4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلاَ
تَتَمَنَّوْاْ
مَا
فَضَّلَ
اللّهُ
بِهِ
بَعْضَكُمْ
عَلَى
بَعْضٍ...
4: 32. And in no wise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed his gifts more freely on some of you than on others:
C542. Men and women have gifts from Allah -some greater than others. They seem unequal. but we are assured that Allah has allotted them by a scheme by which people receive what they earn.
If this does not appear clear in our sight, let us remember that we have no full knowledge but Allah has. We must not be jealous if other people have more than we have-in wealth or position or strength or honour or talent or happiness.
Probably things are equalized in the aggregate or in the long run, or equated to needs and merits on a scale which we cannot appraise. If we want more, instead of being jealous or covetous, we should pray to Allah and place before Him our needs. Though He knows all, and has no need of our prayer, our prayer may reveal to ourselves our shortcomings and enable us to deserve more of Allah's bounty or make ourselves fit for it.
... لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُواْ وَلِلنِّسَاء نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ...
to men is allotted what they earn,
and to women what they earn:
... وَاسْأَلُواْ اللّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِ...
but ask Allah of His bounty:
... إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا ﴿٣٢﴾
for Allah hath full knowledge of all things.
4: 32
Asad Hence, do not covet the bounties which God has bestowed more abundantly on some of you than on others.
Men shall have a benefit from what they earn, women shall have a benefit from what they earn. Ask, therefore, God [to give you] out of His bounty: behold, God has indeed full knowledge of everything.
Pickthall And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. (Envy not one another) but ask Allah of His bounty. Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things.
Transliteration Wa la_ tatamannau ma_ faddalalla_hu bihi ba'dakum'ala_ ba'd(in), lir rija_li nasibum mimmaktasabu_, wa linnisa_'i nasibum mimmaktasabn(a), was'alulla_ha min fadlih(i), innalla_ha ka_na bi kulli syai'in 'alima_(n).
[Ali’s note -542 Men and women have gifts from Allah-some greater than others. They seem unequal, but we are assured that Allah has allotted them by a scheme by which people receive what they earn. If this does not appear clear in our sight, let us remember that we have no full knowledge but Allah has. We must not be jealous if other people have more than we have-in wealth or position or strength or honor or talent or happiness. Probably things are equalized in the aggregate or in the long run, or equated to needs and merits on a scale which we cannot appraise. If we want more, instead of being jealous or covetous, we should pray to Allah and place before Him our needs. Though He knows all, and has no need of our prayer, our prayer may reveal to ourselves our shortcomings and enable us to deserve more of Allah's bounty or make ourselves fit for it. (4.32) ]
5. Surah Al-Ma'idah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاتْلُ
عَلَيْهِمْ
نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ
آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ...
5: 27. Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold!
C730. Literally; "recite to them in truth the story", etc.
The point is that the story in Gen. 4:1-15 is a bare narrative, not including the lessons now to be enforced.
The Prophet is told now to supply the truth of the matter, the details that will enforce the lessons.
C731. The two sons of Adam were Habil (in the English Bible, Abel) and Qabil (in English, Cain). Cain was the elder, and Abel the younger, -the righteous and innocent one.
Presuming on the right of the elder, Cain was puffed up with arrogance and jealousy, which led him to commit the crime of murder.
Among the Christians, Cain was the type of the Jew as against Abel the Christian. The Jew tried to kill Jesus and exterminate the Christian. In the same way, as against Muhammad, the younger brother of the Semitic family. Cain was the type of the Old Testament and New Testament people, who tried to resist and kill Muhammad and put down his people.
... إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا ...
they each presented a sacrifice (to Allah):
... فَتُقُبِّلَ مِن أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الآخَرِ ...
it was accepted from one, but not from the other.
... قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ...
Said the latter: "Be sure I will slay thee."
... قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢٧﴾
"Surely," said the former, "Allah doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.
لَئِن
بَسَطتَ إِلَيَّ
يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِي
مَا أَنَاْ
بِبَاسِطٍ
يَدِيَ
إِلَيْكَ
لَأَقْتُلَكَ...
5: 28. "If thou dost stretch thy hand against me, to slay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against thee to slay thee:
... إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢٨﴾
for I do fear Allah, the Cherisher of the worlds.
Others version:
5: 27
Asad And convey unto them, setting froth the truth, the story of the two sons of Adam – how each offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one of them whereas it was not accepted from the other.
[and Cain] said : “I will surely slay thee! [Abel ] replied: “Behold, God accepts only from those who are conscious of Him.
Pickthall But recite unto them with truth the tale of the two sons of Adam, how they offered each a sacrifice, and it was accepted from the one of them and it was not accepted from the other. (The one) said: I will surely kill thee. (The other) answered: Allah accepteth only from those who ward off (evil).
Transliteration Watlu 'alaihim naba'abnai a_dama bil haqq(i), iz qarraba_ qurba_nan fatuqubbila min ahadihima_ wa lam yutaqabbal minal a_khar(i), qa_la la'aqtulannak(a), qa_lainnama_ yataqabbalulla_hu minal muttaqin(a).
5: 28
Asad 5: 28 Even if you lay your hand on me to slay me, I shall not lay hand on you to slay you: behold, I fear God, the Sustainer of all the worlds.
Pickthall Even if thou stretch out thy hand against me to kill me, I shall not stretch out my hand against thee to kill thee, lo! I fear Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
Transliteration La'im basatta ilayya yadaka litaqtulani ma_ ana bi ba_sitiy yadiya ilaika li'aqtulak(a), inni akha_fulla_ha rabbal'a_lamin(a).