Ra’u fur Rahim: Most Compassionate

16. Sura al-Nahl, Mecca 70

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ ﴿٦﴾   

16: 6.     And ye have a sense of pride and beauty in them as ye drive them home in the evening, and as ye lead them forth to pasture in the morning.

C2025. The good man is proud of his cattle and is good to them. As they go to, and return from, pasture, morning and evening, he has a sense of his power and wealth and their beauty and docility.

Will not man turn from these material facts to the great spiritual truths and purpose behind them?

وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَى بَلَدٍ لَّمْ تَكُونُواْ بَالِغِيهِ إِلاَّ بِشِقِّ الأَنفُسِ...

16: 7.     And they carry your heavy loads to lands that ye could not (otherwise) reach except with souls distressed:

C2026. The cattle and animals also carry loads, and thus make inter-communication between different lands easy. But for them there would have been many difficulties, not only physical, but psychological.

Weary men carrying loads are in no mood for social and spiritual intercourse. This intercourse is made possible by the kindness and mercy of Allah.

... إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٧﴾

for your Lord is indeed Most Kind, Most Merciful.

Pickthall’s Version:

16: 6

Pickthall And wherein is beauty for you, when ye bring them home, and when ye take them out to pasture.

Transliteration Wa lakum fiha_ jama_lun hina turihu_na wa hina tasrahu_n(a),

16: 7

Pickthall And they bear your loads for you unto a land ye could not reach save with great trouble to yourselves. Lo! your Lord is Full of Pity, Merciful.

Transliteration Wa tahmilu asqa_lakum ila_ baladil lam taku_nu_ ba_ligihi illaa_ bi syiqqil anfus(i), inna rabbakum la ra'u_fur rahim(uw),