Gems from the Holy Qur’an
From the translation by Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss)

 

About the translator:

Muhammad Asad, Leopold Weiss, was born to 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 Frankfurter 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 17, Verses 61-65

And Lo! We said unto the angels, “prostrate yourselves before Adam” – whereupon they all prostrated themselves, save Iblis.

Said he: “Shall I prostrate myself before one whom Thou hast created out of clay?” [And] he added: “Tell me, is this [foolish being] the one whom Thou hast exalted above me? Indeed, if Thou wilt but allow me a respite till the Day of Resurrection, I shall most certainly cause his descendants – all but a few – to obey me blindly!”

[God] answered: “Go [the way thou hast chosen]! But as for such of them as shall follow thee – behold, hell will be the recompense of you [all], a recompense most ample! Entice, then, with thy voice such of them as thou canst, and bear upon them with all thy horses and all thy men, and be their partner in [all sins relating to] worldly goods and children [ 1 ], and hold out [all manner of] promises to them: and [they will not know that] whatever Satan promises them is but meant to delude the mind.

“[And yet,] behold, thou shalt have no power over [such of] My servants [as place their trust in Me]: for none is as worthy of trust as thy Sustainer.”

Translator’s Notes

[ 1 ] An allusion to possessions acquired by sinful means or spent on sinful purposes, and to the begetting of children through fornication or adultery. (It must, however, be pointed out that in the ethics and the canon law of Islam, no moral stigma and no legal disability whatever attaches to the child thus begotten.

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