5. [al-Maidah, Medina 112 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَهْلَ
الْكِتَابِ
قَدْ جَاءكُمْ
رَسُولُنَا...
5: 15. O People of the Book!
there hath come to you Our Messenger,
... يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ...
revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary):
... قَدْ جَاءكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٥﴾
There hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book.
C716. Mubin: I wish I could translate by a simpler word than "perspicuous". But "plain" may mean unadorned, the opposite of beautiful, and this Book is among the most beautiful that it is the privilege of mankind to read.
"Clear" would be right as far as it means "unambiguous, self-evident, not involved in mysteries of origin, history, or meaning, one which every one can understand as to the essentials necessary for him, without the intervention of priests or privileged persons".
Mubin has all these meanings, but it suggests, besides, some quality of a shining light, by which we are able to make things clear, to distinguish the true from the false. This I think is suggested better by "perspicuous" than by the word "clear". Besides it is hardly good idiom to speak of "a clear Book."
يَهْدِي
بِهِ اللّهُ
مَنِ اتَّبَعَ
رِضْوَانَهُ
سُبُلَ السَّلاَمِ
...
5: 16. Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety,
... وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنِ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿١٦﴾
and leadeth them out of darkness, by His Will,
unto the light, guideth them to a Path that is Straight.
Other Versions:
5: 15
Asad …………..Now there has come unto you form God a light, and a clear divine writ,
Pickthall O people of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which ye used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. Now hath come unto you light from Allah and a plain Scripture,
Transliteration Ya_ ahlal kita_bi qad ja_'akum rasu_luna_ yubayyinu lakum kasiram mimma_ kuntumtukhfu_na minal kita_bi wa ya'fu_ 'an kasir(in), qad ja_'akum minalla_hi nu_ruw wa kita_bum mubin(uy).
[[ Ali’s note - 716 Mubin: I wish I could translate by a simpler word than "perspicuous". But "plain" may mean unadorned, the opposite of beautiful, and this Book is among the most beautiful that it is the privilege of mankind to read. "Clear" would be right as far as it means "unambiguous, self-evident, not involved in mysteries of origin, history, or meaning, one which every one can understand as to the essentials necessary for him, without the intervention of priests or privileged persons". Mubin has all these meanings, but it suggests, besides, some quality of a shining light, by which we are able to make things clear, to distinguish the true from the false, This I think is suggested better by "perspicuous" than by the word "clear". Besides it is hardly good idiom to speak of "a clear Book." (5.15) ]]
5: 16
Asad through which God shows unto all that seek His goodly acceptance the paths leading to salvation [note 29] and, by His grace, brings them out of the depths of darkness into the light and guides them onto a straight way.
Pickthall Whereby Allah guide him who seek His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bring them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guide them unto a straight path.
Transliteration Yahdi bihilla_hu manittaba'aridwa_nahu_ subulas sala_mi wayukhrijuhum minaz zuluma_tiilan nu_ri bi iznihi wa yahdihim ila_ sira_tim mustaqim(in).
[[ Asad’s note 29 – The word ‘salam’, here rendered as “salvation’, has no proper equivalent in the English language. It denotes inner peace, soundness and security from evil of any kind, both physical and spiritual, and the achievement of what, in Christian terminology, is described as “salvation”: with the difference, however, that the Christian concept of salvation presupposes the existence of an a-priori state of sinfulness, which is justified in Christianity by the doctrine of “original sin”, but is not justified in Islam, which does not subscribe to this doctrine. …………]
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18. [al-Kahf, Mecca 69 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَاصْبِرْ
نَفْسَكَ مَعَ
الَّذِينَ
يَدْعُونَ
رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ
وَالْعَشِيِّ
يُرِيدُونَ
وَجْهَهُ...
18: 28. And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking his Face;
The true servants of Allah are those whose hearts are turned to Him morning, noon, and night, and who seek not worldly gain, but Allah's Grace, Allah's own Self, His Presence and nearness.
Even if they are poor in this world's goods, their society gives far more inward and spiritual satisfaction than worldly grandeur or worldly attractions.
... وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...
and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life;
... وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا...
nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us,
... وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا ﴿٢٨﴾
one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.
C2370. For those who stray from Allah's path, Allah's Grace is ever anxious: it seeks to reclaim them and bring them back to the path.
If such a one resists, and follows his own lusts, a point is reached when his case becomes hopeless. Allah's Grace does not then Teach him, and he is abandoned to his pride and insolence. Beware of following the example or advice of such a one or seeking his society, or hankering after his wretched idols.
Other Versions:
18: 28
Asad And contain yourself in patience by the side of all who at morn and at evening invoke their Sustainer, seeking His countenance, and let not your eyes pass beyond them in quest of the beauties of this world’s life; and pay no heed to any whose heart We have rendered heedless of all remembrance of Us because he had always followed his own desires, abandoning all that is good and true.
Pickthall Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned.
Transliteration Wa-sbir nafsaka ma'al lazina yad'u_na rabbahum bil gada_ti wal 'asyiyyi yurida_na wajhahu_ wa la_ ta'du 'aina_ka 'anhum, turidu zinatal haya_tid dunya_, wa la_ tuti' man agfalna_ qalbahu_ 'an zikrina_ wa-ttaba'a hawa_hu wa ka_na amruhu_ furuta_(n).
[Asad note: 36……see verse 6:52……note 41]]