Translation of the meanings Surah Al-‘Ankabūt - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - Page Number 396 - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Al-‘Ankabūt

Ayah: 1

الٓمٓ

1. Alif Laam Meem¹.

1. See footnote to Qur’an chapter2: Verse1.

Ayah: 2

أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتۡرَكُوٓاْ أَن يَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفۡتَنُونَ

2. Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe"2 and they will not be tested?

2. As to their truthfulness to this statement of theirs that there is no god but Allāh and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. The testing of our faith is for our benefit. Consider it pure joy and cause of thanksgiving to God, whenever you face trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. We sometimes fail to consider the connection between suffering and spiritual growth. Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. This is not the only place where the Qur’an states that our difficulties are actually beneficial for us. Suffering produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Ayah: 3

وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۖ فَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ

3. We have certainly tested those before them, so Allāh will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.

Ayah: 4

أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَسۡبِقُونَاۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُونَ

4. Or do those who do bad deeds think they can outrun Us? Evil is what they judge.

Ayah: 5

مَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ لِقَآءَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ أَجَلَ ٱللَّهِ لَأٓتٖۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

5. Whoever hopes for the Meeting with Allāh³, then the term appointed by Allāh is surely coming (so let him prepare for it). And He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

3. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him, said: “Allāh Almighty says: Whoever comes with a good deed will have the reward of ten like it and even more. And whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed for one evil deed like it or he will be forgiven. Whoever draws close to Me by the length of a hand, I will draw close to him by the length of an arm. And whoever draws close to Me by the length of an arm, I will draw close to him by the length of a fathom. Whoever comes to Me walking, I will come to him running. For whoever meets Me with enough sins to fill the earth, not associating any partners with Me, I will meet him with as much forgiveness.”
If we seek Allāh first, then all the things we need will be added to us. When we make Allāh first in life, we see Him working through all circumstances and events for our good. Whether you are just beginning to seek out Allāh or you have been a Muslim for years, we should never stop seeking to know Allāh better.

Ayah: 6

وَمَن جَٰهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَٰهِدُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

6. And whoever strives, he strives hard only for his own good. Indeed, Allāh is surely in no need of all creations⁴.

4. Allāh is One who does not need us at all. He exists independent of the world, as one who is Self-Sufficient and Self-Existent. But having said that, it is true that Allāh loves us. It is true that He longs for good relationship with us.