3. Sura al-Imran
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
لَكِنِ
الَّذِينَ
اتَّقَوْاْ
رَبَّهُمْ
لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ
تَجْرِي مِن
تَحْتِهَا
الأَنْهَارُ
خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا ...
3: 198. On the other hand, for those who fear their Lord, are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, therein are they to dwell (for ever),
... نُزُلاً مِّنْ عِندِ اللّهِ...
a gift from the presence of Allah,
...وَمَا عِندَ اللّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّلأَبْرَارِ﴿١٩٨﴾
and that which is in the presence of Allah is the best (bliss) for the righteous.
Other versions:
3: 198
Asad Whereas those who remain conscious of their Sustainer shall have gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide: a ready welcome from God. And that which is with God is best for the truly virtuous.
Yusuf Ali On the other hand for those who fear their Lord are gardens with rivers flowing beneath therein are they to dwell (for ever) a gift from the presence of Allah and that which is in the presence of Allah is the best (bliss) for the righteous.
Pickthall But those who keep their duty to their Lord, for them are Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will be safe forever. A gift of welcome from their Lord. That which Allah hath in store is better for the righteous.
Transliteration La_kinil lazinat taqau rabbahum lahum janna_tun tajri min tahtihal anha_ru kha_lidina fiha_ nuzulam min'indilla_h(i), wa ma_'indalla_hi khairul lil abra_r(i).
16.Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ
اتَّقَوْاْ
مَاذَا أَنزَلَ
رَبُّكُمْ...
16: 30. To the righteous (when) it is said, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?"
C2053. The contrast and parallelism is with 16:24, where the ungodly in their levity and their deliberate rejection of guidance find no profit from Allah's Revelation.
... قَالُواْ خَيْرًا...
they say, "All that is good."
... لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ...
To those who do good, there is good in this world,
... وَلَدَارُ الآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ...
and the Home of the Hereafter is even better.
C2054. Unlike the ungodly, the good find good everywhere, -in this world and in the Hereafter; because they understand and are in accord with the truths around them.
... وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٣٠﴾
And excellent indeed is the Home of the righteous --
جَنَّاتُ
عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا
تَجْرِي مِن
تَحْتِهَا
الأَنْهَارُ...
16: 31. Gardens of Eternity which they will enter:
beneath them flow (pleasant) rivers:
... لَهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَآؤُونَ...
they will have therein all that they wish:
... كَذَلِكَ يَجْزِي اللّهُ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٣١﴾
thus doth Allah reward the righteous --
الَّذِينَ
تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ
الْمَلآئِكَةُ
طَيِّبِينَ...
16: 32. (Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of purity,
C2055. In a state of purity: from the evils of this world, from want of faith and want of grace. Purity from such evil is the mark of true Islam, and those who die in such purity will be received into Felicity with a salutation of Peace.
... يَقُولُونَ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾
saying (to them),
"Peace be on you; enter ye the Garden, because of the good which ye did (in the world)."
Other versions:
16: 30
Yusuf Ali To the righteous (when) it is said "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" they say "All that is good." To those who do good there is good in this world and the Home of the Hereafter is even better. And excellent indeed is the Home of the righteous
Pickthall And it is said unto those who ward off (evil): What hath your Lord revealed? They say Good: For those who do good in this world there is a good (reward) and the home of the Hereafter will be better. Pleasant indeed will be the home of those who ward off (evil).
Transliteration Wa qila lillazina-ttaqau ma_za_ anzala rabbukum, qa_lu_ khaira_(n), lillazina ahsanu_ fi ha_zihid dunya_ hasanah(tun), wa lada_rul a_khirati khair(un), wa lani'ma da_rul muttaqin(a),
16: 31
Yusuf Ali Gardens of Eternity which they will enter: beneath them flow (pleasant) rivers: they will have therein all that they wish: thus doth Allah reward the righteous
Pickthall Gardens of Eden which they enter, underneath which rivers flow, wherein they have what they will. Thus Allah repayeth those who ward off (evil),
Transliteration Janna_tu 'adniy yadkhulu_naha_ tajri min tahtihal anha_ru lahum fiha_ ma_ yasya_'u_n(a), kaza_lika yajzilla_hul muttaqin(a),
16: 32
Yusuf Ali (Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of purity saying (to them) "Peace be on you; enter ye the Garden because of the good which ye did (in the world)."
Pickthall Those whom the angels cause to die (when they are) good. They say: Peace be unto you! Enter the Garden because of what ye used to do.
Transliteration Allazina tatawaffa_humul mala_'ikatu tayyibin(a), yaqu_lu_na sala_mun 'alaikum-udkhulul jannata bima_ kuntum ta'malu_n(a).
38. Surah Saad
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
هَذَا
ذِكْرٌ...
38: 49. This is a Message (of admonition):
... وَإِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ ﴿٤٩﴾
and verily, for the Righteous, is a beautiful place of (final) Return. --
C4206. Some of the preeminent examples of the Elect and the Good having been mentioned, we have now a reference to the Righteous as a body (rank and file as well as leaders) and their future in the Hereafter as won by victory over Evil.
جَنَّاتِ
عَدْنٍ مُّفَتَّحَةً
لَّهُمُ الْأَبْوَابُ
﴿٥٠﴾
38: 50. Gardens of Eternity, whose doors will (ever) be open to them;
C4207. The Final Bliss will not be a hole-and-comer thing, a pale reflection of some Palace or Retreat, where mystery reigns behind closed doors. Its doors will be open, and its inmates will be free to go in and out as they will, because their wins will be purified and brought into accord with the Universal Law.
مُتَّكِئِينَ
فِيهَا يَدْعُونَ
فِيهَا بِفَاكِهَةٍ
كَثِيرَةٍ
وَشَرَابٍ ﴿٥١﴾
38: 51. Therein will they recline (at ease);
therein can they call (at pleasure) for fruit in abundance, and (delicious) drink;
C4208. See n. 4003 to 36:57.
- the free Gardens are types of satisfaction in external surroundings;
- the comfortable reclining thrones, the fruit and the drink are types of the soul's individual satisfaction;
- and the society of pure-minded companions of equal ages, in the type of a soul's social satisfaction.
وَعِندَهُمْ
قَاصِرَاتُ
الطَّرْفِ ...
38: 52. And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances,
C4209. Cf. 37:48 and n. 4064, and 36:56, n. 4002.
As we conceive happiness in this life, it is not complete if it is only solitary. How we hanker after some one who can share in our highest joy! That feeling is also figured here.
... أَتْرَابٌ ﴿٥٢﴾
(companions) of equal age.
C4210. To make the social happiness complete, we want companionship of equal age. Age and youth cannot be happy together.
It is not suggested that in the Timeless state figured here, there will be old age; but if it is possible to conceive of temperamental differences then, the company will be so arranged that it will be congenial. Or we can accept the type of youth and freshness as common to all in that happy state.
Asad’s Version:
38:49 LET [all] this be a reminder [to those who believe in God] - for, verily, the most beauteous of all goals awaits the God-conscious:
38:50) gardens of perpetual bliss, 45 with gates wide-open to them,
(38:51) wherein they will recline, [and] wherein they may [freely] call for many a
fruit and drink,
(38:52) having beside them well-matched mates of modest gaze." 46