16.Sura al-Nahl

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَاصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلاَّ بِاللّهِ...   

16: 127. And do thou be patient, for thy patience is but from Allah;

C2164. In the previous verse are laid down the principles of conduct in controversy for all Muslims;

'if you catch them out, you are not entitled to strike a heavier blow than you received, but it is better to restrain yourself and be patient.'

There patience was recommended.

In this verse a command is directly addressed to the Prophet. 'Do thou be patient.'

It is a command: his standard as the Great Teacher is much higher; and he carried out in his life.

His patience and self-restraint were under circumstances of extraordinary provocation. In his human wisdom it may sometimes have seemed questionable whether forbearance and self-restraint might not be human weaknesses; he had to defend his people as well as himself against the enemy's persecutions.

He is told here that he need not entertain any such fears. Patience (with constancy) in those circumstances was in accordance with Allah's own command.

Nor was he to grieve if they rejected Allah's Message-, the Prophet had done his duty when he boldly and openly proclaimed it.

Nor was his heart to be troubled if they hatched secret plots against himself and his people, Allah would protect them.

... وَلاَ تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ تَكُ فِي ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ ﴿١٢٧﴾  

nor grieve over them: and distress not thyself because of their plots.

إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَواْ وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ ﴿١٢٨﴾   

16: 128. For Allah is with those

-    who restrain themselves,

-    and those who do good.

C2165. And the Surah ends with the highest consolation which the righteous can receive; the assurance that Allah is with them. A double qualification is indicated for so high an honour,

-         that they should not yield to human passion or anger or impatience, and

-         that they should go on with constancy doing good all around them. To attain to the Presence of Allah in the sense of "I am with you" is the culmination of the righteous man's aspiration.

Other versions:

16: 127 [an-Nahl, Mecca 70 ]

Yusuf Ali And do thou be patient for thy patience is but from Allah; nor grieve over them: and distress not thyself because of their plots.

Pickthall Endure thou patiently (O Muhammad). Thine endurance is only by (the help of) Allah. Grieve not for them, and be not in distress because of that which they devise.

Transliteration Wa-sbir wa ma_ sabruka illa_ billa_hi wa la_ tahzan 'alaihim wa la_ taku fi daiqim mimma_ yamkuru_n(a).

16: 128

Yusuf Ali For Allah is with those who restrain themselves and those who do good.

Pickthall Lo! Allah is with those who keep their duty unto Him and those who are doers of good.

Transliteration Innalla_ha ma'al lazina-ttaqau wal lazina hum muhsinu_n(a).