13.Surah ArRa'd
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَنزَلَ
مِنَ السَّمَاء
مَاء فَسَالَتْ
أَوْدِيَةٌ
بِقَدَرِهَا...
13: 17. He sends down water from the skies, and the channels flow, each according to its measure:
C1831. This verse is full of parables.
1. It is Allah Who sends rain and sends it to all.
See how it flows in different channels according to their capacities. Some are sluggish-, some have a swift current. Some form great rivers and irrigate wide tracts of country; some are clear crystal streams, perhaps in hilly tracts, with beds of clean pebbles which you can see through the water.
Some produce delicious edible fish; and some are infested by crocodiles or injurious monsters.
And there are degrees and degrees among brooks, streams, lakes, rivers, and seas.
So with the rain of Allah's mercy and the knowledge and wisdom and guidance which He sends. All can receive it. Different ones will respond according to their capacities.
2. In the physical world, water is pure and beneficial. But froth and scum will gather according to local conditions.
As the floods will carry off the scum and purify the water, so will the flood of Allah's spiritual mercy carry away our spiritual scum and purify the water.
3. The froth may make a greater show on the surface, but it will not last. So will there be frothy knowledge, which will disappear, but Allah's Truth will endure.
...فَاحْتَمَلَ السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا...
but the torrent bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface.
...وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي النَّارِ ابْتِغَاء حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ زَبَدٌ مِّثْلُهُ...
Even so, from that (ore) which they heat in the fire, to make ornaments or utensils therewith, there is a scum likewise.
C1832. In continuation of the last note, the fourth parable is that of metal ores:
- the ore is full of baser admixture, but the fire will separate the gold from the dross for ornaments, or
- some metal of household utility, with which you make every-day utensils, which the fire will separate from admixtures which you do not want.
So the fire of Allah's test, either by adversity or by affluence, will search out the true metal in us and reject the dross. it will show us what is valuable or what is useful, all sorts of scum and vanity which we collect and miscall knowledge.
...كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَاطِلَ...
Thus doth Allah (by parables) show forth Truth and Vanity:
...فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاء وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الأَرْضِ...
for the scum disappears like froth cast out; while that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth.
...كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللّهُ الأَمْثَالَ ﴿١٧﴾
Thus doth Allah set forth parables.
لِلَّذِينَ
اسْتَجَابُواْ
لِرَبِّهِمُ
الْحُسْنَى...
13: 18. For those who respond to their Lord, are (all) good things.
...وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُواْ لَهُ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا...
But those who respond not to Him -- even if they had all that is in the heavens and on earth,
...وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ لاَفْتَدَوْاْ بِهِ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ الْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ...
and as much more, (in vain) would they offer it for ransom.
...وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ ﴿١٨﴾
what a bed of misery!
Other versions:
13: 17
Yusuf Ali He sends down water from the skies and the channels flow each according to its measure: but the torrent bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface. Even so from that (ore) which they heat in the fire to make ornaments or utensils therewith there is a scum likewise. Thus doth Allah (by parables) show forth Truth and Vanity: for the scum disappears like froth cast out; while that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth. Thus doth Allah set forth parables.
Pickthall He sendeth down water from the sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure, and the flood beareth (on its surface) swelling foam from that which they felt in the fire in order to make ornaments and tools riseth a foam like unto it thus Allah coineth (the similitude of) the true and the false. Then, as for the foam, it passeth away as scum upon the banks, while, as for that which is of use to mankind, it remaineth in the earth. Thus Allah coineth the similitudes.
Yuksel
He sent down water from the sky, so valleys flowed according to their capacity, and the flood produces foam. From what they burn to smelt jewelry or goods a similar foam is produced. It is in such a manner that God strikes the falsehood with the truth. As for the foam, it passes away; as for what benefits the people, it remains in the earth. It is such that God cites the examples.
Transliteration abodenzala minas sama_'i ma_'an fa sa_lat audiyatum bi qadariha_ fa-htamalas sailu zabadar ra_biya_(n), wa mimma_ yu_qidu_na 'alaihi fin na_ri-btiga_'a hilyatin au mata_'in zabadum misluh(u_), kaza_lika yadribull_hul haqqa wal ba_til(a), fa ammaz zabadu fa yazhabu jufa_'a(n), wa amma_ ma_ yanfa'un na_sa fa yamkusu fil ard(i), kaza_lika yadribulla_hul amsa_l(a).
[[Ali’s notes - 1831 This verse is full of parables……….The froth may make a greater show on the surface, but it will not last. So will there be frothy knowledge, which will disappear, but Allah's Truth will endure. (13.17)
1832 In continuation of the last note, the fourth parable is that of metal ores: (4) the ore is full of baser admixture, but the fire will separate the gold from the dross for ornaments, or (5) some metal of household utility, with which you make every-day utensils, which the fire will separate from admixtures which you do not want. So the fire of Allah's test, either by adversity or by affluence, will search out the true metal in us and reject the dross. It will show us what is valuable or what is useful, all sorts of scum and vanity which we collect and miscall knowledge. (13.17) ]]
13: 18
Yusuf Ali For those who respond to their Lord are (all) good things. But those who respond not to Him even if they had all that is in the heavens and on earth and as much more (in vain) would they offer it for ransom. For them will the reckoning be terrible: their abode will be Hell what a bed of misery!
Pickthall For those who answered Allah's call is bliss; and for those who answered not His call, if they had all that is in the earth, and therewith the like thereof, they would proffer it as ransom. Such will have a woeful reckoning, and their habitation will be hell, a dire abode.
Yuksel
For those who responded to their Lord is goodness. As for those who did not respond to Him, if they had all that is in the earth twice over, they would offer it to be saved. To these will be a terrible reckoning, and their abode is hell; what a miserable
Transliteration Lillazina-staja_bu_ lirabbihimul husna_, wallazina lam yastajibu_ lahu_ lau anna lahum ma_ fil ardi jami'aw wa mislahu_ ma'ahu_ la-ftadau bih(i), ula_'ika lahum su_'ul hisa_b(i), wa ma'wa_hum jahannam(u), wa bi'sal miha_d(u).
[[Ali’s note - 1833 Cf. iii. 91 and x. 54. (13.18)]]
20 Sura Taha
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
كَذَلِكَ نَقُصُّ
عَلَيْكَ مِنْ
أَنبَاء مَا
قَدْ سَبَقَ...
20: 99. for We have sent thee a Message from Our own Presence.
...وَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ مِن لَّدُنَّا ذِكْرًا ﴿٩٩﴾
for We have sent thee a Message from Our own Presence.
C2625. Thus superseding previous revelations; for this (the Quran) is direct from Allah, and is not a second-hand exposition on other men's authority.
مَنْ
أَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ
فَإِنَّهُ
يَحْمِلُ يَوْمَ
الْقِيَامَةِ
وِزْرًا ﴿١٠٠﴾
20: 100. If any do turn away therefrom, verily they will bear a burden on the Day of Judgement;
20: 101. They will abide in this (state):
...وَسَاء لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حِمْلًا ﴿١٠١﴾
and grievous will the burden be to them on that Day --
C2626. Cf. 6:31.
If people are so immersed in the evanescent falsehoods of this life as to turn away from the True and the Eternal, they will have a rude awakening when the Judgment comes. These very things that they thought so enjoyable here;-
- taking advantage of others,
- material self-indulgence,
- nursing grievances instead of doing good, etc., -
will be a grievous burden to them that day, which they will not be able to escape or lighten.
يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ
فِي الصُّورِ...
20: 102. The Day when the Trumpet will be sounded:
...وَنَحْشُرُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ زُرْقًا ﴿١٠٢﴾
that Day, We shall gather the sinful, blear-eyed (with terror),
C2627. Zurqa:
- having eyes different from the normal colour, which in the East is black and white;
- having blue eyes,
- or eyes afflicted with dimness or blindness, or squint;
hence metaphorically, blear-eyed (with terror).
يَتَخَافَتُونَ
بَيْنَهُمْ
إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ
إِلَّا عَشْرًا ﴿١٠٣﴾
20: 103. In whispers will they consult each other:
"Ye tarried not longer than ten (Days);"
C2628. Faced with eternity they will realise that their life on this earth, or the interval between their sin and their punishment, had a duration which practically amounted to nothing.
They express this by the phrase "ten days", but their wiser heads think that even this is an over-estimate. It was but a brief day!
نَحْنُ
أَعْلَمُ بِمَا
يَقُولُونَ...
20: 104. We know best what they will say,
...إِذْ يَقُولُ أَمْثَلُهُمْ طَرِيقَةً إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا يَوْمًا ﴿١٠٤﴾
when their leader most eminent in Conduct will say: "Ye tarried not longer than a day!"
Note that it is the shrewdest and most versed in Life who will say this, because they will be the first to see the true situation.
Other versions:
20:99
THUS DO WE relate unto thee some of the stories of what happened in the past; and [thus]
have We vouchsafed unto thee, out of Our grace, a reminder. 85
20:100
All who shall turn away from it will, verily, bear a [heavy] burden on the Day of Resurrection:
(20:101) they will abide in this [state], and grievous for them will be the weight [of that burden] on the Day of Resurrection –
(20:102) on the Day when the trumpet is blown: for on that Day We will assemble all such as had been lost in sin, their eyes dimmed 86 [by terror],
(20:103) whispering unto one another, "You have spent but ten [days on earth]...." 87
(20:104)
[But] We know best 88 what they will be saying when the most perceptive of them shall say,
"You have spent [there] but one day!"
23 . Sura Al-Muminun
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
حَتَّى
إِذَا
جَاء أَحَدَهُمُ
الْمَوْتُ قَالَ
...
23: 99. (In Falsehood will they be) until, when death comes to one of them, he says:
C2936. This verse I think connects on with 23:90 above.
Though Allah proclaims His Truth everywhere, the wicked cling to Falsehood until they face the reality of Death.
... رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ ﴿٩٩﴾
"O my Lord! send me back (to life) --
C2937. The verb for "send me back" is in the plural in Arabic, which is construed either
- as an emphatic form, as if the singular were repeated, or
- as a plural of respect, though such a plural is not ordinarily used in addressing Allah, or
- as a plural addressed to the angels, after the address to Allah in "O my Lord!"
لَعَلِّي
أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا
فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ...
23: 100. "In order that I may work righteousness in the things I neglected." --
C2938. The unrighteous will ask for another chance. But it will be too late then. The time for repentance will then have passed.
...كَلَّا ...
"By no means!
...إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا...
it is but a word he says,
C2939. Their request will mean nothing. It will be treated merely as an empty word of excuse.
They had plenty of chances in this life. Not only did they reject them, but they did not even believe in Allah or ask for His assistance.
...وَمِن وَرَائِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ ﴿١٠٠﴾
before them is a Partition till the Day they are raised up.
C2940. Barzakh:
- a partition,
- a bar or barrier;
- the place or state in which people will be after death and before Judgment.
Behind them is the barrier of death, and in front of them is the Barzakh, partition, a quiescent state until the judgment comes.
فَإِذَا
نُفِخَ فِي
الصُّورِ فَلَا
أَنسَابَ بَيْنَهُمْ
يَوْمَئِذٍ
وَلَا يَتَسَاءلُون
﴿١٠١﴾
َ
23: 101. Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no more relationships between them that day, nor will one ask after another!
C2941. The old relationships of the world will then be dissolved. Each soul will stand on its merits.
فَمَن
ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ
فَأُوْلَئِكَ
هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
﴿١٠٢﴾
23: 102. Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy -- they will attain salvation:
C2942. Good and evil deeds will be weighed against each other.
If the good deeds prevail, the soul will attain falah, i.e., prosperity, well-being, bliss, or salvation;
if the contrary, there will be the misery and anguish of Hell.
وَمَنْ
خَفَّتْ
مَوَازِينُهُ
فَأُوْلَئِكَ
الَّذِينَ
خَسِرُوا
أَنفُسَهُمْ...
23: 103. But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost their souls;
C2943. The loss or perdition will not mean that they will die and feel no more: 14:17.
The punishment will mean nothing, if there was no sensibility, but total annihilation.
...فِي جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾
in Hell will they abide.
تَلْفَحُ
وُجُوهَهُمُ
النَّارُ وَهُمْ
فِيهَا كَالِحُونَ
﴿١٠٤﴾
23: 104. The Fire will burn their faces, and they will therein grin, with their lips displaced.
C2944. That is to say, their faces will be disfigured with anguish, and their lips will quiver and fall out of place, exposing their teeth.
أَلَمْ
تَكُنْ آيَاتِي
تُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ
فَكُنتُم بِهَا
تُكَذِّبُونَ
﴿١٠٥﴾
23: 105. "Were not My Signs rehearsed to you, and ye did but treat them as falsehoods?"
Other versions:
23:99 [al Muminun, Mecca 74]
[AS FOR THOSE who will not believe in the life to come, they go on lying to themselves] 5 ' until, when death approaches any of them, he prays: "O my Sustainer! Let me return, let me return 60 [to life],
(23:100) so that I might act righteously in whatever I have failed [aforetime]!""
Nay, it is indeed but a [meaningless] word that he utters: for behind those [who leave the world] there is a barrier [of death] until the Day when all will be raised from the dead!
23:101 Then, when the trumpet [of resurrection] is blown, no ties of kinship will on that Day prevail among them, and neither will they ask about one another.
(23: 102) And they whose weight [of righteousness] is heavy in the balance - it is they, they who will have attained to a happy state;
(23:103) whereas they whose weight is light in the balance - it is they who will have
squandered their own selves, [destined] to abide in hell:
(23:104) the fire will scorch their faces, and they will abide therein with their lips distorted in pain.
23:105
[And God will say:] "Were not My messages conveyed unto you, and were you [not] wont to give them the lie?"
============================