2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمِنَ
النَّاسِ
مَن يَقُولُ
آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ
وَبِالْيَوْمِ
الآخِرِ ...
2: 8. Of the people there are some who say:
"We believe in Allah and the Last Day,"
C33. We now come to a third class of people, the hypocrites.
They are untrue to themselves, and therefore their hearts, they soon pass into the category of those who deliberately reject light.
... وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٨﴾
but they do not (really) believe.
يُخَادِعُونَ
اللّهَ وَالَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا...
2: 9. Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe,
... وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلاَّ أَنفُسَهُم وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٩﴾
but they only deceive themselves and realize (it) not!
فِي
قُلُوبِهِم
مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ
اللّهُ مَرَضاً...
2: 10. In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease,
C34. The insincere man who thinks he can get the best of both worlds by compromising with good and evil only increased the disease of his heart, because he is not true to himself.
Even the good which comes to him he can pervert to evil. So the rain which fills out the ear of corn or lends fragrance to the rose also lends strength to the thorn or adds strength to the poison of the deadly nightshade.
... وَلَهُم عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
and grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves).
وَإِذَا
قِيلَ
لَهُمْ لاَ
تُفْسِدُواْ
فِي الأَرْضِ
...
2: 11. When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth,"
... قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ ﴿١١﴾
they say: "Why, we only want to make peace!"
أَلا
إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ
الْمُفْسِدُونَ
وَلَـكِن لاَّ
يَشْعُرُونَ
﴿١٢﴾
2: 12. Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it) not.
C35. Much mischief is caused (sometimes unwittingly) by people who think that they have a mission of peace, when they have not even a true perception of right and wrong.
By their blind arrogance they depress the good and encourage the evil.
وَإِذَا
قِيلَ
لَهُمْ آمِنُواْ
كَمَا آمَنَ
النَّاسُ ...
2: 13. When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe"
... قَالُواْ أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاء ...
they say: "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" --
... أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاء وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٣﴾
nay,
of a surety they are the fools but they do not know.
C36. This is another phase of the hypocrite and the cynic.
"Faith" he says, "is good enough to fools."
But his cynicism may be the greatest folly in the eyes of Allah.
وَإِذَا
لَقُواْ
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ قَالُواْ
آمَنَّا...
2: 14. When they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe,"
C37. A deeper phase of insincerity is actual duplicity. But it never pays in the end. If we compare such a man to a trader, he loses in the bargain.
... وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ إِلَى شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُواْ ...
but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say:
... إِنَّا مَعَكْمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِؤُونَ ﴿١٤﴾
"We are really with you, we (were) only jesting."
اللّهُ
يَسْتَهْزِىءُ
بِهِمْ ...
2: 15. Allah will throw back their mockery on them,
... وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ ﴿١٥﴾
and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (to and fro).
أُوْلَـئِكَ
الَّذِينَ
اشْتَرُوُاْ
الضَّلاَلَةَ
بِالْهُدَى...
2: 16. These are they who have bartered guidance for error:
... فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٦﴾
but their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction.
مَثَلُهُمْ
كَمَثَلِ
الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ
نَاراً ...
2: 17. Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire;
C38. The man wanted light; he only kindled a fire. It produced a blaze, and won the applause of all around. But it did not last long. When the flame when out as was inevitable, the darkness was worse than before. And they all lost their way.
So hypocrisy, deception, arrogant compromise with evil, cynicism, or duplicity may win temporary applause. But the true light of faith and sincerity is wanting, and therefore it must mislead and ruin all concerned. In the consternation they cannot speak or hear each other, and of course they cannot see; so they end like the deliberate rejecters of Faith (2:7), wildly groping about, dumb, deaf and blind.
... فَلَمَّا أَضَاءتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ...
when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light
... وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لاَّ يُبْصِرُونَ ﴿١٧﴾
and left them in utter darkness, so they could not see.
صُمٌّ
بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ
فَهُمْ لاَ
يَرْجِعُونَ
﴿١٨﴾
2: 18. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).
أَوْ
كَصَيِّبٍ
مِّنَ السَّمَاء
فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ
وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ...
2: 19. Or (another similitude) is that of a rain-laden cloud from the sky; in it are zones of darkness, and thunder and lightning,
C39. A wonderfully graphic and powerful simile applying to those who reject Faith. In their self-sufficiency they are undisturbed normally.
But what happens when a great storm breaks over them?
They cover their ears against thunder-clasps and the lightning nearly blinds them. They are in mortal fear, but Allah encompasses them around - even them, for He at all times encompasses all.
He give them rope. In the intervals of deafening noise and blinding flashes, there are moments of steady light and these creatures take advantage of them, but again they are plunged into darkness.
Perhaps they curse; perhaps they think that the few moments of effective light are due to their own intelligence!
How much wiser would they be if they humbled themselves and sought the light of Allah!
... يَجْعَلُونَ أَصْابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِم مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ...
they press their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunder-clap, the while they are in terror of death.
... واللّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكافِرِينَ ﴿١٩﴾
But Allah is ever round the rejecters of Faith!
يَكَادُ
الْبَرْقُ
يَخْطَفُ
أَبْصَارَهُمْ
...
2: 20. The lightning all but snatches away their sight;
... كُلَّمَا أَضَاء لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُواْ...
every time the light (helps) them, they walk therein, and when the darkness grows on them, they stand still.
... وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ ...
And if Allah willed, He could take away their faculty of hearing and seeing;
... إِنَّ اللَّه عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٢٠﴾
for Allah hath power over all things.
2: 8
Asad And there are people who say, “We do believe in God and the Last Day, “the while they do not [really] believe.
Pickthall And of mankind are some who say: We believe in Allah and the Last Day, when they believe not.
Transliteration Wa minanna_si may yaqu_lu a_manna_ billa_hi wa bil yaumil a_khiri wa ma_ hum bimu'minin(a).
2: 9
Asad They would deceive God and those who have attained to faith-the while they deceive none but themselves, and perceive it not.
Pickthall They think to beguile Allah and those who believe, and they beguile none save themselves; but they perceive not.
Transliteration Yukha_di'u_nalla_ha wallazina a_manu_, wa ma_ yakhda'u_na illa_ anfusahum wa ma_ yasy'uru_n(a).
2: 10
Asad In their hearts is disease, and so God lets their disease increase; and grievous suffering awaits them because of their persistent lying. (note 8)
Pickthall In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increaseth their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie.
Transliteration Fi qulu_bihim maradun, faza_dahumulla_hu maradu_(n), wa lahum 'azibun alim(un), bima_ ka_na_ yakzibu_n(a).
2: 11
Pickthall And when it is said unto them: Make not mischief in the earth, they say: We are peacemakers only.
Transliteration Wa iza_ qila lahum la_ tufsidu_ fil ard(i), qa_lu_ innama_ nahnu muslihu_n(a).
2: 12
Pickthall Are not they indeed the mischief makers? But they perceive not.
Transliteration Ala_ innahum humul mufsidu_na wala_kil la_ yasy'uru_n(a).
2: 13
Pickthall And when it is said unto them: Believe as the people believe, they say: Shall we believe as the foolish believe? Are not they indeed the foolish? But they know not.
Transliteration Wa iza_ qila lahuma_minu_ kama_ a_manan na_su qa_lu_ anu'minu kama_ a_manas sufaha_'(u), ala_ innahum humus sufahu_'u wa la_kil la_ ya'lamu_n(a).
2: 14
Pickthall And when they fall in with those who believe, they say: We believe; but when they go apart to their devils they declare: Lo! we are with you; verily we did but mock.
Transliteration Wa iza_ laqullazina a_manu_ qa_lu_a_manna_, wa iza_ khalau ila_ syaya_tinihim, qa_lu_ inna_ ma'akum, innama_ nahnu mustahzi'u_n(a).
2: 15
Asad God will requite them for their mockery, and will leave them for a while in their overweening arrogance, blindly stumbling to and fro:
Pickthall Allah (Himself) doth mock them, leaving them to wander blindly on in their contumacy.
Transliteration Alla_hu yastahzi'u bihim wa yamudduhum fi tugya_nihim ya'mahu_n(a).
2: 16
Pickthall These are they who purchase error at the price of guidance, so their commerce doth not prosper, neither are they guided.
Transliteration Ula_'ikal lazinasy tarawuddala_lata bil huda_, fama_ rabihat tiaja_ratuhum wama_ ka_nu_ muhtadin(a).
2: 17
Pickthall Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindleth fire, and when it sheddeth its light around him Allah taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness, where they cannot see,
Transliteration Masaluhum kamasalil lazis tauqadana_ra_(n), falamma_ ada_'at ma_ haulahu_ zahaballa_hu binu_rihim wa tarakahum fi zuluma_til la_ yubsiru_n(a).
2: 18
Pickthall Deaf, dumb and blind; and they return not
Transliteration Summum bukmun 'umyun fahum la_ yarji'u_n(a).
2: 19
Pickthall Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder and the flash of lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears by reason of the thunder-claps, for fear of death. Allah encompasseth the disbelievers (in His guidance).
Transliteration Au kasayyibim minas sama_'i fihi zuluma_tuw wara'duw wabarq(un), yaj'alu_na asa_bi'ahum fi a_za_nihim minas sawa_'iqi hazaral ma_t(i), walla_hu muhitum bil ka_firin(a).
[Ali’s note: 39 A wonderfully graphic and powerful simile applying to those who reject Faith. In their self-sufficiency they are undisturbed normally. But what happens when a great storm breaks over them? They cover their ears against thunder-claps and the lightning nearly blinds them. They are in mortal fear, but God encompasses them around - even them, for He at all times encompasses all. He gives them rope. In the intervals of deafening noise and blinding flashes, there are moments of steady light and these creatures take advantage of them, but again they are plunged into darkness. Perhaps they curse; perhaps they think that the few moments of effective light are due to their own intelligence! How much wiser would they be if they humbled themselves and sought the light of God! (2.19) ]
2: 20
Pickthall The lightning almost snatcheth away their sight from them. As often as it flasheth forth for them they walk therein, and when it darkeneth against them they stand still. If Allah willed, He could destroy their hearing and their sight. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.
Transliteration Yaka_dul barqu yakhtafu absa_rahum, kullama_ ada_'a lahum masyau fih(i), wa iza_ azlama 'alaihim qa_mu_, wa lau sya_'alla_hu lazahaba bisam'ihim wa absa_rihim, innalla_ha 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِذْ
يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ
فِي قُلُوبِهِم
مَّرَضٌ ...
8: 49. Lo! the hypocrites say, and those in whose hearts is a disease:
C1218. Cf. 2:10 for "disease in the heart."
Trust in Allah brings its own reward: our eyes are opened, and we see how great, good, and wise is the Cherisher of the Worlds. Others may sneer and despise. But the blessing of Allah keeps our minds fresh and our hearts contented.
... غَرَّ هَـؤُلاء دِينُهُمْ...
"These people, -- their religion has misled them."
...وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّهِ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٤٩﴾
But if any trust in Allah, behold! Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ
يَتَوَفَّى
الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ
الْمَلآئِكَةُ
يَضْرِبُونَ
وُجُوهَهُمْ
وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ...
8: 50. If thou couldst see, when the angels take the souls of the unbelievers (at death), (how) they smite their faces and their backs (saying):
C1219. In contrast to the taunt against those who trust in Allah, "that their religion has misled them," is shown the terrible punishment, after death, of those who laughed at Faith.
...وَذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ ﴿٥٠﴾
"Taste the penalty of the blazing fire.
ذَلِكَ
بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ
أَيْدِيكُمْ ...
8: 51. "Because of (the deeds) which your (own) hands sent forth:
C1220. The punishment is shown to be due to their own deeds of wrong, because Allah is never unjust to the least of His servants.
... وَأَنَّ اللّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلاَّمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ ﴿٥١﴾
for Allah is never unjust to His servants:
كَدَأْبِ
آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ
وَالَّذِينَ
مِن قَبْلِهِمْ...
8: 52. "(Deeds) after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them:
...كَفَرُواْ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ...
they rejected the signs of Allah, and Allah punished them for their crimes:
...إِنَّ اللّهَ قَوِيٌّ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ﴿٥٢﴾
for Allah is strong, and strict in punishment:
ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ
اللّهَ لَمْ
يَكُ مُغَيِّرًا
نِّعْمَةً
أَنْعَمَهَا
عَلَى قَوْمٍ
حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ
مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ...
8: 53. "Because Allah will never change the grace which He hath bestowed on a people until they change what is in their (own) souls:
C1221. Allah bestows His grace freely, but He never withdraws it arbitrarily. Before He changes their state and circumstances, an actual state of rebellion and contumacy has arisen in their own souls, which brings about its inevitable punishment.
...وَأَنَّ اللّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٥٣﴾
and verily Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things)."
كَدَأْبِ
آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ
وَالَّذِينَ
مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَذَّبُواْ
بآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ ...
8: 54. "(Deeds) after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and those before them":
they treated as false the signs of their Lord;
C1222. These words from the address of the angels are quoted again, in order to add the comment that follows.
Note that in verse 51, the words were that they rejected the Signs of Allah and were punished:
here the words are that they treated the Signs as false and were destroyed: -a higher degree of guilt deserved a severer punishment.
... فَأَهْلَكْنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَونَ...
so We destroyed them for their crimes, and We drowned the people of Pharaoh:
...وَكُلٌّ كَانُواْ ظَالِمِينَ ﴿٥٤﴾
for they were all oppressors and wrongdoers.
إِنَّ
شَرَّ الدَّوَابِّ
عِندَ اللّهِ
الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ
فَهُمْ لاَ
يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾
8: 55. For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are those who reject Him:
They will not believe.
C1223. In 8:22 we were warned against "the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah", who do not make use of their faculties of hearing, speaking and understanding, in the service of Allah, and in fact misuse their faculties to blaspheme Allah.
The same brute creatures are shone here in another light: they are faithless both to Allah and man.
الَّذِينَ عَاهَدتَّ
مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ
يَنقُضُونَ
عَهْدَهُمْ
فِي كُلِّ
مَرَّةٍ...
8: 56. They are those with whom thou didst make a Covenant, but they break their covenant every time
C1224. The immediate occasion was the repeated treachery of the BanuQuraiza after their treaties with the Muslims. But the general lesson remains, as noted in the two following verses.
Treachery in war is doubly wrong, for it endangers so many lives. Such treachery should be punished in such a way that it gets no chance again. Not only the actual perpetrators but those who follow their standard should be rendered powerless.
And the broken treaty should be denounced so that the innocent party can at least fight on equal terms.
From actual physical warfare we can carry the same lesson to spiritual warfare. A truce or understanding is possible with those who respect definite principles, not with those who have no principles and are merely out for oppression and wickedness.
...وَهُمْ لاَ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٥٦﴾
and they have not the fear (of Allah).
فَإِمَّا
تَثْقَفَنَّهُمْ
فِي الْحَرْبِ
فَشَرِّدْ بِهِم
مَّنْ خَلْفَهُمْ
لَعَلَّهُمْ
يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿٥٧﴾
8: 57. If ye gain the mastery over them in war, disperse, with them, those who follow them, that they may remember.
C1224a. The purpose of the verse is to urge Muslims to act against their enemies described above with a severity and resoluteness which would serve as a deterrent to other enemies of Islam who might be inclined to follow their example and act treacherously towards Muslims. (Eds.).
وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ
مِن قَوْمٍ
خِيَانَةً
فَانبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ
عَلَى سَوَاء...
8: 58. If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms:
...إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الخَائِنِينَ ﴿٥٨﴾
for Allah loveth not the treacherous.
Pickthall’s Version:
8: 49
Pickthall When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease said: Their religion hath deluded these. Whoso putteth his trust in Allah (will find that) lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.
Transliteration Iz yaqu_lul muna_fiqu_na wallazina fi qulu_bihim maradun garra ha_'ula_'i dinuhum, wa may yatawakkal 'alalla_hi fa innalla_ha 'azizun hakim(un).
Ayah 50 
Pickthall If thou couldst see how the angels receive those who disbelieve, smiting their faces and their backs and (saying): Taste the punishment of burning!
Transliteration Wa lau tara_ iz yatawaffal lazina kafaru_ wal mala_'ikatu yadribu_na wuju_hahum wa adba_rahum, wa zu_qu_ 'aza_bal hariq(i).
Ayah 51
Pickthall This is for that which your own hands have sent before (to the Judgment), and (know) that Allah is not a tyrant to His slaves.
Transliteration Za_lika bima_ qaddamat aidikum wa annalla_ha laisa bi zalla_mil lil 'abid(i).
Ayah 52
Pickthall (Their way is) as the way of Pharaoh's folk and those before them; they disbelieved the revelations of Allah, and Allah took them in their sins. Lo! Allah is Strong, severe in punishment.
Transliteration Kada'bi a_li fir'auna wallazina min qablikum, kafaru_ bi a_ya_tilla_hi fa akhazahumulla_hu bi zunu_bihim, innalla_ha qawiyyun syadidul 'iqa_b(i).
Ayah 53
Pickthall That is because Allah never changeth the grace He hath bestowed on any people until they first change that which is in their hearts, and (that is) because Allah is Hearer, Knower.
Transliteration Za_lika bi annalla_ha lam yaku mugayyiran ni'matan an'amaha_ 'ala_ qaumin hatta_ yugayyiru_ ma_ bi anfusihim, wa annalla_ha sami'un 'alim(un).
Ayah 54
Pickthall (Their way is) as the way of Pharoah's folk and those before them; they denied the revelations of their Lord, so We destroyed them in their sins. And We drowned the folk of Pharaoh. All were evil doers.
Transliteration Kada'bi a_li fir'auna wallazina min qablihim, kazzabu_ bi a_ya_ti rabbihim fa ahlakna_hum bi zunu_bihim wa agraqna_ a_la fir'aun(a), wa kullun ka_nu_ za_limin(a).
Ayah 55
Pickthall Lo! the worst of beasts in Allah's sight are the ungrateful who will not believe;
Transliteration Inna syarrad dawa_bbi 'indalla_hil lazina kafaru_ fahum la_ yu'minu_n(a).
Ayah 56
Pickthall Those of them with whom thou madest a treaty, and, then at every opportunity they break their treaty, and they keep not duty (to Allah).
Transliteration Allazina 'a_hatta minhum summa yanqudu_na 'ahdahum fi kulli marratiw wa hum la_ yattaqu_n(a).
Ayah 57
Pickthall If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember.
Transliteration Fa imma_ tasqafannahum fil harbi fa syarrid bihim man khalfahum la'allahum yazzakkaru_n(a).
Ayah 58
Pickthall And if thou fearest treachery from any folk, then throw back to them (their treaty) fairly. Lo! Allah loveth not the treacherous.
Transliteration Wa imma_ takha_fanna min qaumin khiya_natan fambiz ilaihim 'ala_ sawa_'(in), innalla_ha la_ yuhibbul kha_'inin(a).