5. Surah al-Maida, Medina 112
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ ...
5: 105. O ye who believe!
... عَلَيْكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ لاَ يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ ...
guard your own souls:
if ye follow (right) guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who stray.
... إِلَى اللّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٠٥﴾
The goal of you all is to Allah:
it is He that will show you the truth of all that ye do.
C811. The unity of the one Judge will do perfect justice to each one's conduct, however different in form it may have appeared in this world.
5: 105
Asad O you who have attained to faith! It is [but] for your own selves that you are responsible: those who go astray can do you no harm if you [yourselves] are on the right path. Unto God you all must return: and they He will make you [truly] understand all that you were doing [in life].
Pickthall O ye who believe! Ye have charge of your own souls. He who erreth cannot injure you if ye are rightly guided. Unto Allah ye will all return; and then He will inform you of what ye used to do.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_'alaikum anfusakum, la_ yadurrukum man dalla izahtadaitum, ilalla_hi marji'ukum jami'an fa yunabbi'ukum bima_ kuntum ta'malu_n(a)
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15. Surah Al Hijr
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قَالَ
رَبِّ بِمَآ
أَغْوَيْتَنِي
لأُزَيِّنَنَّ
لَهُمْ فِي
الأَرْضِ...
15: 39. (Iblis) said:
"O my Lord! because Thou hast put me in the wrong, I will make (wrong) fair-seeming to them on the earth,
C1974. Agwaitani: 'thrown me out of the way, put me in the wrong': Cf. 7:16.
Satan cannot be straight or truthful even before Allah. By his own arrogance and rebellion he fell; he attributes this to Allah. Between Allah's righteous judgment and Satan's snares and temptations there cannot be the remotest comparison. Yet he presumes to put them on an equal footing. He is taking advantage of the respite.
...وَلأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾
and I will put them all in the wrong --
C1975. Iblis (the Satan) is powerless against Allah. He turns therefore against man and becomes Satan (the Enemy).
إِلاَّ
عِبَادَكَ
مِنْهُمُ
الْمُخْلَصِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾
15: 40. "Except Thy servants among them, sincere and purified (by Thy grace)."
قَالَ
هَذَا صِرَاطٌ
عَلَيَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ ﴿٤١﴾
15: 41. (Allah) said:
"This (Way of My sincere servants) is indeed a Way that leads straight to Me.
C1976. To be sincere in the worship of Allah is to obtain purification from all stain of evil and exemption from all influence of evil. It changes the whole nature of man. After that, evil cannot touch him. Evil will acknowledge him to be beyond its power and will not even tempt him.
Apart from such purified souls, everyone who worships Allah invites Allah's grace to protect him. But if he puts himself in the way of wrong and deliberately chooses evil, he must take the consequences. The blame is not even on Satan, the power of evil, it is on the sinner himself, who puts himself into his power; 14:22: 15:42.
إِنَّ عِبَادِي
لَيْسَ لَكَ
عَلَيْهِمْ
سُلْطَانٌ...
15: 42. "For over My servants no authority shalt thou have,
...إِلاَّ مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ ﴿٤٢﴾
except such as put themselves in the wrong and follow thee."
Pickthall’s Version:
15: 39
Pickthall He said: My Lord, Because Thou has sent me astray, I verily shall adorn the path of error for them in the earth, and shall mislead them every one.
Transliteration Qa_la rabbi bima_ agwaitani la uzayyinanna lahum fil ardi wa la'ugwiyannahum ajma'in(a),
15: 40
Pickthall Save such of them as are Thy perfectly devoted slaves.
Transliteration Illa_ 'iba_daka minhumul mukhlasin(a).
15: 41
Pickthall He said: This is a right course incumbent upon Me:
Transliteration Qa_la ha_za_ sira_tun 'alayya mustaqim(un).
15: 42
Pickthall Lo! as for My slaves, thou hast no power over any of them save such of the froward as follow thee,
Transliteration Inna 'iba_di laisa laka 'alaihim sulta_nun illa_ man-ittaba'aka minal ga_win(a).
15: 40
Pickthall Save such of them as are Thy perfectly devoted slaves.
Transliteration Illa_ 'iba_daka minhumul mukhlasin(a).
15: 41
Pickthall He said: This is a right course incumbent upon Me:
Transliteration Qa_la ha_za_ sira_tun 'alayya mustaqim(un).
15: 42
Asad verily, you shall have no power over My creatures – unless it be such as are lost in grievous error and follow you;
Pickthall Lo! as for My slaves, thou hast no power over any of them save such of the froward as follow thee,
Transliteration Inna 'iba_di laisa laka 'alaihim sulta_nun illa_ man-ittaba'aka minal ga_win(a).
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16. Sura al-Nahl, Mecca 70
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَإِذَا
قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ
فَاسْتَعِذْ
بِاللّهِ مِنَ
الشَّيْطَانِ
الرَّجِيمِ ﴿٩٨﴾
16: 98. When thou dost read the Qur'án, seek Allah's protection from Satan the rejected one.
C2139. Evil has no authority or influence on those who put their trust in Allah. It is good to express that trust in outward actions, and a formal expression of it-as in the formula, "I seek Allah's protection from Evil"-helps us.
Reading or reciting the Quran should be understood both literally and figuratively as the symbol of the earnest desire of the soul to know and understand Allah's Will and act in accordance therewith.
Man is weak at best, and he should seek strength for his will in Allah's help and protection.
إِنَّهُ
لَيْسَ لَهُ
سُلْطَانٌ عَلَى
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ وَعَلَى
رَبِّهِمْ
يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٩٩﴾
16: 99. No authority has he over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord.
إِنَّمَا
سُلْطَانُهُ
عَلَى الَّذِينَ
يَتَوَلَّوْنَهُ
وَالَّذِينَ
هُم بِهِ مُشْرِكُونَ ﴿١٠٠﴾
16: 100. His authority is over those only, who take him as patron and who join partners with Allah.
Other Versions:
16: 98
Asad Now whenever you happen to read this Quran seek refuge with God from Satan, the accursed.
Pickthall And when thou recitest the Quran, seek refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast.
Yuksel So, when you study the Quran, you shall seek refuge with God from Satan the outcast.*
Transliteration Fa iza_ qara'tal qur'a_na fa-sta'iz billa_hi minasy syaita_nir rajim(i).
[[ Yksel’s note - 016:098 Why was this instruction not placed in the beginning of the Quran or every chapter? Is it because we are not asked to utter some words but to acquire a proper mental state before studying the Quran?
[[ Ali’s note- 2139 Evil has no authority or influence on those who put their trust in Allah. It is good to express that trust in outward actions, and a formal expression of it-as in the formula, "I seek Allah's protection from Evil"-helps us. Man is weak at best, and he should seek strength for his will in Allah's help and protection. (16.98) ]]
16: 99
Asad Behold, he has no power over those who have attained to faith and in their Sustainer place their trust:
Pickthall Lo! he hath no power over those who believe and put trust in their Lord.
Yuksel He has no authority over those who acknowledge, and who put their trust in their Lord.
Transliteration Innahu_ laisa lahu_ sulta_nun 'alal lazina a_manu_ wa 'ala_ rabbihim yatawakkalu_n(a).
16: 100
Asad he has power only over those who are willing to follow him, and who ascribe to him a share in God’s divinity.
Pickthall His power is only over those who make a friend of him, and those who ascribe partners unto Him (Allah).
Yuksel His authority is over those who follow him, and those who set him up as a partner.
Transliteration Innama_ sulta_nuhu_ nalal lazi yatawallaunahu_ wal lazina hum bihi musyriku_n(a).
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17. [al-Israa, Mecca 50 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
17: 63. Allah said:
"Go thy way;
C2253. The power of Evil is summarily dismissed, but not without a clear warning.
"Do thy worst; if any of them misuse their limited free-will and deliberately follow thee, they must take the consequences with thee; all of you must answer according to your personal responsibility."
... فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمْ جَزَاء مَّوْفُورًا ﴿٦٣﴾
if any of them follow thee, verily Hell will be the recompense of you (all) -- an ample recompense.
وَاسْتَفْزِزْ
مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ
مِنْهُمْ ...
17: 64. "Lead to destruction those whom thou canst among them,
C2254. "Do thy worst; but ye are both warned that that path leads to destruction."
... بِصَوْتِكَ...
with thy (seductive) voice;
C2255. Evil has many snares for mankind. The one that is put in the foreground is the voice,
- the seductive personal appeal, that "makes the worse appear the better part".
...وَأَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِم بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ...
make assaults on them with thy cavalry and thy infantry;
C2256. The forcible assault of Evil is next mentioned under the metaphor of cavalry and infantry.
It is when cajolery and tempting fair-seeming seem to fail that an attack is made in force with weapons of violence, of all kinds, like the different arms in an organized army.
...وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِي الأَمْوَالِ وَالأَوْلادِ وَعِدْهُمْ...
mutually share with them wealth and children; and make promises to them.
C2257. If the first assaults are resisted. Evil has other weapons in its armoury.
- Tangible fruits are dangled before the eyes, ill-gotten gains and children of sin, that follow from certain very alluring methods of indulgence in passions.
- Or it may be children dedicated to sin or worldly gains, etc. And then there are all kinds of promises for the future.
...وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلاَّ غُرُورًا ﴿٦٤﴾
But Satan promises them nothing but deceit.
C2258. This is a parenthetical clause inserted to show up what the promises of the Satan are worth.
إِنَّ عِبَادِي
لَيْسَ لَكَ
عَلَيْهِمْ
سُلْطَانٌ...
17: 65. "As for My servants, no authority shalt thou have over them."
C2259. This verse should be read along with the two preceding ones to complete their meaning. Evil has no power except over those who yield to its solicitations.
...وَكَفَى بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلاً ﴿٦٥﴾
Enough is thy Lord for a Disposer of affairs.
C2260. As Evil has no authority over the sincere servants of Allah, they should put their trust completely in Him. For He is All-Sufficient to carry out their affairs, and by His grace, to save them from all harm and danger.
Other Versions:
17: 63
Asad [God] answered: “Go! But as for such of them as shall follow you – behold, hell will be the recompense of you [all]’ a recompense most ample!
Pickthall He said: Go, and whosoever of them followeth thee--lo! Hell will be your payment, ample payment.
Transliteration Qa_la-zhab faman tabi'aka minhum fa inna jahannama jaza_'ukum jaza_'am maufu_ra_(n).
17: 64
Asad Entice, then, with your voice such of them you can, and bear upon them with all your horses and all your men, and be their partner in worldly goods and children, ………
Pickthall And excite any of them whom thou canst with thy voice, and urge thy horse and foot against them, and be a partner in their wealth and children, and promise them. Satan promiseth them only to deceive.
Transliteration Wa-stafziz man-istata'ta minhum bi sautika wa ajlib 'alaihim bi khailika wa rajilika wa sya_rik-hum fil amwa_li wal aula_di wa 'idhum, wa ma_ ya'iduhumusy syaita_nu illa_ guru_ra_(n).
17: 65
Asad “Behold, you shall have no power over My servants: for none is as worthy of trust as your Sustainer.”
Pickthall Lo! My (faithful) bondmen--over them thou hast no power,--and your Lord sufficed as (their) guardian.
Inna 'iba_di laisa laka 'alaihim sulta_n(un), wa kafa_ bi rabbika wakila_(n).
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14. Surah Ibrahim, Mecca 72
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَبَرَزُواْ
لِلّهِ جَمِيعًا
فَقَالَ الضُّعَفَاء
لِلَّذِينَ
اسْتَكْبَرُواْ...
14: 21. They will all be marshaled before Allah together:
then will the weak say to those who were arrogant,
C1895. When the time for judgment comes, there are two kinds of disillusionment waiting for the ungodly:
1. Those who were misled and failed to see that each soul bears its own personal responsibility (2:134) and cannot shift it on to others, will turn to those who misled them, in the hope that they might intercede for them or do something to help them. They receive a plain answer as in the latter part of this verse.
2. Those who relied on Satan, His answer (in 14:22 below) is frank, cynical and brutal.
...إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ اللّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ...
"For us, we but followed you; can ye then avail us at all against the wrath of Allah?"
...قَالُواْ لَوْ هَدَانَا اللّهُ لَهَدَيْنَاكُمْ...
They will reply,
"If we had received the guidance of Allah, we should have given it to you:
C1896. Those whose power or specious intelligence or influence misled them -such as false priests or leaders- will find themselves in a parlous state.
How can they help others?
They themselves failed to profit from Allah's guidance, and they can with some justice retort that they put them in the wrong path as they followed it themselves!
...سَوَاء عَلَيْنَآ أَجَزِعْنَا أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ ﴿٢١﴾
to us it makes no difference (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience:
for ourselves there is no way of escape."
وَقَالَ
الشَّيْطَانُ
لَمَّا قُضِيَ
الأَمْرُ إِنَّ
اللّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ
وَعْدَ الْحَقِّ...
14: 22. And Satan will say when the matter is decided:
C1897. After the Judgment, Evil declares itself in its true colours. Frankly it says:
'I deceived you. The promise of Allah was true, but you believed me rather than Allah. I had no power to force you. I had but to call you, and you came running after me. You must blame yourselves.
Did you think I was equal with Allah?
I know too well that I was not and never could be. If you did wrong, you must suffer the Penalty.'
"It was Allah Who gave you a promise of truth:
...وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ...
I too promised, but I failed in my promise to you.
...وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ إِلاَّ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِي...
I had no authority over you except to call you, but ye listened to me:
...فَلاَ تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُواْ أَنفُسَكُم...
then reproach not me, but reproach your own souls.
...مَّا أَنَاْ بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَا أَنتُمْ بِمُصْرِخِيَّ...
I cannot listen to your cries, nor can ye listen to mine.
...إِنِّي كَفَرْتُ بِمَآ أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِن قَبْلُ...
I reject your former act in associating me with Allah.
C1898. See the last note.
An alternative interpretation of this sentence may be:
"I had already beforehand rebelled against Allah with Whom ye associated me."
...إِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٢﴾
For wrongdoers there must be a Grievous Penalty."
Pickthall’s Version:
14: 21
Pickthall They all come forth unto their Lord. Then those who were despised say unto those who were scornful: We were unto you a following, can ye then avert from us aught of Allah's doom? They say: Had Allah guided us, we should have guided you. Whether we rage or patiently endure is (now) all one for us: we have no place of refuge.
Yuksel They all appeared before God. The weak ones said to those who were arrogant: "We were following you, so will you avail us anything from God's retribution?" They said, "If God had guided us, then we would have guided you. It makes no difference if we rage or endure, for we have no refuge."
Transliteration Wa barazu_ lilla_hi jami'an faqa_lad du'afa_'u lil lazina-stakbaru_ inna_ kunna_ lakum taba'an fahal antum mugna_na 'anna_ min 'aza_billa_hi min syai'(in), qa_lu_ lau had_nalla_hu lahadaina_kum, sawa_'un 'alaina_ ajazi'na_ am sabarna_ ma_ lana_ mim mahis(in).
[[ Ali’s notes -
1895 When the time for judgment comes, there are two kinds of disillusionment waiting for the ungodly: (1) Those who were misled and failed to see that each soul bears its own personal responsibility (ii. 134) and cannot shift it on to others, will turn to those who misled them, in the hope that they might intercede for them or do something to help them. They receive a plain answer as in the latter part of this verse. (2) Those who relied on Satan, His answer (in xiv. 22 below) is frank, cynical and brutal. (14.21)
1896 Those whose power or specious intelligence or influence misled them-such as false priests or leaders-will find themselves in a parlous state. How can they help others? They themselves failed to profit from Allah's guidance, and they can with some justice retort that they put them in the wrong path as they followed it themselves! (14.21) ]]
14: 22
Pickthall And Satan saith, when the matter hath been decided: Lo! Allah promised you a promise of truth; and I promised you, then failed you. And I had no power over you save that I called unto you and ye obeyed me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can ye help me. Lo! I disbelieved in that which ye before ascribed to me. Lo! for wrong-doers is a painful doom.
Transliteration Wa qa_lasy syaita_nu lamma qudiyal amru innalla_ha wa'adakum wa'dal haqqi wa wa'attukum fa akhlaftukum, wa ma_ ka_na liya 'alaikum min sulta_nin illa_ an da'autukum fa-stajabtum li, fala_ talu_mu_ni wa lu_mu_ anfusakum, ma_ ana bi musrikhikum wa ma_ antum bi musrikhiyy(a), inni kafartu bima_ asyraktumu_ni min qabl(u), innaz za_limina lahum 'aza_bun alim(un).
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58. Al-Mujadalah (The Pleading)
Medina Period [105]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّمَا
النَّجْوَى
مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ
لِيَحْزُنَ
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا...
58: 10. Secret counsels are only (inspired) by the Evil One, in order that he may cause grief to the Believers;
...وَلَيْسَ بِضَارِّهِمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ...
but he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits;
C5346. Evil can harm no one who is good, except in so far as
there is some question of trial in Allah's Universal Plan, or
what appears to be harm may be real good.
Nothing happens without Allah's will and permission. And we must always trust Him, and not our cleverness or any adventitious circumstances that draw us the least bit from the path of rectitude.
...وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
and on Allah let the Believers put their trust.
Asad’s Version:
58:10 [All other kinds of] secret confabulations are but of Satan's doing, so that he might cause grief to those who have attained to faith; yet he cannot harm them in the least, unless it be by God's leave: 17 in God, then, let the believers place their trust!
[[Asad’s note - 17 I.e., in and by itself, the force of evil epitomized in the concept of "Satan" has no power whatever: cf. 14:22 - "I had no power at all over you: I but called you - and you responded unto me. Hence, blame not me, but blame yourselves." (See also Razi's views quoted in my note 3 1 on the above- mentioned verse.) As regards the problem of God's "letting" or "allowing" a person to go astray (implied in the phrase "unless it be by God's leave"), see note 4 on 14:4. ]]