From
the translation by Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss)
About the translator:
Muhammad Asad, Leopold Weiss,
was born of Jewish parents in Livow, Austria (later
Poland) in 1900, and at the age of 22 made his first
visit to the Middle East. He later became an outstanding
foreign correspondent for the Franfurter Zeitung,
and after his conversion to Islam travelled and
worked throughout the Muslim world, from North Africa
to as far east as Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.
After years of devoted study he became one of the
leading Muslim scholars of our age. His translation
of the Holy Qur'an is one of the most lucid and
well-referenced works in this category, dedicated
to “li-qawmin yatafakkaroon” (For people
who think).
Chapter 39, verse 46
Say: “O God! Originator of the heavens and
the earth! Knower of all that is beyond the reach
of a created being’s perception, as well as
of all that can be witnessed y a creature’s
senses or mind! It is Thou who wilt judge between
Thy servants [on Resurrection Day] with regard to
all on which they were wont to differ!”
Chapter 39, verses 53 to 61
Say: “[Thus speaks God:] ‘O you servants
of Mine who have transgressed against your own selves!
Despair not of God’s mercy: behold, God forgives
all sins – for, verily, He alone is much-forgiving,
a dispenser of grace!”
Hence, turn towards your Sustainer [alone] and surrender
yourselves unto Him ere the suffering [of death
and resurrection] comes upon you, for then you will
not be succored. And ere that suffering comes upon
you of a sudden, without your being aware [of its
approach], follow the most goodly [teaching] that
has been revealed unto you by your Sustainer, lest
any human being should say [on Judgment Day], “Alas
for me for having been remiss in what is due to
God, and for having been indeed one of those who
scoffed [at the truth]!” – or lest he
should say, “If God had but guided me, I would
surely have been among those who are conscious of
Him!” – or lest he should say, when
he becomes aware of the suffering [that awaits him],
“would that I had a second chance [in life],
so that I could be among the doers of good!”
[But God will reply:] “Yea indeed! My messages
did come unto thee; but thou gavest them the lie,
and wert filled with false pride, and wert among
those who deny the truth!”
And [so,] on he Day of Resurrection thou wilt see
all who invented lies about God [with] their faces
darkened [by grief and ignominy]. Is not hell the
[proper] abode for all who are given to false pride?
But God will safeguard all who are conscious of
Him, [and will grant them happiness] by virtue of
their [inner] triumphs; no evil shall ever touch
them, and neither shall they grieve.