40. Surha Ghafir (Forgiving)/al mumin

Mecca 60 [85 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْهُدَى...

40: 53. We did aforetime give Moses the (Book of) Guidance,

C4426. Moses was given a Revelation, and it was given in heritage to the Children of Israel, to preserve it, guide their conduct by it, and hold aloft its Message: but they failed in all these particulars.

... وَأَوْرَثْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْكِتَابَ ﴿٥٣﴾

and We gave the Book in inheritance to the Children of Israel --

هُدًى وَذِكْرَى لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ ﴿٥٤﴾

40: 54. A Guide and a Message to men of understanding.

فَاصْبِرْ ...

40: 55. Patiently, then, persevere:

C4427. The Israelites corrupted or lost their Book; they disobeyed Allah's Law; and failed to proclaim and exemplify Allah's Message. That is why the new Revelation came to the holy Prophet.

If, in the beginning, it was rejected and persecuted, there was no cause for discouragement; on the contrary, there was all the greater need for patience and perseverance.

... إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ...

for the Promise of Allah is true:

... وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ...

and ask forgiveness for thy fault,

C4428. Every mortal according to his nature and degree of spiritual enlightenment falls short of the perfect standard of Allah (16:61), and should therefore ask Allah for forgiveness.

What is merit in an ordinary man may be a human shortcoming in one nearest to Allah: see 38:24-25, and notes 4175-76. Prophets have a further responsibility for their People or their Ummah, and they ask in a representative capacity.

... وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ ﴿٥٥﴾

and celebrate the Praises of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning.

C4429. Cf. i3:41. Evening and morning are the best times for contemplation and prayer. But the phrase "evening and morning" may mean "at all times". (R).

Asad’s Version:

40:53 And, indeed, We bestowed aforetime [Our] guidance on Moses, and [thus] made the children of Israel heirs to the divine writ [revealed to him]

(40:54) as a [means of] guidance and a reminder for those who were endowed with insight: 37

(40:55) hence, remain thou patient in adversity - for, verily, God's promise always comes true - and ask forgiveness for thy sins, and extol thy Sustainer's glory and praise by night and by day. 38