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."
وَإِذَا
جَاءكَ الَّذِينَ
يُؤْمِنُونَ
بِآيَاتِنَا
فَقُلْ سَلاَمٌ
عَلَيْكُمْ
...
6: 54. When those come to thee who believe in Our Signs, say:
"Peace be on you:
C873. The humble who had sincere faith, were not only not sent away to humour the wealthy: they were honoured and were given a special salutation, which has become the characteristic salutation in Islam: "Peace be on you,"
- the word peace, "salam" having special affinity with the word "Islam".
In words they are given the salutation; in life they are promised Mercy by the special grace of Allah.
... كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ...
your Lord had inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy:
C874. Cf. 6:12.
...أَنَّهُ مَن عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ ...
verily, if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented and amended (his conduct),
... فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٥٤﴾
lo! He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
وَكَذَلِكَ
نفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ
وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ
سَبِيلُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
﴿٥٥﴾
6: 55. Thus do We explain the Signs in detail: that the way of the sinners may be shown up.
C875. If the way of the sinners (in jealousy and worldly pride) is shown up, and details are given how to honour the truly sincere, it forms the best illustration of the teaching of Allah.
6: 12
Asad 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. [note 10]”
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.
Yuksel Say, "To whom is all that is in heavens and earth?" Say, "To God." He has decreed mercy on Himself, that He will gather you to the day of Resurrection in which there is no doubt. Those who have lost themselves, they do not acknowledge.*
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)
.
6: 54
Asad ….”…Your Sustainer has willed upon Himself the law of grace and mercy…………..”
Pickthall And when those who believe in Our revelations come unto thee, say: Peace be unto you! Your Lord hath prescribed for Himself mercy, that whoso of you doeth evil and repenteth afterward thereof and doeth right, (for him) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Yuksel If those who acknowledge Our signs come to you, then say, "Peace be upon you, our Lord has decreed mercy upon Himself, that any of you who commits sin out of ignorance and then repents afterwards and reforms, then He is Forgiving, Compassionate."
Transliteration Wa iza_ ja_'akal lazina yu'minu_na bi a_ya_tina_ faqul sala_mun 'alaikum kataba rabbukum 'ala_ nafsihir rahmah(ta), annahu_ man'amila minkum su_'am bi jaha_latin summa ta_ba mim ba'dihi wa aslaha fa annahu_ gafu_rur rahim(un).
6: 55
Pickthall Thus do We expound the revelations that the way of the unrighteous may be manifest.
Transliteration Wa kaza_lika nufassilul a_ya_ti wa litastabina sabilul mujrimin(a).
[[874 Cf. vi 12. (6.54)
875 If the way of the sinners (in jealousy and worldly pride) is shown up, and details are given how to honor the truly sincere, it forms the best illustration of the teaching of God. (6.55) ]]
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4. Sura an-Nisa
Medina 92 [Hijra 4]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاللّهُ
يُرِيدُ أَن
يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ...
4: 27. Allah doth wish to turn to you,
... وَيُرِيدُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الشَّهَوَاتِ أَن تَمِيلُواْ مَيْلاً عَظِيمًا ﴿٢٧﴾
but the wish of those who follow their lusts is that ye should turn away (from Him), far, far away.
Asad’s Version:
4:27 And God wants to turn unto you in His mercy…………….