17. Surah Al Isra
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَكَ
هَـذَا الَّذِي
كَرَّمْتَ
عَلَيَّ...
17: 62. He said,
"Seest Thou? This is the one whom thou hast honored above me!
...لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ إَلاَّ قَلِيلاً ﴿٦٢﴾
If Thou wilt but respite me to the Day of Judgment, I will surely bring his descendants under my sway -- all but a few!"
C2252. The power of Evil (Satan) over man is due to man's limited free-will.
In other words man hands himself to Evil. As to those who loyally worship and serve Allah, Evil has no power over them.
This is expressly mentioned in verse 65 below, and in other places.
17: 63. Allah said:
"Go thy way;
C2253. The power of Evil is summarily dismissed, but not without a clear warning.
"Do thy worst; if any of them misuse their limited free-will and deliberately follow thee, they must take the consequences with thee; all of you must answer according to your personal responsibility."
... فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمْ جَزَاء مَّوْفُورًا ﴿٦٣﴾
if any of them follow thee, verily Hell will be the recompense of you (all) -- an ample recompense.
وَاسْتَفْزِزْ
مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ
مِنْهُمْ ...
17: 64. "Lead to destruction those whom thou canst among them,
C2254. "Do thy worst; but ye are both warned that that path leads to destruction."
... بِصَوْتِكَ...
with thy (seductive) voice;
C2255. Evil has many snares for mankind. The one that is put in the foreground is the voice,
- the seductive personal appeal, that "makes the worse appear the better part".
...وَأَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِم بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ...
make assaults on them with thy cavalry and thy infantry;
C2256. The forcible assault of Evil is next mentioned under the metaphor of cavalry and infantry.
It is when cajolery and tempting fair-seeming seem to fail that an attack is made in force with weapons of violence, of all kinds, like the different arms in an organized army.
...وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِي الأَمْوَالِ وَالأَوْلادِ وَعِدْهُمْ...
mutually share with them wealth and children; and make promises to them.
C2257. If the first assaults are resisted. Evil has other weapons in its armoury.
- Tangible fruits are dangled before the eyes, ill-gotten gains and children of sin, that follow from certain very alluring methods of indulgence in passions.
- Or it may be children dedicated to sin or worldly gains, etc. And then there are all kinds of promises for the future.
...وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلاَّ غُرُورًا ﴿٦٤﴾
But Satan promises them nothing but deceit.
C2258. This is a parenthetical clause inserted to show up what the promises of the Satan are worth.
إِنَّ عِبَادِي
لَيْسَ لَكَ
عَلَيْهِمْ
سُلْطَانٌ...
17: 65. "As for My servants, no authority shalt thou have over them."
C2259. This verse should be read along with the two preceding ones to complete their meaning. Evil has no power except over those who yield to its solicitations.
...وَكَفَى بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلاً ﴿٦٥﴾
Enough is thy Lord for a Disposer of affairs.
C2260. As Evil has no authority over the sincere servants of Allah, they should put their trust completely in Him. For He is All-Sufficient to carry out their affairs, and by His grace, to save them from all harm and danger.
17: 62
Asad [And] he added: “Tell me, is this [foolish delight] the one whom You have exalted above me? ……..I shall most certainly cause his descendants – all but a few – to obey me blindly! [note 76].
Pickthall He said: Seest Thou this (creature) whom Thou hast honored above me, if Thou give me grace until the Day of Resurrection I verily will seize his seed, save but a few.
Yuksel He said, "Shall I show You this one whom You have preferred over me, that if You respite me until the day of Resurrection, I will destroy his progeny, except for a few."
Transliteration Qa_la ara'aitaka ha_zal lazi karramta 'alayya la'in akhkhartani ila_ yaumil qiya_mati la'ahtanikanna zurriyyatahu_ illa_ qalila_(n).
[[ Asad’s note 76 – Cf. 7:16-17. The verb “hanaka” denotes, literally, : he put a rope around the lower jaw” (hanak) [of a horse]”, i.e., in order to lead it; hence, the form ihtanaka means “he made [another being follow him submissively” or “obey him blindly”.
17: 63
Asad [God] answered: “Go! But as for such of them as shall follow you – behold, hell will be the recompense of you [all]’ a recompense most ample!
Pickthall He said: Go, and whosoever of them followeth thee--lo! Hell will be your payment, ample payment.
Transliteration Qa_la-zhab faman tabi'aka minhum fa inna jahannama jaza_'ukum jaza_'am maufu_ra_(n).
17: 64
Asad Entice, then, with your voice such of them you can, and bear upon them with all your horses and all your men, and be their partner in worldly goods and children, ………
Pickthall And excite any of them whom thou canst with thy voice, and urge thy horse and foot against them, and be a partner in their wealth and children, and promise them. Satan promiseth them only to deceive.
Yuksel "Mobilize whoever you can of them with your voice, and mobilize all your forces and men against them, and you may share with them in their money and children, and promise them." But the devil promises nothing but deceit.
Transliteration Wa-stafziz man-istata'ta minhum bi sautika wa ajlib 'alaihim bi khailika wa rajilika wa sya_rik-hum fil amwa_li wal aula_di wa 'idhum, wa ma_ ya'iduhumusy syaita_nu illa_ guru_ra_(n).
17: 65
Asad “Behold, you shall have no power over My servants: for none is as worthy of trust as your Sustainer.”
Pickthall Lo! My (faithful) bondmen--over them thou hast no power,--and your Lord sufficed as (their) guardian.
Inna 'iba_di laisa laka 'alaihim sulta_n(un), wa kafa_ bi rabbika wakila_(n).