3. Sura al-Imran

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ ...

3: 21. As to those who deny the Signs of Allah, and in defiance of right, slay the Prophets,

C363. Right; haqq has many shades of meaning;

1. right, in the sense of having a right to something;

2. right, in the sense of straight conduct, as opposed to wrong;

3. truth;

4. justice.

All these shades are implied here.

...وَيَقْتُلُونَ الِّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْقِسْطِ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿٢١﴾

and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind, announce to them a grievous penalty.

C364. Examples of the Prophets slain were:

- "the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar": Matt. 23:35.

Cf. 2:61. n. 75.

- Again, John the Baptist (Yahya, noble, chaste, a prophet, of the goodly company of the righteous. 3:39), was bound, imprisoned, and beheaded, and his head presented to a dancing harlot: Matt. 14:1-11.

أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ...

3: 22. They are those whose works will bear no fruit in this world and in the Hereafter,

C365. Cf. 2:217.

...وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ ﴿٢٢﴾

nor will they have anyone to help.

Pickthall’s Version:

3: 21

Pickthall Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, and slay the Prophets wrongfully, and slay those of mankind who enjoin equity: announce them a painful doom.

Transliteration Innal lazina yakfuru_na bi a_ya_tilla_hi wa yaqtulu_nan nabiyyina bi gairi haqq(in), wa yaqtulu_nal lazina ya'muru_na bil qisti minan na_s(i), fa basysyirhum bi'aza_bin alim(in).

3: 22

Pickthall Those are they whose works have failed in the world and the Hereafter; and they have no helpers.

Transliteration Ula_'ikal lazina habitat a'ma_luhum fid dunya_ wal a_khirah(ti), wa ma_ lahum min na_sirin(a).

[Ali’s notes -

363 Right; haqq has many shades of meaning; (1) right, in the sense of having a right to something; (2) right, in the sense of straight conduct, as opposed to wrong; (3) truth; (4) justice. All these shades are implied here. (3.21)

364 Examples of the Prophets slain were: "the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar": Matt. xxiii. 35. Cf. Q. ii. 61. n. 75. Again, John the Baptist (Yahya, noble, chaste, a prophet, of the goodly company of the righteous. Q. iii. 39), was bound, imprisoned, and beheaded, and his head presented to a dancing harlot: Matt. xiv. 1-11. (3.21) ]