David
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.
Other versions:
4: 163 [an-Nisaa, Medina 92]
Asad Behold, We have inspired thee [ O Prohpet ] just as We inspired Noah and all the prophets after him – as We inspired Abraham, and Ismael, and Issac, and Jacob, and their descendants, including Jesus and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and as We vouchsafed unto David a book of divine wisdom
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;
Yuksel Messengers of God
4:163 We have inspired you as We have inspired Noah and the prophets after him. We inspired Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and We have given David the Psalms.
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: 163, 164 ;
4: 164
Asad and as [We inspired other] apostles whom We have mentioned to thee ere this, as well as apostles whom We have not mentioned to thee; and as God spoke His word unto Moses:
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 spake directly unto Moses;
Yuksel 4:164 Messengers of whom We have narrated to you from before, and messengers We have not narrated to you; and God spoke to Moses directly.
Transliteration Wa rusulan qad qasasna_hum'alaika min qablu wa rusulal lam naqsushum'alaik(a), wa kallamalla_hu mu_sa_ taklima_(n).
4: 165
Asad [We sent all these ] apostles as heralds of glad tidings and as warners, so that men might have no excuse before God after [the coming of] these apostles: and God is indeed almighty, wise.
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.
Yuksel 4:165 Messengers who were bearers of good news and warners, so that there will be no excuse for the people with God after the messengers. God is Noble, Wise.
Rusulam mubasysyirina wa munzirina li'alla_ yaku_na linna_si 'alalla_hi hujjatum ba'dar rusul(i), wa ka_nalla_hu 'azizan hakima_(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)]]