15. Surah Al Hijr

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ...   

15: 24.  To Us are known those of you who hasten forward,

...وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾

and those who lag behind.

C1965. Cf. 9:100, where the Sabiqun may perhaps correspond to the Mustaqdimin here. In that case the two classes are those who are the first to accept Faith and do deeds of righteousness and those who come later, but are still numbered with the righteous.

A second alternative meaning may be:

"those who preceded you in point of time and those who come after you in point of time; they are all known to Allah, and He will gather them all together on the Day of Judgment."

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ إِنَّهُ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٥﴾

15: 25.  Assuredly it is thy Lord who will gather them together:

for He is Perfect in Wisdom and Knowledge.

Others version:

15: 24

Yusuf Ali To Us are known those of you who hasten forward and those who lag behind.

Pickthall And verily We know the eager among you and verily We know the laggards.

Transliteration Wa laqad 'alimnal mustaqdimina minkum wa laqad 'alimnal musta'khirin(a).

15: 25

Yusuf Ali Assuredly it is thy Lord who will gather them together: for He is Perfect in Wisdom and Knowledge.

Pickthall Lo! thy Lord will gather them together. Lo! He is Wise, Aware.

Transliteration Wa inna rabbaka huwa yahsyuruhum, innahu_ hakimun 'alim(un).

17. Surah Al Isra

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَوْمَ نَدْعُو كُلَّ أُنَاسٍ بِإِمَامِهِمْ...   

17: 71.  One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams:

C2266. 1 have discussed the various meanings of Imam in 2:124, n. 124.

What is the meaning here?

The Commentators are divided.

-        Some understand the meaning to be that each People or Group will appear with its Leader, who will bear witness to its virtues or sins: Cf. 16:84.

-        Another view is that the Imam is their revelation, their Book.

-        A third is that the Imam is the record of deeds spoken of in the next clause.

I prefer the first.

...فَمَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ يَقْرَؤُونَ كِتَابَهُمْ...

those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure),

...وَلاَ يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً ﴿٧١﴾

and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.

C2267. Literally, by the value of a fatil, a small skin in the cleft of a date-stone: this has no value.

وَمَن كَانَ فِي هَـذِهِ أَعْمَى فَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ أَعْمَى...   

17: 72.  But those who were blind in this world will be blind in the Hereafter,

C2268. On the Judgment Day the children of light will receive and peruse their record, and will render joyful thanks to Allah for His Mercies.

What of the children of darkness?

They had already been blind in this world's life, and they will not receive the light of Allah's Countenance then. On the contrary they will find that the longer the time they have travelled, the farther away they have gone from the Path.

Notice the association of ideas-blindness, not seeing the light, going farther and farther away from the true Path.

...وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلاً ﴿٧٢﴾

and most astray from the Path.

Others version:

17: 71

Asad [but] one Day We shall summon all human beings [and judge them] according to the conscious disposition which governed their deeds [in life] [note 84], where upon they whose record shall be placed in their right hand [note 85] it is they who will read their record [with happiness]. Yet none shall be wronged by as much as a hair’s breadth [note 86]:

Yusuf Ali One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams: those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure) and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.

Pickthall On the day when We shall summon all men with their record, whoso is given his book in his right hand such will read their book and they will not be wronged a shred.

Yuksel The day We call every people by their record. Then, whoever are given their book by their right, they will read their book, and they will not be wronged in the least.

Transliteration Yauma nad'u_ kulla una_sim bi ima_mihim, faman u_tiya kita_bahu_ bi yaminihi fa ula_'ika yaqra'u_na kita_bahum wa la_ yuzlamu_na fatila_(n).

[[Asad’s note 84 – Thus Razi interprets the phrase “nadu kulla unasin bi-imamihim” (lit., “We shall summon all human beings by [mentioning] their “leaders” of “guides”). In his opinion, the expression imam (lit., “leader” or “guide”) has in this context an abstract connotation, signifying the conscious disposition, good or bad, which governs a person’s behavior and provides the motives for his deeds. This interpretation is most convincing, and particularly so in view of the fundamental hadith quoted in my note 32 on 53:39.]

17: 72

Asad for whoever is blind [of heart] in this [world] will be blind in the life to come [ as well], and still farther astray from the path [of truth] [note 87]

Yusuf Ali But those who were blind in this world will be blind in the Hereafter and most astray from the Path.

Pickthall Whoso is blind here wilt be blind in the Hereafter, and yet further from the road.

Yuksel Whosoever is blind in this, then he will be blind in the Hereafter and more astray from the path.

Transliteration Wa man ka_na fi ha_zihi a'ma_ fa huwa fil a_khirati a'ma_ wa adallu sabila_(n).

[[ Asad’s note 87 – Cf. 20:124-125. This passage shows that man’s life in the hereafter is not merely conditioned by the manner of his life on earth, but is also an organic extension of the latter, manifested in a natural development and intensification of previously-existing tendencies.]]

[[ Ali’s note - 2268 On the Judgment Day the children of light will receive and peruse their record, and will render joyful thanks to Allah for His Mercies. What of the children of darkness? They had already been blind in this world's life, and they will not receive the light of Allah's Countenance then. On the contrary they will find that the longer the time they have travelled, the farther away they have gone from the Path. Notice the association of ideas-blindness, not seeing the light, going farther and farther away from the true Path. (17.72) ]]

[[Ali’s notes - 2266 I have discussed the various meanings of Imam in ii. 124, n. 124. What is the meaning here? The Commentators are divided. Some understand the meaning to be that each People or Group will appear with its Leader, who will bear witness to its virtues or sins: Cf. xvi. 84. Another view is that the Imam is their revelation, their Book. A third is that the Imam is the record of deeds spoken of in the next clause. I prefer the first. (17.71)

2267 Literally, by the value of a fatil, a small skin in the cleft of a date-stone: this has no value. (17.71)

18.Surah Al Kahf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ الْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى الْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً...   

18: 47.  One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch,

C2388. On the Day of Judgment none of our present landmarks will remain.

... وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿٤٧﴾

and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them.

وَعُرِضُوا عَلَى رَبِّكَ صَفًّا...   

18: 48.  And they will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks, (with the announcement),

... لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ... 

"Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created you first:

C2389. We shall stand as we were created, with none of the adventitious possessions that we collected in this life, which will all have vanished.

... بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا ﴿٤٨﴾

aye, ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet (Us)!":

C2390. The skeptics will now at length be convinced of the Reality which will be upon them.

Others version:

18: 47

Asad Hence, the Day on which We shall cause the mountains to disappear and thou shalt behold the earth void and bare: for [one that Day] We will [resurrect the dead and] gather them all together, leaving out none of them.

Yusuf Ali One Day We shall remove the mountains and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch and We shall gather them all together nor shall We leave out any one of them.

Pickthall And (bethink you of) the Day when We remove the hills and ye see the earth emerging, and We gather them together so as to leave not one of them behind.

Transliteration Wa yauma nusayyirul jiba_la wa taral arda ba_rizataw wa hasyarna_hum falam nuga_dir minhum ahada_(n).

18:48 They are displayed before your Lord as a column: "You have come to Us as We had created you the first time. No, you claimed We would not make an appointment for you!"

8. Surah Al Anfal

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَجِيبُواْ لِلّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُم لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ...   

8: 24.  O ye who believe!

give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life;

C1196. There are two points to note.

1.     Note that after Allah and His Messenger are mentioned, the pronoun and verb in the next clause are singular:

everything that Allah's Messenger put forward as an injunction came by inspiration from Allah:

the Messenger made his will coincide completely with Allah's will.

2.     We are asked actively to give our response in deed and life to the call of duty and conscience, for that call leads to real life, the life eternal, even though it may apparently mean in this world the loss of things that make life dear or the loss of life itself.

If we refer this to Jihad, i.e., fighting in and for the Cause, both literally and metaphorically, the meaning becomes quite clear.

...وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ...

and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart,

C1197. If the human heart is refractory and refuses to obey the call of Allah, that is not the end of the matter. Allah has to be reckoned with. The refusal may be because there was some pet human scheme which the heart of man was not willing to give up for Allah's Cause.

Will that scheme come to fruition by refusing to serve the higher Cause?

By no means. Man proposes, but God disposes.

If the scheme or motive was perfectly secret from men, it was not secret from Allah. The heart is the innermost seat of man's affections and desires: but Allah intervenes between man and his heart. (R).

...وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾  

and that it is He to whom ye shall (all) be gathered.

Others version:

8: 24

Asad …….and know that God intervenes between man and [the desires of] his heart, [note 24] and that unto Him you shall be gathered.

Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His apostle when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart and that it is He to whom Ye shall (all) be gathered.

Pickthall O ye who believe; Obey Allah, and the messenger when He calleth you to that which quickeneth you, and know that Allah cometh in between the man and his own heart, and that He it is unto Whom ye will be gathered.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manustajibu_ lilla_hi wa lirrasu_li iza_ da'a_kum lima_ yuhyikum, wa'lamu_ annalla_ha yahu_lu bainal mar'i wa qalbihi wa annahu_ ilaihi tuhsyaru_n(a).

10. Surah Yunus

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ مَكَانَكُمْ أَنتُمْ وَشُرَكَآؤُ...

10: 28.  One Day shall We gather them all together. Then shall We say to those who joined gods (with Us):

"To your place! ye and those ye joined as 'partners.'"

...كُمْ فَزَيَّلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ...

We shall separate them,

...وَقَالَ شُرَكَآؤُهُم مَّا كُنتُمْ إِيَّانَا تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾  

and their "partners" shall say: "It was not us that ye worshipped!"

C1418. The false gods are not real: they are only the figments of the imaginations of those who indulged in the false worship.

But the prophets or great or good men whose names were vainly taken in competition with the name of Allah, and the personified Ideas or Idols treated in the same way would themselves protest against their names being used in that way, and show that the worship was paid not to them, but to the ignorance or superstition or selfish lusts of the false worshippers.

فَكَفَى بِاللّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ إِن كُنَّا عَنْ عِبَادَتِكُمْ لَغَافِلِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾   

10: 29.  "Enough is Allah for a witness between us and you: we certainly knew nothing of your worship of us!

C1419. See last note.

They did not even know that they were being falsely worshipped in that way.

هُنَالِكَ تَبْلُو كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا أَسْلَفَتْ...   

10: 30.  There will every soul prove (the fruits of) the deeds it sent before:

C1420. Cf. 2:95, where the verb used is qaddama. The verb aslafa, used here, is nearly synonymous.

...وَرُدُّواْ إِلَى اللّهِ مَوْلاَهُمُ الْحَقِّ...

they will be brought back to Allah their rightful Lord,

...وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾

and their invented falsehoods will leave them in the lurch.

C1421. Instead of their false ideas helping them, they will desert them and leave them in the lurch.

Cf. 6:24.

Others version:

10: 28

Yusuf Ali One Day shall We gather them all together. Then shall We say to those who joined gods (with Us): "To your place! ye and those ye joined as `partners.'" We shall separate them and their "partners" shall say: "It was not us that ye worshipped!"

Pickthall On the day when We gather them all together, then We say unto those who ascribed partners (unto Us): Stand back, ye and your (pretended) partners (of Allah)! And We separate them, the one from the other, and their (pretended) partners say: It was not us ye worshipped.

Transliteration Wa yauma nahsyuruhum jami'an summa naqu_lu lillazina asyraku_ maka_nakum antum wa syuraka_'ukum, fa zayyalna_ bainahum wa qa_la syuraka_'uhum ma_ kuntum iyya_na_ ta'budu_n(a).

10: 29

Yusuf Ali "Enough is Allah for a witness between us and you: we certainly knew nothing of your worship of us!

Pickthall Allah sufficeth as a witness between us and you, that we were unaware of your worship.

Transliteration Fakafa_ billa_hi syahidam bainana_ wa bainakum in kunna_ 'an 'iba_datikum laga_filin(a).

10: 30

Yusuf Ali There will every soul prove (the fruits of) the deeds it sent before: they will be brought back to Allah their rightful Lord and their invented falsehoods will leave them in the lurch.

Pickthall There doth every soul experience that which it did aforetime, and they are returned unto Allah, their rightful Lord, and that which they used to invent hath failed them.

Transliteration Huna_lika tablu_ kullu nafsin ma_ aslafat wa ruddu_ ilalla_hi maula_humul haqqi wa dalla 'anhum ma_ ka_nu_ yaftaru_n(a).

18.Surah Al Kahf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قَالَ هَذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّي...   

18: 98.  He said:

"This is a mercy from my Lord:

C2444. After all the effort which Dhul al Qarnayn has made for their protection, he claims no credit for himself beyond that of discharging his duty as a ruler. He turns their attention to Allah, Who has provided the ways and means by which they can be helped and protected.

But all such human precautions are apt to become futile. The time must come when they will crumble into dust. Allah has said so in His Revelation; and His word is true.

And so the lesson from the third episode is:

Take human precautions and do all in your power to protect yourselves from evil. But no protection is complete unless you seek the help and grace of Allah. The best of our precautions must crumble to dust when the appointed Day arrives.

... فَإِذَا جَاء وَعْدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُ دَكَّاء... 

but when the promise of my comes to pass, He will make it into dust;

... وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي حَقًّا ﴿٩٨﴾

and the promise of my Lord is true."

وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَمُوجُ فِي بَعْضٍ...   

18: 99.  On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another;

C2445. And so we pass on to the Last Days before the Great Summons comes from Allah. All human barriers will be swept away. There will be tumultuous rushes. The Trumpet will be blown, and the Judgment will be set on foot.

... وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَاهُمْ جَمْعًا ﴿٩٩﴾

the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together.

وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ عَرْضًا ﴿١٠٠﴾

18: 100. And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see, all spread out --

C2446. If men had scoffed at Faith and the Hereafter, their eyes will be opened now, and they will see the terrible Reality.

Others version:

18:98

18:99

18:100

[[ Asad’s translation]]

19. Surah Maryam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَحْشُرَنَّهُمْ وَالشَّيَاطِينَ ...

19: 68.  So, by thy Lord, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and (also) the Evil Ones (with them);

C2516. The disbelief in a future life is not merely a philosophic doubt, but a warped will, a disingenuous obstinacy in face of our inner spiritual instincts and experiences. We were nothing before. Cannot the same Allah, Who created us out of nothing also continue our personality?

But if we refuse to accept His light and guidance, our state will grow worse and worse. We shall be deprived of His grace. We shall be herded with Satan.

In utter humiliation we shall be faced with all the consequences of our refusal of Truth.

... ثُمَّ لَنُحْضِرَنَّهُمْ حَوْلَ جَهَنَّمَ جِثِيًّا ﴿٦٨﴾

then shall We bring them forth on their knees round about Hell;

C2517. Round about Hell: There are many ways leading to evil, and people get to it from all round.

Hence the mention of the seven Gates to Hell: see 15:44. and n. 1977. (R).

ثُمَّ لَنَنزِعَنَّ مِن كُلِّ شِيعَةٍ أَيُّهُمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَى الرَّحْمَنِ عِتِيًّا ﴿٦٩﴾

19: 69.  Then shall We certainly drag out from every sect all those who were worst in obstinate rebellion against (Allah) Most Gracious.

ثُمَّ لَنَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِالَّذِينَ هُمْ أَوْلَى بِهَا صِلِيًّا ﴿٧٠﴾

19: 70.  And certainly We know best those who are most worthy of being burned therein.

وَإِن مِّنكُمْ إِلَّا وَارِدُهَا...   

19: 71.  Not one of you but will pass over it:

C2518. Three interpretations are possible,

1.    The general interpretation is that every person must pass through or by or over the Fire. Those who have had Taqwa (see. n. 26 to 2:2) will be saved by Allah's Mercy, while unrepentant sinners will suffer the torments in ignominy,

2.     If we refer the pronoun "you" to those "in obstinate rebellion" in verse 69 above, both leaders and followers in sin, this verse only applies to the wicked,

3.     Some refer this verse to the Bridge over Hell, the Bridge Sirat, over which all must pass to their final Destiny. This Bridge is not mentioned in the Quran. (R).

...كَانَ عَلَى رَبِّكَ حَتْمًا مَّقْضِيًّا ﴿٧١﴾

this is, with thy Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished.

ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّنَذَرُ الظَّالِمِينَ فِيهَا جِثِيًّا ﴿٧٢﴾

19: 72. But We shall save those who guarded against evil, and We shall leave the wrongdoers therein, (humbled) to their knees.

وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا...   

19: 73.  When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, the Unbelievers say to those who believe,

...أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ خَيْرٌ مَّقَامًا وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا ﴿٧٣﴾

"Which of the two sides is best in point of position?

Which makes the best show in council?"

C2519. The Unbelievers may, for a time, make a better show in worldly position, or in people's assemblages where things are judged by the counting of heads. But Truth must prevail even in this world, and ultimately the positions must be reversed.

Others version:

19:68

Asad

And so, by thy Sustainer, [on Judgment Day] We shall most certainly bring them forth together with the satanic forces [which impelled them in life] "and then We shall most certainly gather them, on their knees, around hell;

Yuksel 19:68 By your Lord, We will gather them and the devils, then We will place them around hell on their knees.

(19:69)

Asad and thereupon We shall, indeed, draw forth from every group [of sinners] the ones that had been most determined in their

disdainful rebellion against the Most Gracious: 53

Yuksel Then We will drag out from every group which of them was the worst opposition to the Gracious.

(19:70)

Asad for, indeed, We know best as to

which of them is most deserving of the fires of hell.

Yuksel Then, it is We who are best aware of those who deserve to be burnt therein.

19:71

Asad

And every one of you will come within sight of it: 55 this is, with thy Sustainer, a decree that must be fulfilled.

Yuksel Every single one of you must pass by it. This for your Lord is a certainty that will come to pass.

(19:72) And once again: " We shall save [from hell] those who have been

conscious of Us; but We shall leave in it the evildoers, on their knees. 57

Yuksel’s Then We will save those who were righteous, and We leave the wicked in it on their knees.

19:73

AS IT IS, whenever Our messages are conveyed to them in all their clarity, those who are bent

on denying the truth are wont to say unto those who have attained to faith: "Which of the two

kinds of man 58 is in a stronger position and superior as a community?" 55

19:73 When Our clear signs were recited to them, those who rejected said to those who acknowledged: "Which of the two groups of ours is more in authority and more prosperous?"

[[Asad’s Notes:-

51 Lit., "when [or "although"] he was nothing".

52 See surah 15, first half of note 16; cf. also the reference to the "worship of Satan" inverses

44-45 of the present surah, as well as the corresponding notes 33 and 34. The symbolism of the

sinners being linked on Judgment Day "with the satanic forces which impelled them in life" is

easily understood if we remember - as has been pointed out in note 10 on 2:14 - that the term

shaytan ("satan" or "satanic force") is often used in the Qur'an to describe every evil propensity

in man's own self. The personal pronoun relates to those who reject the concept of resurrection

and life after death.

53 I.e., those who have consciously and deliberately rejected the idea of man's responsibility

before

God and have thus led their weaker, less conscious fellow-men astray will be consigned to the

deepest suffering in the hereafter.

54 Lit., "of burning therein": an allusion to the fact that not every one of the sinners will be

irrevocably consigned to the suffering described in the Qur'an as hell. (The particle thumma

which introduces this clause has here the function of an explanatory conjunction with the

preceding

statement and is, therefore, best rendered as "for".)

55 Lit., "none of you but will reach it". According to some of the classical authorities, the pronoun

"you" relates to the sinners spoken of in the preceding passages, and particularly to those who

refuse to believe in resurrection; the majority of the commentators, however, are of the opinion

that all human beings, sinners and righteous alike, are comprised within this address in the sense

that all "will come within sight of it" : hence my rendering.

56 For this particular rendering of thumma, see surah 6, note 3 1 .

57 I.e., utterly humbled and crushed by their belated realization of God's judgment and of the

ethical

truths which they had arrogantly neglected in life.

58 Lit., "two groups" or "parties" : an allusion to two kinds or types of human society

characterized

by their fundamentally different approach to problems of faith and morality. (See next note.)

59 Lit., "better in assembly". This parabolic "saying" of the unbelievers implies, in the garb of a

rhetorical question, a superficially plausible but intrinsically fallacious argument in favour of

a society which refuses to submit to any absolute moral imperatives and is determined to obey the dictates of expediency alone. In such a social order, material success and power are usually seen

as consequences of a more or less conscious rejection of all metaphysical considerations - and, in

particular, of all that is comprised in the concept of God - willed standards of morality - on the

assumption that they are but an obstacle in the path of man's free, unlimited "development". It goes without saying that this attitude (which has reached its epitome in the modern statement that

"religion is opium for the people") is diametrically opposed to the demand, voiced by every higher religion, that man's social life, if it is to be a truly "good" life, must be subordinated to definite

ethical principles and restraints. By their very nature, these restraints inhibit the unprincipled power-drive which dominates the more materialistic societies and enables them to achieve - without regard to the damage done to others and, spiritually, to themselves - outward comforts and positions of strength in the shortest possible time: but precisely because they do act as a brake on maris selfishness and power-hunger, it is these moral considerations and restraints - and they alone -

that can free a community from the interminable, self-destructive inner tensions and frustrations to which materialistic societies are subject, and thus bring about a more enduring, because more organic, state of social well-being. This, in short, is the elliptically implied answer of the Qur'an to a rhetorical question placed in the mouths of "those who are bent on denying the truth". ]]

24. Surah An Nur

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَلَا إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ...

24: 64. Be quite sure that to Allah doth belong whatever is in the heavens and on earth.

...قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَا أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ ...

Well doth He know what ye are intent upon:

C3050. The condition or position you are in, the motives which actuate you, and the ends you have in view.

... وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا...

and one day they will be brought back to Him, and He will tell them the truth of what they did:

C3051. Things misunderstood or maligned, falsely praised or held in honour, or fraudulently shown to be good when they are evil-everything will be revealed in its true light on the Day of final Judgment.

...وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٦٤﴾

for Allah doth know all things.

Others version:

24:64

27. Surah An-Naml

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ فَوْجًا مِّمَّن يُكَذِّبُ بِآيَاتِنَا فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ﴿٨٣﴾

27:83. [Ali] One Day We shall gather together from every people a troop of those who reject Our Signs, and they shall be kept in ranks --

حَتَّى إِذَا جَاؤُوا قَالَ أَكَذَّبْتُم بِآيَاتِي...

27 : 84. Until, when they come (before the Judgment-Seat), Allah will say:

"Did ye reject My Signs,

...وَلَمْ تُحِيطُوا بِهَا عِلْمًا ...

though ye comprehended them not in knowledge,

C3314. The charge against them will be:

'You had no knowledge, and yet you arrogantly rejected My Signs: is that true, or have you any plea in your defence?'

... أَمَّاذَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨٤﴾

or what was it ye did?"

وَوَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِم بِمَا ظَلَمُوا فَهُمْ لَا يَنطِقُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾

27: 85. And the Word will be fulfilled against them, because of their wrongdoing, and they will be unable to speak (in plea).

C3315. There will be no plea, because the charge will be only too true.

The Decree will be passed and executed.

Others version:

27:83 And on that Day We shall gather from within every community a host of those who gave the lie to Our messages; and they will be grouped [according to the gravity of their sins]

(27:84) until such a time as they shall come [to be judged. And] He will say: "Did you give the lie to My messages even though you failed to encompass them with [your] knowledge? 75 Or what was it that [you thought] you were doing?"

(27:85) And the word [of truth] will stand revealed against them in the face of 6 all the wrong which they had committed, and they will not [be able to] utter a single word [of excuse]: (27:86) for, were they not aware that it is We who had made the night for them, so that they might rest therein, and the day, to make [them] see? 77 In this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who will believe!

[[ Asad’s notes - 75 I.e., without having understood them or made any attempt to understand them (Zamakhshari).

76 Or: "the sentence [of doom] will have been passed on them in recompense of. . . " , etc. (see note 73 above).

77 In the present context (as in 10:67 or 40:61) the reference to "night" and "day" has a symbolic significance: namely, man's God-given ability to gain insight through conscious reasoning ("the day that makes them see") as well as through the iutuition that comes from a restful surrender to the voice of one's own heart ("the night made for rest") - both of which tell us that the existence of God is a logical necessity, and that a rejection of His messages is a sin against ourselves. ]]

34.Surah Saba'

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ...

34: 40. One day He will gather them all together, and say to the angels,

C3850. Here we have the case of the worship of angels or supposed Powers of Allah, or supposed beneficent spirits that men turn to instead of worshipping the true God. In fact these are mere names to the false worshippers. It is not the Good that they worship but the Evil, which leads them astray.

... أَهَؤُلَاء إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ ﴿٤٠﴾

"Was it you that these men used to worship?"

قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم...

34: 41. They will say,

"Glory to thee! Our (tie) is with thee -- as Protector -- not with them.

C3851. Wali in Arabic may mean Friend either in the sense of Protector and Benefactor or in the sense of the Beloved.

The tie of benevolence, confidence, and friendship is implied, either active or passive.

The angels first proclaim their dependence on Allah and their need of His protection, and then disclaim any idea of their having protected or encouraged the false worshippers to worship beings other than Allah.

They go further, and suggest that when men pretended to worship angels, they worshipped, not angels, but Jinns.

See next note.

... بَلْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ...

Nay, but they worshipped the Jinns:

C3852. Jinns: see 6:100 and n. 929.

The false worshippers pretended to worship the bright and radiant angels of good, but in reality worshipped the dark and hidden forces of evil,-in the life around them.

They trusted and believed in such forces of evil, although such forces of evil had really no power.

... أَكْثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٤١﴾

most of them believed in them."

Asad’s Version:

(34:40) And [as for those who now deny the truth,] one Day He will gather them all together, and will ask the angels, "Was it you that they were wont to worship?" 50

34:41 They will answer: "Limitless art Thou in Thy glory! Thou [alone] art close unto us, not they! 51 Nay, [when they thought that they were worshipping us,] they were but [blindly] worshipping forces concealed from their senses; most of them believed in them." 52

[[ Asad’s notes - 50 This allegorical "question" - allegorical, because God is omniscient and has no need to "ask" - implies that many of "those who deny the truth" of God's messages delude themselves into believing that they are, nevertheless, worshipping spiritual forces, here comprised in the term "angels".

5 1 Implying that they (the angels) would never have accepted that worship which is due to God alone.

52 In this instance, I believe, the term jinn has its primary meaning of "that which is concealed from [man's] senses" (see Appendix III), thus including all manner of unknown forces, both real and imaginary, believed to be inherent in what we describe as "nature". Hence, the answer of the angels implies that the sinners' alleged worship of them had never been more than a subconscious screen for their fear of the invisible forces of nature and, ultimately, of the yet deeper fear of the Unknown that fear which sooner or later engulfs all who refuse to believe in the existence of God and, hence, cannot see any meaning or purpose in human life. (See also the last sentence of 10:28

and the corresponding note 46.) ]]

46. Surah Al-Ahqaf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوا لَهُمْ أَعْدَاء وَكَانُوا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَافِرِينَ ﴿٦﴾

46:6. And when mankind are gathered together (at the Resurrection), they will be hostile to them and reject their worship (altogether

Asad’s Version:

46:5 And who could be more astray than one who invokes, instead of God, such as will not respond to him either now or on the Day of Resurrection, 5 and are not even conscious of being invoked? –

(46:6) such as, when all mankind is gathered [for judgment], will be enemies unto those (who worshipped them], and will utterly reject their worship? 6

)!