3. Sura al-Imran
Medina 89 [200 verses]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
الَّذِينَ
قَالُواْ
لإِخْوَانِهِمْ
وَقَعَدُواْ
لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا
مَا قُتِلُوا...
3: 168. (They are) the ones that say, (of their brethren slain), while they themselves sit (at ease):
"If only they had listened to us, they would not have been slain."
...قُلْ فَادْرَؤُوا عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿١٦٨﴾
Say:
"Avert death from your own selves, if ye speak the truth."
وَلاَ
تَحْسَبَنَّ
الَّذِينَ
قُتِلُواْ فِي
سَبِيلِ اللّهِ
أَمْوَاتًا
...
3: 169. Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead.
... بَلْ أَحْيَاء عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ ﴿١٦٩﴾
Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord.
C477. A beautiful passage about the Martyrs in the cause of Truth.
They are not dead: they live, -and in a far higher and deeper sense than in the life they have left.
Even those who have no faith in the Hereafter honour those that die in their cause, with the crown of immortality in the minds and memories of generations unborn.
But in Faith we see a higher, truer, and less relative immortality. Perhaps "immortality" is not the right word in this connection, as it implies a continuation of this life. In their case, through the gateway of death, they enter, the true real Life, as opposed to its shadow here.
فَرِحِينَ
بِمَا آتَاهُمُ
اللّهُ مِن
فَضْلِهِ ...
3: 170. They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah:
...وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُواْ بِهِم مِّنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلاَّ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿١٧٠﴾
and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve.
C478. The Martyrs not only rejoice at the bliss they have themselves attained. The dear ones left behind are in their thoughts: it is part of their glory that they have saved their dear ones from fear, sorrow, humiliation, and grief, in this life, even before they come to share in the glories of the Hereafter.
Note how the refrain: "on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve": comes in here with a new and appropriate meaning.
Besides other things, it means that the dear ones have no cause to grieve at the death of the Martyrs; rather have they cause to rejoice.
Pickthall’s Version:
3: 168
Pickthall Those who, while they sat at home, said of their brethren (who were fighting for the cause of Allah): If they had been guided by us they would not have been slain. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Then avert death from yourselves if ye are truthful.
Transliteration Allazina qa_lu_ li ikhwa_nihim wa qa'adu_ lau ata_'u_na_ ma_ qutilu_, qul fadra'u_ 'an anfusikumul mauta in kuntum sa_diqin(a).
3: 169
Pickthall Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Allah, as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have provision.
Transliteration Wa la_ tahsabannal lazina qutilu_ fi sabililla_hi amwa_ta_(n), bal ahya_'un'inda rabbihim yurzaqu_n(a).
3: 170
Pickthall Jubilant (are they) because of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of His bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not joined them but are left behind: that there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
Transliteration Farihin bima_ a_ta_humulla_hu min fadlih(i), wa yastabsyiru_na billazina lam yalhaqu_ bihim min khalfihim, alla_ khaufun'alaihim wa la_ hum yahzanu_n(a).
[[ Ali’s notes - 478 The Martyrs not only rejoice at the bliss they have themselves attained. The dear ones left behind are in their thoughts: it is part of their glory that they have saved their dear ones from fear, sorrow, humiliation, and grief, in this life, even before they come to share in the glories of the Hereafter. Note how the refrain: "on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve": comes in here with a new and appropriate meaning. Besides other things, it means that the dear ones have no cause to grieve at the death of the Martyrs; rather have they cause to rejoice. (3.170) ]]
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4. Sura an-Nisa
Medina 92 [Hijra 4]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَن
يُطِعِ اللّهَ
وَالرَّسُولَ
فَأُوْلَـئِكَ
مَعَ الَّذِينَ
أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ
عَلَيْهِم ...
4: 69. All who obey Allah and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah,
... مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ ...
of the Prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the righteous (who do good):
... وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقًا ﴿٦٩﴾
ah! what a beautiful fellowship!
C586. A passage of the deepest devotional meaning. Even the humblest man who accepts Faith and does good becomes an accepted member of a great and beautiful company in the Hereafter. It is a company which lives perpetually in the sunshine of Allah's Grace. (This passage partly illustrates 1:5).
It is a glorious hierarchy, of which four grades are specified:
1. The highest is that of the Prophets or Apostles, who get plenary inspiration from Allah, and who teach mankind by example and precept. That rank in Islam is held by Muhammad Al-Mustafa.
2. The next are those whose badge is sincerity and truth: they love and support the truth with their person, their means, their influence, and all that is theirs.
That rank was held by the special Companions of Muhammad, among whom the type was that of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq.
3. The next are the noble army of Witnesses, who testify to the truth.
The testimony may be by martyrdom, Or
it may be by the tongue of the true Preacher or
the pen of the devoted scholar, or
the life of the man devoted to service,
4. Lastly, there is the large company of Righteous people, the ordinary folk who do their ordinary business, but always in a righteous Way. They are the rank and file of the beautiful Fellowship, in which each has his place and yet all feel that they derive glory from the common association. (R).
4: 69
Asad For, all who pay heed unto God and the Apostle shall be among those upon whom God has bestowed His blessings: the prophets, and those who never deviated from the truth, and whose who [with their lives] bore witness to the truth, and the righteous ones: and how goodly a company are these!
Pickthall Whoso obey Allah and the messenger, they are with those unto whom Allah hath shown favor, of the Prophets and the saints and the martyrs and the righteous. The best of company are they!
Yuksel Whoever obeys God and the messenger will be among those whom God has blessed from the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the reformed. What an excellent companionship!*
Transliteration Wa may yuti'illa_ha war rasu_la fa ula_'ika ma'al lazina an'amalla_hu 'alaihim minan nabiyyina was siddiqina wasy syuhada_'i was sa_lihin(a), wa hasuna ula_'ika rafiqa_(n).
4: 70
Asad Such is the bounty of God – and none has the knowledge which God has.
Pickthall Such is the bounty of Allah, and Allah sufficeth as knower.
yuksel That is the bounty from God; and God suffices as a Knower.
Transliteration Za_likal fadlu minalla_h(i), wa kafa_ billa_hi 'alima_(n).
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9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ
اللّهَ اشْتَرَى
مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
أَنفُسَهُمْ
وَأَمْوَالَهُم
بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ
الجَنَّةَ...
9: 111. Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their good; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise):
C1361. In a human bargain both sides give something and receive some advantage. In the divine bargain of Allah with man, Allah takes man's will and soul and his wealth and goods, and gives him in return ever-lasting Felicity.
Man fights in Allah's Cause and carries out His will. All that he has to give up is the ephemeral things of this world, while he gains eternal salvation, the fulfilment of his highest spiritual hopes, -a supreme achievement indeed.
... يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ...
they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain:
... وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ...
a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'án:
C1362. We offer our whole selves and our possessions to Allah, and Allah gives us Salvation. This is the true doctrine of redemption: and we are taught that this is the doctrine not only of the Quran but of the earlier Revelations, -the original Law of Moses and the original Gospel of Jesus.
Any other view of redemption is rejected by Islam, especially that of corrupted Christianity, which thinks that some other person suffered for our sins and we are redeemed by his blood. It is our self-surrender that counts, not other people's merits.
Our complete self-surrender may include fighting for the cause, both spiritual and physical. As regards actual fighting with the sword there has been some difference in theological theories at different times, but very little in the practice of those who framed those theories.
The Jewish wars were ruthless wars of extermination. The Old Testament does not mince matters on this subject. In the New Testament St. Paul, in commending the worthy fruits of Faith, mentions Gideon. Barak, and other warriors of the Old Testament as his ideals, "Who through faith subdued kingdoms... waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens..." (Hebrews, 11:32-34).
The monkish morality of the Gospels in their present form has never been followed by any self-respecting Christian or other nation in history. Nor is it common-sense to ignore lust of blood in unregenerate man as a form of evil which has to be combated "within the limits, set by Allah" (9:112). (R).
... وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللّهِ...
and who is more faithful to his Covenant than Allah?
... فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ...
Then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded:
... وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿١١١﴾
that is the achievement supreme.
Asad’s Version:
9: 111 Behold, God has brought of the believers their lives and their possessions, promising them paradise in return, [and so] they fight in God’s cause, and slay and are slain: a promise which in truth He has willed upon Himself in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Quran. And who could be more faithful to his covenant than God?
Rejoice, then, in the bargain which have made with Him: for this is the triumph supreme!