2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَإِن
لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ
فَأْذَنُواْ
بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ
اللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
...
2: 279. If ye do it not, take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger:
C328. This is not war for opinions, but an ultimatum of war for the liberation of debtors unjustly dealt with and oppressed.
... وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُؤُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لاَ تَظْلِمُونَ وَلاَ تُظْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٧٩﴾
but if ye turn back, ye shall have your capital sums; deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.
وَإِن
كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ
فَنَظِرَةٌ
إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ
...
2: 280. If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time till it is easy for him to repay.
... وَأَن تَصَدَّقُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٨٠﴾
But if ye remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if ye only knew.
وَاتَّقُواْ
يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ
فِيهِ إِلَى
اللّهِ ...
2: 281. And fear the day when ye shall be brought back to Allah.
... ثُمَّ تُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٨١﴾
Then shall every soul be paid what it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly.
Others version:
2: 279
Yusuf Ali If ye do it not take notice of war from Allah and his Apostle: but if ye turn back ye shall have your capital sums; deal not unjustly and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.
Pickthall And if ye do not, then be warned of war (against you) from Allah and His messenger. And if ye repent, then ye have your principal (without interest). Wrong not, and ye shall not be wronged.
Transliteration Fa illam taf'alu_ fa'zanu_ bi harbim minalla_hi wa rasu_lih(i), wa in tubtum fa lakum ru'u_su amwa_likum, la_ tazlimu_na wa la_ tuzlamu_n(a)
2: 280
Yusuf Ali If the debtor is in a difficulty grant him time till it is easy for him to repay. But if ye remit if by way of charity that is best for you if ye only knew.
Pickthall And if the debtor is in straitened circumstances, then (let there be) postponement to (the time of) ease; and that ye remit the debt as almsgiving would be better for you if ye did but know.
Transliteration Wa in ka_na zu_ 'usratin fanaziratun ila_ maisarah(tin), wa an tasaddaqu_ khairul lakum in kuntum ta'lamu_n(a).
2: 281
Yusuf Ali And fear the day when ye shall be brought back to Allah. Then shall every soul be paid what it earned and none shall be dealt with unjustly.
Pickthall And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged.
Wattaqu_ yauman turja'u_ fihi ilalla_h(i), summa tuwaffa_ kullu nafsim ma_ kasabat wa hum la_ yuzlamu_n(a).
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.
Others version:
3: 161
Asad ………when every human being shall be repaid in full for whatever he has done, and none shall be wronged.
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).
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِلَيْهِ
مَرْجِعُكُمْ
جَمِيعًا...
10: 4. To Him will be your return -- of all of you.
...وَعْدَ اللّهِ حَقًّا...
The promise of Allah is true and sure.
C1388. Haqq: true, right, for just ends, in right proportions, sure and certain:
all these ideas are implied.
...إِنَّهُ يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ...
It is He Who beginneth the process of Creation, and repeateth it,
C1389. Cf. n. 120 to 2:117.
Allah's creation is not a simple act, once done and finished with. It is continuous, and there are many stages, not the least important of which is the Hereafter, when the fruits of our life will be achieved.
...لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ بِالْقِسْطِ ...
that He may reward with justice those who believe and work righteousness,
...وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْفُرُونَ ﴿٤﴾
but those who reject Him will have nothing but draughts of boiling fluids, and a Penalty grievous: because they did reject Him.
C1390. Hamim: boiling fluid:
it is associated as in 38:57, with gassaq, a dark, murky, or intensely cold fluid; both indicative of the grievous penalty that results from rebellion against Allah.
إِنَّ
اللّهَ لاَ
يَظْلِمُ النَّاسَ
شَيْئًا وَلَـكِنَّ
النَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمْ
يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾
10: 44. Verily Allah will not deal unjustly with man in aught:
it is man that wrongs his own soul.
C1435. Allah cannot be blamed for man's evil, nor will He deal unjustly with man.
He has given him faculties and means of guidance. If man goes wrong, it is because he wrongs himself.
Others version:
10: 4 Unto Him you all must return: this is, in truth, God’s promise – for, behold, He creates in the first instance, and then brings him forth anew to the end that He may reward with equity all who attain to faith and do righteous deeds; whereas for those who are bent on denying the truth there is in store a draught of burning despair and grievous suffering because of their persistent refusal to acknowledge the truth.
10: 44
Asad Verily, God does not do the least wrong unto men, but it is men who wrong themselves.
Yusuf Ali Verily Allah will not deal unjustly with man in aught: it is man that wrongs his own soul.
Pickthall Lo! Allah wrongeth not mankind in aught; but mankind wrong themselves.
Transliteration Innalla_ha la_ yazlimun na_sa syai'aw wa la_kinnan na_sa anfusahum yazlimu_n(a).
11.Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا ظَلَمْنَاهُمْ
وَلَـكِن ظَلَمُواْ
أَنفُسَهُمْ...
11: 101.It was not We that wronged them: they wronged their own souls:
...فَمَا أَغْنَتْ عَنْهُمْ آلِهَتُهُمُ الَّتِي يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ لِّمَّا جَاء أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ...
the deities, other than Allah, whom they invoked, profited them no whit when there issued the decree of thy Lord:
C1603. All false and fleeting shadows must vanish before the reality and permanence of the decree of Allah. If we worshipped the false, we earned nothing but perdition.
...وَمَا زَادُوهُمْ غَيْرَ تَتْبِيبٍ ﴿١٠١﴾
nor did they add aught (to their lot) but perdition!
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا
مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ
فَاخْتُلِفَ
فِيهِ...
11: 110. We certainly gave the Book to Moses, but differences arose therein:
...وَلَوْلاَ كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ...
had it not been that a Word had gone forth before from thy Lord, the matter would have been decided between them:
C1613. Cf. 10:19.
Previous revelations are not to be denied or dishonoured because those who nominally go by them have corrupted and deprived them of spiritual value by their vain controversies and disputes.
It was possible to settle such disputes under the flag, as it were, of the old Revelations, but Allah's Plan was to revive and rejuvenate His Message through Islam, amongst a newer and younger people, unhampered by the burden of age long prejudices.
...وَإِنَّهُمْ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍ ﴿١١٠﴾
but they are in suspicious doubt concerning it.
C1614. Cf. 11:62.
There, is always in human affairs the conflict between the old and the new,-the worn out system of our ancestors, and the fresh living spring of Allah's inspiration fitting in with new times and new surroundings.
The advocates of the former look upon this latter not only with intellectual doubt but with moral suspicion, as did the People of the Book upon Islam, with its fresh outlook and vigorous realistic way of looking at things.
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.
فَاسْتَقِمْ
كَمَا أُمِرْتَ
وَمَن تَابَ
مَعَكَ وَلاَ
تَطْغَوْاْ...
11: 112. Therefore stand firm (in the straight path) as thou art commanded -- thou and those who with thee turn (unto Allah); and transgress not (from the Path):
...إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿١١٢﴾
for He seeth well all that ye do.
Others version:
11: 101
Yusuf Ali It was not We that wronged them: they wronged their own souls: the deities other than Allah whom they invoked profited them no whit when there issued the decree of thy Lord: nor did they add aught (to their lot) but perdition!
Pickthall We wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves; and their gods on whom they call beside Allah availed them naught then came thy Lords command; they added to them naught save ruin.
Transliteration Wa ma_ zalamna_hum wa la_kin zalamu_ anfusahum fama_ agnat a_lihatuhumul lati yad'u_na min du_nilla_hi min syai'il lamma_ ja_'a amru rabbik(a), wa ma_ za_du_hum gaira tatbib(in).
11: 100
Asad This account of the communities – some of them still remaining, and some a field mown-down – We convey unto you
Yusuf Ali These are some of the stories of communities which We relate unto thee: of them some are standing and some have been mown down (by the sickle of time).
Pickthall That is (something) of the tidings of the townships' (which were destroyed of old). We relate it unto thee (Muhammad). Some of them are standing and some (already) reaped.
Transliteration Za_lika min amba_'il qura_ naqussuhu_ 'alaika minha_ qa_'imuw wa hasid(un).
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).
11: 112
Yusuf Ali Therefore stand firm (in the straight path) as thou art commanded thou and those who with thee turn (unto Allah); and transgress not (from the Path): for He seeth well all that ye do.
Pickthall So tread thou the straight path as thou art commanded, and those who turn (unto Allah) with thee, and transgress not. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do.
Transliteration Fa-staqim kama_ umirta wa man ta_ba ma'aka wa la_ tatgau, innahu_ bima_ ta'malu_na basir(un).