2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَوَصَّى
بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ
بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ...
2: 132. And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob;
يَا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَى لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إَلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٣٢﴾
"O my sons! Allah hath chosen the faith for you; then die not except in the faith of Islam."
أَمْ
كُنتُمْ شُهَدَاء
إِذْ حَضَرَ
يَعْقُوبَ
الْمَوْتُ ...
2: 133. Were ye witnesses when death appeared before Jacob?
C131. The whole of the Children of Israel are called to witness one of their slogans, that they worshipped "the God of their fathers." The idea in their minds got narrowed down to that of a tribal God. But they are reminded that their ancestors had the principle of Islam in them - the worship of the One True and Universal God.
The death-bed scene is described in Jewish tradition.
... إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن بَعْدِي...
Behold, he said to his sons: "What will ye worship after me?"
... قَالُواْ نَعْبُدُ إِلَـهَكَ وَإِلَـهَ آبَائِكَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَقَ...
They said: "We shall worship thy God and the God of thy fathers, of Abraham, Isma'il, and Isaac,
C132. "Fathers" means ancestors, and include uncles, grand-uncles, as well as direct ascendants.
... إِلَـهًا وَاحِدًا وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٣٣﴾
the one (true) God, to Him we bow (in Islam)."
قُولُواْ
آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ
وَمَآ أُنزِلَ
إِلَيْنَا...
2: 136. Say ye:
"We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us,
... وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأسْبَاطِ ...
and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes,
... وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ...
and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord,
... لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٣٦﴾
we make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to Allah (in Islam)."
C135. Here we have the Creed of Islam: to believe in:
1. the One Universal God.,
2. the Message to us through Muhammad and the Signs (Ayat) as interpreted on the basis of personal responsibility,
3. the Message delivered by other Teachers in the past.
These are mentioned in three groups:
- Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes:
of these Abraham had apparently a Book (87:19) and others followed his tradition:
- Moses and Jesus, who each left a scripture; these scriptures are still extant though not in their pristine form; and
- other scriptures, Prophets, or Messengers of Allah, not specifically mentioned in the Quran.
We make no difference between any of these. Their Message (in essentials) was one, and that is the basis of Islam.
فَإِنْ
آمَنُواْ بِمِثْلِ
مَا آمَنتُم
بِهِ فَقَدِ
اهْتَدَواْ
وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ
فَإِنَّمَا
هُمْ فِي شِقَاقٍ...
2: 137. So if they believe as ye believe, they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back, it is they who are in schism;
... فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللّهُ ...
but Allah will suffice thee as against them,
C136. We are thus in the true line of those who follow the one and indivisible Message of the One Allah, wherever delivered.
If others narrow it or corrupt it, it is they who have left the faith and created a division or schism. But Allah sees and knows all. And He will protect His own, and His support will be infinitely more precious than the support which men can give.
... وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿١٣٧﴾
and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Other versions:
2: 132
Asad And this very thing did Abraham bequeath unto his children, and [so did] Jacob: “O my children! Behold, God has granted you the purest faith; so do not allow death to overtake you ere you have surrendered yourselves unto Him.”
Yusuf Ali And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons and so did Jacob; "O my sons! Allah hath chosen the faith for you; then die not except in the faith of Islam."
Pickthall The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons, and also Jacob, (saying): O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion; therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him).
Wa wassa_ biha_ ibra_himu banihi wa ya'qu_b(u), ya_ bunayya innalla_has tafa_ lakumud dina fala_ tamu_tunna illa_ wa antum muslimu_n(a).
[ Ali’s notes: 130 Istafa: chose; chose because of purity; chose and purified. It is the same root from which Mustafa is derived, one of the titles of Muhammad. (2.130)
131 The whole of the Children of Israel are called to witness one of their slogans, that they worshipped "the God of their fathers." The idea in their minds got narrowed down to that of a tribal God. But they are reminded that their ancestors had the principle of Islam in them - the worship of the One True and Universal God. The death-bed scene is described in Jewish tradition. (2.133)
132 "Fathers" means ancestors, and include uncles, grand-uncles, as well as direct ascendants. (2.133)]
2: 133
Asad Nay, but you [yourselves, O children of Israel,] bear witness that when death was approaching Jacob, he said unto his sons: “Whom will you worship after I am gone?” They answered: “We will worship thy God, the God of thy forefathers Abraham and Ishmael (note 108) and Isaac, the One God; and unto Him will we surrender ourselves.”
Yusuf Ali Were ye witnesses when death appeared before Jacob? Behold he said to his sons: "What will ye worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship thy Allah and the Allah of thy fathers of Abraham Isma`il and Isaac the one (true) Allah to Him we bow (in Islam)."
Pickthall Or were ye present when death came to Jacob, when he said unto his sons: What will ye worship after me? They said: We shall worship thy God, the God of thy fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac, One God, and unto Him we have surrendered.
Transliteration Am kuntum syuhada_'a iz hadara ya'qu_bal maut(u), iz qa_la li banihi ma_ ta'budu_na mim ba'di, qa_lu_ na'budu ila_haka wa ila_ha a_ba_'ika ibra_hima wa isma_'ila wa isha_qa ila_haw wa_hida_(n), wa nahnu lahu_ muslimu_n(a)
[Asad’s note 108: In classical Arabic, as in ancient Hebrew usage, the term ‘ab’ (father) was applied not only to the direct male parent but also to grandfathers and even more distant ancestors, as well as to paternal uncles: ………]
[ Ali’s notes: 131 The whole of the Children of Israel are called to witness one of their slogans, that they worshipped "the God of their fathers." The idea in their minds got narrowed down to that of a tribal God. But they are reminded that their ancestors had the principle of Islam in them - the worship of the One True and Universal God. The death-bed scene is described in Jewish tradition. (2.133)
"Fathers" means ancestors, and include uncles, grand-uncles, as well as direct ascendants. (2.133)]
[ Ruby’s note: In deathbed one generally says the most important ideas and lessons for one’s progeny, here the significance of believing in One God and the Submission to His Will and Law is the only thing that is being mentioned here to signify that. No other instruction or word of wisdom can parallel that. It is also portrays the essence of faith in Islam. If one believes in God that is the quintessential idea of religion. If one believes in One God he/she knows He is the Cause, Sustainer of the reality, He is the Almighty and He is the Truth. If this center is fixated in ones frame of mind, then the rest follows in a logical pattern and all other ideas and actions emanates from this central idea. ]
2: 136 [ al-Baqarah Medina 87 ]
Asad Say: “We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmel and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants …….Moses and Jesus…..to all the [other] prophets by their Sustainer: we make no distinction between any of them. And it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves.”
Yusuf Ali Say ye: "We believe in Allah and the revelation given to us and to Abraham Isma`il Isaac Jacob and the Tribes and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord we make no difference between one and another of them and we bow to Allah (in Islam)."
Pickthall Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.
Transliteration Qu_lu_ a_manna_ billa_hi wa ma_ unzila ilaina_ wa ma_ unzila ila_ ibra_hima wa isma_'ila wa isha_qa wa ya'qu_ba wal asba_ti wa ma_ u_tiya mu_sa_ wa 'isa_ wa ma_ u_tiyan nabiyyu_na mir rabbihim, la_ nufarriqu baina ahadim minhum, wa nahnu lahu_ muslimu_n(a).
2: 137
Asad And if [others] come to believe in the way you believe, they will indeed find themselves on the right path; and if they turn away, it is but they who will be deeply in the wrong, and God will protect thee from them: for He lone is all-hearing all-knowing.
Yusuf Ali So if they believe as ye believe they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back it is they who are in schism; but Allah will suffice thee as against them and He is the All-Hearing the All- Knowing.
Pickthall And if they believe in the like of that which ye believe, then are they rightly guided. But if they turn away, then are they in schism, and Allah will suffice thee (for defence) against them. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
Transliteration Fa in a_manu_ bi misli ma_ a_mantum bihi fa qadih tadau, wa in tawallau fa innama_ hum fi syiqa_q(in), fa sayakfika humulla_hu, wa huwas sami'ul 'alim(u).
12. Surha Yusuf (Joseph)
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَكَذَلِكَ
يَجْتَبِيكَ
رَبُّكَ
وَيُعَلِّمُكَ
مِن
تَأْوِيلِ
الأَحَادِيثِ...
12: 6. "Thus will thy Lord choose thee and teach thee the interpretation of stories (and events)
C1636. If Joseph was to be of the elect, he must understand and interpret Signs and events aright. The imagination of the pure sees truths, which those not so endowed cannot understand. The dreams of the righteous prefigure great events, while the dreams of the futile are mere idle futilities. Even things that happen to us are often like dreams.
The righteous man receives disasters and reverses, not with blasphemies against Allah, but with humble devotion, seeking to ascertain His Will. Not does he receive good fortune with arrogance, but as an opportunity for doing good to friends and foes alike. His attitude to histories and stories is the same; he seeks the edifying material which leads to Allah.
وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى آلِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَا أَتَمَّهَا عَلَى أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَقَ...
and perfect His favor to thee and to the posterity of Jacob -- even as He perfected it to thy fathers Abraham and Isaac aforetime!
...إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٦﴾
For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom."
C1637. Whatever happens is the result of Allah's Will and Plan. And He is good and wise, and He knows all things. Therefore we must trust Him.
In Joseph's case he could look back to his fathers, and to Abraham, the True, the Righteous, who through all adversities kept his Faith pure and undefiled, and won through.
وَاتَّبَعْتُ
مِلَّةَ
آبَآئِـي
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
وَإِسْحَقَ
وَيَعْقُوبَ...
12: 38. "And I follow the ways of my fathers -- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
C1691. Again the same note of personal modesty.
'You may think I am as young as you, or younger. Yes, but I have the heritage of great men renowned for wisdom and truth, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Surely what they knew is worthy of respect. Never did they swerve a hair's breadth from the Gospel of Unity.
It is not that we boast. It was Allah's grace that taught us and Allah's grace is teaching all mankind. But men show their ingratitude by inventing other so-called gods'.
...مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ...
and never could we attribute any partners whatever to Allah:
...ذَلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ اللّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾
that (comes) of the grace of Allah to us and to mankind:
yet most men are not grateful.
Other versions:
12: 6
Asad ……..will thy Sustainer elect thee, and will impart unto thee some understanding of the inner meaning of happenings, and will bestow the full measure of His blessings upon thee and upon the House of Jacob- even as, aforetime, He bestowed it in full measure upon thy forefathers Abraham and Isaac. Verily, thy Sustainer is all-knowing, wise!”
Yusuf Ali "Thus will thy Lord choose thee and teach thee the interpretation of stories (and events) and perfect His favor to thee and to the posterity of Jacob even as He perfected it to thy fathers Abraham and Isaac aforetime! For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom."
Pickthall Thus thy Lord will prefer thee and will teach thee the interpretation of events, and will perfect his grace upon thee and upon the family of Jacob as he perfected it upon thy forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. Lo! thy Lord is Knower, Wise.
Transliteration Wa kaza_lika yajtabika rabbuka wa yu'allimuka min ta'wilil aha_disi wa yutimmu ni'matahu_'alaika wa 'ala_ a_li ya'qu_ba kama_ atammaha_ 'ala_ abawaika min qablu ibra_hima wa isha_q(a), inna ibra_hima 'alimun hakim(un).
12: 38
Yusuf Ali "And I follow the ways of my fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob; and never could we attribute any partners whatever to Allah: that (comes) of the grace of Allah to us and to mankind: yet most men are not grateful.
Pickthall And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It never was for us to attribute aught as partner to Allah. This is of the bounty of Allah unto us (the seed of Abraham) and unto mankind; but most men give not thanks.
19. Surah Maryam
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَلَمَّا اعْتَزَلَهُمْ
وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ
مِن دُونِ
اللَّهِ...
19: 49. When he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides Allah,
...وَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا نَبِيًّا ﴿٤٩﴾
We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob,
and each one of them We made a prophet.
C2501. Isaac and Isaac's son Jacob are mentioned here as carrying on one line of Abraham's traditions. The other line was carried on by Isma'il, who is mentioned independently five verses lower down, as his line got special honour in the Holy Prophet of Islam. That is why his mention comes after that of Moses.
Cf. 21:72.
وَوَهَبْنَا
لَهُم مِّن
رَّحْمَتِنَا
وَجَعَلْنَا
لَهُمْ لِسَانَ
صِدْقٍ عَلِيًّا ﴿٥٠﴾
19: 50. And We bestowed of Our Mercy on them,
and We granted them lofty honor on the tongue of truth.
C2502. Abraham and his son and grandson Isaac and Jacob, and their fine, maintained the banner of Allah's truth for many generations, and they won deservedly high praise-the praise of truth-on the tongues of men.
Abraham prayed that he should be praised by the tongue of truth among men to come in later ages: 26:84.
Ordinary praise may mean nothing: it may be due to selfish flattery on the part of others or artful management by the person praised. Praise on the tongue of sincere truth is praise indeed!
Other versions:
19: 49
Asad And after he had withdrawn from them and from all that they were worshipping instead of God, We bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob, and made each of them a prophet;
Yusuf Ali When he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides Allah We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob and each one of them We made a prophet.
Pickthall So, when he had withdrawn from them and that which they were worshipping beside Allah. We gave him Isaac and Jacob. Each of them We made a Prophet.
Transliteration Falam ma tazalahum wa ma_ ya'budu_na min du_nil la_hi wahabna_ lahu_ is ha_qa wa ya'qu_b wa kul lan ja'alna_ nabiy ya_
[ Ali’s note: 2501 Isaac and Isaac's son Jacob are mentioned here as carrying on one line of Abraham's traditions. The other line was carried on by Isma'il, who is mentioned independently five verses lower down, as his line got special honour in the Holy Prophet of Islam. That is why his mention comes after that of Moses. Cf. xxi. 72. (19.49) ]
19: 50
Asad and We bestowed upon them [manifold] gifts out of Our grace, and granted them a lofty power to convey the truth [unto others].
Yusuf Ali And We bestowed of Our Mercy on them and We granted them lofty honor on the tongue of truth.
Pickthall And We gave them of Our mercy, and assigned to them a high and true renown.
Transliteration Wa wahabna_ lahum mir rahmatina_ wa ja'alna_ lahum lisa_na shidqin 'aliy ya_
[ Asad’s note 36: Lit., “a lofty language of truth” or “of truthfulness” – the term “lisan”
(“language” or “tongue”) being used here metonymically for what may be pronounced by the tongue (Zamakhshari). An alternative interpretation of the phrase, advanced by many commentators, is “granted them a lofty renown for truth” or “truthfulness”, or simply “ a most goodly renown”.]
[Ali’s note: 2502 Abraham and his son and grandson Isaac and Jacob, and their line, maintained the banner of Allah's truth for many generations, and they won deservedly high praise-the praise of truth-on the tongues of men. Abraham prayed that he should be praised by the tongue of truth among men to come in later ages: xxvi. 84. Ordinary praise may mean nothing: it may be due to selfish flattery on the part of others or artful management by the person praised. Praise on the tongue of sincere truth is praise indeed! (19.50) ]
21. Surah Al Anbiya'
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَوَهَبْنَا
لَهُ إِسْحَقَ
وَيَعْقُوبَ
نَافِلَةً...
21: 72. And We bestowed on him Isaac and, as an additional gift, (a grandson), Jacob,
C2728. Nafilat has many meanings:
- booty;
- extra work or prayer;
- extra or additional gift;
- grandson.
The two last significations are implied here. Not only was Abraham given a son in his old age; he was given not only Isaac, but several sons, the chief being Isma'il and Isaac, who both joined in burying him (Gen. 25:9); and he also saw grandsons. Isma'il is specially mentioned later (21:85) apart from Isaac's line, on account of his special importance for Islam.
...وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا صَالِحِينَ ﴿٧٢﴾
and We made righteous men of every one (of them).
perishes from its own excesses.
Other versions:
21:72 [al-Anbiyaa, Mecca 73]
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