PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
GENERAL
3. Sura al-Imran
Medina 89 [200 verses]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُلْ
يَا أَهْلَ
الْكِتَابِ
لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ
بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ...
3: 98. Say:
"O People of the Book! why reject ye the signs of Allah,
...وَاللّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَى مَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٨﴾
when Allah is Himself witness to all ye do?
قُلْ
يَا أَهْلَ
الْكِتَابِ
لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ
عَن سَبِيلِ
اللّهِ مَنْ
آمَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا
عِوَجًا وَأَنتُمْ
شُهَدَاء...
3: 99. Say:
"O ye People of the Book!
why obstruct ye those who believe, from the path of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while ye were yourselves witnesses (to Allah's Covenant)?
C426. Cf. 3:81.
...وَمَا
اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ
عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
﴿٩٩﴾
But Allah is not unmindful of all that ye do."
لَيْسُواْ
سَوَاء مِّنْ
أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ
أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ
...
3: 113. Not all of them are alike:
of the People of the book are a portion that stand (for the right);
...يَتْلُونَ
آيَاتِ اللّهِ
آنَاء اللَّيْلِ
وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ
﴿١١٣﴾
they rehearse the signs of Allah all night long, and then prostrate themselves in adoration.
C437. In Islam we respect sincere faith and true righteousness in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah.
This verse, according to Commentators, refers to those People of the Book who eventually embraced Islam. (R).
لَكِنِ
الَّذِينَ
اتَّقَوْاْ
رَبَّهُمْ
لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ
تَجْرِي مِن
تَحْتِهَا
الأَنْهَارُ
خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا ...
3: 198. On the other hand, for those who fear their Lord, are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, therein are they to dwell (for ever),
... نُزُلاً مِّنْ عِندِ اللّهِ...
a gift from the presence of Allah,
...وَمَا عِندَ اللّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّلأَبْرَارِ﴿١٩٨﴾
and that which is in the presence of Allah is the best (bliss) for the righteous.
وَإِنَّ
مِنْ أَهْلِ
الْكِتَابِ
لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ
بِاللّهِ وَمَا
أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ
وَمَآ أُنزِلَ
إِلَيْهِمْ
...
3: 199. And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book, those who believe in Allah, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them,
...خَاشِعِينَ لِلّهِ لاَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً ...
bowing in humility to Allah:
they will not sell the signs of Allah for a miserable gain!
...أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ...
for them is a reward with their Lord,
... إِنَّ اللّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ ﴿١٩٩﴾
and Allah is swift in account.
3: 98
Pickthall Say: O People of the Scripture! Why disbelieve ye in the revelations of Allah, when Allah (Himself) is Witness of what ye do?
Transliteration Qul ya_ ahlal kita_bi lima takfuru_na bi a_ya_tilla_hi walla_hu syahidun 'ala_ ma_ ta'malu_n(a).
3: 99
Pickthall Say: O People of the Scripture! Why drive ye back believers from the way of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, when ye are witnesses (to Allah's guidance)? Allah is not unaware of what ye do.
Transliteration Qul ya_ ahlal kita_bi lima tasuddu_na 'an sabililla_hi man a_mana tabgu_naha_ 'iwajaw wa antum syuhada_'(u), wa malla_hu bi ga_filin 'amma_ ta'malu_n(a).
3: 113 They are not all alike: among the followers of earlier revelation there are upright people, who recite God’s messages throughout the night, and prostrate themselves……….(righteous among them).
3: 198
Asad Whereas those who remain conscious of their Sustainer shall have gardens through which running waters flow, therein to abide: a ready welcome from God. And that which is with God is best for the truly virtuous.
Pickthall But those who keep their duty to their Lord, for them are Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will be safe forever. A gift of welcome from their Lord. That which Allah hath in store is better for the righteous.
Transliteration La_kinil lazinat taqau rabbahum lahum janna_tun tajri min tahtihal anha_ru kha_lidina fiha_ nuzulam min'indilla_h(i), wa ma_'indalla_hi khairul lil abra_r(i).
3: 199
Asad And, behold, among the followers of earlier revelation there are indeed such as [truly] believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon you as well as in that which has been bestowed upon them. Standing in awe of God, they do not barter away God’s messages for a trifling gain. They shall have their reward with their Sustainer – for behold, God is swift in reckoning!
Pickthall And Lo! of the People of the Scripture there are some who believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto you and that which was revealed unto them, humbling themselves before Allah. They purchase not a trifling gain at the price of the revelations of Allah. Verily their reward is with their Lord, and Lo! Allah is swift to take account.
Transliteration Wa inna min ahlil kita_bi lamay yu'minu billa_hi wa ma_ unzila ilaikum wa ma_ unzila ilaihim kha_syi'ina lilla_h(i), la_ yasytaru_na bi a_ya_tilla_hi samanan qalila_(n), ula_'ika lahum ajruhum 'inda rabbihim, innalla_ha sari'ul hisa_b(i).
===================================
4. Sura an-Nisa
Medina 92 [Hijra 4]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ
تَرَ إِلَى
الَّذِينَ
أُوتُواْ نَصِيبًا
مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ
يَشْتَرُونَ
الضَّلاَلَةَ...
4: 44. Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who were given a portion of the Book? They traffic in error,
... وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن تَضِلُّواْ السَّبِيلَ ﴿٤٤﴾
and wish that ye should lose the right path.
وَاللّهُ
أَعْلَمُ
بِأَعْدَائِكُمْ
...
4: 45. But Allah hath full knowledge of your enemies:
... وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ وَلِيًّا وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ نَصِيرًا ﴿٤٥﴾
Allah is enough for a Protector, and Allah is enough for a Helper
أَلَمْ
تَرَ إِلَى
الَّذِينَ
أُوتُواْ نَصِيبًا
مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ
...
4: 51. Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who were given a portion of the Book?
The phrase also occurs in 4:44.
... يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْجِبْتِ وَالطَّاغُوتِ...
They believe in sorcery and evil,
C573. The word I have translated Sorcery is jibt, which may mean divination, sorcery, magic, or any false object of belief or worship, such as an idol.
The word I have translated Evil (here and in 2:256) is Taghut, which means the evil one, the one who exceeds all bounds, Satan: or it may refer to some idol worshipped by the Pagan Arabs, with whom the Jews of Madinah were intriguing against the Holy Prophet.
The Jews had taken much to sorcery, magic, divination, and such superstitions.
... وَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هَؤُلاء أَهْدَى مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ سَبِيلاً ﴿٥١﴾
and say to the unbelievers that they are better guided in the (right) way than the believers!
أُوْلَـئِكَ
الَّذِينَ
لَعَنَهُمُ
اللّهُ...
4: 52. They are (men) whom Allah hath cursed:
... وَمَن يَلْعَنِ اللّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ نَصِيرًا ﴿٥٢﴾
and those whom Allah hath cursed, thou wilt find, have no one to help.
C574. The Jews were then seeking the aid of the Makkan Pagans against Muhammad, but far from getting any help from them, they and the Pagans were both overthrown.
That was the immediate occasion, but the words have a perfectly general -a universal- meaning.
أَمْ
لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ
مِّنَ الْمُلْكِ
...
4: 53. Have they a share in dominion or power?
... فَإِذًا لاَّ يُؤْتُونَ النَّاسَ نَقِيرًا ﴿٥٣﴾
Behold, they give not a farthing to their fellow-men!
C575. The word I have translated farthing is naqir, the groove in a date stone, a thing of no value whatever.
Close-fistedness and envy are among the worst forms of selfishness, and appear specially incongruous in people of power, authority, or influence, from whom is expected generosity in giving and generosity in seeing other people's prosperity or happiness.
أَمْ
يَحْسُدُونَ
النَّاسَ عَلَى
مَا آتَاهُمُ
اللّهُ مِن
فَضْلِهِ...
4: 54. Or do they envy mankind for what Allah hath given them of His bounty?
... فَقَدْ آتَيْنَآ آلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَآتَيْنَاهُم مُّلْكًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٥٤﴾
But We had already given the people of Abraham the Book and Wisdom, and conferred upon them a great kingdom.
C576. Such as the kingdoms of David and Solomon, for they had international fame.
فَمِنْهُم
مَّنْ آمَنَ
بِهِ وَمِنْهُم
مَّن صَدَّ
عَنْهُ ...
4: 55. Some of them believed and some of them averted their faces from him:
... وَكَفَى بِجَهَنَّمَ سَعِيرًا ﴿٥٥﴾
and enough is hell for a burning fire.
C577. Envy is like the eternal fire, which is in itself a hell.
إِنَّ
الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ
بِآيَاتِنَا
سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ
نَارًا...
4: 56. Those who reject Our Signs, We shall soon cast into the fire:
... كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُمْ بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُواْ الْعَذَابَ...
as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty:
... إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا ﴿٥٦﴾
for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.
يَا
أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ
لاَ تَغْلُواْ
فِي دِينِكُمْ
وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ
عَلَى اللّهِ
إِلاَّ الْحَقِّ
...
4: 171. O People of the Book! commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but truth.
C675. Just as a foolish servant may go wrong by excess of zeal for his master, so in religion people's excesses may lead them to blasphemy or a spirit the very opposite of religion.
The Jewish excesses in the direction of formalism, racialism, exclusiveness, and rejection of Christ Jesus have been denounced in many places. Here the Christian attitude is condemned, which raises Jesus to an equality with Allah: in some cases venerates Mary almost to idolatry: attributes a physical son to Allah: and invents the doctrine of the Trinity, opposed to all reason, which according to the Athanasian Creed, unless a man believes, he is doomed to hell for ever.
Let our Muslims also beware lest they fall into excesses either in doctrine or in formalism.
... إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ...
Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him:
... فَآمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ...
so believe in Allah and His Messengers.
... وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ ثَلاَثَةٌ انتَهُواْ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ ...
Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you:
C676. Christ's attributes are mentioned:
- that he was the son of a woman, Mary and therefore a man;
- but a messenger, a man with a mission from Allah, and therefore entitled to honour;
- a Word bestowed on Mary, for he was created by Allah's word "Be" (kun), and he was: 3:59;
- a spirit proceeding from Allah, but not Allah:
his life and his mission were more limited than in the case of some other Messengers, though we must pay equal honour to him as a Prophet of Allah.
The doctrines of Trinity, equality with Allah, and sonship, are repudiated as blasphemies. Allah is independent of all needs and has no need of a son to manage His affairs.
The Gospel of John (whoever wrote it) has put in a great deal of Alexandrian and Gnostic mysticism round the doctrine of the Word (Greek, Logos), but it is simply explained here. (R).
... إِنَّمَا اللّهُ إِلَـهٌ وَاحِدٌ سُبْحَانَهُ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ...
for Allah is One Allah: glory be to Him: (for Exalted is He) above having a son.
... لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَات وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ...
To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth.
... وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ وَكِيلاً ﴿١٧١﴾
And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.
Asad’s Version:
4: 44 Are you not aware of those who, having been granted their share of the divine writ,
now barter it away for error, and want you [too] to lose your way?
4: 45 But God knows best who are your enemies: and none can befriend as God does, and none can give succor as God does.
4: 51 Are you not aware of those who, having been granted their share of the divine writ, [now] believe in baseless mysteries and in the powers of evil, and maintain that those who are bent on denying the truth are more surely guided than those who have attained to faith?
4: 52 It is they whom God has rejected: and he whom God rejects shall find none to succor him.
4: 53 Have they, perchance, a share in {God's} domain? But {if they had}, lo, they would not give to other people as much as [would fill] the goove of a date-stone!
(Asad note 70 ' An allusion to the Jewish belief that they occupy a privileged position in the sight of God.)
4: 54 Do they, perchance, envy other people for what God has granted them out of His bounty? But then, We did grant revelation and wisdom unto the House of Abraham, and We did bestow on them a mighty dominion:
4: 55 among them are such as [truly] believe in him, and among them are such as have turned away from him. And nothing could be as burning as [the fire of] hell:
4:56 for , verily those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages We shall, in time cause to endure fire: [and] every time their skins are burnt off, We shall replace them with new skins, so that they may taste suffering [in full]. Verily, God is almighty, wise.
4: 171 O followers of the Gospel! Do not overstep the bounds in your religious beliefs, and do not say of God anything but the truth. The Christ Jesus, son of Mary, was but God’s Apostle – His promise which He had conveyed unto Mary – and a soul created by Him. Believe, then, in God and His apostles, and do not say, “ [God is] a trinity”. Desist [from this assertion] for your own good. God is but One God; utterly remote is He, in His glory, from having a son: unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and none is as worthy of trust as God. Asad
===================================
5. Surah al-Maida, Medina 112
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُلْ
يَا أَهْلَ
الْكِتَابِ
هَلْ تَنقِمُونَ
مِنَّا إِلاَّ
أَنْ آمَنَّا
بِاللّهِ ...
5: 59. Say: "O People of the Book! do ye disapprove of us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah,
... وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلُ ...
and the revelation that hath come to us and that which came before (us),
... وَأَنَّ أَكْثَرَكُمْ فَاسِقُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾
and (perhaps) that most of you are rebellious and disobedient?"
C769. There is the most biting irony in this and the next verse,
You People of the Book!
Do you hate us because we believe in Allah and not only our scripture, but yours also?
Perhaps you hate us because we obey and you are in rebellion against Allah! Why hate us?
There are worse things than our obedience and our Faith. Shall I tell you some of them?
Our test will be:
what treatment Allah meted out to the things I mention. Who were the people who incurred the curse of Allah? (See Deut. 11:28, and 28:15-68: and numerous passages like Hosea 8:14, and 9:1).
Who provoked Allah's wrath? (See numerous passages like Deut. 1:34: Matt. 3:7).
Who forsook Allah, and worshipped evil? (See Jeremiah, 16:11-13).
That is your record.
Is that why you hate us?'
قُلْ
هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُم
بِشَرٍّ مِّن
ذَلِكَ مَثُوبَةً
عِندَ اللّهِ
...
5: 60. Say: "Shall I point out to you something much worse than this, (as judged) by the treatment it received from Allah?
... مَن لَّعَنَهُ اللّهُ وَغَضِبَ عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهُمُ الْقِرَدَةَ وَالْخَنَازِيرَ وَعَبَدَ الطَّاغُوتَ...
Those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped Evil;
C770. For apes see 2:65.
For men possessed by devils, and the devils being sent into swine, see Matt. 8:28-32.
Or perhaps both apes and swine are allegorical; those who falsified Allah's scriptures became lawless like apes, and those who succumbed to filth, gluttony, or gross living became like swine.
... أُوْلَـئِكَ شَرٌّ مَّكَاناً وَأَضَلُّ عَن سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ ﴿٦٠﴾
these are (many times) worse in rank, and far more astray from the even Path!
وَقَالَتِ
الْيَهُودُ
يَدُ اللّهِ
مَغْلُولَةٌ
...
5: 64. The Jews say: "Allah's hand is tied up."
C772. Cf. 5:12. and 2:245, for a "beautiful loan to Allah",
and 3:181, for the blasphemous taunt, "Then Allah is poor!" It is another form of the taunt to say, "Then Allah's hands are tied up. He is close-fisted. He does not give!"
This blasphemy is repudiated. On the contrary, boundless is Allah's bounty, and He gives, as it were, with both hands outstretched,-a figure of speech for unbounded liberality.
... غُلَّتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَلُعِنُواْ بِمَا قَالُواْ ...
Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter.
... بَلْ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِ يُنفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشَاء ...
Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth.
... وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا...
But the revelation that cometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy.
C773. Their jealousy-because Al-Mustafa is chosen for Allah's Message-is so great that it only confirms and strengthens their rebellion and blasphemy.
... وَأَلْقَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاء إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ...
Amongst them We have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment.
C774. Cf. 5:14. where the eternal warring of the Christian sects, among themselves and against the Jews, is referred to.
The reference is to the whole of the People of the Book, Jews and Christians-their internal squabbles and their external disputes, quarrels, and wars.
... كُلَّمَا أَوْقَدُواْ نَارًا لِّلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا اللّهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا...
Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth.
C775. The argument of the whole verse may be thus stated.
The Jews blaspheme and mock, and because of their jealousy, the more they are taught, the more obstinate they become in their rebellion.
But what good will it do to them?
Their selfishness and spite sow quarrels among themselves, which will not be healed till the Day of Judgment.
When they stir up wars, especially against the innocent. Allah's Mercy is poured down like a flood of water to extinguish them. But their wickedness continues to devise ever new mischief.
And Allah loves not mischief or those who do mischief.
... وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٦٤﴾
And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.
وَلَوْ
أَنَّ أَهْلَ
الْكِتَابِ
آمَنُواْ وَاتَّقَوْاْ
لَكَفَّرْنَا
عَنْهُمْ
سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ
...
5: 65. If only the People of the Book had believed and been righteous, We should indeed have blotted out their iniquities
... وَلأدْخَلْنَاهُمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ ﴿٦٥﴾
and admitted them to gardens of Bliss.
قُلْ
يَا أَهْلَ
الْكِتَابِ
...
5: 68. Say:
"O People of the Book!
... لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ حَتَّىَ تُقِيمُواْ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ...
ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord."
... وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا...
It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy.
... فَلاَ تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٦٨﴾
But sorrow thou not over (these) people without Faith.
C778. In 5:26, Moses was told not to sorrow over a rebellious people. Here Muhammad is told not to sorrow over people without Faith.
The second situation is even more trying than the first. Rebellion may be a passing phase. Want of faith is an attitude of mind that is well-nigh hopeless. Yet the Prophet patiently reasoned with them and bore their taunts and insults.
If. the argument runs, you do not believe in anything, even in the things that you may be expected to believe in, how can you receive in Faith Allah's Message that has come in another form? In fact your jealousy adds to your obstinacy and unbelief.
Asad’s Version:
5: 59 Say: “ O followers of earlier revelation! Do you find fault with us for no other reason than that we believe in God [alone], and in that which He has bestowed from on high upon us as well as that which He has bestowed aforetime? – of because most of you are iniquitous?”
5: 60 Say: “ Shall I tell you who, in the sight of God, deserves a yet worse retribution that these? They whom God has rejected and whom He has condemned, and whom He has turned into apes and swine because they worshipped the powers of evil: these are yet whose in station, and farther astray from the right path [than the mockers].” Asad
( Note 77 & 78):..............the sinner s who are even worse than the mockers are the hypocrites....).
5: 64 .......And so We have cast enmity and hatred among the followers of the Bible(see
Asad note 82, meant here are those who are hypocrite and not true followers of the Books) until Resurrection Day; every time they light the fires of war, God extinguishes them; and they labor hard to spread corruption on earth: and God does not love the spreaders of corruption.
5: 65 If the followers of the Bible would but attain to faith and God-consciousness, We should indeed efface their bad deeds, and indeed bring them into gardens of bliss; and if they would but truly observe the Torah and the Gospel and all that has been bestowed from on high upon them by their Sustainer, they would indeed partake of all the blessings of heaven and earth. Some of them due pursue a right course; but as for most of them – vile indeed is what they do.!
5: 68 Say: “O followers of the Bible! You have no valid ground for your beliefs unless you observe the Torah and the Gospel, and all that has been bestowed from on high upon you by your Sustainer !
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57. Sura al-Hadid [Iron]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
لِئَلَّا
يَعْلَمَ أَهْلُ
الْكِتَابِ
أَلَّا يَقْدِرُونَ
عَلَى شَيْءٍ
مِّن فَضْلِ
اللَّهِ...
57: 29. That the People of the Book may know that they have no power whatever over the Grace of Allah,
C5329. Let not any race, or people, or community, or group, believe that they have exclusive possession of Allah's Grace, or that they can influence its grant or its withholding.
Allah's Grace is free, and entirely controlled by Him, independently of any priests and privileged people. He dispenses it according to His own wise and holy Will and Plan; and to His Grace there is no limit.
...وَأَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاء...
that (His) Grace is (entirely) in His hand, to bestow it on whomsoever He wills.
...وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿٢٩﴾
For Allah is the Lord of Grace abounding.
Asad’s Version:
57: 29 And the followers of earlier revelation should know that they have no power whatever over any of God's bounty,………