21. Surah Al Anbiya'

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً...  

21: 72.  And We bestowed on him Isaac and, as an additional gift, (a grandson), Jacob,

C2728. Nafilat has many meanings:

-         booty;

-         extra work or prayer;

-         extra or additional gift;

-         grandson.

The two last significations are implied here. Not only was Abraham given a son in his old age; he was given not only Isaac, but several sons, the chief being Isma'il and Isaac, who both joined in burying him (Gen. 25:9); and he also saw grandsons. Isma'il is specially mentioned later (21:85) apart from Isaac's line, on account of his special importance for Islam.

...وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا صَالِحِينَ ﴿٧٢﴾

and We made righteous men of every one (of them).

وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا...  

21: 73.  And We made them leaders, guiding (men) by Our Command,

...وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاء الزَّكَاةِ...

and We sent them inspiration

=    to do good deeds,

-    to establish regular prayers, and

-    to practice regular charity;

...وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ ﴿٧٣﴾

and they constantly served Us (and Us only).

C2729. The spiritual lesson from this passage may be recapitulated. The righteous man makes no compromise with evil. If the votaries of evil laugh at him he pays them in their own coin, but he stands firmly by his principles.

His firmness causes some confusion among the followers of evil, and he openly declares the faith that is in him. They try, openly and secretly, to injure or kill him, but Allah protects him, while evil perishes from its own excesses.

وَلُوطًا آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا...  

21: 74.  And to Lut, too, we gave Judgment and Knowledge,

...وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَت تَّعْمَلُ الْخَبَائِثَ...

and We saved him from the town which practiced abominations:

...إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فَاسِقِينَ ﴿٧٤﴾

truly they were a people given to Evil, a rebellious people.

C2730. Lut's people were given to unspeakable abominations. His mission was to preach to them. He withstood Evil, but they rejected him. They were punished, but he and his followers were saved.

See 15:61-74; 11:77-82; and 7:80-84.

وَأَدْخَلْنَاهُ فِي رَحْمَتِنَا إِنَّهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿٧٥﴾

21: 75.  And We admitted him to Our Mercy: for he was one of the Righteous.

Other versions:

21:72

And We bestowed upon him Isaac and [Isaac's son] Jacob as an additional gift, 67 and caused all

of them to be righteous men,

(21:73) and made them leaders who would guide [others] in

accordance with Our behest: for We inspired them [with a will] to do good works, and to be

constant in prayer, and to dispense charity: and Us [alone) did they worship.

21:74

AND UNTO Lot, too, We vouchsafed sound judgment and knowledge [of right and wrong],

and saved him from that community which was given to deeds of abomination. 68 [We destroyed those people - for,] verily, they were people lost in evil, depraved

Arabic Source and Roman Transliteration Arabic   وَلُوطًا آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَت تَّعْمَلُ الْخَبَائِثَ ۗ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فَاسِقِينَ &#x21E8 Transliteration   Walootan ataynahu hukman waAAilman wanajjaynahu mina alqaryati allatee kanat taAAmalu alkhaba-itha innahum kanoo qawma saw-in fasiqeena &#x21E8

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning Muhammad Asad   AND UNTO Lot, too, We vouchsafed sound judgment and knowledge [of right and wrong], and saved him from that community which was given to deeds of abomination. [We destroyed those people - forr,] verily, they were people lost in evil, depraved – &#x21E8 M. M. Pickthall   And unto Lot we gave judgment and knowledge, and We delivered him from the community that did abominations. Lo! they were folk of evil, lewd. &#x21E8 Shakir   And (as for) Lut, We gave him wisdom and knowledge, and We delivered him from the town which wrought abominations; surely they were an evil people, transgressors; &#x21E8 Yusuf Ali   And to Lut, too, We gave Judgment and Knowledge, and We saved him from the town which practised abominations: truly they were a people given to Evil, a rebellious people. &#x21E8 Wahiduddin Khan   To Lot We gave wisdom and knowledge and delivered him from the city which practiced abomination. They were indeed a wicked people. &#x21E8 [Progressive Muslims]   And Lot, We gave him wisdom and knowledge, and We saved him from the town that used to do vile things. They were a people of evil, corrupt.

(21:75) whereas him We admitted unto Our grace: for, behold, he was among the righteous.