[ Ruby’s comment – It is implied here that life will be tested sometimes to the point when even the most righteous people may become desperate and question “when” the help is going to come? Generally the prophets and righteous people are patient and submissive. At times the trials of life can be so severe that even they lose their composure. This verse is to communicate to the believers to expect that kind of serious and severe tests in life. More righteous one is more severe the trials can be. Because through these trials and sufferings one reaches to the higher stations of life and existence. Through these tests one learns to rely on God more, submit to God’s Will more and do not give away to wrong doings to make it easier. This is the essence of submission. ]

Sura 2, al-Baqara, Medina 87

The Quranic text and Ali’s version

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم ...

2:214. Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you?

... مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَزُلْزِلُواْ...

They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit

... حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللّهِ ...

that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?"

... أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ ﴿٢١٤﴾

Ah! verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!

Transliteration Am hasibtum an tadkhulul jannata wa lamma_ ya'tikum masalul lazina khalau min qablikum massathumul ba'sa_'u wad darra_'u wa zulzilu_ hatta_ yaqu_lar rasu_lu wal lazina a_manu_ ma'ahu_ mata_ nasrull_h(i), ala_ inna nasralla_hi qarib(un).

Asad’s version

[But] do you think that you could enter paradise without having suffered like those [believers] who passed away before you [note 199]? Misfortune and hardship befell them, and so shaken were they that the apostle, and the believers with him, would exclaim, “When will God’s succor come? Oh, verily, God’s succor is [always] near [note 200]!

Pickthall’s Version:

2: 214 Or think ye that ye will enter Paradise while yet there hath not come unto you the like of (that which came to) those who passed away before you? Affliction and adversity befell them, they were shaken as with earthquake, till the messenger (of Allah) and those who believed along with him said: When cometh Allah's help? Now surely Allah's help is nigh.

[ Asad’s note 199 – …….This passage connect with the words, “God guides onto a straight way him that will [to be guided], which occur at the end of the preceding verse. The meaning is that intellectual cognition of the truth cannot, by itself, be a means of attaining to ultimate bliss: it must be complemented by readiness to sacrifice and spiritual purification through suffering.]