5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَئِن بَسَطتَ إِلَيَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِي مَا أَنَاْ بِبَاسِطٍ يَدِيَ إِلَيْكَ لَأَقْتُلَكَ...

5: 28. "If thou dost stretch thy hand against me, to slay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against thee to slay thee:

... إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢٨﴾

for I do fear Allah, the Cherisher of the worlds.

إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَن تَبُوءَ بِإِثْمِي وَإِثْمِكَ فَتَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ...

5: 29. "For me, I intend to let thee draw on thyself my sin as well as thine, for thou wilt be among the companions of the fire,

C732. My sin as well as thine: "My sin" has been interpreted as "the sin against me, in that thou slayest me": in that case thy "sin" may mean;

- either "thy crime in committing a murder." or

- "thy sin against thyself, for the crime causes real loss to thyself in the Hereafter."

See the last clause of the next verse.

... وَذَلِكَ جَزَاء الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾

and that is the reward of those who do wrong."

C733. Abel's speech is full of meaning. He is innocent and God-fearing. To the threat of death held out by the other, he returns a calm reply, aimed at reforming the other.

"Surely," he pleads, "if your sacrifice was not accepted, there was something wrong in you, for Allah is just and accepts the sacrifice of the righteous.

If this does not deter you, I am not going to retaliate, though there is as much power in me against you as you have against me.

I fear my Maker, for I know He cherishes all His Creation. Let me warn you that you are doing wrong. I do not intend even to resist, but do you know what the consequences will be to you? You will be in torment."

Asad’s Version:

(From the story of Abel and Cain)

5: 28 Even if you lay your hand on me to slay me, I shall not lay hand on you to slay you: behold, I fear God, the Sustainer of al the worlds. (story of Abel and Cain).......

5: 29 I am willing, indeed, for you to bear all the sins ever done by me as well as of the sin done by you: then you would be destined for the fire, since that is the requital of evildoers!”

5: 36,37 Verily, if those who are bent on denying the truth had all that is on earth, and twice as much, to offer as ransom from suffering on the Day of Resurrection, it would not be accepted from them: for grievous suffering awaits them. They will wish to come out of fire, but they shall not come out of it; and long-lasting suffering awaits them.