15. Surah Al Hijr
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
15:1. Alif Lam Ra.
C1932. For these mystic letters, see Introduction to Surah 10.
...تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ ...
These are the Ayats of Revelation --
... 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).
[[ Yuksel note-
016:044 The Arabic word BaYaNa means (1) explain an ambiguous message; or (2) declare a hidden message. This multiple-meaning verse is one of the most abused verses by the followers of hadith hearsay. They choose the first meaning. Their rendering, however, contradicts many verses of the Quran: the Quran is explained not by Muhammad, but by its author, God Himself (75:19). Thus it is described as a "clarified/explained book" (5:15; 12:1; 26:195; 44:6), and we are reminded over and over that it is "easy to understand" (54:17,22,32,40). Thus, the second alternative is the intended meaning, since the Quran was received by Muhammad in a private session called revelation, and his job was to deliver and declare the message he received. God orders Muhammad to proclaim the revelation which is revealed to him personally. Indeed, this is the whole mission of the messengers (16:35). Thus, the word "litubayyena" of 16:44 is similar to the one in 3:187. Verse 3:187 tells us that the people who received the revelation should "proclaim the scripture to the people, and never conceal it." See 2:159,160; 3:187 and 16:64. For a comparative discussion on verse 16:44, see the Sample Comparisons section in the Introduction.
The Quran is simple to understand (54:11). Whoever opens his/her mind and heart as a monotheist and takes the time to study it, will understand it. This understanding will be enough for salvation. Beyond this, to understand the multiple-meaning verses you do not need to be a messenger of God. If you have a good mind and have studied the Quran as a believer, that is, if you have a deep knowledge, then you will be able to understand the true meanings of multiple-meaning verses. The verse 3:7, which is about the multiple-meaning verses, points this fact in a multiple-meaning way (this is an interesting subject which warrants another article): ". . . No one knows their true meaning except God and those who possess knowledge. . ." ]]
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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﴾
26:2. These are Verses of the Book that makes (things) clear.
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. ]]
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27. An-Naml (The Ants)
Mecca Period 48
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
طس...
27: 1. Ta Sin.
C3240. See 3137 to 26:1.
... تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْقُرْآنِ وَكِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿١﴾
These are verses of the Qur'án -- a Book that makes (things) clear;
هُدًى
وَبُشْرَى
لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
﴿٢﴾
27:2.A Guide; and Glad Tidings for the Believers --
C3241. Revelation is here presented in three aspects:
1. it explains things, the attributes of Allah, our own position, and the world around;
2. it directs us to right conduct and keeps us from evil; and
3. to those who have Faith and accept its guidance, it gives the good news of forgiveness, purification, and the achievement of salvation. (R).
الَّذِينَ
يُقِيمُونَ
الصَّلَاةَ
وَيُؤْتُونَ
الزَّكَاةَ...
27: 3. Those who establish regular prayers and give in regular charity,
... وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٣﴾
and also have (full) assurance of the Hereafter.
Asad’s Version:
27:1 [Asad] Ta. Sin. 1 THESE ARE MESSAGES of the Qur'an - a divine writ clear in itself and clearly showing the truth: 2 (27:2) a guidance and a glad tiding to the believers (27:3) who are constant in prayer and spend in charity: 5 for it is they, they who in their innermost are certain of the life to come!
[[ Asad’s notes - 1 See Appendix II.
2 For an explanation of this composite rendering of the adjective mubin, see note 2 on 12:1. In the present instance, the term kitab ("divine writ") is preceded by the conjunction wa, which primarily signifies "and", but in this case has a function more or less similar to the expression "namely"; hence, it may be replaced in translation by a dash without affecting the meaning of the sentence.
3 This is obviously the meaning of the term zakah in the above context, since at the time of the revelation of this surah it had not yet received its later, specific connotation of a tax incumbent upon Muslims (cf surah 2, note 34). ]]