9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ الأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُواْ عَن رَّسُولِ اللّهِ...   

9: 120. It was not fitting for the people of Medina and the bedouin Arabs of the neighbourhood, to refuse to follow Allah's Messenger,

وَلاَ يَرْغَبُواْ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِ...

nor to prefer their own lives to his:

... ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلاَ نَصَبٌ وَلاَ مَخْمَصَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ... 

because nothing could they suffer or do,

but was reckoned to their credit as a deed of righteousness,

whether they suffered thirst, or fatigue, or hunger, in the Cause of Allah,

... وَلاَ يَطَؤُونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ الْكُفَّارَ...  ...

or trod paths to raise the ire of the unbelievers,

... وَلاَ يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلاً إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ... 

or received any injury whatever from an enemy:

C1371. Again, the illustration is that of Tabuk, but the lesson is general.

We must not hold our own comfort or lives dearer than that of our leader, nor desert him in the hour of danger. If we have true devotion, we shall hold our own lives or comfort cheap in comparison to his.

But whatever service we render to the Cause of Allah, and whatever sufferings, hardships, or injuries we endure, or whatever resources we spend for the Cause, -all goes to raise our degree in the spiritual world. Nothing is lost. Our reward is far greater in worth than any little service we can render, or any little hardship we can suffer, or any little contributions we can make to the Cause. We "painfully attain to joy".

... إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٢٠﴾  

for Allah suffereth not the reward to be lost of those who do good;

وَلاَ يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلاَ كَبِيرَةً ...

9: 121. Nor could they spend anything (for the Cause), small or great,

... وَلاَ يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ... 

nor cut across a valley, but the deed is inscribed to their credit;

C1372. Cut across a valley: this is specially mentioned, as denoting an individual act of heroism, dash, or bravery. To march with the troops along valleys, tread paths of danger along with our Comrades, is good and praiseworthy:

Notice that both the things mentioned in this verse,- the spending of resources and the dashing across a valley- are individual acts, while those mentioned in the last verse are collective acts, which are in some ways easier.

The individual acts having been mentioned, the next verse follows naturally.

... لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٢١﴾  

that Allah might requite their deed with the best (possible reward).

Other versions:

9: 120

Yusuf Ali It was not fitting for the people of Medina and the bedouin Arabs of the neighborhood to refuse to follow Allah's Apostle nor to prefer their own lives to his: because nothing could they suffer or do but was reckoned to their credit as a deed of righteousness whether they suffered thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allah or trod paths to raise the ire of the unbelievers or received any injury whatever from an enemy: for Allah suffereth not the reward to be lost of those who do good;

Pickthall It is not for the townsfolk of Al-Madinah and for those around them of the wandering Arabs to stay behind the messenger of Allah and prefer their lives to his life. That is because neither thirst nor toil nor hunger afflicteth them in the way of Allah, nor step they any step that angereth the disbelievers, nor gain they from the enemy a gain, but a good deed is recorded for them therefor. Lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the good.

Transliteration Ma_ ka_na li ahlil madinati wa man haulahum minal a'ra_bi ay yatakhallafu_ 'ar rasu_lilla_hi wa la_ yargabu_ bi anfusihim 'an nafsih(i), za_lika bi annahum la_ yusibuhum zama'uw wa la_ nasabuw wa la_ makhmasatun fi sabililla_hi wa la_ yata'u_na mauti'ay yagizul kuffa_ra wa la_ yana_lu_na min 'aduwwin nailan illa_ kutiba lahum bihi 'amalun sa_lih(un), innalla_ha la_ yudi'u ajral muhsinin(a).

9: 121

Yusuf Ali Nor could they spend anything (for the cause) small or great nor cut across a valley but the deed is inscribed to their credit; that Allah might requite their deed with the best (possible reward).

Pickthall Nor spend they any spending, small or great, nor do they cross a valley, but it is recorded for them, that Allah may repay them the best of what they used to do.

Transliteration Wa la_ yunfiqu_na nafaqatan sagirataw wa la_ kabirataw wa la_ yaqta'a_na wa_diyan illa_ kutiba lahum liyajziyahumulla_hu ahsana ma_ ka_nu_ ya'malu_n(a).

16.Sura al-Nahl

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللّهِ بَاقٍ...   

16: 96.  What is with you must vanish:

what is with Allah will endure.

... وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٦﴾

And We will certainly bestow, on those who patiently persevere, their reward according to the best of their actions.

C2136. What comparison can there possibly be between spiritual Good, which will endure for ever, and any temporal advantage which you may snatch in this world, which will fade and vanish in no time?

And then, Allah's generosity is unbounded. He rewards you, not according to your merits, but according to the very best of your actions.

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً...   

16: 97.  Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily, to him will We give a new life, a life that is good and pure,

C2137. Faith, if sincere, means right conduct. When these two confirm each other, Allah's grace transforms our life.

Instead of being troubled and worried, we have peace and contentment; instead of being assailed at every turn by false alarms and the assaults of evil, we enjoy calm and attain purity. The transformation is visible in this life itself, but the "reward" in terms of the Hereafter will be far beyond our deserts.

... وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٧﴾

and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.

C2138. The same ending as in the previous verse deepens the overall effect bringing home the message forcefully and beautifully.

The argument is completed and rounded off. (R).

Other versions:

16: 96

Yusuf Ali What is with you must vanish: what is with Allah will endure. And We will certainly bestow on those who patiently persevere their reward according to the best of their actions.

Pickthall That which ye have wasteth away, and that which Allah hath remaineth. And verily We shall pay those who are steadfast a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do.

Transliteration Ma_ 'indakum yanfadu wa ma_ 'indalla_hi ba_q(in), wa lanajziyannal lazina sabaru_ ajrahum bi ahsani ma_ ka_nu_ ya'malu_n(a).

16: 97

Yusuf Ali Whoever works righteousness man or woman and has faith verily to him will We give a new life a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.

Pickthall Whosoever doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, him verily We shall quicken with good life, and We shall pay them a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do.

Transliteration Man 'amila sa_liham min zakarin au unsa_ wa huwa mu'minun fa lanuhyiyannahu_ haya_tan tayyibah(tan), wa lanajziyannahum ajrahum bi ahsani ma_ ka_nu_ ya'malu_n(a).