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
46, verses 15 – 16
Now [among the best of deeds which] We have enjoined
upon man is goodness towards his parents. In pain
did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give
him birth; and her bearing him and his utter dependence
on her took thirty months. And so, when he attains
to full maturity and reaches forty years, [ 1 ]
he [that is righteous] prays: “O my Sustainer!
Inspire me so that I may do what is right [in a
manner] that will meet with Thy godly acceptance;
and grant me righteousness in my offspring [as well].
Verily, unto Thee have I turned in repentance: for,
verily I am of those who have surrendered themselves
unto Thee!”
It s [such as] these from whom We shall accept the
best that they ever did, and whose bad deeds We
shall overlook: [they will find themselves] among
those who are destined for paradise, in fulfillment
of the true promise which they were given [in this
world].
Chapter 48, verses 4 - 5
It is He who from on high has bestowed inner peace
upon the hearts of the believers, so that –
seeing that God’s are all the forces of the
heavens and the earth, and that God is all-knowing,
truly wise – they might grow more firm in
their faith; [and] that He might admit the believers,
both men and women, into gardens through which running
waters flow, therein to abide, and that He might
efface their [past bad] deeds: and that is, in the
sight of God, indeed a triumph supreme!
Chapter 49, verse 11
O you who have attained to faith! No men shall deride
[other] men: it may well be that those [whom they
deride] are better than themselves; and no women
[shall deride other] women: it may well be that
those [whom they deride] are better than themselves.
And neither shall you defame one other, nor insult
one other by [opprobrious] epithets: evil is all
imputation of iniquity after [one has attained to]
faith; and they who [become guilty thereof and]
do not repent – it is they, they who are evildoers!
Translator’s Notes
[ 1 ] I.e., the age at which man is supposed to
attain full intellectual and spiritual maturity.
It is to be borne in mind that the masculine noun
insaan (“man” or “human being”
) appearing in the first sentence of this verse
applies to both sexes alike.
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