Sura -17 [Al-Israa, Mecca 50]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ
عَنِ الرُّوحِ...
17:85. They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration).
C2285. What is the nature of inspiration?
Who brings it?
Can it ask its Bringer questions?
Can we ask anything which we wish?
These are the sort of questions always asked when inspiration is called in question. The answer is given here,.
Inspiration is one of those high experiences which cannot be explained in the terms of our everyday human experience. It is spiritual.
The Spirit (Gabriel) does not come of his own will. He comes by the command of Allah, and reveals what Allah commands him to reveal.
Of the sum-total of true divine knowledge what a small part it is that ordinary mortals can understand! They can be only given that which they can understand, however dimly. We are not in a position to ask anything that we wish. If we did so, it would only make us look foolish, for the guidance comes from Allah's Wisdom, not from our worldly knowledge.
...قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّن الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ﴿٨٥﴾
Say:
"The Spirit (cometh) by command of my Lord:
of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men!)
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 --
إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً
مِّن رَّبِّكَ...
17:87. Except for Mercy from thy Lord:
C2287. In that case the only one who can plead for us is the Mercy of Allah.
We can interpret the phrase in its widest abstract sense, as well as in the concrete sense of the title which is applied to the holy Prophet Muhammad, the Mercy of Allah. Thus we come from the abstract question to the concrete question of the Quran, which is referred to by name in the verses that follow.
...إِنَّ فَضْلَهُ كَانَ عَلَيْكَ كَبِيرًا ﴿٨٧﴾
for His Bounty is to thee (indeed) great.
Other versions:
17: 85 [al-Israa, Mecca 50]
Yusuf Ali They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration). Say: "The Spirit (cometh) by command of my Lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you (O men!)
Pickthall They will ask thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little.
Yuksel They ask you concerning the Spirit. Say, "The Spirit is from the command of my Lord, and the knowledge you were given was but very little."*
Transliteration Wa yas'alu_naka 'anir ru_h(i), qulir ru_hu min amri rabbi wa ma_ u_titum minal 'ilmi illa_ qalila_(n).
[[ Yuksel’s Note - 017:085 Influenced by the Christian scholars who were influenced by Greek mythology, the word ruh is commonly mistranslated as "soul." In the Quranic terminology, ruh means divine information and commandments.
The thing that disconnects from our body or quits functioning during sleep or death is not ruh but nafs, that is, personality and consciousness (39:42).
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).