20. Sura Taha
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
20: 14. "Verily, I am Allah:
...لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا...
there is no god but I:
...فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي ﴿١٤﴾
so serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise.
20:14 [addressing to directly to Moses]
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21. [al-Anbiyaa, Mecca 73]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَوَهَبْنَا
لَهُ إِسْحَقَ
وَيَعْقُوبَ
نَافِلَةً...
21: 72. And We bestowed on him Isaac and, as an additional gift, (a grandson), Jacob,
C2728. Nafilat has many meanings:
- booty;
- extra work or prayer;
- extra or additional gift;
- grandson.
The two last significations are implied here. Not only was Abraham given a son in his old age; he was given not only Isaac, but several sons, the chief being Isma'il and Isaac, who both joined in burying him (Gen. 25:9); and he also saw grandsons. Isma'il is specially mentioned later (21:85) apart from Isaac's line, on account of his special importance for Islam.
...وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا صَالِحِينَ ﴿٧٢﴾
and We made righteous men of every one (of them).
وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ
أَئِمَّةً
يَهْدُونَ
بِأَمْرِنَا...
21: 73. And We made them leaders, guiding (men) by Our Command,
...وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاء الزَّكَاةِ...
and We sent them inspiration
= to do good deeds,
- to establish regular prayers, and
- to practice regular charity;
...وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ ﴿٧٣﴾
and they constantly served Us (and Us only).
C2729. The spiritual lesson from this passage may be recapitulated. The righteous man makes no compromise with evil. If the votaries of evil laugh at him he pays them in their own coin, but he stands firmly by his principles.
His firmness causes some confusion among the followers of evil, and he openly declares the faith that is in him. They try, openly and secretly, to injure or kill him, but Allah protects him, while evil perishes from its own excesses.
Other Versions:
21:72
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(21:73) and made them leaders who would guide [others] in accordance with Our behest: for We inspired them [with a will] to do good works, and to be constant in prayer, and to dispense charity: and Us [alone) did they worship.
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Birds prayer is also Salat – the Muslim 5 times bowing-prostrating method [namaj] etc. is not the only method. Calling to God and complying with His law also may be Salat. Birds instinctively comply with God’s laws.
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24. [an-Nur, Medina 102]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ
تَرَ أَنَّ
اللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ
لَهُ مَن فِي
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالْأَرْضِ
...
24: 41. Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate,
C3016. Cf. 21:19-20.
... وَالطَّيْرُ صَافَّاتٍ...
and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread?
C3017. All denizens of the heavens, such as angels, all denizens of the earth (including the waters) such as man, animals, insects, fishes, etc., and all denizens of the air, such as birds, celebrate the praises of Allah.
Each has his own mode of prayer and praise. It is not necessarily with words, for language (as we know it) is peculiar to man. But actions and other modes of self-expression recognise and declare the Glory of Allah.
...كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيحَهُ...
Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise.
...وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٤١﴾
And Allah knows well all that they do.
وَلِلَّهِ
مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالْأَرْضِ...
24: 42. Yea, to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth;
...وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿٤٢﴾
and to Allah is the final goal (of all).
C3018. From Him we are; To Him we belong; and to Him we shall return. Not only we, but all Creation, proclaims this in the whole world.
أَلَمْ
تَرَ أَنَّ
اللَّهَ يُزْجِي
سَحَابًا ثُمَّ
يُؤَلِّفُ
بَيْنَهُ ثُمَّ
يَجْعَلُهُ
رُكَامًا...
24: 43. Seest thou not that Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap? --
...فَتَرَى الْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَالِهِ...
then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst.
C3019. Artists, or lovers of nature, or observers of clouds will appreciate this description of cloud effects-
thin clouds floating about in fantastic shapes, joining together and taking body and substance, then emerging as heavy clouds heaped up, which condense and pour forth their rain. Then the heavy dark clouds in the upper regions, that bring hail,-
how distinct and yet how similar!
They are truly like mountain masses! And when the hailstones fall, how local their area! It hits some localities and leaves free others almost interlaced!
And the lightning- how blinding flashes come from thunderous clouds!
In this Book of Nature can we not see the hand of the powerful and beneficent Allah?
...وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ السَّمَاء مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا مِن بَرَدٍ...
And He sends down from the sky mountain masses (of clouds) wherein is hail:
...فَيُصِيبُ بِهِ مَن يَشَاء وَيَصْرِفُهُ عَن مَّن يَشَاء...
He strikes therewith whom He pleases and He turns it away fro whom He pleases.
...يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرْقِهِ يَذْهَبُ بِالْأَبْصَارِ ﴿٤٣﴾
The vivid flash of His lightning well-nigh blinds the sight.
Asad’s Version:
24:41
ART THOU NOT aware that it is God whose limitless glory all [creatures] that are in the heavens and on earth extol, even the birds as they spread out their wings?" Each [of them] knows indeed how to pray unto Him and to glorify Him; and God has full knowledge of all that they do:
Alam tara anna Allaha yusabbihu lahu man fee alssamawati waal-ardi waalttayru saffatin kullun qad AAalima salatahu watasbeehahu waAllahu AAaleemun bima yafAAaloona |
Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning |
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ART THOU NOT aware that it is God whose limitless glory all [creatures] that are in the heavens and on earth extol, even the birds as they spread out their wings? Each [of them] knows indeed how to pray unto Him and to glorify Him; and God has full knowledge of all that they do: |
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Hast thou not seen that Allah, He it is Whom all who are in the heavens and the earth praise, and the birds in their flight? Of each He knoweth verily the worship and the praise; and Allah is Aware of what they do. |
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Do you not see that Allah is He Whom do glorify all those who are in the heavens and the earth, and the (very) birds with expanded wings? He knows the prayer of each one and its glorification, and Allah is Cognizant of what they do. |
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Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And Allah knows well all that they do. |
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Hast thou not considered that glorifies God whatever is in the heavens and the earth and the birds, ones standing in ranks? Each knew its formal prayer and its glorification. And God is Knowing of what they accomplish. |
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[Prophet], do you not see that all those who are in the heavens and on earth praise God, as do the birds with wings outstretched? Each knows his own mode of prayer and glorification: God has full knowledge of all that they do. |
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Have you not seen how everyone in Heaven and Earth glorifies God, even to the birds lined up (in flight)? Each knows its prayer and how to glorify Him. God is Aware of whatever they do. |
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Do you not see that all created beings animate and inanimate, in the heavens and on earth submit to Allah and celebrate His praises and extoll His glorious attributes (whether through the bodily structures. or through thoughts expressed in words), and so do the birds upon the wing extending their wings. Each group knows its mode of prayer and its mode of expressing admiration to Allah and extolling his glorious attributes, and Allah is 'Alimun of all that they do. |
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Do you not see that everything in the heavens and the Earth glorifies God Even the birds in formation, each knows its contact-method and its glorification. And God is fully aware of everything they do. |
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(24:42) for, God's is the dominion over the heavens and the earth, and with God is all journeys' end.
24:43
Art thou not aware that it is God who causes the clouds to move onward, then joins them together, then piles them up in masses, until thou canst see rain come forth from their midst? And He it is who sends down from the skies, by degrees, mountainous masses [of clouds] charged with hail, striking therewith whomever He wills and averting it from whomever He wills, [the while] the flash of His lightning well-nigh deprives [men of their] sight!
