Surah 29. Al-Ankabut

Alif-Lãm-Mĩm.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Alif Lam Mim. ³⁴²²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We are asked to contrast, in our present life the real inner life against the outer life, and learn from the past about the struggles of the soul which upholds Allah's Truth, against the environment of evil, which resists it, and to turn our thoughts to the Ma'ad, or man's future destiny in the Hereafter.

Do people think once they say, 'We believe,' that they will be left without being put to the test?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying "We believe" and that they will not be tested? ³⁴²³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Mere lip profession of Faith is not enough. It must be tried and tested in the real turmoil of life. The test will be applied in all kinds of circumstances, in individual life and in relation to the environment around us, to see whether we can strive constantly and put Allah above Self. Much pain, sorrow, and self-sacrifice may be necessary, not because they are good in themselves, but because they will purify us, like fire applied to a goldsmith's crucible to burn out the dross.

We certainly tested those before them. And 'in this way' Allah will clearly distinguish between those who are truthful and those who are liars.

  - Mustafa Khattab

We did test those before them and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false. ³⁴²⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The word "know" is used here more in the sense of testing than of acquiring knowledge. Allah is All-Knowing: He needs no test to increase His own knowledge, but the test is to burn out the dross within ourselves, as explained in the last note.

Or do the evildoers 'simply' think that they will escape Us? How wrong is their judgment!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Do those who practice evil think that they will get the better of us? Evil is their judgment! ³⁴²⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If the enemies of Truth imagine that they will "be first" by destroying Truth before it takes root, they are sadly at fault, for their own persecution may help to plant Allah's Truth more firmly in men's hearts.

Whoever hopes for the meeting with Allah, 'let them know that' Allah's appointed time is sure to come. He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

  - Mustafa Khattab

For those whose hopes are in the meeting with Allah (in the Hereafter let them strive); for the Term (appointed) by Allah is surely coming: and He hears and knows (all things). ^{3426 3427}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The men of Faith look forward to Allah. Their quest is Allah, and the object of their hopes is the meeting with Allah. They should strive with might and main to serve Him in this life, for this life is short, and the Term appointed for their probation will soon be over.

The Term (ajal) may signify: (1) the time appointed for death, which ends the probation of this life; (2) the time appointed for this life, so that we can prepare for the Hereafter; the limit will soon expire. In either case the ultimate meaning is the same. We must strive now and not postpone anything for the future. And we must realize and remember that every prayer we make to Allah is heard by Him, and that every unspoken wish or motive of our heart, good or bad, is known to Him, and goes to swell our spiritual account.

And whoever strives 'in Allah's cause', only does so for their own good. Surely Allah is not in need of 'any of' His creation.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And if any strive (with might and main) they do so for their own souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all creation. ³⁴²⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

All our striving ensures to our own spiritual benefit. When we speak of serving Allah, it is not that we confer any benefit on Him. For He has no needs, and is independent of all His Creation. In conforming to His Will, we are seeking our own good, as in yielding to evil we are doing harm to ourselves.

As for those who believe and do good, We will certainly absolve them of their sins, and reward them according to the best of what they used to do.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Those who believe and work righteous deeds from them shall We blot out all evil (that may be) in them and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds. ³⁴²⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In striving to purify our Faith and our Life, we are enabled to avoid the consequences of our misdeeds for Allah will forgive any evil in our past, and help to the attainment of a Future based on the best of what we have done rather than on the poor average of our own merits. The atonement or expiation is by Allah's Mercy, not by our merits or the merits or sacrifice of anyone else.

We have commanded people to honour their parents. But if they urge you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of,¹ then do not obey them. To Me you will 'all' return, and then I will inform you of what you used to do.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Other gods.

We have enjoined on man kindness to parents: but if they (either of them) strive (to force) thee to join with Me (in worship) anything of which thou hast no knowledge obey them not. Ye have (all) to return to Me and I will tell you (the truth) of all that ye did. ^{3430 3431}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

That is, no certainty. In matters of faith and worship, even parents have no right to force their children. They cannot and must not hold up before them any worship but that of the One True God.

Children and parents must all remember that they have all to go before Allah's tribunal, and answer, each for his own deeds. In cases where one set of people have lawful authority over another set of people (as in the case of parents and children), and the two differ in important matters like that of Faith, the latter are justified in rejecting authority: the apparent conflict will be solved when the whole truth is revealed to all eyes in the final Judgment.

Those who believe and do good will surely be admitted by Us into 'the company of' the righteous.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And those who believe and work righteous deeds them shall We admit to the company of the Righteous. ³⁴³²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The picking up again of the words which began verse 7 above shows that the same subject is now pursued from another aspect. The striving in righteous deeds will restore fallen man to the society of the Righteous.

There are some who say, 'We believe in Allah,' but when they suffer in the cause of Allah, they mistake 'this' persecution at the hands of people for the punishment of Allah. But when victory comes from your Lord, they surely say 'to the believers', 'We have always been with you.' Does Allah not know best what is in the hearts of all beings?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Then there are among men such as say "We believe in Allah"; but when they suffer affliction in (the cause of) Allah they treat men's oppression as if it were the Wrath of Allah! and if help comes (to thee) from thy Lord they are sure to say "We have (always) been with you!" Does not Allah know best all that is in the hearts of all Creation? ³⁴³³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. ix. 56, and other passages where the cunning of the Hypocrites is exposed. The man who turns away from Faith in adversity and only claims the friendship of the Faithful when there is something to be gained by it, is worthy of a double condemnation: first because he rejected Faith and Truth, and secondly because he falsely pretended to be of those whom he feared or hated in his heart. But nothing in all creation is concealed from Allah.