2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُولُواْ
آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ
وَمَآ أُنزِلَ
إِلَيْنَا...
2: 136. Say ye:
"We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us,
... وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأسْبَاطِ ...
and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes,
... وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ...
and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord,
... لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٣٦﴾
we make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to Allah (in Islam)."
C135. Here we have the Creed of Islam: to believe in:
1. the One Universal God.,
2. the Message to us through Muhammad and the Signs (Ayat) as interpreted on the basis of personal responsibility,
3. the Message delivered by other Teachers in the past.
These are mentioned in three groups:
- Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes:
of these Abraham had apparently a Book (87:19) and others followed his tradition:
- Moses and Jesus, who each left a scripture; these scriptures are still extant though not in their pristine form; and
- other scriptures, Prophets, or Messengers of Allah, not specifically mentioned in the Quran.
We make no difference between any of these. Their Message (in essentials) was one, and that is the basis of Islam.
فَإِنْ
آمَنُواْ بِمِثْلِ
مَا آمَنتُم
بِهِ فَقَدِ
اهْتَدَواْ
وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ
فَإِنَّمَا
هُمْ فِي شِقَاقٍ...
2: 137. So if they believe as ye believe, they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back, it is they who are in schism;
... فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللّهُ ...
but Allah will suffice thee as against them,
C136. We are thus in the true line of those who follow the one and indivisible Message of the One Allah, wherever delivered.
If others narrow it or corrupt it, it is they who have left the faith and created a division or schism. But Allah sees and knows all. And He will protect His own, and His support will be infinitely more precious than the support which men can give.
... وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿١٣٧﴾
and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Other versions:
2: 136 [ al-Baqarah Medina 87 ]
Asad Say: “We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmel and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants …….Moses and Jesus…..to all the [other] prophets by their Sustainer: we make no distinction between any of them. And it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves.”
Yusuf Ali Say ye: "We believe in Allah and the revelation given to us and to Abraham Isma`il Isaac Jacob and the Tribes and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord we make no difference between one and another of them and we bow to Allah (in Islam)."
Pickthall Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.
Transliteration Qu_lu_ a_manna_ billa_hi wa ma_ unzila ilaina_ wa ma_ unzila ila_ ibra_hima wa isma_'ila wa isha_qa wa ya'qu_ba wal asba_ti wa ma_ u_tiya mu_sa_ wa 'isa_ wa ma_ u_tiyan nabiyyu_na mir rabbihim, la_ nufarriqu baina ahadim minhum, wa nahnu lahu_ muslimu_n(a).
2: 137
Asad And if [others] come to believe in the way you believe, they will indeed find themselves on the right path; and if they turn away, it is but they who will be deeply in the wrong, and God will protect thee from them: for He lone is all-hearing all-knowing.
Yusuf Ali So if they believe as ye believe they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back it is they who are in schism; but Allah will suffice thee as against them and He is the All-Hearing the All- Knowing.
Pickthall And if they believe in the like of that which ye believe, then are they rightly guided. But if they turn away, then are they in schism, and Allah will suffice thee (for defence) against them. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
Transliteration Fa in a_manu_ bi misli ma_ a_mantum bihi fa qadih tadau, wa in tawallau fa innama_ hum fi syiqa_q(in), fa sayakfika humulla_hu, wa huwas sami'ul 'alim(u).
Sibgatalla_hi, wa man ahsanu minalla_hi sibgah(tan), wa nahnu lahu_ 'a_bidu_n(a).
17. Surah Al Isra
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ
أَن يُؤْمِنُواْ
إِذْ جَاءهُمُ
الْهُدَى...
17: 94. What kept men back from Belief when Guidance came to them, was nothing but this:
...إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ أَبَعَثَ اللّهُ بَشَرًا رَّسُولاً ﴿٩٤﴾
they said, "Has Allah sent a man like (us) to be (His) Messenger?"
C2299. When a man is raised to honour and dignity, his sincere brothers rejoice, for it is an honour that reflects its glory on them. But those with evil in their hearts are jealous like their prototype Iblis, (17:61, n. 2251).
To such men the mere fact that their own brother receives the grace of Allah is enough to turn them against that brother.
Any other reasons they may devise are mere make-believe.
قُل
لَّوْ كَانَ فِي الأَرْضِ
مَلآئِكَةٌ
يَمْشُونَ
مُطْمَئِنِّينَ...
17: 95. Say,
"If there were settled, on earth, angels walking about in peace and quiet,
C2300. The argument is that if angels inhabited this earth, an angel from heaven could be sent down as a messenger to them, as they could mutually understand each other, and the Message of Allah could be explained without difficulty.
But the earth is inhabited by men, and the men themselves are divided into races, or groups, or nations. To each Group is sent a prophet from among their brethren: to 'Ad, their brother Hud (11:50); to Thamud, their brother Salih (11:61): and so on.
As a matter of fact, with wicked men, constituted as they are, the appearance of an angel causes disturbance and an unseemly riot, as in the case of the angels that came to Lut (11:77-80).
In any case they cannot carry out an effective mission among men (6:8-9).
...لَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ السَّمَاء مَلَكًا رَّسُولاً ﴿٩٥﴾
We should certainly have sent them down from the heavens an angel for a messenger."
Other versions:
17: 94 [al-Isra Mecca 50]
Wa ma_ mana'an na_sa ay yu'minu_ iz ja_'ahumul huda_ illa_ an qa_lu_ aba'asalla_hu basyarar rasu_la_(n).
Asad Yet whenever [God’s] guidance came to them …………..”Would God have sent a [mere] mortal man as His apostle?”
Yusuf Ali What kept men back from Belief when Guidance came to them was nothing but this: they said "Has Allah sent a man like us) to be (His) Apostle?"
Pickthall And naught prevented mankind from believing when the guidance came unto them save that they said: Hath Allah sent a mortal as (His) messenger?
17: 95 [al-Isra Mecca 50]
Transliteration Qul lau ka_na fil ardi mala_'ikatuy yamsyu_na mutma'innina lanazzalna_ 'alaihim minas sama_'i malakar rasu_la_(n).
Asad Say: “If angels were walking about on earth as their natural abode, We would indeed have sent down unto them an angel out of heaven as Our apostle.”
Yusuf Ali Say "If there were settled on earth angels walking about in peace and quiet We should certainly have sent them down from the heavens an angel for an apostle."
Pickthall Say: If there were in the earth angels walking secure, We had sent down for them from heaven an angel as messenger.