34. Surah Saba

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ إِن ضَلَلْتُ فَإِنَّمَا أَضِلُّ عَلَى نَفْسِي...

34:50. Say:

"If I am astray, I only stray to the loss of my own soul:

...وَإِنِ اهْتَدَيْتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِي إِلَيَّ رَبِّي...

but if I receive guidance, it is because of the inspiration of my Lord to me:

Asad’s Version:

(34:50) Say: "Were I to go astray, I would but go astray [due to my own self, and] to the hurt of myself; 62 but if I am on the right path, it is but by virtue of what my Sustainer reveals unto me: for, verily, He is all-hearing, ever-near!"

[[ Asad’s note

62 According to Zamakhshari, the idea expressed by the interpolated words "due to my own self" is implied in the above, inasmuch as "everything that goes against [the spiritual interests of] oneself is caused by oneself". (See note 4 on 14:4.) ]]