32. As-Sajdah (Prostration), 30 verses

Mecca Period 75

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ ...

32:23. We did indeed aforetime give the Book to Moses:

C3656. "The Book" is not here coextensive with Revelation. Moses had, revealed to him, a Law, a Shariah, which was to guide his people in all the practical affairs of their life.

Jesus, after him, was also inspired by Allah: but his Injil or Gospel contained only general principles and not a Code or Shariah.

The holy Prophet was the next one to have a Shariah or "Book" in that sense: for the Quran contains both a Code and general principles.

This Surah is a Makkan Surah. The Code came later in Madinah. But he is given the assurance that he will also have a Code, to supersede the earlier Law, and complete the Revelation of Allah.

... فَلَا تَكُن فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَائِهِ...

be not then in doubt of its reaching (thee):

C3657. "Its reaching (thee)": liqaihi. Commentators differ as to the construction of the pronoun hi, which may be translated either "its" or "his".

I construe it to refer to "the Book", as that gives the most natural meaning, as explained in the last note.

...وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ﴿٢٣﴾

and We made it a guide to the Children of Israel.

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا...

32: 24. And We appointed, from among them, Leaders, giving guidance under Our command, so long as they persevered with patience

C3658. The series of Judges, Prophets, and Kings in Israel continued to give good guidance, in accordance with Allah's Law, as long as the people continued in Faith and Constancy (persevering patience).

When that condition ceased, Allah's grace was withdrawn, and the people broke up into wrangling sects and practically suffered national annihilation.

...وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾

and continued to have faith in Our Signs.

Asad’s version:

32:23 AND, INDEED, [O Muhammad,] We did vouchsafe revelation unto Moses [as well]: so be not in doubt of [thy] having met with the same [truth in the revelation vouchsafed to thee). 18 And [just as] We caused that [earlier revelation] to be a guidance for the children of Israel,

(32:24) and [as] We raised among them leaders who, so long as they bore themselves with patience and had sure faith in Our messages, guided [their people] in accordance with Our behest" - [so, too, shall it be with the divine writ revealed unto thee, O Muhammad.] 20