4. Sura an-Nisa, Medina 92

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءكُم بُرْهَانٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ نُورًا مُّبِينًا ﴿١٧٤﴾

4:174. O mankind! verily there hath come to you a convincing proof from your Lord: for We have sent unto you a light (that is) manifest.

C679. The Proof and the Light are the Quran and the Personality, Life and Teaching of Muhammad Mustafa.

Asad’s Version:

4: 174

Asad O mankind! A manifestation of the truth has now come unto you from your Sustainer, and We have sent down you a clear light.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhan na_su qad ja_'akum burha_num mir rabbikum wa anzalna_ ilaikum nu_ram mubina_(n).

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5. Al-Ma'idah (The Repast)

Medina Period

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولُنَا...

5:15. O People of the Book!

there hath come to you Our Messenger,

... يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ...

revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary):

... قَدْ جَاءكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٥﴾

There hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book.

C716. Mubin: I wish I could translate by a simpler word than "perspicuous". But "plain" may mean unadorned, the opposite of beautiful, and this Book is among the most beautiful that it is the privilege of mankind to read.

"Clear" would be right as far as it means "unambiguous, self-evident, not involved in mysteries of origin, history, or meaning, one which every one can understand as to the essentials necessary for him, without the intervention of priests or privileged persons".

Mubin has all these meanings, but it suggests, besides, some quality of a shining light, by which we are able to make things clear, to distinguish the true from the false. This I think is suggested better by "perspicuous" than by the word "clear". Besides it is hardly good idiom to speak of "a clear Book."

يَهْدِي بِهِ اللّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلاَمِ ...

5:16. Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety,

... وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنِ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿١٦﴾

and leadeth them out of darkness, by His Will,

unto the light, guideth them to a Path that is Straight.

Other versions:

5: 15

Asad …………..Now there has come unto you form God a light, and a clear divine writ,

Pickthall O people of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which ye used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. Now hath come unto you light from Allah and a plain Scripture,

Transliteration Ya_ ahlal kita_bi qad ja_'akum rasu_luna_ yubayyinu lakum kasiram mimma_ kuntumtukhfu_na minal kita_bi wa ya'fu_ 'an kasir(in), qad ja_'akum minalla_hi nu_ruw wa kita_bum mubin(uy).

[[ Ali’s note - 716 Mubin: I wish I could translate by a simpler word than "perspicuous". But "plain" may mean unadorned, the opposite of beautiful, and this Book is among the most beautiful that it is the privilege of mankind to read. "Clear" would be right as far as it means "unambiguous, self-evident, not involved in mysteries of origin, history, or meaning, one which every one can understand as to the essentials necessary for him, without the intervention of priests or privileged persons". Mubin has all these meanings, but it suggests, besides, some quality of a shining light, by which we are able to make things clear, to distinguish the true from the false, This I think is suggested better by "perspicuous" than by the word "clear". Besides it is hardly good idiom to speak of "a clear Book." (5.15) ]]

5: 16

Asad through which God shows unto all that seek His goodly acceptance the paths leading to salvation [note 29] and, by His grace, brings them out of the depths of darkness into the light and guides them onto a straight way.

Pickthall Whereby Allah guide him who seek His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bring them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guide them unto a straight path.

Transliteration Yahdi bihilla_hu manittaba'aridwa_nahu_ subulas sala_mi wayukhrijuhum minaz zuluma_tiilan nu_ri bi iznihi wa yahdihim ila_ sira_tim mustaqim(in).

[[ Asad’s note 29 – The word ‘salam’, here rendered as “salvation’, has no proper equivalent in the English language. It denotes inner peace, soundness and security from evil of any kind, both physical and spiritual, and the achievement of what, in Christian terminology, is described as “salvation”: with the difference, however, that the Christian concept of salvation presupposes the existence of an a-priori state of sinfulness, which is justified in Christianity by the doctrine of “original sin”, but is not justified in Islam, which does not subscribe to this doctrine. …………]

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6. Sura al-Anam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَهَـذَا كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿١٥٥﴾

6:155. And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing:

so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy:

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: 155

Asad And this, too, is a divine writ which We have bestowed from on high, a blesses one: follow it, then, and be conscious of God, so that you might be graced with His mercy.

Pickthall And this is a blessed Scripture which We have revealed. So follow it and ward off (evil), that ye may find mercy.

Transliteration Wa ha_za_ kitabun anzalna_hu muba_rakun fattabi'u_hu wattaqu_ la'allakum turhamu_n(a).

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.]]