17. Surah Al Isra

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ...   

17: 57.  Those whom they call upon do desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord --

...أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ...

even those who are nearest: they hope for His Mercy and fear His Wrath:

C2243. Where men or heroes, or prophets or angels are worshipped, the worship is futile; because;

-        even if they are good and holy, and ever so near to Allah, yet the nearest of them have need to seek means of access to Allah, and they do seek such means, viz,: the hope of Allah's Grace;

-        though by their very nature it is impossible for us to suppose that they will incur the Wrath of Allah, yet they are but creatures and are subject to the law of personal responsibility.

...إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا ﴿٥٧﴾

for the Wrath of thy Lord is something to take heed of.

Other versions:

17: 57

Yusuf Ali Those whom they call upon do desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord even those who are nearest: they hope for His Mercy and fear His Wrath: for the Wrath of thy Lord is something to take heed of.

Pickthall Those unto whom they cry seek the way of approach to their Lord, which of them shall be the nearest; they hope for His mercy and they fear His doom. Lo! the doom of thy Lord is to be shunned.

Transliteration Qul-id'ul lazina za'amtum min du_nihi fala_ yamliku_na kasyfad durri 'ankum wa la_ tahwila_(n). 57.Ula_'ikal lazina yad'u_na yabtagu_na ilu_ rabbihimul wasilata ayyuhum aqrabu wa yarj_na rahmatahu_ wa yakha_fu_na 'aza_bah(u_), inna 'aza_ba rabbika ka_na mahzu_ra_(n).