20 Sura Taha
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا بَنِي
إِسْرَائِيلَ
قَدْ أَنجَيْنَاكُم
مِّنْ عَدُوِّكُمْ...
20: 80. O ye Children of Israel!
We delivered you from your enemy,
...وَوَاعَدْنَاكُمْ جَانِبَ الطُّورِ الْأَيْمَنَ...
and We made a Covenant with you on the right side of Mount (Sinai),
C2601. Right side: Cf. 19:52, and n. 2504, towards the end.
The Arabian side of Sinai (Jabal Musa) was the place where Moses first received his commission before going to Egypt, and also where he received the Torah after the Exodus from Egypt.
...وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَى ﴿٨٠﴾
and We sent down to you Manna and quails:
كُلُوا
مِن طَيِّبَاتِ
مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ...
20: 81. (Saying):
"Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance,
C2602. Cf. 2:57 and n. 71; and 7:160.
1 should like to construe this not only literally but also metaphorically.
'Allah has looked after you and saved you. He has given you ethical and spiritual guidance. Enjoy the fruits of all this, but do not become puffed up and rebellious (another meaning in the root Taga); otherwise the Wrath of Allah is sure to descend on you.'
...وَلَا تَطْغَوْا فِيهِ فَيَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبِي...
but commit no excess therein, lest My Wrath should justly descend on you:
...وَمَن يَحْلِلْ عَلَيْهِ غَضَبِي فَقَدْ هَوَى ﴿٨١﴾
and those on whom descends My Wrath do perish indeed!
C2603. This gives the key-note to Moses' constant tussle with his own people, and introduces immediately afterwards the incident of the golden calf.
Asad’s Version:
20:80 [Ta’ha, Mecca 45]
O children of Israel! [Thus] We saved you from your enemy, and [then] We made a covenant
with you on the right-hand slope of Mount Sinai, 63 and repeatedly sent down manna and quails unto you, [saying,]
(20:81) [Ta’ha, Mecca 45]
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[[ Asad’s notes - 63 See note 38 on 19:52. As regards God's "covenant" with the children of Israel, see 2:63 and 83.
64 The reference to God's bestowal of "manna (mann) and quails (salwa)" upon the Israelites during their wanderings in the Sinai Desert after their exodus from Egypt is found in the Qur'an in two other places as well (namely, in 2:57 and 7:160). According to Arab philologists, the term mann denotes not only the sweet, resinous substance exuded by certain plants of the desert, but also everything that is "bestowed as a favour", i.e., without any effort on the part of the recipient. Similarly, the term salwa signifies not merely "a quail" or "quails", but also "all that makes man content and happy after privation" (Qamus). Hence the combination of these two terms denotes, metonymically, the gift of sustenance freely bestowed by God upon the followers of Moses.
65 Or: "do not behave in an overweening manner" - i.e., "do not attribute these favours to your own supposed excellence on account of your descent from Abraham".]]
[[Ali’s notes - 2601 Right side: Cf. xix. 52, and n. 2504, towards the end. The Arabian side of Sinai (Jabal Musa) was the place where Moses first received his commission before going to Egypt, and also where he received the Torah after the Exodus from Egypt. (20.80)
2602 Cf. ii. 57 and n. 71; and vii. 160. I should like to construe this not only literally but also metaphorically. 'Allah has looked after you and saved you. He has given you ethical and spiritual guidance. Enjoy the fruits of all this, but do not become puffed up and rebellious (another meaning in the root Taga); otherwise the Wrath of Allah is sure to descend on you.' (20.81)
2603 This gives the key-note to Moses's constant tussle with his own people, and introduces immediately afterwards the incident of the golden calf. (20.81) ]]
