Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)
when he dieth or is slain, ye will turn back on your heels? He who turneth back doth no hurt to Allah, and Allah will reward the thankful.1
145. No soul can ever die except by Allah’s leave and at a term appointed. Whoso desireth the reward of the world, We bestow on him thereof; and whoso desireth the reward of the Hereafter, We bestow on him thereof. We shall reward the thankful.
146. And with how many a prophet have there been a number of devoted men who fought (beside him). They quailed not for aught that befell them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor were they brought low. Allah loveth the stedfast.
147. Their cry was only that they said: Our Lord! Forgive us for our sins and wasted efforts, make out foothold sure, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.
148. So Allah gave them the reward of the world and the good reward of the Hereafter. Allah loveth those whose deeds are good.
149. O ye who believe! If ye obey those who disbelieve, they will make you turn back on your heels, and ye turn back as losers.
150. But Allah is your Protector, and He is the best of helpers.
151. We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve because they ascribe unto Allah partners, for which no warrant hath been revealed. Their habitation is the Fire, and hapless the abode of the wrong-doers.
1 On the morning when the Prophet died, Abû Bakr came into the mosque at Al-Madînah and found the people all distracted, and Omar telling them that it was a sin to say that he was dead. Abû Bakr went and ascertained the truth, and coming back into the mosque, cried: “Lo! as for him who worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad is dead, but as for him who worshippeth Allah, Allah is alive and dieth not.” Then he recited this verse “and it was as if the people had not known till then that such a verse had been revealed”.
