2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
كُتِبَ
عَلَيْكُمُ
الْقِتَالُ
وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ
لَّكُمْ ...
2: 216. Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it.
C236. To fight in the cause of Truth is one of the highest form of charity. What can you offer that is more precious than your own life?
But here again the limitations come in. If you are a mere brawler, or a selfish aggressive person, or a vainglorious bully, you deserve the highest censure. Allah knows the value of things better than you do. (R).
... وَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ...
But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you
... وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ...
and that ye love a thing which is bad for you.
... وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢١٦﴾
But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.
Asad’s Version:
2: 216 “ …it may well be that you hate a thing the while it is good for you, and it may well be that you love a thing the while it is bad for you: and God knows, whereas you do not know” ]
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17. [al-Israa, Mecca 50 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
مَّن كَانَ
يُرِيدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ
عَجَّلْنَا
لَهُ فِيهَا
مَا نَشَاء
لِمَن نُّرِيدُ...
17: 18. If any do wish for the transitory things (of this life), We readily grant them -- such things as We will, to such persons as We will:
C2196. An explanation is now given of how it is that prosperity sometimes seems to attend the wicked.
The explanation is threefold:
1. the transitory things of this life are worth little in the eternal scheme of things;
2. even they are provided, not just because their recipients wish for them, but according to a definite Plan of Allah; and
3. in the end there is for the wicked the eternal Misery and deprivation of grace,-the Hell which is worse than destruction in the terms of this world.
...ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلاهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ﴿١٨﴾
in the end have We provided Hell for them:
they will burn therein, disgraced and rejected.
C2197. All the pride and insolence will then be brought low. The disgrace and the exclusion from the "sight of the Face of Allah" will by themselves be punishments of which the magnitude cannot be measured in the terms of our present material life.
17: 19. Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter,
C2198. This is in contrast to the last verse.
Those who wish for mere earthly good sometimes get it and misuse it. Those whose eyes are fixed on the Hereafter, they too share in their Lord's bounty provided they fulfil the conditions explained in the next note; but their wishes and endeavours are more acceptable in the sight of Allah.
... وَسَعَى لَهَا سَعْيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ...
and strive therefor with all due striving, and have Faith --
C2199. A mere wish for moral and spiritual good is not enough. It must be backed up by hard endeavour and supported by a lively Faith. On those conditions the wishes are accepted by Allah.
...فَأُولَئِكَ كَانَ سَعْيُهُم مَّشْكُورًا ﴿١٩﴾
they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to Allah).
Pickthall’s Version:
17: 18
Pickthall Whoso desireth that (life) which hasteneth away, We hasten for him therein that We will for whom We please. And afterward We have appointed for him hell; he will endure the heat thereof, condemned, rejected.
Transliteration Man ka_na yuridul 'a_jilata'ajjalna_ lahu_ fiha_ ma_ nasya_'u liman nuridu summa ja'alna_ lahu_ jahannam(a), yasla_ha_ mazmu_mam madhu_ra_(n).
17: 19
Pickthall And whoso desireth the Hereafter and striveth for it with the effort necessary, being a believer; for such, their effort findeth favor (with their Lord).
Transliteration Wa man ara_dal a_khirata wa sa'a_ laha_ sa'yaha_ wa huwa mu'minun fa ula_'ika ka_na sa'yuhum masyku ra_(n).
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18. Surah Al Kahf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَوْلَا إِذْ
دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ
قُلْتَ مَا شَاء
اللَّهُ لَا
قُوَّةَ إِلَّا
بِاللَّهِ...
18: 39. "Why didst thou not, as thou wentest into thy garden, say:
'Allah's Will (be done)!
There is no power but with Allah!'
C2380. The companion's argument divides itself into five parts.
1. He remonstrates against the proud man denying Allah.
2. He, from his own spiritual experience, proclaims that Allah is One and that He is good.
3. He points out to him the better way of enjoying Allah's gifts, with gratitude to Him.
4. He expresses contentment and satisfaction in Allah's dealings with him.
5. He gives a warning of the fleeting nature of this world's goods and the certainty of Allah's punishment for inordinate vanity.
... إِن تُرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا ﴿٣٩﴾
If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons,
فَعَسَى
رَبِّي أَن
يُؤْتِيَنِ
خَيْرًا مِّن
جَنَّتِكَ...
18: 40. "It may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden,
... وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِّنَ السَّمَاء فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًا ﴿٤٠﴾
and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by way of reckoning) from heaven, making it (but) slippery sand! --
C2381. The punishment was that of thunderbolts (husbanan), but the general meaning of the word includes any punishment by way of a reckoning (hisab), and I think that an earthquake is also implied, as it alters water-courses, diverts channels underground, throws up silt and sand, and covers large areas with ruin. (R).
18: 39
Asad …”Alas, …’whatever God wolls [shall come to pass, for] there is not power save with God!’ Although, as you see, I have less wealth and offspring than you,
Pickthall If only, when thou enteredst thy garden, thou hadst said: That which Allah willeth (will come to pass)! There is no strength save in Allah! Though thou seest me as less than thee in wealth and children.
Transliteration Wa lau la_ iz dakhalta jannataka qulta ma_ sya_'alla_h(u), la_ quwwata illa_ billa_h(i), in tarani ana aqalla minka ma_law wa walada_(n).
18: 40
Asad yet it may well be that my Sustainer will give me something better han your garden – just as He may let loose a calamity out of heaven upon this [your garden], so that it becomes a heap of barren dust
Pickthall Yet it may be that my Lord will give me better than thy garden, and will send on it a bolt from heaven, and some morning it will be a smooth hillside,
Transliteration Fa 'asa_ rabbi ay yu'tiyani khairam min jannatika wa yursila 'alaiha_ husba_nam minas sama_'i fatusbiha sa'idan zalaqa_(n).