13. [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
13: 14. For Him (alone) is prayer in Truth:
C1822. Haq: truth; right; what is due, befitting, proper.
All these meanings are to be understood here.
If we worship anything other than Allah (whether it is idols, stars, powers of nature, spirits, or deified men, or Self, or Power, or Wealth, Science or Art, Talent or Intellect), our worship is both foolish and futile.
...وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ لاَ يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَيْءٍ...
any others that they call upon besides Him hear them no more than
...إِلاَّ كَبَاسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى الْمَاء لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَالِغِهِ...
if they were to stretch forth their hands for water to reach their mouth but it reaches them not:
...وَمَا دُعَاء الْكَافِرِينَ إِلاَّ فِي ضَلاَلٍ ﴿١٤﴾
for the prayer of those without Faith is nothing but (futile) wandering (in the mind).
C1823. Without Faith, it is obvious that prayer or worship has no meaning whatever. It is but an aberration of the mind. But there is a deeper meaning.
You may have false faith, as in superstitions or in worshipping things other than Allah, as explained in the last note. In that case, too, you are pursuing mere phantoms of the mind. When you come to examine it, it is mere imbecility or futility.
Worship and prayer are justified only to Allah, the One True God. (R).
13: 14
Pickthall Unto Him is the real prayer. Those unto whom they pray beside Allah respond to them not at all, save as (if the response to) one who stretcheth forth his hands toward water (asking) that it may come unto his mouth, and it will never reach it. The prayer of disbelievers goeth (far) astray.
Yuksel To Him is the call of truth. Those who are called on besides Him, they will not respond to them in anything. It is like one who places his hands openly in the water to drink, but it never reaches his mouth. The call of the ingrates is nothing but in misguidance.
Transliteration Lahu_ da'watul haqq(i), wallazina yad'u_na min du_nihi la_ yastajibu_na lahum bi syai'in illa_ ka ba_siti kaffaihi ilal ma_'i liyabluga fa_hu wa ma_ huwa bi ba_ligih(i), wa ma_ du'a_'ul ka_firina illa_ fi dala_l(in).
[[ Ali’s note - 1822 Haqq=truth; right; what is due, befitting, proper. All these meanings are to be understood here. If we worship anything other than Allah (whether it is idols, stars, powers of nature, spirits, or deified men, or Self, or Power, or Wealth, Science or Art, Talent or Intellect), our worship is both foolish and futile. (13.14)
1823 Without Faith, it is obvious that prayer or worship has no meaning whatever. It is but an aberration of the mind. But there is a deeper meaning. You may have false faith, as in superstitions or in worshipping things other than Allah, as explained in the last note. In that case, too, you are pursuing mere phantoms of the mind. When you come to examine it, it is mere imbecility or futility. Worship and prayer are justified only to Allah, the One True God. (13.14) ]]