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 --

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: 86

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).