6. [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قَدْ جَاءكُم بَصَآئِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ...

6: 104. "Now have come to you, from your Lord, proofs to open your eyes:

...فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ عَمِيَ فَعَلَيْهَا...

if any will see, it will be for (the good of) his own soul;

if any will be blind, it will be to his own (harm):

...وَمَا أَنَاْ عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ ﴿١٠٤﴾

I am not (here) to watch over your doings."

C932. I understand "Say" to be understood in the beginning of this verse. The words would then be the words of the Prophet, as in fact is suggested in verse 107 below. That is why I have enclosed them in inverted commas.

وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا أَشْرَكُواْ...

6: 107. If it had been Allah's Plan, they would not have taken false gods:

C935. Allah's Plan is to use the human will to co-operate in understanding Him and His relations to us. This is the answer to an objector who might say: "If He is All-powered, why does sin or evil exist in the world? Can He not destroy it?"

He can, but His Plan is different, and in any case it is not for a Teacher to force any one to accept the truths which he is inspired to preach and proclaim.

...وَمَا جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ ﴿١٠٧﴾

but We made thee not one to watch over their doings,

nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs.

Asad’s version

6: 104

Means of insight have now come unto you from your Sustainer [through this divine writ]. Whosoever, therefore, chooses to see, does so for his own good; and whoever chooses to remain blind, does so to his own hurt. And [say unto the blind of heart]: “I am not your keeper.”

Pickthall Proofs have come unto you from your Lord, so whoso sees, it is for his own good, and whoso is blind is blind to his own hurt. And I am not a keeper over you.

Transliteration Qad ja_'akum basa_'iru mir rabbikum, faman absara fa linafsih(i), wa man 'amiya fa 'alaiha_, wa ma_ ana'alaikum bi hafiz(in).

6: 107

Asad …….hence, We have not made thee their keeper, and neither are you responsible for their conduct.

Pickthall Had Allah is willed, they had not been idolatrous. We have not set thee as a keeper over them, nor art thou responsible for them.

Transliteration Wa lau sya_'alla_hu ma_ asyraku_, wa ma_ ja'alna_ka'alaihim hafiza_(n), wa ma_ anta 'alaihim bi wakil(in).