22. Sura al-Hajj
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَيَعْبُدُونَ
مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ
مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ
بِهِ سُلْطَانًا
وَمَا لَيْسَ
لَهُم بِهِ
عِلْمٌ...
22: 71. Yet they worship, besides Allah, things for which no authority has been sent down to them, and of which they have (really) no knowledge:
...وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ ﴿٧١﴾
for those that do wrong there is no helper.
C2852. When plain common-sense shows the absurdity of false worship, behind which there is neither knowledge, intelligence, nor authority (quite the contrary), who or what can help the false misguided creatures who dishonour Allah by false worship?
وَإِذَا
تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ
آيَاتُنَا
بَيِّنَاتٍ
تَعْرِفُ فِي
وُجُوهِ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُوا
الْمُنكَرَ...
22: 72. When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, thou wilt notice a denial on the faces of the Unbelievers!
C2853. Munkar;
- a refusal to accept something offered;
- a denial of something stated or pointed out;
- a feeling of disapproval or active aversion, or disgust.
...يَكَادُونَ يَسْطُونَ بِالَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِنَا...
They nearly attack with violence those who rehearse Our Signs to them.
...قُلْ أَفَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرٍّ مِّن ذَلِكُمُ...
Say,
"Shall I tell you of something (far) worse than these Signs?
C2854. There is irony here.
'You think Allah's revelations and Signs are distasteful to you! There will be something far more distasteful to you if you do not repent! What do you say to the inevitable Punishment?'
...النَّارُ...
It is the fire (of Hell)!
...وَعَدَهَا اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا...
Allah has promised it to the Unbelievers!
...وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿٧٢﴾
And evil is that destination!"
يَا
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ
ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ
فَاسْتَمِعُوا
لَهُ...
22: 73. O men!
Here is a parable set forth! Listen to it!
... إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ ...
Those on whom, besides Allah ye call, cannot create (even) a fly, if they all met together for the purpose!
...وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيْئًا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ...
And if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly:
...ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالْمَطْلُوبُ ﴿٧٣﴾
feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition!
C2855. Both idols and their worshippers are poor, foolish, feeble creatures!
مَا
قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ
حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ...
22: 74. No just estimate have they made of Allah:
...إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ ﴿٧٤﴾
for Allah is He Who is strong and able to carry out His Will.
C2856. No one can have a true idea of Allah, who descends to the base forms of false worship. Allah has all power, and He is fully able to carry out every part of His Will and Plan.
He is exalted above all in power and dignity.
Cf. 22:40 and n. 2818 for the full meaning of 'Aziz.
اللَّهُ
يَصْطَفِي مِنَ
الْمَلَائِكَةِ
رُسُلًا وَمِنَ
النَّاسِ...
22: 75. Allah chooses Messengers from angels and from men:
C2857. Men are chosen as Messengers to ordinary men; for ordinary men will not be able to understand and be in communion with beings so refined as angels. But angels are sent as Messengers to Allah's chosen prophets, to convey the Message from time to time.
In either case they are chosen by Allah, are subject to Allah's Will, and should not be worshipped as gods.
...إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ ﴿٧٥﴾
for Allah is He Who hears and sees (all things).
C2858. As Allah regards the humblest of His creatures and hears their prayer, He sends men messengers out of their own brethren (see last note), and to such messengers He communicates the highest spiritual Truths through His angels.
يَعْلَمُ
مَا بَيْنَ
أَيْدِيهِمْ
وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ...
22: 76. He knows what is before them and what is behind them:
...وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الأمُورُ ﴿٧٦﴾
and to Allah go back all questions (for decision).
C2859. Time, before or behind, may be of some importance to men. They may dispute as to what was the first Message, and what is the last Message.
To Allah, this question of priority and posteriority is of no consequence. All questions go back ultimately to Him and are judged on their merits.
Asad’s Version:
22:71 [al-Hajj, Medina 103]
And yet, 88 they [who claim to believe in Him often] worship [other beings or forces] beside God - something for which He has never bestowed any warrant from on high, 87 and [of the reality] whereof they cannot have any knowledge: 88 and such evildoers shall have none to
succour them [on Judgment Day] .
22:72
As it is, whenever Our messages are conveyed unto them in all their clarity, thou canst
perceive utter repugnance on the faces of those who are bent on denying the truth: they would almost assault those who convey Our messages unto them! Say: "Shall I, then, tell you of something worse than what you feel at present? 8 ' It is the fire [of the hereafter] that God has promised to those who are bent on denying the truth: and how vile a journey's end!"
22:73
O MEN! A parable is set forth [herewith]; hearken, then, to it! Behold, those beings whom you invoke instead of God cannot create [as much as] a fly, even were they to join all their forces to that end! And if a fly robs them of anything, they cannot [even] rescue it from him! Weak indeed is the seeker, and [weak] the sought!
22:74
No true understanding of God have they [who err in this way]: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty!
(22:75) [In His almightiness,] God chooses message-bearers from among the angels as well as from among men. But, behold, God [alone] is all-hearing, all-seeing:" 1
(22:76) [whereas their knowledge is limited,] He knows all that lies open before them and all that is hidden from them" - for all things go back to God [as their source].
