4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
لَّعَنَهُ
اللّهُ...
4: 118. Allah did curse him,
... وَقَالَ لَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا ﴿١١٨﴾
but he said: "I will take of Thy servants a portion marked off.
C628. Satan obtained Allah's permission to tempt man, and this was implied in such free-will as was granted to man by Allah.
Satan's boast is that the portion of mankind seduced by him will be so corrupted in their nature that they will bear a sort of brand that will mark them off as his own; or that they will be like a portion assigned to himself.
وَلأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ
وَلأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ
...
4: 119. "I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires;
C629. Satan's deceptions are with false desires, false superstitions, and false fears.
... وَلآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذَانَ الأَنْعَامِ ...
I will order them to slit the ears of cattle,
C630. Slitting the ears of cattle is just one instance of the superstitions to which men become slaves when they run after false gods.
Astrology, magic, and vain beliefs in things that do not exist lead men away from Allah, the one true God. (R).
... وَلآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللّهِ...
and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah."
C631. To deface the (fair) nature created by Allah; there is both a physical and a spiritual meaning.
We see many kinds of defacements practised on men and animals, against their true nature as created by Allah, partly on account of superstition, partly on account of selfishness.
Spiritually the case is even worse. How many natures are dwarfed or starved and turned from their original instincts by cruel superstitions or customs?
Allah created man pure: Satan defaces the image.
... وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا ﴿١١٩﴾
Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes Satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest.
Asad’s Version:
4:118, 119 Whom god has rejected for having said, “Verily, of Thy servants I shall most certainly take my due share, and shall lead them astray, and fill them with vain desires; and I shall them – and they will cut off the ears of cattle; and I shall command them - and they will corrupt God’s creation!”
But all who take Satan rather than God for their master do indeed, most clearly, lose all: