9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ أَنْ آمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَجَاهِدُواْ مَعَ رَسُولِهِ...   

9: 86.  When a Surah comes down, enjoining them to believe in Allah and to strive and fight along with his Messenger,

...اسْتَأْذَنَكَ أُوْلُواْ الطَّوْلِ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالُواْ ذَرْنَا نَكُن مَّعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ ﴿٨٦﴾

those with wealth and influence among them ask thee for exemption, and say:

"Leave us (behind): we would be with those who sit (at home)."

رَضُواْ بِأَن يَكُونُواْ مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ...   

9: 87.  They prefer to be with (the women), who remain behind (at home):

C1339. Khawalif, plural of Khalifah, those (feminine) who remain behind at home when the men go to war: women. There is a stinging taunt in this, a suggestion that such men were cowards, preferring to remain behind like women when stiff work was to be done by men in defending their homes.

They were not only cowards, but fools: as they did not understand their own best interests. If the enemy got the better of their brethren, they would themselves be crushed.

"Their hearts are sealed": the habits of cowardice and hypocrisy which they have adopted have become their second nature.

...وَطُبِعَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يَفْقَهُونَ ﴿٨٧﴾

their hearts are sealed and so they understand not.

Others version:

9: 86

Asad ……….when they were called upon through revelation, “Believe in God, and strive hard [in His cause] together with His Apostle,” [even] such of them as were well able [to go to war] asked thee for exemption, saying, “Allow us to stay behind with those who remain at home!”……..where for their hearts have been sealed [note 121], so that they cannot grasp the truth.

Pickthall And when a surah is revealed (which saith ): Believe in Allah and strive along with His messenger, the men of wealth among them still ask leave of thee and say: Suffer us to be with those who sit (at home).

Transliteration Wa iza_ unzilat su_ratun an a_minu_ billa_hi wa ja_hidu_ ma'a rasu_lihista'zanaka ulut tauli minhum wa qa_lu_ zarna_ nakum ma'al qa_'idin(a).

[[ Asad’s note 121 – CF. 2:7 and the corresponding note, as well as 7:100-101.]]

9: 87

Asad They were well-pleased to remain with those who were left behind --where for their hearts have been sealed [note 121], so that they cannot grasp the truth.

Pickthall They are content that they should be with the useless and their hearts are sealed, so that they apprehend not.

Transliteration Radu_ bi ay yaku_nu_ ma'al khawa_lifi wa tubi'a 'ala_ qulu_bihim fahum la_ yafqahu_n(a).

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10. [ Yunus, Mecca 51]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِالْخَيْرِ لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ...   

10: 11.  If Allah were to hasten for men the ill (they have earned) as they would fain hasten on the good -- then would their respite be settled at once.

C1398. Those who have no hope for the Future grasp at any temporary advantage, and in their blindness even mockingly ask for immediate punishment for their sins (8:32), thus vainly challenging Allah, in Whom they do not believe.

If the beneficent Allah were to take them at their word, they would have no chance at all. Their doom would be sealed. But even the respite they get they use badly. They merely wander about distractedly like blind men, to and fro. Cf. 2:15.

...فَنَذَرُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءنَا فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ ﴿١١﴾  

But We leave those who rest not their hope of their meeting with Us, in their trespasses, wandering in distraction to and fro.

وَإِذَا مَسَّ الإِنسَانَ الضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنبِهِ أَوْ قَاعِدًا أَوْ قَآئِمًا...   

10: 12.  When trouble toucheth a man, he crieth unto Us (in all postures) lying down on his side, or sitting, or standing.

C1399. Not only do men fail to use their respite: even those who have a superficial belief in Allah call on Him in their trouble but forget Him when He has relieved their trouble.

Their Faith is not strong enough to make them realise that all good proceeds from Allah. But in moments of trouble they use every position, literally and figuratively, to appeal to Him.

...فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمْ يَدْعُنَا إِلَى ضُرٍّ مَّسَّهُ...

But when We have solved his trouble, he passeth on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him!

...كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٢﴾  

Thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes!

C1400. Those without Faith are selfish, and are so wrapped up in themselves that they think every good that comes to them is due to their own merits or cleverness. That is itself a cause of their undoing. They do not see their own faults.

Others version:

10: 11

Pickthall If Allah were to hasten on for men the ill (that they have earned ) as they would hasten on the good, their respite would already have expired. But We suffer those who look not for the meeting with Us to wander blindly on in their contumacy.

Yuksel If God were to hasten for people the evil as they desire the hastening of good for them, then they would have been ruined. We thus leave those who do not wish to meet Us wandering in their transgression.

Transliteration Wa lau yu'ajjilulla_hu lin na_sisy syarra-sti'ja_lahum bil khairi laqudiya ilaihim ajaluhum, fa nazarul lazina la_ yarju_na liqa_'ana_ fi tugya_nihim ya'mahu_n(a).

10: 12

Pickthall And if misfortune touch a man he crieth unto Us, (while reclining) on his side, or sitting or standing, but when We have relieved him of the misfortune he goeth his way as though he had not cried unto Us because of a misfortune that afflicted him. Thus is what they do made (seeming) fair unto the prodigal.

Transliteration Wa iza_ massal insa_nad durru da'a_na_ li jambihi au qa_'idan au qa_'ima_(n), falamma_ kasyafna_ 'anhu durrahu_ marra ka allam yad'una_ ila_ durrim massah(u_), kaza_lika zuyyina lil musrifina ma_ ka_nu_ ya'malu_n(a).

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[26 ash-Shuara, Mecca 47]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَوَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ آيَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُ عُلَمَاء بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ﴿١٩٧﴾

26: 197. Is it not a Sign to them that the learned of the Children of Israel knew it (as true)?

C3227. Many of the Jewish Doctors recognised the holy Prophet's Message as a Message from Allah, e.g., 'Abdullah ibn Salam and Mukhairiq.

The latter was a man of property, which he left for Islam.

(There were also Christian monks and learned men who recognised the Prophet's mission.)

وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَاهُ عَلَى بَعْضِ الْأَعْجَمِينَ ﴿١٩٨﴾

26: 198. Had We revealed it to any of the non-Arabs,

فَقَرَأَهُ عَلَيْهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ مُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٩٩﴾

26: 199. And had he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.

C3228. The turn of Arabia having come for receiving Allah's Revelation, as was foretold in previous Revelations, it was inevitable that it should be in the Arab tongue through the mouth of an Arab. Otherwise it would have been unintelligible, and the Arabs could not have received the Faith and become the vehicles for its promulgation as actually happened in history.

كَذَلِكَ سَلَكْنَاهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٢٠٠﴾

26: 200. Thus have We caused it to enter the hearts of the Sinners.

C3229. "Thus" I think means through the medium of the Arabic language and the Arab people.

The Quran penetrated through their language and their hearts. If the hard- hearted among them did not believe, they will see when the Penalty comes, how grievous a mistake they made. For the Penalty must come; even when they least expected it.

They will be caught saying or thinking, "There is plenty of time; we can get another respite," when already it will have become too late for them to turn over a new leaf.

Asad’s Version:

26:197

Is it not evidence enough for them 84 that [so many] learned men from among the children of Israel have recognized this [as true]? 85 (26:198) But [even] had We bestowed it from on high upon any of the non- Arabs,

(26: 199) and had he recited it unto them [in his own tonguej, they would not have believed in it. 86

26:200 Thus have We caused this [message] to pass [unheeded] through the hearts of those who are lost in sin:

كَذَلِكَ سَلَكْنَاهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٢٠٠﴾

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47 Muhammad [38 verses]

Medina 95

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَن تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ ﴿٢٢﴾

47: 22. Then, is it to be expected of you, if ye will do no mischief in the land, and break your ties of kith and kin?

C4847. It is no use to say, as the Quraish said, that it is not seemly to fight against kith and kin. From one point of view the stand against sin brings "not peace, but a sword". It is a case of either subduing evil or being subdued by evil. If evil gets the upper hand, it is not likely to respect ties of kith and kin. It did not in the case of the holy Prophet and his adherents, and had to be suppressed, to bring about the conditions necessary for peace.

أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَى أَبْصَارَهُمْ ﴿٢٣﴾

47: 23. Such are the men whom Allah has cursed for He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.

C4848. Cursed: i.e., deprived of His Grace: left them straying, because they deliberately rejected His guidance. The result is that what they hear is as if they had not heard, and what they see is as if they had not seen.

They have no desire to understand Allah's Will or Allah's Revelation;-

or is it that they have themselves locked and bolted their hearts and minds, so that nothing can penetrate them?

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا ﴿٢٤﴾

47: 24. Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'án, or are their hearts locked up by them?

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ارْتَدُّوا عَلَى أَدْبَارِهِم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْهُدَى...

47: 25. Those who turn back as apostates after Guidance was clearly shown to them,

C4849. Such men are entirely in the hands of Satan. They follow his suggestions, and their hopes are built on his deceptions.

...الشَّيْطَانُ سَوَّلَ لَهُمْ وَأَمْلَى لَهُمْ ﴿٢٥﴾

the Evil One has instigated them and buoyed them up with false hopes.

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا لِلَّذِينَ كَرِهُوا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ ...

47: 26. This, because they said to those who hate what Allah has revealed,

C4850. They have become so impervious to facts and truths, because, without the courage to oppose Allah's Cause openly, they secretly intrigue with Allah's enemies, and say that they will follow them part of the way, and by remaining partly in the other camp, they will be far more useful as spies and half-hearted doubters than by going over altogether. If they think that this game will be successful, they are mistaken.

... سَنُطِيعُكُمْ فِي بَعْضِ الْأَمْر...ِ

"We will obey you in part of (this) matter;"

...وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِسْرَارَهُمْ ﴿٢٦﴾

but Allah knows their (inner) secrets.

All the inner secrets and motives of their hearts are known to Allah. Cf. 59:11.

Asad’s Version:

47:22 [Ask them:) "Would you, perchance, after having turned away [from God's commandment, prefer to revert to your old ways, and] spread corruption on earth, and [once again) cut asunder your ties of kinship? 28

(47:23) It is such as these whom God rejects, and whom He makes deaf [to the voice of truth], and whose eyes He blinds [to its sight]! 2 '

47:24) Will they not, then, ponder over this Qur'an? - or are there locks upon their hearts?

47:25 VERILY, those who turn their backs [on this message] after guidance has been vouchsafed to them, [do it because] Satan has embellished their fancies and filled them with false hopes:

(47:26) [they do turn their backs on it) inasmuch as 30 they are wont to say unto those who abhor all that God has revealed, "We will comply with your views on some points." 31 But God knows their secret thoughts: