9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَا لَكُمْ ...   

9: 38.  O ye who believe!

what is the matter with you,

C1299. The immediate reference is to the expeditions to Tabuk (A.H. 9), for which see the Introduction to this Surah.

But the lesson is perfectly general. When a call is made on behalf of a great cause, the fortunate ones are those who have the privilege of responding to the call.

The unfortunate ones are those who are so engrossed in their parochial affairs that they turn a deaf ear to the appeal. They are suffering from a spiritual disease.

... إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انفِرُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الأَرْضِ...

then, when ye are asked to go forth in the Cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth?

C1300. The choice is between two courses:

-        will you choose a noble adventure and the glorious privilege of following your spiritual leader, or

-        grovel in the earth for some small worldly gain or for fear of worldly loss?

The people who hesitated to follow the call of Tabuk were deterred by;

-        the heat of the summer, in which tile expedition was undertaken on account of the threat to the existence of the little community, and

-        the fear of losing the fruit harvest, which was ripe for gathering.

...أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الآخِرَةِ...

Do ye prefer the life of this world to the hereafter?

...فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ ﴿٣٨﴾  

But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the hereafter.

Others version:

9: 38 [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H]

Asad O you who have attend to faith! What is amiss with you that, when you are called upon, “Go forth to war in God’s cause,” you cling heavily to the earth? [note 59]….But the enjoyment of life in this world is but a paltry thing when compared with the life to come!

Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! what is the matter with you then when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life as compared with the hereafter.

Pickthall O ye who believe! What aileth you that when it is said unto you: Go forth in the way of Allah, ye are bowed down to the ground with heaviness. Take ye pleasure in the life of the world rather than in the Hereafter? The comfort of the life of the world is but little in the Hereafter.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ ma_ lakum iza_ qila lakumunfiru_ fi sabililla_hissa_qaltum ilal ard(i), araditum bil haya_tid dunya_ minal a_khirah(ti), fama_ mata_'ul haya_tid dunya_ fil a_khirati illa_ qalil(un).

[[ Asad’s ntoe 59 – ………………This verse – as well as most of this surah from here onward – alludes to the campaign of Tabuk, in the year 9H. The immediate reason for this expedition was the information which the Prophet received to the effect that the Byzantines, made apprehensive by the rapid growth of Islam in Arabia and incited by the Prophet’s enemy Abu Amir (see note 142 on verse 107 of this surah), were assembling large forces on the confines of the Peninsula with a view to marching against Medina and overthrowing the Muslims. To guard against such an assault, the Prophet assembled the strongest force the Muslims were capable of, and set out in the month of Rajib, 9H, towards the frontier. On reaching Tabuk, about half-way between Medina and Damascus, the Prophet ascertained that the Byzantines were either not yet ready to invade Arabia or had entirely given up the idea for the time being; and so – in accordance with the Islamic principle that war may be waged only in self-defense – he returned with his followers to Medina without engaging in hostilities.

At the time of preparation for this expedition, the hypocrites and a minority among the believers displayed an extreme reluctance (referred to in this and the following verses) to embark on a war with Byzantium: and it is this minority that the above verse reproaches for “clinging heavily to the earth” (Manar X, 493).

13.Surah ArRa'd

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

اللّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاء وَيَقَدِرُ...

13: 26.  Allah doth enlarge, or grant by (strict) measure the Sustenance (which He giveth) to whom so He pleaseth.

C1840. Allah, the Sustainer and Cherisher of all His creatures, gives sustenance to all.

To some He grants it in abundance; to others He gives it in strict measure. No one can question Him, for His Will is supreme, and it is the measure of all good.

...وَفَرِحُواْ بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...

(The worldly) rejoice in the life of this world:

...وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ مَتَاعٌ ﴿٢٦﴾

but the life of this world is but little comfort in the Hereafter.

C1841. Cf. 9:38.

The meaning here may also be:

This present life is just a furniture, a convenience, a stepping stone, a probation, for the life to come. In itself it is less important than the Hereafter.

Others version:

13: 26

Yusuf Ali Allah doth enlarge or grant by (strict) measure the Sustenance (which He giveth) to whom so He pleaseth. (The worldly) rejoice in the life of this world: but the life of this world is but little comfort in the Hereafter.

Pickthall Allah enlargeth livelihood for whom He will, and straiteneth (it for whom He will); and they rejoice in the life of the world, whereas the life of the world is but brief comfort as compared with the Hereafter.

Yuksel God extends the provisions for whom He wishes, or restricts. They celebrated the worldly life, but the worldly life compared to the Hereafter was nothing but a brief enjoyment.

Transliteration Alla_hu yabsutur rizqa limay yasya_'u wa yaqdir(u), wa farihu_ bil haya_tid dunyu_, wa mal haya_tud dunya_ fil a_khirati illa_ mata_'(un).