3. Sura al-Imran

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ...

3: 161. No prophet could (ever) be false to his trust.

C472. Besides the gentleness of his nature, Al-Mustafa was known from his earliest life for his trustworthiness. Hence his title of Al-Amin. Unscrupulous people often read their own low motives into other men, and their accusation, which is meant to injure, fastens on the various virtues for which the man they attack is well known.

Some of the Hypocrites after Uhud raised some doubts about the division of the spoils, thinking to sow the seeds of poison in the hearts of the men who had deserted their posts in their craving for booty.

Those low suspicions were never believed in by any sensible people, and they have no interest for us now. But the general principles here declared are of eternal value.

1. Prophets of Allah do not act from unworthy motives.

2. Those who act from such motives are the lowest of creatures, and they will make no profit,

3. A prophet of Allah is not to be judged by the same standard as a greedy creature.

4. in Allah's eyes there are various grades of men, and we must try to understand and appreciate such grades.

If we trust our Leader, we shall not question his honesty without cause. If he is dishonest, he is not fit to be a leader. (R).

... وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ...

If any person is so false, He shall, on the Day of Judgment, restore what he misappropriated;

...ثُمَّ تُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿١٦١﴾

then shall every soul receive its due, whatever it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly.

Asad’s Version:

3: 161 And it is not conceivable that a prophet should deceive - since he who deceives shall be faced with his deceit on the Day of Resurrection, when every human being shall be repaid in full for whatever he has done, and none shall be wronged.

Asad(see note 123, p.92)