Surah 22. Al-Hajj

seeing that it is He who gave you life, and then will cause you to die, and then will bring you back to life: [but,] verily, bereft of all eratitude is man!

  - Mohammad Asad

He is the One Who has given you life, will cause you to die and then will bring you back to life again - yet man is indeed very ungrateful.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And He is the One Who gave you life, then will cause you to die, and then will bring you back to life. 'But' surely humankind is ever ungrateful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And He it is Who gave you life, then He will cause you to die, and then will give you life (again). Lo! man is verily an ingrate.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

It is He Who gave you life will cause you to die and will again give you life: truly man is a most ungrateful creature!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

UNTO every community have We appointed [different] ways of worship,⁸² which they ought to observe. Hence, [O believer,] do not let those [who follow ways other than shine] draw thee into disputes on this score,⁸³ but summon [them all] unto thy Sustainer: for, behold, thou art indeed on the right way.

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "a way of worship" (mansak, which sometimes denotes also "an act of worship"). For a fuller explanation of this passage, see the second paragraph of 5:48 -"Unto every one of you have We appointed a [different] law and way of life" - and the corresponding notes [66-68].

I.e., do not allow thyself to be drawn into disputes" (Zamakhshari and Baghawi).

To every nation We have prescribed the rites of worship which they observe, therefore, let them not dispute with you concerning this matter - keep calling them to the Way of your Rabb; for most surely you are rightly guided.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

For every community We appointed a code¹ of life to follow.² So do not let them dispute with you 'O Prophet' in this matter. And invite 'all' to your Lord, for you are truly on the Right Guidance.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 All prophets came with the same message: have faith in one God and do good. But each faith-community had their own law.

 The Muslim code of life is called Sharî’ah, which means a “path.” For more information, see the Introduction.

Unto each nation have We given sacred rites which they are to perform; so let them not dispute with thee of the matter, but summon thou unto thy Lord. Lo! thou indeed followest right guidance.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

To every People have we appointed rites and ceremonies which they must follow let them not then dispute with thee on the matter but do thou invite (them) to thy Lord: for thou art assuredly on the Right Way. ²⁸⁴⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Rites and ceremonies may appear to be an unimportant matter compared with "weightier matters of the Law" and with the higher needs of man's spiritual nature. But they are necessary for social and religious organisation, and their effect on the individual himself is not to be despised. In any case, as they are visible external symbols, they give rise to the most heated controversies. Such controversies are to be deprecated. That does not mean that our rites and ceremonies are to be made light of. Those in Islam rest on the highest social and religious needs of man, and if we are convinced that we are on the Right Way, we should invite all to join us, without entering into controversies about such matters.

And if they [try to] argue with thee, say [only]: "God knows best what you are doing."⁸⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. 10:41 -"To me [shall be accounted] my doings, and to you, your doings: you are not accountable for what I am doing, and I am not accountable for whatever you do".

If they argue with you, say: "Allah knows best all that you do."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But if they argue with you, then say, 'Allah knows best what you do.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And if thy wrangle with thee, say: Allah is best aware of what ye do.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

If they do wrangle with thee say "Allah knows best what it is ye are doing." ²⁸⁴⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'You are only wrangling about matters about which you have no knowledge nor any deep religious feeling. The springs of your conduct are all open before Allah, and He will judge you.'

[For, indeed,] God will judge between you [all] on Resurrection Day with regard to all on which you werebwont to differ.⁸⁵

  - Mohammad Asad

See surah {2}, note [94].

Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning the matters in which you differ.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Allah will judge between you 'all' on Judgment Day regarding your differences.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein ye used to differ.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Allah will judge between you on the Day of Judgment concerning the matters in which ye differ." ²⁸⁵⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'You not only find fault with the very few and simple rites and ceremonies in Islam: you, outside Islam, have no rites and ceremonies which you are yourselves agreed upon, either as Christians or as Jews, or one compared with the other.'

Dost thou not know that God knows all that occurs in heaven as well as on earth? All this, behold, is in [God's] record: verily, [to know] all this is easy for God.

  - Mohammad Asad

Do you not know that Allah is aware of all that is in heaven and the earth? Certainly all of this is recorded in a Book and it is very easy for Allah to do so.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Do you not know that Allah 'fully' knows whatever is in the heavens and the earth? Surely it is all 'written' in a Record. That is certainly easy for Allah.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Hast thou not known that Allah knoweth all that is in the heaven and the earth? Lo! it is in a record. Lo! that is easy for Allah.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Knowest thou not that Allah knows all that is in heaven and on earth? Indeed it is all in a record and that is easy for Allah. ²⁸⁵¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We human beings can only think of knowledge being accurately and permanently preserved by means of a record. Allah's knowledge has all the qualities of a perfect record, and it is moreover complete and comprehensive. This is not difficult for Him from whom flow all knowledge and intelligence.

And yet,⁸⁶ they [who claim to believe in Him often] worship [other beings or forces] beside God- something for which He has never bestowed any warrant from on high,⁸⁷ and [of the reality] whereof they cannot have any knowledge:⁸⁸ and such evildoers shall have none to succour them [on Judgment Day].

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., despite their awareness that God alone knows all and is, therefore, unique in His all-embracing Presence.

See surah {3}, note [106].

I.e., through independent reasoning or observation.

Yet they worship besides Allah those deities for which He has revealed no sanction, nor they themselves have any knowledge about them; certainly the wrongdoers shall have no helper.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Yet they worship besides Allah that for which He has sent down no authority, and of which they have no knowledge. The wrongdoers will have no helper.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And they worship instead of Allah that for which no warrant hath been revealed unto them, and that whereof they have no knowledge. For evil-doers there is no helper.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Yet they worship besides Allah things for which no authority has been sent down to them and of which they have (really) no knowledge: for those that do wrong there is no helper. ²⁸⁵²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When plain common-sense shows the absurdity of false worship, behind which there is neither knowledge, intelligence, nor authority (quite the contrary), who or what can help the false misguided creatures who dishonour Allah by false worship?

As it is, whenever Our messages are conveyed unto them in all their clarity, thou canst perceive utter repugnance on the faces of those who are bent on denying the truth: they would almost assault those who convey Our messages unto them! Say: "Shall I, then, tell you of something worse than what you feel at present?⁸⁹ It is the fire [of the hereafter] that God has promised to those who are bent on denying the truth: and how vile a journey's end!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "worse than this" - i.e., "more painful than the repugnance which you feel with regard to God's messages".

When Our revelations are recited to them with all their clarity, you can notice a denial on the faces of the unbelievers. They can barely restrain themselves from assaulting those who recite Our revelations. Say to them: "Shall I tell you something which is far worse than that? It is the fire of hell, which Allah has promised to those who reject the truth; what an evil abode it will be!"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Whenever Our clear revelations are recited to them, you 'O Prophet' recognize rage on the faces of the disbelievers, as if they are going to snap at those who recite Our revelations to them. Say, 'Shall I inform you of something far more enraging than that? 'It is' the Fire with which Allah has threatened those who disbelieve. What an evil destination!'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And when Our revelations are recited unto them, thou knowest the denial in the faces of those who disbelieve; they all but attack those who recite Our revelations unto them. Say: Shall I proclaim unto you worse than that? The Fire! Allah hath promised it for those who disbelieve. A hapless journey's end!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them thou wilt notice a denial on the faces of the Unbelievers! They nearly attack with violence those who rehearse Our Signs to them. Say "Shall I tell you of something (far) worse than these Signs? It is the fire (of Hell)! Allah has promised it to the Unbelievers! And evil is that destination!" ^{2853 2854}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Munkar; (1) a refusal to accept something offered; (2) a denial of something stated or pointed out; (3) a feeling of disapproval or active aversion, or disgust.

There is irony here. 'You think Allah's revelations and Signs are distasteful to you! There will be something far more distasteful to you if you do not repent! What do you say to the inevitable Punishment.

O MEN! A parable is set forth [herewith]; hearken, then, to it! Behold, those beings whom you invoke instead of God cannot create [as much as] a fly, even were they to join all their forces to that end! And if a fly robs them of anything, they cannot [even] rescue it from him! Weak indeed is the seeker, and [weak] the sought!

  - Mohammad Asad

O mankind! Here is an example for your understanding, so listen to it carefully. Those deities whom you call besides Allah, cannot create a single fly, even if they all combined their forces, rather, if a fly snatches away anything from them they cannot even get it back; how feebleminded are the suppliants and how powerless are those whom they supplicate!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O humanity! A lesson is set forth, so listen to it 'carefully': those 'idols' you invoke besides Allah can never create 'so much as' a fly, even if they 'all' were to come together for that. And if a fly were to snatch anything away from them, they cannot 'even' retrieve it from the fly. How powerless are those who invoke and those invoked!¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Another possible translation: “How weak are the seekers (i.e., the idols) and the sought (i.e., the fly)!”

O mankind! A similitude is coined, so pay ye heed to it: Lo! those on whom ye call beside Allah will never create a fly though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly took something from them, they could not rescue it from him. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

O men! Here is a parable set forth! Listen to it! Those on whom besides Allah ye call cannot create (even) a fly if they all met together for the purpose! And if the fly should snatch away anything from them they would have no power to release it from the fly: feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition! ²⁸⁵⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Both idols and their worshippers are poor, foolish, feeble creatures!

No true understanding of God have they [who err in this way]: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty!

  - Mohammad Asad

They do not render to Allah the homage due to Him; in fact, Allah is the One Who is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They have not shown Allah the reverence He deserves. Surely Allah is All-Powerful, Almighty.

  - Mustafa Khattab

They measure not Allah His rightful measure. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

No just estimate have they made of Allah: for Allah is He Who is strong and able to carry out His Will. ²⁸⁵⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No one can have a true idea of Allah, who descends to the base forms of false worship. Allah has all power, and He is fully able to carry out every part of His Will and Plan. He is exalted above all in power and dignity. Cf. xxii. 40 and n. 2818 for the full meaning of 'Aziz.

[In His almightiness,] God chooses message-bearers from among the angels as well as from among men. But, behold, God [alone] is all-hearing, all-see-ing:⁹⁰

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., the prophets and the angels are but created beings having no share whatever in His omniscience and, hence, no claim to being worshipped.

Allah chooses His messengers from among the angels and from among the human beings, for surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Allah selects messengers from both angels and people, for Allah is truly All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Allah chooseth from the angels messengers, and (also) from mankind. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Seer.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Allah chooses Messengers from angels and from men: for Allah is He Who hears and sees (all things). ^{2857 2858}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Men are chosen as Messengers to ordinary men; for ordinary men will not be able to understand and be in communion with beings so refined as angels. But angels are sent as Messengers to Allah's chosen prophets, to convey the Message from time to time. In either case they are chosen by Allah, are subject to Allah's Will, and should not be worshipped as gods.

As Allah regards the humblest of His creatures and hears their prayer, He sends men messengers out of their own brethren (see last note), and to such messengers He communicates the highest spiritual Truths through His angels.

[whereas their knowledge is limited,] He knows all that lies open before them and all that is hidden from them⁹¹ - for all things go back to God [as their source].

  - Mohammad Asad

For an explanation of this rendering of the phrase ma bayna aydihim wa-ma khalfahum, see surah {2}, note [247].

He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and to Allah shall all matters return for decision.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them. And to Allah 'all' matters will be returned 'for judgment'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

He knoweth all that is before them and all that is behind them, and unto Allah all things are returned.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

He knows what is before them and what is behind them: and to Allah go back all questions (for decision). ²⁸⁵⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Time, before or behind, may be of some importance to men. They may dispute as to what was the first Message, and what is the last Message. To Allah, this question of priority and posteriority is of no consequence. All questions go back ultimately to Him and are judged on their merits.

O YOU who have attained to faith! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Sustainer [alone], and do good, so that you might attain to a happy state!

  - Mohammad Asad

O believers! Bow down, prostrate yourselves, worship your Rabb and do good deeds so that you may attain salvation.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O believers! Bow down, prostrate yourselves, worship your Lord, and do 'what is' good so that you may be successful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

O, ye who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that haply ye may prosper.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

O ye who believe! bow down prostrate yourselves and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may prosper. ²⁸⁶⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Prosper: in a spiritual sense, both in this life and the Hereafter.

And strive hard in God's cause with all the striving that is due to Him: it is He who has elected you [to carry His message], and has laid no hardship on you in [anything that pertains to] religion,⁹² [and made you follow] the creed of your forefather Abraham.⁹³ It is He who has named you - in bygone times as well as in this [divine writ] - "those who have surrendered themselves to God",⁹⁴ so that the Apostle might bear witness to the truth before you, and that you might bear witness to it before all mankind. Thus, be constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues, and hold fast unto God. He is your Lord Supreme: and how excellent is this Lord Supreme, and how excellent this Giver of Succour!

  - Mohammad Asad

The absence of any "hardship" in the religion of Islam is due to several factors: (1) it is free of any dogma or mystical proposition which might make the Qur'anic doctrine difficult to understand or might even conflict with man's innate reason; (2) it avoids all complicated ritual or system of taboos which would impose undue restrictions on man's everyday life; (3) it rejects all self-mortification and exaggerated asceticism, which must unavoidably conflict with man's true nature (cf. in this connection note [118] on the first sentence of 2:143 ); and (4) it takes fully into account the fact that "man has been created weak" ( 4:28 ).

Abraham is designated here as "your forefather" not only because he was, in fact, an ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad - to whose followers this passage is addressed - but also because he is the prototype (and thus, the spiritual "forefather") of all who consciously "surrender themselves to God" (see next note).

The term muslim signifies "one who surrenders himself to God"; correspondingly, islam denotes "self-surrender to God". Both these terms are applied in the Qur'an to all who believe in the One God and affirm this belief by an unequivocal acceptance of His revealed messages. Since the Qur'an represents the final and most universal of these divine revelations, the believers are called upon, in the sequence, to follow the guidance of its Apostle and thus to become an example for all mankind (cf. 2:143 and the corresponding note [119]).

Strive in the Way of Allah as you ought to strive with sincerity and discipline; He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in the observance of your faith - the faith of your father Ibrahim (Abraham). He named you Muslims before in prior scriptures and in this (The Qur'an), so that His Rasool may testify against you and you yourselves may testify against rest of the mankind. Therefore, establish Salah, pay Zakah and hold fast to Allah; Who is your Protector - so what an excellent Protector and what a splendid Supporter!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Strive for 'the cause of' Allah in the way He deserves, for 'it is' He 'Who' has chosen you, and laid upon you no hardship in the religion- the way of your forefather Abraham. 'It is Allah' Who named you 'the ones who submit'¹ 'in the' earlier 'Scriptures' and in this 'Quran', so that the Messenger may be a witness over you, and that you may be witnesses over humanity. So establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and hold fast to Allah. He 'alone' is your Guardian. What an excellent Guardian, and what an excellent Helper!

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., Muslims.

And strive for Allah with the endeavor which is His right. He hath chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of your father Abraham (is yours). He hath named you Muslims of old time and in this (Scripture), that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may be witnesses against mankind. So establish worship, pay the poor due, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protecting Friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed Helper!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive (with sincerity and under discipline): He has chosen you and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (Revelation); that the Apostle may be a witness for you and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer give regular Charity and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector the Best to protect and the Best to help! ^{2861 2862 2863 2864}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As far as the striving is concerned with Jihad in the narrow sense, see the limitations in n. 204 to ii. 190 and n. 205 to ii. 191. But the words are perfectly general and apply to all true and unselfish striving for spiritual good.

The Jews were hampered by many restrictions, and their religion was racial. Christianity, as originally preached, was a hermit religion: "sell whatsoever thou hast" (Mark x. 21); "take no thought for the morrow" (Matt. vi. 34). Islam, as originally preached, gives freedom and full play to man's faculties of every kind. It is universal, and claims to date from Adam: father Abraham is mentioned as the great Ancestor of those among whom Islam was first preached (Jews, Christians, and Arabs).

Before: see Abraham's prayer in ii. 128. In this revelation: in this very verse, as well as in other places.

See ii. 143, and notes 143 and 144. As the Prophet is a guide and exemplar among us, so Muslims ought to be exemplars amongst mankind. The best witness to Allah's Truth are those who show its light in their lives.