17. [al-Israa, Mecca 50 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا...   

17: 111. Say:

"Praise be to Allah Who begets no son,

...وَلَم يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلِيٌّ مِّنَ الذُّلَّ...

and has no partner in (His) dominion: nor (needs) He any to protect Him from humiliation:

...وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا ﴿١١١﴾

Yea, magnify Him for His greatness and glory!"

Wa qulil hamdu lilla_hil lazi lam yattakhiz waladaw wa lam yakul lahu_ syarikun fil mulki wa lam yakul lahu_ waliyyum minaz zulli wa kabbirhu takbira_(n).

Other Versions:

17: 111

Pickthall And say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath not taken unto Himself a son, and Who hath no partner in the Sovereignty, nor hath He any protecting friend through dependence. And magnify Him with all magnificence.

Yuksel Say, "Praise is to God, who has not taken a son, nor does He have a partner in sovereignty, nor does He have an ally out of weakness." Glorify Him greatly.

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[Ali’s notes:

C2324. A first step towards the understanding of Allah's attributes is to clear our mind from superstitions, such as that Allah begot a son, or that He has partners, or that He is dependent upon other beings to protect Him from harm and humiliation.

We must realise that He is the One and Peerless. His greatness and glory are above anything we can conceive: but using our highest spiritual ideas, we must declare forth His greatness and glory.

The Surah began with singing the glory and praises of Allah: it ends on the same note, concluding the argument.

The next Surah takes up the same theme from another point of view, and opens with the same note, "Praise be to Allah". (R).]