and (especially) those who establish regular prayer and practice regular charity and believe in Allah and in the Last Day:
... أُوْلَـئِكَ سَنُؤْتِيهِمْ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿١٦٢﴾
to them shall We soon give a great reward.
Asad’s Version:
4: 65 But nay, by thy Sustainer! They do not believe unless they make thee [O Prophet] a judge of all on which they disagree among themselves, and then find in their hearts no bar to an acceptance of thy decision and give themselves up [to it] in utter self-surrender. Asad, see note 84.
4: 66 Yet We were to ordain for them, "Lay down your lives," or, "Forsake your homelands," only a very few of them would do - although, if they did what they are admonished to do, it would indeed be for their own good and apt to strengthen them greatly [in faith]
4: 67 Whereupon We should indeed grant them, out of Our Grace, a mighty reward,
4: 68 and indeed guide them on to a straight way.
4: 79 And We have sent thee [O Mohammad} as an apostle unto all mankind: and none can bear witness [thereto] as God does.
4: 80 Whoever pays heed unto the Apostle pays heed unto God thereby' and as for those who turn away - We have not sent thee to be their keeper.
Degrees of Believers' Positions / Station
4: 95 Such of the believers as remain passive - other that the disabled - cannot be deemed equal to those who strive hard in God's cause with their possessions and their lives: God has exalted those who strive hard with their possessions and their lives far above those who remain passive.
Although God has promised the ultimate good unto all, yet has God exalted those who strive hard above those who remain passive by a mighty reward-
4:96 degrees thereof - and forgiveness of sins, and His grace; for God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
4: 136 O you who have attained to faith! Hold fast unto your belief in God and His Apostle, and in the divine writ which He has bestowed from on high upon His Apostle, step by step, as well as in the revelation which He sent down aforetime: for he who denies God, and His angels, and His revelations, and His apostles, and the Last Day, has indeed gone far astray.
4: 162 But as for those from among them who are deeply rooted in knowledge, and the believers who believe in that which has been bestowed upon thee from on high as well as that which was bestowed from on high before thee, and those who are constant in prayer, and spend in charity and all who believe in God and the Last Day – these it is unto whom We shall grant a mighty reward.
6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَالُواْ
لَوْلا أُنزِلَ
عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ
...
6: 8. They say: "Why is not an angel sent down to him?"
... وَلَوْ أَنزَلْنَا مَلَكًا لَّقُضِيَ الأمْرُ ثُمَّ لاَ يُنظَرُونَ ﴿٨﴾
If We did send down an angel, the matter would be settled at once, and no respite would be granted them.
C841. Cf. 2::210.
An angel is a heavenly being, a manifestation of Allah's glory, invisible to men who live gross material lives; Such men are given plenty of respite in which to turn in repentance to Allah and make themselves worthy of His light.
But if their prayer to see an angel were grated, it would do them no good, for thy would be destroyed as darkness is destroyed by light.
وَلَوْ
جَعَلْنَاهُ
مَلَكًا لَّجَعَلْنَاهُ
رَجُلاً وَلَلَبَسْنَا
عَلَيْهِم مَّا
يَلْبِسُونَ
﴿٩﴾
6: 9. If We had made it an angel, We should have sent him as a man, and We should certainly have caused them confusion in a matter which they have already covered with confusion.
C842. Supposing an angel should appear to their grosser senses, he could only do it in human form. In that case their present confused notions about spiritual life would be still more confounded.
They would say: "We wanted to see an angel, and we have only seen a man!"
قُل
لَّوْ أَنَّ
عِندِي مَا
تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ
بِهِ لَقُضِيَ
الأَمْرُ بَيْنِي
وَبَيْنَكُمْ
...
6: 58. Say:
"If what ye would see hastened were in my power, the matter would be settled at once between you and me.
C878. The Messenger of Allah is not here to settle scores with the wicked. It is not a matter between them and him. It is a matter between them and Allah; he is only a warner against sin, and a declarer of the gospel of salvation.
...وَاللّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٥٨﴾
But Allah knoweth best those who do wrong."
Asad’s Version:
6: 8 They are saying, too, “Why has not an angel [visibly] been sent down unto him? But had We sent down an angel, all would indeed have been decided, and they would have been allowed no further respite [for response].
6: 9 And [even ] if We had appointed an angel as Our Message-bearer, We would certainly have made him [appear as ] a man – and thus We would only have confused them in the same as they are now confusing themselves.
6: 58 Say: “If that which you so hastily demand were in my power, everything would indeed have been decided between me and you. But God knows best as to who is doing wrong.” [see Asad’s note 48 ‘........conviction based solely on a miraculous proof would have no spiritual value’ on Faith]
6: 58 For, with Him are the keys to the things that are beyond the reach of a created being’s perception: none knows them but He. And He knows all that is on land and in the sea: and not a leaf falls but He knows it ; and neither is there a grain in the earth’s deep darkness, nor anything living or dead, but is recorded in [His] clear decree.
7. Sura al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاكْتُبْ
لَنَا فِي هَـذِهِ
الدُّنْيَا
حَسَنَةً وَفِي
الآخِرَةِ
إِنَّا هُدْنَـا
إِلَيْكَ...
7: 156. "And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and in the hereafter:
for we have turned unto Thee."
...قَالَ عَذَابِي أُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ أَشَاء وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ...
He said:
"With My punishment I visit whom I will; but My mercy extendeth to all things.
C1125. Allah's mercy is in and for all things. All nature subserves a common purpose, which is for the good of all His creatures.
Our faculties and our understandings are all instances of His grace and mercy. Each unit or factor among his creatures benefits from the others and receives them as Allah's mercy to itself: and in its turn, each contributes to the benefit of the others and is thus an instance of Allah's mercy to them.
His mercy is universal and all-pervasive; while His justice and punishment are reserved for those who swerve from His plan and (to use a mediaeval juridical formula) go out of His Peace.
...فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَـاةَ...
That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those
- who do right,
- and practice regular charity,
...وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾
- and those who believe in Our signs;
C1126. The personal grace and mercy -and their opposite- are referred to the singular pronoun "I" while the impersonal Law, by which Allah's Signs operate in His universe, is referred to the plural pronoun of authority and dignity, "We".
الَّذِينَ
يَتَّبِعُونَ
الرَّسُولَ
النَّبِيَّ
الأُمِّيَّ...
7: 157. "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet,
...الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنْجِيلِ...
whom they find mentioned in their own (Scriptures); in the law and the Gospel;
C1127. In this verse is a prefiguring, to Moses, of the Arabian Messenger, the last and greatest of the messengers of Allah. Prophecies about him will be found in the Tawrah and the Injil.
In the reflex of the Tawrah as now accepted by the Jews, Moses says: "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me" (Deut. 18:15):
the only Prophet who brought a Shariah like that of Moses was Muhammad Al-Mustafa, and he came of the house of Ismail the brother of Isaac the father of Israel.
In the reflex of the Gospel as now accepted by the Christians, Christ promised another Comforter (John 14:16): the Greek word Paraclete which the Christians interpret as referring to the Holy Spirit is by our Doctors taken to be Periclyte, which would be the Greek form of Ahmad. See 61:6.
...يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ...
for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil:
...وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَآئِثَ...
he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure);
...وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالأَغْلاَلَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ......
He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them.
C1128. Aglal: plural of gullun, a yoke, an iron collar.
In the formalism and exclusiveness of the Jews there were many restrictions which were removed by Islam, a religion of freedom in the faith of Allah, of universality in the variety of races, languages, manners and customs.
...فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُواْ النُّورَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ...
So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,
C1129. Light which is sent down with him: the words are "with him", not "to him", emphasizing the fact that the Light which he brought illumines every one who has the privilege of joining his great and universal Fellowship.
...أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٥٧﴾
it is they who will prosper."
C1130. Falah: prosperity in its general sense as well as in its spiritual sense.
- In the general sense it means that right conduct is the only door to happiness and well-being.
- In the spiritual sense it means that Faith and its fruits (right conduct) are the only gates to salvation.
وَالَّذِينَ
يُمَسَّكُونَ
بِالْكِتَابِ
وَأَقَامُواْ
الصَّلاَةَ
إِنَّا لاَ
نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ
الْمُصْلِحِينَ
﴿١٧٠﴾
7: 170. As to those who hold fast by the Book and establish regular prayer; never shall We suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.
Asad’s Version:
[Moses ]
7: 156 And ordain you for us what is good in this world as well as in the life to come: behold, unto You have we turned in repentance!”
[God] answered: “With My chastisement do I afflict whom I will – but My grace overspreads everything: and so I shall confer it on those who are conscious of Me and spend in charity, and who believe in Our messages –
7: 157 “…..Those, therefore, who shall believe in him, and honour him, and succor him, and follow the light that has been bestowed from on high through him – it is they that shall attain to a happy state.”
7: 170 For [We shall requite ] all those who hold fast to the divine writ and are constant in prayer: verily, We shall not fail to requite those who enjoin the doing of what is right!
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَفَمَن
يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا
أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ
مِن رَبِّكَ
الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ
هُوَ أَعْمَى...
13: 19. Is then one who doth know that that which hath been revealed unto these from thy Lord is the Truth, like one who is blind?
C1834. In this section the contrast between Faith and Righteousness on the one hand and Infidelity and Evil on the other is set out.
The righteous man is known as one who;
- receives admonition;
- is true to his covenants;
- follows the universal Religion of Faith and Practice joined together;
- is patient and persevering in seeking Allah;
and in practical matters he is known to be;
- regular in prayer;
- generous in true charity, whether open or secret; and
- not revengeful, but anxious to turn off evil with good, thus breaking the chain of evil which tends to perpetuate itself.
...إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ الأَلْبَابِ ﴿١٩﴾
It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition --
الَّذِينَ
يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ
اللّهِ وَلاَ
يِنقُضُونَ
الْمِيثَاقَ ﴿٢٠﴾
13: 20. Those who fulfil the Covenant of Allah and fail not in their plighted word;
وَالَّذِينَ
يَصِلُونَ مَا
أَمَرَ اللّهُ
بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ...
13: 21. Those who join together those things which Allah hath commanded to be joined,
- join faith with practice,
- love of God with love of man, and
- respect for all Prophets alike, i.e., follow the right Religion, and not odd bits of it.
...وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الحِسَابِ ﴿٢١﴾
hold their Lord in awe, and fear the terrible reckoning;
وَالَّذِينَ
صَبَرُواْ
ابْتِغَاء
وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ...
13: 22. Those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance their Lord;
...وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً...
establish regular prayers;
spend, out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance, secretly and openly;
...وَيَدْرَؤُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ...
and turn off Evil with good:
...أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ ﴿٢٢﴾
for such there is the final attainment of the (Eternal) Home --
C1836. Their journey in this life was at best a sojourn. The Heaven is their eternal Home, which is further prefigured in the two following verses.
جَنَّاتُ
عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا
وَمَنْ صَلَحَ
مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ
وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ
وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ...
13: 23. Gardens of perpetual bliss:
they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring:
C1837. The relationships of this life are temporal, but love in righteousness is eternal.
In the eternal Gardens of Bliss the righteous will be reunited with all those near and dear ones whom they loved, provided only that they were righteous also; for in eternity nothing else counts.
Blood-relationships and marriage relationships create certain physical bonds in this life, which may lead to much good, and possibly also to evil. All that is physical or evil will go. But the good will come forth with a new meaning in the final Reckoning. Thus ancestors and descendants, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, (for dhurriyat includes them), whose love was pure and sanctified, will find new bliss in the perfecting of their love and will see a new and mystic meaning in the old and ephemeral bonds.
Can we wonder at Jacob's reunion with Joseph, or that of Moses with Aaron, or Muhammad Al Mustafa with the Lady Khadija?
In fact all the Righteous will be reunited in the Hereafter (12:101).
...وَالمَلاَئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ ﴿٢٣﴾
and angels shall enter unto them from every gate (with the salutation):
سَلاَمٌ
عَلَيْكُم بِمَا
صَبَرْتُمْ
فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى
الدَّارِ ﴿٢٤﴾
13: 24. "Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience!
Now how excellent is the final Home!"
وَالَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ
عَهْدَ اللّهِ
مِن بَعْدِ
مِيثَاقِهِ...
13: 25. But those who break the Covenant of Allah, after having plighted their word thereto
...وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ اللّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ...
and cut asunder those things which Allah has commanded to be joined,
and work mischief in the land --
C1838. This is the opposite of the things explained in 13:21 above, n. 1835.
...أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ ﴿٢٥﴾
on them is the Curse;
for them is the terrible Home!
C1839. This is in contrast to the state of the blessed, described in 13:22-24 above,
The Curse is the opposite of the Bliss, and the Terrible Home is the opposite of the Eternal Home, the Gardens of perpetual bliss.
اللّهُ يَبْسُطُ
الرِّزْقَ
لِمَنْ يَشَاء
وَيَقَدِرُ...
13: 26. Allah doth enlarge, or grant by (strict) measure the Sustenance (which He giveth) to whom so He pleaseth.
C1840. Allah, the Sustainer and Cherisher of all His creatures, gives sustenance to all.
To some He grants it in abundance; to others He gives it in strict measure. No one can question Him, for His Will is supreme, and it is the measure of all good.
...وَفَرِحُواْ بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...
(The worldly) rejoice in the life of this world:
...وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ مَتَاعٌ ﴿٢٦﴾
but the life of this world is but little comfort in the Hereafter.
C1841. Cf. 9:38.
The meaning here may also be:
This present life is just a furniture, a convenience, a stepping stone, a
Asad’s Version:
13: 19 [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]
Yusuf Ali Is then one who doth know that that which hath been revealed unto these from thy Lord is the Truth like one who is blind? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition
Pickthall Is he who knoweth that what is revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the truth like him who is blind? But only men of understanding heed;
Yuksel Is one who knows that the truth has been sent down to you from your Lord like one who is blind? Only those with understanding will remember.
Transliteration Afamay ya'lamu annama_ unzila ilaika mir rabbikal haqqu ka man huwa a'ma_, innama_ yatazakkaru ulul alba_b(i),
13: 20
Yusuf Ali Those who fulfil the Covenant of Allah and fail not in their plighted word;
Pickthall Such as keep the pact of Allah, and break not the covenant;
Yuksel Those who fulfill God's covenant, and they do not break the Covenant.
Transliteration Allazina yu_fu_na bi 'ahdilla_hi wa la_ yanqudu_nal misa_q(a),
13: 21
Yusuf Ali Those who join together those things which Allah hath commanded to be joined hold their Lord in awe and fear the terrible reckoning;
Pickthall Such as unite that which Allah hath commanded should be joined, and fear their Lord, and dread a woeful reckoning.
Yuksel Those who deliver what God has ordered be delivered, and they revere their Lord and they fear the terrible reckoning.
Transliteration Wallazina yasilu_na ma_ amaralla_hu bihi ay yu_sala wa yakhsyauna rabbahum wa yakha_fu_na su_'al hisa_b(i).
13: 22
Yusuf Ali Those who patiently persevere seeking the countenance their Lord; establish regular prayers; spend out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance secretly and openly; and turn off Evil with good: for such there is the final attainment of the (Eternal) Home
Pickthall Such as persevere in seeking their Lord's countenance and are regular in prayer and spend of that which We bestow upon them secretly and openly, and overcome evil with good. Theirs will be the sequel of the (heavenly) Home.
Yuksel Those who are patient seeking their Lord's direction; and they hold the contact prayer, and they spend from what We bestowed upon them secretly and openly, and they counter sin with good; these will have an excellent abode.
Transliteration Wallazina sabaru-btiga_'a wajhi rabbihim wa aqa_mus sala_ta wa anfaqu_ mimma_ razaqna_hum sirraw wa 'ala_niyataw wa yadra'u_na bil hasana_tis sayyi'ata ula_'ika lahum 'uqbad da_r(i),
13: 23
Yusuf Ali Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there as well as the righteous among their fathers their spouses and their offspring: and angels shall enter unto them from every gate (with the salutation):
Pickthall Gardens of Eden which they enter, along with all who do right of their fathers and their helpmeets and their seed. The angels enter unto them from every gate.
Yuksel The gardens of Eden, they will enter it with those who are good doers from their fathers and their mates and their progeny. The angels will enter upon them from every gate:
Transliteration Janna_tu 'adniy yadkhulu_naha_ wa man salaha mina a_ba_'ihim wa azwa_jihim wa zurriyya_tihim wal mala_'ikatu yadkhulu_na 'alaihim min kulli ba_b(in).
13: 24
Yusuf Ali "Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final Home!"
Pickthall (Saying): Peace be unto you because ye persevered. Ah, passing sweet will be the sequel of the (heavenly) Home.
Yuksel "Peace be upon you for what you have been patient for. Excellent indeed is the final abode."
Transliteration Sala_mun 'alaikum bima_ sabartum fa ni'ma 'uqbad da_r(i).
13: 25
Yusuf Ali But those who break the Covenant of Allah after having plighted their word thereto and cut asunder those things which Allah has commanded to be joined and work mischief in the land on them is the Curse; for them is the terrible Home!
Pickthall And those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, and sever that which Allah hath commanded should be joined, and make mischief in the earth: theirs is the curse and theirs the ill abode.
Transliteration Wallazina yanquduu_na 'ahdalla_hi mim ba'di misa_qihi wa yaqta'u_na ma_ amaralla_hu bihi ay yu_sala wa yufsidu_na fil ard(i), ula_'ika lahumul la'natu wa lahum su_'ud da_r(i).
13: 26
Yusuf Ali Allah doth enlarge or grant by (strict) measure the Sustenance (which He giveth) to whom so He pleaseth. (The worldly) rejoice in the life of this world: but the life of this world is but little comfort in the Hereafter.
Pickthall Allah enlargeth livelihood for whom He will, and straiteneth (it for whom He will); and they rejoice in the life of the world, whereas the life of the world is but brief comfort as compared with the Hereafter.
Transliteration Alla_hu yabsutur rizqa limay yasya_'u wa yaqdir(u), wa farihu_ bil haya_tid dunyu_, wa mal haya_tud dunya_ fil a_khirati illa_ mata_'(un).
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