6. Sura al-Anam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَن تَقُولُواْ إِنَّمَا أُنزِلَ الْكِتَابُ عَلَى طَآئِفَتَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِنَا...

6:156. Lest ye should say:

"The Book was sent down to two peoples before us,

...وَإِن كُنَّا عَن دِرَاسَتِهِمْ لَغَافِلِينَ ﴿١٥٦﴾

and for our part, we remained unacquainted with all that they learned by assiduous study."

C981. Because the diligent studies of the earlier People of the Book were in languages foreign to the new People of Islam, or because they were meant for circumstances different from those of the new world after Islam.

أَوْ تَقُولُواْ لَوْ أَنَّا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْكِتَابُ لَكُنَّا أَهْدَى مِنْهُمْ...

6:157. Or lest ye should say:

"If the Book had only been sent down to us, we should have followed its guidance better than they."

...فَقَدْ جَاءكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ ...

Now then hath come unto you a Clear (sign) from your Lord, and a guide and a mercy:

C982. The Quran and the life and the teaching of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah.

...فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَذَّبَ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ وَصَدَفَ عَنْهَا...

then who could do more wrong than one who rejecteth Allah's signs, and turneth away therefrom?

...سَنَجْزِي الَّذِينَ يَصْدِفُونَ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَصْدِفُونَ ﴿١٥٧﴾

In good time shall We requite those who turn away from Our Signs, with a dreadful penalty, for their turning away.

Other versions:

6: 156

Asad [It has been given to you] lest you say, “Only unto two groups of people, [both of them] before our time, has a divine writ been bestowed from on high [note 157] – and we were indeed unaware of their teachings”;

Pickthall Lest ye should say: The Scripture was revealed only to two sects before us, and we in truth were unaware of what they read;

Transliteration An taqu_lu_ innama_ unzilal kita_bu 'ala_ ta_'ifataini min qablina_, wa in kunna_ 'an dira_satihim laga_filin(a).

6: 157

Asad or lest you say, “If a divine writ had been bestowed from on high upon us, we would surely have followed its guidance better than they did.” [note 158].

And so, a clear evidence of the truth has now come unto you from your Sustainer, and guidance, and grace. Who, then could be more wicked than he who gives the lie to God’s messages, and turns away from them in disdain?

Pickthall Or lest ye should say: If the Scripture had been revealed unto us, we surely had been better guided than are they. Now hath there come unto you a clear proof from your Lord, a guidance and a mercy; and who doeth greater wrong than he who denies the revelations of Allah, and turnes away from them? We award unto those who turn away from Our revelations an evil doom because of their aversion.

Transliteration Au taqu_lu_ lau anna_ unzila 'alainal kita_bu lakunna_ ahda_ minhum, faqad ja_'akum bayyinatum mir rabbikum wa hudaw wa rahmah(tun), faman azlamu mimman kazzaba bi a_ya_tilla_hi wa sadafa 'anha_, sanajzil lazina yasdifu_na'ana_ya_tina_ su_'al 'aza_bi bima_ ka_nu_ yasdifu_n(a).

[[ Ali’s notes - 981 Because the diligent studies of the earlier People of the Book were in languages foreign to the new People of Islam, or because they were meant for circumstances different from those of the new world after Islam. (6.156)

982 The Qur-an and the life and the teaching of Muhammad the Apostle of God. (6.157) ]]

[[ Asad’s note 157 – I.e., to the Jews and the Christians, who were the only two communities known to the Arabs as possessing reveled scriptures.

note 158 – Although this passage refers, in the first instance, to the Arabian contemporaries of the Prophet, its message is not restricted to them but relates to all people, at all times, who refuse to believe in revelation unless they themselves are its direct recipients.]]

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15. Surah Al Hijr

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

الَرَ...

15:1. Alif Lam Ra.

C1932. For these mystic letters, see Introduction to Surah 10.

...تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ ...

These are the Ayats of Revelation --

C1933. Cf. 10:1, and n. 1382.

... وَقُرْآنٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿١﴾

of a Qur'án that makes things clear.

C1934. Note how appropriately the different phrases in which the Quran is characterized bring out its different aspects as a Revelation.

Let us just consider the phrases used at the beginning of the six Alif Lam Mim Surahs of which this is the last in order of arrangement.

- In 10:1 we read, "Ayats (or verses or Signs) of the Book of Wisdom",

the theme being the wonders of Allah's creation, and its relation to His Revelation.

- In 11:1 we read, "a Book, with verses basic or fundamental, further explained in detail":

the theme is Allah's Justice and punishment, to preserve the fundamental scheme of His Laws.

- In 12:1 we read, "The Symbols verses of the Perspicuous Book";

the wonderful unfolding of Allah's Plan is explained in Joseph's story.

- In 13:1 we read, "The Signs (or verses) of the Book":

the contrasts in the modes of Allah's Revelation and its reception by man are pointed out, but not illustrated by detailed examples as in Joseph's perspicuous story.

- In 14:1 we read, "A Book revealed to lead out of darkness into light":

the theme being Abraham's prayer for man to be rescued from the darkness of false worship into the light of Unity.

- Here, in 15:1 we read, "Ayats (or verses) of Revelation,-of a Quran that makes things clear (or perspicuous)":

the theme being an explanation of evil, and how Allah's Truth is protected from it.

Pickthall’s Version:

15: 1

Pickthall Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verses of the Scripture and a plain Reading.

Transliteration Alif La_m Ra_, tilka a_ya_tul kita_bi wa qur'a_nim mubin(in).

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17.Surah Al Isra

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ آيَتَيْنِ...

17:12. We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs:

C2185. If we were to cry when it is night, we shall look foolish when it is day; for the night is but a preparation for the day: perhaps, as the last verse says, we pray for the day when we want rest for the night.

Both are Signs from Allah.

Darkness and light stand for

- ignorance and

- knowledge.

"Where ignorance is bliss, its folly to be wise."

Darkness and light may also stand for

- shadow and sunshine,

- sorrow and joy:

both may be for our development.

...فَمَحَوْنَا آيَةَ اللَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَا آيَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً...

the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the day We have made to enlighten you;

...لِتَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلاً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ...

that ye may seek Bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number and count of the years:

C2186. By the physical light we see physical facts. And this physical gift of Allah is good for us in two ways:

1. we can arrange for our livelihood, or we can attain the knowledge of the physical sciences and gain some control over the physical forces of nature; and

2. the daily rising and setting of the sun gives us the computation of days and years, for the physical natural year is the solar year. But there is spiritual light even more precious; by it we can similarly attain two objects, viz,

- our spiritual livelihood and knowledge, and

- our computation of the stages we reach in our spiritual years.

Let us be patient and seek everything as from Allah - in joy and in sorrow, in knowledge and in want of knowledge of those things which are above us.

Let us rejoice in what Allah has given us, and not be impatient about those things which He in His wisdom has thought fit to withhold from us. But all things should be sought and striven for under the guidance of the All-Knowing Allah.

...وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ تَفْصِيلاً ﴿١٢﴾

all things have We explained in detail.

Pickthall’s Version:

17: 12

Pickthall And we appoint the night and the day two portents. Then We make dark the portent of the night, and We make the portent of the day sight- giving, that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the computation of the years, and the reckoning; and everything have We expounded with a clear expounding.

Transliteration Wa ja'alnal laila wan naha_ra a_yataini fa mahauna_ a_yatal laili wa ja'alna_a a_yatan naha_ri mubsiratal li tabtagu_ fadlam mir rabbikum wa lita'lamu_ 'adadas sinina wal hisa_b(a), wa kulla syai'in fassalna_hu tafsila_(n).

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26. Surah Al Shu'ara'

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

طسم ﴿١﴾

26:1. Ta Sin Mim.

C3137. This is a combination of three Abbreviated Letters, as to which, generally, see Appendix 1, printed at the end of Surah 2.

This particular combination occurs here and at the head of Surah 28, while the intervening Surah 27 has it in the syncopated form Ta Sin. None of the explanatory conjecture which I have seen carries conviction for me. If the letters stand Tur al Sinin (Mount Sinai) and Musa (Moses) whose story fills a large part of the Surah, why is the letters Mim omitted in Surah 27, where the same meaning would apply?

There is however, one fact to which I should like to draw attention. There are eleven sections in this Surah, and eight of them end with the word Rahim (with the final Mim). The three exceptions are section 2 and 3, and section 11.

But section 2 and 3 are part of the story of Moses, which is completed in section 4, and that ends with "Rahim".

The main argument in section 11 ends at verse 217, which ends with Rahim. We can say that the whole Surah is based on a refrain in the word "Rahim".

Whether this has any bearing on our present enquiry I cannot say. My own position is that where we have material, we should pursue our researches, but we should never be dogmatic in such matters, as some Mysteries can never be solved by mere research.

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ ﴿٢﴾

2. These are Verses of the Book that makes (things) clear.

C3138. Cf. 5:15, and n. 716.

The comparison of Allah's revelation with Light is continued.

Asad’s Version:

26:1

Ta. Sin. Mim. 1

THESE ARE MESSAGES of the divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth. 2

Tilka ayatul kitabil mubin

[[Asad’s note -2 See surah 12, note 2. ]]

44. Ad-Dukhan (the Smoke)

59 verses, Mecca 64

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

حم ﴿١﴾

44:1. Ha Mim.

وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ ﴿٢﴾

44:2. By the Book that makes things clear --

C4689. The Quran is its own evidence. In the last Surah (43:3) stress was laid on the fact that everyone could understand it.

Here the stress is on the fact that it is a Message of Mercy from Allah in that it warns mankind against evil.

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ ...

44:3. We sent it down during a blessed night:

C4690. Usually taken to be a night in the month of Ramadhan, say the 23rd, 25th, or 27th night of that month. It is referred to as the Night of Power in 97:1-2.