46 Al-Ahqaf (The Sand-Dunes)
Mecca Period 66
Asad’s version
46:15 NOW [among the best of the deeds which] We have enjoined upon man is goodness towards his parents."
In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth; and her bearing him and his utter dependence on her took thirty months. 17
And so, when he attains to full maturity and reaches forty years, 18 he [that is righteous] prays: "O my Sustainer! Inspire me so that I may forever be grateful for those blessings of Thine with which Thou hast graced me and my parents, and that I may do what is right [in a manner] that will meet with Thy goodly acceptance; and grant me righteousness in my offspring [as well]. Verily, unto Thee have I turned in repentance: 19 for, verily, I am of those who have surrendered themselves unto Thee!"
46:16 It is [such as] these from whom We shall accept the best that they ever did, 20 and whose bad deeds We shall overlook: [they will find themselves] among those who are destined for paradise, in fulfilment of the true promise which they were given [in this world].
The Quranic text and Ali’s version
وَوَصَّيْنَا
الْإِنسَانَ
بِوَالِدَيْهِ
إِحْسَانًا
...
15. We have enjoined on man Kindness to his parents:
... حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا...
in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth.
...وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا...
The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months.
C4790. In 31:14 the time of weaning was stated to be at the age of two years, i.e., 24 months. See also 2:233.
That leaves six months as the minimum period of human gestation after which the child is known to be viable.
This is in accordance with the latest ascertained scientific facts. The average period is 280 days, or ten times the inter-menstrual period, and of course the average period of weaning is much less than 24 months.
The maximum period of breast-feeding (2 years) is again in accordance with the time that the first dentition is ordinarily completed in a human child.
The lower milk incisors in the centre come out between the 6th and 9th months; then come out the milk teeth at intervals, until the canines appear. The second molars come out at about 24 months, and with them the child has a complete apparatus of milk teeth. Nature now expects him to chew and masticate and be independent of his mother's milk completely. On the other hand it hurts the mother to feed from the breast after the child has a complete set of milk teeth.
The permanent teeth begin at the sixth year, and the second molars come at 12 years. The third molars are the wisdom teeth, which may appear at 18 to 20 years, or not at all.
...حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ...
At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says,
C4791. The age of full strength (ashudd) is held to be between 18 and 30 To 32. Between 30 and 40 the man is in his best manhood. After that he begins to look to his growing issue, and rightly commends the new generation to Allah. Perhaps his spiritual faculties also gain the upper hand after 40.
...رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ...
"O my Lord!
grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents,
...وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي...
and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve;
and be gracious to me in my issue.
...إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٥﴾
Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam."
أُوْلَئِكَ
الَّذِينَ
نَتَقَبَّلُ
عَنْهُمْ
أَحْسَنَ
مَا
عَمِلُوا...
16. Such are they from whom We shall accept the best of their deeds
...وَنَتَجاوَزُ عَن سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ فِي أَصْحَابِ الْجَنَّةِ...
and pass by their ill deeds:
(they shall be) among the Companions of the Garden:
...وَعْدَ الصِّدْقِ الَّذِي كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ ﴿١٦﴾
a promise of truth, which was made to them (in this life).
[[ Asad’s notes - 17 See note 14 on 31:14.
1 8 I.e., the age at which man is supposed to attain to full intellectual and spiritual maturity. It is to be borne in mind that the masculine noun insan ("man" or "human being") appearing in the first sentence of this verse applies to both sexes alike.
19 Sc, "of whatever sin I may have committed". Seenote41 on the last sentence of 24:31.
20 I.e., "whom We shall reward in accordance with the best that they ever did" : cf. 29:7. ]]