28. Surah Al-Qasas

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ وَصَّلْنَا لَهُمُ الْقَوْلَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٥١﴾

28: 51. Now have We caused the word to reach them themselves, in order that they may receive admonition.

C3384. Before this the Quraish might have said that the Word of Allah had come to the Hebrews in their tongue or in Greek, which was used by the Hebrews in the time of Jesus. Now that Word is brought to their own doors, in their own Arabic tongue, by a man of their own race and family. Surely they have no excuse now for remaining strangers to the higher moral and spiritual law.

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِهِ هُم بِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾

28: 52. Those to whom We sent the Book before this -- they do believe in this (Revelation);

وَإِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِهِ...

28: 53. And when it is recited to them, they say:

"We believe therein,

...إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَا... ...

for it is the Truth from our Lord:

...إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ ﴿٥٣﴾

indeed we have been Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will) from before this."

C3385. There were Christians and Jews who recognised that Islam was a logical and natural development of Allah's revelations as given in earlier ages, and they not only welcomed and accepted Islam, but claimed, and rightly, that they had always been Muslims.

In that sense Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus had all been Muslims. (R).

أُوْلَئِكَ يُؤْتَوْنَ أَجْرَهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ...

28: 54. Twice will they be given their reward,

...بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيَدْرَؤُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ... ...

for that they have persevered,

that they avert Evil with Good,

...وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾

and that they spend (in charity) out of what We have given them.

Asad’s Version:

28:51 NOW, INDEED, We have caused this word [of Ours] to reach mankind step by step, 51 so that they might [learn to] keep it in mind. (28:52) As for those unto whom We have vouchsafed revelation aforetime - they [are bound to] believe in this one [as well]; 52

(28:53) and whenever it is [clearly] conveyed unto them, they [are bound to] profess, "We have come to believe in it, for, behold, it is the truth from our Sustainer - and, verily, even before this have we surrendered ourselves unto Him!"

28:54 [Asad] These it is that shall receive a twofold reward for having been patient in adversity, and having repelled evil with good, 55 and having spent on others out of what We provided for them as sustenance, (28:55) and, whenever they heard frivolous talk, 54 having turned away from it and said: "Unto us shall be accounted our deeds, and unto you, your deeds Peace be upon you - [but] we do not seek out such as are ignorant [of the meaning of right and wrong]."

[[ Ali’s note - C3386. Their credit is twofold,

- in that before they knew Islam, they followed the earlier Law in truth and sincerity, and

- when they were offered Islam, they readily recognised and accepted it, suffered in patient perseverance for its sake, and brought forth the fruits of righteousness.]]