Sura -17 [Al-Israa, Mecca 50]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
كُلاًّ نُّمِدُّ
هَـؤُلاء وَهَـؤُلاء
مِنْ عَطَاء
رَبِّكَ...
17:20. Of the bounties of thy Lord We bestow freely on all -- these as well as those:
...وَمَا كَانَ عَطَاء رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا ﴿٢٠﴾
the bounties of thy Lord are not closed (to anyone).
C2200. Allah's favours are showered on all,
- the just and the unjust,
- the deserving and the undeserving.
But there is a difference as explained in the last two verses.
انظُرْ
كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا
بَعْضَهُمْ
عَلَى بَعْضٍ...
17:21. See how We have bestowed more on some than on others;
...وَلَلآخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلاً ﴿٢١﴾
but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.
C2201. Nor should man suppose that all gifts are of equal value. The spiritual ones rank far higher in dignity and real worth than the transitory ones. Therefore it is altogether wrong to compare the worldly prosperity of a wicked man with the apparent want of it to a man of spiritual worth.
There is no comparison between them when measured by right standards.
لاَّ تَجْعَل
مَعَ اللّهِ
إِلَـهًا آخَرَ ...
17:22. Take not with Allah another object of worship;
C2202. The seeming inequality of gifts to men might make short-sighted men impugn the impartiality of Allah. But the fault lies with such men's own want of knowledge and want of Faith. There is no excuse for them to seek other objects of worship than Allah. For there is none worthy of worship except Allah.
... فَتَقْعُدَ مَذْمُومًا مَّخْذُولاً ﴿٢٢﴾
or thou (O man!) wilt sit in disgrace and destitution.
C2203. If foolish men turn to false objects of worship, they will not only be disappointed, but they will lose the respect of their own fellow-men, and spiritually they will be reduced to destitution. All their talents and their works will be of no avail.
C.129>C.129 (The running Commentary, in Rhythmic Prose)
(17:23-40)
To be worthy of the service of the One True God.
We must love and serve His Creatures
The parents who cherished us in childhood
Deserve our humble reverence and service; next
Come the rights of kinsmen, those in want,
And wayfaring strangers; to each
According to his need, not in spendthrift show
And gentleness is needed to those whom we
Cannot help. Allah will provide. He hs made
Life sacred and pure. Fulfil your trusts
For orphans and deal with all in strictest
Probity. Pry not into evil from curiosity,
And shun insolence: for Allah hates evil-
The One, the Good, the Universal Lord!
Other versions:
17: 20
Yusuf Ali Of the bounties of thy Lord We bestow freely on all these as well as those: the bounties of thy Lord are not closed (to anyone).
Pickthall Each do We supply, both these and those, from the bounty of thy Lord. And the bounty of thy Lord can never be walled up.
Yuksel 17:20 For both groups We will bestow from the bounty of your Lord. The bounty of your Lord is never restricted.
Transliteration Kullan numiddu ha_'ula_'i wa ha_'ula_'i min 'ata_'i rabbik(a), wa ma_ ka_na 'ata_'u rabbika mahzu_ra_(n).
[[ Ali’s notes - Allah's favours are showered on all,-the just and the unjust, the deserving and the undeserving. But there is a difference as explained in the last two verses. (17.20)
2201 Nor should man suppose that all gifts are of equal value. The spiritual ones rank far higher in dignity and real worth than the transitory ones. Therefore it is altogether wrong to compare the worldly prosperity of a wicked man with the apparent want of it to a man of spiritual worth. There is no comparison between them when measured by right standards. (17.21) ]]
17: 21
Yusuf Ali See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.
Pickthall See how We prefer one above another, and verily the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.
Yuksel See how We have preferred some of them over the others; and in the Hereafter are greater levels, and greater preference.
Transliteration Unzur kaifa faddalna_ a'dahum 'ala_ ba'd(in), wa la la_khiratu akbaru daraja_tiw wa akbaru tafdila_(n).
17: 22
Yusuf Ali Take not with Allah another object of worship; or thou (O man!) wilt sit in disgrace and destitution.
Pickthall Set not up with Allah any other god (O man) lest thou sit down reproved, forsaken.
Yuksel Do not set up with God another god; or you will find yourself disgraced, abandoned.
Transliteration La_ taj'al ma'alla_hi ila_han a_khara fa taq'uda mazmu_mam makhzu_la_(n).