Prophets as Good-News Bearer and Warners
[ musalina illa_ mubasysyirina]
6. Sura al-Anam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا
نُرْسِلُ
الْمُرْسَلِينَ
إِلاَّ
مُبَشِّرِينَ
وَمُنذِرِينَ...
6: 48. We send the Messengers only to give good news and to warn:
C866. The Prophets are not sent to cancel man's limited free-will. They are sent to preach and teach,
- to preach hope to the repentant ("good news"), and
- to warn the rebellious of the Wrath to come.
...فَمَنْ آمَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾
so those who believe and mend (their lives), upon them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
وَالَّذِينَ
كَذَّبُواْ
بِآيَاتِنَا
يَمَسُّهُمُ
الْعَذَابُ
بِمَا
كَانُواْ
يَفْسُقُونَ
﴿٤٩﴾
6: 49. But those who reject Our Signs, them shall our punishment touch, for that they ceased not from transgressing.
قُل
لاَّ
أَقُولُ
لَكُمْ
عِندِي
خَزَآئِنُ
اللّهِ
...
6: 50. Say:
"I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah,
C867. Literally it might mean that the men of God are not like vulgar soothsayers, who pretend to reveal hidden treasures, or peer into future, or claim to be something of a different nature from men. But the meaning is wider:
- They deal out Allah's great treasures of truth, but the treasures are not theirs, but Allah's;
- they have greater insight into the higher things, but that insight is not due to their own wisdom, but to Allah's inspiration,;
- they are of the same flesh and blood with us, and the sublimity of their words and teaching arises through Allah's grace- to them and to those who hear them.
... وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ ...
nor do I know what is hidden,
... وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ...
nor do I tell you I am an angel.
...إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلاَّ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ...
I but follow what is revealed to me."
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ ...
Say: "Can the blind be held equal to the seeing?"
C868. Therefore compare not the men of God ("the seeing") with ordinary men ("the blind").
The men of God, although they be but men, have the higher light with them; therefore do not exact of them petty ephemeral services. Though they are men, they are not as other men, and are entitled to reverence.
... أَفَلاَ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾
Will ye then consider not?
Other versions:
6: 48 [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]
Asad And We send [Our] message-bearers only as heralds of glad tidings and as warners: hence, all who believe and live righteously – no fear need they have and neither shall they grieve;
Yusuf Ali We send the Apostles only to give good news and to warn: so those who believe and mend (their lives) upon them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.
Pickthall We send not the messengers save as bearers of good news and warners. Whoso believeth and doeth right, there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
Transliteration Wa ma_ nursilul musalina illa_ mubasysyirina wa munzirin(a), fa man a_mana wa aslaha fala_ khaufun 'alaihim wa la_ hum yahzanu_n(a).
6: 49
Asad whereas those who give the lie to Our messages – suffering will afflict them in result of all their sinful doings.
Yusuf Ali But those who reject Our Signs them shall our punishment touch for that they ceased not from transgressing.
Pickthall But as for those who deny Our revelations, torment will afflict them for that they used to disobey.
Transliteration Wallazina kazzabu_ bi a_ya_tina_ yamassuhumul 'aza_bu bima_ ka_nu_ yafsuqu_n(a).
6: 50
Asad …………………Will you not, then, take thought?”
Yusuf Ali Say: "I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah nor do I know what is hidden nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me." Say: "Can the blind be held equal to the seeing?" Will ye then consider not?
Pickthall Say (O Muhammad, to the disbelievers): I say not unto you (that) I possess the treasures of Allah, nor that I have knowledge of the Unseen; and I say not unto you: Lo! I am an angel. I follow only that which is inspired in me. Say: Are the blind man and the seer equal? Will ye not then take thought?
Transliteration Qul la_ aqu_lu lakum 'indi khaza_'inulla_hi wa la_ a'lamul gaiba wa la_ aqu_lu lakum innimalak(un), in attabi'u illa_ ma_ yu_ha_ ilayy(a), qul hal yastawil a'ma_ wal basir(u), afala_ tatafakkaru_n(a).
[[ Asad’s note 38 – This denial on the part of the Prophet of any claim to supernatural powers refers, primarily, to the demand of the unbelievers (mentioned in verse 37) that he should prove his prophetic mission by causing a “miraculous sign” to be bestowed on him. Beyond this specific reference, however, the above passage is meant to prevent any deification of the Prophet and to make it clear that he – like all other prophets before him –was but a moral human beings, a servant whom God had chosen to convey His message to mankind. See also 7:188]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 866 The Apostles are not sent to cancel man's limited free-will. They are sent to preach and teach, - to preach hope to the repentant ("good news"), and to warn the rebellious of the Wrath to come. (6.48)
867 Literally it might mean that the men of God are not like vulgar soothsayers, who pretend to reveal hidden treasures, or peer into future, or claim to be something of a different nature from men. But the meaning is wider: They deal out God's great treasures of truth, but the treasures are not theirs, but God's; they have greater insight into the higher things, but that insight is not due to their own wisdom, but to God's inspiration; they are of the same flesh and blood with us, and the sublimity of their words and teaching arises through God's grace- to them and to those who hear them. (6.50)]]