14. Surah Ibrahim

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ...   

14: 37.  "O our Lord!

I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by thy Sacred House;

C1914. The Makkan valley is enclosed by hills on all sides, unlike Madinah, which has level cultivated plains. But just because of its natural isolation, it is fitted to be a centre for Prayer and Praise.

...رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ...

in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular prayer:

so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them,

...وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ ...

and feed them with Fruits:

C1915. Cf. 2:126, and n. 128. (The "Fruits" are there explained).

The righteous, though they have to have sustenance, both in a literal and figurative sense, require also the love and sympathy of their fellow-men.

... لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾

so that they may give thanks.

Other Versions:

14: 37

Asad “O our sustainer! Behold, I have settled some of my offspring in a valley in which there is no arable land, close to Thy sanctified Temple, so that, Our Sustainer, they might devote themselves to prayer: cause Thou, therefore, people’s hearts to incline towards them, and grant them fruitful sustenance, so that they might have cause to be grateful.

Pickthall Our Lord! Lo! I have settled some of my posterity in an uncultivable valley near unto Thy holy House, our Lord! that they may establish proper worship; so incline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward them, and provide Thou them with fruits in order that they may be thankful.

Transliteration Rabbana_ inni askantu min zurriyyati bi wa_din gairi zi zar'in 'inda baitikal muharram(i), rabbana_ liyuqimus sala_ta fa-j'al af'idatam minan na_si tahwi ilaihim wa-rzuqhum minas samara_ti la'allahum yasykuru_n(a).

[Ali’s note: 1914 The Makkan valley is enclosed by hills on all sides, unlike Madinah, which has level cultivated plains. But just because of its natural isolation, it is fitted to be a centre for Prayer and Praise. (14.37)

1915 Cf. ii. 126, and n. 128. (The "Fruits" are there explained). The righteous, though they have to have sustenance, both in a literal and figurative sense, require also the love and sympathy of their fellow-men. (14.37) ]