Sura 4, al-Nissa [The Women], Medina 92 [Hijra 4]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Translation:

وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ آمَنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ...

39.  And what burden were it on them if they had faith in God and in the Last Day,

... وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ اللّهُ...  

and they spent out of what God hath given them for sustenance?

... وَكَانَ اللّهُ بِهِم عَلِيمًا ﴿٣٩﴾

for God hath full knowledge of them.

Transliteration Wa ma_za_ 'alaihim lau a_manu_ billa_hi wal yaumil a_khiri wa anfaqu_ mimma_ razaqahumulla_h(u), wa ka_nalla_hu bihim 'alima_(n).

إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَاعِفْهَا...   

40.  God 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.

Transliteration Innalla_ha la_ yazlimu misqa_la zarrah(tin), wa in taku hasanatay yuda_'ifha_ wa yu'ti mil ladunhu ajran 'azima_(n).

Other Translations:

Asad

4:39

And what would they have to fear [50] if they would but believe in God

and the Last Day, and spend [in His way] out of what God has granted

them as sustenance – since God has indeed full knowledge of them?

4:40

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 51 a mighty reward.

Pickthall

4:39

What have they (to fear) if they believe in Allah and the Last Day

and spend (aright) of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them,

when Allah is ever Aware of them ( and all they do)?

4: 40

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.

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Asad’s Comments:

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 Comments:

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) ]]