17. Surah Al Isra
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
مَّن كَانَ
يُرِيدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ
عَجَّلْنَا
لَهُ فِيهَا
مَا نَشَاء
لِمَن نُّرِيدُ...
17: 18. If any do wish for the transitory things (of this life), We readily grant them -- such things as We will, to such persons as We will:
C2196. An explanation is now given of how it is that prosperity sometimes seems to attend the wicked.
The explanation is threefold:
1. the transitory things of this life are worth little in the eternal scheme of things;
2. even they are provided, not just because their recipients wish for them, but according to a definite Plan of Allah; and
3. in the end there is for the wicked the eternal Misery and deprivation of grace,-the Hell which is worse than destruction in the terms of this world.
...ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلاهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ﴿١٨﴾
in the end have We provided Hell for them:
they will burn therein, disgraced and rejected.
C2197. All the pride and insolence will then be brought low. The disgrace and the exclusion from the "sight of the Face of Allah" will by themselves be punishments of which the magnitude cannot be measured in the terms of our present material life.
17 : 19. Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter,
C2198. This is in contrast to the last verse.
Those who wish for mere earthly good sometimes get it and misuse it. Those whose eyes are fixed on the Hereafter, they too share in their Lord's bounty provided they fulfil the conditions explained in the next note; but their wishes and endeavours are more acceptable in the sight of Allah.
... وَسَعَى لَهَا سَعْيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ...
and strive therefor with all due striving, and have Faith --
C2199. A mere wish for moral and spiritual good is not enough. It must be backed up by hard endeavour and supported by a lively Faith. On those conditions the wishes are accepted by Allah.
...فَأُولَئِكَ كَانَ سَعْيُهُم مَّشْكُورًا ﴿١٩﴾
they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to Allah).
كُلاًّ نُّمِدُّ
هَـؤُلاء وَهَـؤُلاء
مِنْ عَطَاء
رَبِّكَ...
17: 20. Of the bounties of thy Lord We bestow freely on all -- these as well as those:
...وَمَا كَانَ عَطَاء رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا ﴿٢٠﴾
the bounties of thy Lord are not closed (to anyone).
C2200. Allah's favours are showered on all,
- the just and the unjust,
- the deserving and the undeserving.
But there is a difference as explained in the last two verses.
انظُرْ
كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا
بَعْضَهُمْ
عَلَى بَعْضٍ...
17: 21. See how We have bestowed more on some than on others;
...وَلَلآخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلاً ﴿٢١﴾
but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.
C2201. Nor should man suppose that all gifts are of equal value. The spiritual ones rank far higher in dignity and real worth than the transitory ones. Therefore it is altogether wrong to compare the worldly prosperity of a wicked man with the apparent want of it to a man of spiritual worth.
There is no comparison between them when measured by right standards.
Other versions:
17: 18
Yusuf Ali If any do wish for the transitory things (of this life) We readily grant them--such things as We will to such persons as We will: in the end have We provided Hell for them: they will burn therein disgraced and rejected.
Pickthall Whoso desireth that (life) which hasteneth away, We hasten for him therein that We will for whom We please. And afterward We have appointed for him hell; he will endure the heat thereof, condemned, rejected.
Yuksel Whoever seeks the life of haste, We will hasten for Him what he wishes, then We will make hell for him a place which he will reach disgraced and rejected.
Transliteration Man ka_na yuridul 'a_jilata'ajjalna_ lahu_ fiha_ ma_ nasya_'u liman nuridu summa ja'alna_ lahu_ jahannam(a), yasla_ha_ mazmu_mam madhu_ra_(n).
17: 19
Yusuf Ali Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter and strive therefore with all due striving and have Faith they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to Allah).
Pickthall And whoso desire the Hereafter and strive for it with the effort necessary, being a believer; for such, their effort find favor (with their Lord).
Yuksel Whoever seeks the Hereafter and strives for it as it deserves, and is an acknowledging person, then their effort is appreciated.
Transliteration Wa man ara_dal a_khirata wa sa'a_ laha_ sa'yaha_ wa huwa mu'minun fa ula_'ika ka_na sa'yuhum masyku ra_(n).
17: 20
Yusuf Ali Of the bounties of thy Lord We bestow freely on all these as well as those: the bounties of thy Lord are not closed (to anyone).
Pickthall Each do We supply, both these and those, from the bounty of thy Lord. And the bounty of thy Lord can never be walled up.
Yuksel 17:20 For both groups We will bestow from the bounty of your Lord. The bounty of your Lord is never restricted.
Transliteration Kullan numiddu ha_'ula_'i wa ha_'ula_'i min 'ata_'i rabbik(a), wa ma_ ka_na 'ata_'u rabbika mahzu_ra_(n).
17: 21
Yusuf Ali See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.
Pickthall See how We prefer one above another, and verily the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.
Yuksel See how We have preferred some of them over the others; and in the Hereafter are greater levels, and greater preference.
Transliteration Unzur kaifa faddalna_ a'dahum 'ala_ ba'd(in), wa la la_khiratu akbaru daraja_tiw wa akbaru tafdila_(n).