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

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلاَئِفَ الأَرْضِ...

6: 165.It is He who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth:

C988. Cf. 2:30 and note, where I have translated "Khalifah" as "Vicegerent", it being Allah's Plan to make Adam (as representing mankind) His vicegerent on earth.

In C.1 I have construed the same word by the word "Agent."

Another idea implied in "Khalifah" is that of "successor, heir, or inheritor," i.e., one who has the ultimate ownership after the present possessors, to whom a life-tenancy has been given by the owner, have passed away.

In 15:23 occurs the striking word "heirs" (warithun) as applied to Allah: "We give life and death, and We are the Heirs (of Inheritors)."

The same idea occurs in 3:180, where see n. 485.

The translation here attempts to express both the ideas which I understand from the original.

...وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ...

He hath raised you in ranks, some above others: that he may try you in the gifts He hath given you:

...إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٦٥﴾

for thy Lord is quick in punishment:

yet He is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful

Other Versions:

6: 165

Asad For, He it is who has made you inherit the earth [note 165], and has raised some of you by degrees above others, so that He might try you by means of what He has bestowed upon you [note 166].

Pickthall He it is who hath placed you as viceroys of the earth and hath exalted some of you in rank above others, that He may try you by (the test of) that which He hath given you. Lo! Thy Lord is swift in prosecution, and lo! He is Forgiving, Merciful.

Transliteration Wa huwal lazi ja'alakum khala_'ifal ardi wa rafa'a ba'dakum fauqa ba'din daraja_til liyabluwakum fi ma_ a_ta_kum, inna rabbaka sari'ul 'iqa_b(i), wa innahu_ lagafu_rur rahim(un).

[[Asad’s note 165 – See surah 2, note 94. Note 166 – I.e., by way of character, strength, knowledge, social position, wealth, etc.]]

[[ Ali’s note - 988 Cf. ii. 30 and n. where I have translated "Khalifa" as "Vicegerent", it being god's Plan to make Adam (as representing mankind) His vicegerent on earth. Another idea implied in "Khalifa" is that of "successor, heir, or inheritor," i.e., one who has the ultimate ownership after the present possessors, to whom a life-tenancy has been given by the owner, have passed away. In xv. 23 occurs the striking word "heirs" (warithun) as applied to God: "We give life and death, and We are the Heirs (of Inheritors)." The same idea occurs in iii. 180, where see n. 485. (6.165) ]]