Gems from the Holy Qur’an
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 years of devoted study 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” (people who think). Forwarded by Dr Ismat Kamal.
Chapter 29, Verse 41
The parable of those who take [beings or forces] other than God for their protectors is that of a spider which makes for itself a house: for, behold, the frailest of all houses is the spider’s house. Could they but understand this!
Chapter 29, Verses 45 – 46
Convey [unto others] whatever of this divine writ has been revealed unto thee, and be constant in prayer: for, behold, prayer restrains [man] from loathsome deeds and from all that runs counter to reason; and remembrance of God is indeed the greatest [good]. And God knows all that you do.
And do not argue with the followers of earlier revelation otherwise than in a most kindly manner – unless it be of such of them as are bent on evildoing – and say: “We believe in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, as well as that which has been bestowed upon you: for our God and your God is one and the same, and it is unto Him that We [all] surrender ourselves.”
Chapter 29, Verses 57 – 59
Every human being is bound to taste death, [and] in the end unto Us shall be brought back: whereupon unto those who have attained to faith and wrought good works We shall most certainly assign mansions in that paradise through which running waters flow, therein to abide: how excellent a reward for those who labor – those who are patient in adversity and in their Sustainer place their trust!
Chapter 29, Verse 67
Are they, then, not aware that We have set up a sanctuary secure [for those who believe in Us], the while all around them men are being carried away [by fear and despair]? [ 1 ] Will they, then, [continue to] believe in things false and vain, and thus God’s blessings deny?
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Translator’s Notes
[ 1 ] In contrast to the “sanctuary secure” – the inner peace and sense of spiritual fulfillment which God bestows on those who truly believe in Him – the atheist or agnostic is more often than not exposed to fear of the Unknown and a despair born of the uncertainty as to what will happen to him after death.
