وَالضُّحَىٰ
CONSIDER the bright morning hours, (1)
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ
and the night when it grows still and dark. (2)
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ
Thy Sustainer has not forsaken thee, nor does He scorn thee: (3)
وَلَلْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنَ الْأُولَىٰ
for, indeed, the life to come will be better for thee than this earlier part [of thy life]! (4)
وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰ
And, indeed, in time will thy Sustainer grant thee [what thy heart desires], and thou shalt be well-pleased. (5)
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَىٰ
Has He not found thee an orphan, and given thee shelter? (6)
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًّا فَهَدَىٰ
And found thee lost on thy way, and guided thee? (7)
وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَىٰ
And found thee in want, and given thee sufficiency? (8)
فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ
Therefore, the orphan shalt thou never wrong, (9)
وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ
and him that seeks [thy] help shalt thou never chide, (10)
وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
and of thy Sustainer's blessings shalt thou [ever] speak. (11)
- and him that seeks [thy] help shalt thou never chide,4
- 4 The term sa'il denotes" literally, "one who asks", which signifies not only a "beggar" but anyone who asks for help in a difficult situation, whether physical or moral, or even for enlightenment.
- Nor repulse the petitioner (Unheard);6186
- 6186 Then there are the people who come with petitions-who have to ask for something. They may be genuine beggars asking for financial help, or ignorant people asking for knowledge, or timid people asking for some lead or encouragement. The common attitude is to scorn them or repulse them. The scorn may be shown even when alms or assistance is given to them. Such an attitude is wrong. Charity is of no moral value without sympathy and love. Nor is it charity to give to idle sturdy professional beggars, for show or to get rid of them. They are mere parasites on society. Every petition should be examined and judged on its merits.
-
Nor repulse the petitioner (unheard);
— Abdullah Yusuf Ali -
Therefor the beggar drive not away,
— Marmaduke Pickthall -
And as for him who asks, do not chide (him),
— M. Habib Shakir -
And repulse not the beggar;
— Taqiuddin Hilali and M. Mohsin Khan -
And as to the beggar, chide thou him not.
— Abdul-Majid Daryabadi -
nor drive away the one who asks.
— Hasan Qaribullah and Ahmed Darwish -
and as for the beggar, scold him not,
— Ayub Khan -
And him, who seeks thy help, chide not,
— Sher Ali -
and him that seeks [thy] help shalt thou never chide,
— Muhammad Asad -
and as for the beggar, scold him not;
— Arthur Arberry -
and chide not him who asks,{{10}}
— Abu'l Ala Maududi