4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَسْأَلُكَ
أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ
أَن تُنَزِّلَ
عَلَيْهِمْ
كِتَابًا مِّنَ
السَّمَاء...
4: 153. The People of the Book ask thee to cause a book to descend to them from heaven:
... فَقَدْ سَأَلُواْ مُوسَى أَكْبَرَ مِن ذَلِكَ فَقَالُواْ أَرِنَا اللّهِ جَهْرَةً ...
indeed they asked Moses for an even greater (miracle), for they said:
"Show us Allah in public,"
C657. Cf. 2:55, for the thunder and lightning which affected those who were presumptuous enough to ask that they should see Allah face to face, and 2:51 and n. 66, for the worship of the golden calf.
The lesson is that it is presumptuous on the part of man to judge of spiritual things in terms of material things, or to ask to see Allah with their material eyes when Allah is above material forms and is independent of time and space.
... فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ بِظُلْمِهِمْ...
but they were dazed for their presumption, with thunder and lightning.
... ثُمَّ اتَّخَذُواْ الْعِجْلَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ فَعَفَوْنَا عَن ذَلِكَ...
Yet they worshipped the calf even after clear signs had come to them; even so We forgave them;
... وَآتَيْنَا مُوسَى سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا ﴿١٥٣﴾
and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority.
وَرَفَعْنَا
فَوْقَهُمُ
الطُّورَ
بِمِيثَاقِهِمْ
...
4: 154. And for their Covenant We raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai);
C658. In this verse there is a recapitulation of three salient incidents of Jewish refractoriness already referred to in the second Surah: viz.,
1. the Covenant under the towering height of Sinai, 2:63:
2. their arrogance where they were commanded humility in entering a town, 2:58: and
3. their transgression of the Sabbath, 2:65.
... وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ادْخُلُواْ الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا...
and (on another occasion) We said: "Enter the gate with humility;"
... وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لاَ تَعْدُواْ فِي السَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا ﴿١٥٤﴾
and (once again) We commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the Sabbath."
And We took from them a solemn Covenant.
فَبِمَا
نَقْضِهِم
مِّيثَاقَهُمْ
وَكُفْرِهِم
بَآيَاتِ اللّهِ
وَقَتْلِهِمُ
الأَنْبِيَاء
بِغَيْرِ حَقًّ
...
4: 155. (They have incurred divine displeasure):
C659. In verses 155, 156, 157, 160 (latter half), and 161 with parenthetical clauses including those in verses 158-159, and 160 (first half), there is a catalogue of the iniquities of which the Jews were guilty, and for these iniquities we must understand some such words as:
"They are under divine displeasure."
Each clause of the indictment I have indicated by prefixing the word "that."
in that they broke their Covenant: that they rejected the Signs of Allah; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right;
C660. Cf. 3:21, and notes 363 and 364.
... وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ...
that they said, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word; we need no more);"
C661. Cf. 2:88, and n. 92, where the full meaning is explained.
Note the crescendo (heightening effect) in the argument. Their iniquities were:
1. that they broke their Covenant:
2. that they rejected Allah's guidance as conveyed in His signs;
3. that they killed Allah's Messengers and incurred a double guilt, viz., that of murder and that of a deliberate defiance of Allah's law; and
4. that they imagined themselves arrogantly self-sufficient, which means a blasphemous closing of their hearts for ever against the admission of Allah's grace.
Then begins another series of iniquities from a different point of view:
1. that they rejected Faith:
2. that they made false charges against a saintly woman like Mary, who. was chosen by Allah to be the mother of Jesus;
3. that they boasted of having killed Jesus when they were victims of their own self-hallucination:
4. that they hindered people from Allah's way: and
5. that by means of usury and fraud they oppressed their fellow-men.
... بَلْ طَبَعَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ﴿١٥٥﴾
nay Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe.
فَبِظُلْمٍ
مِّنَ الَّذِينَ
هَادُواْ حَرَّمْنَا
عَلَيْهِمْ
طَيِّبَاتٍ
أُحِلَّتْ
لَهُمْ...
4: 160. For the iniquity of the Jews We made unlawful for them certain (foods) good and wholesome which had been lawful for them;
C667. Cf. 6:146.
The ceremonial law of the Jews forbade the eating of the flesh of the camel, rabbit and hare (Leviticus 11:4-6), and the fat of oxen, sheep, and goats (Leviticus 7:23), and was in other respects very strict.
... وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ كَثِيرًا ﴿١٦٠﴾
in that they hindered many from Allah's way.
وَأَخْذِهِمُ
الرِّبَا وَقَدْ
نُهُواْ عَنْهُ
وَأَكْلِهِمْ
أَمْوَالَ
النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ
...
4: 161. That they took usury (interest), though they were forbidden; and that they devoured men's substance wrongfully;
... وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا ﴿١٦١﴾
We have prepared for those among them who reject faith a grievous punishment.
Asad’s Version:
4: 153 [an-Nisa, Medina 92]
Asad The followers of the Old Testament [note 164] demand of you [O Prophet] that you cause a revelation to be sent down to them from heaven [note 165]. ……………….whereupon the thunderbolt of punishment overtook them for this their wickedness. After that they took to worshipping the [golden] calf – and this after all evidence to the truth had come to them!......
.........
Yusuf Ali The people of the Book ask thee to cause a book to descend to them from heaven: indeed they asked Moses for an even greater (miracle) for they said: "Show us Allah in public" but they were dazed for their presumption with thunder and lightning. Yet they worshipped the calf even after clear signs had come to them; even so We forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority.
Pickthall The People of the Scripture ask of thee that you should cause an (actual) Book to descend upon them from heaven. They asked a greater thing of Moses aforetime, for they said: Show us Allah plainly. The storm of lightning seized them for their wickedness. Then (even after that) they chose the calf (for worship) after clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) had come unto them. And We forgave them that! And We bestowed on Moses evident authority.
Transliteration Yas'aluka ahlul kita_bi an tunazzila 'alaihim kita_bam minas sama_'i fa qad sa'alu_ mu_sa_ akbara min za_lika fa qa_lu_ arinallu_ha jahratan fa akhazathumus sa_'iqatu bi zulmihim, summattakhazul'ijla mim ba'di ma_ ja_'athumul bayyina_tu fa'afauna_ 'an za_lik(a), wa a_taina_ mu_sa_ sulta_nam mubina_(n).
4: 154
Unal (Moreover) We raised the Mount to tower above them to secure their promise (to hold firmly to the Book), and (on another occasion when We guided them to a town) We commanded them, “Go in to it through its gate prostrating (humbly in utmost submission to God)”; and again We once commanded them, “Do not exceed the bounds with respect to the Sabbath,” and We took form them a most solemn pledge.
Asad raising Mount Sinai high above them in witness of their solemn pledge. And We said unto them, “Enter the gate humbly” [note 167]; and We told them, “Do not break the Sabbath-law”; and We accepted form them a most solemn pledge.
Yusuf Ali And for their Covenant We raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai); and (on another occasion) We said: "Enter the gate with humility"; and (once again) We commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the Sabbath." And We took from them a solemn Covenant.
Pickthall And We caused the Mount to tower above them at (the taking of) their covenant: and We bade them: Enter the gate, prostrate! and we bade them: Transgress not the Sabbath! and We took from them a firm covenant.
Transliteration Wa rafa'na_ fauqahumut tu_ra bi misa_qihim wa qulna_ lahumudkhulul ba_ba sujjadaw wa qulna_ lahum la_ ta'du_ fis sabti wa akhazna_ minhum misa_qan galiza_(n).
4: 155
Yusuf Ali (They have incurred divine displeasure): in that they broke their Covenant: that they rejected the Signs of Allah; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word; we need no more)"; nay Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy and little is it they believe.
Pickthall Then because of their breaking of their covenant, and their disbelieving in the revelations of Allah, and their slaying of the Prophets wrongfully, and their saying: Our hearts are hardened Nay, but Allah hath set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so that they believe not save a few
Fabima_ naqdihim misa_qahum wa kufrihim bi a_ya_tilla_hi wa qatlihimul ambiya_'a bi gairi haqqiw wa qaulihim qula_buna_ gulf(un), baltaba'alla_hu 'alaiha_ bi kufrihim fala_ yu'minu_na illa_ qalila_(w).
[[ Ruby’s note – Demanding to see God is a reflection of arrogance and rejection. God is manifesting through His entire creation and His signs are written in the amazing nature of reality. If one is wise, humble and righteous one should see this truth and the miracles laid down in reality pointing towards God’s existence. Only when one is arrogant, wicked, too addicted to the illusions of life and want to deny God’s existence, one finds the audacity demanding the proof of God. A searching true heart on the other hand should see God’s existence in any direction he/she looks.]]
[[ Asad’s note 165 – Sc., “in proof of thy prophet-hood”. Alternatively, the sentence may be understood thus: “They ask thee to bring down unto them an [actual] book form heaven.” In view, however, of the oft-repeated Quranic statement that the Jews were convinced that they alone could be granted divine revelation, it seems to me that the rendering adopted by me is the more appropriate.]
note 166- See 2:55 and the corresponding note 40].
note 167 – See 2:58-59 and the corresponding notes.]]
[[ Ali’s notes:
657 Cf. ii. 55, for the thunder and lightning which affected those who were presumptuous enough to ask that they should see Allah face to face, and ii. 51, and n. 66, for the worship of the golden calf. The lesson is that it is presumptuous on the part of man to judge of spiritual things in terms of material things, or to ask to see Allah with their material eyes when Allah is above material forms and is independent of time and space. (4.153)
658 In this verse there is a recapitulation of three salient incidents of Jewish refractoriness already referred to in the second Sura: viz., (1) the Covenant under the towering height of Sinai, ii. 63: (2) their arrogance where they were commanded humility in entering a town, ii. 58: and (3) their transgression of the Sabbath, ii. 65. (4.154)
659 In verses 155, 156, 157, 160 (latter half), and 161 with parenthetical clauses including those in verses 158-159, and 160 (first half), there is a catalogue of the iniquities of which the Jews were guilty, and for these iniquities we must understand some such words as: "They are under divine displeasure." Each clause of the indictment I have indicated by prefixing the word "that." (4.155)
660 Cf. iii. 21, and nn. 363 and 364. (4.155)
661 Cf. ii. 88, and n. 92, where the full meaning is explained. Note the crescendo (heightening effect) in the argument. Their iniquities were: (1) that they broke their Covenant: (2) that they rejected Allah's guidance as conveyed in His signs; (3) that they killed Allah's Messengers and incurred a double guilt, viz., that of murder and that of a deliberate defiance of Allah's law; and (4) that they imagined themselves arrogantly self-sufficient, which means a blasphemous closing of their hearts forever against the admission of Allah's grace. Then begins another series of iniquities from a different point of view: (1) that they rejected Faith: (2) that they made false charges against a saintly woman like Mary, who was chosen by Allah to be the mother of Jesus; (3) that they boasted of having killed Jesus when they were victims of their own self-hallucination: (4) that they hindered people from Allah's way: and (5) that by means of usury and fraud they oppressed their fellow-men. (4.155) ]]
4: 160
Asad So, then, for the wickedness committed by those who followed the Jewish faith did We deny unto them certain of the good things of life which [aforetime] had been allowed to them [174];
Yusuf Ali For the iniquity of the Jews We made unlawful for them certain (foods) good and wholesome which had been lawful for them; in that they hindered many from Allah's way.
Pickthall Because of the wrongdoing of the Jews We forbade them good things which were (before) made lawful unto them, and because of their much hindering from Allah's way,
Ali Unal So, because of the wrong committed by the Jews We made unlawful fo them many pure, wholesome things which had (hitherto) been lawful for them, and because of their barring many from God’s way;
Transliteration Fa bizulmim minal lazina ha_du_ harramna_ 'alaihim tayyiba_tin uhillat lahum wa bi saddihim 'an sabililla_hi kasira_(w).
4: 161
Asad And [for] their taking usury although it had been forbidden to them, and their wrongful devouring of other people’s possessions. And for those among them who [continue to] deny the truth We have readied grievous suffering.
Yusuf Ali That they took usury (interest) though they were forbidden; and that they devoured men's substance wrongfully; We have prepared for those among them who reject faith a grievous punishment.
Pickthall And of their taking usury when they were forbidden it, and of their devouring people's wealth by false pretences. We have prepared for those of them who disbelieve a painful doom.
Ali Unal And because of their taking interest although it had been forbidden to them, and consuming the wealth of people in wrongful ways (such as usury, theft, usurpation, bribery, gambling, and selling God’s Revelations); and We have prepared for the unbelievers among them (those who persisted in unbelief despite all the many warnings) a painful punishment.
Wa akhzihimur riba_ wa qad nuhu_ 'anhu wa aklihim amwa_lan na_si bil ba_til(i), wa a'tadna_ lil ka_firina minhum 'aza_ban alima_(n).
[[ Ali’s note - 667 Cf. vi. 146. The ceremonial law of the Jews forbade the eating of the flesh of the camel, rabbit and hare (Leviticus xi. 4-6), and the fat of oxen, sheep, and goats (Leviticus vii. 23), and was in other respects very strict. (4.160) ]]