2. Surah al-Baqara, Medina 87

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ...

2: 120. Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of religion.

قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى...

Say: "The guidance of Allah, that is the (only) guidance."

... وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ...

Wert thou to follow their desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee,

... مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ ﴿١٢٠﴾

then wouldst thou find neither protector nor helper against Allah.

Other Versions:

2: 120

Asad For, never will the Jews be pleased with thee, not yet the Christians, unless thou follow their own creeds: Say: “Behold, God’s guidance is the only true guidance.”

Pickthall And the Jews will not be pleased with thee, nor will the Christians, till thou follow their creed. Say: Lo! the guidance of Allah (Himself) is Guidance. And if thou shouldst follow their desires after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, then wouldst thou have from Allah no protecting friend nor helper.

Transliteration Wa lan tarda_ 'ankal yahu_du wa lan nasa_ra_ hatta_ tattabi'a millatahum, qul inna hudalla_hi huwal huda_, wa la'inittaba'ta ahwa_'ahum ba'dal lazi ja_'aka minal 'ilm(i), ma_ laka minalla_hi miw waliyyiw wa la_ nasir(in).

[Ruby’s note: It is easy here to fall into the trap of misconception in regards to Jews and Christians. If this verse needs to be reconciled with the verse 2:62 where it recognizes righteousness among the followers of these faith. Then the way it can be reconciled is that those Jews and Christians who are absolutely arrogant even to seriously consider what is before them, in this case a man with God’s message, and just look the other way and say this is completely nonsense and unacceptable, then it is arrogance that is causing this rejection. A person of God needs to be on guard and sincere anything in life that is coming before him/her, not only the Devine Revelations but also all the events and circumstances that one is brought to.

Not all Jews and Christians are like that. There are place of humility and wisdom in them to say ‘we do not know what God knows, there may be something here to seriously look into’, instead the ones who outright and completely reject it without giving any consideration at all. And asking unreasonable and meaningless question like “Why God is not speaking directly to us.”

These attitudes are the focus here. And if there are people among Jews and Christians who are wise, who in their inner self harbors love of God and humility and know that all human beings are creation of God and God is most merciful and just, then they would have a more open minded approach into this complex affairs of diversity even in faith. A true believer is always kind and compassionate towards others, and they are humble and do not judge others.

These verses need more discussion so that a serious flaw in judgment regarding Jews and Christians do not come, and these two verses make the whole Quran irreconcilable. Because God is declaring there is no inconsistency in the Quran. It must be in our understanding and limited knowledge that we are facing a seemed contradictions. See the immediately next verse here. ]