3. Sura al-Imran
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمِنْ
أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ
مَنْ إِن تَأْمَنْهُ
بِقِنطَارٍ
يُؤَدِّهِ
إِلَيْكَ...
3: 75. Among the People of the Book are some who, if entrusted with a hoard of gold, will (readily) pay it back;
C409. Hoard of gold: qintar: a talent of 1,200 ounces of gold. See 3:14. n. 354. (R).
...وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ إِن تَأْمَنْهُ بِدِينَارٍ لاَّ يُؤَدِّهِ إِلَيْكَ إِلاَّ مَا دُمْتَ عَلَيْهِ قَآئِمًا...
others, who, if entrusted with a single silver coin, will not repay it unless thou constantly stoodest demanding,
C410. Silver coin: dinar. In the later Roman Empire, the denarius was a small silver coin. It must have been current in Syria and the markets of Arabia in the time of the Prophet.
It was the coin whose name is translated in the English Bible by the word penny. Matt. 22:19: hence the abbreviation of penny is d (= denarius).
The later Arabian coin dinar coined by the Umayyad, was a gold coin after the pattern of the Byzantine (Roman) denarius aureus and weighed about 66349 grains troy.
...ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ لَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا فِي الأُمِّيِّينَ سَبِيلٌ...
because, they say, "There is no call on us (to keep faith) with these ignorant (pagans)."
C411. Every race imbued with race arrogance resorts to this kind of moral or religious subterfuge. Even if its members are usually honest or just among themselves, they are contemptuous of those outside their circle, and cheat and deceive them without any qualms of conscience.
This is a "lie against Allah."
...وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٧٥﴾
But they tell a lie against Allah, and (well) they know it.
بَلَى
مَنْ أَوْفَى
بِعَهْدِهِ
وَاتَّقَى
فَإِنَّ اللّهَ
يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ
﴿٧٦﴾
3: 76. Nay.
Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright, verily Allah loves those who act aright.
فَآتَاهُمُ
اللّهُ ثَوَابَ
الدُّنْيَا
وَحُسْنَ ثَوَابِ
الآخِرَةِ...
3: 148. And Allah gave them a reward in this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter.
...وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٤٨﴾
For Allah loveth those who do good.
فَبِمَا
رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ
اللّهِ لِنتَ
لَهُمْ ...
3: 159. It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou dost deal gently with them.
C471. The extremely gentle nature of Muhammad endeared him to all, and it is reckoned as one of the Mercies of Allah.
One of the Prophet's titles is "A Mercy to all Creation."
At no time was this gentleness, this mercy, this long-suffering with human weaknesses, more valuable than after a disaster like that at Uhud. It is a quality, which then, as always, bound and binds the souls of countless men to him.
...وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لاَنفَضُّواْ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ...
Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee;
...فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ ...
so pass over (their faults), and ask for (Allah's) forgiveness for them;
... وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الأَمْرِ...
and consult them in affairs (of moment).
...فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ ﴿١٥٩﴾
Then, when thou hast taken a decision, put thy trust in Allah.
For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).
Other versions:
3: 75
Asad ……….and [so] they tell a lie about God, being well aware [that it is a lie]
Yusuf Ali Among the People of the Book are some who if entrusted with a hoard of gold will (readily) pay it back; others who if entrusted with a single silver coin will not repay it unless thou constantly stoodest demanding because they say "There is no call on us (to keep faith) with these ignorant (pagans)." But they tell a lie against Allah and (well) they know it.
Pickthall Among the People of the Scripture there is he who, if thou trust him with a weight of treasure, will return it to thee. And among them there is he who, if thou trust him with a piece of gold, will not return it to thee unless thou keep standing over him. That is because they say: We have no duty to the Gentiles. They speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly.
Transliteration Wa min ahlil kita_bi man in ta'manhu bi qinta_riy yu'addihi ilaik(a), wa minhum man in ta'manhu bi dina_ril la_ yu'addihi ilaika illa_ ma_ dumta 'alaihi qa_'ima_(n), za_lika bi annahum qa_lu_ laisa 'alaina_ fil umiyyina sabil(un), wa yaqu_lu_na 'alalla_hil kaziba wa hum ya'lamu_n(a).
3: 76
Yusuf Ali Nay. Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright verily Allah loves those who act aright.
Pickthall Nay, but (the chosen of Allah is) he who fulfilleth his pledge and wardeth off (evil); for lo! Allah loveth those who ward off (evil).
Transliteration Bala_ man aufa_ bi 'ahdihi wattaqa_ fa innalla_ha yuhibbul muttaqin(a).
[ Ruby’s note – Since this is in the context of the people of the Book (Jews Christians and Others to revelation came), the “muttaqin” among them is meant here. ]
3: 148 And God gave them a reward in this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. For God loves those who do good. Ali
3: 159 ….Pardon them, then, and pray that they be forgiven (failures of Uhud). And take counsel with them in all matters of public concern; then, when you have decided upon a course of action, place your trust in God: for, verily, God loves those who place their trust in Him.
61. Surah As-Saff
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ
اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ
الَّذِينَ
يُقَاتِلُونَ
فِي سَبِيلِهِ
صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم
بُنيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ
﴿٤﴾
61: 4. Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.
C5433. A battle array, in which a large number of men stand, march, or hold together against assault as if they were a solid wall, is a striking example of order, discipline, cohesion, and courage.
"A solid cemented structure" is even a better simile than the usual "solid wall" as the "structure" or building implies a more diversified organisation held together in unity and strength, each part contributing strength in its own way, and the whole held together not like a mass but like a living organism.
Asad’s Version:
61 : 4 Truly God loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.