4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّا
أَوْحَيْنَا
إِلَيْكَ كَمَا
أَوْحَيْنَا
إِلَى نُوحٍ
وَالنَّبِيِّينَ
مِن بَعْدِهِ...
4: 163. We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him;
C668. First we have a general statement:
that inspiration was sent to many Messengers, and the inspiration was of the same kind as that sent to the Prophet Muhammad, for Allah's Message is one.
Note that what is spoken of here is Inspiration, not necessarily a Book.
Every nation or group of people had a messenger: 10:47. Some of these messengers have been mentioned by name in the Quran, and some not: 4:164.
... وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإْسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأَسْبَاطِ ...
We sent inspiration to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes,
The list here given is in three groups.
- The first group, Abraham's family, is the same as in 2:136, (where see the note) and in 3:84.
- Then we have the prophets Jesus, Job and Jonah, who symbolize patience and perseverance.
- Then we have Aaron the priest and Solomon the King, both great, figures, but each subordinate to another primary figure, viz., Moses (mentioned in the next verse) and David (mentioned at the end of this verse),
David's distinction was the Psalms, some of which are still extant. Though their present form is different from the original and they do undoubtedly include Psalms not written by David, the collection contains much devotional poetry of a high order. (R).
... وَعِيسَى وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ ...
to Jesus Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon,
... وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا ﴿١٦٣﴾
and to David We gave the Psalms.
وَرُسُلاً
قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ
عَلَيْكَ مِن
قَبْلُ وَرُسُلاً
لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ
عَلَيْكَ...
4: 164. Of some Messengers We have already told thee the story; of others We have not;
... وَكَلَّمَ اللّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيمًا ﴿١٦٤﴾
and to Moses Allah spoke direct.
C670. Allah spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. Hence the title of Moses in Muslim theology:
Kalim Allah: the one to whom Allah spoke.
رُّسُلاً
مُّبَشِّرِينَ
وَمُنذِرِينَ
لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ
لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى
اللّهِ حُجَّةٌ
بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ...
4: 165. Messengers who gave good news as well as warning, that mankind, after (the coming) of the Messengers, should have no plea against Allah:
C671. Every prophet proclaims Allah's goodness to the righteous and forgiveness to those who repent, (good news), and the Wrath to come for those who reject Faith and live in iniquity (warning).
Their mission of warning is a prelude and complement to their mission of good news. No one can then say that he or she did not know.
... وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا ﴿١٦٥﴾
for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.
لَّـكِنِ
اللّهُ يَشْهَدُ
بِمَا أَنزَلَ
إِلَيْكَ أَنزَلَهُ
بِعِلْمِهِ
وَالْمَلآئِكَةُ...
4: 166. But Allah beareth witness that what He hath sent unto thee He hath sent from His (Own) Knowledge, and the angels bear witness:
C672. Inspiration, though it is clothed in human language, and shaped to the personality of the inspired one, proceeds from the knowledge of Allah. (R).
... يَشْهَدُونَ وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ شَهِيدًا ﴿١٦٦﴾
but enough is Allah for a Witness.
Other versions:
4: 163 [an-Nisa, Medina 92 ]
Asad ……………..unto David a book of divine wisdom [note 178].
Yusuf Ali We have sent thee inspiration as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him; We sent inspiration to Abraham Ismail Isaac Jacob and the Tribes to Jesus Job Jonah Aaron and Solomon and to David We gave the Psalms.
Pickthall Lo! We inspire thee as We inspired Noah and the prophets after him, as We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and as we imparted unto David the Psalms;
Ali Unal …………We gave David the Psalms [note 33].
Transliteration Inna_ auhaina_ ilaika kama_ auhaina_ ila_ nu_hiw wan nabiyyina mim ba'dih(i), wa auhaina_ ila_ ibra_hima wa isma_'ila wa isha_qa wa ya'qu_ba wal asba_ti wa 'isa_ wa ayyu_ba wa yu_nusa wa ha_ru_na wa sulaima_n(a), wa a_tainu_ da_wu_da zabu_ra_(n).
4: 164
Asad and as [We inspired other] apostles whom We have mentioned to thee ere this [note 179], as well as apostles whom We have not mentioned to thee………….
Yusuf Ali Of some Apostles We have already told thee the story; of others We have not; and to Moses Allah spoke direct.
Pickthall And messengers We have mentioned unto thee before and messengers We have not mentioned unto thee; and Allah spoke directly unto Moses;
Transliteration Wa rusulan qad qasasna_hum'alaika min qablu wa rusulal lam naqsushum'alaik(a), wa kallamalla_hu mu_sa_ taklima_(n).
4: 165
Yusuf Ali Apostles who gave good news as well as warning that mankind after (the coming) of the Apostles should have no plea against Allah: for Allah is Exalted in Power Wise.
Pickthall Messengers of good cheer and off warning, in order that mankind might have no argument against Allah after the messengers. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise.
Transliteration Rusulam mubasysyirina wa munzirina li'alla_ yaku_na linna_si 'alalla_hi hujjatum ba'dar rusul(i), wa ka_nalla_hu 'azizan hakima_(n).
4: 166
Asad However it be, God [Himself] bears witness to the truth of what He has bestowed from on high upon thee: out of His own wisdom has He bestowed it from on high, with the angels bearing witness thereto- although none can bear witness as God does.
Yusuf Ali But Allah beareth witness that what He hath sent unto thee He hath sent from His (Own) Knowledge and the angels bear witness: but enough is Allah for a Witness.
Pickthall But Allah (Himself) testifieth concerning that which He hath revealed unto thee; in His knowledge hath He revealed it; and the Angels also testify. And Allah is sufficient witness.
Transliteration La_kinilla_hu yasyhadu bima_ anzala ilaika anzalahu_ bi'ilmih(i), wal mala_'ikatu yasyhadu_n(a), wa kafa_ billa_hi syahida_(n).
[[ Ali’s notes - 668 First we have a general statement: that inspiration was sent to many Messengers, and the inspiration was of the same kind as that sent to the Prophet Muhammmad, for Allah's Message is one. Note that what is spoken of here is Inspiration, not necessarily a Book. Every nation or group of people had a messenger: x. 47. Some of these messengers have been mentioned by name in the Qur-an, and some not: iv. 164. (4.163)
669 Cf. ii. 136 and iii. 84. The list here given is in three groups. (1) The first group, Abraham's family, is the same as in ii. 136, (where see the note) and in iii. 84. (2) Then we have the prophets Jesus, Job and Jonah, who symbolise patience and perseverance. (3) Then we have Aaron the priest and Solomon the King, both great figures, but each subordinate to another primary figure, viz., Moses (mentioned in the next verse) and David (mentioned at the end of this verse). David's distinction was the Psalms, some of which are still extant. Though their present form is different from the original and they do undoubtedly include Pslams not written by David, the collection contains much devotional poetry of a high order. (4.163)
670 Allah spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. Hence the title of Moses in Muslim theology: Kalim-ullah: the one to whom Allah spoke. (4.164)
671 Every prophet proclaims Allah's goodness to the righteous and forgiveness to those who repent, (good news), and the Wrath to come for those who reject Faith and live in iniquity (warning). Their mission of warning is a prelude and complement to their mission of good news. No one can then say that he or she did not know. (4.165)
672 Inspiration, though it is clothed in human language, and shaped to the personality of the inspired one, proceeds from the knowledge of Allah. (4.166) ]]
[[Asad’s notes – 178 I.e., the Psalms (see surah 21, note 101)
179 – I.e., before the revelation of this surah.
180 I.e., by raising Jesus to the rank of divinity. Since here the Christian are addressed specifically, I render the term ‘kitab’ as ‘Gospel’.]]
[[ Unal’s notes - 33 Abu’l-A’la al-Mawdudi has the following note on this verse: The Psalms embodied in the Bible are not the Psamls of David. The Bible version contains many ‘psalms’ by others and they are ascribed to their actual authors………………………………………..]]