[al-I’Imran, Medina 89, 3rd Sura in Medina (few verses much later in Medina) the references to Badr {Ramadan, H2} and Uhud {Shawwal, H3}give further clues to the dates of the revelations and show that a state of war existed during the period of these revelations . The next verse that is 3:111 is predicting that Muslims would win in the upcoming wars and battles. It came true. ]]
[[ Asad’s note -
82 As is obvious from the opening sentence of verse 110, this promise to the followers of the Qur'an is conditional upon their being, or remaining, a community of people who "enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and [truly] believe in God"; and - as history has shown - this promise is bound to lapse whenever the Muslims fail to live up to their faith. ]]
Sura-3 [Al-Imran, Medina 89 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
كُنتُمْ
خَيْرَ
أُمَّةٍ
أُخْرِجَتْ
لِلنَّاسِ...
3:110. Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind,
...تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ...
enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah.
...وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم...
If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them;
...مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ ﴿١١٠﴾
among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.
لَن
يَضُرُّوكُمْ
إِلاَّ
أَذًى
...
3:111. They will do you no harm, barring a trifling annoyance;
... وَإِن يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ يُوَلُّوكُمُ الأَدُبَارَ ثُمَّ لاَ يُنصَرُونَ ﴿١١١﴾
if they come out to fight you, they will show you their backs, and no help shall they get.
Asad’s Version:
3: 110
You are indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind: you enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and you believe in God……………..among them are believers, while most of them are iniquitous:
(3:111) [but] these can never inflict more than a passing hurt on you; and if they fight against you, they will turn their backs upon you [in flight], and will not be succoured. 82
[[ Asad’s note -
82 As is obvious from the opening sentence of verse 110, this promise to the followers of the Qur'an is conditional upon their being, or remaining, a community of people who "enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and [truly] believe in God"; and - as history has shown - this promise is bound to lapse whenever the Muslims fail to live up to their faith. ]]