9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
مَا كَانَ
لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ
أَن يَعْمُرُواْ
مَسَاجِدَ الله
شَاهِدِينَ
عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ
بِالْكُفْرِ...
9: 17. It is not for such as join gods with Allah, to visit or maintain the mosques of Allah while they witness against their own souls to infidelity.
C1266. 'Amara as applied to mosques implies the following ideas:
- to build or repair:
- to maintain in fitting dignity:
- to visit for purposes of devotion: and
- fill with light and life and activity.
For brevity I have only used "maintain" in the Translation. Before the preaching of Islam the Pagans built, repaired, and maintained the Mosque, and celebrated Pagan ceremonies in it. They made an income out of it. Islam protested, and the Pagans ejected Muslims and their Leader from Makkah and shut them out from the Ka'bah itself.
When the Muslims were strong enough to re-take Makkah (A.H. 8), they purified the Mosque and re-established the worship of the true God. If they became Muslims, it was a different matter. The further question arose: should they be allowed to visit it and practice their unseemly Pagan rites?
Obviously this would be derogatory to the dignity and honour of the Mosque, and was forbidden. This was the particular occasion to which the verse refers.
The general deduction is clear. A house of Allah is a place of sincere devotion, not a theatre for vulgar rites nor a source of worldly income. Only sincere Believers have a right of entry.
Who the sincere Believers are, is explained in the next verse.
...أُوْلَئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ وَفِي النَّارِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ ﴿١٧﴾
The works of such bear no fruit:
in fire shall they dwell.
Other versions:
9: 17
Asad It is not for those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God to visit or tend [note 26] God’s houses of worship, …….that they are denying the truth………..and they who in the fire shall abide! [note 27]
Yusuf Ali It is not for such as join gods with Allah to visit or maintain the mosques of Allah while they witness against their own souls to infidelity. The works of such bear no fruit: in fire shall they dwell.
Pickthall It is not for the idolaters to tend Allah's sanctuaries, bearing witness against themselves of disbelief. As for such, their works are vain and in the Fire they will abide.
Transliteration Ma_ ka_na lil musyrikina ay ya'muru_ masa_jidalla_hi sya_hidina 'a_la_ anfusihim bil kufr(i), ula_'ika habitat a'ma_luhum, wa fin na_ri hum kha_lidu_n(a).
11.Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَئِنْ
أَخَّرْنَا
عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ
إِلَى أُمَّةٍ
مَّعْدُودَةٍ
لَّيَقُولُنَّ
مَا يَحْبِسُهُ...
11: 8. If We delay the Penalty for them for a definite term, they are sure to say, "What keeps it back?"
C1505. As much as to say: "Oh! all this talk of punishment is nonsense. There is no such thing!"
...أَلاَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ ﴿٨﴾
Ah! on the day it (actually) reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock at!
Other versions:
11: 8
Yusuf Ali If We delay the Penalty for them for a definite term they are sure to say "What keeps it back?" Ah! on the day it (actually) reaches them nothing will turn it away from them and they will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock at!
Pickthall And if We delay for them the doom until a reckoned time, they will surely say: What withholdeth it? Verily on the day when it cometh unto them, it cannot be averted from them, and that which they derided will surround them.
Transliteration Wa la'in akhkharna_ 'anhumul'aza_ba ila_ ummatin ma'du_datil layaqu_lunna ma_ yahbisuh(u_), ala_ yauma ya'tihim laisa masru_fan 'anhum wa ha_qa bihim ma_ ka_nu_ bihi yastahzi'u_n(a).
13.Surah ArRa'd
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
مَّثَلُ
الْجَنَّةِ
الَّتِي وُعِدَ
الْمُتَّقُونَ...
13: 35. The parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised! --
...تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ...
beneath if flow rivers:
...أُكُلُهَا دَآئِمٌ ...
perpetual is the enjoyment thereof
C1854. For the comprehensive meaning of the root akala (literally "to cat"), see 5:66, n. 776.
In its derived meaning it means fruit and enjoyment of all kinds, spiritual as well as other.
The joys of heaven are not like the joys of the earth, which fade away or cloy. The joys of heaven are pure, lasting, and without any of the drawbacks which we associate with the joys of the sense.
... وِظِلُّهَا...
and the shade therein:
C1855. Zillun: literally shade, hence, shelter, protection, security.
All these meanings are implied.
Shade is one of the delights of a garden. Cf. 4:57 and n. 579.
...تِلْكَ عُقْبَى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَواْ...
such is the End of the Righteous;
...وَّعُقْبَى الْكَافِرِينَ النَّارُ ﴿٣٥﴾
and the End of Unbelievers is the Fire.
C1856. In this, as in other places, the Fire is contrasted with the Garden, as Misery is contrasted with Bliss.
We can also imagine other incidents in contrast with those of the Garden, e.g., with the Fire will be drought, aridity, thirst, instead of beautiful rivers; pain and suffering, instead of perpetual delight; no protection against the fierceness of the heat, as contrasted with the cool shades ever deepening as you proceed in the Garden.
Other versions:
13: 35
Yusuf Ali The parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised! beneath it flow rivers: perpetual is the enjoyment thereof and the shade therein: such is the End of the Righteous; and the End of Unbelievers is the Fire.
Pickthall A similitude of the Garden which is promised unto those who keep their duty (to Allah): Underneath it rivers flow; its food is everlasting, and its shade; this is the reward of those who keep their duty, while the reward of disbelievers is the Fire.
Transliteration Masalul jannatil lati wu'idal muttaqu_n(a), tajri min tahtihal anha_r(u), ukuluha_ da_'imuw wa zilluha_, tilka 'uqbal lazina-ttaqaw, wa 'uqbal ka_firinan na_r(u).
16.Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
مَن كَفَرَ
بِاللّهِ مِن
بَعْدِ إيمَانِهِ ...
16: 106. Anyone who, after accepting faith in Allah, utters unbelief,
C2145. The exception refers to a case like that of 'Ammar, whose father Yasir and mother Sumayya, were subjected to unspeakable tortures for their belief in Islam, but never recanted. 'Ammar,
suffering under tortures himself and his mind acted on by the sufferings of his parents, uttered a word construed as recantation, though his heart never wavered and he came back at once to the Prophet, who consoled him for his pain and confirmed his faith. (R).
... إِلاَّ مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالإِيمَانِ...
except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in faith,
... وَلَـكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللّهِ...
but such as open their breast to unbelief, on them is Wrath from Allah,
... وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٠٦﴾
and theirs will be a dreadful Penalty.
ذَلِكَ
بِأَنَّهُمُ
اسْتَحَبُّواْ
الْحَيَاةَ
الْدُّنْيَا
عَلَى الآخِرَةِ...
16: 107. This because they love the life of this world better than the Hereafter:
... وَأَنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿١٠٧﴾
and Allah will not guide those who reject faith.
أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ
طَبَعَ اللّهُ
عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ
وَسَمْعِهِمْ
وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ...
16: 108. Those are they whose hearts, ears, and eyes Allah has sealed up,
C2146. Cf. 2:7.
On account of their iniquities and their want of Faith their hearts and their senses become impervious to Allah's grace, and they run headlong to perdition.
... وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ ﴿١٠٨﴾
and they take no heed.
لاَ
جَرَمَ أَنَّهُمْ
فِي الآخِرَةِ
هُمُ الْخَاسِرونَ ﴿١٠٩﴾
16: 109. Without doubt, in the hereafter they will perish.
Other versions:
16: 106
Yusuf Ali Anyone who after accepting faith in Allah utters unbelief except under compulsion his heart remaining firm in faith but such as open their breast to unbelief on them is Wrath from Allah and theirs will be a dreadful Penalty.
Pickthall Whoso disbelieveth in Allah after his belief save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with Faith but whoso findeth ease in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom.
Transliteration Man kafara billa_hi mim ba'di ima_nihi illa_ man ukriha wa qalbuhu_ mutma'innum bil ima_ni wala_kin man syaraha bil kufri sadran fa 'alaihim gadabum minalla_h(i), wa lahum 'aza_bun 'azim(un).
16: 107
Yusuf Ali This because they love the life of this world better than the Hereafter: and Allah will not guide those who reject faith.
Pickthall That is because they have chosen the life of the world rather than the Hereafter, and because Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk.
Transliteration Za_lika bi annahum-ustahabbul haya_tad dunya_ 'alal a_khirah(ti), wa annalla_ha la_ yahdil qaumal ka_firin(a).
16: 108
Yusuf Ali Those are they whose hearts ears and eyes Allah has sealed up and they take no heed.
Pickthall Such are they whose hearts and ears and eyes Allah hath sealed. And such are the heedless.
Transliteration Ula_'ikal lazina taba'alla_hu 'ala_ qulu_bihim wa sam'ihim wa absa_rihim, wa ula_'ika humul ga_filu_n(a).
16: 109
Yusuf Ali Without doubt in the hereafter they will perish.
Pickthall Assuredly in the Hereafter they are the losers.
Transliteration La_ jarama annahum fil a_khirati humul kha_siru_n(a).
20 Sura Taha
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
كَذَلِكَ نَقُصُّ
عَلَيْكَ مِنْ
أَنبَاء مَا
قَدْ سَبَقَ...
20: 99. for We have sent thee a Message from Our own Presence.
...وَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ مِن لَّدُنَّا ذِكْرًا ﴿٩٩﴾
for We have sent thee a Message from Our own Presence.
C2625. Thus superseding previous revelations; for this (the Quran) is direct from Allah, and is not a second-hand exposition on other men's authority.
مَنْ
أَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ
فَإِنَّهُ
يَحْمِلُ يَوْمَ
الْقِيَامَةِ
وِزْرًا ﴿١٠٠﴾
20: 100. If any do turn away therefrom, verily they will bear a burden on the Day of Judgement;
20: 101. They will abide in this (state):
...وَسَاء لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حِمْلًا ﴿١٠١﴾
and grievous will the burden be to them on that Day --
C2626. Cf. 6:31.
If people are so immersed in the evanescent falsehoods of this life as to turn away from the True and the Eternal, they will have a rude awakening when the Judgment comes. These very things that they thought so enjoyable here;-
- taking advantage of others,
- material self-indulgence,
- nursing grievances instead of doing good, etc., -
will be a grievous burden to them that day, which they will not be able to escape or lighten.
يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ
فِي الصُّورِ...
20: 102. The Day when the Trumpet will be sounded:
...وَنَحْشُرُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ زُرْقًا ﴿١٠٢﴾
that Day, We shall gather the sinful, blear-eyed (with terror),
C2627. Zurqa:
- having eyes different from the normal colour, which in the East is black and white;
- having blue eyes,
- or eyes afflicted with dimness or blindness, or squint;
hence metaphorically, blear-eyed (with terror).
يَتَخَافَتُونَ
بَيْنَهُمْ
إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ
إِلَّا عَشْرًا ﴿١٠٣﴾
20: 103. In whispers will they consult each other:
"Ye tarried not longer than ten (Days);"
C2628. Faced with eternity they will realise that their life on this earth, or the interval between their sin and their punishment, had a duration which practically amounted to nothing.
They express this by the phrase "ten days", but their wiser heads think that even this is an over-estimate. It was but a brief day!
نَحْنُ
أَعْلَمُ بِمَا
يَقُولُونَ...
20: 104. We know best what they will say,
...إِذْ يَقُولُ أَمْثَلُهُمْ طَرِيقَةً إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا يَوْمًا ﴿١٠٤﴾
when their leader most eminent in Conduct will say: "Ye tarried not longer than a day!"
Note that it is the shrewdest and most versed in Life who will say this, because they will be the first to see the true situation.
Other versions:
20:99
THUS DO WE relate unto thee some of the stories of what happened in the past; and [thus]
have We vouchsafed unto thee, out of Our grace, a reminder. 85
20:100
All who shall turn away from it will, verily, bear a [heavy] burden on the Day of Resurrection:
(20:101) they will abide in this [state], and grievous for them will be the weight [of that burden] on the Day of Resurrection –
(20:102) on the Day when the trumpet is blown: for on that Day We will assemble all such as had been lost in sin, their eyes dimmed 86 [by terror],
(20:103) whispering unto one another, "You have spent but ten [days on earth]...." 87
(20:104)
[But] We know best 88 what they will be saying when the most perceptive of them shall say,
"You have spent [there] but one day!"