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absent to us. And that is the greatest thing in life. It is subjective to us: it fills our consciousness with Allah. For Allah is
in any case always present and knows all. (29.45)
35:29 - Those who rehearse the Book of Allah establish regular Prayer and spend (in Charity) out
of what We have provided for them secretly and openly hope for a Commerce that will never
fail: 39143915
3914 The man of God takes Allah's Revelation ("the Book") to heart, ever seeks to get closer and closer to Allah ("regular
Prayer"), and in doing so, is moved more and more to practical Charity for his fellow-creatures. He is not ashamed of
his Charity ("openly"), but he does not do it to be seen by men ("secretly"): he just does what is necessary for his
fellow-creatures, whether people talk about it or not. (35.29)
3915 Here is a metaphor from commerce. The good man's Charity comes not merely out of superfluities, but out of "what
Allah has provided" for him. He therefore recognises two things: (1) that his wealth (literal and metaphorical) is not his
absolutely, but that it is given to him by Allah; and (2) that he must deny himself the use of some of it, as a merchant
puts by some of his wealth to invest as capital. Only, the godly man's commerce will never fail or fluctuate; because
Allah guarantees him the return, and even adds something to the return out of His own Bounty. That is, Allah gives
more than ever our merits deserve. (35.29)
38:29 - (Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee full of blessings that they may
meditate on its Signs and that men of understanding may receive admonition. 4181
4181 Revelation is not a mere chance or haphazard thing. It is a real blessing-among the greatest that Allah has bestowed
on man. By meditation on it in an earnest spirit man may learn of himself, and his relation to nature around him and to
Allah the Author of all. Men of understanding may, by its help, resolve all genuine doubts that there may be in their
minds, and learn the true lessons of spiritual life. (38.29)
44:58 - Verily We have made this (Qur'an) easy in thy tongue in order that they may give heed.
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4734 Easy: not only to understand, being in the Arabic tongue; but mellifluous, whose rhythm carries off our spirits to a
higher spiritual plane. In another sense, it is difficult; for to get to its deepest meaning, we shall have to strive hard, as
the contents of this Sura alone will show. (44.58)
47:24 - Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an or are their hearts locked up by
them?
73:20 - The Lord doth know that thou standest forth (to prayer) nigh two-thirds of the night or half
the night or a third of the night and so doth a party of those with thee. But Allah doth appoint
Night and Day in due measure. He knoweth that ye are unable to keep count thereof. So He
hath turned to you (in mercy): read ye therefore of the Qur'an as much as may be easy for
you. He knoweth that there may be (some) among you in ill-health; others travelling through
the land seeking of Allah's bounty; yet others fighting in Allah's Cause. Read ye therefore as
much of the Qur'an as may be easy (for you); and establish regular Prayer and give regular
Charity; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye send forth for your souls
Ye shall find it in Allah's presence yea better and greater in Reward. And seek ye the Grace of
Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. 5771577257735774577557765777
5771 Cf., above, lxxiii. 24. The Prophet, and a zealous band of his disciples, were often up, two-thirds of the night, or a half,
or a third, rejecting sleep and giving themselves up to Prayer and Praise and the reading of the Qur-an. They are told
that this was too severe a tax on them, especially if their health was affected, or they were on a journey, or they were
striving, with might and main, in other ways, for the cause of Allah. See die fines following. (73.20)
5772 The usual meaning taken is that the counting of the exact hours of night and day may not be possible for ordinary
people, in order to determine exactly the half, or the third, or the two-thirds of a night. The length of the night and the
day varies every day of the solar year, and the precise hour of midnight can only be determined by exact observation
in clear skies or by chronometers, which is not possible for everyone. But I understand it in a wider meaning. Allah
fixes night and day in due proportions; for rest and work, and according to seasonal variations. For prayer and praise
no meticulous observations of that kind are necessary or possible. Allah's service can be done in many ways as
detailed below. But we must give some time to devotion, as may be most easy and convenient to us, in various
circumstances of health, travel, and the performance of various duties. (73.20)
5773 The reading of the Qur-an here is a part of Prayer and religious devotion. This is not to be made into an obsession or
a burden. Cf. xx. 2: "We have not sent down the Qur-an to thee to be an occasion for thy distress." We must do it
whole-mindedly, but not by formal mechanical computations. (73.20)
5774 This refers to Jihad. The better opinion is that this particular verse was revealed in Madinah, long after the greater part
of the Sura. The reference, further on, to canonical Prayers and regular Charity (Zakat), points to the same
conclusion. (73.20)
5775 Cf. ii. 2456, and n. 276, where the meaning of "a Beautiful Loan" is explained. See also lvii. 18. The "Beautiful Loan"
should be that of our own souls. We should expect no retums in kind, for that is not possible. But the reward we shall
Go to UP
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