Sura-10 [ Yunus mecca 51]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ النَّاسَ...   

10:2.     It is a matter of wonderment to men that We have set Our inspiration to a man from among themselves? -- that he should warn mankind (of their danger),

C1383. Is it not still more wonderful that the inspired man should be one of ourselves?

The Arabs had known Muhammad in other relations and conditions, and when the mighty Message came through his mouth -the message of Wisdom and Power, such as no man could speak as from himself, least of all a man not instructed in human learning,- they could only in their wonder attribute it to magic and sorcery.

They failed to understand that magic and sorcery were projections of their own mind, while here was solid, enduring Truth from Allah!

...وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ...

and give the good news to the Believers that they have before their Lord the lofty rank of Truth,

C1384. Allah's Message was and is not all smooth and agreeable. The first thing is to convince us of our wrong-doing, and warn us of our danger. If we have Faith, we then learn what a high rank we obtain in the sight of Allah.

According to another view the word "qadama" here refers to the fact that the acts of a person precede him to his Lord.

The word sidq qualifies these acts with sincerity and genuineness. (R).

...قَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ إِنَّ هَـذَا لَسَاحِرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٢﴾

(but) say the Unbelievers: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer!"

Other versions:

10: 2

Yusuf Ali It is a matter of wonderment to men that We have set Our inspiration to a man from among themselves? That he should warn mankind (of their danger) and give the good news to the Believers that they have before their Lord the lofty rank of Truth (but) say the Unbelievers: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer!"

Pickthall Is it a wonder for mankind that We have inspired a man among them, saying: Warn mankind and bring unto those who believe the good tidings that they have a sure footing with their Lord? The disbelievers say: Lo! this is a mere wizard.

Transliteration Aka_na lin na_si 'ajaban an auhaina_ ila_ rajulim minhum an anzirin na_sa wa basysyiril lazina a_manu_ anna lahum qadama sidqin 'inda rabbihim, qa_lal ka_firu_na inna ha_za_ lasa_hirum mubin(un).