Sura al-Baqara [early Medina]
2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَالُواْ
لَن يَدْخُلَ
الْجَنَّةَ
إِلاَّ مَن
كَانَ هُوداً
أَوْ نَصَارَى...
2: 111. And they say: "None shall enter paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian."
... تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ ...
Those are their (vain) desires.
... قُلْ هَاتُواْ بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿١١١﴾
Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful."
بَلَى
مَنْ أَسْلَمَ
وَجْهَهُ لِلّهِ
وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ
فَلَهُ أَجْرُهُ
عِندَ رَبِّهِ
...
2: 112. Nay, whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good, he will get his reward with his Lord;
C114. The word translated "self" is Wajh, a comprehensive Arabic word. It means;
1. literally "face" but it may imply;
2. countenance or favour, as in 92:20;
3. honour, glory, Presence as applied to Allah, as in 2:115 and perhaps also in 55:27;
4. cause, sake ("for the sake of") as in 76:9;
5. the first part, the beginning as in 3:72;
6. nature, inner being, essence, self, as in 28:88, and perhaps also in 55:27.
Here I understand meaning 6; the face expresses the personality or the whole inner self of man. (R).
... وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿١١٢﴾
on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
C115. This phrase comes in aptly in its own context many times.
In this Surah it occurs in 11. 38, 62, 112, 262, 274, and 277. (R).
Other versions:
2: 111
Asad And they claim, “None shall ever enter paradise unless he be a Jew” – or, “a Christian”. Such are their wishful beliefs! Say: “Produce an evidence for what you are claiming, if what you say is true!”
Yusuf Ali And they say: "None shall enter paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." Those are their (vain) desires. Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful."
Pickthall And they say: None entereth Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian. These are their own desires. Say: Bring your proof (of what ye state) if ye are truthful.
Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ lay yadkhulal jannata illa_ man ka_na hu_dan au nasa_ra_, tilka ama_niyyuhum, qul ha_tu_ burha_nakum in kuntum sa_diqin(a).
[ Ruby’s note: This and the following verse clearly allude that it is blasphemous to think exclusivity with God on the basis of brand of faith, a group based on race, idea or any other means. The brand of faith would not absolve one from the responsibility of his/her wrong actions. The only criteria, the Quran asserts, to be successful is laid down in the next verse: SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD, and doing good things in this life. These should be sought in pursuing this life, rather than feeling comfortable and clannish in the membership of a brand of faith or elite group.]
2: 112 Sura al-Baqara [early Medina]
Asad …shall have his reward with his Sustainer; and all such need have no fear, and neither shall they grieve [note 91 & 92].
Yusuf Ali Nay whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good he will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.
Pickthall Nay, but whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good, his reward is with his Lord; and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
Bala_ man aslama wajhahu_ lilla_hi wa huwa muhsinun falahu_ ajruhu_ 'inda rabbih(i), wa la_ khaufun 'alaihim wa la_ hum yahzanu_n(a).
[Ruby’s note: Often the Quran has given the universal symptoms of truly righteous people: people of no fear and no grief, here and Hereafter. It is not that a righteous person would not have any grief or fear at all, but these are temporary and they overcome with the trust and submission to the Will of God. And again the Quran is expounding that righteous people can come from any brand of faith, there is no exclusivity of that in relation to a brand of faith or race or nation. ]
[Ali’s notes: 114 The word translated "self" is Wajh, a comprehensive Arabic word. It means (1) literally "face" but it may imply (2) countenance or favour, as in xcii. 20; (3) honour, glory, Presence as applied to God, as in ii. 115 and perhaps also in lv. 27; (4) cause, sake ("for the sake of") as in lxxvi 8; (5) the first part, the beginning as in iii. 71; (6) nature, inner being, essence, self, as in v. 111, xxviii 88, and perhaps also in lv. 27. Here I understand meaning 6; the face expresses the personality or the whole inner self of man. (2.112)
115 This phrase comes in aptly in its own context many times. In this Sura it occurs in 11, 38, 62, 112, 262, 274, and 277. It serves the same purpose as a refrain in a very well-arranged song, or a motif in Wagner's powerful music. (2.112)]
[Asad’s notes 91 & 92 - …………and it is in this sense that the terms “islam” and “muslim” are used throughout the Quran (see note on 68:35, where the expression ‘muslim’ occurs for the first time in the chronological order of revelation.)
Thus, according to the Quran, salvation is not reserved for any particular “denomination”, but is open to everyone who consciously realizes the oneness of God, surrender himself to His will and, by living righteously, gives practical effect to this spiritual attitude.]
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