19. Surah Maryam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ
أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ
عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ
النَّبِيِّينَ...
19: 58. Those were some of the prophets on whom Allah did bestow His Grace --
...مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ آدَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ...
of the posterity of Adam, and of those whom We carried (in the Ark) with Noah,
...وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْرَائِيلَ...
and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel --
C2509. The earlier generations are grouped into three epochs from a religious point of view:
- from Adam to Noah,
- from Noah to Abraham, and
- from Abraham to an indefinite time, say to the time when the Message of Allah was corrupted and the need arose for the final Messenger of Unity and Truth.
Israel is another name for Jacob.
...وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَاجْتَبَيْنَا...
of those whom We guided and chose;
...إِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُ الرَّحْمَن خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا ﴿٥٨﴾
whenever the Signs of (Allah) Most Gracious were rehearsed to them,
they would fall down in prostrate adoration and in tears.
C2510. The original is in the Aorist tense, implying that the "Posterity" alluded to includes not only the messengers but their worthy followers who are true to Allah and uphold His standard.
Other versions:
19: 58
Asad’s version
19:58 THESE WERE some of the prophets upon whom God bestowed His blessings - [prophets] of the seed of Adam and of those whom We caused to be borne [in the ark] with Noah, and of the seed of Abraham and Israel 43 : and [all of them were] among those whom We had guided and elected; [and] whenever the messages of the Most Gracious were conveyed unto them, they would fall down [before Him], prostrating themselves and weeping. 44
Yusuf Ali Those were some of the prophets on whom Allah did bestow His Grace of the posterity of Adam and of those whom We carried (in the Ark) with Noah and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel of those whom We guided and chose; whenever the Signs of (Allah) Most Gracious were rehearsed to them they would fall down in prostrate adoration and in tears.
Pickthall These are they unto whom Allah showed favor from among the Prophets, of the seed of Adam and of those whom We carried (in the ship) with Noah, and of the seed of Abraham and Israel, and from among those whom We guided and chose. When the revelations of the Beneficent were recited unto them, they fell down, adoring and weeping.
Transliteration Ula_ ikal lazina an'amal la_hu 'alaihim minan nabiy yina min dzur riy yati a_dam wa mim man hamalna_ ma'a nu_hiw wa min dzur riy yati ibra_hima wa isra_ ila wa mim man hadaina_ waj tabaina_ idza_ tutla_ 'alaihim a_ya_tur rahma_ni khar ru_ suj jadaw wa bukiy ya_
[[ Asad’s notes - 43 Whereas the Hebrew prophets, whose line ended with Jesus, descended from Abraham through Isaac and Israel (Jacob), Muhammad traced his descent from the same patriarch through the latter's first-born son, Ishmael.
44 I.e., all of the prophets were conscious of being no more than mortal, humble servants of God. (See also 32:15.) ]]