Allah loves those who keep their duty; this means that Allah will reward them in the afterlife.
Herein, the word translated as those who keep their duty or those who guard themselves against sin is "Motta-keen" in Arabic.
The noun of the word "Motta-keen" is "Takwa".
One asked Aly Ben Abi-Taleb, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin: what is "Takwa"?
Aly said: "Takwa" is:
1) To fear God
2) To follow your LORD' Scripture
3) To be satisfied of what your LORD is giving you!
4) To be ready for your day departure (death).
Hence, "Takwa" has four deep meanings and levels.
What is the English word that could give these meanings?
As far as I know, the answer is: No word!
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Verse 9:4 in different translations:
QARIB:
QARIB:
Except those idolaters who have fully honored their treaties with you and aided none against you; with these fulfill your covenant till their term Surely, Allah loves the righteous.
SHAKIR:
except those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement, then they have not failed you in anything and have not backed up any one against you, so fulfill their agreement to the end of their term; surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty).
PICKTHAL:
Excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have
YUSUFALI:
(But the treaties are) not dissolved with those pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided any one against you. so fulfill your engagements with them to the end of their term: for Allah loveth the righteous.
The interpretation of Verse 9:4
Excepting those of the idolaters with whom you have made a pact, and who have not diminished their commitment to you in anyway, with regard to the terms of the pact, nor supported, assisted, anyone, from among the disbelievers, against you;
as for these, fulfill your pact with them until, the completion of, the term, to which you have agreed.
Truly God loves those who fear Him, by fulfilling pacts.
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Verse 9:7 in different translations:
QARIB:
How can the idolaters have any treaty with Allah and his messenger, except those with whom you have made treaties by the sacred mosque? So long as they are straight with you, so be straight with them. Allah loves the righteous.
SHAKIR:
How can there be an agreement for the idolaters with Allah and with his messenger; except those with whom you made an agreement at the sacred mosque? So as long as they are true to you, be true to them; surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty).
PICKTHAL:
How can there be a treaty with Allah and with his messenger for the idolaters save those with whom ye made a treaty at the inviolable place of worship? So long as they are true to you, be true to them. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty.
YUSUFALI:
How can there be a league, before Allah and his messenger, with the pagans, except those with whom ye made a treaty near the sacred mosque? as long as these stand true to you, stand ye true to them: for Allah doth love the righteous.
The interpretation of Verse 9:7
How can the idolaters have a pact with God and His Messenger — they cannot —while they disbelieve in God and His Messenger,
They are acting treacherously;
Except for those with whom you made a pact at the Sacred Mosque (Inviolable Place of Worship) that is in Makkah,
So long as they are true to you, keeping to the pact and not breaking it, be true to them, by fulfilling it
Truly Allah loves the God-fearing:
The Prophet Muhammad had kept to the pact made with them until they broke it by supporting the disbelievers against Muslims.
Safaa Abdel-Aziz
Co-Chief Editor, October Weekly Magazine,
Cairo, Egypt.
