6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنِّي
وَجَّهْتُ
وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي
فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضَ
حَنِيفًا...
6: 79. "For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth,
...وَمَا أَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿٧٩﴾
and never shall I give partners to Allah."
وَحَآجَّهُ
قَوْمُهُ...
6: 80. His people disputed with him.
C901. The story of Abraham is highly instructive for all men in quest of truth.
If spiritual enlightenment go so far as to take a man beyond his ancestral worship, people will continue to dispute with him. They will frighten him with the dire consequences of his dissent.
What does he care? He has found the truth. He is free from superstitious fears, for has he not found the true God, without Whose Will nothing can happen?
On the contrary he knows that it is the godless who have just grounds for fear. And he offers admonition to them, and the arguments that should bring them the clearness of truth instead of the vagueness and mystery of superstition, -the security of Faith instead of the haunting fear of those who have no clear guidance. (R).
...قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّي فِي اللّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِ ...
He said:
"(Come) ye to dispute with me, about Allah, when He (Himself) hath guided me?
...وَلاَ أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلاَّ أَن يَشَاء رَبِّي شَيْئًا...
I fear not (the beings) ye associate with Allah: unless my Lord willeth, (nothing can happen).
...وَسِعَ رَبِّي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا أَفَلاَ تَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾
My Lord comprehendeth in His knowledge all things:
will ye not (yourselves) be admonished?
وَكَيْفَ
أَخَافُ مَا
أَشْرَكْتُمْ
...
6: 81. "How should I fear (the beings) ye associate with Allah,
... وَلاَ تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا...
when ye fear not to give partners to Allah without any warrant having been given to you?
...فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالأَمْنِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٨١﴾
Which of (us) two parties hath more right to security?
(Tell me) if ye know.
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ وَلَمْ
يَلْبِسُواْ
إِيمَانَهُم
بِظُلْمٍ أُوْلَـئِكَ
لَهُمُ الأَمْنُ
...
6: 82. "It is those who believe and confuse not their beliefs with wrong -- that are (truly) in security,
C901a. The word "wrong" here refers to ascribing partners to Allah as has been stated by the Prophet (peace be on him) in his explanation of the verse. [Eds]
... وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾
for they are on (right) guidance."
وَتِلْكَ
حُجَّتُنَا
آتَيْنَاهَا
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
عَلَى قَوْمِهِ...
6: 83. That was the reasoning about Us, which We gave to Abraham (to use) against his people:
C902. The spiritual education of Abraham raised him many degrees above his contemporaries, and he as expected to use that knowledge and dignity for preaching the truth among his own people.
...نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاء...
We raise whom We will, degree after degree:
...إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٨٣﴾
for thy Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge.
6: 79
Asad Behold, unto Him who brought into being the heavens and the earth have I turned my face, having turned away from all that is false; and I am not of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him.”
Pickthall Lo! I have turned my face toward him Who created the heavens and the earth, as one by nature upright, and I am not of the idolaters.
Transliteration Inni wajjahtu wajhiya lillazi fataras sama_wa_ti wal arda hanifaw wa ma_ ana minal musyrikin(a).
[[ Ruby’s notes – These verses -- through allegories -- convey that one who is an earnest seeker of truth ultimately can see the ultimate truth. Many things in life appear to be enormously consequential and powerful but behind all these is the Ultimate Reality –Huq- which Sustains all transitory realities. These verses are saying that look again and think again about the causes and if one is willing for the guidance one would be guided to see the Cause of all causes. And would be led to achieve higher and higher position of understanding and wisdom [see 6:83].]]
6: 80
Asad ..But I do not fear anything to which you ascribe divinity side by side with Him, [for no evil can befall me] unless my Sustainer so wills [note 67]. All things does my Sustainer embrace within His knowledge; will you not, then, keep this in mind?” Abrahams argument with the non believers...... “............All things does my Sustainer embrace within His knwoledge.....”
Pickthall His people argued with him. He said: Dispute ye with me concerning Allah when He hath guided me? I fear not at a]] that which ye set beside Him unless my Lord willeth. My Lord includeth all things in His knowledge: Will ye not then remember?
Transliteration Wa ha_jjahu_ qaumuh(u_), qa_la atuha_jju_nni filla_hi wa qad hada_n(i), wa la_ akha_fu ma_ tusyriku_na bihi illa_ ay yasya_'a rabbi syai'a_(n), wasi'a rabbi kulla syai'in'ilma_(n), afala_tatazakkaru_n(a).
6: 81
Pickthall How should I fear that which ye set up beside Him, when ye fear not to set up beside Allah that for which He hath revealed unto you no warrant? `Which of the two factions hath more right to safety?, (Answer me that) if ye have knowledge.
Transliteration Wa kaifa akha_fu ma_ asyraktum wa la_ takha_fu_na annakum asyraktum billa_hi ma_ lam yunazzil bihi 'alaikum sulta_na_(n), fa ayyul fariqaini ahaqqu bil amn(i), in kuntum ta'lamu_n(a).
6: 82
Asad “......Those who have attained to faith, and who have not obscured their faith by wrongdoing – it is they who shall be secure, since it is they who have found the right path!”
Pickthall Those who believe and obscure not their belief by wrong doing, theirs is safety; and they are rightly guided.
Transliteration Allazina a_manu_ wa lam yalbisu_ ima_nahum bi zulmin ula_'ika lahumul amnu wa hum muhtadu_n(a).
6: 83
Asad And this was Our argument which We vouchsafed unto Abraham against his people: [for] We do raise by degrees whom We will [note 69]. Verily, your Sustainer is wise, all-knowing.
Pickthall That is Our argument. We gave it unto Abraham against his folk. We raise unto degrees of wisdom whom We will. Lo! thy Lord is Wise, Aware.
Transliteration Wa tilka hujjatuna_ a_taina_ha_ ibra_hima 'ala_ qaumih(i), narfa'u daraja_tim man nasya_'(u), inna rabbaka hakimun 'alim(un).
===================================
9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, after Tabuk, 9H]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
9: 112. - Those that turn (to Allah) in repentance:
C1363. We are to rejoice that by giving up such small things as ourselves and our possessions we are to be rewarded with such a great thing as the eternal life of felicity. The truly righteous, whose lives in various aspects are described in this verse, do so rejoice. The good news is to be proclaimed to all Believers, including the weakest among us, so that they may profit by that example.
... الْعَابِدُونَ الْحَامِدُونَ السَّائِحُونَ الرَّاكِعُونَ السَّاجِدونَ...
- that serve Him, and praise Him;
- that wander in devotion to the Cause of Allah;
- that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer;
... الآمِرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّاهُونَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ...
- that enjoin good and forbid evil;
وَالْحَافِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ اللّهِ...
- and observe the limits set by Allah; (these do rejoice).
... وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١١٢﴾
So proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers.
Other Versions:
9: 112
Asad ……………..and go on and on [seeking His goodly acceptance] [note 147],…….and keep to the bounds set by God. And give thous [O Prophet] the glad tiding [of God’s promise] to all believers.
Pickthall (Triumphant) are those who turn repentant (to Allah), those who serve (Him), those who praise (Him), those who fast, these who bow down, those who fall prostrate (in worship), those who enjoin the right and who forbid the wrong and those who keep the limits (ordained) of Allah And give glad tidings to believers!.
Transliteration At ta_'ibu_nal 'a_bidu_nal ha_midu_nas sa_'ihu_nar ra_ki'u_nas sa_jidu_nala a_miru_na bil ma'ru_fi wan na_hu_na 'anil munkari wal hu_fizu_na li hudu_dilla_h(i), wa basysyiril mu'minin(a).
[[ Asad’s note 147 – Most o the commentators attribute to the expression “as-sa’ihun [lit., “those who wander”) the meaning of as-sa’imun, i.e., “those who fast”, since he who fasts deprives himself, temporarily, of worldly enjoyments ……………..Other authorities, however, ……..prefer the original significance of this term and explain it as more or less synonymous with al-muhajirun (“those who forsake the domain of evil”). To my mind, the expression as-saihun is best rendered as “those who go on and on [seeking God’s goodly acceptance]”, thus combining the literal and metonymical connotation of the term ‘siyahah’.]]
[[Ruby’s note – I think I like the shade of meaning of wondering in the world seeking God’s signs in the pursuit of truth. People who wonder go places to places are better exposed to many things than who stay in one place. But the central here is the intention of wondering. If one wonders just for the sake of wondering and pleasure or curiosity or amusement the purpose is lost. When one wonders with the deep desire and commitment to see the sign of God in greater reality and wonder with that spirit that act then becomes a worship and service to God. This spirit is similar to that of al-muhajirun but not the same. I believe as-saihun is general in spirit in life and not due to a compulsive situation where as al-muhajirun is due to a compulsive situation but both are with the spirit to do good, comply with God’s laws and thus serve God better. ]]