4. Sura an-Nisa
Medina 92 [Hijra 4]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ
اللّهَ لاَ
يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ
ذَرَّةٍ وَإِن
تَكُ حَسَنَةً
يُضَاعِفْهَا...
4: 40. Allah is never unjust in the least degree: if there is any good (done),
He doubleth it,
... وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٤٠﴾
and giveth from His own presence a great reward.
C559. Any little good of our own comes from the purity of our heart. Its results in the world are doubled and multiplied by Allah's grace and mercy; but an even greater reward comes from Him: His good pleasure, which brings us nearer to Him
أَلَمْ
تَرَ إِلَى
الَّذِينَ
يُزَكُّونَ
أَنفُسَهُمْ...
4: 49. Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who claim sanctity for themselves?
C570. The sanctimonious or self-sanctified people are the farthest from sanctity or purity, which can only proceed from Allah. They cannot play with Allah's Truth and yet go on claiming to be guided and purified or justified by Allah.
Their falsehood in itself condemns them: no further proof is needed of their selfishness and evil.
... بَلِ اللّهُ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاء ...
Nay, but Allah doth sanctify whom He pleaseth
... وَلاَ يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً ﴿٤٩﴾
but never will they fail to receive justice in the least little thing.
C571. Literally, the small skin in the groove of a date stone, a thing of no value; fatila.
4: 40
Asad Verily, God does not wrong [anyone] by as much as an atom’s weight; and if there be a good deed, he will multiply it, and will bestow out of His grace [note 51] a mighty reward.
Pickthall Lo! Allah wrong not even of the weight of an ant; and if there is a good deed, He will double it and will give (the doer) from His presence an immense reward.
Transliteration Innalla_ha la_ yazlimu misqa_la zarrah(tin), wa in taku hasanatay yuda_'ifha_ wa yu'ti mil ladunhu ajran 'azima_(n).
[ Ruby’s note – God’s full knowledge is mentioned here to stress the fact that all our actions and thinking are being properly considered and weighed for our results, therefore human beings do not need to fear if they basically do right things – among them charity is paramount-- and believe in God and the Hereafter.]
[[ Asad’s note 50 – Lit., “what is it that would be upon them”. This seems to be a reference to the oft-repeated Quranic statement that those who believe in God and live righteously “need have no fear” (la khawf alayhim – lit., “no fear [shall be] upon them”). 51 – Lit., “from Himself” – i.e., far in excess of what the doer of good may have merited.]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 558 Sustenance: physical, intellectual, spiritual-everything pertaining to life and growth. Our being is from Allah, and we must therefore spend ourselves freely for Allah. How can it be a burden? It is merely a response to the demand of our own healthy nature. (4.39)
559 Any little good of our own comes from the purity of our heart. Its results in the world are doubled and multiplied by Allah's grace and mercy; but an even greater reward comes from Him: His good pleasure, which brings us nearer to Him. (4.40) ]]
4: 49
Asad Are you not aware of those who consider themselves pure? [note 66] Nay, but it is God who causes whomever He wills to grow in purity; and none shall be wronged by as much as a hair’s breadth. [note 67]
Pickthall Hast thou not seen those who praise themselves for purity? Nay, Allah purifieth whom He will, and they will not be wronged even the hair upon a date stone.
Transliteration Alam tara ilal lazina yuzakku_na anfusahum, balilla_hu yuzakki may yasya_'u wa la_ yuzlamu_na fatila_(n).