Dominion of the Heavens and the Earth belong to God:

[lahu_ mulkus sama_wa_ti wal ard]

2. Surah al-Baqara, Medina 87

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللّهَ لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...

2: 107. Knowest thou not that to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth!

... وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ ﴿١٠٧﴾

And besides Him ye have neither patron nor helper.

وَلِلّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّواْ فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللّهِ ...

2: 115. To Allah belong the East and the West; whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah's countenance.

C118. That is, you will face Allah whichever direction you turn your face.

See note to 2:112 above. (R)

... إِنَّ اللّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١١٥﴾

For Allah is All-Embracing,, All-Knowing.

وَقَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ اللّهُ وَلَدًا سُبْحَانَهُ ...

2: 116. They say: "Allah hath begotten a son;" Glory be to Him.

... بَل لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ ﴿١١٦﴾

Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth; everything renders worship to Him.

C119. It is a derogation from the glory of Allah - in fact it is blasphemy - to say that Allah begets sons, like a man or an animal.

The Christian doctrine is here emphatically repudiated. If words have any meaning, it would mean an attribution of Allah of a material nature, and of the lower animal functions of sex. (R)

بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...

2: 117. To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth;

C120. The previous verse told us that everything in heaven and earth celebrates the glory of Allah. Lest anyone should think that the heavens and the earth were themselves primeval and eternal, we are now told that they themselves are creatures of Allah's will and design.

Cf. 6:101, where the word bada'a is used as here for the creation of the heavens and the earth, and khalaqa is used for the creation of all things.

Bada'a goes back to the very primal beginning, as far as we can conceive it.

The materialists might say that primeval matter was eternal; other things, i.e., the forms and shapes as we see them now, were called into being at some time or other, and will perish. When they perish, they dissolve into primeval matter again, which stands as the base of all existence.

We go further back. We say that if we postulate such primeval matter, it owes its origin itself to Allah Who is the final basis of existence, the Cause of all Causes. If this is conceded, we proceed to argue that the process of Creation is not then completed.

"All things in the heavens and on the earth" are created by gradual processes. In "things" we include abstract as well as material things. We see the abstract things and ideas actually growing before us.

But that also is Allah's creation, to which we can apply the word khalaqa, for in it is involved the idea of measuring, fitting it into a scheme of other things. Cf. 54:49; also 25:59.

Here comes in what we know as the process of evolution. On the other hand, the "amr" (Command, Direction, Design) is a single thing, unrelated to Time, "like the twinkling of an eye" (54:50).

Another word to note in this connection is ja'ala "making" which seems to imply new shapes and forms, new dispositions, as the making of the Signs of the Zodiac in the heavens, or the setting out of the sun and moon for light, or the establishment of the succession of day and night (25:61-62).

A further process with regard to the soul is described in the word sawwa, bringing it to perfection (91:7) but this we shall discuss in its place.

Fatara (42:11) implies, like bada'a, the creating of a thing out of nothing and after no preexisting similitude, but perhaps fatara implies the creation of primeval matter to which further processes have to be applied later, as when one prepares dough but leaves the leavening to be done after.

Badaa (without the 'ain), 30:27, implies beginning the process of creation; this is made further clear in 32:7 where the beginning of the creation of pristine man from clay refers to his physical body, leaving the further processes of reproduction and the breathing in of the soul to be described in subsequent verses.

Lastly, bara'a is creation implying liberation from pre-existing matter or circumstance, e.g., man's body from clay (59:24) or a calamity from previously existing circumstances (57:22).

See also 6:94, n. 916; 6:98, n. 923; 59:24, notes. 5405-6.

... وَإِذَا قَضَى أَمْراً فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ ﴿١١٧﴾

when He decreeth a matter He saith to it: "Be;"

and it is.

سَيَقُولُ السُّفَهَاء مِنَ النَّاسِ ...

2: 142. The fools among the people will say:

C140. Nas: People, the unthinking multitude that sway to and fro, instead of being firm in Allah's Way.

The reference here is to the idolaters, the Hypocrites, and the party of Jews who were constantly seeking to "entangle in their talk" Mustafa and his disciples in Madinah even as the Pharisees and the Sadducees of Jesus' day tried to entangle Jesus (Matt. 22:15, 23)

... مَا وَلاَّهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ الَّتِي كَانُواْ عَلَيْهَا...

"What hath turned them from the Qiblah to which they were used?"

C141. Qiblah: The direction to which Muslims turn in prayer.

Islam lays great stress on social prayer in order to emphasize our universal Brotherhood and mutual cooperation. For such prayer, order, punctuality, precision, symbolical postures, and a common direction are essential, so that the Imam (leader) and all his congregation may face one way and offer their supplications to Allah.

In the early days, before they were organized as a people, they followed as a symbol for their Qiblah the sacred city of Jerusalem, scared both to the Jews and the Christians, the people of the Book. This symbolized their allegiance to the continuity of Allah's revelation.

When, despised and persecuted, they were turned out of Makkah and arrived in Madinah. Al Mustafa under divine direction began to organize its people as an Ummah, an independent people, with laws and rituals of their own. At that stage the Ka'bah was established as Qiblah, thus going back to the earliest centre, with which the name of Abraham was connected, and traditionally also the name of Adam.

Jerusalem still remained (and remains) sacred in the eyes of Islam on account of its past, but Islam is progressive religion, and its new symbolism enabled it to shake off the tradition of a dead past and usher in the era of untrammeled freedom dear to the spirit of Arabia. The change took place about 16 1/2 months after Hijrah.

... قُل لِّلّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ ...

Say:

to Allah belong both East and West;

... يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿١٤٢﴾

He guideth whom He will to a Way that is straight.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ...

2: 267. O ye who believe!

... أَنفِقُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّا أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ الأَرْضِ...

give of the good things which ye have (honorably) earned, and of the fruits of the earth which We have produced for you,

C314. According to the English proverb "Charity covers a multitude of sins". Such a sentiment is strongly disapproved in Islam.

Charity has value only if;

- something good and valuable is given,

- which has been honorably earned or acquired by the giver, or

- which is produced in nature and can be referred to as a bounty of Allah.

1. may include such things as are of use and value to others though they may be of less use to us or superfluous to us on account of our having acquired something more suitable for our station in life; for example, discarded clothes, or an old horse or a used motor car;

but if the horse is vicious, or the car engine so far gone that it is dangerous to use, then the gift is worse than useless; it is positively harmful and the giver is a wrong-doer.

2. applies to fraudulent company-promoters, who earn great credit by giving away charity in some of their ill-gotten gains, or to robbers (even if they call themselves by high-sounding names) who "rob peter to pay Pauo".

Islam will have nothing to do with tainted property. Its economic code requires that every gain should be honest and honorable. Even "charity" would not cover or destroy the taint.

3. lays down a test in cases of a doubtful gain.

Can we refer to it as a gift of God?

Obviously the produce of honest labour or agriculture can be so referred to.

In modern commerce and speculation there is much of quite the contrary character, and charity will not cover the taint. Some kind of art, skill, or talent are God-given: it is the highest kind of charity to teach them or share their product.

Others are the contrary: they are bad or tainted. In the same way some professions or services may be tainted, if these tend to do moral harm.

وَلاَ تَيَمَّمُواْ الْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ ...

and do not even aim at getting anything which is bad, in order that out of it ye may give away something,

C315. The preceding note tries to indicate some of the things which are bad or tainted. We should not even think of acquiring them for ourselves, soothing our conscience by the salve that we shall practice charity out of them.

... وَلَسْتُم بِآخِذِيهِ إِلاَّ أَن تُغْمِضُواْ فِيهِ ...

when ye yourselves would not receive it except with closed eyes.

C316. Closed eyes imply disgust or connivance because of some feature which we would not openly acknowledge.

... وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ ﴿٢٦٧﴾

And know that Allah is free of all wants, and worthy of all praise.

C317. To dedicate tainted things to Allah is a dishonor to Allah, Who is independent of all wants, and Who is worthy of all honor and praise.

لِّلَّهِ ما فِي السَّمَاواتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...

2: 284. To Allah belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth.

... وَإِن تُبْدُواْ مَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُم بِهِ اللّهُ...

Whether ye show what is in your minds or conceal it, Allah calleth you to account for it. .

... فَيَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَاء وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَاء...

He forgiveth whom He pleasant, and punisheth whom He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things.

... وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٢٨٤﴾

For Allah hath power over all things.

لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا...

2: 286. On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear.

C340. Cf. 2:233. In that verse the burden was in terms of material wealth: here it is in terms of spiritual duty.

Assured by Allah that He will accept from each soul just such duty as it has the ability to offer, we pray further on for the fulfillment of that promise.

... لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ ...

It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray):

... رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا...

"Our Lord! condemn us not if we forget or fall into error;

... رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا...

our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us;

C341. We must not be arrogant, and think that because Allah has granted us His favor and mercy we have no need to exert ourselves, or that we are ourselves superior to those before us.

On the contrary, knowing how much they failed, we pray that our burdens should be lightened, and we confess our realization that we have all the greater need for Allah's mercy and forgiveness.

And so we end the whole argument of the Surah with a prayer for Allah's help, not in our own selfish ends, but in our resolve to uphold God's truth against all Unbelief.

... رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ...

our Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear.

... وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَآ...

Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us.

... أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦﴾

Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against Faith."

Asad’s Version:

2: 107 Know you not that to God belong the dominion of the heavens and the earth?

2:115 To God belong the East and the West whichever way you turn, there is the pressure of God. For God is All-pervading, All-knowing.

2:116 They say “God has begotten a son” : Glory be to Him – Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth : everything renders worship to Him.

2:117 To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth : when He decree a matter, He said to it “Be” and it is.

2 : 142 To God belong both East and West : He guides whom He will to a Way that is straight.

2: 267 Self-sufficient

2: 284 To God belong all that is in the heavens and on earth.

2: 284

Pickthall Unto Allah (belongeth) whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth; and whether ye make known what is in your minds or hide it, Allah will bring you to account for it. He will forgive whom He will and He will punish whom He will. Allah is Able to do all things.

Lilla_hi ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), wa in tubdu_ ma_ fi anfusikum au tukhfu_hu yuha_sibkum bihilla_h(i), fa yagfiru limay yasya_'u wa yu'azzibu may yasya_'(u), walla_hu 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).

2: 286 …Lord Supreme.

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3. Sura al-Imran

Medina 89 [200 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ اللّهِ يَبْغُونَ...

3: 83. Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah?

...وَلَهُ أَسْلَمَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا ...

While all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will (accepted Islam),

C417. Allah's Truth is manifest, and all that is good and true and sane and normal accepts it with joy.

But even where there is "disease in the heart" (2:10), or judgment is obscured by perversity, every creature must eventually see and acknowledge Allah and His power (2:167).

Cf. R. Bridges: "Testament of Beauty": iv. 1419-22:-

"For God's love is unescapable as nature's environment, which if a man ignore or think to thrust it off, he is the ill-natured fool that runneth blindly on death."

All Nature adores Allah, and Islam asks for nothing peculiar or sectarian; it but asks that we follow our nature and make our will conformable to Allah's Will as seen in Nature, history, and revelation.

Its message is universal.

... وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٨٣﴾

and to Him shall they all be brought back.

وَلِلّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ ...

3: 109. To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth;

... وَإِلَى اللّهِ تُرْجَعُ الأُمُورُ ﴿١٠٩﴾

to Him do all questions go back (for decision).

C433. Cf. 2:210.

وَلِلّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...

3: 129. To Allah belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth.

...يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَاء وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٢٩﴾

He pleaseth and punisheth whom He pleaseth:

but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ...

3: 180. And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah hath given them of His Grace,

C483. The gifts are of all kinds:

- material gifts, such as wealth, property, strength of limbs, etc., or

- intangible gifts, such as influence, birth in a given set, intellect, skill, insight, etc., or

- spiritual gifts of the highest kind.

The spending of all these things (apart from what is necessary for ourselves) for those who need them, is charity, and purifies our own character.

The withholding of them (apart from our needs) is similarly greed and selfishness, and is strongly condemned.

...هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ ...

think that it is good for them:

... بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ...

nay, it will be the worse for them: soon shall the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks like a twisted collar, on the Day of Judgment.

C484. By an apt metaphor the miser is told that his wealth or the other gifts which he hoarded will cling round his neck and do him no good. He will wish he could get rid of them, but he will not be able to do so.

According to the Biblical phrase in another connection they will hang like a millstone round his neck (Matt. 18:6).

The metaphor here is fuller. He hugged his wealth or his gifts about him. They will become like a heavy collar, the badge of slavery, round his neck. They will be tied tight and twisted, and they will give him pain and anguish instead of pleasure.

Cf. also 17:13.

...وَلِلّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ ...

To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth;

C485. Another metaphor is now introduced. Material wealth or property is only called ours during our short life here.

So all gifts are ours in trust only; they ultimately revert to Allah, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens or on earth. (R).

... وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٨٠﴾

and Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do.

وَلِلّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ ...

3: 189. To Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth;

... وَاللّهُ عَلَىَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١٨٩﴾

and Allah hath power over all things.

Asad’s Version:

3: 83 ..it is unto Him that whatever is in the heavens and on earth surrenders itself, willingly or unwillingly, since unto Him all must return.

3: 109 And unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and all things go back to God.

3: 129 Unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth

Pickthall Unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. He forgiveth whom He will, and punisheth whom He will. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Transliteration Wa lilla_hi ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), yagfiru limay yasya_'u wa yu'azzibu may yasya_'(u), walla_hu gafu_rur rahim(un).

3:180 And they should not think - they who niggardly cling to all that God has granted them out of His bounty - that this is good for them; it is bad for them. ….for unto God alone belongs the heritage of the heavens and of the earth; and God is aware of all that you do. Asad

3: 189

Asad And unto God belongs the dominion over the heavens and the earth: and God has the power to will anything.

Pickthall Unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. Allah is Able to do all things.

Transliteration Wa lilla_hi mulkus sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), walla_hu 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).

===================================

4. Sura an-Nisa

Medina 92 [Hijra 4]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لله...   

4: 125. Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah,

... وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ واتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا...  

does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in faith?

... وَاتَّخَذَ اللّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلاً ﴿١٢٥﴾  

For Allah did take Abraham for a friend.

C634. Abraham is distinguished in Muslim theology with the title of "Friend of Allah".

This does not of course mean that he was anything more than a mortal. But his faith was pure and true, and his conduct was firm and righteous in all circumstances.

He was the fountainhead of the present monotheistic tradition, the Patriarch of the prophetic line, and is revered alike by Jews, Christians and Muslims. (R).

وَللّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...   

4: 126. But to Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth:

... وَكَانَ اللّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّحِيطًا ﴿١٢٦﴾  

and He it is that encompasseth all things.

C635. Muhit: Cf. 4:108, and n. 623.

وَللّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...   

4: 131. To Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth.

C640. Notice the refrain: "To Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth": repeated three times, each time with a new application.

-        In the first instance it follows the statement of Allah's universal providence and love.

If two persons, in spite of every sincere desire to love and comfort each other, fail to achieve that end, and have to separate, Allah's all-reaching bounty never fails, for He is the Lord of all things.

-        In the second instance it is connected with Allah's Self-existence, Self-excellence, and independence of all creatures:

all His commands are for our good, and they are given to all His creatures, according to their capacities.

-        In the third instance, it is connected with His universal power;

for He could destroy any individual or nation and create a new one without any loss to Himself; but He gives a chance to all again and again, and even rewards them beyond their own ambitions.

... وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ...  

Verily We have directed the People of the Book before you, and you (O Muslims) to fear Allah.

... وَإِن تَكْفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ لِلّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...  

But if ye deny Him, lo! unto Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth,

... وَكَانَ اللّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا ﴿١٣١﴾  

and Allah is free of all wants, worthy of all praise.

C641. Allah's existence is absolute existence. It does not depend on any other person or any other thing. And it is worthy of all praise, for it is all-good and comprises every possible excellence.

It is necessary to stress this point in order to show that the moral law for man is not a mere matter of transcendental commands, but really rests on the essential needs of mankind itself. If therefore such schools of thought as Behaviorism proved their theories up to the hilt, they do not affect the position of Islam in the least.

The highest ethical standards are enjoined by Islam, not as dogmatic imperatives, but because they can be shown to follow from the needs of man's nature and the results of man's experience.

وَلِلّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...   

4: 132. Yea, unto Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth,

... وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ وَكِيلاً ﴿١٣٢﴾

and enough is Allah to carry through all affairs.

C642. This refers to the next verse.

He does not need us. but we need Him. Our hopes, our happiness, our success centre in Him; but He is Self-sufficient.

He has the power to supersede us, but His goodness is ever seeking to give us every chance in this world as well as in the Hereafter.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءكُمُ الرَّسُولُ بِالْحَقِّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَآمِنُواْ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ...   

4: 170. O mankind! the Messenger hath come to you in truth from Allah: believe in him: it is best for you.

C674. Allah's solicitude for us is for our own good, not because He gets any advantage from it. For He is independent of all things, and everything declares His glory and praise.

... وَإِن تَكْفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...  

But if ye reject faith, to Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth:

... وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ﴿١٧٠﴾

and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ تَغْلُواْ فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ عَلَى اللّهِ إِلاَّ الْحَقِّ ...  

4: 171. O People of the Book! commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but truth.

C675. Just as a foolish servant may go wrong by excess of zeal for his master, so in religion people's excesses may lead them to blasphemy or a spirit the very opposite of religion.

The Jewish excesses in the direction of formalism, racialism, exclusiveness, and rejection of Christ Jesus have been denounced in many places. Here the Christian attitude is condemned, which raises Jesus to an equality with Allah: in some cases venerates Mary almost to idolatry: attributes a physical son to Allah: and invents the doctrine of the Trinity, opposed to all reason, which according to the Athanasian Creed, unless a man believes, he is doomed to hell for ever.

Let our Muslims also beware lest they fall into excesses either in doctrine or in formalism.

... إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ...  

Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him:

... فَآمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ...

so believe in Allah and His Messengers.

... وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ ثَلاَثَةٌ انتَهُواْ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ ...

Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you:

C676. Christ's attributes are mentioned:

-        that he was the son of a woman, Mary and therefore a man;

-        but a messenger, a man with a mission from Allah, and therefore entitled to honour;

-        a Word bestowed on Mary, for he was created by Allah's word "Be" (kun), and he was: 3:59;

-        a spirit proceeding from Allah, but not Allah:

his life and his mission were more limited than in the case of some other Messengers, though we must pay equal honour to him as a Prophet of Allah.

The doctrines of Trinity, equality with Allah, and sonship, are repudiated as blasphemies. Allah is independent of all needs and has no need of a son to manage His affairs.

The Gospel of John (whoever wrote it) has put in a great deal of Alexandrian and Gnostic mysticism round the doctrine of the Word (Greek, Logos), but it is simply explained here. (R).

... إِنَّمَا اللّهُ إِلَـهٌ وَاحِدٌ سُبْحَانَهُ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ...  

for Allah is One Allah: glory be to Him: (for Exalted is He) above having a son.

... لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَات وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...  

To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth.

... وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ وَكِيلاً ﴿١٧١﴾  

And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.

Asad’s Version:

4: 125

Asad And who could be of better faith than he who surrenders his whole being unto God and is a doer of good withal, and follows the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false – seeing that God exalted Abraham with His love [note 144]?

Pickthall Who is better in religion than he who surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good (to men) and followeth the tradition of Abraham, the upright? Allah (Himself) chose Abraham for friend.

Transliteration Wa man ahsanu dinam mimman aslama wajhahu_ lilla_hi wa huwa muhsinuw wattaba'a millata ibra_hima hanifa_(n), wattakhazalla_hu ibra_hima khalila_(n).

[[ Asad’s note 144 – Lit., “chose Abraham to be [His] beloved friend (khalil)”.]]

[[ Ali’s note -

634 Abraham is distinguished in Muslim theology with the title of "Friend of Allah". This does not of course mean that he was anything more than a mortal. But his faith was pure and true, and his conduct was firm and righteous in all circumstances. He was the fountainhead of the present monotheistic tradition, the Patriarch of the prophetic line, and is revered alike by Jews, Christians and Muslims. (4.125)

4: 126

ASAD For, unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and, indeed, God encompasses everything.

Pickthall Unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Allah ever surroundeth all things.

Transliteration Wa lilla_hi ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), wa ka_nalla_hu bi kulli syai'im muhita_(n).

4: 131

Asad ....And, INDEED, We have enjoined those who were granted revelation before your time, as well as upon yourselves, to remain conscious of God. And if you deny Him, behold, unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, and God is indeed self-sufficient, ever to be praised.

Pickthall Unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. And We charged those who received the Scripture before you, and (We charge) you, that ye keep your duty toward Allah. And if ye disbelieve, lo! unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and Allah is ever Absolute, Owner of Praise.

Transliteration Wa lilla_hi ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), wa laqad wassainal lazina u_tul kita_ba min qablikum wa iyya_kum anittaqulla_h(a), wa in takfuru_ fa inna lilla_hi ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), wa ka_nalla_hu ganiyyan hamida_(n).

4: 132

Asad And unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that on earth; and none is as worthy of trust as God.

Pickthall Unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.

Transliteration Wa lilla_hi ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), wa kafa_ billa_hi wakila_(n).

4: 170

Asad O mankind! The Apostle has now come unto you with the truth from your Sustainer; believe, then, for your own good! And if you deny the truth – behold, unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, and God is indeed all knowing, wise.

Pickthall O mankind! The messenger hath come unto you with the truth from your Lord. Therefore believe; (it is) better for you. But if ye disbelieve, still, lo! unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. Allah is ever Knower, Wise.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhan na_su qad ja_'akumur rasu_lu bil haqqi mir rabbikum fa a_minu_ khairal lakum, wa in takfura_ fa inna lilla_ hi ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), wa ka_nalla_hu 'aliman hakima_(n).

4: 171

Asad O followers of the Gospel! Do not overstep the bounds in your religious beliefs, and do not say of God anything but the truth. The Christ Jesus, son of Mary, was but God’s Apostle – His promise which He had conveyed unto Mary – and a soul created by Him. Believe, then, in God and His apostles, and do not say, “ [God is] a trinity”. Desist [from this assertion] for your own good. God is but One God; utterly remote is He, in His glory, from having a son: unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and none is as worthy of trust as God. Asad

Unal ……………….And God suffices as the One to be relied on, to Whom affairs should be referred.

Pickthall 4: 171.......And God is sufficient as Defender.

Ya_ ahlal kita_bi la_ taglu_ fi dinikum wa la_ taqu_lu_'alallu_hi illal haqq(a), innamal masihu 'isabnu maryama rasu_lulla_hi wa kalimatuh(a_), alqa_ha_ ila_ maryama wa ru_hum minh(u), fa a_minu_ billa_hi warusulih(i), wa la_ taqu_lu_ sala_sah(tun), intahu_ khairal lakum, innamalla_hu ila_huw wa_hid(un), subha_nahu_ an taka_na lahu_ walad(un), lahu_ ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), wa kafa_ billa_hi wakila_(n).

===================================

5. Surah al-Maida, Medina 112

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَآلُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ...

5: 17. In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary.

... قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ اللّهِ شَيْئًا ...

Say:

"Who then hath the least power against Allah,

... إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ الْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ وَمَن فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ...

if His Will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all, everyone that is on the earth?

... وَلِلّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا...

For to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between.

... يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاء ...

He createth what He pleaseth.

C717. The most honoured of the prophets of Allah are but men.

All power belongs to Allah, and not to any man. Allah's creation may take many forms, but because in any particular form it is different from what we see daily around us, it does not cease to be Creation, or to be subject to the power of Allah. No creature can be God.

... وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١٧﴾

For Allah hath power over all things."

وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى نَحْنُ أَبْنَاء اللّهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ...

5: 18. (Both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are sons of Allah, and His beloved."

C718. Sons of Allah:

Cf. Job, 38:7; "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy."

In the 29th Psalm, 1st verse, the authorized Translation "O ye mighty" should apparently be "O ye sons of Elim". El being a name of God,

Cf. also Genesis, 6:2: "The sons of God saw the daughters of men." Beloved:

Cf. Psalms, 127:2: "He giveth his beloved sleep."

If used figuratively, these and like words refer to the love of Allah. Unfortunately, "son" used in a physical sense, or "beloved" in an exclusive sense as if Allah loved only the Jews, make a mockery of religion.

... قُلْ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُم بِذُنُوبِكُم بَلْ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ...

Say: "Why then doth He punish you for your sins?

Nay, ye are but men, of the men He hath created:

... يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَاء وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَاء...

He forgiveth whom He pleaseth, and He punisheth whom He pleaseth:

... وَلِلّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ...

and to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between:

C719. This refrain in the last verse negatives the idea of sonship, and in this verse negatives the idea of an exclusive "Beloved".

In both cases it means that Allah is independent of physical relationship or exclusive partiality.

... وَإِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٨﴾

and unto Him is the final goal (of all)."

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللّهَ لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...

5: 40. Knowest thou not that to Allah (alone) belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth?

C743. Punishment really does not belong to mortals, but to Allah alone.

Only, in order to keep civil society together, and protect innocent people from crime, certain principles are laid down on which people can build up their criminal law. But we must always remember that Allah not only punishes but forgives, and forgiveness is the attribute which is more prominently placed before us.

It is not our wisdom that can really define the bounds of forgiveness or punishment, but His Will or Plan, which is the true standard of righteousness and justice.

... يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَاء وَيَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَاء...

He punisheth whom He pleaseth, and He forgiveth whom He pleaseth:

... وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٤٠﴾

and Allah hath power over all things.

قَالَ اللّهُ هَذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ ...

5: 119. Allah will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth:

... لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا...

theirs are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, their eternal home:

... رَّضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُواْ عَنْهُ ...

Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah:

... ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿١١٩﴾

that is the great Salvation, (the fulfillment of all desires)."

C833. Fauz: Felicity, happiness, achievement, salvation, the attainment or fulfilment of desires.

What a beautiful definition of salvation or the end of life! -that we should win Allah's good pleasure and that we should reach the stage at which His good pleasure is all-in-all to us.

لِلّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ ...

5: 120. To Allah doth belong the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein,

... وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١٢٠﴾

and it is He who hath power over all things.

Asad’s Version:

5: 17 Indeed, the truth deny they who say, “Behold, God is the Christ, son of Mary.” Say:

“and who could have prevailed with God in any way had it been His will to destroy the Christ, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone who is on earth – all of them?

For, God’s is the dominion over the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; He creates what He wills : and God has the power to will anything!”

5: 18 And the Jews and the Christians say, “We are God’s children, and His beloved ones,” Say: “Why, then, does He cause you to suffer for your sins? Nay, you are but human beings of His creating. He forgives whom He wills, and He causes to suffer whom He wills: for God’s is the dominion over the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and with Him is all journeys’ end.”

5: 40

Asad Do you not know that God’s is the dominion over the heavens and the earth? He chastises whom He wills, and He forgives who He wills: for God has the power to will anything.

Pickthall Knowest thou not that unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth? He punisheth whom He will, and forgiveth whom He will. Allah is Able to do all things.

Transliteration Alam ta'lam annalla_ha lahu_ mulkus sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), yu'azzibu may yasya_'u wa yagfiru limay yasya_'(u), walla_hu 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).

[[ Ali’s note - 743 Punishment really does not belong to mortals, but to Allah alone. Only, in order to keep civil society together, and protect innocent people from crime, certain principles are laid down on which people can build up their criminal law. But we must always remember that Allah not only punishes but forgives, and forgiveness is the attribute which is more prominently placed before us. It is not our wisdom that can really define the bounds of forgiveness or punishment, but His Will or Plan, which is the true standard of righteousness and justice. (5.40)

5:119 [And on Judgment Day] God will say: “ Today, their truthfulness shall benefit all who have been true to their word: theirs shall be gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide beyond the count of time; well-pleased is God with them, and well-pleased are they with Him: this is the triumph supreme.”

5: 120

Asad God’s is the dominion over the heavens and the earth and all that they contain: and He has the power to will anything.

Pickthall Unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is therein, and He is Able to do all things.

Transliteration Lilla_hi mulkus sama_wa_ti wal ardi wa ma_ fihinn(a), wa huwa 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).

===================================

6. [al-Anam, Cattle Mecca 55]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُل لِّمَن مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...

6: 12. Say: "To whom belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth?"

قُل لِلّهِ...

Say:

"To Allah.

كَتَبَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ ...

He hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy

C844. History, travel, human experience, all prove the Mercy of Allah and the law that without it those who reject Truth tend to lose their own souls and destroy themselves.

... لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ...

that He will gather you together for the Day of Judgment, there is no doubt whatever.

...الَّذِينَ خَسِرُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٢﴾

It is they who have lost their own souls, that will not believe.

وَلَهُ مَا سَكَنَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ ...

6: 13. "To Him belongeth all that dwelleth (or lurketh) in the night and the day.

C845. Sakan:

- to dwell;

- to rest, to be still, to stop (moving), to lurk;

- to be quiescent, as a letter which is not moved with a vowel.

If we imagine Night and Day to be places, and each to have (dwelling in them) things that are open and things that are concealed, things that move and things that are still, things that are sounded and things that are quiescent, we get some idea of the imagery implied.

The mystery of Time (which seems more abstract than Space) is thus explained and illustrated by the idea of Place or Space, which also is a notion and not a concrete thing.

But He Who has control of all these things is the one true Allah.

... وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿١٣﴾

For He is the One Who heareth and knoweth all things.

C846. Throughout this section we have a sort of implied dialogue, of which one part is understood from the other part, which is expressed.

In verse 11, we might have an imagery objector saying: "Why go back to the past?"

The answer is:

"Well, travel through the world, and see whether it is not true that virtue and godliness exalt a nation, and the opposite are causes of ruin. Both the past and the present prove this."

In verse 12 the objector may say: "But you speak of God's power?"

The man of God replies:

"Yes, but Mercy is Allah's own attribute and knowledge and wisdom beyond what man can conceive."

قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيًّا...

6: 14. Say:

"Shall I take for my protector any other than Allah,

فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلاَ يُطْعَمُ ...

the Maker of the heavens and the earth?

And He is that feedeth but is not fed."

C847. Feedeth but is not fed: true both literally and figuratively.

To God we owe the satisfaction of all needs, but He is independent of all needs.

...قُلْ إِنِّيَ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكَينَ ﴿١٤﴾

Say:

"Nay! but I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah (in Islam), and be not thou of the company of those who join gods with Allah."

قُلْ إِنِّيَ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿١٥﴾

6: 15. Say:

"I would, if I disobeyed my Lord, indeed have fear of the penalty of a Mighty Day.

وَرَبُّكَ الْغَنِيُّ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ...

6: 133. Thy Lord is Self-sufficient, full of Mercy:

C955. Allah is not dependent on our prayer or service. It is out of His Mercy that He desires our own good.

Any race or people to whom He gives chances should understand that its failure does not affect Allah. He could create others in their place, as He did in times past, and is doing in our own day, if only we had the wit to see it.

...إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفْ مِن بَعْدِكُم مَّا يَشَاء...

if it were His Will, He could destroy you, and in your place appoint whom He will as your successors,

...كَمَآ أَنشَأَكُم مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ ﴿١٣٣﴾

even as he raised you up from the posterity of other people.

Asad’s Version:

6: 12 Say “Unto whom belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth?” Say: “ Unto God, who has willed upon Himself the law of grace and mercy.” (See Asd note 10)

6: 13 although His is all that dwells in the night and the day, and He alone is all hearing, all-knowing.

6: 14 Say: “Am I to take for my master anyone but God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, when it is He who gives nourishment and himself needs none?” Asad see note

Say: “I am bidden to be foremost among those who surrender themselves unto God, and not to be among those who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him.”

6:15 Say: “ behold, I would dread, were I [thus] to rebel against my Sustainer, the suffering [which would befall me] on that awesome Day [of Judgment].”

6: 133 And your Sustainer alone is self-sufficient, limitless in His grace. If He so wills, He may put an end to you and thereafter cause whom He wills to succeed you – even as He has brought you into being out of other people’s seed.

Pickthall’s Version:

6: 12

Pickthall Say: Unto whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth? Say: Unto Allah. He hath prescribed for Himself mercy, that He may bring you all together to a Day whereof there is no doubt. Those who ruin their own souls will not believe.

Transliteration Qul limam ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), qul lilla_h(i), kataba 'ala_ nafsihir rahmah(ta), layajma'annakum ila_ yaumil qiya_mati la_ raiba fih(i), allazina khasiru_ anfusahum fahum la_ yu'minu_n(a).

[[ Asad’s note 10 – The expression “God has willed upon Himself as a law” (kataba ‘ala nafsihi) occurs in the Quran only twice – here and in verse 54 of this surah – and in both instances with reference to His grace and mercy (rahmah); none of the other divine attributes has been similarly described. This exceptional quality of God’s grace and mercy is further stressed in 7:156 – “My grace overspreads everything” – and finds an echo in the authentic Tradition in which, according to the Prophet, God says of Himself, “Verily, My grace and mercy outstrips My wrath” (Bukhari and Muslim). ]]

6: 13

Pickthall Unto Him belongeth whatsoever resteth in the night and the day. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

Transliteration Wa lahu_ ma_ sakana fil laili wan naha_r(i), wa huwas sami'ul 'alim(u).

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7. Sura al-Araf, Mecca 39

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِي...

7: 158. Say:

"O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah,

C1131. Our attention having been directed to various prophets, who were sent with missions to their several peoples, and in each of whose careers there is some prefigurement of the life of the last and greatest of them, we are now asked to listen to the proclamation of Muhammad's universal mission. We contemplate no longer, after this, partial truths.

It is not now a question of saving Israel from the bondage of Egypt, nor teaching Midian the ethics of business, nor reclaiming the people of Lut from sexual sin or Thamud from the sin of oppression in power, or 'Ad from arrogance and ancestor worship. Now are set forth plainly the issues of Life and Death, the Message of Allah, the One Universal God to all mankind.

...لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...

to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth:

...لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ يُحْيِـي وَيُمِيتُ...

there is no god but He:

it is He that giveth both life and death.

...فَآمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الأُمِّيِّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ...

So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believed in Allah and His words:

C1132. "Unlettered," as applied to the Prophet here and in verse 157 above, has three special significations.

1. He was not versed in human learning: yet he was full of the highest wisdom, and had a most wonderful knowledge of the previous Scriptures. This was a proof of his inspiration.

It was a miracle of the highest kind, a "Sign", which every one could test then, and every one can test now.

2. All organized human knowledge tends to be crystallized, to acquire a partial bias or flavour of some "school" of thought. The highest Teacher had to be free from any such taint, just as a clean slate is necessary if a perfectly clear and bold message has to be written on it.

3. In 3:20 and 62:2, the epithet is applied to the Pagan Arabs, because, before the advent of Islam, they were unlearned.

That the last and greatest of the Prophets should arise among them, and they and their language be made the vehicle of the new, full and universal light, has also a meaning, which is explained in C. 12-15.

...وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٥٨﴾

follow him that (so) ye may be guided."

Other Versions:

7: 158

Asad Say [O Muhammad]: “O mankind! Verily, I am an apostle of God to all of you [note 126] [sent by Him] unto whom the dominion over the heavens and the earth belongs! There is no deity save Him; He [alone] grants life and deals death!” Believe, then, in God and His apostle – the unlettered Prophet who believes in God and his words – and follow him, so that you might find guidance!

Pickthall Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah to you all--(the messenger of) Him unto whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no God save Him. He quickeneth and He giveth death. So believe in Allah and His messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believeth in Allah and in His words and follow him that haply ye may be led aright.

Transliteration Qul ya_ ayyuhan na_su inni rasu_lulla_hi ilaikum jami'anillazi lahu_ mulkus sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), la_ ila_ha illa_ huwa yuhyi wa yumit(u), fa a_minu_ billa_hi wa rasu_lihin nabiyyil ummiyyil lazi yu'minu billa_hi wa kalima_tihi wattabi'u_hu la'allakum tahtadu_n(a).

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The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

Other Versions:

9: 116

Asad Verily, God’s alone is the dominion over the heavens and the earth; He grants life and deals death; and there is none besides God who could protect you or bring you succor.

Pickthall Lo! Allah! Unto Him belongeth the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He quickeneth and He giveth death. And ye have, instead of Allah, no protecting friend nor helper.

Transliteration Innalla_ha lahu_ mulkus sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), yuhyi wa yumit(u), wa ma_ lakum min du_nilla_hi miw waliyyiw wa la_ nasir(in).

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10. Surah Yunus, Mecca 51

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَلا إِنَّ لِلّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...   

10: 55.  Is it not (the case) that to Allah belongeth whatever is in the heavens and on earth?

...أَلاَ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾

Is it not (the case) that Allah's promise is assuredly true?

Yet most of them understand not.

وَلاَ يَحْزُنكَ قَوْلُهُمْ ...

10: 65.  Let not their speech grieve thee:

C1452. Sometimes the words of the unrighteous or their reviling hurt or grieve the righteous man, but there is no occasion for either anger or sorrow: they have no power and they can do no real dishonour, for all power and honour are from Allah.

... إِنَّ الْعِزَّةَ لِلّهِ جَمِيعًا...

for all power and honor belong to Allah:

...هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿٦٥﴾

it is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things).

أَلا إِنَّ لِلّهِ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَات وَمَن فِي الأَرْضِ...   

10: 66.  Behold!

verily to Allah belong all creatures, in the heavens and on earth.

...وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ شُرَكَاء...

What do they follow who worship as His "partners" other than Allah?

...إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلاَّ يَخْرُصُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾

They follow nothing but fancy, and they do nothing but lie.

C1453. All creatures are subject to Allah. If, therefore, any false worship is set up, the false gods-so called "partners" are merely creatures of imagination or false inventions.

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ لِتَسْكُنُواْ فِيهِ وَالنَّهَارَ مُبْصِرًا...   

10: 67.  He it is that hath made you the night that ye may rest therein, and the Day to make things visible (to you).

C1454. Our physical life -and our higher life in so far as it is linked with the physical- is sustained by the alternation of rest and activity, and the fit environment for this alternation is the succession of Nights and Days in our physical world. The Day makes the things "visible to us-" a beautiful symbol, not only of the physical work for which we go about by day, but of the higher activities which are fitly associated with seeing, perception and enquiry.

Intuition (insight) is a little out of that circle because that may come by night, when our other faculties are resting.

...إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾

Verily in this are Signs for those who listen (to His Message).

قَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ اللّهُ وَلَدًا...   

10: 68.  They say, "Allah hath begotten a son!"

...سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ...

Glory be to Him!

He is self-sufficient!

...لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَات وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...

His are all things in the heavens and on earth!

...إِنْ عِندَكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ بِهَـذَا...

No warrant have ye for this!

...أَتقُولُونَ عَلَى اللّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦٨﴾

Say ye about Allah what ye know not?

قُلْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللّهِ الْكَذِبَ لاَ يُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٦٩﴾

69.  Say:

"Those who invent a lie against Allah will never prosper."

C1455. In Quranic language "prosperity" refers both to our every-day life and to the higher life within us, -to the Present and the Future,- health and strength, opportunities and resources, a spirit of contentment, and the power of influencing others.

Here there seems to be an extra touch of meaning. A liar not only deprives himself of prosperity in all senses, but his "lie" itself against Allah will not succeed: it will and must be found out.

مَتَاعٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ...   

10: 70.  A little enjoyment in this world! -- and, then, to Us will be their return.

...ثُمَّ نُذِيقُهُمُ الْعَذَابَ الشَّدِيدَ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْفُرُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾

Then shall We make them taste the severest Penalty for their blasphemies.

Pickthall’s Version:

10: 55

Pickthall Lo! verily all that is in the heavens and the earth is Allah's. Lo! verily Allah's promise is true. But most of them know not.

Transliteration Ala_ inna lilla_hi ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), ala_ inna wa'dalla_hi haqquw wa la_kinna aksarahum la_ ya'lamu_n(a).

10: 65

Pickthall And let not their speech grieve thee (O Muhammad). Lo! power belongeth wholly to Allah. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

Transliteration Wa la_ yahzunka qauluhum, innal 'izzata lilla_hi jami'a_(n), huwas sami'ul 'alim(u).

10: 66

Asad ……they follow but the conjectures, and themselves do nothing but guess-

Pickthall Lo! is it not unto Allah that belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever is in the earth? Those who follow aught instead of Allah follow not (His) partners. They follow only a conjecture, and they do but guess.

Transliteration Ala_ inna lilla_hi man fis sama_wa_ti wa man fil ard(i), wa ma_ yattabi'ul lazina yad'u_na min du_nilla_hi syuraka_'(a), iy yattabi'u_na illaz zanna wa in hum illa_ yakhrusu_n(a).

10: 68

Pickthall They say: Allah hath taken (unto Him) a son. Glorified be He! He hath no needs! His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Ye have no warrant for this. Tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?

Yuksel They said, "God has taken a son." Be He glorified! He is the Rich. To Him is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Do you have proof for this? Or do you say about God what you do not know?

Transliteration Qa_lu-ttakhazalla_hu waladan subha_nah(u_), huwal ganiyy(u), lahu_ ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), in 'indakum min sulta_nim bi ha_za_, ataqu_lu_na 'alalla_hi ma_ la_ ta'lamu_n(a).

10: 69

Pickthall Say: Verily those who invent a lie concerning Allah will not succeed.

Transliteration Qul innal lazina yaftaru_na 'alalla_hil kaziba la_ yuflihu_n(a).

10: 70

Pickthall This world's portion (will be theirs), then unto Us is their return. Then We make them taste a dreadful doom because they used to disbelieve.

Transliteration Mata_'un fid dunya_ summa ilaina_ marji'uhum summa nuziquhumul 'aza_basy syadida bima_ ka_nu_ yakfuru_n(a).

10: 123

Pickthall And Allah's is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth, and unto Him the whole matter will be returned. So worship Him and put thy trust in Him. Lo! thy Lord is not unaware of what ye (mortals) do.

Yuksel To God is the unseen of heavens and earth, and to Him all matters return. So serve Him and put your trust in Him. Your Lord is not unaware of what you all do.

Transliteration Wa lilla_hi gaibus sama_wa_ti wal ardi wa ilaihi yurja'ul amru kulluhu_ fa-'budhu wa tawakkal 'alaih(i), wa ma_ rabbuka bi ga_filin 'amma_ ta'malu_n(a).

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11. Surah Hud, Mecca 52

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلِلّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ الأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ...   

11: 123. To Allah do belong the unseen (secrets) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him goeth back every affair (for decision):

C1626. Cf. 2:210.

There is nothing, secret or open, in our world or in Creation, which does not depend ultimately on Allah's Will and Plan. Every affair goes back to Him for decision. Therefore we must worship Him and trust Him.

Worship implies many things: e.g.,

-        trying to understand His nature and His Will:

-        realising His goodness and glory, and His working in us; as a means to this end,

-        keeping Him in constant remembrance and celebrating His praise, to whom all praise is due; and

-        completely identifying our will with His, which means obedience to His Law, and service, to Him and His creatures in all sincerity.

...فَاعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ...

then worship Him, and put thy trust in Him:

...وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٢٣﴾  

and thy Lord is not unmindful of aught that ye do.

Pickthall’s Version:

11: 123

Pickthall And Allah's is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth, and unto Him the whole matter will be returned. So worship Him and put thy trust in Him. Lo! thy Lord is not unaware of what ye (mortals) do.

Transliteration Wa lilla_hi gaibus sama_wa_ti wal ardi wa ilaihi yurja'ul amru kulluhu_ fa-'budhu wa tawakkal 'alaih(i), wa ma_ rabbuka bi ga_filin 'amma_ ta'malu_n(a).

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14. Surah Ibrahim, Mecca 72

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

اللّهِ الَّذِي لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...   

14: 2.     Of Allah, to Whom do belong all things in the heavens and on earth!

...وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ ﴿٢﴾

But alas for the Unbelievers for a terrible Penalty (their Unfaith will bring them)! --

C1872. See the last note.

That being the case, in what a sad plight are those who reject the Faith and Grace offered to them, and draw down on themselves all the terrible consequences of that rejection, -the Wrath to come!

الَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الآخِرَةِ...   

14: 3.     Those who love the life of this world more than the Hereafter,

C1873. The Unbelievers are here characterized in three ways:

1.     they love this ephemeral life and its vanities more than the true Life which goes into the Hereafter;

2.     they not only harm themselves but mislead others,

3.     their own crooked minds search for something crooked in Allah's straight Path (Cf. 7:45).

But in doing so, they go farther and farther from the Truth.

...وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا... 

who hinder (men) from the Path of Allah and seek therein something crooked:

...أُوْلَـئِكَ فِي ضَلاَلٍ بَعِيدٍ ﴿٣﴾

they are astray by a long distance.

Pickthall’s Version:

14: 2

Pickthall Allah, unto Whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. And woe unto the disbelievers from an awful doom.

Transliteration Alla_hil lazi lahu_ ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), wa wailul lil ka_firina min 'aza_bin syadid(in),

14: 3

Pickthall Those who love the life of the world more than the Hereafter, and debar (men) from the way of Allah and would have it crooked: such are far astray.

Transliteration Allazina yastajibu_nal haya_tad dunya_ 'alala a_khirati wa yasuddu_na 'an sabililla_hi wa yabgu_naha_ 'iwaja_(n), ula_'ika fi dala_lim ba'id(in).

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16. Sura al-Nahl, Mecca 70

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَقَالَ اللّهُ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ إِلـهَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ...   

16: 51.  Allah has said:

"Take not (for worship) two gods:

C2077. The ancient Persians believed in two powers in the Universe, one good and the other evil.

The Pagan Arabs also had pairs of deities: e.g., Jibr (Sorcery) and Tagat (Evil), referred to in 4:51, n. 573,

or the idols on Safa and Marwa referred to in n. 160 to 2:158: their names were Isaf and Naya.

... إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلهٌ وَاحِدٌ... 

for He is just One Allah:

... فَإيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ ﴿٥١﴾  

then fear Me (and Me alone)."

وَلَهُ مَا فِي الْسَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَهُ الدِّينُ وَاصِبًا...   

16: 52.  To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth, and to Him is duty due always:

... أَفَغَيْرَ اللّهِ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾

then will ye fear other than Allah?

C2078. The Pagans might have a glimmering of the One True God, but they had also a haunting fear of malevolent Powers of Evil. They are told that such fears are groundless. Evil has no power over those who trust in Allah: 15:42.

The only fear they should have is that of the Wrath of Allah. To the righteous all good things come from Allah, and they have no fear in their hearts.

وَلِلّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...   

16: 77.  To Allah belongeth the mystery of the heavens and the earth.

C2110. The key to all things-not only those which we see and understand, but those which we do not see or of which we have no idea-is with Allah, Whose knowledge and power are supreme.

... وَمَا أَمْرُ السَّاعَةِ إِلاَّ كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ... 

And the decision of the Hour (of Judgment) is as the twinkling of an eye, or even quicker:

C2111. Lures of this world and its fleeting pleasures often make man forget that the life hereafter is an imminent reality.

Many of those who claim to believe in the life to come act and behave as if it belonged to a distant future, and had no relevance to their present activities and mode of living. The Quran repeatedly reminds man that the Hour of Reckoning is not a distant possibility, but very close to man, and could come to pass any moment.

The wisest course for man, therefore, is to be always alert and watchful and steer clear of all forms of sin and impiety, for when the Promised Hour comes it will come all of a sudden and without any prior notice.

See also 10:45; 30:55, 45:35. [Eds]

... إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٧٧﴾

for Allah hath power over all things.

Other Versions:

16: 51

Pickthall Allah hath said: Choose not two gods. There is only One God. So of Me, Me only, be in awe.

Transliteration Wa qa_lalla_hu la_ tattakhizu_ ila_haini-snain(i), innama_ huwa ila_huw wa_hidun fa iyya_ya fa-rhabu_n(i).

16: 52

Pickthall Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, and religion is His for ever. Will ye then fear any other than Allah?

Yuksel The Only Source of the System

To Him is what is in the heavens and the earth, and the system shall always be to Him. Is it other than God that you shall be aware of?*

Transliteration Wa lahu_ ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wal ardi wa lahud dinu wa_siba_(n), afa gairalla_hi tattaqu_n(a).

16: 77

Pickthall And unto Allah belongeth the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and the matter of the Hour (of Doom) is but as a winkling of the eye, or it is nearer still. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.

Yuksel To God is the mystery of the heavens and the earth, and the matter of the moment is like the blink of the eye or nearer. God is capable of all things.

Transliteration Wa lilla_hi gaibus sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), wa ma_ amrus sa_'ati illa_ ka lamhil basari au huwa aqrab(u), innalla_ha 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).

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19. Surah Maryam, Mecca 44

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلَّا بِأَمْرِ رَبِّكَ...   

19: 64.  (The angels say):

"We descend not but by command of thy Lord:

C2514. We are apt to be impatient of the evils we see around us. We may give of our best service to Allah, and yet see no results. In our human short-sightedness we may complain within ourselves. But we must not be impatient.

The angels of Grace come not haphazard, but by command of Allah according to His Universal Will and Purpose. Allah does not forget. If things are delayed, it is in accordance with a wise providence, which cares for all. Our plain duty is to be patient and constant in His service. (R).

...لَهُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا وَمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ...

to Him belongeth what is before us, and what is behind us, and what is between:

...وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا ﴿٦٤﴾

and thy Lord never doth forget" --

رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا...   

19: 65.  "Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and of all that is between them:

...فَاعْبُدْهُ وَاصْطَبِرْ لِعِبَادَتِهِ ...

so worship Him, and be constant and patient in His worship:

...هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّا ﴿٦٥﴾

knowest thou of any who is worthy of the same Name as He?"

C2515. The more we taste of the truth and mystery of life, the more do we realise that there is no one to be mentioned in the same breath as Allah.

He is above all names. But when we think of His beautiful qualities, and picture them to ourselves by names which give us some idea of Him, we can search the whole wide world of our imagination, and we shall not find another to be compared with Him in name or quality.

He is the One: praise be to Him!

Other Versions:

19: 64

Asad And [the angels say]: “We do not descend [with revelation], again and again, other than by thy Sustainer’s command; unto Him belongs all that lies open before us and all that is hidden from us and all that is in-between. And never does thy Sustainer forget [anything]

Pickthall We (angels) come not down save by commandment of thy Lord. Unto Him belongeth all that is before us and all that is behind us and all that is between those two, and thy Lord was never forgetful

Transliteration Wa ma_ natanaz zalu il la_ bi amri rab bika lahu_ ma_ baina aidina_ wama_ khalfana_ wa ma_ baina dza_lik wa ma_ ka_na rab buka nasiy ya_

[Asad’s note 50: ……..Regarding this idiomatic expression, see 2:255 – “He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them” - ……………….]

[Ruby’s note – What is striking is that in 2:255 human being is mentioned and here angels are mentioned. These unknown things exist for both human as well as for angels. Only God is the knower of everything. The important thing to ponder here is what could lie “in between” ? That may shed a lot of light in a lot of directions. ]

[ Ali’s note 2514 We are apt to be impatient of the evils we see around us. We may give of our best service to Allah, and yet see no results. In our human short-sightedness we may complain within ourselves. But we must not be impatient. The angels of Grace come not haphazard, but by command of Allah according to His Universal Will and Purpose. Allah does not forget. If things are delayed, it is in accordance with a wise providence, which cares for all. Our plain duty is to be patient and constant in His service. (19.64)]

19: 65

Asad the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them! Worship, then, Him alone, and remain steadfast in His worship! Dost thou know any whose name is worthy to be mentioned side by side with His?”

Pickthall Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them! Therefor, worship thou Him and be thou steadfast in His service. Knowest thou one that can be named along with Him? 66. And man saith: When I am dead, shall I forsooth be brought forth alive?

Transliteration Rab bus sama_wa_ti wal ardi wa ma_ bainahuma_ fa'bud hu wash thabir li'iba_datih hal ta'lamu lahu_ samiy ya_

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20. Sura Taha, Mecca 45

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَى ﴿٦﴾

20: 6.     To Him belongs what is in the heavens and on earth, and all between them, and all beneath the soil.

C2537. An exhaustive definition of everything we can conceive of;

-         what is in the heavens,

-         on the earth,

-         or between,

-         or within the bowels of the earth.

Asad’s Version:

20:6

Unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, as well as all that is between them and all that is beneath the sod. (20:7) And if thou say anything aloud, [He hears it - ] since, behold, He knows [even] the secret [thoughts of man] as well as all that is yet more hidden [within him]. 4

[[ Asad’s note -

4 I.e., He knows not only maris unspoken, conscious thoughts but also all that goes on within his subconscious self. ]]

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21. [al-Anbiyaa, Mecca 73]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ...  

21: 18.  Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold, falsehood doth perish!

...وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ ﴿١٨﴾

Ah! woe be to you for the (false) things ye ascribe (to Us).

C2678. Such as that;

-         Allah has partners (21:22), or

-         that He has begotten a son (21:26), or

-         has daughters (16:57), or

-         any other superstitions derogatory to the dignity and glory of Allah.

وَلَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ...  

21: 19.  To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth:

...وَمَنْ عِندَهُ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ ﴿١٩﴾

even those who are in His (very) Presence are not too proud to serve Him,

nor are they (ever) weary (of His service):

C2679. The pure angelic hosts, whom we imagine to be glorious creatures of light, high in Heavens, near the Throne of Allah Himself, are yet His creatures, and serve Him without ceasing, and are proud to do so.

Such is the majesty of Allah Most High.

يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾

21: 20.  They celebrate His praises night and day,

nor do they ever flag or intermit.

Asad’s Version:

21:18

Nay, but [by the very act of creation] We hurl the truth against falsehood, 20 and it crushes the

latter: and lo! it withers away. 21 But woe unto you for all your [attempts at] defining [God] 22 -

(21:19) for, unto Him belong all [beings] that are in the heavens and on earth; and those that

are with Him 25 are never too proud to worship Him and never grow weary [thereof]: (21:20)

they extol His limitless glory by night and by day, never flagging [therein).

[[Asad’s notes - 20 I.e., the truth of God's transcendence against the false idea of His existential immanence in, or co-existence with, the created universe.

21 The obvious fact that everything in the created universe is finite and perishable effectively refutes the claim that it could be a "projection" of the Creator, who is infinite and eternal.

22 Lit., "for all that you attribute [to God] by way of description" or "of definition" (cf: the last sentence of 6:100 and the corresponding note 88) - implying that the idea of God's "immanence" in His creation is equivalent to an attempt to define His Being. ]]

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24. Surah an-Nur, Medina 102

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَلَا إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ...

64. Be quite sure that to Allah doth belong whatever is in the heavens and on earth.

...قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَا أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ ...

Well doth He know what ye are intent upon:

C3050. The condition or position you are in, the motives which actuate you, and the ends you have in view.

... وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا...

and one day they will be brought back to Him, and He will tell them the truth of what they did:

C3051. Things misunderstood or maligned, falsely praised or held in honour, or fraudulently shown to be good when they are evil-everything will be revealed in its true light on the Day of final Judgment.

...وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٦٤﴾

for Allah doth know all things.

Other Versions:

24:64

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25. Surah al-Furqan, Mecca 42

Asad’s Version:

(25:2) He to whom the dominion over the heavens and the earth belongs, and who begets no offspring, 2 and has no partner in His dominion: for it is He who creates ever}' thing and determines its nature in accordance with [His own] design. 3

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ...

25: 2. He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth:

... وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ ...

no son has He begotten, nor has He a partner in His dominion:

... وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَقَدَّرَهُ تَقْدِيرًا ﴿٢﴾

it is He Who created all things, and ordered them in due proportions.

C3055. The majesty of Allah and His independence of all wants or help are mentioned to show how exceedingly great is His goodness in revealing His Will to us.

[[Asad’s notes -2 See note 133 on 17:111.

3 I.e., in accordance with the function assigned by Him to each individual thing or phenomenon: cf the oldest formulation of this idea in 87:2-3. ]]

31. Surah Luqman

Mecca Period [57]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ...

31: 25 If thou ask them, who it is that created the heavens and the earth,

...لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ...

they will certainly say, "Allah."

...قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ...

Say: "Praise be to Allah!"

...بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٥﴾

But most of them understand not.

لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ...

31: 26. To Allah, belong all things in heaven and earth:

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ ﴿٢٦﴾

verily Allah is He (that is) free of all wants, worthy of all praise.

C3615. Cf. above, 31:12. There was begun the argument about showing gratitude to Allah, introducing Luqman's teaching and philosophy.

Such gratitude is shown by our understanding His love and doing our duty to Him by serving our fellow-men. For Allah Himself is Free from all wants and is in no way dependent on our service.

That argument has been illustrated in various ways. But now we are told that it can never be completed, for no human tongue or human resources can be adequate either to praise him or to expound His Word.

Asad’s Version:

31:25

AND THUS it is [with most people]: if- 22 thou ask them, "Who is it that has created the

heavens and the earth?" - they will surely answer, "God."

Say: "[Then you ought to know that] all praise is due to God!" - for most of them do not know [what this implies]. 23

(31:26) Unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth. Verily, God alone is self-sufficient, the One to whom all praise is due !

[[Asad’s notes -

22 For the above rendering of la'in, see surah 30, note 45.

23 I.e., they give the above answer unthinkingly, following a vague habit of thought, without realizing that a cognition of God as the Ultimate Cause of all existence logically postulates one's full surrender to Him, and to Him alone.

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34. Surah Saba

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ...

34: 1. Praise be to Allah,

C3785. All Creation declares His Praises, i.e., manifests His Mercy and Power, Goodness and Truth, all the sublime attributes summed up in His Most Beautiful Names (7:180 and 17:110 and notes).

For man to contemplate these is in itself a Revelation. This sentiment opens five Surahs of the Quran evenly distributed, viz., Surah 1, 6, 18, 34, and 35. Here the point most emphasised is that His wisdom and mercy comprehend all things, extended in space or in time-here and everywhere, now and evermore. (R).

... الَّذِي لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ...

to Whom belong all things in the heavens and on earth:

... وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ...

to Him be Praise in the Hereafter:

... وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْخَبِيرُ ﴿١﴾

and He is Full of Wisdom, acquainted with all things.

يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا...

34: 2. He knows all that goes into the earth, and all that comes out thereof;

C3786. An ignorant man may think that water absorbed in the soil or seed sown beneath the sod is lost, but it replenishes numerous rills, and streams, and feeds and sustains numerous roots and forms of life, and throws up all kinds of vegetable life.

So with things that come out of the earth: who can count the myriad forms of herbs and trees that grow and perish, and yet sustain a continuous life for ages and ages?

Yet these are symbolical of other things or entities beyond time or space, and beyond physical form. We see the birth and death of the animal part of man: When he is buried beneath the soil, the ignorant man thinks there is an end of him.

But what countless stages still lie before him for his inner and spiritual life?

And so with the Platonic Forms of Things: Goodness, Virtue, Mercy, and the various functions of the soul. They are never lost, but go up to Allah.

... وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاء وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا...

all that comes down from the sky and all that ascends thereto:

C3787. The vapours that rise from the earth and ascend to the sky descend again as rain and snow and as symbols of Allah's Mercy. So are the prayers of the devout and the call of those in agony for help and light, answered by the descent of mercy and guidance, help and light from the Throne of Majesty.

The Imagery indicated in the last note can be worked out to moral and spiritual forces, and they all centre in Allah.

Do not forget that, just as there is the element of Mercy, so there is an element of Justice and Punishment - in the physical forces as well as in the moral and spiritual forces, all centering in Allah.

... وَهُوَ الرَّحِيمُ الْغَفُورُ ﴿٢﴾

and He is the Most Merciful, the Oft-Forgiving.

Asad’s Version:

34:1 ALL PRAISE is due to God, to whom all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth belongs; and to Him will be due all praise in the life to come. For He alone is truly wise, all-aware:

(34:2) He knows all that enters the earth, and all that comes out of it, as well as all that descends from the skies, and all that ascends to them. 1 And

He alone is a dispenser of grace, truly-forgiving.

36. Surah Ya Sin (O Thou Human Being)

Mecca 41

Asad’s Version:

36:81 Is, then, He who has created the heavens and the earth not able to create [anew] the like of those [who have died]? Yea, indeed - for He alone is the all-knowing Creator:

(36:82) His Being alone 48 is such that when He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it, "Be" - and it is.

(36:83) Limitless, then, in His glory is He in whose hand rests the mighty dominion over all things; and unto Him you all will be brought back!

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَى أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم...   

36: 81.  "Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like thereof?" --

C4027. Cf. 79:27.

Which is the more difficult to create,- man, or the heavens and the earth, with all creatures?

Allah created the heavens and the earth, with all creatures, and He can create worlds and worlds like these in infinity. To Him it is small matter to raise you up for the Hereafter.

... بَلَى وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿٨١﴾

Yea,

indeed! for He is the Creator Supreme, of skill and knowledge (infinite)!

إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ ...

36: 82.  Verily, when He intends a thing, His command is,

C4028. And His creation is not dependent on time, or instruments or means, or any conditions whatsoever. Existence waits on His Will, or Plan, or Intention. The moment He wills a thing, it becomes His Word or Command, and the thing forthwith comes into existence.

Cf. 2:117; 16:40, n. 2066; etc.

... كُنْ فَيَكُونُ ﴿٨٢﴾

"Be,"

and it is!

فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ...   

36: 83   So glory to Him in Whose hands is the dominion of all things;

... وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٨٣﴾

and to Him will ye be all brought back.

C4029. All things were created by Allah; are maintained by Him; and will go back to Him.

But the point of special interest to man is that man will also be brought back to Allah and is answerable to Him, and to Him alone. This Message is the core of Revelation; it explains the meaning of the Hereafter; and it fitly closes a Surah specially connected with the name (Ya-Sin) of the Holy Prophet.

36:81 [Yuksel] Is not the One who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like of them? Yes indeed; He is the Creator, the Knowledgeable.

36:82 His command, when He wants anything, is to say to it: "Be" and it is!*

36:83 Therefore, praise be to the One in whose Hand is the sovereignty of all things, and to Him you will be returned.

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37. As-Saffat (Those Ranged In Ranks)

Mecca 56 [182 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَالصَّافَّاتِ صَفًّا ﴿١﴾

37: 1. By those who range themselves in ranks.

C4030. At a later stage, we shall study the general meaning of the adjurations in the Quran indicated by the particle wa.

See appendix XI.

Here we may note that the last Surah (Yasin) practically began with the adjuration "by the Quran, full of wisdom", emphasizing the fact that Revelation was the evidence by which we could learn the highest wisdom of the spiritual world. Here our attention is called in three verses or clauses, to three definite attitudes which illustrate the triumph of Good and the frustration of Evil.

See the notes following.

C4031. Two questions arise:

1. are the doers of the three things noted in verses 1-3 the same persons, whose actions or qualities are differently described, or are they three distinct sets of persons?

2. in either case, who are they?

As to 1 the most authoritative view is that the three clauses describe the same set of persons in different aspects.

As to 2 some take them to refer to angels, and others understand by them the good men, the men of God, who strive and range themselves in Allah's service.

The words are perfectly general, and I interpret them to refer to both classes. The feminine form is grammatically used in Arabic idiom for the indefinite plural. In 37:165 below, the word saffan is used in the definite plural, and seems to be spoken by these beings, angels or men of God or both, according to how we interpret this verse.

فَالزَّاجِرَاتِ زَجْرًا ﴿٢﴾

37: 2. And so are strong in repelling (evil),

C4032. The three acts in verses 1-3 are consecutive, as shown by the particle fa.

I understand them to mean that angels and good men

- are ever ready to range themselves in ranks in the service of Allah and work in perfect discipline and accord at all times;

- that they check and frustrate evil wherever they find it and they are strengthened in doing so by their discipline and their ranging themselves in Tanks; and

- that this service furthers the Kingdom of Allah and proclaims His Message and His glory to all creation.

فَالتَّالِيَاتِ ذِكْرًا ﴿٣﴾

37: 3. And thus proclaim the message (of Allah)!

إِنَّ إِلَهَكُمْ لَوَاحِدٌ ﴿٤﴾

37: 4. Verily, verily, your Allah is One! --

C4033. That divine Message is summed up in the gospel of Divine Unity, on which the greatest emphasis is laid: "verily, verily your God is One".

It is a fact intimately connected with our own life and destiny.

- 'Your Lord is one Who cares for you and cherishes you;

- you are dear to Him. And He is One:

- it is only He that you have to look to, the source of all goodness, love, and power.

- You are not the sport of many contending forces or blind chances. There is complete harmony and unity in heaven and you have to put yourselves into unison with it-by discipline in ranks, by unity of plan and purpose in repelling evil, and by concerted action in promoting the Kingdom of Allah.

Here is the mystery of the manifold variety of creation pointing to the absolute Unity of the Creator.

رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا...

37: 5. Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and all between them,

...وَرَبُّ الْمَشَارِقِ ﴿٥﴾

and Lord of every point at the rising of the sun!

C4034. Allah is the Lord of everything that exists- 'the heavens and the earth, and all between them'.

He is the Lord of the Mashariq,-of every point at the rising of the sun.

As the Commentators tell us, there are in the solar year only two equinoctial days, when the sun rises due east: on every other the sun rises at a shifting point either north or south of due east.

In 7:137 we have Mashariq al ardhi wa magaribaha, where the plural of the words for East and West is negligible, as the conjunction of the two embraces all points.

The same may be said of 70:40, where Allah is called "Lord of all points in the East and the West".

If we are speaking of longitudes, they may embrace all latitudes. In 55:17 Allah is called "Lord of the two Easts and the two Wests", referring to the extreme points in either case.

A cursory reader may ask, why is only the East referred to here?

The reply is that it is not so much the East as the rising of the sun, on which stress is laid. The Arabic mashriq or mashariq is close enough to the root-word sharaqa, to suggest, not so much the East as the rising of the sun, especially when the plural form is used.

The glorious sun rises from different points, as seen by us, but it illuminates the whole heaven and earth. It is an emblem of Unity.

Asad’s Version:

37:1 CONSIDER these [messages] ranged in serried ranks, 1

(37:2) and restraining [from evil] by a call to restraint,

(37:3) and conveying [to all the world a reminder:

(37:4) Verily, most surely, your God is One –

(37:5) the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and of all that is between them, and the Sustainer of all the points of sunrise ! !

Yuksel’s Version:

37:01 In the name of God, the Gracious, the Compassionate.

37:1 By the arrangers in ranks.

37:2 By the forces that repel.

37:3 By the memory which follows.

37:4 Your god is indeed One.

37:5 The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and what lies between them, and Lord of the easts.

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38. Surah Sad [88 verses]

Mecca Period 38

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَائِنُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ...

38: 9. Or have they the Treasures of the Mercy of thy Lord --

C4156. If they set themselves to judge Allah, have they anything to show comparable to Allah's Mercy and Power! He has both in infinite measure. Who are they to question the grant of His Mercy and Revelation to His own Chosen One?

... الْعَزِيزِ الْوَهَّابِ ﴿٩﴾

the Exalted in Power, the Grantor of Bounties without measure!

أَمْ لَهُم مُّلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا...

38: 10. Or have they the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all between?

... فَلْيَرْتَقُوا فِي الْأَسْبَابِ ﴿١٠﴾

If so, let them mount up with the ropes and means (to reach that end)!

C4157. Weak and puny creatures though they are, they dare to raise their heads against the Omnipotent, as if they had dominion over Creation and not He! If they had any power, let them mount up to heaven and use all the means they have to that end, and see how they can frustrate Allah's Purpose!

Asad’s Version:

(38:9) Or do they [think that they] own the treasures of thy Sustainer's grace [the grace] of the Almighty, the Giver of Gifts? 15

(38: 10) Or [that] the dominion over the heavens and the earth and all that is between them is theirs? Why, then, let them try to ascend [to God-like power] by all [conceivable] means!"

===================================

38 Surah Sad [88 verses]

Mecca Period 38

Asad’s Version:

38:65 SAY [O Muhammad]: "I am only a warner; and there is no deity whatever save God, the One, who holds absolute sway over all that exists,

(38:66) the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the Almighty, the All-Forgiving!"

38:67 Say: "This is a message tremendous:

(38:68) [how can] you turn away from it?" (38:69) [Say, O Muhammad:] "No knowledge would I have had of [what passed among] the host on high when they argued [against the creation of man]; 52

(38:70) had it not been revealed unto me [by God] - to no other end than that I might convey [unto you] a plain warning." 53

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا مُنذِرٌ...

38: 65. Say:

"Truly am I a Warner:

... وَمَا مِنْ إِلَهٍ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ ﴿٦٥﴾

no god is there but the One Allah,

Supreme and Irresistible --

C4219. Cf. 12:39, where Joseph preaches to the men in prison.

The one supreme Message of importance to mankind was (and is) the Unity of Allah:

- that He is the Creator and Sustainer of all:

- that His Will is supreme;

- that He can carry out His Will without question, and no powers of Evil can defeat it;

- and that He forgives by His grace again and again.

This Message the holy Prophet came to deliver, and he delivered it.

رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا...

38: 66. "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all between --

... الْعَزِيزُ ...

Exalted in Might, Able to enforce His will,

C4220. In n. 2818 to 22:40, 1 have explained the full import of 'Aziz as a title applied to Allah, and I have expressed two of the leading ideas involved, in the two lines here.

he argument in this Surah turns upon the contrast between earthly Power and the Divine Power: the one is impotent and the other is supreme.

... الْغَفَّارُ ﴿٦٦﴾

forgiving again and again."

C4221. Gaffar is the emphatic intensive form, and I have accordingly translated it as "forgiving again and again".

Cf. 20:82.

قُلْ هُوَ نَبَأٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٦٧﴾

38: 67. Say:

"That is a Message supreme (above all) --

أَنتُمْ عَنْهُ مُعْرِضُونَ ﴿٦٨﴾

38: 68. "From which ye do turn away!

C4222. The Message which is of supreme import to mankind,-from that they turn away. Instead of profiting by it, they turn away to side issues, or unprofitable speculation: such as: what is the origin of Evil; when will Judgment come? etc.

مَا كَانَ لِي مِنْ عِلْمٍ بِالْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَى إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ ﴿٦٩﴾

38: 69. "No knowledge have I of the Chiefs on high, when they discuss (matters) among themselves.

C4223. The hierarchy of angels in Heaven, discuss questions of high import in the Universe. Those are not necessarily revealed to men, except in so far as it is good for men to know, as in verses 71-85 below.

But the chief thing for man is to know that Allah is Most Merciful, that He forgives again and again, and that Evil has no power over those who trust in Allah.

إِن يُوحَى إِلَيَّ إِلَّا أَنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٧٠﴾

38: 70. "Only this has been revealed to me: that I am to give warning plainly and publicly."

C4224. Two things are implied in Mubin:

1. that the warning should be clear and perspicuous;

there should be no mincing of matters, no ambiguity, no compromise with evil, 7:184;

2. that the warning should be delivered publicly, before all people, in spite of opposition and persecution, 26:115.

Both these ideas I have tried to express in this passage.

39. Az-Zumar (The Throngs)

Mecca Period 59 [75 verses]

Asad’s Version:

39:44 Say: "God's alone is [the power to bestow the right of] intercession: 48 His [alone] is the dominion over the heavens and the earth; and, in the end, unto Him you will all be brought back."

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُل لِّلَّهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيعًا...

39:44 . Say:

"To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) Intercession:

C4311. For Shafaat (Intercession, Advocacy) see 2:255; 10:3; 20:109, n. 2634; and 21:28, n. 2688.

It follows that no one can intercede with Allah, except

- by Allah's permission, and

- for those who have prepared themselves by penitence for Allah's acceptance.

Even in earthly Courts, Advocacy is not permitted to any one; the Advocate must be granted the position of Advocate before he can plead before the judge. Nor can it be supposed that a plea for forgiveness or mercy can be put forward except on grounds recognised by equity and justice.

... لَّهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ...

to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth:

... ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾

in the End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back."

C4312. At all times, including our present life, all dominion belongs to Allah. At the End of the present plane of existence, we shall be placed before Allah for Judgment. Cf. 10:4.

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42. Sura ash-Shura, Mecca 62

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَهُ مَقَالِيدُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ...

42: 12. To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth:

... يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاء وَيَقْدِرُ...

He enlarges and restricts the Sustenance to whom He will:

C4540. "Sustenance", here as elsewhere, stands for all things that support every phase of life, physical, social, intellectual, or spiritual. Cf. 10:59, n. 1447.

The source of all gifts is Allah; His bounty is inexhaustible, and He gives to all; but He does not give to all in the same measure, because, out of the fullness of His knowledge and wisdom, He can judge best what is best for any of His creatures.

... إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١٢﴾

for He knows full well all things.

Asad’s Version:

42: 12 Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth: …..

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43. Zukhruf(Gold)