Sura-2 [Al-Baqara medina 87]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلاَّ مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ...

2:130. And who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with folly?

... وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا ...

Him We chose and rendered pure in this world:

C130. Istafa: chose; chose because of purity; chose and purified.

It is the same root from which Mustafa is derived, one of the titles of Muhammad.

... وَإِنَّهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٣٠﴾

and he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the righteous.

وَقَالُواْ كُونُواْ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَى تَهْتَدُواْ...

2:135. They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (to salvation)."

... قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ...

Say thou:

"Nay!

(I would rather) the religion of Abraham the true,

C134. Hanif: inclined to right opinion, orthodox (in the literal meaning of the Greek words), firm in faith, sound and well-balanced, true.

Perhaps the last word, True, sums up most of the other shades.

The Jews, though taught Unity, went after false gods, and the Christians invented the Trinity or borrowed it from Paganism. We go back to pure, Hanif doctrine of Abraham, to live and die in faith in the One True God.

... وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿١٣٥﴾

and he joined not gods with Allah."

Asad’s Version:

2: 130

Asad And who, unless he be weak of mind, would want to abandon Abraham’s creed, seeing that We have indeed raised him high in this world, and that, verily, in the life to come he shall be among the righteous?

Yusuf Ali And who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with folly? Him We chose and rendered pure in this world: and he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the righteous.

Pickthall And who forsaketh the religion of Abraham save him who befooleth himself? Verily We chose him in the world, and lo! in the Hereafter he is among the righteous.

Transliteration Wa may yargabu 'am millati ibra_hima illa_ man safiha nafsah(u_), wa laqadis tafain_hu fid dunya_, wa innaha_ fil a_khirati laminas sa_lihin(a).

2: 135

Asad And they say, “Be Jews” – or, “Christians” – “and you shall be on the right path.” Say, but [ours is] the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false [note 110], and was not of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God.”

Yusuf Ali They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (to salvation)." Say thou: "Nay! (I would rather) the religion of Abraham the true and he joined not gods with Allah."

Pickthall And they say: Be Jews or Christians, then ye will be rightly guided. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Nay, but (we follow) the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the idolaters.

Wa qa_lu_ ku_nu_ hu_dan au nasa_ra_ tahtadu_, qul bal millata ibra_hima hanifa_(n), wa ma_ ka_na minal musyrikin(a).

[ Asad’s note 110: The expression ‘hanif’ is derived from the verb hanafa,……..in the pre-Islamic times, this term had a definitely monotheistic connotation, and was used to describe a man who turned away from sin and worldliness and from all dubious beliefs, especially idol-worshipping; and tahannuf denoted the ardent devotions, mainly consisting of long vigils and prayers, of the Unitarian God-seekers of pre-Islamic times. ……….]

3: 95 [al-I’Imran, Medina 89 ]

Asad Say: “God has spoken the truth: follow, then, the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false, …………

Yusuf Ali Say: "Allah speaketh the truth: follow the religion of Abraham the sane in faith; he was not of the pagans."

Pickthall Say: Allah speaketh truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, the upright. He was not of the idolaters.

Transliteration Qul sadaqalla_h(u), fattabi'u_ millata ibra_hima hanifa_(n), wa ma_ ka_na minal musyrikin(a).

[ Ali’s note - 421 The greater freedom of Islam in the matter of the ceremonial law, compared with the Mosaic Law, is not a reproach but a recommendation. We go back to an older source than Judaism,-the institutions of Abraham. By common consent his Faith was sound, and he was certainly not a Pagan, a term contemptuously applied to the Arabs by the Jews. (3.95) ]

3: 96

Asad Behold, the first Temple ever set up for mankind was indeed the one at Bakkah [note 75]: rich in blessing, and a [source of] guidance unto all the worlds,

Yusuf Ali The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings:

Pickthall Lo! the first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Mecca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples;

Transliteration Inna awwala baitiw wudi'a linna_si lallazi bi bakkata muba_rakw wa hudal lil'a_lamin(a).

[ Ali’s notes - 422 Bakka: same as Makkah, perhaps an older name. The foundation of the Ka'ba goes back to Abraham. (3.96)

423 'Alamin: all the worlds (i. 2. ii), all kinds of beings; all nations (iii. 42): all creatures (iii. 97), (3.96) ]

[ Asad’s note 75 - ………in some old Arabic dialects the labial consonants b and m, being phonetically close to one another, are occasionally interchangeable. …….Since the prototype of the Kabah was built by Abraham and Ishmael (see 2:125 ff.) – and is, therefore, much older than the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem - ………and herein lies the answer to the second of the two Jewish objections mentioned in note 73 above.]

3: 97

Yusuf Ali In it are signs manifest; (for example) the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith Allah stands not in need of any of his creatures.

Pickthall Wherein are plain memorials (of Allah's guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth, (let him know that) Lo! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures.

Transliteration Fihi a_ya_tum bayyina_tum maqa_mu ibra_him(a), wa man dakhalahu_ ka_na a_mina_(n), wa lilla_hi 'alan na_si hijjul baiti manistata_'a ilaihi sabila_(n), wa man kafara fa innalla_ha ganiyyun 'anil 'a_lamin(a).