Strict in Punishment
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:
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:
===================================
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.
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)