5. Surah al-Maida, Medina 112
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمِنَ
الَّذِينَ
قَالُواْ إِنَّا
نَصَارَى أَخَذْنَا
مِيثَاقَهُمْ
...
5: 14. From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a Covenant,
C715. The Christian Covenant may be taken to be the charge which Jesus gave to his disciples, and which the disciples accepted, to welcome Ahmad (56:6).
Glimpses of this are to be found in the Gospel of St. John even as it exists now (John 15:26. 16:7).
It is those who call themselves "Christians" who reject this. True Christians have accepted it. The enmity between those who call themselves Christians and the Jews will continue till the Last Day.
... فَنَسُواْ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ ...
but they forgot a good part of the Message that was sent them:
... فَأَغْرَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاء إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ...
so We estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the Day of Judgment.
... وَسَوْفَ يُنَبِّئُهُمُ اللّهُ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿١٤﴾
And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done.
C715a. The change from the First Person in the beginning of the verse to the Third Person here illustrates the change from the personal relationship of the Covenant, to the impersonal operation of Justice at Judgment.
Cf. 35:9.
5: 14
Asad 5:14 And [likewise,] from those who say, "Behold, we are Christians." 26 We have accepted a solemn pledge: and they, too, have forgotten much of what they had been told to bear in mind - wherefore We have given rise among them to enmity and hatred, [to last] until Resurrection Day: 27 and in time God will cause them to understand what they have contrived.
Pickthall And with those who say: "Lo! we are Christians," We made a covenant, but they forgot a part of that whereof they were admonished. Therefor We have stirred up enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection, when Allah will inform them of their handiwork.
Transliteration Wa minal lazina qa_lu_ inna_ nasa_ra_ akhazna_ misa_qahum fa nasu_ hazzam mimma_ zukkiru_ bih(i), fa agraina_ bainahumul 'ada_wata wal bagda_'a ila_ yaumil qiya_mah(ti), wa saufa yunabbi'uhumulla_hu bima_ ka_nu_ yasna'u_n(a).
[[ Ali’s notes - 715 The Christian Covenant may be taken to be the charge which Jesus gave to his disciples, and which the disciples accepted, to welcome Ahmad (Q. lxi. 6). Glimpses of this are to be found in the Gospel of St. John even as it exists now (John xv. 26. xvi. 7). It is those who call themselves "Christians" who reject this. True Christians have accepted it. The enmity between those who call themselves Christians and the Jews will continue till the Last Day. A) The change from the First Person in the beginning of the verse to the Third Person here illustrates the change from the personal relationship of the Covenant, to the impersonal operation of Justice at Judgment. Cf. xxxv. 9. (5.14) ]]
[[ Asad’s notes
26 Thus the Qur'an elliptically rejects their claim of being true followers of Jesus: for, by wrongfully elevating him to the status of divinity they have denied the very essence of his message.
27 I.e., their going astray from the genuine teachings of Jesus - and thus from true faith in God - is the innermost cause of the enmity and hatred which has so often set the so-called Christian nations against one another and led to unceasing wars and mutual persecution. ]]