57. Al-Hadid (Iron)
Medina Period [94]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
لَكُمْ أَلَّا
تُنفِقُوا فِي
سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
وَلِلَّهِ
مِيرَاثُ
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالْأَرْضِ
...
57: 10. And what cause have ye why ye should not spend in the Cause of Allah? -- For to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth.
C5285. "To Allah belongs the heritage of... ": see n. 485 to 3:180; also n. 988 to 6:165; and n. 1964 to 15:23.
...لَا يَسْتَوِي مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَقَاتَلَ...
Not equal among you are those who spent (freely) and fought, before the Victory, (with those who did so later).
C5286. This is usually understood to refer to the Conquest of Makkah, after which the Muslims succeeded to the power and position which the Pagan Quraish had so misused at Makkah. Thereafter the Muslims had the hegemony of Arabia, and in a few centuries, for a time, the hegemony of the world.
But the words are perfectly general, and we must understand the general meaning also: that the people who fight and struggle in Allah's Cause and give of their best to it at any time are worthy of praise: but those are worthy of special distinction who do it when the Cause is being persecuted and in most need of assistance, before victory comes.
...أُوْلَئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أَنفَقُوا مِن بَعْدُ وَقَاتَلُوا وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَى...
Those are higher in rank than those who spent (freely) and fought afterwards. But to all has Allah promised a goodly (reward),
...وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٠﴾
and Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
مَن
ذَا الَّذِي
يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ
قَرْضًا حَسَنًا
...
57: 11. Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful Loan?
... فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ وَلَهُ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿١١﴾
For (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit, and he will have (besides) a liberal reward.
Asad’s Version:
(57: 10) And why should you not spend freely in the cause of God, seeing that God's [alone] is the heritage of the heavens and the earth? 8
Not equal are those of you who spent and fought [in God's cause] before the Victory' [and those who did not do so]: they are of a higher rank than those who would spend and fight [only] after it - although God has promised the ultimate good to all [who strive in His cause]. 10 And God is aware of all that you do.
57:11 WHO IS IT that will offer up unto God a goodly loan, which He will amply repay?" For, such [as do so] shall have a noble reward
[Asad’s notes - 8 I.e., "that to God belongs all that is ...", etc.: see note 5 above; also note 22 on 15:23. {{(15:23) for, behold, it is We - We alone - who grant life and deal death, and it is We alone who shall remain after all else will have passed away! 22
22 Lit., "We are [or "shall be"] the inheritors (al-warithun)" : an idiomatic metaphor based, according to the consensus of all classical commentators, on the use of the term "inheritor" or "heir" in the sense of "one who remains after his predecessor has passed away" - in this case, after all creation has perished. (Cf. the expression "the heritage of the heavens and of the earth" used, with reference to God, in 3:180 and 57:10.) }}
9 I.e., before the conquest of Mecca in 8 H., when the Muslims were still weak and their future uncertain.
10 The above principle applies, of course, to the relative merits of believers of all times who strive in God's cause before and/or after success has been achieved.]