9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ...   

9: 34.  O ye who believe!

إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ...

there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in false hood devour the substance of men

C1291. Bil-batili: in falsehood. i.e., by false means, pretences, or in false or vain things.

This was strikingly exemplified in the history of Mediaeval Europe. Though the disease is apt to attack all peoples and organizations at all times. Priests got rich by issuing indulgences and dispensations; they made their office a stepping stone to worldly power and possessions.

Even the Monastic Orders, which took vows of poverty for individuals grew rich with corporate property, until their wealth became a scandal, even among their own nations.

...وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ...

and hinder (them) from the way of Allah.

...وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ...

And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah:

C1292. Misuse of wealth, property, and resources is frequently condemned, and in three ways:

1.      do not acquire anything wrongfully or on false pretences;

2.     do not hoard or bury or amass wealth for its own sake but use it freely for good, whether for yourself or for your neighbors; and

3.     be particularly careful not to waste it for idle purposes, but only so that it may fructify for the good of the people.

...فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿٣٤﴾

announce unto them a most grievous penalty.

يَوْمَ يُحْمَى عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَى بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ...   

9:35.  On the day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs,

C1293. Gold and silver, symbolizing wealth which these people cherished even more than the good pleasure of their Lord, will not only be the cause but the instrument whereby they would receive a grievous punishment. (Ed.).

...هَـذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لأَنفُسِكُمْ ...

"This is the (treasure) which ye buried for yourselves:

C1294. The voice enforces the moral:

"did you expect satisfaction or salvation from the treasures that you misused?

Behold! they add to your torment!"

... فَذُوقُواْ مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾  

taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye buried!"

Other versions:

9: 34

Asad ………many of the rabbis and monks do indeed wrongfully devour men’s possessions and turn [others] away from the path of God.

But as for all who lay up treasures of gold and silver and do not spend them for the sake of God [note 51] – give them the tiding of grievous suffering [in the life to come]

Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites who in falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty.

Pickthall O ye, who believe! Lo! many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks devour the wealth of mankind wantonly and debar (men) from the way of Allah. They who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah, unto them give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ inna kasiram minal ahba_ri war ruhba_ni laya'kulu_na amwa_lan na_si bil ba_tili wa yasuddu_na 'an sabililla_h(i), wallazina yaknizu_naz zahaba wal fiddata wa la_ yunfiqu_naha_ fi sabililla_h(i), fa basysyirhum bi 'aza_bin alim(iy);

[[ Asad’s note 51 - ………….the reference is wider, comprising all people, including Muslims, who hoard their wealth without spending anything thereof on righteous causes.]]

9: 35

Yusuf Ali On the day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of hell and with it will be branded their foreheads their flanks and their backs "this is the (treasure) which ye buried for yourselves: taste ye then the (treasures) ye buried!"

Pickthall On the day when it will (all) be heated in the fire of hell, and their foreheads and their flanks and their backs will be branded therewith (and it will be said unto them): Here is that which ye hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what ye used to hoard.

Transliteration Yauma yuhma_ 'alaiha_ fi na_ri jahannama fa tukwa_ biha_ jiba_huhum wa junu_buhum wa zuhu_ruhum, ha_za_ ma_ kanaztum li anfusikum fa zu_qu_ ma_ kuntum taknizu_n(a).