14
January, 2005
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 23, Verses 1-11
Truly, to a happy state shall attain the believers:
those who humble themselves in their prayer, and
who turn away from all that is frivolous, and who
are intent on inner purity; and who are mindful
of their chastity, [not giving way to their desires]
with any but their spouses – that is, those
whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock] -:
for then, behold, they are free of all blame, whereas
such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are transgressors;
and who are faithful to their trusts and to their
pledges, and who guard their prayers [from all worldly
intent]. It is they, they who shall be the inheritors
that will inherit the paradise; [and] therein shall
they abide.
Chapter 23, Verses 72-75
Or dost thou [O Muhammad] ask of them any worldly
recompense? But [they ought to know that] a recompense
from thy Sustainer is best, since He is the best
of providers!
And, verily, thou callest them onto a straight way
– but, behold, those who will not believe
in the life to come are bound to deviate from that
way.
And even were We to show them mercy and remove whatever
distress might befall them [in this life], they
would still persist in their overweening arrogance,
blindly stumbling to and fro.
Chapter 23, Verses 91-92
Never did God take unto Himself any offspring, nor
has there ever been any deity side by side with
Him: [for, had here been any,] lo! Each deity would
surely have stood apart [from the others] in whatever
it had created, and they would surely have [tried
to] overcome one another!
Limitless in His glory is God, [far] above anything
that men may devise by way of definition, knowing
all that is beyond the reach of a created being’s
perception as well as all that can be witnessed
by a creature’s senses or mind – and,
hence, sublimely exalted is He above anything to
which they may ascribe a share in His divinity.
