2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَوَيْلٌ
لِّلَّذِينَ
يَكْتُبُونَ
الْكِتَابَ
بِأَيْدِيهِمْ...
2: 79. Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands
... ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَـذَا مِنْ عِندِ اللّهِ لِيَشْتَرُواْ بِهِ ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً ...
and then say: "This is from Allah," to traffic with it for a miserable price!
فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُمْ مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾
Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.
وَقَالُواْ
لَن تَمَسَّنَا
النَّارُ إِلاَّ
أَيَّاماً
مَّعْدُودَةً
...
2: 80. And they say: "The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days;"
C85. The Jews in their arrogance might say:
Whatever the terror of Hell may be for other people, our sins will be forgiven, because we are the children of Abraham; at worst, we shall suffer a short definite punishment and then be restored to the "bosom of Abraham".
This bubble is pricked here.
Read this verse with 2:81-82.
The general application is also clear. If Unfaith claims some special prerogative, such as race, "civilization," political power, historical experience, and so on, these will not avail in Allah's sight. His promise is sure, but His promise is for those who seek Allah in Faith, and show it in their conduct.
... قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ اللّهِ عَهْدًا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ اللّهُ عَهْدَهُ ...
Say: "Have ye taken a promise from Allah for He never breaks His promise?
... أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾
Or is it that ye say of Allah what ye do not know?"
بَلَى
مَن كَسَبَ
سَيِّئَةً
وَأَحَاطَتْ
بِهِ خَطِيـئَتُهُ
فَأُوْلَـئِكَ
أَصْحَابُ
النَّارِ ...
2: 81. Nay, those who seek gain in Evil, and are girt round by their sins, they are Companions of the Fire,
C86. This is many degrees worse than merely falling into evil: it is going out to "earn evil" as the Arabic text has it, i.e., to seek gain in evil.
Such a perverse attitude means that the moral and spiritual fortress erected around us by the Grace of Allah is voluntarily surrendered by us and demolished by Evil, which erects its own fortress, so that access to Good may be more and more difficult.
... هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴿٨١﴾
therein shall they abide (for ever).
إِنَّ
الَّذِينَ
يَكْتُمُونَ
مَا أَنزَلَ
اللّهُ مِنَ
الْكِتَابِ
وَيَشْتَرُونَ
بِهِ ثَمَنًا
قَلِيلاً ...
2: 174. Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit,
... أُولَـئِكَ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ إِلاَّ النَّارَ ...
they swallow into themselves naught but fire;
C175. "They eat nothing but fire into their bellies" is a literal translation that produces an effect of rude inelegance which is not in the Arabic words.
Even in the matter of food and drinks, the mission of Islam is to avoid the extremes of lawlessness on the one hand and extreme formalism on the other. It has laid down a few simply and very reasonable rules. Their infraction causes loss of health or physical powers in any case.
But if there is further a spirit of subjective rebellion or fraud - passing off in the name of religion something which is far from the purpose - the consequences become also moral and spiritual. Then it becomes a sin against Faith and Spirit.
Continuing the physical simile, we actually swallow fire into ourselves. Imagine the torments which we should have if we swallowed fire into our physical body! They would be infinitely worse in our spiritual state, and they would go on to the Day of Resurrection, when we shall be deprived even of the words which the Judge speaks to a reasonable culprit, and we shall certainly not win His Grace and Mercy.
... وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ ...
Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify them;
... وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿١٧٤﴾
grievous will be their penalty.
أُولَـئِكَ
الَّذِينَ
اشْتَرَوُاْ
الضَّلاَلَةَ
بِالْهُدَى
وَالْعَذَابَ
بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ...
2: 175. They are the ones who buy error in place of guidance and torment in place of forgiveness.
... فَمَآ أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ ﴿١٧٥﴾
Ah! what boldness (they show) for the Fire!
ذَلِكَ
بِأَنَّ اللّهَ
نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ
بِالْحَقِّ...
2: 176. (Their doom is) because Allah sent down the Book in truth
... وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُواْ فِي الْكِتَابِ لَفِي شِقَاقٍ بَعِيدٍ ﴿١٧٦﴾
but those who seek causes of dispute in the Book are in a schism far (from the purpose).
C176. From the mere physical regulation we are at once lifted up into the sphere of morals and faith. For the one acts and reacts on the other. If we are constantly carping at wholesome regulations, we shall do nothing but cause division and schisms among the people, and ordered society would tend to break up.
Other versions:
2: 79
Asad Woe, then, unto those who write down, with their own hands, [something which they claim to be] divine writ, and then say, “This is from God,” in order to acquire a trifling gain thereby; (note 64) woe, then, unto them for what their hands have written, and woe unto them for all that they may have gained!
Yusuf Ali Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say: "This is from Allah" to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write and for the gain they make thereby.
Pickthall Therefore woe be unto those who write the Scripture with their hands and then say, "This is from Allah," that they may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe unto them for that their hands have written, and woe unto them for that they earn thereby.
Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ lan tamassanan na_ru illa_ ayya_mam ma'du_dah(tan), qul attakhaztum 'indalla_hi 'ahdan fa lay yukhlifalla_hu 'ahdahu_ am taqu_lu_na 'alalla_hi ma_ la_ ta'lamu_n(a).
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[ Ruby’s note: Here the “woe” is not mentioned for those who are ignorant and do not know any better, the “woe” is mentioned for those who knows and deliberately change the word of God and mislead the ignorant ones. The degrees of failure and corresponding punishments are not the same for these two groups, the punishment is severe for the later. [see verse 81 below and notes]
[ Asad’s note 64: The reference here is to the scholars responsible for corrupting the text of the Bible and thus misleading their ignorant followers. The “trifling gain” is their feeling of pre-eminence as the alleged “chosen people”. ]
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2: 80
Asad And they say, “The fire will most certainly not touch us for more than a limited number of days.” (note 65) Say [unto them]: “Have you received a promise from God – for God never breaks His promise – or do you attribute to God something which you cannot know?”
Yusuf Ali And they say: "The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days"; Say: "Have ye taken a promise from Allah for He never breaks His promise? Or is it that ye say of Allah what ye do not know?"
Pickthall And they say: The fire (of punishment) will not touch us save for a certain number of days. Say: Have ye received a covenant from Allah--truly Allah will not break His covenant--or tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?
Transliteration Bala_ man kasabat sayyi'ataw wa aha_tat bihi khati'atuhu_ fa ula_'ika asha_bun na_r(i), hum fiha_ kha_lidu_n(a).
2: 81
Asad Yea! Those who earn evil and by their sinfulness are engulfed – they are destined for the fire, therein to abide;
Yusuf Ali Nay those who seek gain in Evil and are girt round by their sins they are Companions of the Fire therein shall they abide (for ever).
Pickthall Nay, but whosoever has done evil and his sin surround him; such are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein.
Transliteration Wallazina a_manu_ wa 'amilus sa_liha_ti ula_'ika asha_bul jannah(ti), hum fih a_ kha_lidu_n(a).
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[ Ali’s notes: 85 The Jews in their arrogance might say: Whatever the terror of Hell may be for other people, our sins will be forgiven, because we are the children of Abraham; at worst, we shall suffer a short definite punishment and then be restored to the "bosom of Abraham". This bubble is pricked here. Read this verse with ii. 81-82. The general application is also clear. If Unfaith claims some special prerogative, such as race, "civilization," political power, historical experience, and so on, these will not avail in Allah's sight. His promise is sure, but His promise is for those who seek Allah in Faith, and show it in their conduct. (2.80)
This is many degrees worse than merely falling into evil: it is going out to "earn evil" as the Arabic text has it, i.e., to seek gain in evil. Such a perverse attitude means that the moral and spiritual fortress erected around us by the Grace of God is voluntarily surrendered by us and demolished by Evil, which erects its own fortress, so that access to Good may be more and more difficult. (2.81) ]
[ Asad’s note: According to popular Jewish belief, even the sinners from among the children of Israel will suffer only very limited punishment in the life to come, and will be quickly reprieved by virtue of their belonging to “the chosen people”: a belief which the Quran rejects.]
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2: 174
Asad Verily, as for those who suppress aught of the revelation which [note 140] God as bestowed from on high, and barter it away for a trifling gain-they but fill their bellies with fire. And God will not speak unto them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He cleanse them [of their sins]; and grievous suffering awaits them.
Yusuf Ali Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book and purchase for them a miserable profit they swallow into themselves naught but fire; Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection nor purify them; grievous will be their penalty .
Pickthall Lo! those who hide aught of the Scripture which Allah hath revealed, and purchase a small gain therewith, they eat into their bellies nothing else than fire. Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He make them grow. Theirs will be a painful doom.
Transliteration Innal lazina yaktumu_na ma_ anzalalla_hu minal kita_bi wa yasytaru_na bihi samanan qalila_(n), ula_'ika ma_ ya'kulu_na fi butu_nihim illan na_ra wa la_ yukallimuhumulla_hu yaumal qiya_mati wa la_ yuzakkihim, wa lahum 'aza_bun alim(un).
[Ruby’s note – Here I believe is given a glimpse of what is to occur on the Day of Judgment. God’s communication and interaction on that day is going to be decisive on one’s eternal existence, the existence that would merge with the Ultimate State [ in other places it is mentioned that the final goal of all things is to “RETURN” to God, everything comes back to this “Eternal” Being or Existence. ] All the corruption from the original state must be purified, Because that state is the most Purified STATE. God can expedite that process by forgiving and cleaning on that Day or before here in this life. If He does not then the suffering can be prolonged. My personal belief is that these are the warnings for possible consequences. However, if God’s Forgiveness and Mercy overwhelm His wrath, then it is likely that all may be forgiven at one time or another. Also Warning must be strong in order to be a deterrence, otherwise a “warning” does not serve its purpose. ]
[Ali’s note: 175 "They eat nothing but fire into their bellies" is a literal translation that produces an effect of rude inelegance which is not in the Arabic words. Even in the matter of food and drinks, the mission of Islam is to avoid the extremes of lawlessness on the one hand and extreme formalism on the other. It has laid down a few simple and very reasonable rules. Their infraction causes loss of health or physical powers in any case. But if there is further a spirit of subjective rebellion or fraud - passing off in the name of religion something which is far from the purpose - the consequences become also moral and spiritual. Then it becomes a sin against Faith and Spirit. Continuing the physical simile, we actually swallow fire into ourselves. Imagine the torments which we should have if we swallowed fire into our physical body! They would be infinitely worse in our spiritual state, and they would go on to the Day of Resurrection, when we shall be deprived even of the words which the Judge speaks to a reasonable culprit, and we shall certainly not win His Grace and Mercy. (2.174) ]
[ Asad’s note 140- This term is used here in its generic sense, comprising both the Quran and the earlier revelations. ]
2: 175
Yusuf Ali They are the ones who buy error in place of guidance and torment in place of forgiveness. Ah! what boldness (they show) for the Fire!
Pickthall Those are they who purchase error at the price of guidance, and torment at the price of pardon. How constant are they in their strife to reach the Fire!
Transliteration Ula_'ikal lazinasy tarawud dala_lata bil huda_ wal 'aza_ba bil magfirah(ti), fama_ asbarahum 'alan na_r(i).
2: 176
Yusuf Ali (Their doom is) because Allah sent down the Book in truth but those who seek causes of dispute in the Book are in a schism far (from the purpose).
Pickthall That is because Allah hath revealed the Scripture with the truth. Lo! those who find (a cause of) disagreement in the Scripture are in open schism.
Transliteration Za_lika bi annalla_ha nazzalal kita_ba bil haqq(i), wa innal lazinakh talafu_ fil kita_bi lafi syiqa_qim ba'id(in).