Doubts and Questions raised regarding Prophets :
14. Surah Ibrahim
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قَالَتْ
رُسُلُهُمْ
أَفِي اللّهِ
شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضِ...
14: 10. Their Messengers said:
"Is there a doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth?
...يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَـمًّى...
It is He Who invites you, in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!"
C1885. The Prophets (generally) clear both kinds of doubt.
"You cannot doubt the existence of Allah! Behold His works! We are not speaking for ourselves or deceiving you. We speak according to the Message of inspiration from Allah."
Notice that the doubters had said to the Prophets, -Ye invite us.- The Prophets say: "It is Allah Who invites you, and He does it to save you by His grace, and give you plenty of time (but not indefinite time) for penitence and amendment."
...قَالُواْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا...
They said:
"Ah! ye are no more than human, like ourselves!
...تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَآؤُنَا... ...
Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship:
...فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿١٠﴾
then bring us some clear authority."
C1886. Infidelity is illogical and argues in a circle.
If the Prophet speaks of Allah, the Unbeliever says, "You are only a man!"
"But I speak from Allah!"
"Oh well! our ancestral ways of worship are good enough for us!"
"What if they are wrong?"
"What authority have you for saying so?"
"The highest authority, that from Allah!"
And so we come back full circle! Then the wicked rely on violence, but it recoils on them, and they perish.
قَالَتْ
لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ
إِن نَّحْنُ
إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ
مِّثْلُكُمْ...
14: 11. Their Messengers said to them:
"True, we are human like yourselves,
...وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ...
but Allah doth grant His grace to such of His servants as He pleases.
...وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَانٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ...
It is not for us to bring you an authority except as Allah permits.
...وَعلَى اللّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١١﴾
And on Allah let all men of faith put their trust.
وَمَا لَنَا
أَلاَّ نَتَوَكَّلَ
عَلَى اللّهِ
وَقَدْ هَدَانَا
سُبُلَنَا...
14: 12. "No reason have we why we should not put our trust on Allah. Indeed He has guided us to the Ways we (follow).
...وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَى مَا آذَيْتُمُونَا...
We shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us:
...وَعَلَى اللّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ ﴿١٢﴾
for those who put their trust should put their trust on Allah."
Other versions:
14: 10
Yusuf Ali Their apostles said: "Is there a doubt about Allah the Creator of the heavens and the earth? It is He Who invites you in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!" They said: "Ah! ye are no more than human like ourselves! Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship: then bring us some clear authority."
Pickthall Their messengers said: Can there be doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calleth you that He may forgive you your sins and reprieve you unto an appointed term. They said: Ye are but mortals like us, who would fain turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring some clear warrant.
Yuksel Their messengers said, "Is there doubt regarding God, the initiator of the heavens and the earth? He invites you so that He may forgive some of your sins, and grant you until a predetermined time." They said, "You are but humans like us, you wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to serve. So come to us with clear authority."
Transliteration Qa_lat rusuluhum afailla_hi syakkun fa_tiris sama_wa_ti wal ard(i), yad'u_kum liyagfira lakum min zunu_bikum wa yu'akhkhirakum ila_ ajalim musamma_(n), qa_lu_ in antum illa_ basyarum misluna_, turidu_na an tasuddu_na_ 'amma_ ka_na yanbudu a_ba_'una_ fa'tu_na_ bi sulta_nim mubin(in).
[[ Ali’s notes -
1885 The Prophets (generally) clear both kinds of doubt. "You cannot doubt the existence of Allah! Behold His works! We are not speaking for ourselves or deceiving you. We speak according to the Message of inspiration from Allah.- Notice that the doubters had said to the Prophets, "Ye invite us." The Prophets say: "It is Allah Who invites you, and He does it to save you by His grace, and give you plenty of time (but not indefinite time) for penitence and amendment." (14.10)
1886 Infidelity is illogical and argues in a circle. If the Prophet speaks of Allah, the Unbeliever says, "You are only a man!" "But I speak from Allah!" "Oh well! our ancestral ways of worship are good enough for us!" "What if they are wrong?" "What authority have you for saying so?" "The highest authority, that from Allah!" And so we come back full circle! Then the wicked rely on violence, but it recoils on them, and they perish. (14.10) ]]
14: 11
Yusuf Ali Their apostles said to them: "True we are human like yourselves but Allah doth grant His grace to such of His servants as He pleases. It is not for us to bring you an authority except as Allah permits. And on Allah let all men of faith put their trust.
Pickthall Their messengers said unto them: We are but mortals like you, but Allah giveth grace unto whom He will of His slaves. It is not ours to bring you a warrant unless by the permission of Allah. In Allah let believers put their trust!
Transliteration Qa_lat lahum rusuluhum in nahnu illa_ basyarum mislukum wa la_kinnalla_ha yamunnu 'ala_ may yasya_'u min 'iba_dih(i), wa ma_ ka_na lana_ an na'tiyakum bi sulta_nin illa_ bi iznilla_h(i), wa 'alalla_hi falyatawakkalil mu'minu_n(a).
14: 12
Yusuf Ali "No reason have we why we should not put our trust on Allah. Indeed He has guided us to the Ways we (follow). We shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us: for those who put their trust should put their trust on Allah."
Pickthall How should we not put our trust in Allah when He hath shown us our ways? We surely will endure that hurt ye do us. In Allah let the trusting put their trust!
Transliteration Wa ma_ lana_ alla_ natawakkala 'alalla_hi wa qad hada_na_ subulana_, wa lanasbiranna 'ala_ ma_ a_zaitumu_na_, wa 'alalla_hi fal yatawakkalil mutawakkilu_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 [through a prophet,] nothing has ever kept people from believing [in him] save this their objection: ”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.