God Guides Who Wills to be Guided

22. Sura al-Hajj

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَكَذَلِكَ أَنزَلْنَاهُ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ...  

22: 16.  Thus have We sent down Clear Signs;

C2787. Instead of plotting against Allah's Messenger, the unbelievers should observe the Clear Signs which he has brought, and obey and follow the Guidance which comes from Allah according to the Laws which He has fixed by His holy Will and Plan.

...وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يُرِيدُ ﴿١٦﴾

and verily Allah doth guide whom He will!

Other Versions:

22: 16

Arabic Source and Roman Transliteration Arabic   وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَاهُ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يُرِيدُ &#x21E8 Transliteration   Wakathalika anzalnahu ayatin bayyinatin waanna Allaha yahdee man yureedu &#x21E8

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning Muhammad Asad   And thus have We bestowed from on high this [divine writ] in the shape of clear messages: for [thus it is] that God guides him who wills [to be guided]. &#x21E8 M. M. Pickthall   Thus We reveal it as plain revelations, and verily Allah guideth whom He will. &#x21E8 Shakir   And thus have We revealed it, being clear arguments, and because Allah guides whom He intends. &#x21E8 Yusuf Ali   Thus have We sent down Clear Signs; and verily Allah doth guide whom He will! &#x21E8 Wahiduddin Khan   We have sent down the Quran as clear evidence, and surely God guides whom He will. &#x21E8 [Al-Muntakhab]   Thus did We reveal it -the Quran- embodying clear and plain revelations guiding out of darkness and superstition of later times and out of want of spiritual and intellectual sight into illumination and enlightenment; Allah does indeed guide whom He will. &#x21E8 [Progressive Muslims]   And as such, We have sent down clear revelations, and God guides whomever He wishes.

[[Asad’s note - 17 Or: "God guides aright whomever He wills". For an explanation of the rendering adopted by me, see note 4 on 14:4.

18 See surah 2, note 49. ]]

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24. Sura an-Nur

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَابَّةٍ مِن مَّاء...

24: 45. And Allah has created every animal from water:

C3021. Cf. 21:30, n. 2691.

Protoplasm is the basis of all living matter, and "the vital power of protoplasm seems to depend on the constant presence of water".

...فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَى بَطْنِهِ...

of them there are some that creep on their bellies;

...وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَى رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَى أَرْبَعٍ...

some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four.

C3022. The creeping things include worms and lowly forms of animal life as well as reptiles (like snakes), centipedes, spiders, and insects. Where these have legs they are small, and the description of creeping or crawling is more applicable to them than that of walking.

Fishes and sea-animals generally cannot be said to walk: their swimming is like "creeping on their bellies".

Two-legged animals include birds and man.

Most of the mammals walk on four legs. This includes the whole of the animal world.

...يَخْلُقُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاء...

Allah creates what He wills:

C3023. In Allah's Will and Plan, the variety of forms and habits among animals is adapted to their various modes of life and stages of biological evolution.

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٤٥﴾

for verily Allah has power over all things.

لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَا آيَاتٍ مُّبَيِّنَاتٍ...

24: 46. We have indeed sent down Signs that make things manifest:

...وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٤٦﴾

and Allah guides whom He wills to a way that is straight.

Other Versions:

24:45