48. Surah Al-Fath (Victory) [29 verses]

Medina Period 111

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا ﴿٨﴾

48:8. We have truly sent thee as a witness, as a bringer of Glad Tidings, and as a Warner:

C4876. The Prophet came in order to establish Faith in Allah and true worship. We can view him in three capacities:

• as a witness to help the weak if they were oppressed and check the strong if they did wrong;

• as a giver of the Glad Tidings of Allah's Grace and Mercy to those who repented and lived good lives; and

• as one who warned sinners of the consequences of their sin.

لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ...

48:9. In order that ye (o men) may believe in Allah and His Messenger,

... وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا ﴿٩﴾

that ye may assist and honor Him, and celebrate His praises morning and evening. [tusabbihu]

C4876a. Assist and honour Him: most commentators agree that the pronoun 'Him' refers to Allah, while a few believe it refers to the Holy Prophet. [Eds.]

Asad’s Version:

48:8 VERILY, [O Muhammad,] We have sent thee as a witness [to the truth], and as a herald of glad tidings and a warner –

(48:9) so that you [O men] might believe in God and His Apostle, and might honour Him, and revere Him, and extol His limitless glory from morn to evening. 7

[[Asad’s note - 7 Lit., "at morn and evening", i.e., at all times.]]