3. Sura al-Imran

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ...

3: 161. No prophet could (ever) be false to his trust.

C472. Besides the gentleness of his nature, Al-Mustafa was known from his earliest life for his trustworthiness. Hence his title of Al-Amin. Unscrupulous people often read their own low motives into other men, and their accusation, which is meant to injure, fastens on the various virtues for which the man they attack is well known.

Some of the Hypocrites after Uhud raised some doubts about the division of the spoils, thinking to sow the seeds of poison in the hearts of the men who had deserted their posts in their craving for booty.

Those low suspicions were never believed in by any sensible people, and they have no interest for us now. But the general principles here declared are of eternal value.

1. Prophets of Allah do not act from unworthy motives.

2. Those who act from such motives are the lowest of creatures, and they will make no profit,

3. A prophet of Allah is not to be judged by the same standard as a greedy creature.

4. in Allah's eyes there are various grades of men, and we must try to understand and appreciate such grades.

If we trust our Leader, we shall not question his honesty without cause. If he is dishonest, he is not fit to be a leader. (R).

... وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ...

If any person is so false, He shall, on the Day of Judgment, restore what he misappropriated;

...ثُمَّ تُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿١٦١﴾

then shall every soul receive its due, whatever it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ...

3: 185. Every soul shall have a taste of death:

C491. The soul will not die; but the death of the body will give a taste of death to the soul when the soul separates from the body. The soul will then know that this life was but a probation. And seeming inequalities will be adjusted finally on the Day of Judgment.

... وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ...

and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense.

فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ...

Only he who is saved far from the fire and admitted to the garden will have attained the object (of life):

...وَما الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ ﴿١٨٥﴾

for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.

C492. Cf. Longfellow's Psalm of Life:

"All this world's a fleeting show. For man's illusion given".

The only reality will be when we have attained our final goal.

Others version:

3: 161

Asad And it is not conceivable that a prophet should deceive ……

Yusuf Ali No prophet could (ever) be false to his trust. If any person is so false He shall on the Day of Judgment restore what he misappropriated; then shall every soul receive its due whatever it earned and none shall be dealt with unjustly.

Pickthall It is not for any Prophet to deceive (mankind). Whoso deceiveth will bring his deceit with him on the Day of Resurrection. Then every soul will be paid in full what it hath earned; and they will not be wronged.

Transliteration Wa ma_ ka_na li nabiyyin ay yagull(a), wa may yaglul ya'ti bima_ galla yaumal qiya_mah(ti), summa tuwaffa_ kullu nafsim ma_ kasabat wa hum la_ yuzlamu_n(a).

3: 185

Asad Every human being is bound to taste death: but only on the Day of Resurrection will you be requited in full [for whatever you have done] – whereupon he that shall be drawn away from the fire and brought into paradise will indeed have gained a triumph: for the life of this world is nothing but an enjoyment of self-delusion.

Yusuf Ali Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the fire and admitted to the garden will have attained the object (of life): for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.

Pickthall Every soul will taste of death. And ye will be paid on the Day of Resurrection only that which ye have fairly earned. Whoso is removed from the Fire and is made to enter Paradise, he indeed is triumphant. The life of this world is but comfort of illusion.

Transliteration Kullu nafsin za_'iqatul maut(i), wa innama_ tuwaffauna uju_rakum yaumal qiya_mah(ti), faman zuhziha'anin na_ri wa udkhilal jannata faqad fa_z(a), wa mal haya_tud dunya_ illa_ mata_'ul guru_r(i).