42 Ash-Shura (Consultation)
Mecca Period 53
Asad’s version
42:52 And thus, too, 54 [O Muhammad,] have We revealed unto thee a life-giving message, 55 [coming] at Our behest. [Ere this message came unto thee,] thou didst not know what revelation is, nor what faith [implies]: 56 but [now] We have caused this [message] to be a light, whereby We guide whom We will of Our servants, and, verily, [on the strength thereof] thou, too, shalt guide [men] onto the straight way –
(42:53) the way that leads to God, to whom all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth belongs. Oh, verily, with God is the beginning and the end of all things! 57
[[ Asad’s notes -
57 Lit., "unto God do all things (al-umur) pursue their course": i.e., all things go back to Him as their source, and from His will depends the course which they take (Baydawi). ]]
The Quranic text and Ali’s version
وَكَذَلِكَ
أَوْحَيْنَا
إِلَيْكَ
رُوحًا
مِّنْ
أَمْرِنَا
مَا
كُنتَ
تَدْرِي
مَا
الْكِتَابُ
وَلَا
الْإِيمَانُ...
42:52. And thus have We, by Our command, sent inspiration to thee: thou knowest not (before) what was Revelation, and what was Faith;
C4601. Before the receipt of his mission in his fortieth year, the holy Prophet, though a man of steadfast virtue and purity and unflinching in his search for Truth, was yet unacquainted with Revelation in the highest sense of the term and with the certainty that comes from perfected Faith, or realized nearness to Allah.
Ruh, which I have here translated Inspiration has also been understood by some Commentators to refer to the angel Gabriel, the vehicle of Revelation.
The Light of the Quran made all things clear to man, and to the world.
...وَلَكِن جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ نَّشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِنَا...
but We have made the (Qur'án) a Light, wherewith We guide such of Our servants as We will;
...وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٥٢﴾
and verily thou dost guide (men) to the Straight Way --
C4602. The Quran and the inspired Prophet who proclaimed it, are here identified. They were a Guide to men, showing the Straight Way.
This Way is described in various ways:
for example, see 1:6, and n. 22;
18:1-2, and notes 2326-27;
and 90:11-18.
صِرَاطِ
اللَّهِ
الَّذِي
لَهُ
مَا
فِي
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَمَا
فِي
الْأَرْضِ...
42:53. The Way of Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth:
C4603. The most comprehensive description of the Straight Way is that it is the Way of Allah, the Way of the Universal Law; for Allah is the source, centre, and goal of all things in heaven and earth. Everything goes back to Him.
According to our own understanding we make out own laws, our own standards, and our own institutions. But the ultimate test of their validity or authority is Allah's Will, as revealed to us by His Revelation.
...أَلَا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَصِيرُ الأمُورُ ﴿٥٣﴾
Behold (how) all affairs tend towards Allah!
Yuksel’s version
Methods of Divine Communication of a Verbal Message
42:51 It is not for any human being that God would speak to him, except through inspiration, or from behind a barrier, or by sending a messenger to inspire whom He wills by His leave. He is the Most High, Most Wise.
42:52 Thus, We inspired to you a revelation of Our command. You did not know what was the book, nor what was acknowledgement. Yet, We made this a light to guide whomever We wish from among Our servants. Surely, you guide to a straight path.*
42:53 The path of God, to whom belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Ultimately, all matters revert to God.
[[Yuksel’s note - 042:052 For more information about ruh, see 17:85; 15:29. None can guide anyone to salvation, including Jesus and Muhammad. However, every monotheist can guide to the "right path" defined by God. In other words, it is God who defines the system and guidance, and we are expected to deliver it to others. Accepting Muhammad as another source of guidance is setting him up as a partner with God. See 6:112-114; 39:11. Also, see 7:30. ]]