16.Sura al-Nahl

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ...   

16: 43.  And before thee also the Messengers We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration:

C2068. Allah's prophets were always men, not angels; and their distinction was the inspiration they received.

... فَاسْأَلُواْ أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤٣﴾ 

if ye realize this not, ask of those who possess the Message.

C2069. If the Pagan Arabs, who were ignorant of religious and other history, wondered how a man from among themselves could receive inspiration and bring a Message from Allah, let them ask the Jews, who had also received Allah's Message earlier through Moses, whether Moses was a man, or an angel, or a god. They would learn that Moses was a man like themselves, but inspired by Allah.

"Those who possess the Message" may also mean any men of Wisdom, who were qualified to have an opinion in such matters.

بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ...   

16: 44.  (We sent them) with Clear Signs and Scriptures;

C2070. As the People of the Book had received "Clear Signs" and inspired Books before, so also Allah's Message came to the Prophet Muhammad through the Quran, which superseded the earlier revelations, already corrupted in the hands of their followers. (R).

... وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ... 

and We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them,

... وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾ 

and that they may give thought.

Other versions:

16: 43 [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]

Asad And before your time, [O Muhammad] We never sent [as Our apostles] any but [mortal] men, whom We inspired: and if you have not [yet] realized this, ask the followers of [earlier] revelation,

Yusuf Ali And before thee also the apostles We sent were but men to whom We granted inspiration: if ye realize this not ask of those who possess the Message.

Pickthall And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men whom We inspired--Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not!--

Transliteration Wa ma_ arsalna_ min qablika illa_ riju_lan nu_hi ilaihim fas'alu_ ahlaz zikri in kuntum la_ ta'lamu_n(a),

16: 44

Asad with all evidence of the truth and with books of divine wisdom. And upon you have We bestowed from on high this reminder, so that you may make clear unto mankind all that has ever been thus bestowed upon them, and that they might take thought.

Yusuf Ali (We sent them) with Clear Signs and Books of dark prophecies; and We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them and that they may give thought.

Pickthall With clear proofs and writings; and We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou mayst explain to mankind that which hath been revealed for them, and that haply they may reflect.

Transliteration Bil bayyina_ti waz zubur(i), wa anzalna_ ilaikaz zikra litubayyina lin na_si ma_ nuzzila ilaihim wa la'allahum yatafakkaru_n(a).

[see Asad and Ali’s notes]

[[ Ali’s notes -2068 Allah's prophets were always men, not angels; and their distinction was the inspiration they received. (16.43)

2069 If the Pagan Arabs, who were ignorant of religious and other history, wondered how a man from among themselves could receive inspiration and bring a Message from Allah, let them ask the Jews, who had also received Allah's Message earlier through Moses, whether Moses was a man, or an angel, or a god. They would learn that Moses was a man like themselves, but inspired by Allah. "Those who possess the Message" may also mean any men of Wisdom, who were qualified to have an opinion in such matters. (16.43)

2070 As the People of the Book had received "Clear Signs" and inspired Books before, so also Allah's Message came to the Prophet Muhammad through the Qur-an, which superseded the earlier revelations, already corrupted in the hands of their followers. (16.44) ]]

20 Sura Taha

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

كَذَلِكَ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنبَاء مَا قَدْ سَبَقَ...   

20: 99. for We have sent thee a Message from Our own Presence.

...وَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ مِن لَّدُنَّا ذِكْرًا ﴿٩٩﴾

for We have sent thee a Message from Our own Presence.

C2625. Thus superseding previous revelations; for this (the Quran) is direct from Allah, and is not a second-hand exposition on other men's authority.

Asad’s Version:

20:99 [Taha, Mecca 45]

THUS DO WE relate unto thee some of the stories of what happened in the past; and [thus]

have We vouchsafed unto thee, out of Our grace, a reminder. 85

[[ Asad’s note -

85 The adverb kadhalika ("thus") which introduces this verse is meant to stress the purpose of all Qur'anic references to past events - be they historical or legendary - as well as the manner in which the relevant stories are treated. Since the purpose underlying every Qur'anic narrative is, invariably, the illustration of certain fundamental truths, the narrative as such is often condensed and elliptic, omitting all that has no direct bearing on the point or points which the Qur'an means to bring out. The term "reminder" alludes to the unceasing guidance which God offers to man

through His revelations. ]]