2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ فَأْذَنُواْ بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ...

2: 279. If ye do it not, take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger:

C328. This is not war for opinions, but an ultimatum of war for the liberation of debtors unjustly dealt with and oppressed.

... وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُؤُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لاَ تَظْلِمُونَ وَلاَ تُظْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٧٩﴾

but if ye turn back, ye shall have your capital sums; deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.

وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ ...

2: 280. If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time till it is easy for him to repay.

... وَأَن تَصَدَّقُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٨٠﴾

But if ye remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if ye only knew.

وَاتَّقُواْ يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى اللّهِ ...

2: 281. And fear the day when ye shall be brought back to Allah.

... ثُمَّ تُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٨١﴾

Then shall every soul be paid what it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly.

Others version:

2: 279

Yusuf Ali If ye do it not take notice of war from Allah and his Apostle: but if ye turn back ye shall have your capital sums; deal not unjustly and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.

Pickthall And if ye do not, then be warned of war (against you) from Allah and His messenger. And if ye repent, then ye have your principal (without interest). Wrong not, and ye shall not be wronged.

Transliteration Fa illam taf'alu_ fa'zanu_ bi harbim minalla_hi wa rasu_lih(i), wa in tubtum fa lakum ru'u_su amwa_likum, la_ tazlimu_na wa la_ tuzlamu_n(a)

2: 280

Yusuf Ali If the debtor is in a difficulty grant him time till it is easy for him to repay. But if ye remit if by way of charity that is best for you if ye only knew.

Pickthall And if the debtor is in straitened circumstances, then (let there be) postponement to (the time of) ease; and that ye remit the debt as almsgiving would be better for you if ye did but know.

Transliteration Wa in ka_na zu_ 'usratin fanaziratun ila_ maisarah(tin), wa an tasaddaqu_ khairul lakum in kuntum ta'lamu_n(a).

2: 281

Yusuf Ali And fear the day when ye shall be brought back to Allah. Then shall every soul be paid what it earned and none shall be dealt with unjustly.

Pickthall And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged.

Wattaqu_ yauman turja'u_ fihi ilalla_h(i), summa tuwaffa_ kullu nafsim ma_ kasabat wa hum la_ yuzlamu_n(a).

3. Sura al-Imran

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ...

3: 23. Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who have been given a portion of the Book?

C366. A portion of the Book: I conceive that Allah's revelation as a whole throughout the ages is "The Book".

The Law of Moses, and the Gospel of Jesus were portions of the Book. The Quran completes the revelation and is par excellence the Book of Allah.

...يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللّهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّى فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾

They are invited to the Book of Allah, to settle their dispute, but a party of them turn back and decline (the arbitration).

C367. The Commentators mention a particular incident when a dispute was submitted by the Jews for arbitration to the Holy Prophet. He appealed to the authority of their own books, but they tried to conceal and prevaricate.

The general lesson is that the People of the Book should have been the first to welcome in Muhammad the living exponent of the Message of Allah as a whole, and some of them did so: but others turned away from guilty arrogance, relying on corrupted texts and doctrines forged out of their own fancies, though they were not conformable to reason and good sense.

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ لَن تَمَسَّنَا النَّارُ إِلاَّ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ...

3: 24. This because they say: "The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days;"

C368. Cf. 2:80.

...وَغَرَّهُمْ فِي دِينِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾

for their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion.

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جَمَعْنَاهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ لاَّ رَيْبَ فِيهِ...

3: 25. But how (will they fare) when We gather them together against a day about which there is no doubt,

...وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٥﴾

and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned, without (favor or injustice)?

قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ...

3: 26. Say:

"O Allah! Lord of Power (and Rule),

...تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاء وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاء...

thou givest Power to whom Thou pleasest, and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest,

...وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاء وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاء...

thou enduest with honor whom thou pleasest, and thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest;

...بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ ...

in Thy hand is all Good.

C369. Another glorious passage, full of meaning. The governing phrase in it all is: "In Thy hand is all Good."

What is the standard by which we may judge Good?

It is Allah's Will. Therefore when we submit to Allah's Will, and real Islam illuminates us, we see the highest Good.

There has been and is much controversy as to what is the Highest Good.

To the Muslim there is no difficulty: it is the Will of Allah. He must ever strive to learn and understand that Will. But once in that fortress, he is secure. He is not troubled with the nature of Evil.

... إِنَّكَ عَلَىَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٢٦﴾

Verily, over all things thou hast power.

Others version:

3: 23

Yusuf Ali Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who have been given a portion of the Book? They are invited to the Book of Allah to settle their dispute but a party of them turn back and decline (the arbitration).

Pickthall Hast thou not seen how those who have received the Scripture invoke the Scripture of Allah (in their disputes) that it may judge between them; then a faction of them turn away, being opposed (to it)?

Transliteration Alam tara ilal lazina u_tu_ nasibam minal kita_bi yad'u_na ila_ kita_billa_hi liyahkuma bainahum summa yatawalla_ fariqum minhum wa hum mu'ridu_n(a).

[ Ali’s notes - 366 A portion of the Book. I conceive that Allah's revelation as a whole throughout the ages is "The Book". The Law of Moses, and the Gospel of Jesus were portions of the Book. The Qur-an completes the revelation and is par excellence the Book of Allah. (3.23)

367 The Commentators mention a particular incident when a dispute was submitted by the Jews for arbitration to the Holy Prophet. He appealed to the authority of their own books, but they tried to conceal and prevaricate. The general lesson is that the People of the Book should have been the first to welcome in Muhammad the living exponent of the Message of Allah as a whole, and some of them did so: but others turned away from guilty arrogance, relying on corrupted texts and doctrines forged out of their own fancies, though they were not conformable to reason and good sense. (3.23)

368 Cf. Q. ii. 80. (3.24)

368 Cf. Q. ii. 80. (3.26) ]

3: 24

Yusuf Ali This because they say: "The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days"; for their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion.

Pickthall That is because they say: The Fire will not touch us save for a certain number of days. That which they used to invent hath deceived them regarding their religion.

Transliteration Za_lika bi annahum qa_lu_ lan tamassanan na_ru illa_ ayya_mam ma'du_da_t(in), wa garrahum fi dinihim ma_ ka_nu_ yaftaru_n(a).

3: 25

Yusuf Ali But how (will they fare) when We gather them together against a day about which there is no doubt and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned without (favor or injustice)?

Pickthall How (will it be with them) when We have brought them all together to a Day of which there is no doubt, when every soul will be paid in full what it hath earned, and they will not be wronged.

Transliteration Fa kaifa iza_ jama'na_hum li yaumil la_ raiba fih(i), wa wuffiyat kullu nafsim ma_ kasabat wa hum la_ yuzlamu_n(a).

3: 26

Yusuf Ali Say: "O Allah! Lord of Power (and Rule) thou givest Power to whom Thou pleasest and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest thou enduest with honor whom thou pleasest and thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest; in Thy hand is all Good. Verily over all things thou hast power.

Pickthall Say: O Allah! Owner of Sovereignty! Thou givest sovereignty unto whom Thou wilt, and Thou withdrawest sovereignty from whom Thou wilt. Thou exaltest whom Thou wilt and Thou abasest whom Thou wilt. In Thy hand is the good. Lo! Thou art Able to do all things.

Transliteration Qulilla_humma ma_likal mulki tu'til mulka man tasya_'u wa tanzi'ul mulka mimman tasya_'(u), wa tu'izzu man tasya_'u wa tuzillu man tasya_'(u),biyadikal khair(u), innaka 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).

14. Surah Ibrahim

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُل لِّعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ ...

14: 31.  Speak to My servants who have believed, that they may establish regular prayers,

C1905. Putting ourselves back in the position in which the Muslim community found themselves in Makkah just before the Hijrah, we can imagine how much encouragement and consolation they needed from the preaching, the Faith, and the steadfast character of Al-Mustafa.

Intolerant persecution was the order of the day; neither the life nor the property or reputation of the Muslims was safe. They are asked to find strength and tranquility in prayer and in helping each other according to their needs and resources.

... وَيُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلانِيَةً... 

and spend (in charity) out of the Sustenance We have given them, secretly and openly,

C1906. Here, as elsewhere, "Sustenance" is to be taken in the literal as well as the metaphorical sense.

There were many among the Muslims who were poor, or slaves, or depressed, because they were deprived of the means of livelihood on account of their Faith. They were to be fed, clothed, and sheltered, by those who had means.

Charity was to be ordinarily secret, so as to cut out all show or parade, and perhaps also lest the enemy should dry up those sources by unprincipled violence; but there must be much that had to be open and organized, so that all the needy could know where to go to be relieved.

...مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لاَّ بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلاَ خِلاَلٌ ﴿٣١﴾

before the coming of a Day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining, nor befriending.

C1907. The great Day of Reckoning would be one on which all values would be changed. Wealth, as understood in this world, would no longer count.

Should we not therefore use any wealth we have in this life, to give here and receive there?

Bai includes all bargaining, -barter, purchase and sale, etc.

In this world, where wealth has some value, let us spend it and get for ourselves "treasures in heaven."

In the next life each man will stand on his merits and personal responsibility. One man cannot help another. Let us here help each other to become true and righteous, so that our personal account may be favourable there.

رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ...   

14: 37.  "O our Lord!

I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by thy Sacred House;

C1914. The Makkan valley is enclosed by hills on all sides, unlike Madinah, which has level cultivated plains. But just because of its natural isolation, it is fitted to be a centre for Prayer and Praise.

...رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ...

in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular prayer:

so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them,

...وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ ...

and feed them with Fruits:

C1915. Cf. 2:126, and n. 128. (The "Fruits" are there explained).

The righteous, though they have to have sustenance, both in a literal and figurative sense, require also the love and sympathy of their fellow-men.

... لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾

so that they may give thanks.

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي...   

14: 40.  "O my Lord!

make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring,

C1918. Abraham prays for both branches of his family, having a wider vision than some of the later Children of Israel.

...رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء ﴿٤٠﴾

O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.

Others version:

14: 31

Yusuf Ali Speak to My servants who have believed that they may establish regular prayers and spend (in charity) out of the Sustenance We have given them secretly and openly before the coming of a Day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.

Pickthall Tell My bondmen who believe to establish worship and spend of that which We have given them, secretly and publicly, before a day cometh wherein there will be neither traffic nor befriending.

Transliteration Qul li'iba_diyal lazina a_manu_ yuqimus sala_ta wa yunfiqu_ mimma_ razaqna_hum sirraw wa'ala_niyatam min qabli ay ya'tiya yaumul la_ bai'un fihi wa la_ khila_l(un).

14: 37

Asad “O our sustainer! Behold, I have settled some of my offspring in a valley in which there is no arable land, close to Thy sanctified Temple, so that, Our Sustainer, they might devote themselves to prayer: cause Thou, therefore, people’s hearts to incline towards them, and grant them fruitful sustenance, so that they might have cause to be grateful.

Yusuf Ali "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation by thy Sacred House; in order O our Lord that they may establish regular prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them and feed them with Fruits: so that they may give thanks.

Pickthall Our Lord! Lo! I have settled some of my posterity in an uncultivable valley near unto Thy holy House, our Lord! that they may establish proper worship; so incline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward them, and provide Thou them with fruits in order that they may be thankful.

Transliteration Rabbana_ inni askantu min zurriyyati bi wa_din gairi zi zar'in 'inda baitikal muharram(i), rabbana_ liyuqimus sala_ta fa-j'al af'idatam minan na_si tahwi ilaihim wa-rzuqhum minas samara_ti la'allahum yasykuru_n(a).

[Ali’s note: 1914 The Makkan valley is enclosed by hills on all sides, unlike Madinah, which has level cultivated plains. But just because of its natural isolation, it is fitted to be a centre for Prayer and Praise. (14.37)

1915 Cf. ii. 126, and n. 128. (The "Fruits" are there explained). The righteous, though they have to have sustenance, both in a literal and figurative sense, require also the love and sympathy of their fellow-men. (14.37) ]

14: 40

Yusuf Ali "O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.

Pickthall My Lord! Make me to establish proper worship, and some of my posterity (also); our Lord! and accept the prayer.

Transliteration Rabbi-j'alni muqimas sala_ti wa min zurriyyati, rabbana_ wa taqabbal du'a_'(i).

19. Surah Maryam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَاخْتَلَفَ الْأَحْزَابُ مِن بَيْنِهِمْ...   

19: 37.  But the sects differ among themselves:

...فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن مَّشْهَدِ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٣٧﴾

and woe to the Unbelievers because of the (coming) Judgment of a momentous Day!

C2489. Judgment. the word in the original is Mash-had, which implies many things:

-        the time or place where evidence is taken, as in a Court of Judgment;

-        the time or place where people are produced (to be judged); and

-        the occasion for such production for the taking of evidence.

A very expressive phrase for the Day of Judgment.

أَسْمِعْ بِهِمْ وَأَبْصِرْ يَوْمَ يَأْتُونَنَا...   

19: 38.  How plainly will they see and hear, the Day that they will appear before Us!

...لَكِنِ الظَّالِمُونَ الْيَوْمَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٣٨﴾

But the unjust today are in error manifest!

C2490. Cf. 50:22. and that whole passage, where the Resurrection is described.

وَأَنذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْحَسْرَةِ إِذْ قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ...   

19: 39.  But warn them of the Day of Distress, when the matter will be determined:

C2491. Hasrat: Sighs, sighing, regrets, distress.

...وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ وَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾

for (behold), they are negligent and they do not believe!

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَرِثُ الْأَرْضَ وَمَنْ عَلَيْهَا ...

19: 40.  It is We Who will inherit the earth, and all beings thereon:

C2492. Cf. 3:180. n. 485; 15:23,  n. 1964,

Material property passes from one to another: when one dies, another inherits it. Allah gives life and death, and all that survives after physical death goes back to Allah, the original source of all things.

... وَإِلَيْنَا يُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٤٠﴾

to Us will they all be returned.

يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ وَفْدًا ﴿٨٥﴾

19: 85. The day We shall gather the righteous to (Allah) Most Gracious, like a band presented before a king for honors.

وَنَسُوقُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ وِرْدًا ﴿٨٦﴾

19: 86.  And We shall drive the sinners to Hell, like thirsty cattle driven down to water --

C2528. Note the contrast between the saved and the doomed.

-        The one march with dignity like honoured ones before a king,

-        and the other rush in anguish to their punishment like a herd of cattle driven down by thirst to their watering place.

Note the metaphor of the water. They rush madly for water but are plunged into the Fire!

لَا يَمْلِكُونَ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَنِ عَهْدًا ﴿٨٧﴾

19: 87.  None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from (Allah) Most Gracious.

Others version:

19: 37

Asad And yet, the sects [that follow the Bible] are at variance among themselves [about the nature of Jesus]! Woe, then, unto all who deny the truth when that awesome Day will appear!

Yusuf Ali But the sects differ among themselves: and woe to the Unbelievers because of the (coming) Judgment of a momentous Day!

Pickthall The sects among them differ: but woe unto the disbelievers from the meeting of an awful Day.

Transliteration Fakh talafal ahza_bu mim bainihim fawailul lil lazina kafaru_ mim mashadi yaumin 'azhim

19: 38

Asad How well will they hear and see [the truth] on the Day when they come before Us! Today, however, these evildoers are obviously lost in error:

Yusuf Ali How plainly will they see and hear the Day that they will appear before Us! But the unjust today are in error manifest!

Pickthall See and hear them on the Day they come unto Us! Yet the evil-doers are today in error manifest.

Transliteration Asmi'bihim wa abshir yauma ya'tu_nana_ la_kiniz zha_limu_nal yauma fi dhala_lim mubin

19: 39

Asad hence, warn them of [the coming of] the day of Regrets, when everything will have been decided – for as yet they are heedless, and they do not believe [in it].

Yusuf Ali But warn them of the Day of Distress when the matter will be determined: for (behold) they are negligent and they do not believe!

Pickthall And warn them of the Day of anguish when the case hath been decided. Now they are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not.

Transliteration Wa andzirhum yaumal hasrati idz qudhiyal amr wa hum fi ghaflatiw wahum la_ yu'minu_n

19: 40

Asad Behold, We alone shall remain after the earth and all who live on it have passed away, and [when] unto Us all will have been brought back.

Yusuf Ali It is We Who will inherit the earth and all beings thereon: to Us will they all be returned.

Pickthall Lo! We inherit the earth and all who are thereon, and unto Us they are returned.

Transliteration In na_ nahnu naritsul ardha wa man alaiha_ wa ilaina_ yurja'u_n

[ Asad’s note 30: Lit., “WE alone shall the earth and all who are on it”………………see 15:23 note 22………on the use of the term “inheritor” or “heir” in the sense of “one who remains after his predecessor has passed away” – in this case, after all creation has perished. (Cf the expression “the heritage of the heaven and the earth” used with reference to God, in d:180 and 57:10)]

[ Ruby’s note: This is a profound revelation regarding the nature of things we see in reality and the nature of God. What essentially conveyed here is that God is the ultimate reality on which all other transitory realities are based. When the physical base of the Universe is destroyed or recapitulated, what remains is the Essential Being, the source OR CAUSE of all existence, He is the ONLY eternal EXISTENCE. In science the concept of Big Bang gives the implication of this profound truth of our existence and this reality. May be one day science -- by understanding how energy transformed into matter and what happened in the millionth second after the Big Bang—could shed more light into this idea of the Ultimate Existence. ]

19: 85

Asad On the Day when We shall gather the God conscious unto [Us,] the Most Gracious, as honored guests,

Yusuf Ali The day We shall gather the righteous to (Allah) Most Gracious like a band presented before a king for honors.

Pickthall On the Day when We shall gather the righteous unto the Beneficent, a goodly company.

Transliteration Yauma nahsyurul mut taqina ilar rahma_ni wafda_

19: 86

Asad and drive those who were lost in sin unto hell as a thirsty herd is driven to a well -

Yusuf Ali And We shall drive the sinners to Hell like thirsty cattle driven down to water

Pickthall And drive the guilty unto Hell, a weary herd,

Transliteration Wa nasu_qul mujrimina ila_ jahan nama wirda_

19: 87

Asad [on that Day] none will have [the benefit of] intercession unless he has [in his lifetime] entered into a bond with the Most Gracious.

Yusuf Ali None shall have the power of intercession but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from (Allah) Most Gracious.

Pickthall They will have no power of intercession, save him who hath made a covenant with his Lord.

Transliteration La_ yamliku_nas syafa_'ata il la manit takhadza indar rahma_ni ahda_

[ Asad’s note 74 – Lit., “except him who has ….” etc. ………….Consequently, as pointed out by Razi, even great sinners may hope for God’s forgiveness – symbolically expressed by the right of “intercession” which will eb granted to the prophets on Judgment Day………………]

[ Ruby’s note – I think this concession to exercise “intercession” or appeal to God may also be given to people other than the prophets, such as the loved ones, a righteous person to appeal for his/her people or for the entire humanity, etc. ]