11. Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِ وَيَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْهُ...   

11:17.  Can they be (like) those who accept a Clear (Sign) from their Lord, and whom a witness from Himself doth teach,

C1512. "A witness from Himself': i.e., the Book which was given to Al-Mustafa, the Holy Quran, which is compared to the original Revelation given to Moses. We make no difference between one true and genuine Message and another, nor between one apostle and another, for they all come from the One True God.

...وَمِن قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَى إَمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً...

as did the Book of Moses before it -- a guide and a mercy?

C1513. "Guide": the Arabic word here is Imam, a leader, a guide, one that directs to the true Path. Such a direction is an instance of the Mercy and Goodness of Allah to man.

The Quran and the Prophet Muhammad are also called, each, a Guide and a Mercy, and so are these epithets applicable to previous Books and Prophets.

...أُوْلَـئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ...

They believe therein;

...وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الأَحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ...

but those of the Sects that reject it -- the Fire will be their promised meeting place.

...فَلاَ تَكُ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِّنْهُ...

Be not then in doubt thereon:

...إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٧﴾

for it is the Truth from thy Lord: yet many among men do not believe!