17. Surah al-Israa, Mecca 50
The Quranic Text & Ali’s translation:
مَّنِ اهْتَدَى
فَإِنَّمَا
يَهْتَدي
لِنَفْسِهِ...
17: 15. Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit:
...وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا...
who goeth astray doth so to his own loss:
...وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى...
no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another:
...وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً ﴿١٥﴾
nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent a Messenger (to give warning).
Transliteration Man-ihtada_ fa innama_ yahtadi li nafsih(i), wa man dalla fa innama_ yadillu 'alaiha_, wa la_ taziru wa_ziratuw wizra ukhra_, wa ma_ kunna_ mu'azzibina hatta_ nab'asa rasu_la_(n).
Other translations:
17: 15
Asad
Whoever chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good; and whoever goes astray goes but astray to his own hurt; and no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden. 19 Moreover. We would never chastise [any community for the wrong they may do] ere We have sent an apostle [to them]. 20
Pickthall Whosoever goeth right, it is only for (the good of) his own soul that he goeth right, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hurt. No laden soul can bear another's load. We never punish until We have sent a messenger.
Yuksel Whoever is guided is guided for himself, and whoever is misguided is for his own loss. No person shall carry the load of another, and We were not to punish until We send a messenger.*
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Ali’s comments:
2190. The doctrine of personal responsibility is insisted on, and the basis of ethics is shown to be our own good or evil as furthering or obstructing our highest development.
2191. The doctrine of vicarious atonement is condemned. Salvation for the wicked cannot be attained by the punishment of the innocent.
One man cannot bear the burden of another: that would be unjust. Every man must bear his own personal responsibility. Cf. 6:164.
But Allah never visits His wrath on anyone until due warning is conveyed to him through an accredited messenger.
Asad’s comments:
20 Sc, "so that they might fully understand the meaning of right and wrong": cf 6:131-132 and the corresponding note 1 17, as well as 29:59 (which, in the chronology of revelation, immediately precedes the present surah).
Yuksel’s comments:
017:013 All our intentions, words, and actions are recorded in a record. We will be impeached by this record on the Day of Judgment. See 57:22.
017:015 This verse confirms the Biblical verse Ezekiel 18:20. However, the Bible also contains verses claiming collective punishment: Exodus 20:5;Lamentations 5:7; Psalms 109:9-10.