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
42, verses 14 – 15
And [as for the followers of earlier
revelation,] they broke up their unity, out of mutual
jealousy, only after they had come to know [the
truth]. [ 1 ] And had it not been a decree that
had already gone forth from thy Sustainer, [postponing
all decision] until a term set [by Him], all would
indeed have been decided between them [from the
outset]. As it is, behold, they who have inherited
their divine writ from those who preceded them are
[now] in grave doubt, amounting to suspicion, about
what it portends.
Because of this, then, summon [all mankind, O Muhammad],
and pursue the right course, as thou hast been bidden
[by God]; and do not follow their likes and dislikes
but say:
“I believe in whatever revelation God has
bestowed from on high; and I am bidden to bring
about equity in your mutual views.[ 2 ] God is our
Sustainer as well as your Sustainer. To us shall
be accounted our deeds, and to you, your deeds.
Let there be no contention between us and you: God
will bring us all together – for with Him
is all journey’s end.”
Chapter 42, verse 20
To him who desires a harvest
in the life to come, We shall grant an increase
in his harvest; whereas to him who desires [but]
a harvest in this world, We [may] give something
thereof – but he will have no share in [the
blessings of] the life to come.
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Translator’s Notes
[ 1 ] Lit., “ they did not
break up their unity until after knowledge had come
to them” – i.e., the knowledge that
God is one, and that the teachings of all of His
prophets were essentially the same.
[ 2 ] Lit., “between you”
– i.e., “to induce you to be more tolerant
of one another”: evidently an allusion to
the bitterness which stands in the way of an understanding
between the various sects and schools of thought
in all revealed religions.