2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
كَيْفَ
تَكْفُرُونَ
بِاللَّهِ ...
2: 28. How can ye reject the faith in Allah?
C46. In the preceding verses Allah has used various arguments.
- He has recalled His goodness (2:21-22);
- resolved doubts (2:23);
- plainly set forth the penalty of wrong-doing (2:24);
- given glad tidings (2:25);
- shown how misunderstandings arise from a deliberate rejection of the light and breach of the Covenant (2:26-27).
Now (2:28-29) He pleads with His creatures and appeals to their own subjective feelings.
- He brought you into being.
- The mysteries of life and death are in His hands.
- When you die on this earth, that is not the end. You were of Him, and you must return to Him.
- Look around you and realize your own dignity; it is from Him.
The immeasurable depths of space above and around you may stagger you. They are part of His plan. What you have imagined as the seven firmaments (and any other scheme you may construct) bears witness to His design of order and perfection, for His knowledge (unlike yours) is all- comprehending.
And yet will you deliberately reject or obscure or deaden the faculty of Faith which has been put into you?
... وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتاً فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ...
Seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life;
... ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾
then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return.
هُوَ
الَّذِي خَلَقَ
لَكُم مَّا فِي
الأَرْضِ جَمِيعاً...
2: 29. It is He who hath created for you all things that are on earth;
... ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى إِلَى السَّمَاء فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ...
moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments;
... وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٩﴾
and of all things he hath perfect knowledge.
Other versions:
2: 28 [al-Baqarah, Mecca 87 ]
Asad How can you refuse to acknowledge God, seeing that you were lifeless and He gave you life, and that He will cause you to die and then will bring you again to life, whereupon unto Him you will be brought back?
Yusuf Ali How can ye reject the faith in Allah? Seeing that ye were without life and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return.
Pickthall How disbelieve ye in Allah when ye were dead and He gave life to you! Then he will give you death, then life again, and then unto Him ye will return.
Transliteration Kaifa takfuru_na billa_hi wa kuntum amwa_tan fa ahya_kum, summa yumitukum summa yuhyikum summa ilaihi turja'u_n(a).
2: 29
Asad He it is who has created for you all that is on earth, and has applied His design to the heavens and fashioned them into seven heavens; and He alone has full knowledge of everything.
Yusuf Ali It is He who hath created for you all things that are on earth; moreover His design comprehended the heavens for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments; and of all things he hath perfect knowledge.
Pickthall He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth. Then turned He to the heaven, and fashioned it as seven heavens. And He is Knower of all things.
Transliteration Huwal lazi khalaqa lakum ma_ fil ardi jami'an summas tawa_ ilas sama_'i fasawwa_hunna sab'a sama_wa_t(in), wa huwa bikulli syai'in 'alim(un).
3. Sura al-Imran
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ لاَ
تَتَّخِذُواْ
بِطَانَةً مِّن
دُونِكُمْ لاَ
يَأْلُونَكُمْ
خَبَالاً ...
3: 118. O ye who believe!
take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks; they will not fail to corrupt you.
...وَدُّواْ مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاء مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ ...
They only desire your ruin: rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths;
...وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ...
what their hearts conceal is far worse.
...قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١١٨﴾
We have made plain to you the Signs, if ye have wisdom.
Other versions:
3: 118
Asad O you who have attained to faith! Do not take for your bosom- friends people who are not of your kind [note 87]. They spare not effort to corrupt you; they would love to see you in distress [note 88]. Vehement hatred has already come into the open from out of their mouths, but what their hearts conceal is yet worse. We have indeed made the signs [thereof] clear unto you, if you would but use your reason.
Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks; they will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths; what their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs if ye have wisdom.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Take not for intimates others than your own folk, who would spare no pains to ruin you; they love to hamper you. Hatred is revealed by (the utterance of) their mouths, but that which their breasts hide is greater. We have made plain for you the revelations if ye will understand.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ la_ tattakhizu_ bita_natam min du_nikum la_ ya'lu_nakum khaba_la_(n), waddu_ ma_'anittum, qad badatil bagda_'u min afwa_hihim, wa ma_ tukhfi sudu_ruhum akbar(u), qad bayyanna_ lakumul a_ya_ti in kuntum ta'qilu_n(a).
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ شَرَّ
الدَّوَابَّ
عِندَ اللّهِ
الصُّمُّ ...
8: 22. For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb,
C1195. Cf. 2:18.
... الْبُكْمُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾
those who understand not.
وَلَوْ
عَلِمَ اللّهُ
فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا
لَّأسْمَعَهُمْ...
8: 23. If Allah had found in them any good, He would indeed have made them listen;
...وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّواْ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾
(as it is), if He had made them listen, they would but have turned back and declined (faith).
Other versions:
8: 22 [al-Anfal, Medina 88, after Badr 2 H ]
Asad Verily, the vilest of all creatures in the sight of God are those deaf, those dumb ones who do not use their reason.
Yusuf Ali For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb those who understand not.
Pickthall Lo! the worst of beasts in Allah's sight are the deaf, the dumb, who have no sense.
Transliteration Inna syarrad dawa_bbi 'indalla_his summul bukmul lazina la_ ya'qilu_n(a).
8: 23
Yusuf Ali If Allah had found in them any good He would indeed have made them listen; (as it is) if He had made them listen they would but have turned back and declined (faith).
Pickthall Had Allah Known of any good in them He would have made them hear, but had He made them hear they would have turned away, averse.
Transliteration Wa lau 'alimalla_hu fihim khairal la'asma'ahum, wa lau asma'ahum latawallau wa hum mu'ridu_n(a).
6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
الْحَيَاةُ
الدُّنْيَا
إِلاَّ لَعِبٌ
وَلَهْوٌ...
6: 32. What is the life of this world but play and amusement?
C855. Play and amusement are for preparing our minds for the serious things of life: in themselves they are not serious.
So this life is a preparation for the Eternal Home to which we are going, which is far more important than the ephemeral pleasures which may possibly seduce us in this life.
...وَلَلدَّارُ الآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾
But best is the home in the Hereafter, for those who are righteous.
Will ye not then understand?
قُلْ
هُوَ الْقَادِرُ
عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ
عَلَيْكُمْ
عَذَابًا مِّن
فَوْقِكُمْ
أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ
أَرْجُلِكُمْ
...
6: 65. Say:
"He hath power to send calamities on you, from above and below,
C888. Calamities from above and below: such as;
- storms and blizzards, torrential rain, etc., or
- earthquakes, floods, landslides, etc.
...أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ...
or to cover you with confusion in party strife giving you a taste of mutual vengeance -- each from the other."
...انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾
See how We explain the Signs by various (symbols), that they may understand.
C889. Cf. 6:46, where this refrain commences the argument now drawing to a close.
وَكَذَّبَ
بِهِ قَوْمُكَ
وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ...
6: 66. But thy people reject this, though it is the truth.
...قُل لَّسْتُ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍ ﴿٦٦﴾
Say:
"Not mine is the responsibility for arranging your affairs;
C890. At the date of this revelation, the Messenger's people had as a body not only rejected Allah's truth, but were persecuting it. The Messenger's duty was to deliver his Message, which he did. He was not responsible for their conduct.
But he told them plainly that all warnings from Allah had their time limit, as they would soon find out, within a very few years. For the leaders of the resistance came to an evil end, and their whole system of fraud and selfishness was destroyed, to make room for the purer Faith of Islam.
Apart from that particular application, there is the more general application, for the present time and for all time.
Other versions:
6: 32
Asad And nothing is the life of this world but a play and a passing delight; and the life in the hereafter is by far the better for all who are conscious of God. Will you not, then, use your reason?
Yusuf Ali What is the life of this world but play and amusement? But best is the home in the Hereafter for those who are righteous. Will ye not then understand?
Pickthall Naught is the life of the world save a pastime and a sport. Better far is the abode of the Hereafter for those who keep their duty (to Allah). Have ye then no sense?
Transliteration Wa mal haya_tud dunya_ illa_ la'ibuw wa lahw(un), wa ladda_rula a_khiratu khairul lillazina yattaqu_n(a), afala_ ta'qilu_n(a).
6: 65 [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]
Yusuf Ali Say: "He hath power to send calamities on you from above and below or to cover you with confusion in party strife giving you a taste of mutual vengeance each from the other." See how We explain the Signs by various (symbols) that they may understand.
Pickthall Say: He is able to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to bewilder you with dissension and make you taste the tyranny one of another. See how We display the revelations so that they may understand.
Transliteration Qul huwal qa_diru 'ala_ ay yab'asa 'alaikum 'aza_bam min fauqikum au min tahti arjulikum au yalbisakum syiya'aw wa yuziqa ba'dakum ba'sa ba'd(in), unzur kaifa nusarriful a_ya_ti la'allahum yafqahu_n(a).
6: 66
Yusuf Ali But thy people reject this though it is the truth. Say: "Not mine is the responsibility for arranging your affairs;
Pickthall Thy people (O Muhammad) have denied it, though it is the Truth. Say: I am not put in charge of you.
Transliteration Wa kazzaba bihi qaumuka wa huwal haqq(u), qul lastu'alaikum bi wakil(in).
11.Surah Hud
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
قَوْمِ لا أَسْأَلُكُمْ
عَلَيْهِ
أَجْرًا...
11: 51. "O my people! I ask of you no reward for this (Message).
...إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي...
My reward is from none but Him Who created me:
...أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٥١﴾
will ye not then understand?
Other versions:
11: 51
Asad “O my people! No reward do I ask of you for this [message]: my reward rests with none but Him who brought me into being. Will you not, then, use your reason?
Yusuf Ali "O my people! I ask of you no reward for this (Message). My reward is from none but Him Who created me: will ye not then understand?
Pickthall O my people! I ask of you no reward for it. Lo! my reward is the concern only of Him who made me. Have ye then no sense?
Yuksel "My people, I do not ask you for any wage, my wage is from the One who initiated me. Will you not reason?"
Transliteration Ya_ qaumi la_ as'alukum 'alaihi ajra_(n), in ajriya illa_ 'alal lazi fatarani, afala_ ta'qilu_n(a).
13.Surah ArRa'd
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَفِي
الأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ
مُّتَجَاوِرَاتٌ...
13: 4. And in the earth are tracts (diverse though) neighboring,
وَجَنَّاتٌ
مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ
وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ
صِنْوَانٌ
وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ
يُسْقَى بِمَاء
وَاحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ...
and gardens of vines and fields sown with corn, and palm trees -- growing out of single roots or otherwise: watered with the same water,
C1806. Does "growing out of single roots or otherwise" qualify "palm trees" or "vines" and "corn" as well?
The former construction is adopted by the classical Commentators: in which case the reference is to the fact either;
- that two or more palm trees occasionally grow out of a single root, or
- that palm trees grow sometimes as odd trees and sometimes in great thick clusters.
If the latter construction is adopted, the reference would be to the fact that date-palm (and palms generally) and some other plants arise out of a single tap-root, while the majority of trees arise out of a net-work of roots that spread out extensively.
Here is adaptation to soil and water conditions,-another Sign or wonder of Creation.
...بَعْضَهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الأُكُلِ...
yet some of them We make more excellent than others to eat.
C1807. The date-palm, the crops of food-grains, and the grape-vine are all fed by the same kind of water, yet how different the harvests which they yield! And that applies to all vegetation.
The fruit or eatable produce may vary in shape, size, colour, flavour, etc., in endless variety.
...إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٤﴾
Behold, verily in these things there are Signs for those who understand!
Other versions:
13: 4 [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]
Yusuf Ali And in the earth are tracts (diverse though) neighboring and gardens of vines and fields sown with corn and palm trees growing out of single roots or otherwise: watered with the same water yet some of them We make more excellent than others to eat. Behold verily in these things there are Signs for those who understand!
Pickthall And in the Earth are neighboring tracts, vineyards and ploughed lands, and date palms, like and unlike, which are watered with one water. And We have made some of them to excel others in fruit. Lo! herein verily are portents for people who have sense.
Yuksel On earth are neighboring pieces of land with gardens of grapes and plants and palm trees, some of which may be twins sharing the same root, or single, even though they are being watered with the same water source; and We make preference for some of them over others in what they consume. In that are signs for a people who reason.
Transliteration Wa fil ardi qita'um mutaja_wira_tuw wa janna_tum min a'na_biw wa zar'uw wa nakhilun sinwa_nuw wa gairu sinwa_niy yusqa_ bi ma_'iw wa_hid(in), wa nufaddilu ba'daha_ 'ala_ ba'din fil ukul(i), inna fi za_likala a_ya_til liqaumiy ya'qilu_n(a).
[[Ruby’s Note 13:4
Nov 3, 2009 [Tuesday]
Dear Edip, Salaam
In the following verse I think your translation is not going with the idea. Could you review and let me know please?
I think the way the sentence is structured, it is to convey that the plants and trees share the same environment [water, air, sunlight, etc.] and same mechanism such as roots, leaves, brunches, etc. Yet each type is different as to kind, color, fruit, taste etc. Then the natural reason is that this diversity is deliberate and the differences are caused not by the environment or mechanisms but by the specific instruction given to each type [ by the specific genetic codes given in DNA].
The consumption of all plants are basically same: they take water and the nutrients from the soil and transform these into food with the help of sunlight [with chlorophyll]. This is the basic process the entire plant kingdom use except few categories. Your idea of different consumption by different plants may not go with this principle.
Quran's verses manifest truth at different levels: different for different levels of knowledge and understanding. And they are all valid. For the lay people now and especially then it could appear as inspiration or Will of God makes things different. With today's understanding we know that this inspiration takes the form of DNA coding. However it is conveying the same truth.
I think the diversity arising from the same environment is a sign of God and that is being conveyed here. ]]
16.Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَسَخَّرَ
لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ
وَالْنَّهَارَ
وَالشَّمْسَ
وَالْقَمَرَ...
16: 12. He has made subject to you the Night and the Day;
the Sun and the Moon;
C2031. The Night and the Day are caused by astronomical rotations.
What is important for man to note is how Allah has given intelligence to man to make use of this alternation for work and rest;
how man can, as soon as he rises from the primitive stage, get over their inequalities by artificial illuminants, such as vegetable or mineral oils, coal, gas, or electricity, which ultimately are derived from the stored-up energy of the sun;
how the sun's heat can be tempered by various artificial means and can be stored up for use by man as required, how man can be independent of the tides caused by the moon and the sun, which formerly controlled navigation, but which no longer stand in man's way, with his artificial harbours and great sea-going ships, how navigation was formerly subject to direct observation of the Polar Star and other stars, but how the magnetic needle and charts have now completely altered the position, and man can calculate and to a certain extent control magnetic variations, etc.
In such ways the sun, the moon, and the stars themselves become useful servants to him, all by Allah's gift and His Command, without which there would have been no laws governing them and no intelligence to make use of them.
... وَالْنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَاتٌ بِأَمْرِهِ...
and the Stars are in subjection by His Command:
... إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٢﴾
verily in this are Signs for men who are wise.
وَمِن
ثَمَرَاتِ
النَّخِيلِ
وَالأَعْنَابِ
تَتَّخِذُونَ
مِنْهُ سَكَرًا
وَرِزْقًا
حَسَنًا...
16: 67. And from the fruit of the date-palm and the vine, ye get out wholesome drink and food:
C2096. There are wholesome drinks and foods that can be got out of the date-palm and the vine: e.g., non-alcoholic drinks from the date and the grape, vinegar, date-sugar, grape-sugar, and dates and grapes themselves for eating.
If sakar is taken in the sense of fermented wine, it would refer to the time before intoxicants were prohibited, for this is a Makkan Surah and the prohibition came in Madinah. In such a case it would imply a subtle disapproval of the use of intoxicants and mark the first of a series of steps that in time culminated in total prohibition. (R).
... إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾
behold, in this also is a Sign for those who are wise.
Other versions:
16: 12
Asad And He has made the night and the day and the sun and the moon subservient to you; and all the stars are subservient to His command: in this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who use their reason!
Yusuf Ali He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the Sun and the Moon; and the Stars are in subjection by His Command: verily in this are Signs for men who are wise.
Pickthall And he hath constrained the night and the day and the sun and the moon to be of service unto you, and the stars are made subservient by His command. Lo! herein indeed are portents for people who have sense.
Transliteration Wa sakhkhara lakummul laila wan naha_r(a), wasy syamsa wal qamar(a), wan nuju_mu musakhkhara_tum bi amrih(i), inna fi za_lika la a_ya_til liqaumiy ya'qilu_n(a),
[Asad note 9: see 14:33…]
[Ruby’s note: It is extremely important to note how the two ideas are dealt here: the first is regarding the day-night-sun-moon are subservient to human. Because they are related to the Solar System where human live. However when God is talking about stars, He is simply saying that these are under His command, and not particularly subservient to or created to serve human existence. ]
16: 67
Asad And from the fruit of date-palms and vines: from it you derive intoxicants as well as wholesome sustenance – in this, behold, there is a message indeed for people who use their reason!
Yusuf Ali And from the fruit of the date-palm and the vine ye get out wholesome drink and food: behold in this also is a Sign for those who are wise.
Pickthall And of the fruits of the date palm, and grapes, whence ye derive strong drink and (also) good nourishment. Lo! therein, is indeed a portent for people who have sense.
Transliteration Wa min samara_tin nakhili wal a'na_bi tattakhizu_na minhu sakaraw wa rizqan hasana_(n), inna fi za_lika la a_yatal liqaumiy ya'qilu_n(a).