6. [ al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَوَ
مَن
كَانَ
مَيْتًا
فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ
وَجَعَلْنَا
لَهُ
نُورًا
يَمْشِي
بِهِ
فِي
النَّاسِ...
6: 122. Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a Light whereby he can walk amongst men,
C945. Here is an allegory of the good man with his divine mission and the evil man with his mission of evil.
- The former, before he got his spiritual life, was like one dead. It was Allah's grace that gave him spiritual life, with a Light by which he could walk and guide his own footsteps as well as the footsteps of those who are willing to follow God's light.
- The opposite type is that which hates Allah's light, which lives in the depths of darkness, and which plots and burrows against all that is good. But the plots of evil recoil on itself, although it thinks that they will hurt the good.
Can these two types be for a moment compared with each other?
Perhaps the lead in every centre of population is taken by the men of evil. But the good men should not be discouraged. They should work in righteousness and fulfil their mission.
...كَمَن مَّثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِّنْهَا...
be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out?
...كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٢٢﴾
Thus to those without faith their own deeds seem pleasing.
وَكَذَلِكَ
جَعَلْنَا
فِي
كُلِّ
قَرْيَةٍ
أَكَابِرَ
مُجَرِمِيهَا
لِيَمْكُرُواْ
فِيهَا...
6: 123. Thus have We placed leaders in every town, its wicked men, to plot (and burrow) therein:
...وَمَا يَمْكُرُونَ إِلاَّ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿١٢٣﴾
but they only plot against their own souls, and they perceive it not.
Others version:
6: 122
Pickthall Is he who was dead and We have raised him unto life, and set for him a light wherein he walketh among men, as him whose similitude is in utter darkness whence he cannot emerge? Thus is their conduct made fair-seeming for the disbelievers.
Transliteration Awaman ka_na maitan fa ahyaina_hu wa ja'alna_ lahu_ nu_ray yamsyi bihi fin na_si kaman masaluhu_ fiz zuluma_ti laisa bi kha_rijim minha_, kaza_lika zuyyina lilka_firina ma_ ka_nu_ ya'malu_n(a).
6: 123
Asad And it is this way that We cause the great ones in every land to become its [greatest] evildoers [note 109], there to weave their schemes: yet it is only against themselves that they scheme – and they perceive it not.
Pickthall And thus have We made in every city great ones of its wicked ones, that they should plot therein. They do but plot against themselves, though they perceive not.
Transliteration Wa kaza_lika ja'alna_ fi kulli qaryatin aka_bira mujrimiha_ liyamkuru_ fiha_, wa ma_ yamkuru_na illa_ bi anfusihim wa ma_ yasy'uru_n(a).
=====================================
13. [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَفَمَنْ
هُوَ قَآئِمٌ
عَلَى كُلِّ
نَفْسٍ بِمَا
كَسَبَتْ...
13: 33. Is then He Who standeth over every soul (and knoweth) all that it doth, (like any others)?
...وَجَعَلُواْ لِلّهِ شُرَكَاء قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ...
And yet they ascribe partners to Allah. Say: "But name them!
C1851. Cf. 12:40.
'You have but to name your false gods, and you will see that they are nothing but names. There is no reality behind them, whereas Allah is the One great Reality. He penetrates everything through and through and knows all things.
Do you dare to tell aim of something on earth that He does not know?
Or is it just a trick or a show of words?
...أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لاَ يَعْلَمُ فِي الأَرْضِ أَم بِظَاهِرٍ مِّنَ الْقَوْلِ...
Is it that ye will inform Him of something He knoweth not on earth,
or is it (just) a show of words?"
...بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مَكْرُهُمْ وَصُدُّواْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ...
Nay! to those who believe not, their pretence seems pleasing, but they are kept back (thereby) from the Path:
C1852. All pretences and fancies seem attractive to their inventors, but alas! they are a great obstruction to the Path of Religion and Truth.
However, if by their contumacy, they have cut themselves off from Allah's grace, who can guide them or reclaim them from their errors?
...وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ ﴿٣٣﴾
and those whom Allah leaves to stray, no one can guide.
13: 33
Pickthall Is He Who is aware of the deserts of every soul (as he who is aware of nothing)? Yet they ascribe unto Allah partners. Say: Name them. Is it that ye would inform Him of something which He knoweth not in the earth? Or is it but a way of speaking? Nay, but their contrivance is made seeming fair for those who disbelieve and they are kept from the right road. He whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.
Yuksel Who is the One standing over every person for what it has earned? Yet they make partners with God. Say, "Name them? Or are you informing Him of what He does not know on earth? Or is it just a show of words?" But to the ingrates, their scheming is made to appear clever, and they are turned away from the path. Whoever God misguides will have no guide.
Transliteration Afaman huwa qa_'imun 'ala_ kulli nafsim bima_ kasabat, wa ja'ala_ lilla_hi syuraka_'(a), qul sammu_hum, am tunabbi'u_nahu_ bima_ la_ ya'lamu fil ardi am bi za_hirim minal qaul(i), bal zuyyina lillazina kafaru_ makruhum wa suddu_ 'anis sabil(i), wa may yudlilillu_hu famu_ laha_ min ha_d(in).