Sura- 6 [Al Anam mecca 55]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
وَلاَ
تَطْرُدِ
الَّذِينَ
يَدْعُونَ
رَبَّهُم
بِالْغَدَاةِ
وَالْعَشِيِّ
يُرِيدُونَ
وَجْهَهُ...
6:52. Send not away those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face.
C870. Face: wajh: see 2:112 and n. 114.
...مَا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ وَمَا مِنْ حِسَابِكَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ...
Naught have they to gain from thee, and naught hast thou to gain from them,
C871. Some of the rich and influential Quraish thought it beneath their dignity to listen to Muhammad's teaching in company with the lowly disciples, who were gathered round him. But he refused to send away these lowly disciples, who were sincere seekers after Allah.
From a worldly point of view they had nothing to gain from them as they had no influence. But that was no reason for turning them away; indeed their true sincerity entitled them to precedence over worldly men in the kingdom of God, whose justice was vindicated in Muhammad's daily life in this as in other things. If their sincerity was in any way doubtful, it involved no responsibility for the Preacher.
...فَتَطْرُدَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٥٢﴾
that thou shouldst turn them away, and thus be (one) of the unjust
Asad’s Version:
6: 52
Asad
Hence, repulse not [any of ] those who at morn and evening invoke their Sustainer, seeking His countenance. You are in no wise accountable for them –just as they are in no wise accountable for you – and
you have therefore no right to repulse them: for then you would be among the evildoers.
Yusuf Ali Send not away those who call on their Lord morning and evening seeking His Face. Naught have they to gain from thee and naught hast thou to gain from them that thou shouldst turn them away and thus be (one) of the unjust.
Pickthall Repel not those who call upon their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His countenance. Thou art not accountable for them in aught, nor are they accountable for thee in aught, that thou shouldst repel them and be of the wrong-doers.
Transliteration Wa la_ tatrudil lazina yad'u_na rabbahum bil gada_ti wal 'asyiyyi yuridu_na wajhah(u_), ma_ 'alaika min hisa_bihim min syai'iw wa ma_ min hisa_bika 'alaihim min syai'in fa tatrudahum fataku_na minaz za_limin(a).
[ Ruby’s note : This is a very important verse related to the non-Muslims
Neither Ali nor Asad’s notes expound the important underlying emphasis here:
First these people referred here are not Muslims, yet these same very people are described as very sincere who “morn and evening invoke their Sustainer” implying God is pleased with them with their sincerity and devotion. They may not be Muslims but they are described as righteous in their conviction and action, because the same expression is used in other places in the Quran to describe the righteous among the Muslims. The next sentence is more reflective of this emphasis, it is saying direct to the Prophet that if he would have repulsed these people and not treat them right in giving due importance and attention, the Prophet himself would have become “unjust” or “evildoer”. This is extremely important emphasis to note. Very few times the Quran expressed like this to warn the Prophet. ]
[ Ali’s note: 871 Some of the rich and influential Quraish thought it beneath their dignity to listen to Muhammad's teaching in company with the lowly disciples, who were gathered round him. But he refused to send away these lowly disciples, who were sincere seekers after God. From a worldly point of view they had nothing to gain from Muhammad as he was himself poor and he had nothing to gain from them as they had no influence. But that was no reason for turning them away; indeed their true sincerity entitled them to precedence over wordly men in the kingdom of God, whose justice was vindicated in Muhammad's daily life in this as in other things. If their sincerity was in any way doubtful, it involved no responsibility for the Preacher. (6.52)
872 Pursue the argument of the last note. The influential people who were not given precedence over the poor and humble but sincere disciples, were on their trial as to their spiritual insight. Their temptation was to say (and they said it in scorn): "We are much greater than they: has God then selected these lowly people for His teaching?" But that was so. And God knew best those who were grateful to Him for His guidance. (6.53) ]
[ Asad’s note 41: According to Traditions, this and the next verse were revealed when, several years before the Muslims’ exodus to Medina, some of the pagan chieftains at Mecca expressed their willingness to consider accepting Islam on the condition that the Prophet would dissociate himself from the former slaves and other “lowly” persons ………a demand which the Prophet, of course, rejected……………………..As the wording shows, it relates not to “lowly” followers of Islam but no to people who, while not being Muslims in the current sense of this word, believe in God and are always (“at morning and evening”) “seeking His countenance” (i.e., His grace and acceptance):
…………Although primarily addressed to the Prophet, the exhortation voiced in this passage is directed to all followers of the Quran: they are enjoined not to repulse anyone who believes in God – even though his beliefs may not fully answer to the demands of the Quran -……………..]
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6: 108 But do not revile those [beings] whom they invoke instead of God, lest they revile God out of spite, and in ignorance: for goodly indeed have We made their own doings appear unto every community. In time, [however] unto their Sustainer they must return: and then He will make them understand all that they were doing. See Asad and Ali’s notes
6: 109, 110 Now they swear by God with their most solemn oaths that if a miracle were shown to them, they would indeed believe in this [divine writ], SAY: “Miracles are the power of God alone.”
And for all you know, even if one should be shown to them, they would not believe
So long as We keep their hearts and their eyes turned [away from the truth], even as they did not believe in it is the first instance; and [so] We shall leave them in their overweening arrogance, blindly stumbling to and fro.
Sura-13 [Ar Ra'd madina 96]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
وَكَذَلِكَ
أَنزَلْنَاهُ
حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا...
13:37. Thus have We revealed it to be a judgment of authority in Arabic.
C1859. The Quran is in Arabic; therefore the Arabs, among whom it was promulgated, could have no difficulty in understanding its precepts and using it in judging of right and wrong in all their affairs.
But it is also universal; therefore no one should give preference to his own vain fancies against this authoritative declaration.
...وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم بَعْدَ مَا جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ...
Wert thou to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee,
...مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ وَاقٍ ﴿٣٧﴾
then wouldst thou find neither protector nor defender against Allah.
C1860. Cf. 2:120.
The variation is in the single word "Waq" here in place of "Nasir" in 2:120. In each case the apt word is chosen not only for the rhythm in its own passage but for the general meaning in the argument.
Asad’s Version:
13: 37 [ar-R’ad, Medina 96]
Yusuf Ali Thus have We revealed it to be a judgment of authority in Arabic. Wert thou to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee then wouldst thou find neither protector nor defender against Allah.
Pickthall Thus have We revealed it, a decisive utterance in Arabic and if thou shouldst follow their desires after that which hath come unto thee of knowledge, then truly wouldst thou have from Allah no protecting friend nor defender.
Transliteration Wa kaza_lika anzalna_hu hukman 'arabiyya_(n), wa la'in-ittaba'ta ahwa_'ahum ba'da ma_ ja_'aka minal 'ilm(i), ma_ laka minalla_hi miw waliyyiw wa la_ wa_q(in).
Sura -17 [Al-Israa, Mecca 50]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
وَلَئِن
شِئْنَا لَنَذْهَبَنَّ
بِالَّذِي
أَوْحَيْنَا
إِلَيْكَ...
17:86. If it were Our Will, We could take away that which We have sent thee by inspiration:
C2286. Even the spiritual knowledge that comes to us comes because of the favour and mercy of Allah. If He were to withhold it, who can call Him in question?
...ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُ لَكَ بِهِ عَلَيْنَا وَكِيلاً ﴿٨٦﴾
then would thou find none to plead thy affair in that matter as against Us
Asad’s Version:
17: 86 [al-Israa, Mecca 50]
Yusuf Ali If it were Our Will We could take away that which We have sent thee by inspiration: then would thou find none to plead thy affair in that matter as against Us
Pickthall And if We willed We could withdraw that which We have revealed unto thee, then wouldst thou find no guardian for thee against Us in respect thereof.
Transliteration Wa la'in syi'na_ lanazhabanna billazi auhaina_ ilaika summa la_ tajidu laka bihi 'alaina_ wakila_(n),
17: 87 [al-Israa, Mecca 50]
Yusuf Ali Except for Mercy from thy Lord: for His Bounty is to thee (indeed) great.
Pickthall (It is naught) save mercy from thy Lord. Lo! His kindness unto thee was ever great.
Transliteration Illa_ rahmatam mir rabbik(a), inna fadlahu_ ka_na 'alaika kabira_(n).