35. Al-Fatir (The Originator)

Mecca Period 43

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَفَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَنًا...

35: 8. Is he, then, to whom the evil of his conduct is made alluring, so that he looks upon it as good (equal to one who is rightly guided)?

... فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاء...

For Allah leaves to stray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills.

... وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء فَلَا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ...

So let not thy soul go out in (vainly) sighing after them:

... إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿٨﴾

for Allah knows well all that they do!

Asad’s Version:

35:8 Is, then, he to whom the evil of his own doings is [so] alluring that [in the end] he regards it as good [anything but a follower of Satan]? For, verily, God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray], just as He guides him that wills [to be guided]. 6 Hence, [O believer,] do not waste thyself in sorrowing over them: verily, God has

full knowledge of all that they do!

Yuksel’s Version:

35:8 The one whose evil work is adorned and he sees it as being good. God thus misguides whom he wills, and He guides whom He wills. So do not let yourself grieve over them. God is fully aware of what they are doing.

*************************************************

Ali’s comments:

C3880. Cf. n. 3877 above.

When a stage is reached at which a man accepts Evil as his Good, his case is hopeless.

Can such a man profit by preaching or guidance?

He has himself deliberately rejected all guidance. Such a man is best left to stray. Perhaps, even in the paths in which he is straying, some sudden flash of light may come to him! That may be as Allah wills in His holy and wise Purpose and Plan.

But the prophet of Allah is not to worry or feel disheartened by such men's attitude. He must go on tilling the soil that is open to him. For Allah's Plan may work in all sorts of unexpected ways, as in the allegory in the next verse. (R).