29. Surah Al 'Ankabut

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَإِذَا رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ...

29: 65. Now, if they embark on a boat, they call on Allah, making their devotion sincerely (and exclusively) to Him;

C3498. Cf. 7:29, where I have slightly varied the English phrase according to the context.

It was shown in the last verse that the life of this world is fleeting, and that the true life-that which matters-is the Life in the Hereafter.

In contrast with this inner reality is now shown the shortsighted folly of man. Where he faces the physical dangers of the sea, which are but an incident in the phenomenal world, he actually and sincerely seeks the help of Allah; but when he is safely back on land, he forgets the Realities, plunges into the pleasures and vanities of fleeting phenomena, and his devotion, which should be given exclusively to Allah, is shared by idols and vanities of his own imagination. (R).

...فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾

but when He had delivered them safely to (dry) land, Behold, they give a share (of their worship to others)!

لِيَكْفُرُوا بِمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ وَلِيَتَمَتَّعُوا...

29: 66. Disdaining ungratefully Our gifts and giving themselves up to (worldly) enjoyment!

C3499. Such folly results in the virtual rejection (even though it may not be express) of Allah and His Grace. It plunges man into the pleasures and vanities that merely delude and are bound to pass away.

This delusion, however, will come to an end when the true Reality of the Hereafter will shine forth in all its splendor.

...فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾

But soon will they know.

Asad’s Version:

Period Uncertain

29:65 And so, when they embark on a ship [and find themselves in danger], they call unto God, [at that moment] sincere in their faith in Him alone; but as soon as He has brought them safe ashore, they [begin to] ascribe to imaginary powers a share in His divinity:

(29:66) and thus 58 they show utter ingratitude for all that We have vouchsafed them, and go on [thoughtlessly] enjoying their worldly life.

[[Asad’s note - 58. The particle li prefixed to the subsequent verbs yakfuru ("they show [utter] ingratitude") and yatarnatta'u- ("they enjoy [or "go on enjoying"] their worldly life") is not an indication of intent ("so that" or "in order that") but merely of a causal sequence; in the above context, it may be appropriately rendered as "and thus". ]]

30. Surah Ar-Rum

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا...

30:32. Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects, --

...كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾

each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!

C3544. A good description of self-satisfied sectarianism as against real Religion.

See n. 3542 above.

وَإِذَا مَسَّ النَّاسَ ضُرٌّ دَعَوْا رَبَّهُم مُّنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ...

30: 33. When trouble touches men, they cry to their Lord, turning back to Him in repentance:

C3545. Cf. 10:12.

It is trouble, distress, or adversity that makes men realize their helplessness and turns their attention back to the true Source of all goodness and happiness.

But when they are shown special Mercy -often more than they deserve- they forget themselves and attribute it to their own cleverness, or to the stars, or to some false ideas to which they pay court and worship, either to the exclusion of Allah or in addition to the lip-worship which they pay to Allah.

Their action in any case amounts to gross ingratitude; but in the circumstances it looks as if they had gone out of their way to show ingratitude.

...ثُمَّ إِذَا أَذَاقَهُم مِّنْهُ رَحْمَةً إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٣٣﴾

but when He gives them a taste of Mercy as from Himself, behold, some of them pay part-worship to other gods besides their Lord. --

لِيَكْفُرُوا بِمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ...

30: 34. (As if) to show their ingratitude for the (favors) We have bestowed on them!

...فَتَمَتَّعُوا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾

Then enjoy (your brief day); but soon will ye know (your folly).

C3546. Cf. 16:54.

They are welcome to their fancies and false worship, and to the enjoyment of the pleasures of this Life, but they will soon be disillusioned. Then they will realize the true values of the things they neglected and the things they cultivated.

Asad’s Version:

[[Ruby’s note – Splitting religion into sects is mentioned here with men’s tendency of shirk or associating false things to God for a reason I think. People splits or deviates from truth because by blind following of others and/or allegiance to a group etc. These can fall into the category of shirk and the allegiance to God is superseded by other consideration other than God’s moral laws and truths.]]

(30:32) [or] among those who have broken the unity of their faith and have become sects, each group delighting in but what they themselves hold [by way of tenets]. 29

NOW [thus it is:] when affliction befalls men, they cry out unto their Sustainer, turning unto Him [for help]; but as soon as He lets them taste of His grace, lo! some of them [begin to ascribe to other powers a share in their Sustainer's divinity, 30 (

30:34) [as if] to prove their ingratitude for all that We have granted them!

Enjoy, then, your [brief] life: but in time you will come to know [the truth] !

[[Asad’s notes - 29 See 6:159, 21 :92-93 and 23:52-53, as well as the corresponding notes.

30 See note 61 on 16:54. ]]