Sura-30 [Ar-Rum, Mecca 84]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version

ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا مِنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ ...

30:28. He does propound to you a similitude from your own (experience):

C3535. One way in which we can get some idea of the things higher than our own plane is to think of Parables and Similitudes drawn from our own lives and experience. And such a Similitude or Parable is offered to us now about false worship.

See next note.

...هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُم مِّن شُرَكَاء فِي مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ...

do ye have partners among those whom your right hands possess, to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you?

C3536. Allah is far higher above His Creation than any, the highest, of His creatures can be above any, the lowest, of His creatures. And yet would a man share his wealth on equal terms with his dependants?

Even what he calls his wealth is not really his own, but given by Allah. It is "his" in common speech by reason merely of certain accidental circumstances.

How then can men raise Allah's creatures to equality with Allah in worship?

...فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَاء تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ...

Do ye fear them as ye fear each other?

C3537. Men fear each other as equals in a state of society at perpetual warfare. To remove this fear they appoint an authority among themselves

a King or sovereign authority whom they consider just

to preserve them from this fear and give them an established order.

But they must obey and revere this authority and depend upon this authority for their own tranquility and security.

Even with their equals there is always the fear of public opinion. But men do not fear, or obey, or revere those who are their slaves or dependents.

Man is dependent on Allah. And Allah is the Sovereign authority in an infinitely higher sense. He is in no sense dependent on us, but we must honor and revere Him and fear to disobey His Will or His Law.

"The fear of Allah is the beginning of wisdom."

...كَذَلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾

Thus do We explain the Signs in detail to a people that understand.

C3538. Cf. 6:55, and 7:32, 7:174. etc.

Yusuf Ali He does propound to you a similitude from your own (experience): do ye have partners among those whom your right hands possess to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you? Do ye fear them as ye fear each other? Thus do We explain the Signs in detail to a people that understand.

Pickthall He coineth for you a similitude of yourselves. Have ye, from among those whom your right hands possess, partners in the wealth We have bestowed upon you, equal with you in respect thereof, so that ye fear them as ye fear each other (that ye ascribe unto Us partners out of that which We created)? Thus We display the revelations for people who have sense.

Yuksel Monotheism: A Natural and Rational System

An example is cited for you from among yourselves: are there any from among those who are still dependant that are partners to you in what provisions We have given you that you become equal therein? Would you fear them as you fear each other? It is such that We clarify the signs for a people who have sense.

Transliteration Daraba lakum masalam min anfusikum hal lakum mim ma_ malakat aima_nukum min suraka_a fi ma_ razaqna_kum fa antum fihi sawa_ un taha_fu_nahum kakifatikum anfusakum kaza_lika nufas silul a_ya_ti liqaumiy yaqilu_n