سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
ALL THAT IS in the heavens and on earth extols God's limitless glory: for He alone is almighty, truly wise! (1)
لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth; He grants life and deals death; and He has the power to will anything. (2)
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
He is the First and the Last, and the Outward as well as the Inward: and He has full knowledge of everything. (3)
هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in six aeons, and is established on the throne of His almightiness. He knows all that enters the earth, and all that comes out of it, as well as all that descends from the skies, and all that ascends to them. And He is with you wherever you may be; and God sees all that you do. (4)
لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ
His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth; and all things go back unto God [as their source]. (5)
يُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَهُوَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
He makes the night grow longer by shortening the day, and makes the day grow longer by shortening the night; and He has full knowledge of what is in the hearts [of men]. (6)
آمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَأَنْفِقُوا مِمَّا جَعَلَكُمْ مُسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَأَنْفَقُوا لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
BELIEVE in God and His Apostle, and spend on others out of that of which He has made you trustees: for those of you who have attained to faith and who spend freely [in God's cause] shall have a great reward. (7)
وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ
And why should you not believe in God, seeing that the Apostle calls you to believe in [Him who is] your Sustainer, and [seeing that] He has taken a pledge from you? [Why should you not believe in Him] if you are able to believe [in anything]? (8)
هُوَ الَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ
It is He who bestows from on high clear messages unto [this] His servant, to lead you out of the deep darkness into the light: for, behold, God is most compassionate towards you, a dispenser of grace. (9)
وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تُنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا يَسْتَوِي مِنْكُمْ مَنْ أَنْفَقَ مِنْ قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَقَاتَلَ أُولَٰئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِنَ الَّذِينَ أَنْفَقُوا مِنْ بَعْدُ وَقَاتَلُوا وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَىٰ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
AAnd why should you not spend freely in the cause of God, seeing that God's [alone] is the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Not equal are those of you who spent and fought [in God's cause] before the Victory [and those who did not do so]: they are of a higher rank than those who would spend and fight [only] after it – although God has promised the ultimate good to all [who strive in His cause]. And God is aware of all that you do. (10)
- And why should you not spend freely in the cause of God, seeing that God's [alone] is the heritage of the heavens and the earth?8 Not equal are those of you who spent and fought [in God's cause] before the Victory9 [and those who did not do so]: they are of a higher rank than those who would spend and fight [only] after it - although God has promised the ultimate good to all [who strive in His cause].10 And God is aware of all that you do.
- 8 I.e., "that to God belongs all that is etc.: see note 5 above; also note 22 on 15:23.
- 9 I.e., before the conquest of Mecca in 8 H., when the Muslims were still weak and their future uncertain.
- 10 The above principle applies, of course, to the relative merits of believers of all times who strive in God's cause before andlor after success has been achieved.
- And what cause have ye why ye should not spend in the cause of Allah.- For to Allah belongs5285 the heritage of the heavens and the earth. Not equal among you are those who spent (freely) and fought, before the Victory,5286 (with those who did so later). Those are higher in rank than those who spent (freely) and fought afterwards. But to all has Allah promised a goodly (reward). And Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do.
- 5285 To Allah belongs the heritage of. . . : see n. 485 to 3:180; also n. 988 to 6:165; and n. 1964 to 15:23.
- 5286 This is usually understood to refer to the Conquest of Makkah, after which the Muslims succeeded to the power and position which the Pagan Quraysh had so misused at Makkah. Thereafter the Muslims had the hegemony of Arabia, and in a few centuries, for a time, the hegemony of the world. But the words are perfectly general, and we must understand the general meaning also: that the people who fight and struggle in Allah's Cause and give of their best to it at any time are worthy of praise: but those are worthy of special distinction who do it when the Cause is being persecuted and in most need of assistance, before victory comes.
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And what cause have ye why ye should not spend in the cause of Allah?- For to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. Not equal among you are those who spent (freely) and fought, before the Victory, (with those who did so later). Those are higher in rank than those who spent (freely) and fought afterwards. But to all has Allah promised a goodly (reward). And Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do.
— Abdullah Yusuf Ali -
And what aileth you that ye spend not in the way of Allah when unto Allah belongeth the inheritance of the heavens and the earth? Those who spent and fought before the victory are not upon a level (with the rest of you). Such are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. Unto each hath Allah promised good. And Allah is Informed of what ye do.
— Marmaduke Pickthall -
And what reason have you that you should not spend in Allah's way? And Allah's is the inheritance of the heavens and the earth, not alike among you are those who spent before the victory and fought (and those who did not): they are more exalted in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards; and Allah has promised good to all; and Allah is Aware of what you do.
— M. Habib Shakir -
And what is the matter with you that you spend not in the Cause of Allah? And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquering (of Makkah) (with those among you who did so later). Such are higher in degree than those who spent and fought afterwards. But to all, Allah has promised the best (reward). And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
— Taqiuddin Hilali and M. Mohsin Khan -
And what aileth you that ye expend not in the way of Allah, when Allah's shall be the inheritance of the heavens and the earth! Those among you who expended and fought before the victory shall not be held equal They are mightier in rank than those who expended and fought afterwards; Unto each hath Allah promised good; and Allah is of whatsoever ye work Aware.
— Abdul-Majid Daryabadi -
And why is it that you do not spend in the Way of Allah, when the inheritance of the heavens and earth belong to Allah alone? Those who spent before the victory and took part in the fighting are mightier in rank and are not equal to those who spent and fought thereafter. Yet, Allah has promised each a fine reward, and Allah is Aware of what you do.
— Hasan Qaribullah and Ahmed Darwish -
And how is it with you, that you do not expend in the way of God, when to God belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Not equal are those among you who expended and fought before the victory; those are greater in rank than those who expended and fought afterwards. And to all God has promised the best reward; and God is aware of what you do.
— Ayub Khan -
And why is it that you spend not in the way of God, while to God belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Those of you who spent and fought before the Victory are not equal to those who did so later. They are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. And to all has God promised good. And God is Well-Aware of what you do.
— Sher Ali -
AAnd why should you not spend freely in the cause of God, seeing that God's [alone] is the heritage of the heavens and the earth?
Not equal are those of you who spent and fought [in God's cause] before the Victory [and those who did not do so]: they are of a higher rank than those who would spend and fight [only] after it – although God has promised the ultimate good to all [who strive in His cause]. And God is aware of all that you do.
— Muhammad Asad -
How is it with you, that you expend not in the way of God, and to God belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth? Not equal is he among you who spent, and who fought before the victory; those are mightier in rank than they who spent and fought afterwards; and unto each God has promised the reward most fair; and God is aware of the things you do.
— Arthur Arberry -
How is it that you do not expend in the Way of Allah when to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth?{{13}} Those who spent their wealth and took part in fighting before the Victory cannot be equated (with those who spent their wealth and took part in fighting afterwards). They are higher in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards.{{14}} But to each Allah has promised a good reward. Allah is well aware of all that you do.{{15}}
— Abu'l Ala Maududi