18.Surah Al Kahf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا ﴿٣٠﴾

18: 30.  As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a (single) righteous deed.

C2372. The righteous will be rewarded, as has been said again and again, beyond their merits: 28:84: 30:39.

Not a single good deed of theirs will lose its reward, and the mercy of Allah will blot out their sins.

أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ...   

18: 31.  For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers will flow;

... يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ... 

they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade;

C2373. Heaven is figured by all the pictures of ease and comfort which we can imagine in our present state:

Gardens: perpetual springs of crystal water, which we can see as in a landscape from above; the finest and most costly ornaments; the most beautiful clothes to wear; green is the colour mentioned, because it is the most refreshing to the eye, and fits in well with the Garden; the wearer takes the choice of fine silk or heavy brocade; and for rest and comfort, high thrones of dignity on which the blessed ones recline.

... مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ... 

they will recline therein on raised thrones.

... نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا ﴿٣١﴾

How good the recompense!

How beautiful a couch to recline on!

C2374. This picture is in parallel contrast to the picture of Misery in the last verse.

Other versions:

22. Sura al-Hajj

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَدْعُو لَمَن ضَرُّهُ أَقْرَبُ مِن نَّفْعِهِ...  

22: 13.  (Perhaps) they call on one whose hurt is nearer than his profit:

C2784. Such false worship is not always neutral, bringing neither harm nor good.

Perhaps the harm comes first, and there is no help from Allah. Such minds are themselves demoralised, and render themselves unfit for help!

...لَبِئْسَ الْمَوْلَى وَلَبِئْسَ الْعَشِيرُ ﴿١٣﴾

evil, indeed, is the patron, and evil the companion (for help)!

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ...

22: 23.  Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow:

C2795. In 22:14 above, was described the meed of the Righteous as compared with the time-servers and those who worshipped false gods (Verses. 10-13):

here we have the case of those who were Persecuted, abused, prevented from entering the Ka'bah and deprived of all that makes life smooth, agreeable, and comfortable. For them the meed is described in a way that negative these afflictions:

- costly adornments (as against being stripped of home and property),

- purity of speech (as against the abuse they received),

- the Path of the Lord of Praise (as against the fierce and malignant persecution to which they were subjected).

...يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا ...

they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls;

...وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ ﴿٢٣﴾

and their garments there will be of silk.

Other versions:

22:13 [al-Hall, Medina 103]

Arabic Source and Roman Transliteration Arabic   إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ &#x21E8 Transliteration   Inna Allaha yudkhilu allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati jannatin tajree min tahtiha al-anharu inna Allaha yafAAalu ma yureedu &#x21E8

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning Muhammad Asad   VERILY, God will admit those who have attained to faith and have done righteous deeds into gardens through which running waters flow: for, behold, God does whatever He wills. &#x21E8 M. M. Pickthall   Lo! Allah causeth those who believe and do good works to enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow. Lo! Allah doth what He intendeth. &#x21E8 Shakir   Surely Allah will cause those who believe and do good deeds to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, surely Allah does what He pleases. &#x21E8 Yusuf Ali   Verily Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to Gardens, beneath which rivers flow: for Allah carries out all that He plans.

[[Asad’s note - 29 See 18: 31 and the corresponding note 41.]]

22:23 [al-Hajj, Medina 103]

Arabic Source and Roman Transliteration Arabic إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ &#x21E8 Transliteration Inna Allaha yudkhilu allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati jannatin tajree min tahtiha al-anharu yuhallawna feeha min asawira min thahabin walu/lu-an walibasuhum feeha hareerun &#x21E8

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning Muhammad Asad [As against this,] behold, God will admit those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds into gardens through which running waters flow, wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and where silk will be their raiment: &#x21E8 M. M. Pickthall Lo! Allah will cause those who believe and do good works to enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will be allowed armlets of gold, and pearls, and their raiment therein will be silk. &#x21E8 Shakir Surely Allah will make those who believe and do good deeds enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and (with) pearls, and their garments therein shall be of silk. &#x21E8 Yusuf Ali Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk. &#x21E8 Wahiduddin Khan God will admit those who believe and do good deeds to Gardens watered by flowing rivers; there they will be given bracelets of gold and pearls to wear and their clothing will be of silk. &#x21E8 [Al-Muntakhab] Allah receives with hearty welcome those whose hearts have been touched with the divine hand and whose deeds reflected wisdom and piety. He admits them to Gardens beneath which rivers flow where they shall be adorned with golden and pearled-bracelets and vested in silken attire. &#x21E8 [Progressive Muslims] God will admit those who believe and do good works to gardens with rivers flowing beneath them, wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearl, and their garments will be of silk.