9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ...
9: 34. O ye who believe!
إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ...
there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in false hood devour the substance of men
C1291. Bil-batili: in falsehood. i.e., by false means, pretences, or in false or vain things.
This was strikingly exemplified in the history of Mediaeval Europe. Though the disease is apt to attack all peoples and organizations at all times. Priests got rich by issuing indulgences and dispensations; they made their office a stepping stone to worldly power and possessions.
Even the Monastic Orders, which took vows of poverty for individuals grew rich with corporate property, until their wealth became a scandal, even among their own nations.
...وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ...
and hinder (them) from the way of Allah.
...وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ...
And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah:
C1292. Misuse of wealth, property, and resources is frequently condemned, and in three ways:
1. do not acquire anything wrongfully or on false pretences;
2. do not hoard or bury or amass wealth for its own sake but use it freely for good, whether for yourself or for your neighbors; and
3. be particularly careful not to waste it for idle purposes, but only so that it may fructify for the good of the people.
...فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿٣٤﴾
announce unto them a most grievous penalty.
9: 34
Asad O you who have attained to faith! Behold, many of the rabbis and monks do indeed wrongfully devour men’s possessions and turn away from the path of God. But as for all who lay up treasures of gold and silver and do not spend them for the sake of God(note 51) – give them the tiding of grievous suffering
Pickthall O ye, who believe! Lo! many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks devour the wealth of mankind wantonly and debar (men) from the way of Allah. They who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah, unto them give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ inna kasiram minal ahba_ri war ruhba_ni laya'kulu_na amwa_lan na_si bil ba_tili wa yasuddu_na 'an sabililla_h(i), wallazina yaknizu_naz zahaba wal fiddata wa la_ yunfiqu_naha_ fi sabililla_h(i), fa basysyirhum bi 'aza_bin alim(iy);
[ Asad’s note 51: Most probably this is, in the first instance, an allusion to the wealth of the Jewish and Christian communities, and their misuse of this wealth. Some of the commentators, however, are of the opinion that the reference is wider, ……]
[ Ruby’s note: Here rabbis and monks are mentioned just to give an example of amassing and misuse of wealth, because at that time they were the most glaring examples. Showing to be the man of God and then misusing the wealth of others is most serious failure and sin. However, the next sentence clarifies that it is not only them but all who does this grave wrongdoing would bear the consequence of grievous suffering. IT is not addressed only to the rabbis and monks but all who wrongfully devour others’ possessions and turn away from the path of God. ]