6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَقَدِ
اسْتُهْزِىءَ
بِرُسُلٍ
مِّن
قَبْلِكَ...
6: 10. Mocked were (many) Messengers before thee;
...فَحَاقَ بِالَّذِينَ سَخِرُواْ مِنْهُم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
but the scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.
C843. "The scoffers were mocked by the thing that they mocked" would express epigrammatically part of the sense, but not the whole.
"Hemmed in" implies that the logic of events turned the tables, and as a man might be besieged and surrounded by an enemy in war, and would be forced to surrender, so these mockers will find that events would justify Truth, not them.
The mockers of Jesus, - where were they when Titus destroyed Jerusalem?
The mockers who drove out Muhammad from Makkah, - what was their plight when Muhammad came back in triumph and they sued for mercy, - and he gave it to them!
According to the Latin proverb, Great is Truth, and must prevail.
Other versions:
6: 10 [al-Anam, Mecca 55]
Yusuf Ali Mocked were (many) Apostles before thee; but the scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.
Pickthall Messengers (of Allah) have been derided before thee, but that whereat they scoffed surrounded such of them as did deride.
Transliteration Wa laqdistuhzi'a bi rusulim min qablika fa ha_qa billazina sakhiru_ minhum ma_ ka_nu_ bihi yastahzi'u_n(a).
[[ Ali’s note - 843 "The scoffers were mocked by the thing that they mocked" would express epigrammatically part of the sense, but not the whole. "Hemmed in" implies that the logic of events turned the tables, and as a man might be besieged and surrounded by an enemy in war, and would be forced to surrender, so these mockers will find that events would justify Truth, not them. The mockers of Jesus, - where were they when Titus destroyed Jerusalem? The mockers who drove out Muhammad from Mecca, - what was their plight when Muhammad came back in triumph and they sued for mercy, - and he gave it to them! According to the Latin proverb, Great is Truth, and must prevail. (6.10) ]]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَقَدِ
اسْتُهْزِىءَ
بِرُسُلٍ مِّن
قَبْلِكَ...
13: 32. Mocked were (many) Messengers before thee:
C1849. Cf. 6:10.
...فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ...
but I granted respite to the Unbelievers, and finally I punished them;
...فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ ﴿٣٢﴾
then how (terrible) was My requital!
C1850. The punishment was in many cases deferred. But when it did come, how terrible and exemplary it was!
Other versions:
13: 32 [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]
Yusuf Ali Mocked were (many) Apostles before thee: but I granted respite to the Unbelievers and finally I punished them; then how (terrible) was My requital!
Pickthall And verily messengers (of Allah) were mocked before thee, but long I bore with those who disbelieved. At length I seized them, and how (awful) was My punishment!
Transliteration Wa laqad-istuhzi'a bi rusulim min qablika fa amlaitu lillazina kafaru_ summa akhaztuhum fa kaifa ka_na 'iqa_b(i).
15. Surah Al Hijr
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَقَدْ
أَرْسَلْنَا
مِن قَبْلِكَ
فِي شِيَعِ
الأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٠﴾
15: 10. We did send Messengers before thee amongst the religious sects of old:
C1945. Shiya'un, plural of Shi'atun:: a sect, a religious division.
Mankind sees fragments of Truth at a time, and is apt to fall into fragments and divisions. All true messengers of Allah come to reconcile these fragments or divisions, for they preach the true Gospel of Unity.
So came Al-Mustafa to bring back to Unity the many jarring sects among the Jews, Christians, and Pagans. His mission was held up to ridicule, but so was the mission of his predecessors. Mockery itself should not discourage the preachers of Truth.
وَمَا
يَأْتِيهِم
مِّن رَّسُولٍ
إِلاَّ كَانُواْ
بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ ﴿١١﴾
15: 11. But never came a Messenger to them but they mocked him.
كَذَلِكَ
نَسْلُكُهُ
فِي قُلُوبِ
الْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿١٢﴾
15: 12. Even so do We let it creep into the hearts of the sinners --
C1946. If evil and disbelief exist in the world, we must not be impatient or lose our faith. We must recognise that if such things are permitted, they are part of the Universal Plan and purpose of Allah, Who is All-Wise and All-Good, but Whose wisdom and goodness we cannot fully fathom.
One consolation we have, and that is stated in the next verse and the next note.
Other versions:
15: 10 [al-Hijr, Mecca 54]
Yusuf Ali We did send apostles before thee amongst the religious sects of old:
Pickthall We verily sent (messengers) before thee among the factions of the men of old.
Transliteration Wa laqad arsalna_ min qablika fi syiya'il awwalin(a).
15: 11
Yusuf Ali But never came an apostle to them but they mocked him.
Pickthall And never came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him.
Transliteration Wa ma_ ya'tihim mir rasu_lin illa_ ka_nu_ bihi yastahzi'u_n(a).
15: 12
Yusuf Ali Even so do We let it creep into the hearts of the sinners
Pickthall Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty:
Transliteration Kaza_lika naslukuhu_ fi qulu_bil mujrimin(a),