Surah 70. Al-Ma'arij

and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others].

  - Mohammad Asad

but when blessed with good fortune, he becomes stingy;

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And, when good befalleth him, grudging;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Not so, however, those who consciously turn towards God in prayer,⁹

  - Mohammad Asad

This, I believe, is the meaning of the expression al-musallin (lit., "the praying ones"), which evidently does not relate here to the mere ritual of prayer but, rather, as the next verse shows, to the attitude of mind and the spiritual need underlying it. In this sense it connects with the statement in verse {19} that "man is born with a restless disposition" which, when rightly used, leads him towards conscious spiritual growth, as well as to freedom from all self-pity and selfishness.

with the exception of those who offer the Salah (prayer),

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Save worshippers

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer;

  - Mohammad Asad

remain steadfast in their Salah (prayer),

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Who are constant at their worship

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them],

  - Mohammad Asad

set aside a due share in their wealth

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life];¹⁰

  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "but do not or cannot beg": see Razi's comments on a similar phrase in 51:19 , quoted in my corresponding note [12].

for the beggars and the deprived,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

For the beggar and the destitute;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment;

  - Mohammad Asad

accept the truth of the Day of Judgment,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And those who believe in the Day of Judgment,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement -

  - Mohammad Asad

dread the punishment of their Rabb

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure;¹¹

  - Mohammad Asad

This warning against pharisaic self-righteousness implies that however "good" a person may be, there is always a possibility of his or her having done a moral wrong (e.g., an injury to a fellow-being) and then conveniently "forgotten" this sin. Elliptically, this warning contains a call to increasing consciousness in all one's doings - for, "temptation to evil (fitnah) does not befall only those who are bent on denying the truth" 8:25 , but may also befall people who are otherwise righteous.

- for none is secure from the punishment of their Rabb -

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and who are mindful of their chastity,¹²

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "who guard their private parts".

and guard their private parts,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And those who preserve their chastity

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock] -:¹³ for then, behold, they are free of all blame,

  - Mohammad Asad

See the identical passage in {23:5-7}, as well as the corresponding note [3], in which I have fully explained the reasons for my rendering of the phrase aw ma malakat aymanuhum as "that is those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]". As regards this interpretation, see also Razi's comments on 4:24 , as well as one of the alternative interpretations of that verse advanced by Tabari on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas and Mujahid.

except from their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for in their case they are not blameworthy.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors;

  - Mohammad Asad

As for those who seek to go beyond this, they are transgressors.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges;

  - Mohammad Asad

Those who keep their trusts and honor their promises,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And those who keep their pledges and their covenant.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and who stand firm whenever they bear witness;

  - Mohammad Asad

who stand firm in their testimonies

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And those who stand by their testimony

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent].

  - Mohammad Asad

and strictly guard their Salah (prayers).

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And those who are attentive at their worship,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured!

  - Mohammad Asad

It is they who shall live with honor in paradise.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

These will dwell in Gardens, honored.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall