2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَشْتَرُونَ بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً ...

2: 174. Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit,

... أُولَـئِكَ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ إِلاَّ النَّارَ ...

they swallow into themselves naught but fire;

C175. "They eat nothing but fire into their bellies" is a literal translation that produces an effect of rude inelegance which is not in the Arabic words.

Even in the matter of food and drinks, the mission of Islam is to avoid the extremes of lawlessness on the one hand and extreme formalism on the other. It has laid down a few simply and very reasonable rules. Their infraction causes loss of health or physical powers in any case.

But if there is further a spirit of subjective rebellion or fraud - passing off in the name of religion something which is far from the purpose - the consequences become also moral and spiritual. Then it becomes a sin against Faith and Spirit.

Continuing the physical simile, we actually swallow fire into ourselves. Imagine the torments which we should have if we swallowed fire into our physical body! They would be infinitely worse in our spiritual state, and they would go on to the Day of Resurrection, when we shall be deprived even of the words which the Judge speaks to a reasonable culprit, and we shall certainly not win His Grace and Mercy.

... وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ ...

Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify them;

... وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿١٧٤﴾

grievous will be their penalty.

أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُاْ الضَّلاَلَةَ بِالْهُدَى وَالْعَذَابَ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ...

2: 175. They are the ones who buy error in place of guidance and torment in place of forgiveness.

... فَمَآ أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ ﴿١٧٥﴾

Ah! what boldness (they show) for the Fire!

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللّهَ نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ...

2: 176. (Their doom is) because Allah sent down the Book in truth

... وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُواْ فِي الْكِتَابِ لَفِي شِقَاقٍ بَعِيدٍ ﴿١٧٦﴾

but those who seek causes of dispute in the Book are in a schism far (from the purpose).

C176. From the mere physical regulation we are at once lifted up into the sphere of morals and faith. For the one acts and reacts on the other. If we are constantly carping at wholesome regulations, we shall do nothing but cause division and schisms among the people, and ordered society would tend to break up.

Others version:

2: 174

Asad Verily, as for those who suppress aught of the revelation which [note 140] God as bestowed from on high, and barter it away for a trifling gain-they but fill their bellies with fire. And God will not speak unto them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He cleanse them [of their sins]; and grievous suffering awaits them.

Yusuf Ali Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book and purchase for them a miserable profit they swallow into themselves naught but fire; Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection nor purify them; grievous will be their penalty .

Pickthall Lo! those who hide aught of the Scripture which Allah hath revealed, and purchase a small gain therewith, they eat into their bellies nothing else than fire. Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He make them grow. Theirs will be a painful doom.

Transliteration Innal lazina yaktumu_na ma_ anzalalla_hu minal kita_bi wa yasytaru_na bihi samanan qalila_(n), ula_'ika ma_ ya'kulu_na fi butu_nihim illan na_ra wa la_ yukallimuhumulla_hu yaumal qiya_mati wa la_ yuzakkihim, wa lahum 'aza_bun alim(un).

[Ruby’s note – Here I believe is given a glimpse of what is to occur on the Day of Judgment. God’s communication and interaction on that day is going to be decisive on one’s eternal existence, the existence that would merge with the Ultimate State [ in other places it is mentioned that the final goal of all things is to “RETURN” to God, everything comes back to this “Eternal” Being or Existence. ] All the corruption from the original state must be purified, Because that state is the most Purified STATE. God can expedite that process by forgiving and cleaning on that Day or before here in this life. If He does not then the suffering can be prolonged. My personal belief is that these are the warnings for possible consequences. However, if God’s Forgiveness and Mercy overwhelm His wrath, then it is likely that all may be forgiven at one time or another. Also Warning must be strong in order to be a deterrence, otherwise a “warning” does not serve its purpose. ]

[Ali’s note: 175 "They eat nothing but fire into their bellies" is a literal translation that produces an effect of rude inelegance which is not in the Arabic words. Even in the matter of food and drinks, the mission of Islam is to avoid the extremes of lawlessness on the one hand and extreme formalism on the other. It has laid down a few simple and very reasonable rules. Their infraction causes loss of health or physical powers in any case. But if there is further a spirit of subjective rebellion or fraud - passing off in the name of religion something which is far from the purpose - the consequences become also moral and spiritual. Then it becomes a sin against Faith and Spirit. Continuing the physical simile, we actually swallow fire into ourselves. Imagine the torments which we should have if we swallowed fire into our physical body! They would be infinitely worse in our spiritual state, and they would go on to the Day of Resurrection, when we shall be deprived even of the words which the Judge speaks to a reasonable culprit, and we shall certainly not win His Grace and Mercy. (2.174) ]

[ Asad’s note 140- This term is used here in its generic sense, comprising both the Quran and the earlier revelations. ]

2: 175

Yusuf Ali They are the ones who buy error in place of guidance and torment in place of forgiveness. Ah! what boldness (they show) for the Fire!

Pickthall Those are they who purchase error at the price of guidance, and torment at the price of pardon. How constant are they in their strife to reach the Fire!

Transliteration Ula_'ikal lazinasy tarawud dala_lata bil huda_ wal 'aza_ba bil magfirah(ti), fama_ asbarahum 'alan na_r(i).

2: 176

Yusuf Ali (Their doom is) because Allah sent down the Book in truth but those who seek causes of dispute in the Book are in a schism far (from the purpose).

Pickthall That is because Allah hath revealed the Scripture with the truth. Lo! those who find (a cause of) disagreement in the Scripture are in open schism.

Transliteration Za_lika bi annalla_ha nazzalal kita_ba bil haqq(i), wa innal lazinakh talafu_ fil kita_bi lafi syiqa_qim ba'id(in).

[ Ali’s note - 176 From the mere physical regulation we are at once lifted up into the sphere of morals and faith. For the one acts and reacts on the other. If we are constantly carping at wholesome regulations, we shall do nothing but cause division and schisms among the people, and ordered society would tend to break up. (2.176)]