Strict in Punishment [syadidul 'iqa_b ]
8. [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2H]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِذْ
زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ
الشَّيْطَانُ
أَعْمَالَهُمْ
وَقَالَ...
8: 48. Remember Satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to them, and said:
...لاَ غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنِّي جَارٌ لَّكُمْ...
"No one among men can overcome you this day, while I am near to you":
...فَلَمَّا تَرَاءتِ الْفِئَتَانِ نَكَصَ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ وَقَالَ...
but when the two forces came in sight of each other, he turned on his heels, and said:
...إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّنكُمْ إِنِّي أَرَى مَا لاَ تَرَوْنَ إِنِّيَ أَخَافُ اللّهَ...
"Lo! I am clear of you;
lo! I see what ye see not;
lo! I fear Allah;
...وَاللّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ﴿٤٨﴾
for Allah is strict in punishment.
C1217. It is the way with the leaders of evil, when they find their cause lost, that they wash their hands of their followers and leave them in the lurch. They see more clearly than their dupes. They are not simpletons: they know the consequences of the wrath of Allah.
Satan's "fear" of Allah is terror combined with hatred, -the very opposite of the feeling which is described in Taqwa viz., the desire to avoid doing anything against Allah's will, such desire being founded on trust in Allah and the love of Allah.
ذَلِكَ
بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ
أَيْدِيكُمْ ...
8: 51. "Because of (the deeds) which your (own) hands sent forth:
C1220. The punishment is shown to be due to their own deeds of wrong, because Allah is never unjust to the least of His servants.
... وَأَنَّ اللّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلاَّمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ ﴿٥١﴾
for Allah is never unjust to His servants:
كَدَأْبِ
آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ
وَالَّذِينَ
مِن قَبْلِهِمْ...
8: 52. "(Deeds) after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them:
...كَفَرُواْ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ...
they rejected the signs of Allah, and Allah punished them for their crimes:
...إِنَّ اللّهَ قَوِيٌّ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ﴿٥٢﴾
for Allah is strong, and strict in punishment:
Asad’s Version:
8: 48 Remember Stan made their [sinful] acts seem alluring to them, and said: “No one among men can overcome you this day, while I am near to you”:
But when two forces came in sight of each other, he turned on his heels, and said: ”Lo! I am clear of you; lo! I see what you see not; Lo! I fear God; for God is strict in punishment.”
8: 51 “after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them: they rejected the Signs of God, and God punished them for their crimes: for God is Strong, and Strict in punishment:
Pickthall’s Version:
8: 48
Pickthall And when Satan made their deeds seem fair to them and said: No one of mankind can conquer you this day, for I am your protector. But when the armies came in sight of one another, he took flight, saying: Lo! I am guiltless of you. Lo! I see that which ye see not. Lo! I fear Allah. And Allah is severe in punishment.
Transliteration Wa iz zayyana lahumusy syaita_nu a'ma_lahum wa qa_la la_ ga_liba lakumul yauma minan na_si wa inni ja_rul lakum, falamma_ tara_'atil fi'ata_ni nakasa 'ala_ 'aqibaihi wa qa_la inni bari'um minkum inni ara_ ma_ la_ tarauna inni akha_fulla_h(a), walla_hu syadidul 'iqa_b(i).
8: 52
Pickthall (Their way is) as the way of Pharaoh's folk and those before them; they disbelieved the revelations of Allah, and Allah took them in their sins. Lo! Allah is Strong, severe in punishment.
Transliteration Kada'bi a_li fir'auna wallazina min qablikum, kafaru_ bi a_ya_tilla_hi fa akhazahumulla_hu bi zunu_bihim, innalla_ha qawiyyun syadidul 'iqa_b(i).
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13. Surah Ar Ra'd, Medina 96
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ
بِالسَّيِّئَةِ
قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ
وَقَدْ خَلَتْ
مِن قَبْلِهِمُ
الْمَثُلاَتُ...
13: 6. They ask thee to hasten on the evil in preference to the good: yet have come to pass, before them, (many) exemplary punishments!
C1810. The Unbelievers by way of a taunt say: "If there is a punishment, let us see it come down now."
The answer to it is threefold.
1. Why do you want to see the punishment rather than the mercy of Allah?
Which is better?
2. Have you not heard in history of terrible punishments for evil?
And have you not before your very eyes seen examples of wickedness brought to book?
3. Allah works not only in justice and punishment, but also in mercy and forgiveness, and mercy and forgiveness come first.
...وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ...
But verily thy Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind for their wrongdoing:
...وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ﴿٦﴾
and verily thy Lord is (also) strict in punishment.
لَهُ
مُعَقِّبَاتٌ
مِّن بَيْنِ
يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ
خَلْفِهِ
يَحْفَظُونَهُ
مِنْ أَمْرِ
اللّهِ...
13: 11. For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him:
they guard him by command of Allah.
C1816. See last verse.
Every person, whether he conceals or reveals his thoughts, whether he skulks in darkness or goes about by day, -all are under Allah's watch and ward. His grace encompasses everyone, and again and again protects him, if he will only take the protection, from harm and evil.
If in his folly he thinks he can secretly take some pleasure or profit, he is wrong, for recording angels record all his thoughts and deeds.
...إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ...
Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls).
C1817. Allah is not intent on punishment. He created man virtuous and pure; he gave him intelligence and knowledge; he surrounded him with all sorts of instruments of His grace and mercy.
If, in spite of all this, man distorts his own will and goes against Allah's Will, yet is Allah's forgiveness open to him if he will take it.
It is only when he has made his own sight blind and changed his own nature or soul away from the beautiful mould in which Allah formed it, that Allah's Wrath will descend on him and the favourable position in which Allah placed him will be changed.
When once the punishment comes, there is no turning it back. None of the things which he relied upon- other than Allah-can possibly protect him.
...وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلاَ مَرَدَّ لَهُ...
But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back,
...وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ ﴿١١﴾
nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.
13: 6
Asad And they challenge thee to hasten the coming upon them of evil instead ofgood - -------- Now, behold, thy Sustainer is full of forgiveness unto men despite all their evildoing: but, behold thy Sustainer is [also] truly severe in retribution!
. [see this “challenge” in also 6:57-58, 8:32 and asad notes]
Pickthall And they bid thee hasten on the evil rather than the good, when exemplary punishments have indeed occurred before them. But lo! thy Lord is rich in pardon for mankind despite their wrong, and lo! thy Lord is strong in punishment!
Transliteration Wa yasta'jilu_naka bis sayyi'ati qablal hasanati wa qad khalat min qablihimul masula_t(u), wa inna rabbaka lazu_ magfiratil lin na_si 'ala_ zulmihim, wa inna rabbaka lasyadidul 'iqa_b(i).
1810 The Unbelievers by way of a taunt say: "If there is a punishment, let us see it come down now." The answer to it is threefold. (1) Why do you want to see the punishment rather than the mercy of Allah? Which is better? (2) Have you not heard in history of terrible punishments for evil? And have you not before your very eyes seen examples of wickedness brought to book? (3) Allah works not only in justice and punishment, but also in mercy and forgiveness, and mercy and forgiveness come first. (13.6)
3: 11
Pickthall Like Pharaoh's folk and those who were before them, they disbelieved Our revelations and so Allah seized them for their sins. And Allah is severe in punishment.
Transliteration Kada'bi a_li fir'aun(a), wallazina min qablihim, kazzabu_ bi a_ya_tina_ fa akhazahumulla_hu bi zunu_bihim, walla_hu syadidul 'iqa_b(i).