6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَقَدْ
أَرْسَلنَآ
إِلَى أُمَمٍ
مِّن قَبْلِكَ
...
6: 42. Before thee We sent (Messengers) to many nations
...فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِالْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ ﴿٤٢﴾
and We afflicted the nations with suffering and adversity, that they might learn humility.
فَلَوْلا
إِذْ جَاءهُمْ
بَأْسُنَا
تَضَرَّعُواْ...
6: 43. When the suffering reached them from Us, why then did they not learn humility?
C861. Sorrow and suffering may (if we take them rightly) turn out to be the best gifts of Allah to us. According to the Psalms (94:12), "Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord!"
Through suffering we learn humility, the antidote to many vices and the fountain of many virtues. But if we take them the wrong way, we grumble and complain: we become faint-hearted; and Satan gets his opportunity to exploit us by putting forward the alluring pleasures of his Vanity Fair.
...وَلَـكِن قَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٤٣﴾
On the contrary their hearts became hardened, and Satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to them.
فَلَمَّا
نَسُواْ مَا
ذُكِّرُواْ
بِهِ فَتَحْنَا
عَلَيْهِمْ
أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ
شَيْءٍ...
6: 44. But when they forget the warning they had received, We opened to them the gates of all (good) things,
C862. Learning the inner truth of ourselves and the world presupposes a certain advanced stage of sensitiveness and spiritual development. There is a shallower stage, at which prosperity and the good things of life may teach us sympathy and goodness and cheerfulness like that of Mr. Cheeribyles in Dickens. In such cases the Message takes root. But there is another type of character which is puffed up in prosperity.
For them prosperity is a trial or even a punishment from the higher point of view. They go deeper and deeper into sin, until they are pulled up of a sudden, and then instead of being contrite they merely become desperate.
...حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُواْ بِمَا أُوتُواْ أَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾
until, in the midst of their enjoyment of Our gifts, on a sudden, We called them to account, when lo! they were plunged in despair!
فَقُطِعَ
دَابِرُ الْقَوْمِ
الَّذِينَ
ظَلَمُواْ...
6: 45. Of the wrongdoers the last remnant was cut off.
...وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher of the worlds.
C863. Allah's punishment of wrong-doers is a measure of justice, to protect the true and righteous from their depredations and maintain His righteous decrees. It is an aspect of His character which is emphasised by the epithet "Cherisher of the Worlds".
Other versions:
6: 42
Asad And, indeed, We sent Our messages unto people before your time, [O Prophet,] and visited them with misfortune and hardship so that they humble themselves.
Yusuf Ali Before thee We sent (Apostles) to many nations and We afflicted the nations with suffering and adversity that they might learn humility.
Pickthall We have sent already unto peoples that were before thee, and We visited them with tribulation and adversity, in order that they might grow humble.
Transliteration Wa laqad arsalna_ ila_ umamim min qablika fa akhazna_hum bil ba'sa_'i wad darra_'i la'allahum yatadarra'u_n(a).
6: 43
Yusuf Ali When the suffering reached them from Us why then did they not learn humility? On the contrary their hearts became hardened and Satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to them.
Pickthall If only, when our disaster came on them, they had been humble! But their hearts were hardened and the devil made all that they used to do seem fair unto them!
Transliteration Fa lau la_ iz ja_'ahum ba'suna_ tadarra'u_ wa la_kin qasat qulu_buhum wa zayyana lahumusy syaita_nu ma_ ka_nu_ ya'malu_n(a).
6: 44
Asad …..they were broken in spirit [note 34];
Yusuf Ali But when they forget the warning they had received We opened to them the gates of all (good) things until in the midst of their enjoyment of Our gifts on a sudden We called them to account when lo! they were plunged in despair!
Pickthall Then, when they forgot that whereof they had been reminded, We opened unto them the gates of all things till, even as they were rejoicing in that which they were given, We seized them unawares, and lo! they were dumbfounded.
Transliteration Falamma_ nasu_ ma_ zukkiru_ bihi fatahna_ 'alaihim abwa_ba kulli syai'(in), hatta_ iza_ farihu_ bima_ u_tu_ akhazna_hum bagtatan fa iza_ hum mublisu_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 34 –The verb ‘ablasa’ signifies “he despaired of all hope’ or ‘become broken in spirit’, (for the linguistic connection of this word the name of ‘iblis’, the Fallen Angel, see surah 7, note 10.
6: 45
Asad and [in the end ] the last remnant of those folk who had been bent on evildoing was wiped out [note 35]. For all praise is due to God, the Sustainer of all the worlds.
Yusuf Ali Of the wrong-doers the last remnant was cut off. Praise be to Allah the Cherisher of the worlds
Pickthall So of the people who did wrong the last remnant was cut off. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!
Transliteration Faquti'a da_birul qaumil lazina zalamu_, wal hamdu lilla_hi rabbil 'a_lamin(a).
[[Asad’s note 35 – Lit., “cur off”. The above passage illustrates a phenomenon well known in history: namely, the inevitable social and moral disintegration of communities which have lost sight of spiritual truths.]]
[[ Ali’s notes
861 Sorrow and suffering may (if we take them rightly) turn out to be the best gifts of God to us. According to the Psalms (xciv. 12), "Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord!" Through suffering we learn humility, the antidote to many vices and the fountain of many virtues. But if we take them the wrong way, we grumble and complain: we become faint-hearted; and Satan gets his opportunity to exploit us by putting forward the alluring pleasures of his Vanity Fair. (6.43)
862 Learning the inner truth of ourselves and the world presupposes a certain advanced stage of sensitiveness and spiritual development. There is a shallower stage, at which prosperity and the good things of life may teach us sympathy and goodness and cheerfulness like that of Mr. Cheeribyles in Dickens. In such cases the Message takes root. But there is another type of character which is puffed up in prosperity. For them prosperity is a trial or even a punishment from the higher point of view. They go deeper and deeper into sin, until they are pulled up of a sudden, and then instead of being contrite they merely become desperate. (6.44)
863 God's punishment of wrong-doers is a measure of justice, to protect the true and righteous from their depredations and maintain His righteous decrees. It is an aspect of His character which is emphasized by the epithet "Cherisher of the Worlds." (6.45) ]]
16.Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا
فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ
رَّسُولاً أَنِ
اعْبُدُواْ
اللّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ
الطَّاغُوتَ...
16: 36. For We assuredly sent amongst every People a Messenger, (with the Command),
"Serve Allah and eschew Evil":
C2060. Even though Allah's Signs are everywhere in Nature and in men's own conscience, yet in addition Allah has sent human Messengers to every People to call their attention to the Good and turn them from Evil.
So they cannot pretend that Allah has abandoned them or that He does not care what they do. His divine Grace always invites their will to choose the right.
... فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى اللّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلالَةُ...
of the people were some whom Allah guided, and some on whom Error became inevitably (established).
C2061. While some people accept the guidance of the divine Grace, others so surrender themselves to Evil that it must necessarily follow that Evil obtains a grip over them. They have only to travel through Time or Space to see the end of those who abandoned their lights and surrendered to Evil and Error.
For haqqat and the meaning of haqq in this connection cf. 15:64.
... فَسِيرُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ فَانظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ ﴿٣٦﴾
So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth).
Other versions:
16: 36
Yusuf Ali For We assuredly sent amongst every People an apostle (with the Command) "Serve Allah and eschew Evil": of the people were some whom Allah guided and some on whom Error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth).
Pickthall And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Serve Allah and shun false gods. Then some of them (there were) whom Allah guided, and some of them (there were) upon whom error had just hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequence for the deniers!
Yuksel We have sent a messenger to every nation: "You shall serve God and avoid transgression." Some of them were guided by God, and some of them deserved to be misguided. So travel in the land, and see how the punishment was of those who denied.
Transliteration Wa laqad ba'asna_ fi kulli ummatir rasu_lan an-i'budulla_ha wa-jtanibu_t ta_gu_t(a), fa minhum man hadalla_hu wa minhum man haqqat 'alaihid dala_lah(tu), fa siru_ fil ardi fa-nzuru_ kaifa ka_na 'a_qibatul mukazzibin(a).
17. Surah Al Isra
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَكُلَّ
إِنسَانٍ
أَلْزَمْنَاهُ
طَآئِرَهُ فِي
عُنُقِهِ...
17: 13. Every man's fate We have fastened on his own neck:
C2187. Fate: Tair, literally a bird, hence an omen, an evil omen, fate.
Cf. 36:19.
The Arabs, like the ancient Romans, sought to read the mysteries of human fate from the flight of birds. And many of us in our own day seek to read our future fortunes by similar superstitions.
We read in the previous verse that there are Signs of Allah, but they are not meant to subserve the vulgar purpose of disclosing our future destiny in a worldly sense. They are meant for quite other purposes, as we have explained.
Our real fate does not depend upon birds or omens or stars. It depends on our deeds; good or evil, and they hang round our necks. (R).
...وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُورًا ﴿١٣﴾
on the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll, which he will see spread open.
C2188. These deeds, good or evil, will be embodied in a scroll which will be quite open to us in the light of the Day of Judgment, however much we may affect to be ignorant of it now or waste our energies in prying into mysteries that do not concern us.
اقْرَأْ
كَتَابَكَ كَفَى
بِنَفْسِكَ
الْيَوْمَ
عَلَيْكَ
حَسِيبًا ﴿١٤﴾
17: 14. (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."
C2189. Our true accusers are our own deeds.
Why not look to them instead of vainly prying into something superstitious which we call a book of fortune or a book of omens?
مَّنِ اهْتَدَى
فَإِنَّمَا
يَهْتَدي
لِنَفْسِهِ...
17: 15. Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit:
...وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا...
who goeth astray doth so to his own loss:
C2190. The doctrine of personal responsibility is insisted on, and the basis of ethics is shown to be our own good or evil as furthering or obstructing our highest development.
...وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى...
no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another:
C2191. The doctrine of vicarious atonement is condemned. Salvation for the wicked cannot be attained by the punishment of the innocent.
One man cannot bear the burden of another: that would be unjust. Every man must bear his own personal responsibility. Cf. 6:164.
But Allah never visits His wrath on anyone until due warning is conveyed to him through an accredited messenger.
...وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً ﴿١٥﴾
nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent a Messenger (to give warning).
وَإِذَا
أَرَدْنَا أَن
نُّهْلِكَ
قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا
مُتْرَفِيهَا
فَفَسَقُواْ
فِيهَا...
17: 16. When We decide to destroy a population, We (first) send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet transgress;
C2192. Allah's Mercy gives every chance to the wicked to repent. When wickedness gets so rampant that punishment becomes inevitable, even then Allah's Mercy and Justice act together.
Those who are highly gifted from Allah -it may be with wealth or position, or it may be with talents and opportunities- are expected to understand and obey. They are given a definite order and warning. If they still transgress there is no further room for argument. They cannot plead that they were ignorant. The command of the Lord is proved against them, and its application is called for beyond doubt. Then it is that their punishment is completed.
...فَحَقَّ عَلَيْهَا الْقَوْلُ فَدَمَّرْنَاهَا تَدْمِيرًا ﴿١٦﴾
so that the word is proved true against them: then (it is) We destroy them utterly.
C2193. Qaul here has the sense of word, order, law, charge framed against one under a definite law.
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا
مِنَ الْقُرُونِ
مِن بَعْدِ
نُوحٍ...
17: 17. How many generations have We destroyed after Noah?
C2194. Noah's Flood is taken as a new starting point in history. But even after that hundreds of empires, towns, and generations have perished for their wickedness.
...وَكَفَى بِرَبِّكَ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًَا بَصِيرًا ﴿١٧﴾
And enough is thy Lord to note and see the sins of His servants.
C2195. Let not the wicked think, because they are given a lease of life and luxury for a time, that their wickedness has escaped notice.
Allah notes and sees all things, both open and secret. He knows the hidden motives and thoughts of men, and He has no need of any other evidence. His knowledge and sight are all-sufficient.
Other versions:
17: 13 [al-Israa, Mecca 50]
Yusuf Ali Every man's fate We have fastened on his own neck: on the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll which he will see spread open.
Pickthall And every man's augury have We fastened to his own neck, and We shall bring forth for him on the Day of Resurrection a book which he will find wide open.
Yuksel We have attached every human's deeds to his own neck, and We bring forth for him a book on the day of Resurrection which he will find on display.*
Transliteration Wa kulla insa_nin alzamna_hu ta_'irahu_ fi 'unuqih(i), wa nukhriju lahu_ yaumal qiya_mati kita_bay yalqa_hu mansyu_ra_(n).
17: 14 [al-Israa, Mecca 50]
Yusuf Ali (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."
Pickthall (And it will be said unto him): Read thy book. Thy soul sufficeth as reckoner against thee this day.
Yuksel Read your book! Today, you suffice as a reckoner against yourself.
Transliteration Iqra' kita_bak(a), kafa_ bi nafsikal yauma 'alaika hasiba_(n).
17: 15
Yusuf Ali Who receiveth guidance receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an apostle (to give warning).
Pickthall Whosoever goeth right, it is only for (the good of) his own soul that he goeth right, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hurt. No laden soul can bear another's load. We never punish until We have sent a messenger.
Yuksel Whoever is guided is guided for himself, and whoever is misguided is for his own loss. No person shall carry the load of another, and We were not to punish until We send a messenger.*
Transliteration Man-ihtada_ fa innama_ yahtadi li nafsih(i), wa man dalla fa innama_ yadillu 'alaiha_, wa la_ taziru wa_ziratuw wizra ukhra_, wa ma_ kunna_ mu'azzibina hatta_ nab'asa rasu_la_(n).
[[ Yuksel’s notes - 017:013 All our intentions, words, and actions are recorded in a record. We will be impeached by this record on the Day of Judgment. See 57:22.
017:015 This verse confirms the Biblical verse Ezekiel 18:20. However, the Bible also contains verses claiming collective punishment: Exodus 20:5;Lamentations 5:7; Psalms 109:9-10. ]]
[[ Ruby -Question– Verse 14-15 and verses 16-17 seem to contradict each other regarding collective punishment. The former few verses clearly indicate there should not be collective punishment and the later seems to say that God can destroy a township. If the good people of a township are separated and saved from the punishment then there is no contradiction. However there is no verse confirming that to my knowledge.]]
17: 16 [al-Israa, Mecca 50]
Yusuf Ali When We decide to destroy a population We (first) send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet transgress; so that the word is proved true against them: then (it is) We destroy them utterly.
Pickthall And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, and afterward they commit abomination therein, and so the Word (of doom) hath effect for it, and We annihilate it with complete annihilation.
Yuksel If We wish to destroy a town, We allow its privileged hedonists to rule it, then they commit evil in it, then it deserves the punishment, then We destroy it completely.
Transliteration Wa iza_ aradna_ an nuhlika qaryatan amarna_ mutrafiha_ fa fasaqu_ fiha_ fa haqqa 'alaihal qaulu fa dammarna_ha_ tadmira_(n).
[[Ali’s notes - 2192 Allah's Mercy gives every chance to the wicked to repent. When wickedness gets so rampant that punishment becomes inevitable, even then Allah's Mercy and Justice act together. Those who are highly gifted from Allah-it may be with wealth or position, or it may be with talents and opportunities-are expected to understand and obey. They are given a definite order and warning. If they still transgress there is no further room for argument. They cannot plead that they were ignorant. The command of the Lord is proved against them, and its application is called for beyond doubt. Then it is that their punishment is completed. (17.16)
2193 Qaul here has the sense of word, order, law, charge framed against one under a definite law. (17.16)]]
17: 17
Yusuf Ali How many generations have We destroyed after Noah? And enough is thy Lord to note and see the sins of His servants.
Pickthall How many generations have we destroyed since Noah! And Allah sufficeth as knower and Beholder of the sins of His slaves.
Yuksel How many a generation have We destroyed after Noah? It is enough for your Lord [wrong translation] to have knowledge and sight over the sins of His servants.
Transliteration Wa kam ahlakna_ minal quru_ni mim ba'di nu_h(in), wa kafa_ bi rabbika bi zunu_bi 'iba_dihi khabiram basira_(n).
[[Question – why whole people drowned because of Pharaoh’s sin and arrogance? Did his people had any choice in it, and how much?
Answer – It is demonstrated that the magicians and others who followed Moses disobeyed Pharaoh and they chose the right path. The others such as the soldiers who were his paid people, did they have the same liberty or they deliberately rejected Moses in order to be in Pharaoh’s side because they thought Pharaoh could make them winners better. ]]
20 Sura Taha
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ
فِرْعَوْنُ
بِجُنُودِهِ
فَغَشِيَهُم
مِّنَ الْيَمِّ
مَا غَشِيَهُمْ ﴿٧٨﴾
20: 78. Then Pharaoh pursued them with his forces, but the waters completely overwhelmed them and covered them up.
وَأَضَلَّ
فِرْعَوْنُ
قَوْمَهُ وَمَا
هَدَى ﴿٧٩﴾
20: 79. Pharaoh led his people astray instead of leading them aright.
C2600. It is the duty of kings and leaders to give the right lead of their people. Instead of that, the evil ones among them lead them astray and are the cause of the whole of the people perishing.
Other versions:
20:78
And Pharaoh pursued them with his hosts: and they were overwhelmed by the sea which was
destined to overwhelm them"
20:79 because Pharaoh had led his people astray and had not
guided [them] aright.