2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيْفَ تُحْيِـي الْمَوْتَى ...

2: 260. Behold! Abraham said: "My Lord! show me how thou givest life to the dead.

C306. Verse 258, we saw, illustrated by Allah's power over Life and Death, contrasted with man's vain boasts or imaginings.

Verse 259 illustrated how Time is immaterial to Allah's working; things, individuals and nations are subject to laws of life and death, which are under Allah's complete control, however much we may be misled by appearances. (R).

... قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن...

He said: "Dost thou not then believe?"

... قَالَ بَلَى وَلَـكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِي...

He said: "Yea! but to satisfy my own understanding."

C307. Abraham had complete faith in Allah's power, but he wanted, with Allah's permission, to give an explanation of that faith to his own heart and mind.

Where I have translated "satisfy my own understanding", the literal translation would be "satisfy my own heart".

... قَالَ فَخُذْ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنَ الطَّيْرِ فَصُرْهُنَّ إِلَيْكَ ...

He said: "Take four birds; tame them to turn to thee;

... ثُمَّ اجْعَلْ عَلَى كُلِّ جَبَلٍ مِّنْهُنَّ جُزْءًا ثُمَّ ادْعُهُنَّ يَأْتِينَكَ سَعْيًا...

put a portion of them on every hill, and call to them; they will come to thee (flying) with speed.

C308. A portion of them: Juzan.

The Commentators understand this to mean that the birds were to be cut up and pieces of them were to be put on the hills. The cutting up or killing is not mentioned, but they say that it is implied by an ellipsis, as the question is how Allah gives life to the dead. (R).

... وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٢٦٠﴾

Then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise."

Other versions:

2: 260 [al-Baqara, Medina 87]

Yusuf Ali Behold! Abraham said: "My Lord! show me how thou givest life to the dead. He said: "Dost thou not then believe?" He said: "Yea! but to satisfy my own understanding." He said: "Take four birds; tame them to turn to thee; put a portion of them on every hill and call to them; they will come to thee (flying) with speed. Then know that Allah is Exalted in Power Wise."

Pickthall And when Abraham said (unto his Lord): My lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said: Dost thou not believe? Abraham said: Yea, but (I ask) in order that my heart may be at ease. (His Lord) said: Take four of the birds and cause them to incline unto thee, then place a part of them on each hill, then call them, they will come to thee in haste. And know that Allah is Mighty, Wise.

Wa iz qa_la ibra_himu rabbi arini kaifa tuhyil mauta_, qa_la awalam tu'min, qa_la bala_ wa lakil liyatma'inna qalbi, qa_la fakhuz arba'atam minat tairi fa surhunna ilaika summaj'al'ala_ kulli jabalim minhunna juz'an summad'uhunna ya'tinaka sa'ya_(n), wa'lam annalla_ha 'azizun hakim(un).

[ Ali’s notes -- 307 Abraham had complete faith in God's power, but he wanted, with God's permission, to give an explanation of that faith to his own heart and mind. Where I have translated "satisfy my own understanding", the literal translation would be "satisfy my own heart". (2.260)

308 A portion of them: Juz-an. The received Commentators understand this to mean that the birds were to be cut up and pieces of them were to be put on the hills. The cutting up or killing is not mentioned, but they say that it is implied by an ellipsis, as the question is how God gives life to the dead. Of the modern Muslim Commentators, M.P. is non-committal, but H.G.S. and M.M.A. understand that the birds were not killed, but that a "portion" here means a unit, single birds were placed on the hills, and they flew to the one who tamed them. This last view commends itself to me, as the cutting up of the birds to pieces is nowhere mentioned, unless we understand the word for "Taming" in an unusual and almost impossible sense. (2.260) ]