Welcome Friends: Ahlan wa sahlan!
Yusuf Ali’s Translation of this Chapter.
Muhammad Asad’s Translation of this Chapter.
We saw how Verse 21 gave us a generalization regarding how people tend to react when at ease after difficulty. Verses 22-23 relate to that, and what Asad says about this section is very interesting:
“The above discourse on the psychology of agnosticism and half-belief is continued in the parable of the seafarers set forth in the next two verses.”
Most people, whether agnostics or otherwise, would call on God in the depth of danger or distress when they are certain that no one -except an Omnipotent God- can help. We have heard of famous people whose journey to faith began with that call, prominent among whom is Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam, who was saved from drowning in the Pacific Ocean.
COMMENTS:
1. Verse 22 describes the desperation of people who realize that none but God can help them.
Note that our two scholars translated the word ‘deen دين-’ as ‘duty/faith’ (Ali/Asad).
Regular Readers already know that ‘deen’ in old Lexicons is simply about ‘Accountability.’
Unfortunately however, translators have mostly missed this point. If we looked at the explanations on this site, we’ll note the different translations of the word ‘deen:’
· Seven times translated as ‘faith.’
· Three times translated as ‘obedience.’
· Twice translated as ‘religion.’
· Twice translated as ‘duty.’
· Once translated as ‘submission.’
· Once translated as ‘devotion.’
We also notice that ‘shukrشكر-” is almost always related to ‘gratitude’ or ‘thankfulness.’ Regular Readers know from Blog Post Day 12 that ‘shukr’ does not denote simple gratitude or thanks, but rather it is about appreciation as in the opposite of depreciation. Shukr is about ‘accepting what is little and making the most of it until it achieves abundance,’ in other words, it is about productivity (Arabic definition reposted).[1]
So, when people realize that none but God can help them, they call unto Him in utter helplessness. At that moment, they feel completely and purely accountable to Him Alone. Many would promise God that, if He saved them, they would be of the ‘Shaakireen;’ they would make the most of whatever He gives them, no matter how little, and would work hard to spread its benefit to others.
Verse 23 offers what Asad called, a ‘parabolic illustration.’
Here we are informed that, for many, soon after God saves them, they would do the exact opposite of what they had promised: They would transgress on this earth in violation of the rights of others (people who do so usually justify their actions for themselves, as verse 21 had indicated). The verse shows us that although people might seem to be transgressing against others, they are actually committing transgression first and foremost against their own Selves!
That is how the verse ends, warning people that whatever they enjoy on earth is but of passing benefit, while to God is their return when they are confronted by their actions.
3. Verse 24 offers a similitude, a parable, drawing comparison between this immediate life, and a fertile orchard or field. At the peak of fruitfulness, just before harvest, when its people imagine holding its yield in their hands, God’s command comes upon it and it is mowed down. To its people (when they realize that they have nothing) it seems as if their orchard or land hadn’t been resplendent the day before. In that is a sign for a People who are in reflection/ thinking.
Note for whom these signs have been:
Verse 5 ‘…those who are discerning/ are attaining knowledge.’
Verse 6 ‘…those who are attaining Awareness.’
4. In Verse 25 God invites everyone to ‘Dar al Salaam’ the Abode of Peace, and gift-guides those who will to be guided to a Straightened Path.
IMPORTANT: The Abode of Peace is mentioned only twice in the Qur’an. Both times related to the Straightened Path, and to people who take heed of God’s Signs!
وَهَـٰذَا صِرَاطُ رَبِّكَ مُسْتَقِيمًا قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ﴿١٢٦﴾
لَهُمْ دَارُ السَّلَامِ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٢٧﴾
5. Verses 26–27 offer us ‘persuasion and dissuasion,’ as we listen to the description of those who will abide in eternal abodes which are, in fact, self-prepared. The images in these verses are highly descriptive, as those who did good deeds got their reward and more, while those who earned bad deeds were only recompensed for what they had done.
Verses 28–29–30 give us a glimpse into a scene which takes place when all shall be gathered before God. Those who ascribed partners to Him will be held apart, together with the ‘partners’ they had revered besides God. But then their ‘partners’ will disown them, stating that God suffices as their Witness in that they were unaware of being worshipped. Each self shall be assessed by what it had sent forth of its deeds, and all shall return to God, their Rightful Protector, while everything and everyone they had been alleging (and relying on) is lost to them.
It is important to realize that all this happening at a time when no one can be false:
Falsehood itself is no more!
Now is the time to testify that we worship God Alone, letting go of everything and everyone else, no matter how precious they might be to us; whatever and whomever we hold most dear will abandon us when our time comes.
6. Verse 31 tells Prophet Muhammad, peace upon him to ask 5 questions, all beginning with ‘Who…?” to which the answer is: “God!” The verse ends by asking a final question: “Shouldn’t you then attain Awareness?”
We must bear in mind that Qureish DID believe in God and would naturally respond as mentioned. However, they also did worship other ‘deities’ which they had set up as ‘partners’ together with God. That is why all these verses attempt to steer them into rethinking and re-evaluating their Accountability standard, persuading them at times, and also dissuading them from their false beliefs.
Verse 32 reintroduces them to God, their Rightful Lord-Sustainer, and asks what could be beyond Truth, or Rightfulness, except Error/ Loss of direction? Then asks again: “So, whereto are you diverted?”
Notice the interactive questions, which will inevitably be answered, if only with silence!
7. Verse 33 ends this Reading:
“Thus was realized the word of your Lord-Sustainer against Those who Deserted, that they do not Have Faith/Trust.”
‘Fisq,’ or the Breach of Faith, as we mentioned on Blog Post Day 63 and Blog Post Day 75, denotes the point of no return, ‘Desertion.’ Ali uses ‘rebel,’ Asad says ‘bent on sinful doings,’ and Arberry says ‘ungodly.’ Technically, Ali is correct, but in today’s usage ‘rebel’ sound political, and does not fit.
We can call a ‘faasiq’ a ‘deserter’ or someone ‘who breaches the faith.’ I have not yet found anything better.
Enough said!
Our next Reading is from HQ 10: 34-53.
Peace unto all!
[1] شكر: الثَّناء على الإنسان بمعروف يُولِيكَهُ. ويقال إنَّ حقيقة الشُّكر الرِّضا باليسير. يقولون: فرسٌ شَكور، إذا كفاه لسِمَنِه العلفُ القليل. والأصل الثاني: الامتلاء والغُزْر في الشيء. يقال حَلُوبة شَكِرَةٌ إِذا أصابت حَظّاً من مرعىً فَغزُرت. ومن هذا الباب: شَكِرَت الشّجرةُ، إذا كَثُر فيئُها