30. Ar-Rum (The Byzantines)

Mecca Period [6-7 years before Hijra]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًا لِّيَرْبُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِندَ اللَّهِ...

30:39 That which ye lay out for increase through the property of (other) people, will have no increase with Allah:

...وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾

but that which ye lay out for charity, seeking the Countenance of Allah, (will increase): it is these who will get a recompense multiplied.

C3553. Seeking the "Face" or "Countenance" of Allah, i.e., out of our pure love for the true vision of Allah's own Self.

See also n. 3550 above.

Asad’s Version:

(30:39) And [remember:] whatever you may give out in usury so that it might increase through [other] people's possessions will bring [you] no increase in the sight of God 35 - whereas all that you give out in charity, seeking God's countenance, (will be blessed by Him: 36 ] for it is they,they (who thus seek His countenance] that shall have their recompense multiplied!