7. Sura al-Araf, Mecca 39

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ...

7: 54. Your Guardian-Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days,

C1031. A sublime verse, comparable to the Throne Verse 2:255.

The Creation in six Days is of course metaphorical. In 45:14, "the Days of Allah" refer not so much to time as to the growth in us of a spiritual sense, a sense of sin and a sense of Allah's Mercy.

In 22:47, we are told that a Day in the sight of Allah is like a thousand years of our reckoning, and in 70:4, the comparison is with 50,000 of our years.

In the history of our material earth, we may reckon six great epochs of evolution.

The significance of the figure six will be discussed in connection with 41:9:12, where the ,matter is referred to in more detail.

... ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ...

and is firmly established on the throne (of authority):

C1032. Here, we are told of the creation of the heavens and the earth in six days. But lest we should be obsessed with the Jewish idea that Allah rested on the seventh day, we are told that the Creation was but a prelude to Allah's work: for His authority is exercised constantly by the laws which He establishes and enforces in all parts of His Creation.

The beautiful imagery of night and day seeking out each other in rapid succession is still further enforced in the Arabic by the double accusative of the verb yugshi, showing the mutual interactions of the day and the night, each covering the other in turn. The heavenly bodies show an order which is evidence of His constant care and government.

Not only that, but it is only He Who creates, maintains, and governs, and no one else. (R).

...يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا...

He draweth the night as a veil O'er the day, each seeking the other in rapid succession:

...وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ...

He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, (all) governed by laws under His command.

...أَلاَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٥٤﴾

Is it not His to create and to govern?

Blessed be Allah, the cherisher and sustainer of the worlds!

Other Versions:

7: 54

Asad Verily, your Sustainer is God, who has created the heavens and earth in six aeons, and is established on the throne of His almightiness [note 43]. He covers the day with the night in swift pursuit, with the sun and the moon and the stars subservient to His command: oh, verily, His is all creation and all command. Hallowed is God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!

Pickthall Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then mounted He the Throne. He covereth the night with the day, which is in haste to follow it, and hath made the sun and the moon and the stars subservient by His command. His verily is all creation and commandment Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

Transliteration Inna rabbakumul lazi khalaqas sama_wa_ti wal arda fi sittati ayya_min summastawa_ 'alal 'arsy(i), yugsyil lailan naha_ra yatlubuhu_ hasisa_(w), wasy syamsa wal qamara wan nuju_ma musakhkhara_tim bi amrih(i), ala_ lahul khalqu wal amr(u), taba_rakalla_hu rabbul 'a_lamin(a).

[[Asad’s note 43 - …..As regards the term “arsh” ….are unanimously of the opinion that its metaphorical use in the Quran is meant to express God’s absolute sway over all His creation. It is noteworthy that in all the seven instances where God is spoken of in the Quran as “established on the throne of His almightiness” (7:54, 10:3, 13:2, 20:5, 25:59, 32:4 and 57:4), this expression is connected with a declaration of His having created the universe.

–The word “yawm”, commonly translated as “day”-but rendered above as “eon”-is used in Arabic to denote any period, whether extremely long (“eon”) or extremely short (“moment”): its application to an earthly “day” of twenty four hours is only one of its many connotations. (Cf. in this respect note 26 above, where the meaning of “saah” – lit., “hour” – is explained.) ]]

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9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ...   

9: 129. But if they turn away, Say:

"Allah sufficeth me:

there is no god but He:

... عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ... 

on Him is my trust,

... وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿١٢٩﴾  

He the Lord of the throne (of Glory) Supreme!"

C1380. But if the Message is rejected, he still proclaims the burning Faith of his heart, which is unquenchable. Allah is sufficient to all.

To trust Him is to find the accomplishment of all spiritual desire. His grandeur is figured by a lofty Throne, supreme in glory! Thus have we been led, through a notable incident in Al-Mustafa's earthly career, to truths of the highest spiritual import.

Pickthall’s Version:

9: 129

Pickthall Now, if they turn away (O Muhammad) say: Allah sufficeth me. There is no God save Him. In Him have I put my trust, and He is Lord of the Tremendous Throne.

Transliteration Fa in tawallau fa qul hasbiyalla_hu la_ ila_ha illa_ huw(a), 'alaihi tawakkaltu wa huwa rabbul 'arsyil 'azim(i).

[[ Ali’s notes - 1379 The tender heart of the Teacher is grieved that any among his flock should rush headlong to ruin. He watches ardently over them, and whenever any of them show signs of Faith, his kindness and mercy surround him and rejoice over him. (9.128)

1380 But if the Message is rejected, he still proclaims the burning Faith of his heart, which is unquenchable. Allah is sufficient to all. To trust]]

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21. [al-Anbiyaa, Mecca 73]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا...  

21: 22.  If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both!

C2682. After the false gods of the earth (verse 21), are mentioned the false gods in the heavens and the earth, like those in the Greek Pantheon (verse 22), who quarreled and fought and slandered each other and made their Olympus a perfect bear-garden!

...فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ ...

But glory to Allah, the Lord of the Throne:

... عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾

(high is He) above what they attribute to Him!

Other Versions:

21:22