Surah 22. Al-Hajj

On that Day, all dominion shall [visibly] belong to God. He shall judge [all men and make a distinction] between them: thus, all who had attained to faith and did righteous deeds shall find themselves in gardens of bliss,

  - Mohammad Asad

On that Day the Kingdom will be that of Allah's; He will judge between them; so those who have embraced the true faith and done good deeds shall enter the gardens of delight;

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

All authority on that Day is for Allah 'alone'.¹ He will judge between them. So those who believe and do good will be in the Gardens of Bliss.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Allah grants authority to some of His servants in this world, but none will have authority on Judgment Day except Him. See 3:26.

The Sovereignty on that day will be Allah's. He will judge between them. Then those who believed and did good works will be in Gardens of Delight,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

On that Day the Dominion will be that of Allah: He will judge between them: so those who believe and work righteous deeds will be in Gardens of Delight. ²⁸³⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Such power as Evil has over those who yield to it (xvii. 62-64) will then be gone, as the respite granted to Satan be over, and Allah's Kingdom will be established.

whereas for those who were bent on denying the truth and gave the lie to Our messages, there shall be shameful suffering in store.

  - Mohammad Asad

but the unbelievers who have denied Our revelations shall receive a disgraceful punishment.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But those who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, it is they who will suffer a humiliating punishment.

  - Mustafa Khattab

While those who disbelieved and denied Our revelations, for them will be a shameful doom.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And for those who reject Faith and deny Our Signs there will be a humiliating Punishment.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

AND AS FOR those who forsake the domain of evil⁷¹ [and strive] in God's cause, and then are slain or die - God will most certainly provide for them a goodly sustenance [in the life to come]: for, verily, God - He alone - is the best of providers;

  - Mohammad Asad

For this rendering of the phrase alladhina hajaru, see note [203] on 2:218 . The subsequent mention of "those who strive in God's cause, and then are slain or die" connects with the reference, in verses {39-40}, to God's permission to the believers to fight in defence of their faith and liberty. The extreme merit of the self-sacrifice involved is stressed in several Qur'anic passages, and particularly in {4:95-96}; hence, it has also a bearing on the Day of Judgement spoken of in the preceding passage.

As for those who migrated for the sake of Allah and afterwards were killed or died, Allah will make a generous provision for them; certainly Allah is the One Who is the best Provider.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

As for those who emigrate in the cause of Allah and then are martyred or die, Allah will indeed grant them a good provision. Surely Allah is the Best Provider.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Those who fled their homes for the cause of Allah and then were slain or died, Allah verily will provide for them a good provision. Lo! Allah, He verily is Best of all who make provision.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah and are then slain or die on them will Allah bestow verily a goodly Provision: truly Allah is He Who bestows the best Provision. ²⁸³⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Rizq: sustenance, provision. I have preferred the latter word here, because after death we can only think of rizq in a large metaphorical sense. i.e., all the provision necessary to equip the person for a full and happy Future Life, and also, I think, a provision for his dependents and near and dear ones in this life.

[and] He will most certainly cause them to enter upon a state [of being] that shall please them well :⁷² for, verily, God is all-knowing, most forbearing.

  - Mohammad Asad

Or: "cause them to enter [upon their life after death] in a manner that will please them well" (cf. note [40] on the last clause of 4:31 ) - thus implying that by sacrificing their lives in God’s cause they will have obtained His forgiveness of whatever sins they may have previously committed.

He will admit them to a place with which they shall be well pleased; for Allah is All-Knowing, Most Lenient.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He will certainly admit them into a place they will be pleased with. For Allah is truly All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Assuredly He will cause them to enter by an entry that they will love. Lo! Allah verily is Knower, Indulgent.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Verily He will admit them to a place with which they shall be well pleased: for Allah is All-Knowing Most Forbearing. ²⁸³⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Martyrdom is the sacrifice of life in the service of Allah. Its reward is therefore even greater than that of an ordinarily good life. The martyr's sins are forgiven by the very act of martyrdom, which implies service and self-surrender in the highest sense of the word. Allah knows all his past life but will forbear from calling him to account for things that should strictly come into his account.

Thus shall it be. And as for him who responds to aggression only to the extent of the attack levelled against him,⁷³ and is thereupon [again] treacherously attacked - God will most certainly succour him: for, behold, God is indeed an absolver of sins, much-forgiving.⁷⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "who has retaliated with the like of what he had been afflicted with" - i.e., has acted only in self-defence and done to his enemy no more than the enemy had done to him. (A similar phrase, relating to retaliation in argument, is found in 16:126 and explained in the corresponding note [150].)

While the opening sentence of this verse stresses the principle of self-defence as the only justification of war (cf. 2:190 and {192-193}) - with the proviso that retaliation must not exceed the injury initially suffered - the concluding part of the verse implies that in case of repeated, unprovoked aggression the believers are allowed to wage an all-out war with a view to destroying completely the enemy's military power. Since such an all-out war might seem to conflict with the principle of limited retaliation alluded to above, the Qur'an states that God absolves the believers of what otherwise might have been a sin, since it is they "against whom war is being wrongfully waged" (verse {39}) by repeated acts of aggression.

Thus shall it be! He that retaliates equal to the infliction he received and then is wronged again, will most certainly be helped by Allah; surely Allah is the One Who is All-Forbearing, Most Forgiving.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

That is so. And whoever retaliates in equivalence to the injury they have received, and then are wronged 'again', Allah will certainly help them. Surely Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving.

  - Mustafa Khattab

That (is so). And whoso hath retaliated with the like of that which he was made to suffer and then hath (again) been wronged, Allah will succour him. Lo! Allah verily is Mild, Forgiving.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

That (is so). And if one has retaliated to no greater extent than the injury he received and is again set upon inordinately Allah will help him: for Allah is One that blots out (sins) and forgives (again and again). ²⁸⁴⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Ordinarily Muslims are enjoined to bear injuries with patience and return good for evil (xxiii. 96). But there are occasions when human feelings get the better of our wise resolutions, or when, in a state of conflict or war, we return "as good as we get". In that case our retaliation is permissible, provided the injury we inflict is not greater than that we receive. After such retaliation we are even, but if the other side again acts aggressively and goes beyond all bounds in attacking us, we are entitied to protection from Allah in spite of all our faults; for Allah is One that blots out our sins, and forgives again and again.

Thus it is, because God [is almighty⁷⁵ - the One who] makes the night grow longer by shortening the day, and makes the day grow longer by shortening the night; and because God is all-hearing, all-seeing.⁷⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "and therefore has the power to succour the believers who have been wronged".

I.e., it is He who knows what is in the hearts of men, and nevertheless, in His unfathomable wisdom, allows the darkness of oppression to grow at the expense of the light of freedom, and then causes the light to overcome the darkness: an eternal, cyclical recurrence which dominates the life of mankind. (As Ibn Kathir points out, the above passage contains a direct allusion to {3:26-27}-"Say: O God, Lord of all dominion! Thou grantest dominion unto whom Thou willest, and takest away dominion from whom Thou willest.... Thou hast the power to will anything: Thou makest the night grow longer by shortening the day, and Thou makest the day grow longer by shortening the night...."

That is because it is Allah Who causes the night to pass into the day, and the day into the night, Allah is indeed All-Hearing, Most Observing.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

That is because Allah causes the night to merge into the day, and the day into the night. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

  - Mustafa Khattab

That is because Allah maketh the night to pass into the day and maketh the day to pass into the night, and because Allah is Hearer, Seer.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

That is because Allah merges Night into Day and He merges Day into Night and verily it is Allah Who hears and sees (all things). ²⁸⁴¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To some it may appear strange or even irreconcilable that Allah should be both Merciful and Just; that He should both protect His devotees and yet ask for their self-sacrifice-that he should command them to return good for evil, and yet permit retaliation under certain restrictions. But such thoughts are short-sighted. Do they not see many inconsistencies in all Life, all Nature, and all Creation? Why, even in such simple phenomena as Night and Day, the one merges into the other, and no one can tell when precisely the one begins and the other ends. Yet we can see in a rough sort of way that the one gives rest and the other activity, that the one reveals the beauties of the starry heavens and the other the splendour of the sun. In countless ways we can see there the wisdom and the fine artistry of Allah. And there are subtle nuances and mergings in nature that our intelligence can hardly penetrate. Now human life and human relations are far more complicated, and it is Allah alone Who can see all the subtle distinctions and hear the cries of all His creatures, in a world which Tennyson described as "red in tooth and claw".

Thus it is, because God alone is the Ultimate Truth,⁷⁷ so that all that men invoke beside Him is sheer falsehood, and because God alone is exalted, great!

  - Mohammad Asad

See surah {20}, note [99].

That is because Allah is the One Who is Real; and all those deities besides Him, whom they invoke, are false; indeed it is Allah Who is the Supreme, the Great.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

That is because Allah 'alone' is the Truth and what they invoke besides Him is falsehood, and Allah 'alone' is truly the Most High, All-Great.

  - Mustafa Khattab

That is because Allah, He is the True, and that whereon they call instead of Him, it is the False, and because Allah, He is the High, the Great.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

That is because Allah He is the Reality: and those besides Him whom they invoke they are but vain Falsehood: verily Allah is He Most High Most Great. ^{2842 2843}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The emphatic construction calls attention to the fact that Allah is the only abiding Reality. All else is like shadows that will pass away.

See n. 2841 above. Our vain imaginings, groundless doubts, foolish subtleties, and false worship should all give place to trust and faith in the one and only Reality.

Art thou not aware that it is God who sends down water from the skies, whereupon the earth becomes green? Verily, God is unfathomable [in His wisdom] all-aware.⁷⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

For an explanation of the term latif ("unfathomable"), see surah {6}, note [89].

Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky so the land becomes green? Surely Allah is the Benignant, Aware.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky, then the earth becomes green? Surely Allah is Most Subtle, All-Aware.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Seest thou not how Allah sendeth down water from the sky and then the earth becometh green upon the morrow? Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Seest thou not that Allah sends down rain from the sky and forthwith the earth becomes clothed with green? For Allah is He Who understands the finest mysteries and is well-acquainted (with them). ²⁸⁴⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Latif, as a name of Allah, is as difficult to define in words as the idea it seeks to represent is difficult to grasp in our minds. It implies: (1) fine, subtle (the basic meaning); (2) so fine and subtle as to be imperceptible to human sight; (3) so pure as to be incomprehensible; (4) with sight so perfect as to see and understand the finest subtleties and mysteries; (5) so kind and gracious as to bestow gifts of the most refined kind; extraordinarily gracious and understanding. No. 4 is the predominant meaning here and in xii. 100; Nos. 2 and 3 in vi. 103; and No.5 in xlii. 19; but every shade of meaning must be borne in mind in each case, as a subsidiary factor in the spiritual melody.

Unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and al that is on earth; and, verily, God - He alone - is self sufficient, the One to whom all praise is due.

  - Mohammad Asad

To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth; surely Allah is the One Who is the Self-sufficient, the Praiseworthy.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Allah 'alone' is truly the Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Unto Him belongeth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Lo! Allah, He verily is the Absolute, the Owner of Praise.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: for verily Allah He is Free of all wants Worthy of all praise. ²⁸⁴⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Each of the verses xxii. 61-63 mentioned two attributes of Allah with reference to the contents of that verse. This verse now sums up the whole argument, and the two attributes with which it closes sum up the idea by which we can understand Allah's goodness. Allah's loving kindness and mercies are not like those of human creatures who all depend upon one another, and often expect some kindness or recognition in return. Allah is above all wants and depends in no way whatever on His creatures. His mercies have therefore a special quality, which we cannot describe except by gratefully singing the praises of Allah. Cf. ii. 267.

Art thou not aware that it is God who has made subservient to you all that is on earth,⁷⁹ and the ships that sail through the sea at His behest - and [that it is He who] holds the celestial bodies⁸⁰ [in their orbits], so that they may not fall upon the earth otherwise than by His leave?⁸¹ Verily, God is most compassionate towards men, a dispenser of grace -

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., "has enabled you to benefit from all. . .", etc. (cf. surah {14}, note [46]).

Lit., "the sky" - used here as a metonym for the stars and planets, which are held on their courses by the God-willed laws of cosmic movement (Maraghi XVII, 137).

I.e., at the Last Hour, which - as the Qur'an so often states - will manifest itself in universal cosmic catastrophe.

Do you not see that Allah has subdued to you all that is in the earth and the ships that sail through the sea by His command? He is withholding the sky in a way that it cannot fall down on the earth without His permission; surely Allah is very kind and merciful to mankind.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you¹ whatever is in the earth as well as the ships 'that' sail through the sea by His command? He keeps the sky from falling down on the earth except by His permission. Surely Allah is Ever Gracious and Most Merciful to humanity.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 For your service.

Hast thou not seem how Allah hath made all that is in the earth subservient unto you? And the sap runneth upon the sea by His command, and He holdeth back the heaven from falling on the earth unless by His leave. Lo! Allah is, for mankind, Full of Pity, Merciful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Seest thou not that Allah has made subject to you (men) all that is on the earth and the ships that sail through the sea by His command? He withholds the sky (rain) from falling on the earth except by His leave: for Allah is Most Kind and Most Merciful to man. ^{2846 2847}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Land and sea have been made subject to man by Allah's command, so that man can develop his life freely on earth.

Samaa means (1) something high, (2) a roof, a ceiling, (3) the sky, the canopy of heaven. (4) cloud or rain. I understand the last meaning here, though most authorities seem to render it by some such words as "sky". If we understand rain here, we have a complete picture of the three elements in which man lives-land, air and sea. Rain is also appropriate for mention with Allah's kindness and mercy. He regulates the rain for man's benefit.

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.