4. Sura an-Nisa

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ...

4: 150. Those who deny Allah and His Messengers,

... وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُواْ بَيْنَ اللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ...  

and (those who) wish to separate Allah from His Messengers,

... وَيقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ ...

saying: "We believe in some but reject others":

... وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُواْ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً ﴿١٥٠﴾  

and (those who) wish to take a course midway.

Inal lazina yakfuru_na billa_hi wa rusulihi wa yuridu_na ay yufarriqu_ bainalla_hi wa rusulihi wa yaqu_la_na nu'minu bi ba'diw wa nakfuru bi ba'd(iw), wa yuridu_na ay yattakhizu_ baina za_lika sabilu_(n).

أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ حَقًّا وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا ﴿١٥١﴾

4: 151. They are in truth (equally) unbelievers;

and We have prepared for unbelievers a humiliating punishment.

Transliteration Ula_'ika humul ka_firu_na haqqa_(n), wa a'tadna_ lil ka_firina 'aza_bam muhina_(n).

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَلَمْ يُفَرِّقُواْ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ أُوْلَـئِكَ سَوْفَ يُؤْتِيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ...   

4: 152. To those who believe in Allah and His Messengers and make no distinction between any of the Messengers, We shall soon give their (due) rewards:

... وَكَانَ اللّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿١٥٢﴾

for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Transliteration Wallazina a_manu_ billa_hi wa rusulihi wa lam yufarriqu_ baina ahadim minhum ula_'ika saufa yu'tihim uja_rahum, waka_nalla_hu gafu_rarrahima_(n).

Asad’s Version:

But as for those who believe in God and His apostles and make no distinction between any of them – unto them, in time, will He grant their rewards [in full]. And God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.

Pickthall’s versions:

4: 150 [an-Nisa, Medina 92]

Lo! those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers, and seek to make distinction between Allah and His messengers, and say: We believe in some and disbelieve in others, and seek to choose a way in between;

4: 151

Such are disbelievers in truth; and for disbelievers We prepare a shameful doom.

4: 152

But those who believe in Allah and His messengers and make no distinction between any of them, unto them Allah will give their wages; and Allah was ever Forgiving, Merciful.

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

Ali’s comments:

C656. Unbelief takes various forms. Three are mentioned here:

-        denial of Allah and His revelation to mankind through inspired men;

-        a sort of nominal belief in Allah and His Prophets, but one which is partial, and mixed up with racial pride, which does not allow of the recognition of any Messengers beyond those of a particular race; and

-        a nominal belief in universal revelation, but so hedged round with peculiar doctrines of exclusive salvation, that it practically approaches to a denial of Allah's universal love for all mankind and all Creation.

All three amount to Unbelief. for they really deny Allah's universal love and care.