2. Surah Al Baqarah (the Cow), Medina 87

2: 136 We believe in God,….we make no distinction between any of them . see Asad note 112.

112 Le., "we regard them all as true prophets of God".

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُولُواْ آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا...

2: 136. Say ye:

"We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us,

... وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأسْبَاطِ ...

and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes,

... وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ...

and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord,

... لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٣٦﴾

we make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to Allah (in Islam)."

Transliteration Qu_lu_ a_manna_ billa_hi wa ma_ unzila ilaina_ wa ma_ unzila ila_ ibra_hima wa isma_'ila wa isha_qa wa ya'qu_ba wal asba_ti wa ma_ u_tiya mu_sa_ wa 'isa_ wa ma_ u_tiyan nabiyyu_na mir rabbihim, la_ nufarriqu baina ahadim minhum, wa nahnu lahu_ muslimu_n(a).

فَإِنْ آمَنُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا آمَنتُم بِهِ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِي شِقَاقٍ...

2: 137. So if they believe as ye believe, they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back, it is they who are in schism;

... فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللّهُ ...

but Allah will suffice thee as against them,

... وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿١٣٧﴾

and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

Transliteration Fa in a_manu_ bi misli ma_ a_mantum bihi fa qadih tadau, wa in tawallau fa innama_ hum fi syiqa_q(in), fa sayakfika humulla_hu, wa huwas sami'ul 'alim(u).

Other versions

2: 136 [ al-Baqarah Medina 87 ]

Asad Say: “We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmel and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants …….Moses and Jesus…..to all the [other] prophets by their Sustainer: we make no distinction between any of them. And it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves.”

Pickthall Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.

2: 137

Asad And if [others] come to believe in the way you believe, they will indeed find themselves on the right path; and if they turn away, it is but they who will be deeply in the wrong, and God will protect thee from them: for He lone is all-hearing all-knowing.

Pickthall And if they believe in the like of that which ye believe, then are they rightly guided. But if they turn away, then are they in schism, and Allah will suffice thee (for defence) against them. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

*********************************

Ali’s comments:

C135. Here we have the Creed of Islam: to believe in:

1. the One Universal God.,

2. the Message to us through Muhammad and the Signs (Ayat) as interpreted on the basis of personal responsibility,

3. the Message delivered by other Teachers in the past.

These are mentioned in three groups:

- Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes:

of these Abraham had apparently a Book (87:19) and others followed his tradition:

- Moses and Jesus, who each left a scripture; these scriptures are still extant though not in their pristine form; and

- other scriptures, Prophets, or Messengers of Allah, not specifically mentioned in the Quran.

We make no difference between any of these. Their Message (in essentials) was one, and that is the basis of Islam.

C136. We are thus in the true line of those who follow the one and indivisible Message of the One Allah, wherever delivered.

If others narrow it or corrupt it, it is they who have left the faith and created a division or schism. But Allah sees and knows all. And He will protect His own, and His support will be infinitely more precious than the support which men can give.

Asad’s Comments

111 Lit, "the grandchildren" (al-asbat, sing, sibt) - a term used in the Qur'an to describe, in the first instance, Abraham's, Isaac's and Jacob's immediate descendants, and, consequently, the twelve tribes which evolved from this ancestry.

112 Le., "we regard them all as true prophets of God".