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 94, Ash-Sharh (The Opening-up of the Heart), Verses 1-8 (Complete Surah)
Have we not opened up thy heart, and lifted from thee the burden that had weighed heavily on thy back?
And [have We not] raised thee high in dignity?
And, behold, with every hardship comes ease: verily, with every hardship comes ease!
Hence, when thou art freed [from distress], remain steadfast, and unto thy Sustainer turn with love.
Chapter 95, At-tiin (The Fig), Verses 1-6 (Complete Surah)
Consider the fig and the olive, and Mount Sinai, and this land secure!
Verily, we create man in the best conformation, [ 1 ] and thereafter we reduce him to the lowest of the low [ 2 ] – excepting only such as attain to faith and do good works: and theirs shall be a reward unending!
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Translator’s Notes
[ 1 ] I.e., endowed with all the positive qualities, physical as well as mental, corresponding to the functions which this particular creature is meant to perform.
[ 2 ] This “reduction to the lowest of the low” is a consequence of man’s betrayal – in another word, corruption – of his original, positive disposition: that is to say, a consequence of man’s own misdeeds and omissions.
