Sura-10 [ Yunus mecca 51]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
وَإِذَا تُتْلَى
عَلَيْهِمْ
آيَاتُنَا
بَيِّنَاتٍ...
10:15. But when Our Clear Signs are rehearsed unto them,
...قَالَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءنَا ائْتِ بِقُرْآنٍ غَيْرِ هَـذَا أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ...
those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us, say:
"Bring us a Reading other than this, or change this."
C1402. Reading: in the Arabic, the word is "Quran", which may mean Reading or in the special sense, the Quran.
The duty of Allah's Messenger is to deliver Allah's Message as it is revealed to him, whether it please or displease those who hear it.
Selfish men want to read their own desires or fancies into religious precepts, and thus they are often willing to use Religion for their own ends. Most of the corruptions of Religion are due to this cause. But Religion is not to be so prostituted.
...قُلْ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أُبَدِّلَهُ مِن تِلْقَاء نَفْسِي...
Say:
"It is not for me, of my own accord, to change it:
...إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلاَّ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ...
I follow naught but what is revealed unto me:
...إِنِّي أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿١٥﴾
if I were to disobey my Lord, I should myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day (to come)."
قُل
لَّوْ شَاء
اللّهُ مَا
تَلَوْتُهُ
عَلَيْكُمْ
وَلاَ أَدْرَاكُم
بِهِ...
10:16. Say:
"If Allah had so willed, I should not have rehearsed it to you, nor would He have made it known to you.
C1403. It is in Allah's Plan that He should reveal Himself in certain ways to His creatures, and His Messengers are the instruments that carry out His will.
It is in itself gracious Mercy that He should thus make His Will known. We should be grateful for His guidance instead of carping at it.
فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُمْ عُمُرًا مِّن قَبْلِهِ...
A whole lifetime before this have I tarried amongst you:
...أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٦﴾
will ye not then understand?"
C1404. Muhammad Al-Mustafa had lived his whole life of purity and virtue amongst his people, and they knew and Mustafa acknowledged it before he received his mission.
They knew he loved his nation and was loyal to it. Why should they turn against him when he had to point out under inspiration all their sins and wrong-doing?
It was for their own good. And he had to plead again and again with them:
"Will you not understand, and see what a glorious privilege it is for you to receive true guidance from Allah?"
Other versions:
10: 15
Yusuf Ali But when Our Clear Signs are rehearsed unto them those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us say: "Bring us a Reading other than this or change this." Say: "It is not for me of my own accord to change it: I follow naught but what is revealed unto me: if I were to disobey my Lord I should myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day (to come)."
Pickthall And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them they who look not for the meeting with Us say: Bring a Lecture other than this, or change it. Say (O Muhammad): It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I only follow that which is inspired in me. Lo! If I disobey my Lord I fear the retribution of an awful Day.
Transliteration Wa iza_ tutla_ 'alaihim a_ya_tuna_ bayyina_t(in), qa_lal lazina la_ yarju_na liqa_'ana'ti bi qur'a_nin gairi ha_za_ au baddilh(u), qul ma_ yaku_nu li an ubaddilahu_ min tilqa_'i nafsi, in attabi'u illa_ ma_ yu_ha_ ilayy(a), inni akha_fu in 'asaitu rabbi 'aza_ba yaumin 'azim(in).
10: 16
Yusuf Ali Say: "If Allah had so willed I should not have rehearsed it to you nor would He have made it known to you. A whole lifetime before this have I tarried amongst you: will ye not then understand?"
Pickthall Say: If Allah had so willed I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. I dwelt among you a whole lifetime before it (came to me). Have ye then no sense?
Transliteration Qul lau sya_'alla_hu ma_ talautuhu_ 'alaikum wa la_ adra_kum bih(i), faqad labistu fikum 'umuram min qablih(i), afala_ ta'qilu_n(a).
[[ Ali’s notes -
1403 It is in Allah's Plan that He should reveal Himself in certain ways to His creatures, and His Messengers are the instruments that carry out His will. It is in itself gracious Mercy that He should thus make His Will known. We should be grateful for His guidance instead of carping at it. (10.16)
1404 Muhammad Al-Musafa had lived his whole life of purity and virtue amongst his people, and they knew and Mustafa acknowledged it before he received his mission. They knew he loved his nation and was loyal to it. Why should they turn against him when he had to point out under inspiration all their sins and wrong-doing? It was for their own good. And he had to plead again and again with them: "Will you not understand, and see what a glorious privilege it is for you to receive true guidance from Allah?" (10.16)]]