Key Verses on Attitude Towards Life
2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَمْ
حَسِبْتُمْ
أَن تَدْخُلُواْ
الْجَنَّةَ
وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم
مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ
خَلَوْاْ مِن
قَبْلِكُم ...
2: 214. Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you?
... مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَزُلْزِلُواْ...
They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit
... حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللّهِ ...
that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?"
... أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ ﴿٢١٤﴾
Ah! verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!
Other versions:
2: 214 [al-Baqarah, Medina 87]
Asad [But] do you think that you could enter paradise without having suffered like those [believers] who passed away before you [note 199]? Misfortune and hardship befell them, and so shaken were they that the apostle, and the believers with him, would exclaim, “When will God’s succor come? Oh, verily, God’s succor is [always] near [note 200]!
Yusuf Ali Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity and were so shaken in spirit that even the Apostle and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! verily the help of Allah is (always) near!
Pickthall Or think ye that ye will enter Paradise while yet there hath not come unto you the like of (that which came to) those who passed away before you? Affliction and adversity befell them, they were shaken as with earthquake, till the messenger (of Allah) and those who believed along with him said: When cometh Allah's help? Now surely Allah's help is nigh.
Transliteration Am hasibtum an tadkhulul jannata wa lamma_ ya'tikum masalul lazina khalau min qablikum massathumul ba'sa_'u wad darra_'u wa zulzilu_ hatta_ yaqu_lar rasu_lu wal lazina a_manu_ ma'ahu_ mata_ nasrull_h(i), ala_ inna nasralla_hi qarib(un).
[ Asad’s note 199 – …….This passage connect with the words, “God guides onto a straight way him that will [to be guided], which occur at the end of the preceding verse. The meaning is that intellectual cognition of the truth cannot, by itself, be a means of attaining to ultimate bliss: it must be complemented by readiness to sacrifice and spiritual purification through suffering.]
[ Ruby’s note – It is implied here that life will be tested sometimes to the point when even the most righteous people may become desperate and question “when” the help is going to come? Generally the prophets and righteous people are patient and submissive. At times the trials of life can be so severe that even they lose their composure. This verse is to communicate to the believers to expect that kind of serious and severe tests in life. More righteous one is more severe the trials can be. Because through these trials and sufferings one reaches to the higher stations of life and existence. Through these tests one learns to rely on God more, submit to God’s Will more and do not give away to wrong doings to make it easier. This is the essence of submission. ]
14. Surah Ibrahim
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قَالَتْ
رُسُلُهُمْ
أَفِي اللّهِ
شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضِ...
14: 10. Their Messengers said:
"Is there a doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth?
...يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَـمًّى...
It is He Who invites you, in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!"
C1885. The Prophets (generally) clear both kinds of doubt.
"You cannot doubt the existence of Allah! Behold His works! We are not speaking for ourselves or deceiving you. We speak according to the Message of inspiration from Allah."
Notice that the doubters had said to the Prophets, -Ye invite us.- The Prophets say: "It is Allah Who invites you, and He does it to save you by His grace, and give you plenty of time (but not indefinite time) for penitence and amendment."
...قَالُواْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا...
They said:
"Ah! ye are no more than human, like ourselves!
...تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَآؤُنَا... ...
Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship:
...فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿١٠﴾
then bring us some clear authority."
C1886. Infidelity is illogical and argues in a circle.
If the Prophet speaks of Allah, the Unbeliever says, "You are only a man!"
"But I speak from Allah!"
"Oh well! our ancestral ways of worship are good enough for us!"
"What if they are wrong?"
"What authority have you for saying so?"
"The highest authority, that from Allah!"
And so we come back full circle! Then the wicked rely on violence, but it recoils on them, and they perish.
قَالَتْ
لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ
إِن نَّحْنُ
إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ
مِّثْلُكُمْ...
14: 11. Their Messengers said to them:
"True, we are human like yourselves,
...وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ...
but Allah doth grant His grace to such of His servants as He pleases.
...وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَانٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ...
It is not for us to bring you an authority except as Allah permits.
...وَعلَى اللّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١١﴾
And on Allah let all men of faith put their trust.
وَمَا لَنَا
أَلاَّ نَتَوَكَّلَ
عَلَى اللّهِ
وَقَدْ هَدَانَا
سُبُلَنَا...
14: 12. "No reason have we why we should not put our trust on Allah. Indeed He has guided us to the Ways we (follow).
...وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَى مَا آذَيْتُمُونَا...
We shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us:
...وَعَلَى اللّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ ﴿١٢﴾
for those who put their trust should put their trust on Allah."
Other versions:
14: 10
Yusuf Ali Their apostles said: "Is there a doubt about Allah the Creator of the heavens and the earth? It is He Who invites you in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!" They said: "Ah! ye are no more than human like ourselves! Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship: then bring us some clear authority."
Pickthall Their messengers said: Can there be doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calleth you that He may forgive you your sins and reprieve you unto an appointed term. They said: Ye are but mortals like us, who would fain turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring some clear warrant.
Yuksel Their messengers said, "Is there doubt regarding God, the initiator of the heavens and the earth? He invites you so that He may forgive some of your sins, and grant you until a predetermined time." They said, "You are but humans like us, you wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to serve. So come to us with clear authority."
Transliteration Qa_lat rusuluhum afailla_hi syakkun fa_tiris sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), yad'u_kum liyagfira lakum min zunu_bikum wa yu'akhkhirakum ila_ ajalim musamma_(n), qa_lu_ in antum illa_ basyarum misluna_, turidu_na an tasuddu_na_ 'amma_ ka_na yanbudu a_ba_'una_ fa'tu_na_ bi sulta_nim mubin(in).
[[ Ali’s notes -
1885 The Prophets (generally) clear both kinds of doubt. "You cannot doubt the existence of Allah! Behold His works! We are not speaking for ourselves or deceiving you. We speak according to the Message of inspiration from Allah.- Notice that the doubters had said to the Prophets, "Ye invite us." The Prophets say: "It is Allah Who invites you, and He does it to save you by His grace, and give you plenty of time (but not indefinite time) for penitence and amendment." (14.10)
1886 Infidelity is illogical and argues in a circle. If the Prophet speaks of Allah, the Unbeliever says, "You are only a man!" "But I speak from Allah!" "Oh well! our ancestral ways of worship are good enough for us!" "What if they are wrong?" "What authority have you for saying so?" "The highest authority, that from Allah!" And so we come back full circle! Then the wicked rely on violence, but it recoils on them, and they perish. (14.10) ]]
14: 11
Yusuf Ali Their apostles said to them: "True we are human like yourselves but Allah doth grant His grace to such of His servants as He pleases. It is not for us to bring you an authority except as Allah permits. And on Allah let all men of faith put their trust.
Pickthall Their messengers said unto them: We are but mortals like you, but Allah giveth grace unto whom He will of His slaves. It is not ours to bring you a warrant unless by the permission of Allah. In Allah let believers put their trust!
Transliteration Qa_lat lahum rusuluhum in nahnu illa_ basyarum mislukum wa la_kinnalla_ha yamunnu 'ala_ may yasya_'u min 'iba_dih(i), wa ma_ ka_na lana_ an na'tiyakum bi sulta_nin illa_ bi iznilla_h(i), wa 'alalla_hi falyatawakkalil mu'minu_n(a).
14: 12
Yusuf Ali "No reason have we why we should not put our trust on Allah. Indeed He has guided us to the Ways we (follow). We shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us: for those who put their trust should put their trust on Allah."
Pickthall How should we not put our trust in Allah when He hath shown us our ways? We surely will endure that hurt ye do us. In Allah let the trusting put their trust!
Transliteration Wa ma_ lana_ alla_ natawakkala 'alalla_hi wa qad hada_na_ subulana_, wa lanasbiranna 'ala_ ma_ a_zaitumu_na_, wa 'alalla_hi fal yatawakkalil mutawakkilu_n(a).