9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ الأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُواْ عَن رَّسُولِ اللّهِ...   

9: 120. It was not fitting for the people of Medina and the bedouin Arabs of the neighbourhood, to refuse to follow Allah's Messenger,

وَلاَ يَرْغَبُواْ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِ...

nor to prefer their own lives to his:

... ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلاَ نَصَبٌ وَلاَ مَخْمَصَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ... 

because nothing could they suffer or do,

but was reckoned to their credit as a deed of righteousness,

whether they suffered thirst, or fatigue, or hunger, in the Cause of Allah,

... وَلاَ يَطَؤُونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ الْكُفَّارَ...  ...

or trod paths to raise the ire of the unbelievers,

... وَلاَ يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلاً إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ... 

or received any injury whatever from an enemy:

C1371. Again, the illustration is that of Tabuk, but the lesson is general.

We must not hold our own comfort or lives dearer than that of our leader, nor desert him in the hour of danger. If we have true devotion, we shall hold our own lives or comfort cheap in comparison to his.

But whatever service we render to the Cause of Allah, and whatever sufferings, hardships, or injuries we endure, or whatever resources we spend for the Cause, -all goes to raise our degree in the spiritual world. Nothing is lost. Our reward is far greater in worth than any little service we can render, or any little hardship we can suffer, or any little contributions we can make to the Cause. We "painfully attain to joy".

... إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٢٠﴾  

for Allah suffereth not the reward to be lost of those who do good;

وَلاَ يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلاَ كَبِيرَةً ...

9: 121. Nor could they spend anything (for the Cause), small or great,

... وَلاَ يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ... 

nor cut across a valley, but the deed is inscribed to their credit;

C1372. Cut across a valley: this is specially mentioned, as denoting an individual act of heroism, dash, or bravery. To march with the troops along valleys, tread paths of danger along with our Comrades, is good and praiseworthy:

Notice that both the things mentioned in this verse,- the spending of resources and the dashing across a valley- are individual acts, while those mentioned in the last verse are collective acts, which are in some ways easier.

The individual acts having been mentioned, the next verse follows naturally.

... لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٢١﴾  

that Allah might requite their deed with the best (possible reward).

Pickthall’s Version:

9: 120

Pickthall It is not for the townsfolk of Al-Madinah and for those around them of the wandering Arabs to stay behind the messenger of Allah and prefer their lives to his life. That is because neither thirst nor toil nor hunger afflicteth them in the way of Allah, nor step they any step that angereth the disbelievers, nor gain they from the enemy a gain, but a good deed is recorded for them therefor. Lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the good.

Transliteration Ma_ ka_na li ahlil madinati wa man haulahum minal a'ra_bi ay yatakhallafu_ 'ar rasu_lilla_hi wa la_ yargabu_ bi anfusihim 'an nafsih(i), za_lika bi annahum la_ yusibuhum zama'uw wa la_ nasabuw wa la_ makhmasatun fi sabililla_hi wa la_ yata'u_na mauti'ay yagizul kuffa_ra wa la_ yana_lu_na min 'aduwwin nailan illa_ kutiba lahum bihi 'amalun sa_lih(un), innalla_ha la_ yudi'u ajral muhsinin(a).

9: 121

Pickthall Nor spend they any spending, small or great, nor do they cross a valley, but it is recorded for them, that Allah may repay them the best of what they used to do.

Transliteration Wa la_ yunfiqu_na nafaqatan sagirataw wa la_ kabirataw wa la_ yaqta'a_na wa_diyan illa_ kutiba lahum liyajziyahumulla_hu ahsana ma_ ka_nu_ ya'malu_n(a).