2.Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُلْ
مَن
كَانَ عَدُوًّا
لِّجِبْرِيلَ
فَإِنَّهُ
نَزَّلَهُ عَلَى
قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ
اللّهِ...
2: 97. Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel, for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by Allah's will,
C101. A party of the Jews in the time of Muhammad ridiculed the Muslim believe that Gabriel brought down revelations to Muhammad Mustafa.
Michael was called in their books "the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people": (Daniel 12:1). The vision of Gabriel inspired fear (Daniel, 8:16-17).
But this pretence - that Michael was their friend and Gabriel their enemy - was merely a manifestation of their unbelief in angels, apostles, and Allah Himself; and such unbelief could not win the love of Allah.
In any case it was disingenuous to say that they believed in one angel and not in another.
Muhammad's inspiration was through visions of Gabriel. Muhammad had been helped to the highest spiritual light, and the message which he delivered and his spotless integrity and exemplary life were manifest Signs which every one could understand except those who were obstinate and perverse. Besides, the verses of the Quran were in themselves reasonable and clear.
... مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٩٧﴾
a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe.
مَن
كَانَ عَدُوًّا
لِّلّهِ
وَمَلآئِكَتِهِ
وَرُسُلِهِ
وَجِبْرِيلَ
وَمِيكَالَ
...
2: 98. Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and apostles, to Gabriel and Michael,
... فَإِنَّ اللّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٩٨﴾
Lo! Allah is an enemy to those who reject faith.
Other versions:
2: 97
Asad Say [ O Prophet]: “Whatever is an enemy of Gabriel” – wo, verily, by God’s leave, has brought down upon they heart this [divine writ] which confirms the truth of whatever there still remains [of earlier revelations], and is a guidance and a glad tiding for the believers -:
Pickthall Say (O Muhammad, to mankind): Who is an enemy to Gabriel! For he it is who hath revealed (this Scripture) to thy heart by Allah's leave, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, and a guidance and glad tidings to believers;
Transliteration Qul man ka_na 'aduwwal li jibrila fa innahu_ nazzalahu_ 'ala_ qalbika bi iznilla_hi musaddiqal lima_ baina yadaihi wa hudaw wa busyra_ lil mu'minin(a).
2: 98
Pickthall Who is an enemy to Allah, and His angels and His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael! Then, lo! Allah (Himself) is an enemy to the disbelievers.
Transliteration Man ka_na 'aduwwal lilla_hi wa mala_'ikatihi wa rusulihi wa jibrila wa mika_la fa innalla_ha 'aduwwul lil ka_firin(a).
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12. Yusuf (Joseph)
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
ذَلِكَ
مِنْ
أَنبَاء
الْغَيْبِ
نُوحِيهِ
إِلَيْكَ...
12:102. Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen, which We reveal by inspiration unto thee:
C1784. The story is finished.
But is it a story?
It is rather a recital of forces and motives, thoughts and feelings, complications and results, ordinarily not seen by men. However much they concert their plans and unite their forces, whatever dark plots they back with all their resources, -the plan of Allah works irresistibly, and sweeps away all their machinations.
The good win through in the end, but not always as they planned: the evil are foiled, and often their very plots help the good.
What did the brothers desire in trying to get rid of Joseph, and what actually happened?
How the Courtier's wife, encouraged by the corrupt women of her acquaintance, tried and failed to seduce Joseph and how Allah listened to his prayer and saved him from her vile designs?
How wrong was it of the cup-bearer to forget Joseph, and yet how his very forgetfulness kept Joseph safe and undisturbed in prison until the day came when he should tackle the great problems of Pharaoh's kingdom?
With every character in the story there are problems, and the whole is a beautifully balanced picture of the working of Allah's providence in man's chequered destiny. (R).
...وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُواْ أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ ﴿١٠٢﴾
nor wast thou (present) with them when they concerted their plans together in the process of weaving their plots.
C1785. The holy Prophet was no actor in those scenes; yet by inspiration he was able to expound them in the divine light, as they had never been expounded before, whether in the Pentateuch or by any Seer before him. And allegorically they figured his own story, -how his own brethren sought to betray and kill him how by Allah's providence he was not only saved but he won through. (R).
Pickthall’s Version:
12: 102
Transliteration Za_lika min amba_'il gaibi nu_hihi ilaik(a), wa ma_ kunta ladaihim iz ajma'u_ amrahum wa hum yamkuru_n(a).
Pickthall This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they fixed their plan and they were scheming.
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16. Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُلْ
نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ
الْقُدُسِ مِن
رَّبِّكَ
بِالْحَقِّ...
16: 102. Say,
the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in truth,
C2141. The title of the Angel Gabriel, through whom the revelations came down.
... لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ...
in order to strengthen those who believe,
C2142. The People of the Book, if they had true faith, were themselves strengthened in their faith and cleared of their doubts and difficulties by the revelations brought by Al-Mustafa; and all whether People of the Book or not -who came within the fold of Islam, found the Quran a Guide and a Gospel, i.e., a substitute for the Mosaic Law and for the Christian Gospel, which had both been corrupted.
... وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٠٢﴾
and as a guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims.
Other versions:
16: 102
Asad Say: “Holy Inspiration has brought it down from your Sustainer by stages, setting forth the truth, so that it might give firmness unto those who have attained to faith, and provide guidance and a glad tiding unto all who have surrendered themselves to God.”
Pickthall Say: The holy Spirit hath revealed it from thy Lord with truth, that it may confirm (the faith of) those who believe, and as guidance and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah).
Transliteration Qul nazzalahu_ ru_hul qudusi mir rabbika bil haqqi liyusabbital lazina a_manu_ wa hudaw wa busyra_ lil muslimin(a).
[Asad note 128: As in the three other places in which the expression “ruh al-qudus” occurs…………….]