14. Surah Ibrahim

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُل لِّعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ ...

14: 31.  Speak to My servants who have believed, that they may establish regular prayers,

C1905. Putting ourselves back in the position in which the Muslim community found themselves in Makkah just before the Hijrah, we can imagine how much encouragement and consolation they needed from the preaching, the Faith, and the steadfast character of Al-Mustafa.

Intolerant persecution was the order of the day; neither the life nor the property or reputation of the Muslims was safe. They are asked to find strength and tranquility in prayer and in helping each other according to their needs and resources.

... وَيُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلانِيَةً... 

and spend (in charity) out of the Sustenance We have given them, secretly and openly,

C1906. Here, as elsewhere, "Sustenance" is to be taken in the literal as well as the metaphorical sense.

There were many among the Muslims who were poor, or slaves, or depressed, because they were deprived of the means of livelihood on account of their Faith. They were to be fed, clothed, and sheltered, by those who had means.

Charity was to be ordinarily secret, so as to cut out all show or parade, and perhaps also lest the enemy should dry up those sources by unprincipled violence; but there must be much that had to be open and organized, so that all the needy could know where to go to be relieved.

...مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لاَّ بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلاَ خِلاَلٌ ﴿٣١﴾

before the coming of a Day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining, nor befriending.

C1907. The great Day of Reckoning would be one on which all values would be changed. Wealth, as understood in this world, would no longer count.

Should we not therefore use any wealth we have in this life, to give here and receive there?

Bai includes all bargaining, -barter, purchase and sale, etc.

In this world, where wealth has some value, let us spend it and get for ourselves "treasures in heaven."

In the next life each man will stand on his merits and personal responsibility. One man cannot help another. Let us here help each other to become true and righteous, so that our personal account may be favourable there.

Others version:

14: 31

Yusuf Ali Speak to My servants who have believed that they may establish regular prayers and spend (in charity) out of the Sustenance We have given them secretly and openly before the coming of a Day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.

Pickthall Tell My bondmen who believe to establish worship and spend of that which We have given them, secretly and publicly, before a day cometh wherein there will be neither traffic nor befriending.

Transliteration Qul li'iba_diyal lazina a_manu_ yuqimus sala_ta wa yunfiqu_ mimma_ razaqna_hum sirraw wa'ala_niyatam min qabli ay ya'tiya yaumul la_ bai'un fihi wa la_ khila_l(un).

[ Asad note 45: …….”bay” [selling and buying or bargaining] denotes here the metaphorical “….ransom”…..will be inadmissible on the Day of Judgment (cf. 3:91 and the corresponding note 71, as well as 5:36, 10:54, 13:18, 39: 47 and 70: 11 – 15) ….]

[Ruby’s note: What the Quran is repeatedly implying through these kinds of expressions is that there would not be any possibility of intercession, appealing on behalf of others, pleading to exchange good work, for example good deeds of a mother for a son’s sins, etc. Each person stand alone before the Creator, one to one, with his/her record, only God is the One who will forgive or punish. ]