2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلاَ تُسْأَلُ عَنْ أَصْحَابِ الْجَحِيمِ ﴿١١٩﴾

2: 119. Verily, We have sent thee in truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner.

But of thee no question shall be asked of Companions of the blazing fire.

وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ...

2: 120. Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of religion.

قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى...

Say: "The guidance of Allah, that is the (only) guidance."

... وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ...

Wert thou to follow their desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee,

... مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ ﴿١٢٠﴾

then wouldst thou find neither protector nor helper against Allah.

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلاَوَتِهِ أُوْلَـئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ...

2: 121. Those to whom We have sent the book study it as it should be studied; they are the ones that believe therein;

... وَمن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ ﴿١٢١﴾

those who reject faith therein, the loss is their own.

Other versions:

2: 119 [ al-Baqarah, Medina 87 ]

Asad Verily, We have sent thee [O Prophet] with the truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner: and thou shalt not be held accountable for those who are destined for the blazing fire.

Yusuf Ali Verily We have sent thee in truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. But of thee no question shall be asked of Companions of the blazing fire.

Pickthall Lo! We have sent thee (O Muhammad) with the truth, a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And thou wilt not be asked about the owners of hell fire.

Transliteration Inna_ arsalna_ka bil haqqi basyiraw wa nazira_(n), wa la_ tus'alu 'an asha_bil jahim(i).

[ Ruby’s note: I think it implies to the Rejecters of Truth who are extremely arrogant and unreasonable. And this verse do not imply Jews or followers of any specific creed in general [See previous verses] ]

2: 120

Asad For, never will the Jews be pleased with thee, not yet the Christians, unless thou follow their own creeds: Say: “Behold, God’s guidance is the only true guidance.”

Yusuf Ali Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of religion. Say: "The guidance of Allah that is the (only) guidance." Wert thou to follow their desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee then wouldst thou find neither protector nor helper against Allah.

Pickthall And the Jews will not be pleased with thee, nor will the Christians, till thou follow their creed. Say: Lo! the guidance of Allah (Himself) is Guidance. And if thou shouldst follow their desires after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, then wouldst thou have from Allah no protecting friend nor helper.

Transliteration Wa lan tarda_ 'ankal yahu_du wa lan nasa_ra_ hatta_ tattabi'a millatahum, qul inna hudalla_hi huwal huda_, wa la'inittaba'ta ahwa_'ahum ba'dal lazi ja_'aka minal 'ilm(i), ma_ laka minalla_hi miw waliyyiw wa la_ nasir(in).

[Ruby’s note: It is easy here to fall into the trap of misconception in regards to Jews and Christians. If this verse needs to be reconciled with the verse 2:62 where it recognizes righteousness among the followers of these faith. Then the way it can be reconciled is that those Jews and Christians who are absolutely arrogant even to seriously consider what is before them, in this case a man with God’s message, and just look the other way and say this is completely nonsense and unacceptable, then it is arrogance that is causing this rejection. A person of God needs to be on guard and sincere anything in life that is coming before him/her, not only the Devine Revelations but also all the events and circumstances that one is brought to.

Not all Jews and Christians are like that. There are place of humility and wisdom in them to say ‘we do not know what God knows, there may be something here to seriously look into’, instead the ones who outright and completely reject it without giving any consideration at all. And asking unreasonable and meaningless question like “Why God is not speaking directly to us.”

These attitudes are the focus here. And if there are people among Jews and Christians who are wise, who in their inner self harbors love of God and humility and know that all human beings are creation of God and God is most merciful and just, then they would have a more open minded approach into this complex affairs of diversity even in faith. A true believer is always kind and compassionate towards others, and they are humble and do not judge others.

These verses need more discussion so that a serious flaw in judgment regarding Jews and Christians do not come, and these two verses make the whole Quran irreconcilable. Because God is declaring there is no inconsistency in the Quran. It must be in our understanding and limited knowledge that we are facing a seemed contradictions. See the immediately next verse here. ]

2: 121

Asad Those unto whom We have vouchsafed the divine writ [and who] follow it as it ought to be followed – it is they who [truly] believe in it; whereas all who choose to deny its truth – it is they, they who are the losers!

Yusuf Ali Those to whom We have sent the book study it as it should be studied; they are the ones that believe therein; those who reject faith therein the loss is their own.

Pickthall Those unto whom We have given the Scripture, who read it with the right reading, those believe in it. And whoso disbelieveth in it, those are they who are the losers.

Transliteration Allazina a_taina_humul kita_ba yatlu_nahu_ haqqa tila_watih(i), ula_'ika yu'minu_na bih(i), wa may yakfur bihi fa ula_'ika humul kha_siru_n(a).

[ Ruby – The divine Book [kitab (singular)] is indicating all divine Books or Scriptures that were revealed in collective form, that is why it is singular. I believe it is not meant only for the Quran here. It is in singular form because the Kitab that is meant here is the Word of God or His Messages which is One and the same Message, the essence of the Message never changed. That is why it is said in 41:43 (And as for thee, O Prophet ) nothing is being said to thee but what was said to all (of God’s ) Apostles before thy time.”, “ you are just a messenger, many other messenger were there..”

All divine Books are part of that universal Message from God and that Message is meant here and that is why this is singular in form. Then the next expression literally means is ‘to recite in Truth’ but the real meaning is comprehension of the Truth. One’s attempt should be to search Truth in these Books. This search needs to originate in sincere desire to know and understand God’s Message and not to challenge and be unreasonable with it.

It is that came from God, if one sincerely read these even with distortions and human manipulation down the ages, one would find Truth in any of these Books. Therefore, a sincere and keen heart is the essence here to receive Guidance and Truth.]

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