5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ ...

5: 78. Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected faith, by the tongue of David.

C786. The Psalms of David have several passages of imprecations against the wicked.

Cf. Psalms 109:17-18; 78:21-22 ("Therefore the Lord heard this and was wroth; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation");

Psalms 69:22-28, and Psalms 5:10.

... وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ...

and of Jesus the son of Mary:

C787. Cf. Matt. 23:33, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell?

also Matt. 12:34.

... ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُواْ يَعْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٨﴾

because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses.

كَانُواْ لاَ يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ...

5: 79. Nor did they (usually) forbid one another the iniquities which they committed:

C788. There are bad men in every community, but if leaders connive at the misdeeds of the commonalty, -and even worse, if leaders themselves share in the misdeeds, as happened with the Pharisees and Scribes against whom Jesus spoke out, then that community is doomed.

... لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾

evil indeed were the deeds which they did.

تَرَى كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ...

5: 80. Thou seest many of them turning in friendship to the unbelievers.

... لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ أَن سَخِطَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِي الْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾

Evil indeed are (the works) which their souls have sent forward before them (with the result), that Allah's wrath is on them, and in torment will they abide.

وَلَوْ كَانُوا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالله والنَّبِيِّ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَا اتَّخَذُوهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء...

5: 81. If only they had believed in Allah, in the Prophet, and in what hath been revealed to him, never would they have taken them for friends and protectors,

... وَلَـكِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ ﴿٨١﴾

but most of them are rebellious wrongdoers.

Other versions:

5: 78

Asad ………this, because they reveled [against God] and persisted in transgressing the bounds of what is right.

Yusuf Ali Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected faith by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses.

Pickthall Those of the children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they rebelled and used to transgress.

Transliteration Lu'inal lazina kafaru_ mim bani isra_'ila 'ala_ lisa_ni da_wu_da wa 'isabni maryam(a), za_lika bima_ 'asaw wa ka_nu_ ya'tadu_n(a).

5: 79

Yusuf Ali Nor did they (usually) forbid one another the iniquities which they committed: evil indeed were the deeds which they did.

Pickthall They restrained not one another from the wickedness they did. Verily evil was that they used to do!

Transliteration Ka_nu_ la_ yatana_hauna 'an munkarin fa'alu_h(u), labi'sa ma_ ka_nu_ yaf'alu_n(a).

[[ Ali’s notes - 786 The Psalms of David have several passages of imprecations against the wicked. Cf- Psalms cix 17-18; lxxviii. 21-22 ("Therefore the Lord heard this and was wroth; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation"); Psalms lxix. 22-28, and Psalms v. 10. (5.78)

787 Cf. Matt- xxiii, 33 ("Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell?); also Matt. xii. 34. (5.78)

788 There are bad men in every community, but if leaders connive at the misdeeds of the commonalty,-and even worse, if leaders themselves share in the misdeeds, as happened with the Pharisees and Scribes against whom Jesus spoke out, then that community is doomed. (5.79) ]]

5: 80

Yusuf Ali You see many of them turning in friendship to the unbelievers. Evil indeed are (the works) which their souls have sent forward before them (with the result) that Allah's wrath is on them and in torment will they abide.

Pickthall You see many of them making friends with those who disbelieve. Surely ill for them is that which they themselves send on before them : that Allah will be wroth with them and in the doom they will abide.

Transliteration Tara_ kasiram minhum yatawallaunal lazina kafaru_, labi'sa ma_ qaddamat lahum anfusuhum an sakhitalla_hu'alaihim wa fil 'aza_bi hum kha_lidu_n(a).

5: 81

Yusuf Ali If only they had believed in Allah in the Apostle and in what hath been revealed to him never would they have taken them for friends and protectors but most of them are rebellious wrong-doers.

Pickthall If they believed in Allah and the Prophet and that which is revealed unto him, they would not choose them for their friends. But many of them are of evil conduct.

Transliteration Wa lau ka_nu_ yu'minu_na billa_hi wan nabiyyi wa ma_ unzila ilaihi mattakhazu_hum auliya_'a wa la_kinna kasiram minhum fa_siqu_n(a).