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.
Transliteration Alam tara ilal lazina u_tu_ nasibam minal kita_bi yasytaru_nad dala_lata wa yuridu_na an tadillus sabil(a).
4: 44
Asad Are you not aware of those who, having been granted their share of the divine writ [note 58], now barter it away for error, and want you [too] to lose your way?
Pickthall Seest thou not those unto whom a portion of the Scripture hath been given, how they purchase error, and seek to make you (Muslims) err from the right way?
[[ Asad’s note 58 – The people referred to are the followers of the Bible. Thus, after having touched in the preceding verse upon the question of prayer, the Quran resumes its cardinal theme: man’s responsibility for his actions and, in particular, for the manner in which he responds to the guidance offered to him through God’s revelations. ]]
[Ali’s note – cf III:23, note 366 ]