Sura-16, An Nahl (Bees), Mecca 70
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Translation:
إِنَّ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
كَانَ أُمَّةً
قَانِتًا لِلّهِ
حَنِيفًا...
16:120. Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to God, (and) true in faith,
... وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿١٢٠﴾
and he joined not gods with God:
Transliteration Inna ibra_hima ka_na ummatan qa_nital lilla_hi hanifa_(n), wa lam yaku minal musyrikin(a),
16:121. He showed his gratitude for the favors of God,
... اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿١٢١﴾
Who chose him, and guided him to a straight way.
Transliteration Sya_kiral li'an'umih(i), ijtaba_hu wa hada_hu ila_ sira_tim mustaqim(in).
وَآتَيْنَاهُ
فِي الْدُّنْيَا
حَسَنَةً...
16:122. And We gave him good in this world,
... وَإِنَّهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٢٢﴾
and he will be, in the Hereafter, in the ranks of the righteous.
Transliteration Wa a_taina_hu fid dunya_ hasanah(tan) wa innahu_ fil a_khirati laminas sa_lihin(a).
ثُمَّ
أَوْحَيْنَا
إِلَيْكَ أَنِ
اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ
حَنِيفًا...
16:123. So We have taught thee the inspired (message), "Follow the ways of Abraham the true in faith,
... وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿١٢٣﴾
and he joined not gods with Allah."
Transliteration Summa auhaina_ ilaika an-ittabi' millata ibra_hima hanifa_(n), wa ma_ ka_na minal musyrikin(a).
Asad’s Translation:
16: 120 [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]
Pickthall Lo! Abraham was a nation obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the idolaters;
16: 121
Pickthall Thankful for His bounties; He chose him and He guided him unto a straight path.
16: 122
Pickthall And We gave him good in the world, and in the Hereafter he is among the righteous.
16: 123
Pickthall And afterward We inspired thee (Muhammad, saying): Follow the religion of Abraham, as one by nature upright. He was not of the idolaters.
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Ali’s comments:
C2156. Ummah: a model, pattern, example for imitation;
but the idea that he was an Ummah in himself, standing alone against his world, should not be lost sight of.
See next note.
C2157. The Gospel of Unity has been the comer-stone of spiritual Truth for all time. In this respect Abraham is the model and fountain-head for the world of western Asia and its spiritual descendants all over the world.
Abraham was among a people (the Chaldeans) who worshipped stars and had forsaken the Gospel of Unity. He was among them but not of them. He suffered persecution, and left his home and his people, and settled in theland of Canaan.
C2158. Cf. 2:130.