2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَسْأَلُونَكَ
عَنِ الْخَمْرِ
...
2: 219. They ask thee concerning wine
C240. Wine: Khamr: literally understood to mean the fermented juice of the grape; applied by analogy to all fermented liquor, and by further analogy to any intoxicating liquor or drug.
There may possible be some benefit in it, but the harm is greater than the benefit, especially if we look at it from a social as well as an individual point of view.
... وَالْمَيْسِرِ...
and gambling.
C241. Gambling: maisir: literally, a means of getting something too easily, getting a profit without working for it; hence gambling. That is the principle on which gambling is prohibited.
The form must familiar to the Arabs was gambling by casting lots by means of arrows, on the principle of a lottery: the arrows were marked, and served the same purpose as a modern lottery ticket.
Something e.g., the carcass of a slaughtered animal, was divided into unequal parts. The marked arrows were drawn from a bag. Some were blank and those who drew them got nothing. Others indicated prizes, which were big or small. Whether you got a big share or a small share, or nothing, depended on pure luck, unless that was fraud also on the part of some persons concerned.
The principle on which the objection is based is:
- that, even if there is no fraud, you gain what you have not earned, or lose on a mere chance.
Dice and wagering are rightly held to be within the definition of gambling. (R).
... قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا...
Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit."
... وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ...
They ask thee how much they are to spend;
... قُلِ الْعَفْوَ ...
say: "What is beyond your needs."
C242. Hoarding is no use either to ourselves, or to any one else. We should use the wealth we need; any superfluities we must spend in good works or in charity.
... كَذَلِكَ يُبيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢١٩﴾
Thus doth Allah make clear to you His Signs: in order that ye may consider.
Other versions:
2: 219
Asad …but the evil which they cause is greater than the benefit which they bring [note 205]” And they ask thee as to what they should spend [in God’s cause]. Say: “Whatever you can spare.”
In this way God makes clear unto you His messages, so that you might reflect.
Pickthall They question thee about strong drink and games of chance. Say: In both is great sin, and (some) utility for men; but the sin of them is greater than their usefulness. And they ask thee what they ought to spend. Say: That which is superfluous. Thus Allah maketh plain to you (His) revelations, that haply ye may reflect--
as'alu_naka 'anil khamri wal maisir(i), qul fihima_ ismun kabiruw wa mana_fi'u linna_s(i), wa ismuhuma_ akbaru min naf'ihima_, wa yas'alu_naka ma_za_ yunfiqu_n(a), qulil 'afw(a), kaza_lika yubayyinulla_hu lakumul a_ya_ti la'allakum tatafakkaru_ n(a).
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3. Sura al-Imran, Medina 89
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
تِلْكَ
آيَاتُ اللّهِ
نَتْلُوهَا
عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ
وَمَا اللّهُ
يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا
لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
﴿١٠٨﴾
3:108. These are the Signs of Allah: We rehearse them to thee in truth:
and Allah means no injustice to any of His creatures.
Asad’s Version:
3: 108 These are God’s message: We convey them unto thee, setting forth the truth, since God wills no wrong to His creeation.( see Asad note 81)
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7. Sura al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
الَّذِينَ
اتَّخَذُواْ
دِينَهُمْ
لَهْوًا
وَلَعِبًا
وَغَرَّتْهُمُ
الْحَيَاةُ
الدُّنْيَا...
7: 51. "Such as took their religion to be mere amusement and play, and were deceived by the life of the world."
...فَالْيَوْمَ نَنسَاهُمْ كَمَا نَسُواْ لِقَاء يَوْمِهِمْ هَـذَا...
That day shall We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this day of theirs,
C1029. "Forgetfulness" may be involuntary, from a defect of memory, or figuratively, a deliberate turning away from, or ignoring of, something we do not want, as when we say in an argument, "you conveniently forget that so- and-so is so-and-so." Here the latter kind is meant.
If men deliberately ignored the Hereafter in spite of warnings, can they expect to be received by Allah, Whom they themselves rejected?
...وَمَا كَانُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ ﴿٥١﴾
and as they were wont to reject Our signs.
وَلَقَدْ
جِئْنَاهُم
بِكِتَابٍ
فَصَّلْنَاهُ
عَلَى
عِلْمٍ...
7: 52. For We had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on knowledge, which We explained in detail,
Pickthall’s Version:
7: 51
Pickthall Who took their religion for a sport and pastime, and whom the life of the world beguiled. So this day We have forgotten them even as they forgot the meeting of this Day and as they used to deny Our tokens.
Transliteration Allazinattakhazu_ dinahum lahwaw wa la'ibaw wa garrathumul haya_tud dunya_, fal yauma nansa_hum kama_ nasu_ liqa_'a yaumihim ha_za_, wa ma_ ka_nu_ bi a_ya_tina_ yajhadu_n(a).
7: 52
.
Pickthall Verily We have brought them a Scripture which We expound with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.
Transliteration Wa laqad ji'na_kum bi kita_bin fassalna_hu 'ala_ 'ilmin hudaw wa rahmatal liqaumiy yu'minu_n(a).
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14. Surah Ibrahim
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
أَرْسَلْنَا
مِن رَّسُولٍ
إِلاَّ بِلِسَانِ
قَوْمِهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ
لَهُمْ...
14: 4. We sent a Messenger except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people, in order to make (things) clear to them.
C1874. If the object of a Message is to make things clear, it must be delivered in the language current among the people to whom the Messenger is sent. Through them it can reach all mankind.
There is even a wider meaning for "language". It is not merely a question of alphabets, letters, or words. Each age or people -or world in a psychological sense- casts its thoughts in a certain mould or form.
Allah's Message -being universal- can be expressed in all moulds and forms, and is equally valid and necessary for all grades of humanity, and must therefore be explained to each according to his or her capacity or receptivity. In this respect the Quran is marvelous. It is for the simplest as well as the most advanced.
...فَيُضِلُّ اللّهُ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء...
Now Allah leaves straying those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases:
C1875. 'Whom He pleases'; the usual expression for Mashiyat, the universal Will and Plan, which is all-wise and on the highest plane of goodness and righteousness.
...وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴿٤﴾
and He is Exalted in power, Full of Wisdom.
Other versions:
14:4
Asad And never have We sent forth any apostle otherwise than in his own people’s tongue, so that he might make [the truth] clear unto them; but God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray], and guides him that wills [to be guided] – for He alone is almighty, truly wise.
Pickthall And We never sent a messenger save with the language of his folk, that he might make (the message) clear for them. Then Allah sendeth whom He will astray, and guideth whom He will. He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Yuksel The Language of the Messenger
We did not send any messenger except in the language of his people, so he may proclaim to them. But God misguides whom He wills, and He guides whom He wills. He is the Noble, the Wise.*
Transliteration Wa ma_ arsalna_ mir rasu_lin illa_ bi lisa_ni qaumihi liyubayyina lahum, fa yudillulla_hu may yasya_'u wa yahdi may yasya_'(u), wa huwal 'azizul hakim(u).
[[Yuksel’s note - 014:004 This verse rejects the Arab nationalists who glorify Arabic and claim its superiority over other languages. God can communicate His message to any nation in their language. After all, God communicates with all his creatures through the language they understand. ]]