27 . Surah An-Naml (The Ants)

Mecca Period 48

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قَالَ الَّذِي عِندَهُ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ...

27:40 [Ali]. Said one who had knowledge of the Book:

C3275. The symbolic meaning still continues.

The big 'Ifrit had boasted of his brute strength, and his reliability. But this is not enough to transform a power (throne) based on materialism into one based on inward knowledge, knowledge of the heart and spirit, the sort of knowledge that comes from the Book of the Grace of Allah, the spirit of truth and benevolence which is the invisible magic of Prophets of Allah.

Even if worldly power and common honesty may be able to effect some good, it will take a comparatively long time, while the magic of spiritual love acts instantaneously.

Solomon was thankful to Allah that he had men endowed with such power, and he had the throne of Bilqis transported to his Court and transformed as he desired, without Bilqis even knowing it. (R).

...أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ...

"I will bring it to thee within the twinkling of an eye!"

فَلَمَّا رَآهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُ قَالَ...

Then when (Solomon) saw it placed firmly before him, he said:

...هَذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ...

"This is by the grace of my Lord! -- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful!

C3276. If Solomon had been ungrateful to Allah, i.e., if he had worked for his own selfish or worldly ends, he could have used the brute strength of 'Ifrit to add to his worldly strength and glory.

Instead of it he uses the higher magic of the Book,-Of the Spirit-to transform the throne of Bilqis for her highest good, which means also the highest good of her subjects, by the divine Light.

He had the two alternatives, and he chooses the better, and he thus shows his gratitude to Allah for the Grace He had given him.

...وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ...

And if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul;

...وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٤٠﴾

but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of All Needs, Supreme in Honor!"

C3277. Man's gratitude to Allah is not a thing that benefits Allah, for Allah is high above all needs: it benefits a man's own soul and gives him higher rank in the life to come.

Per contra, man's ingratitude will not detract from Allah's Glory and Honour or the value of Allah's generous gifts to man: for Allah is supreme

- in honour,

Asad’s Version:

27:40 Answered he who was illumined by revelation: 52 "[Nay] as for me - 1 shall bring it to thee ere the twinkling of thy eye ceases!" 33

And when he saw it truly before him, 34 he exclaimed: "This is [an outcome] of my Sustainer's bounty, to test me as to whether I am grateful or ungrateful! 35 However, he who is grateful [to God] is but grateful for his own good; and he who is ungrateful [should know that], verily, my Sustainer is self-sufficient, most generous in giving!"