7. Sura al-Araf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَقَطَّعْنَاهُمُ
اثْنَتَيْ
عَشْرَةَ أَسْبَاطًا
أُمَمًا...
7: 160. We divided them into twelve tribes or nations.
C1133. We now come to some incidents in Jewish history, which have been referred to in 2:57-60. Here they have special reference to their bearing on the times when early Islam was preached.
The Twelve Tribes and the parable drawn from them have been explained in n. 73 to 2:60.
...وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى إِذِ اسْتَسْقَاهُ قَوْمُهُ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ...
We directed Moses by inspiration, when his (thirsty) people asked him for water:
"Strike the rock with thy staff":
...فَانبَجَسَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ...
out of it there gushed forth twelve springs:
each group knew its own place for water.
...وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَى...
We gave them the shade of clouds, and sent down to them manna and quails, (saying):
...كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ...
"Eat of the good things We have provided for you":
...وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـكِن كَانُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿١٦٠﴾
(but they rebelled): to Us they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls.
Other versions:
7: 160
Yusuf Ali We divided them into twelve tribes or nations. We directed Moses by inspiration when his (thirsty) people asked him for water: "Strike the rock with thy staff": out of it there gushed forth twelve springs: each group knew its own place for water. We gave them the shade of clouds and sent down to them manna and quails (saying): "Eat of the good things We have provided for you": (but they rebelled): to Us they did no harm but they harmed their own souls.
Pickthall We divided them into twelve tribes, nations; and We inspired Moses, when his people asked him for water, saying: Smite with thy staff the rock! And there gushed forth therefrom twelve springs, so that each tribe knew their drinking place. And we caused the white cloud to overshadow them and sent down for them the manna and the quails (saying): Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you. They wronged Us not, but they were wont to wrong themselves.
Transliteration Wa qatta'na_humusnatai'asyrata asba_tan umama_(n), wa auhaina_ ila_ mu_sa_ izistasqa_hu qaumuhu_ anidrib bi 'asa_kal hajar(a), fambajasat minhusnata_'asyrata 'aina_(n), qad 'alima kullu una_sim masyrabahum, wa zallalna_ 'alaihimul gama_ma wa anzalna_ 'alaihimul manna was salwa_, kulu_ min tayyiba_ti ma_ razaqna_kum, wa ma_ zalamu_na_ wa la_kin ka_nu_ anfusahum yazlimu_n(a).