14. Surah Ibrahim

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِي اللّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...   

14: 10.  Their Messengers said:

"Is there a doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth?

...يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَـمًّى...

It is He Who invites you, in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!"

C1885. The Prophets (generally) clear both kinds of doubt.

"You cannot doubt the existence of Allah! Behold His works! We are not speaking for ourselves or deceiving you. We speak according to the Message of inspiration from Allah."

Notice that the doubters had said to the Prophets, -Ye invite us.- The Prophets say: "It is Allah Who invites you, and He does it to save you by His grace, and give you plenty of time (but not indefinite time) for penitence and amendment."

...قَالُواْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا...

They said:

"Ah! ye are no more than human, like ourselves!

...تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَآؤُنَا... ...

Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship:

...فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿١٠﴾

then bring us some clear authority."

C1886. Infidelity is illogical and argues in a circle.

If the Prophet speaks of Allah, the Unbeliever says, "You are only a man!"

"But I speak from Allah!"

"Oh well! our ancestral ways of worship are good enough for us!"

"What if they are wrong?"

"What authority have you for saying so?"

"The highest authority, that from Allah!"

And so we come back full circle! Then the wicked rely on violence, but it recoils on them, and they perish.

Other Versions:

14: 10

Pickthall Their messengers said: Can there be doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calleth you that He may forgive you your sins and reprieve you unto an appointed term. They said: Ye are but mortals like us, who would fain turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring some clear warrant.

Yuksel Their messengers said, "Is there doubt regarding God, the initiator of the heavens and the earth? He invites you so that He may forgive some of your sins, and grant you until a predetermined time." They said, "You are but humans like us, you wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to serve. So come to us with clear authority."

Transliteration Qa_lat rusuluhum afailla_hi syakkun fa_tiris sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), yad'u_kum liyagfira lakum min zunu_bikum wa yu'akhkhirakum ila_ ajalim musamma_(n), qa_lu_ in antum illa_ basyarum misluna_, turidu_na an tasuddu_na_ 'amma_ ka_na yanbudu a_ba_'una_ fa'tu_na_ bi sulta_nim mubin(in).