35. Al-Fatir (The Originator)

Mecca Period 43

Asad’s Version:

35:29

[It is] they who [truly] follow God's revelation, and are constant in prayer, and spend on others, secretly and openly, out of what We provide for them as sustenance - it is they who may look forward to a bargain that can never fail,

(35:30) since He will grant them their just rewards, and give them yet more out of His bounty: for, verily, He is much-forgiving, ever- responsive to gratitude

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ...

35: 29 Those who rehearse the Book of Allah, establish regular Prayer

... وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً...

and spend (in Charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly,

C3914. The man of God takes Allah's Revelation ("the Book") to heart, ever seeks to get closer and closer to Allah ("regular Prayer"), and in doing so, is moved more and more to practical Charity for his fellow-creatures.

He is not ashamed of his Charity ("openly"), but he does not do it to be seen by men ("secretly"): he just does what is necessary for his fellow-creatures, whether people talk about it or not.

... يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ ﴿٢٩﴾

hope for a Commerce that will never fail:

C3915. Here is a metaphor from commerce.

The good man's Charity comes not merely out of superfluities, but out of "what Allah has provided" for him. He therefore recognises two things:

1. that his wealth (literal and metaphorical) is not his absolutely, but that it is given to him by Allah; and

2. that he must deny himself the use of some of it, as a merchant puts by some of his wealth to invest as capital.

Only, the godly man's commerce will never fail or fluctuate; because Allah guarantees him the return, and even adds something to the return out of His own Bounty. That is, Allah gives more than ever our merits deserve.

لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ...

35: 30. For He will pay them their meed, nay, He will give them (even) more out of His Bounty;

... إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ ...

for He is Oft-Forgiving,

C3916. No man is perfect. Everyone has his fault. But when a man tries his best in the service of Allah, his faults are blotted out, and he is treated as if he had committed no faults: "for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, and ready to appreciate service".

... شَكُورٌ ﴿٣٠﴾

Most Ready to appreciate (service).

C3917. Cf. 14:5, and n. 2877 for shakur.

Allah is ready to recognise, appreciate, and reward the smallest service, without regard to the defects in that service. His gracious acceptance is compared to "gratitude" among men.

Yuksel’s Version:

35:29 Surely, those who recite God's book, and hold the contact prayer, and spend secretly and openly from what We have provided them, they are seeking a trade that can never lose.

35:30 He will give them their recompense, and He will increase them from His blessings. He is Forgiving, Appreciative.