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In the name
of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful |
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SECTION: 1
All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, and He
is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.[1] To Him belongs the kingdom
of the heavens and the earth; it is He Who gives life and causes
death; and He has power over all things.[2] He is the First and
the Last, the Evident and the Immanent, and He has the knowledge
of all things.[3] It is He Who created the heavens and the earth
in six periods, then firmly established Himself on the throne
of authority. He knows all that enters the earth and all
that emerges from it, all that comes down from Heaven and all
that ascends to it; and He is with you wherever you are. Allah
is aware of all your actions.[4] To Him belongs the kingdom of
the heavens and the earth, and all affairs go back to Allah for
decision.[5] He causes the night to pass into the day and the
day to pass into the night, and He has knowledge of the inmost
secrets of your hearts.[6] Believe in Allah and His Rasool and
spend in charity out of what you have been made the
inheritors of, for those of you who believe and spend in
charity shall be richly rewarded.[7 ] What is the matter
with you that you do not believe in Allah, whereas the Rasool is
inviting you to believe in your Rabb, Who has indeed taken your
covenant, if you are true men of faith?[8] He it is Who sends
clear revelations to His servant, so that he may lead you from
the depths of darkness into the light. Surely Allah is Most Kind
and Most Merciful to you.[9] What is the matter with you that
you do not spend in the Way of Allah, whereas to Allah belongs
the inheritance of the heavens and the earth? Those of you who
spent and fought in the Cause of Allah before the
victory, shall receive higher ranks of honor than the others who
spent and fought thereafter. Yet Allah has promised you all a
good reward, and Allah is aware of all your actions.[10]
57:[1-10] |
All that is in the heavens and earth glorifies Allah, Who
created the heavens and earth in six periods and has the
knowledge of everything
Those who spend in charity will be richly rewarded |
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SECTION: 2
Who is the one that will give to Allah a goodly loan, so that He
may increase it manyfold to his credit and give him a liberal
reward besides it.[11] On the Day of Judgment you shall
see the true believing men and the believing women, with their
light shining before them and on their right hands, and it
will be said to them: “Rejoice today, you shall enter the
gardens beneath which rivers flow, in which you shall live
forever, and that is the highest achievement."[12] On that Day
the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to the true
believers: “Wait for us, that we may borrow some of your light."
But they will be told: “Go away! Seek your light elsewhere." So
a wall with a gate shall be set up between them. Inside there
shall be mercy, and outside all along there shall be punishment
of hell.[13] They will call out to the believers, saying: “Were
we not on your side?” “Yes,” they will reply, “but you led
yourselves into temptation, you wavered, you doubted, and were
deceived by your vain desires until Allah’s command came, while
the arch-deceiver (shaitãn) deceived you concerning Allah
till the last moment."[14] They will be told, "Today no
ransom shall be accepted from you, or from the unbelievers. Your
abode is the fire: which you have justly earned, and it is an
evil refuge."[15] Has not the time arrived for the believers to
submit with fervent hearts to Allah’s warning and to the truth
He has revealed, so that they may not become like those who were
given the Book before this, even though their term was
prolonged for them but their hearts became hardened? Today most
among them are transgressors.[16] You should know that Allah
restores the earth to life after its death. We have spelled out
Our revelations for you, so that you may understand.[17] Surely
the charitable men and the charitable women, and those who give
a goodly loan to Allah, shall be repaid manyfold, and also be
given a liberal reward besides it.[18] Those who believe in
Allah and His Rasool, they are the truthful and the true
witnesses in the sight of their Rabb; they shall have their
reward and their light. But those who disbelieve and reject Our
revelations; they shall be the inmates of hellfire.[19]
57:[11-19] |
On that Day the true believers will have their light shining
before them while the hypocrites will have their fate no
different than the disbelievers
Those who spend in charity will be repaid manyfold and also be
given liberal reward besides it |
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SECTION: 3
You should know that the life of this world is only play and
amusement, a show and boasting among yourselves, a quest for
greater riches and more children. Its similitude is that of
vegetation that flourishes after rain: the growth of which
delights the tillers, then it withers and you see it turn
yellow, soon it becomes dry and crumbles away. In the hereafter
there will be either severe punishment or forgiveness from Allah
and His good pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but an
illusion.[20] Therefore, earnestly strive for the forgiveness of
your Rabb and for the paradise which is as vast as the heaven
and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His
Rasools. Such is the grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He
pleases, and Allah is the Owner of mighty grace.[21] No
affliction can happen on earth nor to your souls, which is not
recorded in a Book, before We bring it into existence; surely
that is easy for Allah.[22] This is done so that you may
not grieve for the things that you miss, or be overjoyed at what
you gain; for Allah does not love any vainglorious boaster,[23]
nor those who, being stingy themselves, enjoin others to be
stingy also. He that gives no heed should know that Allah is
free of all needs, worthy of all praises.[24] Surely We sent Our
Rasools with clear signs, and sent down with them the Book and
the Scales of Justice, so that men may conduct themselves with
fairness. We also sent down Iron, with its mighty strength and
diverse uses for mankind, so that Allah may know those who will
help Him, though unseen, and help His Rasools. Surely Allah is
All-Powerful, All-Mighty.[25]
57:[20-25] |
Life of this world is but play, amusement and illusion
Do not grieve for the things that you miss, nor overjoy at what
you gain |
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SECTION: 4
We sent Nüh (Noah) and Ibrãhïm (Abraham), and
bestowed among their descendants Prophethood and the Book. Some
of them adopted the right guidance, but most of them were
transgressors.[26] After them We sent other Rasools, one after
the other, and followed them with Isa (Jesus) the son of
Maryam. We gave him The Injeel (Gospel), and put
compassion and mercy into the hearts of his followers. As for
monasticism, they instituted it themselves - for We did not
enjoin it on them - in order to seek the good pleasure of Allah,
but they did not observe it as it should have been observed. Yet
We rewarded those among them who were true believers, but most
of them are transgressors.[27] O believers! Fear Allah and
believe in His Rasool (Muhammad, peace be upon him). He
will grant you a double share of His mercy, provide for you a
light to walk with and forgive you your sins. Allah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[28] You should adopt this way
so that the people of the Book may know that they do not
have the sole right to the grace of Allah, and that His grace is
entirely in His own hands, which He bestows on whomever He
wills: and Allah is the Owner of mighty grace.[29]
57:[26-29] |
Prophets Nüh, Ibrãhïm and Isa (Jesus) were sent for guidance to
the Right Path. As for the monasticism, people instituted it
themselves |
Major Issues, Divine
Law and Guidance:
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* Allah created the heavens and the earth
in six periods and has the knowledge of everything.
* On that Day, the true believers will have their light shining
before them while the hypocrites will have a fate similar to the
disbelievers.
* Those who spend in charity will be repaid manyfold and also be
given a liberal reward besides it.
* The life of this world is but play, amusement and illusion.
* Do not grieve for the things that you miss, nor overjoy at
what you gain.
* Prophets Nüh, Ibrãhïm and Isa (Jesus) were sent for guidance
to the Right Path, as for the monasticism, people instituted it
themselves.
This Sürah persuades the Muslims to make
monetary sacrifices in particular, and to make them realize that
Islam did not merely consist in verbal affirmation and some
outward practices, but its essence and spirit is sincerity
towards Allah and His Religion. The faith of the one who was
devoid of this spirit and who regarded his own self and wealth
as dearer to himself than Allah and His Religion, was hollow and
has no value in the sight of Allah. The attributes of Allah
Almighty are mentioned in order to make the listeners realize as
to Who is addressing them. Then, the following guidance is
given:
- The inevitable demand of the Faith is that one should not
shirk spending one’s wealth for the sake of Allah. In fact the
wealth belongs to Allah, and man has been granted proprietary
rights only as His vicegerent. Yesterday this wealth was in
other people’s possession, today it is with you, and tomorrow
it will pass onto someone else. Ultimately, it will go back to
Allah, Who is the inheritor of everything in the universe.
Only that portion of this wealth will be of any use to man,
which he spends in the Cause of Allah during the period it is
in his possession.
- Although making sacrifices for the Sake of Allah is
commendable in all cases, the true worth of these sacrifices
is determined by the nature of the occasion. There is an
occasion when the power of paganism is overwhelming and there
is a danger that it might subdue and overcome Islam
completely; there is another occasion when Islam is in a
stronger position in its struggle against paganism and the
believers are attaining victories. Both these states are not
equal as regards their respective importance. Therefore, the
sacrifices that are made in these different states would also
not be equal. Those who sacrifice their lives and expend their
wealth to further promote the Cause of Islam when it is
already strong cannot attain to the rank of those who
struggled with their lives and their wealth to promote and
uphold the cause of Islam when it was weak.
- Whatever is spent for the Cause of Islam is a loan to
Allah. Allah will not only return it manyfold, but will also
give from Himself an extra reward.
- In the Hereafter, the Light shall be bestowed only on
those believers who spent their wealth in the Cause of Allah.
As for the hypocrites who watched and served only their own
interests in the world, and who were least bothered whether
the Truth or falsehood prevailed, they will be segregated from
the believers in the Hereafter. Not only will they be deprived
of the Light, but will be counted among the disbelievers.
- The life of this world is like a crop which flourishes and
blooms, then turns pale and then finally is reduced to chaff.
The everlasting life is the life Hereafter when results of
great consequence will be announced. Therefore, if one has to
envy for something, it should be for Paradise.
- Whatever good a man gets and whatever hardship he suffers
in the world, is preordained by Allah. A true believer is he
who does not lose heart in affliction and is not puffed up
with pride in good times.
- Allah sent His Messengers with clear signs and the Book
and the Law of Justice so that the people may conduct their
affairs in justice, and He sent down iron so that power may be
used to establish the Truth and vanquish falsehood.
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