7. Sura al-Araf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَقَالَ الْمَلأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَونَ...

7: 127. Said the chiefs of Pharaoh's people:

...أَتَذَرُ مُوسَى وَقَوْمَهُ لِيُفْسِدُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَآلِهَتَكَ...

"Wilt thou leave Moses and his people, to spread mischief in the land, and to abandon thee and thy gods?"

...قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَاءهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْيِـي نِسَاءهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَاهِرُونَ ﴿١٢٧﴾

He said:

"Their male children will we slay; (only) their females will we save alive;

and we have over them (power) irresistible."

C1084. Pharaoh's order against the sorcerers was drastic enough. But his Council is not satisfied.

What about Moses and the Israelites?

They had a seeming victory, and will now be more mischievous than ever. They appeal to Pharaoh's vanity and his superstition and sense of power. "If you leave them alone." they say, "where will be your authority? You and your gods will be defied!"

Pharaoh has a ready answer. He was really inwardly cowed by the apparent power of Moses. He dared not openly act against him. But he had already, before the birth of Moses, passed a cunning order to destroy the whole people of Israel. Through the instrumentality of midwives (Exod. 1:15-16) all the male children were to be destroyed. and the females would then be for the Egyptians: the race of Israel would thus be at an end. This order was still in force, and would remain in force until the despised race was absorbed.

But Egyptian cunning and wickedness had no power against Allah's Plan for those who had faith.

See verse 129 below.

قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ اسْتَعِينُوا بِاللّهِ وَاصْبِرُواْ...

7: 128. Said Moses to his people:

"Pray for help from Allah, and (wait) in patience and constancy:

... إِنَّ الأَرْضَ لِلّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ...

for the earth is Allah's to give as a heritage to such of his servants as He pleaseth;

...وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٢٨﴾

and the end is (best) for the righteous.

C1085. Notice the contrast between the arrogant tone of Pharaoh and the humility and faith taught by Moses.

In the end the arrogance was humbled, and humility and faith were protected and advanced.

Other versions:

7: 127

Yusuf Ali Said the chiefs of Pharaoh's people: "will you leave Moses and his people to spread mischief in the land and to abandon thee and thy gods?" He said: "Their male children will we slay; (only) their females will we save alive; and we have over them (power) irresistible."

Pickthall The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said: (O King), wilt thou suffer Moses and his people to make mischief in the land, and flout thee and thy gods? He said: We will slay their sons and spare their women, for lo! we are in power over them.

Transliteration Wa qa_lal mala'u min qaumi fir'auna atazaru mu_sa_ wa qaumahu_ liyufsidu_ fil ardi wa yazaraka wa a_lihatak(a), qa_la sanuqattilu abna_'ahum wa nastahyi nisa_'ahum, wa inna_ fauqahum qa_hiru_n(a).

7: 128

Asad …..”Turn unto God for aid, and have patience in adversity. Verily, all the earth belongs to God: He gives it as a heritage to such as He wills of His servants; and the future belongs to the God-consciousness!”

Yusuf Ali Said Moses to his people: "Pray for help from Allah and (wait) in patience and constancy: for the earth is Allah's to give as a heritage to such of his servants as He pleaseth; and the end is (best) for the righteous.

Pickthall And Moses said unto his people: Seek help in Allah and endure. Lo! the earth is Allah's. He giveth it for an inheritance to whom He will. And lo! the sequel is for those who keep their duty (unto Him).

Transliteration Qa_la mu_sa_ li qaumihista'inu_ billa_hi wasbiru_, innal arda lilla_h(i), yu_risuha_ may yasya_'u min 'iba_dih(i), wal'a_qibatu lil muttaqin(a).

14. Surah Ibrahim

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّـكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَا...   

14: 13.  And the Unbelievers said to their Messengers:

"Be sure we shall drive you out of our land, or ye shall return to our religion."

C1887. The arguments in a circle were explained in the last note. But Infidelity looks upon argument merely as an amusement. Its chief weapon is physical force.

As its only belief is in materialism, it thinks that threats of force will put down the righteous. It offers the choice between exile and violence against conformity to its own standards of evil, which it thinks to be good.

But Faith is not to be cowed down by Force. Its source of strength is Allah, and it receives the assurance that violence will perish ultimately by violence, and that Faith and Good must stand and be established. In fact the good must inherit the earth and the evil ones be blotted out.

...فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٣﴾  

But their Lord inspired (this Message) to them:

"Verily We shall cause the wrongdoers to perish!

وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّـكُمُ الأَرْضَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ...   

14: 14.  "And verily We shall cause you to abide in the land, and succeed them.

...ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِي ...

This for such as fear the time when they shall stand before My tribunal --

C1888. "Fear" means here "have present before their minds something which should cause fear, so that they should shape their conduct in order to avoid the ill consequences of wickedness."

... وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ ﴿١٤﴾

such as fear the punishment denounced."

وَاسْتَفْتَحُواْ ...

14: 15.  But they sought victory and decision (there and then),

C1889. Cf. 8:19.

1 have assumed that "they" in this verse is the same as "them" in the preceding verse, i.e., the ungodly.

Hoping for victory they forced a decision, and they got it-against themselves.

Or they challenged a punishment, and it came in good time.

Some Commentators construe "they" here to mean "the Prophets": in that case the verse would mean:

"The Prophets prayed for a victory and decision, and the ungodly were frustrated in their efforts to suppress the Truth."

... وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ ﴿١٥﴾

and frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor.

C1890. Cf. 11:59.

Other versions:

14: 13

Yusuf Ali And the Unbelievers said to their apostles: "Be sure we shall drive you out of our land or ye shall return to our religion." But their Lord inspired (this Message) to them: "Verily We shall cause the wrongdoers to perish!

Pickthall And those who disbelieved said unto their messengers: Verily we will drive you out from our land, unless ye return to our religion. Then their Lord inspired them, (saying): Verily We shall destroy the wrong-doers,

Yuksel Those who rejected said to their messengers: "We will drive you out of our land, or you will return to our creed." It was then that their Lord inspired to them: "We will destroy the wicked."

Transliteration Wa qa_lal lazina kafaru_ li rusulihim lanukhrijannakum min ardina_ au lata'u_dunna fi millatina_, fa auha_ ilaihim rabbuhum lanuhlikannaz za_limin(a).

14: 14

Yusuf Ali "And verily We shall cause you to abide in the land and succeed them. This for such as fear the time when they shall stand before My tribunal such as fear the punishment denounced."

Pickthall And verily We shall make you to dwell in the land after them. This is for him who feareth My Majesty and feareth My threats.

Yuksel "We will let you reside in the land after them. That is for those who fear My majesty and fear My threat."

Transliteration Wa lanuskinannakumul arda mim ba'dihim, za_lika liman kha_fa maqa_mi wa kha_fa wa'id(i).

14: 15

Yusuf Ali But they sought victory and decision (there and then) and frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor.

Pickthall And they sought help (from their Lord) and every froward potentate was brought to naught;

Yuksel They sought victory, and every arrogant tyrant was then failed.

Transliteration Wa-staftahu_ wa kha_ba kullu jabba_rin 'anid(im),

=============================================================