Sura-16 An Nahl mecca 70]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

وَإِذَا بَدَّلْنَا آيَةً مَّكَانَ آيَةٍ وَاللّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُنَزِّلُ...

16:101. When We substitute one revelation for another, and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages),

C2140. See 2:106, and n. 107.

The doctrine of progressive revelation from age to age and time to time does not mean that Allah's fundamental Law changes.

It is not fair to charge a Prophet of Allah with forgery because the Message as revealed to him is in a different form from that revealed before, when the core of the Truth is the same, for it comes from Allah.

... قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُفْتَرٍ...

they say, "Thou art but a forger":

... بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٠١﴾

but most of them understand not.

قُلْ نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ...

16:102. Say,

the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in truth,

C2141. The title of the Angel Gabriel, through whom the revelations came down.

... لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ...

in order to strengthen those who believe,

C2142. The People of the Book, if they had true faith, were themselves strengthened in their faith and cleared of their doubts and difficulties by the revelations brought by Al-Mustafa; and all whether People of the Book or not -who came within the fold of Islam, found the Quran a Guide and a Gospel, i.e., a substitute for the Mosaic Law and for the Christian Gospel, which had both been corrupted.

... وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٠٢﴾

and as a guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims.

وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُ بَشَرٌ...

16:103. We know indeed that they say, "It is a man that teaches him."

... لِّسَانُ الَّذِي يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِيٌّ وَهَـذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِيٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٠٣﴾

The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notable foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear.

C2143. The wicked attribute to Prophets of Allah just such motives and springs of action as they themselves would be guilty of in such circumstances. The Pagans and those who were hostile to the revelation of Allah in Islam could not and cannot understand how such wonderful words could flow from the tongue of the Holy Prophet. They must need to postulate some human teacher.

Unfortunately for their postulate, any possible human teacher they could think of would be poor in Arabic speech if he had all the knowledge that the Quran reveals of previous revelations.

Apart from that, even the most eloquent Arab could not, and cannot, produce anything of the eloquence, width, and depth of Quranic teaching, as is evident from every verse of the Book. (R).

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ لاَ يَهْدِيهِمُ اللّهُ...

16:104. Those who believe not in the Signs of Allah, Allah will not guide them,

... وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿١٠٤﴾

and theirs will be a grievous Penalty.

Other versions:

16: 101 [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]

Yusuf Ali When We substitute one revelation for another and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages) they say "Thou art but a forger": but most of them understand not.

Pickthall And when We put a revelation in place of (another) revelation,--and Allah knoweth best what He revealeth--they say: Lo! thou art but inventing. Most of them know not.

Yuksel If We exchange a sign in place of another sign; and God is more aware of what He is revealing; they say, "You are making this up!" Alas, most of them do not know.

Transliteration Wa iza_ baddalna_ a_yatam maka_na a_yah(tin), walla_hu a'lamu bima_ yunazzilu qa_lu_ innama_ anta muftar(in), bal aksaruhum la_ ya'lamu_n(a).

16: 102

Yusuf Ali Say the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in truth in order to strengthen those who believe and as a guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims.

Pickthall Say: The holy Spirit hath revealed it from thy Lord with truth, that it may confirm (the faith of) those who believe, and as guidance and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah).

Yuksel 16:102 Say, "The Holy Spirit has sent it down from your Lord with truth, so that those who acknowledge will be strengthened, and as a guidance and good news for those who have peacefully surrendered."

Transliteration Qul nazzalahu_ ru_hul qudusi mir rabbika bil haqqi liyusabbital lazina a_manu_ wa hudaw wa busyra_ lil muslimin(a).

16: 103

Yusuf Ali We know indeed that they say "It is a man that teaches him." The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notable foreign while this is Arabic pure and clear.

Pickthall And We know well that they say: Only a man teacheth him. The speech of him at whom they falsely hint is outlandish, and this is clear Arabic speech.

Yuksel 16:103 We are aware that they say, "A human is teaching him." The language of the one they refer to is foreign, while this is a clear Arabic language.*

Transliteration Wa laqad na'lamu annahum yaqu_lu_na innama_ yu'allimuhu_ basyar(un), lisa_nul lazi yulhidu_na ilaihi a'jamiyyuw wa ha_za_ lisa_nun 'arabiyyum mubin(un).

[[ Ali’s notes - 2140 See ii. 106, and n. 107. The doctrine of progressive revelation from age to age and time to time does not mean that Allah's fundamental Law changes. It is not fair to charge a Prophet of Allah with forgery because the Message as revealed to him is in a different form from that revealed before, when the core of the Truth is the same, for it comes from Allah. (16.101)

2141 The title of the Angel Gabriel, through whom the revelations came down. (16.102)

2142 The People of the Book, if they had true faith, were themselves strengthened in their faith and cleared of their doubts and difficulties by the revelations brought by Al-Mustafa; and all whether People of the Book or not-who came within the fold of Islam, found the Qur-an a Guide and a Gospel, i.e., a substitute for the Mosaic Law and for the Christian Gospel, which had both been corrupted. (16.102)

2143 The wicked attribute to Prophets of Allah just such motives and springs of action as they themselves would be guilty of in such circumstances. The Pagans and those who were hostile to the revelation of Allah in Islam could not and cannot understand how such wonderful words could flow from the tongue of the Holy Prophet. They must need to postulate some human teacher. Unfortunately for their postulate, any possible human teacher they could think of would be poor in Arabic speech if he had all the knowledge that the Qur-an reveals of previous revelations. Apart from that, even the most eloquent Arab could not, and cannot, produce anything of the eloquence, width, and depth of Quranic teaching, as is evident from every verse of the Book. (16.103) ]]