29. Al-'Ankabut (The Spider)

Period Uncertain

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِالْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءهُ...

29: 68. And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah or rejects the Truth when it reaches Him?

C3501. Cf. 6:21.

Even from a worldly point of view those who reject Allah's Truth are at a disadvantage. But those who deliberately invent lies and set up false gods for worship, what punishment can we imagine for them except a permanent deprivation of Allah's grace, and a home in Hell? (R).

...أَلَيْسَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ مَثْوًى لِّلْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٦٨﴾

Is there not a home in Hell for those who reject Faith?

وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا ...

29:69 And those who strive in Our (Cause),

C3502. "Strive in Our Cause." All that man can do is to strive in Allah's Cause. As soon as he strives with might and main, with constancy and determination, the Light and Mercy of Allah come to meet him.

- They cure his defects and shortcomings.

- They provide him with the means by which he can raise himself above himself.

- They point out the Way, and all the Paths leading up to it.

See next note.

... فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا...

We will certainly guide them to Our Paths:

C3503. The Way of Allah (sirat-ul-Mustaqim) is a Straight Way. But men have strayed from it in all directions. And there are numerous Paths by which they can get back to the Right Way, the way in which the purity of their own nature, and the Will and Mercy of Allah require them to Walk.

All these numerous Paths become open to them if once they give their hearts in keeping to Allah and work in right Endeavour (Jihad) with all their mind and soul and resources. Thus will they get out of the Spider's web of this frail world and attain to eternal Bliss in the fulfillment of their true Destiny.

...وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٦٩﴾

for verily Allah is with those who do right.

Asad’s Version:

29:68 And who could be more wicked than he who attributes his own lying inventions to God, 60 or gives the lie to the truth when it comes unto him [through revelation]? Is not hell the [proper] abode for all who [thus] deny the truth?

29:69 But as for those who strive hard in Our cause - We shall most certainly guide them onto paths that lead unto Us:" for, behold, God is indeed with the doers of good.

[[ Asad’s note -

61 Lit., "Our paths". The plural used here is obviously meant to stress the fact - alluded to often in the Qur'an - that there are many paths which lead to a cognizance (ma'rifah) of God. ]]