6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَالُواْ
لَوْلاَ نُزِّلَ
عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ
مِّن رَّبِّهِ...
6: 37. They say: "Why is not a Sign sent down to him from his Lord?"
...قُلْ إِنَّ اللّهَ قَادِرٌ عَلَى أَن يُنَزِّلٍ آيَةً وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾
Say: "Allah hath certainly power to send down a Sign: but most of them understand not."
C858. Signs are all around them, but they do not understand. If they want a particular Sign to suit their gross ignorance, they will not be humored, for they can always pick holes in anything that descends to their level.
وَمَا
مِن دَآبَّةٍ
فِي الأَرْضِ
وَلاَ طَائِرٍ
يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ
إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ
أَمْثَالُكُم
...
6: 38. There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you.
C859. "Animals living on the earth" include those living in the water-fishes, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, as well as four-footed beasts. Life on the wing is separately mentioned.
"Tair," which is ordinarily translated as "bird," is anything that flies, including mammals like bats.
In our pride we may exclude animals from our purview, but they live a life, social ad individual, like ourselves, and all life is subject to the Plan and Will of Allah.
In 6:59 we are told that not a leaf falls but by His Will, and things dry and green are recorded in His Book. In other words they all obey His archetypal Plan, the Book which is also mentioned here.
They are all answerable in their several degrees to His Plan ("shall be gathered to their Lord in the end"). This is not Pantheism: it is ascribing all life, activity, and existence to the Will and Plan of Allah.
...مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ...
Nothing have We omitted from the Book,
... ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾
and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.
Asad’s Version:
6: 37 “...........But most of them understand not.”
6: 38 There is not an animal [that lives] ...............but [forms part of ] communities like you. Nothing have We omitted from the Book, and they [all] shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَالَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ مِن بَعْدُ
وَهَاجَرُواْ
وَجَاهَدُواْ
مَعَكُمْ
فَأُوْلَـئِكَ
مِنكُمْ...
8: 75. And those who accept faith subsequently, and adopt exile, and fight for the faith in your company, they are of you.
C1244. Those who come into the fold last are none the less brethren in the fullest acceptation of the term. But any special provisions made in the special circumstances of the first martyrs for the Cause will not of course apply to them as the special circumstances which made them necessary have ceased to exist.
See next note.
...وَأُوْلُواْ الأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَى بِبَعْضٍ فِي كِتَابِ اللّهِ...
But kindred by blood have prior rights against each other in the Book of Allah.
C1245. The Book of Allah: i.e., the Eternal Decree, the Preserved Tablet (85:22).
Blood-relationship and its rights and duties do not depend on special circumstances of a temporary nature. Any temporary rights of mutual inheritance established between the early Emigrants and Helpers (n. 1239) would not apply to later recruits, who would come under entirely different circumstances.
...إِنَّ اللّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٧٥﴾
Verily Allah is well acquainted with all things
Asad’s Version:
8: 75 And those who accept Faith subsequently, and adopt exile, and fight for the Faith in your company,- They are of you. But kindred by blood have prior rights against each other in the Book of God. Verily God is well-acquainted with all things.
[see Ali’s note]
13.Surah ArRa'd
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا
رُسُلاً مِّن
قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا
لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا
وَذُرِّيَّةً...
13 : 38. We did send Messengers before thee, and appointed for them wives and children:
C1861. All the Prophets of whom we have any detailed knowledge, except one, had wives and children.
The exception is Jesus the son of Mary. But his life was incomplete; his ministry barely lasted three years; his mission was limited; and he was not called upon to deal with the many-sided problems that arise in a highly organized society or State.
We pay equal respect to him, because he was Allah's Messenger; but that is not to say that his Message covers the same universal ground as that of Al-Mustafa.
There is no reproach for a normal human being if he lives a normal human life; there is glory if he beautifies it and sets a nobler example of virtue than other men, as did Al-Mustafa.
...وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ...
and it was never the part of a Messenger to bring a Sign except as Allah permitted (or commanded).
C1862. No Prophet performed any Miracle or showed forth any "Signs," except as Allah willed. Allah's Will (Mashiyat) is an all-wise, universal Plan, which is not formed for the benefit of one tribe or millahor of one age or country (see also next verse).
The greatest Miracle in history was and is the Quran. We can apprehend its beauty and grandeur to-day as much as did the people of Al-Mustafa's day, -even more, as our collective knowledge of nature and of Allah's creation has increased.
...لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ ﴿٣٨﴾
For each period is a Book (revealed).
C1863. Kitab: I have translated "a Book (revealed)";
but it can also means "a Law decreed" or "a Decree established."
Ultimately the meaning is the same; for each age, according to Allah's wisdom, His Message is renewed.
يَمْحُو
اللّهُ مَا
يَشَاء وَيُثْبِتُ
وَعِندَهُ أُمُّ
الْكِتَابِ ﴿٣٩﴾
13: 39. Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book.
C1864. Umm-ul-Kitab: Mother of the Book: the original foundation of all revelation; the Essence of Allah's Will and Law.
Other versions:
13: 38 [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]
Asad And, truly, We sent forth apostles before thee, and We appointed for them wives and offspring; and it was not given to any apostle to produce a miracle save at God’s behest. Every age has had its revelation:
Yusuf Ali We did send apostles before thee and appointed for them wives and children: and it was never the part of an apostle to bring a Sign except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is a Book (revealed).
Pickthall And verily We sent messengers (to mankind) before thee, and We appointed for them wives and offspring, and it was not (given) to any messenger that he should bring a portent save by Allah's leave. For everything there is a time prescribed.
Yuksel We have sent messengers before you and We have made for them mates and offspring. It was not for a messenger to come with any sign except by God's leave, but for every time there is a decree.*
Transliteration Wa laqad arsalna_ rusulam min qablika wa ja'alna_ lahum azwa_jaw wa zurriyyah(tan), wa ma_ ka_na li rasu_lin ay ya'tiya bi a_yatin illa_ bi iznilla_h(i), likulli ajalin kita_b(un).
[ Asad note 76: ………5:48 – “Unto every one of you have We appointed a [different] law and way of life” ……………the statement that every age had a revelation suited to the particular needs of the time and the people concerned [Zamakhshari] …….]
13:39
Asad God annuls or confirms whatever He wills [of His earlier messages] – for with Him is the source of all revelation.
Yusuf Ali Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book.
Pickthall Allah effaceth what He will, and establisheth (what He will), and with Him is the source of ordinance.
Transliteration Yamhulla_hu ma_ yasya_'u wa yusbit(u), wa 'indahu_ ummul kita_b(i).
[Asad note 77: I.e., He is the fountainhead or source [asl] of all revelation. – As regards the preceding reference to the abrogation of earlier divine dispensations and their supersession by later ones – ending with the final revelation, the Quran – see 2:106………]
[Ali’s note 1864: Umm-ul-Kitab: Mother of the Book: the original foundation of all revelation; the Essence of Allah's Will and Law. Cf. iii. 7, and n. 347. (13.39)]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1861 All the Prophets of whom we have any detailed knowledge, except one, had wives and children. The exception is Jesus the son of Mary. But his life was incomplete; his ministry barely lasted three years; his mission was limited; and he was not called upon to deal with the many-sided problems that arise in a highly organized society or State. We pay equal respect to him, because he was Allah's Messenger; but that is not to say that his Message covers the same universal ground as that of Al-Mustafa. There is no reproach for a normal human being if he lives a normal human life; there is glory if he beautifies it and sets a nobler example of virtue than other men, as did Al-Mustafa. (13.38)
1862 No Prophet performed any Miracle or showed forth any "Signs," except as Allah willed. Allah's Will (Mashiyat) is an all-wise, universal Plan, which is not formed for the benefit of one tribe or millat or of one age or country (see also next verse). The greatest Miracle in history was and is the Qur-an. We can apprehend its beauty and grandeur today as much as did the people of Al-Mustafa's day,-even more, as our collective knowledge of nature and of Allah's creation has increased. (13.38)
1863 Kitab: means "a Law decreed" or "a Decree established." (13.38)
1864 Umm-ul-Kitab: Mother of the Book: the original foundation of all revelation; the Essence of Allah's Will and Law. Cf. iii. 7, and n. 347. (13.39) ]]
2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
خَتَمَ
اللّهُ عَلَى
قُلُوبِهمْ
وَعَلَى سَمْعِهِمْ
...
2 : 7. Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing,
C31. All actions are referred to Allah. Therefore, when we get the penalty of our deliberate sin, and our senses become impervious to good, the penalty is referred to the justice of Allah.
... وَعَلَى أَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ...
and on their eyes is a veil;
... وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عظِيمٌ ﴿٧﴾
great is the penalty they (incur).
C32. The penalty here is the opposite of the prosperity referred to in 2:5. As we go down the path of sin, our penalty gathers momentum, just as goodness brings its own capacity for greater goodness.
Other versions:
2: 7
Yusuf Ali He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: in it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical seeking discord and searching for its hidden meanings but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord"; and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding.
Pickthall He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations--They are the substance of the Book--and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed.
Transliteration Huwal lazi anzala 'alaikal kita_ba minhu a_ya_tum muhkama_tun hunna ummul kita_bi wa ukharu mutasya_biha_t(un), fa ammal lazina fi qulu_bihim zaigun fa yattabi'u_na ma_ tasya_baha minhubtiga_'a ta'wilih(i), wa ma_ ya'lamu ta'wilahu_ illalla_h(u), war ra_sikhu_na fil 'ilmi yaqu_lu_na a_manna_ bih(i), kullum min'indi rabbina_, wa ma_ yazzakaru illa_ ulul alba_b(i).