Surah 29. Al-Ankabut

Alif. Lam. Mim.¹

  - Mohammad Asad

See Appendix II.

Alif Lam M'im.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Alif-Lãm-Mĩm.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Alif. Lam. Mim.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Alif Lam Mim. ³⁴²²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We are asked to contrast, in our present life the real inner life against the outer life, and learn from the past about the struggles of the soul which upholds Allah's Truth, against the environment of evil, which resists it, and to turn our thoughts to the Ma'ad, or man's future destiny in the Hereafter.

DO MEN THINK that on their [mere] saying, "We have attained to faith", they will be left to themselves, and will not be put to a test?

  - Mohammad Asad

Do the people think that they will be left alone on saying "We believe," and that they will not be tested?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Do people think once they say, 'We believe,' that they will be left without being put to the test?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Do men imagine that they will be left (at ease) because they say, We believe, and will not be tested with affliction?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying "We believe" and that they will not be tested? ³⁴²³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Mere lip profession of Faith is not enough. It must be tried and tested in the real turmoil of life. The test will be applied in all kinds of circumstances, in individual life and in relation to the environment around us, to see whether we can strive constantly and put Allah above Self. Much pain, sorrow, and self-sacrifice may be necessary, not because they are good in themselves, but because they will purify us, like fire applied to a goldsmith's crucible to burn out the dross.

Yea, indeed, We did test those who lived before them; and so, [too, shall be tested the people now living: and] most certainly will God mark out those who prove themselves true, and most certainly will He mark out those who are lying.²

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., to others and/or to themselves (see note [7]).

We did test those who have gone before them. Allah has to see (for the purpose of reward and punishment) who are the truthful and who are the liars.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

We certainly tested those before them. And 'in this way' Allah will clearly distinguish between those who are truthful and those who are liars.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere, and knoweth those who feign.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

We did test those before them and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false. ³⁴²⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The word "know" is used here more in the sense of testing than of acquiring knowledge. Allah is All-Knowing: He needs no test to increase His own knowledge, but the test is to burn out the dross within ourselves, as explained in the last note.

Or do they think - they who do evil deeds [while claiming to have attained to faith1 - that they can escape Us? Bad, indeed, is their judgment!

  - Mohammad Asad

Or do the evildoers think that they will escape from Our reach? How bad is their judgment!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Or do the evildoers 'simply' think that they will escape Us? How wrong is their judgment!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Or do those who do ill deeds imagine that they can outstrip Us: Evil (for them ) is that which they decide.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Do those who practice evil think that they will get the better of us? Evil is their judgment! ³⁴²⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If the enemies of Truth imagine that they will "be first" by destroying Truth before it takes root, they are sadly at fault, for their own persecution may help to plant Allah's Truth more firmly in men's hearts.

Whoever looks forward [with hope and aw ] to meeting God [on Resurrection Day, let him be ready for it]: for, behold, the end set by God [for every-one's life] is bound to come - and He alone is all-hearing, all-knowing!

  - Mohammad Asad

He that hopes to meet Allah must know that Allah's appointed time is sure to come and He hears all and knows all.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Whoever hopes for the meeting with Allah, 'let them know that' Allah's appointed time is sure to come. He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Whoso looketh forward to the meeting with Allah (let him know that) Allah's reckoning is surely nigh, and He is the Hearer, the Knower.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

For those whose hopes are in the meeting with Allah (in the Hereafter let them strive); for the Term (appointed) by Allah is surely coming: and He hears and knows (all things). ^{3426 3427}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The men of Faith look forward to Allah. Their quest is Allah, and the object of their hopes is the meeting with Allah. They should strive with might and main to serve Him in this life, for this life is short, and the Term appointed for their probation will soon be over.

The Term (ajal) may signify: (1) the time appointed for death, which ends the probation of this life; (2) the time appointed for this life, so that we can prepare for the Hereafter; the limit will soon expire. In either case the ultimate meaning is the same. We must strive now and not postpone anything for the future. And we must realize and remember that every prayer we make to Allah is heard by Him, and that every unspoken wish or motive of our heart, good or bad, is known to Him, and goes to swell our spiritual account.