Verses from Quran
3. Sura al-Imran
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
الصَّابِرِينَ
...
3: 17. Those who show patience, firmness and self-control;
C356. Sabr (Sabirin) includes many shades of meaning: I have specified three here, viz., patience, firmness, and self-control.
See 2:45 and 2:153 and notes 61 and 157.
... وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْمُنفِقِينَ وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِالأَسْحَارِ ﴿١٧﴾
who are true (in word and deed);
who worship devoutly;
who spend (in the way of Allah);
and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning.
C357. True servants of Allah are described in 3:16 and 17. They have faith, humility, and hope (3:16); and they have certain virtues (3:17) viz.,
1. patience, steadfastness, self-restraint, and all that goes under the full definition of Sabr;
this shows a certain attitude of mind:
2. in all their dealings they are true and sincere as they are also in their promises and words;
this marks them out in social conduct:
3. further, their spiritual worship is earnest and deep, an inner counterpart of their outward conduct;
4. their worship of Allah shows itself in their love of their fellow-men, for they are ready and liberal in charity: and
5. their self-discipline is so great that the first thing they do every morning is humbly to approach their God.
وَسَارِعُواْ
إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ
مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ
...
3: 133. Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord,
... وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٣٣﴾
and for a garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous.
C452. The Fire (3:131) is, as always, contrasted with the Garden, -in other words, Hell contrasted with Heaven, we are told that its width alone is that of the whole of the heavens and the earth,- all the creation we can imagine.
In other words our spiritual felicity covers not merely this or that part of our being, but all life and existence. Who can measure its width, or length, or depth? (R).
Asad’s Version:
3:17 Those who show patience, firmness and self control; who are true (in word and deed) who worship devoutly; who spend (in the way of God); and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning.
3: 133 - 135 And vie with one another to attain to your Sustainer's forgiveness and to a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, which has been readied for the God-conscious who spend (in His way) in time of plenty and in time of hardship, and hold in check their anger, and pardon their fellow-men because God loves the doers of good; and who when they have committed a shameful deed or have (otherwise) sinned against themselves, remember God and pray that their sins be forgiven - for who but God could forgive sins? And do not knowingly persist in doing whatever (wrong) they may have done. Asad
4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ ...
4: 135. O ye who believe!
... كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاء لِلّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالأَقْرَبِينَ...
stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin,
C644. Justice is Allah's attribute, and stand firm for justice is to be a witness to Allah, even if it is detrimental to our own interests (as we conceive them) or the interests of those who are near and dear to us.
According to the Latin saying, "Let justice be done though heaven should fall."
But Islamic justice is something higher than the formal justice of Roman Law or any other human law. It is even more penetrative than the subtler justice in the speculations of the Greek philosophers. It searches out the innermost motives, because we are to act as in the presence of Allah, to whom all things, acts, and motives are known.
إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقَيرًا ...
and whether it be (against) rich or poor:
C645. Some people may he inclined to favour the rich, because they expect something from them. Some people may be inclined to favour the poor because they are generally helpless.
Partiality in either case is wrong. Be just, without fear of favour.
Both the rich and the poor are under Allah's protection as far as their legitimate interests are concerned, but they cannot expect to be favoured at the expense of others. And He can protect their interests far better than any man.
... فَاللّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا...
for Allah can best protect both.
... فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُواْ...
Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve,
... وَإِن تَلْوُواْ أَوْ تُعْرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا ﴿١٣٥﴾
and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
Asad’s Version:
4: 135 O you who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk. Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, God’s claim takes precedence over [the claims of] either of them.
Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve from justice: for if you distort [the truth], behold, God is indeed aware of all that you do! Asad
4: 135 ............ and whether it be (against ) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both.......and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do. Ali
11.Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِنَّ
كُـلاًّ لَّمَّا
لَيُوَفِّيَنَّهُمْ
رَبُّكَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ...
11: 111. And, of a surety, to all will your Lord pay back (in full the recompense) of their deeds:
...إِنَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١١١﴾
for He knoweth well all that they do.
C1615. Cf. 11:109 above, with which the argument is now connected up by recalling the characteristic word ("pay back") and leading to the exhortation (in the verses following) to stand firm in the right path freshly revealed.
Other versions:
11: 111
Yusuf Ali And of a surety to all will your Lord pay back (in full the recompense) of their deeds: for He knoweth well all that they do.
Pickthall And lo! unto each thy Lord will verily repay his works in full. Lo! He is Informed of what they do.
Transliteration Wa inna kullal lamma_ layuwaffiyannahum rabbuka a'ma_lahum, innahu_ bima_ ya'malu_na khabir(un).
57. Sura al-Hadid
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا ...
57: 28. O ye that believe!
C5325. From the context before (see n. 5323 above) and after (see next note), this is held to refer to the Christians and People of the Book who kept their Faith true and undefiled.
... اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَآمِنُوا بِرَسُولِهِ...
fear Allah, and believe in His messenger,
...يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِ ...
and He will bestow on you a double portion of His Mercy:
C5326. The double portion refers to the past and the future.
As noted in the last note, this passage is addressed to the Christians and the People of the Book, who, when honestly facing the question of the new Revelation in Islam, find in it the fulfilment of previous revelations, and therefore believe in Allah's Messenger Muhammad, and walk by the new light. Their previous merits will be duly recognised, and they will be treated on fully equal terms in the new Ummah. This is their double share, not necessarily more in quantity than that of their brethren in Islam who passed through no other gate, but having a twofold aspect.
... وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِ ...
He will provide for you a light by which ye shall walk (straight in your path),
C5327. As this refers to the Christians and the People of the Book, the following saying of Christ in his last days may interest them:
"'Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you... While ye have the fight, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them". (John, 12:35-36).
The light of Christ's Gospel soon departed; his Church was enveloped in darkness; then came the fight again, in the fuller light of Islam. And they are asked to believe in the light, and to walk in it. Cf. also 57:12. and n. 5288 above.
... وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ...
and He will forgive you (your past):
C5328. Any wrong they may have committed through ignorance or misconceptions in their previous religion will be forgiven them, as they have seen the new light and walk by it.
...وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٨﴾
For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful:
Asad’s Version:
57: 28 Be mindful of your duty to God and believe in His messenger. He will give you two fold of His Mercy and will appoint for you a light wherein you shall walk, and will forgive you. Allah is Forgiving , Merciful:
2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَتَأْمُرُونَ
النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ
وَتَنسَوْنَ
أَنفُسَكُمْ
وَأَنتُمْ
تَتْلُونَ
الْكِتَابَ
...
2: 44. Do ye enjoin right conduct on the people, and forget (to practice it) yourselves, and yet ye study the Scripture?
... أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾
Will ye not understand?
Asad’s Version:
2: 44 Do you enjoin right conduct on the people and forget (to practice it) yourselves, and yet you study the Scripture ?
22. Sura al-Hajj
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
لَن
يَنَالَ اللَّهَ
لُحُومُهَا
وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا
وَلَكِن يَنَالُهُ
التَّقْوَى
مِنكُمْ...
22: 37. It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah:
it is your piety that reaches Him:
...كَذَلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ...
He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you:
C2815. The essence of sacrifice has been explained in n. 2810.
No one should suppose that meat or blood is acceptable to the One True God. It was a Pagan fancy that Allah could be appeased by blood sacrifice. But Allah does accept the offering of our hearts, and as a symbol of such offer, some visible institution is necessary.
He has given us power over the brute creation, and permitted us to eat meat, but only if we pronounce His name at the solemn act of taking life, for without this solemn invocation, we are apt to forget the sacredness of life.
By the invocation we are reminded that wanton cruelty is not in our thoughts, but only the need of food. Now if we further deny the greater part of the food (some theologians fix the proportion at three-quarters or two-thirds) for the sake of our poorer brethren in solemn assembly in the precincts of the Haram (sacred territory), our symbolic act finds practical expression in benevolence, and that is the virtue sought to be taught.
We should be grateful to Allah for His guidance in this matter, in which many Peoples have gone wrong, and we should proclaim the true doctrine so that virtue and charity may increase among men.
...وَبَشِّرِ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٣٧﴾
and proclaim the Good News to all who do right.
Asad’s Version:
22:37 And proclaim the Good News to all who do right.
Those who believe and work righteousness, for them is forgiveness and a sustenance most generous.
