4. Sura an-Nisa
Medina 92 [Hijra 4]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ إِذَا
ضَرَبْتُمْ
فِي سَبِيلِ
اللّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ
...
4: 94. O ye who believe! when ye go abroad in the Cause of Allah, investigate carefully,
C613. Go abroad: dharaba: to travel, to go for jihad, or for honest trade or other service, which if done with pure motives, counts as service in the cause of Allah.
The immediate occasion was in connection with jihad, but the words are general, and can be applied to similar circumstances.
In war (or in peace) we are apt to catch some worldly advantage by pluming ourselves on our superiority in Faith. In war perhaps we want to gain glory or booty by killing a supposed enemy. This is wrong.
The righteous man, if he is really out in Allah's service, has more abundant and richer gifts to think of in the spiritual world.
... وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ أَلْقَى إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلاَمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِنًا...
and say not to anyone who offers you a salutation: "Thou art none of a believer!"
... تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ اللّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ...
Coveting the perishable goods of this life: with Allah are profits and spoils abundant.
... كَذَلِكَ كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ اللّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ...
Even thus were ye yourselves before, till Allah conferred on you His favors: therefore carefully investigate,
... إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا ﴿٩٤﴾
for Allah is well aware of all that ye do.
4: 94
Asad [Hence,] O you who have attained to faith, when you go forth [to war] in God’s cause, use your discernment, and do not - out of a desire for the fleeting gains of this worldly life – say unto anyone who offers you the greeting of peace, “You are not a believer” [note 119]: for with God there are gains abundant. You, too, were once in the same condition [note 120] – but God has been gracious unto you. Use, therefore, your discernment: verily, God is aware of what you do.
Pickthall O ye who believe! When ye go forth (to fight) in the way of Allah, be careful to discriminate, and say not unto one who offer you peace: "You are not a believer;" seeking the chance profits of this life (so that ye may despoil him). With Allah are plenteous spoils. Even thus (as he now is) were ye before; but Allah hath since then been gracious unto you. Therefore take care to discriminate. Allah is ever informed of what ye do.
Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ iza_ darabtum fi sabililla_hi fa tabayyanu_ wa la_ taqu_lu_ liman alqa_ ilaikumus salama lasta mu'mina_(n), tabtagu_na'aradal haya_tid dunya_, fa'indalla_hi maga_nimu kasirah(tun), kaza_lika kuntum min qablu fa mannalla_hu 'alaikum fa tabayyanu_, innalla_ha ka_na bima_ ta'malu_na khabira_(n).
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9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ
أَن تُتْرَكُواْ
وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ
اللّهُ الَّذِينَ
جَاهَدُواْ
مِنكُمْ...
9: 16. Or think ye that ye shall be abandoned, as though Allah did not know those among you who strive with might and main,
C1265. Some translators have taken a different verbal construction of this passage, but the ultimate effect in meaning is the same: we must all be tested and tried, but Allah knows our inmost hearts, and He will support those who strive in His way, out of sincere love for Him, His Prophet, and the body of the true men of faith.
...وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ وَلاَ رَسُولِهِ وَلاَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً...
and take none for friends and protectors except Allah, His Messenger, and the (community of) believers?
...وَاللّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٦﴾
But Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.
Pickthall’s Version:
9: 16
Pickthall Or deemed ye that ye would be left (in peace) when Allah yet knoweth not those of you who strive, choosing for familiar none save Allah and His messenger and the believers? Allah is Informed of what ye do.
Transliteration Am hasibtum an tutraku_ wa lamma_ ya'lamilla_hul lazina ja_hadu_ minkum wa lam yattakhizu_ min du_nilla_hi wa la_ rasu_lihi wa lal mu'minina walijah(tan), walla_hu khabirum bima_ ta'malu_n(a).
31. Surah Luqman
Mecca Period [57]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ
تَرَ
أَنَّ اللَّهَ
يُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ
فِي النَّهَارِ
وَيُولِجُ
النَّهَارَ
فِي اللَّيْلِ...
31:29. Seest thou not that Allah merges Night into Day and He merges Day into Night;
...وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى...
that He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law), each running its course for a term appointed:
...وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿٢٩﴾
and that Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do?
ذَلِكَ
بِأَنَّ
اللَّهَ هُوَ
الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ
مَا يَدْعُونَ
مِن دُونِهِ
الْبَاطِلُ...
31:30. That is because Allah is the (only) Reality, and because whatever else they invoke besides Him is Falsehood;
C3619. Cf. 22:62 and note 2842 and 2843.
All the wonderful complexities, gradations, and nuances, that we find in Creation, are yet blended in one harmonious whole, that obeys Law and exemplifies Order.
They therefore point to the One True God. He is the only Eternal Reality.
...وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ ﴿٣٠﴾
and because Allah, -- He is the Most High, Most Great.