4. Sura an-Nisa
Medina 92 [Hijra 4]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلاَ
تُجَادِلْ عَنِ
الَّذِينَ
يَخْتَانُونَ
أَنفُسَهُمْ...
4: 107. Contend not on behalf of such as betray their own souls:
C622. Own souls are a sort of trust with us. We have to guard them against all temptation. Those who surrender to crime or evil, betray that trust.
We are warned against being deceived into taking their part, induced either by plausible appearances, or by such incentives to partiality as that they belong to our own people or that some link connects them with us, whereas when we are out to do justice, we must not allow any irrelevant considerations to sway us.
... إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا ﴿١٠٧﴾
for Allah loveth not one given to perfidy and crime.
يَسْتَخْفُونَ
مِنَ النَّاسِ
وَلاَ يَسْتَخْفُونَ
مِنَ اللّهِ...
4: 108. They may hide (their crimes) from men, but they cannot hide (them) from Allah,
... وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ إِذْ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لاَ يَرْضَى مِنَ الْقَوْلِ...
seeing that He is in their midst when they plot by night, in words that He cannot approve:
... وَكَانَ اللّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطًا ﴿١٠٨﴾
and Allah doth compass round all that they do.
C623. The plots of sinners are known fully to Allah, and He can fully circumvent them if necessary, according to the fullness of His wisdom.
The word used is: Compass them round.- Muhit: not only does Allah know all about it, but He is all round it: if in His wisdom He allows it, it is not because He has not complete control over it, but because, having it as it were enclosed in a complete circle. He can use it to further His own Plan. Even out of evil He can bring good.
4: 107
Asad Yet do not argue in behalf of those who are false to their own selves [note 135]: verily, God does not love those who betray their trust and persist in sinful ways.
Pickthall And plead not on behalf of (people) who deceive themselves. Lo! Allah loveth not one who is treacherous and sinful.
Transliteration Wa la_ tuja_dil 'anil lazina yakhta_nu_na anfusahum, innalla_ha la_ yuhibbu man ka_na khawwa_nan asima_(y),
[[Ali’s note:
622 Our souls are a sort of trust with us. We have to guard them against all temptation. Those who surrender to crime or evil, betray that trust. We are warned against being deceived into taking their part, induced either by plausible appearances, or by such incentives to partiality as that they belong to our own people or that some link connects them with us, whereas when we are out to do justice, we must not allow any irrelevant considerations to sway us. (4.107)]]
4: 108
Asad They would conceal their doings from men; but from God they cannot conceal them – for He is with them whenever they devise, in the dark of night, all manner of beliefs [note 136] which He does not approve. and God indeed encompasses [with His knowledge] whatever they do.
Pickthall They seek to hide from men and seek not to hide from Allah. He is with them when by night they hold discourse displeasing unto Him. Allah ever surrounds what they do.
Transliteration Yastakhfu_na minan na_si wa la_ yastakhfu_na minalla_hi wa huwa ma'ahum iz yubayyitu_na ma_ la_ yarda_ minal qaul(i), wa ka_nalla_hu bima_ ya'malu_na muhita_(n).