76.Surah Al Dahr
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
76: 7. They perform (their) vows ...
C5836. They: i.e., the Righteous: they are known in the present life by the virtues described in verses 7-10, and in the life of the Hereafter they will enjoy the Bliss described in verses 11-22.
C5837. Cf. 22:29.
The vows must be vows of spiritual service, which of course includes service to humanity, such as is mentioned in the next verse. They are Devotees of Allah, and they must perform all vows and contracts (5:I and n. 682). Vows of the Pagan sort, savouring of a sort of "bribe" to the Deity, are not approved.
... وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا ﴿٧﴾
... and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and wide.
C5838. That is, they prepare for the Judgment to come, where the effects of Sin will not be transitory but far-reaching.
وَيُطْعِمُونَ
الطَّعَامَ
عَلَى حُبِّهِ
مِسْكِينًا
وَيَتِيمًا
وَأَسِيرًا ﴿٨﴾
76: 8. And they feed, for the love of Allah,
- the indigent,
- the orphan,
- and the captive --
C5839. The captive: when taken literally, it refers to the old state of things when captives of war had to earn their own food, or their own redemption;
even ordinary prisoners in jail for criminal offences often starved unless food was provided for them by private friends or from their own earnings.
But there is a further symbolic meaning, which applies to the indigent, the orphans, and the captives, viz, those who are so in a spiritual sense: those have no mental or moral resources, or have no one to look after them, or are held down in social or moral or economic captivity. they hunger for spiritual food, or perhaps their appreciate is deadened, but the righteous understand and supply their real needs.
It has also been held that "captive" include dumb animals who are under subjection to man; they must be properly fed, housed, and looked after; and the righteous man does not forget them.
إِنَّمَا
نُطْعِمُكُمْ
لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ
لَا نُرِيدُ
مِنكُمْ جَزَاء
وَلَا شُكُورًا ﴿٩﴾
76: 9. (Saying),
"We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: No reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.
C5840. These words need not be actually uttered. They express the true motives of pious and unpretentious Charity.
إِنَّا
نَخَافُ مِن
رَّبِّنَا
يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا
قَمْطَرِيرًا ﴿١٠﴾
76: 10. "We only fear a Day of distressful Wrath from the side of our Lord."
C5841. It is a Day of Distress for sin and evil. But the truly righteous are not self-righteous. They have the fear of Allah in their minds: they know they are human, and they fear lest they should be found wanting in the sight of Allah. But Allah in His Mercy gives them a bountiful Reward.
فَوَقَاهُمُ
اللَّهُ شَرَّ
ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ
وَلَقَّاهُمْ
نَضْرَةً
وَسُرُورًا ﴿١١﴾
76: 11. But Allah will deliver them from the evil of that Day,
and will shed over them a light of Beauty and a (blissful) Joy.
C5842. Cf. 75:22-23.
وَجَزَاهُم
بِمَا صَبَرُوا
جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا ﴿١٢﴾
76: 12. And because they were patient and constant,
He will reward them with a Garden and (garments of) silk.
C5843. Cf. 22:23.
مُتَّكِئِينَ
فِيهَا عَلَى
الْأَرَائِكِ ...
76: 13. Reclining in the (Garden) on raised thrones,
C5844. Cf. 18:31.
... لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْسًا وَلَا زَمْهَرِيرًا ﴿١٣﴾
they will see there neither the sun's (excessive heat) nor (the moon's) excessive cold.
C5845. The sun and the moon as we know them will be no longer there. It will be a new world on a different plane. But to give us an idea of comfort we recall the excessive heat of the sun especially in tropical climates, and the excessive cold of the moon especially in northern climates, and we negative them both. That is, the temperature will be just that delightful one that is most agreeable to our sensations as we know them now. The moon is not mentioned, but Zamharir (excessive cold) is sometimes used for the moon. (R).
وَدَانِيَةً
عَلَيْهِمْ
ظِلَالُهَا
وَذُلِّلَتْ
قُطُوفُهَا
تَذْلِيلًا ﴿١٤﴾
76: 14. And the shades of the (Garden) will come low over them,
and the bunches (of fruit), there, will hang low in humility.
C5846. Without sun and moon there will of course be no shade in the literal sense of the word. But for full comfort, there will be sheltering shade for rest and change from whatever light there be.
But the whole idea here is that of humility. Even the shadows show humility: Cf. 13:15.
So does the fruit in hanging low for man. Man has now reached the height of his dignity. (R).
وَيُطَافُ
عَلَيْهِم
بِآنِيَةٍ مِّن
فِضَّةٍ ...
76: 15. And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver ...
C5847. Cf. 43:71, where "dishes and goblets of gold" are mentioned.
The idea conveyed is that of rarity, preciousness, and spotless splendour. (R).
... وَأَكْوَابٍ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا ﴿١٥﴾
... and goblets of crystal --
76: 16. Crystal-clear, made of silver:
C5848. That is, silver polished and white, and shining like crystal.
... قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيرًا ﴿١٦﴾
they will determine the measure thereof (according to their wishes).
وَيُسْقَوْنَ
فِيهَا كَأْسًا
كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا
زَنجَبِيلًا ﴿١٧﴾
76: 17. And they will be given to drink there of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Zanjabil --
C5849. Cf. above, 76:5-6, and n. 5835, where the Cup of Kafur (Camphor) was mentioned for coolness and refreshment to the Righteous, who had just passed the great Event of Judgment.
The second stage is described in verses 12-14, when they enter the Garden in Garments of Silk, and find that their former humility in the probationary life is rewarded with high honour in the new world they have entered.
The third stage is in verses 15-21, where they settle down in Bliss, with Garments of fine silk and heavy brocades, with Ornaments and Jewels, with an ordered Feast of set service, and the Cup ofZanjabil . This word literally means Ginger. In Eastern medicine Ginger is administered to give warmth to the body and zest to the taste; this is appropriate for the Royal Feast which is now figured forth. (R).
عَيْنًا
فِيهَا تُسَمَّى
سَلْسَبِيلًا ﴿١٨﴾
76: 18. A fountain there, called Salsabil.
C5850. Salsabil: literally means "Seek the Way". The Way is now open to the presence of the Most High.
The Banquet is spread. Get thyself ready. It is a "Realm Magnificent" (verse 20) in a new spiritual world. (R).
وَيَطُوفُ
عَلَيْهِمْ
وِلْدَانٌ
مُّخَلَّدُونَ ...
76: 19. And round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness):
... إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَّنثُورًا ﴿١٩﴾
if thou seest them, thou wouldst think them scattered Pearls.
C5852. Pearls for beauty and splendour: scattered, because they are moving to and fro all round the Banquet.
وَإِذَا
رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ
رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا
وَمُلْكًا
كَبِيرًا ﴿٢٠﴾
76: 20. And when thou lookest,
it is there thou wilt see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent.
عَالِيَهُمْ
ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ
خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ
وَحُلُّوا
أَسَاوِرَ مِن
فِضَّةٍ ...
76: 21. Upon them will be green Garments of fine silk and heavy brocade,
and they will be adorned with Bracelets of silver;
C5853. Cf. 18:31. The bracelets are there said to be of gold.
وَسَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُورًا ﴿٢١﴾
and their Lord will give to them to drink of a Wine Pure and Holy.
C5854. This would seem to be the culmination of the honour which the Blessed receive at the Royal and Divine Banquet. The words in the next verse express the sort of speech which will make the Guest a denizen of Heaven. (R).
إِنَّ
هَذَا كَانَ
لَكُمْ جَزَاء
وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم
مَّشْكُورًا ﴿٢٢﴾
76: 22. "Verily this is a Reward for you,
and your Endeavor is accepted and recognized."
Asad’s Version:
76:7
[The truly virtuous are] they [who] fulfil their vows,' and stand in awe of a Day the woe of which is bound to spread far and wide,
(76:8) and who give food - however great be their own want of it - unto the needy, and the orphan, and the captive,"
(76:9) [saying, in their hearts,] "We feed you for the sake of God alone: we desire no recompense from you, nor thanks:
(76:10) behold, we stand in awe of our Sustainer's judgment 12 on a distressful, fateful Day!"
76:11
And so, God will preserve them from the woes of that Day, and will bestow on them brightness and joy,
(76:12) and will reward them for all their patience in adversity with a garden [of bliss] and with [garments of] silk. 13
76:13
In that [garden] they will on couches recline, and will know therein neither [burning] sun nor cold severe,
(76:14) since its [blissful] shades will come down low over them, 14 and low will hang down its clusters of fruit, most easy to reach. 15
(76: 15) And they will be waited upon with vessels of silver and goblets that will [seem to] be crystal
(76:16) crystal-like, [but] of silver - the measure whereof they alone will determine."
76:17
And in that [paradise] they will be given to drink of a cup flavoured with ginger,
(76:18) [derived from] a source [to be found] therein, whose name is "Seek Thy Way". 17
(76:19) And immortal youths will wait upon them: 18 when thou seest them, thou wouldst deem them to be scattered pearls;
(76:20) and when thou seest [anything that is] there thou wilt see [only] bliss and a realm transcendent.
76:21
Upon those [blest] will be garments of green silk and brocade; and they will be adorned with bracelets of silver." And their Sustainer will give them to drink of a drink most pure. 20
(76:22) [And they will be told:] "Verily, all this is your reward since Your endeavour [in life] has met [God's] goodly acceptance!"