19. Surah Maryam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قَالَ أَرَاغِبٌ أَنتَ عَنْ آلِهَتِي يَا إِبْراهِيمُ...   

19: 46.  (The father) replied:

"Dost thou hate my gods, O Abraham?

...لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ لَأَرْجُمَنَّكَ...

If thou forbear not I will indeed stone thee:

...وَاهْجُرْنِي مَلِيًّا ﴿٤٦﴾

now get away from me for a good long while!"

C2498. Note the gentle persuasive tone of Abraham in his speeches in 19:42-45 (for we may suppose those sentences to sum up a long course of arguments) and in 19:47-48, contrasted with the brusque and repellent tone of the father's reply in this verse.

The one was the outcome of the true Light which had come to Abraham from Allah, as the other was the outcome of Pagan arrogance and the worship of brute force.

The spiritual lesson from this episode of Abraham's life may be stated in four propositions:

-        the pious son is dutiful to his father and wishes him well in all things, material and spiritual,

-         if the father refuses Allah's Light, the son will do his utmost to bring such Light to the father;

-        having received the Light, the son will never renounce that Light, even if he has to forfeit his father's love and renounce his home;

-         even if the father repels him and turns him out, his answer will be a soft answer, full of love and forgiveness on the one hand, but firmness on behalf of Truth on the other.

قَالَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ سَأَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكَ رَبِّي ...

19: 47.  Abraham said:

"Peace be on thee: I will pray to my Lord for thy forgiveness:

C2499. Cf. 9:114. where this promise of Abraham to pray for his father is referred to, and its limitations pointed out.

... إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِي حَفِيًّا ﴿٤٧﴾

for He is to me Most Gracious.

وَأَعْتَزِلُكُمْ وَمَا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ...   

19: 48.  "And I will turn away from you (all) and from those whom ye invoke besides Allah:

...وَأَدْعُو رَبِّي عَسَى أَلَّا أَكُونَ بِدُعَاء رَبِّي شَقِيًّا ﴿٤٨﴾

I will call on my Lord: Perhaps, by my prayer to my Lord, I shall be not unblest."

C2500. Abraham left his father and the home of his fathers (Ur of the Chaldees) and never returned.

He left because he was turned out, and because it was not possible for him to make any compromise with what was false in religion.

In return for abuse, he spoke gentle words. And he expressed his fervent hope that at least he (Abraham) would have Allah's blessing in reply to his prayers.

Here was a prefigurement of another Hijrah many centuries later! In both cases the prayer was abundantly fulfilled.

Others version:

19: 46

Asad He answered: “Do you dislike my gods, O Abraham? Indeed, if you desist not, I shall most certainly cause you to be stoned to death! Now be gone from me for good!”

Yusuf Ali (The father) replied: "Dost thou hate my gods O Abraham? If thou forbear not I will indeed stone thee: now get away from me for a good long while!"

Pickthall He said: Rejectest thou my gods, O Abraham? If thou cease not, I shall surely stone thee. Depart from me a long while!

Transliteration Qa_la ara_ghibun anta an a_lihati ya_ ibra_him la il lam tantahi la arjuman naka wah jurni maliy ya_

[ Ruby’s note: This reflects the degradation and obsession of Abraham’s father: he is so derailed and engrossed with worshipping the gods, that he wanted to kill his son, Abraham, for even suggesting otherwise or raising issues that disturbs the very foundation of such unreasonable thinking of worshipping other gods.]

[Ali’s note: 2498 Note the gentle persuasive tone of Abraham in his speeches in xix. 42-45 (for we may suppose those sentences to sum up a long course of arguments) and in xix. 47-48, contrasted with the brusque and repellent tone of the father's reply in this verse. The one was the outcome of the true Light which had come to Abraham from Allah, as the other was the outcome of Pagan arrogance and the worship of brute force. The spiritual lesson from this episode of Abraham's life may be stated in four propositions: (1) the pious son is dutiful to his father and wishes him well in all things, material and spiritual, (2) if the father refuses Allah's Light, the son will do his utmost to bring such Light to the father; (3) having received the Light, the son will never renounce that Light, even if he has to forfeit his father's love and renounce his home; (4) even if the father repels him and turns him out, his answer will be a soft answer, full of love and forgiveness on the one hand, but firmness on behalf of Truth on the other. (19.46) ]

19: 47

Asad [Abraham] replied: “Peace be upon thee! I shall ask my Sustainer to forgive thee: for, behold, He has always been kind unto me.

Yusuf Ali Abraham said: "Peace be on thee: I will pray to my Lord for thy forgiveness: for He is to me Most Gracious.

Pickthall He said: Peace be unto thee! I shall ask forgiveness of my Lord for thee. Lo! He was ever gracious unto me.

Transliteration Qa_la sala_mun 'alaika sa astaghfiru laka rab bi in nahu_ ka_na hafiy ya_

[ ali’s note: 2499 Cf. ix. 114, where this promise of Abraham to pray for his father is referred to, and its limitations pointed out. (19.47)]

19: 48

Asad But I shall withdraw from you all and from whatever you invoke instead of God, and shall invoke my Sustainer [alone]: it may well be that my prayer [for thee] will not remain unanswered by my Sustainer.”

Yusuf Ali "And I will turn away from you (all) and from those whom ye invoke besides Allah: I will call on my Lord: Perhaps by my prayer to my Lord I shall be not unblest."

Pickthall I shall withdraw from you and that unto which ye pray beside Allah, and I shall pray unto my Lord. It may be that, in prayer unto my Lord, I shall not be unblest.

Transliteration Wa a'tazilukum wa ma_ tad'u_na min du_nil la_hi wa ad'u_ rab bi asa_ al la_ aku_na bidu'a_i rab bi syaqiy ya_

[ Ali’s note: 2500 Abraham left his father and the home of his fathers (Ur of the Chaldees) and never returned. He left because he was turned out, and because it was not possible for him to make any compromise with what was false in religion. In return for abuse, he spoke gentle words. And he expressed his fervent hope that at least he (Abraham) would have Allah's blessing in reply to his prayers. Here was a prefigurement of another Hijrat many centuries later! In both cases the prayer was abundantly fulfilled. (19.48) ]