29. Al-'Ankabut (The Spider)

Period Uncertain

Asad’s Version:

(29:5) Whoever looks forward [with hope and awe] to meeting God [on Resurrection Day, let him be ready for it] : for, behold, the end set by God [for everyone's life] is bound to come - and He alone is all-hearing, all-knowing!

29:6 Hence, whoever strives hard [in God's cause] does so only for his own good: for, verily, God does not stand in need of anything in all the worlds!

(29:7) And as for those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds, We shall most certainly efface their [previous] bad deeds, and shall most certainly reward them in accordance with the best that they ever did.

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

مَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاء اللَّهِ ...

29:5. For those whose hopes are in the meeting with Allah (in the Hereafter, let them strive);

C3426. The men of Faith look forward to Allah. Their quest is Allah, and the object of their hopes is the meeting with Allah. They should strive with might and main to serve Him in this life, for this life is short, and the Term appointed for their probation will soon be over.

... فَإِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ لَآتٍ...

for the Term (appointed) by Allah is surely coming:

C3427. The Term (ajal) may signify:

- the time appointed for death, which ends the probation of this life;

- the time appointed for this life, so that we can prepare for the Hereafter; the limit will soon expire.

In either case the ultimate meaning is the same.

We must strive now and not postpone anything for the future. And we must realize and remember that every prayer we make to Allah is heard by Him, and that every unspoken wish or motive of our heart, good or bad, is known to Him, and goes to swell our spiritual account.

...وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿٥﴾

and He hears and knows (all things).

وَمَن جَاهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَاهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِ...

29: 6. And if any strive (with might and main), they do so for their own souls:

C3428. All our striving ensures to our own spiritual benefit. When we speak of serving Allah, it is not that we confer any benefit on Him. For He has no needs, and is independent of all His Creation.

In conforming to His Will, we are seeking our own good, as in yielding to evil we are doing harm to ourselves.

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٦﴾

for Allah is free of all needs from all creation.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ...

29: 7. Those who believe and work righteous deeds, from them shall We blot out all evil (that may be) in them,

C3429. In striving to purify our Faith and our Life, we are enabled to avoid the consequences of our misdeeds for Allah will forgive any evil in our past, and help to the attainment of a Future based on the best of what we have done rather than on the poor average of our own merits.

The atonement or expiation is by Allah's Mercy, not by our merits or the merits or sacrifice of anyone else. (R).

...وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧﴾

and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds.