3. Aal-i-Imraan

Their way is as the way as the habit of Pharaoh’s folk and the communities of people before them such as ‘Ād and Thamūd who denied Our signs; God seized them He destroyed them for their sins this statement explains the previous one; God is severe in retribution.

When the Prophet s enjoined the Jews to enter into Islam after his return from Badr they said ‘Do not fool yourself just because you killed a few men of Quraysh inexperienced and knowing nothing about fighting’ whereupon the following was revealed Say O Muhammad (s) to the disbelievers from among the Jews ‘You shall be vanquished sa-tughlabūn or read sa-yughlabūn ‘they shall be vanquished’ in this world through being killed or taken captive and made to pay the jizya which actually took place and mustered read in both ways wa-tuhsharūna ‘you will be mustered’ or wa-yuhsharūna ‘they will be mustered’ in the Hereafter to Hell which you shall enter — an evil cradling!’ an evil resting place.

There has already been a sign an example the verb qad kāna ‘there has been’ is used to separate the statement to follow from the previous one for you in two hosts two parties that met one another in battle on the day of Badr; one company fighting in the way of God in obedience to Him namely the Prophet and his Companions who numbered three hundred and thirteen men most of them on foot with two horses six plates of armour and eight swords; and another unbelieving; they the disbelievers numbering almost a thousand saw them the Muslims twice the like of them that is more numerous than themselves as the eye sees in manifest vision witnessing; and God granted them victory despite their fewer number; for God confirms He strengthens with His help whom He will granting him victory. Surely in that which is mentioned is a lesson for people of vision those who are discerning so will you not be warned by this and become believers?

Beautified for mankind is love of lusts that which the self lusts after and calls for beautified by Satan or by God as a test — of women children stored-up heaps of gold and silver horses of mark fine horses cattle namely camels cows and sheep and tillage the cultivation of land. That which is mentioned is the comfort of the life of this world enjoyed while it lasts but then perishes; but God — with Him is the more excellent abode place of return which is Paradise and for this reason one should desire none other than this abode.

Those alladhīna is either an adjectival qualification of or a substitution for the previous alladhīna who say “O Our Lord we believe in You and in Your Prophet; so forgive us our sins and guard us from the chastisement of the Fire”.

The patient in obedience and against disobedience al-sābirīna ‘the patient’ is an adjectival qualification of alladhīna ‘those’ truthful in their faith obedient compliant before God expenders of charity imploring God’s pardon by saying ‘Lord forgive us’ at daybreak’ in the last part of the night singled out here for mention because it is the time of unawareness and of the joy of sleep.

God bears witness that is to say He has made it clear to His creation through proofs and signs that there is no god none that is truly worshipped in existence except Him He has borne witness to this and the angels have also borne witness to this by affirming it and those of knowledge from among the prophets and the believers through their conviction and in words; upholding constantly and uniquely maintaining His creations with justice qā’iman ‘upholding’ is in the accusative because it is a circumstantial qualifier and is governed by the import of the statement implied to be something like tafarrada ‘He alone is upholding…’; there is no god except Him He has repeated it for emphasis; the Mighty in His Kingdom the Wise in His actions.

Lo! the religion with God pleasing to Him is submission to the One God al-islām that is to say the Divine Law with which the messengers were sent founded upon the affirmation of God’s Oneness a variant reading for inna ‘lo!’ has anna ‘that’ as an inclusive substitution for annahu to the end of that verse sc. shahida Llāhu … anna l-dīna ‘inda Llāhi l-islām ‘God bears witness that religion with God is Islām. Those who were given the Scripture the Jews and the Christians differed in religion some affirming God’s Oneness others rejecting it only after the knowledge of Oneness came to them through transgression on the part of the disbelievers among themselves. And whoever disbelieves in God’s signs God is swift at reckoning that is at requiting him.

So if they the disbelievers dispute with you O Muhammad (s) concerning religion say to them ‘I have surrendered my countenance to God that is to say I have submitted to Him I and whoever follows me’ wajh ‘countenance’ is chosen here because of its noble character for the other parts of the body will just as soon surrender once the countenance has; and say to those who have been given the Scripture the Jews and the Christians and to the uninstructed the Arab idolaters ‘Have you submitted?’ that is to say ‘Submit!’ And so if they have submitted they have been guided from error but if they turn their backs to Islam your duty is only to deliver the Message; and God sees His servants and so requites them for their deeds — this statement was revealed before the command to fight them had been revealed.