17. Surah Al Isra

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ...   

17: 85.  They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration).

C2285. What is the nature of inspiration?

Who brings it?

Can it ask its Bringer questions?

Can we ask anything which we wish?

These are the sort of questions always asked when inspiration is called in question. The answer is given here,.

Inspiration is one of those high experiences which cannot be explained in the terms of our everyday human experience. It is spiritual.

The Spirit (Gabriel) does not come of his own will. He comes by the command of Allah, and reveals what Allah commands him to reveal.

Of the sum-total of true divine knowledge what a small part it is that ordinary mortals can understand! They can be only given that which they can understand, however dimly. We are not in a position to ask anything that we wish. If we did so, it would only make us look foolish, for the guidance comes from Allah's Wisdom, not from our worldly knowledge.

...قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّن الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ﴿٨٥﴾

Say:

"The Spirit (cometh) by command of my Lord:

of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men!)

Other versions:

17: 85 [al-Israa, mecca 50]

Wa yas'alu_naka 'anir ru_h(i), qulir ru_hu min amri rabbi wa ma_ u_titum minal 'ilmi illa_ qalila_(n).

Asad And they will ask you about [the nature of] divine inspiration. Say: “This inspiration [comes] at my Sustainer’s behest; and [you cannot understand its nature, O men, since] you have granted very little of [real] knowledge.”

Yusuf Ali They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration). Say: "The Spirit (cometh) by command of my Lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you (O men!)

Pickthall They will ask thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little.