Sura -17 [Al-Israa, Mecca 50]

The Quranic text and Ali’s version

Qul lau antum tamliku_na khaza_'ina rahmati rabbi izal la'amsaktum khasy-yatal infa_q(i), wa ka_nal insa_nu qatu_ra_(n).

قُل لَّوْ أَنتُمْ تَمْلِكُونَ خَزَآئِنَ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّي...   

17:100. Say:

"If ye had control of the Treasures of the Mercy of my Lord,

...إِذًا لَّأَمْسَكْتُمْ خَشْيَةَ الإِنفَاقِ...

behold, ye would keep them back, for fear of spending them:

...وَكَانَ الإنسَانُ قَتُورًا ﴿١٠٠﴾

for man is (ever) niggardly!"

C2307. A fresh argument is now addressed to those who would confine Allah's revelations to a limited circle of men, such as they themselves belonged to.

The immediate reference was to the Jews, who could not understand how any Gentiles could receive revelations and guidance even superior to what they considered their own birth-right. But the tendency is widespread in the human race.

A particular race, or caste, or a particular kind of culture, claims to be the custodian of Allah's Message, whereas it is universal. Allah's Mercy is universal, and He scatters the priceless Treasures of His Mercy broadcast among His creatures. They are not exhausted by spending. It is only the misers who hoard their wealth for fear it should be used up by spending.

'Are you spiritual misers going to keep back Allah's holy Message from the multitude?

Is that the reason why you deny the advent of the new Teacher, who comes as a Mercy to all men-to all Creation?'

Other versions:

Pickthall Say (unto them): If ye possessed the treasures of the mercy of my Lord, ye would surely hold them back for fear of spending, for man was ever grudging.

Yuksel Say, "If you were the ones possessing the vaults of my Lord's mercy, you would have held back for fear of spending. The human being became stingy!"