Challenge and Difficulty of Moses
4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَسْأَلُكَ
أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ
أَن تُنَزِّلَ
عَلَيْهِمْ
كِتَابًا مِّنَ
السَّمَاء...
4: 153. The People of the Book ask thee to cause a book to descend to them from heaven:
... فَقَدْ سَأَلُواْ مُوسَى أَكْبَرَ مِن ذَلِكَ فَقَالُواْ أَرِنَا اللّهِ جَهْرَةً ...
indeed they asked Moses for an even greater (miracle), for they said:
"Show us Allah in public,"
C657. Cf. 2:55, for the thunder and lightning which affected those who were presumptuous enough to ask that they should see Allah face to face, and 2:51 and n. 66, for the worship of the golden calf.
The lesson is that it is presumptuous on the part of man to judge of spiritual things in terms of material things, or to ask to see Allah with their material eyes when Allah is above material forms and is independent of time and space.
... فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ بِظُلْمِهِمْ...
but they were dazed for their presumption, with thunder and lightning.
... ثُمَّ اتَّخَذُواْ الْعِجْلَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ فَعَفَوْنَا عَن ذَلِكَ...
Yet they worshipped the calf even after clear signs had come to them; even so We forgave them;
... وَآتَيْنَا مُوسَى سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا ﴿١٥٣﴾
and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority.
وَرَفَعْنَا
فَوْقَهُمُ
الطُّورَ
بِمِيثَاقِهِمْ
...
4: 154. And for their Covenant We raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai);
C658. In this verse there is a recapitulation of three salient incidents of Jewish refractoriness already referred to in the second Surah: viz.,
1. the Covenant under the towering height of Sinai, 2:63:
2. their arrogance where they were commanded humility in entering a town, 2:58: and
3. their transgression of the Sabbath, 2:65.
... وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ادْخُلُواْ الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا...
and (on another occasion) We said: "Enter the gate with humility;"
... وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لاَ تَعْدُواْ فِي السَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا ﴿١٥٤﴾
and (once again) We commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the Sabbath."
And We took from them a solemn Covenant.
فَبِمَا
نَقْضِهِم
مِّيثَاقَهُمْ
وَكُفْرِهِم
بَآيَاتِ اللّهِ
وَقَتْلِهِمُ
الأَنْبِيَاء
بِغَيْرِ حَقًّ
...
4: 155. (They have incurred divine displeasure):
C659. In verses 155, 156, 157, 160 (latter half), and 161 with parenthetical clauses including those in verses 158-159, and 160 (first half), there is a catalogue of the iniquities of which the Jews were guilty, and for these iniquities we must understand some such words as:
"They are under divine displeasure."
Each clause of the indictment I have indicated by prefixing the word "that."
in that they broke their Covenant: that they rejected the Signs of Allah; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right;
C660. Cf. 3:21, and notes 363 and 364.
... وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ...
that they said, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word; we need no more);"
C661. Cf. 2:88, and n. 92, where the full meaning is explained.
Note the crescendo (heightening effect) in the argument. Their iniquities were:
1. that they broke their Covenant:
2. that they rejected Allah's guidance as conveyed in His signs;
3. that they killed Allah's Messengers and incurred a double guilt, viz., that of murder and that of a deliberate defiance of Allah's law; and
4. that they imagined themselves arrogantly self-sufficient, which means a blasphemous closing of their hearts for ever against the admission of Allah's grace.
Then begins another series of iniquities from a different point of view:
1. that they rejected Faith:
2. that they made false charges against a saintly woman like Mary, who. was chosen by Allah to be the mother of Jesus;
3. that they boasted of having killed Jesus when they were victims of their own self-hallucination:
4. that they hindered people from Allah's way: and
5. that by means of usury and fraud they oppressed their fellow-men.
... بَلْ طَبَعَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ﴿١٥٥﴾
nay Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe.
Other versions:
4: 153 [an-Nisa, Medina 92]
Asad The followers of the Old Testament [note 164] demand of you [O Prophet] that you cause a revelation to be sent down to them from heaven [note 165]. ……………….whereupon the thunderbolt of punishment overtook them for this their wickedness. After that they took to worshipping the [golden] calf – and this after all evidence to the truth had come to them!
Yusuf Ali The people of the Book ask thee to cause a book to descend to them from heaven: indeed they asked Moses for an even greater (miracle) for they said: "Show us Allah in public" but they were dazed for their presumption with thunder and lightning. Yet they worshipped the calf even after clear signs had come to them; even so We forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority.
Pickthall The People of the Scripture ask of thee that thou shouldst cause an (actual) Book to descend upon them from heaven. They asked a greater thing of Moses aforetime, for they said: Show us Allah plainly. The storm of lightning seized them for their wickedness. Then (even after that) they chose the calf (for worship) after clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) had come unto them. And We forgave them that! And We bestowed on Moses evident authority.
Transliteration Yas'aluka ahlul kita_bi an tunazzila 'alaihim kita_bam minas sama_'i fa qad sa'alu_ mu_sa_ akbara min za_lika fa qa_lu_ arinallu_ha jahratan fa akhazathumus sa_'iqatu bi zulmihim, summattakhazul'ijla mim ba'di ma_ ja_'athumul bayyina_tu fa'afauna_ 'an za_lik(a), wa a_taina_ mu_sa_ sulta_nam mubina_(n).
4: 154
Asad raising Mount Sinai high above them in witness of their solemn pledge. And We said unto them, “Enter the gate humbly” [note 167]; and We told them, “Do not break the Sabbath-law”; and We accepted form them a most solemn pledge.
Yusuf Ali And for their Covenant We raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai); and (on another occasion) We said: "Enter the gate with humility"; and (once again) We commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the Sabbath." And We took from them a solemn Covenant.
Pickthall And We caused the Mount to tower above them at (the taking of) their covenant: and We bade them: Enter the gate, prostrate! and we bade them: Transgress not the Sabbath! and We took from them a firm covenant.
Transliteration Wa rafa'na_ fauqahumut tu_ra bi misa_qihim wa qulna_ lahumudkhulul ba_ba sujjadaw wa qulna_ lahum la_ ta'du_ fis sabti wa akhazna_ minhum misa_qan galiza_(n).
4: 155
Yusuf Ali (They have incurred divine displeasure): in that they broke their Covenant: that they rejected the Signs of Allah; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word; we need no more)"; nay Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy and little is it they believe.
Pickthall Then because of their breaking of their covenant, and their disbelieving in the revelations of Allah, and their slaying of the Prophets wrongfully, and their saying: Our hearts are hardened Nay, but Allah hath set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so that they believe not save a few
Fabima_ naqdihim misa_qahum wa kufrihim bi a_ya_tilla_hi wa qatlihimul ambiya_'a bi gairi haqqiw wa qaulihim qula_buna_ gulf(un), baltaba'alla_hu 'alaiha_ bi kufrihim fala_ yu'minu_na illa_ qalila_(w).
[[ Ruby’s note – Demanding to see God is a reflection of arrogance and rejection. God is manifesting through His entire creation and His signs are written in the amazing nature of reality. If one is wise, humble and righteous one should see this truth and the miracles laid down in reality pointing towards God’s existence. Only when one is arrogant, wicked and addicted with the illusions of life, one finds the audacity demanding the proof of God. A searching true heart on the other hand should see God’s existence in any direction he/she looks.]]
6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَوْ
نَزَّلْنَا
عَلَيْكَ كِتَابًا
فِي قِرْطَاسٍ
...
6: 7. If We had sent unto thee a written (Message) on parchment,
C839a. Qirtas: in the Prophet's life, could only mean "parchment," which was commonly used as writing material in Western Asia from the 2nd century B.C.
The word was derived from the Greek, Charles (Cf. Latin, "Charta:). Paper, as we know it, made from rags, was first used by the Arabs after the conquest of Samarqand in 751 A.D.
The Chinese had used it by the 2nd century B.C. The Arabs introduced it into Europe it was; used in Greece in the 11th and 12th century, and in Spain through Sicily in the 12th century.
The Papyrus, made from an Egyptian reed, was in Egypt as early as 2500 B.C. It gave place to paper in Egypt in the 10th century.
... فَلَمَسُوهُ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ لَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ...
so that they could touch it with their hands, the unbelievers would have been sure to say:
...إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٧﴾
"This is nothing but obvious magic!"
C840. The materialists want to see actual physical material things before them, but if such a thing came from an unusual source or expressed things they cannot understand, they give it some name like magic, or superstition, or whatever name is in fashion, and they are not helped at all in attaining faith, because their "hearts are diseased" (2:10)
وَقَالُواْ
لَوْلا أُنزِلَ
عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ
...
6: 8. They say: "Why is not an angel sent down to him?"
... وَلَوْ أَنزَلْنَا مَلَكًا لَّقُضِيَ الأمْرُ ثُمَّ لاَ يُنظَرُونَ ﴿٨﴾
If We did send down an angel, the matter would be settled at once, and no respite would be granted them.
C841. Cf. 2::210.
An angel is a heavenly being, a manifestation of Allah's glory, invisible to men who live gross material lives; Such men are given plenty of respite in which to turn in repentance to Allah and make themselves worthy of His light.
But if their prayer to see an angel were grated, it would do them no good, for thy would be destroyed as darkness is destroyed by light.
وَلَوْ
جَعَلْنَاهُ
مَلَكًا لَّجَعَلْنَاهُ
رَجُلاً وَلَلَبَسْنَا
عَلَيْهِم مَّا
يَلْبِسُونَ
﴿٩﴾
6: 9. If We had made it an angel, We should have sent him as a man, and We should certainly have caused them confusion in a matter which they have already covered with confusion.
C842. Supposing an angel should appear to their grosser senses, he could only do it in human form. In that case their present confused notions about spiritual life would be still more confounded.
They would say: "We wanted to see an angel, and we have only seen a man!"
وَمَا
نُرْسِلُ
الْمُرْسَلِينَ
إِلاَّ مُبَشِّرِينَ
وَمُنذِرِينَ...
6: 48. We send the Messengers only to give good news and to warn:
C866. The Prophets are not sent to cancel man's limited free-will. They are sent to preach and teach,
- to preach hope to the repentant ("good news"), and
- to warn the rebellious of the Wrath to come.
...فَمَنْ آمَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾
so those who believe and mend (their lives), upon them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
وَالَّذِينَ
كَذَّبُواْ
بِآيَاتِنَا
يَمَسُّهُمُ
الْعَذَابُ
بِمَا كَانُواْ
يَفْسُقُونَ
﴿٤٩﴾
6: 49. But those who reject Our Signs, them shall our punishment touch, for that they ceased not from transgressing.
قُل
لاَّ أَقُولُ
لَكُمْ عِندِي
خَزَآئِنُ
اللّهِ ...
6: 50. Say:
"I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah,
C867. Literally it might mean that the men of God are not like vulgar soothsayers, who pretend to reveal hidden treasures, or peer into future, or claim to be something of a different nature from men. But the meaning is wider:
- They deal out Allah's great treasures of truth, but the treasures are not theirs, but Allah's;
- they have greater insight into the higher things, but that insight is not due to their own wisdom, but to Allah's inspiration,;
- they are of the same flesh and blood with us, and the sublimity of their words and teaching arises through Allah's grace- to them and to those who hear them.
... وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ ...
nor do I know what is hidden,
... وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ...
nor do I tell you I am an angel.
...إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلاَّ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ...
I but follow what is revealed to me."
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ ...
Say: "Can the blind be held equal to the seeing?"
C868. Therefore compare not the men of God ("the seeing") with ordinary men ("the blind").
The men of God, although they be but men, have the higher light with them; therefore do not exact of them petty ephemeral services. Though they are men, they are not as other men, and are entitled to reverence.
... أَفَلاَ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾
Will ye then consider not?
وَأَقْسَمُواْ
بِاللّهِ جَهْدَ
أَيْمَانِهِمْ
لَئِن جَاءتْهُمْ
آيَةٌ لَّيُؤْمِنُنَّ
بِهَا...
6: 109. They swear their strongest oaths by Allah that if a (special) sign came to them, by it they would believe.
...قُلْ إِنَّمَا الآيَاتُ عِندَ اللّهِ وَمَا يُشْعِرُكُمْ أَنَّهَا إِذَا جَاءتْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٠٩﴾
Say:
"Certainly (all) signs are in the power of Allah:
but what will make you (Muslims) realize that even if a (special) sign comes, they will not believe."
C937. If the Unbelievers are merely obstinate, nothing will convince them. There is no story more full of miracles than the story of Jesus. Yet in that same story we are told that Jesus said:
"A wicked adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonas":
There are Signs given by Allah every day -understood by those who believe. A mere insistence upon some particular or special Sign meant mere contumacy and misunderstanding of the spiritual world.
وَنُقَلِّبُ
أَفْئِدَتَهُمْ
وَأَبْصَارَهُمْ
كَمَا لَمْ
يُؤْمِنُواْ
بِهِ أَوَّلَ
مَرَّةٍ...
6: 110. We (too) shall turn to (confusion) their hearts and their eyes, even as they refused to believe in the first instance:
C938. Where there is sheer obstinacy and ridicule of faith, the result will be that such a sinner's heart will be hardened and his eyes will be sealed, so that he cannot even see the things visible to ordinary mortals.
The sinner gathers impetus in his descent towards wrong.
...وَنَذَرُهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ ﴿١١٠﴾
We shall leave them in their trespasses, to wander in distraction.
C939. Cf. 2:15.
Allah's grace is always ready to help human weakness or ignorance and to accept repentance and give forgiveness.
But where the sinner is in actual rebellion, he will be given none, and it will be his own fault if he wanders about distractedly, without any certain hope or refuge.
هَلْ
يَنظُرُونَ
إِلاَّ أَن
تَأْتِيهُمُ
الْمَلآئِكَةُ
أَوْ يَأْتِيَ
رَبُّكَ...
6: 158. Are they waiting to see if the angels come to them, or thy Lord (Himself), or certain of the signs of thy Lord!
...أَوْ يَأْتِيَ بَعْضُ آيَاتِ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِي بَعْضُ آيَاتِ رَبِّكَ لاَ يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا...
the day that certain of the signs of thy Lord do come, no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then,
C983. There is no merit in faith in things that you are compelled to acknowledge when they actually happen.
Faith is belief in things which you do not see with your own eyes but you understand with your spiritual sense: if your whole will consents to it, it results in deeds of righteousness, which are the evidence of your faith.
...لَمْ تَكُنْ آمَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمَانِهَا خَيْرًا...
if it believed not before nor earned righteousness through its Faith.
...قُلِ انتَظِرُواْ إِنَّا مُنتَظِرُونَ ﴿١٥٨﴾
Say: "Wait ye: we too are waiting."
C984. The waiting in the two cases is in quite different senses:
- the foolish man without faith is waiting for things which will not happen, and is surprised by the real things which do happen;
- the righteous man of faith is waiting for the fruits of righteousness, of which he has an assured hope; in a higher state of spiritual elevation, even the fruits have no personal meaning to him, for Allah is to him in all: 6:162.
Other versions:
6: 7
Asad But even if We had sent down unto you [O Prophet] a writing on paper, and they had touched it with their own hands – those who are bent on denying the truth would indeed have said, “This is clearly nothing but a deception!”
Yusuf Ali If We had sent unto thee a written (Message) on parchment so that they could touch it with their hands the unbelievers would have been sure to say: "This is nothing but obvious magic!"
Pickthall Had we sent down unto thee (Muhammad) (actual) writing upon parchment, so that they could feel it with their hands, those who disbelieve would have said: This is naught else than mere magic.
Transliteration Wa lau nazzalna_ 'alaika kita_ban fi qirta_sin falamasu_hu bi aidihim laqa_lal lazina kafaru_ in ha_za_ illa_ sihrum mubin(un).
6: 8
Asad …..But had We sent down an angel, all would indeed have been decided [note6], and they would have been allowed no further respite.
Yusuf Ali They say: "Why is not an angel sent down to him?" If We did send down an angel the matter would be settled at once and no respite would be granted them.
Pickthall They say: Why hath not an angel been sent down unto him? If We sent down an angel, then the matter would be judged; no further time would be allowed them (for reflection).
Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ lau la_ unzila 'alaihi malak(un), wa lau anzalna_ malakal laqudiyal amru summa la_ yunzaru_n(a).
[[ Ruby’s Comment - Faith is believing and accepting as truth things that are beyond human perception. If the proof of God has to be given to people in the form of a supernatural miracle in order to convince them in spite of all the evidences and signs written in reality God would not give people any more time for the test in this life- the test becomes useless and invalid because the people who demanded these miracles have already failed in their faith and using their reason and wisdom.
Our test is in applying the faculty of reason and wisdom God has given us [see 30:30 “fitra”] in sensing truth and in discerning right from wrong. Faith is an outcome of an effective and successful use of that faculty and/or capacity. Our primordial nature that God has created in each and every human being should help achieve it if one remains true to his/her nature and that is possible only with God’s guidance. Therefore there are two factors here: one within oneself the other is God’s guidance. God has given us a bigger capacity than the capacity of physical senses and that is the capacity of reason and deduction that is imbued in our true nature.
Instead if one demands proof of God’s existence in terms of supernatural miracles for the physical senses such seeing a miracle then that is not faith and no more time would be given for the test of how effectively and how well one uses his/her true nature and the faculty of reason.]]
6: 9
Asad And [even] if We had appointed an angel as Our message-bearer [note 7], We would certainly have made him [appear as] a man – and thus We would only have confused them in the same way as they are now confusing themselves [note 8].
Yusuf Ali If We had made it an angel We should have sent him as a man and We should certainly have caused them confusion in a matter which they have already covered with confusion.
Pickthall Had We appointed an angel (Our messenger), We assuredly had made him (as) a man (that he might speak to men); and (thus) obscured for them (the truth) they (now) obscure.
Transliteration Wa lau ja'alna_hu malakal laja'alna_hu rajulaw wa lalabasna_ 'alaihim ma_ yalbisu_n(a).
[[ Ruby’s note – This is the essence of the Message: If God would have sent an Angel as His proof He would have made it consistent with the natural reality we are in. Indicating that already there are such things in the reality that are miracles because God is making these happen but these appear like normal things because these take place in the normal settings in a normal way and repeatedly so that the people who are bend on denying the Creator’s existence would find excuses to deny, such as the creation of a human being in mother’s womb and the miraculous process of a child-birth, the envelope of the electro-magnetic field that protects the world from Sun’s harmful discharged. These are in true sense God’s miracle but these appear as normal and people do not notice as God’s miracle. This verse is implying that in the expression that even God would have send miracles to people He would blend it in reality and the rejecters would be confused because of their arrogance and obstinacy. All the signs and happening of reality are due to God’s mercy and constant interception and involvement, that is the biggest proof we should see in us, around us and beyond us.]]
[[ Ruby’s note – God’s miracles are all around us and written in reality. The entire reality is a clear indication of God’s existence: from any angle and with any level of knowledge one can see the miracles of this reality. However, one who has the arrogance or obstinacy to deny the truth no matter what kind of weird miracle is sent down they would find excuses or justifications to deny that. Prophet Muhammad’s life had no miracle except the Quran itself, he led a normal life doing normal things yet accomplished highest moral achievements and enormous worldly success as well amid the most difficult of circumstances and challenges. God does send signs but those remain in disguise or subtle and can be detected only through sincere mind and with God’s guidance. These would remain beyond the perception of the people who are arrogant and obstinate.
That final example was given to humankind through the Prophet’s life and living that one can live a normal life doing normal things in a society yet can accomplish higher goals. One does not need miracles or extra-ordinary power or even extra-ordinary sacrifice or austerity to accomplish the spiritual heights to be truly successful.]]
6: 48 [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]
Asad And We send [Our] message-bearers only as heralds of glad tidings and as warners: hence, all who believe and live righteously – no fear need they have and neither shall they grieve;
Yusuf Ali We send the Apostles only to give good news and to warn: so those who believe and mend (their lives) upon them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.
Pickthall We send not the messengers save as bearers of good news and warners. Whoso believeth and doeth right, there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
Transliteration Wa ma_ nursilul musalina illa_ mubasysyirina wa munzirin(a), fa man a_mana wa aslaha fala_ khaufun 'alaihim wa la_ hum yahzanu_n(a).
6: 49
Asad whereas those who give the lie to Our messages – suffering will afflict them in result of all their sinful doings.
Yusuf Ali But those who reject Our Signs them shall our punishment touch for that they ceased not from transgressing.
Pickthall But as for those who deny Our revelations, torment will afflict them for that they used to disobey.
Transliteration Wallazina kazzabu_ bi a_ya_tina_ yamassuhumul 'aza_bu bima_ ka_nu_ yafsuqu_n(a).
6: 50
Asad …………………Will you not, then, take thought?”
Yusuf Ali Say: "I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah nor do I know what is hidden nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me." Say: "Can the blind be held equal to the seeing?" Will ye then consider not?
Pickthall Say (O Muhammad, to the disbelievers): I say not unto you (that) I possess the treasures of Allah, nor that I have knowledge of the Unseen; and I say not unto you: Lo! I am an angel. I follow only that which is inspired in me. Say: Are the blind man and the seer equal? Will ye not then take thought?
Transliteration Qul la_ aqu_lu lakum 'indi khaza_'inulla_hi wa la_ a'lamul gaiba wa la_ aqu_lu lakum innimalak(un), in attabi'u illa_ ma_ yu_ha_ ilayy(a), qul hal yastawil a'ma_ wal basir(u), afala_ tatafakkaru_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 38 – This denial on the part of the Prophet of any claim to supernatural powers refers, primarily, to the demand of the unbelievers (mentioned in verse 37) that he should prove his prophetic mission by causing a “miraculous sign” to be bestowed on him. Beyond this specific reference, however, the above passage is meant to prevent any deification of the Prophet and to make it clear that he – like all other prophets before him –was but a moral human beings, a servant whom God had chosen to convey His message to mankind. See also 7:188]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 866 The Apostles are not sent to cancel man's limited free-will. They are sent to preach and teach, - to preach hope to the repentant ("good news"), and to warn the rebellious of the Wrath to come. (6.48)
867 Literally it might mean that the men of God are not like vulgar soothsayers, who pretend to reveal hidden treasures, or peer into future, or claim to be something of a different nature from men. But the meaning is wider: They deal out God's great treasures of truth, but the treasures are not theirs, but God's; they have greater insight into the higher things, but that insight is not due to their own wisdom, but to God's inspiration; they are of the same flesh and blood with us, and the sublimity of their words and teaching arises through God's grace- to them and to those who hear them. (6.50)]]
6: 109 [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]
Asad Now they swear by God with their most solemn oaths that if a miracle were shown to them, they would indeed believe in this [divine writ]. Say: :Miracles are in the power of God alone.” [note 94] And for all you know, even if on should be shown to them, they would not believe
Yusuf Ali They swear their strongest oaths by Allah that if a (special) sign came to them by it they would believe. Say: "Certainly (all) signs are in the power of Allah: but what will make you (Muslims) realize that even if a (special) sign comes they will not believe."
Pickthall And they swear a solemn oath by Allah that if there come unto them a portent they will believe therein. Say: Portents are with Allah and (so is) that which telleth you that if such came unto them they would not believe.
Transliteration Wa aqsamu_ billa_hi jahda aima_nihim la'in ja_'athum a_yatul layu'minunna biha_, qul innamal a_ya_tu 'indalla_hi wa ma_ yusy'irukum annaha_ iza_ ja_'at la_ yu'minu_n(a).
6: 110
Asad so long as We keep their hearts and their eyes turned [away from the truth] (note 95), even as they did not believe in it in the first instance: and [so] We shall leave them in their overweening arrogance, blindly stumbling to and fro.
Yusuf Ali We (too) shall turn to (confusion) their hearts and their eyes even as they refused to believe in the first instance: We shall leave them in their trespasses to wander in distraction.
Pickthall We confound their hearts and their eyes. As they believed not therein at the first, We let them wander blindly on in their contumacy.
Transliteration Wa nuqallibu af'idatahum wa absa_rahum kama_ lam yu'minu_ bihi awwala marratiw wa nazaruhum fi tugya_nihim ya'mahu_n(a).
[[Asad’s note 95 –I.e., so long as they remain blind to the truth in consequence of their unwillingness to acknowledge it – and this in accordance with the law of cause and effect which God has imposed on His creation (see surah 2, note 7)]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 938 Where there is sheer obstinacy and ridicule of faith, the result will be that such a sinner's heart will be hardened and his eyes will be sealed, so that he cannot even see the things visible to ordinary mortals. The sinner gathers impetus in his descent towards wrong. (6.110)
939 Cf. ii. 15. God's grace is always ready to help human weakness or ignorance and to accept repentance and give forgiveness. But where the sinner is in actual rebellion, he will be given none, and it will be his own fault if he wanders about distractedly, without any certain hope or refuge. (6.110)]]
6: 158
Yusuf Ali Are they waiting to see if the angels come to them or thy Lord (Himself) or certain of the signs of thy Lord! the day that certain of the signs of thy Lord do come no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then if it believed not before nor earned righteousness through its Faith. Say: "Wait ye: we too are waiting."
Pickthall Wait they, indeed, for nothing less than that the angels should come unto them, or thy Lord should come, or there should come one of the portents from thy Lord? In the day when one of the portents from they Lord cometh, its belief availeth naught a soul which theretofore believed not, nor in its belief earned good (by works). Say: Wait ye! Lo! We (too) are waiting.
Transliteration Hal yanzuru_na ills_ an ta'tiyahumul mala_'ikatu au ya'tiya rabbuka au ya'tiya ba'du a_ya_ti rabbik(a), yauma ya'ti ba'du a_ya_ti rabbika la_ yanfa'u nafsan ima_nuha_ lam takun a_manat min qablu au kasabat fi ima_niha_ khaira_(n), qulintaziru_ inna_ muntaziru_n(a).
17. Surah Al Isra
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا مَنَعَنَا
أَن نُّرْسِلَ
بِالآيَاتِ
إِلاَّ أَن
كَذَّبَ بِهَا
الأَوَّلُونَ...
17: 59. And We refrain from sending the Signs, only because the men of former generations treated them as false:
C2245. Past generations treated Signs and Portents with contempt or rebellion, and brought about their own undoing. It is only Allah's Mercy that gives them Grace for a time and prevents the coming of those Portents and Punishments which would overwhelm them if they were put to their trial at once.
...وَآتَيْنَا ثَمُودَ النَّاقَةَ مُبْصِرَةً فَظَلَمُواْ بِهَا...
We sent the She-camel: to the Thamud to open their eyes, but they treated her wrongfully:
C2246. An example is cited from the story of Thamud.
A wonderful She-camel was sent among them as a Portent and a Symbol. In their wickedness they hamstrung her.
So instead of her reclaiming them she was a cause of their destruction, as their sin and rebellion were laid bare. For the story of the She-camel and the references to the passages in which she is mentioned, see n. 104 4 to 7:73.
...وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالآيَاتِ إِلاَّ تَخْوِيفًا ﴿٥٩﴾
We only send the Signs by way of terror (and warning from evil).
C2247. Signs, Miracles, and Portents are sent by Allah as a warning, to strike terror into the hearts of evil-doers and reclaim them to the right path.
I have discussed Fear as a motive for reclaiming certain kinds of hard hearts, in my note 82 to 2:74. But some hearts are so hard that even this motive does not work. As they have a limited free-will given by Allah, they are to that extent free to choose. But when they actually choose evil, Allah in His infinite Mercy delays their punishment and removes the occasion for their immediate self-destruction by withholding the Signs which might make them transgress all the more and compass their total destruction.
Other versions:
17: 59 [al-Israa, Mecca 50 ]
Asad And nothing has prevented Us from sending with miraculous signs save that the people of olden times gave the lie to them: thus, We provided for Thamud the she-camel as a light-giving portent, and they sinned against it. And never did We send those signs for any other purpose than to convey a warning.
Yusuf Ali And We refrain from sending the Signs only because the men of former generations treated them as false: We sent the She-camel: to the Thamud to open their eyes but they treated her wrongfully: We only send the Signs by way of terror (and warning from evil).
Pickthall Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel--a clear portent--but they did wrong in respect of her. We send not portents save to warn.
Transliteration: Wa ma_ mana'ana_ an nursila bil a_ya_ti illa_ an kazzaba bihal awwalu_n(a), wa a_taina_ samu_dan na_qata mubsiratan fazalamu_ biha_, wa ma_ nursilu bil a_ya_ti illa_ takhwifa_(n).
[ takhwifa – to scare, to warn ]
[Ruby’s note: I believe what is conveyed here is that God sent miracles and portents to previous prophets, but their people still rejected those signs as magic or sorcery, and mocked and persecuted the prophets. The purpose of a miracle is to convince a people the genuineness of the Message. However, it did not work in the past to convince the hard-hearted, stubborn and arrogant people to reject in spite of a miracle or portent. And the people who are humble and rational considering the whole reality of life and death and all others signs in the reality, do not need these miracles to be convinced of God and His Messages. For them, there is sufficient evidence and justification all around. God therefore would not send anymore portent to Prophet Muhammad and his people to convince. Whoever wants can believe, whoever does not want is free to do so as well. The Message of the Quran is to appeal to ‘reason’ and nothing else. If there is a miracle, that is only for that specific people for that time, whereas the Message of the Quran is to convince the mankind for all time.]
[ Asad note 71 : This highly elliptic sentence has a fundamental bearing on the purpose of the Quran as a whole. In many places the Quran stresses the fact that the Prophet Muhammad ……was not empowered to perform miracles similar to those with which the earlier prophets are said to have reinforced their verbal messages. ………….]
[ Ali’s note: 2247 Signs, Miracles, and Portents are sent by Allah as a warning, to strike terror into the hearts of evil-doers and reclaim them to the right path. I have discussed Fear as a motive for reclaiming certain kinds of hard hearts, in my note 82 to ii. 74. But some hearts are so hard that even this motive does not work. As they have a limited free-will given by Allah, they are to that extent free to choose. But when they actually choose evil, Allah in His infinite Mercy delays their punishment and removes the occasion for their immediate self-destruction by withholding the Signs which might make them transgress all the more and compass their total destruction. (17.59) ]
Faith does not demand proof – but it wills reason and wisdom
The Quran is alluding to the concept of faith: one to receive Truth, he/she has to be first humble, upright, willing, and attentive to receive Guidance from God, and then look around and search the truth in the physical world and in the events of life, past and present. Glaring miracles are not going to be sent to convince anyone of the Truth. But then one can see the truth in reality if one is humble, upright, willing and sincere in his/her search. Truth is inscribed in the entire reality if one is willing to see it. That is why miracles are not going to be sent to convince one of faith. This is what God has set for human beings.
One becomes more and more successful in life as one’s faith strengthens.
15. Surah Al Hijr
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَالُواْ
يَا أَيُّهَا
الَّذِي نُزِّلَ
عَلَيْهِ الذِّكْرُ
إِنَّكَ لَمَجْنُونٌ ﴿٦﴾
15: 6. They say:
"O thou to whom the Message is being revealed!
Truly thou art mad (or possessed)!
C1940. Al-Mustafa was accused by the ungodly of being mad or possessed, because he spoke of higher things than they knew, and acted from motives purer and nobler than they could understand.
So, in a minor degree, is the lot of all the righteous in the presence of an ungodly world. Their motives, actions, words, hopes, and aspirations are unintelligible to their fellows, and they are accused of being mad or out of their senses. But they know that they are on the right path, and it is the ungodly who are really acting against their own best interests.
لَّوْ
مَا تَأْتِينَا
بِالْمَلائِكَةِ
إِن كُنتَ مِنَ
الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿٧﴾
15: 7. "Why bringest thou not angels to us if it be that thou hast the Truth?"
C1941. Cf. 6:8-9, and notes 840, 841.
On the part of the unbelievers, this is a mere taunt. They neither believe in Allah nor in angels nor in revelation nor in any but material things. It is ridiculous to suppose that they could be taken seriously.
مَا نُنَزِّلُ
الْمَلائِكَةَ
إِلاَّ بِالحَقِّ...
15: 8. We send not the angels down except for just cause:
C1942. Angels are not sent down to satisfy the whim or curiosity of the unbelievers. They are sent to bring inspiration to Allah's messengers and to execute Allah's decrees.
...وَمَا كَانُواْ إِذًا مُّنظَرِينَ ﴿٨﴾
if they came (to the ungodly), behold! no respite would they have!
C1943. If the angels were to appear before the ungodly, it would mean that they came to execute just punishment, and then there would be no hope of respite possible for the ungodly.
إِنَّا
نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا
الذِّكْرَ
وَإِنَّا لَهُ
لَحَافِظُونَ ﴿٩﴾
15: 9. We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).
C1944. The purity of the text of the Quran through fourteen centuries is a foretaste of the eternal care with which Allah's Truth is guarded through all ages.
All corruptions, inventions, and accretions pass away, but Allah's pure and holy Truth will never suffer eclipse even though the whole world mocked at it and were bent on destroying it. (R).
وَلَقَدْ
أَرْسَلْنَا
مِن قَبْلِكَ
فِي شِيَعِ
الأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٠﴾
15: 10. We did send Messengers before thee amongst the religious sects of old:
C1945. Shiya'un, plural of Shi'atun:: a sect, a religious division.
Mankind sees fragments of Truth at a time, and is apt to fall into fragments and divisions. All true messengers of Allah come to reconcile these fragments or divisions, for they preach the true Gospel of Unity.
So came Al-Mustafa to bring back to Unity the many jarring sects among the Jews, Christians, and Pagans. His mission was held up to ridicule, but so was the mission of his predecessors. Mockery itself should not discourage the preachers of Truth.
وَمَا
يَأْتِيهِم
مِّن رَّسُولٍ
إِلاَّ كَانُواْ
بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ ﴿١١﴾
15: 11. But never came a Messenger to them but they mocked him.
كَذَلِكَ
نَسْلُكُهُ
فِي قُلُوبِ
الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿١٢﴾
15: 12. Even so do We let it creep into the hearts of the sinners --
C1946. If evil and disbelief exist in the world, we must not be impatient or lose our faith. We must recognise that if such things are permitted, they are part of the Universal Plan and purpose of Allah, Who is All-Wise and All-Good, but Whose wisdom and goodness we cannot fully fathom.
One consolation we have, and that is stated in the next verse and the next note.
15: 13. That they should not believe in the (Message);
...وَقَدْ خَلَتْ سُنَّةُ الأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٣﴾
but the ways of the ancients have passed away.
C1947. Sects, divisions, and systems invented by men tend to pass away, but Allah's pure Truth of Unity endures for ever. This we see in history when we study it on a large scale.
Cf. the parable in 14:24-26.
Khalat: I have translated it here in the same sense as in 13:30, 10:102, and other places.
Some Commentators give it a slightly different shade of meaning. The other meaning is seen in 48:23.
وَلَوْ
فَتَحْنَا
عَلَيْهِم
بَابًا مِّنَ
السَّمَاء ...
15: 14. Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven,
C1948. Cf. 6:35.
The spiritual kingdom is open to all to enter. But the entrance is not a mere matter of physical movement. It is a question of a total change of heart. Evil must cease to be evil, before it can see or enjoy Good.
If we could suppose Evil, like Bottom the weaver, to be "translated" or in some way carried up to heaven, it would only think that the Truth was an illusion, and the reality was mere witchery. The taint is in its very nature, which must first be purified and rendered fit for the reception of light, truth, and bliss.
... فَظَلُّواْ فِيهِ يَعْرُجُونَ ﴿١٤﴾
and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein,
لَقَالُواْ
إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ
أَبْصَارُنَا...
15: 15. They would only say:
"Our eyes have been intoxicated:
...بَلْ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَّسْحُورُونَ ﴿١٥﴾
nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery."
Other versions:
15: 6
Yusuf Ali They say: "O thou to whom the Message is being revealed! Truly thou art mad (or possessed)!
Pickthall And they say: O thou unto whom the Reminder is revealed, lo! thou art indeed a madman!
Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ ya_ ayyuhal lazi nuzzila 'alaihiz zikru innaka lamajnu_n(un).
15: 7
Yusuf Ali "Why bring you not angels to us if it be that you have the Truth?"
Pickthall Why bring you not angels unto Us, if you are of the truthful?
Transliteration Lau ma_ ta'tina_ bil mala_'ikati in kunta minas sa_diqin(a).
15: 8
Asad We never send down angels otherwise than in accordance with [demands of] truth; and [were the angels to appear now] lo! They [who reject this divine writ] would have no further respite!
Yusuf Ali We send not the angels down except for just cause: if they came (to the ungodly) behold! no respite would they have!
Pickthall We send not down the angels save with the Fact, and that case (the disbelievers) would not be tolerated.
Transliteration Ma_ nunazzilul mala_'ikata illa_ bil haqqi wa ma_ ka_nu_ izam munzarin(a).
[ Asad note 7: “and not just to satisfy a frivolous demand of people who refuse to consider a prophetic message on its merits”. Moreover – as is evident from the next clause – and actual appearance of the angels to ordinary men would but presage the Day of Judgment [described in 78: 39 as “the Day of Ultimate Truth] …..]
[Ruby’s note: God has given miracles and signs through our reality: e.g. a human being brought forth from a tiny spec of matter which cannot be even seen by naked eye through a bewildering process, and so many other things that are existing and happening in the reality around us. Just because these things happen regularly, does not mean that these are any less miraculous, many things happen around us all the time miraculously through a narrow margin of happening, if one really ponders would see that all these can happen only through Grace and Mercy of God. These signs and ‘ayats’ are for every one to note and consider if one is not inhibited by arrogance, insincerity and ignorance. And if one is arrogant and insincere then God [it] is not going to comply with this demand of proof. God has given even bigger proof for people to ponder and deduce from the reality. And even this intervention of angels come before human, these people would find other excuses ascribing these as part of magic or sorceries or UFO, etc. ]
15: 9
Asad Behold, it is We Ourselves who have bestowed from on high, step by step, this reminder: and, behold, it is We who shall truly guard it [from all corruption].
Yusuf Ali We have without doubt sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).
Pickthall Lo! We, even We, reveal the Reminder, and lo! We verily are its Guardian.
Transliteration Inna_ nahnu nazzalnaz zikra wa inna_ lahu_ laha_fizu_n(a).
15: 10
Yusuf Ali We did send apostles before thee amongst the religious sects of old:
Pickthall We verily sent (messengers) before thee among the factions of the men of old.
Transliteration Wa laqad arsalna_ min qablika fi syiya'il awwalin(a).
15: 11
Yusuf Ali But never came an apostle to them but they mocked him.
Pickthall And never came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him.
Transliteration Wa ma_ ya'tihim mir rasu_lin illa_ ka_nu_ bihi yastahzi'u_n(a).
15: 12
Yusuf Ali Even so do We let it creep into the hearts of the sinners
Pickthall Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty:
Transliteration Kaza_lika naslukuhu_ fi qulu_bil mujrimin(a),
15: 13
Yusuf Ali That they should not believe in the (Message); but the ways of the ancients have passed away.
Pickthall They believe not therein, though the example of the men of old hath gone before.
Transliteration La_ yu'minu_na bihi wa qad khalat sunnatul awwalin(a).
15: 14
Yusuf Ali Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein
Pickthall And even if We opened unto them a Gate of Heaven and they
kept mounting through it.
Transliteration Wa lau fatahna_ 'alaihim ba_bam minas sama_'i fazallu_ fihi ya'ruju_n(a),
15: 15
Yusuf Ali They would only say: "Our eyes have been intoxicated: nay we have been bewitched by sorcery."
Pickthall They would say: Our sight is wrong--nay, but we are folk bewitched.
Transliteration Laqa_lu_ innama_ sukkirat absa_runa_ bal nahnu qaumum mashu_ru_n(a).
[ Ruby’s note : Or they would say they are hallucinated. If one is arrogant or deliberately rejecting because the new idea is difficult to comply or accept and it requires a change in their lifestyle and attitudes, then they would find excuses no matter whatever. A true searcher of truth would see these signs as signs of God and accept]
16.Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يُنَزِّلُ
الْمَلآئِكَةَ
بِالْرُّوحِ
مِنْ أَمْرِهِ
عَلَى مَن يَشَاء
مِنْ عِبَادِهِ...
16: 2. He doth send down His angels with inspiration of His Command, to such of His servants as He pleaseth, (saying):
... أَنْ أَنذِرُواْ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاتَّقُونِ ﴿٢﴾
"Warn (Man) that there is no god but I:
so do your duty unto Me."
C2020. The Pagans, with their multiplicity of gods and goddesses, good and evil, could play one off against another. That is mere mockery of religion. With such conceptions, man cannot understand the Unity of Design in the Universe nor realise the Power and Glory of the One True God, to Whom alone worship and service are due.
Other versions:
16: 2
Asad He causes the angels to descend with this divine inspiration, at His behest upon whomever He wills of His servants: “Warn that there is no deity save Me: be, therefore, conscious of me!”
Yusuf Ali He doth send down His angels with inspiration of His Command to such of His servants as He pleases (saying): "Warn (Man) that there is no god but I: so do your duty unto Me."
Pickthall He sends down the angels with the Spirit of His command unto whom He will of His bondmen, (saying): Warn mankind that there is no god save Me, so keep your duty unto Me.
Transliteration Yunazzilul mala_'ikata bir ru_hi min amrihi 'ala_ may yasya_'u min 'iba_dihi an anziru_ annahu_ la_ ila_ha illa_ ana fa-ttaqu_n(i).
[Ruby’s note: This is the essence of faith: if one is conscious of God, knowing and accepting He is the Cause of all causes, He is the Ultimate reality on which all transitory realities are based [as Upanishad says] that is He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, then all of ones attitudes and actions would emanate from this core idea. This fundamental understanding then would direct one toward the real purpose of life, that is the total Submission to or Compliance with the Supreme Law in existence.]
20 Sura Taha
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَالُوا لَوْلَا
يَأْتِينَا
بِآيَةٍ مِّن
رَّبِّهِ...
20: 133. They say: "Why does he not bring us a Sign from His Lord?"
C2658. The question or plea of the Unbelievers is disingenuous. Many Signs have come with this Revelation. But the one that should have appealed to those who believed in former revelations and should have convinced them was what was in their own books.
...أَوَلَمْ تَأْتِهِم بَيِّنَةُ مَا فِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَى ﴿١٣٣﴾
Has not a clear Sign come to them of all that was in the former Books of revelation?
Other versions:
20: 133 Taha, Mecca 45
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[[Asad’s notes - 119 I.e., in proof of his prophetic mission: cf 6:109 and, many other instances in which the deniers of the truth are spoken of as making their belief in the Qur'anic message dependent on tangible "miracles".
120 I.e., "Does not the Qur'an express the same fundamental truths as were expressed in the revelations granted to the earlier prophets?" Beyond this, the above rhetorical question contains an allusion to the predictions of the advent of Muhammad to be found in the earlier scriptures, e.g.. in Deuteronomy xviii, 15 and 18 (discussed in my note 33 on 2:42) or in John xiv, 16, xv, 26 and xvi, 7, where Jesus speaks of the "Comforter" who is to come after him. (Regarding this latter prediction, see my note on 61 :6.) ]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 2658 The question or plea of the Unbelievers is disingenuous. Many Signs have come with this Revelation. But the one that should have appealed to those who believed in former revelations and should have convinced them was what was in their own books. (20.133) ]]
