3. Sura al-Imran

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَّقَدْ سَمِعَ اللّهُ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ فَقِيرٌ وَنَحْنُ أَغْنِيَاء...

3: 181. Allah hath heard the taunt of those who say: "Truly, Allah is indigent and we are rich!"

C486. In 2:245 we read: "Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan?"

In other places charity or spending in the way of Allah is metaphorically described as giving to Allah. The Holy Prophet often used that expression in appealing for funds to be spent in the way of Allah. The scoffers mocked and said:

"So Allah is indigent and we are rich!"

This blasphemy was of a piece with all their conduct in history, in slaying the Prophets and men of God.

... سَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَالُواْ وَقَتْلَهُمُ الأَنبِيَاء بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ ...

We shall certainly record their word and (their act) of slaying the Prophets in defiance of right,

C487. For the expression "slaying in defiance of right," Cf. 3:21, and 3:112.

...وَنَقُولُ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ ﴿١٨١﴾

and We shall say: "Taste ye the penalty of the Scorching Fire!

Other versions:

3: 181

Asad ……We shall record what they have said, as well as their slaying of prophets against all right [note 140], ………….

Yusuf Ali Allah hath heard the taunt of those who say: "Truly Allah is indigent and we are rich!" We shall certainly record their word and (their act) of slaying the Prophets in defiance of right and We shall say: "Taste ye the penalty of the Scorching Fire!.

Pickthall Verily Allah heard the saying of those who said, (when asked for contributions to the war): "Allah, forsooth, is poor, and we are rich!" We shall record their saying with their slaying of the Prophets wrongfully and We shall say: Taste ye the punishment of burning!

Transliteration Laqad sami'alla_hu qaulal lazina qa_lu_ innalla_ha faqiruw wa nahnu agniya_'(u), sanaktubu ma_ qa_lu_ wa qatlahumul ambiya_'a bi gairi haqq(iw), wa naqu_lu zu_qu_ 'aza_bal hariq(i).

[ Asad’s note 140 – Regarding this accusation leveled against the Jews, see surah 2, note 48]