3. Sura al-Imran
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِذْ
أَخَذَ اللّهُ
مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ
أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ
...
3: 187. And remember Allah took a Covenant from the People of the Book,
C494. Truth -Allah's Message- comes to any man or nation as a matter of sacred trust. It should be broadcast and published and taught and made clear to all within reach.
Privileged priesthood at once erects a barrier. But worse, -when such priesthood tampers with the truth, taking what suits it and ignoring the rest, it has sold Allah's gift for a miserable ephemeral profit; how miserable, it will learn when retributive justice comes.
... لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلاَ تَكْتُمُونَهُ...
o make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it;
...فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَاء ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْاْ بِهِ ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً ...
but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain!
C495. Cf. 2:101.
... فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ ﴿١٨٧﴾
and vile was the bargain they made!
لاَ
تَحْسَبَنَّ
الَّذِينَ
يَفْرَحُونَ
بِمَا أَتَواْ
وَّيُحِبُّونَ
أَن يُحْمَدُواْ
بِمَا لَمْ
يَفْعَلُواْ
...
3 : 188. Think not that those who exult in what they have brought about, and love to be praised for what they have not done,
C496. A searching picture of the worldly wise!
They may cause mischief and misery to others, but gloat over any glory it may bring them!
They may trample down Allah's truths, and enthrone false standards of worship.
They may take credit for virtues they do not possess and seeming successes that come in spite of their despicable deceptions.
...فَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّهُمْ بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿١٨٨﴾
think not that they can escape the penalty.
For them is a penalty grievous indeed.
وَلِلّهِ
مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضِ
...
3: 189. To Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth;
... وَاللّهُ عَلَىَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١٨٩﴾
and Allah hath power over all things.
Other versions:
3: 187 [al-Imran, Medina 89 ]
Yusuf Ali And remember Allah took a Covenant from the People of the Book to make it known and clear to mankind and not to hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs and purchased with it some miserable gain! and vile was the bargain they made!
Pickthall And (remember) when Allah laid a charge on those who had received the Scripture (He said): Ye are to expound it to mankind and not to hide it. But they flung it behind their backs and bought thereby a little gain. Verily evil is that which they have gained thereby.
Transliteration Wa iz akhazalla_hu misa_qal lazina u_tul kita_ba latubayyinunnahu_ linna_si wa la_ taktumu_nah(u_), fanabazu_hu wara_'a zuhu_rihim wasytarau bihi samanan qalila_(n), fabi'sa ma_ yasytaru_n(a).
[[ Ali’s note - 494 Truth-Allah's Message-comes to any man or nation as a matter of sacred trust. It should be broadcast and published and taught and made clear to all within reach. Privileged priesthood at once erects a barrier. But worse,-when such priesthood tampers with the truth, taking what suits it and ignoring the rest, it has sold Allah's gift for a miserable ephemeral profit; how miserable, it will learn when retributive justice comes. (3.187)
495 Cf. ii. 101. (3.187) ]]
3: 188
Yusuf Ali Think not that those who exult in what they have brought about and love to be praised for what they have not done think not that they can escape the penalty. For them is a penalty grievous indeed.
Pickthall Think not that those who exult in what they have given, and love to be praised for what they have not done--Think not, they are in safety from the doom. A painful doom is theirs.
Transliteration La_ tahsabannal lazina yafrahu_na bima_ atau wa yuhibbu_na ay yuhmadu_ bima_ lam yaf'alu_ fala_ tahsabannahum bimafa_zatim minal 'aza_b(i), wa lahum'aza_bun alim(un).
[[ Ali’s note - 496 A searching picture of the worldly wise! They may cause mischief and misery to others, but gloat over any glory it may bring them! They may trample down Allah's truths, and enthrone false standards of worship. They may take credit for virtues they do not possess and seeming successes that come in spite of their despicable deceptions. (3.188) ]]
3: 189
Asad And unto God belongs the dominion over the heavens and the earth: and God has the power to will anything.
Yusuf Ali To Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth; and Allah hath power over all things.
Pickthall Unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. Allah is Able to do all things.
Transliteration Wa lilla_hi mulkus sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), walla_hu 'ala_ kulli syai'in qadir(un).