11. Surah Hud, Mecca 52

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَاسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ...   

11: 90.  "But ask forgiveness of you Lord, and turn unto Him (in repentance):

...إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمٌ وَدُودٌ ﴿٩٠﴾

for my Lord is indeed Full of mercy and loving-kindness."

قَالُواْ يَا شُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا تَقُولُ ...

Transliteration Wa-stagfiru_ rabbakum summa tu_bu_ ilaih(i), inna rabbi rahimuw wadu_d(un).

11: 91.  They said:

"O Shuayb! much of what thou sayest we do not understand!

... وَإِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفًا...

In fact among us we see that thou hast no strength!

...وَلَوْلاَ رَهْطُكَ لَرَجَمْنَاكَ...

Were it not for thy family, we should certainly have stoned thee!

...وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْنَا بِعَزِيزٍ ﴿٩١﴾

For thou hast among us no great position!"

Transliteration Qa_lu_ ya_ syu'aibu ma_ nafqahu kasiram mimma_ taqu_lu wa inna_ lanara_ka fina_ da'ifa_(n), wa lau la_ rahtuka larajamna_k(a), wa ma_ anta 'alaina_ bi 'aziz(in).

Other Versions:

11: 90

Pickthall Ask pardon of your Lord and then turn unto Him (repentant). Lo! my Lord is, Merciful, Loving.

Yuksel "Seek forgiveness from your Lord then repent to Him. My Lord is Compassionate, Loving."

11: 91

Pickthall They said: O Shueyb! We understand not much of that thou tellest, and lo! we do behold thee weak among us. But for thy family, we should have stoned thee, for thou art not strong against us.

Yuksel They said, "O Shuayb, we do not understand most of what you say, and we see you as weak amongst us. If it were not for who your family is, we would have stoned/rejected you, and you would not be proud against us."

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Ali’s comments:

C1591. Spiritual things are easy to understand if we bring the right mind to them. But those who are contemptuous of them deliberately shut their eyes to Allah's Signs, and then pretend in their superior arrogance that they are 'quite beyond them'!

C1592. What they do understand is brute strength. They practically say:

"Don't you see that we have all the power and influence, and you, Shu'ayb, are only a poor Teacher?

We could stone you or imprison you or do what we like with you!

Thank us for our kindness that we spare you-, for the sake of your family. It is more than you yourself deserve!"