2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَثَلُ
الَّذِينَ
يُنفِقُونَ
أَمْوَالَهُمُ
ابْتِغَاء
مَرْضَاتِ
اللّهِ وَتَثْبِيتًا
مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ
...
2: 265. And the likeness of those who spend their substance, seeking to please Allah and to strengthen their souls,
... كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَآتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ...
is as a garden, high and fertile: heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of harvest, and if it receives not heavy rain, light moisture sufficeth it.
C311. True charity is like a field with good soil on a high situation. It catches good showers of rain, the moisture penetrates the soil, and yet its elevated situation keeps it well-drained, and healthy favorable conditions increase its output enormously. But supposing even that the rain is not abundant, it catches dew and makes the most of any little moisture it can get, and that is sufficient for it.
So a man of true charity is spiritually healthy; he is best suited to attract the bounties of Allah, which he does not hoard selfishly but circulates freely. In lean times he still produces good works, and is content with what he has. He looks to Allah's pleasure and the strengthening of his own soul.
... وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿٢٦٥﴾
Allah seeth well whatever ye do.
أَيَوَدُّ
أَحَدُكُمْ
أَن تَكُونَ
لَهُ جَنَّةٌ
مِّن نَّخِيلٍ
وَأَعْنَابٍ...
2: 266. Does any of you wish that he should have a garden with date-palms and vines
C312. The truly spiritual nature of charity having been explained in three parables (2:261, 264, 265) a fourth parable is now added, explaining its bearing on the whole of our life.
Suppose we had a beautiful garden well-watered and fertile, with delightful views of streams, and a haven of rest for mind and body; suppose old age were creeping in on us, and our children were either too young to look after themselves or too feeble in health; how should we feel if a sudden whirlwind came with lightning or fire in its train, and burnt it up; thus blasting the whole of our hopes for the present and for the future, and destroying the result of all our labor and savings in the past?
Well, this life of ours is a probation. We may work hard, we may save, we may have good luck. We may make ourselves a goodly pleasance, and have ample means of support for ourselves and our children. A great whirlwind charged with lightning and fire comes and burns up the whole show.
We are too old to begin again: our children are too young or feeble to help us to repair the mischief. Our chance is lost, because we did not provide against such a contingency.
The whirlwind is the "wrath to come" the provision against it is a life of true charity and righteousness, which is the only source of true and lasting happiness in this world and the next. Without it we are subject to all the vicissitudes of this uncertain life. We may even spoil our so-called "charity" by insisting on the obligation which others owe to us or by doing some harm, because our motives are not pure.
... تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ لَهُ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ...
and streams flowing underneath, and all kinds of fruit,
... وَأَصَابَهُ الْكِبَرُ وَلَهُ ذُرِّيَّةٌ ضُعَفَاء...
while he is stricken with old age, and his children are not strong (enough to look after themselves)
C313. Not strong (enough): dhu'afa-u: literally weak, decrepit, inform, possibly referring to both health and will or character.
... فَأَصَابَهَا إِعْصَارٌ فِيهِ نَارٌ فَاحْتَرَقَتْ...
that it should be caught in a whirlwind, with fire therein and be burnt up?
... كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٦٦﴾
thus doth Allah make clear to you (His) signs; that ye may consider.
2: 265
Asad And the parable of those who spend their possessions out of longing to please God…….
Pickthall And the likeness of those who spend their wealth in search of Allah's pleasure, and for the strengthening of their souls, is as the likeness of a garden on a height. The rainstorm smiteth it and it bringeth forth its fruit twofold. And if the rainstorm smite it not, then the shower. Allah is Seer of what ye do.
Wa masalul lazina yunfiqu_na amwa_lahumubtiga_'a marda_tilla_hi wa tasbitam min anfusihim ka masali jannatim bi rabwatin asa_baha_ wa_bilun fa a_tat ukulaha_ di'fain(in), fa illam yusibha_ wa_bilun fatall(un), walla_hu bima_ ta'malu_na basir(un).
[ Ali’s note - 311 True charity is like a field with good soil on a high situation. It catches good showers of rain, the moisture penetrates the soil, and yet its elevated situation keeps it well-drained, and healthy favorable conditions increase its output enormously. But supposing even that the rain is not abundant, it catches dew and makes the most of any little moisture it can get, and that is sufficient for it. So a man of true charity is spiritually healthy; he is best suited to attract the bounties of God, which he does not hoard selfishly but circulates freely. In lean times he still produces good works, and is content with what he has. He looks to God's pleasure and the strengthening of his own soul. (2.265) ]
2: 266
Asad ………..In this way God makes clear His messages unto you, so that you might take thought.
Pickthall Would any of you like to have a garden of palm trees and vines, with rivers flowing underneath it, with all kinds of fruit for him therein; and old age hath stricken him and he hath feeble off spring; and a fiery whirlwind striketh it and it is (all) consumed by fire. Thus Allah maketh plain His revelations unto you, in order that ye may give thought.
Ayawaddu ahadukum an taku_na lahu_ jannatum min nakhiliw wa a'na_bin tajri min tahtihal anha_r(u), lahu_ fiha_ min kullis samara_t(i), wa asa_bahul kibaru wa lahu_ zurriyyatun du'afa_'(u), fa asa_baha_ i'sa_run fihi na_run fahtaraqat, kaza_lika yubayyinulla_hu lakumul a_ya_ti la'allakum tatafakkaru_n(a).
[ Ali’s notes - 312 The truly spiritual nature of charity having been explained in three parables (ii. 261, 264, 265) a fourth parable is now added, explaining its bearing on the whole of our life. Suppose we had a beautiful garden well-watered and fertile, with delightful views of streams, and a haven of rest for mind and body; suppose old age were creeping in on us, and our children were either too young to look after themselves or too feeble in health; how should we feel if a sudden whirlwind came with lightning or fire in its train, and burnt it up; thus blasting whe whole of our hopes for the present and for the future, and destroying the result of all our labor and savings in the past? Well, this life of ours is a probation. We may work hard, we may save, we may have good luck. We may make ourselves a goodly pleasance, and have ample means of support for ourselves and our children. A great whirlwind charged with lightning and fire comes and burns up the whole show. We are too old to begin again: our children are too young or feeble to help us to repair the mischief. Our chance is lost, because we did not provide against such a contingency. The whirlwind is the "wrath to come"; the provision against it is a life of true charity and righteousness, which is the only source of true and lasting happiness in this world and the next. Without it we are subject to all the vicissitudes of this uncertain life. We may even spoil our so-called "charity" by insisting on the obligation which others owe to us or by doing some harm, because our motives are not pure. (2.266)
313 Not strong (enough): dhu'afa-u: literally weak, decrepit, infirm, possibly referring to both health and will or character. (2.266) ]