3. Sura al-Imran

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَى آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٣٣﴾

3: 33. Allah did choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above all people.

ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِن بَعْضٍ ...

3: 34. Offspring, one of the other;

C374. The Prophets in the Jewish-Christian-Muslim dispensation form one family literally. But the argument is wider. All men of God form spiritually one family. If you love and obey Allah, love and obey His Messenger; your love, obedience and discipline will be the test of your Faith.

... وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٣٤﴾

and Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

Other versions:

3: 33

Yusuf Ali Allah did choose Adam and Noah the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above all people.

Pickthall Lo! Allah preferred Adam and Noah and the Family of Abraham and the Family of 'Imran above (all His) creatures.

Transliteration Innalla_hastafa_ a_dama wa nu_haw wa a_la ibra_hima wa a_la'imra_na 'alal 'a_lamin(a).

3: 34

Yusuf Ali Offspring one of the other; and Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

Pickthall They were descendants one of another. Allah is Hearer, Knower.

Transliteration Zurriyyatam ba'duha_ mim ba'd(in), walla_hu sami'un'alim(un).

[ Ruby’s Question – Note the way Adam and Noah, mentioned by individual only and not by family, whereas Abraham and Imran by their family. Why ? I believe the family of Adam is the entire mankind, and so perhaps is of Noah. After the great flood, if the rest of mankind is drowned, then the only people left is of Noah’s family and few other people. Perhaps a huge part of mankind then may be thought as descendents of Noah as well. However, Abraham and Imran were of later branches of people and can be more specified. Or could it be that the entire mankind is indicated here and favored over rest of God’s creatures ? ]

[ Ali’s note - 374 The Prophets in the Jewish-Christian-Muslim Dispensation form one family literally. But the argument is wider. All men of faith form one family. If you love and obey Allah, love and obey His Messenger; your love, obedience and discipline will be the test of your Faith. (3.34) ]