11.Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَكُـلاًّ نَّقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنبَاء الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ...   

11: 120. All that We relate to thee of the stories of the apostles -- with it We make firm thy heart:

...وَجَاءكَ فِي هَـذِهِ الْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٢٠﴾  

in them there cometh to thee the Truth, as well as an exhortation and a message of remembrance to those who believe.

C1624. The stories of the Prophets in the Quran are not mere narratives or histories: they involve three things:

-        they teach the highest spiritual Truth;

-        they give advice, direction, and warning, as to how we should govern our lives, and

-        they awaken our conscience and recall to us the working of Allah's Law in human affairs.

The story of Joseph in the next Sura is an illustration in point.

وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ اعْمَلُواْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنَّا عَامِلُونَ ﴿١٢١﴾    

11: 121.  Say to those who do not believe:

"Do whatever ye can: we shall do our part;

C1624a. Cf. 11:93 and 6:135, n. 957.

The worst that ye can will not defeat Allah's Plan; and as for us who believe, our obvious duty is to do our part as taught to us by Allah's revelation.

Pickthall’s Version:

11: 120

Pickthall And all that We relate unto thee of the story of the messengers is in order that thereby We may make firm thy heart. And herein hath come unto thee the Truth and an exhortation and a reminder for believers.

Transliteration Wa kullan naqussu 'alaika min amba_'ir rusuli ma_ nusabbitu bihi fu'a_daka wa ja_'aka fi ha_zihil haqqu wa mau'izatuw wa zikra lil mu'minin(a).

11: 121

Pickthall And say unto those who believe not: Act according to your power. Lo! we (too) are acting.

Transliteration Wa qul lillazina la_ yu'mina_na-'malu_ 'ala_ maka_natikum, inna_ 'a_miulu_n(a).