9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ
وَجَاهَدُواْ
فِي سَبِيلِ
اللّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ
وَأَنفُسِهِمْ
أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً
عِندَ اللّهِ...
9: 20. Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah's cause, with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah:
C1270. Here is it good description of Jihad. It may require fighting in Allah's cause, its a form of self-sacrifice. But its essence consists in;
- a true and sincere Faith, which so fixes its gaze on Allah, that all selfish or worldly motives seem paltry and fade away, and
- an earnest and ceaseless activity, involving the sacrifice (if need be) of life, person, or property, in the service of Allah.
Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole spirit of Jihad, while the sincere scholar's pen or preacher's voice or wealthy man's contributions may be the most valuable forms of Jihad.
...وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾
They are the people who will achieve (salvation).
9: 20
Asad Those who believe, and who have forsaken the domain of evil [note 30] and have striven hard in God’s cause with their possessions and their lives have the highest rank in the sight of God; and it is they, they who shall triumph [in the end]!
Pickthall Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant.
Transliteration Allazina a_manu_ wa ha_jaru_ wa ja_hadu_ fi sabililla_hi bi amwa_lihim wa anfusihim, a'zamu darajatan 'indalla_h(i), wa ula_'ika humul fa_'izu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 30 – See surah 2, note 203, and surah 4, note 124]
[[ Ali’s notes: -
1270 Here is a good description of Jihad. It may require fighting in Allah's cause, its a form of self-sacrifice. But its essence consists in (1) a true and sincere Faith, which so fixes its gaze on Allah, that all selfish or worldly motives seem paltry and fade away, and (2) an earnest and ceaseless activity, involving the sacrifice (if need be) of life, person, or property, in the service of Allah. Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole spirit of Jihad, while the sincere scholar's pen or preacher's voice or wealthy man's contributions may be the most valuable forms of Jihad. (9.20)]]
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59. Al-Hashr (The Gathering)
Medina Period [101]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا
اللَّهَ ...
59: 18. O ye who believe! Fear Allah,
C5394. The "fear of Allah" is akin to love; for it means the fear of offending Him or doing anything wrong that will forfeit His Good Pleasure. This is Taqwa, which implies self restraint, guarding ourselves from all sin, wrong, and injustice, and the positive doing of good.
... وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ...
and let every soul look to what (provision) he has sent forth for the morrow.
C5395. The positive side of Taqwa, or "fear of Allah" (see last note) is here emphasised.
It is not merely a feeling or an emotion: it is an act, a doing of things which become a preparation and provision for the Hereafter,-the next life, which may be described as "the morrow" in relation to the present Life, which is "to-day".
... وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٨﴾
Yea, fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) they ye do.
C5395a. The repetition emphasises both sides of Taqwa: "let your soul fear to do wrong and let it do every act of righteousness; for Allah observes both your inner motives and your acts, and in His scheme of things everything will have its due consequences."
وَلَا تَكُونُوا
كَالَّذِينَ
نَسُوا اللَّهَ
فَأَنسَاهُمْ
أَنفُسَهُمْ ...
59: 19. And be ye not like those who forget Allah; and He made them forget their own souls!
C5396. To forget Allah is to forget the only Eternal Reality.
As we are only reflected realities, how can we understand or do justice to or remember ourselves, when we forget the very source of our being? (R).
... أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ ﴿١٩﴾
such are the rebellious transgressors!
لَا
يَسْتَوِي
أَصْحَابُ
النَّارِ وَأَصْحَابُ
الْجَنَّةِ ...
59: 20. Not equal are the Companions of the Fire and the Companions of the Garden:
... أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾
it is the Companions of the Garden that will achieve Felicity.
C5397. The others, the Companions of the Fire, will find their lives wasted and nullified. Their capacities will be rendered inert and their wishes will end in futility.
Asad’s Version:
59:18 O YOU who have attained to faith! Remain conscious of God; and let every human being look to what he sends ahead for the morrow! And [once again]: Remain conscious of God, for God is fully aware of all that you do;
(59: 19) and be not like those who are oblivious of God, and whom He therefore causes to be oblivious of [what is good for] their own selves: [for] it is they, they who are truly depraved! 25
59:20 Not equal are those who are destined for the fire and those who are destined for paradise: those who are destined for paradise - it is they, they [alone] who shall triumph [on Judgment Day]!
[[Asad’s note - 25 I.e., by having made a deliberately wrong use of the faculty of reason with which God has endowed man, and - by remaining oblivious of Him - having wasted their own spiritual potential. ]]