28. Al-Qasas, (The Story)

Mecca Period 49

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

28: 87. And let nothing keep thee back from the Signs of Allah after they have been revealed to thee:

...وَادْعُ إِلَى رَبِّكَ...

and invite (men) to thy Lord,

...وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾

and be not of the company of those who join gods with Allah.

وَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ...

28: 88. And call not, besides Allah, on another god.

...لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ...

There is no god but He.

...كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ...

Everything (that exists) will perish except His own Face.

...لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾

To Him belongs the Command, and to Him will ye (all) be brought back.

Asad’s Version:

(28:87) and never let them turn thee away from God's messages after they have been bestowed upon thee from on high: instead," summon [all men] to thy Sustainer. And never be of those who ascribe divinity to aught but Him,

(28:88) and never call upon any other deity side by side with God. There is no deity save Him. Everything is bound to perish, save His [eternal] Self 100 With Him rests all judgment; and unto Him shall you all be brought back.

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Ali’s comments:

C3420. The soldier of Allah, having taken up the fight against evil, and knowing that he is in touch with the true Light, never yields an inch of ground. He is always to the fore in inviting others to his own ranks, but he himself refuses to be with those who worship anything else but Allah.

C3421. This sums up the lesson of the whole Surah.

The only Eternal Reality is Allah. The whole phenomenal world is subject to flux and change and will pass away, but He will endure for ever. (R).