6. Sura al-Anam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُواْ عَلَى مَا كُذِّبُواْ وَأُوذُواْ حَتَّى أَتَاهُمْ نَصْرُنَا...

6: 34. Rejected were the Messengers before thee:

with patience and constancy they bore their rejection and their wrongs, until Our aid did reach them:

...وَلاَ مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللّهِ وَلَقدْ جَاءكَ مِن نَّبَإِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿٣٤﴾

there is none that can alter the Words (and Decrees) of Allah.

Already hast thou received some account of those Messengers.

وَإِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ...

6: 35. If their spurning is hard on thy mind,

...فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِيَ نَفَقًا فِي الأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًا فِي السَّمَاء فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِآيَةٍ...

yet if thou wert able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a Sign, (what good?).

C856. There were many signs of a divine Mission in the Prophet's life and in the Message which he delivered. If these did not convince the Unbelievers, was it not vain to seek a miraculous Sign from the bowels of the earth or by a visible ascent to the skies?

If in the Prophet's eagerness to get all to accept his Message he was hurt at their callousness, active opposition, and persecution of him, he is told that a full knowledge of the working of Allah's Plan would convince him that impatience was misplaced. This was in the days of persecution before the Hijrah. The history in Madinah and after shows how Allah's truth was ultimately and triumphantly vindicated. Who among the sincere devotees of Muhammad can fail to read 6:33-35 without tears in his eyes?

...وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى الْهُدَى فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴿٣٥﴾

If it were Allah's will, He could gather them together unto true guidance:

so be not thou amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!

Other versions:

6: 34

Yusuf Ali Rejected were the Apostles before thee: with patience and constancy they bore their rejection and their wrongs until Our aid did reach them: there is none that can alter the Words (and Decrees) of Allah. Already hast thou received some account of those Apostles.

Pickthall Messengers indeed have been denied before thee, and they were patient under the denial and the persecution till Our succour reached them. There is none to alter the decisions of Allah. Already there hath reached thee (somewhat) of the tidings of the messengers (We sent before).

Transliteration Wa laqad kuzzibat rusulum min qablika fasabaru_ 'ala_ ma_ kuzzibu_ wa u_zu_ hatta_ ata_hum nasruna_, wa la_ mubaddila likalima_tilla_h(i), wa laqad ja_'aka min naba'il mursalin(a).

6: 35

Yusuf Ali If their spurning is hard on thy mind yet if thou wert able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a Sign (what good?). If it were Allah's will He could gather them together unto true guidance: so be not thou amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!

Pickthall And if their aversion is grievous unto thee, then, if thou canst, seek a way down into the earth or a ladder unto the sky that thou mayst bring unto them a portent (to convince them all)! If Allah willed, He could have brought them all together to the guidance So be not thou among the foolish ones.

Transliteration Wa in ka_na kabura 'alaika i'ra_duhum fa inistata'ta an tabtagiya nafaqan fil ardi au sullaman fis sama_'i fa ta'tiyahum bi a_yah(tin), wa lau sya_'alla_hu lajama'ahum'alal huda_ fala_ taku_nanna minal ja_hilin(a).

11.Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الرَّوْعُ وَجَاءتْهُ الْبُشْرَى يُجَادِلُنَا فِي قَوْمِ لُوطٍ ﴿٧٤﴾

11: 74.   When fear had passed from (the mind of) Abraham and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for Lut's people.

C1571. Glad-tidings: not only that he was to have a son, but that he was to be a fountain-head of prophets.

So he now begins to plead at once for the sinful people to whom Lut was sent as a warner.

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُّنِيبٌ ﴿٧٥﴾

11: 75.   For Abraham was, without doubt, forbearing (of faults), compassionate, and given to look to Allah.

C1572. Like Al-Mustafa, Abraham had three qualities in a preeminent degree, which are here mentioned:

-        he was long-suffering with other people's faults:

-        his sympathies and compassion were very wide: and

-        for every difficulty or trouble he turned to Allah and sought Him in prayer.

Other versions:

11: 74 [Hud, Mecca 52]

Yusuf Ali When fear had passed from (the mind of) Abraham and the glad tidings had reached him he began to plead with Us for Lut's people.

Pickthall And when the awe departed from Abraham, and the glad news reached him, he pleaded with Us on behalf of the folk of Lot.

Yuksel So when the shock left Abraham, and the good news was delivered to him, he began to argue with Us for the people of Lot.

Transliteration Falamma_ zahaba 'an ibra_himar rau'u wa ja_'athul busyra_ yuja_diluna_ fi qaumi lu_t(in).

11: 75

Asad for, behold, Abraham was most clement, most tender-hearted, intent upon turning to God again and again.

Yusuf Ali For Abraham was without doubt forbearing (of faults) compassionate and given to look to Allah.

Pickthall Lo! Abraham was mild, imploring, penitent.

Yuksel Abraham was compassionate, kind.

Transliteration Inna ibra_hima lahalimun awwa_hum munib(un).