2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ ...

2: 253. Those apostles We endowed with gifts, some above others:

C289. Different gifts and different modes of procedure are prescribed to Allah's Prophets in different ages, and perhaps their degrees are different through it is not for us mortals, with our imperfect knowledge to make any difference between one and another of Allah's Prophets (2:136).

As this winds up the argument about fighting, three illustrations are given from the past, how it affected Allah's Messengers.

- To Moses Allah spoke in clouds of glory; he led his men for forty years through the wilderness, mainly fighting against the unbelief of his own people; he organized them to fight with the sword for Palestine, but was raised to Allah's mercy before his enterprise ripened, and it fell to Joshua to carry out his plan.

- David, though a mere shepherd boy, was chosen by Allah. He overthrew the greatest warrior of his time, became a king, and waged successful wars, being also a prophet, a poet, and a musician.

- Jesus was "strengthened with the holy spirit' he was given no weapons to fight and his mission was of a more limited character.

- In Muhammad's mission these and other characters were combined. Gentler than Jesus, he organized on a vaster scale than Moses and from Madinah he ruled and gave laws and the Quran has a vaster scope than the Psalms of David.

... مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ اللّهُ ...

to one of them Allah spoke;

C290. Moses: see note above.

... وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ ...

others He raised to degrees (of honor);

C291. There is a two-fold sense:

- they were raised to high posts of honour,

- and they rose by degrees.

I take the reference to be to David.

... وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ...

to Jesus the son of Mary, We gave clear (Signs),

C292. Cf. 2:87. See n. 401 to 3:62.

and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.

C292a. "Holy Spirit" according to commentators signifies Gabriel. [Eds]

... وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلَ الَّذِينَ مِن بَعْدِهِم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ...

If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought among each other, after clear (Signs) had come to them,

... وَلَـكِنِ اخْتَلَفُواْ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ آمَنَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن كَفَرَ...

but they (chose) to wrangle, some believing and others rejecting.

... وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلُواْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ ﴿٢٥٣﴾

If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but Allah fulfilleth His plan.

C293. If some power of choice was to be given to man, his selfishness inevitably caused divisions. It must not be supposed that it frustrates God's Plan. He carries it out as He will.

Other versions:

2: 253

Asad Some of these apostles have We endowed more highly than others: among them were such as were spoken to by God [Himself], and some He has raised yet higher [note 243]. And We vouchsafed unto Jesus………holy inspiration [note 244]. And if God so willed, they who succeeded those [apostles] would not have contended with one another after all evidence of the truth had come to them; but [as it was] they did take to divergent views, and some of them attained to faith, while some of them came to deny the truth. Yet if God had so willed, they would not have contended with one another: but God does whatever He wills [note 245].

Yusuf Ali Those apostles We endowed with gifts some above others: to one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honor); to Jesus the son of Mary We gave clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. If Allah had so willed succeeding generations would not have fought among each other after clear (Signs) had come to them but they (chose) to wrangle some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed they would not have fought each other; but Allah fulfilleth His plan.

Pickthall Of those messengers, some of whom We have caused to excel others, and of whom there are some unto whom Allah spake, while some of them He exalted (above others) in degree; and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty) and We supported him with the holy Spirit. And if Allah had so willed it, those who followed after them would not have fought one with another after the clear proofs had come unto them. But they differed, some of them believing and some disbelieving. And if Allah had so willed it, they would not have fought one with another; but Allah doeth what He will.

Tilkar rusulu faddalna_ ba'dahum 'ala_ ba'd(in), minhum man kallamalla_hu wa rafa'a ba'dahum daraja_t(in), wa a_taina_'isabna maryamal bayyina_ti wa ayyadna_hu bi ru_hil qudus(i), wa lau sya_'alla_hu maqtatalal lazina mim ba'dihim mim ba'di ma_ ja_'athumul bayyina_tu wa la_kinikhtalafu_ fa minhum man a_mana wa minhum man kafar(a), wa lau sya_'alla_hu maqtatalu_, wa la_kinnalla_ha yaf'alu ma_ yurid(u).

[ Asad’s notes: 243 – This appears to be an allusion to Muhammad inasmuch as he was the Lat Prophet and the bearer of a universal message applicable to all people and to all times. By “such as were spoken to by God” Moses is meant (see the last sentence of 4:164).

244 – The mention, in this context, of Jesus by name is intended to stress the fact of his having been a prophet, and to refute the claims of those who deify him. For an explanation of the term “ruh al-qudus” (rendered by my as “holy inspiration”), see note 71 on verse 87 of this sura.

245 –Once again – as in verse 213 above – the Quran alludes to the inevitability of dissensions among human beings: in other words, it is the will of God that their way to the truth should be marked by conflicts and trial by error.]

[ Ali’s notes - 289 Different gifts and different modes of procedure are prescribed to God's Apostles in different ages, and perhaps their degrees are different though it is not for us mortals, with our imperfect knowledge to make any difference between one and another of God's Apostles (ii. 136). As this winds up the argument about fighting, three illustrations are given from the past, how it affected God's Messengers. To Moses God spoke in clouds of glory; he led his men for forty years through the wilderness, mainly fighting against the unbelief of his own people; he organised them to fight with the sword for Palestine, but was raised to God's mercy before his enterprise ripened, and it fell to Joshua to carry out his plan. David, though a mere shepherd boy, was chosen by God. He overthrew the greatest warrior of his time, became a king, and waged successful wars, being also a prophet, a poet, and a musician. Jesus was "strengthened with the holy spirit": he was given no weapons to fight and his mission was of a more limited character. In Muhammad's mission these and other characters were combined. Gentler than Jesus, he organised on a vaster scale than Moses and from Medina he ruled and gave laws, and the Qur-an has a vaster scope than the Psalms of David. (2.253)

290 Moses: see note above. (2.253)

291 There is a two-fold sense: they were raised to high posts of honor, and they rose by degrees. I take the reference to be to David. (2.253)

292 Cf. ii 87. See n. 401 to iii. 62. (2.253)

293 If some power of choice was to be given to man, his selfishness inevitably caused divisions. It must not be supposed that it frustrates God's Plan. He carries it out as He will. (2.253) ]

2: 252 These are God’s messages: We convey them unto thee, (O Prophet,) setting forth the truth - - for , verily thou art among those who have been entrusted with a message.