2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلاَ
تَنكِحُواْ
الْمُشْرِكَاتِ
حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّ...
2: 221. Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe;
C245a. Literally "Pagan".
... وَلأَمَةٌ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ ...
a slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allure you.
C245a. Literally "Pagan".
... وَلاَ تُنكِحُواْ الْمُشِرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنُواْ...
Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe:
C245a. Literally "Pagan".
... وَلَعَبْدٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ ...
a man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allure you.
C246. Marriage is a most intimate communion, and the mystery of sex finds its highest fulfilment when intimate spiritual harmony is combined with the physical link. If religion is at all a real influence in life to both parties or to either party, a difference in this vital matter must affect the lives of both more profoundly than differences of birth, race, language, or position in life. It is therefore only right that the parties to be married should have the same spiritual outlook. If two person love each other, their outlook in the highest things of life must be the same.
Note that religion is not here a mere label or a matter of custom or birth. The two persons may have been born in different religions, but if, by their mutual influence, they come to see the truth in the same way, they must openly accept the same rites and the same social brotherhood. Otherwise the position will become impossible individually and socially.
... أُوْلَـئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَاللّهُ يَدْعُوَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَالْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِ...
Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the fire. But Allah beckons by His grace to the Garden (of Bliss) and forgiveness,
... وَيُبَيِّنُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٢١﴾
and makes His Signs clear to mankind: that they may receive admonition..
Other versions:
2: 221 [ al-Baqara, Medina 87 ]
Asad And do not marry women who ascribe divinity to aught beside God ere they attain to [true] belief: for any believing bondwoman [of God] is certainly better than a woman who ascribes divinity to aught beside God, even though she please you greatly. And do not give your women in marriage to men who ascribe divinity to aught beside God ere they attain to [true] belief: for any believing bondman…………[Such as] these invite unto the fire, whereas God invites unto paradise, and unto [the achievement of] forgiveness by His leave; and He makes clear His messages unto mankind, so that they might bear them in mind.
Yusuf Ali Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters) until they believe; a slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman even though she allure you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: a man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever even though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the fire. But Allah beckons by His grace to the Garden (of Bliss) and forgiveness and makes His Signs clear to mankind: that they may celebrate His praise.
Pickthall Wed not idolatresses till they believe; for lo! a believing bondwoman is better than an idolatress though she please you; and give not your daughters in marriage to idolaters till they believe, for lo! a believing slave is better than an idolater though he please you. These invite unto the Fire, and Allah invites unto the Garden, and unto forgiveness by His grace, and expound thus His revelations to mankind that haply they may remember.
Wa la_ tankihul musyrika_ti hatta_ yu'minn(a), wa la'amatum mu'minatun khairum mim musyrikatiw wa lau a'jabatkum, wa la_ tunkihul musyrikina hatta_ yu'minu_, wa la'abdum ymu'minun khairum mim musyrikiw wa lau a'jabakum, ula_'ika yad'u_na ilan na_r(i), walla_hu yad'u_ ilal jannati wal magfirati bi iznih(i), wa yubayyinu a_ya_tihi linna_si la'allahum yatazakkaru_n(a).
5. Surah Al-Ma'idah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
لاَ
يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ
اللّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ
فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ
وَلَـكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم
بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ
الأَيْمَانَ
...
5: 89. Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths:
C792. Vows of penance or abstention may sometimes be futile, or even stand in the way of really good or virtuous act.
See 2:224-226, and notes 251, 252.
The general principles established are:
1. take no futile oaths;
2. use not Allah's name, literally or in intention, to fetter yourself against doing a lawful or good act:
3. keep to your solemn oaths to the utmost of your ability;
4. where you are unable to do so, expiate your failure by feeding or clothing the poor, or obtaining some one's freedom, or if you have not the means, by fasting. This is from a spiritual aspect.
If any party suffers damage from your failure, compensation will be due to him, but would be question of law or equity.
... فَكَفَّارَتُهُ ...
for expiation,
... إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ...
- feed then indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families;
- or clothe them;
- or give a slave his freedom.
... فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ...
- If that is beyond your means, fast for three days.
... ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُواْ أَيْمَانَكُمْ ...
That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn.
But keep to your oaths.
... كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٨٩﴾
Thus doth Allah make clear to you His Signs, that ye may be grateful.
Other versions:
5: 89 [ al-Maidah, Medina 112 ]
Asad God will not take you to task for oaths which you may have uttered without thought [note 101], but He will take you to task for oaths which you have sworn in earnest. Thus, the breaking of an oath must be atoned for by [note 102] feeding ten needy persons with more or less the same food as you are wont to give to your own families, or by clothing them, or by freeing a human being from bondage; and he who has not the wherewithal shall fast for three days [instead]. This shall be the atonement for your oaths whenever you have sworn [and broken them]. But be mindful of your oaths !........
Yusuf Ali Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation feed then indigent persons on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus doth Allah make clear to you His Signs that ye may be grateful.
Pickthall Allah will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths, but He will take you to task for the oaths which ye swear in earnest. The expiation thereof is the feeding of ten of the needy with the average of that wherewith ye feed your own folk, or the clothing of them, or the liberation of a slave, and for him who findeth not (the wherewithal to do so) then a three day fast. This is the expiation of your oaths when ye have sworn; and keep your oaths. Thus Allah expounds unto you His revelations in order that ye may give thanks.
Transliteration La_ yu'a_khizukumulla_hu bil lagwi fi aima_nikum wa la_kiy yu'a_khizukum bima_'aqqattumul aima_n(a), fa kaffa_ratuhu_ it'a_mu 'asyarati masa_kina min ausati ma_ tut'imu_na ahlikum au kiswatuhum au tahriru raqabah(tin), famal lam yajid fa siya_mu sala_sati ayya_m(in), za_likakaffa_ratu aima_nikum iza_ halaftum, wahfazu_ aima_nakum, kaza_lika yubayyinulla_hu lakum a_ya_tihi la'allakum tasykuru_n(a).
[[ Ali’s note - 792 Vows of penance or abstention may sometimes be futile, or even stand in the way of really good or virtuous act. See ii. 224-226, and notes. The general principles established are: (1) take no futile oaths; (2) use not Allah's name, literally or in intention, to fetter yourself against doing a lawful or good act: (3) keep to your solemn oaths to the utmost of your ability; (4) where you are unable to do so, expiate your failure by feeding or clothing the poor, or obtaining some one's freedom, or if you have not the means, by fasting. This is from a spiritual aspect. (5.89)
[[ Asad’s notes – 101 Lit., “for the thoughtless word (‘laghw’) in your oaths”. This refers primarily to oaths aiming at denying to oneself something which the Law of Islam does not prohibit (i.e., “the good things of life”); and, generally, to all oaths uttered without premeditation, e,g., under the influence of anger (cf. 2:224-225; also 38:44 and the corresponding note 41).
Note 102 – Lit., “its atonement shall be” – the pronoun referring to the (implied) sin of breaking an oath. It is obvious from the context that this possibility of atonement relates only to “oath uttered without thought”, and not to deliberate undertakings affecting other persons, which – as has been explicitly stated in the opening sentence of this surah – a believer is bound to observe faithfully to the best of his ability. Regarding exceptions frm this general rule, see surah 2, note 212.]]