2. [al-Baqarah, Mecca 87 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ ...

2: 28. How can ye reject the faith in Allah?

C46. In the preceding verses Allah has used various arguments.

- He has recalled His goodness (2:21-22);

- resolved doubts (2:23);

- plainly set forth the penalty of wrong-doing (2:24);

- given glad tidings (2:25);

- shown how misunderstandings arise from a deliberate rejection of the light and breach of the Covenant (2:26-27).

Now (2:28-29) He pleads with His creatures and appeals to their own subjective feelings.

- He brought you into being.

- The mysteries of life and death are in His hands.

- When you die on this earth, that is not the end. You were of Him, and you must return to Him.

- Look around you and realize your own dignity; it is from Him.

The immeasurable depths of space above and around you may stagger you. They are part of His plan. What you have imagined as the seven firmaments (and any other scheme you may construct) bears witness to His design of order and perfection, for His knowledge (unlike yours) is all- comprehending.

And yet will you deliberately reject or obscure or deaden the faculty of Faith which has been put into you?

... وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتاً فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ...

Seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life;

... ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾

then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return.

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعاً...

2: 29. It is He who hath created for you all things that are on earth;

... ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى إِلَى السَّمَاء فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ...

moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments;

... وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٩﴾

and of all things he hath perfect knowledge.

Other Versions:

2: 28

Asad How can you refuse to acknowledge God, seeing that you were lifeless and He gave you life, and that He will cause you to die and then will bring you again to life, whereupon unto Him you will be brought back?

Pickthall How disbelieve ye in Allah when ye were dead and He gave life to you! Then he will give you death, then life again, and then unto Him ye will return.

Transliteration Kaifa takfuru_na billa_hi wa kuntum amwa_tan fa ahya_kum, summa yumitukum summa yuhyikum summa ilaihi turja'u_n(a).

2: 29

Asad He it is who has created for you all that is on earth, and has applied His design to the heavens and fashioned them into seven heavens; and He alone has full knowledge of everything.

Pickthall He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth. Then turned He to the heaven, and fashioned it as seven heavens. And He is Knower of all things.

Transliteration Huwal lazi khalaqa lakum ma_ fil ardi jami'an summas tawa_ ilas sama_'i fasawwa_hunna sab'a sama_wa_t(in), wa huwa bikulli syai'in 'alim(un).