10. Surah Yunus
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
10:1. Alif Lam Ra.
C1381. For the Abbreviated Letters generally as mystic Symbols see Appendix I.
For this particular combination see the Introduction on this Surah.
...تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْحَكِيمِ ﴿١﴾
These are the Ayat of the Book of Wisdom.
C1382. Ayat: Signs, or Verses of the Quran.
Here both meanings are to be understood. Each verse is a nugget of wisdom. And in the verses immediately following, e.g., 10:3-6, examples are given of the wonders of Allah's material Creation. If the starry heavens impress us with their sublimity as signs of Allah's wisdom and power, how much more wonderful is it that He should speak to lowly man through His Messengers, in man's language, so that he can understand?
أَكَانَ
لِلنَّاسِ
عَجَبًا أَنْ
أَوْحَيْنَا
إِلَى رَجُلٍ
مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ
أَنذِرِ النَّاسَ...
10:2. It is a matter of wonderment to men that We have set Our inspiration to a man from among themselves? -- that he should warn mankind (of their danger),
C1383. Is it not still more wonderful that the inspired man should be one of ourselves?
The Arabs had known Muhammad in other relations and conditions, and when the mighty Message came through his mouth -the message of Wisdom and Power, such as no man could speak as from himself, least of all a man not instructed in human learning,- they could only in their wonder attribute it to magic and sorcery.
They failed to understand that magic and sorcery were projections of their own mind, while here was solid, enduring Truth from Allah!
...وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ...
and give the good news to the Believers that they have before their Lord the lofty rank of Truth,
C1384. Allah's Message was and is not all smooth and agreeable. The first thing is to convince us of our wrong-doing, and warn us of our danger. If we have Faith, we then learn what a high rank we obtain in the sight of Allah.
Other versions:
10: 1 Alif Lam Ra
These are Messages of the divine writ, full of wisdom.
10: 2 Do people deem it strange that We should have inspired a man from their own midst : “Warn all mankind, and give unto those who have attained to faith the glad tiding that in their Sustainer’s sight they surpass all others in that they are completely sincere”? They who deny the truth say, “Behold, he is clearly but a spellbinder!” [asad]
10: 2 Is it a wonder for mankind that We have inspired a man among them, saying: warn mankind and bring unto those who believe the good tiding with their Lord? The disbelievers say: Lo! This is a mere wizard. [pickthatll]