17. [al-Israa, Mecca 50]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
مَّنِ اهْتَدَى
فَإِنَّمَا
يَهْتَدي
لِنَفْسِهِ...
17: 15. Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit:
...وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا...
who goeth astray doth so to his own loss:
C2190. The doctrine of personal responsibility is insisted on, and the basis of ethics is shown to be our own good or evil as furthering or obstructing our highest development.
...وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى...
no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another:
C2191. The doctrine of vicarious atonement is condemned. Salvation for the wicked cannot be attained by the punishment of the innocent.
One man cannot bear the burden of another: that would be unjust. Every man must bear his own personal responsibility. Cf. 6:164.
But Allah never visits His wrath on anyone until due warning is conveyed to him through an accredited messenger.
...وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً ﴿١٥﴾
nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent a Messenger (to give warning).
17: 15
Pickthall Whosoever goeth right, it is only for (the good of) his own soul that he goeth right, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hurt. No laden soul can bear another's load. We never punish until We have sent a messenger.
Yuksel Whoever is guided is guided for himself, and whoever is misguided is for his own loss. No person shall carry the load of another, and We were not to punish until We send a messenger.*
Transliteration Man-ihtada_ fa innama_ yahtadi li nafsih(i), wa man dalla fa innama_ yadillu 'alaiha_, wa la_ taziru wa_ziratuw wizra ukhra_, wa ma_ kunna_ mu'azzibina hatta_ nab'asa rasu_la_(n).
[[ Yuksel’s notes - 017:013 All our intentions, words, and actions are recorded in a record. We will be impeached by this record on the Day of Judgment. See 57:22.
017:015 This verse confirms the Biblical verse Ezekiel 18:20. However, the Bible also contains verses claiming collective punishment: Exodus 20:5;Lamentations 5:7; Psalms 109:9-10. ]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 2190 The doctrine of personal responsibility is insisted on, and the basis of ethics is shown to be our own good or evil as furthering or obstructing our highest development. (17.15)
2191 The doctrine of vicarious atonement is condemned. Salvation for the wicked cannot be attained by the punishment of the innocent. One man cannot bear the burden of another: that would be unjust. Every man must bear his own personal responsibility. Cf. vi. 164. But Allah never visits His wrath on anyone until due warning is conveyed to him through an accredited messenger. (17.15) ]]
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29. Al-'Ankabut (The Spider)
Period Uncertain
Asad’s Version:
29:12
And [He is aware, too, that] they who are bent on denying the truth speak [thus, as it were,] to those who have attained to faith: "Follow our way [of life], and we shall indeed take your sins upon ourselves!" 8 But never could they take upon themselves' aught of the sins of those [whom they would thus mislead]: behold, they are liars indeed!
29:13
Yet most certainly will they have to bear their own burdens, and other burdens besides their own; 10 and most certainly will they be called to account on Resurrection Day for all their false assertions!
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَالَ
الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا اتَّبِعُوا
سَبِيلَنَا
وَلْنَحْمِلْ
خَطَايَاكُمْ...
29:12. And the Unbelievers say to those who believe:
"Follow our path, and we will bear (the consequences) of your faults."
C3435. Besides the hypocrite there is another type of man who openly scoffs at Faith. 'Take life as we take it,' he says; 'we shall bear your sins.'
As if they could!
Each soul bears its own burdens, and no one else can bear them.
The principle also applies to the type of man who preaches vicarious atonement, for, if followed to its logical conclusion, it means both injustice and irresponsibility, and puts quite a different complexion on the nature of sin.
... وَمَا هُم بِحَامِلِينَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُم مِّن شَيْءٍ...
Never in the least will they bear their faults:
...إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ ﴿١٢﴾
in fact they are liars!
وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ
أَثْقَالَهُمْ
وَأَثْقَالًا
مَّعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ...
29: 13. They will bear their own burdens, and (other) burdens along with their own,
C3436. Besides the burden of their own infidelity, they will bear the burden of deluding others with falsehood.
...وَلَيُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿١٣﴾
and on the Day of Judgement they will be called to account for their falsehoods.
35. Al-Fatir (The Originator)
Mecca Period 43
Asad’s Version:
35:18 AND NO BEARER of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden; 15 and if one weighed down by his load calls upon [another] to help him carry it, nothing thereof may be carried [by that other], even if it he one's near of kin." Hence, thou canst [truly] warn only those who stand in awe of their Sustainer although He is beyond the reach of their perception, 17 and are constant in prayer, and [know that] whoever grows in purity, attains to purity but for the good of his own self, and (that] with God is all
journeys' end.
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَا
تَزِرُ
وَازِرَةٌ
وِزْرَ أُخْرَى...
35:18 Nor can a bearer of burdens bear another's burden.
C3900. Bearer: hamilatun: feminine in Arabic, as referring to the soul (nafs), as in 6:164.
... وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَى حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى...
If one heavily laden should call another to (bear) his load, not the least portion of it can be carried (by the other), even though he be nearly related.
C3901. Natural relationship may be considered as a reasonable cause or opportunity for bearing each other's burdens. For example, a mother or a father might offer to die for her or his child, and vice versa. But this does not apply to spiritual matters. There the responsibility is strictly personal and cannot be transferred to another.
In 29:13 we are told that the misleaders "will bear other burdens along with their own"; but the context shows that the "other" burdens are the burdens of deluding others with their falsehoods. Both sins are their own, viz., their original sin, and the sin of deluding the others. But the responsibility will be doubled.
... إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالغَيْبِ ...
Thou canst but admonish such as fear their Lord unseen
C3902. Bil-gaibi: unseen in the adverbial sense.
The man, who, though he does not see Allah, so realises Allah's Presence in himself as if he saw Him, is the man of genuine Faith, and for him Allah's Revelation comes through many channels and is always fruitful.
... وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ...
and establish regular Prayer
C3903. Prayer is one of the means of purifying ourselves of lower motives in life, for in prayer we seek the Presence of Allah.
... وَمَن تَزَكَّى فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّى لِنَفْسِهِ ...
and whoever purifies himself does so for the benefit of his own soul;
But the purity which we seek is for our own souls: we confer no favour on Allah or on any Power in the spiritual world, as some imagine who make "gifts" to Allah. In any case the destination of all is to Allah.
... وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٨﴾
and the destination (of all) is to Allah.
[[ Asad’s notes - 1 5 I.e., on Judgment Day - for "whatever [wrongj any human being commits rests upon him alone" (6:164, which is followed by a sentence identical with the one above).
16 Thus, any transfer of moral responsibility from one person to another is shown to be impossible. Whereas the first part of the above statement implies a negation of the Christian doctrine of "original sin" with which mankind is supposedly burdened, the second part categorically refutes the doctrine of the "vicarious atonement" of that sin by Jesus. (See also 53 :38 and the corresponding note 31.)]]
40. Ghafir (Forgiving)/al mumin
Mecca 60 [85 verses]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِذْ
يَتَحَاجُّونَ
فِي
النَّارِ
...
40: 47. Behold, they will dispute with each other in the Fire!
C4420. Just as Unity, Harmony, and Peace are indications of Truth, Bliss, and Salvation, so Reproaches, Disputes, and Disorders are indications of Hell.
... فَيَقُولُ الضُّعَفَاء لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا...
The weak ones (who followed) will say to those who had been arrogant,
...إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ النَّارِ ﴿٤٧﴾
"We but followed you:
can ye then take (on yourselves) from us some share of the Fire?"
قَالَ
الَّذِينَ
اسْتَكْبَرُوا
إِنَّا
كُلٌّ
فِيهَا...
40: 48. Those who had been arrogant will say:
"We are all in this (Fire)!
C4421. Note the evasion and cynicism of the answer, befitting the character of spiritual misleaders!
'What! are we not suffering with you in the same Fire! Pray to Allah if you like! He has pronounced His Judgment!'
Cf. 14:21-22.
... إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ حَكَمَ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ ﴿٤٨﴾
Truly, Allah has judged between (His) Servants!"
Asad’s Version:
40:47
AND LO! They [who in life were wont to deny the truth] will contend with one another in the fire [of the hereafter]; and then the weak will say unto those who had gloried in their arrogance, "Behold, we were but your followers: can you, then, relieve us of some [of our] share of this fire?" 32 –
(40:48) [to which] they who had [once] been arrogant will reply, "Behold, we are all in it [together]! Verily, God has judged between His creatures!"