5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولُنَا...

5: 15. O People of the Book!

there hath come to you Our Messenger,

... يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ...

revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary):

... قَدْ جَاءكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٥﴾

There hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book.

C716. Mubin: I wish I could translate by a simpler word than "perspicuous". But "plain" may mean unadorned, the opposite of beautiful, and this Book is among the most beautiful that it is the privilege of mankind to read.

"Clear" would be right as far as it means "unambiguous, self-evident, not involved in mysteries of origin, history, or meaning, one which every one can understand as to the essentials necessary for him, without the intervention of priests or privileged persons".

Mubin has all these meanings, but it suggests, besides, some quality of a shining light, by which we are able to make things clear, to distinguish the true from the false. This I think is suggested better by "perspicuous" than by the word "clear". Besides it is hardly good idiom to speak of "a clear Book."

يَهْدِي بِهِ اللّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلاَمِ ...

5: 16. Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety,

... وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنِ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿١٦﴾

and leadeth them out of darkness, by His Will,

unto the light, guideth them to a Path that is Straight.

Other versions:

5: 15 [al-Maidah, Medina 112 ]

Asad …………..Now there has come unto you form God a light, and a clear divine writ,

Yusuf Ali O People of the Book! there hath come to you Our Apostle revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book.

Pickthall O people of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which ye used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. Now hath come unto you light from Allah and a plain Scripture,

Transliteration Ya_ ahlal kita_bi qad ja_'akum rasu_luna_ yubayyinu lakum kasiram mimma_ kuntumtukhfu_na minal kita_bi wa ya'fu_ 'an kasir(in), qad ja_'akum minalla_hi nu_ruw wa kita_bum mubin(uy).

[[ Ali’s note - 716 Mubin: I wish I could translate by a simpler word than "perspicuous". But "plain" may mean unadorned, the opposite of beautiful, and this Book is among the most beautiful that it is the privilege of mankind to read. "Clear" would be right as far as it means "unambiguous, self-evident, not involved in mysteries of origin, history, or meaning, one which every one can understand as to the essentials necessary for him, without the intervention of priests or privileged persons". Mubin has all these meanings, but it suggests, besides, some quality of a shining light, by which we are able to make things clear, to distinguish the true from the false, This I think is suggested better by "perspicuous" than by the word "clear". Besides it is hardly good idiom to speak of "a clear Book." (5.15) ]]

5: 16

Asad through which God shows unto all that seek His goodly acceptance the paths leading to salvation [note 29] and, by His grace, brings them out of the depths of darkness into the light and guides them onto a straight way.

Yusuf Ali Wherewith Allah guide all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety and lead them out of darkness by His Will unto the light guide them to a Path that is Straight.

Pickthall Whereby Allah guide him who seek His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bring them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guide them unto a straight path.

Transliteration Yahdi bihilla_hu manittaba'aridwa_nahu_ subulas sala_mi wayukhrijuhum minaz zuluma_tiilan nu_ri bi iznihi wa yahdihim ila_ sira_tim mustaqim(in).

[[ Asad’s note 29 – The word ‘salam’, here rendered as “salvation’, has no proper equivalent in the English language. It denotes inner peace, soundness and security from evil of any kind, both physical and spiritual, and the achievement of what, in Christian terminology, is described as “salvation”: with the difference, however, that the Christian concept of salvation presupposes the existence of an a-priori state of sinfulness, which is justified in Christianity by the doctrine of “original sin”, but is not justified in Islam, which does not subscribe to this doctrine. …………]