Quran Addressing the People of the Books: Jews, Christians and Others
3. Sura al-Imran
Medina 89 [200 verses]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُلْ
يَا أَهْلَ
الْكِتَابِ
تَعَالَوْاْ
إِلَى كَلَمَةٍ
سَوَاء بَيْنَنَا
وَبَيْنَكُمْ
...
3: 64. Say:
"O People of the Book!
come to common terms as between us and you:
...أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضاً أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ...
that we worship none but Allah;
that we associate no partners with Him;
that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah."
C402. In the abstract the People of the Book would agree to all three propositions. In practice they fail.
Apart from doctrinal lapses from the unity of the One True God, there is the question of a consecrated Priesthood (among the Jews it was hereditary also), as if a mere human being-Cohen, or Pope, or Priest, or Brahman, could claim superiority apart from his learning and the purity of his life, or could stand between man and Allah in some special sense.
The same remarks apply to the worship of saints. They may be pure and sincere, but no one can protect us or claim Lordship over us except Allah.
For Rabb, see note 20 to 1:2.
Abraham was a true Prophet of Allah, but he could not be called a Jew or a Christian as he lived long before the Law of Moses or the Gospel of Jesus was revealed.
...فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾
If then they turn back, say:
"Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's will)."
3: 64
Asad Say: “O followers of earlier revelation! Come unto that tenet which we and you hold in common [note 49]: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall not ascribe divinity to aught beside Him, and that we shall not take human beings for our lords beside God [note 50]. And if they turn away, then say: “Bear witness that it is we who have surrendered ourselves unto Him.”
Pickthall Say: O People of the Scripture. Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partners unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).
Transliteration Qul ya_ ahlal kita_bi ta'a_lau ila_ kalimatin sawa_'im bainana_ wa bainakum alla_ na'buda illalla_ha wa la_ nusyrika bihi syai'aw wa la_ yattakhiza ba'duna_ ba'dan arba_bam min du_nilla_h(i), fa in tawallau fa qu_lusyhadu_ bi anna_ muslimu_n(a).
[ Ali’s note - 402 In the abstract the People of the Book would agree to all three propositions. In practice they fail. Apart from doctrinal lapses from the unity of the One True God, there is the question of a consecrated Priesthood (among the Jews it was hereditary also), as if a mere human being-Cohen, or Pope, or Priest, or Brahman, could claim superiority apart from his learning and the purity of his life, or could stand between man and Allah in some special sense. The same remarks apply to the worship of saints. They may be pure and sincere, but no one can protect us or claim Lordship over us except Allah. For Rabb, see i. 2. n. Abraham was a true Prophet of Allah, but he could not be called a Jew or a Christian as he lived long before the Law of Moses or the Gospel of Jesus was revealed. (3.64) ]
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2. Surah al-Baqara, Medina 87
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَقَدْ
عَلِمْتُمُ
الَّذِينَ
اعْتَدَواْ
مِنكُمْ فِي
السَّبْتِ ...
2: 65. And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath;
... فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُواْ قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ ﴿٦٥﴾
We said to them: "Be ye apes, despised and rejected."
C79. The punishment for breach of the Sabbath under the Mosaic law was death.
"Every one that defieth it (the Sabbath) shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people." (Exod. 31:14).
There must have been a Jewish tradition about a whole fishing community in a seaside town, which persisted in breaking the Sabbath and were turned into apes;
Cf. 7:163-166.
فَجَعَلْنَاهَا
نَكَالاً لِّمَا
بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا
وَمَا خَلْفَهَا
وَمَوْعِظَةً
لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
﴿٦٦﴾
2: 66. So We made it an example to their own time, and to their posterity, and a lesson to those who fear Allah.
وَإِذْ
قَالَ مُوسَى
لِقَوْمِهِ
إِنَّ اللّهَ
يَأْمُرُكُمْ
أَنْ تَذْبَحُواْ
بَقَرَةً ...
2: 67. And remember Moses said to his people: "Allah commands that ye sacrifice a heifer."
C80. This story or parable of the heifer in 2:67-71 should be read with the parable of the dead man brought to life in 2:72-73.
The stories were accepted in Jewish traditions, which are themselves based on certain sacrificial directions in the Old Testament. The heifer story of Jewish tradition is based on Num. 19:1-10, in which Moses and Aaron ordered the Israelites to sacrifice a red heifer without spot or blemish; her body was to be burnt and the ashes were to be kept for the purification of the congregation from sin.
The parable of the dead man we shall refer to later.
The lesson of the heifer parable is plain. Moses announced the sacrifice to the Israelites, and they treated it as jest. When Moses continued solemnly to ask for the sacrifice, they put him off on one pretext and another, asking a number of questions which they could have answered themselves if they had listened to Moses' directions.
Their questions were carping criticisms rather than the result of a desire for information. It was a mere thin presence that they were genuinely seeking for guidance. When at last they were driven into a corner, they made the sacrifice, but the will was wanting, which would have made the sacrifice efficacious for purification from sin.
The real reason for their prevarications was their guilty conscience, as we see in the parable of the dead man (2:72-73).
... قَالُواْ أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُواً...
They said: "Makest thou a laughing-stock of us?"
... قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴿٦٧﴾
He said: "Allah save me from being an ignorant (fool)!"
قَالُواْ
ادْعُ لَنَا
رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن
لّنَا مَا هِيَ
...
2: 68. They said: "Beseech on our behalf thy Lord to make plain to us what (heifer) it is!
... قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لاَّ فَارِضٌ وَلاَ بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ...
He said: "He says: The heifer should be neither too old nor too young, but of middling age;
... فَافْعَلُواْ مَا تُؤْمَرونَ ﴿٦٨﴾
now do what ye are commanded!
قَالُواْ
ادْعُ لَنَا
رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن
لَّنَا مَا
لَوْنُهَا...
2: 69. They said: "Beseech on our behalf thy Lord to make plain to us her color."
... قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاء فَاقِـعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ ﴿٦٩﴾
He said: "He says, a fawn-colored heifer, pure and rich in tone, the admiration of beholders!"
قَالُواْ
ادْعُ لَنَا
رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن
لَّنَا مَا هِيَ
إِنَّ البَقَرَ
تَشَابَهَ
عَلَيْنَا...
2: 70. They said, "Beseech on our behalf thy Lord to make plain to us what she is, to us are all heifers alike;
... وَإِنَّآ إِن شَاء اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾
we wish indeed for guidance, if Allah wills."
قَالَ
إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ
إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ
لاَّ ذَلُولٌ
تُثِيرُ الأَرْضَ
وَلاَ تَسْقِي
الْحَرْثَ...
2: 71. He said: "He says, a heifer not trained to till the soil or water the fields;
... مُسَلَّمَةٌ لاَّ شِيَةَ فِيهَا...
sound and without blemish."
... قَالُواْ الآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ ...
They said: "Now hast thou brought the truth."
... فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٧١﴾
Then they offered her in sacrifice, but not with goodwill.
Pickthall’s Version:
2: 65
Pickthall O People of the Scripture! Why will ye argue about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye then no sense?
Transliteration Ya_ ahlal kita_bi lima tuha_jju_na fi ibra_hima wa ma_ unzilatit taura_tu wal injilu illa_ mim ba'dih(i), afala_ ta'qilu_n(a).
2: 66
Pickthall Lo! ye are those who argue about that whereof ye have some knowledge: Why then argue ye concerning that whereof ye have no knowledge? Allah knoweth. Ye know not.
Transliteration Ha_ antum ha_'ula_'i ha_jajtum fima_ lakum bihi 'ilmun falima tuha_jju_na fima_ laisa lakum bihi 'ilm(un), walla_hu ya'lamu wa antum la_ ta'lamu_n(a).
2: 67
Asad Abraham was neither a “Jew” not a “Christian”, but was one who turned away from all that is false, having surrendered himself unto God; and he was not of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him.
Pickthall Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah), and he was not of the idolaters.
Transliteration Ma_ ka_na ibra_himu yahu_diyyaw wa la_ nasra_niyyaw wa la_kin ka_na hanifam muslima_(n), wa ma_ ka_na minal musyrikin(a).
2: 68
Pickthall Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe (with him); and Allah is the Protecting Friend of the believers.
Transliteration Inna aulan na_si bi ibra_hima lallazinattaba'u_hu wa ha_zan nabiyyu wallazina a_manu_, walla_hu waliyyul mu'minin(a).
2: 69
Pickthall A party of the people of the Scripture long to make you go astray; and they make none to go astray except themselves, but they perceive not.
Transliteration Waddat ta_'ifatum min ahlil kita_bi lau yudillu_nakum, wa ma_ yudillu_na illa_ anfusahum wa ma_ yasy'uru_n(a).
2: 70
Pickthall O People of the Scripture! Why disbelieve ye in the revelations of Allah, when ye (yourselves) bear witness (to the truth) ?
Transliteration Ya_ ahlal kita_bi lima takfuru_na bi a_ya_tilla_hi wa antum tasyhadu_n(a).
2: 71
Pickthall O People of the Scripture! Why confound ye truth with falsehood and knowingly conceal the truth?
Transliteration Ya_ ahlal kita_bi lima talbisu_nal haqqa bil ba_tili wa taktumu_nal haqqa wa antum ta'lamu_n(a).