46. Surah Al-Ahqaf (The Sand-Dunes)

Mecca Period 66

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا ...

46:13. Verily those who say,

"Our Lord is Allah," and remain firm (on that Path) --

C4787. To say, "Our Lord is Allah" is to acknowledge that we owe no service to any creature, and shall render none: Allah shall have our exclusive devotion.

"To remain firm on that Path" is shown by our conduct.- we prove that we love Allah and all His creatures, and will unflinchingly do our duty in all circumstances.

... فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿١٣﴾

on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

C4788. Cf. 2:38.

The phrase occurs in numerous other places, with a new application on each occasion.

Here, if our claim is true that 'our Lord is Allah', what fear can possibly come on us, or what calamity can there be to cause us grief? For our Lord is our Cherisher, Defender, and Helper, our Hope and our Comfort, which can never fail.

أُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَاء بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٤﴾

46: 14. Such shall be Companions of the Garden, dwelling Therein (for aye):

a recompense for their (good) deeds.

Asad’s Version:

(46:13) for, behold, all who say, "Our Sustainer is God", and thereafter stand firm [in their faith] - no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve:

(46:14) it is they who are destined for paradise, therein to abide as a reward for all that they have done.