17. [ al-Israa, Mecca 50 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي
مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ
وَأَخْرِجْنِي
مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ...
17: 80. Say:
"O my Lord! let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor, and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor;
C2279. The entry and exit here referred to may be interpreted in four senses:
1. entry into death and exit at the resurrection:
for the righteous, who have purified their souls by prayer (last verse) and spiritual teaching from the Quran (next verse), there is on each occasion a fuller and fuller realisation and enjoyment of truth and honour: for those who are estranged from Allah, the effect is the opposite: the truth becomes bitter and there is ignominy and exposure instead of honour:
2. entry for the holy Prophet into the new life at Madinah, which was still in the womb of futurity, and exit from the life of persecution and the milieu of falsehood, which surrounded him in his native city of Makkah still given up to idolatry:
3. referring to the impending Hijrah again, the prayer may mean,
"Let it be from pure motives of truth and spiritual honour, and not from motives of anger against the city of Makkah or its persecutors, or of ambition or worldly power from the city of Madinah, which was ready to lay everything at the Prophet's feet":
4. generally, entry and exit at every stage of life.
...وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا ﴿٨٠﴾
and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)."
C2280. All prayer must be for Allah's aid and authority. However much we may plan, our success must depend on His aid. However nobler our motives, we have no right to imperil any lives unless there is authority in the Word of Allah. The Prophet only acts on Allah's commission and inspiration,
17: 80
Wa qur rabbi adkhilni mudkhala sidqiw wa akhrijni mukhraja sidqiw wa-j'al li mil ladunka sulta_nan nasira_(n).
Asad And say [in your prayer]: “O my Sustainer! Cause me to enter (upon whatever I may do) in a manner true and sincere, and cause me to leave in a manner true and sincere, and grant me, out of Your Grace, sustaining strength!”
Pickthall And say: My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming and to go out with a firm outgoing. And give me from Thy presence a sustaining Power.
[ Ali’s notes: 2279 ……….generally, entry and exit at every stage of life. (17.80) ]
2280 All prayer must be for Allah's aid and authority. However much we may plan, our success must depend on His aid. However nobler our motives, we have no right to imperil any lives unless there is authority in the Word of Allah. The Prophet only acts on Allah's commission and inspiration. (17.80) ]